Dear Arianna, March 24, 2013

Dear Arianna,
    Here is your Sunday adventures with Mother Goose, written with love by Mommy:

Arianna and Mother Goose’s Weekend Adventure, Part 2
    Sunday we get up and got ready to go to Church, but we forgot to take a picture because Arianna wanted to say hello to Phoebe.  We wanted to go to Little Red School House, but the weather was too cold, and we did not want to get Mother Goose sick so instead we went to Outback Steakhouse for lunch, and to buy some books for Arianna at Barnes and Noble. 

    Then, it was time to go home work in some puzzles, watch a bit of TV, have some dinner, and make sure that Mother Goose was ready for bed.  We had a great time, and I hope that Mother Goose did too!

Love,
Mommy

    The weather was nice on Saturday and we were hoping that it would be nice on Sunday, too, but when it wasn't we went indoors for our adventures  and the closest we got to taking a picture of Mother Goose in the forest was the one we took of you at the Hundred Acre Woods in Barnes & Noble.

    I am very happy though, because you are really wanting to read now, so we went to buy books to read to you and for you to read to us one day, to help you on your adventures in reading.  We had a very nice Sunday, but like all weekends, it went by too quickly.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Arianna, March 23, 2013

Dear Arianna,
    You spent the weekend with Mother Goose and your Mommy wrote up a wonderful recap of the weekend's adventures, complete with pictures, so I am splitting them up into the two days and posting them for you here:

Arianna and Mother Goose’s Weekend Adventure, Part 1

    Arianna was so excited that it was finally her turn to have Mother Goose for the Weekend, and she was even happier because she was going to see her cousins so she could show them Mother Goose.  They all played together so much that when we picked them up, both felt asleep in the car. And that was good because Saturday proved to be a very busy day and they would need all their energy.

    On Saturday, the first thing that Arianna and Mother Goose needed to do was to go to the post office and mail some crafty envelopes that they worked together.

    Then, we all were so hungry that Arianna decided to take Mother Goose to her favorite restaurant: Baker's Square.  Mother Goose was very excited about that.  She even decided to try some of Arianna's grilled cheese sandwich!

    But we think she was happier when desserts arrived!  Who doesn't like pies? She tried some apple and banana pie, and she enjoyed both tremendously.

    Then, it was time to go to Toys 'R' Us.  Arianna wanted to show Mother Goose her favorite sections: The craft section and My Little Pony too!

    Arianna's Mother thought it will be a good idea to go to a crafty store, after all Mother Goose loves to bake, and do many different projects around the house. Both were very happy when they saw the fabric and stamps aisles. Then, it was time to go home, do some work around the house so everyone could enjoy Movie night, but I think that all of us were so tired that we felt asleep, except for Daddy.

Love,
Mommy

    The adventures will be continued on the Sunday letter.  You and Mommy fell asleep on the couch and were very comfy cozy together.  Poor Mommy woke up with a backache, but if I wasn't so tired, myself, I would have taken a picture of you two cuddled up together.

Love,
Daddy

Dear Arianna, March 22, 2013

Dear Arianna,
    Daddy is back to write a letter.  Work has been very very stressful and exhausting for Daddy and I got so sick on this Friday, that I couldn't even make it to work.  Mommy also took the day off, and you were so excited that she took you to school.  After I woke up at about 11:00 AM, Mommy and Daddy went to eat, but Daddy was in such a cranky mood, that Mommy decided she had enough of me and let me simmer down on my own in the afternoon and evening.  I think that was good for all of us.  When work overwhelms me, I tend to lash out, which I do not like at all, and leaving me alone to burn out is a good thing.
    You were excited that you go Mother Goose from school this Friday, so when Mommy picked you up, she took you and Mother Goose over to your cousins' house to have a play date.  Mommy then went out to buy herself two new pairs of shoes, and then went to see a movie, "Oz: The Great and Powerful". Sadly for Mommy, it sounds like the movie was a dud and she did not enjoy it.  I stayed home alone and punished myself by watching three Pierce Brosnan James Bond movies back-to-back-to-back.  They weren't very good, but they did at least distract my mind and let the medicine I took set in and bring me back to normal.
    You called me at 8:00 PM and asked me to pick you up and take you home.  I went to get you, and then we watched Mythbusters together until Mommy came home.  Mommy and Daddy talked, and I apologized for being such an ogre, and we all had a big group hugga-bugga and oyu went and fell asleep on the couch with your best kitty buddy Turlough.  Saturday and Sunday would feature adventures with Mother Goose, and Daddy thankfully not being a Mr. Cranky-Pants.

