How is it almost MARCH?!

Did the winter months blow right by everyone else like it did for me?! It's funny when some days move along with the slowest of speed, but then I'll check the calendar, or work on scheduling plans for Damion and myself, and I'll realize that weeks have gone by without me really noticing. We are just a little over a month away from our One Year Anniversary! AHHH! How amazing! And so unbelievable! But mostly just amazing! :o)

I left off telling you about how we were doing in life back in the summer (even though I blogged about it in November.. oops!). So, I'll try for a quick catch-up. That will take some pressure off of me, and for those of you who already know about our last several months, you won't be dragged along waiting for new info. ;o) Edge of your seat stuff here, folks! So, bear with me for a long post, will ya?

So.. September 2014
We're still in New York City. We're living in a small, two-bedroom apartment right in the heart of Little Italy. The windows are all sound proof, but if they weren't, I would spend most of my days listening to the sounds of horns beeping, someone playing an accordion on the street while singing love songs (yes, really - think cobblestone Italy from the movies), while waiting on Damion and his work partner to come home in the afternoons. The hotel they worked on is on Broadway, right by the World Trade Center area. I'm a bit timid, and a lot of days are still pretty hot outside, so I didn't do anything alone during the days. That's okay by me - NYC is an expensive place to visit - and live! But, I'm getting ahead of myself!

After visiting with my family and friends in North Carolina, I drove back up to be with Damion in NYC. Labor Day weekend brought on a couple of days off for him! Yay! So, we got adventurous and drove out to Montauk. Are we fancy, or what?! ;o) I've heard of the Hamptons and Montauk before, of course. Barefoot Contessa, Celebrity Summer Homes, Revenge!, The "We Don't Want Them Here" Kardashian Drama, and HELLO!!... Phoebe's real mom's beach house! I tried to explain it to Damion, but he didn't care much about the hoop-la. Ha! It's a 2-3 hours drive from the city, so we headed out on Sunday morning. The drive was pretty easy, until you get into the actual Hamptons. Then it changes from interstate/highway driving to two lane roads everywhere. Traffic and people everywhere. Tiny cute shops and crazy expensive cars everywhere, too! But, where were all the celebrities?! We laughed because we saw NO ONE FAMOUS. :o( Only people we kept calling, "Probably Tom Cruise's Cousin" and "Most Likely Jennifer Aniston's Hairdresser." Oh, well.. on to Montauk we go! Maybe they're all out there on the beach!

Guess what.. the lighthouse is cool. But, traffic is bad there, too. And still.. no celebrities. What even?!  Damion did his best to appease my desire for almost-paparazzi. These poor folks never knew what hit them. Hahaha! Thinking about that, all these months later, still makes me laugh. He's definitely the one for me. ;o)

We did make it over to the road by the beach, and he was able to run over and grab a few photos for us, but it was starting to drizzle a little. We knew we had to drive back to the city, and there were seriously eight million people trying to maneuver around these tiny streets. We went by The Sloppy Tuna thinking that maybe we could get a bite to eat there, but just looking at all the people trying to cram on the balcony made me fearful for their lives, so we decided not to join them. Think Spring Break MTV style, except maybe 100 square feet. I'm 35 years old, people. That ain't happening. Lucky for us, there were still some roadside shops open on the way out, so we stopped there and shared the most delicious lobster roll. Yum! Back to the city we go!

The lighthouse at Montauk Point.

No celebrities on the beach, either. Hmph!

Delicious! 

A week or so later, The Feast of San Gennaro began in Little Italy. Right on Mulberry Street where we lived! Literally within arms reach of our building door, there were vendors lined up and down both sides of the street, carnival games, several parades, and music from sunlight until nearly midnight, for about 10 days. We didn't mind too much except that it created some drama in trying to get a some things delivered (Amazon shipments, grocery order, mail from home). It was also a bit of a maze to meet up with my long-time friend, Stacie (who just opened up her Etsy Shop!) for dinner one night. (We forgot to take a photo together!) Fun to watch from our window, though. I got some fun photos and videos. We also got to eat some really delicious food!

This festival brings in close to a million people to Little Italy each year!

Looking Left, then Right, from our bedroom window.

Parades :) 

Being in New York on September 11th was sobering. At night, we went to our rooftop and looked over the city, including the Tribute in Light. Both beautiful and heartbreaking.

Damion took this of the Century 21 Building by the World Trade Center Memorials.

Bad photo, I know - but if you look in the center of the picture, you can see the beams.

