Matt's parents and sisters have been going to Mardi Gras for the past several years and our schedule has never allowed us to go with them. This year we thought we would go down just for the day on Sunday, but due to the weather/baseball being cancelled we were able to be there Saturday and Sunday.
Baseball didn't get cancelled until Saturday morning so we got ready and packed just in time to get there for the 2 PM Gulfport parade...
This boy was ready to catch some beads...
Who cares about the rain. There is a parade...right?
Just missing James...he had to stay at home with his dad because he had hockey.
This parade was short and simple, but we still caught plenty of beads and had a good time as we kicked off the weekend of parades...
Later that afternoon we found our spot to see the Biloxi parade. And what I love about this picture is that Cooper can find a friend anywhere he goes. And if there is a ball, he is going to ask to play...
While Cooper was playing, this was happening behind him. Yes, the van got stuck.
These kind high school kids pushed more than just our van that afternoon/night...it was a muddy mess and many cars got stuck.
So we knew we were at the end of the parade route, but we had no clue that we would wait 3 hours for the parade to get to us. At this point, the kids were kind of losing it...ha ha!
I say they were losing it...our kids were actually fine. Cooper was playing with every kid there and Anna Lauren was patiently waiting because she was so excited to see the parade. However, Madeline and Mary Martin just about lost it...they were over the wait.
To know Cooper is to love Cooper!!! He makes our life SO much fun, and we love every single minute of being his parents!!!
Oh my goodness, oh my goodness...the parade is FINALLY coming (along with the rain)...
Matt and his sisters really wanted to see the grand marshal, their friend and Ole Miss football coach, Matt Luke. Sadly he was out of beads (remember...we were at the end), but he dug deep and found one Ole Miss bead he threw to Matt as he was rolling down the street. And then it all went downhill...it didn't just rain...it down-poured, was thundering, and lightening.
After sticking it out for 10 floats or so, we headed to the car...soaking wet from head to toe. We had pizza delivered and called it a night. Although it didn't go quite as we expected, I'm pretty sure we'll never forget the night...
Despite the rain in the forecast, we headed out for one last parade on Sunday...
Matt's parents have friends with a float so they let the kids get on their float before the parade...
Just taking it all in...
Just as we got away from our car, the bottom fell out. Anna Lauren, Cooper, and I ran back to the car and sat there for 10 minutes or so until the rain passed on over. Matt had Callie in her stroller so some nice people offered for them to get under their tent.
Daddy found a friend that gave Anna Lauren special beads...
While waiting on the parade to start, many of the floats had music playing so MeMe and Anna Lauren had their own little dance party...
While others ate king cake...
Although we were all soaking wet, the rained had moved on out, and we were ready for the parade!!!
Cooper had spotted these tomahawks at the Gulfport parade the day before so he went determined to get himself one. With Matt's help lifting him up, and got one and was happy, happy!!!
Although the "to do" list at home was a mile long, I never regret spending time and making memories with this family of mine.
It was a WET Mardi Gras...every single pair of these shoes were soaking wet. As soon as we got home, I got us all unpacked and started the laundry...
While this happened upstairs...
Matt and Anna Lauren bundled all the ones we didn't want to keep. And just in case we ever need to know, we got 862 beads...ha ha!
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