A Day in the Quarter

Kenny, Riley, and I spent last Friday in the French Quarter. Nola and QP were also there, and UJ even left school for a little while to join us for lunch. We ended up eating outside in the little courtyard at Sylvain, which was a great choice. The food was great, but the weather was even better.

We had such a nice, relaxing meal; I like that place more and more each time I go. Riley seemed to enjoy it too, although that could be because UJ gave him his first taste of crostini:

    

After Sylvain, the three of us said goodbye to UJ (who reluctantly went back to school), as well as Nola and QP (who needed some sister time), and we walked over to the aquarium. I used to work there, and I have been wanting to take Riley to see all of the animals for a while.

 

He was a little sleepy on account of being awake a little too long, but he was a trooper. He was pretty wide-eyed most of the time we were there, staring at the fish swimming around in their different exhibits and the penguins floating on the water in their enclosure.

And had he not been wearing what I put him in that morning I may not have done this, but I couldn’t resist plopping him on top of the frog prince since he matched:

We ended our visit in my favorite part of the aquarium, the Gulf of Mexico exhibit. When I worked there, before the doors opened to the public, I used to go sit on the bleachers for a few minutes and just watch all of the GOM animals swim around. It’s so peaceful in there when there aren’t a bunch of kids running around!

By the time we were finished walking through the aquarium, Riley was way tired and had obviously had enough, although he didn’t get real fussy like I expected. He fell asleep in his stroller before we got to the car and was completely sacked out for most of the ride home.

I’m so glad I could introduce him to the place I was so involved with for over two years, and I’m even happier that he seems to really like anything to do with water. He’s certainly his momma’s boy when it comes to that. However, after watching him study his toys the way he does, it is obvious he has just as much of his father in him.

Maybe he’ll grow up to be a marine engineer.

Now THAT would be cool.