Cole...The Confident

So the Mathas family is blooming with confidence lately. Something very nice to see since it isn't exactly something that we would be normally known for.

More to come at a later date about my new life but here is a treat from a conversation yesterday after work.... The "big boys" (3rd graders) down the street came down and asked William (our favorite second adopted son) and Cole to play chase. The boys quickly agreed. After running wildly for a short period they stopped to rest. The big boys were talking about school and my normally rather shy Cole pipes up and claims to them "you know...I am VERY popular in my school!" The big boys exclaim "yeah, people know me a lot too at my school." But, my son decides that this isn't enough and closes with: "well, my photo is on the wall of the Superbowl!"

You go Cole. Mommy is proud that you feel important :)

Side bar: For those of you that don't know...I had the honor of designing the Club for the New Orleans Saints and the Louisiana Superdome that we named Club XLIV after our Superbowl win. In an art photography wall that we designed, I decided to sneak a photo of Cole front in center for all to see. Therefore, this is why he thinks he is on the wall of the Superbowl!

There's No Place Like Home

Our Carly has been obsessed with the Wizard of Oz for months now. It has always amazed me that not even once was she scared of the darker parts of the movie. I still get a little freaked out by those awful monkeys...but not Carly! She is totally in love with the movie from start to finish and I can honestly say we have probably seen the movie over 50 times now. With moving into our new home last Fall and Carly's love for the great wizard it was pretty obvious that we celebrate her 2nd birthday with a bash to honor both her and our new home....so here is a re-cap of her birthday which is heavy on pictures rather than words for once!

Our front yard set the scene for our adventure and the below photo is entitled "My life hasn't been the same since someone dropped a house on my sister!"

When guests walked up to the front door they were greeted with my custom wreath's asking them "Are you a GOOD WITCH" or a "BAD WITCH?!"

A side effect of being an event designer/producer...you can't throw a "normal" party!

We had witch cupcakes, rainbow fruit cups, red jello slippers, "Toto's in a Blanket,"

AND the MOST awesome birthday cake ever baked by colleague and friend Desire DeMontijo...The Rainbow Cake....AMAZING!

Favors were tiny Toto baskets with Lion's heart bubble bath, Lion's Heart Chocolates or Rainbow Jello Beans AND custom TOTO cookies done by POSH COOKIES from Houston!

Guests got to get their faces painted by friend Miss Holly Valenti or pick a Lollipop from the Lollipop Guild Field above our fire place mantle.

The bathrooms were even decked out for the day!

Daddy's arms are always a safe place to be!

The birthday girl wore a custom "No Place Like Home" ensemble but didnt wake until 30 minutes after the party started. She was rather tired and grumpy and in Carly fashion warmed up AFTER the guests left. She loved swinging, eating her lollipops, eating ice cream and most of all curling up on Paw-Paw's lap after the big bash was over.

All the work was totally worth it. We asked all the guests to click their heels and make a wish and after the party Mom, Dad and I released a single red balloom into the sky with our wish.

Red balloons have done great things for me...the last one I released brought Cole into our world!

For us...this day wasn't about the tiny detail or the great gifts that Carly received...instead for us it was a day to say that there is definitely "No Place Like Home" and we are so happy that for Cole and Carly we can say that home is in New Orleans whether it is celebrating a second birthday or just a Monday during the week.

Dear Carly

Just a few weeks ago we celebrated your 2nd Birthday. I can't believe that you are 2 already.

Here are some of the favorite things we love about you:

1. I love that you skip and prance everywhere you go. I now believe that it is true that fairies DO exist!

2. I love how much you adore your brother. In fact, you are a bit obsessed with him and I hope that ONE day he will return this adoring admiration back.

3. I love that you make me & Daddy kiss - often several kisses at a time...smashing our heads together. You are like our tiny cupid!

4. I love that you are so independent and you are such a big self-soother but please know it's ok for you to lean us every now and then.

Things You Love Right Now:

1. You love dogs big time and you WOULD love cats except since Macie isn't so nice to you you are not as fond about them.

