When is dirt better than dirt?

When it is a beach, of course! Paradise- to my husband- is a fishing village and a cigar. Even better when the family can join the fun. So, it is no surprise that our weekend in Grand Isle was a dream come true for him.

Louisiana may not boast the picturesque white-sand-beaches of Florida, but the dark-dense-dirt-sand makes our children happier than its prettier counterpart ever has. I mean- what could be better than miles & miles of potential mud pie at your fingertips? Follow it up with a serious bubble bath & bedtime story and you've got the stuff that memories are made of...

The Great Outdoors!

Although my husband is a soldier, fisherman and hunter- I am the more indoor type. The great outdoors to me is a good old-fashioned barbecue. Leaves? check...Grass? check... Kids? check... Open fire? check (well- if a gas grill counts)...

We had one such lovely barbecue this past weekend. It was one of those days when the weather was just right- and those days are hard to come by in Louisiana! We left the doors open and watched all of the cousins play & play until they wore themselves out! I took lots of pictures so we can look back and remember the magic that happens in the simplest of times.

And- though I may be a bit biased- those are some cute looking kids, eh?

Mardi Gras Fun

Whew! What a week! Mardi Gras in Louisiana- enough said. I still remember the days (not too long ago, I might add) when I would partake in the wild, week-long-party known as Mardi Gras. We used to spend the 5 days in New Orleans, taking in the sights- becoming one of the sights...


Now, the event is a much tamer one for my family. We even bring the kids (gasp!). They love to catch beads, listen to the bands and watch the dancers strut their stuff at the local parades. Hard to believe that just outside the fenced in area we keep our children- the same old stuff goes on...

Here are some of the highlights!