We received word months ago that Tom and Libby would be coming in town to join us for Mardi Gras! We were pumped!! Our first out-of-town guests to do the Gras with us.
A few weeks before we stumbled upon an opportunity to get a room at the Best Western on St. Charles. A HOTEL ROOM ON ST. CHUCK! That just does not happen.
We JUMPED on the room and paid the rather high fee, but totally worth it in the end. We could check into the room on Friday after 2 pm. Got it.
On Wednesday, I FINALLY made it to my first Mardi Gras Parade = Druids and Nyx. We had a volleyball game so we played, grabbed Ms. Gay and headed straight downtown for the parade.
First was Druids, but sadly we missed it. We waited for Nyx. The 6-10 Stompers were dancing through Nyx and we ran into Fred! It was right after this next photo that I found out he was engaged! Congrats My Fred!
It was COLD parade, but we hung through it. We saw Jamie B, Mary and Lisa. Such a fun parade.
On Thursday, my aunt and cousin were riding in Muses. We went around Louisiana and St. Chuck, but the crowds were pretty rough. I did not enjoy our spot was ready to have a sweet hotel room and spot at the Best Western. We found my Aunt D and Cousin L and we caught some a shoe! (It was displayed on my mantle for the rest of Mardi Gras.)
On Friday, loaded our float for Tucks and headed to the hotel to check in. Tom and Libby had arrived just in time for check in. The hotel room had two beds – perfect the four of us.
Doug went to get the ladders for the weekend and I greeted Tom and Libby. We checked in (WITH a parking pass) and hung out. It was perfect. Once Doug arrived, we hung more and then headed down the street for dinner. We picked up dinner at Fresh Market and walked the 3 blocks back to the hotel. Then Tom and Libby experienced their first Mardi Gras Parades!
Oh, of course we dressed up:
On Saturday, it was our riding day. (See previous post.) Tom and Libby came with us and got on the float for a photo!
We did pass the hotel and throw lots of things at Sarah’s family, Tom & Libby and Gay’s family. So many people to see in one area. After the ball, we had gone home and slept in our own beds.
On Sunday, we were back at it! It was Bacchus Sunday!
We hung out with Tom and Libby to watch Okeanos, Mid-City and Thoth.
We enjoyed more 6-10 Stomper time…
During Thoth, we founds Scott and I gave him back the pig. The pig has been passed back and forth for years. (Notice I was wearing it all day.)
This video is pretty rough at the beginning, but if you can hang you can see Scott accepting the pig and kissing it.
Then Sarah’s family arrived, and it got crazy and wild!
We had a great time hanging out with the boys and doing a little dancing too!
Finally, it was time to Bacchus!
It was then we really got to hang out with Ms. Olivia! She is a rockstar. The entire Bacchus parade, Doug was motivating her to pull out her loose front tooth. She worked in it the entire parade.
Doug being a good or bad influence?
She seriously worked on it the ENTIRE parade. By the end of the night, she had pulled that tooth out!
We hung out with Dr. A and the crowd on the porch until late. It was a great parade day.
On Lundi Gras…we had to say goodbye to Tom and Libby. We had a great lunch with them at Gott Gourmet and they headed back to Memphis. (Come back anytime!)
Later that day we had new visitors!
There had been a cold front and it was FREEZING Monday night. We attended Orpheus and froze!
Us with Olivia! Doug said we can have many girls as long as they are as cool as her.
On Mardi Gras – it was raining so I did not bring out my camera. It was also MUCH COLDER than we expected. We watched Rex and headed out when the truck parades started.
We got home and just relaxed. Sadly, we both got sick after this Mardi Gras- clearly, we had too much fun.
Whew, long post. Hope you enjoyed.
Love and Hugs, Lizzie