It wasn't long before it was time to leave. I was sad to leave Damion the morning I drove out of the city, but I was glad we were moving on to the next thing - going home! I headed out a few days before him because they were going to be working hard to close up the job site, and I wanted to visit my family on my way back to Louisiana (and also break up that intense drive!).  My nieces both have birthdays in September, and even though the August beach trip was a celebration for that, I was happy to see them again. And my nephew, of course! Funny kiddos!

Looking back toward the city on my way south.

Cutie girls just after their 8th and 11th birthdays. :)

Reece, the family jester. :o)

Leaving our home empty for the summer provided a few.. challenges.  The moist Louisiana heat is no joke! I spent a couple of days cleaning up some mold and mildew in our home and discovered we had a critter. Ack. Nicole and critters are not friend. AT. ALL. Thankfully, Damion's family is very kind to me, so I bunked up with his grandmother in her brand new home in Ragley. After Pop Norris passed away this summer, Mawmaw decided that it was time to move back to where her family was. So, she got packed up, sold her home and moved out to Conley Farms. :o) Everyone lives all together now! Thankfully, she was my champion in getting rid of the critter, too! Damion made it home, but we weren't home for long, though - Houston was next! It's not super far from our home, but definitely too far to drive each day for work. We were paired up with the same co-worker in another two-bedroom apartment. Much more space this time! And I didn't have to walk 3-4 blocks to get to and from my car. Ha! We spent October in Houston, going home on the weekends when we were able to.

I was the one with the power tools this time. 

Our creations!

November was pretty much the same, except that the job was finishing up. Another guy was added to the site to help, so I had to give up my space in the apartment. Bummer! But again - thankful to have my new family close by! I spent a lot of time with them! They were very hospitable and helped me not to be so lonely. I'm pretty sure I overstayed my welcome, but I was showered with grace. :o) Damion's cousin Emily turned 13! YAY! We went to eat at Olive Garden with her. Sweet girl!

Emily and three generations of women in her family!

The birthday girl is a really great big sister, too :o)

Just before the job was ending, I got to go with my Mother-In-Law and Damion's Grandmother to visit him in Houston. Damion's brother had been sent to join the force since there were now two projects happening in the city. So, we went for a couple of days to hang out with them and introduce them to Ikea! I'm pretty glad everyone loved it because I'm always up for a trip there! When Thanksgiving came, the work ended in Houston, so Damion and his brother came home. We celebrated with the Conley family - tons of food, and of course, I had to insert some of my family foods. I made my MawMaw Wilson's Broccoli Casserole, My Granny Warren's Hash Brown Casserole, Homemade Bread, and lottts of desserts. Everything was delicious!

Ikea!

Molinda found shoes that are just perfect for her! Hehe!

Thanksgiving games with daddy (AKA - Uncle Jamie)

December rushed in and it was time for another birthday! This time, it was Damion's cousin, Elaina. She turned 4; her birthday party was at the Children's Museum in Lake Charles. Several floors of fun hands on things for kids to discover and play with. I ventured out and make her a Frozen-themed cake. Damion helped me, as it ended up taking a LOT more time than I had hoped. I was very critical of my work, but I think it tasted great when all was said and done. :o)

Thank you, Pinterest! Ha!

Next up - Christmas Festivities! The church we've been visiting at home had a Christmas musical. We were able to go to the opening night, and Damion got drafted right away to help out. ;) He was a great sport! Damion was offered another job site in Houston with the same company he had been working for, so the week before Christmas, we headed back for a week. We had already made plans to visit my family in North Carolina, so they graciously agreed to let us keep those plans. We had Christmas festivities with the Conleys, then headed out the next morning for our drive to NC. On the way, we stopped and had dinner with one of my best friends, Hallie, who was working in Atlanta. It was a quick visit, but so refreshing. I love that girl!

We love to play games with our family! This was a new one we tried. 

Lots of laughter ensued!

Elaina got her own Jerry the Giraffe!

Damion's parents :o)

Uncle Jamie & Aunt Michelle with their girls. Dylan had to leave for work :o(

Christmas sword fighting with Dustin. Normal, right?

We spent a few days with my family, including Christmas morning. It was nice to be husband and wife for that this year. :o) While we were visiting, I did get to run off to dinner one night with a couple of my college best friends, Marie and Matt.  We met as freshmen and have remained friends all these years. Love them! We always laugh SO MUCH! It's a favorite thing of mine to hang out with them! We had to hurry back so he could get back to Houston, but we were thankful for the time we got to spend there! Once we got back to Louisiana, we napped a few hours, then headed on to Houston. Exhausted!! But, we had to do it. (Photos below... the Christmas of Selfies! LOL)

Me and my Daddy

Me with Mama

<3

Sisters :o) (Me and Stephanie)

Me with my Brother-In-Law, Eric

And SisterBrother, too (Me and Adam)

Me and my Sister-in-Law, Karen

Yay for Marie and Matt!

