The Neighbor(hood)

So here's the thing about the neighbors. They are...well, incredible. And I think they have personally taken it upon themselves to become our best friends and make us feel as welcome as possible in our new home of Louisiana. And for that, we are beyond thankful. 


I am not sure what we are used to or what we expected but the welcome and they way they have included us in everything is pretty awesome. We have always been close with our neighbors, or fellow condo livers, but those relationships grew over time. These southerners, well they were in our driveway, introducing themselves and welcoming us to the neighborhood during our first visit to the house, inviting us over, feeding us, and even mowed our lawn while we were away because we didn't have a lawn mower yet. 


And get this, they are even teaching our children manners. Yeah. Greatest neighbors ever. One of the men in particle won't let Nyah answer him without a, "Yes, Sir, " thrown in there and I am not even kidding. He didn't even ask George or I if this okay, he just corrects her repeatedly until she answers him properly. The look on her face is hilarious when the two of them go through this battle, and the sarcasm in her voice when she answers him, well, we have to work on that. 


I was warned by a friend (thanks Ali) about this sir and ma'am thing prior to arriving down south, but woah. George and I have discussed it and we are like, hey, if someone wants to teach our children manners, have at it. We personally don't feel the need to be addressed by sir or ma'am by our children, Mom and Dad work for us, but whatev, gotta make an effort to blend in. 


So I guess you could say we are loving the southern hospitality and neighborhood living, and we are doing our best to get used to the southern ways and fit in. And my favorite part of living in a neighborhood (besides the people, bike rides, walks, and school buses)? The quiet knock we heard on the door early Sunday morning to see if Nyah and Elsa could come out and play. 

I think we are going to be okay here.

Walking in Circles

We are back, finally connected to the world again. The break from all technology (minus our cell phones and our house hold appliances) has been great and refreshing, though I can't claim to have accomplished anything great. Because it seems like I have just been walking in circles for the past week we have been in this home. Or wait, has it been a week? I actually don't even know what day of the week is. 


I finally unpacked the last of the boxes yesterday and everything is relatively put away to their rooms or piles. I mean we are talking piles galore up in here and all I can do is roam from one pile to the next and then get distracted by another without ever really putting anything away. There is just so much to do to make everyone feel at home. And George and I have told each other, "Just add it to the list," more times than I would like to admit. Its kind of the theme around here, to just put it some where, anywhere, on the list, just to get it out of sight and mind so we can deal with it all.


We did get the most important room of the house put away though, the dining room play room, so the little ones can keep busy while I make every attempt to get busy. 

I guess it's okay to be real with myself and admit that is all just a bit much. Our 660 square foot condo is like my security blanket that someone just abruptly took away from me. I just can't stop thinking about it. I could clean the entire place, top to bottom (bathroom and floors included) in a little less than an hour. And all members of the family were in talking distance and in sight with as little as a lean in either direction. It was enough. And now George is back to work and I just feel like I am wondering around someone else's house. I'm exhausted from cleaning just a few bathrooms probably due to the circles I walk in the trek from one room to the next in attempts get ahead while maintaining the current mess we've made. 


My Google search bar has been blowing up with things like, "Wtf is a convection oven?", "What is that beeping sound?", and "Why is my fridge asking me what temp I want my water? Cold, I want it cold." I had to ask our perfect neighbor wife how to mop wood floors the other day because I don't know these types of things and I am sure she could see right through my small condo mind. And then my high tech washer said, "Hi" to me this morning and programmed the temperatures for the clothes I was washing. Which I am thankful for because I am used scrambling for quarters, playing laundry mat politics, and doing my best not to have the laundry mat attendant yell at me, again, rather than learning what temperature things should be washed in. And I am almost positive it was cold water for everyone at that laundry mat, so it wouldn't have mattered anyway. 


And Elsa is most definitely messing with me. Her new game is to pick the farthest point away from me in the house to hide in. She remains so quiet in the dark spaces causing me to leave the room and make another long lap around the house in search of her only to find her in the original room behind a door or in a dark closet giggling at me. Aren't kids supposed to be afraid of the dark? But the echos this house produces usually gives her away if she would just make a sound because we have little to fill this place. 


And in case you weren't aware, when you do finally decide to give in and give up and test out the new big tub in an attempt to relax, don't continue to add bubble bath when enough bubbles aren't produced because once the jets come on, yeah, it will boil over with bubbles. And your husband might laugh at you because you're trying to act like you know how to soak in a huge tub but you really don't. 


