Happy Mardi Gras!

If you ever get the chance, you should take a trip to New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras.  It is a fun time to be had that is just so overwhelming that it is difficult to describe.

I have been going since I was a child. First with my parents, then as I got older I went with various groups of friends and sometimes my sister.  I've even been lucky enough to do Bacchus ball. 

The past two years I  have been doing a little bit tamer, more family friendly Mardi Gras with my friend Jenny.  That doesn't mean it isn't any less fun! 

Saturday we went out to see Endymion.  Jenny's husband rides in this parade.  We took photos of him but due to the nature of his job, I am unable to post any pics of him.  However, I can post pics of the family and we had plenty of opportunities for pictures!

Lil Phil eating some cotton candy that Ms. Melinda bought.  (I am a firm believer in filling the kids full of sugar and then handing t hem back to the parents!)

Conner was so overwhelmed.  This wasn't even parade time but he was so busy people watching that he just held his cotton candy.

The Captain float for Endymion. This was as they were staging the parade.  Riders hadn't arrived yet.

Watching the staging of the floats.

Woo hoo!! Kelly Clarkson's float set up right in front of us!

Showing off their  Mardi Gras outfits! 

Our annual picture!  I promise Conner was having fun, even though it looks like he is miserable here.

I think this was one of the maids of Endymion.

Kelly Clarkson!!!

Kelly Clarkson and her fiance.

King of Endymion

I caught a football --while holding Phil on my back!

Sunday we went to Saint Stephens.  This is a church that for its annual fundraiser sells tables in their school's cafeteria that you can purchase for the day.  You are allowed to bring in food and drink or purchase food and drink from them that they sell.  We just choose to buy our food and drink, it goes to a good cause.  And the best part of this is that you have access to a clean bathroom!!  We saw 3 parades that day and I was one tired girl!!!  We watched Okeanos, Mid-City and Thoth.  Bacchus rolls after that but I had to get home since I had to work on Monday.

Jenny and Diane

Jenny and lil Phil

This is how we do it in NOLA!!!  Ladder time!

Some more ladders! 

The Walking Dead seemed to be a theme in the groups this year. 

A little line dancing to pass the time between parades.