O.o!!!!

Upon hearing a "tooting sound", I asked "who did THAT??"
Lucas answer proudly, " It was ME!!!"
The rest of us went "Eeewww!!!"
He answered "What??!! It was just my buttocks whistling!!"

O.o!!!!

Creations!!

Can you guess what these yellow monsters are made from?


They were made from the wax casing from the Babybel cheese!

Update on Mohawk Lucas!

Remember this from my previous post??


Two months later...




His hair is still standing at 3 inches long!!! (I couldn't hold his hair straight while holding the ruler on one hand and the camera on the other...unless I have a 3rd hand! ;) )

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

I haven't been blogging much these days... however, I am NOT late in wishing everyone celebrating Chinese New Year, a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!! As Chinese New Year goes on for 15 days --- yes, 15 days of celebrations!!! ;)

Ever since we left home to come here (Kentucky to be exact) for college in '96, we have only celebrated Chinese New Year back home once. All these years, we did whatever we could to make ourselves feels festive, wearing new clothes, decorating the house with red packets, having dinner with friends...but it's never the same, of course. So, when we went back to Malaysia during Chinese New Year in '07, I picked up some decorations so we could use them at home.

Last year when we were back, I asked my mom for the Kuih Kapek molds. Kuih Kapek is one of the snacks/cookies sort of thing we make only during Chinese New Year (cos' it's VERY time consuming). It's also called "love letters" for some reason...maybe because of its intricate motives on the mold?? I'm really not sure at all. Nonetheless, it's yummy. Very similar to the Western waffle --- but very thin...and it's mix with coconut milk. Usually the molds are handed down from one generation to another, plus it's easier to make them with a "seasoned" mold than to buy a brand new one. The older molds tend to have more intricate motives and the grooves are deeper. So guess what? One day when my mom cleaned out her stuff, she had given hers away to someone else!!! What??? She didn't keep it for me?? I don't want her diamond rings, or jewelry, my sister can have them. I just want her kitchen gadgets, and she gave it away *smacking my forehead* :P She must have done that before I discover that I like baking, I hope!

Kuih Kapek (Kapit) --- Love letter cookies

With that, I had planned to go buy new ones from the store. Then she said she'd ask among her friends if any of them still have some molds left to share. You see, not many people my generation, or younger, would make them at home like our moms use to. It's a very time consuming job, and usually requires at least 2 people working together --- one grilling, one folding, and if you make a big batch (usually to give away as gifts to friends and family) you'd need another person or two for rotation), and sitting in front of the charcoal grill for hours in a 90 degrees Fahrenheit plus weather? No wonder no one wants to make them anymore. You could buy them in tubs these days...much easier. However, that's not the case here in U.S., or at least not in Oregon! Lucky for me, one of her best friend, aunty Jecy, remembers she still have a couple left from her mom, and she didn't think any of her kids would be interested in inheriting the molds. So, I managed to inherit 5 of the Ang Family's Kuih Kapek molds!!! :D

Making the kuih kapit cookies brings back memory of the time when my sister and I were still little. We would help my mom to fold the cookies, and you HAVE to fold it while it's hot. But our assistance usually didn't last long :P This is my first time making them. Boy, did I have a lot of trouble....cos' my mom have left out some crucial instruction!! For example, mixing the flour with water to form a medium wet dough and let it rest for a while before adding other ingredients; make sure the mold is REALLY hot before pouring the batter over. *smack my forehead* So, instead of tossing away my batch of batter away, I let the batter rest in the fridge for couple of hours. I made sure the molds were HOT, and when I pour the batter over, it'd sizzle, and when you close the mold up, it makes the sound like someone is farting!!! :P The kids thought it was funny!! So from then on, it went smoothly and they all turned out BEAUTIFULLY!!!

