When Big Mochi was around 3 years old, she asked how old Grandma was. When Grandma answered, it prompted the next question: Is that the last number?
She’s old!
January 27th, 2010Limited supply?
December 11th, 2009This morning I asked Baby Mochi to give me a kiss. She smooched me. Then I asked for another and she said, “No. Only one.” : |
Parent-Teacher Conference
November 20th, 2009Just got back from Big Mochi’s (and my) very first parent-teacher conference. It was held at 1:10 pm so I ran over during my lunchbreak. I was so excited and anxious to hear how she was progressing. I mean, I know she’s doing great just by all the homework we go through each night, but to hear it officially from the teacher was new ground!
She started off by mentioning how great a child she is overall – that other teachers have commented the same by watching her on the playground, interacting, etc. She thanked me for being such a great parent because she believes the child is a reflection of us. While I sat there, my grin started to fade when it popped into my head that meeting Baby Mochi would definitely elicit a complete opposite response. Apparently Baby Mochi has a lot to live up to!
Anyway, she is passing all her tests with 100%s all over the place. Her artwork has always been superb, but now it’s being recognized by others, which is a great confidence booster. Not that she needs it; her confidence was clearly displayed in her self-portrait drawing. It portrayed a giant planet earth in the center of the page, with her standing on top of it smiling widely in a purple dress accessorized by matching purple shoes and a matching purple bracelet. Now THAT, my friends, is ONE FABULOUS MOCHI ON TOP OF THE WORLD!
Kindergarten – Day 4
September 15th, 2009I couldn’t be prouder of Big Mochi. She only cried for a minute after I left on the first day and after that, she was an old pro. That professionalism didn’t go unnoticed.
Baby Mochi stops on the curb this morning before we walk into Kid’s Club and tells us, “No crying today, guys.” Then after I do the seamless drop-off, we’re walking back to the car and she pats me and says, “Good job.”
Recap
September 10th, 2009I just wanted to add that Big Mochi had SUCH a great day on her first day, she was pretty anxious to go back this morning. No tears! So proud!!!
First day of kindergarten!!!
September 10th, 2009
Aaaah!!!!
First day of school… I meant to drop off Baby Mochi at Aunty’s house so I could focus on Big Mochi, but when we were all ready to go, it THEN occurred to me that I still had her with me. Ha… lame.
We packed up and went to Kid’s Club, which is the before- and after-school program at Big Mochi’s new school. She walked in bravely and even though tears welled up, she was fine. She sat at the table and colored while she periodically glanced around at her new digs.
Later, we walked over to her new classroom across the playground where her teacher was absolutely awesome. Oh wait, let me back up. Outside, Big Mochi ran into 2 of her buddies from pre-school. They reunited and were so happy and relieved to see friendly faces. They are all placed in different classes, but met up during recess. Talking to a mom, one buddy is going to Kid’s Club after school, too, so that worked out perfectly!
The bell rings and the kids line up to go into their classrooms. Big Mochi’s teacher had them line up and as they walked in, the kids were handed a card with a picture on it. In the front of the classroom was a giant rug with giant circles on it. Each circle had a corresponding picture that they had to match their cards with so they knew where to sit. Isn’t that awesome? Big Mochi goes in, finds her spot, and has a seat. Then her teacher – let’s call her Mrs. C – is sitting in front of her new class with all of us parents crowded in the back and there are camera flashes going on like crazy while she announces, “Okay, it’s a big day for you all, and even though your moms would probably stay here all day if they could, they have places to be, so let’s all turn around and wave bye and blow kisses to them.” That was our cue and Big Mochi’s face crumpled and I had to run out. Out there, I was bawling and a bunch of moms came out to comfort me as they cried and the dads stood back with their arms crossed and their eyeballs rolling upwards mumbling, “Come on, guys.”
And Baby Mochi in my arms, ever so nurturing, says, “Stop crying, Mommy. You making my dwess all wet!”
Splat!
