Mardi Gras

Another Mardi Gras has come and gone but as always we had a blasty blast! We are always so busy we haven't had much time to see any friends lately so we jumped at every opportunity this carnival season.

 Cefalu and Elizabeth. 

She's a tiny dancer. The girl can move. 

We love joining the Cafalu's for their annual Mardi Gras celebration and are anxiously awaiting their move back to the port. Just one more year! 

 Hud in ready position.

 The Jamison family joined us for Centaur.

 Squeezes

 The girls were ready to catch some goodies.

 Hudson loved the sirens and trucks.

 Baby K and Rep

 Arden slept through it all.

 My kids have got it down. Audrey caught her own beads this year.

 Sweet Anna 

 Audrey and Elizabeth

  Poor Hudson has my awful fake smile.

 My favorite from this year.

Gemini was fun, too. And warmer! And Audrey was less defeated by her awful seasonal allergies that night. Major plus!

 Love this one. She's in awe.

 The triplets ready for trinkets!

 And boy did they get a TON of loot this year. A man next to us gave them a lot of goodies, as did a cop behind us and some college kids across the street. So fun!

 running laps around Arden

 such a boy

 Again, Arden slept.

 My friend Sheri made adorable Mardi Gras shirts.

Lastly we braved the rain after church for Highland, always a fav.

 Our own little Noel Methodist parade on the way to join more friends.

 Some of my favorite Shreveport peeps, all in Wellies

 Straight from church so he was still in a tie. 

He caught his favorite treat- a Nutrigrain bar! He was stoked!

 Arden was awake for this one.

 Audrey yelling at the Princess float

 No shoulders required. They'd stand right up on the front lines and catch their own stuff.

Hudson passed out on the way home. The rain started right as we were walking back to our cars. (But at least it wasn't all the ice Dallas got that day.) Audrey just happened to catch a head scarf from a float, which was handy because Barker had forgotten her Mac at the back door. Hudson's too. Luckily they had worn their Wellies to church and Audrey had a trench in the car. So I used my golf umbrella to try to shield Hud Muffin from the rain but wasn't entirely successful. He was soggy, tired, and happy.

Three Months

I'm Gonna Miss This

     I have loved being a stay at home mom. I originally wanted 4 kids, all 3 years apart, so that I could keep a little one in my house as long as possible. But sadly, it wasn't up to me, like it is most women.

     I feel like I crammed a lot of fun into these pre kinder years. But I will still miss being able to take my sweet girl and do whatever I want with her, whenever I want. The zoo, library, movies, shopping, pedicures, museums, parks, play dates, swimming, ballet, Kindermusik, aquariums, fairs, arboretums, Little Gym, pumpkin patches, parades, puppet shows, petting zoos, road trips,etc. We had some great times.... all of which she'll never remember. But that was never the point anyhow. 

      These past 5 years have been hands down the best of my life by far. I will still be able to take Huddie and Arden to play and learn but I'll always feel guilty Audrey isn't there with us. I'll always miss her. I hate kinder because it very soon will steal my baby... and because it will force me to get up before 8am. 

     This past Friday we had beautiful weather so we made the most of it and crammed a ton of fun into the day. Sci-Port, a picnic lunch, the park to feed ducks and play on the ground, cookies during a Target run, pizza and movie night and an extra long bath time. I was probably more exhausted than the kids were because Barker was only with us for the pizza and a movie bit. The rest of the day I was alone with these hooligans. I am blessed beyond belief. 

     Audrey and Hudson driving the truck in the children's part of Sci-Port. 

     There was also a pirate exhibit. Hudson dug it! He's your typical pirate loving boy. 

       Firing cannons at opposing ships. 

               My ruthless mateys. 

                    I love them so.