Saturdays

I have every other Saturday with my Cookie (her dad has the other ones), and sometimes I try to do fun things with her. This past Saturday I took her to Green Apple to buy books (she loves books) because she recently learned how to read (I know!!!) and new readers always need new books. We got a little bit of everything, even a book apparently made for future veterinarians, which shows the insides of dogs in plastic. Very disturbing, but she loved it. So we took it. Then we got home and she read a couple of them for me, and I read a couple for her. I am so in love with her new reading ability, I sometimes can't believe my ears. She sounds like such a grown-up.

In the afternoon we went to the movies to watch Finding Nemo 3D. She was surprisingly patient, not at all like the time I took her years ago and she wouldn't stop running around. I guess now she's older and wiser. =] She enjoyed the movie (for the 100th time), and loved the 3D experience. When the sharks tried to bite Nemo's dad she clung to my arm like there was no tomorrow (instead of just closing her eyes, like I do). We had lots of popcorn and lemonade (no soda is an improvement). I dressed her in a fluffy shirt that made her look so beautiful, like the precious little girl that she is.

I also caught a glimpse of  how alike we are. Cookie was grumpy in the morning, with no patience with the nosy neighbor, just like me. haha. She also refused to lend her new books to the little girl who lives next door because last time she borrowed it, she ripped all of the pages. I should encourage sharing, but I'm with her. No lending stuff to people who can't take care of it. She also asked me if I would wash her grapes so she could eat them, and when I said "of course, how could I not?" she said "mom doesn't. She says it's not necessary." Crazy mom, I told her. It's nice to know we agree on the basics.

Our next date will be at Fairyland (or whatever it's called).

Melting my Heart

Hello Kitty Toes to go to Florida

Off she goes

I dropped them off at the airport, and Cookie was so excited with her backpack and her sense of adventure. I hugged her and said I loved her, and watched her go so sure of herself, venturing into the world of unknown happiness. I miss her already. She looked so grown up, not looking back and not wanting to cry (unlike me).

Miami

Cookie and Mom are going to Miami today, and I'm driving them to the airport. She's so excited, and I'm so happy for her. I wish I could be there, but I have a final tomorrow.

I bought them a package for snorkeling, which I coerced my mom into doing (I hope she goes). Having Cookie anywhere new (and near the water) stresses me out, and it kills me that I can't go. Mom doesn't know how to swim, so... I'm getting ahead of myself. They'll be fine. And have tons of fun. Cookie will come back nearly black, and I got her the cutest outfits so she can charm the Florida Keys.

Mom told me that Cookie said she'll miss me while she's gone. =] I melt every time. I'll miss you too, love. See you soon.

Sushi Monster

Nelaine took Cookie to eat sushi the other day, and she ate $20 worth of it. It makes me happy when she eats a lot. =] Here's a picture:

A socialist!

Cookie is a socialist!

We were passing by this park and she asked if we could come. I said I'd have to check, because it looked private. She asked what private was, and I said "it's when only the owner gets to use it". And then she replied:
"Only one person gets to use it?? That's not fair!"

Oh my.

Weird Taste

Aunt Toco brought Cookie to the house where she works to show her their newest pet. Cookie loved it. I don't know what's wrong with kids these days.

Princess' 6th Birthday!

Cookie had a weekend-long birthday. The 18th was on a Friday, so I went to her school and brought cake for her and her friends. Then on Saturday we had a "anything you want" day at the park (I even made hotdogs). Sunday we celebrated hers and uncle Glenn's birthday at his house. So Cookie got two cakes (both princess cakes, of course), gifts, and lots of love. Oh, I also promised to take her to Chuck & Cheese, and we went a few days after the big day.

p.s. when we were singing happy birthday at her school, her teacher told everyone to say one nice thing about Evelyn. They all yelled "Happy Birthday, Evelyn!" Then when everyone was quiet, this one little guy said "you look nice, Evelyn." HA. I couldn't believe it. Apparently they've been flirting for a while, wth?? I didn't see who it was, but he better watch it.

p.s.s. on Sunday when we cut the cake, guess who got the first piece? ME. =]

Cookie and uncle Kenn. Ain't she the cutest?

At her school

Mana got the first piece of the cake. =]

She Graduated Kindergarten!

