Seven Years Ago

As a child, a year seemed like an eternity. As an adult, time seems to pass at such an alarming rate. Many days I wish I could slow the clock down and today is one of those days! Today, our little girl turns seven years old. WOW! It is difficult to fathom as we held that beautiful baby, fully expecting a boy, to have been blessed with such a precious daughter.

Big Sister has an incredible zeal for life and is very confident in her skin. I love that at the tender age of seven she knows what she likes and wants. She is an old soul and seems to "just get" things without explanation. Her worldly experiences make her unique especially with her wide eyed innocence. She is a constant source of amazement and pride!

Our sleeping angel at 5 days old. Love that swirl on her forehead.

All eyes and cheeks at one year old.

Shirley Temple Curls and Tons of Spunk at Two

Giggles at Three

Four and Fabulous

5th Birthday Shirt

Turning Six was Magical

Sage Seven Year Old

Any Given Tuesday

Snow, glorious snow. At least that is what the Moloko siblings were thinking. Yesterday was quite a day for them all. It was the first time they have ever experienced a school cancellation due to snow or sleet. Six years of island living might bring a typhoon or hurricane, but, not the beautiful powdery mixture than can bring such joy in creating snowman, making angels and throwing snowballs. To top off the days fun, Hubby was sent home from work to join in the merriment.

First snow for the Moloko Siblings

Happy, happy, joy, joy

Hubby getting a snowball to the eye

Our very own Frosty

Watch out for Little Dude B
Little Dude M

Big Sister in the midst of a snowball fight

A Cinderella Story?

Powder Puff Derby rolled around early this year in Virginia. Hubby and Big Sister had to collaborate once again on a car design, and color scheme. This took several evenings of staring at designs on-line, trying to incorporate Big Sister's BIG ideas, and considering the tools needed to create a work of art. The stakes were set high last May when Team Moloko finished in 2nd Place. Was last year's rookie team merely lucky, or did they possess the "secret sauce" for perennial victory?

Big Sister applying trademark "speed stripe"

The design and color scheme unveiled, with "bling" added for additional speed.

Friday evening Team Moloko had to take the car to the "weigh-in" then leave their creation to be sequestered for Saturday afternoon's race. From the early reports, unbiased of course, it was one of the snazziest in paint jobs and design. Hubby and Big Sister were pleased with the results of their wielding of a coping saw, sander, files, Dremel tool, and a liberal application of paint and graphite lube.

Saturday afternoon, Hubby and Big Sister headed off to the Competition. I remained home with two slumbering Little Dudes to prepare for Big Sister's Birthday Party scheduled for Sunday afternoon. The plan was to join Team Moloko once the Little Dudes awoke. The Little Dudes took a marathon nap, so I relied on cell phone updates of the derby events. By the time they awoke, Big Sister had competed in her division, placing 2nd, and was awaiting the remaining divisions to compete for the awards ceremony. Unbeknowst to Team Moloko, all the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place winners in each division would race again through 12 grueling heats of competition for the title of "Overall Winner."

With over 90 entrants, Team Moloko finished 3rd Overall in the Brooke Point Powder Puff Derby. Once again, our Indianapolis-born daughter drinks milk in the Winners Circle.

TOP THIS, DANICA PATRICK!

The red ribbon was for her 2nd Place Daisy Division win, the certificate was for the "Best Overall Indy Car Design" and the coveted trophy was for her 3rd Place Overall Finish.

WAY TO GO TEAM MOLOKO!

Happy Feet

Trip to Target...best $5.5o ever spent.

Fish Saga

Little Dude B has some awful luck in fish selections, Fish Sticks was found belly up last evening. Today, he and Hubby headed back to Petco. The latest addition to join the crew is "Speed Racer."

Speed Racer Mania

Mania has taken over the Moloko household. Thomas the Train, and Larry Boy, have not waivered from top toy status for the better part of three years. The Little Dudes have been extremely loyal to these beloved characters. That is until...

Little Dude B discovered the Speed Racer aisle on a sojourn to Target back in September. Not sure if it was the sleek design of the Mach 5 car or myriad of contraptions, tracks, cars, and gadgets that were capturing his attention. Every subsequent trip to Target, I was convinced that visiting the Speed Racer aisle was necessary. By browsing the aisle and then perusing the Speed Racer website, the Little Dudes became familiar with the characters and were well versed on the cars without ever laying eyes on a video.

Christmas morning was a glorious morning for the Little Dudes. Finally, a Speed Racer video, the old school version was under the tree along with many Speed Racer cars they has spent hours staring at over the past three months. Just when they seemed at the "happy place," Uncle Chuckster sent them a box of Speed Racer Hot Wheels which included some "hard to find" and "unique" character cars not yet discovered. This provided an immediate need to research and scour the Internet for more Speed Racer Info. What we discovered was that many of these cars were featured in the Speed Racer 2008 movie.

