Aren’t these cherry blossoms just beautiful? I had to call three different places to find them. I have a vase full of them sitting on my mantle, and some branches have bloomed already.
Look what our kid did the other day. I had to ask the hubby twice if he did it. Ramone (the purple lowrider) is incorrect, but I think it was because there wasn’t a purple color pencil. Telling you, we’ve got a genius in the making.
Anyway, thanks everyone for the kind words about my hand. Luckily it was my right hand (I’m a leftie), and in the middle of my palm, so I guess if one was to get a cut on their hand, that would be the best place.
Guess who spent 2.5 hours at the emergency room ’til 1am in the morning? Me, the hubby, and poor Max who was grumpy because we had to wake him up. While carrying a bowl of food and walking towards the stairs to go down to the basement, I slipped forward and the bowl of food crashed onto the landing of the top stairs. Right after the bowl hit the ground, I fell into it, hands first, and the broken bowl cut my hand open. I also rolled down the first two steps, but I was able to stop myself from going all the way down. Blood was gushing from my hand, and all I could think of was that I didn’t want stitches because I don’t like needles. Luckily they were able to glue my wound close, and it should be completely healed in two weeks.
Know what’s funny? When we were leaving the hospital parking ramp, we didn’t have enough quarters, so we went through all the change (mostly pennies) in my wallet. We were able to come up with a dollar in dimes & nickels. So I ran back in and got quarters (stupid machine only took quarters). On my way there, an older woman passed me. When I got back to the car, the woman was in her car, and obviously trying to find change too. We drove up to the automatic cashier machine, and inserted our money. While Mike was doing that, I noticed that the woman had pulled up behind us. When the gate lifted to let us through, she drove up super close behind us so she could get past the gate without paying. The gate slammed on top of her car making a loud noise, but she was still able to get out. I exclaimed to Mike, “Oh hell no! Does she think she’s Dukes of Hazard or something?” What’s even worse was that she had one of those handicap parking permits on her car. Crazy I tell you.
In other news, I got an A on my paper. Yippee!
+ Hope everyone had a good Easter. We celebrated Easter at my sister’s church. They were having a hunt besides serving a grubbin’ lunch. Max got lots of eggs. Mike & I also made a basket for him, besides Mike’s dad & family friend, Theresa. So much candy. Max loves hunting for eggs. He’s really good at it.
+ Mike’s mom is conscious now, but the doctors think she may have some brain damage due to the increased CO2 levels in her body from a couple of weeks ago. We visited this weekend, and sometimes it seemed like she was aware of her surroundings, but other times, I wasn’t sure she even knew who I was. I think she recognized everyone else for the most part. Even though her lips are moving a lot, she can’t talk yet because of her tracheotomy. Yesterday, when we were about to leave, I lifted Max up so she could see him, and she smiled, so it was nice to see that.
+ Max and I went to the Children’s Science Museum last week. He loved it. We weren’t able to use those free passes since I don’t have a library card (also was too lazy to make one), but it was fine. Once I have a library card, I plan to take him there more often because we could save at least $16 each time. It’s probably the best place to bring your toddler/preschooler. I would rather go there than Chuck E Cheese any day. We hung out there for two hours, painted his face (see above), shared a snack, and made it in time to give Uncle Tou Fong a ride home.
+ Friday afternoon, we took Max to the new Nickelodeon Universe (the new park inside Mall of America). He really liked seeing all the characters, and the roller coasters (he calls them trains). He didn’t go on any rides, but preferred to watch other kiddies instead.
+ Saturday night, we took Max bowling for the first time in his life. He really liked it at first, and was all jumping up & down, but it didn’t last long. He grew bored afterwards. At least I got a couple of good video clips of his experience.
+ I got pulled over today for failing to follow traffic signs, but I didn’t get a ticket. This is the 3rd consecutive time being pulled over without getting a ticket since we’ve moved here. So lucky. Wonder when my streak will end? I think it helps that I still have an out-of-state license. Oh yeah, the cop also asked me whose car we were driving. I NEVER have been asked that in my life, especially when we had our previous cars, which were a Corolla & Accord. Go figure.