We wanted to get something as a keepsake for our 1st Christmas. 

We ordered this from my friend, Lindsey. Check out her Etsy Shop!

All proceeds go toward their son's adoption!

Damion needed to do some catch-up work since he had been gone for a week, so he was able to bring along his childhood best friend, Jacob. He was a groomsman in our wedding, but I hadn't spent much time with him, yet. It was great to get to know him a little more! He even spent New Year's with us. :o) We aren't much for going out for a big party too often, but we clinked sparkly glasses together.. and I headed off to sleep about 30 minutes later. Ha! Happy to see you, 2015!

On The Road... August 2014

And so, the summer continued...

Damion left for work out of town the last Monday of July. He was headed for a project in New York City, but along the way, he stopped off to work in Atlanta and Baltimore (a day or two for each one), then landed in the city. I say 'landed,' but they drove, of course. He and his co-worker, John, were able to break up the trip with these other job stops, so that was a good thing. Being in the car for 1,500+ miles is a daunting task, huh? Keep reading...

Along the way, the guys detoured over to Washington DC since Damion had never seen it:

 And then... on to NYC.

After he was settled in to the apartment and into a normal schedule for work, I loaded up my car, and headed off to join him! My Mother-In-Law and Grandmother-In-Law joined me for the car ride up! I am SO thankful for that! It is a LONG way from deep Southwest Louisiana to New York City. We made a few stops along the way, but only for brief rest and food. We did sleep one night in Conyers, Georgia at a little hotel, but we made the trip in two days. We arrived in the city around 10 p.m. on a Friday night. Thankfully, since I was going to be staying with Damion at his apartment, we were able to find a hotel room at a decent price just a couple of blocks away for the ladies to stay in. He met me there when we arrived and helped get them settled in, then rode with me back around the block to his apartment. If you've ever traveled to NYC, I'm sure it's crossed your mind that you would never think to own a car or drive there. You're not completely unreasonable in thinking that... but, thankfully, I didn't have any major trouble. In fact, in a very short few minutes, we were able to find a little 1/2 block one-way street about two blocks from his apartment (right in the center of Little Italy!) that had no parking restrictions! And there was an open spot! So, we snuggled right in against the curb and left my car there. :o) We walked back to his place and pretty much immediately crashed for the night. He had to go to work early the next day, and I was exhausted from driving. 

His mom and grandmother were able to stay a few days in the city before heading back to Louisiana by train. You'll have to ask them about their fun adventure! I'm pretty jealous that they got to take a journey like that! :o) How fun!

I was able to stay a couple of extra days there with him, and then I headed down to North Carolina. My family had planned a beach vacation for the week in mid-August. So, back to the pavement I went. I took this shot as I was driving down the mountain into North Carolina. So pretty! (I know I shouldn't have taken a photo while driving, but since it was a pretty steep road, most vehicles were taking it easy on the speed. I did this as quickly as I could! Where we live in La is flat! I have often joked here that if you're on a hill, it's probably just a bridge. ;o))

It's always good to see my family. Here's my dad making sure that the new beach hat my mom picked up before the trip was going to work out. :op

And off to the North Myrtle Beach, SC we went! It's only about 4 hours from my parents house; that seemed like a piece of cake after driving from LA to NY, then to NC! :o)

What a view! We were on the top floor of the condos we stayed in. It was pretty windy up there, and a little bit scary to look over the edge.. ha... but so beautiful to see the expanse like that!

My Mama in her fabulous hat alongside my Granny.

Another activity they enjoy, other than the sun and water, are puzzles. As long as I can remember, my granny and her daughters have worked on them at the dining room table. They're so methodical!

                        

We also really enjoy yummy seafood when we go to the beach! (most of us, anyway! :o))

I always enjoy getting to see my nieces and nephew, too.. 

even if one of them is becoming an embarrassed pre-teen. :op

And the almost finished product.  What a bummer, huh? 

Where did those two pieces go?!

I don't know why I forget to take more photos of things like this, but after our beach trip was over, I headed east to Raleigh to visit a few friends for a day or two, then back on the road I went to go back to NYC to be with Damion again. I spent a LOT of time in the car in August, that's for sure... but I wouldn't give up any of the great family, friends, and sweet new babies I got to spend time with for anything!

Sweet baby Luca! His mommy, Alicia, writes here.