It's Summer, so Reach Out and Touch a Cloud

View from our second flight as we flew over Cuba.

The first leg of our trip was a red eye and even if I had wanted to look out the window, I was too exhausted to even try. I had barely slept at all over the past several days as we finalized preparations for our trip and finished out the school year. But when the sun rose and we began our next flight, I couldn't let much time go by without making my way to the window and taking it all in. It is against my nature. So I talked Ceci into letting me sit in her seat and she sit on my lap. We peered out together as the plane flew over Cuba and that is when I felt the first surge of summer. I was free from the preoccupation of school, work, and the rigor of our weekly routines. And I was present, just taking in the view with Cecilia and actually able to listen as she chattered along. "Mommy, I wish I could reach out and touch a cloud," she began.
"That would be fun! What do you think it would feel like?"
"A cotton ball!" she responded with an enthusiastic smile. And then her next thought came as she pointed to the wing of the airplane, "Imagine if you could walk out on the wing!"
"Do you think you could survive?" I questioned.
"No way!" she exclaimed. And without a breath, she continued into her next thought, "And that's what I've always wondered...what if we didn't exist? What if there was no world?"

At that moment I remembered having those same deep wonderings as a child, my mind not able to grasp the what-ifs and the hows of this grand universe. And as an adult I still don't understand everything, but at that moment, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessing of being a mother--her mother and Marcela's mother--the chance to journey with them in this life and to share the deepest of thoughts and questions, and especially to be able to really listen in the moment to her little mind and how it's processing everything that she takes in. These are the moments that invite true teaching and learning.

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Fast forward to a few days later as we were in the bedroom at Abuela Rina's house and I was brushing her hair, Cecilia said, "Mommy, this might make you cry, but why do you love me?" My heart smiled. She is so tender. And she knows that to express my love, sometimes I do cry. This time I didn't cry, but I told her all of the things that we love about her: how she is the comedian of the family, how her singing brings life to our house, how she is so kind-hearted, how she loves to read and how her artwork brightens our walls, how life just wouldn't be complete without her and the beauty and light that she brings to it.

I'm thankful to be a mom and I'm thankful for summer vacation where the daily rhythm of life can change enough that I can see, feel, hear, and touch these precious moments as a mother. The photos in this post came from one of those moments when I was free to follow Cecilia's impulse to venture into the quiet street in front of Abuela Rina's house and dance and spin in her Sunday dress for the camera. I love these pictures because they are her. I just followed her cues and her innocent, childhood beauty glowed in the setting sun. I need these moments to relish in the beauty of simple things that fill me.

She's Hit the Double Digits!

Marcela turned the big 1-0 on Friday. How it is possible that Armando and I are now parents of a TEN-YEAR-OLD? I don't know! If someone could tell me how to turn off the fast-forward function on this show of life, that would be awesome. In the meantime, I'll keep feeling grateful that somehow within me I have had the drive and passion to record and remember our girls and the moments that make this life what it is. At least we will have little snippets here and there to remember it all. We all love flipping through the pages that make these family albums.

This is a peak into Marcela's mind and heart at 10.

The little things:

What is your favorite color: Any shade of blue.

Favorite breakfast: Crepes.

Favorite lunch: Hamburgers.

Favorite dinner: Pozole.

Favorite restaurant: Gardner Village Bakery, King Buffet.

Favorite book right now: Smile.

Favorite movie: Harry Potter and Star Wars.

Favorite television show: Good Luck Charly & Live and Maddy.

Favorite singer(s): Shawn Mendes, Flo Rida, Sofia Carson, Serena Carpenter, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber.

Favorite song(s): Stitches (Mendes), My House, (Flo Rida),  Love is a Name (Sofia Carson), Sorry (Bieber), 22 (Taylor Swift).

Favorite things about 4th grade: I don't know why, but I like Greek Mythology. Whenever we have free time, we get to watch Greek Mythology movies. Zeus and Athena are my favorites. They're just awesome. Plus, in a play, I was Athena. I also love Social Studies. We have learned about the mountain men and Utah History. And I love recess, I love to play basketball!

Favorite sport: Basketball!

What got you interested in basketball: I just saw Hyrum playing one day and I thought he was lonely and I went to play with him and I shot a hoop and then I liked playing. So that's how I got into basketball.

Favorite family activity: Basketball (um, we haven't played that as a family!) I know, but it's basketball! (She just got a hoop and ball for her birthday so that will be something we do together soon!) I also love playing soccer as a family!

Favorite thing to do with Cecilia: Riding our scooters, playing Legos, and watching TV.

