MARDI GRAS!!

Down here, they have this little thing.
Called MARDI GRAS!!.
It's kind of a big deal.
For our introduction into MARDI GRAS!! some of our new friends helped us get started.  For one, we were given our first ever "King Cake", which is similar to a familiar (to me) Mexican tradition, but with a twist. 
We were told all about the holiday from those who have been here long enough to know, and we decided to jump right in.
Did you know that the birthplace of the MARDI GRAS!! parade is not actually New Orleans, but Mobile, Alabama.  Fact!  Since the New Orleans version of this celebration is just a teeny bit much for the under-threes, we decided to check out Mobile's time-tested, original version.  Mobile understands our wish to participate without scarring our children. Too much.  So the parade there has a special "family friendly" street, where there is no alcohol or nudity, and the people on the floats throw stuffed animals along with beads and moon-pies.
It was packed, and given my many experiences with various DC-area parades, along with the wild reputation of MARDI GRAS!! I was a little apprehensive as the street filled.  But you know what's nice about the South? Even when they get wild down here, they still have manners. People kindly made room for us at the front so the Littles could see.  The people next to us shielded the kids from incoming moon-pie projectiles and chatted jovially with us between floats.  The older kids caught prizes and handed them sweetly to my girls. Amazing.
 The parade itself was LOUD, colorful, quite the spectacle.  There was music, costumes, amazingly decorated floats.  We caught obscene amounts of beads and other 'treasures' and had a really nice time hanging out with friendly strangers.  It was purely fun. 

So fun, in fact, that when our own town had a local version, we went to that parade too! Even though it was raining, we had a good time there, too!
Little One did get a bit chilly.  I wrapped Her up like a little waif in my scarf, and Her pitiful look turned out to be a great marketing strategy, as people jumped down from floats to gently slip scores of beaded necklaces over Her head.  Between all the attention, the goodies, the music, and the allergy-safe moonpies, She had a ball in spite of the cold.

And Missy? Oh lord. 

Heeeyyy! 

Rain? What rain? Cold? What cold? Insanely loud noise and overwhelming crowds and sights and sounds?  Bring it! Love it!

Up Top! We scored tons of random stuff!

Our little MARDI GRAS!! queen sat up as high as we would lift Her and grinned ear to ear.  She waved the princess wave and clapped Her hands for all who passed.  She giggled and
squirmed with delight when She was bestowed with beads or a teddy bear, She bounced Her diapered-booty to the beat of the blaring speakers as they rolled by.  She had SO much fun.  ...Maybe TOO much fun.  I'm thinking I may just have to watch
out for this one!

 
We hit up our favorite fish market and had a big seafood dinner to celebrate, along with our King Cake, and decided that these Southerners know how to have a good party! 
Little One spent the next few days dressed to the nines, parading through the house hurling plastic beads at everyone.
Miss, in the absence of an adoring public, has learned how to get Her sister to fetch Her the box of necklaces, and how to loop them over Her head Herself so that She sounds like a locomotive coming, crawling proudly with Her weight in plastic dragging under Her belly. 
I think it is safe to say that we are all hooked. 
Bon Mardi Gras!!!