School finally started!

After a 3.5 months break, JB's school finally started again last week! And for all you swiss peeps, school in terms of a small child means 'krippe'. So please no worries, Jackson is not forced into an un-natural setting, but spends time with other kids his age in a loving + nourishing environment. Other than in Switzerland (I think, correct me if I'm wrong), the day schools do "work" with the little kids on colors, they playfully introduce numbers + letters + sing the ABC song frequently. For the kids, it's playing, not learning per se, like everything else is at that age. When JB walks stairs for example, he likes to count the steps: 1 to 12 work fine, the 'teens' however are really funny: 'eleventeen' is my favorite number these days!!!
This year, JB will go to school 4 days a week - on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday he will stay also for lunch + nap, meaning we pick him up at 3pm. On Friday he's only there in the morning, 9-12. It feels like a lot, whenever I think about it. But then again it allows us to work hard for the hours he's gone, but then also to really be there for + with him when he gets back. Plus: JB loves his school! And so do Chuck + I. For many reasons: 'Our' school is comperable small: 65 kids in 6 classes, never more than 10 kids per class/day, 2 teachers per class. Jackson is not a number, he's being cared for + supported very personally. The ladies love him.... The school also is very close from where we live - 4 min. by car, 12 by bike. I met some really awesome ladies through school: I became friends with a couple of moms/teachers + we started a book club together. My monthly joy: an evening of good talks, good laughs, good advice +friendship.
The down side is the cost of this, but there's just no way around it. There are NO public schools for the little kids (and if there were, we might very well choose not to send our son there, unfortunately...). And it's not an option for me to be a stay at home mom. Yeah, I make some money working, but following are the real reasons why: I like being a professional as much as I love to be a mother. My job also provides my + my sons health care. Which is HUGE in the US. Being in the adult world, accomplishing things, working out issues keeps me sane, too - I don't think I'd be a very good mother without having that balance. Even if it's a stretch sometimes - and it is, hands down - I feel grateful for the way things are today.
So: Happy school year JB! I can;t wait to get home today to hear what fun stuff he did today!

Labor Day at the zoo

Morning at the Keith's house...

I'm so not a morning person. SO not. Yet since the baby was born, I had to say good bye to my beloved lazy-hit-the-snooze-button-roll-over-again routine. I got adjusted to it. Found a new routine, still moving pretty slowly, but moving. Since moving on land, this is what it looked like Coffee for me, Oatmeal for the boy, get dressed while he eats, then trow clothes on him, put jogging shoes on, stumble downstairs, find the stroller, buckle JB up and head for the park. By the time we'd get back, I'd usually be awake, exercised + in a good mood.
Now add Clifford in the equation, plus the fact that he is not supposed to be running because of his heart worm, yet needs to go for a walk. The logistics of that project are a bit chaotic: Get up, take the dog down to the yard for a quick pee, while shlepping JB just in diapers along. Back upstairs, Coffee making, oatmeal cooking + dog food preparing. I need another pair of hands. While the boys are eating, I get dressed, then we somehow manage to get JB in clothes, the dog on the leash + downstairs, where JB mounts his tricylce. We "walk" around the block, and let me tell you, it's not a pretty sight: Clifford tries to go after every cat he smells (about 10 alone in our street...), pulling on the leash as hard as he can, while JB is pedaling along until he decides he's done + I have to push him the rest of the way. Again: Another set of hands, please!
As soon as we're back at the house, we head upstairs to drop the dog off + go right back down, to fetch the stroller so I can get my run in. At this point, honestly, I'm spent already. But if I don't move, I tend to be not a very nice person.... so I head out. And within minutes, I'm glad I did. JB usually sings loudly all his songs, we talk about the squirles we see, the ducks + geese, we're looking out for construction vehicles, for dogs, etc. And the park is just such an amazing place to be. I recharge, this is my time.
Back home, I let JB watch a Bob the Builder video - with a bad conscious, I admit - so I can rush to get ready for work. So far, the summer nanny would show up at this point, but next week, school starts again + I'll be making lunch for JB + dropping him at school before I go to work. HEEEELPPP!!!
Where is Chuck, you might ask. He sleeps. Or tries to, as he often works until the wee hours. That's part of the deal, he works at night while I sleep, I'm in charge in the mornings, while he sleeps.
After being a bit bitchy for the past couple of days, I finally surrendered this morning. This will be our new routine until Clifford feels better + can actually join us for running. I just have to suck it up, realize that it will be a bit hectic, that I will eat my breakfast on the fly or at the office, realize that we have to be out of bed at 6.30 latest or we won't make it. And also bee OK with the fact that on some mornings, I might just not be able to get my run in. So be it. No big deal.
One question remains: How do people with more than one kid and one dog manage? They must be saints.

