This will probably be my shortest blog ever.
Arantxa had gotten all dressed in her new baseball uniform. This is the first time she is participating in a formal sport. She will do co-ed T-ball. By the way, I discovered I am completely clueless in this department. Luckily another mom took me to the store where I could buy the appropriate clothes. Who knew that baseball pants had belt loops and that they are special belts for them? Certainly not me. I had bought the smaller pants, socks, shirt, and belt; and it really did not look that bad in the store. However, by the time I saw them next to her it was obvious they are humongous! Thank goodness for the belt....
Back to Saturday, it was freezing and it was raining non-stop. Sadly, but fortunately, the parade was cancelled. Luckily for Arantxa, she had something to look forward to. She had $30 worth of Barnes and Noble gift cards from her birthday (Thanks S and C!). As Pablo left to help set up for the school auction, I took the girls to the bookstore. Arantxa quickly started separating some books she wanted to read, she had to really resist start reading the last Magic Tree House (41!), while she sorted the others out. I gave her a pile, and she found some herself. After much reflection, she ended up with 5 books, which she had in order of preference, since she did not know how much she could afford. Lorena, in the meantime, had her own stack of books. I bought her a Dora book. She really loves that episode not only because it has mermaids, but because one is named Mariana, how cool is that for a 3 year old?
Arantxa's total was about $32, but I remembered I had a 15% coupon off one item, so she got lucky there and did not have to use her own allowance money to complete the payment. We were at Crossroads mall, so we went to get some lunch. Before we started eating, she had already read 3 chapters of her MTH book.
After lunch, we saw the "Library Connections" which was perfect. I had with me her 2 last reading logs. Since she had read 20 minutes for 20 days during a month (I don't even bother recording the days, most days she reads at least an hour). anyway, she was eligible to get 2 free books. She made her selection, and was even lucky enough to find a thick chapter Dragon book of a series she was after.
By 4 o'clock, she had finished reading a few of the books. Needless to say, she hardly did anything but read. I saw her on the floor, wiggling on the couch, nestled against a corner next to a table.
Rafael and Dani arrived to take care of the girls at 4. Pablo and I got all dressed up in our safari clothes (the theme of the auction was "Where the Wildcats are", so that was easy for us. The auction was fun, and we did get some items.
When we came back we were schocked to learn that Arantxa had announced at 5 that she was very tired, had a headache, and was ready for bed. They quickly had dinner, and then they had to talk her into getting her into her PJs. She went to bed before 6, and fell asleep super fast with her first ever headache. We are sure she got it from that last reading place she found, she was in a really bad posture. And yes, when I found her there, I had asked her to move to a different place and to turn the lights on. She did not wake up until the following morning.
Sunday night she had a very bad night, full of nightmares. I forgot to say that I wanted to ban a "Goosebumps" books she had gotten. I had explained it would probably be very scary, I had read a few paragraphs to show her. She could not resist it because of the title and the first few paragraphs. (http://www.amazon.com/How-I-Learned-Fly-Goosebumps/dp/0590568892). We agreed that if she mentioned anything about being scared or not able to sleep, I'd have to take the book away, and she would not be allowed to read more of that series. She had very little sleep, and needless to say, those books will be banned for an undetermined amount of time.
Lorena picked her up from drama class yesterday. She was really cranky in the car; and fell asleep shortly before we made it home, it was around 5 pm. I left her in the car while I started dinner. I then brought her in to the couch. Lorena kept bringing toys to her, but she did not move. I tried to wake her for dinner, but she just wouldn't wake up!! I finally gave up and took her to her bed. Lorena was sad that Pablo was not going to join us for dinner, he was going to work late. She was devastated when she realized that Arantxa would not have dinner with us either. I made it for her by joining her in her bath.
I kept checking on Arantxa a few times, I was a bit worried, but she seemed just fine. She walked into our room at 6 am this morning, with a cheerful "Happy St. Patrick's day!". She slept almost 13 hours.
We'll see what the rest of the week brings. She might be growing....
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
What Lorena remembers....
Both girls frequently astonish us with things they remember. Here are some recent examples from Lorena.
1) We were at the museums' cafeteria, and she started pointing to a table far away. She said that they had the same bottles that they gave to kids at her sister's preschool (sister now in K). We had no idea what she was talking about, so we asked her to clarify. She said that Ms. S had given kids that water bottle at the field trip. She went on to say that it was the field trip she had been invited to at the museum with the dinosaurs bones. She then added the other snack items she was given that day by Ms S.
