Milkshakes, karaoke and massages

I love this girl. I love milkshakes. I love sharing my milkshakes with this girl.


Karaoke baby. We had a karaoke party last Saturday night and it was a blast. A loved singing into the microphone. She sang, "E-I-E-I-O" over and over again. She was a hit! :)

Happy Birthday to us! For Mimi's birthday present, and an early birthday present for me, my Mom gave us a massage! Well, she didn't actually give us the actual massage, she gave us a certificate for a massage at a spa...you know what I mean. It was heavenly. I love getting massages. It was a great gift! This was after the massage. My masseuse did a great job on my scalp...can you tell? :) We were hoping the massage would put Mimi into labor, but no such luck. Probably because she doesn't even look pregnant in this picture. I don't think she can go into labor until she actually looks pregnant in pictures.

A's take on Henry David Thoreau

A can read. She has been reading for a couple of weeks, but I never was able to catch it on video until now. I am very impressed with my daughter, with me being able to capture it, and especially for me figuring out how to post it!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What it really says is, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams" by Henry David Thoreau. That's right my sweet A, the world is all yours.

Happy Birthday Aunt Mimi!

Happy Birthday to my sweet sister, mom to be, and my A's Aunt Mimi. We love you and we are so excited for baby S to come. We are so grateful for all the love and support you show, and for how much you love A. Happy Birthday! This year will probably be the most life changing...in all the best ways possible. Love you.

80's Child

I have seen this email before, but it has been awhile (pre blogging days) and I thought it was so funny! I love #15 about Oregon Trail...when I taught fifth grade five years ago they were still playing (and loving) Oregon Trail!

YOU KNOW YOU GREW UP IN THE 80's or early 90's IF:

1. You know about and probably owned a Pound Puppy.
3. You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Belair "
4. You wore biker shorts under your skirts and felt stylish.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters Club, and tried to start a
club of your own.
6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WOAH " comes from Joey on Blossom.
8. Two words: M.C. Hammer
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock ."
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars.
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales ".
12. When it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch
cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles " on the big screen.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at
school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a
knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH " (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
18. You wore Jordache jean jacketand you were proud of it.
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM ".
21. You remember reading "Tales of a Forth Grade Nothing" and all the Ramona
books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF "
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing.
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell
off...
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took Lunch Pails to school.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to! say "NOT " after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought Sheera and He-Man should hook up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you
exchanged friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are,
but what am I? "
36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up "
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were in-line skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. "Don't worry, be happy"
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down.
46. "Miss MARY MACK MACK MACK, all dressed in BLACK BLACK BLACK "
47. You remember boom boxes vs. cd players.
48. You remember watching both "Gremlins" movies.
49. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!! "
50. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and My Little Pony Tales
51. You thought Doogie Howser was hot.
52. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac
53. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool.
54. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved by
the Bell ", the ORIGINAL class.
55. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THRU THE HEART.
56. You just sang those words to yourself, didn't you?
57. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
58. You cut your t-shirts in half and wore it with your homemade Levi
shorts.. (the shorter the better)
59.You remember when mullets were cool!
60. You had a mullet!
61. You still sing "We are the World "
62. You "pegged " your pants ritually.
63. You tight rolled your jeans.
64. You know about Garbage Pail Kids
You're still singing "Shot Through the Heart" in your head arent you!!!

Weekend

We had a great weekend. Saturday morning we had a goodbye breakfast for all the couples who are moving away from San Francisco to start a new stage in their life. We have 16 families moving! It was a very bitter sweet morning. I am going to miss them so much, but I am so happy for them and all their new adventures they will be starting. Thank goodness for blogs so we can keep in touch! Little A had a great time playing in the doll house...can you tell?















We got a new lens for our camera, and I love it. A really, really wanted her water. What was your first clue?
















Memor, Fafa and Ritz came out to visit on Saturday night. We had a great time walking to dinner and just being together. They are so good to us, and we love when they come visit.














All four of my sisters were in town this weekend, so we went to my parent's house to celebrate Memorial Day. No Memorial Day is complete without a day at the pool, a very yummy BBQ, and quality family time. I am so grateful for all those who have sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedoms we do.















