Okaasan is Sick

Not feeling well since yesterday as have been sleeping late the past few nights and not enough rest. so have heaty cough and cold coming too. Felt much better after last night rest. Slept for nearly 10 hours.

Uncle Alex even asked me if i got swine flu !!?????

well, i got no fever, and my appetite is still as good. Just feeling lethargic and sleepy.

Naahhh.... i responded.

He replied: well, the symptoms takes time to appear ....

Me: ARRGGGGG.... *fingers cross* No way!!

Australia's Swine Flu cases is increasing in numbers and Mr. Boss has 'instructed' me not to go to places that are too crowded.. or should i say he meant 'Stay Home'.

Mr. Boss is coming tomorrow and hopefully i will be recovered soon.. so are the kids as they too having cough. Yeah cough again!

For Uncle Alex

Broccolini with Stew Pork and Sweet Sour Chicken on Rice

Quick & Easy Lunch

Ingredients

Spaghetti
3 mushrooms
1 Egg
Carrot
Lettuce
Onions
Minced Chicken
Light Soya sauce
Pepper
Japanese Sake for cooking
Mirin
Japanese Spicy Powder

Plastic vs Porcelain Bowl

Last night, Lucas wanted some strawberries but i told him i need to soak in water first before he can eat. AND he waited patiently. Usually i let him eat with a plastic bowl. This time, i thought let him use the porcelain bowl.

Here is his response:

Lucas: mommy, not this bowl, the plastic one

Mommy: Its ok, just use this one. (referring to the porcelain one)

Lucas: NOooooooo.

Mommy: Why?

Lucas: NOoooo, not this one..... later if i break it, you will be angry....."

The way he said its like for sure it will happen... i will be angry ??!!

Anything wrong with Lachie Name?

Few days ago i was chatting with kids godmother on MSN telling her about the kids news etc. here is our conversation:

Godmother: hey, why you call your son 垃圾 (rubbish in mandarin)

Mom: huh???? Lachie a rubbish ? what do you mean, i didnt call him that

Godmother: you wrote Lachie = La Chie 垃圾

Mom: oh really.. haha.. we pronouced it as "LocKy" !!

Godmother: well, for first glance.. really looks like that pronounciation.

Hmm... then probably i shouldn't write Lachie anymore huh?

Lachlan Potty News

Finally, today Lachie passed his bowel using the normal toilet bowl. Isn't it great ! All along he has been using the kids potty and refuses to try the normal toilet bowl.

This noon, i saw him squatting in the living room and the face slightly frown. OH.. that's the kind of expression i fear most because that means his stool is coming AND he everytime doesn't inform me. There were a few times stools just drop on the floor. No wonder, his uncle Alex doesn't want to babysit them provided they are on pampers. Like he said, he doesn't want to clean up their stool. So at least with pampers, i can clean them when i'm back. Oh Lord!

Okay back to Lachie, as i was saying i saw the expression. Here is our conversation

Mom: Lachie, is your stool coming?

Lachie: (just looking at me in very serious expression but neither he nodding)

Mom: okay.. stop.. just stop whatever you doing.. lets go upstair

Lachie: (standing up slowly.. legs apart walking real slowly)

Mom: (oh gosh,.... must have stool already out, what should i do?)

Alright, without thinking much knowing its not enough time to bring down the potty. I took him to the toilet downstair and just put him on the toilet bowl seat. Thank goodness, he didn't complain and grumble and his bowel smoothly done.

Well Done Lachie!

I am GREY MATTER

Almost bedtime, the two were playing with Lachie's Ben 10 Watch. Just like in the Cartoon, Lachie likes to press the watch as if he is going to change to another alien form. The two fellows were discussing which alien Lachie wants to change into. I was making their milk.

Lucas: Lachlan.. press it.. and change to Grey Matter

**This is GREY MATTER



Lachlan: ok. (press the button) I am Grey Matter. (Laughing)

MOMMY: ok.. boys drink your milk milk. (Pass the bottle to them)

Lachlan: (Happily lying down) ok.. Grey Matter drinking Milk Milk.

FOUR Colours Fried Rice

Ingredients

Rice (2 cups)
1/4 Green Pepper
1/4 Yellow Pepper
1/4 Red Pepper
Chopped Carrot
Fish Cake (Cubed)
2 Eggs
1 Minced Garlic clove
Ginger
Fish Fillet (Optional)
Japanese Spice Powder (Just sprinkle on top)
2 tbsp Light Soya sauce
1/4 Salt
1/4 Sugar
A dash of Pepper

I like to buy those Korean BBQ sauce like Bulgogi Marinade and this time i have some Seasoned Soy Sauce (Bulgogi Marinade) in the fridge. I have never tried that on salmon. So thinking, maybe this time since i have no idea what to cook for the salmon today.

