I love you all the time

Today Cookie and I had a much-deserved fun day at Crissy field. Things have been tough with mom's surgery and all, and Cookie has been so brave and helpful. With everything that happened, there wasn't a lot of time for fun activities in the past few months, and today we set out to change that.

After the playground and the House of Air, we went for a picnic with my aunts and grandma. While we were waiting for them to arrive, I asked Cookie "Do you know what time it is? It's time for you to love me!" I expected her to look ashamed and change the subject (as has been the norm lately since I'm uncool now), but I was surprised when she responded: "I always love you. There's no time for that, because I love you all the time."

[insert my melting heart here]

Born in my heart

This morning mom called me,said Cookie was asking questions yesterday. She asked why she loves mana (that's me) so much, how did she meet me, and how did we get to be so close to each other. Mom told me to think of an answer to give her.

How do I explain that she was born in my heart? And that before her, there was no life, just a shadow of uncertainty? How do I explain to her that my heart beats because of her, and that there is nobody else in this world I love more than her? Cookie doesn't like corny answers if they don't make sense (i.e. if she came from mom's tummy, how can she have been born in my heart?), but I have nothing but corniness to give her.

No matter how hard life is (and it's hard now, because mom has cancer), I thank God every day because, with Cookie in our lives, life is just always magical and a gift. I give her my heart every day, and she melts it with her love that's so true I don't even know where it comes from. Then she keeps my mushy heart, too.

She is my little companionship, my love, my truest friend and ally. She's my gift from God, for the good things I haven't even done yet. She was born in my heart. She was born in my heart.

"A menina dos meus olhos
Tão pequena que nem sei
Meu pedaço mais bonito
Ana lua é você
Minha rosa sem espinho
Sem culpa de viver
Que floresce meu caminho
O motivo é você"

The hat is not important.

This year for Halloween Cookie wanted to be a cowgirl. Not the fanciest costume, but she chose it, and it was up to us to pay the $20 for shipping alone. We had the school carnival where she played games, ate unhealthy food and showed off her costume. Then she said something like "Of course you came last year. You always come" and my heart melted, which is why I don't really remember what happened afterwards. Then on the 31st we went trick or treating (or, as she says it "in Portuguese", trrrrick or trrreating). We got a lot of candy because, as usual, after Tia Toco went home we went out again and got some more sugar. She now agrees with me that asking for candy, even if you're not going to eat it, is like a treasure hunt. I am all pride. Here we are after the hunt. We forgot the cowgirl hat (there is always something to be forgotten), and people would look at her trying to figure out what her costume was (as if the awesome cowboy boots didn't give it away!!). All in all, it was a good day. Cookie was only scared out of her mind twice, which is an improvement on last year. And I had a better outfit on this time around.

Duck Riders

Last weekend we went riding the duck @ Pier 39. For the first time ever (I kid you not), I asked Cookie if she was having fun and she smiled and said yes. She actually looked happy, no dollar-a-day face this time. I was impressed with my happiness-inducing skills. We had tons of fun, even went on an adventure to find a place to pee. Then we bought a super expensive picture and a half-as-expensive mug, which she already gave away. Anyway, here's a picture of her right after the awesome ride.

Random Awesomeness

"Mana, voce nao pode falar mal de mim porque eu to toda doida."

When touching my static hair: "Your hair follows my hand. It's cuz it's electronic."

The other day at the playground we were walking in when she said to me: "Honey, go play!"

Here's how her Easter song goes: "Coelhino da pasta, que trazes pra mim..."

Chinese Star

Cookie just called me and said "Mana, I have very exciting news! I got an A in Chinese class!"

She was so excited, and so was I. This is a first. She's usually not interested enough, but I knew she could do it. =] Yay!

So much to tell, so little time. Mom went to Mexico this week, and I moved back to the house to stay with Cookie. We've had fun so far, she stayed with Tia Nene Saturday night. Here's how our morning begun:

Cookie (crying): "Why do you have to wake me up to go to school every day??"
Me: "I know, going to school makes me sad too."

More to come.