Mardi Gras!!!

It's Mardi Gras season here. I'll post some photos soon. :)
Sorry, Pats.

Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, Happy King Cake Day!

You better be a good year, 2012!
Here in New Orleans, January 6th is King Cake Day. For those of you not familiar, think giant cinnamon roll with icing and sprinkles and a plastic baby doll hiding in the cake. Robin was lucky enough to get the baby at school. This means he is King for the day and has to bring the next King Cake to the next party. I am liking these Nola traditions.

No, I'm not 433 years old. We had no 7, so the boys had put the 3 and the 3+4 on the cake. 37? That doesn't sound right.
I swear this wasn't rigged. I got the baby on my birthday! Robin was beyond delighted. He looks out for his mom.

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, we found another NOLA light show...



Christmas morning has arrived!
Joe & Robin serenading me with the guitar & drums Santa brought.
Wearing our family motto t-shirts and onesie pjs.
Duckhunter in the courtyard
Watching the Muppet Movie
Shadow right at home under the tree.

Christmas Prep & Shadow

Robin's class at the Christmas Party
The school went to an assisted living facility to sing for the residents and give them each a jingle bell. Robin is the 4th from the tree. I could not get a good photo of him since his class was in the back row and he is the shortest. :)
Auntie Jenn, Uncle Rish & the kids got Robin tickets for Phineas & Ferb Live for his birthday.

Introducing Shadow, our new cat. Originally, R asked Santa to bring us a kitten this year. We decided, as a family, to go pick out the kitten and leave Santa to bring just toys. Although there were smaller kittens there, Shadow's personality fit our family. He was cuddly and playful, and 5 months old. The volunteer at the shelter also said that older kittens and black cats usually don't get adopted. That sealed the deal.
Can you find him in the skeleton snuggie?
Shadow was the perfect name. He follows you wherever you go! Other names in the hat were Gambit, Gotham, Nitro, Ninja, Cutie-Cute, Puma... But in the end, Robin decided.
He did attach himself to me the first few weeks. He would hear me come home at night and come to greet me. When I work on the computer, he is there.
When I sit in the bathroom while R is in the tub, he joins us. I've never had a lap cat before, it's very sweet. He's so soft and his hair is getting super long. You'll see more pics in future posts.

Robinson turns 5!

Every year Abuela & Big Papa come to see Robin on his birthday. This year was no exception.
We went to the World War II Museum.
We also attended our first "Celebration in the Oaks" Light display through the Botanical Gardens and Amusement Park.
I think the story of Papa Noel and his alligators was my favorite part.

Ever since that commercial aired with the birthday boy in the ticket blaster, R was set on Chuck E. Cheese. Ugh is what I thought at first. But things ran smooth, the kids loved it and I had to do minimal work. Good deal.
"You say it's my birthday!"
Robin invited all of his friends from school.
Birthday crown
Birthday Medallion (very excited about this)
Palling around with the big mouse himself.

Later that night, we took the parents out on the town.
to a Cuban restaurant for Abuela, and for all of us...who am I kidding? Sweet plantains and flan? Hello.
The next day we hit the French Quarter.

Cafe du Monde a must for cafe au lait and beignets.
Robin's birthday party at school.
Happy Birthday, my sweet boy. You will always be my baby no matter how old you get. Mom & Dad love you infinity.