Wishes do come true... well kind of

2 weeks ago, my mom-in-law came to visit. We didn't tell the girls she was coming because we wanted to surprise them. As I was driving Charlie to school on the morning of her arrival, something reminded her of Grandma and she proceeded to tell me how much she missed her and wanted to see her (FYI, Marcus' mom is Grandma, my mom is Nana).

"I really want to see my Grandma" she said.

Now I knew Grandma was coming in late that night and would be in the guest room when Charlie woke up the next morning. As much as Charlie missed her at that moment I almost wanted to give up the surprise- I couldn't bring myself to do it though, so I thought of something better...

"Well," I said. "If you really want to see Grandma, why don't you make a wish?"

Her eyes lit up as I continued, "I can't guarantee anything but I remember you wished for a unicorn cake on your birthday and you got one."

I could see the wheels spinning in her little head. She smiled and said, "You know mom, when you wish for things, they happen."

Of course they do.

That night, after Charlie said her prayers she made a wish that Grandma would come, not knowing that Daddy was on his way to the airport to pick her up.

In the middle of the night I was awakened by the most awesome sound- laughter. Apparently when Charlie got up to use the bathroom, Grandma heard her and met her in the hallway. I wish I could have actually seen her reaction because this wasn't just any laugh. It was literally the best laugh I've ever heard. It can only be described as the laugh you laugh when one of your wishes has come true... it's the laugh I'd laugh if I ever got my pre-baby belly back or if I ever got to keep my temporary, post-baby boobs.

Anyhow today is Friday, day 14 of her 18day visit. For those not doing the math that means she leaves on Tuesday... Tuesday is gonna be hard for us.

It'll be hard for me because I loooove my mom-in-law and I've had a great time with her. Seriously I have the best in-laws... okay, Marcus has the best in-laws but mine are a close second :). Plus I've had a little help around the house and I can't even tell you how great that's been!!

It'll be hard for Grandma because like all Grandparents she adores her Grandchildren. But also because Charlie and Grandma have a very special relationship. We lived w/ my in-laws for 2 years, the last one being the first year of Charlie's life and during that year she practically spent just as much time with Grandma as she did with Mommy and Daddy.

So it goes without saying that Tuesday will be especially hard for Charlie. She has had SO much fun with her Grandma. They read together, they play together, they nap together, they tell each other jokes and stories. On top of that the little wish I told you about wasn't just a wish to see Grandma, it was a wish that she would, and I quote, "come and live with us forever."

How am I gonna turn that one around?...

The Curious Case of Sierra Nicole

Does anyone know how to say "yes" in Arabic??? Well Sierra does and I have no idea how or why. She's been saying it for about a week now. At first I thought she somehow got her yesses and nos confused and she was saying no when she meant yes. But today Marcus pointed out that she wasn't saying no she was saying "Naam." And if you ask her a question and the answer is yes, her response is as clear as day, in Arabic...
We don't know anyone who speaks Arabic... so, anyone have any ideas?

Change

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

Barack Obama

Pictures Of the Week

The Champ

Marcus has this knack for boardgames.

He and I usually just play kids games with Charlie but no matter what we play- Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Horton Hears a Who- the outcome is always the same. He wins, Charlie usually takes second and I bring up the rear... That is, until Jr. Monopoly.

I don't know what it is about this game but Charlie kicks butt! The first time we played together Marcus not only lost, he got smoked!! Charlie, by some stroke of fate landed on almost every property there was so Marcus ran out of money real quick. He couldn't believe he was losing so badly, but he was a good sport, and when it was over he congratulated our daughter.

"Good game" he said. Her response- "Yeah for me... but not for you." Ouch!

Here's the board at the end of the game. Charlie was obviously yellow... I was blue by the way. Marcus was Green... you don't see him.

And here's Charlie showing off her winnings...

The second time we played I did a lot better. I'm yellow, Charlie's green and Marcus is still nowhere to be found.

This time Charlie won so much money she couldn't hold it all. Look closely at this picture and you'll see Marcus, curled up on the couch, wallowing in defeat.

ENVY

"Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of our own uniqueness and self worth. Each of us has something to give that no one else has."

I'm not a fan of envy. It serves no purpose. It simply makes you forget how awesome you are and how the person you envy may really be unhappy and infact wish they were more like you... At least that's how I like to look at it :) .

I got over "wishing" I had what other people have loooong ago. Money- so what if I have to save up if I want something big, I'm happy and everyone who's rich can't say that. Perfect Teeth- so what I don't have them. Sure the little "baby teeth" next to my front teeth irk me to no end, but everyone I know says I have the best smile so they can't be all that bad. Boobs- so what mine are non-existent. I still... well, people say that.... well.... at least I get them for a while after I have children and since I plan on having two more I have something to look forward to- Take that!

Anyhow thanks to a healthy self perception envy is an emotion that I don't feel often. Until last night!!!