2. You love strawberries, popsicles, vanilla ice cream, cheetoes, fruit snacks. You hate M&M's, cake and even chocolate chip cookies!

3. You love Barney, Elmo, The Wiggles, The Wizard of Oz and Blues Clues.

4. You LOVE to sing, dance, look at books and most of all YOU LOVE TO COLOR...even on places you should not (over and over!!!)

5. You LOVE your Paw-Paw. I am pretty sure I rank 3rd on your list: 1. Paw-Paw 2. Cole and 3. Mommy (well sometimes 3 may be Daddy). I am ok with this ranking most of the time :)

Why Won't You...

1. Wear clothes to bed? I mean are jammies that bad especially since you have a closet full of cute ones!?

2. Sleep more...I mean really. Little girls are supposed to sleep MORE!

3. Try to let your brother go to the bathroom alone. It would cause us all a lot less headaches!

4. Punch a pillow when you get mad instead of pinching, scratching and walking around with your mouth wide open to bite one of us when you don't get your way!

Most of all, Happy Birthday sweet girl. You are our joy, our sunshine and our sweetness all rolled into one. We adore you completely.

Next post....A Re-Cap of the BIG 2nd Birthday Bash!!!

I Remember...Katrina Then & 5 Years Later

I Remember...

I Remember a celebratory lunch with my extended work family filled with boastful conversation of what lay ahead in the busy schedule of the Fall months.

I Remember waking up and hearing the words..."Category 5 headed directly to our home"...words I thought I would never hear in my lifetime.

I Remember unloading our belongings into that place that was supposed to be safe and protected and the words of strangers telling me that I had made such a good choice of not getting on the road.

I Remember when the newscasters signed off for the last time, the very first loss of electricity, winds that were completely horizontal and sirens that screamed for hours on end.

I Remember the sounds of broken glass under my flip flops and the hospital priest saying that "THIS is what it must have felt like to be on the Titanic."

I Remember heat beyond comprehension, the faces of human suffering, staggering worry and confusion of why water was rapidly rising.

I Remember saying goodbye to my mother in the middle of the highway, a car that somehow lasted on near fumes as we pulled into that station and a bloodied & petrified girl in the restroom that had just left the convention center.

I Remember hearing the familiar voices of my colleague and her family that gave us a safe place to take refuge in the darkness of night and the dreams of escaping from buildings with water that never seemed to end.

I Remember my son coming into the world and feeling like the pain I was feeling was nothing compared to the suffering of my city and her people and I had not suffered enough.

I Remember my son's first "home" away from home on a street perfectly named "Heavens Drive" where having family cradle us with love & support was more important than anything else in the world.

I Remember that October where thousands of butterflies filled our neighborhood...what a phenomenon that was and no better of a symbol of the rebirth that was about to unfold before my eyes.

I Remember standing in line for Houston's Restaurant because it was the only place in the city serving on china...something so simple but became obsolete in our search for our former "Big Easy lives."

I Remember a husband that became not only a hero but a healer, as a first-hand witness to a sickness that led me down a dark spiral for way too long.

I Remember a small team of colleagues reuniting and trying to carry a torch so dimly lit, while other teammates picked up and had to leave everthing they had ever known just to try and remain afloat.

I Remember I watched a dear colleague suffer through sickness and recovery and crying and telling stories at our very empty lunch table.

I Remember the joy of the grand re-opening of every restaurant that mattered to me and the pure bliss on children's faces with the re-opening of the zoo and the aquarium.

I Remember that first Mardi Gras morning the sounds of a bag pipe troupe playing "Amazing Grace" as 5,000 of my closest neighbors watched in awe of the peace that overcame us all as we stood in the middle of St. Charles Avenue.

I Remember the sparkle in the eyes of a High School student as he was presented a brand new musical instrument and his story of living alone for the past year so that he could complete his Senior year as a Purple Knight.