Ingredients

Salmon Fillets
2tbsp Bulgogi Marinade (Soy sauce)
Pepper
Minced Garlic
Minced Ginger
Chopped Spring Onion
Minced Dried Shrimp (optinoal)

1. Marinade the salmon for at least 20mins with the sauce and all the ingredients
2. Heat up the oil in the pan
3. Cook the Salmon fillet til turn brown both side

Another Lucas's Favourite Meal

This is not a traditional Shepherd's pie recipe as i don't have the required sauce like the Worcestershire sauce and ran out of tomato sauce too. Furthermore, i substituted lamb with beef. However overall still taste good as my kiddo loves it. I guess it will look much better if the mashed potato were more golden brown but didnt want to burn my pastry. Next time probably can put the pastry later since it takes so long to brown the potato.

The meat sauce is not as much as those minced beef i wanna finish all.

Sherpherd's Pie with Salad



Pie Ingredients

Minced Beef
Chopped Onions
Chopped Carrots
Kidney Beans
Green Peas
Sweet Corn
Swiss Brown Mushrooms
Beef Cubed Stock
Red Wine
Pepper
Salt
Ground Cinnamon (optional)
Cornstarch (for thickening)
Mashed Potato

Pie Pastry Sheet
Animals or Shapes Cutter

For Salad

Baby Cos Lettuce
Kidney Beans
Chickpeas
Parmesan Cheese
Caesar Dressing



See the little gingerbread man and star? thats Lucas's work. He insisted that he wants to cut the shapes out himself using the cutter of course. He did press pretty hard and quite beautifully done. Its always good to involve the kids in the cooking.

Lachie didnt get to taste at all. He asked this seeing lucas eating his pie.

Mommy.. where is my porridge?

oh... so no choice i got to cook simple porridge for him. haha

Okaasan のYee MEE

Ingredients

Swiss Brown Mushroom
Fish Cake
Chopped Shallots
Carrots
Sweet Corn
Green Vegetables (I used Choy Sum)
Cornstarch (for thickening)
Soya Sauce
Salt
Pepper
Chicken Stock (optional)

Lunch box: Fried Mee Hoon

Ingredients

Mee Hoon
Dried Shrimp
Shallot
Red Onion
Spring Onion
3 Eggs
Sliced Cabbage
Soya Sauce
3 tbsp Dark Soya sauce
Pepper

Sydney Trip

We had a short vacation with the boys in Sydney taking budget airline and staying in a service-apartment which was quite good. Places we been to:

Sydney Aquarium

"The Stingray"

Mr. Boss taught Lucas how to distinguish the female from male. AND lucas can tell the difference everytime he sees one swim by.



"The Dugong"


Wildlife Park

This is just situated next door to the aquarium so we bought the two passes at cheaper price.


The grasshoppers... mating season i guess as almost every pair is doing the same thing. AND my lucas saw that asking me

"Mommy, why are these grasshoppers so close together?"



Forgot what this called. Some water lizard ? Anyway, i was pointing this to lucas and i told him

Mommy: Lucas, look at the 'green' lizard

Lucas: where? where?

Mommy: There.. just infront of you , this one..

Lucas: where? cannot see where?

Mommy: neh... this one.. here

Lucas: NO.. mommy, you are wrong... this is not green.. it is BLUE...

Mommy: (Speechless)


Taronga ZOO

The Seal Show

The kids love it.

"The Koala Bear"

The Buddha's Day @ Federation Square

It's the Buddha's Day again. We didn't stay very long. Just bring the kids for praying and made some donation. And Kids get to hold the joss-sticks and shower the buddha statue.

Peanut Butter and Banana Muffin

Ingredients

3 tbsp Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Banana Puree
1 cup Plain Flour
1 Egg white
1 tsp Baking soda
1 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup raw sugar (blended)

AND muffin becomes beautiful cupcake



Model: Lucas

Stewed Drumsticks 瑞士雞腿

Ingredients

5 Chicken Drumbsticks
8-10 Chinese Mushrooms (pre-soaked)
6-8 Garlic Cloves
2-3 Shallots whole
3-4 tbsp All Purpose Marinade (Amoy brand) 瑞士汁
150ml Water

Method

1. In a saucepan, bring the water and All Purpose Marinade to boil
2. Put in Garlic Cloves, Shallots and Drumsticks
3. Stew the drumstick til the gravy turns thick and then add the Mushrooms and ready to serve

Lachie's How to write a M

One night, three of us were in the toysroom. Lachlan suddenly ran to the corner where this wardrobe is. Here is our conversation.