September 1st, 2009Yesterday I got a phone call about mid-morning from Big Mochi’s school. This is never good. They never call and say, “Hi there! Just wanted to let you know your kid is doing GREAT today!” I recognize the voice and I am not mistaken. There was an incident. Big Mochi has run into the wall… with her nose. It’s bloodied, her clothes has been changed, it stopped bleeding, she has stopped crying. So I ask to speak to her and when they tell her I am on the phone, she starts crying again and is unable to speak. They assure me she is fine. I call G to report what has happened and as expected, he will leave work, pick her up and take her home. I call the school and tell them he is coming. A few minutes later, G calls me from the side of the freeway where his tire is shredding. He has attempted to change it and the lugnuts are stripped or something along those lines. I’m not real sure, but he needs to call AAA to get a tow to the nearest tire store. The school has told her someone is coming so if I don’t go get her, she’ll freak out more and let’s face it, it’s already been a pretty tough day for her. I get her, grab some crayons, a Nintendo DS and some snacks and bring her back to work with me. It just so happens it’s my boss’ birthday and we have decorated his office with balloons, streamers, batman paraphernalia and confetti. We are also having ice cream cake and doing the whole singing bit. Pretty darn good day to show up to mom’s work.
I got a kick out of her asking me if had naptime already. But the best was this morning when Baby Mochi told me her sister’s nose was dirty, that she had blood. I said yeah, she ran into a wall, but she’s fine. She stared at Big Mochi until she got yelled at and ran off. Later on when I was dropping off Big Mochi at school, Baby Mochi’s yelling at her, “Don’t run into the wall!!!” 
Not funny, I know. But yeah, it kinda is.
LA = Traffic
August 21st, 2009Tutu is moving this weekend. G drove to Vegas yesterday afternoon to help them move. He is taking Big Mochi along. He says it’s because Tutu will want to see her, but unadmittedly, he can’t bear to be without her for an entire weekend. That’s fine with me. I got the Beast the entire weekend and we’ll have some nice mommy/beast bonding time going on.
Walking to my parking structure after work, I call G. I hear Big Mochi singing along to Gwen Stefani in the background. They’re stuck in 5-mph hour traffic because they shut down the 15 at Baker (halfway point from home to Vegas). What would normally take a little under 4 hours took him almost 8, but they made it safely. He sounded so exhausted, I didn’t bother to ask how he entertained Big Mochi in the car for all that time.
Meanwhile back at the homefront, Baby Mochi is wondering where her sister and daddy went. So I told her they went to Las Vegas to visit Tutu. She repeats my answer in question form (I love that) to confirm and when I agree, she says, “Oh, no! They forgot!” So I ask, “What did they forget?” And she says, “Me and Mommy!” Awww…
But after the traffic G had to endure, I’m soooooo grateful we weren’t in that car. I’ll save THAT story for another day…
P-p-p-p-p-p
August 20th, 2009When Grandma comes to visit, the first thing she does is stock the house with food (cuz you never know who might stop over). That’s all fine and good, except that she stocks the house with food for the entire neighborhood to last the entire year. Then we eat out most of the time and she leaves in 3 weeks and we’re gorging ourselves before all the perishables go bad, and then have to be creative to figure out what to do with the 11 cans of tomato soup, 22 snack-sized cups of mandarin oranges, and 3 pounds of bacon.
One night I walked in the house and said, “Somebody yell out a letter!” Big Mochi says “P!” So everything we had for dinner that night had to start with P. We started off with peas (you gotta start off with the veggies while they’re hungry), microwaved some pizza, drank some punch, and grabbed a handful of pretzels to go with it. At the end, Big Mochi is giddy and scrounging around in the cupboard and yells, “Mommy! Can we have some Papplesauce?!”
Creativity will take you places!
Charity envy
August 13th, 2009It’s that time again. I was packing up the old clothes and toys to set out for donation. You know, they leave those big fliers with the hole so it fits over your doorknob attached to a flimsy plastic bag telling you what date they’ll drive around to pick up your old stuff? So we got one and I decided to get rid of some clothes that neither mochi will wear anymore, and some toys that they have lost total interest in. At least, you THINK they lost total interest in it until you start packing it up and all of a sudden, they want to play with that toy NOW because hello?? It’s their favorite toy (even though it’s been lying there untouched for the past 9 months).
So anyway, I was being grilled by Big Mochi, “Why are you putting those toys in a bag? What are you going to do with it? Where are they going? Is it broken?” I calmly explain that we’re donating it to charity. That means giving them away to another kid who might not have toys like these. Surprisingly, my response was totally acceptable and she went on her merry way.
A couple of hours later in the car, she brings it up again. When she’s 10 years old, will we give away her toys to charity that she played with when she was 8? Yes, probably. And when she’s 12 years old, will we give away her toys to charity that she played with when she was 10? Yes, probably. Do other kids give away toys to charity? Yes. Not all, but I would assume a lot do. Again, satisfaction.
Then later that night while I was giving the mochis a bubble bath, we were talking about what we should do this weekend. Big Mochi brightens up and asks her little sister, “Hey, do you want to go to Charity’s house?”