I Remember that night sobbing watching as the Saints took the field in the Superdome again and it seemed that it was then we became defiant against the naysayers and the people who didn't believe.

I Remember when our lunch table began to grow again and our stories shared more laughter than tears and the spectacular events that followed and one by one our torch grew brighter and stronger.

I Remember the loss of a dear friend who no longer could take the pain, daily wear & tear and the uphill battle that we continued to live through so like many others before him he ended his battle himself.

I Remember digging down deep to find the courage to give birth to my daughter in a city's health system that I no longer trusted and the joy of having a second chance of being a first time mother.

I Remember saying goodbye to our first home that I so dearly loved and relishing in the fun of every detail of building a new home.

I Remember a golden season that was pure divine intervention where black and gold confetti seamed to rain down from heaven during those magical days.

I Remember seeing a photo of myself from a celebratory lunch on the 26th day, where there are no signs of exhaustion, pain and struggle that seem to march across our faces so prominently today.

I Remember our journey over the last five years and through the pain, struggle and exhaustion the sheer gratitude and joy that each day brings that does not go unnoticed.

For that reason I choose to remember and never forget.

Kellie Hope Mathas

Dedicated to my fellow New Orleanians, my friends, family, colleagues, clients across the country and most of all, my husband who stood by me, my beautiful daughter who gives me light each day and most of all for my son Cole...who saved me when I thought I couldn't save him.

Dear Kelly Clarkson...THIS is what happened to Miss Independence!

Here she is...our little miss independence!

If I would have had just a small glimpse of the personality my baby would have as she blossomed, giving her a name in the hospital wouldn't nearly have taken me so long. Carly means "free man" and there couldn't possibly be a name more fitting for her.

It has become quickly apparent and extremely bittersweet that Carly's beautiful spirit will never require a lot of hovering under her parents wings.

She is joyful, giving, sweet, exceptionally smart and adoring of her big brother.

At almost 40 years old, I couldn't be more opposite of Carly. There are many days I still want my own Mom to hold my hand and tell me everything will be alright or take care of me when I am sick. Even when she falls down it is hard to comfort her as she quickly rallies in protest at her physical limitations.

She is bold, fun, loud, confident and proud. One day last week, Allen swung her upside down by her feet and she shrieked so loud I thought the windows would crack! One day, Carly will be the ONE at the amusement park that you will be able to hear from the top of the ride and laugh that someone can scream that loud.

She favors her family, puppies, kitties, Barney, Elmo and Chick-fil-a ice cream and like all Hope grandchildren before her, she ADORES her Paw-Paw.

They share secrets and have a special language between them that is cherished and true.

The ONLY time Carly wants to stay close is night time and this has been since day one. Some people may be aggravated at the thought of sleeping with their little one(s) but it is at this time that I get to gaze at her striking features and thank God that she is in our life as I hold her tight at the end of the day and many times throughout the night.

My niece Amanda has been visiting colleges this summer to determine her plans after graduating next year.

I remember taking Amanda on field trips and swinging her high in the air like it was yesterday and just like everyone says it went by SO incredibly fast. I looked down at Carly and wondered what colleges we would visit one day with hopes she won't go TOO far away. And although Carly will probably be off circling the world and doing stints in the peace corps or an internship at an international embassy, I can be at peace because her brother will probably still be living at home and demanding help with putting his socks on!

Be free my little girl. I now know what it really means to let something free when you really want to hold it way too tight.

Indoor Plumbing is Really Overrated

So here it is...a sneak peak of our new home in the Soup Bowl! Unfortunately this picture is already very outdated as our builder is setting records with our schedule and the work being accomplished. Come to think of it maybe he should consult with BP on a thing or two!!! Anyway... love Tommy Gennusa (TAG HOMES)...super builder.

Although we are moving along very quickly it is not soon enough for our little Cole who asks almost daily when his home will be ready. Cole sees his room painted brilliant blue and that is all he needs. Frankly, in Cole's eyes, indoor plumbing is totally overrated and not extremely necessary as our current neighbors have experienced when Cole exits the car in the afternoons! (Such a proud thing for a mom!)

