SUMMER 2012 VACATION

We were able to take a vacation this year!! Yay!!! I was so excited!! We decided to visit family in Louisiana and visit Destin. I have heard such great things about Destin so I had to check it out. Ricky has family in Louisiana he has not seen for over 20 years!! Thanks to facebook we were able to get reconnected. We spent 3 night in LA with Ricky's brother Barry and sister-in-law Darla. They were incredible hosts. On Sat we went to New Orleans. I have never been and really wanted to see it. I love the city and am looking forward to going back and exploring some more of it. Including the night life and plantations. So much history. Sunday we went on a swamp tour in Slidell. It was very informative and fun. What a neat experience seeing the alligators close up. Our tour guide, Melvin was a hoot. We still imitate/talk about him to this day. We really enjoyed meeting the family and just fell in love with them.
Monday - Fri afternoon was spent in Destin Fl. It is only a 4 hour drive from Slidell. How awesome is that! We truly enjoyed Destin. I was not disappointed. The water was gorgeous!!! We had a little surf couple of those days, but my favorite were the days of no surf. We snorkeled, boogie board, ate on the boardwalk, went on a sunset cruise and watched dolphins play in the wild and swam some more. Such a beautiful place. I would love to retire there or get a little condo now!!
Fri - Sun was spent at Barry and Darla's campsite in Louisiana. They gave this little place in the middle of no where, right on the river. So peaceful. Ricky even got to fish. According to Darla he caught the biggest fish that has been caught of the dock.
We had an incredible 9 days of vacation!!
(warning lots of pictures)

Entering LA for the 1st time. 

New Orleans red dress run for charity. 

Ricky's brother he hasn't seen in 26 years!!

Kids with Aunt Darla and Cousin Amber. 

Getting ready to ride their first street car. 

                                                              1st Beneigt

                                                            so yummy!!

Hana being silly

being silly

Oldest Baptist church in N America. Beautiful. 

One of the many statues. Lil Ricky went near it and it moved and scared him 1/2 to death. 

Swamp tour!

Basking in the sun

Drive through Daquiri!!!! So good

Hana swimming to daddy

We found a pirate

Having a relaxing vacation

Having a snack on the beach

Our matching pedicures

Loved my hat!

Loved our view!

Eating lunch with a gorgeous view

Snorkeling! Due to my research I found where the tour excursions take the tourists and was able to do it for free. Short distance from the condo. 

We got a tip to bring frozen peas. It worked. The fish came flocking and were a little aggressive. They bit our belly buttons - ow

Hana snorkeling with daddy

Getting ready to go on the sunset cruise

Loved watching the Dolphins jump and play. There was even a mommy with her baby. 

The board walk

Hana goofing around

Biting daddy

Learned a thing or 2 going to MMA with daddy

Enjoying a snow cone

Enjoying the best grouper sandwich on the board walk - according to the sign

 

catching some air

kids being silly

The campsite.

We saw an armadillo and possum while smoring

yummy fish fry!! We had to do plan B and buy the fish.