Keeping Track

Cookie says the most amazing things sometimes. But I either don’t have the computer with me, or I don’t have the time to blog about it until much later, so I make a note of it on my phone and post it when I have time. That’s why I have random statements throughout the blog; not because I can’t keep track of time, but because I’m a busy law student who tries her best to be a good sister and record Cookie’s moments. Sometimes the dates are all messed up, but it’s ok. The important thing is that they’re here. So here are some of the notes I’ve had for a while:

1. One day the three of us were in the car, and mom and I were discussing whether or not to go eat sushi. Mom said we should probably eat at home and stop spending crazy money with everything, and I (of course) complained. Then from the back seat came this little voice that said “you can use my money, Mana, I have a lot.” Need I mention that my heart melted?

2. However, I have this random note from January 19th that quotes her: “I never bring my money so no one wastes it.” Girl can’t make up her mind. =]

3. Cookie had a booboo the other day, and when I said I didn’t know what it was, she said “then we should call tia Catiussi. She’s a nerd, right?” Well, tia Catiussi’s a NURSE.

 4. I was writing a note to Cookie’s teacher complaining about the lack of instructions on her homework, and asked her what the name of the new teacher was, to which she responded: “His first name is Mr., and his last name is Mac.”

Another!

Here's a picture of Cookie's upper tooth that fell off 2 weeks ago. The 2 that fell before have already grown again.

Not very artistic

Cookie's school had a spell-a-ton last week, and she got all the words right (my genius child). In appreciation for her efforts, I brought her to my house for a girly girl day and painted her nails. She asked me to put little flowers, and since I didn't have any stickers, I had to draw everything with a toothpick and different nail polishes. I'd never done that before, so the final result was... not perfect. When I mentioned that the flowers weren't as pretty as when we got them done at the salon, she said "It's ok mana, you tried your best." =] My princess.

Cupid doesn't know what he's doing

Cookie and I were driving the other day and the song "Cupid" was playing on the radio. She asked me what a cupid was, and after I told her it was a chubby angel with love arrows that made people fall in love, this is what followed:

Her: who do people fall in love with then?
Me: they can fall in love with anyone.
Her: what if they're already in love with someone else?
Me (after a few seconds): well, then it gets complicated.

B-day coming up!

Cookie's birthday is coming up! =]
On that same note, a few weeks ago she invited uncle R to her party (which we haven't planned yet). She told him it would be on the 18th, at aunt Nene's house, and they'd have juice, salad, and cake. I asked her what was going on, and she said "oh, I'm already inviting peoples."

She is so much my grandfather's granddaughter. He used to invite half the world to our family bbqs, and we would sit and watch all kinds of random people walking into the front yard. It made him so happy, to be able to socialize like that. And now Cookie's carrying the legacy. God only knows who will show up on the 18th to have some salad and juice. ;)

She makes my world Better

Found this song today, Cookie, and thought of you. I hope someday you can understand it. Love you "bigger than eternity and infinity together". 

She'll be enough to make you cry

She'll be enough to open your eyes

To all the little things that make this world better

She'll give you love you never knew

She'll give her heart only to you

And she'll make your life oh better

So when she comes to you in the middle of the night

Cause she's scared to be alone in the dark

You'll tell her everything's gonna be alright

Cause I will be your light

I will be your night

I will be that star in the sky who watches over you

You'll tell her everything you know

You'll tell her "oh the places you'll go"

So you can be a good girl and

make this world better.

You'll give her all the love you have

Even when she makes you so mad

Keep in mind, that she made your life better.

So when she comes to you and she's so confused

Because she wants to give her heart to another

You'll tell her everything's gonna be just fine

Cause I will be your light

And when the years are going by too fast

and she's growing up to be big and strong

Know her love for you will last

Even when she doesn't say it to your face

Even when you have to put her in her place

Know that she's a love that nothing in this

world can ever replace.

TV

Uma mulher na televisao conversava com o pai depois da mae
ter morrido, e falou: “Pai, eu preciso de voce agora, eu to completamente
perdida.”
A Cookie escutando, falou: “ela ta brincando, ela nao ta
perdida nao (ela ta no hospital).”

Little Me

Every time I come home and find the TV too loud, I ask mom to turn down the volume and say "ta parecendo casa de doido!", which means it sounds like a crazy person's house.

So today I'm sitting here with my Cookie, both of us doing homework, when she asks me "Mana, can you please turn the volume down? Parece casa de doido..."

=] I'll make sure to watch my mouth.

The Final Result

Yeah...

Mom brought Jack (aunt's dog) home yesterday, because Aunt will be traveling with her hubs and we dog sit sometimes (hey, she BABYsits for us). So Evelyn was explaining why Jack was coming over:

"Tia Nene vai vagiar..."

