New Orleans! The Day Life.

I'm splitting New Orleans into two parts.  The day life and the night life, because it was just too much to do it all in one post.  So I'll begin with the day life.

So the first day we arrived we decided to tour Tulane University to get a glimpse of the campus.  It actually is really pretty.  Old buildings and lush green.  

 

A tree they have on campus is COVERED in madri gras beads.  There were literally thousands in this tree.  I don't know what the tradition is in regards to it, but it was pretty cool.

An upwards glance.

This is how we got around.  A streetcar.  Although we did plenty of walking too.

Us riding a street car.

The French District.  The oldest part of New Orleans.  Its absolutely gorgeous.  The buildings are so old and beautiful. Plus this was the happenin place to be in New Orleans, I'll talk more about the French District in my night life post.

Music.  All throughout the city was music.  Its in the cities blood.

The Garden District.  Built to rival the French District and is lined with beautiful mansions and of course gardens.  We rode through the Garden District every time we went to Tulanes campus.

A look at the French District from the eyes of the Downtown Tulane campus, where the School of Public Health and Medicine is.

A plaque in the school building indicating the water line from Hurricane Katrina.  Two of Brad's professors that we spoke too, lost their homes.  Including Professor Rando whom I posted a picture previously.  It was incredibly sad speaking to them and how devastating Katrina was and still is.

This was the only building I found that still had damage from Katrina.  The city has done a wonderful job rebuilding the city, and you'd never know that just a few years ago the city was under water.  Though the city itself is alive and vibrant you could still feel the devastating effects it has had on the local residents.

Us in our lovely hotel.

A wedding procession down the streets of New Orleans.  The marching band here is the same marching band that was at Brad's graduation earlier that same day.  They must be in popular demand.

Food.  Oh my goodness!  Now I know why people say they are famous for their cuisine.  New Orleans has food that you dream about, because its so good!  Red beans, corn chowder, beignets, the list goes on.  I even tried food that I normally would never eat.  I had duck.  It was smothered in this yummy red sauce, mmmmm...  I guess to be totally honest the only reason I ordered duck is because Brad ordered it one night and I had a bite and loved it so then ordered it another night.

We went to an ice cream place down by the campus that had odd flavored ice cream.  Brad saw it on Diner Drive-ins and Dives, and I got Lavender Honey ice cream, corn black pepper something or other, and Brad had salty carmel.  It was really good, and really strange.

Brad ordered BBQ shrimp.  Complete with heads and tails that you had to rip off.  The waiters even put a bib on you.  I couldn't do it, because I don't like seeing my food as what it looked liked when it was alive (especially with the eyes staring back at me), but Brad loved it.

Now this place is the place I'll always dream about.  We went here for Sunday brunch and I had chicken and gravy.  Oh how I wish I could just drink that gravy.  I probably could have eaten there every day and tried every dish they had.

Cafe Du Monde where their famous beignets are served.

We went to the Bayou Boogalo festival which was a food and jazz festival.  I was a little disappointed, I guess I was thinking it would be bigger and better then what it actually was, but the music was really good.

and who could not go to the Mississippi River without going on a steamboat ride?

St. Louis Cathederal, the oldest Catherderal in North America, from the view of the Mississippi River

View of the City

The steamboat ride lead us to the site of the New Orleans battlefield of the 1812 war.

I told Brad that New Orleans would never have been a top choice on "places I have to see before I die," but I am SOOOO glad I had a reason to visit.  The food, music, and the vibrancy of the city can't be found anywhere else.  It was such a wonderful trip and a much needed break for both Brad and I.

Brad's Graduation

Tulane University sure knows how to Graduate!  It was two full days of celebrating and it was fun!

We started out the graduation ceremonies by attending a luncheon/get together for all the Public Health distance learning graduates where we got to meet Brad's professors.  Then after the luncheon we raced to attend the Public Health's award ceremonies where Brad received an Academic award.  We arrived at the ceremony and saw a bunch of trophies and plaques and I thought "wow! Thats nice, Brad is going to get a trophy just for grades!"  Unfortunately Brad just got a certificate, but in all fairness those that got the trophies were students who went to second world countries to help with AIDS etc... so I guess they deserve the trophy, because Brad did all his work from the comfort of his own home. 