Friday afternoon, we headed to the local video store to see if we could find the Speed Racer 2008 video. The Little Dudes were thrilled as we found this video along with another newly animated Speed Racer video. Friday evening, the Moloko's gathered in the family room, bundled in blankets and sat down to watch Speed Racer. It was an action packed video, but our 19" screen just did not capture the racing scenes as intended. The Little Dudes crashed with 45 minutes remaining, but I was hooked and watched til the end. I now know the names of all the cars, characters, and much to my chagrin, I find myself constantly humming the Speed Racer theme song!

Little Man B's Hot Wheel Collection

Little Dude M - Hot Wheels Speed Racer Collection

Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go-ooooooooooooooo!

Somethings Never Change

Big Sister has this uncanny knack for appearing just as I am disassembling the mixer or scraping the sides of the mixing bowl. I have learned that when she is eager to assist, it is so that she might sample the tasty ingredients or to just simply lick the batter. Her profound love for anything chocolate or cookie dough in nature has never waivered!

Nutella - November 2003

Brownie Batter - January 2009

Belly Up

Yep, that is the way we found Grey Ghost after Mass yesterday morning. Poor Little Dude B, he was so crestfallen that his fish was the first to die. He was convinced it was because he had not had the opportunity to feed the fish. The kids decided to take turns feeding the fish, and birth order was the method chosen. Little Man B's turn was to be Sunday evening.

Dad to the rescue! Hubby quickly took B Man to Petco to replace the fish and have a Ph sample taken of our water. Thirty minutes later, the duo returned with our clean water sample, a new fish (a Neon Tetra), and a smiling 4 year old dude! They decided to name him "Fish Sticks."

Some See their Name in Lights

Dog food, light bulbs, Pepsi products, super sized items, room occupancy signs, you name it, Little Dude M can spot his name just about anywhere. Dinner is no exception.

Hubby and I were in conversation when suddenly we heard Little Dude M exclaim "I can see my name." I briefly contemplated that his noodles just randomly ended up in this fashion, but he quickly claimed responsibility. This is one way to amuse oneself when dining on leftovers!

Pets Among Us

I was so excited last weekend when Hubby and Little Dude B returned home from a "dude trip" to Home Depot and Autozone. We left our beloved bottom feeder "Kirby" in Okinawa this past summer and I have been longing to have a fish tank and some new fish(es).

It took me a couple of days to put the tank together and get the water ready for its new occupants. On Thursday evening, Hubby took the Moloko siblings to Petco to select individual fishes. Big Sister named her orange fish "Nellie" after a favorite American Girl character. Little Dude M, chose a striped fish and decided he liked the name "Caspar" after one of the Three Wise Men. Lastly, Little Dude B's stealthy fish has been named "Grey Ghost" after a Speed Racer character. Thus far, the fish seem to be cohabiting swimmingly. Let's hope they stick around for awhile!

This fish tank rocks!

Grey Ghost, Caspar & Nellie

Flurries of Joy

Got to love these Little Dudes. They have spent endless hours in the snazzy Blue Rocket BOB stroller for over 4+ years. We have weathered raind, wind, sun, and humidity in Hawaii, Okinawa, and Viriginia. But, today was a first...running in snow flurries. We headed out a little later this AM, as I wanted to be sure the temps were in the upper 30's and the wind minimal. As I was bundling them up and bribing them with fruit treats, we looked out the window and much to our amazement were HUGE snow flurries. I was about to abort the mission, but, Little Dude M was jazzed. He said "Mom, let's run in the snow!" That is all I needed, so we headed out. I snatched the camera and I am so glad I did. They were SO excited, but, our adventure of running in the snow was short lived. Ten minutes after the snow started falling, it stopped, melted and evaporated. However, those few moments brought such unadultered joy!

Little Dude M...the snow adventurer!
Little Dude B and his precious frog, Mint.


Tasting the snow!

Check this stuff out!

I am not a fan of snow, but, I certainly hope this winter brings a decent snow fall for the Moloko Siblings. They so want to experience throwing snowballs, making angels, and sledding.

Rainy Day Activities

Tuesday was a miserable day! Dreary, wet, rainy, gray, and downright cold. So, the Little Dudes scurried off and returned to the kitchen table with their *new* crafty presents. Little Dude B selected his clay assortment and Little Dude M picked a Playdough activity. They entertained themselves for over 2 hours making shapes and creating all kinds of wondrous things.

Little Dude B started out simple with star shapes.

He quickly moved onto bigger things. He seems quite pleased with his replica of Larry Boy!

Little Dude M mixing the Playdough.

His finished Playdough bordered picture frame. Too Cool!

In their pj's having a blast!

TODAY IS MY BIG DAY!

On Monday morning, Big Sister woke and her first comment was "TODAY IS MY BIG DAY!" I had to smile, but, I was bursting at the seams as much as she was. She was heading back to school after the Holiday break to join the 2nd grade! Big Sister has wowed us with her academic achievements over the years and managed to do the same to the teachers and administration at St. William of York.

