If there is a smell to describe my childhood, I would say the smell of yummy food, pasties, cake, etc. My grandma was a very a good cook and baker. She would often make us fresh homemade waffle, pancakes as our snack. These simple combination of plain flour, sugar, eggs and water can actually bring me back to my childhood memories with her. I miss hear dearly.

(February 27 2010)

Juggling 4 jackets, 2 drinks, 2 bags, diapers, snacks and my phone…not a good idea although I have put my phone inside my pocket. I was opening the door and *thud, I looked down, my phone was facing down on the concrete floor of the garage. Without any emotions, I picked it up, brushed it with my fingers and before I put it back inside my pocket, I notice a spider-web pattern on the screen. I remembered I thought to myself “ew, disgusting” but when the spider-web seems to refuse to go away, my heart skipped a beat. I ran to find Des and I showed him my phone without a word. He looked at the phone and looked at me, “Did the kids do it????”

I could have said Yes… ^_^ but how could I do that to my daughters, right?

I came clean and instead of lecturing me or giving me the look, he said “ok, let’s not go to Costco and deal with this”.

Anyway, long story short, the fee to fix the screen costs as much as a replacement phone, so we got a new phone.

So lesson learnt!, Never juggle more than 2 things at a time.

I have never seen Vancouver like this. Crazy party singing “O Canada” everywhere from the bus to the train to the street for the whole 17 days of the Winter Olympics. How often will the city that you live in hosting Olympics? We have lots of fond memories (Elisa: feel free to add to the list as I often forgot)

- Brought the kids to the downtown core to experience the atmosphere, the concert, the street performers, to the lightshow and fireworks – and how well they were behaving all the time

- Watched the Canada beat USA in OT gold medal hockey game live at downtown big screens with friends. Screamed and high fives all the way through the street after that. On my oh my !!! Vancouver screamed after the goal and did not stopped screaming … even after we left downtown many many hours later

- KK loved all the music and the performance and Miga. Miga is one of the mascot – a killer whale bear.

- En-En dragged us off the couch to dance when there was a figure skating on TV

- En-En pointed to the TV and screamed “GOALLL!!!!”

- How many times did we say “are we done with Olympics?” and went out to absorb the atmosphere AGAIN

- Witnessed the first gold won by Canada on the Canadian soil

- Set history as the most number of gold medals won by a nation (14) in Winter Olympics

- Saw the hot and attractive Lindsey Vonn (of USA Alpine Skiing) – talked to her but did not ask for autograph or take a photo. D’Oh!

- According to BBC’s reporter James Pearce (link here), “I was in Beijing, and I can assure you that you simply cannot compare the spectator experience there with the one here in Vancouver. Vancouver wins hands down.”

I have been reading a historical fiction British naval series by Patrick O’Brian for a while. I love boats, waters, pirates, cannons, and history – and one of my friend introduced me to this series. I just realized that I just finished book 15 out of the 21 books. Why the thrill? The series brings me back with detail activities of sailing a ship, sea battles, going around the world during Napoleon era, the history, the politics, the espionage, and the as a naturalist myself, the encounter with many species of flora and fauna from around the world. I love the style of writing from O’Brian. He finishes the book right after a fairly significant events with no fuzz – no lenghty ending. It is up to the reader to pick up the next book and to use the imagination to fill the background between the ending of last book and the beginning of this book.

I particularly enjoyed the part when the characters were in Indonesia archipelago which I would madly trying to figure out where the exact location they were.  It is an escape book. I want to continue reading but I dread the time when I finish the whole series and then what … no more.

The series: Master and Commander; Post Captain; HMS Surprise; The Mauritius Command; Desolation Island; The Fortune of War; The Surgeon’s Mate; The Ionian Mission;  Treason’s Harbour; The Far Side of The World; The Reverse of the Medal; The Letter of Marque; The Thirteen Gun Salute; TheNutmeg of Consolation; Clarissa Oakes; The Wine Dark Sea; The Commodore; The Yellow Admiral; The Hundred Days; Blue at the Mizzen; The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey

1. wake up to the sound of birds
2. driving the kids to community center classes
3. prepare lunch, feed the kids, put the kids to nap, clean the kitchen
4. bake cookies
5. blogging
6. prepare dinner
7. walk to bus stop with kids to greet husband off from work
8. have dinner
9. bath the kids
10. play with the kids
11. put the kids to bed
12. …. and i crash….zzzzz
(have i ever told u that i dislike routine???) but having 2 kids, nothing routine about my life. Even though that is a perfect scenario for me, I seldom have a day like that. But I guarantee, never a dull moment with kids around. I laugh, I scream, I yell, I chuckle, I smile, I get upset, … I LOVE you two!!!!You make my days colorful!

