Dear God, please forgive me for........

Today we went to mass in Baton Rouge. We decided to go to St. Joseph Cathedral in the downtown area. We were rushing to get there since we aren't too familiar with it. Using mapquest instructions, it was rather concrete.

So, we get there and mass has just started. It is packed. We did not realize it was Pentecost Sunday. In addition, it was a new priest's first mass as a priest. It was very formal. The usher seats us in the 3rd row. Normally this would not be a problem, but you have to factor in my children. They are in an unfamiliar place and are expected to be quiet for 1 hour and 15 minutes. That is asking a lot for my 2 girls.

There are 2 nuns sitting behind us. They were 2 very old school nuns. I was waiting for one of them to pull out a ruler and swat Sofia's bottom. You kept hearing "geez" and "oh goodness". One of them did tell Sofia to "sit down" a couple of times and "you are going to drop that bottle".

If anyone has insight on how to keep a very energetic 2 year old and 10 month old to sit still and stay quite in church, please tell me the secret. I wanted to turn around to the nuns and say, "hey, give me a break! You were once a baby and toddler." I even thought to say, "do you expect me to leave the kids at home alone while I go to mass?"

This church and our regular church, St. Anthony of Padua (on Canal St. in New Orleans) are both old churches without this new thing called crying rooms. I was raised going to church with my parents. You go as a family. I feel like going to church is a family thing and we should all go to celebrate together.

I feel like the older people have a problem with families and their young children. It is very important to me to be there as a family. I had an old man whisper under his breath to me that children do not belong in church. What hogwash! I feel like this is the foundation to my children's spirituality and religous roots.

So, just warning you; My children will be with me in mass. I may be the one peeling someone off the wall or sticking crackers in another one's mouth to stop the chatter, but we will be there as a family.

Big Giant

Through the eyes of SG, everything is "big giant".

Here are some of her quotes from today:
"Mommy, can I have a big giant piece a watermelon?"
"Mommy, I hurt myself big giant."
"My boo-boo is big giant."
"Mommy, when am I going to be big giant?"
"I want big giant cheese."

Cake Walk

Here are some pictures of my latest cake creations. The oval shape/egg was my homage to spring for Easter Sunday. The cupcake and rainbow were the two I made for SG's annual school spring fair. For all three cakes, I was expecting to make my own icing and really take my time, but I find that very difficult to do with my 2 sweet peas.

Now realize, these are amateur cakes. My, I see many imperfections. I just hope they all tasted yummy.

Jazz Festin'

Well, I survived yet another New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Once spring comes around, I start getting into jazz fest mode. I guess it is just a mind set, nothing more than something to look forward to.

When I was single, I used to go each year. Then I started going with my boyfriend, who is now my husband. We used to go each weekend, but now with kids we had to limit it to either one weekend or one day per weekend. I actually went twice while I was big and pregnant and hot (as in temperature hot).

Everyone has their own way to experience the fest. Ours has become a neat ritual. We get there between 11:00 AM and 12:00 noon to set up camp. This serves as a base. The base has chairs, a blanket, umbrellas, small cooler with ice and wipes. From here we go check out the food, music, arts and crafts, then come back and relax. We even have a spot we go to each year. There are the same people that set up camp here, too. It is funny that you may never see these people anywhere else in town, but you know you will see them at the same spot every year.

This year seemed hotter than usual. Maybe it is the hormonal thing after giving birth twice. So, I decided to spend more time listening to music in the tents.

Here's just a sampling of the musicians I heard play in one weekend: Johnny Angel and the Swingin' Demons, the Dixie Cups, Buckwheat Zydeco, Galactic, Cowboy Mouth, Nicholas Payton, John Mayer, Treme Brass Band, Frankie Ford, Jeremy Davenport, Eric Lindell, Papa Grows Funk, Anders Osborne, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ingrid Lucia, Greater Antioch Full Gospel Choir, Steely Dan, and Harry Connick, Jr. How can one weekend get any better?

Jazz fest used to be different. It seemed like it followed the title of jazz and heritage music of New Orleans or well, Louisiana. I don't get where Rod Stewart fits in or ZZ Top and Counting Crows. You can tell the changes over the years as the prices have gone up and to think you could go for just $10 a day. I guess to attract more people they need to pull in these other genres. I still enjoy it!

I am so glad I did not bring the kids. I have the idea that it is such a great musical experience that the kids must encounter. Then I realize the baby must take 2 naps a day, SG gets really cranky at about 1pm because she doesn't want to take her nap. Then I have to factor in the heat and boredom because they are doing what I want to do and not running and playing at the park. I almost brought them on Sunday, but after seeing at least 10 cranky, hot and sweaty kids either slumped in the stroller or in their parents' arms on Saturday, I decided I would wait until they are a bit older. I just want them to grow up appreciating the wonderful music our great city of New Orleans has to offer.