2) When she asked what was for dinner and I said Ravioli, she replied that she doesn't like those. Lately she has been saying that too frequently, so I told her that she hadn't tasted them. "Yes, I have mom, remember, that was what we had the day we saw Annie, and you let us have dinner in the family room, watching TV".
Mmh... 2 food items, maybe there is a pattern here.
3) When I was going to do her hair, she said she wanted to have braids AND a headband that day, like the girl in the book. What girl? what book? She ran upstairs, brought down "Gigi, God's little princess" book, and turned pages until she found the right one. Her sister got that book as a party favor last year, and neither of the girls really liked it that much. I am sure we read it to both, but definitely not too frequently. She did not remember the girl's name. What surprised me most is that Gigi has different hairstyles through out the book.
4) We went to the super market and I put her in one of those annoying carts with the huge plastic car add-ons, the ones that look like cars. I playfully put her down, sideways, and she "fell" in it, with her arms and legs up. She laughed and said, "just like Goldilocks". What? Apparently, Goldilocks fell just like that from the chair in one of the "versions" (her word) of Goldilocks that we have, the one in the thick book with a compendium (my word) of stories in Spanish. We came home, and she showed me the illustration.
1) We were at the museums' cafeteria, and she started pointing to a table far away. She said that they had the same bottles that they gave to kids at her sister's preschool (sister now in K). We had no idea what she was talking about, so we asked her to clarify. She said that Ms. S had given kids that water bottle at the field trip. She went on to say that it was the field trip she had been invited to at the museum with the dinosaurs bones. She then added the other snack items she was given that day by Ms S.
2) When she asked what was for dinner and I said Ravioli, she replied that she doesn't like those. Lately she has been saying that too frequently, so I told her that she hadn't tasted them. "Yes, I have mom, remember, that was what we had the day we saw Annie, and you let us have dinner in the family room, watching TV".
Mmh... 2 food items, maybe there is a pattern here.
3) When I was going to do her hair, she said she wanted to have braids AND a headband that day, like the girl in the book. What girl? what book? She ran upstairs, brought down "Gigi, God's little princess" book, and turned pages until she found the right one. Her sister got that book as a party favor last year, and neither of the girls really liked it that much. I am sure we read it to both, but definitely not too frequently. She did not remember the girl's name. What surprised me most is that Gigi has different hairstyles through out the book.
4) We went to the super market and I put her in one of those annoying carts with the huge plastic car add-ons, the ones that look like cars. I playfully put her down, sideways, and she "fell" in it, with her arms and legs up. She laughed and said, "just like Goldilocks". What? Apparently, Goldilocks fell just like that from the chair in one of the "versions" (her word) of Goldilocks that we have, the one in the thick book with a compendium (my word) of stories in Spanish. We came home, and she showed me the illustration.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Found it, found it, found the diamond...
We were not even a full week away from our 10th anniversary. I had read books to Lorena in our bed, and then played, roughly with her, on the bottom of the stairs. That is when I realized that the diamond was missing from my engagement ring, as I felt something scratching me. I immediately let out a big "Help! Pablo, come!". I am sure there was a sense of urgency in my voice, but I think it did not sound as if someone had broken a leg.
I stayed looking on the steps, with my eyes and passing my hand over the carpet. Nothing. Lorena was trying to help. Pablo had run to get some flashlights. Nothing on the stairs, I went back to the bed, nothing. I made Lorena undress, and checked my clothing as well, nothing. I must add that our house was spotless as it had been cleaned in the morning: no distracting clutter on the floor, freshly vaccuumed; and I was positive I had the stone in the morning.
We had been about to leave out for dinner when I realized. Arantxa was barely aware than anything was going on, since she was immersed in her books in the family room. Lorena, on the other hand, really tried to help. I found myself alternating from being annoyed at her when she got in the way, or moved things roughly; and melted by her genuined desire to help.
Now, bare in mind that we live in a house with 2 small girls. I cannot tell you how many fake jewels, glitter, or otherwise sparkly small items we found. We had countless moments of false hope. Pablo had looked in the car. I had gotten back to the few places I had been in before (Thursdays I mostly chaufeur kids around. The 3 of us leave the house at 7:30 am, and we all get back around 3:30, many miles later).
