Today is Friday, the week winds down here in Baton Rouge. It's been interesting being here, definitely a pleasant experience. We've loved the warmer weather, and the sunshine has been fabulous!
Some things that I find challenging are figuring out how to entertain the boys, and feeling like I'm doing enough for them. I feel bad when I realize that we've spent half the day inside a hotel room, but I don't know where to go because I don't know the town well enough. I also feel bad for the boys not having other kids to play with. I know they miss having little buddies. I beat myself up about this kind of stuff, and it leads me to think that we need to settle down somewhere and give up on this journey. I'm caught between my decision to make this work, and wanting my boys to have a "normal" life. It's rough. I know the boys are having fun, and that they do love to travel- but is it the right thing? How long can we make it work? Do I continue on for the sake of the adventure? All things to ponder..
I've also been really missing comradery myself. I need to be with some women! HAHA! Living with all these boys can make a girl go crazy!:) I miss my friends, I miss sushi dates and girls nights at Wild Ginger:). That has been wearing on me emotionally, it's been a struggle. I try to see the big picture, I try to look forward to the end result of this journey- but yes, it's hard.
I'm looking forward to being in Miami, and Honolulu, I know those towns so well. Hopefully it will feel a little more like home for a while. What is home anyway? Isn't it just where your heart is? If thats the case then I'm home anywhere if my boys are there. Why can't I be a little more content?
Evan just found out yesterday that we'll be in Nashville for the entire week next week. This is bittersweet because we do miss our friends like crazy! But at the same time, we finally got out of Nashville after 5 years and yet we can't seem to stay out! Haha! Geesh.
So here we go, headed up to Nashville for the week, then who knows after that. Maybe Miami, maybe Hawaii...or Boston..all part of this crazy adventure! To be continued...
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Four weeks and four states
We've been on the road now for 4 weeks, and we're still married!
I think I may have lost my mind 13 times, but I'm not a hundred percent sure. We've gone from cold to freezing, to luke warm, to hot and then back again. We've moved every week for the past four weeks, and when I say "move", I mean our entire everything. Our precious Tahoe is packed to the brim with all of our most important and favorite "must haves". And we cannot forget our beloved Koda. My joy. Seriously, this dog helps me stay sane! :) He's always here to lick me when I'm down. Always ready and willing to take me outside for some fresh air to throw the ball. He knows that nothing lifts my spirits like throwing a slobbery tennis ball 467 times.
The boys are having what I believe is a "blast", I mean what child hasn't dreamed of living out of a hotel room? It's like Zack and Cody 24/7. Except we don't watch that show. ;)
We started this journey in Easton, Ohio. It was fairly chilly, and incredibly windy at all times. It made for some not-so-fun outdoor times. The boys cheeks were permanently flushed from day one. But that didn't last long, 7 days later we headed south to the good ol Alabama. This truly is a godforsaken state. I've said that in the past, and then felt bad later- but I must admit now to America- I really loathe that state. After a week in Birmmingham, we headed back up to Ohio for another cold run. My boys are such troopers in the car, they really don't utter a word until we get about an hour outside of where ever we're going. Then the "when are we going to be there"'s start coming. I don't mind so much, I have to chuckle to myself when they ask, I mean really, isn't that just part of parenthood?:)
After another week in beautiful Easton, we headed back south again for a brief stop in Al once again, then on to Baton Rouge LA.
I have to admit, I was a bit weary about coming to LA. Evan kept saying things like "well honey, get ready to enter into another world" and scary things like that.I didn't know WHAT in the hell I was in for. Not to mention my kiddos!!
When we entered the state, we stopped for gas and I half way expected an alien to be at the cash register. When it was a human I sighed a breath of relief, and when the human was actually a nice guy, I was just perplexed! I kept saying, "Evan, these people are normal" in kind of a shocked sort of tone. I don't know what I expected, but this definitely wasn't it! :)
Baton Rouge has been a fabulous experience to say the least. The culture here is incredibly friendly and lively! I love the smell of salt water in the air, the laid back feel, and even the funny accents people have;). I don't so much love the fire ants however. This doesn't bode well with me and Koda. We like our outdoor time, as I mentioned before- the red ant thing has just got to go. I mean, don't they have spray for that or something?! Geesh.
The food has been fabulous thus far, and I think thats mostly because I have a Whole Foods within walking distance:). But really, I do intend to check out some Louisiana cuisine for sure!
Evan had some oysters for lunch yesterday but spent the entire night in the bathroom, so I may take a rain check on those.
We did eat at a fabulous little sushi place called Tchoup Stixx on our way into Baton Rouge. The coconut mango roll was to die for!
Yesterday I took the boys into New Orleans, it sounds lavish but really I was only going to buy some nutriwest supplements that I was out of. There's a chiropractor in new orleans who sells them:). But- back to the story- we ended up sitting outside of a starbucks, soaking up the sun in 80 degree weather. It was dreamy. There were these two men to our right who were chattering away like two long lost friends. Come to find they were brothers who see each other every day, how adorable. They acted like long lost best friends who needed to enjoy every minute they could get with each other before parting once again.