So that is what I have been doing, getting aquatinted with this place, the mailbox, the garage, the technology, the ridiculousness and trying not to feel overwhelmed and really trying to convince myself that maybe if I walk in circles long enough, that this place might eventually start to feel like home. 

Our Shelter

We waited all afternoon to hear from George. After much anticipation, we finally heard him slide his credit card key into the hotel door, which caused the girls to scream then hide, giggling the entire time. The smile he entered with said it all. 


After another meal in a sterile restaurant, we arrived with tired eyes in the dark with rain falling hard and the thunder rumbling even harder. The garage door hummed open, powered by our new opener, a free gift with our purchase. The kids piled out of the van and in they rushed in to fill their new home, their refuge from the world, with their echoing shrieks and extremely tired, nearly over the edge of sanity energy. It was all so surreal, such comfort from the storm. 

And all I could think about was hanging Christmas stockings, and decorating the girls room, and just how far we've come from the tiny space we started out in together on our tiny island. 


We've learned so much about each other and life leading up to this moment, and we now know that any space is perfect for us, that we can make any situation work, hopefully even one as perfect as this. 

Crackers were spilled, a rug was laid, diapers changed and a tantrum was thrown by our littlest girl who is testing the water of what her will is capable of in preparation for her second year of life. And then we had to say goodbye the place we will call home, leaving remnants of us behind, to head back to our hotel room for one last night. 

Tomorrow our journey as a family begins continues, in a house on a canal down in Louisiana. Our permanent shelter from the storm.

And I can't enjoy this moment without taking a moment to give thanks for the support, advice, encouragement and absolute love from all of those who helped us get here. We are blessed beyond words, not for things like houses but for you.

Together at Last

We have made it. We are here, its warm, and we are in the South, deep in the South. I guess I wasn't really letting my mind accept that we were migrating to this special part of the country, where the southern drawl, sweet tea, spicy food, and southern charm have a way of making you feel all warm inside. Yes ma'am. Where college football matters, and alliances and rivalries for the given teams run thicker than blood, much to George's delight. This place is an explosion of purple and gold.


I might have a little thing called culture shock going on but I am trying to embrace it all because, well, this is home. I thought I had acclimated back to state side living from island life but I must say, this place is overwhelming me. Cement and strip malls and traffic are constantly clustering my mind causing George to realize what a slow, simple, small town island girl I really am. 


But my refuge from it all-our new house, which is not technically ours yet. Fingers crossed we will be walking through the doors with suit cases in hand Wednesday. George out did himself in the house purchasing department. We have been to visit our new digs and the only part I didn't like was leaving. It might be my oasis from it all until my senses acclimate.


And the girls, well they never cease to amaze. They endured the nearly 900 mile trip beyond all expectations, which I am sure made the mini van driver (their Pop) a happy guy. 

Elsa seems to be adjusting to hotel life quiet well. And she nearly downed an entire plate of grilled alligator yesterday. Yeah. Who knew? 

Nyah loves her new house and has been consuming the local black beans and rice like it's her job. Finally, the real thing, not the out of the box stuff I constantly force down her. But Elsa is still partial to her grandma's seasoned rice and beans. And I am sure its just a matter of time before Nyah picks up a little Creole accent of her own.


And Jude, our sweetest little guy, managed to discover his thumb a couple days before the trip and really became attached during his hours spent in the car seat. Though he detests his car seat, he hung in there during the trip with a little help from the thumb. I know we are not going to appreciate the orthodontic bill down the road but for now, his new discovery proved helpful. And if you're counting, yes, that makes two finger suckers in the family. Genetic? Who knows?

Now, I have to get back to the business of figuring how to set up whole house hold from nothing and prioritize the most needed (with George by my side). I have a feeling our wallets are going to be begging for mercy. 


But for now, a few Louisiana factoids, compliments of Wikipedia that interest me.

• Louisiana State Crustacean-crawfish
• Louisiana State Reptile-alligator
• Louisiana State Drink-milk
• Cajun-descendants from French speaking French Acadia (present day Canandian Islands of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia).
• Creole-French, Spanish and eventually enslaved Africans born in Louisiana.
• Creole (the special meaning)-the name associated with free people of color from the relationship of European white men with (enslaved) African women (the men often freed the women and educated the children from these relationships). After the Haitian Revolution, this population grew to include French speaking immigrants and refugees from Haiti.

