Trish’s Blog

My mom is here visiting from Guam. I have known her for almost 40 years and I still learn something new about her with every visit. This time around I learned that she doesn’t like shredded coconut or coconut desserts (aside from Delite Bakery’s Haupia Cake). I had no idea. She likes actual real coconut, though, so all is not lost.

Zoe wasn’t too sure about this lady when we picked her up from the airport. When Nana turned around in her seat to say hi, Zoe reached for Sarah who was sitting next to her for protection. When we got home and Nana unpacked her suitcases with the goodies she had brought for us, Zoe was leaning right up against her to get the best view. Once she knew that we could trust her and that she had gifts, Zoe was best friends with Nana.

We have been having some fun times and not-so-fun times with Nana. We started out great with a visit to the Downtown Aquarium in Houston. Nana bought City Passes so that we could hit a bunch of such attractions, and we worried that we wouldn’t be able to hit everywhere within the 9-day deadline. The date was never stamped on our City Pass booklets, however, so we have been able to keep using the passes even though we have gone over the deadline.

Our excuse/sob story, in case anyone asks, is that we got the stomach flu on day three. Zoe started it off. Then Nana was in bed for a few days. Then Zack joined the vomit club. Then it hit me and Josh over the weekend. Seth was next, but didn’t last for more than a couple of days. Sarah did not succumb, but has since felt under the weather due to the season change. We are all better now and have resumed our excursions. So far, no one has questioned the validity of our City Passes. Knock on wood.

We are also having fun shopping. My mom loves to shop. There’s much more variety and better prices here on the mainland, but some of the stuff she gets blows me away. She wanted to buy a shower curtain liner. I said in my best Chamorro accent, “They don’t have shower curtains in Guam?” She said, “Yeah nai, but not for a dollar.” I don’t give her a hard time. I just take her where she wants to go and throw my own wants in the cart (yes, I’m two and I can still work my mother into buying me stuff–I don’t think that will ever change).

Now that our stomachs are back to handling the sugar, we have also been cooking and endeavoring to cook together. One of the things we think we are going to make is homemade marshmallows. I have always wanted to make them and she says that Auntie Chilang (her oldest sister) has made some pretty yummy ones, like orange marshmallows. We’ll see if we actually get to it.

Oh, we hit the Humble Farmer’s Market, and I mention it because I wanted to report that it has gotten better. Still not Northern California caliber, but we came away with fresh bread (Country French and Cranberry Walnut), scones (Pumpkin, Cranberry Walnut and Chocolate Chip), naan (Plain and Lentil Potato filled), Indian curries (Chicken Tikka Marsala and Pickle Chili Chicken Curry), collared greens, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. Zoe eats the cherry tomatoes like candy. The seeds squirt out and I find them on her legs, backs of her arms, and belly. We are all so happy that we can eat again.

It has been fun having Nana here. Our visit is coming to a close with only five days left (and still four more places to hit with our City Passes!) and we’ll be sorry when she has to go. Three weeks sounded like a long time when she first got here, but it has gone by so fast.

Posted on October 31st, 2009 by trish
Filed under: Family, Haley Kids