tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149638796102048972012-01-26T11:08:33.189-08:00One season, one day at a time.bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.comBlogger4121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-75141458848364085592012-01-21T11:37:00.000-08:002012-01-24T14:09:19.017-08:00

HAPPY DRAGON YEAR! Seemed like not so long ago I had also made this dragon hand-puppet with her two brothers. Our princess' version had "bracelets" from an ad (think green), haha! It had been another busy week. Among other things, we were getting ready for the Pinewood Derby race. Younger son's cub-scouts one was just over postponed because of the heavy snowstorm. I am hoping to also roar erm

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-87672130943646773172012-01-18T16:08:00.001-08:002012-01-19T11:37:43.623-08:00

Shovel, shovel... So I could make it out of the driveway -- to go pick up the boys from school. Yeah, Meimei helped me exercise (literally, haha!) the GAL-power. And she helped me remember snow is beautiful and fun still ;). Like a reminder not to let exhausting days or sapping moments detract us from appreciating what's in front of us. Having to brake, brake more driving in all that snow,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-38676506007488819892012-01-13T12:10:00.001-08:002012-01-18T13:47:34.888-08:00

I thought it was sweet of the second Gor Gor to oblige her with a dance. "And now, for the grand finale...," he announced, when I was fumbling with my phone, trying to figure out how to take these motion shots. Before I knew it, he'd swept her off her feet, *gasp*! But oops, the picture turned out so blur! Could I have an instant replay, please??? That was when he said he could throw her in

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-21626686294927351632012-01-10T10:37:00.000-08:002012-01-17T12:23:51.845-08:00

When her brothers went, "Look mom... "Now Kait has to shave!"! LOL! All in a day's fun... Kait can draw these stick figures really quickly now. She's showing a flair for writing, too, haha -- writing on the line, line after line! Thinking out of the box, she uses her puzzle pieces as cookies. Tea, anyone? :D

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-42866452175954591272012-01-07T13:42:00.000-08:002012-01-09T13:36:17.738-08:00

It's back to school this past week. Back to the shuttling, more driving again. More we need to keep working on the early-to-bed, and other basic things. Dare I add a new (old) resolution? No, I'm not good with resolutions ;p. How about shorter posts? Big picture. And tidbits still! In the kitchen, I continue to rely on quick, simple recipes. And also make-ahead ones -- like this slowcooked,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-88958615890061156472012-01-02T10:19:00.000-08:002012-01-13T11:38:32.949-08:00

Spending new year's eve on Mt Spokane was a really cool treat.  The boys had waited all Christmas break for that. Because hubby had his work and deadlines to chase still -- and a worktrip coming right up! Like Meimei who took her first chairlift ride that day (she's gungho like that), I felt excited yet unsure, too, on the brink of the new year -- about what it would bring. That night,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-37234535841660324872011-12-30T14:25:00.001-08:002012-01-10T14:00:59.598-08:00

Our Christmas hols was a bit colorful and a lot RANDOM like this... I am just keeping it real... ho, ho, ho!  That last batch of cream cheese cookies was for ourselves. I was using the frosting press as a makeshift cookie press -- until the boys (are boys!) found the more creative use for it! :D. With the house in a much bigger mess (no kidding!), I've resolved to try and do something

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-81247254050612679292011-12-25T17:19:00.001-08:002011-12-26T01:10:51.532-08:00

'Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.' - Charles Wesley (Don't worry, I didn't work the kids hard for this pic; fall has become when we take our own family pictures, for these yearly greetings. They're quite used to it by now, haha)! ;p Merry Christmas to you and yours!

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-22200264935642815202011-12-19T13:37:00.001-08:002012-01-10T13:32:38.999-08:00

Here's what my youngest loves about baking... Also why I vacuum AFTER not before we bake, haha! She is especially good in stirring up a storm ;). Seriously now, her giggles and laughter are like spoonfuls of sugar! :D One batch at a time...  So glad Kait helped me with these simple cookies. I was happy to put in some OT, too, for more batches, for her and her brothers to give to their

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-16797682135304474012011-12-10T09:52:00.001-08:002012-01-10T13:34:58.398-08:00

Meimei and I had a bit of fun there with this little recycling project... A pumpkin snowman, what do you think? "Sure, whatever!" *! Picture my 3yo saying that, shrugging and with her hands spread out; I like that -- more than just "whatever!", haha!  She was also happily helping herself to the props, as you can see :-). Thought I'd better wrap up on fall already, moving into these more

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-84577140372033980412011-11-30T23:00:00.000-08:002012-01-16T13:00:41.886-08:00

My hubby is not done travelling for work for the year. So it was really nice when we squeezed in our simple not-so-simple turkey dinner with the children on the eve of Thanksgiving, in spite of the busy and quite crazy day it was -- just before he was whisked away on yet another worktrip. I cooked it, a herb-roasted turkey (using this recipe), he carved it, and we all dug in :D.  Thanksgiving

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-5970584442694608372011-11-17T11:00:00.001-08:002012-01-10T13:37:48.053-08:00

Jon turned 11 last week. He was just wishing for snow, when it arrived days after that, over the weekend! Not enough for me to have to shovel (PHEW!); hubby was away again for four days then. Still, I'm thankful it gave the children (who were going, WOOHOO, FINALLY!) and me a little outdoor fun -- and also with a new friend (neighbour) who popped over to play. Before that on Jon's birthday,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-51970438227299029132011-11-07T11:16:00.000-08:002012-01-10T13:40:01.525-08:00

