A Beautiful January 2013 ... So Far

Just a brief recap ...

Daddy's birthday is a still a day to celebrate with a Christmas tree!

Artimus and her tall and strong daddy!

We painted together for the first time as a family.  

Mixing paint is such a science to Ethan.  Artimus just loved the pretty colors!

To Ethan, the fun is in the mixing, not the painting.

I wish I could claim they are avid readers.  But when up close and personal, they were not reading and imaging the images.

I am making the biggest toy Mommy ever gave me.  I am almost done.  Do you see that?









 I figured it out.  Yes!

Getting Older

I got a text from my sister tonight, with news I never wanted to hear but I know was coming one of these days.  She reported that dad's health is deteriorating fast and that I should call her.  Guilt set in instantly.  Last Wednesday, a text from her warned that mom and dad were both down with the flu, and the whole household is sick.  So I kept the kids home on Friday night and didn't follow the ritual of visiting my parents for dinner on Friday nights.  I had wondered about dad's health when he had to fight the flu while diabetic and a serious smoker.  But distance helped because the problem is not at sight.  Now, with that call, it felt quite close to home.

Dad is apparently diagnosed with stage 2 kidney disease.  I had asked him in the past two to three months why he looked so much older recently, and that he looked more yellowish.  His response was typical, "Nothing. Everything is the same.  Can't worry about everything."  Now that I know why, I am a bit upset at myself, and at him.  I feel helpless.

I had known from watching my older colleagues talk about taking care of their aging parents that my day would come sooner than I would want.  I don't know how to approach this problem.  But I am sure between my sister and I, we'll work something out that will help my parents get old comfortably and hopefully happily.

And while my parents are getting old, I am getting older.  I asked Ethan if he would take care of me when I get old, just like how I am taking care of him now.  He was silent and looked away.  I got really mad.  Just earlier that night, I had accidentally kicked the dishwasher and my foot was bleeding from broken skin.  Artimus instantly looked for bandate and neosporin.  Then out of the blue, during dinner, she said that she and Ethan should take care of mommy when mommy gets hurt just like how mommy takes care of them when they get hurt.  Ethan was silent again.  So I asked Ethan if he would take care of me.  All he said was, "I am thinking!"

Great.  Just great. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

How many times have you caught yourself asking, "Wow, can't believe another year has almost gone by!  I thought I just celebrated Christmas yet Christmas is here again!"  Well, yes, it's here.  Like you, I am looking for viable New Year resolutions.  Whatever you may come up with, the attempt to accomplish them would have gotten you further than if you had no goals for the year.  So join me in making achievable goals that will better ourselves. 

Happy holidays and Happy New Year!

JW

My Joy

She is truly my joy.  At the sight of a camera, she smiles and gives off the most contagious inner happiness!

 

Daddy is at the computer explaining to me about Princess Sophia,

a Hispanic princess.

 

Wow, mommy is taking pictures!  You like my glasses-look?  (It's not real.  It's just mommy's old glasses.  Daddy took out the lense and let me play pretend.)

 

 

Interesting ...

 

 

Mommy is taking pictures again ... it's so hard to focus but mommy said just pretend she is not there. 

Fish at the Market

 

 

The day after the Aquarium, we walked by the fish market and there they were, unable to walk away from the fishes just taken out of the water. 

There are fishes we go look at in the Aquarium, and there are fishes we eat.  I think it must be a strange feeling to have to draw this critical difference for city kids - we need to protect but we need to eat them!

At the Aquarium with Old Friends

Despite Frankenstorm, we went about our day as normal.  The Aquarium was still open on Saturday. So we headed out after being invited.  Why not?!  It's better stimulated with all the fishes and friends than go home to fight over the legos or have to do homework. 

 

Do you se the fish tank behind me?  I am eating all the free candy at the Aquarium. 

 I love Halloween!

 

 

Look what you find in a pirate ship?

 

 

We are just throwing balls at this board to hit targets.  We missed most times but it was fun anyway!

Beating Lung Cancer for B

Today is an amazing day - fresh air and clear blue sky for the Breathe Deep Walk to Stop Lung Cancer.  It has been a while since I felt so good about being a part of a fight for something meaningful.  I guess because lung cancer, and cancer as a whole, has hit so close to home.  Today, we walked to stop lung cancer because a young and beautiful friend, "B", has gotten this terrible disease despite never having smoked.

We breathe deep for the joy of being able to do so.  We breathe deep for those who couldn't.  We did so today in celebration of an awareness that this particular type of cancer is in dire need of money for research.  

