Apologizing that there are out of order.
Our first Super Krewe parade. We were unbelievable lucky to park about a block away mid-day and have friends to pass the time before the parade. This was
You wait a few hours and there is even a warm up parade, and if you're lucky you keep your front row spot as people who haven't been waiting swarm in as the parade starts. I haven't decided if these people are rude or smart! There are police everywhere for fights and we saw a few as the crowds which can be 30-40 people deep flow into the road for floats and accordion back to the side of the street for bands to come by. I figured it was alcohol that was contributing to some of the little disputes that I saw...until there was a woman who told me how I kept bumping into her and I got defensive!! I think I was trying to solve the injustices of the world and put "butters" in their place as I said she was welcome to move away from me. Fortunately Jeremy stepped between us and I simmered down realizing how silly I was being!!! (I was pretty possessive of the front row spot I had saved all day though) We left a bit early to beat the crowd and ended up being able to watch the entire parade again LIVE on TV at home!
Lundy Gras brought a few more fun parades...and my mom and dad! It was a pretty cold night but we still went to Orpheus, Harry Connick Jr's parade. The guest "stars" were -
Add actors John Schneider ("The Dukes of Hazzard") and James Roday ("Psych") to the list of celebrities who will be riding in the 2014 Krewe of Orpheus parade. They join
previously announced celebrity monarch Quentin Tarantino, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind such films as "Pulp Fiction" and the New Orleans-shot "Django Unchained."
Schneider recently relocated to Louisiana and has opened a film facility --
John Schneider Studios -- in Holden, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Coincidentally, among Roday's movie and TV credits is a minor role in 2005's locally shot "Dukes of Hazzard" movie.
Orpheus, a local Carnival superkrewe, will parade on Lundi Gras -- which this year lands on March 3 -- along its traditional Uptown route. The parade will be followed by the traditional Orpheuscapade party at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, featuring musical guests that will include Cheap Trick and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Joining Roday on his float will be his "Psych" co-star Jimmi Simpson, who also appears in the comedy series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
The krewe's 2014 ride will pay tribute to honorary grand marshal Fats Domino, who will be represented by his son, Antoine Domino Jr., playing his father's music on a piano-equipped float. The Dixie Cups will also be riding on the krewe's Dolly Trolley, and musician Coco Robichaux will be represented on the krewe's 2014 doubloons.
We got tons more stuff especially glow in the dark throws, and then we jetted to the airport to pick up my mom and dad with lot's of souvenirs in hand!
Bright and early the next morning despite impending rain, we donned our Mardi Gras apparel and headed to the traditional Zulu Parade. When it wasn't raining it was tolerable, but when we got wet we got COLD!!! We still had a chance to see a little what Mardi Gras was like, but I soon learned my mom's plight in trying unsuccessfully to get throws. As soon as I put a kid down I got looked right over! It was nice that the crowd wasn't too big, we could get right up to the floats, and I didn't have to worry about pushing people around...but this time it was my mom who had a run in! Someone was trying to hand Ashlyn something atop Jeremy's shoulders and it started rolling down his arm, my mom tried to help out but another guy grabbed it and said something like, "that was for my son! I can't believe you would take that away from a child!" Good thing Jeremy was right there! We had a spot under the trees and one chair covered with umbrellas for someone to sit in. Ashlyn ended up falling asleep in the chair and then Ellia got hit in the face with the trademark throw....a coconut! She was crying and there was no where to console her out of the rain! It wasn't long after that we headed back to the car. - Jeremy was insistent that we hadn't given my mom and dad the best Mardi Gras experience so on our way home we stopped at a truck parade. Just the three of us got out and it was still a drizzle but man what a good idea! I had never been to a truck parade and the pace was much faster....things coming at us like crazy! Truck after truck! I even finally got the bag I had been trying for ALL Mardi Gras! My dad was "going long" for a foam football and tripped over a parking barricade falling all the way on his butt! The only thing I saw was the guy from the truck laughing with football in hand! He threw my dad the ball and it wasn't until we got in the car that my mom and I heard the story. We also made it back to the car with things like bags of Fritos and moon pies.