As of today, our driveway is being poured, walls have been painted, most of the floor is down and the kitchen cabinets are being put in! It is exciting and stressful but totally worth every additional effort that we are putting into it. We have some incredible and beautiful features that we are designing for the house like this turned wood chandelier by local designer Julie Neill called the "Savannah." I think I am most excited though about the awesome mud room space we are having built that also has a built in desk for me (& the kids!)...it just screams organization for tiny shoes and big stinky ones too!

Although we have not been given an exact date, we will probably have a house move in party around the first week of September - maybe just in time to celebrate Cole's 5th birthday. What a gift that would be so Tommy if read this please consider this as a present for Cole ok??!

I will post another update on the kids, VERY EXCITING work news for me and the Soup Bowl by early next week along with some additional updated photos of the house. For now....we are so grateful for our life!

Making It All Worth It Part 2

Cole loves snowballs. It is the perfect summer treat that is pretty much an after-school standard in the Soup Bowl. For the first 2 years of his life, Cole only requested ice cream flavor or as he calls "yellow ones." At 4 he moved on to "blue ones" which are most often bubble gum in flavor.

Since I was a little girl my favorite has always been chocolate which he will often ask for a bite of here and there but has never ordered one for his very own.

Yesterday after school pick up, we went to our snowball spot and I ordered a "yellow one" for him by request. The lady at the stand told me that they day before he ordered a chocolate one for the first time while visiting with his paw-paw.

I got back in the car and said to him "Cole, a little bird told me that yesterday you got a chocolate snowball...how exciting!" He looked excited back at me and with much expression said...

"Mommy, I didn't know YOU spoke bird!!!!"

Gee, how I adore him.

Mother's Day Do-Over

Isn't it possible to do a day over...especially if it's a day you automatically become a club member of when you have kids? Mother's Day like all major holidays mean a lot to me. Growing up in the Soup Bowl, holidays were a big deal in my family and my mom was and still is one of the best holiday makers in the country. She was great at it all...the cooking, the cleaning, the parties, the shopping, the perfect presents and most of all the happy memories. This would normally be a great thing except for the fact that my bar has always been set high and with high expectation often comes higher let-down.


I also admit I USED to be what I call a "Hallmark snob." A Hallmark snob is someone that unless you see the little gold crown on the back of the card then the card was probably just from a grocery store and thus not good enough for my standards. Allen learned early on that I wanted the gold crown card but these days a card from the Quick E Mart would serve just fine in my book.

As our family has grown and our lives have become busier, messier, less organized and often chaotic, my standard of what makes a great holiday certainly is no longer the dream of what was but what we can make of it now. And for now, that's OK with me.

It's ok with me UNTIL the deadly combination of things said and NOT said and things done and NOT done led to the 2010 Mother's Day meltdown.

I won't go into the rather scary details but there were certain flashes of a crying child underneath a restaurant table, a husband that forgot the words "Happy Mother's Day" and one mom screeching off in a black jeep just to start off.

After speaking to some other fellow mom's, it sounds like I wasn't the only one that wasn't brought breakfast in bed, slept in, went to the see the movie of their choice or left without criticism..event if it was just for one day. I heard that there is some website that women can sign up to cheat on their husbands and that on the day after Mother's Day the site had the largest enrollment of the year! That is CRAZY (the fact this website even exists) AND that obviously there are a lot of other Mother's out there feeling a touch taken for granted and not so special.

I was very pleased that when I got home from work on Monday that Allen and Cole had purchased me red roses and a balloon (which made Cole very happy since that was what he wanted to give me in the first place.) Even though I had to ask Allen to do it I could tell he was genuinely sorry for the lack of celebration on his part.

We BOTH have a lot of work to do to bring back a sense of special in what has become a war against routine and 110% caretaking.

Until then, I have high hopes for next year!

