'Oh the thinks...!' A celebration

Today was another one of those special days.  Yes, it was! We celebrated a brilliant mind, a wild imagination and a writer's words that more than likely played a role in each of our learning to read.

The fabulous Theodore Seuss Geisel a/k/a Dr. Seuss!

Celebrations were in order at our local children's museum.  Happy 108th Dr. Seuss! 

Thing 1

Thing 2

Thing 3

We watched a fun and 'live' production of 'Green Eggs and Ham' and later heard two 'Seuss' stories read aloud to an auditorium of about 200 children.  Stories were followed by all of us singing 'Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss' and yummy CUPCAKES for the kiddies.  

In no particular order, the girls have all chosen THEIR favorite Dr. Seuss book:

Sabrina: 'One fish two fish red fish blue fish'

Luna: 'Green Eggs and Ham'

Kalina: 'Horton Hears a Who'

My favorite is: 'Oh, the Thinks you can Think!'

Here's to a great day celebrating the wonder and life of Dr. Seuss...

"We had fun, we had smiles we heard lot's of laughter for miles..."-vj

Birthday suit: My daughter's body image

My eldest turned eight years old! Happy Birthday to my sweet girl! Sabrina is the bright ray of sunlight that made me a mother and enveloped me in her noble and compassionate love ♥ 01.08.12  I love you baby girl!

We had a fabulous birthday celebration for Sabrina (I'll post a separate one of the party).  We started the special weekend on Saturday and it went on into Sunday (the actual day).

We had another picnic by the shore.  She simply loves being this close to nature.  We invited some close friends to come along, my dear friend and her two boys.

Sabrina confessed to us recently that she has a 'crush' on my friend's older son, Maximo.  We also later found out that, well, Maximo has a 'crush' on Sabrina as well.  You can imagine all the 'puppy love' happening when they get together.  A very subtle and pal-like 'crush' is what they display.

Sabrina was all excited about the fact that I'd let her wear her bathing suit this time for her to play IN the water.  Unlike the last time.

Earlier that day, Sabrina confided in her father with a dilemma she was facing.

*As interpreted by my 'darling husband'

S: "Daddy, I need to tell you something."

DH: "Okay, sure, tell me."

S: "I kind of think that I shouldn't wear my bathing suit to the picnic today."

DH: "Why, honey?"

S: "Because I don't want Maximo to see me in it."

DH: "Oh, no, don't be silly.  Why?"

S: "Daddy, because I have a NICE body and I don't want Maximo to like me for my body."

*DH was trying to keep himself from bursting into laughter at this point* 


DH: "Sabrina, I don't think he's going to look at you in THAT way.  You have nothing to worry about."

S: "Really, Daddy? Okay, then I'll wear it."

When DH approached me about this dilemma, I was expecting quite the opposite reaction from Sabrina because had that been an 8 year old ME, I would have totally had a HUGE complex about my body.  Because I DID when I was her age.  I was self-conscious, shy, worried and simply hated the idea of even putting a bathing suit on.

Me. Age 11-It took me 3 scoops of courage to step out and get photographed here.

My body image complexes continued on into my early twenties.  I was obsessed with 'looking' skinny and wearing a tiny clothing size and simply had no interest in accepting my body as it was.  I hadn't realized that my body was indeed perfect in every way because I lived in it.  

Me. Age 11.  I didn't love my body.  

My daughter has arrived at a place that took me much longer to realize.  She loves her body.  She accepts herself as she IS.  She's aware that her body has power and beauty.  She 'knows' that her opposite sex will possibly 'see' these things in her as well.  I'm happy that she's aware of this fact.  She's not shy and doesn't put herself down.  My Sabrina simply enjoys the fact that she loves her body.  Period.  I.  love.  this. 

I could have definitely learned a thing or two from my daughter when I was younger.  She's taught me so much in eight years.  The best lesson has been to allow myself to BE who I AM no matter what.  She IS this.  She LIVES it and SHARES it with the world.   

Sabrina enjoyed her picnic.

She played in the water.

She wore her bathing suit.

Most of all, she loved herself in her suit and the fact that she didn't mind Maximo seeing her in it as well.  

Sabrina tossing a rock in her suit.  Maximo is the one picking one up and his brother, Joaquin is considering another rock to throw.  Simple fun at a picnic by the shore.  

Confidence is looking at you... 

{Disney} plus three girls

My husband had a grand idea:

He said, 'Let's take Luna to Disney for her 6th birthday instead of spending the money on a party and all that work for you.'

and I said, 'Fabulous!'

That was it.  I loved his idea and I was actually happy to not have to put another party together.  Don't get me wrong, I love, love, love creating and decorating and baking and really getting into my girls' birthday parties.  It's fun and exhausting and wonderful overall.  Really.  It is!

We decided to keep it as a secret surprise for the girls.  We figured that if we'd tell them before, the excitement just wouldn't be the same.  We were so glad we waited.

Off we went.  To Disney.  The Magic Kingdom.  We hadn't taken the girls to Disney since, uh...2009.  Kalina was way too young to even remember it (less than 2 years old).  This time, we were actually really excited about their reaction, you know, because they're older now!

Several days before our big Disney adventure, I got sick.  No, really sick.  Super. Duper. Sick.  A flu.  Blah.  It was terrible.  I almost cancelled the entire thing until I found out that I would not get a full refund for our pre-booked hotel.  Poor Sabrina got sick the night we arrived.  She woke up the next day (the big day) congested and feverish but there was no turning back now.

I find myself chuckling at what we parents are reduced to for the sake of an exciting thrill.  But hey, when it comes to your kids, 'prepare to be amazed' is a serious understatement.

The news captured in our hotel room

Sick or not, Sabrina was excited.  Although she looks pretty calm in the video, she was really psyched!  

