mochimoments.com

Archive for September, 2008

It’s not even the end of September and the stores are filled with not only Halloween and Thanksgiving decor, but Christmas craziness as well!  It’s not fair!  We just got through with summer like what… yesterday?  Sheesh, people, give me a little time to breathe!  Pumpkins (Baby Mochi calls them pockins) Patch isn’t even open yet!

Anyway, if anyone noticed, my blog has been pretty quiet for the past week or so.  I go on my vacation in count them – FIVE DAYS!  So my time has been spent preparing for my leave.  That is preparing my house for my mother-in-law to stay with G and the mochis to help out for 2 weeks, get my backup and bosses up to speed so work continues smoothly in my absence, and of course, my general household since my brain is filled with responsibilities that only I am gonna take care of… like making sure Big Mochi’s tights are washed every week so that she can put them on for her Tuesday morning dance classes; so that she is dressed in sturdy dark-colored clothes on Wednesdays since they play in the sandbox that day; that weekly tuition checks are turned in; that we constantly have milk in the fridge; so that Big Mochi remembers that on Friday she has to bring in something that starts with the letter C, that the bills are paid and the auto-EFTs have actually worked and our bills are not late; that we have a full stock of toilet paper and diapers and wipes and shampoo for everyone at all times; and that all medical prescriptions are filled and dispensed properly.  And this is just the beginning!

So I need a break.  Mom comes in in 2 days and I need to pack!  Not to mention I still need to find non-drowsy dramamine for the trip.  That should be my final purchase for the trip!  See you back in mid-October!

Last night I was on my laptop and my W key felt smooshy when I hit it.  So I tried to peek under it to see if some lint was under it and the W popped off.  After a bit of frowning, I realized I had no idea how it worked or how to get it back on.  I was dismayed because I was in mid-IM conversation with my sister-in-law.  I asked her to ask her husband, geek of the world, how to put it back but was told that he was exercising and was wrapped up in House and wouldn’t give her the time of day.  Later he told me to look it up online.  Thanks, man.

Anyway, I did look it up and holy cow, not only did I find it, but I was able to do it all by myself!  I’m not a very mechanically-inclined person so I I’m very proud of myself!  Yay, me!  So if your IBM Thinkpad ever loses a key, click HERE. 

Baby Mochi woke up with a runny nose this morning, no doubt from Big Mochi’s new cold that she caught from school.  She wiped her nose with her hand.  She stared at her fingers and rubbed them together noticing the “water” there.  Then she holds her hands up to me and says, “Oh no!  Nose crying!”   

I love my job.  I love it when it gets busy.  My day flies by and it’s the greatest!  I like it when I get stuff, I return it completed in a timely manner and relief shows on the faces of the managers that one more thing has just been crossed off their very long list of things to do before their deadlines.

At home, this doesn’t happen.  I get woken up about 6:00 am to a low constant, “Mommy, mommy, mommy…” that has the potential to escalate into a louder more frantic sounding wail if I don’t hurry.  My day starts and doesn’t stop until my last good night kiss in the evening.  Some days start earlier than others.  Today was one of those days.  The car alarm for my next door neighbor’s teenaged son’s car is set to very sensitive, and since they are the corner house, every time a booming car or bus passes by, his car chirps right outside the mochis’ window.  This morning the street sweeper came by at 5:00, waking up Baby Mochi.  Since it was so early, I did the dishes that I neglected the night before, I took out the trash that G forgot for the first time in the 7 years that we’ve lived in this house, and then I prepared dinner.  Tonight we had tacos so I chopped up the onions, tomatoes and lettuce and browned the beef with the taco mix.  Washed those dishes, too.  Gave the mochis breakfast, dressed them, put up their hair, brushed their teeth and got me put together and we were off.  I dropped them off at school and daycare, went to work, had my busy fun-filled day, and came home to my pre-prepared dinner and was bummed when my morning efforts went unappreciated.  I feel badly for my poor mom who did the same thing for me growing up and we rarely said thanks.  So fishing for a compliment, I asked G if he noticed I took out the trash (I knew he did because he brought the cans back in) and he goes, “Ya, I can’t believe you did it!”  Still no thank you.  *sigh*  Tomorrow is mabo tofu night.  Maybe that’ll go better.

