Time That Frippery Thing...

My daughter's first grade class is putting together time capsules. The capsules are small boxes with five photos, and they specified, "short handwritten" letters from mom, dad...and I snuck one in from little sister. The idea is that they keep them closed and then open them on their graduation day from high school.


Just the mere mention of high school leaves me in tears. Because... it's high school. It's... it's... it's my baby. My sensitive, creative, expressive, happy, thoughtful, forgiving, unconditional loving baby.

 8 months old - may 2005 - my first mother's day

I wrote the note. It is only on a page of stationary. I wrote really small, and filled up all the white space on both sides. So technically, it is short, as it's only one page. I could've written a book, just for her. I started blogging because of her. She is my star.


Yes, of course I shed tears over this letter. I wrote about the girl she is now. How much I adore her, how grateful I am for her, how she is the teacher in so many ways - she is my example. I wrote about my future hopes for her. How I hope we're still buddies. I hope that we still have fun together. I hope, that she is happy, that she knows I love her just as she is.

13 months - october 2005

I didn't write how excited I am to meet the woman she'll become, because I love the girl she is now. I didn't write how scared I am of the unknown future, because I want her to be brave as she faces each new experience. I didn't write any tangible expectations of her when she turns eighteen, because I want her to be free to choose her life.


I did ask her to forgive the mistakes I will make, have made and will likely always make along the way as I try to be the mother she needs.


Now, as the letters are written, the photos are put together I sit and wonder. I wonder what changes life will bring each of us in eleven years. I wonder how our family will change. I wonder what my daughter will remember. I wonder if I will be able to be the mother she deserves.

14 months - november 2005

My heart is overflowing with tender emotion for my oldest as she continues her life journey. I hope the journey brings her joy. I hope she finds comfort in the storms. I hope she knows that no matter what choices she makes, no matter what successes and failures come her way, I love her. She has made me a better woman. She has made me a woman of purpose. She has made life fun and filled with happiness. I will be forever grateful I was chosen to be her mom.


I guess for now, I'll just enjoy the ride. 


Please, pass the tissues.


ps. My dear - in case you read this...  Guess what? 










I love you. 

Grandma Hands

While helping my girls practice piano my 6YO and I had this lovely conversation...

6YO: Wow mom. Your hands look old.

QS: Uh, gee, thanks.

6YO: What? They do. They look like Grandma's hands.

QS: Okay....

6YO: They look really, really old. 

QS: I think I get it.

6YO: Look at my hands. They look new. Are you 47?

QS: I'M NOT FORTY-SEVEN!!!

6YO: Your hands look like they're forty-seven.

QS: They are JUST DRY. I need to put lotion on them. Now leave me alone.

I love to hear them sing

By the way, what are you doing on Friday?

I'll be posting "Friday: A Family Lives Here". 

Will you join me?

Here's the button.

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Here are some previous posts. I hope you join in on my weekly carnival. I love visiting and discovering what you're all doing as you gather evidence in your own homes.
 

Happiness Post:: Post 23

 
These girls.


They make me happy.


They are so different, and also so similar.

My six year old found a stray pipe cleaner and immediately made it into a heart. Why? She wanted to give it to her teacher. So I took some pictures before it left our home.

My four year old, purposely put the heart upside down, then giggled at how funny she though it was.

Yes, they have their moments (dude, I have many, many moments). Yes, I get frustrated. Sometimes I'm too sharp. I sometimes hide from them when I simply can't take anymore fighting, "she said, she said", and whining. But, there are so many grateful pauses, no matter how much work they are, numerous precious times worth fighting for, worth remembering and cherishing.


Motherhood is the most challenging, heart-wrenching, worrisome, funny, joyful, fulfilling calling I have ever had. I wouldn't trade it for the world. This is in large part, to these two girls, with their big personalities, their crazy smart minds, and their happy souls.


They make me happy. I thank God He gave me the chance to give it a go as their mistake-making mother.


Cheers!

