Jack's First Mardi Gras

Jack had another first this past weekend. We took him home to Mandeville for Mardi Gras. Friday night we took him to Orpheus, the local Mandeville Parade and a parade that I grew up going to. We were very fortunate to get to watch the parade with The Vitranos. James' office is on the route so we were able to park there, which was great because we didn't have to lug everything and we had nice clean restrooms. Thanks Kylie and James for having us!!

We had to get there about 2 hours before the parade came to be able to park before they closed the streets off. Jack was great. The kids can have free run because the streets are blocked off, so that was perfect for Jack. For those of you that didn't grow up with Mardi Gras let me explain where this had came from. There are people that walk up and down the street while you are waiting for the parades with grocery carts full of junk. I remember being little and begging to get something off of those carts and we were always told "no". I understand now because it is just more junk to find something to do with on top of all of the loot that you catch. Well, we weren't there 10 minutes and Cookie was buying this hat for Jack. It is precious and he loved it. About an hour later they were back at the cart buying more junk, but Jack loved it.


Another Mardi Gras tradition is to eat Popeyes Chicken. You are there so long waiting on the parade that you are basically tailgaiting. A staple is Popeyes Chicken and biscuits. Kylie had lots of food and we brought Popeyes for everyone to munch on. Here is Jack taking a dinner break. He loved the chicken.

Here is Jack and Brandon waiting on the parade. You can see that the hat is gone. It didn't last very long. We now have a runny nose and cough because of it.

We attempted to take a family picture but there was so much going on that Jack couldn't be bothered.

Cookie and Kim bought and painted a ladder seat for Jack to sit in while the parade came by. We were nervous that he wouldn't want to sit in it, but he loved it. He caught so much stuff and had a blast.

The rest of the weekend he hung some with Gigi and Papa and with Cookie and Kim while Brandon and I enjoyed some Mardi Gras in New Orleans. All in all we had a great time and I think that Jack really enjoyed his first Mardi Gras.

We live in an Elmo world

Jack is obsessed with Elmo. We have to watch Seasame Street every morning and then an Elmo video every afternoon. My Sister was in Atlanta a couple of weekends ago and bought Jack his first Elmo t-shirt. It is precious if you can look past the fact that it says "Elmo is for Auburn University", but Jack is in love with it.

I went to dress him this morning and this was in the pile of clothes that needed to be put away. He grabbed it and would not let go, so I put it on him and he has been reminding me all day that Elmo is on his shirt. It is sooo cute. This picture is not that great but I thought it was cute because he was saying cheese for the camera.

Thanks Nanny and James for Jack's shirt. I have to say I think it is his favorite!!!

Who needs toys when you have......

Yogurt...I walked out of the kitchen for less than five minutes this morning and this is what I cam back to. I was in the living room talking to Brandon when I heard Jack saying "mmmm". I told Brandon that I needed to go because it sounded like Jack had found something on the floor that he was eating. When I walked around the corner he looked at me and said "mmmmm" as he took a bite of his yogurt. This is the same yogurt that 3o minutes ago he wanted nothing to do with. I don't know how he did it but he somehow got this off of the kitchen counter.
Milk....in a sippy cup....that is not supposed to spill. I was in the kitchen with him the other night. He was playing while I cooked. He got really quite so I looked around the island to see what he was doing. This is what I found. Our precious Jack had dumped his entire cup(I had just filled it up) of milk onto the floor and was having a blast playing in it. So were the dogs!

Lip Gloss.....We went to Leeann's house last Thursday for a play date and lunch. All of the other kids were playing with toys, but Jack wanted to play with other things. I have gotten smart about zipping my purse if it has to be in his reach. I had forgotten that there was some play lipgloss that Chloe(Kim's Granddaughter) left in my purse this summer. We were sitting in the kitchen talking and Mindy just happened to walk by Jack and catch him. She said "come look at Jack and bring your camera quick" This is what everyone saw. He had unscrewed the lip gloss and attempted to put it on his lips. No big deal right. Then I looked down at his outfit and it was all over him. If you have ever tried to get lip gloss out of an outfit you know my thoughts. It took a week and about 5 different things to finally get it out enough that it isn't noticeable.

For those of you wondering, there is never a dull moment around our house these days. Jack is soooo much fun, but 100% boy and is so curious about everything.

We have just started time out because our wonderful Pediatrician said that he needs it. He is very strong willed and is way too smart for Brandon and I. He has also started biting again and his victim always seems to be me. My poor arm is black and blue.

Most of you that have kids this age or older are probably laughing at me right now thinking about the days that you went through this stage. If you have any suggestions I would love to know.

He is such a sweet little boy though that is talking up a storm and has turned into a Momma's boy. I love it most of the time, but I feel bad for Brandon when he wants time with him and he only wants me. He is repeating the last word to everything that we say, so we really have to be careful as to what we do say. I had just asked him the other night if he had poo poo and then h got on the phone with my Mom and told her that he had "poo poo" and then he told her "ewwww". Where do kids get this from???!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and sorry that I have not been the best at keeping up the blog.

Love,

Ashley

Our Week in Mandeville

Brandon had 2 hunting trips planned and a business trip to Dallas so Jack and I packed up and headed south to spend time with family and friends. We had such a great time! Time really goes by too fast.

We attempted to get everyone together with the kids on Tuesday, but that is almost impossible. Poor Jane was sick and Anna Claire and Sophia had school. We really missed the girls, but Jack had a blast with Cooper who is only 10 days younger than him and sweet baby Cameron who is 7 months. Jack and Cooper played great together. They had a few arguments over the choo choos, but that was it. Cameron was so cute. She had such a great time watching the boys play. I know she wanted desperately to be able to play with them. I can't wait for the summer when she can run around with them.

Cameron was obsessed with Coopers ear and Jack was about to fall asleep. We went home for a nap shortly after this.

Tuesday night all of the girls got together for dinner. It was great catching up as usual. Emily and Kylie are both pregnant again, so it was great hearing how things were going for them. Raynah, and old friend from high school has just recently moved back to Mandeville so it was great catching up with her too. Nights like that make me really miss home. I love my girls!

Thursday and Friday we went to Baton Rouge to spend time with Maw Maw and Paw Paw and family. Jack just loves going to their house. They have a huge back yard and he runs around all day long. He is so fortunate to get to know his Great Grandparents and actually have them play with him. They get around with him better than I do at times. Maw Maw cooked a delicious gumbo Thursday night and my Dad, Aunt Nancy, Tate, Parrain, Stacy and crew came for dinner and to do Xmas with Jack. It was so good seeing everyone.

Jack is really into books right now and loves to have someone sit and read to him. His couisin Ali was more than happy to sit with him and read a few books. We laughed later because the books were as old as I am.

Friday afternoon we met Simone and Ryan at the lakefront. It was such a gorgeous day! Ryan had not seen Jack since he was 8 weeks old, so I was glad that he was able to see Jack. He is usually working when we are in town. Jack loved him and they ran around with the dogs while Simone and I chatted.

It is Mardi Gras Season, so Papa shipped Jack his first King Cake. It was delicious from Randazzo's Bakery. It came with this mask, some beads, and doubloons. Jack loved it. Thanks Papa for thinking of us. You are the best.

It is also the beginning of crawfish season, so Dad got crawfish for us on Saturday night. They were delicious and I have been craving them ever since. I miss the food so much. It just isn't the same in Birmingham.

We had a great time and can't wait to go back in a few weeks for Mardi Gras. We are going to take Jack to his first parade. It should be interesting.