I hope you can join us next year!  Here are some photos:

Leave Drawings

The latest thing in art class was rolling a crayon horizontally on a white paper over leaves.  They loved it.  So they collected the falling leaves on the street and continued their creations at home.  I was inundated with leave drawings everyday last week, which I was instructed to bring to work and to post them on my office wall.  I had to yield to their pride and respond with absolute joy to those sparkling eyes waiting for the hug, kiss, and the, "Oh, thank you, my love!  It's the most amazing drawing I have ever seen!"  Well, they knew it was an exaggerated thank-you.  But they sure still want more of that.

The big leave!

Collecting more leaves to draw more pictures for mommy!

Creating from Loose Legos

After hundreds of dollars spent on legos sets that they could build from following several pages of instructions, we discovered that loose lego pieces offered a lot more room for creativity and excitement. They loved the loose pieces.  Ethan was not very happy with his jar of loose pieces, which did not offer as many colors or shapes.  Artimus was quite happy with hers but basically made what Ethan made with more color options.  Trade would have been in order, if Ethan was not so impatient with bargaining.  He just wanted what he wanted right away.  On the contrary, Artimus liked to take her time to think things over, which almost always ends with, "No, I don't want to trade," or "No, I don't want to share my legos."  So just imagine the frustration Ethan displayed, which turned into threats and later grab-and-run.

Despite the whining and heated moments, they still had lots of fun as bros and sis ... comparing their creation.

Me and my lego car.  

I created this lego truck.  I got six wheels.  Artimus only had four.  Yay!

Look at our creation!!!!  Thank you for thinking of us and getting us these incredible legos!!!

Reminders of Love

 

One morning, when I opened up my bag upon arriving at my office, sticking out was this blue card, full of hearts and butterflies ... and us!

 

 

I miss them so much on nights I don't have them. But just as I was turning off the lights to sleep one night, there stood these little hand-painted sculptures Artimus did just the week before.  They stood there by the lamp on my dresser, in such carefully thought out positions.  They just cheered me up and reminded me that she is always with me and thinking of me.

 

Do you feel the love?!  She knocks me off my feet everyday.

My Princesses

Aside from my pretty princess Artimus, there is also the cutest and littlest thing in the bigger family right now. 

She has the cutest cheeks ever!

Boo at the Zoo

Kids must be kids.  So we did the kids thing this past weekend at Boo at the Zoo ...

The magic show was good.  The haunted mansion was fun too ... but definitely scary for a 5 year old!

 

Janco Fett protecting Queen Amedela and Brave!

 

Boba Fett!

Queen Amedela!

the Cold ... Coughs ... and Fevers

Fall is here!  It announced its presence with Ethan getting sick and then infecting me.  I don't know why people say kids are weaker than adults.  Ethan didn't look that tired when he was sick.  On the other end, in two days he got bettter but I am now sick as sick can be - a throbbing headache and a tired body.  But for every meal there are dishes to wash.  And for every art exercise they engage in, there are stuff to clean up.  I am tired but I must still get up and get stuff cleaned and organized.  Or else, stuff begin to disappear or cannot be found.

I hope Artimus doesn't get sick from me.

I hope you stock up on those basic essentials that fight the germs that are flying about.

Taming the Wild?

These days, more than ever, taking deep breathes is necessary for surviving motherhood.  I often find myself huffing and puffing about my patience wearing thin with these two little wild things.  Yet, Artimus continues to be oblivious to my desire that she needs to finish her dinner, which are often untouched even after an hour.  She just doesn't like to eat.

Thank God they like sweets.  Two or three months ago, I learned how to make ice-cream and popsicles.  This is mainly because I can control the sugar level and what goes into these sweets.  So for now, Artimus would, at some reasonable point in time, finish her dinner because the strawberry popsicle is an after-meal treat.  Believe it or not, the popsicle is the only reason she eats the food.

Ethan is better now.  He doesn't like that I raise my voice so he tries to finish his dinner quickly so he can play.

When they fight, it's a different story.  At home, they can get physical.  Artimus has no perception that she is smaller and weaker so she is fierce as a little dog.  Most recently I realized she uses her magical tickling power which she knows Ethan is most afraid of.   Ethan has been yelled at enough times to not hurt Artimus.  So these days, he is the one running to me for help and tattle tell.

So the day goes ... refusal to eat breakfast ... refusal to eat dinner ... refusal to drink stuff, and fights.

I have to figure out a way to stop doing chores and start reading to them more so they find pleasure in reading and not with fighting over whatever they were playing with.  Perhaps, that's the way to tame these wild things.

First Day of School

 

I suppose it's never too late to share about it. Here are the shots.

 

 

 

First day, no big deal.

 

 

Omm, just a girl on the wild side.

 

Higher!

 

 

I could do it myself!

 

 

 

No, I am not looking at you cause you look funny getting bigger and smaller!

 

Do You See How Funny They Are?

