A Big Announcement at Galveston Mardi Gras...

 It was a big party this past weekend as we camped at Galveston Island State Park to attend the first Mardi Gras Weekend (before the big one) with the Scheurer's and Zamora's joining us. Capping off the parades was the announcement by Miguel and Mary that our #10 grandchild will be a boy. I guess you stick with what you know as it will be their fourth boy and I don't know how many Mardi Gras we have been to. We just keep doing the things that make us have fun. 

They all got blued by the wind blowing the gender reveal smoke back on them but it ended up looking like some kind of Mardi Gras Face paint. 

Parades were good but maybe just a bit shy on the beads. I guess that could be expected as we were standing in the free area along the Galveston Seawall with beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico as opposed to the downtown area where a fee is charged for admission and and you find all the expected Mardi Gras things. I would imagine the word was out to save throws for the paying customers.

Each year when we attend a parade we store up the beads we catch to use for decorations at our St. Patrick's Catholic Church Fat Tuesday Party. This year the party is Feb 17th at 6pm with Fried Catfish by the Knights of Columbus and Gumbo by yours truly. Plates sell for $10 to benefit Saint Vincent de Paul helping our neighbors in need (97% of funds this past fiscal year assisted our neighbors with the remaining 3% for cell phones, checks, etc...) and gumbo is all you can eat. 

Cathy and Warren beg for throws. Note the long fingers on Cathy's hand. You see that throw coming your way and then those fingers extend and it's not yours anymore. 

You ought to go Mardi Gras. It's a good way to throw a monkey wrench in the cogs of the machine which expects you to be doing something constructive like watching a Kid Rock Concert or something. 

Actually Milo's second Mardi Gras as he did attend last year at age 9 months. He's an old pro now. 

We had a great spot on the Seawall. We got up at 6am and with help from Warren and Coraline who camped one night with us arrived to set up the grill and lawn chairs for a full day of fun. Many folks set up campers. I think some actually camp but others just drop a trailer and pay for the parking space to save a place to watch the parade, cook and have a bathroom. 

Someone decided he like his hamburgers rare. Both Ezra and Warren did a little grill training with Pop-Pop. The torch is being passed and not long till I'm out to pasture. 

Of course we saw good bands in HBCU style with blasting tubas. 

A good time for all. Next year will be old #10's first Mardi Gras.