who dat!!

I found out that the New Orleans Saints were having an open practice this past weekend open to the public. So I told my Dad about it and kinda made him go and sit in this nice southern heat with me. Practice started at 10:15 a.m., so we decided to go a little early....well, I thought we were going early! We got there around 9:30 a.m. and the place was packed!! I mean people already had filled up the bleachers and were standing, crowding around every corner! We got lucky though...we happened to find some space in the middle of the bleachers around the 30 yard line. They happen to be great seats for scoping out the talent on the football field.
The fans...the die hard fans, were dressed in anything Saints...jerseys, hats, shirts, black & gold something...you name it. Cheers and oooohhhhhs and names of players were some of the sounds of this over packed crowd!! And at one point, everyone started chanting Who dat...who dat...who dat say de gonna beat dem Saints...who dat!! People around us were checking out and whispering about who's who, from Skyler Green (LSU) to Robert Meachem to Drew Brees to Colston to Simoneau to Fujita to Henderson....well, you get the point! ;) It was so fun to see them practice and such. Here are a few photos I captured while there. Well, ya'll know how much I love football, so there might, just might be a few more than a few! Hope you don't mind! ;)

Coach Payton meeting up with Brees...

Shockey is one BIG boy!


Reggie Bush hanging out on the sidelines... (He didn't play around much.)



I didn't realize how big Colston was!


Offense...


Defense...


A little play action...





Scott Fujita warming up!

Tom Benson driving by Mardi Gras style in his golf cart... ;)

Sean Payton doing a little observing...



One of my favorites of Drew Brees!




Matt Simon...rookie out of Northern Illinois - WR.



Henderson just caught a pass...



Skyler Green catching one with Meachem and Harper looking on!



Meachem's turn...

The quarterbacks (in red, of course)...

Simon...



Fujita doing his thang!





Love this one!


Future player?!...


Many thanks to my Dad for sweatin' it out with me! ;)
Oh and I wanted to give a shout out to the Boyz for selling out the Superdome once again for this next season! Holla!

almost busted!

A little history:  The Chalmette Battlefield....where the Battle of New Orleans took place...was a historic battle in 1815 where the Americans, led under General Andrew Jackson, defeated the British (known to be a much bigger and better army).  It was said to be an unnecessary battle since the War of 1812 technically ended in 1814, when the treaty was signed.  This day, January 8 (1815) was celebrated for years and years just like the 4th of July, because the Americans took so much pride in winning this battle against a much better army.  

Here's another tidbit of information for you:  Jean Lafitte, who was a pirate, was actually recruited by General Andrew Jackson to help us in defeating the British.  And from what I understand, he played a key role in our victory!

This battlefield is located just a few miles (I believe about 7 miles) down the river from New Orleans.  It was just amazing to see such a historic site like this one.  Especially with all the history that's here in New Orleans.  The place I call home.

FYI:  I'm not that much of a history buff!  I tend to forget a lot of dates and such.  :)  Oh well, thank goodness for the internet, and my parents, so I could get all my facts right.

Here's where the Americans stood (behind this wall) awaiting the British soldiers...


Here's a monument on the site that can be seen from the river.  We decided to climb the stairs to the top of this.  Don't ask me why!  I just started hiking up this spiral stairway....just so you know, that happens to be 102 feet of stairs!

I don't blame anyone for NOT wanting to climb all these stairs!  So here's a photo of them....mainly for proof that I made it to the top....and just to show what you are missing or not missing.  In other words....so you don't have to climb them!  I did it for you!  Ya'll can thank me later!  ;)

And here's a view from the top!

If you look close enough, you can see a ship sitting here on the Mississippi River...

So after that little adventure, I somehow managed to make it over to this beautiful plantation.  Yes, I know I shouldn't admit this, but my legs were feeling pretty much like jello after all those stairs!  And to give myself a little credit, I did also have my 2 mile walk this morning with my Dad.  ;)

Notice the levee right behind the house...

We decided to venture up to the levee and found this old riverboat dock...that is obviously not in use anymore.  Someone had cut the police 'caution' tape entering this pier.  And see where all those trees/bushes are covering the walkway, well there's a gate there with a padded lock with a sign saying something like no trespassers and something about you will be prosecuted....  Can't quite remember.  But lucky for us someone had pulled back part of the chain link gate and left a nice hole so that we may duck thru to reach the end of the pier.   And what a view it was!  Well worth breaking a few rules!

It was such an amazing view of the river that I had never seen before.  But it was also a little eerie being on that ledge so close to this famous, yet dangerous river.  

I made a joke to my Dad about this little boat that was passing by us:  Look Dad!  It's the police coming to arrest us!  We laughed about it as we happened to notice that it was just a little tugboat!  

*Notice the Greater New Orleans bridge a.k.a. the Crescent City Connection behind it.  Very cool!

True story:  After a few moments here, I decided to join my Dad back on the levee.  Back on solid ground.  And just in time too!  Another boat cruising much faster than the little tugboat, was heading for our direction.   Yep, it was the coast guard!  And no, I didn't get a picture of it...because, well, it made me nervous!  Seriously!  I was trying to be all incognito!  But then when I realized we were 'safe', I said Dang it Dad!  I didn't get a picture!  I was too busy trying to figure out my gettaway plan!  I was worried about getting busted or arrested!  Yes, people!  They came that close to us!  So ya'll will all have to take my word for it!  

(I totally believe that whoever was on that tugboat made a call in about us being there.)  ;)

Well after that excitement, we headed over to the cemetary...

I am so glad that I was able to visit this historic place and brush up on my history facts!!

the cancienne's...

My cute niece, Kerrie, and her very cute family have been natives of New Orleans their whole lives.  But an opportunity has presented itself for them to relocate to Nebraska.  Yes....I said Nebraska!  Now I know, it's just a 'tad' different than New Orleans, but what a great new adventure for them to meet new friends and experience a whole new side of the country.  They might actually have to buy some coats!  ;)

Well, Kerrie called me the other day and asked if I wanted to go hang out with them at The Riverwalk and The Aquarium.  Of course I said yes!  Any chance to go downtown and hang out with family is always a good thing.  We had fun chasing kids around and seeing a few sites.  I brought my camera along, of course, to document the fun day.  Here are a few snapshots of them that I was able to capture while roaming about...

Here's little Miss Kaelyn who loves striking a pose for the camera...

The adorable Miss Morgan who is always so curious and always on the go...

The ohhh so cute baby Jackson...

Did I mention this little one was always on the go!  She couldn't sit still for anything!  But she's still the cutest thing ever!  I love this one of her trying to sneak away...

Aren't these kids soooo cute!!

Yep, we're playing around the railroad tracks!  (Don't tell mom!)  ;)

We headed over to The Aquarium for some more fun!

Now if any of you have ever gone to this aquarium and have never gotten your picture taken in this shark jaw, then there's something wrong with you!  ;)

I had to get one of the shark tank!

I mean seriously....do they really need all those teeth?!

I absolutely love these last two of Morgan!  She's such a little daddy's girl!  I love it!

Thanks Kerrie, Ryan, Kaelyn, Morgan, and Jackson for letting me tag along with ya'll for a few hours!  It was so fun!  Many prayers and wishes of good luck are coming your way from all of us on your new journey to the mid-west!

I love all of you so very much!