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Monday, March 14, 2011

Cabbages, Carrots, and Classic Quotes . . .


We finally made it back to the St. Patrick's Day Parade this year!  It is definitely our favorite parade to attend, and we have such a gracious invitation to a beautiful home of friends that live right on the parade route.  Not only has it been a welcoming environment for our family, but they are so generous in the food they have for their guests!  I cannot imagine how much preparation takes place before the event, but we are grateful for these opportunities to make memories with family and friends!
  
Brady and Reese are at the age where they are "prime" targets for many of the coveted parade throws.  After the first hour of floats, Brady and Reese had accumulated enough stuff to fill our small house. 

This is only one of the bags.

The first priceless quote of the day came from my observant and vocal son.  He has an amazing ability to watch people in these environments, take in and process all the information, and he told Gary,

"These people are crazy." 

We only had one injury, but I am pretty sure the whole parade heard it.  Reese got slammed with some heavy beads on the head and face.  I guess that the person throwing the beads at her could not tell that she is about 3 feet tall, less than 30 lbs, and full of drama.  She wailed for about 5 minutes while we tried to console her.  The other riders on that float felt really bad, so the "gifts" came pouring in.  Cabbage anyone?

She got over it.  "THROW ME SUUUUMMMMPIN!"

I didn't go to these kinds of parades as a child, so I am just now learning the intensity that they can arouse in those tiny bodies.  I noticed that Brady was trying to shove a ball/bat into one of his goody bags, and it was obviously not going to fit.  I asked him, "Buddy?  Do you want to go put that back by our stuff closer to the house?"  He responded by frantically waving his arms up and down and screaming,

"MAMA!  I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR ALL THAT!"

Although I don't appreciate being reprimanded by my children, I couldn't help but laugh.  His reality was that if he left that spot for even a second, he might miss an invaluable treasure.  I graciously packed away his junk, and we moved on.

I wasn't able to take many pictures of our friends and the surrounding parade goers, but here are a few more shots . . .




  And here is the next toy I will have to confiscate.



Get that nasty thing out of your mouth! 


 
Reese retires for the day.


Gary and Vince
Brady just plugged his ears when it got too loud.  When his "catching" hands weren't available anymore, that is when he decided it was ok to leave.


Monday, March 07, 2011

Middendorf's vs. Metairie Parades

~Joy~

Ahhhhhhhhh . . . The first Sunday in a long time that we could actually choose to do nothing.  We usually don't choose that valid option, but it was very nice to know that the prospect of laziness existed.

The weather was a little chilly in the morning as we packed up to go to the early service.  We noticed clouds, rain drops, and as the kids say, "It was a little ominous."  - They got that from Martha Speaks.  I had to look it up.

Gary and I decided that it may be time to actually start taking them out to eat in public . . . at a restaurant . . . one that doesn't have filthy play areas and frazzled parents.  We chose to go to Middendorf's, which is about a 30 minute drive from our home.  We packed up their distractions, snacks, and crossed our fingers.  What would it be like to eat a meal in public with two well-behaved children?  We can't even manage to do it in our own home on most evenings, so what possessed us to think we could do it now?

As soon as we got there, I noticed we were at an advantage:
1.  It was already loud in there.
2.  We were at a corner table, and Brady could technically be "trapped" in by Gary's chair.
3.  We found some things they would eat on the menu.

Gluttony prevailed.  Gary and I had gumbo, Italian oysters, and he ate a fried catfish plate (their specialty), and I had a lot of broiled salmon.  Reese effortlessly tackled 1/2 lb. of shrimp, french fries, and ate all the shrimp out of our gumbo.  It was a little harder for Brady to focus on food, but he did eat a few french fries and sipped on some pink lemonade.  We escaped the building without tears, blood, screams, or ugly looks.  Victory was ours!  It had nothing to do with me and Gary and our parenting "expertise."  God just blessed us with enough grace to accept the age-appropriate things they did that was a little embarrassing and delighted us with sweet gestures like hugging the waitress when we left. 

That was all pleasant and worth the drive, but the real fun started outside.  It was like a mini beach on the lake!  There was a lot of sand, buckets, a hammock, precious beach decor, a dock . . . The sun came out, and we just enjoyed flipping each other over in the hammock and watching the kids immerse themselves in sand.  I felt a little bad for the other kids watching whose parents didn't want their car filled with sand.  It was worth every grain (that I still have not cleaned out yet)!

Middendorf's was definitely the right choice for us!

The Discovery
The View

Peace



                            Cooperation

             








                  Trust