Yup. =] Adorable.

Toothfairy Failed

Cookie's second tooth fell off this week. I'm posting a picture of how it looked before it fell, just barely hanging there, and I'll post the after picture later. This one didn't come off so easily; Cookie was scared, and she cried a lot when mom pulled it. I think she was kind of hurt too that we didn't just let it fall off on its own. But it was already bleeding, we could see the root on one side, and I was afraid she'd swallow it in her sleep. But the operation was a success, and Cookie was healed almost instantly.

That night, however, was especially busy for me and my large amount of homework, so I stayed up late and promised Cookie I'd put her tooth under the pillow so toothfairy would leave her her dollar. But since manas are good for nothing when they're busy and tired, of course I forgot. Cookie woke up next morning, excited, and looked under her pillow. Her face portrayed her feelings: betrayal. The toothfairy had not come for her second tooth. I quickly said I'd gotten the dollar when I woke up, afraid it'd fall under the bed (while I ran to the living room and got her the dollar). She said nothing about it, but I don't think she really bought it. She had that suspicious look. Oh well. Another one's coming soon, and I'll make sure I do it right this time.

Tooth Fairy is Visiting Today!!!

Today is a special day (and a historical one)! Cookie's first tooth came off! =]

It had been REALLY loose for weeks, together with two others, and today it just started bleeding on its own, and mom only had to touch it for it to come off. Cookie was so excited! She's been afraid of the pain, but was really happy when it finally happened. I told her how INCREDIBLY CUTE she looks, and that helped. I'm glad I was here to see it, and I'm glad I get to tell her that when she's a teenager.

I don't really know how the tooth fairy thing works, but I do know I'm supposed to make it happen. Her tooth was safely put away to be kept FOREVER by her crazy (but loving) sister, so I'll have to pretend to put it under the pillow or something. Then I'll put a dollar in its place. Right? Now here comes the brilliance in my plan: I told cookie I would buy her tooth from the tooth fairy once she had it, to explain why I have it in case she ever finds it.

I'm proud of my Cookie. She was such a brave girl. And she's happy now. Yay, happy day.

New Year's with My Cookie

For New Year’s Cookie and I went to San Jose with Tio Raul. Mom and I had been having issues for some time, and I was staying at Raul’s for a while. So mom went to a party, and I took Cookie with me. First we went to the Christmas at the Park (San Jose is awesome like that), with free admission to the most amazing Christmas scene ever. You should have seen the look on her face. She had been talking about the park for days, and was so excited when we actually got there that she posed for all my pictures without complaining. They had rides on both sides of the park, and she loved them. She also ate churros and corn dogs, which was surprising (she hasn’t been eating much lately).

We went home after all the fun and stopped on our way to get bacon-wrapped hot dogs (another San Jose specialty), and Cookie ate one and a half. I couldn’t believe my eyes, but I was happy. When midnight came, we didn’t go anywhere: no fancy restaurant or crazy party, no beach or agglomeration of people. We were just there, drinking our non-alcoholic sparkling wine in coffee cups and hugging each other. Cookie looked so happy as she jumped up and down screaming “Happy new year!” with her two loose teeth, I was sure I could never spend a more special new year’s eve in my life. That was by far the best choice I ever made, staying in with her. After that we went to sleep (it was hard to remain awake until midnight). This might well be the best year we’ll have. Cheers!

Cookie's Christmas Dress

Let me tell you about Christmas. We all went to Tia Nene’s house, and had a great time. Simple as that. Of course there is always the unwelcomed guest, but let’s not ruin the moment talking about that. Cookie was so excited. Tio Raul came (his very first Christmas!) and Cookie got many gifts. She was wearing the prettiest red dress, and felt like the princess that she is. There was a light in her face that can only be explained by a pretty dress. Her friend Kimberly was there, and the two played and ran all night long. I think she got way too many gifts though, and by the end she had that “whatever” expression on her face that made me want to hide. Anyway, it was great, we got hugs from grandma, and a week later we went to spend New Year’s with Tio Raul, but that’s another post. Here are some pics:

Little Pieces of Her V

"Nevessario? That makes me excited!"

Tia Nene disse que ia esperar pra abrir a caixa de pirulito no aniversario dela. A cookie pulou e disse: "nao, vamos abrir agora, pra quando chegar o aniversario ja estar aberto." Clever, huh? =]

And here's what we've been having recently (after she spent some time with grandma):

"Mami, to falando contigo!"

"Esse e pra ti"

"Quando e que tu vai la, mae?"