35) Say thank you.  It’s a formality that is probably not practiced enough, but gets noticed by the receiver.  I know this.

I went to this discount luggage store today during my lunchbreak.  I was trying to find those TSA-approved toiletry kits with the empty 2-ounce bottles and containers for taking on the plane.  This store was HUGE and had an amazing assortment of really cool luggage and accessories.  I found what I wanted, and as I was browsing the rest of the store, there was a nice display of travel underwear.  I think the package said 17 weeks, 6 cities, 1 pair of underwear (or something to that effect).  So you get 1 panty (or brief or boxer) for $15 and I guess you can wash it daily and it dries super fast and is made of super .  Okay, cool concept, but wouldn’t you rather have that luxury on an outerwear item that would take up more space?  Cuz I dunno about you, but my panties don’t take up THAT much room!

G had to work today so I was left with the mochis doing laundry and attempting to clean (unsuccessful).  Big Mochi was drawing pictures and doing all sorts of chores and then she’d stop and say, “I picked up all of the magnets and put them back.  Proud of me?”  “I picked up all the crayons from under the table (a whole boxful) and put them away.  Proud of me?”  This went on all day and I was grateful for her help.  I wish I could’ve given her some great snack to reward her but we were low on all food as it was grocery shopping day, and generally our snack supply is pretty lacking.  I made a mental note to take her somewhere fun next weekend. 

While preparing dinner, which is usually throwing something in the microwave, I usually give Baby Mochi a small bowl of peas, green beans, or edamame as an appetizer to tide her over until her real food comes.  Tonight she asked for peas.  I gave her a bowl and she took to eating it.  She came and asked for some more and I gave her a little more.  Then she ate a few and then dumped the bowl upside down on the counter.  Peas everywhere, me staring back at her stunned into silence, she gives me the biggest grin and says, “Pow me?”  (Proud of me?) 

• Big Mochi: Mommy, can I eat this candy?
• Me: Uhh, no.  You know the rule, no candy in the morning.  You just had breakfast.

I turn to strap on Baby Mochi’s shoes.  When I turn back, Big Mochi has the box of candy tilted back, pouring Nerds into her mouth.

• Me: Okay, what’s that about?  You know that’ll cost you a Time Out; right?

Big Mochi instantaneously explodes into a very loud wail.  She’s a big 4 1/2 year old girl.  I’m not a very big person.  I cannot physically lift her and put her on the Time Out mat like G can.  So I’m pointing at the mat yelling at her to GO NOW!  She’s flopping on the ground screaming NO!  Baby Mochi stands next to me, careful to look at my stance and models me pointing and yelling GO NOW! TIME OUT!  Since Big Mochi is already ON a mat, I tell her that THAT is her Time Out mat and she is to stay there until the microwave timer runs out.  So she’s sitting there wailing and Baby Mochi is staring at her, then looks up at me and says with worry, “Oh no, *Big Mochi* crying.”  I explain that she’s in time out for not listening to Mommy.  So she stares at her for a few more seconds, then walks over to her, studies her, sits down in the exact same position next to her and wails (without tears) alongside her.  After a minute or so, it gets old and she stands up and comes back to me, hugs my legs, then turns her face up to me, reaches and says, “Up.”  I pick her up and we stand there until the remaining seconds of Big Mochi’s 4-minute time out is up.  By then, Big Mochi has stopped crying and is giggling at Baby Mochi, who is now making fish lips at her (I’m always amazed at how quick Big Mochi’s turnaround is).  Even though she’s over it, I do my part and ask her if she understands why she was put in time out.  She answers Yes, cuz she didn’t listen when I said No Candy.  I said I love her and she said Ya I know, I love you, too.  We hug and that is the end of our drama.  Meanwhile, I check in on Baby Mochi, who managed to voluntarily experience the points of view from both sides of the event.

It’s rough being 4, but man, it must be exhausting to be 2.

