Summer flashback: Monkey Bars

We went to NOLA this summer, and I didn't take many photos at all. I did get this video though of my Freddie who finally got up the nerve to test his strength.

He was so proud!  Love seeing him beam.

NOLA Visit

• 2 St. Patrick's Day parades
• 3 cabbages
• 20 pounds of throws stuffed in our suitcase, they couldn't part with anything!
• 1 drive thru daiquiri, ah no place like home for sure

• One extrovert working the crowd, insisting I smooch drunk men for flowers
• One introvert waiting to be noticed, he did get better

Not sure why he wanted his shirt on backwards!

• 3 warm afternoons spent with friends

For their college application?

• 1 zoo trip
• 5 cousins
• 1 tired Papi

• 0 photos with everyone looking at the camera

• 6 beignets
• 2 loaves of Bunny bread, one for us and one for the ducks..Freddie loves Bunny bread!
• 2 sweaty, dirty, happy boys

• Hardly any photos
• Not enough time
• Another trip in the works

NOLA

• Park visits
• Duck feeding
• Zoo trip
• Family
• Friends
• Food
• Street car rides
• Snuggles
• Sunshine 
• Showers
• Curls
• Gumbo
• Sandals
• Green
• Blooms

Jazzfest

It's been almost two weeks now, so I'm drawing a blank on any details, and we have only a handful of photos, sadly.  It was definitely an unusual year with unseasonably cool temperatures and lots of rain.

Both of the boys loved the music, Charlie loved the food, and Hans loved the mud.

Hans had no problems walking barefoot from stage to stage, stomping through the puddles to get the mud from between his toes.  Freddie is a bit more refined and avoided the mud.  It made for an interesting walk around the fairgrounds.   

We didn't get to see, hear, or eat nearly enough.  The weather made it tricky, but having two mobile little people with demands requests made things even trickier.   

We set up at the Gentilly Stage each morning and stayed put for the most part, leaving only to venture out for beignets or a visit to the Kids' Tent.  Charlie was in charge of taking the boys to use the port-o-potty, and he got major props from the crowd, and from this Mama.  

I am so thankful to have the opportunity to experience Jazzfest as a family.  The boys were exposed to so many varieties of music (and people!) over just a few days.  There's nothing that devlops a greater appreciation for musicians and their craft like seeing a live performance.  

 

Some tips on taking the kids to Jazzfest, for future reference:

• Kids tickets are only $5! (Adult tickets are $65 at the gate, $50 in advance)
• The tents (Kids', Jazz, Blues, Gospel) are better venues for kids to experience the music.  They can be closer, see the musicians, and hear the music with fewer distractions.  There's less room to dance, but most folks make room for a little guy who needs to get his groove on.
• Arrive early and grab something to eat while the lines are short and the crowds are thin.
• Plan on moving from one snack to the next:  beignets and chocolate milk, snowballs, and peanuts all were big hits.
• You are welcome to bring in snack if you have kids.  I had a huge lollipop for each boy and it kept them busy long enough for me to enjoy a few beers and chat a bit.

My Poboys

Both boys love shrimp, especially when it's a fried shrimp poboy.

City Boy

Surprisingly, Hans was very interested in the lizard Papi caught,

Thankfully Papi didn't attempt to hang the lizard from his ear. 

but ran out of here screaming "Scared of butterfly" and nearly in tears.

Spending time outdoors and out of the city is at the top of our to-do list this summer. 

Suburban Supermarket

Rainy Day Beignets