Favorite thing to do with Papi: Build stuff like Legos or anything that needs to be repaired like bicycle tires.

Favorite things to do with Mami: Cook, cook, and cook. I like to cook tortillas and anything she wants me to cook.

Marcela's specialty for the last month has become breakfast burritos. She started the week the final exams began to ensure we all had a solid breakfast and has been such a help to all of us in our morning routine with this skill. She is becoming momma's right hand girl!

Favorite thing to do in your spare time: TV, TV, and TV. (This doesn't surprise me because she never gets to watch cause we rarely have quiet days at home.)

What is your favorite thing to do outside: Ride my scooter!

Who are your best friends: Sarah, Lily, Hyrum, Nadia, Shannon, Brittany, Issac, and Yuri.

If you could go anywhere, where would you go? You know that one Mami! PARIS!!!!

The Bigger things:

What do you want to be when you grow up? A babysitter.

Marcela loving on her baby cousin, Finn. Marcela loves all babies and always begs for me to ask mothers anywhere we are if she can hold their babies. 

What makes you happy? My family.

What do you like to learn about? Mountain Men. Anything fun that is not math. What is interesting about mountain men? They live in the mountains basically. They're cool because they can just make traps and be successful.

What do you do really well? You're kidding me? You know what I do really well? I EAT really well. It's my talent.

Would you eat worms? Sure.

Your uncles might take you serious on that one! (Don't send it to Lance please!)

What is hard for you? Sally (name changed) and math and anything boring or dumb.

What makes you sad? Oh my gosh. These questions are so down deep! Hmmm...what makes me sad? Anything bad, like if someone kills someone, or anything violent.

What would you like to become better at? Handling peer pressure.

What do you want to accomplish before you are 11? I want to make and keep good friends.

Is there anything else you want to remember about you right now: Life is hard (laughing) which it's probably going to just get harder, so!

What make life easier for you when it gets hard? Love from my family and friends.

Dearest Marcelita, we love you too and life is hard and it does get harder as you grow and experience things, but you have hit it spot on that love from family and friends is what makes it all worth it and we will always be here for you--both when life is hard and when life is great!

About my Little Sister

An interview with Marcela about her little sister, Cecilia, as she was turning 7 years old:

What do you admire about your sister? That she is always funny. I love how she mumbles all of the songs that she sings. And I love that she is creative. 

If you could spend a day just playing with Cecilia, what would you guys do? All day long? Wow, um, probably make things out of pearler beads. We'd just spend our time doing that and then ironing the designs. And when we got bored of pearler beads, we'd probably shake it out--you know, go outside and exercise, play on the trampoline or something like that. 

If you could buy anything for Cecilia for her birthday, what would you buy for her? Well, I would buy her a little gerbil because the other day we were looking at them and I asked her what she wanted for her birthday and she said, "A gerbil!" Maybe if we didn't have the frogs, I'd get her that. I'd also get her those toy cars that kids can drive--those big ones at Wal-mart. 

What is difficult for you about Cecilia? She never gets blamed for anything when it was actually her fault.

What do you think Cecilia will be when she grows up? An artist...maybe she'll teach an art class or something like that.

Cecilia's 7th Birthday Interview

An interview of the one and only Cecilia Marie by her mother on the occasion of her 7th Birthday.

*Photos in this post were taken at a birthday party for a friend in our neighborhood. 

How old are you?
Six.
How old are you turning next week?
Seven.

How do you feel about that?
I don't know (she mouths this without any audible sound and look on her face that says...why are you asking me such questions!?!).

What are your nicknames?
Koki, Ceci, Chechi, Pekwe (Paykway), Kwekwe (Kwekway), and sometimes people who speak English call me Ceecee cause they don't know it's pronounced Ceci (Say-si).

What is your favorite color?

Why?

I’m just wondering.

Why?

I really just want to know.

Well, my 2^nd favorite color is blue. And my favorite color is gold. But why?

I just want remember what your favorite color was when you turned 7.

Whatever.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

Daddy lets me eat cake.
Oh, really!? Is that your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Yes.

What is your favorite lunch?
When Annie takes us to lunch.
Where does she take you?
I don't know.
What kind of food is it?
I don't know. 

Favorite dinner?
Um, hmmm. Astroganoff. And I want you to make it this week!

Favorite snack?

Tortilla chips with cheese (she points to the counter where she has just finished her snack).

If you had to eat just one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

[Eyes wide open in astonishment of the thought.] I don't know!

If you could eat at any restaurant today, what would it be?

Don't know.....oh wait, I KNOW! What's it called again where you can get all your food. [Marcela pipes in:] Chuck-a-rama. Yeah! Cause it has icees.

