Sunday, February 22, 2009

Elio asleep at the Tucks Parade, parts I and II

How Elio can sleep soundly with a bass drum just a few feet from him is beyond me, but it was considerate of him to let us stay at the parade during nap time!

To see the larger versions of these videos, place the cursor over the video, click on "HD is off" on the right side, and then click through to the Vimeo website.


Elio asleep at the Tucks Parade (Mardi Gras) from d# on Vimeo.


Elio asleep at the tucks parade again from Laura Wolford on Vimeo.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009

More beads, more!

We went to the parade at noon today. It was really great! Families lining the streets were eating lunch, drinking, playing football in the streetcar tracks, and enjoying the nice day as they waited for the parade to start.

Neat thing here: people have concocted these ladders with a seat on top that they line up along the street, making a little perch for their kids to sit on while the parade goes by. Easy viewing for the kids, and in good location to catch throws from the floats. Next year, we're totally making a ladder seat for Elio and Mose and hand-painting their names on it.







Check it: Elio's got the "throw me something, mister" routine down!



By far, my favorite outfit of the day: the sequined KISS gown for a member of mardi gras royalty! I love this girl!



This is what Mardi Gras is for a kid. We got Elio into the car after the parade and took all his beads off. While we were driving home, he insisted on putting all his beads back on.



And then, ten minutes later, when we pulled into our driveway we had one sleepy, blissed out boy.



Elio, on the way home:


Elio, after parades from Laura Wolford on Vimeo.

Flip book of Elio and Miss Renee at music class





Saturday, February 14, 2009

Carnival!

Mardi Gras isn't until the 24th, but parade season has started! We went to see two parades tonight: the Krewes of Sparta and Pegasus. It was unbelievably fun, and unlike anything I expected. It was super family-friendly, and Elio had a blast -- he pointed excitedly at the floats as they approached, waved to the riders to get beads, clapped for the marching bands, and just enjoyed the action and noise and fun of it all. All that, and we got home only 30 minutes past bedtime! And tonight was just the beginning for us! There are two parades tomorrow afternoon (during naptime, so we'll see how that works out), and then more parades again Wednesday through Tuesday. It's such a blast, y'all should be here with us!




Adorably, Elio has learned to say "happy," and he was delighted to confirm, from his perch on Dan's shoulders, that he was "happy" to be in New Orleans tonight.

Feijoada

Elio had his first Brazilian feijoada* at a Tulane Latin American studies party yesterday. Excitingly, he also got his first Mardi Gras beads.

*feijoada is the national dish of Brazil: black beans and rice, with a little sausage mixed in, and collard greens and oranges on the side. Delish.







We went to the zoo this morning. I am in love with the baby anteater that was born last month. He rides around on his mom's back and is adorable.

Saturday, February 7, 2009