Unfolded

Originally, Kuih Kapit is made on a special charcoal grill, check out this site for more info and pictures. I, had to make them on my stove top, and only 2 at a time....since I needed to place a tray to balance the molds!! So, you can imagine how long it took me to make the whole recipe??!! The only good thing from using the stove is that, I was able to turn it off, keep the remaining batter in the fridge for the next day.

My make shift "grill"

This mold has the motive of a Phoenix
This, a Dragon motive

Gong Xi Fa Chai - Wishing you a Happy & Prosperous New Year

It's as thought the Chinese New Year Cookie fairy has sprinkle some pixie dust on me, I craved to make Pineapple tarts or we sometimes called it Jam tarts. This is also one of the cookies I remember helping my mom...rolling these tiny strands of dough, which we pretended as WORMS, for the lattice look. So, I called my mom for the recipe (I'll post the recipes as soon as I have some extra time). We also talked about the little tiny sauce plates (the Chinese use for soy sauce/chili sauce) and the "crimper" I remember my mom used. I didn't have the little plates and I didn't have any pineapple tart molds, instead, I found a 1-1/2" fluted cookie cutter that was the perfect size. Then I used the back of my mini rolling pin to make the well, it was just perfect!

According to my mom's recipe, she uses 3 whole pineapples. I had to use 5. Apparently the pineapples we get here are smaller and rounder, while back home, the pineapples are oval and bigger. If you're lazy/or no time to cut the fresh pineapples, crushed canned pineapple can be substitute...however, it is NEVER the same as using FRESH ones.


When I was done with all the pineapple jam, I had some dough left, so I rolled them out to make the lattice for these 3 tarts.


I don't really care for the lattice, cos' I like my pineapple tart loaded with the pineapple jam. Sometimes they are also rolled into oval shapes or wrap up like a "pillow" then using a scissors, snip multiple "V" shapes to make the form to resemble a pineapple, then insert a clove on the top --- check out Angie from Sea salt with Food Blog here. I find that too much work, while these have too much dough and too little fillings! :P However, these type of open face tarts are "sticky" when it comes to storing.

Cooking down the Pineapple

To celebrate Chinese New Year, our Chinese school Yo-yo team performed in Uwajimaya. Yesmin has been in the yo-yo team for the 2nd year. And lucky for us, the lion dance performance were there too. We all enjoyed watching the 3 lions dance around, doing tricks. It was great for the kids to be able to see this here in U.S. The lions also stopped to posed with audience who wanted photos taken.

This year, she did two tricks for her yo-yo performance. She did the toss and catch and the other one, which I have forgotten the name for it, where she toss the yo-yo on to one of the sticks and lets it roll and balance on it. We're so proud of her :D

Gong Hei Fatt Choy !!!

Mohawk!!

Last weekend, it was time again to give the kids a haircut. Out of a sudden, I told Nd(Lee) that I'm gonna leave a Mohawk for Lucas' hair. I remembered when he was around 2 years old, I didn't cut his hair as often, for a couple of reasons...(1) it was more difficult to make him sit still than Yesmin and the same age.(2) I don't have the energy to cut his hair every 6 weeks, and too stingy to bring him to the hair salon, and pay $10 cut his hair cut! And most of all (3) we get attention no matter where we go! People always stop and comment about his crazy hair :D (cos' mommy craves for the attention! hahhahaa). My mom would go crazy when she saw his hair...always complaining how long and messy and ugly!!! The one good thing about living thousand and thousands of miles away is that, all those are through phone calls and photos sent home...so, being the rebellious child that I am (I know, I know, there WILL be pay back in the future!!! :P), I ignore her comments! :P

His hair would just stand up by itself!!! --- see all the crazy hair days??! :P

Finally when he was around 3 years old, when he sorta out grown his baby look, I started trimming his hair more often. So, back to last weekend...I figured that since his hair is so unique, and doesn't even require any hair product to make it stand up, why not let him have a mohawk?? I mean, who knows, when he's 16 or 18, the might come back home one day with a florescent blue Mohawk?? So, I convinced him that I'll let him keep the top part of his hair longer...kinda like Hurley in G-Force ...and he bought that! I just can't wait to see how long will his hair grow, before it collapse down. So stay tune, I will post the end result then. :D

Kids' Birthdays - Belated Post

Our home was invaded by these guys!!! ( a little dice on the left was the pretend All Sparks cube)

I've been really terrible at updating my blog recently. With all the year end holidays and my addiction to some new games on Facebook!!! :P So here are some very belated posts.