Passing the beautiful Oak Alley Plantation on our way to Nottoway for a tour.
Nottoway Plantation.
Nottoway Plantation survived the Civil War to become the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the South. It was pretty much pouring rain and Quincy was being a pest so Jeremy had to sit on the first floor with her while we had the tour. This is called the White Room. It was the ballroom, and the father of this family of girls had mirrors put up so he could see what his girls were up to at all times even if he was turned the other way!
We took a day to visit the nearby beach front town of Ocean Springs MS. The sea gulls there were pretty aggressive so we had some fun braving them by holding up bits of food (or throwing food nearby an unexpectant little girl). One time I finished feeding one and Ashlyn started to whine, we turned around and the blanket she had on had bird poop on it.
My dad always trying to get some funky pictures..he is trying to make it look my mom is holding something.
Quincy did NOT like the sand. She tried to keep her bare feet off it as much as possible.
Waiting for Endymion with friends.
warm up parade
the crowd breaching the street!
the loot
Dressing a little warmer for the Orpheus and Zulu parades.
great costumes
Nottoway gift shop...a bracelet becomes a crown.
One of our new favorite places to play. There is a mega Baptist church here with a huge indoor playland opened all day every day. It's clean, it's empty and its heated or air conditioned.....WE LOVE IT. It's also much easier to retrieve a child from these large structures than from a McDonalds playland!
Quincy is just starting to learn how to go down slides by herself and she loves it!
Ellia giving her tour instructions to us at Northlake Nature Center.
Jackson Square.
she must be tired.
Watch out there's a giant in the Barbie house!
Happy St. Patricks day. After a few days of warmth, IT WAS FREEZING.
Since it's also Jeremy's birthday we thought it would be fun to get supplies for a hot dog roast and s'mores cook out over the fire in the back yard.
What a great dad to get up in the middle of the night to change a diaper, just wish they were as effective twisted as they are straight.
We bought giant marshmallows for the birthday cookout and the girls used them to make some yummy shishkabobs, complete with LOTS of sprinkles.
Northlake Nature center...canoeing.
Listening to ranger Ellia's instructions and informative speech.
Sisters. Ash is pretty good at gently pushing Quincy in this swing.
Going back in time a bit with a neighborhood block party! We had the bounce house, hot dogs, fresh popcorn and the DVD premier of Frozen!
My princesses dressed themselves for our evening scooter ride on the Trace.
She has started climbing.
Our annual tour of Albertsons! Here's Ashlyn scanning groceries. This time we set it up for the Mandeville Mom's Club. Ashlyn has been begging to go back to see the milk monster and decorate a cupcake...she wasn't disappointed!
We were also introduced to Larry the Lobster.
B for banana! We learned that you can find a fruit or vegetable for every letter in the alphabet.
Ellia's school fund raiser called Pelican Palooza. She got to go and sing songs with the other Kindergarteners. We also had some dinner and played a few games. In the future we need to plan better...maybe even run the 5k in the morning!
In an attempt to recruit some businesses for Play Unplugged I went to a kids and family expo. Ellia loved it! There were some crafts that she got to do and of course lot's of swag.
A cake I made for an Eagle Scout court of honor.
Saying goodbye to one of our favorite missionaries, Elder Cayena. He was from California and the first two or three times we had him over for dinner I made Lasagna! It was a fun joke after that.
Tyson Perkes invited Jeremy on a charter fishing trip...yummy Red Fish to serve with red beans and rice!
State Bird...the Pelican, look how many there are.
Fun times, with a cute girl.
Daddy-daughter date.
Playing in some Louisiana mud. (its not hard to find)
Sunday best.
It's pretty common for these girls to struggle to fall asleep after prayers, stories and kisses, but this was a fun find when we came in to reprimand them one night!
