Mardi Gras Mania...

So it's the same old story...it's been FOREVER since I have posted...opps...oh well...nothing wrong with starting anew... thought I would post some pics from our trip this past weekend to New Orleans for Mardi Gras...Our weekend started out at Aunt Bea's on Friday...we stat around and drank bloody Mary's while playing the Schroth favorite game of Scrabble...then we finished the night with homemade Oyster Poboys...yum, and of course two games of Scrabble more!!! Check out my crazy hair!We decided to hit Iris (name of all woman's krewe parade) early on Saturday...the weather was PERFECT and we had an awesome spot...Madelyn was spoiled from the different storybook-themed floats...this children's parade was THE BEST!!!...Heading to the next Parade...Krewe of Tucks...definitely not the most child-friendly in theme, but a MUST for comic relief!!! Check out one of my favorite floats below...
Ok, this parade had such great handouts...aside from the usual beads we received miniature toilets, plungers, toilet bowl sunglasses (as you see me and Maddy wearing), oh, and the best was one Aunt Bea came running to me with a pre-packaged edible Muffalatta...yes, that's right...they were throwing out sandwiches, and they WERE YUMMY...the guy next to me gave me his(hehe)!!! Ha! After the parade we headed to "the end of the line" at Carolton and St. Charles for a delicious Bloody Mary and Shrimp Po-boy...I love this town! After a day of parades, great music, food and King Cake Ice Cream (Cold Stone had it special, and it was incredible!)...we headed over to Aunt Ana's on the Westbank to meet up with the Mora Crew...Aunt Ana made some delicious Gumbo and Black-eyed peas and we just sat around all night and talked...it was great to meet our new little cousin, Abraham...Yes, this is mean...it's one of the plungers (it was clean!) we caught at Tuck's...heheMaddy totally clinged to Astrid all night...it was so cute...Madelyn is always drawn to Astrid when we are together. The night we had a really great time without the kids...we all took the ferry from Gretna to Canal St...with out drive-thru daiquiris...ahhhh...One of my top favorite things about southern LA... We went to Harrah's for a while and brad won on Texas Hold 'em and Blackjack, then we headed out to watch Baccus...

One fish, two fish, three fish...more

We spent last weekend in the company of loved ones in Marlin, Texas....I don't think there has ever been a visit to Marlin that has gone "unfished..." therefore, we carried on the tradition, except this time... something very special occured...Brad cut the standard-issued plastic blue fish off of Maddy's pink Barbie fishing pole and let her fish full-on bobbin-style...the result: Madelyn's first catch...a little perch. Maddy was thrilled and was "hooked" from that moment forward. She went on to catch a bass and another perch...she would have caught more had she grasped the reel better and reeled 'em in faster before many "got away." It was all too cute and great fun, and we can't wait to go back for more! Maybe next time Madelyn won't gawk at the thought of actually touching the fish she brings in!!!

Another Pina Colada please...and make it a double!

Viva Mexico! Izzy and Maddy hamming it up in front of the camera! Letting the horse do all the work in downtown Cozumel....next stop...drive-by Corona's...Happy hour after and before more happy hours... The Mora Community Bucket...I'll take some "mora" the pina colada please... Meeting up with AB and Ashley in Playa Del Carmen Maddy and Abueltio braving the cold water Mom and Dad's 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner Maddy and Uncle Edward time
Dancing the day away!Maddy and Uncle RolandOne of our favorite spots...the bar!
Mora Wedding Fun! > Aunt Anaaaaa Astrid, Liz, Erika and Ashley
Schroth Family Perks
Camera Shy???

Bowl game after bowl game....

We have had a lively couple of weeks watching college football around here...unfortunately for Brad, his Cowboys lost their bowl game against Oregon...but lucky for me, LSU dominated Georgia Tech at the Peach Bowl, and we were thrilled with Texas' awesome last minute win against Ohio State!!!!