Let The Good Times Roll!

Seamus was sporting the official Mardi Gras colors again this past weekend. We went downtown to see the Maids of Mirth, Order of the Butterfly Maidens, and Krewe of Marry Mates parades.

Here are a couple of short clips of the floats they designed.

And just to brush up on a little history...

As a major holiday in parts of Europe and South America, the celebration dates back to 1703 when the tiny French colony of Mobile observed North America's first Mardi Gras. The Cowbellion de Rakin society took loudly to the streets in 1830 armed with rakes, hoes and cowbells plundered from a hardware store, and no doubt later kept the feast with whatever food and drink they had. Although they marched on New Year's Eve and not Fat Tuesday, they were a true antecedent of Mardi Gras in Mobile and the first mystic societies, which were later formed in the 1830s. Later, in 1857, the Mobile members of the Cowbellian de Rakin Society traveled to New Orleans and assisted with the formation of the Mystic Krewe of Comus, to this day New Orleans' most prestigious Mardi Gras society. From these early roots grew the wonderful Mardi Gras celebrations found today in the Port City.
The stress of the Civil War brought an end to the annual festivities in Mobile. After the war and under Union occupation, the city was disillusioned and discouraged. On the afternoon of Fat Tuesday in 1866, Joseph Stillwell Cain set out to raise the spirits of Mobile. He donned Chickasaw Indian regalia, called himself "Chief Slacabormorinico," climbed aboard a decorated coal wagon pulled by a mule and held a one-float parade through the streets of Mobile. Mardi Gras with all its frivolity was reborn!

Seamus at 9 Months

Shay is 9 months old now, and still growing like a weed! He's a skinny little guy but as he constantly shows us, it is all muscle! He is very close to walking but doesn't quite have the balance-thing down yet. He loves to walk all around the living room holding onto the furniture, and his new favorite thing (besides Cheerios) is going for a ride on the swivel chair in the office! If you came to visit, he'd probably poor you a glass of sweet tea and sit you down for a good chat...he's very talkative. Ba-ba, Ga-ga, Ma-ma, and this morning said Da-da for the first time. Bren was very proud!

Mardi Gras Has Begun!

This past Saturday, we headed down to Dauphin Island to attend Shay's first Mardi Gras parade. Just a little history for you...Mobile was the first place in the U.S. that was introduced to the tradition of Mardi Gras. Of course, everyone associates it with New Orleans, but here in Mobile, it is a big deal!! They party straight through to Fat Tuesday. We better acquire a taste for Moon Pies!

Bren brought the grill down for a true tailgate. This was a first for his truck.

Kevin, Brendan, and Tom- The Special Missions Guys

Here comes the parade!

Tom sports his Bubba teeth for the occasion.

Check out this float! Alabama's finest!

Shay doesn't get what all the fuss is about with these beads.

They don't taste like much!

Moon Pies! Now we're talkin'! How do you open this thing?

Josie shows Seamus how it's done.

Christmas Vacation

Let me tell you about my vacation!! We drove up to see my grandparents, aunts, and uncles, for my first Christmas. On the way, we stopped in Tennessee where they had a swimming pool inside the hotel!! We went for a swim after we checked in which was lots of fun! The next day, we arrived in Virginia...I had a LOT of entertaining to do!

Grandma couldn't believe how much I've grown.

I loved pulling the books off the shelf!

Auntie Kate gave me rides in the laundry basket.

Uncle Pat and I walked around the store while Mom and Dad did some last minute errands.

Guess what?! I got to meet Santa in person! He was super nice to me and I really liked his big beard!

On Christmas Eve, we went to spread some Christmas cheer!

I got to visit Great Grandma Wilmer and made her smile. I also got a lot of attention from the other little old ladies at the home!

My Great-Great Uncle Jack was there, too!

Then we went to visit Great Grandpa Hadro.

And I helped him open his present!

It's Christmas morning!! Happy Birthday, Jesus!!

One of the gifts I received was Seamus the Sheep! He came all the way from Ireland!!

Uncle Pat got a REAL bow and arrow from Santa!

Ace made a good reindeer!

This is me and just ONE side of my family! And I have them all wrapped around my little finger!

This is me and Uncle Matt.

Uncle Mike helped me open my new basketball hoop!

Isn't my Aunt Lisa glamorous?!

Went went into Old Town Manassas to see the trains and the ice skating rink.

Some people say we look alike.

The next day we took my first ride on the Metro into Washington D.C.

Here's the National Christmas Tree!! Behind it is the White House where the President lives!

Here's the tree representing the state in where I was born!

And this is where I live now!

After we saw the tree, we went into Union Station to see the little train.

We took a day to visit Nona's side of the family. Here are my second cousins: Michael, Nikki, Alessandra, Savannah, and Rachel!

Great Uncle Gerard and Aunt Jennifer

Great Uncle Tom and Aunt Cathy

Great Grandpa and Grandma Varney

Great Aunt Mary and Uncle Paul

Merry Christmas!!

My Uncle Darren is a police officer and he's got a cool car!

He let me drive!! Well, not really, but I still had fun pretending!

On the way back to Mobile, we stopped to visit Auntie Liz and Uncle Matt Fine, and their son Nicholas. We had a great time, and Nick showed me all sorts of new things!

Nick can stand on his head!!

Thanks for a great visit! We wish you lived closer!!