Throw me some beads, Mister!

The kids and I had a blast today celebrating and learning about Mardi Gras!

No Mardi Gras is complete without a parade! The kids and I traveled 30 miles to Covington (a town across Lake Ponchatrain from New Orleans) and attended their Mardi Gras Parades, put on by the Krewe of Lions and the Krewe of Covington. A quick explanation: A krewe is a group of like-minded people whom get together and put on a parade from start to finish.

Vendors selling hats, beads and other fun things rolled their carts up and down the parade route as we waited for the parade to begin. Families with children and adults who enjoy the fun just as much as the kids attended. Parking was easy and we got there early enough to get to the front of the parade route. Waiting was tough for the kids, but the locals kept encouraging them that the wait would be worth it.

The kids would agree that the wait for the parade WAS worth it. The parades started rolling and the beads started flying. I explained to the kids they had to do something to make them stand out to get the bead-throwers to toss them some "throws" (as the locals call them). Well, the kids just stood dumbfounded for the first few floats, watching the kids and adults alike going bonkers for beads. By the looks on their faces, I'd say my kids were thinking, "WHAT is wrong with these people?"

Dawson caught on first. I said, "Show them some of your moves, Dawson." He started doing some of his smooth dance moves and got some beads in return.

Madalynn started jumping up and down, arms flailing, and got some beads, too.

Justis, not to be outdone stuck up one arm and yelled, "Hey, I want some beads!" He got some, too.

Jillian, with her curly hair and stand-out personality just sat on my shoulders smiling and waving and getting the attention of LOTS of krewe members and LOTS of beads! The beads were so big and heavy, I'm surprised she didn't fall flat on her face when I put her down to walk!

They all got some "special" throws, which is a big deal according to the seasoned Mardi Gras parade-goers. Justis got a play spear about as tall as he is, Dawson got a socker ball, Madalynn was thrown a fuzzy pink tiara and Jillian got a pretty pink strand of beads. The kids are still buzzing from the experience. By the way, although not as big of a deal as the beads, the floats were really neat and the parade was totally clean and family-friendly.

King cake was our next treat. My friend from church, Anita, works for Berry Town Produce in Ponchatoula and bakes thousands of king cakes every year starting right after Christmas up until Mardi Gras. I stopped by Berry Town and bought a Cinnamon king cake baked by Anita. It was still warm. We came home and I made sandwiches and cut the king cake, putting a slice on each of the kids' plates.

I have to explain King Cakes here for you to understand the fun the kids had. King Cakes are a tradition. King Cakes are eaten from January 6th, which is the day Carnival starts until Mardi Gras. King Cakes come with a little plastic baby hidden under or within the cake. The baby means many things to many different situations. Krewes sometimes crown the person that picks the piece with the baby as King or Queen of the krewe. Some groups use it as the designation of whom will be throwing next year's party in their home. I know it is used for other reasons and has a religious meaning as well, but I'm not positive about the facts, so I'll stop there.

Back to our king cake. I hid the baby under one of the cake slices. I called the four kids in and asked them to each randomly pick a plate and take it to the table. I explained to them that there was a baby hidden under one of the cake pieces and that the person who finds the baby is the king or queen of Mardi Gras in our home for the day. Madalynn, Justis and Dawson were all confused. None of them had the baby.

Jillian found it under piece of cake. She was the queen of Mardi Gras for the day. She certainly got some good use out of her beads today (she LOVES them), so she played the part well!

Not forgetting our Kansas roots, we had pancakes for supper in observance of Pancake Day. For you Louisiana natives, Pancake Day is another way people celebrate the day before Lent. Liberal, KS has a Pancake Day festival and the women of Liberal have a race with the women of Onley, England. They must race while flipping pancakes and wearing an apron. New Orleneans are not the only crazy people out there. (wink!)