The kids celebrated their birthdays with some friends. Lucas had never really have a "big party," so this year, he had requested for a birthday party in McDonald's --- I convinced him to have it else where. Man, all these party places aren't cheap anymore. We were lucky that one of his friends in school has her birthday the day before his. So we did a combine party and invited the whole preschool class, and split the bill! :) It was ALL about Transformers for him this year!

Bumble Bee theme cake - got the idea from here

The Decepticons

Yesmin on the other hand, had 5 friends over for a Hello Kitty birthday party at home. I used to see Hello Kitty cookie cutter in the stores here. Back then I didn't think I'd wanna decorate cookies, so I didn't care to buy 'em. Then, when I need it, they are only sold online on ebay! Gees! So, this is what I got.

She didn't wanna have a cake, like the previous year. So, I gave her a few choices and she picked lemon meringue tartlets. I used Meyer lemons for the curd --- YUM! Kinda burnt the meringue a little! :P

Meyer lemon meringue tartlets

I also ordered each girl a headband as a favor. I e-mailed to Erika at Tottie's Pretties, to discuss about getting the "theme" ribbons for the headbands. She advised me on not using the Hello Kitty ribbons, as they don't turn up well on headbands. In the end, we went with a bright pink polka dot with pink background on the headband,with a double bow clip. When I received the box of headbands, Erika has made one extra as a gift for Yesmin. That's the one she's wearing on the picture above. It's got 9 studs for 9 years old. So sweet of her! Thanks Erika. It's now Yesmin's favorite one! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YESMIN!!

Happy Birthday Yesmin! :)

I'm a Proud Mama!

There are so many times and situations where she just DRIVES me INSANE! ...But, there are times when I am just SO PROUD of her.

It's usually the little things she does. For example, last Thursday was their class' library "check out day." When she got off the bus, she was holding this big book and the excitement on her face was like how I would react if I had won the lottery! :P She couldn't wait to show me what she had in her hand. It was a book called, The Naughty Little Monkeys by Jim Aylesworth. She told me she had checked out this book for Lucas! I asked why didn't she checked out something for herself? She told me that she had already have checked out 2 other books for herself and have found this, and knew Lucas would love this! How sweet is that? The fact that she thought about her brother when she saw the book, knowing how much he likes all of the "Little Monkeys" series! She dash back home and showed it him...and of course, he was excited! After her piano lesson, she sat down and read to him :D

I love you, Yesmin! And thank you for being such a thoughtful child!

We Are Fishies!!

What does a aquaphobia mother gets?? Two kids who think they are fish!

Yes, I have a phobia of water, specifically in the pool, ocean, whatsoever. Even when I take a shower, I am usually very careful not to get my face directly facing the shower for more than 5 seconds. I even get nervous when I'm trying to "relax" in a bubble bath! It's not like my parents didn't send me to swimming lessons. They did! But I don't think I ever felt comfortable with the water, and obviously the instructor didn't make me feel that way too - and I don't blame them, cos' it takes a lot to help a person overcome a phobia. I think I'd probably need a psychiatrist too! :P

So because of all the above... when Yesmin was born, one of the things I told my husband was that I want to sign her up for swim lessons the moment she reaches the age to attend a class, and that HE has to go in the pool with her (it's a baby and me class), NOT me. I didn't want to pass my fear to them, as I know that I will start getting nervous when the class has to move around towards the middle of the big pool ( I can only stay by the wall, at most 4-5 feet away from the wall, AND only at where I can touch the bottom of the pool, i.e. no more than 4.5 feet deep - cos' I also get nervous if the water is at my chest level). That was the only activity I made him promise to stick through for them. Until they are about 3-4 years old, where they can move on to level 1, no parent participation required.