Meet Clifford!

It's been a long time coming. I've been dreaming of a dog for 'I-don't-know-how-long' and now we got him: Clifford, the little white dog.
We adopted him from the Louisiana SPCA - swiss peeps: das ist die Nationale Tierschutz Vereinigung die u.a. verletzte und/oder streunende Tiere aufnimmt, aufpaeppelt und neue Besitzer sucht. He is a rat terrier, probably pure bread, about 2 years old and just as sweet as can be! He is very laid back, loves to snuggle with us, sleeps on his bed (not ours!), loves to veg on the couch, watching JB play. Jackson is VERY excited and wants to share his binkies (Swiss peeps: Nuggi) and all his toy trucks with him. He also wants to lay on Clifford's bed, wants to pet him all the time and we have to help him learn to always be gentle even if he's SO excited and happy. It's great to watch those two together.
On walks Clifford pulls on the leash a lot, so we'll do some training in that regards, but he listens well and will learn new commands fast, I think. Chuck was jokingly telling Clifford about the 'strict swiss training' that he's about to experience... He HATES cats. He goes ballistic when he comes close to one. However, that's the only time he barks or shows any aggression.

As for Clifford's past, he was at the shelter for almost a year and we don't know a whole lot about what happened before that. He's definitely lived with people before, he is somewhat trained and seems to start remembering more and more of his manners, which is great! He is completly house broken, not hyper at all and seems to be just a really great fit for our family.
He is heart worm-positive, which means he's got a parasite in his heart that is transmitted by mosquito bites. It is harmless to human, but can be deadly for cats and dogs if not treated.
We'll start his treatment in 3 weeks and until he's cured, we have to keep him calm and his heart rate down, as the parasites can block arteries in the heart when it works too hard. I'm a bit scared of the treatment - it can be hard on the dog, as it is sort of a chemo, given per IV over 2 months. But we'll just do the best we can to keep him safe and comfortable. Once it is all over, we will start running, jumping and playing like crazies.
We are so happy to have found Clifford. I cant wait for you all to meet him!

NOLA City Park: magical in all kinds of ways...

This is where JB + I run every morning. We LOVE this park - for different reasons, though... Jackson adores the construction machines that we often run into. And he loves the play ground. The dogs that we see. The squirels + birdies. The ducks + 'funny birds' he watches on the bayou.
I love it because it is just such a beautiful place. Peaceful, tropical, miles + miles of space to run, bike, think, hang, play. And: It's just two blocks away from our house!!! Who's joining in for a stroll?

... forever 29 ...

I'm gonna have the first sort of big birthday party this Sunday in years. At my house. In recent years, no, really since I left Switzerland almost 6 years ago, the celebrations were always always sweet, but small, quiet. And always spent with Katie and Reece who were gracious enough to spend THEIR anniversary evening year after year with me. Because it just happened that Mister Darling's tour dates always fell right on that date. True friends. This year friends & neighbors, our adopted family if you will, will come to our house for a Birthday bash. Roughly 20 adults and 10 kids between 6 month and 12. Wooo-hooo!!!

I had to promise Chuck to not cook for the whole crowd - I so love him for knowing me better than I do sometimes. I get totally stressed out and therefore bitchy and meany prepping bigger 'events'... 'cause it's GOTTA be perfect, I'm running out of time, get out of my way...blahblah..... SO here's what I did: I ordered food from work. My friend Bill, Sous-Chef at Cochon Butcher, is making some BBQ pulled pork for sandwiches, they ordered mini rolls, making the coleslaw and the potato salad. All I'll do is make it look pretty and put it on the buffet. I also ordered my own cake - felt a bit funny, and VERY american. I never ever ordered my birthday cake before - or any other cake for that matter. "I make my cakes. From scratch. Thank you very much" would have been my answer. And even if I have a nervous breakdown while doing so.

