Zoo, Boys, Grace and a Drink

Some weeks ago we headed down to New Orleans and the Audubon Zoo for a field trip with several other home schooling families from our church.  

We ended up being a small group compared to our trip two years ago.  I think the cool temperatures scared off a bunch of people, but we ended up having a great day.  

Andrew spies a white Bengal tiger.

Peter - not checking out the elephants.  

Jon selfie.

Grace was having fun on her first trip to the zoo.

Baby alligators in a tank in the gift shop.  The kids could stick their heads up through the tank.

Hmmmm.  

I think the baby alligators were scared.

I think if he reached over he could have grabbed one.

Brian found a cool walking stick in the gift shop as well.

Some ninjas we encountered along the way.

Alyssa and Matthew hanging out.

Bunch o' kids.

Peter.

In other news . . . 

The boys got dressed up fancy for dinner.  We were having bowtie pasta.

Grace is adorable and is walking now.  She has taken up to 18 baby steps in a row.  I know because at least 6 people are watching and counting her every step.

And finally, 

Andrew makes the best glass of ice water in the lower 48.  Just the right ratio of ice to water.  

Stay tuned for Grace at Chik-Fil-A -  you won't want to miss it.

Insectarium!

On Tuesday we drove to New Orleans to visit Audubon's Insectarium.

It was a long drive but Matthew passed the time by stealing Grampa's hat.

There was a long hallway with lots of little bug displays.

Red Swamp Crawfish - different KIND of red . . . (inside joke)

In front of the cave.

Sitting on a worm.

Cockroaches in the kitchen.

James was pondering something here.

Termite

baby alligators

  

There was a bug costume thing to stick our heads in.

There were some games - I totally beat James at this by the way.

After some of us went to the theater we met in a room filled with mounted bugs.

Pretty cool room full of bugs.

Daddy picked up Matthew so he could see the butterflies.

James is pondering again. 

Matthew ready to hit the butterfly room.

The boys, Daddy and Grampa at the Koi pond.

Butterflies eating fruit.

Butterflies on the window looking out at Canal Street.  

Pretty

I was there!  Gracie was sleeping in the sling.  

She was awake on the trip there, slept all through the museum, and then woke up again for the van ride home.  Silly girl!

After all of his pondering, a butterfly landed on James.

Daddy and Matthew hanging out in the butterfly room.

Of course after we left the butterfly garden we ended up right in the 

gift shop!

Shopping

More shopping.

Before we left we backtracked a bit to find this place where we could touch some bugs.  

Ewwww!

Matthew working in the Field Camp.

We had a good time!  Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, I forgot the big camera at home so we took these with the cell phone.

Stay tuned for more adventures with Gramma and Grampa - coming soon!