Yesmin, from the get go, thinks she's a mermaid. She likes Arial the mermaid too! :) Once she felt comfortable with the instructor (it helps that we live within the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District), she just kept on bopping in and out of the water, trying to hold her breath as long as possible. There were so many times, when she didn't know how to swim yet, she had let go of the wall (it's a safety rule for all kids under certain level to be holding on to the wall while the instructor attends to each kid one at the time). She got busted by "teacher Connie" and got time outs. I am SO THANKFUL for having her, cos' after the 3rd time out, Yesmin has learned her lesson. She stills bopped herself in and out of the water, or submerge herself all the way under water, but at least, she was hanging on the wall. As for me, I am always sitting at the edge of the bench, watching with horror, peeling my nails (I don't bite them, I prefer to 'peel'), ready to shout for the lifeguard....sometimes, I feel so tensed and stressed out, I feel like just not going for the class...but soon, she's able to swim well. And now, she can even swim in the 12 ft deep end, no problem. I am so proud of her.

Lucas on the other hand, has started the lesson more carefully. He's the more cautious type. Doesn't like putting his face in the water... for awhile, I though, "oh no, is he gonna be like me??!" But at least, he's willing to get into the pool. Once in a while, there will be a kid who, no matter what the parents do, or what the instructor say, he/she just would not get in there. I am so thankful that both my kids aren't.

Anyway,Lucas' progress is definitely slower, but that's ok. I just didn't want him to ever be afraid like me. Over the past couple of months, he has improved a little. He is willing to stick his face in the water and blow bubbles. He would even "practice" blowing bubbles when he takes his shower :) He will also bop in and out of the water now and then.

For the past couple of lessons, I realized Lucas has gotten braver. He'd actually stay under the water for a few seconds, hands still on the wall. However, today, I forgot to remind him of the safety rule...he bopped up and down into the water, and let go of the wall while he was IN the water!!! Arrghhhhhh.... there was even one instance he was like 1-2 ft away from the wall!!!! I could see him struggling (the instructor was there, but because Lucas was at the end, and he was giving instruction, he didn't see this happened)....I screamed for his instructor, just as I did that, Lucas managed to get hold on the wall by himself. AAAHHHHH!!!! I felt like I was going to get a heart attack! And he didn't get busted! Dang. Like that wasn't enough, he continues to bopped up and down INTO the water, while letting go of the wall! After a couple of times, I've had enough. I walked over to the lifeguard and gave her a heads up on Mr. LUCAS! His instructor heard me, and had a TALK with him! Ha- Ha! Don't get me wrong, I am proud that he's NOT afraid to go into the water, but it's for his safety and my health! I WOULD GET a heart attack if he keeps going on like that! All I want him to do is, at least HANG ON THE WALL- it's for his safety anyway. I am also especially proud of him today cos' for the 1st time, he actually tried to swim by himself for like 2-3 feet! Man, that was a big step for him! :D

Anyway, I wonder how many more years do I have to endure this... Nonetheless, I am glad we have these great facilities and instructors, and affordable swim lessons. I might have to take some private class in the future to catch up with my kids! :D

My Baby is 5 Today!!!

Happy Birthday Lucas! :)

One of the Most Important Job

Yesterday was the first day of school. I can't believe she's going into 3rd grade!!! Her 2nd grade teacher was looping up with the class, so it wasn't like we didn't know who to expect this time. But it was excited to see who was gonna be staying and leaving (there was a big reshuffling of students in the school due to many reasons).

However, the job I wanna talk about here isn't the teacher. We all know how IMPORTANT a teacher's job can be, and we treasure all the teachers out there, no doubt. This OTHER important job I'm speaking of is the BUS DRIVER ~ who very day fetches our kids back and forth. Really, so often we forget how important their job is, and being a school bus driver, isn't just busing these kids to and back from school...it's more than that!