You and Turlough both fell asleep after the big hugga-bugga!

Love,
Daddy

Dear Arianna, March 21, 2013

Daddy is sick today.  He came from work early, but taking into account that he worked so many hours already; he should be ok.  Besides, you really need to take a break when you are really tired and sick.  I think Daddy has a cold, and he gets a little cranky when it is the first day of a bad cold.  He should be better soon.

 Today I was trying to see if there is any good movies in the theaters that we can go see, and that could be your first movie to watch.  I showed you two trailers that are playing right now: The Cloods and Escaping from planet Earth, but you did not seem very interested in them.  If they ever make a movie about My Little Pony at the theaters, I can see ourselves going over and over...

Dear Arianna, March 20, 2013

Today has been a gloomy day for your Mommy.  She has not heard anything from your Grandfather for a year even though she kept sending texts to him.  That is what your Mommy's father said will be the easiest way to communicate.  So, your Mommy try a couple times without any response.  She did not think much of it because, well to tell you the truth, your grandpa has never been very good in communicating.  But, finally your Mom decided to call him to make sure he was ok, and the phone was answered by someone else.  A lady that said that Mommy had the wrong number.  That made Mommy very sad. But even in this sadness, Mommy is happy that you won't have this problem with your Daddy.  She is very happy to see that we have a strong relationship, and that Daddy always wants to know what you are doing, and how you are doing.
:)
What is this you say? Misty and Ian in the same chair sleeping? Aww....

 Ian loves to find our glasses and drink from them! So normally, we just put this water in their cat's bowls.  Turlough loves the ice when it is going around the bowl.  He sits for awhile until the ice is gone!

 He drinks with his paw!  I love when he does that!

Forget the paw, let me drink this!

You were eating your soup.  You don't like Chinese food, and we had ordered some, so I made you some soup instead, and you were happy about that.

You were tired today.  Turlough was tired too.  See what I mean? I think I should take a picture every night of you and your kittens! (Ian had decided he was hungry, but he came back and snuggle too).

Dear Arianna, March 19, 2013

I had written of your love of mail boxes, right? Well, today we got one from my foodie pal for March!  You always love to look to see what you like first.  So, this month is no exception, and you volunteered to open the box for me.  The theme was about snacks, and we sure found something for everyone.

You wanted to try the popcorn so we will have that in our next movie that we watch.

Look your face when Ian decided to figure out what he wanted from the box...

 Ian decided that he "wanted the box"! I had to pick him up.  He really was trying to snuggle his way there!

We both agree with this saying.  We love food.  You love bread.  You love some cheeses a lot. You love yogurts, but only Yoplait.  You love fruit.  Not so much with the vegetables... We keep trying.

And finally, here is our entire goodies...

 Almost everything is gone by now or at least half way.  You liked the cranberries chocolate covered.  You kept saying that they were "raisin"chocolate covered.  I did not say otherwise :)

Dear Arianna, March 18, 2013

This Monday was a long long day.  You wanted to stay home and play.  We told you that you needed to go to school.  I supposed there are days that you just feel like staying home as well, maybe watch a movie laying down on the sofa with your babies.  Turlough will lay down with you all the time.  You love that.  You finally have your own kitten. Ian will do it too, but not like Turlough.
Today while Mommy was getting ready everything for you to take a bath, you told me the themes to your birthday parties. Yes, all your birthday parties:
Six years - My little Pony
Seven - My littlest pet shop
Eight - Hello Kitty
Nine - Cupcakes!
Ten - Apples pies

And you wanted to continue, but then I said you can't make a theme of just baked goods two times in a row.   You laughed, and said to me, you know why? Because I love them!
 Silly girl :)

Dear Arianna, March 17, 2013

We did not have much plan today.  We actually went back to church after not going for about four weeks.  It was ok. We came back home, and did some playing around, you with your ponies.   Mommy with some markers, and I think we went to sleep.  Even the cats went with us... vey low key Sunday..

