ELEVEN

About 30 seconds into Spring Break, Matt and I dropped our kids off at their cousins house and high-tailed it to Louisiana for the weekend. 

We stayed at a bed and breakfast that was not lacking in character. 

2022 week eleven

 

On Saturday we just happened to stumble upon a Gumbo competition. For a small price we got to sample almost a dozen different types of gumbo and vote for our favorite. My vote went to the alligator, crawfish, chicken, and sausage. Matt's went to the venison, pheasant, sausage over potato salad. It was the most Louisiana thing we could have done on a Saturday afternoon in Shreveport. 

Giant ice cream tube. 

We got Uncle Darrin a crawfish hat for his next boil. Matt had to model it first. 

Matt and I took a brewery tour of the Great Raft Brewing company. A brewery tour is really fun. We learned a lot. 

Everyone who heard we were going to Shreveport asked if we were going to gamble on the river boats. No. We're not gambling people. If we're going to throw our money away it will be on tasty food. But it was fun to walk around a casino to watch some of the games. 

Matthew in front of the one million dollar wall at the Horseshoe Casino.

Some very tasty and very *authentic* pho. I learned that I am not as adventurous an eater as I would like to appear. I could not handle strips of tripe and chunks of just fatty ligament. Nope. nope. nope. 

We went to the alligator park and petting zoo on our way out of town. The lemurs were not for petting, but they were fun to look at. 

This little pony would stamp his hoof against the fence whenever anyone walked by in order to get some pity treats.

The kangaroos were the most fun. They had sweet little sleepy faces and they were as soft as rabbits. 

The highland cow was one of our favorites even though he was very slobbery. 

I wasn't brave enough to touch the emus. 

At the end we got to hold an alligator. This little guy was only six years old. 

We got the kids the grossest souvenirs: alligator foot back scratchers. Not surprisingly, they ADORED them. They love it even more because I cannot handle being touched by them. So naturally, Theo keeps sneaking up on me to touch me with them. 

When we passed through Longview, TX on our way home, we stopped for lunch at Fat Boyzzz. We were lucky enough to happen to be there for soul food Sunday. Holy smokes that fried chicken and those turnip greens! I wish I had another plate right now. 

Quotes:

Theodore

Me- "Do you want to go out to eat tonight?"

Theo- "Can we please go somewhere where they serve cactus?"

Veronica

Me- "Stop brushing your hair and go to bed."

V- "But my bangs need a professional touch."