Heading North

Well, tomorrow morning, bright and early, the kids and I (and Maho) will board a plane bound for the great north. We will begin a new adventure in Alaska, but we don't know how long we'll be staying.

Those Morrows, always on the move.

We are sad to leave Patrick all by his lonesome, but excited to spend time with Nana, Grandpa and the rest of the Alaskan extended family. We'll start school in Fairbanks and I hope work our way back to some financial stability, albeit apart from each other.

And now I'm off to repack our bags for the 847th time in a month. 

Catch you on the other side.

Funkified

I was browsing the internet the other day when I came across BeFunky.com. Basically you can make a sketch out of a picture of yourself. 

I could spend all day funkifying photos from my library.

But I won't.

I have kids and, you know, responsibilities and all that.

The original

New Places, New Faces

We are no longer in Key West. Friday night we packed up and headed north to Orlando where we will be staying at least a week. Patrick has some meetings to attend and we are hanging at a vacation rental trying hard to distract the kids from the land of the Mouse. We keep saying "We are not on vacation, we're not going to Disney." 

In their brains it is just not computing that we come to Orlando and do not go to DisneyWorld. We'll have to work on that one.

So, we are living day to day. At the moment we are all together, but circumstances may force me and the kids to go live with my parents for a couple months until we can get back on our feet financially.

And since we're all about change here I thought I'd update the look on the blog. I hope it is easy to read. 

Fresh starts people; sometimes we all need one.

Pool time

The kids are enjoying having a pool in their own backyard. 

Unfortunately, so is someone else.

Here is the typical day.

Ella pretending Jackson is a seahorse and riding him across the pool.

"It's okay, I'm used to it...You want a ride too?"

Then comes the jump contest....

Splash!

Which goes well until you-know-who shows up. Yep, that's her in the back. The one with the black fur. She thinks she's our 4th kid and should do everything the kids do.

Including going for a dip in the pool...

"Maho, No!" (because then we will have to cease with the jumping)

Maho likes to swim laps and not come back to the steps until she is really tired and almost not swimming anymore so Ella pulls her in for safety.

And then it's time for a snooze on the lounge chair. And the kids get their pool back.

Down but not out

The mood surrounding us the past few days has been one of uncertainty, anger, disbelief and hope.

While us adults are putting the pieces back together the kids have continued on as if nothing has changed.

That's a good thing.

And, in spite of everything, I was invited to a party; sure to lift my spirits!

(Just in case you can't read 1st grade spelling it says: To Mom From Ella, I am going to have a wild party. Every one will be there. I hope you can make it. p.s. wear a funny costume.)

The kids have a whole big bucket full of dress up clothes; me not so much, so this was the best I could do on short notice. Introducing: Jamaicanme Crazy!

Ella had planned out a welcome cheer when we came to the door and we had to do a dance down the fashion show runway (in front of Daddy and Jackson) and played a game.

Good times even in not so good times.

Look before you leap

Yep. Should have heeded that advice a little more.

We will be leaving Key West soon even though we just got here and (seemingly) got settled. 

Not getting into specifics, but sometimes things just don't work out the way you think they will.

What's next?

 You'll know when I know.

Photography

My kids are loving playing with my camera lately. They love taking pictures. They love taking pictures of anything and everything. When I turn on the camera I never know what I'll find. From shots of Barbie, Ken and their family, funny faces, the dog sleeping, photos of the floor and beyond, my kids have felt the need to memorialize all these moments in time onto digital film. 

Last night Jackson went with Patrick shopping at the sporting goods store while we girls chilled at home. Later on that night Jackson came to me wanting to know where my camera was. Groaning inwardly I asked Jackson, "What do you need the camera for?"

"I'm going to take a picture of my balls."

And that he did.

That kid. Pure comedy I tell ya.