Dude. This Year, Mother's Day rocked

Mother's Day Note from my 4YO
 

"Top 10 Reasons Why I Love My Mom" from my 6YO

 I think this is supposed to be me. Dang I look hot.

 Number 7 is supposed to read, "arrivederci"

I love number 5 and 4. They make me feel like I am doing something right.

I can't get enough of these notes from my daughters. My oldest is always writing the sweetest notes. She reminds me of me when I was a kid. We tend to express ourselves better through notes.



Sunday morning I had a plan for the kind of Mother's Day I wanted. Dim Sum at Yank Sing, Hugh Jackman at the Curran Theatre, Scoma's for dinner... all of which would be with our little family.

Hubby surprised us all with his french toast recipe. We love Daddy's french toast.

Then we drove to San Francisco. It was truly, a gorgeous day.

 Fluffy white clouds at the Bay Bridge

Yank Sing... one of the best dim sum places in the city. We always go to the one at the Rincon Center (closest to Orpheum and Curran theatres)- horrible parking lot - but great food/service.

 Dim Sum... always heavenly

Yank Sing is known for their perfect Shanghai Dumplings w/vinegar sauce.

 My 6YO is really into making faces lately.

 The best reason to become a mother... these two.

 Hugh Jackman is in San Francisco for two weeks performing his one man show. He was funny, personable and can that man sing... and dance. 

The girls thoroughly enjoyed it as well.  I love the theatre. I hope to take them more often as they get older.

Before we headed to Scoma's for dinner - we dropped by Books, Inc at the Marina... I'll post about that visit later this week.

  The Marina - I love the Marina

Scoma's off of Pier 47 was a favorite place for my husband and I when we were dating. It was "our place" we frequented often for lunch, or dinner. We love that you can see the fresh seafood pulled in, prepared and then bam - hit the kitchens for our salivating mouths.

Great clam chowder. My daughters are aficionados of clam chowder and it was so cute when my 6YO tasted her first bite and said, "wow, this is really, really good clam chowder." I am so proud of her.

I ordered the seafood saute (lobster, crab, scallops, shrimp)... this plate can serve 3-4. I had some leftovers this morning. Yum!

The girls had fish and chips.

My hubby had the Pasta Diplomatica - but opted to go with all crab. Seriously, sooooooo good.

We love you Scoma's!

Good bye San Francisco... until we come again.

Not even one sip

We dropped by my husband's work on their last Friday of April, to drop off some cupcakes for their month end. While there my daughters found an open can of diet coke on my husband's desk. They instantly asked him why it was there. He explained that instead of beer, he and a few other co-workers were given the diet coke to celebrate their great month end.

 

chocolate cupccake with nutella filling, frosted with chocolate sour cream, topped with milk chocolate crisp

Our family, influenced by me mostly, refrains from caffeine and alcohol as part of how we observe the Word of Wisdom. I interpret it as any addictive substance. If it is addictive, we simply stay away from it. I may joke about being addicted to chocolate, or reading, but am not truly addicted to anything... the Internet may be a close addiction. Anyway - the point is, they are well-versed in what not to drink, eat, etc... 

yellow cupcake, with raspberry filling, topped with lemon zested butter cream frosting, topped with a ginger lemon cookie - in case you were wondering, other than the toppings, I always bake from scratch

We've also taught them that just because we don't subscribe to certain foods or drink, that doesn't mean other people don't. We've taught them that people will choose to smoke, drink, and do other things because it makes them feel good. It isn't necessarily healthy or wise, but they do it because those things can bring momentary pleasure. Part of our life is about having moral agency to choose.



So my girls were heartbroken that Daddy had drank three sips of the diet coke to celebrate with the rest of his drinking co-workers on that great sales day.

We told our daughters that they were correct in their choices. Daddy promised he wouldn't do it again. I explained that even Daddy makes mistakes. I like it when they see that we aren't perfect - because we so aren't. There's something utterly devastating about growing up and realizing your parents aren't perfect, but pretend to be. These girls of mine are such good, wise girls when it comes to doing the right thing. They are, in many ways greater than us. I knew this when they were growing in my womb.