You'd know what I mean if you have chaperon a field trip. The noise and the behavior of these kids can sometimes be extremely overwhelming! We've had 2 previous bus drivers who hardly ever smile at you, who'd honk REAL loud and fierce because the 1st time my daughter, then in kindergarten, was dropped across the street, and I DID NOT know that I had to wait for the bus driver to make sure both sides are clear before we are allowed to cross. I know they meant well for the safety, but if you had looked at HER face, and how LOUD she had honked at us, you too would be scared!

Anyway, last year we had this AMAZING bus driver name Dee Dee. She's friendly, she's nice, she drives safely, and she gives the kids warnings when needed. Every morning, she greets the kids when they get on the bus, and say goodbyes when they get off. Sometimes she'd even chat with them about their day, their siblings...etc!!! She even keeps 2 books, like I Spy, or Where's Waldo type of books, for the kids to read in the bus, if they wanted to (what a great idea, isn't it??)! And of course, on those special occasions, she'd have a bag of candy/cookies for each kid & their sibling, whether or not, the sibling(s) is on the bus too.

So, at the end of last year, I had asked her if she could possibly bus our route again? Many parents have had the same question for her :) She told me that it is unlikely, since our route is the "popular" route, for whatever reason. Plus, the way they pick the routes are by seniority, so she's very unlikely gonna be busing our neighborhood.

However, yesterday morning, when we waited for the bus to arrive...guess who was driving the bus??!!! Yeahhhh!!! It's Dee Dee!!! =D You could tell how happy all the parents at the bus stop were!!!



Thank you Dee Dee and we LOVE you!!! :)

MIA

Haven't been posting since June.... opppsss!!! I'm still here, I'm still around....but we've been away from home. The kids and I have came back to Malaysia for the Summer (Nd joined us in mid-July). We've been here for almost 7 weeks!!!! It's wonderful to see the family and friends, and eat "THE FOOD" that we so missed. However, I am ready to go back to my own bed, to my berries picking, and the other routine. I know we will miss everyone back here in Malaysia, and all the food...but, like the saying goes "Home sweet home" --- no matter where it is.

So, until then, I'll see you all again soon, and I'll be blogging about the trip. =) Have a great Summer while the Sun is still shining! :)

A Sunny Day, A Swing (actually two swings), and A Dress

On one sunny day...

when the ground isn't soggy with the Oregon rain...they went out back to get some Vitamin D & loads of fun!!!

It is one of the many reasons why it is so difficult to move away from this house (although I am constantly running out of storage space), as we have spent so much time and sweat (and $$, of course) into making it a comfortable and fun home.

I don't know if there is ANY kid in this world who would not like to swing on a swing...even till this day, I still find myself, sometimes fighting over with them for the swing (I can't fit into the slide anymore, and I don't have strong arms to do the monkey bars)! :P We are so lucky, and we're THANKFUL for this.

This is THE OTHER story...about a dress...

For few months now, I have noticed that whenever Yesmin or any girl is wearing a dress, Lucas will show extra affection towards her or whoever the girl is. He seems to like girls wearing dresses. He's the type of person that sticks to the "rule" --- pink color is for girls, blue color is for boys, hence, dresses are meant for girls. Both Yesmin and I rarely wear dress/skirt, so, I think it is very special to him, when she does wear them. When he was in school last week, he met a girl wearing a PURPLE dress...and he kept talking about her the WHOLE week!!

The day before these pictures, he had INSISTED on Yesmin wearing this dress! She didn't want to, but promised him she would the following day. He was mad and sad at first. Then we told him that if she had worn a dress, she won't be able to play with him in the back yard , as she might rip the dress while climbing up the ladder on the play structure....so, he accepted the negotiation. The following morning, he told ND(Lee) that the play structure is broken, so Jia jia (big sister) could now wear the dress!!! ;P