Max: “Tacos uh geese…”
Me: (confused)
Mike: (nodding in fake understanding) “Mmmm, tacos and geese!”
Me: “…Um, I like tacos, but I don’t know about geese…”
Max: “Tacos uh geese pease…”
Mike and I share a look that says, “What’s he trying to say?”.
A couple of seconds pass.
Then Mike realizes.
Mike: “Ohhhhh! You want crackers and cheese!”
Max: (thinking to himself) “Yeah, that’s what I said the first time idiots!”
We have many, many moments like this one. I have a feeling we’ll have many more. Poor kid.
+ I wish I could say the sushi I had for lunch yesterday was good, but it wasn’t. That’s what happens when you buy at the grocery store (but it was Kowalskis!).
+ I am finally finished with my paper. It’s due today, and although I think it could be better, I am satisfied with it.
+ Mike’s mom seems to be doing better than last week. Happy to hear that. And thanks everyone for the kind words. We really appreciate it.
+ The grand opening for the new Crate&Barrel is tomorrow, so we’ll be there for sure. I’ve already seen most of their stuff on their website & catalogs, but it’s something different when you see in person. I am seriously thinking about getting a very pt job there just to get the employee discount.
+ Last week, met up Maysee at True Thai on E Franklin and she treated us to their lunch buffet. Although they didn’t have any curry, their chicken wings were really good, and I especially liked their rice noodle stir fry with broccoli. I absolutely love Lao/Thai food so much more than Chinese.
+ Had breakfast with Mitsy yesterday at the Sunnyside Up Cafe on Lyndale. Mitsy recommended their Santa Fe French toast, so that’s what I had. They coat the French toast with some sort of crumbly, corn flake-like bits, so it has a lovely crusty texture when you bite into it.
+ Since I won’t have class for another 2 weeks, I am using my free time to plan Max’s 3rd birthday party. This year I decided to not throw a big party. It’ll just be our families, and a couple of very close friends. And no $100 cake this time either. A lot less stress & planning, so it’ll be a nice.
+ Mike’s mom is still in ICU. Progress is really slow and seems like one day she’s stable, and the next day, she’s not too great. Mike’s Aunt Kathy does a great job updating us on her blog when we’re not able to stop by the hospital. I don’t know what else to say, other than that we are not giving up hope.
+ Always the one to brighten our day, here is Max performing a drum solo. Attention Aunties & Uncles: Even though his birthday is coming up, he does not need a real drum set. Or a dog… Or a cat.
+ I like this song by Colbie Caillat.
+ This month: Spring Break (which probably will be spent doing nothing), Easter, and Max’s 3rd Birthday. I bought an Easter basket for Max already, and I want to give it to him early because I know he would love the little toys I bought him. If there isn’t snow on the ground, maybe we’ll hide eggs in our backyard for him.
+ Not even a week yet, and there’s a pen mark on the sofa. Luckily, the fabric is a micro-suede.
+ Mike & Max are both sick right now, and I’m starting to get a little tingle in my throat.
1 - Our new sofa is here! Finally. Arrived a bit earlier than expected. Dreading the day when Max takes a big, black marker to it. For now, we’ve been hiding the markers/pens, but when he wants to use one, we hover like bees.
2 - It seemed like I churned out hundreds of these cookies, but I think the actual count was around 45. I bought a cookie press and used the recipe from Majorie Johnson’s Blue Ribbon cookbook that my inlaws got me for Xmas. These are one of the hubby’s favorite cookies, so he was eating them like chips. Max didn’t care for them; probably didn’t have enough sugar.
3 - We stopped by the Capital for my sister Jaime’s art show. I had to take a picture of the ceiling in the rotunda. So beautiful.
Btw, what would be a reasonable price to ask for this? I’m thinking of selling it on Craigslist. It’s made of rubberwood, and there are some scratches here & there, but it’s pretty decent, I think.
