Cookies for Santa

Madison's note & cookies for Santa

Christmas Eve with the Woo's

Traditionally, we celebrate Christmas with Michael's family on Christmas Eve as we celebrate with my family on Christmas Day. Right now, at 11:25pm, Jaclyn is out searching for homes with Christmas lights with Michael, Grandma Hope and cousin Brandon (my bet is that the kids are sleeping in the car). Madison is still up as well, teaching Uncle Brandon and Auntie Judy how to play UNO. Matthew is puttering around still eating whatever he can get his hands on.

We started the evening with an early dinner. After dinner, the kids played so hard that they were sweating profusely, and had to take a bath. Then the gift opening frenzy began with a visit from Santa (Grandpa Jerry in full costume). The favourite gift was the zhu zhu pet accessories - house, mobile & garage, and a boat & dock - assembly required - so it occupied the most of their time. Matthew was fascinated with the pets motoring about in the fun house.

Great Grandma was full of smiles watching the great grandchildren go wild over all the presents. All-in-all, it was a wonderful family time.

P.S. I was wrong...Jaclyn and Brandon didn't fall asleep. They are back from their adventure at 11:35pm, and they are not even close to asleep.

Tummy!

Madison: "How do you get into mommy's tummy?" (when we were talking about our friend's new baby).

Jaclyn: "God knit you in mommy's tummy".

Madison: "WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?"

**********************
Jaclyn reads well now. We drove by a sign that read CASINO. So she said, "Mommy, can I go to the cossino?" (trying to spell it like she pronounced it).
Then I said, "Oh, it's a place only for big people."
She said, "I know. That's where they play cards."

Madison ... AGAIN ...

Madison to a Nordstrom sales clerk: "You are fat!"
Clerk: "Yes, I am fat. And you are cute."
Me: "What did she say? I am so sorry."
Clerk: "It's okay. She's so cute."

And then to another sales clerk who was East Indian, Madison said, "What's your name?"
"Kooshi."
"That's a funny name."

Not Single

I had a conversation with Jaclyn about her teacher, Veronique...and this is how it ended...

Jaclyn said "Veronique is not single. She has a dog!"

Funny words today...

1. I showed Madison an old picture of Michael and asked her if she knew who it was. She said, "Daddy. I mean, Grumpy."

2. Jaclyn: "Who is Miss Stanima?" (after she heard me say the word "stamina"). Another one of her mixed up words following, "Halleyuya" instead of hallelujah and "hostible" instead of hospital.

A photo book for my mom given in May 2009 for her birthday

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A photo book given to my Uncle Hong in April 2009

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A memory book of our California Trip 2010

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funny Jaclyn words

She learnt a new song at school. "Glory, Glory, Halleyouya."

And...
This morning she asked if Auntie Ali has LEMONADE her bookmark yet. (Supposed to be laminate.)

Yen Yen

When I showed Madison this picture of my grandma taken in 1963, Madison said, "Oh, she's pretty, very, VERY pretty."
Yup...she was. I have even heard people say that she was very regal. When I was born, I think she already had a stroke and had aged quite a bit...so I didn't get to see her in her elegant ways. She was often in bed resting.

I remember a couple of times when we would take her somewhere for acupuncture and there was even a time when she had a treatment at the King Ed House. Those needles freaked me out. I cried because I thought the "doctor" was hurting her. And now, funny, I am married to an acupuncturist.

Yen Yen didn't speak much English but she and I were always able to communicate with signing and facial expressions. It didn't matter that we didn't speak the same language. She loved me so much. I loved her, too. I think I was about 7 when she passed away but my memory of her is so vivid.

Our Little Tree

On Tuesday, the girls decorated decorated our little mini tree. It's nothing big but they get to decorate it with all their homemade things that they made at school.

Some recent cute conversations:
Madison to Jaclyn: "Is mommy your boss?"
Jaclyn: "Of course she is because she tells us what to do!"

UNO & turkey stuff

The girls have been soooooooooo into the card game of UNO. Every day UNO. Skip a turn, pick up 2, pick up 4, UNO! They also like to team up on Michael & me and give each other high fives. In the summer, it was all about melting beads. But this fall has been all about UNO. It's a great family game.

Thanksgiving dinner with the Smith's and the Moore's was great fun. We had a potluck dinner at the Smith's new house. Joann made the turkey and an AMAZING stuffing. Ali's vegetables were delicious. And Grandma Smith made a great, tarty cranberry dessert (from Ina Garten's new recipe book). I brought the salad and pumpkin pie. Michael bought a chocolate eruption cake from Whole Foods with "HHWJTCRK and HTTTR" (or something like that) on it.

The adults played Cranium Whoonu while the kids played with the new Xbox Kinect. And then the adults played Kinect while the kids ate popcorn and watched "Polar Express". Fun was had by all.

As Cooper said, "Happy Thanksgiving, Turkey!"

No School Tomorrow Too!

Team Work in the Snow!

No School Today

...and this is what we did instead...

First Snowfall

Well, we got our first snowfall this morning. But the kids still went to school. When I picked up Madison, she was so happy to see more snow. Such a sweet moment to see a child's excitement over snow.

My kids know that I hate traffic. And everytime when I see the traffic on the way to taking Jaclyn's to school, I scream "Aghhhhhhhh". Well, this morning, Michael took the girls to school. And with the snow conditions, traffic was worse than usual. "It was a parking lot" as Michael said.
So when I picked up Madison after school, she told me, "The traffic was bad today when daddy pick up (should be drop-off) Jaclyn for school. You would scream really bad."