3 Years of Baby Mochi!
July 16th, 2009
Happy Birthday, Baby Mochi! And G, too!
…though G is well aware that he gave up birthdays the second she was born!
60 Seconds in the Life of Baby Mochi
June 6th, 2009I got a balloon today when I got my haircut. I love playing with my balloon! Walking around with the string in my mouth is fun, too! I found a pen! Hmm, there’s nothing to write on. Oh wait, yes there is! Yeah, baby! I’m an artist! Yikes, Mommy’s making weird noises. Why is she grabbing a wipe? My diaper’s not wet. Hey! She’s wiping all my artwork off my arm! What’s up with that?! Sheesh. *sigh* Ooh, there’s my Abby Cadabby puzzle! I love this thing! I’m going to dump it out and put it back toge… Hey! What does Big Mochi have? That’s my toy! “Mommy! Big Mochi’s not sharing!!!” So what if she had it first? It’s mine! Yes, I was playing with this puzzle, but I want that now! Hmph. No fair. If I yell loud enough, sometimes Big Mochi gives it up. “YAAAAAHHH!!!!” Darn… didn’t work that time. It just made Mommy’s face get all scrunchy. I know that look on Mommy’s face. She doesn’t look happy. Sometimes if I smile that scrunchy face disappears. Haha! It worked! She’s smiling at me. Whew! Okay, I’ll just stand over here – and spin around. Whoah!! Hahaha! Oops, fall down. Dizzy. Again! Here I go! Hahahaha! Big Mochi’s spinning with me now! Whee!! Oh hey, she dropped my toy! Yee ha! Hey, toy, here I come! Look, there’s my blankie! I’m going to sit here and chill with my blankie, just like Big Mochi likes to chill with her Bunny. Where is Bunny, anyway? I can make Big Mochi’s face get all scrunchy if I get Bunny. There he is! See, she’s yelling just because I’m holding her Bunny. Wow, she yelled LOUD, too. What, I’m just putting him in a safe place. Isn’t the refrigerator safe? Why is Mommy yelling at ME? She’s the one yelling? Sheesh. Can’t do anything fun around here. What’s that over there? It looks like a bracelet. How pretty. I wonder what this star tastes like. Kinda like a button. There’s a string that tastes interesting. Geez, doesn’t Mommy ever get tired of saying NOT IN THE MOUTH? Fine, I’ll just lay in my tent and chill with my blankie where no one can see me. I’m going to sing now…
Yet another reminder how specific I need to be
May 20th, 2009It’s my first day back from my short-but-exciting trip to Boston where my best friend Lisa graduated. Oh, excuse me, that’s Dr. Lisa to us mere mortals. Anyway, my point is, I’ve been traveling and having fun and even though it’s only a 3-hour difference, I am pooped out.
At work, I have to play catch-up, so at 10:30 am when my phone rings and I notice it’s from Big Mochi’s school, I immediately groan. Usually this means she threw up or something and I have to pick her up. Not today. I am told she didn’t order a hot lunch and doesn’t have a cold lunch with her. I almost yell back, “Yes, she does! I know she had it in the car with her!” Maybe it’s still in the car? Baby Mochi was crying so I might not have been as reliable as I would’ve been on any other morning. Ugh, so much for my lunch plans. I tell the school I will deliver her lunch before 11:00. When I get to my parking garage, her lunch is not in the back seat. I call the school back and speak to Big Mochi:
- Me: What happened to your Lunchables?
- Mochi: I ate it for breakfast.
- Me: But Sweetie, what was that giant plate of noodles you had this morning before we left the house?
- Mochi: Leftovers!
Sometimes it feels like I’m feeding the tapeworms that must live in her tummy. Oh well… at least we had a fun lunch at McDonald’s together! Except that now the school thinks we must have so many issues. First we’re getting divorced and G’s moving out, now we don’t feed our kids – cuz no doubt she told her teacher she didn’t eat breakfast, but failed to clarify that she DID eat.
Hello, Birdies!
May 12th, 2009
This mama bird decides to build a nest in the corner of our patio. Then it lays eggs and they hatch. Baby Mochi says hi to them almost every morning. The birds just stare, unblinking, silent. How rude.
Happy Mother’s Day!
May 11th, 2009
I gotta say, being a mom is pretty darn great. Along with those wonderful tantrums, the frequent anxiety attacks caused by babies diving off furniture, or foreign objects being steered into tiny mouths (or noses), there are spontaneous grins, joyful contagious giggles and those peaceful angelic faces as they snooze quietly after a long loud day.