So there was the dressup fun... And the trick-or-treating! Because SAHM asked :). Ask the kids also... it was very much about that yearly sugar high -- more than did the friendly knocking on doors send shivers down our spines! ;p Then came that Reptile Man night in the boys' school... Glad their dad could take them. Meimei stayed home with me because of her cold. She found her voice

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-3132199595872740492011-11-01T10:45:00.000-07:002011-11-18T12:46:26.005-08:00

I'm talking about the fall colours, of course... littering the ground with many a red carpet... and painting the town red! I caught these lovely reds at the start of last week, while out running errands in-between the schoolruns and trying not to work myself up into a sweat with housework -- before our friend Jac came and stayed with us during her visit to this part of the States. Then

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-75950333307592422892011-10-21T14:33:00.000-07:002012-01-10T13:43:09.077-08:00

While the sun was out, she wanted to do something about the falling leaves, "Mommy, you use the big rake, I use the small one!". Yes, of course! Never say no to a child who asks to help! ;) I enjoyed those precious moments watching her being so cheerful -- as we went about raking and bagging the leaves. And so free-spirited -- diving into the small heap (and bigger ones since) more than

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-77407819978173140502011-10-11T15:17:00.001-07:002011-10-22T12:15:54.275-07:00

The colours are here! And I am catching them on the go...On errands, schoolruns, and also while out knocking on doors with the children over the weekend -- to try and sell popcorn for one son's scout troop and another son's cubscout pack!Take five... taking in the lovely hues during the busyness of the day; look how the golds pop! For how quickly seasons, and seasons of our lives, come and go,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-23101773313175055862011-10-05T14:09:00.000-07:002011-10-14T18:32:10.896-07:00

On your marks... Look how they're getting ready to lunge forward... It's FIERCE, I tell you! And fiercer than last year, with many more runners trying to outdo one another at the zonal level -- to qualify for the All-City Cross-Country Meet!Watching from the sidelines, that's my eldest (his hand) helping me to rein the youngest in -- so she doesn't get in the way. Or be trampled on! That

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-31753904455635234692011-09-25T23:53:00.000-07:002011-10-01T19:14:53.805-07:00

Sweater days have arrived, and with that, fishing season ends at this lake -- but not before we got to cast our rods there (yes)! "I can't wait for a bite on my line!" quipped Meimei. She'd convinced her dad she was finally old enough to fish, a month plus after turning 3.Of course she was a lot more eager to reel it in -- than you would expect a newly minted preschooler to be waiting, waiting

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-56294885178698826202011-09-17T23:27:00.000-07:002011-10-01T15:13:12.925-07:00

After school, after a day of shuttling kids...It's that bewitching hour! I give the children the ink-coloured potion AT THEIR REQUEST... And they drink to OBEDIENCE... Or so I hope! ;pTruth is... There isn't an "obedience potion"; what happened was the eager kid got to the frozen pops before they could freeze completely. And the icky inky liquid is what you get when you mix orange, red, and green

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-36322106120609535572011-09-10T23:22:00.000-07:002011-09-26T12:03:48.401-07:00

First day of school went OK... better than our last night of the summer hols, trying to get ready for it! Raring to go... or not, we had to get going -- and the eldest's scout meetings resumed on the first schoolnight itself already! Younger brother was happy to see a few familiar faces in his classroom... He looked forward also to the tooth fairy visiting him; both his front teeth were loose

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-34757436951314700342011-09-03T07:54:00.000-07:002011-09-28T14:45:48.944-07:00

On the return leg of our roadtrip, all that cargo (camping gear) that the hubby had packed on top of the rental minivan finally came in handy, when we made an impromptu detour to this national park... Good morning, Zion National Park!The campout let us bask in nature's gifts... and also the "quiet sanctuary" this park got its name from.  The Virgin River runs through the canyon of sandstone

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-35675611764633600722011-08-14T07:17:00.000-07:002011-09-05T13:01:23.199-07:00

She was in a jolly mood, singing Happy birthday "to me (herself)... to Meimei... to Kait, Kait"! Yesterday, the children with their Gong Gong, my dad who'd come from Singapore, joining Kait to usher in the Terrific Threes... And leaning over, she took a bite out of the cupcake, sharing it with her Daddy, also an August baby. (She'd picked out the cupcakes over a cake, and I arranged them to

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-64354996967629006432011-08-11T07:13:00.000-07:002011-08-14T16:23:28.203-07:00

When she says, "I changed my mind", or "I'm in the middle of something, don't mess me up!", it feels to me like she is two going on 13! "I'm bigger, I'm older!" she announced, ahead of turning three this weekend. Last Saturday was when Kait followed her brothers to scale this rock wall in a sports shop, and her daddy dearest gave the nod for her to reach for the sky.  Look at her...

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-48222591858571431982011-07-26T01:01:00.000-07:002011-08-09T09:39:15.677-07:00

Just the other day, my eldest was wondering out loud, "Do you think we had tails at one point?". And he went on to say, "If I had a tail, I'd use it to hang on to a tree -- to swing from one to another!". I knew there was some reason why we parents sometimes refer to our children as monkeys! ;p  Before long, Jon had swung his way to the scouts' summer camp -- one whole week, no phones allowed

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-69141177421663037452011-07-13T13:56:00.000-07:002011-08-03T21:00:27.412-07:00

Summer has brought us pretty peony blooms, strawberries ready for the picking, and busy friends popping in for lunch! There's the arrival of a friend's new addition; more news -- another's loved one is well, and answered prayers for still another family whose lovely child I hold close to my heart. Praise the Lord! Let's keep trusting, hanging on to His promises, and blessings on those we love

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-14457761493851003522011-07-10T08:06:00.000-07:002011-07-22T14:11:27.858-07:00

