Krewe of Victoria Mardi Gras Ball 2010

Dress: $200
Gas/Food: $100
Visit to new Paul Michael store in Lafayette: No comment
Going to the Ball: Priceless!

To make a long story short, Mom worked for Programs for Human Services, a nonprofit in Orange, for almost 25 years and her bosses back then (also the owners) were Don & Tish. They moved to Lafayette in the late 90s and Tish has become a member of the Krewe of Victoria since then. Their Mardi Gras Ball was January 8th and given that Daddy isn't too in to that kind of thing, I was Mom's date! We arrived in Lafayette at their home in time for a visit, a ride to pick up Tish's dress, and then getting Tish dressed (a lace-up in the back isn't a one-girl job!)...and Don was elected Prince Albert this year, so he was busy getting himself all dressed!
It was so cold that the fountain froze their plants!

We had just enough time to check in to the hotel and hurriedly get dressed, but we made it! More info is here, but here are my pics...This is the Prince's table...

It was a pirate-themed soiree...Mom and I are standing in front of the "ship"...

To my daughter's delight...lots of beads were to be had!

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Don greeting Tish after his processional...

Greeting their Queen & Prince...

Don makes quite a festive Prince Albert -

...and this year's Queen Victoria...

They began serving breakfast at 11 - maybe they're discussing how they will manage that in their full regalia? :) The royal dance...

Then, the real deal - ditch the wig, where's my wife?

Mom and I trying on the crown...

...and more scenery posing...

...and the saints come marching in...

By this time, everyone was feeling quite good...this is Don's grandson, Stephen, dancing with a (battery-operated) candle on his head...

The next morning, back at their home for breakfast, feeling like royalty again...

We made a detour through Broussard so that I could take pics of where my maternal great-grandparents grew up and attended school...their school...

My great grandfather's childhood home...

...and my great-grandmother's...they had a two-story previously, but there was a fire and this is where they moved afterwards...

There you go...fun memories!