Making It All Worth It

A LOT of mornings in the Soup Bowl our home is filled with tears and frustration. There is too little space in our present second floor accomodations and one little baby girl who is rather obsessed with her big brother and his toys. Cole can't even go the bathroom without his sister trying to open the door... it sure is tough being a big brother!

So we have tears, we have screaming and then we have one mommy feeling like implosion is certain.

But every once in a while there is this tiny glimmer of hope...a kiss, a comment, a moment in time to freeze of a family sharing a moment that is pure and peaceful.

I was so lucky this morning to experience one of those moments as I was drying my hair getting ready for work.

Cole came up to me softly and wrapped his arm around me and said "How is my favorite girl in the world?"

SERIOUSLY?!

As tears came to my face from how sweet the gesture was...it was 7 words that made the rest of it all worth it.

Thank you to my favorite boy in the world.

Love, Mommy

It Sucks To Be THIS Mommy

It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child and in our family we call upon the village every day to help us make it through the day.

In my quest to keep our son out of aftercare we enlisted the help of our village...unselfish & giving family members who take turns picking him up at 2:45 pm each day.

It has been a successful but we know often taxing effort for the past several years until yesterday when I received a call that our village had failed....

Failed to pick up our first born that is.

The call went something like this...

The time: 6:02 pm The place: in line for mashed potatoes for Second Born at Popeye's

"Mrs. Mathas, this is Kim from LRSH, just checking to see who was picking up Cole today as he is the last child here?"

Mrs. Mathas: "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT...." (much screaming to strangers surrounding me follows...second born dazed and confused in the back seat of the car)

As I screeched out of the fast food line trying to wrap my head around what had happened, was our village ok today...was there an accident...they could not have forgotten...

BUT THEY DID.

OK...so I am sure you are thinking what's the big deal...so he got to play in the school yard with his friends for a few hours...how bad can that be?

Well, we didn't get THAT kid. ANY change in his schedule completely freaks him out. If we take a different route to school this can cause an uproar so THIS was going to be a BIG deal.

As I raced to pick him up, thoughts raced faster in my head swirling with the plan of everything from my reaction when I would see him to what I would tell him...the truth or a tale?

I couldn't bear telling them that he was FORGOTTEN...I mean how do you FORGET a child? With visions of him sitting alone and crying feeling abandoned and cold out on a corner, I quickly pulled up to the school and put my best happy face on to greet him.

With a smile on his face and a quick kiss hello there were no immediate signs of scars or tears.

I decided to tell him that his C&D had an appointment that lasted way too long and they called me to come pick him up instead. He seemed ok with that and quickly got into the car to head home.

By this time second born is eating her foot she is so hungry and then the questions and comments begin."Mommy I was really sad when you left me in the school yard today...you left me for 72 years!!!"

There would be no throwing anyone under the bus today. My fate was already sealed.

In his eyes I was THE ONE who forgot him.

It SUCKS to be THIS Mommy.

Just One Year

Today my baby girl turns ONE! It has been such a blessing to have her in our lives and I have been so humbled to have a second chance of being a "first time" Mother. I had the chance to experience a "normal" delivery, a "real" homecoming day from the hospital and special early outings with her in the Soup Bowl. In those first few months I got to experience every wonder without a second of fear.

From day one I truly believed Carly was an old soul. EVERYTHING Carly did she did like she had done it a thousand times before. From eating to playing to walking - nothing actually seemed difficult or unfamiliar to her. Her eyes always seemed familiar and comforting to me.

There is a clothing brand called "Just One Year" and when you become a parent you quickly understand the true meaning of that.

Just one year to experience & share every FIRST in her life.

Just one year that she will probably allow me to dress her in everything I want and not what she demands!

Just one year that she looked at me like I am the most beautiful thing she has ever seen.

Just one year of eating everything I gave her, sitting in her high chair and car seat without a battle and having the time of her life in the bathtub.

Just one year of unsolicited kisses and hugs.

I am hoping I get a little bit more time on some of these special days but for now I will cherish what I have gotten to experience of just one year.

Happy Birthday Carly!

