After K-State won the Big XII Championship in early December, we decided to make the trip down to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl - a perfect way to spend part of our Christmas break! On Dec. 28, we headed down south, stopping in Dallas for the night. Since our hotel was near a Top Golf, we tried it out for the first time. You can tell how it went by the score...but we all had a great time! And, we met a former KSU football player in the bay beside us - Cre Moore (we found out later that he actually played with Weston)! He was pretty certain that K-State could beat Alabama - too bad that prediction didn't come true!
The next day we made our way down to Louisiana-a 7 hour drive from Dallas. We stopped at Whataburger - hey, why not? When on vacation, eat like the locals, right? As we snaked our way down, we actually saw some sugarcane harvesting going on. It's always interesting to see how different crops are harvested. We also caught up to the K-State Marching Band's NINE busses!
After we finally arrived in Covington (north of New Orleans), we had been told that we should try The Chimes restaurant. It did not disappoint! We ate on the patio overlooking a cypress-filled swamp, and we had our first taste of Louisiana's food - jambalaya, red beans and rice, hush puppies, boudin (boo-DAN) balls, shrimp po' boy, and blackened alligator. It was all so delicious!
first bite of alligator coming...
red beans and rice
jambalaya
As we became more acquainted with Louisiana, we noticed an abundance of bridges crossing rivers, bayous, and just wet land in general. So. Many. Bridges.
The 25-mile bridge connecting New Orleans to the other side of Lake Pontchartrain
Our first full day in LA included severe thunderstorms, a tour of the Oak Alley Plantation, the Sugar Bowl Parade downtown, and the K-State pep rally. A full day!
The plantation was both beautiful and difficult.
The Big House
Rebuilt slave quarters
A fascinating story
gut-wrenching history (above and below)
This guide was pure Louisiana!
More slave quarters (many houses in LA are up on blocks like this)
Then it was on to downtown New Orleans for the parade - Mardi Gras style. You wouldn't believe what all they threw out from the floats: beads, beads, beads, cups, stuffed animals, COFFEE! This was a crazy scene!
Then, this purple wave of about 10,000 people headed to the convention center for the KSU Pep Rally.
New Year's Eve: The Main Event - Once we made it to the parking garage, we were happy to make our way to the SuperDome for the big game against Alabama. Some positives - the whole atmosphere, winning the first quarter, winning the half time band battle, eating jambalaya, meeting new people. Some negatives - we lost 20-45. That means every game we saw in-person this year was a loss. I guess we should have stayed home!
whistle lessons
Thought we would score here, but it was the beginning of the end...
SuperDome jambalaya - it was actually pretty amazing!
After the game, we explored the French Quarter, walked on Bourbon Street, ate beignets (finally), and just took in the weird chaos of the whole area!
Lots of powdered sugar!
Loved all these gas lights
KSU fans on the top floor
Musicians everywhere
I think this was a hotel that caught my eye
And New Years Eve Night? We hung out at the hotel, ordered pizza, watched football, and played Catan. I think we were all asleep before midnight (except me, of course, who did not sleep well on vacation...again)! We traveled back home on New Years Day - 14 hours in one shot.
I am so happy we made this trip work - it was a blast!
I have struggled with writing about the shooting in Hesston - in fact, I wasn't going to post anything about it. However, for the sake of memories, I decided I should at least touch on it. It does deserve a place. It just hit so close to home - particularly since Doug was directly involved. Honestly, I sometimes feel guilty for struggling with this tragedy. I wasn't there, I didn't lose anyone close to me, and, although I know a few people who work there, I didn't know any of the victims. And I get to move on with my life with little disruption. I feel like I am on the outside looking in. But I guess that's okay. I didn't have to be directly involved for this to touch me. My heart is sad for the families of those who died, for those who were injured, for those who witnessed it, for my brother-in-law who will probably replay images over and over, for my sister and my niece and nephew who might sometimes wonder "what if?", for th...
Chelan and I took Delaney to Kansas City for the championship game of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament - a birthday gift given to her in August. What a cool experience! From posing with the trophy to testing her vertical (6th place for all girls who tried!), to watching the match between Texas A&M and Kentucky, to a real life reindeer in the arena, we had a fun day!
We declared last week "Cousin Week" and went to see Cale, Mace, and Ty play football. We also watched Addi play volleyball. Three of those events were on the same day! I'm sure the girls feel like they have seen enough football to last a long time. Little do they know - Caiden will be playing in 2 short years and they will have to sit through a lot more of those! We did enjoy watching each one - watching their strengths come through, watching them interact with teammates and coaches. They are all growing up - just like our own three keep doing! How does that happen?? Now, if only we could magically appear in California for the other cousins' sports endeavors! Addi - already an 8th grader! Ty, a 5th grader - far right Good teammate Mace, also a 5th grader - #6 Cale, an 8th grader. #83 (white shirt)
Then, this purple wave of about 10,000 people headed to the convention center for the KSU Pep Rally.
Comments
Post a Comment