Big Mochi has been dancing to KC & the Sunshine’s Band “Shake Shake Shake” for almost 3 years now.  She’s got it to where she’ll bend her knees, stick her little butt out and wiggle it every so often while she dances.  It’s the cutest thing to see. 

…almost as cute as Baby Mochi following her lead doing the same dance and singing, “Shakerbooby!”

1. If Big Mochi is in a public area, looks around and doesn’t see G or I, she will immediately burst into a very loud wail.  In a public area, Baby Mochi could care less where we are.
2. You know when kids don’t want to leave somewhere, and when you say, “Bye!” they immediately panic and come running?  Big Mochi does that.  Baby Mochi waves and says, “Bye!” right back at you – then turns and runs in the opposite direction.
3. When I use my Starbucks gift card to try to enter my work building on off-hours, nothing happens.  When I use my work badge at Starbucks instead of my Starbucks gift card, nothing happens there, either.  I found both of these things out this morning.
4. While I think those monkey backpack harnesses are degrading to babies (because they are LEASHES), I wouldn’t judge you if you have one on your child.  I understand completely.
5. I cannot stand Dora the Explorer, yes I find Kai-Lan completely appealing, even though she is named after broccoli.  Baby Mochi looks like Kai-Lan, yet she loves Dora.
6. Paradise Bakery Cafe (you can find one at the food court in Main Place Mall in Santa Ana) makes THE BEST oatmeal chocolate chip nibblers, and they’re very inexpensive for the quality!  While you’re there, you should check out Popcornopolis and Beard Papas for cream puffs!  Hurry because I bet neither of the latter 2 will last very long there.  The last few times I’ve passed by, no one’s in there. 

34) Learn to use chopsticks, learn how to swim and learn how to grill.  Essentials for survival!

So today 2 exciting things happened:  1) Big Mochi had her first dental consultation and she did so well, they did her cleaning in the same appointment!  The hygenist said she wishes she had more patients like her.   

2) I got my 3 pairs of shoes from Zappos.com already!  Free shipping to and free returns and you’re able to try on the shoes in multiple outfits – in your underwear if you like!  How cool is that?  So anyway, 1 was too big, 1 was too small and 1 was not bad, but I like the one that was too small better.  Sadly, they don’t carry it in a half size bigger so I had to return all 3.  Still… I found my shoe (the one on the left)!  Just have to get it from shoes.com or shoesonline.com and I’m all set!  Yee ha!!!!!  And yes, I am aware they’re not the most attractive things.  These are for the miles of walking we’ll be doing on tour in count them… 25 days!!!

Today Big Mochi got a new teacher, a new classroom, and a new lesson plan.  She was excited when I dropped her off and didn’t cry.  She was excited when I came home and told me she was taught to recognize her name.  She could do that before, I pointed out, but she’s never seen her name in GLITTER GLUE before! 

Meanwhile, I got tired of visiting every shoe store I can find and not finding anything so I ordered 3 pairs of shoes from zappos.com and within minutes of placing my order online, got a response saying they expedited my shipping and I should get it before 4-5 days.  Yay!

I was scheduled to be at work today so G had the mochis.  I got home early since no one needed me and actually went on to attempt to rid our home of some of my beloved clutter.  I tackled the clothes, mine and the mochis’.  It’s amazing how much accumulation 2 tiny little bodies can bring.  I ended up tossing out a trash bag full of clothes that both outgrew and that are just too worn to give away – and this doesn’t include the bags of infant clothes that have previously been given away.  Then I got 2 more trash bags full of clothes that both have outgrew (if you’re counting, that’s 3 total) that I can give away.  Then I have another bag of clothes that Baby Mochi will fit into that Big Mochi has already outgrown.  And then I always keep a small handful of clothes from each mochi because one day I’d like to quilt a memory blanket.

Then I went to my room and got rid of a bunch of my clothes.  G’s turn!  That should be fun!  He’s got hundreds of t-shirts and recycles the same 5 with holes all over the place.  I’m tired.  Maybe we’ll tackle that next weekend.  This week, we’re dealing with Big Mochi’s pre-school curriculum, new teacher and new class!