The hubby gave our eldest the enormous task of painting the fence. The fence that wraps around the backyard -- it's huge! Frankly, I was a bit worried. Especially when our tween did not need to do a Tom Sawyer for his younger brother and sister to want in on the fun.  But it was more than just FUN, or FUNNY: "Look, it's raining (dripping) paint!  Hahaha!" It was TIRING: "Are you aching all

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-47091678010341041682011-07-01T00:24:00.000-07:002011-07-04T16:20:05.764-07:00

Enter the longer days of summer... And the children have all the energy in the world to parallel that! It's more chaotic, hardly quiet, and we've had to reach for the icepack too many times already! Life with kids is blessed also. I'm trying not to be such a nervous cop around them, for isn't summer about spending fun times together? Before they grow up so fast! Brownie (Re)treat... I had

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-10701417286720147202011-06-18T23:33:00.000-07:002011-07-02T12:26:45.658-07:00

"Get lucky!" the younger brother wished the older one, when they set out to fish with their dad, after we set up camp to stay the night. And we got lucky, more than lucky -- so blessed with the good weather, and these tranquil moments that Meimei and I got to take in while the guys waited for a bite on their lines.  As peaceful and quiet as three spirited children would allow it, of

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-63525087168389151622011-06-11T14:32:00.000-07:002011-07-04T20:39:54.128-07:00

Feed the fishes... Checked! Water the plants... Checked! Now check out our boot... We need a bigger car, haha! The hubby sees to the camping gear... food is my department... and 'coz the boys packed their own clothes, they canNOT go "Mommmmmyyyyyy... you forgot my ________!!!" if they realize later THEY left out something! Did I mention that we are going for just ONE night? For a start

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-21690723247836776592011-06-04T23:21:00.000-07:002011-06-08T10:15:39.042-07:00

Spring is rolling by fast, and the end of the schoolyear is chockful of events, and still more fun activities to come, besides the usual ones.  At the second smaller concert, held in school this time, we spotted Jon right away ;). Kait and I also joined her brothers at the school's walkathon-fundraiser. She happily trailed behind Ben -- and especially his 2.5 feet long licorice, whilst also

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-82828829332989583782011-05-29T15:50:00.001-07:002011-07-10T13:41:40.928-07:00

I like it when he answers me with a "Yes, mom?" when I call out to him; sometimes he can be so engrossed in playing with Legos, he doesn't hear me. Often, he is at his table piecing together those teeny tiny blocks first thing in the morning -- when he is up earlier than the alarm clock. And when he IS our alarm clock on a lazy Sunday. By the time I get round to making us Sunday breakfast, he's

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-28737481235359365542011-05-15T23:50:00.000-07:002011-05-31T19:15:24.710-07:00

Spring is on a roll here, finally! Trying to stick her head out the window, Meimei asked the birds, the birds chirping away, "What are you saying? You hear me? Want a cookie?"! ;) Actually we're off to a late start compared to other warmer places. But the sun this week was so welcome -- after Spokane's second coldest April, and the showers that have brought the flowers. The daffodils at

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-39542980782791396252011-05-04T23:12:00.000-07:002011-05-26T22:24:14.545-07:00

Leaning over, the youngest told the steer, "Smile, cow!", and even added a "Don't move!" -- so I could snap a quick picture of it (and her) with my phone! I seized that lovely moment bathed in the evening light, to stop and gaze, too, during the afterschool busyness. The visit to the feedlot with other scouts was for the animal science badge, that my eldest had also to do his part with the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-67584733330362781032011-04-27T23:12:00.000-07:002012-01-10T13:49:38.635-08:00

It was our first time at the Public Schools Band and Strings Spectacular held at the Spokane Arena. And it was really quite the spectacle and musical experience! Picture the 2,900 fifth and sixth graders from 35 schools and their instruments taking up almost every inch of the arena floor... They played to a packed audience of mostly families, their greatest fans, of course! And guess what

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-69283452986254779302011-04-22T23:38:00.000-07:002012-01-10T13:51:43.710-08:00

Ben was part of the enjoyable first grade concert... and we hung around a bit more -- for the kids to help themselves to some jamming on the marimba! "Finally, breakfast!" joked Ben, when I doled out Round 2 of dinner after we got home -- toast with the egg-in-a-hole, a quick skillet fix.  We had eaten a hurried Round 1 before the concert, kinda. Frozen pizza I'd popped into the oven,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-29117311037383399602011-04-19T06:52:00.000-07:002012-01-10T13:54:23.505-08:00

"You scream at me every day, I feel so loved!" trilled the eldest, after a full day for us, among more long days this week packed with afterschool activities that happened to come altogether.  Actually I'm not sure if he was saying that 'coz he was still delirious from his scouts campout over the weekend. He was also muttering stuff like, how nice it was to see a laptop again, and "I can't

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-44984275206530611232011-04-12T23:58:00.000-07:002011-04-28T09:41:44.727-07:00

We drove out, hiked one day, and hugged trees on another... before the rain clouds hovered over us! "Where are we going/doing next?", the youngest was wanting to know, in the same breath she asked to stay outside and play some more!   No, flowers (that are taking their time to bloom in Spokane after the long winter) aren't all I care about. But how could I not roll my eyes at the eldest for

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-45818895441033389172011-04-08T08:49:00.001-07:002011-05-18T14:37:45.452-07:00

It's been one busy week rolling quickly into another! Can I not think about next week's busyness yet? We also have Meimei's teeth problems to fix come Mon, besides my own to be resolved still. Just like to seize what's left of this week -- it's the boys' spring break (not for the hubby who has his work, but we're just now stealing a break) -- for some family R&R :)... Don't rain, please!!

