Summer 2010

It's been more than 2 months since I have entered anything in my blog. I don't even know where to begin to catch up.
The girls have taken swim lessons at Kingsgate 3 & 4. Jaclyn can actually swim now. Madison is getting there and she's a great bobber. She can hold her breathe under water for a really long time. After her first set of lessons, she was good enough to be put in the same class as Jaclyn (although their skill levels are quite different).

The girls have also done a few Vacation Bible Camps. They are probably ready to preach now!

We went to Whistler in mid-June around Father's Day. Michael went up first with his groomsmen - Hamish, Cort and Mike. Then we met up with him afterwards with Maryam, Shahram and Maisha. We were pretty low-key. Maryam cooked Iranian-style most of the evenings, and we played hearts & other card games until the wee hours of the morning.

For the 4th of July, we headed to Rattlesnake Ridge where Jaclyn hiked all the way to the top. Madison got tired and headed back down with Maryam. The view from atop was amazing. Then we had an Iranian BBQ. It wasn't the best weather but we had fun nonetheless.

I went to Las Vegas with Joann Smith for Cookie Lee's Fashion Week. What a blast! I loved seeing all the new jewelry. Besides the amazing Cookie Lee training, style tips & fashion shows, Joann and I had a blast playing blackjack and craps. I came out ahead so I told Michael I was ready for another trip to Vegas. We are going in November!

Of course, there are trips to Vancouver or Uncle Duh Duh comes down to visit. Mom and dad have their health challenges - well, dad does. The golden age is not so golden.

The girls have really grown and changed a lot, Madison especially. I can't believe how big she is now. Both are great at doing monkey bars and chin-ups, too!

As far as indoor activities...they have been totally into melting beads...since May. Everything is melting beads, melting beads, melting beads. We have them on our floor, in our clothes, in our bags, and Michael almost ate some out of a bag of chips.

A funny quote from Jaclyn a couple of months ago:
After she had fallen off her bike and got some bad scrapes on her knee and elbow, she was complaining to Michael in the car how much it bothered her. Michael said something along the lines about her "cut". "I don't have a cut." and then he said, "a scab". "I don't have a scab."
Then Michael said, "If you don't have a cut or a scab, then what do you have?"
"I have an owwie!"

We have got one more trip before school starts. We are heading to California. Disneyland, Solvang, Monterey, San Francisco, and then finishing off in Palo Alto for Michael's cousin's wedding. Jaclyn and Madison will be flower girls. I also look forward to staying with my cousin, Linda, and her family.

For the fall, Jaclyn will be going to her new school for grade 1. It's a Choice program at the Community School. It's quite alternative but I won't say too much at this point until we actually experience it.

Madison will be going back to Overlake Christian Preschool. Pre-K with Teacher Jen. A lot of her friends from last year will be in this class so it should be an easy transition for her.

Well, that's my quick update. My memory is muddled so that's the best I can do.

Tandem Biking

Kick...

When I told my brother about this kid who was picking on Jaclyn, Geoff said, "Well, if I saw that kid, I would kick him in the crotch".
Jaclyn asked, "Why would you kick him in the garage?"

100th Day

I am so uncreative with doing my kid's homework projects. Anyways, Teacher Tami sent Jaclyn home with a project for the 100th day of school. The kids had to put 100 things on a t-shirt. I just told Jaclyn to make a necklace (with her gazillion beads) with a 100 beads on it.
Jaclyn counted the beads and Madison strung them. I don't know what transpired between them but I soon heard Madison yell at Jaclyn, "Well, then, I am NOT doing YOUR homework. You can put the beads on yourself." Tough words out of a 3-year old...but not so atypical out of Madison's mouth.

What thing do you love the most?

Jaclyn to Madison: "What thing do you love the most?"
Madison: "You!"
Jaclyn: "Nooooo. What THING do you love the most?"
Madison: "Youuuuuuuuuu."
Jaclyn: "I am not a thing, Madison. What THING do you love the most?"
Madison: "YOU."
Jaclyn: "Ugghhhh. Just tell me what THING do you love the most?"
Madison: "I love YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU."