When we left, my husband found this written on his white board.

I love my daddy!

I love you!

but don't drink any caffeine, not even one sip.

From the mouths of babes.

We just finished our first week of Tae kwon do -  I think they are darling in their outfits.

Getting old

I was taking stock of all the white hairs surrounding the front of my head when my 4YO walked into my bathroom.


I yanked out one white hair out to show her.


4YO: These are like my teacher's at preschool.

QS: *kneeling* Yup. Look all up here, I have a lot of white hairs.

4YO: *concerned puppy dog face* Oh no mom! Are you getting old?

QS: What do you think?

4YO: No way. I don't want you to get old when I'm grown up.

QS: Why?

4YO: Because I want you to be my mommy always.

QS: *pulling her up into my arms* I will be your mommy always, no matter what.


I am the luckiest mom in all the world.

GNO

 

I love the spoon shape.

Last week my husband scored a ticket to go to the first SJ Sharks playoff game. My husband is a huge fan of Bay Area sports. He's currently glued SF Giants too. 

 Somehow they thought it would be a great idea to sip their juice and water at the same time for... watered down juice?

 

 

Since he was going to be gone for the evening on Wednesday of last week, I told him I would take the girls out for dinner. He thought it was a great idea, and I agreed of course.
 

They used to need the plastic chop stick helper clips - they don't need them anymore. 

Oh yeah... Asian genes baby. 

 

  

So Wednesday evening we headed to my 6YO's favorite Japanese restaurant. We took these cute pictures and texted them to my husband. After we'd gotten home my husband called and said, the pictures were cute, but his SJ Shark game was Thursday, not Wednesday. Turns, out Wednesday he was just working late.



Apparently, I pulled another Joey Moment.


So there really wasn't anything to do, but to repeat our GNO the next evening. (Oh, darn.)


Have I told you how much I love having daughters?


Even with the tears that happen at least 2-4 times a day. Then there's the emotional breakdowns, the whining, the "she's being mean to me", the tattling, the talking at the same time....

At our favorite thin crust pizza place. Dessert, the giant cookie w/ice cream on top.

Somehow, those moments are instantly forgotten when they cuddle with me, kiss me, or pummel me with a bear hug and tell me that I'm the "best mom in the whole world, best baker, cooker, or the nicest"- because they are so easily pleased with the surprises/activities and places we go.

Have I also mentioned how sweet they can be to each other? They encourage, teach, share, defend, comfort, giggle and whisper secrets as sisters do. Those moments make me deeply happy.

It's in those complete moments that I have a zen moment. I thank the Lord he gave me sweet daughters.


Here's to many, many more GNOs with my little, adorable crew.


Cheers!

By the way, what are you doing on Friday?

I'll be posting "Friday: A Family Lives Here". 

Will you join me?

Here's the button.

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Here's my post from last week. I hope you join in on my weekly carnival. I love visiting and discovering what you're all doing as you gather evidence in your own homes.
 

They have no effing idea

I know. I know. I am taking my life in my hands by admitting I've watched SITC. Those of you who know me, and have been following my blog, know how much I give a damn about that so... nyah, nyah.

One of my favorite exchanges from SITC 2 is the scene between sweet, Charlotte (my favorite) and irascible, Miranda. Charlotte wasn't concerned about having a nanny, until promiscuous, Samantha put a bee in her bonnet. Charlotte has two kiddies, a nanny, and is overwhelmed. While in Abu Dhabi she and Miranda have a heart-to-heart.

Miranda: "Being a mother kicks your a**."

Charlotte: "My first thought when I heard Samantha say Harry might cheat on me with Erin was, "Oh my god, I can't lose the nanny!""

Charlotte: "How do the moms who have no help do it?"

Miranda: "I have no f***ing idea."

*giggle* *snort* *chortle*

I love that scene.

