Baton Rouge Parades

If there is one thing that Louisiana knows how to do, it is to party.  We knew when we moved here that we would have to attend some of the local parades and with Mardi Gras coming up, we would certainly get our chance.  We considered making the trip down to New Orleans to see some of the big ones but in the end just stayed in BR and our friends who attended parades in both locations said that BR was just as fun when you have kids.

We went to the Orion parade in downtown Baton Rouge on a Saturday night.  The parade was supposed to start at 6 and we were about 3/4 of the way through the parade route.  We didn't see a float until well past 8:30.  We considered leaving after having waited so long but we are glad that we stayed.  Caroline had a great time watching the bands and the floats go by.  She also got a ton of beads!

Anxiously waiting for the floats

The lead float with the Captain of Orion.  The costumes were certainly interesting... 

The theme of the parade was Heroes and Villains.  This would be a "Villain" float. 

We have our first beads!

Someone forgot to spell check the float!

Some elaborately dressed ladies 

Blurry family photo.  Yay for beads! 

All the kids got beads! Owen got a light up sword, Sophie a plastic cigar, and Caroline a sheriffs badge.

A few weeks later was St. Patrick's Day and we had heard it was one of the biggest parades in Baton Rouge so we decided to go with a group of friends.  One of them lived just a couple blocks from the parade route so it was a perfect place to gather and enjoy the parade together.

The Mardi Gras parades have themes, elaborate costumes, and fancy balls.  St. Patrick's Day is an excuse to get drunk and throw/catch beads.  The parade started at 10am and many of the float riders and parade attendees were already several drinks down.  It made for some great entertainment and we caught hundreds of beads!

Safety first! She wore the earmuffs most of the parade as the bands and floats
were very loud.

Sweet Delia! And a Justin photobomb

Throw me some beads! 

The floats were not as elaborate as the Mardi Gras floats.  It was just an excuse to party.

Like I said, the floats were a bit different...Merica!

The aftermath of the parade 

Just some of our treasures.  Yes, someone through a garter right at her!

Justin and Greg showing off our beads from the day.  Now what to do with them all?

We had so much fun at the parades and definitely recommend going to one if you have never been.

Christmas 2014

Keeping up with my 3+ month delay on blogposts, I bring you Christmas 2014.  I have had a few ongoing projects that have kept me busy but now that I am done, I will hopefully get caught up.  I have so many pictures to share of the last few months including Caroline's 1st Birthday and I just can't wait to get those up!  My engineer brain can't skip around so we are going to keep going in chronological order.

With this being Caroline's first Christmas, we wanted to start some of our own little family traditions.  One thing that was important to us was to be able to do a Christmas morning at our house.  Since Caroline wouldn't realize if it was actually December 25th or not, we did it a few days early so that we could make the drive to GA/SC to spend some time with our families.

Looking at her Night Before Christmas book

Checking out her pull toy owl 

So excited to get Baby Stella 

Yay Baby Stella!

Merry Christmas. One of traditions is new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

I did a little photoshoot with Caroline before we hit the road 

First we drove to Derek's parent's house where we had lunch with a good friend, visited the lights at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and took a trip to The Children's Museum of Atlanta.  We certainly kept ourselves busy and enjoyed our short stay in Atlanta.

Lunch with Teresa!

Out past bedtime for the lights

Lights at ABG

The sky had a strange orange glow and this statue had its hair flowing in lights.

Learning about the piano at the Children's Museum.  No doubt lessons are in your future. 

Daddy showing her how to play 

Playing with the kinetic sand.  Paci was necessary so she wouldn't stick it in her mouth.

I think Derek may have enjoyed the Museum more than she did.

Checking out the tractor

Family photo after Christmas Eve service

Caroline with Derek's parents

Opening presents on Christmas Eve in our matching pajamas Derek got us for Christmas

On Christmas day we drove to Spartanburg to have Christmas with my whole family at my oldest brother's house.  Unfortunately I didn't really take any pictures.  The following day, we drove to Columbia to spend some time with Caroline's godparents, Katie and Adam, before driving to Aiken to stay with my parents for a couple nights.  After that we drove all the way back to Louisiana.  It was a whole lot of driving for one week but we are glad we got to spend the holidays with our families this year!

Caroline and her cousin Lauren in their matching outfits