 

 

Can you see their personality from looking at the pictures?  May be because I am a mom.  Their smiles or attempts at smiling at the camera just melt my heart.

 

 

 

Getting Older

 

My handsome boy!

 

 

 My most joyful and funniest niece!

 

 

Making a Wish!

 





 

 

Sometimes it takes a picture to remind me that everyone is getting older.

 

They Teach Me To Love Tenderly

Yes, there are a great many moments when the demands of the day cause me to raise my voice at Ethan and Artimus ... like:

• "Please get dressed, we have to run to school NOW!"
• "Artimus, I don't mean to rush you but can you eat and swallow so we can get out and get to school ON TIME?!" 
• "PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! BRUSH YOUR TEETH! WHY DO I HAVE TO REMIND YOU TWO EVERY MORNING?"
• "Please put on your shoes, NOW!  When I am done blow-drying my hair, I am walking directly out the door so PUT ON YOUR SHOES!" 

Yes, much is a rush these days, it seems.  The longer travel to the new school is changing the more leisurely pace we used to enjoy.  The rush continues at night and it's sorta taking a toll on us in that I am rushing them all the time.  So one day, Ethan said to me, "STOP rushing me.  I am getting a headache!"  What do I say as the time-keeper who has to get them fed and ready for school everyday, and who has to get them in bed at a decent hour so they will be awake enough to learn the next day?  So I get upset when they dilly dollied and the lights are still on at 9:15 pm.  I get so steamed up I couldn't even kiss them good night. 

The one amazing thing about children is they don't pretend.  They don't know how to yet, at 5 or even at 7.  Without a kiss from mommy, the night appears scary and the day could not close.  They twist and turn in their bed, unable to sleep.  When I finally lay down with them, say 9:30, with a kiss, a firm hug, and a soft "I love you", they both fall soundly asleep.  Yes, just like that ... magic!  This never fails to remind me that these willful little beings need my love and protection so they could feel safe and happy.

Feeling needed is a great feeling.  All the hard work is worth it when these little beings blossom into healthy and good people in society.  I will reason more and rush them less so these tender hearts are loved more tenderly.

Thank you for reading and staying in touch!

JW

 

Growing Up

Who would ever figure that Ethan would become a goodie two shoes when he was 2?  Ethan's nature is to do what he wishes, as I used to conclude when he was young.  He wanted metro cards, so he always carried one or more; and when he didn't have one in his hand, he went wild and drove everyone crazy.  When he wanted to bring a toy car to daycare, fighting to stop him from taking one there only got Ethan very upset and a major fight ensued.  Well, today, in second grade, Mr. Goodie Two Shoes has the most happy faces from the teacher and gets "outstanding" behavior in class everyday.  He succumbs to authorities in school and is never a problem for teachers.  Don't know how to make of this.

At home, Ethan reminds me of a high level manager at work who is so anal about everything that a minor deviation from past practice or his set ways would drive him insane and extremely unpleasant to deal with.  But the good thing is, Ethan polices himself so he always gets his homework done in the way the teacher wants it done.  Ethan is just so pleasant to interact with now since he listens well.

Artimus is so naturally smart it's amazing.  She is quick to come up with reasons to persuade me to go along with what she wants to have, to do or not to do.  Will she be a lawyer too?  She also loves to sing, just like me.  It's so amazing to watch her pretend she was singing on stage, imitating great singers.  Only if she would take learning music seriously.

More updates later ...

Temptations

It suffices to say that when all else fails to get Ethan and Altimus to do something mundane but vital to normal life, like taking a shower or eating dinner, the offer of strawberry popsicle or ice-cream (whatever flavor) would get them moving in that direction.  This primitive response to getting what one wants is more powerful than one may imagine.  Kids' experience is just a simpler and more direct expression of human nature.  As an adult, money appears to replace the tempting effect of candy.  I must admit, having a maid would be so wonderful.  After firing the last one 9 months ago, I have been craving for one who I can really trust to be in my home alone for two to three hours a week and one who is also not over priced.  No luck so far.  I sometimes dream of being able to hire a full time maid who can also cook a healthy meal at night so I don't have to work so much.  I am just tired and money could have solved that problem.  Most of all, every creative part of me is dying for a little waking time when I have the energy to paint, make jewelry or read a book.  With all the cleaning, laundry, and cooking, I barely have time to sit down.

Temptations to give in to certain acts or thoughts are inevitable.  Who doesn't want to have more free time to play and not work?  But we are judged by what we are willing to do when we are weak, as well as when we are strong.  One day, when I look back, I hope to be proud of a creative solution I have come up with for my fatigue, or that I have simply persevered.

... one positive thought about chores - I don't have to pay a gym membership to workout!  Yay!!!!

And here is a picture one of them took of me at a corner I often find myself ...