Skender's Beach Birthday Party

We have celebrated our little friend Skender Laybourne's Birthday for the past 3 years at the Annenberg Community Beach House and Santa Monica Beach. Marley and Skender were born the same year, I cannot believe how big these children are getting and how blessed I feel to watch them grow into little men. This country has some really valuable gems in its future.

El Matador Beach

This Summer, Marley and I have been "beaching it" in southern California. We took a trip to Malibu, Ca. A beach called El Matador Beach. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to drive up the coast. We were packed up with juices boxes, food, water, snacks and beach toys! My great friend Auntie Dakota organized the beach party and it was just a perfect Sunday Funday! Marley has become a true Californian this summer.... He played beach tennis with Auntie Dakota, Dug ditches, He yells the word "Kawabonga"when a big wave crashes down and he says things like this "Mommie, this sand is Super Hot". Who is this child? LOL

This picture was taken before I surprised Marley with an early pick up from school. They were going around the table one by one ....."When I was a little kid..... It was Hillarious. Out of the mouth of Babes.

SKN REPRESENT!

On June 30th, 2012 Los Angeles held its first Caribbean Carnival in Hollywood! It was something long over due in this city. The one thing I complain about is finding culture in Los Angeles and for 2miles I got it! It was a small but a respectable turn out and I can only see this parade developing into some bigger and better every year. I believe Marley and I were the only ones representing St.Kitts & Nevis.....we did it proudly.

Summer Family Fun

The Best Growing up

In my last post in which I wrote about our experience in NYC, I failed to mention one of the Aha moment Marley had in Bryant Park. We spent a lovely afternoon with our Stomp family and children, Marley was playing tag with his new buddies and he could not understand the concept of Tag. In his 3 year old rule book, Tag is running and catching each other. There is no "OUT"! And when they all applied the rule Marley was in protest. "They pushed me and said I'm out" cried Marley. I knelt down to his level to look into his eyes. (All of a sudden I turned into a Football coach) "Marley, what's wrong with you? You cant hang with these NyC kids, You better toughen up!" as I poke his should with some tough love". I thought for sure he would start crying, I was actually joking as all of the parents laughed with me, but to my surprise he looked into my eyes intensely, dropped to the floor and proceeded to do push ups, got up flexed his muscles and said "I toughen up now Mommy". "Good! I said. Now go play". Okayyyyyyyy as he ran off to have more fun! INCREDIBLE

Family Fun /East Coast Style

This past May, Marley and I ventured to the Big Apple to visit friends and spend some time with our family in New Jersey. I cannot express the connection we have, despite our residing in California. I was so kiddy stepping off that plane, I pushed Marley in his stroller so fast to the Dunkin' Donuts kiosk.....Light and Sweet please! Ahhhh good times. Oh, and the warm humidity, the energy, the urgency, it felt like a roller coaster! I didn't waste anytime trying to coordinate with my friends. I did not get to see everybody, but I did get a chance to see some old friends from high school, dance friends, Stomp friends, my in-laws, my brother and his family and my parents. So, It was a perfect. Marley loved Nyc & NJ. He was sitting in the back seat and he said "Mommy, I never want to leave this place again!" I said "What place Marley?" He yelled "New Jersey!" He said the same thing when we went to play in Central Park. "I don't want to leave New York Mommy!" He loved his new friends, cousins, aunties, uncles and both sets of grandparents! He was in heaven. All of the attention and love, he couldn't get enough.