Elisa voted for the first time ever!!! Wuhuu and she promise to be knowledgeable on the matters and who are running for next time. I am very impressed. At least, now I will have someone in the house to discuss (or argue) about politics.

I VOTED – that’s the civil right for being citizen and making sure that your opinion is voiced where you lived. It surprising to see that such low % of eligible people voted. There is a riding (on preliminary counts) that differs by TWO votes.

Viola is not yet eligible to vote. She just participate in taking the stickers – that’s all for now. Will make sure that she votes when she is eligible.

“2 kids? boy and girl?”
“no. 2 girls.”
“2 girls huh?? it is OKAY! Girls are better anyway”

That was the comment that I got almost every single time when I was asked. And the comment usually comes from older Asian “moms”.

When I was pregnant with Adelia, people would ask me for the gender and when I told them it would be a girl. They would give me a disappointed look and then commented,  “It is Okay…… Girls are better anyway”. When did I ever indicate that it is NOT okay to have 2 girls anyway???

Growing up with two sisters and a younger brother,  I have always known that I want 2 girls and 1 boy. But since Des really wants to stop at 2 with no room for error ^_^, I have my peace with 2 girls.

For those who thinks the need to comfort us for having 2 girls, really, it is OKAY!!!! Des and I are really lucky to have Viola and Adelia that we wouldn’t any other way. Thank you very much!

Sorry, I just feel the need to speak up.

Ever since we have moved to this house, Desmon has been spending lots of time in the backyard. I never thought he would even bother taking the extra trips to Home Depot to get bird feeders. And, whenever there is birds eating from the feeder, he would yell for us to see the birds.I mean, really… birds are not that interesting.

Today, I saw a squirrel attempted to eat the bird-food. He did the mission-impossible-move, felt and tried again. (Don’t ask me why I refer the squirrel as a “he”, he just looks a like he to me).  I know this particular scene would make Des happy and yell for me, my ma and Viola to see. So, i took the pictures and sent them to him in the office. His reaction:

“did the squirrel got it?”
“no way. that’s cute”
“kk must be so excited-siong su”
“but he eventually cling on and got the seeds?”
“so funny”
“the seeds will be gone like no tomorrow”
“the seeds depleted?”……………………………..”release the dogs”

… for Elisa

She is in the middle of obtaining a tooth. via implant.

I have no idea it is so complicated to gain a tooth. Ya’ll may not notice cause she photoshop-ed the missing tooth before any photo was posted- ups, did i type that for the whole wide world to read? Very bravely, she went to have the dental surgery done yesterday. Took the pill – I cannot tell what colour she picked – and went under.

3 hours later I came to pick her up for the dental chair. She was quite dazed. Apparently the dentist can only do bone expansion procedure, not actually bone implant. What’s the difference? I will have to wiki after I finish this post. She asked the dental assistant when the next surgery  would be. In six months. And 4 more months after that before can do the actual crown. We were at the front desk and Elisa asked the dental assistant – again – when the next surgery would be. In six months was the answer. After I settled with the front desk, I heard Elisa asked the dental assistant – again – when the next surgery would be. In six months was the answer again. Dazed and has no clue what is happening. Crazy pill.

She got home and told her mama that the next surgery in six months. And fell asleep for the whole day.  She woke up and asked us when would the next surgery be. We told her in six months and told her that she has asked that a lot of times. She is doing good, just a little swollen on the cheek and drugged on pain killers.

Be careful on what pill you take!

I always feel bad when I order pancakes because Des feels that they are overpriced. Des nags me to find a good recipe and just do it at home. I did try several recipes but always not satisfied with them until this one!!! I managed to change some of the ingredients to match my taste bud. Note to myself: next time more grated lemon rind.

The recipe (make 12):

* 1 cup              whole wheat flour
* 2 tsp               baking powder
* ½ tsp              baking soda
* 1tbsp              extra-fine sugar
* 2                     eggs, separated
* 1 cup              milk
* Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
* 1/3 cup           cranberry
* ¼ stick            unsalted butter

How to:

1. Sift flour, b powder, b soda and sugar into a bowl
2. make a well in the center, add egg yolks, pour in milk and whisk slowly till smooth (do not over-mix)
3. In a greese-free bowl, whisk egg whites until stiff
4. using large metal spoon, carefully fold into the batter together with the lemon rind and cranberry