Spring songs

At the Band and Strings Spectacular the other night...

it's hard not to go WOW the moment you step into the Arena!

OK, this time I won't ask you to spot Jon among the 2,900 public school students, playing familiar tunes from "Over the Rainbow" to "Ode de Joy"! :D

Meimei looked like she was conducting, restless in my lap! With more full days like that, it sure was nice to put my tired feet up. But not like how her other brother did it to "chope" a seat for their papa, kinda, he didn't need to ;p.

I did feed us a second round of dinner after that: beefed up instant noodles! And then it was Shoo, off to bed you go, because of the tests and testing going on. So much easier said than done though; more days than not I've had to also drag my kids out of bed, literally, still! ;p.

The season is chock-full of activities, from school events and concerts to projects and still more there is to school going on, it is not over yet.

Asparagus is so spring, so yum... 
I like to fry it with shrimp. But when hungry kids want you to spring into action and feed them right away, never mind you've been on your feet all day, you roast it! I've already tossed the pork in the oven, anyway. 


Faster, no pot to wash, and the best part is drizzling the same soya saucish sauce over everything, rice, too, but of course! :D 


This is a TOP request from Jon! Yes, he's the one with the bangs over his eyes. And it is music to my ears when he finally thinks, "I need a haircut!"! LOL!

A birthday and sweet treats

Happy birthday, Ben!

It was good we got to do this on the eve, before hubby is away. I didn't try to make the cake this time. Just went and bought it after the long day.

The saner moments I grab onto ;p.

The birthday boy said to me, "Don't quit -- no matter how tough the situation is!".

Oh bless him  ♥!

May he go far in life... creating and exploring, he loves doing that, discovering and blessing... and be so blessed himself also.



More sweet treats... 

Look, meimei is as tall as the licorice at the boys' school walkathon-fundraiser, there with me always to support her brothers! I got them snow cones also. 


After that there was cotton candy for dessert at the family-style buffet place Ben picked to have his birthday dinner. 


I also got him frosted cookies to bring in for snacktime on his special day. He already decided "those taste better!" -- than if I had baked our own -- before getting to enjoy them with his classmates. 


I appreciate his honesty ;p, and am alright with that. It helps me cope. But now he says I owe him a simple homebaked cake!

See the bright side

One son's mom's day picture from school, and meimei's random e-drawings were a much needed boost and timely reminder to look on the bright side when life gets us down and those we love and care about.

Look up and keep going...


God is with us. God helps those who help themselves. Amen!


Thank you for your prayers!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."  

- Jeremiah 29:11

Catch of the day

All weekend hubby continued to work after coming back from his worktrip, except when he spent a couple of hours with the boys at the once-a-year fishing event in a netted area, only time you could be sure of a catch!

After that I took the younger boy for his soccer game with meimei, then to get grocery, and lo, there were minced meat and wraps for the wontons their big brother had asked me to make awhile ago -- a month already, he said!

Had it been that long? Even longer since the last time we had homemade wonton; that was before there was meimei!

So FINALLY! Sometimes you've just got to seize the day!

Pockets of joy... We like our wonton with minced meat and with shrimp also a la dumplings. But no spring onions, I hear you kids! ;p

Often though, I'm their exhausted mama, running after and around with them every day for their school and activities, and needing patience with their tears and tantrums, guilty of my own can-I-throw-in-the-towel meltdowns.

Thankfully there's more: the pockets of joy, food on our table, the blessings not to forget to count!

I steam-fried the trout, and because only one place here we've come across has steamed whole fish on its menu, believe me, this was quite the treat in more ways than one :D.