Mardi Gras!

Bay was the first to take the plunge  .  .  .  An incredible face-painting artist

was at this year's Mardi Gras CCD kids' party at church on Sunday morning.

Another mom, painted with flowers and swirls, asked when I was going under the brush.  I though I was safe with, "I haven't been to mass, yet."  (We always attend 11:00am church immediately following the kids' CCD class.)  The friendly and fun-loving mom, however, responded, "I haven't, yet, either!"  Turns out a fair % of the congregation prayed and sang for the 1-hour church service with all sorts of colorful images on our faces, and for one grandfather -- on the top of his balding head.

Fitting.  And adorable!

She WAS actually delighted with her pink zebra facial decoration, but apparently a party, a pretty design, and a new outfit from Mom doesn't always mean cooperation or avoiding Mom's subsequent directives and consequences.  To post or not to post?  Hmm.  Every now and then a record of full reality, of the challenges, of the progress, of the work -- maybe not a bad thing.

For reasons unclear, Hunter hesitated until the last few minutes, and, in classic Hunter fashion,

worked a deal with Dad  .  .  .  If I get my face painted, then you  .  .  .

The at-home lunch conversation turned to who was powerful, strong, safe  .  . .  Jameson insisted that tigers eat zebras, to which Hunter spouted that zebras live in the African savanna, whereas tigers live in the jungles of South Asia.  After about a half-hour (during the car ride home) of delighting that she and Mama look like peacocks, Bay asked, "Do peacocks live where tigers live?"

Sadly, she learned that yes, they do.