What do you like to help mom cook?
Vegetables! What kind -- like carrots and things like that. 

What is your favorite thing to play?
That's hard. Ooooh, oooooh, I like to play Mommy--When I'm the mom and Kensi is the baby. 

If you could have an entire day to do anything you wanted to do all day long, what would you spend your time doing? Okay, um [putting her index fingers on her temples and massaging them to think.]Pearler beads.

What is your favorite thing about first grade? Oh, I know! That my teacher thinks I'm the best kid in my class.

Why does she think you're the best kid in the class? Because I'm nice to other people. 

What do you love about Mrs. Carlston?
That she is nice. 

How do you like being in Dual Immersion?
I like that when we have subs, we get to do art.

What else do you like about being in Dual Immersion?
That I have good friends. 

What is hard for you about being in Dual Immersion?

That some words I can't understand and that (Chris*) doesn't listen to me. (Chris*) does this in class: [blows spit bubbles.] I tell him to cut it out and he doesn't listen. *Name changed.

What is your favorite book to read all by yourself?
Hmmm. Barbie Life and the dream house. 

What is your favorite book for mom to read to you?

Skippy John Jones

What do you love to learn about or to do?
I like to learn more Spanish. I like to play the cloud game.
What about art work? Mmmmmm! With enthusiasm. And I like to go bowling. The only bowling place I've been to is to fat cats. 

What do you like to do with Papi?
I like when he tickles me!

What do yo like to do with Mami?
Read books.

What do you like to do with Marcela?

Pearler Beads, watch movies, and play church on Sundays.

What is your favorite outfit?

I like the short sleeved shirts with pleats on the sleeves.

Who are your best friends?

Marcela, Rosaline, and Brianna from my class, Sofia, David, Daphne, and Melanie.

What is your favorite movie?

Um, Star Wars and Harry Potter

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas and Halloween and Valentine's Day.
If you had to choose one of them, which would it be?
That's really hard. Well, on Christmas you open presents and on Halloween you get candy and on Valentine's Day, you get cards. I don't know which one to pick.
What if they were to get rid of all of the holidays except one and you had to choose which one?
I'd choose Christmas because it's Jesus's day.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a babysitter.

What does a babysitter do?

Take care of kids, when they need to go to the bathroom, you let them go and when they're little you have to change their diaper and it's gross too.

And you want to do that?
Uh...you're rude. Yes, I do. 

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Yellowstone! Because there's lots of red, white, and blue things there.
Do you mean Jackson Hole? I don't know. 

If you could meet anyone famous, who would it be?

Oooo, that one's hard....mmmm...Shawn Mendes and Taylor Swift

What makes you sad?

When I'm not doing something good...like not following directions.

What makes you happy? 
Tickles. When people tickle me, I try to hold still and I can do it!

What is really hard for you? 
When people follow me on recess and they won't leave me alone and then I don't have time to play with my friends.

What do you love about yourself?

That I'm nice. That I'm not ugly. That I'm funny. That I'm a good friend.

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We, your family, love so many things about you too, dear Cecilia. We love your unbridled laughter with your toothless grin, your sense of humor, your amazing creativity, and your strong-willed character. We hope this year is your best yet. Lots of hugs and loves for you! XOXOXO

"Wrap it up!"

Photo taken in Millcreek Canyon on a family picnic we enjoyed before classes began this fall. 

Armando and I were laying in bed last night laughing about all of the hilarious things that Cecilia has been saying lately and he said, "Dais...if you don't write these things down, you're going to forget!" Honestly, there's no way I can completely capture Cecilia's sense of humor with my words. I don't understand how this tiny little 6 year old can be so FULL of personality and so quick-witted. She is our comic relief and catches us off guard more often than not lately.

WRAP IT UP!

The other day she said, "Mom, can you get me a tablet for my birthday?"

I said, "Umm, I'm not sure about a tablet . . . how about I get you a new
bedroom for your birthday?"

Before I could blink she demanded, "WRAP IT UP!" as if a new bedroom wasn't good enough, but if that's what it was going to be, it better have a big, red bow on it. 

When she saw my eye-popping reaction, she busted up laughing. 

Makes me want to invest in a bunch of wrapping paper and just cover her walls in it. 

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YOU'RE NOT BLIND!

As we sat down to do her homework and I wasn't sure where I had taken my glasses off, I warned her that she'd have to do extra well at her reading tonight cause I couldn't see without my glasses. 

With a look of confusion and disbelief she asked, "Mommy, where am I?"

"Uh, on the couch?" I answered, confused. 