All of this time my mind kept racing, but my emotions were kept at bay: "we will have to quit soon. Once the girls are in bed, we can extend a dark towel in our carpet, and empty the folded clothes from the bins. We'll sleep in the guest room..."
Eventually, it was clear that it was time to quit looking. We had been searching for 1:15 hours. I was going to take a last peek in Mei aka as Pablo's car (the one I had been driving due to snow), but he took over as I got the girls ready in Satsuki, i.e. my van. (Yes, we love My Neighbor Totoro movie). Pablo exclaimed, "found it" and then "maybe not, I think it is another of the girls' jewels". But it was not, it was the real deal. He had found it under the driver's seat. Phew!
That is when all the emotions hit with full force. I must say that all the time that we were looking I was so relieved that it had not been my fault: I hadn't misplaced the ring, or forgotten it someplace. One of the little "legs" holding it, had broken off. We went to dinner, and it took me several hours to calm down. We were both exhausted when we went to bed!
At the end, I could just think of the Kindermusic song, both girls, but especially Arantxa, used to love "Found it, found it, here is the diamong ring...". Oh, and in the middle of the search, the song that kept popping to my mind was "Hush Little Baby"; and thinking that the way the economy is going "if that diamond ring gets lost... nobody is getting you another one...".
Oh, and I want my mom to read this and remind me of a similar story. I just remember a few details of when this daugher of their friends had come to my apartement with a tape of music from their choir. Pablo and I were engaged and looking at choirs for our wedding. I think this woman also had just lost her diamond, and I remember that she had also found it in the car. My memory might be failing me, though, it sounds too similar to our own story!
I stayed looking on the steps, with my eyes and passing my hand over the carpet. Nothing. Lorena was trying to help. Pablo had run to get some flashlights. Nothing on the stairs, I went back to the bed, nothing. I made Lorena undress, and checked my clothing as well, nothing. I must add that our house was spotless as it had been cleaned in the morning: no distracting clutter on the floor, freshly vaccuumed; and I was positive I had the stone in the morning.
We had been about to leave out for dinner when I realized. Arantxa was barely aware than anything was going on, since she was immersed in her books in the family room. Lorena, on the other hand, really tried to help. I found myself alternating from being annoyed at her when she got in the way, or moved things roughly; and melted by her genuined desire to help.
Now, bare in mind that we live in a house with 2 small girls. I cannot tell you how many fake jewels, glitter, or otherwise sparkly small items we found. We had countless moments of false hope. Pablo had looked in the car. I had gotten back to the few places I had been in before (Thursdays I mostly chaufeur kids around. The 3 of us leave the house at 7:30 am, and we all get back around 3:30, many miles later).
All of this time my mind kept racing, but my emotions were kept at bay: "we will have to quit soon. Once the girls are in bed, we can extend a dark towel in our carpet, and empty the folded clothes from the bins. We'll sleep in the guest room..."
Eventually, it was clear that it was time to quit looking. We had been searching for 1:15 hours. I was going to take a last peek in Mei aka as Pablo's car (the one I had been driving due to snow), but he took over as I got the girls ready in Satsuki, i.e. my van. (Yes, we love My Neighbor Totoro movie). Pablo exclaimed, "found it" and then "maybe not, I think it is another of the girls' jewels". But it was not, it was the real deal. He had found it under the driver's seat. Phew!
That is when all the emotions hit with full force. I must say that all the time that we were looking I was so relieved that it had not been my fault: I hadn't misplaced the ring, or forgotten it someplace. One of the little "legs" holding it, had broken off. We went to dinner, and it took me several hours to calm down. We were both exhausted when we went to bed!
At the end, I could just think of the Kindermusic song, both girls, but especially Arantxa, used to love "Found it, found it, here is the diamong ring...". Oh, and in the middle of the search, the song that kept popping to my mind was "Hush Little Baby"; and thinking that the way the economy is going "if that diamond ring gets lost... nobody is getting you another one...".
Oh, and I want my mom to read this and remind me of a similar story. I just remember a few details of when this daugher of their friends had come to my apartement with a tape of music from their choir. Pablo and I were engaged and looking at choirs for our wedding. I think this woman also had just lost her diamond, and I remember that she had also found it in the car. My memory might be failing me, though, it sounds too similar to our own story!
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