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-91930330941355696992011-03-21T00:03:00.000-07:002011-05-18T14:40:25.749-07:00

She's in a dancing mood a lot, our princess the ballerina! Is it a phase? She is a girl, you know, my eldest reminded me. That explains why she picks what she wears. And that must also be why she adds a graceful twirl, standing on one foot, in the middle of tossing a ball! Even at the supermarket, when the mood strikes, she's poised to spin around... and dance away! Without trying, our

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-13649000375309812712011-03-11T09:50:00.000-08:002011-03-17T22:48:09.861-07:00

After news broke of the massive earthquake and tsunami, I've been thinking of my friend Stardust, not sure where in Japan she and her loved ones live. God watch over you guys and keep you safe! Hear from you soon!* Praying for God's protection on Japan and the places with tsunami warnings and alerts. *** *Update: Glad to hear Stardust is well! Take good care, my friend, you, Bear, and Breadcrumbs

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-33218934956709362782011-03-10T21:43:00.000-08:002011-04-11T20:31:49.557-07:00

Some recent happenings on our end that made me not want to take safety for granted...  Police have arrested the man who planted the backpack bomb along the route of the Martin Luther King Jr Day march in downtown Spokane. Imagine the deadly impact had city workers not been quick enough to alert the authorities to the ordinary-looking backpack, for the march to be re-routed in time.   We

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-31191807055138700112011-03-04T23:45:00.000-08:002011-04-13T01:31:56.420-07:00

It's Friday, YAY! From a Friday night weeks ago, when the children were wide wide awake...I caught this silly (and precious) moment of Meimei giving her brothers not just herself some silly noses! Don't we love a silly moment, to lighten up the rough and tough ones?  The busyness that life is, and craziness it can be. I wasn't "hiding". My back acted up -- from lifting boxes, besides the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-10853302632814183932011-02-18T09:56:00.000-08:002011-03-06T11:10:37.120-08:00

It's my maiden effort... making Bak-Kwa (pork jerky) in the name of survival, er I mean pigging out!! Lovingly made, hehe!   And while this might not be your Mei Zhen Xiang or Lin Zhi Yuan, it tasted quite lovely! Finally!! I've been busy and tuckered out by day's end, driving on weekends not just weekdays. But really wanted to try and make this before the 15 days of CNY -- the reason (my

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-22588992960964217632011-02-11T23:22:00.000-08:002011-05-20T14:41:01.145-07:00

Our dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year had to have fish... Because fish, or 鱼 ("yu") is a play on the "yu" in the phrase  年年有余 ("Nian Nian You Yu") meaning, year after year of surpluses. Also because the salmon was fresh enough for me to season it with just salt and pepper -- and let its own sweetness shine! I left it to bake simply in the oven. And went and did a quick stir-fry of the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-35092016294628919482011-02-02T00:02:00.000-08:002011-03-02T12:36:08.141-08:00

*Hippity hop*... *Hippity hop*... HAPPY RABBIT YEAR!!! And "Hippity hop, hippity hop"... chirped the li'l girl whilst skipping merrily in the aisles earlier in the day at the supermarket with me -- to buy our groceries for the week and especially what I'll need to cook a little feast for our next dinner, on this eve of the Lunar New Year. The bitter cold is back though with temps dipped

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-61979246090604457002011-01-28T23:22:00.000-08:002011-02-14T14:01:41.620-08:00

Kait was first to dig into these cookies she helped me whip up, that lazy, not so lazy Sunday last weekend. Yum, yum! Our first cookies of the year! Only because I am not springcleaning for Chinese New Year. Which is going to be a regular schoolday and workday for us here, that's my excuse ;p. If only I can muster the energy to go beyond the day-to-day cleaning -- and box away our messes! Oh

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-56737726066919409732011-01-25T23:49:00.000-08:002011-02-23T15:26:43.403-08:00

Last Fri morning was sooo icy... The husband slipped and fell on the driveway -- more than we had other times before on the sidewalks. Good thing he could pick himself up despite sliding like that, PHEW! Separately, I skidded and rammed crashed into the kerb at the bend -- and thankfully nothing else, even before making it out of our street with the children! Like a chain reaction, he did the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-14368229742344348442011-01-21T00:08:00.000-08:002011-01-28T12:36:28.588-08:00

Shovel, shovel, shovel!  Three rounds of shoveling on that first day of the snowstorm, wasn't exactly my idea of chilling.  Boy was I knackered already on that first day the man of the house, also the much needed man(power) for the job with snow like this, was away last week! Kait watched me work out in the driveway from the garage at first. Then she rode her trike, scaled the snowberms, and

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-51006522539434977102011-01-11T22:19:00.000-08:002011-01-26T15:16:59.651-08:00

Another big winter storm is brewing, and will dump as much as 9 inches of snow on us! By which time the husband will have left for his work trip before the sun comes out tomorrow. He'll be gone for five days, only five.  But just the thought of being on my own with the children in this severe weather is giving me cold feet. I know, we've been through other snowstorms, and at least one of

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-32738453801887813982011-01-07T23:56:00.000-08:002011-03-05T16:01:07.837-08:00

Last weekend, I was going, 'Where'd the winter break go?"! I was also wondering, "Where IS Ben's backpack?"!!!  It probably had been missing for two weeks, just that I only realized it two days before school started. Yikes! Then came Monday, and all of us were so raring to go going, "I didn't sleep enough", not just Jon first thing that first day back to school. You can imagine we were off