"Then you can see!" she exclaimed. 

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CAUSE THEY'RE BOYS!

Me: How was school, Ceci?

Ceci: Well, it was stressful!

Me: Why was it stressful?

Ceci: You wanna know why it was stressful? Well, we have partners and we do A and B reading where we take turns reading with each other and my partners always want to skip pages! (her eyes are popping out of her head in disbelief)

Me: Uh, oh, that doesn't sound good!

Ceci: So, you know what I did? I raised my hand! And they didn't think I was being serious, but I told the teacher!

Me: Oh, that's good then.

Ceci: Yeah. And you wanna know WHY they want to skip pages? 

Me: Why?

Ceci: Cause they're BOYS! (rolling her eyes)

Movie Party

Marcela asked to look at the blog the other day. And then she reprimanded me for not having posted anything since last November. I've been going back and forth in my mind and heart as to what I want to do with blogging. I still want to write about my family and the girls and the things I think and feel as I see them grow so quickly. I just fell out of the habit and getting back in seems so hard. We'll see how I do this go around. Perhaps the fact that we're already more than half-way through the year and I still have NOTHING to add to my 2015 book will be a motivator. 

Marcela told me that my first post could be some pictures of her movie party she had on Friday. So this is where we'll start back up after such a long draught. Marcela continues to love paper, creating, and pretending. That might be an understatement. She had been eyeing a new Disney movie called Descendents that she wanted to see since May. We spent most of June/July traveling and she wanted to see some friends, so I suggested she invite some of them over for a little movie party. That was all it took. Before I knew it, there were signs posted at the front door welcoming her guests, pamphlets with a floor-plan map showing the girls how to get to the basement "theatre" and where to find snacks, individually made and (tape) laminated tickets, oh and we can't forget the seating chart so that they could claim their seats as they paid for their tickets with the bills she made for them. She had name tags made for she and Ceci that said, "Ask me for tickets." 

Marcela helps her first "customer" find a seat on the seating chart. 

We made some different flavored popcorn and she named them according to the main characters of the movie.

Descendants fans!

After the movie, they jumped on the trampoline until it was time to say goodbye. 

It was fun to watch how excited Marcela got to put this together and spend some time with her friends. 

Five, Going on Fifteen

Last week, Cecilia and I were sitting in the car at the grocery store parking lot when a little silver VW bug pulled into the parking lot. With bright eyes and a big smile, Cecilia said, "Look, Mom! Look at that car! I like it!"

"Do you know what they call that car?" I asked.

"No, what? 

"A bug!"

She busted into laughter and said, "What if I got one of those cars and we painted it red with black polka dots?...And a pink polka dot for its bum?!"

We both laughed and I told her she definitely should have a VW Bug painted like a Lady Bug with a pink bum when she grows up.

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The following day, we were driving home from school and Cecilia proclaimed, "I already know how to drive, Mom!" 

"Oh really? How did you learn, Cecilia?"

"I've been watching you!"

Uh oh, I thought to myself.

Then she responded, "The only thing I don't know how to do is start the car!"

Phew. I suppose I better be blindfolding her as I start the car for the next few years.

Perhaps her new interest in driving has been perked by her new ability to ride her bike without training wheels.

Marcela was the first to go completely without her training wheels and it didn't take long for little sis to follow suit. Looking forward to riding bikes with the whole family this summer!

A Birthday Interview with Cecilia

I've tried to make it a tradition to "interview" the girls on their birthdays. I usually ask just about the same questions and it's fun to look back and see how their opinions and favorites change over time. So, here's a look in the mind of Cecilia at age FIVE:

How old are you? Five.
How does it feel to be five? Boring [with a smurk on her face]
Why is it boring? Because now that I'm older, I get embarrassed.
How many nick-names do you have? Koki, Pekwe, Pompin and Leann (nooooo, not Leann, ha ha)
What is your favorite color? Gold. I like trophies and medals.
Do you have any trophies and medals? Uh no.
Would you like to earn a trophy some day? I don't know...
What is your favorite food? Soup
What kind of soup? Chicken Noodle
What is your favorite part about school? I have a bus at my school. I'm learning about transportation.
What kind of transportation is there? Cars, buses, wheels, bicycles, airplanes, tricycles, and boats.
If you could go in any type of transportation, which would you use? Airplanes.
Where would you go? To Honduras to see my cousins, especially Ally.
If you could go anywhere else in the world, where would you go? I would go to Hawaiian. (yes, she said Hawaiian)

What do you want to be when you grow up? I don't know. A teenager.
What is your favorite season. Winter.
Why do you like winter? Because I like the snow falling on my head. Snowflakes on my head are pretty.
How does it feel to be an owner of a pet? Weird.
Do you like it? I'd like to have a pet hamster.
So do you not like the frogs? I DO like the frogs.
Which is your favorite? The babies.
What babies? They might have babies.
What's your favorite movie? Princess and the Frog
What's your favorite music? Taylor Swift
What's your favorite Primary Song? If the Savior Stood Beside Me
Is there anything else that you would like us to remember about you at five? No . . . well, when I was a baby, Marcela took a balloon from me.

