HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!!

Pre-Deluge!

Jenna yelling for beads! You go, girl!

Today is Fat Tuesday! It's so fun to be on the Gulf Coast during Mardi Gras! There have been 14 parades in the last couple of weeks! We didn't make it to most of them but we made it to tonight's! I am glad we went despite the course of events! We picked up dad from work a little early and headed straight to the route. While Dustin got the kids some dinner I staked us out a pretty awesome spot. The weather was threatening to storm and the forecast called for nasty storms tonight, but weather.com's hourly forecast said we were good to go through parade time. Wouldn't you know it, right as the parade was about to begin we got dumped on! Everyone went running for cover while we huddled under our quilt, hopeful it would pass. While Dustin went to get an umbrella from van, I gave up and took the kids under the McDs awning. He couldn't believe I had "abandoned my post" but I assured him "I left no one behind!" We were soaked through! Thank goodness is was still fairly warm out. I, for one, have webbed feet having grown up in NW Oregon... I don't know if I can call it a parade unless it's raining. I was so pleased with my kids that they kept good attitudes and still had a great time. The heavy rain did pass and we all went back to our spots and the parade started. It was wild! All the floats through lots and lots and lots of stuff! I couldn't believe it. I was ducking from all the stuff coming my way at times! After it was all said and done we had nearly filled a large reusable shopping bag! It really was fun even though we all got so wet! Warm baths were required right when we got home to warm back up! Hopefully next year we can enjoy Mardi Gras without the rain.

Celebrating Mardi Gras at North Bay!

To put it lightly, Mardi Gras is a BIG thing down here! The kids even get a 5 day weekend for the holiday. Last Friday, the school hosted it's own Mardi Gras parade with police escorts and special guests, students who are performing really well at Accelerated Reading, and of course BEADS! Beads are everywhere down here. Jenna and I went and watched with the boys and got lots and lots of beads. It was pretty fun. Hopefully next year Henry will actually do AR in class (it holds no weight on their grades so he's pretty lax about it) and Jeff's eyes will be better so he can participate as well. It's a goal for both boys to be in next year's parade so we see how we do over the next 12 months.

Our first attempts at the front yard...

When we bought our house there were several things we thought we wanted to do with the yard. I want people to want to take pictures in my yard it looks so awesome. I decided, however, to wait until Spring to see what comes up and what blooms, etc. Well, down here Spring is in full swing. Some plants are lovely, some I am giving more time, and some got the heave-ho (the pretty, yet extremely poisonous oleander, for example)! Our jasmine is to die for right now! Oh, how wonderful it smells. I am always amazed at the smell, it's so spectacular! I am especially happy that we got the crepe myrtles pruned in time. I was really wanting to get that done before it was too late. I can't wait to see them come in this summer. They were gorgeous last summer and I hope they are even more full than last year. I am wanting to take several photos of our front tree to see just how much it grows in such a short time so expect more photos of this tree in the future...

We ♥ Megan!

We love our cousin Megan. She is a student at North Carolina and I couldn't resist when I saw these shirts at Target on the clearance aisle. We took these photos for her and sent them to her on facebook. Now we just have to watch and see how those Tar Heels do in the NCAA tournament this month! Go Heels!

Family Reading Night at North Bay

Along with the first grade program, North Bay also hosted a family reading night as well as a Green Eggs and Ham family dinner. We had dinner before Jeff's program and then after his program we went to the thrid grade pod for family reading night. Third graders were "reading in the dark" complete with fun cushions to lounge on and flashlights to read by. It really wasn't all that dark in there, but the kids thought it was cool. I love the things this school provides for family involvement and our kids do, too!

Jeff's First Grade Program

Last week was Jeff's First Grade Program. Each grade does just one program a year and this was First Grade's time to shine. I love that they do it this way, especially since we just about filled the gym with parents and it was only first grade performing. It also means that they can take a little longer to prepare and present a whole program, rather than just one or two songs. The program was all about Space Exploration and Jeff did a great job! He remembered all his parts and even helped keep the other kids on track! We were so proud of Jeff. It was a super cute program and another reminder of how much we love North Bay Elementary!

Yep, that's Jenna with a little bit if her mama!

I took this photo of Jenna the weekend that my brother was here. I wasn't going to post it, but as I went back tonight to do a little catching up I saw it again. I decided I had to post it! It's Jenna, that's for sure, but it's a face I know I make, too! It reminds me to be very careful of what I say and do around little Jenna Mae! She's watching, she's always watching!