vacation wrap up

We ended our trip yesterday, boy that was a looooong drive home! I nearly keeled over from being in the car with the whole fam.
The beach was wonderful.  Let me give a big shout out to Orange Beach AL!  Who knew what perfect beaches and water are a few states away?  Miles of sugary sand.  The water was clear, okay, not magical torquoise like the Bahamas, but very nice.  And, no passport required.  Plus, the prices are very much like home--not overinflated like popular tourist traps tend to be. We will be returning for sure. Two funnies:  When we first were dabbling in the waves Sunday night and the double red flags were flying, Mike actually said "I hope I haven't underestimated the strength of a tropical storm"!  Another one:  we were at a souvenir shop and Mike and I both reached out to rub Dillon's head.  But, it wasn't Dillon!  Another little Asian boy with a buzzed head was standing near us. No, we aren't saying all Asians look alike. It is just that where we live, there are not very many little Korean boys in the stores with us. 
Carter, Abby, and my 12 yr old niece Alyssa, parasailed.  Shana and I were a bit apprehensive at the thought of our babies dangling from tethers 800 feet from the boat...over an ocean!  But, it was their highlight of the trip.  Of course, no trip is a true family trip(at least our family) without Dillon vomiting his huge dinner into he plate.  He was just ovestuffed.
Thursday afternoon we walked around New Orleans for a few hours and met our long time friends for dinner there.  Not..A...Family...Place!  Dillon was scared of the street music and covered his ears.  Carter had to cover his eyes pretty much the whole 3 blocks of Bourbon street that we walked.  Several beggars approached us. I loved the old architecture and plan to go back someday,without children, to explore the Garden District.  Dinner was very good cajun food across from the riverboat. We just really didn't enjoy a place where sin and rebellion are celebrated.  The poverty and darkness was palpable. Our friends, however, were delightful.  They work at a Christian school and are so warm, hospitable, and funny.  Our kids walked in their house like they owned the place.  Dillon even lost a tooth that night!
Side note, that is not interesting to anyone else, but quite perplexes me.  My scalp is sunburned and itches like crazy!!  Will it peel like my skin always does?