Finally, this rich land of mixed races, mixed cultures, and mixed languages is starting to make sense. French influences from every direction. Can't wait to see and learn more for myself and my children.

Many Thanks

We arrived during the early days of summer, a little sad to leave our island life behind and a bit uneasy about the future, relying on our faith in the universe, each other, and our families to help us through. Having no doubt that everything would work out, as it always does.

And we were not let down. Like always, life kept moving at a rapid pace and as I look back, I realize how much we have accomplished, how much we have grown. 


Our incredible girls fell right in and quickly learned the ways of an Indiana summer, our healthy baby boy was born, a Dad went away and went to work, strength was found, a birthday was celebrated, discoveries of big living were made, independence was gained, memories were shared, sibling bonds grew, and though some of the days were long and we felt so far apart, I think we've made it. 

Autumn is here, the corn is tall, and its time to go and do it all again, Louisiana style. I am so glad we got to enjoy these last few days of Indiana at her best. I am confident that the drastically different places their parents are from now hold a special place in these girls' hearts. Many thanks to our family, the friends we've made, and to you, Indiana, for the memories. You have been nothing but good to us. Until next time...xoxo.

The Anticipated Saturday Morning

I originally wrote this post way back in June, a month before Jude's joined our lives (which is hard to imagine, seems like he's always been with us) and before George left and I went at it alone with our three. I came across this unposted moment today and as I read it I couldn't help but get a tinge of excitement knowing that soon enough we will be enjoying these sweet Saturday mornings again, together, all under the same roof. Slow, private, unplanned Saturday (mornings), which I reference below, are by far my favorite day of the week and favorite time with the most cherished in my life. I can hardly wait.

***

I think it might have happened, a little pseudo routine might be forming in our life, just in time for our newest family member to arrive and make everything all wacky again, but in a good way. Obviously we can't wait.


I am only realizing our routine because I have acutally had a window of time to write each morning or go crazy on some projects.


Our unintentional routine goes like this, George gets up (early) with the girls then I get up, make breakfast (our favorite meal of the day which go all out for, daily). George then takes the girls "side" as Elsa calls it (outside) and I clean up at my own pace and chill while the girls are screaming and running outside. Pretty awesome.


And what else is awesome, this masterpiece.

Yeah, perfect with breakfast. Big up to you mother nature, you were definitely showing off with this big ol' melon. This juicy, sweet perfection makes a pregnant momma happy. How did you know? Well of course you knew, you are the ultimate Mother.


Everything is going so smoothly, George leaves tomorrow to pick up our long lost vehicle at a container port in Miami so I will be on my own for a few days. I am sure I will really realize how much I have been depending on him and asking of him when he's not around because lately he has been doing, well, everything. He's pretty awesome like that.


I am going out to play now, I am sure there are some bubbles to be blown.

Moving Day

The much anticipated day has come, the movers are here and are packing up our lives at warp speed. 

 I am not really familiar with the concept of "movers" and am definitely not familiar with the idea of someone else actually packing my stuff for me. But yeah, I could get used to this. Where were these guys when I was in college (my Dad is asking himself right now, as he shlepped my stuff back and forth from Florida with a smile on his face)? 

I am so thankful for these guys right now because though we don't have much stuff (Nyah and I moved to St. Croix with two suitcases and a pack n play and came back stateside with those suit cases, some boxes, and a few kids) I can't imagine doing this alone, and with no George. 


So I am playing director for the day while my grandmother is playing with the kids. They keep coming out and sneaking peaks of their "stuff" going out the door. Nyah was a little bothered by the anticipation of the commotion this morning but is pretty excited now that the guys are here. So we will be making do out of suit cases for the next three days until we hit the road.


Now, I must get back to my directing duties.

White House Fruit and Oat Bars

In preparation for our upcoming move/adventure/roadtrip I have been stocking up on things to occupy the girls to hopefully avoid any meltdowns, and obviously healthy snacks are a major part of that. Actually, snacking is key to keeping everyting irie.


Along with the popcorn, fruit, goldfish crackers and such, I will also be adding this tasty, chewy, sweat treat to the snack sack, created by Bill Yoses, straight from the White House kitchen and published in the New York Times (will also include the recipe below). 