In early November, at the suggestion of her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Fahland, we began discussions on transitioning Big Sister to the 2nd grade. Mrs. Fahland, had noted Big Sister's strengths early on in the School year and immediately demanded more from Big Sister. She was being sent to 2nd grade for Reading, assigned additional Spelling words, and given extra assignments. Hubby and I solicited Big Sister's input and from our initial conversation until our last, she never waivered and looked forward to the move. Discussions regarding the move were to be kept secret from her classmates. I am so proud of Big Sister . Not once did she tell a classmate or indicate a move was on the horizon.

At the onset of the Holiday Break, a packet of assignments covering all subjects was sent home from the 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Elliott. She indicated that it was Big Sister's decision as to how much of the materials she wanted to complete. Big Sister indicated she wanted to complete everything and my hats off to her! She weathered hours at the kitchen table with Mom trying to play the role of teacher (not my forte) while completing all the materials. Big Sister was such a trooper. Note the picture below...

Yes, this is Christmas afternoon. The Little Dudes were taking a nap, so, I seized the opportunity to have her tackle some math. Do you think she will hold this against me in her teenage years?

Heading to 2nd Grade

Big Sister's last couple of days as a 2nd grader have gone well. She has embraced her new class and raves about Mrs. Elliott and "new" friends. She was worried about her 1st grade classmates and their responses. Fortunately, she came up with her own response to their inquiries if prodded on her new status . "I just ended up here" and "It's magic" has become her signature response and it appears to have quelled any further questions.

This smile has been on her face for the past three days.

No Glasses for You!

At least this time. ..
In late October, a flyer arrived home from school offering a Hearing & Eye screening to all new students. We had Big Sister's hearing and vision tested during her annual school physical, but, I figured why not? So, the testing day came and went and when I asked Big Sister she said, "I missed two letters." I thought nothing of it until, two weeks later, a test form comes back from the school nurse indicating we ought to have her vision tested. It took three weeks for the referral to come through and with the closest Optometrist accepting our insurance was 20 miles from home. Aggh!

I scheduled the appointment and last Saturday, we headed down for an extensive eye exam. I personally have never had such an exam and was fascinated by all the machines, tools, and gadgets. Big Sister was having fun identifying colors, letters, and numbers. She enjoyed the experience as did I. Having her eyes dilated was a hoot...I swear, it was as if chugged a RedBull. The Optometrists office was adjacent to the Mall, so we walked through a few stores waiting for the dilation drops to take effect. She could not focus and was cracking me up as she zipped all around Wacky Bear and Gymboree. Fortunately, we had to head back to the Dr.'s office for the rest of the exam, I was exhausted.

At present, Big Sister's eyes are just fine. According to the results, she is a bit far-sighted in her right eye, but, nothing requiring a prescription at this point. However, the Dr. predicted by her early teens, she will probably need glasses. Big Sister quickly picked up on this and responded with "Hey Mom, you said by the time I was a teenager, you would consider contacts!" This was when I thought she needed glasses at the age of six and mentioned that by the time she was teenager she would be responsible enough to handle contacts. I think she was a bit disappointed that glasses were not in her immediate future as she had picked out a Rose Quartz pair a couple of weeks ago that were flattering. However, the temporary sunglasses provided by the Optometrist was enough to make her smile!

Laundry Treasures

Laundry, one of those chores that is never ending. I do not mind the sorting and washing, it is the folding I despise. Probably, because so much of my time is turning every item inside right. I suppose I should not complain as the laundry at this point in the Moloko kids life actually ends up in the laundry room rather than a bedroom floor. So, I have decided to become proactive as of late, and turn all items inside right before washing. This has aided in emptying pockets of pants and jackets prior to hearing the odd racket once the dryer starts. Little Dude M is responsible for the assortment below...

When I brought the handful of goodies downstairs, Little Dude M was ecstatic. He had been looking "forever" for the beloved "Orange M"! SuperMom to the rescue!

State of Repair

It is never ending! Just when I think I have finished, something else will come to me in need of repair. It starts simple, "Hey Mom, could you fix this?" Next thing I know, I am sewing buttons on pants, gluing eyeballs on stuffed animals, or mending said stuffed animals where the holes just miraculously appear. It is a never ending cycle of pulling out the needle and thread and canvasing the house for all items needing repair. Within a day or two, I find a pile starting to amass once again. Fortunately, I was taught to wield a needle and simple repairs I can handle.

As I started thinking about this blog entry, it dawned on me, that being in a state of repair is actually a reflection of life. January 1st, brings in the New Year and for many, resolutions to improve upon, enhance one's self, and sometimes fix. We are taught to strive for the best and work hard but consciously aware that in anything, there is always room for improvement. So, the next time I find myself getting out the sewing kit, I will endeavor to make those stitches evenly spaced and hemlines barely visible.

Christmas Morning

American Girl, Speed Racer and Playmobil, Oh My! Christmas Morning Smiles abound... American Girl Mini-Dolls, Nellie & Samantha going for a spin in Racer X.
Little Dude M with his Playmobil Catapult

Webkinz TreeFrog Figurine - Little Dude M

Little Dude B absolutely thrilled with his new Speed Racer Book.

Big Sister's joy at all things American Girl

Speed Racer Cars!!!!