Mardi Gras 2013 Photographs

I did not take many pictures during Mardi Gras this year.  I forgot the camera a couple of times, found the flash particularly problematic ruling out using it at night parades, and just flat out declined to lug it around on some of our multi-hour excursions to the parade route.  So, I have a few pics, but not many, from this year.  Fortunately, my cousin, Laurie, did a much better job of documenting the weekend and sent a few pictures to me today. She sent this one in particular that I love.

I do not have the type of kids that can fall asleep anywhere.   I always wished for it to happen when they were younger.  I'd state slack-jawed as I watched other kids face-plant into pasta bowls, but it just was not in my kids' DNA.  But then on this night there were a series of parades at the end of many long days and late nights and lots of sugar and bribes (because one little boy would rather do just about anything than watch a parade), and he finally decided sleep was a good idea. Lucky for James, his sweet Papa did not even budge and kept the beads away from his head.  Don't worry, after smiling and feeling my heart fill up with love and laughing for a float or two I took him down and brought him home and put him to bed.  I will not ever forget that night though.