New Orleans and Mexico Cruise!

We just got home from a wonderful vacation, and our first cruise! We started with a few days in New Orleans and enjoyed walking around the French Quarter, taking the streetcar to church (which was all locked up for Stake Conference in another building!), getting showered with beads and light-up things by a passing parade, and trying new foods. We also rented a car for a day and drove about 1 1/2 hours from the city for an airboat swamp ride and a plantation tour.

Jon and I enjoyed trying jambalaya and gumbo and all of us (except Jacob who didn't try them) loved the French beignets!

At our hotel swimming and after the random parade that passed by us on our walk!

Swamp with an alligator and lizards, airboat ride and holding a baby alligator, and Whitney Plantation tour with a look at how life might have been for slaves years ago.

After a few days in New Orleans we embarked on our first cruise aboard the Carnival Elation! We all loved it even more that we thought we would!

The Imagination Dining Room (we loved our server Wanchai and tried lots of yummy new foods), our stateroom, ocean views, and "Elegant Night" in the Dining Room.

Our first port was Progreso, Mexico. We took a tour bus to Uxmal and enjoyed exploring the Mayan ruins. The kids were also excited to catch butterflies and grasshoppers and take turns taking pictures.

Back on the ship enjoying the WIND and Camp Carnival for the kids.

Our second port was Cozumel, Mexico and we had a wonderful day there at Chankanaab National Park. We watched a sea lion show, snorkeled, played at the beach, held parrots, and SWAM WITH DOLPHINS! It was amazing!

Back on the cruise ship the water was choppy on the way home and we all had bouts of dizziness and nausea but we still enjoyed a green eggs and ham breakfast, towel-folding lessons, and unlimited ice cream at the buffet! Jacob was a pro at making tall cones and Katie ate at least 10 ice cream cones during the cruise! 

It was so much fun, and we are already talking about where we should go on our next cruise :)