Tater Tots

June is always a special month for our family. aside from the fact that it's the time when the kids go back to school, more importantly, it's when they celebrate their birthdays.

Alexa just turned 11 and Rocco turned 4. their birthdays are actually 8 days apart. it is in some ways a blessing as we can have a joint celebration which ultimately cuts expenses. but you can just imagine the difficulty in planning their birthday parties due to the age gap. this year Alexa is into the Avril Lavigne/goth/punk thing and Rocco is into Hot Wheels. planning these types of events is something i enjoy doing (though i wouldn't feel the joy during the course of the planning and execution). in the end, i would say it was pretty successful.

Lex (or Lexi as she wants to be called) can already be categorized as a "tween", this new term that they call kids 10-12 years old. i remember a few years back she asked me "when can i do whatever i want?" and Rob and I jokingly answered, "when you're 30". but that very thought going through her mind, that 'wanting' made me realize that she is growing up much faster than expected, and that i need to be there for her more than ever. we got her an iRiver mp3 player for her birthday and since then she has been walking around with earphones and talking with a louder voice than usual. songs stored in the player are Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Black Eyed Peas...and, songs from Disney's High School Musical(which incidentally, are also on my ipod).

though she is extremely tall for her age. i can see that she is more inclined to the arts (like me). she has a flair for drawing, and can carry a tune. i am now trying to encourage her to join their school choir. she definitely needs a boost of self-esteem and i hope that would help. she is also naturally athletic and can pick up athletic form fast. i hope she would pursue a sport eventually, even just for the fun of it.

Rocco on the other hand, is a bubbling young boy with a curious bright mind. i remember when he was still a baby, he would always be kicking and stretching his arms and legs, and Rob and i would say with much excitement that it was in preparation for his athletic career (i also thought it was because he came into this world even before the anesthesia kicked in). he is fascinated with wheels and used to get so excited when he would see cars moving as he would just stare at the moving wheels, mouth agape. aside from cars and fire trucks, his new interest has turned to jet planes. just this week he has been asking us everyday to buy him a bomber. He now has about 6 jet planes that he plays with everyday.

and though years apart, there is no mistaking that they are brother and sister. we can see how Lex loves her brother, even if most of the time he tries to immerse himself in what his ate is doing(which annoys her). and for some reason, Lex is the only one in the family that can elicit a real good laugh from Rocco, even if it is just making a funny face or action. ever since Rocco was a baby, it was only Lex who could make him giggle and eventually break into laughter.

and these are our kids. so young, innocent, and still full of unconditional love. they still see us as their whole world. but in a few years, it will be Rob and I trying to fight for their attention. i just hope and pray that we raise them to be the best they can be...and happy. i remember telling myself when i was around 20 years old that i didn't want to have kids. well, i guess God had much different plans for me...and I'm glad He did! coz i don't think i would've been the me i am now, if not for them.

written 6-28-2006