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-27477684497111809702010-12-31T23:58:00.000-08:002011-01-10T17:57:07.293-08:00

With the cold weather, we are home more than we are out and about during the boys' break that's ending so soon already. The coolest day must be when we went to Mt Spokane, and... Look, who's having fun?!!Wheee!!!  Kait kept asking for more! There were Ben and Jon, of course... Now can we go? ;p They couldn't wait to take the chair-lift to the top of the bunny hill -- to whoosh down again and

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-41212485770552998082010-12-24T00:18:00.000-08:002010-12-25T14:50:22.272-08:00

You know, I wasn't exactly kidding about rolling my fave fall picture(s) over to Christmas... Here's a family one specially to wish you and yours much love and laughter this special time of the year, and God's richest blessings always! "Glory to God in the Highest,  and on earth peace,  goodwill toward men!"Luke 2:14 From a less hurried evening during busy fall, that let us take in the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-51265522964095361592010-12-20T23:35:00.000-08:002011-01-14T13:53:47.792-08:00

Getting into the spirit... I plugged in the vacuum cleaner, and Kait went and put on her red winter hat. She grabbed the duster, and I went and grabbed my phone for a quick picture of my jolly little elf! ;p And like a reminder to myself to keep a positive attitude going about my regular chores and more to do this time of year! And... "LOOK, IT'S CHRISTMAS!" gasped an animated Ben -- when

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-88691665411686955062010-12-13T08:45:00.000-08:002011-02-23T23:47:06.403-08:00

My two sons were checking out my teeth mould I'd brought home from the dentist's, and going: "So gross, SO GROSS!" ! They echoed my thoughts actually -- that I was not at all looking forward to starting to wear a mouthguard when I go to bed. Night after night, for (and this is the part I dread) AS LONG AS IT TAKES. But the dentist was sure, "You have the teeth of an 80yo" -- worn down by my

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-79839074711532858572010-12-04T00:06:00.000-08:002011-03-22T13:25:15.295-07:00

"This is the moment I've been waiting for!" "Look, snow... lots snow. I like snow! Where my boots? I want wear boots... play Gor Gor!" "SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!" These were the children's enthusiastic responses -- to the first flurries (Ben), then the first accumulation (Kait) almost a week after that, and what else was on all their minds, besides the "20 minute fort" (Jon) they put together that

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-48143459243542971302010-11-26T11:07:00.000-08:002011-03-13T14:26:54.623-07:00

"But I've always wanted a dog," was how the young man had run his idea by us. All the reasons why he was ready to adopt a pet from a class project. Not just run after lost sheep and other animals to give them a home on two makebelieve farms (his dad's, and the other one's supposedly mine). It was sweet of younger brother to offer to pay for the food. I took them to buy a slightly better home

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-62993775663161747412010-11-23T23:47:00.000-08:002011-03-05T19:15:32.862-08:00

I forgot about our pumpkin sitting outside the front door. Now it's covered in frost, and whatever snow that's made its way up the steps -- with help or not from the overnight blizzard! Strangely, it's school as usual for the boys. Then again, this is NOT St Louis. The husband was away. I didn't want to drive on the slick roads till he got back. The tricky part was trudging up the slope to get

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-30972814881450246912010-11-06T23:34:00.000-07:002011-10-05T15:27:27.650-07:00

The crowds thickened. And so did the crisp autumn air... ... thick with excitement and anticipation... Spot Ben (above), among some 800 qualifiers from 34 schools? That was him alright, with his fingers plugged into his ears, eagerly expecting the races to begin! Ready, set... *BANG*!!! And off they went! Keep going... Go, guys, go! And "Go, school name, go!" Kait would shout out the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-73026778355322384322010-10-21T23:11:00.000-07:002010-11-15T13:59:18.049-08:00

An accumulation of leaves under this tree beckons the children to step this way and get a little kick out of the rustling!It was a nice stop-and-gaze moment for me as well, after picking up the boys, before picking up our pace again. Pace yourself, was the thoughtful advice from a blogger-friend during this season of Vern's frequent work trips. In the last two weeks alone, he was away four

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-49891129038630122862010-10-05T23:23:00.000-07:002010-11-01T17:37:06.548-07:00

... the Lord God made them all.As the fall leaves unfold a palette of bright and beautiful colours, my 2-year-old creates a simple work of art -- of nature as she sees it, that's all part of God's glorious handiwork."Rain... flower... grass," she pointed them out as she painted them pretty much in that order.Meanwhile, feeling a friend's burden and I can imagine how much heavier it is for her,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-63939372737624207422010-09-26T23:08:00.000-07:002011-01-14T13:59:41.225-08:00

"Look, mom... "Kait has a moustache!" Ha, ha! Almost the next instant... a spill happens right under my nose. This one's not bad, I don't remember who knocked over the glass, and it helps that it's a contained spill. Uncanny how the more troublesome ones like to happen same day I'd just finished cleaning the floor. So back out comes the mop, oh never mind. I love a productive day... when

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-41398314108149236172010-09-19T23:02:00.000-07:002010-11-16T22:20:02.368-08:00

This tree at the school entrance is the first on that street to boast its fall hairdo already!Quite a head-turner, isn't it? Every time several times this past week I went with Kait to drive Jon and Ben, I just had to stop and gawk :).It's busy as usual. There's more running around also with a cross-country activity both boys started on, among other things.This is the husband's travelling season,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-39733798626569299112010-09-11T00:02:00.000-07:002010-11-13T11:59:46.422-08:00

Wakey, wakey! Ben woke us bright and early, two Thursdays ago now, more excited than nervous about starting first grade!Jon our fifth grader didn't want this mom fussing over him: No pictures! Too much scrambled eggs! But he wanted me to drive because of his heavy load of school supplies. Kait grabbed her own bag, too. Her smile was as wide as adorable Dora's on her backpack, as we all got out

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-85231663156414833182010-09-10T23:20:00.000-07:002010-09-13T10:16:04.832-07:00

It was a gorgeous day, that afternoon at the lake near where M and M were visiting.Oh, how the water sparkled in the sun! It was actually colder than it looked inviting. But how could the boys resist that one more splash? They also got to kayak for the very first time!