This is my friend Debbie and this is Vince Carter. And in order to understand why this picture makes me smile and shake my head, and be happy for her but want shove her down onto the pavement at the same time I have to give you a little backround.

I love Vince Carter. Now I don't love him in the groupie way or in the psycho-stalker way, or even in the obsessed fan way. I don't get like that over athletes because I used to be one. I don't even watch his games. But I love him because I love athleticism and competitors and anyone who can do what he can do just makes me... it makes me wish I was as good at what I did (which was the 400hurdles for those interested) as he is at what he does. Not very many people make me want to be better- I mean there are my parents, my husband, my kids, Barack Obama and Vince... Okay maybe that was an exaggeration but I just love him. And since I know I my explanation isn't clear, and they say a picture is worth a thousand words- here it is.

This is what did it.

I ran at the Olympic Trials in the year 2000. Obviously I didn't make the team and I didn't expect to make it. But what I did do was watch that Olympic Games more intently than ever before. And when I saw Vince Carter leave the ground and dunk over a Seven Foot Tall man... That was it! That sealed the deal! I mean even Gary Payton and Kevin Garnett are looking at the rim like they can't believe the ball is really about to go in. And he didn't just dunk over this man, he dunked OVER him! Here's a second look.

After that everyone who knew me, knew I LOVED me some Vince Carter. My family, my teammates, my friends, people I dated- everyone! A couple of my girls liked him too, Debbie included, and that didn't bother me cause it's not like any of us were ever gonna meet him. Anyway we always talked about him. Debbie and I even went as far as to cut out this ESPN add where he was sitting in a limo watching TV and frame it so it looked like it was an actual photograph that had been taken just like any other of our photographs. She had hers and I had mine and every now and then we would talk about Vince Carter and how fly he was.

Anyhow when I graduated in December of 2000 and moved away, "Vince" (the picture, that is) came with me. It had a special place on my entertainment unit with all of my other meaningful photos. And every time Debbie saw it during her many visits, she would roll her eyes at me and I would smile my winning smile.

One afternoon in Summer 2001 I got a phone call from my friend Gilbert who was planning to leave the UofA early and go to the league. He said he needed my address because he was gonna send me a special birthday present. I tried to get him to tell me what it was but he wouldn't even give me any hints. A few weeks later I get this package and I could not believe it. Gilbert, who had went to Toronto to practice with the Raptors, had sent me a practice shirt autographed by Vince Carter. My first phone call was to Gilbert, to thank him. My second call was to Debbie, to gloat :).

Nikkie- 1

Debbie- 0

Over the next few years Debbie moved to Chicago, became super successful and had the resources and flexibility to travel. Now this didn't pose a problem when it came to Vince until Vince went to the Nets. You see, Debbie is really good friends with another former UofA athlete who also plays for the Nets and if he leaves tickets for her at a game she can get there. For the past few years she's been threatening to meet Vince Carter but never did so I assumed it wouldn't happen. But the other day I was on facebook and saw that someone wrote on her wall that they would "introduce her to Vince after the game"... My heart jumped... I logged out and pretended I didn't see it.

Then yesterday afternoon I received a phonecall. It was Debbie. I knew what the news would be before she even told me. She sounded so excited. It was just after the game and she said she couldn't wait to call me- just like I couldn't wait to call her in 2001... damn karma.

Today, as promised, she changed her facebook profile picture and dedicated it to me. So here I am, as envious as can be. Am I happy for her? Yes. Do I wish I could've met him instead? YES! But that's how it goes. I guess I can decide to be an adult and print this picture of my happy friend and put it up with my other meaningful pictures.

Or I can print this one instead...

Sorry Deb- I can't help myself.

Nikkie T's year in review

Happy New Year!

Everyone who knows me knows I love me some Oprah Winfrey and as I was browsing the internet I found this New Year's quote from her...

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right."

-O.W.

I love the fact that when the New Year rolls around people take time to reflect on the previous year to see what they did right, what they might have done differently, and how they plan to move forward and make "this year" the best yet. It is in that spirit that I've decided to share my thoughts on 2008 with you.

Last year I'm glad I...

Spent time with my friends.

In 2008 I made a commitment to have my friends over at least once a month and I stuck to it. Marcus and I were the first one's of our friends to have children and it's very difficult to maintain relationships when you and your friends are in different places in your lives. So when we moved into a place that could accommodate it, we decided that the second Saturday of every month would be devoted to maintaining our relationships. Nothing fancy. Mostly game nights and dinner parties. But those simple get togethers quickly turned into something that I cherished. Through them I was able to become close again with friends from waaaaaay back, nurture those friendships that had sort of been neglected and/or taken for granted, and make wonderful new friends (shout out to Rob and Bianca). I had more fun and laughed harder during those 2nd Saturdays than at any point during the year. All I can say is I'm blessed to know such great people and I'm lucky to have been able to spend my time with them.

Last year I never thought I'd get to...

Go on a vacation!!