We had Koda with us and they LOVED him, they told us about a beloved german shepherd that they had had as children. They had him for eight years and then one day he got bitten by a rat that they said was at least 3 feet long. (sounded like something from a horror movie) Within a day after getting bit, the dog died. They seemed to tear up as they remembered their german shep, like it had been yesterday. They were fabulous. They made me fall in love with the city, I mean, how can a story about a german shepherd not make you fall in love with ANYTHING?! :)
So here we are, in Baton Rouge for a few more weeks, soaking up the sun and enjoying where we are. Trying to find sanity in this lifestyle and appreciate that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, though challenging, incredibly unique. My boys will hopefully remember this forever, and one day tell their kids about all their travels:). I hope that they can look back and really appreciate this season, and understand why we did it. (I hope I can too!! ha!)
And on we go...
I think I may have lost my mind 13 times, but I'm not a hundred percent sure. We've gone from cold to freezing, to luke warm, to hot and then back again. We've moved every week for the past four weeks, and when I say "move", I mean our entire everything. Our precious Tahoe is packed to the brim with all of our most important and favorite "must haves". And we cannot forget our beloved Koda. My joy. Seriously, this dog helps me stay sane! :) He's always here to lick me when I'm down. Always ready and willing to take me outside for some fresh air to throw the ball. He knows that nothing lifts my spirits like throwing a slobbery tennis ball 467 times.
The boys are having what I believe is a "blast", I mean what child hasn't dreamed of living out of a hotel room? It's like Zack and Cody 24/7. Except we don't watch that show. ;)
We started this journey in Easton, Ohio. It was fairly chilly, and incredibly windy at all times. It made for some not-so-fun outdoor times. The boys cheeks were permanently flushed from day one. But that didn't last long, 7 days later we headed south to the good ol Alabama. This truly is a godforsaken state. I've said that in the past, and then felt bad later- but I must admit now to America- I really loathe that state. After a week in Birmmingham, we headed back up to Ohio for another cold run. My boys are such troopers in the car, they really don't utter a word until we get about an hour outside of where ever we're going. Then the "when are we going to be there"'s start coming. I don't mind so much, I have to chuckle to myself when they ask, I mean really, isn't that just part of parenthood?:)
After another week in beautiful Easton, we headed back south again for a brief stop in Al once again, then on to Baton Rouge LA.
I have to admit, I was a bit weary about coming to LA. Evan kept saying things like "well honey, get ready to enter into another world" and scary things like that.I didn't know WHAT in the hell I was in for. Not to mention my kiddos!!
When we entered the state, we stopped for gas and I half way expected an alien to be at the cash register. When it was a human I sighed a breath of relief, and when the human was actually a nice guy, I was just perplexed! I kept saying, "Evan, these people are normal" in kind of a shocked sort of tone. I don't know what I expected, but this definitely wasn't it! :)
Baton Rouge has been a fabulous experience to say the least. The culture here is incredibly friendly and lively! I love the smell of salt water in the air, the laid back feel, and even the funny accents people have;). I don't so much love the fire ants however. This doesn't bode well with me and Koda. We like our outdoor time, as I mentioned before- the red ant thing has just got to go. I mean, don't they have spray for that or something?! Geesh.
The food has been fabulous thus far, and I think thats mostly because I have a Whole Foods within walking distance:). But really, I do intend to check out some Louisiana cuisine for sure!
Evan had some oysters for lunch yesterday but spent the entire night in the bathroom, so I may take a rain check on those.
We did eat at a fabulous little sushi place called Tchoup Stixx on our way into Baton Rouge. The coconut mango roll was to die for!
Yesterday I took the boys into New Orleans, it sounds lavish but really I was only going to buy some nutriwest supplements that I was out of. There's a chiropractor in new orleans who sells them:). But- back to the story- we ended up sitting outside of a starbucks, soaking up the sun in 80 degree weather. It was dreamy. There were these two men to our right who were chattering away like two long lost friends. Come to find they were brothers who see each other every day, how adorable. They acted like long lost best friends who needed to enjoy every minute they could get with each other before parting once again.
We had Koda with us and they LOVED him, they told us about a beloved german shepherd that they had had as children. They had him for eight years and then one day he got bitten by a rat that they said was at least 3 feet long. (sounded like something from a horror movie) Within a day after getting bit, the dog died. They seemed to tear up as they remembered their german shep, like it had been yesterday. They were fabulous. They made me fall in love with the city, I mean, how can a story about a german shepherd not make you fall in love with ANYTHING?! :)
So here we are, in Baton Rouge for a few more weeks, soaking up the sun and enjoying where we are. Trying to find sanity in this lifestyle and appreciate that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, though challenging, incredibly unique. My boys will hopefully remember this forever, and one day tell their kids about all their travels:). I hope that they can look back and really appreciate this season, and understand why we did it. (I hope I can too!! ha!)
And on we go...
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