Happy Dragon Year!

That snow day for the boys (no schoolruns!) bought me some time to make this...

Bak-kwa!

Only one other time last year I had done this. So it was really quite a delicacy! :)

After that, I passed off my everyday cleaning as springcleaning, happily rolling whatever dust and laundry I had not got to, over to the next day and next! In the spirit of "nian nian you yu", haha, but don't quote me on this!

A new dress from a summer sale got Meimei happy and in a dancing mood!

She went, "Dance with Koala", then *drops the koala*, and decided, "It's more fun with dance with the cushion, hahahahaha!"!

Meimei also helped me raid the pantry for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 "treasures" :D. We improvised.

And yes, her brothers were especially glad we did the steamboat -- with fishballs, and more -- on the eve of the Lunar New Year, last Sunday! :D

Flowers for our new friends who had us over for a potluck on the eve of the eve. Card from my awesome gf who sends us one year after year.

Cheers to friendships old and new!

ROARRR!!!

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 actually just SMILE my way to the finishing line with my dental work$ rolled over from last year, 'coz of the you-guessed-it co$t$!

Really thankful eldest watched his meimei in the waiting room when the dentist squeezed me in for a look at a different complaint that had cropped up :(.

The UPSIDE of that visit: As meimei was also amusing herself with my phone, I was able to start on the outstanding works. That saved me another drive there :). I'd rather not put my driving skills in snow/slush/ice to the test, more than was necessary.

To great health, and great teeth, too, hehe, in this Dragon Year! ROARRR!!

Shovel, shovel!

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, spoke to me to try and slow down, too.

Dancing sibs

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 the air (*wink*), but -- no promises -- might not catch her!

Kids... hardly a dull moment!

TGIF! Three more days and hubby will be back to enjoy (share) them ;p.


(Some rough moments with peers, being pushed into a corner. Defend ourselves, be safe. But don't attack. I'm relieved my child chose to walk away from trouble. It takes two to tango. More than that, let's try and think peace, ya).

Enjoy the little things

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 -- with her own madeup writing on the line, line after line!

Thinking out of the box, she uses her puzzle pieces as cookies.

Tea, anyone? :D

Warming up to the new year

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, soya saucish beef stew.

Hearty stews and piping hot soups are especially nice in winter :D.

We've also got more to go chew, digest, and find out about the dental works younger son needs.

Let's try and do it one step at a time.

Whoosh... Goodbye, 2011!

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 worktrips 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, back home, I watched Diary of the Wimpy Kid 2 with all three kids. It happened to be on TV and ended at midnight. The boys camped on their mattresses we'd dragged out from their bedroom, Meimei and I shared the couch, and we all shared a large bowl of microwaved popcorn!


The LOL, silly moments between brothers Greg and Rodrick in the show, forced to bond by their parents, were perfect for ringing in the new year. With lots of laughter, and eager anticipation ("sit down, sit down, you're too close to the TV!", I had to urge the younger two kids ;p) of how things would work out. And aww moments, too, that underneath all the sibling fights, they loved one another! 


Happy new year to you and yours! May it be filled with joy and love overflowing, and a sense of adventure, too, to try new things maybe. I know we also have to keep going with all the works in progress in our lives, my life. By His grace. Onward ho!


(Rolled out late, life is busy)!