Happy Birthday Buddha!

We spent a couple hours at Phap Hoa temple today and celebrated the birth of Buddha with a few hundred Vietnamese New Englanders. Beatrice was challenged to sit quietly for over 90 minutes to listen to (mainly) Vietnamese, but we enjoyed the sights and sounds, and of course the free vegetarian lunch following. What a great community. I sat there in disbelief and gratitude that we live less than an hour from such a place/event. I also flashed back strongly to our time in Vietnam, due to the familiar music and the sea of beautiful black heads, and got that "homesick" feeling for it that I used to get so often soon after we returned (over three years ago now), as well as a twinge of the guilt I used to feel, for taking her away from her land and people.  Before the ceremony, B. and I were in the ladies' room and many women were crammed in there and speaking Vietnamese and Beatrice got quiet and then said to me "I forgot what they saying." I thought it was interesting that she said "forgot," vs. "I don't know."  It was a moment and I reminded her that she used to understand some Vietnamese, but of course at almost 4-years old she declared she never wants to learn it again.  Hopefully she will change her mind someday. 

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I feel like every day lately B. has some new "golden nugget" come out of her mouth. I try to remember to write them down so I don't forget, but most of them get lost somewhere in my brain circuitry.  Here's one that made it through though...

"You're the boss, Daddy's the eater, and I am the ballerina."

And another favorite phrase of late is a "broken bathing suit," the words she uses to describe 2-piece bathing suits.

**update 4/27***here's another nugget this morning, stated while eating breakfast quietly, she just drifted off looking at the ceiling and stated, completely out of nowhere:  "Your mother died and now you're a mother."  Honestly, this girl is such a thinker it scares me.  She comes out with profound and mature statements on a daily basis.  She is so wise and so deep, which I love, yet realize that this style/gift makes life much, much harder.

All Good things Must Come to an End....

My vacation is nearing its end and it has been a practically perfect week.  The weather was simply gorgeous, a preview of summertime, and we were treated to a wonderful 3-day visit from Auntie Teta and gorgeous and lovable baby Cecelia.  They joined us at David and Meaghan's engagement party yesterday, at which Anthony and his band performed.  The couple is to be married in Lucca, Italy in July and we are so excited to be able to attend! But for now, there's school tomorrow and I kind of feel like throwing up.  Now that I've had a taste of it, I am so, so ready for summer vacation, and I'm pretty sure an almost-4 year old feels the same exact way!

The girls went for a walk on one of the many beautiful days this week

T. and B. cuttin' the rug at Victoria Station

Hanging out at the engagement party with the Morins

Beatrice loved "that little baby Becilia" who was also known as "Vecilia," "Mecilia," or "that other mom who isn't you's baby."  However, when I asked her if she wished there were ALWAYS a little baby in the house she promptly replied "No, I don't like other children using my mama."

So proud of Daddy between sets

"Great job Daddy!"

Bub and Sam are 2 of B's BFF's

This is the sweetest bride-to-be ever twisting away with her flower-girl-to-be

Looks like she just conquered somewhere!

Beatrice (aka Captain Morgan) had her second school photo session of the year and below is what we got. Keep in mind that we wrote under "directions for the photographer:" Please use what would be a natural pose for a 3-year old.

Poet

stated by B. at 6:20 a.m., at my bedside
I like your coldness
I like your bed
But most of all
I like your head!
(and your bras....)

First Real Haircut

I ~Heart~ Vacation (and 85 degrees!)

The lady Forondas got gussied up and went to a "tea party lunch" at a nearby British tea shop. I forgot the camera, so I couldn't capture the crustless English sandwiches and mini mincemeat pie, but the event is a wonderful memory of time with my girl.

These Days are Numbered....

Because on Tuesday, B. has an appointment for a haircut. Totally her idea. She's asked for this for months, and I've finally consented. It's all she wants for her 4th birthday..."short hair, NOT just a trim!" Hair "just like mama." Go figure, all I wanted when I was little was to have long hair and my mom insisted on short hair for me. Now I love to do all the fun things one can do to long hair and I have a daughter who wants it short. Life is good.

p.s. the band-aid is covering her first-ever paper cut. It was bleeding and everything. She was mortified that something she could love so much--a book--could inflict pain.

April 8th and Easter, Now and Then

Easter Sunday, 2009, Sofitel Metropel in Hanoi

April 8, 2009, Giving & Receiving Ceremony, Bac Ninh, Vietnam

Cousins

Anthony's sister, husband, and 3 kids joined us for a few days. It was such a whirlwind of activity that there was little time to grab a camera and document the fun, but I did get this one of the 3 girls in a tub.....

Raina, 9, Linden, almost 7, and Bea (with soap in eyes, taken one second before a scream)