In February, we took a weekend trip to New Orleans to visit our friends (Alissa, Johnny and their triplets (Hudson, Lachlan, and Sebastian)) and to celebrate Mardi Gras. I wasn't sure how the kids would respond to the big festivities, but they loved all the parades. I think we're making this an annual tradition. Festivals, high school marching bands, giant floats beads, doubloons, dancers in the street, folks on horseback, block parties, live music, fire trucks, etc. - it was quite a delight for the kids (and adults!).
Saturday, we went to 3 parades on St. Charles Street. The theme of Krewe or Pontchartrain was "What's Eating New Orleans." The parade included
the U.S. Navy and Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as the Air Force Drum and
Bugle Corps. Following that was the Krewe of Choctaw and Krewe of Freret.
Later that evening, we went to the Krewe of Caesar parade in Metairie. Some of the floats were elegantly designed - there were also spectacular costumes, "
royal court," fiber-optics, neon and three-dimensional figures.
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| Alissa and Hudson at Saturday's parades |
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| Lachlan caught a "turd" and gave it to his dad, Johnny |
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| Simms had no trouble catching beads |
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| Milk in one hand; catching beads with the other. I like a multi-tasker. |
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| Jasper and Greg watch the big floats roll by |
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| 2 dads. 5 little boys. Everything under control. |
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| Hot dog, anyone? |
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| Mom (Nora) catching beads |
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| Look who we ran into at the parade... my mom and dad! |
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Big thanks for NOLA NOPD! My work associate, NOPD Officer Brown, hooked us up with
VIP parking AND our own personal Mardi Gras stands
NOPD let us use the back of their truck as a stand
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| Night Time parades in Metairie |
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| Krewe of Caesar Floats |
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| Simms waving to the float folks |
