New Orleans Sept 2012

On our drive back to Utah we made a few stops. We drove through Louisianna a few days after hurricane Isaac hit and we couldn't believe it. They have built their freeways like one continuous bridge so that when the flooding comes in, the roads can still be used. Same with the power lines. They are all up on platforms. The water was right at the base of the road. The damage was just crazy. Full grown trees were snapped in half. Some of the exits and the cities off of those exits were completely flooded. We even saw an alligator swimming right off the freeway in the flood water. Our first stop was New Orleans. The restaurants were crowded because a lot of people were out of power so they came downtown to find a hotel or hang out in a restaurant to watch TV. This was probably our least favorite city we have visited so far and we have been to a lot of places. The week we were there, there was some type of Mardi Gras going on but it was for gays. We were looking for Bourbon St. so we asked a local lady. She looked at our girls and said, "It's one street over but it really isn't a kid friendly place right now." That's all we needed to know :). It wasn't our favorite city because it had a dirty feeling to it and all of the shops had very crude things in them, stuff to do with Mardi Gras. The food was good though :) We walked the river walk...

Took a break in the air conditioned restaurant and enjoyed some good food. John and I both tried new things. This is huge for me because I normally don't get anything out of the ordinary. I ordered jambalaya which was pretty good and John got gumbo and shrimp sauce.

Walked around the city...

The rainbow flags were everywhere because of the theme of the week. Madi loved the rainbow flags. John kept reminding her, "No we don't like those flags." Madi would say, "Yes I do love those flags Daddy!"

We got the girls Mardi Gras beads. They thought that was pretty cool.

Our pool on the rooftop of our hotel...

Goodbye Savannah

This was one of the things that made Savannah a cool city, the Tree Tunnels. Goodbye!

Keli's 26th Birthday!!

Man I'm getting old! It was such a good birthday though, just being with my cute little family. Birthdays are so much better with kids :)

We actually bought a new car the day before my birthday so I'm calling it my birthday present. We got a GMC Acadia that John and I both love. Now we can fit our new addition when SHE comes! I may have forgotten to mention last month...we are having another girl!!!

Myrtle Beach Aug 2012

Since we were only 4 hours from Myrtle Beach this year, John took a couple days off of work to go with his family. They go every year but we've never been able to go. We had a blast. It was such a good vacation, even if it was for only 2 days. Here are the kids waiting patiently to go to the beach...

Madi Boogie Boarding with Dad. She loved it!

John would just carry her out like this over all the waves...

everyone out waiting for a good wave...

Brynli's turn!! She was a little more nervous as you can tell haha...

I am 22 weeks prego in this pic..

The view from our balcony...

On our way out of town we went to the pier. The girls with Aunt Sandy (who spoiled us all rotten btw)...

Thank you Aunt Sandy! And Thank you Cliff and Eleanor for letting us come on vacation with you! The hotel was so nice and so fun right on the beach!

And thank you Andy and Katy for giving up your bed for the "pregnant lady". I felt so bad! You guys are so kind! I hope you guys slept better after we left. A pull out couch was not meant for a guy that is 6'6" haha.

Savannah Wildlife Refuge

This is where we went on Sunday drives. There were gators out everytime we went. This guy was probably about 12 feet. He has a creepy eye! Madi named him Swampy...

While we were standing on the bridge watching Swampy, 3 gators started creeping in. Here is a pic of two of them...

This is one of my favorite things about Savannah, the tree tunnels. I think they are beautiful.

The swamps are actually really pretty...

Watching another big gator that is behind them in the water...

Alligators are so fascinating they never get old to us!

Okefenokee Swamp Summer 2012

While Cliff and Eleanor were here we went to Okefenokee Swamp to see some gators.

This little guy was fiesty. It's kind of scary how fast gators are. They sit so still and look slow but they are so quick. This one whipped his head around and was hissing at the people when they got too close. It was so quick it scared me.

Watching a gator out in the water...

This is a trip that John took to Okefenokee in the off season when he was selling in Georgia. He had a lot more success then we did.

12 footer on the bank

4th of July 2012

For the 4th of July we went to downtown Savannah and watched the fireworks on river street. It was really neat. While we were waiting for Daddy to get off work we went to Walmart and the girls picked out some fingernail polish and some ribbon for their hair. We went home, painted our nails, and got a nap in before Dad came home.

We walked along the river...

Played in the fountains at Ellis Square to cool off...

Watching the boats while waiting for the fireworks...

Playing with their glow bracelets...

Almost time for fireworks!!