So for you mothers out there - even those of you who get your panties in a knot because you're so concerned with how everyone else is living their lives... if you don't have help - BRAVO. The women with endless resources and nannies for their 1.5 kids - have no effing idea how you do it. I gather, sometimes you, and I don't either. hehehehehe

Have a Happy Friday!

Cheers!

Never Smile at a Crocodile

Today in primary they did a sharing time on Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk Spiritual Crocodiles.

They showed a short clip of the video below where the crocodile gets its prey. 

The clip we saw begins at :35 and they ended at 2:45. 

Enjoy the clip before reading on.

This was our conversation on the ride home from Church.


QS: Girls - tell Daddy about the crocodile.
DD (4YO): The crocodile ate one of the other animals.
AGG (6YO): It was a safari.

- I provided a brief synopsis of the above clip to Phantom - 


Phantom: You mean, they showed the actual crocodile, killing its prey?
QS: Yes. With all these little 3 YOs right in the front.
Phantom: They really showed it?
QS: Some teachers were trying to explain that "it's just nature". I thought it was awesome.
AGG: It's not awesome! You think it's awesome to die?!?  *pause* Lunatic!!!


My husband and I laughed, without breathing the rest of the way home. 

ps. So excited for General Conference this weekend. Yes. I, @QueenScarlett will be a tweeting lunatic this weekend. Excited to be reunited with the Twitter Stake - #ldsconf

A Hairy Week

Where should I begin?


My brother introduced my girls to the Lohan (pre-screw up) The Parent Trap movie the weekend we were in the Bay Area. They loved it. I have to mention that with every viewing I shake my head and sigh, thinking how adorable, precocious and sweet she was...and now, now she's a glorified mess. *sigh* 

Now I've got the original version that I loved queued up to arrive from Netflix.


A couple weeks ago my 4YO, Dauntless Daughter (DD) told me she wanted to cut her hair like the twins in the movie. I stated very clearly - that if she wanted a cut, we could make an appointment to get it done. She was not to, under any circumstance, cut it herself. My daughters have cut their hair in the past, they must enjoy keeping me on my toes, or they are just fashionistas in the making.


Well, Tuesday of this past week, the girls were upstairs with Phantom and I'm just browsing some news online, when I hear a screeching, wailing, bloody-hell, someone-is-dying-kind-of-a-scream. 

practicing her news sharing for class on the supermoon - she's so intelligent and pretty to me...

Turns out my 6YO, Avant Garde Gal (AGG) took her hair into her own hands to give herself bangs, like in The Parent Trap.

 the hair...and if you look to the bottom left - you'll find the pink gum - also, please enjoy the contents of our garbage...

There was no point in getting upset with her. She was pretty darn upset at herself. Which, admittedly, totally made me start laughing. I know, bad, easily entertained mommy... hehehehe


Luckily, AGG has never cut her bangs too short. 

It actually... doesn't look too bad. She's so darn cute, she makes anything look good.

she loves to sass it up...

Wednesday morning we fixed it cute, and she loved it.


That same morning when I woke little sister, DD up for school. As I brushed her hair, the brush was unable to get this one tangle out. As I used my fingers to break up the knot I found, to my horror...gum.

...sticky, lost cough drop...

I had a momentary, internal, "aw crap" moment, wherein I thought we'd have to chop her hair off to get the gum out. Luckily, it was relatively easy to peel apart. 


QS: How did you get gum in your hair?
DD: I was chewing gum and it fell out.
QS: Into your hair?
DD: I didn't know where it went. It disappeared.


She makes me laugh... and laugh I did.

Today? She comes to me trying to get something out of her hair. 


QS: Did you get gum in your hair again???
DD: I don't think so.
QS: *as I peel the hair off* Oh my...hehehee... it's a cough drop.
DD: Oh! That's where AGG's cough drop went. We couldn't find it last night.

my little ham...

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah


Yep. A hairy, hilarious week with my girls. Dang, I love them.

HAPPY HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

ps. The rumor is... we'll get some sun come Monday. Keeping my fingers crossed.