The BIG Freeze

Much of our country is experiencing some of the worst snow storms and historic freezing temperatures than ever before. Today in the Soup Bowl, it is a bright, crystal day with perfect temperatures....however I wish we could have the big freeze.

A freeze to stop this moment, this time, these days, this sunshine with our historic FIRST ever win of Superbowl 44 last night in Miami. We are all literally walking on clouds in this city.

I wish I could freeze the kindness, love and extraordinary passion of a community who have come together for perhaps THE most special time in our cities history. Freeze the smiles, the hugs and the laughter that has rung through our streets for months now as the Saints marched on to gather our destiny.

I wish I could freeze the positive momentum of our city. With a newly elected Mayor followed by some of the best press our city has seen in decades, how could we not want to wake up from this incredible journey that has led to such a remarkable dream?

I wish I could freeze the beautiful innocence in my children's faces as I know how quickly this time will pass. As I collect historic newspapers and Saints Superbowl merchandise for their time capsules to "freeze the time" for them, I hope one day they will get look back and understand why their parents chose to stay in a city that many gave up on long ago.

For today, I choose to freeze it. God Bless the Soup Bowl!

Closings & Openings

14 Years ago we moved into our first home as a married couple in the Soup Bowl.

Our perfect little home... all of 1400 square feet had been a HUGE leap for us both emotionally and finanically. It was my first home away from the home that I grew up in for over 25 years and I remember thinking that it would never feel like "home." When we bought it, it was pink and black on the outside and didn't even have floors...but it had one beautiful Japanese Magnolia tree in the front yard that we adored from the very start.

Allen & Dad painstakingly nailed down the subfloors by hand so that the wood floors could be installed. We painted, we scrubbed, we decorated, we knocked down and we painted again and AGAIN.

We loved it....from top to bottom and it loved us back. It sheltered us from Katrina and provided me the only safe place & comforting haven when I was suffering so deeply. It protected me from all the instability that surrounded us.

It welcomed 2 children, 14 wedding anniversaries, countless birthdays and other celebrations that meant so much to us. It was here we said goodbye to our two loving cats...first Bean then Binx and our little family is still not complete without them. Now it is our turn to say goodbye to our little home that unfortunately is not growing as quick as we are.

It has been almost two weeks that we did our house closing. I was crushed when I realized I didn't get to say goodbye. Teary eyed as we signed the final paper, the new owner saw how pathetic I looked and allowed us to keep a key so I could say a proper goodbye and thank you and off I went. It felt so good to walk through once more...all alone to say a prayer of thanks.

It is now time for new openings....new paths and a new place to call home. We are not sure where it will take us yet and how our story will continue but we know and love that 132 Haroleans will be forever in our thoughts.

We started as 2 and leave as 4.

Thank you from all our hearts...Kellie, Allen, Cole and Carly

We Believe!

Last week in the Soup Bowl our former "Recovery Czar" said some extremely harsh words about our city...gee, get in line Mr. Blakely. Yet, in the midst of the continued criticism that we seem to face daily we have been experiencing some of the most exciting and invigorating events our city has seen in a LONG time!

First up: Two weeks ago, workers turned on the refurbished marquee lights at our very own Saenger Theatre which has been vacant since the witch "K" came through. If you grew up in the Soup Bowl you will always remember your first trip to the Saenger...perhaps it was to see Annie with your Mom and sisters like I did! What a night. I couldn't imagine not being able to bring my children to see their first theatre performance or Nutcracker Ballet at Christmas so this is truly a cause for much celebration. One thing I know for sure is that when 2011 rolls around we will be at the doors waiting for that first performance to that grand and exquisite piece of our history.

Second up: Last week was the Grand Opening of the expansion of the National World War II Museum & the awesome 4-D Victory Theatre movie! I got to take a sneak peak of the venue and it is truly one of the most innovative and first-class facilities in the COUNTRY. This place gives you shivers it is so impressive and it is NOT located in Washington D.C. or New York it is HERE in the Soup Bowl!