I am constantly testing granola bar recipes because the girls love them and I can sneak so many healthy things into the bars without them knowing. I mean, Elsa thinks these are "coookies" and honestly really, that's all right with me. 


My sister in law recently shared an awesome granola recipe with me but it would be freakishly messy in the car and I get anxiety just thinking about the clean up (and flashbacks). But this is hands down the best bar recipe I have found and perfect for travel. We are talking pure chewy goodness here. 


Because if they are good enough for Sasha and Malia, then they are good enough for Nyah and Elsa.

***

White House Fruit and Oat Bars

2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup mixed seeds, such as pumpkin, sunflower, flax and sesame
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup maple syrup
Pinch salt
1 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit, such as raisins, cherries, apricots, blueberries, pears, figs and cranberries (use a few kinds, and chop them up if they’re big)
a shake of cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350F and line a 9×9″ baking pan with parchment paper or foil, letting a few inches hang over side of pan. Spray with nonstick spray.

Spread oats and seeds on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven just until golden and fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes, shaking pan once.

In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, oil, honey, maple syrup and salt over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until smooth and starting to bubble. Transfer the toasted oats and seeds to a mixing bowl. add the dried fruit and cinnamon and pour the hot sugar mixture overtop. Stir well with a heat-proof spatula, then spread into the prepared pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Using the overhanging foil or paper, lift out of pan and place on a cutting board; cut into squares or bars. Makes about 2 dozen bars.

For the Love of Music

I am starting to build my arsenal of things to occupy the kids with in preparation for our epic mini van adventure south. (Any suggestions from well seasoned road trippers would be greatly appreciated). My first go to item, of course, is music. All of my childhood roadtrips were spent in the back seat with my siblings in the company of some good music. So, I feel it is my duty to carry on this family tradition. The right way. 


The issue of what music to expose my children to had not even entered my mind until after I became a mother, but I think it is an important one, a parental duty. 


Music can take you places, help you understand situation, set the mood, inspire, get you going, comfort, make you smile, and make you move it, movie it. And like anything, I want my kids to be exposed to it all. Lucky for them, they come from a reggae loving Momma and a reggae, steel pan, quadrille, quelbe loving island, country and western dancing island grandparents, a hip hop finger snapping Nana, and a once upon a time Grateful Dead following turned rock loving Dad, so I think we have the range of music genres pretty much covered. I mean, when they are teens, will their peers even know who the Grateful Dead are? Just in case, our children won't be left in the dark.


But the issue with music becomes how much is too much? How much and what are they acutally listening to? Are the lyrics really sinking in? I find the answer simple. Feed them goodness, always, even in music. If goodness is running through their heads then what can come out but, you know, goodness. Luckily, prior to having kids, I held this same philosophy so my music stores of "kids tunes" were pretty much already in place. Because come on, a mom can only listen to "Wheels on the Bus" so many times before she wants to repeatedly start banging her head against the steering wheel/wall. 


Some of my favorite times with my mom (and grandma) were spent all out jammin' to some tunes in the car and at home. My first concert (REM) and the discovery of the magic of live music was spent in the company of my parents, bobbing our heads to the same beats. I can't think of a greater or sillier way to bond with children then to share in the love of music. 


So with that being said, here is my (and the kids') Top 5, All Time Favorite Kids Albums, and ones that we often rock and will most definitely be blastin' next week when we embark on our adventure. 

Number One. "I Love You Too".

Number Two. This was on repeat for a good six months in our truck. I can now sing "Rubber Ducky" in Chinese.

Number Three.

 Number Four. So calming this one, good background music.

 Number Five. A little country but still great.

One of Nyah's favorite songs is Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and I mean, why not? I can't think of a better message to give a girl.

I will leave you with one of the greatest kids songs of all time. So go ahead...Turn. It. Up. Your children will thank you.

The Calm Before the Decorating (Brain)Storm

One creative four year old (left alone) 

+ 

One blank canvas 

+ 

Palette (plate) of primary colors (acrylic) (red, blue, yellow & white) 

=

 Instant art work for Nyah's new room & one proud little girl.

And the awesome discovery that, "Mom, yellow and red make orange!" My little mixologist.


I can now check "art for Nyah's room" off my list of things to look for to decorate the new house. My mind has been so occupied with this project, the project of decorating a space for my family. A space I have never visualized or felt, besides the few glimpses I've caught on the internet. George played house hunter for our first home together and I've heard he did a great job. So my Coastal Living Magazines, Martha, The Lettered Cottage, fabric websites and numerous other DYI sites have been my best friends, my sources for inspiration. 