Oly

wow...I am way behind on my blog entries. Life was busy last month with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics which was an absolute blast. The Canadian spirit was unprecedented. I had never seen or experienced anything like that in my life. It was amazing. Sure made me proud to be Canadian. While initially it started out as the "glitch games", Vancouver came out shining in the end with the most golds ever won from any country in history in one Olympics (winter). I got to see Wayne Gretzky with the torch going down Georgia Street, heading towards the cauldron near Canada Place. The crowds were going nuts.
Also saw 2 hockey games (US vs. Norway, and the bronze medal game between Slovakia & Finland), and curling.

Of course, the biggest highlight for Canada was when Canada beat US for gold in the men's hockey. It was a close call but Sydney Crosby broke the tie in overtime. How a propos that Wayne Gretzky starts the games by lighting the cauldron, and Sid the Kid finishes it with the winning goal. It was one of the greatest moments in sports history...if not THEE greatest.

After the Olympics was over, boring. I went through major withdrawal. But I came out of it more proud to be Canadian than ever before.

Driving Me

The girls were bickering in the backseat. I said, "You guys are..." and before I could finish my sentence, Madison, my 3 1/2 year old said, "...driving me into drink!"
Then Jaclyn, my almost 6 year old said, "Yea, driving me nuts!"

Hmmm...guess I need to be careful what I say.

differences

My two girls are so different from one another. It amazes me that from right out of the womb, differences in personality can be seen. Jaclyn came out quiet & peaceful. Madison came out loud - a force to be reckoned with. And then she cried through most of her infant months. Now at 3 1/2 years, she just screams!

Well, here is another difference:

Me: "Would you like anymore dinner?"
Jaclyn: "Yes, but I just want the noodles and the potatoes. No meat."
Me: "How about you, Madison? Would you like some more?"
Madison" "Yes, but I just want the noodles and the meat. Not the other stuff (vegetables)."

Live for the Moment

...that is how I would describe my younger daughter, Madison. She is so full of personality and life, loves to laugh, a real spit-fire.
Anyways, the other day she says to a lady, "I like your hair. I like your necklace. Are you pregnant?" to which the lady replied, "No. I am just fat." Then so non-plussed, Madison adds, "I like your hair. I like your necklace. And I like your fat bottom. Mommy, she has a fat bum."

How Other Parts of the World Live

I am watching Oprah right now. She is visiting and interviewing women from other parts of the world, learning how they live compared to Americans.

COPENHAGEN
Denmark, a democratic country with socialized views (free healthcare but taxes can be up to 60%), has supposedly the happiest people in the world. Generally, people are off work by 4pm and riding their bikes home. Meals are eaten as a family. People feel so safe there that they can leave the babies in strollers outside with no adult supervision. The Danish focus on happy living and not consumerism. Another difference Oprah noticed is the "cramped space" that families live in, very small apartments. That is the norm. A Danish husband said, "less things, less space, more life". That comment resonated with me so much so that I decided to blog it.

DUBAI
Dubai, a bustling metropolis, is a city with beautiful mosques, luxurious hotels, and the home of the tallest building. Only 10% of the people who live there are considered local. Houses are huge and it is very traditional to live next to your family - aunts and mother-in-laws, for example. Eating with all the family is very traditional. Hired help from the Philippines or India - housekeeper, cooks, drivers, etc - is also very common. There is no homeless as they are well-taken care. Everyone has medical care and no taxes. The woman doctor that was interviewed said to Oprah, "I can't imagine living in a country where there is no healthcare like in the United States, where the poor are not taken care of" to which Oprah could not answer.

RIO DE JANEIRO
White sand beaches, hot bodies and carnival! Home of the 2016 Summer Olympics. People are fit and do a lot of exercise (that's where the hot bodies come in)! Rio is a city of economic contrast but the people are optimistic. Many people buy homes with cash or small bank loans - no such thing as mortgages.

Oprah also interviewed women from Istanbul and Tokyo. It was an interesting episode.

Santa

I took Jaclyn and Madison to visit Santa at Redmond Town Center the day after Thanksgiving. Madison had been asking for weeks to see "Santa's House" ever since she saw it at R.T.C about a month ago. When we finally got in to see Santa, she was quiet as a mouse and wouldn't even approach him. Jaclyn willingly sat on his lap while Santa tickled her and said, "I know your little sister can be a pest but you still have to be a good big sister to her, and be a good girl. Now what would you like for Christmas?" If I recall she asked for Polly Pocket. And Madison asked for "mermaid" which I assume is The Little Mermaid, aka Ariel.