Dear Arianna, March 16, 2013

It's raining kitties and Jelly Beans day!

Yes, our Saturday was a bit unusual. We had a few places to go to.  In the morning, Daddy was going to see his ex-coworkers from when he worked at Navistar.  They were supposed to meet at Butterfield's Pancake House in Wheaton. We got there because we were so tired, and the kittens were serenading us during the night.  It was around four in the morning when I got up, took the boys and to the basement they went. So, in a way I felt asleep at four.  By the time we got to the restaurant all the seats were taken so I went back to the lady so she could add my name to the list for a table for you and me.  I thought Daddy was going to eat with his friends, but there was no chair left.  Everyone had come, including the ones that they did not think they would. So, Daddy said it was ok, and he sat with us which made you very happy anyway. We ordered our food, and it was ok.  Nothing to celebrate about, and to be honest too expensive for just breakfast, but sometimes you need to try stuff, you never know when you are going to find the best meal ever.
After we finished eating we went to Petsmart (that was in the same lot) to buy for the kittens that we were going to see in Kenosha.  And guess what? Petsmart had an adoption event going on. It was so cool.  We saw lots of dogs and cats.  We pet a few, and you were over the moon.  You sure like cats (more than dogs).  We picked a few things, and we were in our way to Kenosha.
Kathy, our friend that rescued two cat mamas with her babies, had told us that the Jelly Bean company was really closed to her house and she was not kidding.  We decided to stop for a tour. You were so excited about that.  We got a little train tour of the warehouse.  I wish we could see the actual manufacturing, but that is only in CA.  You were very happy to see the flying jelly belly. I was happy to see the artwork!

Arianna was happy to wear a hat...here we are in our way to the train.  So hard to take a picture because she was running and was too excited!

This is the store after the tour is done.  They do have a "jelly tasting table", but they give you one at a time, and there are only two employees, and too many people trying to taste the many different flavors. Mommy managed to taste the Tabasco one.  Pretty accurate, but I don't think I could eat it again...

Daddy and Arianna are having fun trying to pick what kind to buy... Well, Daddy and Mommy were trying to choose because at the end of the day you only really like chocolate!

Saying goodbye to Jelly Bean Store!

Then, we went to see the kittens!  They were so many, and they were so tiny.  We had to be careful because they were still nursing.  It is hard work,  but amazing to see.  It is great to see that people care to do it. Maybe one day we could, but for now we help as much as we can.

Dear Arianna, March 15, 2013

You were amazed that when we came home this is what we saw:

All 5 cats sitting within a 5 feet radius! No hisses. No chases. They looked at us as if we had surprised them.  We came to soon for them to move to other places.  Even Ian went to his "adoptive father" to be pet and clean while the girls watched.

And you were double surprised because there was a box waiting for you...with your name on it.  It was a box from your Uncle Ron and Titi Evelyn.  You were so excited you could not contain yourself. You love getting boxes in the mail. I mean who really does not love getting something more than bills and propaganda? So, you asked Daddy to please help you open your surprise box.

 Daddy was very excited too because he loves to open boxes as well.  So, he went to the kitchen and got the scissors.  We had no idea what could be in the box.

 She loved the letter and the necklace.  Thank you. She was already making plans of what she was going to do with the letter, and her gift in general.

 "Oh, what is this?" She was a little unhappy when we told her we needed to wait for the weekend to work on the grass seeds. She is in scientific mode.  Curiosity mode... what happens if? (Thank you once again for a lovely surprise.  We should put pictures when we do it!)

And she took a picture of her beloved Turlough's tummy!