The first half of 2008 was rough. Marcus was gone, in Iraq, for almost 5 months and I was a single parent. No fun. I told him before he came home that I would desperately need some "me" time. I promised to make it a quick trip and also to make sure I went somewhere close so that if there was an emergency I could get home easily, and he agreed. So Brianna, who was also in need of a get away, and I decided to go to Cancun. While we were planning our trip Marcus was planning a trip of his own with his friends to Jamaica. I thought it was just going to be him and his friends but turns out, he wanted to bring little ol' me along as well. SCORE!!! For those of you not counting that's 2- ONE, TWO- vacations!!

I got to go to Jamaica for the first time, with my wonderful husband, his best friend Norton and Norton's wife Shawna.

Then 2 weeks later I got to go to Cancun and stay in the fabulous ME resort with my dear friend Brianna.

Don't ask why I look like an oompa loompa in the photo with the green dress, I couldn't tell you.

I also never thought...

I'd be able to conquer my fear of heights long enough to do this.

Last year I'm proud of the job I did...

Being a mom.

I few years back, when it was just Charlie, we were in Phoenix visiting a friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a while. We hung out for a few hours just catching up on life. But before we left he told me that the felt I was meant to be a mother. He said it was as though being a mother had reached inside and brought out the best me that there was. It was and still is the greatest compliment I've ever received. What he didn't know is thought that I've been a mom my whole life. From the time I was little I was always the one "mothering" my brother and cousins, telling them what we should and should not be doing, how we'll get in trouble if we go here or there. I did the same with my friends in high school. I'd get on them if they weren't in class. I'd tell them if I was "let down by their actions" or that "I expected better" of them... as if I was some authority figure :). Anyway my point is it has always been in me, this whole mommy thing... I take it so seriously. It is the thing that I want to get right more than anything in this world. I know I'll make mistakes along the way, but right now I look at my children and they are so, just so remarkable... that I have a feeling I'm doing a fine job so far.

Last year I realized there is...

Nothing I wouldn't do for my husband.

I mean I sort of knew it, but assuming you would do something if you had to is different from actually doing it. And I don't want you to be confused cause this isn't as much about me moving to Okinawa (I mean, even a crappy wife would make the move) as it is about me having my husband's back and supporting his decisions. My mentality over this past year has been that I would do whatever I had to do to support my man and handle whatever comes (like Iraq & Okinawa) in a way that will make life as easy as possible for my family because my husband does what he has to do to give us the amazing life that we get to live.

Last year I never thought I'd eat...

Octopus.... or cow tongue.

I planned to tell you guys about the cow tongue but I forgot. This was at Marcus' job's Christmas Party. I never planned to eat cow tongue that night. But one of Marcus' coworkers ordered it and when it came to the table it looked and smelled like regular beef so I ate a piece. However, had I known cows did this...

I would've passed.

Last year it was my turn to...

Be affected by he C-Word.

My dad has cancer. Our family found out just after we moved to Okinawa. As a matter of fact it was 4 weeks after because I got the phone call a couple days after Marcus left to go to Guam... remember how I was already in a vulnerable state cause I missed him so much... yeah... that was a crappy day... the only good thing was that my parents happened to call me during the girls' nap so I was free to "react".

The first thing I did was call Marcus. A few hours later I called my friend Kia. The next day I sent an email to 8 of my friends. Of the 8, 6 of them have a parent who either had or currently has cancer. They would be my support system. I didn't tell anyone else. I know there are people reading this blog who literally love my Dad... So let me pause and tell you not to freak out. Here are the details:

My Dad's cancer is stage 2- good news. It is at the back of his colon/ front of his rectum. It has not metastasized (meaning it hasn't spread- also good news). For the past month he's been at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Midwest Regional Medical Center in Chicago getting the best care. I talk to him everyday and his spirits are good. He's doing radiation and Chemo and he's handling it well (no vomiting- YAY!). His treatment is only for 20mins a day. He gets a little bored but my friend Debbie who lives in the Chi visits him often. He beat the blizzard and got to fly home for Christmas which was awesome and my big brother said he looked great- my parents said the same thing but they would say that even if he didn't to keep me from worrying so it was good to hear it from CT. His treatment be finished in a few weeks. Then he'll get a break for a few weeks and after that the doctors will check the mass to see if it's disappeared and we'll move forward from there. The good news is that either way the cancer looks to be operable so even if it's still there, they can cut it out.

If you're reading this and are hurt by the fact that I didn't share this information sooner, let me say I know I suck. I didn't tell though because #1) I didn't want anyone worrying themselves to death before we knew the facts and how Dad would respond to treatment, and #2) When I found out it was really hard just being here... When I had a chance to communicate with someone I wanted it to be happy and normal, I didn't want every conversation to be about Cancer.

Anyway I guess what I really want to say regarding all this is... can we hurry up and find a cure for this already!!!

This has gotten longer than I expected and I'm sleepy so that's all for now.

Stay tuned :).