We had the very best time ever doing the parade this year! We (more so I) were pretty convinced Marley was going to bail on this whole parade thing. She told me many times leading up to the parade that she didn't want to do it. It didn't help that we didn't have her costume until an hour or so before the parade began (because you know how my girls can get excited about costumes). The costumes were supposed to be done by Tuesday and we got a call Thursday night at 8pm to be at the school at 9pm to pick them up. So at 9pm, I drove out to the school and all the parents waited while the poor, overworked seamstress finally showed up with the costumes. St. Thomas has had rolling power outages all week and I can only assume the stress she was under. When she passed me Marley's costume, I noticed that Marley did not have a skirt, but pants. I really didn't want to say anything as I was pretty sure the woman may have killed me but when they asked if everyone had their costume, I spoke up and said I had it but I think it was a boys costume...the woman looked at me and said, "Marley's not a boy?" with pleading eyes that begged me to will my daughter into a son for just one day....a part of me really wanted to say "it's ok, she can wear the boy outfit" but knowing Marley, there was no way she was going to be willing to wear the pants when all her girlfriends had on twirly skirts. So off the woman went, home to make yet another skirt (sorry poor overworked stressed out seamstress). When we got to the parade in the morning, we waited and waited for the skirt and when it showed up, it was just a touch too snug. Fortunately for us, another of the girls decided she no longer wanted to be in the parade and we were able to use her costume instead. All this to explain why there are some pictures of Marley in blue trim and then finally in her yellow/orange trim.

She was pretty excited about her make-up.

All these girls are in her kindergarten class. Izzy, Siena, Marley and Alessandra.

Keeping each other entertained while waiting for the parade to begin.


My camera got a serious workout.

This little boy is in their class but he was in a different Carnival troupe. His name in Kendrick...I hear a lot about little Kendrick from Marley...first crush?

Stu had volunteered to troupe along with Marley so that left me with the littlest of our rascals. Carnival Parade is about a two mile walk and it is slow. Very slow. We had to have Marley there at 9am and she wasn't officially done until 2pm. I knew without a doubt Maya was going to make me carry her all day. I was not going to want to do that. So the day before, I went to Kmart and dropped $20 on this stroller. Best. $20. Ever. Spent. She was THRILLED to be in a stroller. I had to drop some marriage licenses off at the courthouse so we strolled down to Carnival VIllage while we waited for the parade to begin.


The infamous ferris wheel.

We headed back to the parade...

and anxiously awaited big sisters arrival.


I only saw ONE moko jumbie!

Picked up the paper while we waited.This was a picture of jouvet from the morning before. We have never been to jouvet...there is an element of danger there. They were selling t-shirts with the logo "Remember...if you see your man or woman dancing with someone else, don't get mad, join in! It's a celebration!" It should have added, "please don't knife anyone".


And here they come - the Sibilly School Sunrays!

And there's Stu, proudly leading the group!

And there's our girl!


Of course, Maya didn't want to miss out and jumped right in.







They had to perform their dance in front of the judges and all the TV crews. This was the most crowded part of the parade, it was hard to get in there and get pictures.

The Sibilly School steel pan band is killer.



She was having a blast.




My favorite costume of the day.

The parade ends at Lionel Roberts Stadium where the kids get up on stage to perform one last time before being finished. This was around 1:30pm and Maya had been a real trooper all day. One the last leg of the walk, she accidentally spilled water on herself and lost it. She was incredibly upset about having a wet shirt and sat in her stroller and pouted. Also on the last leg of the journey, one of the other parents handed me a beer. So I'm strolled along with my Solo cup and hit some gravel. Some beer spills out of my cup, lands on Mayas head and drips down her back and onto her shirt. I'm mortified and say "OMG, I just spilled beer on my daughter, she is going to smell like a bar!" and I'm waiting for Maya to lose it, to get incredibly upset about being wet again. Instead, when I look down, sister is sucking the beer out of her hair.

Performing on stage!

The real stars of the show - Stu and Alessandra's daddy Paul.

After a long day of troupin', Marley was excited to get some stroller time.

Maya had a strong opinion on that.

I'm thinking of troupin' next year. I think that hat suits me.

So proud of our little St. Thomians.


Marley told me next year she wants to be a Carnival Queen (each school has 2 or 3) and I instantly had visions of her all dolled up in the awesome Queen outfits. Then she adds..."that way I can just sit on one of those cars and won't have to walk". She is a St. Thomian to the bone.


And while the Scott Clan was busy Carnivaling it up, the May Clan was busy welcoming a new baby to the family. My newest nephew, born on St. Thomas Carnival! Welcome Nicholas!