Marcela, what do you love most about your sister? That she was born, because if she wasn't born, I wouldn't have anyone to play with!
What do you like to play with Ceci? Church
How do you play Church? Like we're in Sacrament Meeting and then we go to classes and then we go home and we have fun.

In the mind of an [almost] five year old

Photo taken in the fall of 2013 - Camping at Albion Basin.

Tonight as I lay down with Cecilia to read her books and just talk together we started by reading a few of her favorites and then I turned out the light and turned on the lamp and I told her it was her turn to tell me a story.

She said, "Una vez, había una niña que tenía 2 años. Ella quería casarse, pero su mamá no quería que se casara. La niña conoció a un niño que tenía 2 años también. Tuvieron una quinceañera. Después tenían 4 años y se casaron!" (Translation: Once upon a time, there was a little two-year old girl. She wanted to get married, but her mom didn't want her to. She met a two year old little boy. They had a quinceañera (birthday party to celebrate 15 years) And then when they were four, they got married!)

We laughed at her story as we discussed that the poor kids didn't even get to go to kindergarten. Then she told me it was my turn:

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl that was beautiful. She was a quiet baby and she was sometimes shy . . .

She interrupted,"It's me, isn't it Mommy!"

I smiled and kept telling my story, "She loved to be obedient and make others happy and she especially loved to make other people laugh."

She interrupted with laughter again and said, "It's me, It's me!"

I squeezed her tight and felt so overwhelmed with love for her that my eyes filled with tears as I hugged her and told her how special she was to me.

Then she said, "Mommy, what if I don't want to be a mommy?"

I asked her why she didn't want to be a mommy. She said, "Well, I kind of do and I kind of don't . . . I want to take care of a baby, but I don't want to take her out of my body and I don't want her to cry!"

Then she followed up with, "Will God still send me a baby? How can I stop my body from having a baby?"

Big questions and such a thinker my little Cecilia. I'm happy she expresses her concerns and love listening to the way her little mind works.

Playing School

 Most school-aged girls probably spend a fair amount of time "playing school" but these girls have been over-the-top lately. Maybe I shouldn't say girls. Mostly Marcela. I just realized that she's been going to work with me every day since she was 3. We're going on five years of her going to school. No wonder she's a little professional teacher! Just a few weeks ago, I was preparing for SEP Conferences (Parent-Teacher Conferences) and every night I'd get home and Marcela was doing the same thing. She would knock on the kitchen wall, send written notes informing me that I'd be having a conference coming up soon with my daughter (Cecilia). Every little thing a teacher does, Marcela was doing it. I was aware that she was playing school and doing all of this, but I had no idea how serious she was about it all until there were a few melt-downs. The fist happened when she was upset with Cecilia for refusing to take a spelling test. Can you blame her? Marcela was dictating the words directly from her own second-grade spelling test. I suggested she start with something along the lines of letter identification. Sister is a tough one though and she wouldn't fall for it. The second semi-meltdown was the night that she had scheduled the conference. She had scheduled with me a week before while I was making dinner and multi-tasking. (AKA I wasn't paying attention, nor did I believe that my making an appointment was real). Well, at 7:00 p.m. on the following Wednesday, Marcela came running into the kitchen yelling that I had missed my 5:50 appointment. I told her that I was in the middle of something and it would have to wait. She retorted that you cannot cancel a PT Conference. I told her that in fact you could because parents did it to me all the time. She wasn't going to take it. So when dinner was over, she brought in all of the paperwork and that is where I was shocked. She had a hard cover notebook full of charts that she had colored indicating Ceci's "Progress" in all different areas. She had work samples of her work in both math and language arts. AND to top it all off, she had a contract created indicating that when Cecilia cooperated to do spelling tests, she could earn a smiley face and a candy. And I had to sign consenting that she could use the contract. It was all I could do not to laugh. This child doesn't skip a beat. Not one single beat. I'm not sure you'd want to be in her class though, she's a pretty serious little teacher. Watch out students. She's a tough one. If you don't believe me, just ask Ceci.