Without even trying, motherhood teaches you that life flies by. Each time you blink, your little ones are bigger, faster, and exposing you to new challenges you never imagined would turn up in your life. Who ever thought throwing away something would be reason to celebrate? Or timing it just right so that the pink blur whizzing by can be scooped up and have your underwear removed from its grasp before exposing her findings to company. Or over-excitedly pointing out a jar of pickles on the right so that those sharp eyes don’t notice the other kid with the cotton candy passing by on the left. And once they learn to talk, making sure you distract them before they ask a little too loudly why that guy has makeup on and then having to explain that it’s really a lady. It’s all really worth it, I promise. Gray hair can be covered with dye, after all.
Look! It’s my kid in a candy store!
May 1st, 2009
Nuff said.
5-year olds have drama, too!
April 30th, 2009Just got back from seeing an attorney for our will/trust planning. Fun stuff, I tell ya. Anyway, this morning before my appt, I got a call from Big Mochi’s school. She’s in hysterics. They cannot calm her down so they called me.
Last night I reminded G that I was going to see the attorney. Big Mochi asked me what an attorney was. I replied, “A person who helps Mommy and Daddy with some business.” End of conversation.
Turns out today she told her buddy (let’s call her Jane) about my appt, and Jane’s parents just went through a bitter divorce complete with custody battle. You see where this is going?
Jane tells Big Mochi that her daddy is going to move out and she is only going to see him on the weekends. She says her mommy will not let her speak to her daddy and he’ll be far away. “Daddy’s Girl” flips out, thus my phone call. After a long time, she finally calms down enough to listen to me. I get through to her: attorneys do lots of things, we are fine, Daddy is not moving out.
The principal gets back on the phone, and lamely, I’m like… heh heh, uhh, sorry… then I hear screams and wails in the background.
Apparently Big Mochi attacked Jane. 
So yeah, that was my morning.
As a follow-up, Big Mochi was over it within the hour and she and Jane are best buds again. She declared she had the Best Day Ever later that night and when I brought up her tiff with Jane, she at first didn’t even remember it, then brushed it off with, “Oh yeah, but she didn’t know what she was talking about. Can we have McDonald’s for dinner?”
Family Fun Day
April 29th, 2009
This past Sunday we went to a neighboring city’s Family Fun Day celebration at their local park. The weather was absolutely perfect and we all had a blast. It wasn’t huge so no one got tired of walking. I can’t believe I don’t have a picture of Big Mochi on the swing. She learned how to swing without having to be pushed so it was a huge deal for her. She had a ton of fun, but the look of serious concentration on her face was priceless. There was the giant super slide pictured here (we’re actually at the top of it, but you can’t tell it’s us) and pony rides, etc. Baby Mochi was a little too small for the ferris wheel and other teddy bear rides – maybe next year!
100 Degrees of Princess Fun
April 28th, 2009
G and I scheduled to take off last Monday a couple of months ago to take the mochis to California Adventure. Wouldn’t you know it? We picked the one day this cold season it would be 100 degrees? Anyway, Ariel’s Grotto rocked. They got to meet all the princesses, who were very sweet (even though it was near naptime and they were eating and sometimes preferred their meal over their guests) and took the time to sign each autograph book and pose for pictures with each girl in the entire restaurant. The food was gourmet superb. Fancy appetizers, salad, fruits, themed entrees, and amazing dessert tray! I wish so badly I could post the pics of the mochis with the princesses I took because they were just too cute, but alas, my personal photo policy won’t allow them. I’ll post the dessert tray. That shell is all white chocolate, baby!
But, I will post a couple of the pics of the mochis having some water fun, after being slathered in spf 80+ every 20 minutes!
This one was cool because this blue pole had holes that, when plugged, would spout water from another one. So all the kids tried to plug up all the holes. Simple fun concept!
Hydrate hydrate hydrate!
How old are you again?
April 27th, 2009- Mommy, I don’t think I’m going to go to school today.
- Oh, really?
- No, you just take Baby Mochi to Aunty’s house and I’ll stay home by myself. But you don’t have to worry. I can make myself cereal and milk for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and I know where the snacks and Capri Suns are. I already changed out of my pajamas to dayclothes so I’m good to go.
- Wow, you’ve really put a lot of thought into this, huh?