Last but certainly not least is the Saints. You would have to live under a rock in our WHO DAT NATION to not feel the positive vibe of our 8-0 team! I got to help produce an event for Feed The Children a few weeks ago with the Saints Offensive Line in tow helping to raise funds for the charity. As they stood on the front steps for a photo op it was a surreal moment looking at what COULD BE the next Superbowl Winning Team! On top of all this excitement, local band Cowboy Mouth just released a brand new single called "I Believe" that pretty much sums it all up for us so if you haven't heard it get ready for some inspiration!

I have said it before and I will say it again...it really is little to do about football or grand openings or our our food. IT'S ABOUT US. WE are what makes New Orleans special.

WE BELIEVE. We believe we are worth re-building at every level. We believe we stand together as people and as a city...faults and all. We believe we are worth fighting for. We believe in our children's future in this city. We believe in a Quarterback and Coach to lead a very SPECIAL team and city to a first-time victory!

So goodbye Mr. Blakely...we don't need you to believe because we believe in ourselves.

Final Score This Week: Soup Bowl 3 Former Recovery Czar 0

The SUNNY Side of the "Boro"

About 45 minutes from Nashville is a city called Murfreesboro, TN. The "Boro" as it is apparently called by many locals, became the home of my sister (our "Sunny") and her family after hurricane Katrina changed their path in life. In the past four years we have called the Boro many things...temporary home, holiday vacation spot, storm evacuation safe haven and probably most often...the place that took a big part of our beloved family away.

Although it would be very easy to remain bitter or depressed about this fact, the truth is that it is the very BEST place for our Sunny and her family to be. My neices, Amanda and Alison who are now 17 and 16 years old, have thrived there. It is a beautiful, safe and a friendly place that has opened a better life away from the Soup Bowl for a part of our family. Our "Sunny" as my sister is called, got her name from my grandparents who called her their "Sunshine" and they would have loved the Boro. She wasn't just THEIR Sunny though. If you meet my sister you quickly begin to realize that her affect on the lives she touches goes way beyond the terms sister, daughter, wife, friend and Aunt. She is much more than those words to all of us.

Several weeks ago we spent some time in the very SUNNY side of the Boro. I knew it would be a special trip when on the night before our departure our son Cole allowed me to blow dry his hair for the very first time because "he wanted to look good for Amanda & Alison" (his cousins who he thinks are goddesses apparently!).

The Sunny side of the Boro includes WAY too many gifts, ice cream, games and enough activities day and night to fill a four year old's dream. Speaking of 4 year old's, Cole actually turned 4 during our visit. A special day that included a trip to the Nashville Zoo, new "Life is Good" shirts, pizza, Wii games, an AWESOME Spiderman bike, slip n' slide AND a Spongebob Squarepants Birthday bash were all on the agenda and are still being talked about now that we are back at home. For me, it was the first birthday - (4 years later) that my head wasn't filled with memories of how we spent Cole's first birthday arrival into a world in utter chaos that Katrina left us.

It was perfect in too many ways and once again way too hard to say goodbye, yet...our Life in the Soupbowl calls and so another goodbye filled with way too many tears on my part occurs followed by that emptiness that never gets filled once we are apart.

First Best Friends

At one week shy of turning 4, our son Cole made his first real friendship connection a little over a year ago at his current school located in the Soup Bowl. To be honest it was a set-up...after I basically begged his Mother to have her son check on Cole during his first day of after-care at school. Being the EXTREME worrying soul that I am, I suppose I thought Cole would fall to pieces on that day...feel abandoned or concerned that I would never pick him up perhaps.

Well, that's when William came in to our life and stepped up to the challenge of becoming Cole's first best friend. Not an easy task for anyone to take on since Cole did not exactly come pre-packaged with the genes of a carefree attitude and flexible disposition. I will blame this on Allen like I do everything else that our children are personality "challenged" with.