Now if I could just persuade George to let me paint the walls. Hmm, still formulating my master plan. Gotta win this one because spaces like this totally do it for my soul.  

Oh yeah, not on an island anymore.

Photos courtesy of Coastal Living

I will keep you posted on our decorating adventures. Movers come in one week and we leave in ten days! But whose counting?

Time Together

Nyah waiting patiently for her main man to arrive. The airport is becoming a regular hang out for us, which is okay with me.

I am so excited we get to spend this weekend together, like old times. Looking forward to taking a long, hot shower (alone), having a little back up at the grocery, responding to some abandoned emails, eating slowly, having adult conversation (if I remember how), and staring at the wall. You know, the little things.


After we return George to the airport on Sunday, the official countdown begins. Less than two weeks until we will all be together. Forever.


Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Moments of Firsts: Braids & Socks

This sweet little girl got her first set of braids the other day. 

I am not sure what made her decided to actually sit still long enough for me to do something with her hair, but I will take it. There may or may not beens some bribing involved in the from of foam soap and toothpaste, but once I got started, I was determined. 

While her sister absolutely loves getting her hair done, Elsa isn't into it so much. And I am not into torturing her so she usually just has curly/frizzy hair which I of course think is adorable, but her Aunt doesn't quite agree, and prefers her hair like this. And though she has tried to teach me how to properly fix Elsa's hair, she knows I am not listening. So these braid are for you Aunty Cline, I am not a total failure in the hair department. 

And as I look at Elsa in all of her braided glory, I can't believe how old she looks. 

If you are reading this post from Indiana, you are probably thinking I must be crazy for having my child in a dress because of the shocking shiver the air has to it. But if you are reading this from Indiana, you also understand that just three days ago, this was the proper attire for a kid when it was one hundred degrees out. The weather here is totally bipolar and confused. 


But today, oh no, today we have clothes on. Lots of them. Because it is very cold outside and the kids just keep looking at me when were out like, "What the heck is this?" 

And though my inner workings are feeling nostalgic remembering the feeling of a proper season change, my better self knows things could change tomorrow and it could the sun could be blazing again. But Elsa is happy with the cold because it caused us to bring the socks out, another first for her, and let me just say, she is in love.

And though I am tempted to pick up a few extra warm weather clothes for the girls, I think we will just make do with what we have because I don't trust Indiana weather and who knows what in this world Louisiana has in store for us. I guess I could just look at a Louisiana forecast but that is too simple, too modern. I prefer a good surprise.

Moving On

We finally made our decision. We are packing up and moving on to new horizons with a pit stop first in Indiana for the month of June to birth us a baby. We decided to go now because apparently its frowned upon to fly in the ninth month of pregnancy. Guess no one finds it cool to see a mom deliver a baby on an airplane. Whatever, wimps. 


I have no hesitation in going away for the summer and know the girls will have an absolute ball in Indiana, the land of green grass, swing sets, corn fields and family at every corner. I would be lying if I tried to convince anyone, including myself, that I am not a little intimidated by the thought of tending to three babies, alone. It's not the baby that scares me (sleep, feed, sleep, feed). It is these little ones that frighten me. 

I can't imagine they would be too satisfied being cooped up all summer waiting for baby bruda to finish napping. Destruction of, well, everything would be the ultimate result. Indiana will be good for them where I can open the door and they can run and run to their hearts content with a loving family member not far off their tails.


Now to just figure out the best method to convince a three year old that she is moving. For good. That her room will no longer be her room. That she isn't going back to school. So far when I try to explain this to her, she can't ever get past the fact that she, "Is going to Nana's house, to use her own garden tools, and swing on the two swings, and she gets to bring a suitcase." I guess she will figure it out. Kids are extremely adaptable, so I've heard. 


Unfortunately my child is far too familiar with airports, saying goodbye, and the geography of the world, or at least the places where her favorite people live and travel to often. She announced to her class yesterday when discussing full names that her name is, "Nyah St. Croix". 

Wherever we live, whatever we do, I guess I can rest easy knowing we have planted the seeds of freedom, curiosity, discovery and travel in her that will hopefully stick with her always. These girls are Cruzan through and through. We or they will be back, no doubt about it.