It's gonna be a chocolate cake with chocolate filling and frosting. They will write "Happy Birthday Rea" in bright red frosting on it.

I will make some finger sammies for the kids - that's not cooking. Just putting stuff between bread and cut cute shapes with cookie cutters. And I'll cut some watermelon. Not cooking.

I'm excited.

And right now a bit sad. I wish my girlfriends from home, my mom, my dad, all my sisters, the kids could be here. I'll always miss them. I'm mostly at peace with that fact.

Recently at the Farmer's Market...

... JB + I ran into a friend of mine, Journalist/Photographer Pableaux Johnson. As we chatted he shot some really nice pics of the two of us. That's what these are.

p.s. ... und tschuess...

Anna disappeared, Claudette blew over Florida etc. + Bill is heading north = in regards of tropical storms, right now, this very moment we're fine + worry free. And I promise, this will NOT turn into a storm blog entirely. But if it does, understand. It's a BIG part of who + what we are.
That's it, for today.
-rea

Anna + Bill

Here we go, welcome to the season..... Tropical storms Anna + Bill formed during the last couple of days (Anna), hours respectively (Bill). The five day forecast takes Anna kind of directly over the Caribbean Islands straight over Florida.Bill is supposed to head a bit further to the east. but at this point, who knows.... Well, wait and see is all we can so. The cars are both cleaned up + ready to go. Chuck + I briefly discussed where we would head to, in case. And that's that.
The prospect of the next month makes me a bit uncomfortable, a bit uneasy. I don't loose sleep over it quite yet though. And so we're just going to enjoy a long awaited and long over due date night tonight - our miracle summer nanny is staying with Jackson while Chuck + I head for an early John Boute Show at the dba + dinner after. We'll check on Anna + Bill tomorrow again.
so long,
-rea

...there's a storm...

...WAAAYYY out there in the Atlantic. At this point it is only a tropical depression, it doesnt even have a name yet. It can fall apart, it can go anywhere and do anything. Nothing to worry about right now. But is does remind me of the fact that we are entering the high season of hurricanes. From basically now on until the end of September, we have to be prepared and ready to roll, in case a storm threatens the region.
Lots of memories are tied to this 'state of awareness'. Now and then we talk at the office about how we 'feel' in regards of this hurrican season. And all I can be is optimistic that we're going to be fine. Call it denial, but I can not live otherwise. I can't be scared all the time that something bad could happen to my city again, my community, my friends, us.
What I will do though is clean out my car, stack up on water and 'non-cook-travel-well' snack food and update my phone list. And I think I'll do some 'talking to the above' in that matter as well. Never hurts to have good connections, right?!
so long,
-rea

Moday, Monday, lalaaa, laa lalalaaa...

No kitchen for JB yet.... This weekend went by so fast , we got caught up in errands, had to take really long naps and do some 'Hollygrove Market' cooking. We also went through some last boxes and bags moved off the boat. We went down memory lane quite a bit, with a lot of laughter, little heart aches, remembering the big dreams, aknowledging how they changed over time, appreciating what has been and what is today. Looking back to the very, very beginning of our life together, when I didn't even dare dreaming of Jackson, I see how far we came. We really did, each of us, seperate and together. We marched on quite oncharted land, it seems. Territory where falling on the nose is so part of the journey. As much as always getting up, keep walking.
Whenever I go through stuff from my past, I'm quick to do a 'tabula rasa' and get rif of everything in sight. Chuck made me keep a couple of things - Thank you, lover! Tea lights I brought across the ocean, some 6 years ago. A silk dress I got in Vietnam (10 years ago?), that I will never wear again, but always will admire the hand made piece of art. And I kept JB's first little bitty onesie we brought him home in. Together with that little pink and blue hat they put on every baby in the hospital, as soon as comes out, it seems.
We did unpack some other treasures as well: A box with little cars, that used to be Andrew's. Guess who is thrilled about that find??? We also unpacked some books that Chuck and big brother Andrew used to read together, and ended up reading some Dr. Seuss to JB right there in the back yard, between boxes and bags. Good times, even though spend different than planned.
Happy Monday to all.
-rea

favorite day of the week..

