2-14, Valentine's Day

Hugs and kisses all around this Valentine's Day.  Lots of love to share!  

Emalie loves her new teddy bear.
And, of course, it says Princess!

Nikolas waiting for Emalie to join him for a photo.
What?  He offered up a 'free' smile?!  Wow!!

Is it possible that they will always love each other this much?!
I sure hope so!

...and my absolute favorite!

Hope your day was lovely!

2-10, "Potty Party"

We've been slowly starting potty training.  With every success, Emalie gets a new balloon.  Hopefully, this little reward provides some incentive for our cutie-pie.  (No, I don't always dress her in pink....often, but not always.  And, pure coincidence her balloon is pink as well..... ha ha!)  From the joy she had playing with this balloon, I think we should all take a hint and 'lighten up'.  Remember: enjoy life's little pleasures!

2-12, Fat Tuesday

"Mardi Gras, literally "Fat Tuesday," has grown in popularity in recent years as a raucous, sometimes hedonistic event. But its roots lie in the Christian calendar, as the "last hurrah" before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. That's why the enormous party in New Orleans, for example, ends abruptly at midnight on Tuesday, with battalions of streetsweepers pushing the crowds out of the French Quarter towards home."  (Courtesy of AmericanCatholic.org.)

"Mardi Gras" (pron.: /ˈmɑrdiɡrɑː/), "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season",^{[1][2][3][4][5]} in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday.Mardi gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday..... Related popular practices are associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent.  (Thank you, Wikipedia.)

If you've ever lived in New Orleans (like I have), Catholic or not, you celebrate Mardi Gras.  It would be nearly impossible not to partake in some sort of celebration of this holiday.  It's amazing.  It's crazy.  There's nothing else like it.  I'm tempted to drag out my old NOLA photos and reminisce in the past a little, but I don't really have time for that.  I don't really have time to drag out my 16-year old Mardi Gras beads (that haven't seen the light of day since the late 90s), but I decided, why the heck not?!  I'm feeling festive.  Sunday was Chinese New Year (a first for us!), today is Mardi Gras, Thursday is Valentine's Day, and in a few short weeks it will be Nikolas' birthday (and of course, I can't forget my parents' anniversary, too!).  There's simply a lot to celebrate at the Krauss Haus in February!  I've had the jazz station on my radio (yes, some of us still listen to 'stations' on the 'radio'....) playing all day.  If I close my eyes, I can see the masses of people, hear the parades floating down St. Charles, taste the wonderfully sweet strawberry daiquiri, and smell the aroma that is distinctly New Orleans.  But, only for today, after midnight tonight the street sweepers DO drive out the crowds and all will be quiet again-- well, at least as quiet as New Orleans can be.  And tomorrow, when I wake up, I'll be happy I'm living here in Colorado in spite of all the fun I missed today in New Orleans.  For after all, I'll always have those wonderful memories.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Who found the baby in the King Cake and who's buying the next one?!