A Girls' Night for the 6 year old!

She turning 6 came unexpectedly. Her last year has gone so fast and she has delighted us and herself with the many little and big things she had achieved. This coming August, she starts primary school ... I can't even begin to wrap my mind around it. I can STILL remember my primary years, vividly!

So for Sera's birthday party, I tossed a few ideas around with Johan first, but in the end, when I consulted with her, she only wanted a sleepover party. A small one. That is Sera, always preferring intimacy to grandiose. She chose the girlfriends she wanted to invite, went through the itinerary with me and that was that. Pretty simple and so very doable. The party started from 4pm Saturday to 10am, Sunday. It was a long party considering the girls didn't go to bed, proper, till almost 11. The girls had a good time for sure and if Sera asked for a sleepover party next year ... sure, why not?!!!

A decadent chocolate cake

Ready for the movie of the night and popcorn

A story before bedtime

All cosied up and ready for bed ... well ... they chatted for another 2 hours at least

 

Breakfast is served - buttermilk pancakes with lots of fruit

And an energising yoga session to end the party

Mother's Day

It feels like Mother's Day has been ongoing these past few days, starting with Dia de la madre (Mother's Day) on 10 May here in Mexico and now finally, 13 May, it is celebrated by the rest of the world. It's a big celebration here. It is almost a public holiday with a big majority of schools closed for the day or an early dismissal. Needless to say, the traffic is horrifying during mid-day because mothers are being treated to a lavish comida at every restaurant that has rolled out the carpet for this very special day.

For me, mother of two incredibly spirited girls ... I am still not drawn to all these designated days of so-called importance. I think it probably has something to do with my own upbringing. My mama didn't wait for special days to celebrate something. Mama always said, "to take each day as it comes", and that really sums up how we were raised. Everyday mattered, and every day, whether exciting or boring, was a celebration. And with that in mind, I try (and always remind myself) to practise that with the 4 of us. 

Here in Mexico, early morning of 10 May, Sera came running into our bedroom, arms outstretched ready to dive into me for a great big hug. "Happy Mother's Day!", she excitedly giggled. Sera is always the last to get up in this family so that in itself was a big gesture that she didn't linger in bed the minute sleepy eyes opened. I walked into the girls' bedroom and Yassy was still curled up fast asleep. I gave her a big hug and slowly waking up, she muttered, "mama, I slept all by myself." Yassy is our little 'work in progress' as we are trying (mostly in vain) to wean her from crawling into our bed every night. That was the start of my 'mother's day' and you know what, it was perfect. Of course I had also received gifts and cards from Sera and Yassy, made lovingly and patiently at school for the past few weeks. Kudos to the teachers ...

So to my mama ... and my mommy friends all over, and I also include you, Sue-Lyn, I send my love and respect. Everyday, I continue to be encouraged and inspired by each and everyone of you. Besos!!! 

Celebrate everyday!

It's in her face

We CANNOT figure Yasmin out. After almost 4 years ... she is the most complex person ever. Sigh. With Yassy, she is only extremes. She is either extremely reserved and shy ... and on the flip side, she can be loud and with no inhibitions whatsoever. So imagine when her class teacher, during a recent parent-teaching meeting, said that Yasmin was "very quiet" in class, and "needed encouragement to be more assertive" ... we were gobsmacked! I couldn't help but exclaim, "I object!". No I didn't, but my reaction was certainly close to that. Whereas Johan just sat there, quietly smirking ... probably shooting arrows at me, myself and I. Not so fast Johan!
 
So apparently, Yassy's lovely class teacher sees only one side of Yassy (lucky her). And maybe it is a blessing (for us). I love Yassy with all my heart and maybe I'm just not suppose to figure her out but learn to accept (and appreciate) her as she is ... in all her 'Yassy kaleidoscopism'. So with her, I will ignite with anger, laugh out loud and, cry tears of joy and frustration ... all in 5 minutes. Oh Yassy ... there is and never will be a dull moment with you.

* Note - I wanted to take 1 photo to send to Johan but she completely missed the point of her 'time out', got all excited about posing that my 'punishment' all but failed miserably!

I gave her a 'time out' and what does she do ... party in the corner!

I told her to face the corner!

Just 2 minutes into the 'time out' she comes to me and starts posing ...

I tell her "it's not FUNNY" but she has no fear

See what I mean???

A princess she can never be ...

A decrowned one at best!