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-76810236917909080582010-08-30T23:40:00.000-07:002010-10-26T12:27:50.705-07:00

"Chicken, airplane, rocket," goes Jon."Kick, kick, kick", Kait is excited, too."CANNONBALL!" shouts Ben...SPLASH!!!All too soon, the pool's closed. And summer ends. Our three space invaders are jumping and giving their arms and legs a little workout in our bed instead!I don't mind the silliness, but it is late.Go brush your teeth! Time for bed!We've gone over this many times, every night, last

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-77350931091129449942010-08-20T23:58:00.000-07:002010-11-16T11:59:51.311-08:00

Jon was right, "Two ears is two years!"!So it was doubly nice when the cake with two cupcakes as its ears, that Kait helped bake up a storm (more like a "flour" storm from all that stirring), worked out for her second birthday :).From last Friday:Kait grinning from ear to ear. She digs her birthday cake... And I mean REALLY DIGS it! I'm trying to also load a short clip of Meimei obliging this mom

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-10135081951143277162010-08-13T09:53:00.000-07:002010-08-14T20:43:39.731-07:00

Ben lost his first tooth on the first of this month.Soon after that last week, Kait pedalled away on the trike!See their 'BIG KID' smiles? :)The growing up, and the "I did it!", are the things we try and get our children excited about on a daily basis, too, and yes, even with the most basic things! Easier said than done though. What's also true: the smiles from all three kids put smiles on my own

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-2831094753224802992010-08-10T23:47:00.000-07:002010-10-06T11:41:30.514-07:00

In the picture from last month: Kait after her bob cut, with her brothers who thought she looked different, so different that "we don't recognize her!"!It's since grown (some), and grown on them, more or less.But the daddy dearest up till the other day was still lamenting, on her behalf, the loss of her former (crowning) glory:Miss Hairdresser, what have you done to my hair?!For the record, I

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-76357755413159999632010-08-06T23:22:00.000-07:002010-10-06T11:45:51.092-07:00

In Singapore on my father's birthday, he took the children out with me.It must have been decades since he rode a bike. But for the boys, he gamely hopped on one, and they rode off -- with the wind in their hair!Kait spread her wings, too, and flap, flap, flap she went after a crow scavenging on someone's discarded lunch!She also dug sand as we watched the waves come crashing in. So began some

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-33828577474054627382010-07-31T17:57:00.001-07:002010-10-06T11:47:15.321-07:00

We're back in Spokane but much more jetlagged than when we arrived in Singapore.I'm trying not to do the time conversion thing. But at 2.50am when two WIDE AWAKE children are waiting for me to give them dinner, it makes sense because the husband reminds me it's already 5.50pm in Singapore! Only Jon, the one least resistant to naps, is making up for the lack of sleep better. Now how do I get that

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-35111221270872069352010-07-12T23:48:00.000-07:002010-08-31T00:49:07.775-07:00

Our home country Singapore is every bit the bustling city it's always been, and even more built-up now! New attractions have been added and architectural marvels, too, take to the skies in the likes of the Singapore Flyer, Sky Park, and The Pinnacle, just to name a few.Yet there are also the familiar sights, sounds, and smells...Some HDB flats proudly display the Singapore flag ahead of the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-83514617285778400382010-06-29T16:12:00.000-07:002010-11-16T22:38:59.075-08:00

We managed to go on a cruise altogether just before Nana has ended her visit with us and moved on with her travels.On the ship, Jon shared a room with grandma. Ben and Kait were with Vern and me, and Kait's was the usual co-sleeping because of her nursing-on-demand still and our interrupted sleep. But see that monkey?Not the one hanging from that top bunk, trying to bunk in with us also! But the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-52482225005409277192010-06-20T00:18:00.000-07:002010-11-16T22:35:53.105-08:00

Father's Day celebrates its 100th anniversary!Did you also know it originated in Spokane?Wishing all dads -- and dads are beautiful, too -- beautiful days, every day, with your family!In the pictures: The busy man that Vern is, this was when he stopped and smelled the roses, and other flowers at Manito Park, the "crown jewel" of the parks here, as part of the sightseeing for Nana earlier.This

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-54787982989210735052010-06-15T00:37:00.000-07:002011-07-06T16:05:46.137-07:00

After a busy end of the schoolyear, not just school but another season has whizzed by! It wasn't too long ago when we went, "Boing! Spring has sprung!"... Now we're looking forward to more sunshiny days! Took the children to a "School is Out!" party around our place. Seeing them happy, enjoying themselves, with their friends, and all the laughter, put smiles on my own face, too!

