Because the week is filled with hectic schedules and not as much family time as I'd like, I love love LOVE to savor our family togetherness through the lens on the weekends. This is the most special time because we're all together the entire weekend and being with my family (and capturing it all) is my number one passion of all. :)

This weekend, I savored (through my iPhone lens), MARDI GRAS!! Technically, our weekend isn't over yet here in New Orleans. Schools and offices in the area are closed this week. Some just today and tomorrow and some all week. So we're still enjoying our weekend over here. LOVE that about living here!

On Saturday, we ventured down to the city to get our Mardi Gras fun on. We always go to this spot because it's GREAT for letting the kids run around instead of being cooped up on the crowded, parade route, street.

This was the FIRST time Luca got to run his little heart out here and boy, was he HAPPY!! I just couldn't believe that this is our 4th year doing this and C is almost 5 and that she was JUST Luca's age, JOYfully running around all over the place, like this.

Such a big boy!!

She thought Luca was SO funny running around all over the place.

Here he comes!!

C has always loved this little Art piece in this park. Now Luca does, too. He sat in there for awhile. Thank goodness, because Mommy and Daddy needed a little break from chasing him...but it was because he couldn't figure out how to get himself out. Ha! :)

After their steam was blown off, we started walking our way toward the parade route. I was STOPPED in my tracks while walking across Julia street. It's completely re-paved and BEAUTIFUL! I love NOLA, but I'm not a fan of their roads. They're full of holes and cracks and bumps...and let me tell ya, when you're pregnant, these roads aren't fun.

So I was SO happy to see this!! And, man, if they get all the roads like this, NOLA is really going to start looking good!!! I did tell D, jokingly, that I'd get pregnant again BUT the only way is if EVERY SINGLE road is paved like this before we move in 3 years. Ha! Yeah, not happenin'! :)

We got our spot and C was ready for some bead catching. I wasn't up there with her because I was in the back with Luca...don't want him to get hit with flying beads...but, he said she was SO into the floats this year.

She was laughing and yelling out to the floats and just loving it all. Awwwwww!! It's been SO fun watching her little Mardi Gras self blossom....and now, I'm really starting to see her little elementary self starting to come our more, too. So fun!

Everyone has these ladders for their kids. I don't know...maybe this will be us in the next few years. :) :)

Throw me something, mister!! :)

Then we tried a new restaurant, Phil's Grill, located by D's office. Hands down, this place has the best burger I've ever eaten out at a restaurant. I can't wait to go back!!

The kids were pretty content, too...thank goodness!! But, I'm sure all that running around at the park and the excitement of the parades helped with this greatly!! Hey...we'll take it!! :):)

She circled EVERY letter on this page. Awwwww!!

She enjoyed a chocolate milkshake and he enjoyed some lemonade. :):)

Then, yesterday, we just hung out and relaxed. Luca was in need of some major naps from the big day on Saturday and yep...C and I colored circles together! :)