I truly never thought I'll be one of these people. Yet I have become one: I honestly admit, I LIVE for my weekends. On Thursdays, I can almost smell the end of the week and on Friday mornings, I'm already excited and it can not get 3ish pm fast enough... then I'm free. Free to play, to see friends, go to farmer's markets, cook, make art projects with JB, just putter around the house, being with the boys, chase the chickens, take long naps, have a beer in the afternoon.
This weekend, I want to build a little play kitchen for JB. Our neighbor Donald offered some fine old wooden boxes for this project and I have a rough idea of how I'm gonna put those together/saw 'em apart, etc. As Chuck just recently got me MY OWN tool kit (oooh yesss!!), I'll be hammering, glueing and painting away. Or so I hope. It mightt rain all weekend - which would be fine also. We got the shop in the back yard and JB loves hanging out there anyways. It'll be fun and JB is definitely ready to cook away. My plan is to make the kitchen big enough that he can stand on the "stove" just like any big person would, but alsom small enough that I can fit it under the kitchen sink, when it's not in use. We'll see how that goes.
Tomorrow morning though we're heading to the Hollygrove Farmer's market to get another $25 organic, seasonal goodie box!!
So long,
-rea

a new summer nanny

Jackson's school is out for another 5 weeks or so. But as our work lives can't just be put on hold for that time, we're lucky enough to have found yet another sweet lady, how is going to be Jb's nanny for two days a week. Alicia - who is originally from up North - has been volunteering at JB's school for the past year + decided to stay yet another year down here in the South - lucky us!
Today is Alicia's first day with JB and I just know, they are having a ball! Chuck checked in on them a moment ago + they were great. It's such a good thing to know your child is save + having fun, while you're doing what you have to.
love,
-rea

more summer pictures

'Gugus!' JB at the zoo

Favorite toys? 'Things that go 'vrooom'!

JB at friend Nico's 3rd B-Day party at the 'Monkey Room' (what an appropriate name it is...)

The boys...

Playing 'Banana hat fashion' in our yard

...time to write is an issue...

As much as we want to do it, it just doesn't come easily... the past weeks have been really busy with Chuck being on tour with Bruce Hornsby and me flying solo at home. Chuck had a really good time working with the guys, even with long, stressful days + lots of traveling. But this tale I leave up to him to tell.
JB + I needed a couple of days to adjust to the "no Daddy" situation, but once we found the groove, things were really well. I'm so gratefull + also kind of humbled by the beautiful way our friends embraced Jackson + me, taking care of him, so I could go to work without worrying one bit about him. He was loved + cared for by everyone who help out like he was their own. He played hard + learned a good bit more about sharing with friends. Anna, Madeleine, Ella + Lily, you girls are grand! JB now invites me to tea parties! And he asked for a doll "with a stroller, Mama!" - which I got him a couple of days ago. JB calls his dolly 'Little Bob' or baby Bobby (Bob the builder' is his favorite these days....) + takes him around the block in the (pink) stroller, when we go for a walk. He also 'cooks' oatmeal for him, feeds him + kisses him 'Good Bye' when we leave the house. I love that about my little boy!

Chuck came home last Sunday (phhhh, so glad!!) + will be home for almost a month. That's awesome. Now I can recharge a bit, not worry about possible evacuations by myself +enjoy being with both of my boys. I'll share some pics from the past weeks with you all + try to write more frequently...
love,
-rea

Let's finally do it

We have been talking about it for years it seems. E-mail is handy, but pictures often get lost at the firewalls. Facebook is awesome, but feels sort of too public (?), so here we are: Welcome to the Keith family blog. In order to stay close and connected with friends and family in Switzerland and the US, Chuck and I will now and then post some daily day stuff, we'll share pictures, stories 'n things. To amuse you, to keep you updated and of course to show off the light of our eyes, the joy of our lives: Little Mister man, our son Jackson Banz.