School is cancelled tomorrow. It's going to be a snow play day! In fact, I think they are playing outside now with Michael...and it's past 10pm.

Madison's Report Card

Madison got her report card on Thursday. I laughed so hard.

Ummm...unlike Jaclyn at the same age who got a lot of "AC's" (accomplished), Madison had quite a few "IP's" (in progress). But we shouldn't compare, right?

The written comments made me laugh in hysterics esp. when the teacher wrote that Madison demonstrates the "biblical virtue of INDIVIDUALITY"!!!!!!!!

Other comments:
"Madison is such a joy to have in class. She definitely has me thinking on my toes, in a good way. When she starts coming around in the mornings, she is very respectful and considerate. Madison displays an enthusiasm for learning and has a positive attitude towards school. Madison and a few of her friends love to do a little chit chat during circle time which we are working on together as a class, as well as individually. I look forward to seeing Madison progress and blossom this year."

Yup...the teacher is getting to know my little fiery, spirited child. I hope she has a good handle on her.

Other Recent Madison Quotes

1. "I am gonna throw Jaclyn in the ocean...the deep part...then she can't swim."

2. "Mommy, close the (car) window on Jaclyn's hand." Sheesh, Madison can have a real mean streak towards her big sister.

3. After Madison and I met up with a friend of mine for coffee, I said, "Isn't she cute?" to which Madison replied, "Yea, why aren't you like her?"

4. "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" for about half an hour. Next time, I will just let Madison win at Crazy 8's! It's just not worth it to win fair and square.

Duchess

Prince William finally proposed to Kate Middleton a couple of weeks ago. Waitie Katie got her ring - Princess Diana's beautiful sapphire and diamond ring.

In teaching Jaclyn and Madison about the Royal Family and the recent Royal Engagement, Jaclyn asked, "WHO is the Duchess of the Whales?"

Future Husband and Wife

Jaclyn had a conversation with her longtime friend, Jacob, about their honeymoon and where they would live, Hawaii, Disneyland. And then Jacob suggested they live in Lego Land in a lego house, followed by Jaclyn's comment, "and we can stay 'til midnight. In Disneyland, we can stay 'til midnight". It was cute.

Earlier in the day, they were talking about friends at school. One boy has not been too friendly to Jake. Jaclyn said, "Well, Jake, maybe you should say sorry for breaking his Lego."
Jake: "I did."
Jaclyn: "Well, maybe if you wait a long, long, long, long time, he will forget about it."

That's My Madison

Her teacher asked me this morning, "How is Madison doing? Is she liking school?"

"YES, she LOVES school. Why?"

"Well, the other day she asked if school was over yet, and I said "No, we have another 15 minutes", then Madison growled, turned her back towards me and wouldn't turn around. Then all the other students wanted to go home, too. It took me awhile to get the group back together. I remember you told me that she sometimes takes 30 minutes to warm-up but sometimes she warms up and sometimes she's just kinda set in her ways." (not exactly verbatim but that was kinda the gist.)

A Conversation in the Car

Madison: "Mommy, I am gonna throw Jaclyn in the garbage."

Me (trying to hold back a laugh): "That's a little bit funny, Madison, but it's also not nice."

Madison: "No, it's a lot funny AND it's nice."

Me: "Not really."

Madison: "Well, can I throw her in the recycle?"

Me: "That's not very nice either."

Madison: Well, how about I throw her way up in the sky?"

Jaclyn: "YOU ARE THE WORSEST SISTER EVER".

Halloween at Microsoft

I took the girls to a Halloween Event at Microsoft. It was actually my first time on the campus. They had all kinds of activities set up, crafts, photo stations, food and of course, lots of candy to pass out. The girls had a blast.

Hanging out with the boys

Hanging out with the Morrison boys when they came down to visit during Canadian Thanksgiving.

one to touch the heart...

Madison to me: "I just love you so much, momma. I love you 10 , 100, 100 million, all the way up to God, and then all the way up to Pluto. Is that a lot? Actually, I love you more than that."

Dilleyland Conversation between Madison and Michael

Madison: "Can we move to Dilleyland?"

Michael: "No, we can't move there."

"Why not?"

"It's a park. You can't live in Disneyland."

"What about the people who work there? Where do they live?"

"Hmmmm. And it's not Dilleyland. It's Disneyland."

"Dilleyland."

"No. No. Dis-ney-land."

"Dil-ley-land."

Madison loving the sorbet pops at the wedding.

Cake Pops at Jandro & Jess' Wedding

THE WEDDING CAKE!

Partying with the bride and groom!

My girls - the flower girls!

Hittin' the dance floor!

Jaclyn and Madison had the last dance with the bride & groom. I am not sure how the bride & groom felt about having the very last dance with their flower girls. What I do know for sure is that Jaclyn and Madison had the time of their lives!

Fun in Mickey's World

At the end of August, we took the kids to Disneyland. We all had an absolute blast. Favourite rides were Splash Mountain, It's A Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Matterhorn. For Michael and I, it was definitely the Scream Machine in Disney's California. That was an amazing roller coaster.

Another Madison Quote

Madison and I were at our regular Chinese restaurant haunt, where the server was chatting her up. After the server left, Madison said, "I don't understand her because she speaks Chinese!"
I said, "But Madison, she spoke English to you."
To which she responded, "I still don't understand her."

(Here's a picture of her on the "Spinning Barrels of Fun" ride at Remlinger Farm yesterday. She had an absolute blast there with her preschool friends. She loved the Hay Maze & Hay Jump, the Mini Roller Coaster, and the train ride. It was a great day. The weather couldn't have cooperated any better.)

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.