William is one of those kids that perhaps has been around a time or two in this adventure we call life. He communicates far beyond his age with the gift of immediate connection and shares EVERY detail of his life without even a second thought. All with a sweet, caring and compassionate disposition. You couldn't really ask for a better first best friend for your child and although it started out as a set-up it take didn't long for their friendship to become one that is genuine.

At 4, a best friend is someone that when you go to their house you must complain about them for not sharing, about how they sprayed water on your face when you weren't looking or that they won't share your cheetoes. And just when your Mom thinks it is the most miserable time being had by all and you get in the car to leave it is stated "Mom...that was the BEST time I ever had!" .....this all a typical playdate with William.

A best friend is also someone that cheers you on trying to go number 2 on the potty and pats you on the back when you are having tantrum in the middle of the floor. A best friend is someone that you watch Star Wars with, eat too many donuts & suckers and play super heroes and when it is time to go home you aren't afraid to give a big bear hug and say "I love you."

How lucky have we been to have had William in our life.

Two weeks ago, William started "big boy" school and while we really thought hard about transitioning Cole to this school as well it just wasn't the right time for Cole to experience yet another major change in his life. For now...my son doesn't have his first best friend and he tells me almost daily that he misses his friend William.

Although this may sound silly to some in other parts of the country, in the Soup Bowl, it is not uncommon to go through every level of schooling and STILL be friends with your FIRST best friend...even when you have your OWN kids. We do that here...we latch on and never let go and if we go we only go for a short time and then pick up wherever we left off.

So perhaps William and Cole will move on or they may even remain best friends as the years go by I cannot predict. What I do know is that memories we have made will be kept dear in our hearts and one day perhaps they will meet again as college roomates...William bringing by every girl he meets to hang with the rest of the guys and Cole reminding him that he needs to be on time for his 8am psyc class.

Thank you William.

Our Life In the Soup Bowl

So here it is...my first blog recording the adventures and challenges of raising a family in the city of New Orleans...otherwise known as the "Soup Bowl." It is almost 4 years to the day that hurricane Katrina forever changed our lives, so it is only fitting that my first blog tells the tale of that day and time once again. For the past 4 years I have often cursed August 29, 2005 but not today - today will be a day of gratitude and thanks on what has become our "post-K" life here:
Thank you Katrina for allowing me the chance to spend the first four months of Cole's life with the daily help and care of my mother. Had you not come I would have been alone - a first-time mother without that extra help and care that what so needed.
Thank you Katrina for giving my sister and her family a beautiful, safe new place to live and although it is many miles away it is a safe haven for us when it is needed and longed for.
Thank you Katrina for changing my career and what I do on a daily basis. Had you not come I would have never stood in the ravages of the lower 9th ward, visited the campus of St. Augustine High School or the countless other New Orleans public schools in our city for voluntourism projects.
Thank you Katrina for every grateful re-opening celebration we got to attend. From something as grand and wonderful as the Superdome's coming out party to as simple as our favorite chinese food restaurant on Carrollton Avenue coming back to serve the BEST Mandarin Chicken in the South!
Thank you Katrina for making me a better wife, friend, daughter, colleague and most of all...a better Mother, because I no longer second guess a kiss, a hug, an apology or prayer when I go to sleep each night.
Thank you Katrina for reminding me why we fight to live and choose to raise our children in this city that has become a person not a place to us and for reminding me that I cannot turn my back on her when she has bad days, months or even years.
And speaking of time frames...they said that it would take 8 years to recover from Katrina's devastation. In less than half, we are stronger, kinder, wiser, better prepared for hardship and live life fuller because of the path we have traveled so today I am grateful....
The Mommy in the Soupbowl

Welcome Home

Kel ~

If you don't know, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. We've never gone to a birthday party together, had a lunch date or even been in the same city together for more than a few days; but, I know for certain that you will always be someone dear to me. I love so much your warm spirit and the remarkable impact you have on everything and everyone you touch.

I am SO excited to follow along on the adventures of you and Allen as Cole and Carly grow and you find the perfect home for all of you. Welcome to your home on the web.

All My Love, K