Thankful for Mardi Gras!

If you would have told me several years ago before we moved here that I would be thankful for Mardi Gras I would have laughed long and hard and told you that you were crazy. Here's my thinking on the matter... Any holiday which grants me three days of no school where time with your family is in encouraged is great in my book! Saturday we got up as a family a little early packed a picnic lunch and headed to the parade route we lucked into a parking spot that we could back the car into pop the hatch and "camp out" a few feet from the parade baracades. The kids played crazy eights, blew bubbles, and people watched until the parade began. Once the parade started it was raining beads, cups and stuffed animals. All three of the kiddo's were catching as fast as they could and loved every minute of it. We returned home around 3 in the afternoon, where everyone took naps. It was a fun day.
On Tuesday, Rhett had to work :( but the kids and I headed down to the parade route again found a great spot and hung out for the day. We had a picnic, the kids played hacky sack, drew with sidewalk chalk (which some fellow paradegoers so nicely shared) blew bubbles etc. Again once the parade started they had a blast, and were thankful for some great people around us that would catch and give to them, when one of them caught something there was always someone who gave them a high five and told them "good job". The day certainly was long (3 parades in one day) we got there around 8:15am and stayed til around 4pm.

I know public intoxication, and indecency sometimes abounds at such events, but we were quite lucky. Although we did see people drinking, none were doing so irresponsibly, no one was rude, it truly was a good community experience. Lafayette Mardi Gras seems to be laid back and perfect for families. We did observe a good number of police officers specifically walking the crowds looking for underage and out of control drinkers.

I have some cute pics of our trio that I will post in a little while. Today the boys are back in school and I am headed back tomorrow...but the little post Christmas break was quite a nice respit for our family.

School Events

All of the kids celebrated the Mardi Gras season at school as well. This was especially a welcome change for the boys, because at their previous school the principal ( who the kids liken to the principal in the movie Matilda) allowed no parties or celebrations for any events at school. So they were pumped that they got to make shoe box size mardi gras floats and pull them in their school parade. Ethan made a Ben 10 float and Aiden made a float with an elephant riding on it.


Aly had been doing activities for several weeks. They culminated their Mardi Gras season with the little girls (preK3, 4 and Kindergarteners) putting on a parade for the older girls. They walked through the gallery area of the school and were met by cheers and lots of "Throw me something Sister" from parents and other students, it was really cute, and fun for all.


I am thankful that all of the kids this year are in a school that embraces fun, and that they enjoy!

Uncle Jerry

When our family went to Thibodaux on Christmas Eve to go to mass with Aunt Lydia, she showed us the Magnolia Blossem in the picture above. At face value it seems like just a normal flower, but those several weeks in Louisiana we were experiencing unusually cold temperatures. Aunt Lydia shared that she had driven through the neighborhood and no one elses tree's had blossems. This was the only blossem on the tree.

I am still unable to express in words the magnitude of the loss of such an amazing person. At least one of the kids talks about Uncle Jerry daily, and it's usually some completely random great memory.

The Pin Ball Effect

I m betting by the title and the picture most of you (those of you with siblings especially) can fill in the story yourselves. One child was roughhousing with another child who inadvertently came into forceful contact with third child who got bounced into large hard piece of furniture! Two children got sent to bed early.

Sunday Afternoon Rodeo anyone?

This Sunday we headed to the rodeo...we all enjoyed it. The animals won this round, very few competitors were able to complete there roping, many riders got thrown to the ground.

So Cute!

One of the things we love about living in Louisiana is the culture. This picture is at Boutin's in Baton Rouge, it is one of our favorite places to eat...fabulous food, but always live music, and a dance floor. Ethan was so sweet and asked Aly to dance, and Rhett and I were pleasantly surpirsed when they actually danced rather than just running around. Aiden took this picture!

Mardi Gras Is Around the Corner

These are pictures from last Mardi Gras. Last year we were lucky enough to be asked to help throw beads for a local radio station that one of my good friends works for. We had a great time. I am thankful that Lafayette Mardi Gras is fairly mild, and very family friendly. The kids enjoy the parades, and really it's just a fun time. Aly's class will be having fun activities leading up to Mardi Gras once a week for the next several weeks, and I m on the books to bring treats on Wed. traditionally I would bring a King cake, but being practical the Mom's of the pre-kers decided cupcakes would be more practical.

And for all of you reading this blog thinking the Theobalds are taking the kids to parades where there is nudity and lot's of wildness..... um no it's really not like that. For a tidbit of info...the history of the king cake.
What's a King Cake, you ask? Well, let's find out. From the King Cake section of the Carnival FAQ:
"The King Cake tradition came to New Orleans with the first French settlers and has stayed ever since. Like the rest of Mardi Gras during those early days, the king cake was a part of the family's celebration, and really didn't take on a public role until after the Civil War. In 1870, the Twelfth Night Revelers held their ball, with a large king cake as the main attraction. Instead of choosing a sacred king to be sacrificed, the TNR used the bean in the cake to choose the queen of the ball. This tradition has carried on to this day, although the TNR now use a wooden replica of a large king cake. The ladies of the court pull open little drawers in the cake's lower layer which contain the silver and gold beans. Silver means you're on the court; gold is for the queen.

"With the TNR making a big deal over the king cake in the society circles, others in the city started having king cake parties. These parties particularly among children, became very popular and have also continued to today. The focus of today's king cake party for kids has shifted more to the school classroom than the home, however. Up through the 1950s, neighborhoods would have parties. One family would start the ball rolling after Twelfth Night, and they'd continue on weekends through Carnival. Whoever got the baby (the coin or bean had changed to a ceramic or porcelain baby about an inch long by then) in the king cake was to hold the next party. You can still hear stories from folks who were kids during the Great Depression of what their mommas would do to them if they came home with the baby from a king cake party, since so many families were short on money then.

"[Today,] schools and offices are the main sites for king cake parties these days. Someone will pick up a cake at the bakery on the way downtown and leave it out for everyone to grab a piece, or mom will send one to school on a Friday for the kids to share. You an always tell the locals from the transfers in any given office because the local knows what to do when he or she gets the baby. The foreigner just drops it on the counter or some such, and possibly might not even bring the next cake. Sacrilege."