COME OUT BABY S! My beautiful sister is due this week, and I can't wait to meet baby S! My sister did NOT want me to take this picture, but I told her too bad. I am so excited to get my first niece!

Discovering

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."
~Pablo Picasso
A and I spent the morning at the Discovery Museum. I discovered many new things...the cafe there has a really good goat cheese and roasted vegetable panini, A is finally at the age where she likes to put on the crab costume in the Toddler Beach room, and I LOVE her wrists (see the above picture...aren't they so cute?). I have always known that I love her wrists, but I recently finished a book ("Memory Keeper's Daughter"...just an okay book) and in the book the Mom character is always wondering how her teenage boy grew up so fast. She misses his "chubby wrists" from when he was a toddler. I too, will miss my A's chubby, perfect wrists. In the meantime, I will just enjoy holding onto those chubby little hands and smothering them with lots of kisses.

Someday...

I love to dance. Nightclubs, weddings, in a church gym, on stage, anywhere, any kind of dance. I have not taken a dance class since before I got married, roughly about six years ago. I have all these "someday" dreams...someday I will take a flower arranging class, someday I will run a marathon, someday I will take a photography class, someday I will scrapbook (however, I am slowing giving up on that one), someday I will take a dance class again. Unfortunately, time does not stand still, and I knew I had to get going if my "someday" list was ever going to get any shorter. I overheard my very organized sister say, "I love crossing things off my to-do list." Well, I decided I was going to start crossing off things off my "someday" list, and actually do them. My dance class has changed lists. Dance class is now officially on my "Did it and LOVED it, can't wait to do it again, I was so sore I couldn't walk for four days, why didn't I do this sooner" list. I am taking an adult jazz class and absolutely love it. We are a group of adults who basically just love to dance. We are not fabulous, we do not always point our toes, our kicks are not as high as they used to be, but we leave the class feeling a sense of accomplishment, a little more empowered, and like we can sleep better that night knowing we accomplished something on our "someday" list. Why not make "someday" today?

Mother, Mother, Mother's Day

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine deserve us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."
-Washington Irving

I love Mother's Day. However as a child, I dreaded it. The Saturday night before my four sisters and I would scrounge through the cupboards looking for something to make for dinner for our fabulous Mom. She way always so kind to choke down our out-of-a-box macaroni and cheese and I'm sure she just loved our coupon book gifts. Did she ever collect on her coupons? Of course not. Who wants a 10 minute massage from a eight year old? or breakfast in bed made by a five year old?

Ever since I became a mother, I have so much more respect, love and admiration for my own Mom, and for my Mother- in- law. Both women have raised great children (can I call myself great? Why not, it's in the form of a compliment towards my mom), and have managed to keep a smile on their face to tell the stories from their young motherhood years. Just from hearing them both talk and tell their stories, it confirms to me that these women loved doing what they did best--being a mom. I hope A will feel that way about me someday.

We had a great weekend. On Saturday we celebrated Memor. We had a great BBQ, and had so much fun playing at the park. Memor is always one to bring new toys for the kids to play with, and this time it was a parachute. It brought back great memories from my childhood years in PE class when it was parachute time. Those memories of PE would soon be changed to square dancing with a boy at least three inches shorter than me...awkward! Thank you Memor for being such a wonderful Mother-in-law. I love the relationship we share, and I admire you so much. You are such an example of selflessness, and Christ like love. You are always putting others before you, and you are the definition of service. I am so lucky that I not only married D, but married into such a wonderful family. I truly feel blessed.

Sunday morning D let me sleep in, and then it was gift time. He is always so thoughtful. I love Kelly Clarkson. I know that categories me as a teeny bopper who wears hip huggers, but I really, really like her. I have seen her in concert two times, and D bought me tickets to go see her again in July! Wahoooo!! Not only did he buy me tickets, he had to join the Kelly Clarkson fan club so he could get really good tickets. We are on the 18th row! I can't wait! He also made me this shadow box. It isn't all put together yet, and he is still making A's footprint, but I want to hang it on my wall anyway...Saran Wrap and all! I loved the thoughtfulness behind his gifts. He is so good to me.



