with all our traveling, we got in a couple of field trips during our first 2 weeks of school.  while visiting mark's parents in louisiana, mimi treated us to a visit to new orleans with a visit to cafe du monde for beignets and aquarium of the americas.  i hadn't been downtown since katrina.

cruising along the riverwalk

luke and lydia watch some big sharks swimming around the oil rig set up in the gulf of mexico exhibit.

at a local state park, the kids were fascinated by an animal rescue station and shelter for non-releasable animals.  below, luke enjoys feeding a pony at the petting park.