Thanksgiving Recap

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week! Bekah and her roommate, Rachel, arrived around midnight Tuesday and we didn't slow down much the whole time they were here. It's always fun having someone in Baton Rouge for the first time because it makes me look at things different and enjoy a few things that I forget we have.

Wednesday was spent around Baton Rouge - downtown and LSU. We had lunch at Po'boy Lloyds - yummy! Then we went to the Shaw Center terraces to get a good view of the river. The Old State Capitol sits across the street from the Shaw Center and since it had been forever since we had been in it, we decided to check it out.

Hard to believe that Mark Twain called this the "ugliest building along the Mississippi"!

From there we walked down to the levee and walked along the river for a while and then headed to the State Capitol grounds. No trip downtown is complete without going to the "top" of the capitol, so of course we did that too.

Bekah and Rachel outside the State Museum on the Capitol Grounds

We went through LSU on our way home and got out to see Mike the Tiger. There were a lot of people around his cage, but he was taking it easy. Justin came home Wednesday evening and we all went out to eat. It was great having him home too. Melissa had to work, so she wasn't able to come with him.

Thursday was spent cooking, cleaning and eating way too much. Friday morning we got up and headed down the Acadiana way. We went to Avery Island. It has been a while since I've been there. There weren't many alligators, birds or flowers to see this time of year, but it still was a fun trip through the jungle. We toured the Tabasco plant, even though it wasn't running. But we did walk away with our miniature bottles of Tabasco.

Pretty much the only wildlife we saw on Avery Island

From there we drove to Lafayette and went to the Acadian Village. We had not been there since Bekah was in 1st grade. I will not be in a hurry to go back. It was ok, but I'd just as soon stay here and go to the Rural Life Museum. We got back to Baton Rouge in time for the end of the LSU-Arkansas football game - GEAUX TIGERS!! That was a nice win that hopefully will put them in the Rose Bowl, but I digress...

Saturday we got up early and headed down to New Orleans. We walked along the river, ate beignets and drank coffee at Cafe Du Monde. From there we went to the French Market and walked in the Quarter some. We drove through the Garden District then headed home.

It was a short trip because LSU was playing basketball at 3 that afternoon. We headed out to the game and really thought LSU was going to win it, but they went cold on free throws, had too many turnovers, etc. and lost by 4 to Wichita State. It's early in the season and hopefully it will help them in the long run.

Sunday Bekah and Rachel headed back to Conway and that afternoon I pretty much just laid around the house. Things are pretty quite around here for now, but at least it will soon be packed again for Christmas!