I was so proud of Brad for earning this award.  Out of hundreds of students only 8 received this academic award.  He worked so hard and definitely deserved to be recognized!

Then that night (I told you it was a busy two days!) We went to Tulane's Wave Goodbye (play on words since Tulane's mascot is the Wave).  The Wave Goodby was a party for all Graduates and their families filled with the most AMAZING New Orleans food and a jazz band.

We grabbed a bite of all the foods just to try them.  Mmmmmm my mouth is watering right now thinking about that corn chowder they had...

I even tried an oyster.  I'm not an adventurous eater so this was a big deal.  Now I can say I tried an oyster.  Did I like it. No, but at least I tried it right?

The jazz band.

The second day was game day, and what a better place to have a graduation then at the Superdome!

Just a picture in front of the Freeport McMoran building (Brad's work company)

Look how big and grand this is!  The ceremony was amazing, they go all out.  It was a very celebratory commencement.  They had a bagpipe procession, an amazing jazz band, "Trombone shorty" played, and the New Orleans director of music sang.  She was like an Ella Fitzgerald, man she could scat!  She was so good!

So in the past five years Tulane has had George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ellen DeGeneres speak.  I guess Ellen even showed up in her bath robe saying "she was told this was a ceremony where they wear robes."  So who do we get?  The administrator of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).  Which was kind of cool because she did have her own secret service, but still it was no President or no Ellen. 

Like I said they went all out.  They had fireworks, confetti cannons, beach balls falling from the ceiling.  All the students got a white handkerchief, and Tulane madi gras necklaces.

Like Utah States graduation ceremonies, they had a separate ceremony for your specific school in which you get the actual diploma. The Administrator of the EPA also spoke at Brad's school of Public Health and Tropical Medicine ceremony since the school celebrated 100 years.  Tulane was the first school in the nation to add a Public Health and Tropical Medicine department so it is the oldest and best in the nation.  Lisa Jackson (EPA) is a native New Orleans and a graduate from Tulane herself so she gave a really good speech.

Brad getting his diploma and shaking the hand of the Dean.  You may now call Brad Master.

The marching band that lead the procession of graduates into the ceremony.

Brad's shaking hands with Professor Rando.  He taught a lot of Brad's classes.

A picture of all the distant learning students:

Tulane has the nickname "Harvard of the South" and it really is.  I didn't know how prestigious this school was until I arrived.  Out of 37,000 applications only 1,700 students are excepted in.  Especially since after Katrina the University has gained a lot of prestige with all the hands on schooling that the students do to help rebuild New Orleans.

I'm so glad we went!  For Brad it made the end of school seem final.  Now we can sit back and relax...oh wait he just told me he wants to get his safety certification.  sigh.  Maybe one day.

A video of some of the music played at the ceremony.

7 Months

Weight: 16.5 

Don't worry I'll blog about New Orleans soon, it just seems like a daunting task and I thought I'd start with something small and easy like brag about my darling boy!

We were gone for 6 days in the Big Easy (aka New Orleans) and I could not believe how much Tanner changed!  He's a chunk now.  He put so much weight on.  This stubborn kid would not take a bottle to save his life so he was on a completely solid food diet while I was gone.  I've been back a day and I thought he would take right too me, but no.  He fights even me and won't nurse.  According to the internet and a lactation consultant at the hospital, Tanner is on nursing strike (apparently he's mad I left him).  It usually lasts 2-5 days so hopefully this "strike" ends soon because this boy needs milk!

Not only did Tanner gain a lot of weight he is also more mobile.  He scoots around a lot faster and is rocking on those knees.  He's also trying to pull himself up onto things and is also more verbal.  He is very aware of his surroundings and gets scared when Brad raises him in the air.  He's very smart little baby.  He's my little cutie patootie!

6 Month Comparison

So today I tried to recreate Carson's 6 Month Pictures with Tanner, not only because they are darling pictures, but so I could compare how similar they are.  

Carson

 Tanner

Aren't my boys so handsome?  They are definitely siblings, but have their own look.  I just love 'em!