Lemonade

Or whatever you can make with what you have. Life is going to throw lots at you. Some good things that end up being bad. Some bad things that you can turn into good. I've repeated this lesson before, but it's good to repeat it again because it's an important part of life. Rolling with the punches and getting up when life knocks you down.

I left this in the car yesterday and by the time I got to it this morning it had all melted. I was having a rough day and needed a treat and this is what I found. Instead of staying sad, I went ahead and brought it in so that I could and did eat it later (until it got contaminated). Which according to Aunty Rain, could be part of the burnt toast theory. Maybe this was the universe telling me I should get a better treat tomorrow...which leads to my reminder that you need to be patient :) 

Vinh-tivities

Are we making you do too many things? Would you rather do nothing? I think growing up, I played after school with friends and then went home and did homework. I don't think I watched any TV besides maybe on Saturday mornings. I also remember I had to vacuum the house. I really don't know how I spent my time considering I didn't have a gaming system or toys...

I know part of the reason we want you to do things is to keep you busy. It's to find something that you might like and pursue further. It's also a little of making up for what we didn't have or couldn't do. Small part of it is probably showing others what we do for you. Anyhow, I hope we're doing the right thing and that we don't do more harm than good. It was interesting to see the range of kids at the pool today. I think they're all older than you. I hope you're able to swim like them soon...

Catch Up

Not on life, but on work. Right now, mommy has you. I'm gonna try to get some work done this evening. Aunty Lorraine is still out and I'm trying not to bother her too much. I really hope you never look and think I never have enough time for you. I think I do a pretty good job of being there for the important things and making sure I am flexible and can be at all the other things. It really is true what they say, I will try to raise you as best as I can and hope you forgive me. Looking back, I don't blame Ong or Ba for anything. I think they did a pretty good job with what they had.

It's quite different with you. We have so much more than Ong and Ba could have ever dreamed of providing me. You have more than I could have ever imagined as a kid. I hope that doesn't ruin your life. Rather, I hope you're able to be like Archimedes. You'll be able to see farther because you stood on the shoulder of giants (Mommy and Daddy)...

Hellllloooooo June!

And so the heat begins. I can hear the Tesla cooling right now. I hope that's normal... That traffic detour was crazy today, but at least you got more time with daddy and you were still first to So. So even mentioned that LOL. We didn't get a photo on Saturday, but here's a photo of the cute shirts we wore. Just a reminder that we're a family.

I was walking to my car at work today and it was parked on the roof of my building. Had a nice sense of calm as I was leaving. Aunty Lorraine is not working the next few days and so I got extra work. Not to mention I had extra personal stuff like dentist, errands, tires for Ong. Anyhow, my 45th birthday is coming soon. I'm gonna try to use that as a marker for getting life together before I turn 50. I hope you always stay on top of your goals. Time pressures may help, but I hope you never have to rely on them.

Fails

We didn't go to Tilden Park today, but we did go to the Zoo. They didn't have a dinosaur exhibit, but they did have dinosaurs spread out throughout the park. We didn't ride the train, but we rode the merry go round, but didn't have our punch cards (we didn't buy new one, but maybe we should have).

Anyhow, that's how life is. You gotta roll with the punches and make lemonade out of lemons. I've mentioned it before and I'll say it again now, it's important to be flexible and to plan. Time and money are limited resources (as well as patience), so you need to make sure you have a plan on how to spend it and have a backup plan(s) on what to do when things don't go as originally planned. I think I'm pretty good at that. I hope you pick up that trait from me...

Sophie's Birthday

Mommy said you were strong and defended yourself today. Good job. Maybe jiu jitsu is working. I hope you don't hold resentment that we didn't have parties for your birthdays every year. We will hopefully have a big one for you next year. We always celebrate as a family, but not always outside the family. It's not that we don't care. 

Doesn't seem like you've added much to your binder of gifts. Which means that others may have to be creative because mommy and daddy will get first dibs at the options in there now. Please know, we'd give you whatever you want, but we know that's not what's best for you. Everything requires moderation. At least this will give you something to look forward to next year :)

Get Up

As you can probably tell, I'm a little behind on my post. I didn't have a great photo or idea for today, but then I had this photo from the future (tomorrow). Life is going to challenge you. It's important that you learn to lose with grace. Learn lessons. Do better next time.

I know we're throwing a lot of activities and things at you right now. It's quite the opposite of what I experienced growing up. I'd like to think that we can do better when we know better. So that's what we're trying to do as parents now. Things we didn't have growing up we want for you. We expose you to all these things in hopes of giving you the best opportunity at happiness and success in life. I apologize in advance as I don't know the results. Just know that we try.