+ Guess what? I got an A on my paper! Yep, really happy about that. Out of about 17 people, only two people got A’s, two got B’s, and the rest got C’s.
+ Watch a bunch of movies in that last month (with the one I liked best first): King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters, The Lives of Others, Juno, I Am Legend, Jumper.
+ Every week, I drive by the new Crate&Barrel site, and patiently wait for them to finish construction. The place looks HUGE. I am going to be one of those people waiting in line when they open their doors. Can’t wait!
+ Also, guess who else is going to be moving in down the street from C&B this fall? West Elm AND The Container Store. So many great furnishing stores. Love it.
+ Still waiting for our sofa. They called us last week, and said that it was going to take another couple more weeks because the people making the sofa were having a difficult time getting our fabric from their vendor. Aiyaiyai. Sick of hanging out in our basement. As least the centipedes/millipedes are hibernating. For now.
+ We had dinner at Brasa tonight. I heard good things about this place, but I was kind of disappointed overall. The chicken & pork was pretty dry, and the corn bread was even more dry. It was hard to swallow. Too bad.
Have a good weekend everyone!
Thanks everyone for the kind words about Mike’s mom. It’s kind of hard to see her with all these tubes & machines hooked up to her, so I wonder what Max thinks when he sees her. Kids are so innocent, and sometimes are oblivious to all the machines & tubes. He just thinks that “Nana go night night”. Anyway, hoping for some good news.
Speaking of mothers, I cry every time I see Kanye’s tribute to his mother at the Grammys.
Funny story about Max:
Max saw a box of donuts sitting on the kitchen counter, and he ran to get his little stool. Mike told Max that he could look, but he couldn’t touch. So Mike & I pretended to walk away, leaving Max alone with the donuts. We were watching him the whole time, and at first he would just stare at the donuts. Then he put his finger on the see-through plastic window on the box. Just barely touching. At this time, I really thought he was going to help himself to a donut. But he surprised us by pushing the box back, and then saying to himself, “No touch,” and wagging his finger at the same time. I couldn’t help but giggle. Too cute, huh? Later, I walked by the donuts, and he reminded me that, “No touch, Mommy.”
I’ve been trying to videotape Max as much as I can because he is so talkative now. He’s doing the cutest things ever, not that he wasn’t cute before, but now that he is able to communicate better, he’s saying the funniest things and always making goofy & adorable faces. I just can’t believe how much his speech has developed in last couple of weeks.
How cute is that new show, Ni Hao Kai Lan? We haven’t really watch full episodes, but just saw snippets of it. Max seems to like it, and thank goodness it’s not as annoying as Dora.
The second paper for my class is analyzing a magazine ad, part of tv show, or commercial. I have something picked out, and I’m actually looking forward to it. Maybe I’ll post my first draft on here, and ask you guys to critique it for me.
+ Mike’s mom recently had surgery, and her recovery is not going well. She had to go back into surgery a second time due to some complications, which was not expected at all. We are really worried about her, and hoping that she gets better soon.
+ Happy Valentine’s Day, I guess. Yes I agree, V-Day is overrated, but I got something from the hubby. He bought me a beautiful orchid, and I bought him & Max a big box of donuts with tons of sprinkles. But really, it’s not a big deal at our house.
+ Turned in my first paper of the semester last night. I worked on it up until the last minute. I hate that. It was a personal narrative essay, and I was thinking about posting it up, but I don’t know. I have to ask some people for their permission first.
+ Guess what? I peeked at the Project Runway Finale pictures. Some of the designers surprised me with their collection. Can’t wait to see who wins.
+ I finally got bought the pan & the ingredients, and made some takoyaki the other day. Good stuff. Click here to see.
+ Max has been incredibly talkative lately. He loves saying no to almost every question we ask. I’ll have to post up a video of him.
+ Happy Birthday to my little brother Tou Fong. He turned 22 this year.
