Weekend Wonders

I just crawled out of the laundry basket I lived in for the past few days. Sorting, washing, drying, folding and putting clothes back in their respective places. Our old washing machine finally sputtered into the great beyond and left us with another unexpected, albeit very necessary purchase. Yay for being an adult! 

We had guests staying with us last week and it was admittedly a mad scramble to conceal the pile of clothes that had built up, the kitchen that wasn't as squeaky clean as I had hoped, and the fridge had  its bottom crisper turn into a zucchini grave of sorts. 

Today I am scrambling to find the words for an end of the week post about the fun and memory markers that transpired over the LAST weekend. I am way behind in posting, it's Friday and tomorrow, another weekend cycle begins again.  

When did days start moving so fast?

It doesn't help that navigating with Blogger's recent face lift caught me off guard and this new terrain is making it difficult to fit work projects, home duties, blogging, and thinking all in one breath. It'll take a while before this yields to second nature stature, because certain buttons that used to be here, are no longer there. This and that.

Nonetheless in spite this and last week's adult life obstacles the past week was teeming with firsts for Mandarin.

Her first carousel ride! She seemed tentative at first, not knowing what to expect while I strapped her securely onto the big-eared bunny she chose. "Part of your World" from The Litte Mermaid started playing and the carousel came to life and steadily spun around. The wind caught her hair as she moved up and down as a wordless wow escaped her lips, such a pure moment of wonder that is now forever imprinted in my mommy bank of memories. I was of course mindlessly singing the Disney song oblivious to other parents nearby, a foreshadowing of how I may possibly embarrass my family when I revert back to an eight year old when we go to Disneyland sometime in the near future.

By the time we took our guests to Ghiradelli square, Mandarin was knocked out. Not even the lure of ice cream in Ghiradelli chocolate dipped waffle cones could rouse her. I'd wake up for chocolate on any time of day! 

Saturday cranked up the heat for a birthday party complete with a Hello Kitty bouncy castle, a cotton candy machine, and an ice machine for watermelon slushies. Mandarin bounced, ran, laughed, and took food from the buffet table on her tippie toes for seven straight hours, without a nap.

I had to climb inside the bouncy castle because Mandarin refused to enter it without me - and let me tell you, I haven't been inside one of those in decades but the heat coupled with extreme bouncing (from the other kids) was not only exhausting, but nauseating and dehydrating. So within a few minutes of leaving Mandarin bouncing about, barely moving from the spot I left her, I heeded the call of instinct and took her out to play elsewhere. My brave little girl, once adjusted to a new environment can stay there for as long as time permits. 

We woke up Sunday morning thinking of the slow and steady start we'd have for the day when the world beach surfaced and in an hour an a half we were up and ready to hit the sand and surf. We had to intended to meet up with friends at Half Moon Bay, relishing in the brightness of the day as we drove past the coastline of the Pacific.

Half Moon Bay, oddly enough was so foggy and sun deprived, we turned back and drove back into the warmth of the sunny side of Pacifica. Rockaway Beach, not exactly the best of beaches but the perfect place to drive to for some immediate need of some Vitamin D.

Watching waves

They'll be great friends.

We'd love to live by the Beach. 

Mandarin's first encounter with sand was as expected. She was scared out of her wits and clung on to me; toes, legs, arms, and fingers - until she felt the water. As if something had turned in her mind, something familiar that she was always comfortable with. Before the receding tides pulled away for a second time, Mandarin was on her feet. Grounded into the shore, strong, unafraid of the vast expanse before her and the grainy composition of sand. The freezing water shocked me electric. It didn't seem to bother her at all because she went from being clingy to chasing tides.  Soon enough, what had shortly scared her had flipped and became an opportunity for curious playing.

She called upon the waves with glee, and while many - even adults would be afraid of waves coming at them, Mandarin eagerly awaited them, and greeted the water with much bravura often times mesmerized by how her toes would be slightly buried as the tides pulled away from her feet.  

This memory alone could last me a lifetime of bliss. We were so happy to watch her experience the ocean; something that will always stand before her as the boundless expanse of her being, wide and deep with all great possibilities that the world has to offer. And like the coming waves I take cue from my brave little girl and stand vigilant on shore waiting for all the wonderful adventures that will surely come and solidify as memories; sand between my toes, the cold water a constant reminder of what it means to be present. 

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