isaac, 7 years old:

Isaac is so clever, observant, bright, and funny.  And with an extensive vocabulary to boot, I just can’t get enough of him.  In a lot of ways he reminds me of Naomi when she was younger.  They get along very well despite being so many years apart.

He likes to dance, be creative, and make up funny sayings.  Things Lucas’s logical and ordered personality don’t enjoy so much.  One time they tried to play hide-and-seek, and Lucas just wanted to play by the standard rules, and Isaac wanted to play each round with new, made-up rules.  Even with video games or board games, Lucas plays to win and maximize his score or beat his personal best, which is fine, but Isaac likes to play for the social aspect and for fun.  Needless to say, they seldom play together anymore.  If I take Lucas for a walk, he loves silence and peace and just being together.  If I take Isaac on a walk, he likes to dance, stop and observe, chat, and just be full of life.  If I have the boys together, generally I like Naomi to come with us so Lucas doesn’t get on Isaac’s case the whole time about how he’s behaving.  

Isaac is also very thoughtful and compassionate toward others, especially for his age.  He observes and knows people’s quirks and habits.  He also questions life often.  Last week he asked me out of the blue what happens to homeless women who get pregnant, it must be so hard to walk to the shelter or the center.  And then how is the baby taken care of?  

He goes from 0 to 100 very quickly in terms of mood and energy.  Great at multitasking.  He can talk over someone and still hear and understanding what they are saying.  That doesn’t fly with us too well.  He still has his sensory issues with food.  

Favorites:

Color - dark green (followed by pink, red, and blue)

Animals - Cats, pigs, red pandas

Food - Pizza with olives, Papi's homemade grilled cheese and fries

Drink - He says Starbucks Unicorn Frapuccino (only had one time, non-caffeinated).  He also likes milkshakes.
Hobbies - Video games (especially rhythm games and obstacle course games), puns, gymnastics, and sometimes coding

Subjects - Reading, math, and sometimes astronomy

mother’s day / haircuts / nacho / manju:

Mother's Day weekend last year was a big shift for my life.  I was grieving loss but feeling new hope, and I was learning more than ever how to make the most of the present.  It was our last day at our old church as a family, first time in a while, before we moved to our current church.  This Mother's Day, I looked back on a year of tremendous change and personal growth, knowing that I have won huge victories in Christ.  I continue to see more each day just how big God is.  I am more thankful each day, especially for the support I have from family and friends who helped me through a terrible time.  One thing I've learned, too, is that it's okay to enjoy myself.  It's even a good idea.  Each day I choose three things to make myself happy and do them.  Sometimes my plans are thwarted by things happening in the world or at home, but I do what I can to find my own little joys.

So my many joys from Mother's Day are below, but also, sadly Nacho had a cluster of repeated serious seizures where he was slamming himself into things and falling over.  I had to take him to the vet the next morning because he was continuing to have them overnight.  He never had them before the quarantine.  The vet said there isn't known cause, but he has to take seizure medication twice a day for the rest of his life.  So far they have worked.  He's only had one small seizure since starting the meds.

This year has been tragic for the world, for so many people personally.  We are probably heading into the end times.  Some of us are saying it's our best year ever personally, and that can be true as well.  What I realize now about my life is that living well means dying well.  We aren't going to be on this earth for long.  I held on so tightly to so many things in my life that I then lost, and I think I am finally seeing that it is all temporary.  Be thankful for the gifts we have and make the most out of them while we still can.  And as I've relinquished control, control which I actually never had, I've relaxed my fists and opened my eyes--there is so much blessing and beauty to behold.  I've opened my mind, my heart, my soul...and just let go.  I know this all sounds cryptic, but it's just a reflection of someone who is no longer looking at herself as just what she is to others--wife, mom, child, friend, etc., but who she is before God and herself.

Isaac just learned how to say I love you (in the non-romantic sense) in Spanish so he decided to write it to his abuela.  💓  

My first time giving Manny a haircut in over a decade.  He liked it.  The next haircut turned out even better.  I was afraid it was just a fluke!  

My friend K gave me a bottle of sesame oil for Mother's Day.  I prefer the richer taste of my usual brands, but this is great for sauteeing and finishing.

Naomi drew me this for Mother's Day.  She's my bunny, and my favorite flowers are tulips.  So it's like she's handing me my favorite.  I love it.

Nacho continues to be Nacho, looking like a conglomerate of creatures.  His ears had been more droopy, like Yoda, lately (a little farther apart than this photo).  He began having seizures, but is better now with the meds.

Isaac's card (the church sent these out).

Some Thai ground chicken (like you put in wraps), fried rice, and bok choy.  Really easy so I could have a restful Mother's Day.

From Lucas.  He is very neat with coloring and doesn't like to draw.  But he picked my favorite colors for the flowers!  So sweet!

Manny let me choose what to order for lunch, and I got some Taiwanese bento from a place he took me to last year.

Naomi and I went to pick up mochi treats after Shuei-Do Manju Shop reopened.