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-81831376499435812882010-06-09T23:52:00.000-07:002010-06-16T14:49:02.906-07:00

The Spokane River runs through downtown Spokane, next to Riverfront Park.At a lookout point, last month, taking Nana out while she's on her visit here...Look who and who are tossing pinecones over the wall?!Running back with another pinecone... then, THROW!!!Kait has a nice overhand throw, from playing ball. She also likes to play "ring around the rosie" with Jon, and "follow the leader" with Ben

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-54481779978243739872010-06-02T00:03:00.000-07:002010-06-03T12:47:29.442-07:00

"I am a girl, I am a girl!"!!!They actually sang it out loud...... as they swayed their hips and watched their shadows on the ground, imagining the afternoon sun had turned their pants and shorts into skirts!Now that's THE girl >>>She was pretending to take pictures with the pouch that had slipped out of my hand, when I reached for the camera to capture these goofy moments, one fine day in

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-3904423835281001992010-05-29T00:13:00.000-07:002010-06-04T22:35:39.648-07:00

We'd come back inside after school. I was trying to settle the boisterous boys down to a snack before homework. I turned around and saw the little girl had slipped both her feet into these "shoes"...She trotted around in them, long enough for me to snap these quick phone shots! Too funny, and she even stopped to give me a 'hi five'!These are the same two oven mitts, the day before that, she had

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-88717416222077208902010-05-24T23:14:00.000-07:002011-03-13T14:10:43.683-07:00

Boyish Ben who says the funniest things and has quite the imagination, turned 6 last Tuesday. That morning, his buddy W came over to play. They had a good time over Legos, Star Wars, and more boy stuff like Nerfs and lightsabers, and had cupcakes together, too. Second cupcake Ben ate was one of many more cupcakes I'd promised him, for sharing with his classmates and teacher. Like a really

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-54024806206273066672010-05-13T23:47:00.000-07:002010-05-31T12:03:25.727-07:00

That night of the school concert, I set the digital camera on timer mode and asked the kids to RUN!!!I ran with them, too, and plunked ourselves on the couch, as I counted down to when the flash would come on and snap these shots!Cheap thrill? Hehe! The novelty had worn off some by the time the husband joined us, back from his out-of-town work trip.Still, don't the guys look sharp in their

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-22507245577501270972010-05-07T22:48:00.000-07:002010-05-08T23:59:07.393-07:00

Ahhh... spring is the loveliest time to stop and smell the flowers!Kait's fever broke after a few days, yay! I cooked noodles and more noodles, her fave, to encourage her to eat -- and give me a break from being her "free flow beverage bar" ;p.Vern made it back in time for the school concert, rather than run into another night and day with his trip. Jon happily sang his one line solo part, and

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-44138344507963427262010-05-01T23:36:00.000-07:002010-05-07T10:45:28.977-07:00

Vern has another work trip in a few days -- his fourth one in three weeks. It's hectic for him, all this travelling for his research work. I feel my usual load to be heavier whenever he's away, no matter how many times we've done this. Especially when the children act out, it's gotten rough, really rough. Can it be partly 'coz they pick up on our stress?Let me keep this light...The brothers

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-88982670257714454552010-04-24T00:14:00.000-07:002010-05-02T22:12:47.810-07:00

That Sunday when we stopped at the top of the hill next to the highway -- to walk a bit of the trail on the wild side...Jon and Ben loved that detour...And so did Kait!There were these yellow wildflowers in bloom -- Arrowleaf Balsamroot. That's a plant of the sunflower family.There was also the view below us to take in, of course!The boys didn't think the slope was elevated enough for it to count

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-15113236523328003962010-04-17T23:44:00.000-07:002010-08-30T14:10:03.688-07:00

Then:A year ago, at 8 months and a few days old...Kait was on her feet and going *tap* *tap* using one hand to slap her side -- boogieing, bobbing to ABBA's Dancing Queen! (video 1, 35 sec) The songs from the CD player, next to the TV, always had a way of drawing her to the TV stand, curious as to which button to press might get the music to play. She had the beginnings of a cruise, and would

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-87439419186337610972010-04-11T23:53:00.000-07:002010-08-31T00:55:59.884-07:00

Hieeeeeeeee...Vern took these shots of Kait yakking away last month, when she turned 19 mos.She understands more than she can really carry out a conversation at this point. But it's amazing to watch her grasp and speak new words -- from what she hears, sees, and touches. Bit by bit, she's also using the words she can say, to talk to us.At bathtime, she wanted me to know that the cut on her knee

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-40587848305104885842010-04-04T07:52:00.000-07:002010-04-14T19:50:51.647-07:00

'Twas a windy morning when we hopped over to the neighbourhood Easter egghunt, over as soon as it started 'coz the little and not-so-little ones worked fast! Why egg? Why bunny? Ben asked me.Egg = new life, Jesus died for us and came back to life. I spoke off the top of my head.And the bunny, bunnies hopping around this time of year... they are part of the new life! (We've not seen them in this

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-61047630038885064292010-03-30T23:53:00.000-07:002010-04-14T20:07:49.532-07:00

Ben bends a chicken bone gone boing-y, three days after soaking it in vinegar...Jon jumps for joy over his 'levitating' balloons... Kait grabs a balloon, too. "Play ball" she knows to string together and say, and "balloon" is "bawooooo"! So began the fun with the boys' first Science fair with the school, and the little girl having a ball, too.Participation wasn't compulsory, and parents were

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-75160774533529829742010-03-24T00:15:00.000-07:002010-03-27T00:02:50.282-07:00

I gave my cluttered mind a break, and stepped outside with the children for a much needed breath of fresh air!Ahhh, downtime, everyone's happy with that. And spring's just sprung!Hear the birds go "chirp, chirp" and "tweet, tweet". See the shoots just poking out of the ground -- to catch some sun, and rain, more rain to come water them so the buds can bloom.And keeping it real..."