You can see how excited the other two were.  

Hubby and I were relishing in their reaction.  These are the best moments of parenting...the excitement, the wonder, the pure joy in your child's face and voice and uncontrollable jumping up and down, jumping up and down, jumping up and down...these are the moments that stay seared in your memory...forever... 

the arrival

the excitement

the anticipation

the thrill

the girls & mama

strike a pose ladies 

hand in hand...sisters on main street

Luna: 'Oh my gosh! Cinderella's castle really exists!'

ohhhhh....Cinderella's Castle...dreamy...

slathering on the block

Luna was not having it

she hated it

my sweet Sabrina excited and a bit under the weather 

Highlight of the day:  

Having lunch at The Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh & Friends

Priceless...

Eeyore and Kalina (she put Princess Tiana on his nose!)

she loves Eeyore

Eeyore was the sweetest

Piglet and the girls! 

Kalina's checking out Piglet's hand

classic: there is always one girl that's not happy...boo hoo...

poor Sabrina had a low grade fever (at least she tried to smile) 

Luna decided to skip this shot

Pooh! We love Pooh! 

So does Kalina! 

Tiger made his round last...Luna's not sure what to do

Kalina was still trying to figure out how NOT to step on Tiger's paw foot

A slumbering Princess Luna after a magical day at Disney... I love you my sweet baby girl...

{dreams} do come true!

As a part of Luna's 6th birthday celebration, we took the girls to Disney World's Magic Kingdom this past weekend.  We broke the news gently.  We didn't want to spoil all the fun.  Have a look! Enjoy! 

{celebration} & flu

Birthday girl Luna and her (Mommy made) princess cake... 

     Last week was rough for me.  I started my week out perfectly fine but then all started to spiral on Tuesday night.  First it was a raspy throat.  Then the raspy throat turned into a sore one.  After about six cups of Throat Coat Tea with Echinacea, I was completely out of commission because the fever started, the body aches came on, the headache expanded and before I knew it I was dressed in full winter get up and the sneezing fit made my eyes look like I had been smoking some serious weed.  Yup, all the lovely sick symptoms.  Not fun.

     On top of all this, it was our little Luna's 6th birthday last week as well.  It was on Thursday (9/8) and I had planned to make her a spectacular princess Cinderella fondant cake (at her request).  Oh, yes, that's another thing I love to do, make fondant cakes.  A hobby, really.  Luckily, I had baked the cake on Tuesday morning and then went into the evening lathering on the icing to later stick the fondant onto it.  I was so excited about this cake because it was my first standing doll fondant cake EVER.  I had gone to Target on Sunday to buy her a simple Cinderella barbie doll for $6.99.  I hadn't rested.  I was exhausted.  I kept myself going because a birthday princess was counting on her mama to make her cake and I just couldn't let her down, flu or not.  I figured, she's only turning 6 once.

     I was able to muster out strength (from I don't know where) to finish decorating her princess cake.  Of course, I took several breaks in between.  Something that would have normally taken me a few hours ended up taking up an entire day but it was worth it in the end.  When she saw the finished product, all she could say was 'Oh Mommy! WOW!'  When these words came out of her little mouth, I was cured! (well, not really but close!) For a few seconds I forgot how terrible I felt.  I forgot about my sore throat.  I forgot about my headache.  I forgot that every eight seconds I had to blow some snots out (blah...).  The things we do for our children.

Princess Cinderella cake for Luna's 6th Birthday (yes, the dove on her hand is edible)

A princess for a little princess... 

I embossed this print on her dress to make it more dreamy... 

I had to place a little slipper there...she was thrilled

My sweet daughter on her 6th birthday, September 8th.  Happy 6th Birth-day sweet little Luna Mia.  

Can you say, 'Happy, happy, joy, joy!!?'  

Birthday 'day'!

My 'Red Velvet' Birthday cake

I didn't expect for my birthday to be as relaxing as it was.  And no, I don't mean the go out and get a massage, pedicure and manicure type of relaxing but quite the opposite.  I still did stuff but I was happy and content and simply care free.  Really! I cooked a big lunch for my family (including my Mom).  My Mom spent the entire day here with me which was very very nice.  I made grilled lean patties seasoned with cumin, salt and pepper.  I mixed a lovely garbanzo, parsley, grape tomato with lemon, olive oil and salt bean salad.  It was so terribly hot outside that something 'fresh' to accompany grilled patties did wonders.  We also had mixed baby greens with sliced haas avocados with radish slices.  It was simply lovely to share such a nice lunch on my birthday.  

Birthday lunch spread and the beautiful sunflowers my girls and hubby gave me...

The girls couldn't wait to sing 'Happy Birthday' to mommy so as soon as the last piece of meat and salad was scarfed, they excitedly sang me the 'Happy Birthday' jingle.  My eldest Sabrina added her own chime in of a 'cha-cha-cha' at the end.  Cake came early in the day because in all honesty, I didn't want to deal with the evening cake sugar rush and trying to get my little darlings to sleep.  No way! Not today! 

Blowing out my candles.  Notice Sabrina placing her hand over Kalina's mouth
for her to NOT blow them out.  

So what's a birthday without a little drama to deal with?! Well, my youngest was angry because her sisters didn't let her blow out some of my candles (see pic above for the real story!) so to appease her little fired up three year old self, I re-lit all the candles and then, she incinerated one of her beautiful golden CURLS! Yikes! What the heck??  I tried to get her to blow candles not burn her hair! It was fine though because I was able to catch it in time.  Whew! She was happy again after she blew them out.  

My girls ♥

Again, thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes I received via my Facebook page, text messages and phone calls.  I felt very very loved today but it was especially wonderful to celebrate with my little family.  I love you all... 

left overs!

Gratefully,

Vanessa Jubis~