Sunday after church we headed up to my parent's house to celebrate GrandD. We tried to redeem ourselves from our younger years and made her a really delicious meal. We also were able to speak to my brother who is serving a mission in Philadelphia. It was so nice hearing his voice. My Mom is my inspiration and one of my best friends. She is the kind of mom every girl deserves to have and every ounce of goodness I have comes from her. She loves others unconditionally and I don't think I have ever heard her say anything bad about anyone. I hope that one day, A will have half the amount of respect for me that I have for my Mom.

This Mother's Day we were able to celebrate D's mom, my Mom, and D did a great job of celebrating A's Mom. I am one lucky Mom to have such a wonderful daughter, and have so many wonderful examples of motherhood surrounding me. Life is good.

Tribute (by D)

I know that this usually is M's blog, but I thought that I would post a quick note that tributes M because she is an excellent wife, mother, and friend. Here are a few reasons that I feel that she is the absolute best...
1) She sacrifice what is very important to her (food and sleep) so that A can be healthiest and happiest. Not only did she do this at the beginning, but she has done this continually for the past 2 years plus (pregnancy + motherhood).
2) She tells me all about the cute things that A does each day. She also writes them down in a little book that is really fun to read. This is a huge blessing to me because I love to hear how she is growing and learning (especially since I am not around A 100% of the time). This also helps me to guess what A is saying. At times I feel like I am playing charades and I would be hopeless if M had not told me about the day.
3) Because of M, A is a social little girl who has a ability to remember and associate names. If you give A one name she will say the other. For example, if you say the first word then she will say the second.... Meemor - Fafa, Dee - Guy, Wara - Ben, Mimi - Guk, Maygee - Ragun, Ayii - Ritz, etc. She also remembers specific details about events. A also knows many animal sounds and songs that she has learned from m.
4) She has taught A to talk on the phone. This is a huge blessing to me as I get to say hi to A while I am at school. This helps me to take a break from the fast pace school work by allowing me to talk to my sweet wife and cute little girl.
5) She sacrifices time and energy to get A to her modeling jobs and does not charge A. Yeah, she jokes that A has purchased her some new pants, but all of the money is set aside for A to use for her future education/retirement.
6) She is a great example of a woman with high values who values her family and motherhood. This is such a great example to both A and me. What more could we ask for.

M - you are the best wife and mother... we love and appreciate all that you do for us. Love, D

Hot? No, just puu-tect

Whenever A eats any meal, she will always spear her first bite of food with her fork, bring it up to her mouth and then stop. She will look up at me and ask, "Hot?" Then I will tell her, "No sweetie, your food isn't hot." She will then smile and say, "Just puu-tect". The temperature of her food is much like the temperatures we have been experiencing lately, just perfect.
Sunshine + Beaches + Family and friends = my idea of a perfect weekend. The weather was unbelievably perfect over the weekend. It wasn't too hot, not too windy, it was perfect outside weather, and we took advantage of Mother Nature's gift to us and basked in the sunshine all weekend. We took A on a bike ride and visited three different beaches in three days, all within a ten minute drive from our garage.
Beach #1 on Saturday with friends Ye-yy and Nim.Driving home from Beach #1 we had to stop and take and take a picture of the incredible view.
Bike ride outing on Sunday.
Beach #2. We met up with some friends this morning at this beach. Although city living can have it's disadvantages by not having our own yard, the perks are that we get to call places like this "our backyard".

A came home and took a nap, and then my sister came out to visit. We met up with friends at a different beach, but didn't take any pictures. You might be glad...there were lots of nakey bodies at the far part of that beach!

College Fund

A was asked to do some modeling when she was six months old. She has obviously changed since then, so she needed a new comp card...here it is! She has earned quite a bit of money working for Baby Gap, Gymboree, Mervyns, Janie and Jack, Shutter Fly, and Pottery Barn Kids. Being the responsible parent I try to be, I have started A a little college fund. However, she does take her mama out to lunch every once in a while. Thanks A, for being the breadwinner of our family.