- And I promise I’ll take a nap and just watch tv and play with my toys when I’m bored. I won’t make a mess and if anyone knocks on the door, I won’t answer it. So you go ahead with Baby Mochi and go to work and I’ll just stay here. I’ll go potty and remember to wipe, flush and wash my hands every time.
- Hmm, I’m sorry, Sweetie, but it looks like today’s not going to work out quite like you had planned. Besides, today is a home lunch day. Do you want to help me pack your lunch?
- Ooh yeah! Can I bring grapes?
Whew! Dodged that bullet! Sheesh!
Can you guess which egg Baby Mochi made?
April 24th, 2009
I’m behind on my postings as usual. Easter happened 2 weeks ago. It was a blur. The morning was jam-packed with excitement. We decorated and dyed eggs after breakfast and played at the park before rushing home for naptime because, as everybody knows, the Easter Bunny only comes to hide eggs at the houses where good little mochis are taking naps. 
They got up, raced around to find the eggs which the EB filled with umm… Gerber puffs or Wheat Thins or a quarter?*
Oh, and remember back in elementary school when you would color a picture with planets and stars or an underwater scene with crayons, and then paint over it all with black (outerspace) or blue (underwater) as a backgroud effect while your crayon drawing stayed the same? Well, if you do that with Easter eggs, just make sure you don’t do it using Crayola’s washable crayons! Doh!
*Note to self: Plan ahead for EB visit next year. Target is closed on Easter Sunday and CVS runs out of plastic eggs.
April 22, 2009
April 23rd, 2009I just wanted, for the record, to post that on April 22, 2009, around 7:30 pm in the car on the 105 freeway going East, Big Mochi proclaimed that she will NEVER get married, will NEVER have children, and will live with G and I FOREVER!
Let’s revisit this again in 10 years, shall we?
Hoppy Easter!
April 10th, 2009Aunty is off today so G stayed home to watch Baby Mochi. I figured he’d keep Big Mochi home, too, but turns out she wanted to go to school for the Easter Egg Hunt they have planned, so I was in a panic about getting out some sort of Easter treats for her buddies at school. After they all went to bed, I ran to the supermarket to get little bags of cookies and shoved them in my easter bags here.
I totally stole my friend Jenn’s idea because it was fast and easy. Not to mention it was late and I was tired
G is bringing Baby Mochi down for lunch with me! What a treat! I’ll publish this blog and see if I can remember to ask G to take a picture that I can post.
And before I forget, let me make a grand shout out to my best friend Lisa who, as of 2 days ago, is now
Dr. Lisa!
Congrats, lady!!!
Spring craft fair!
April 8th, 2009
- I love udon
On Sunday, I went to the Beary Best Friends Craft Fair in Buena Park with Baby Mochi’s daycare buddy and her mom. I picked up Melting Moments from Kelley’s Kookies and this jacket for Baby Mochi. Most fitting item of clothing she could possibly wear. There were I LOVE TOFU t-shirts that I would’ve loved to get for Big Mochi but none in her size. Bummer. I wish I could give credit where credit is due, but I threw away the tag when I washed it so I’m not sure who made it. If anyone knows, please leave a comment so everyone can see it! Thanks!
Very very bummed there was no toffee this year. Tako’s Toffee, I think it was called? The best ever!!! Oh well, hopefully for the Christmas Fair it’ll be there. Then there’s the Holiday craft fair in Cypress that I go to every year just for the fresh andagi!!!
Don’t even THINK about messing with this Daddy
April 8th, 2009For 12 consecutive Wednesday evenings, G has to take a class required for his job. He’s put it off for 3 years, but now he’s gotta do it. On these evenings, I leave work a little early to get both mochis (usually G picks up the big one).
Today is a Wednesday morning. This morning I drop off Big Mochi at school with Baby Mochi in tow, and they bound in to class and she tells her teacher, “My daddy’s going to school tonight so my mommy’s picking me up.” Teacher says, “Oh, that’s great. It’s always good to learn new things no matter how old you are!”
One of Big Mochi’s classmates asks, “Did he flunk?”
Big Mochi doesn’t know what flunk means.
He continues: My mommy said if you don’t study hard, you flunk and have to keep doing it again until you’re the oldest kid in class.
Big Mochi immediately takes offense: MY DADDY’S SMART! (Huge frown on her face, now bright red, hands on hips – she would’ve stood up if she wasn’t already standing)
Baby Mochi picks up on her sister’s mood, mimics her stance and frown and yells: DADDY’S SMART!
The daddy-offender is now hunched over in his chair probably wishing he was UNDER it. Poor kid never had a chance.