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-57697854236938571372010-03-12T00:17:00.000-08:002010-03-18T15:00:56.494-07:00

After Christmas was when Kait put two Lego blocks together, and went "Vooooooooo!!!" as she waved her first plane creation in the air!Soon after that, she thought she was ready for this...Slow down, gal... that "small parts" clause is there for a reason. Good thing she spat out the ones she was hiding from me in her mouth! *wipes sweat, lots of sweat off brow*In between, I really like what she

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-25172764061367489622010-03-06T23:51:00.000-08:002010-04-06T12:50:21.138-07:00

When we asked the boys for a little less attitude, the younger one asked me for EXTRA LOVE!I don't think Ben means the TLC us parents give to our children when they are unwell. But he got a dose of that when he threw up after Kait's diarrhea. The puke was really messy, and especially tiring was poor Kait's necessary visits to the bathroom in the wee hours, days in a row even after the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-50984594350550977442010-02-26T23:23:00.000-08:002010-11-16T23:02:26.964-08:00

As a mom, the children and their different needs and schedules demand my time and energy, and emotions, too.I'm learning to focus on the "up" in the growing up; the ups and downs and highs and lows are all part of the growth process, we're in it together.Right: There's something positively serene about this Jon-says-hi-to-Mr Walrus moment, that makes me stop and gaze, too.Like a reminder to steal

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-91165450819673659392010-02-21T23:40:00.000-08:002010-04-06T12:55:48.250-07:00

Both times Vern was away on work trips last month, Kait gave the Pa Pa warmer than usual "welcome home" hugs when he returned. Could that be why she beat the two Gor Gors to her e-doodles first?Cheeky gal, she also beat Jon and Ben to beat a certain level of a game when she let her finger do the walking on the screen!But now, the phone is just one of more things she fights with them over. Her

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-67613220537870153532010-02-16T13:13:00.000-08:002011-02-02T10:43:14.280-08:00

Hot pot, or steamboat as we call it in Singapore and Malaysia, is my favourite meal during the Lunar New Year. The piping hot soup is especially nice to have in cold, rainy weather. And ooh, how the flavour just gets richer and richer with more and more ingredients added to it! You see why I was really happy when we chanced on this place that had it on its menu, while in Seattle over the

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-77045772124897383902010-02-13T23:46:00.000-08:002010-02-22T09:17:16.535-08:00

Happy Tiger Year!Above: It's raining, it's pouring, not the purrrfect weather to be out and about. But we're on an impromptu roadtrip, and my "cubs" are looking for some rip-roaring fun.The Big Cats exhibit at the zoo in Tacoma, just outside of Seattle, proved to be one grrreat way to usher in the Year of the Tiger. We watched with the crowds a Sumatran tiger lap up its afternoon snack of a big

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-3129608635538527152010-01-14T13:44:00.000-08:002010-02-22T12:17:23.070-08:00

Vern is tied up. See how the little girl endears herself to the daddy, when he's working on his laptop at home, when he's not at work late...He's sitting on the couch/chair, and she squeezes herself comfortably right next to him.The same she does, when he's with his laptop at the edge of the bed. She'll climb up and plop down beside him.Each time, with the toy laptop. And I like that smile that

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-45710327673923026002010-01-07T23:51:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:50:15.988-08:00

That's Jon coming down the beginner hill at Mt Spokane -- in style, same day he grasped quickly the basics of skiing (without poles yet), for him to take the chair lift to the top.And then, repeat that very many times... Wheeeeeee!...... before the sun was setting at 4, and we had to call it a day.Ben also learned faster than me, flashing this not as big a risk-taker of a mommy a super big grin

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-12617342454732418932009-12-31T11:57:00.000-08:002010-09-15T09:32:46.860-07:00

Doesn't food always taste sweeter, shared with those we love and care?Just before Christmas, when another family, our newer friends, came over for lunch (the children together):Then, when our old friends came a long way to see us:The food was good (I think so ;p), and the fellowship, what joy!Now, as the year and decade come to a close, there are new and old friendships, including yours, I really

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-14601974973622504542009-12-24T22:34:00.000-08:002010-10-06T12:22:05.900-07:00

From our family to yours... Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!- Philippians 4:4Photos wise...Saved these "merry" shots I took of the children one fine fall day two months ago, for our annual photo-themed greetings. Photos because our families back home love to see how the children are growing. There's another little gift with lots more shots, small enough to fit into their

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-57432489996272396612009-12-23T00:41:00.000-08:002010-01-19T12:45:41.774-08:00

Bit by bit, Christmas is taking shape in our home... Above: Jon holds a plate of easy-to-make edible "Christmas trees"*, shaped from refrigerated dough he did a nice job rolling out. Such are the homemade touches I love to labour this time of year. And better yet, to catch the children in a jolly mood to join in the fun, and...I'd better also catch Kait before she runs off with the cookie cutter

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-11510676149937866022009-12-15T23:32:00.000-08:002011-05-10T16:32:30.464-07:00

The children were thrilled to wake up to more snow this morning, than the slight accumulation weeks ago now (pictured here, finally)! That earlier round, when the thin sheet wasn't really enough to make snow angels in. Nonetheless, this mom had obliged her snow-crazy children... ... and dragged young Kait around in the sled -- in the backyard! Of course the little girl kept asking for "more,

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314963879610204897.post-75469050410019399842009-12-05T23:41:00.000-08:002010-08-30T18:46:21.239-07:00

This was my turkey experiment with the children on Thanksgiving Day. Believe me, an activity like this in the kitchen gets the boys a lot more enthusiastic than when I ask for a little help to wipe or set the dinner table on a regular day. I kept it simple, this first time roasting the whole turkey, no stuffing or dressing -- just the way we like it.Jon and Ben were eager, alright, to help with

bphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539652855795741315noreply@blogger.com6