Dear Arianna, March 14, 2013

Today we stayed by Titi's a little longer because you wanted to play with your cousins.  As I was waiting I decided to have my nails painted, and I ask Titi if she could do it for me.  I don't normally do stuff like that. I guess I am not that "girly", whatever that means... My mom once said to me, I wish you had just a little bit of your sister in terms of make-up, getting all done, etc... But I am not like that.  I seldom put make up and the type of job I have makes it harder for me to do that.  I don't even remember the last time I wore a dress? You in the other hand, love dresses, and I love to buy them.  Your red dress that you wore for your Abue's birthday is one of your favorites right now. You said you like that one because Abue really liked it.  I think you like it too because when you twirl it goes really wide, and looks awesome! I don't know how you will be later (when you grow up) but you have a very eclectic style...you love to be a girly tomboy :) and that is alright with us.

This is the red dress!  I know it is a big hard to see...

Dear Arianna, March 13, 2013

We made it to "hump day", and that is no small undertaken! Today, Abue said that she will wait for me so it helped me because I drove straight to the post office so I could try to send the packages that we did before. I got there at 6:15 pm which means they were closed, but the Lobby was still open until 6:30 pm.  Now, I have never used that machine in the lobby, and although it is pretty straightforward still was confusing in some areas.  Did I have an "A" box or was it "B"?I was hoping someone will look at my poor puppy or kitten face, and take some pity and help me, but no one was coming to my rescue. Then I figure someone needed to come and close the lobby's door so I will wait and will have 2 choices:

1.  The person will say to me, "Sorry we are closed.  Come tomorrow"
2. Or, they will help me finish processing my packages.

Now, this post office has some really cranky people so I was not very hopeful, but at 6:30 am this guy that I have never seen before came to lock the door saw that I was trying to get the packages, and helped me do all of them in less than 5 minutes.  Phew!  So now, the boxes are in their respective ways...
You know what was different today? When I got home.  It was quite.  I could not believe my baby was taking a nap! Gosh, I cannot remember the last time you did that.  First, I was worried you were sick, but Abue said that you ate, and said that you were tired and she was surprised as well that you felt asleep.  You woke up almost at the same time that I got home (maybe 20 minutes) and was very happy to see me.  I love your expression when you see me.  How happy you are when Daddy or Mommy get home.  We miss you terribly everyday so that help us when we come back from a long day at work.
You know one thing that I like about our cats? You really love them and I know that because when we have to put them to sleep in the basement (sometimes) and we wake up, and they are calling for you, you don't care that they are downstairs and you need to go by yourselves to open the door.  (You are in your scary phase- there are ghosts everywhere) but for them you become brave.  You say "It is ok my boys. I will rescue you. I am coming." I should record it.  It is so sweet.

They finally saw Pixie - the last of our hamsters.  I don't think I would get anymore for now.  I don't know if I would change my mind...

Jackie Boy - as you call him.  He looks little from this profile, but he is a big boy.

 Misty loves loves boxes.  This scratch boxy ones that we bought a Marshall was loved by all cats, but by Misty the most.

 Our stinker (literally) Betsy. She still is a kitten at heart, and she is lucky that we love her.

We love when Pixie comes out and drinks her water.  Look at her hands.  :)

He is going to be a big boy, I wonder if Ian is going to be bigger than Jack?

And Turlough really loves you.  He follows you like a puppy.

Dear Arianna, March 12, 2013

On Tuesdays, you have "gym classes" and you need to wear an uniform, although it is not enforce while you are in pre-school. Mommy is glad because there are times that I forget that you need your uniform.  Today, I did, but after I picked you up from Titi's I realized that Daddy remembered, and you were wearing your uniform.  Thank you Daddy! Also, we took some pictures of your kittens, the ones that you already told me that you are taking with you when you go to college.  That seems so far right now, but I know next thing I know it will be around the corner.  That scares me because as a parent it is the hardest job to do "to let go" of your kids.  I know you were telling me that you did not want to move and get your own place( I guess you heard your cousins that they wish they had their own place) but you said you wanted to live with us forever.  I know that will change, and you will want your own house, but as your Mommy that made me smile.  I told you "you can stay with us for as long as you want". Oh, it is going to be so hard for Mommy to let you go.  You are my baby...(ok, ok...my little- I mean, my big girl!).
Yes, you still love your rascals...here are the pictures we took of them today.