Afterwards, Jaclyn said, "I think this Santa is different." She couldn't really clarify why she thought he was different. Could it be because this Santa had quite the sense of humor, chatted for a long time even about Madison being a pest, and tickled Jaclyn?

When they got little stuffed animals from Santa, Madison said, "But I wanted mermaid." So cute!

My Little Prayer Warrior

I love how Madison loves to pray. When I ask the girls at night time, "Who wants to pray?", she jumps right in. This morning I told them that Gung Gung was not getting better, and right away her first thought was, "Let's pray NOW", and then she jumped into prayer for her grandfather. I love that. LOVE that.

I love when she sings, "God made all of me, all of me, all of me. God made all of me so I can praise Him. Feet to follow where He leads, ears to hear and eyes to see. God made all of me, all of me, all of me. God made all of me so I can praise Him."

She may be a troublemaker (ie, dropping a dozen eggs on my persian rug) but she has a heart of gold.

Grumpy Mommy

After one or two grumpy mommy days, Madison tells me, "I like Daddy more better than you." Geeze, this kid never mixes her words. (If only she could be this peaceful when she is awake.)

On another note about Madison. Her teacher tells me that she is quiet in class ("just coming out" as she described it) and doesn't like to get her hands dirty. Obviously, she doesn't see the Madison that I see at home. I would never describe Madison as quiet and tidy. That just blows me away.

Seven Year Itch

Michael and I celebrated our 7th Anniversary on Monday, Sept 21. I cannot believe 7 years have gone by. I cannot believe we have a child in kindergarten. I cannot believe another is in her first year of preschool. SEVEN YEARS. Wow.

We brought in our 7th year together with Madison sleeping in between us. We celebrated with a romantic dinner...for 4...at Cafe Veloce, a local family-owned restaurant that we have driven by several times but never considered eating at. Surprisingly, it was quite good.

It's been a great 7 years even with all of its challenges, whether it be dealing with aging parents or young preschoolers, making ends meet, praising small steps, celebrating accomplishments, enjoying our travels or simply watching our favourite TV shows together. Life is good.

Thank you, Michael, for the 7 years. It's been a fun ride! (I love roller coasters much more than the Merry-Go-Round.)

September Updates

I have been so negligent in updating my blog. I have become a slacker! Well, two kid comments of recent:
1) Madison to me: "Hey, you are fat. You are very fat. You are like a big piggy." OUCH! Only out of the mouth of a babe. Coincidentally, I have been feeling fat lately. I think I am 10 lbs heavier than the spring. I am definitely out of shape, my clothes are tighter. I gotta get back on the treadmill! And then a few days after that comment she said again but in another way, "Mommy, you are having a baby. You have a big tummy."

Now I can receive the fat comment once but a second time in the same week???? Come on, does this child show no grace? I guess it would be unreasonable for me to expect diplomacy from a 3-year old. Well, at least, I know where I stand. I am overweight. Or to put it nicely...I am just right but with a few extra pounds. Now there is diplomacy.

2) Jaclyn yesterday: "Mommy, can I go to school tomorrow." "There is no school tomorrow." "But I can't wait to go to school. I want to go NOW!"
The update on Jaclyn and kindergarten: After two weeks of reviewing the pros & cons of Frost (public) and Overlake, we decided to send her to Overlake. It was so hard because both options were good for different reasons, and Jaclyn would have excelled at either. But after this past week at Overlake, I am soooooooooo happy we switched Jaclyn. The projects she brings home are so much more interesting and challenging. She seems happier, not that she wasn't happy at Frost, but there is an excitement in her eyes which I didn't see when she was going to Frost (except for waiting for the school bus). Teacher Tami, her teacher from Pre-K last year, is absolutely amazing. Before school even started, she gave us a monthly calendar, a weekly schedule, a daily schedule, and a 9-week progress report check-list. I got zero from the public school. I had no clue what Jaclyn was learning there. A couple of times she was bringing home colouring sheets which I thought was a joke.
Once I stopped thinking about the cost of Overlake, and that it is an "investment", it was so much easier to make the decision.
And just hearing Jaclyn make that above comment about wanting to go to school NOW, affirms that I made the right choice.