April Accomplished

I called this post April Accomplished because really, a lot was accomplished this month.
Day 1: 
To start off, Dale and I joined four other couples and went to New Orleans. It was the National School Board Association Convention. It was quite an eventful trip. We left Salt Lake wearing warm jackets because of cold and rain and arrived in New Orleans where it was was warm and sunny! The group had a car and a van for our group and thanks to the GPS we were able to find our hotel.(we got in kind of late, so bed felt good).
Day 2:
We all met for breakfast and then were all able to go the World War II museum. It was pretty neat really and really made you have a deeper appreciation for all those that served in any way in the war. The government had the museum built there because of the boats that were built and used in the Battle at Normandy. The man who designed  these boats was from New Orleans.

After a quick lunch we went on a city tour and got off at the cemetery district  and walked around in the cemetery. None of the graves are in the ground. They have tombs and families use them. Some are real old. Pretty neat.

We also stopped off at the Garden District and tasted Beignets, a scone type treat that has powdered sugar on it.  We saw where Katrina had hit the area and how it had been rebuilt. The water level was way high in areas. I can only imagine the destruction that was done. Taking the city tour was a good way to get a feel for the area.

We walked to a restaurant for dinner where I had Gumbo and a Hoboy sandwich. True New Orleans food. It was okay.After that we went on a ghost tour. It was different, and maybe a little questionable on truth, but there are people who took it as doctrine. We did see some interesting people while on the tour. Then after the tour, to get back to our hotel we had to walk down Bourbon Street. The street was packed with people.I would describe Bourbon Street as a place where people go to party, get drunk and see a lot of skin. I was VERY uncomfortable walking down the street. We also found out that the Hulk Hoggan Wrestle Mania was going on in the town as well, so it was pretty crazy! There were quite a few policeman on patrol though so in that way I felt safer. The song "Hold to the Rod the Iron Rod" kept running through my head. Funny, right? Today was definitely an adventure.

Day 3: 
Those on the school board went to the conference so after breakfast the spouses met for breakfast in the hotel and then we walked to the Civil War Museum and checked that out, which again gave me an appreciation for those that sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

We then went back over to the World War II Museum again and went on the USS Tang Submarine Experience. We were each given a name of one of the people that were on that submarine and were able to experience the mission it was on that played a big part in the war as well. After we got off, we were able to find the picture of our person and read about them to see if they lived or died on that mission. My soldier lived.

On our way out we were able to visit with two veterans from WWII. A 97 year old ex-tank driver that was able to help when the war ended in the concentration camps.He had a very sharp mind and some very interesting stories. The other veteran was 91 years old and an ex-aircraft pilot. He was a delight to visit with as well.

We walked to the French Quarter District and saw the sights and saw the Mississippi River. We also saw a traditional wedding parade. The bride and groom were in front and a true Dixieland band was playing behind them was the wedding party following as they marched down the street. Those New Orleaners sure know how to celebrate.
We went to an open market and did a little shopping as well. We did ALOT of walking today!

Day 4:
The board members went to meetings again and the rest of us took the van out and drove to Plantation Alley. We toured two Plantation homes. The San Francisco and the Laura. Both had slave quarters on the grounds. It was pretty humbling and very interesting. They were very nice homes.
Then we met up with the group for dinner and just chilled in the room. It was nice to not be on foot all day again.

Day 3:
While the board members were in meetings the rest of us took the city bus to the Garden District and walked around. We saw some pretty nice homes and beautiful landscapes. We also walked around in the Layfeyette cemetery. It's a real old one with some really neat looking tombs. A lot of scary movies have been filmed in this cemetery.

We got back to the hotel and met up with our husbands. Dale and I went with Bart and Heidi Baird and we drove to the country and went on a Swamp Tour. 
A lot of the homes that were near or on water were on stilts, so the high waters won't ruin the house.

We saw blue heron, Egrets, a wild boar and her two babies and four alligators!! It was pretty neat and I loved the way the trees looked with the spanish moss hanging on the trees. 

Our boat driver stopped and lured in a couple of alligators and then fed them some hot dogs and then we stopped where the wild boar was and it came up to the boat right where I was sitting and put it's front legs up on the railing! A boar is not a very cute animal. The driver came and gave it a few marshmellows and then had to kind of push it off the boat. Pretty crazy!

The alligators got pretty close to the boat as well and those eyes are pretty scary. They just stare you down! 

It was pretty fun. We ate dinner in the town of Slideville and got back to the hotel glad we went. The rest of the group just went to dinner and then chilled in their room. We had an adventure!

Day 5:
On our way to meet the group in the lobby to load up the cars and head out. Dale and I saw a man going into the elevator on a gurney. A hotel security officer rode down in the elevator with us and we asked if he'd had a heart atack. The security guard said that he'd been beaten up and robbed 2 blocks from the hotel. They had parked their car down the street and were walking to the hotel. She couldn't understand why they'd done that because the hotel has parking (but it's valet only). His wife was ok, but pretty shook up. WOW! We all were grateful we were heading home. It was a fun trip, but not a place I'd desire to visit again.

We all arrived safely back in Utah and were glad to be home. There is no place like home!

Nate and Kim accomplished some hiking and  climbing in Yosemite.  Hard to believe that  isn't it?

Oh, and it's official----they'll be spending the next three years in Seattle, WA for Nate's residency. We'll be visiting them.


Jaxon turned 8 years old and was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, by his dad, Matt. He was pretty excited to take that next step. We were glad we could be a part of his big day.

We took Great Grandpa and Grandma Hansen along with us.

The men that were in the circle for his confirmation.

Andrew ran in a 10k run for his work and also made 800 fly hours! He even landed the helicopter in the Bass Pro Sports parking lot to grab a bite to eat. He's getting closer to his next move up.

All were able to get out and enjoy the sunshine and let loose a little as well. 

El loves to look at books and she has accomplished learning how to walk---watch out, she'll be on the run!

Zandra left her job at Olive Garden as a waitress and got a job with Delta as a flight attendant after flying to Georgia for an interview and being one of six that were picked among 1,300 applicants! Quite an accomplishment! Garrett's going have to adjust to being the cook and cleaner of their apartment when she goes back to Georgia to train.

Danica started training to be a server at The Bluebird, so now she can host and serve. She's liking the idea of tips and seeing the money each night. Gives her more determination to work as well as put some away. She's getting closer to her summer goal of having her school loan paid off before she starts up again! That would be a great accomplishment!!

In our Easter outfits

Finally......April is Accomplished!!!