Lachlan: Mommy... come.. come and see how i write a M

I was sitting on the floor. Looking at his direction thinking he wants to write a letter M on the wardrobe door.

Mommy: okay.. i am looking.

Lachlan: mommy.. come.. see how i write a M

Mommy: okay... i know.. i am looking.. u can write now.

Lachlan Still not writing. i am a little puzzled.

Lachlan: MOM... MOM come

(note: when he start calling me 'mom' instead of mommy meaning he is frustrated)

Then, something just strike me. He wasn't telling me to see him how to write a M.

He was actually telling me

"MOMMY, come and see HOW TALL I AM"

He wants me to take his height measurement !!!!!!

oh gosh.... this always happens and i so happen forgot to ask Lucas for help thinking i totally understand what Lachie said !!!

Mother's Day

MOTHER's Day Gift from the two fellows

From Lucas


*The rose was given by the Vegie Stall owner in the market (yes, we went market after Docklands trip)

Lucas made the card few days before the Mother's day with help from his teacher. He brought back the envelope and showed to me. He even stick the card on the fridge. BUT he doesn't let me open it because he said that is his card. Actually, i wasn't the one open up the envelope. Lucas did.

From Lachlan



Docklands Pier



On Sunday 10th May, thanks to my lovely kids and husband, i had a wonderful afternoon spent in Docklands.


** Dayi.... yup.. that is Lucas looking at the face painting stall

There were few market stalls on Sunday and one of the stalls was the face painting one. A few kids were waiting for their turns and lucas was really totally captured by the face-painting. He said a big NO no matter how many times we tried to convince him for a face paint job.

We walked in one of the restaurant for lunch and i totally forgot to snap on the food we ordered. Mr. Boss had a Wagyu Beef Burger. I ordered a Rump Steak with Chips and kids had Nuggets and chips.

The restaurant was quite packed and we waited about 20mins for our table. While waiting, the kids enjoying themselves climbing up and down the art structured displays.


** Da yi.. FYI.. that is not Lucas nor Lachlan ..haha

After Lunch, we took a stroll and there were a few boats parked at pier. And one nice lady (teenager) gave lucas some bread to feed the ducks that swimming near one of her father's boat.


Lucas holding the bread


Thats the two ducks

Kids Creation V

Another masterpiece that lucas made yesterday.

" Very creative in his artwork, way above those kids of his age"

That's the comment from his teacher.

A CAT


Can you see the Eyes and the Whiskers?



Look! Even has a tail !

Concert for Kids...

On 24th April, i brought the kids to Alex & Kary Melbourne show Concert. The tickets were given by a close friend for free as he is one of the organisers. Initially i am still not quite sure to bring the kids but the close friend of mine is also bringing her two kids along. well, on second thought, why not?

Mr. Boss was suppose to go with us but he mistaken the flight schedule and only arrive in melb on Saturday so no choice i get my bro to takeover his place.

The kids were quite excited about going concert. We reached the venue on time, it was held at the Arts Centre. Around 8pm, everyone (most were standing outside, chatting etc) started making their way to the entrance. We got out seats and were given two long balloons each (of course, needed to blow in some air first) where we can just hit them together and make the 'bung bung' noise. Its been so so long i have not been to a concert. Anyway, lucas enjoyed it but lachlan not so, justs hold the balloon in his hand. He also kept asking for my camera and he took the pictures of Alex (the singer) singing on the stage.

At around 8.50pm, lachlan asked for milk. oh, i told him i didnt bring any but luckily i brought his favourite choc bread. I looked around first and then secretly pass him the bread as no drinks/food is allowed inside. :p

10 minutes later, lucas asking to go home. haha... well, i knew it for sure as he already started yawning not long after the show started.

So we left after lachie finished his bread. We took some pictures outside, the hallway and we were given magazine (one of the sponsors) for free.

Overall, the experience is pleasant :)

** pictures to be uploaded later **

Lachlan and his sandwich

This morning got to prepare early as we planned going out. Its Mother's day. Mr Boss had a tennis session with a friend in the morning. After shower the kids, brought them down for brekkie. I prepared sandwich for Lucas and Avocado bread for lachie.

Lucas is very good boy already sitting down on bar stool start munching his sandwich. As for lachie, he as usual sticking his bum on the sofa watching his cartoon. I placed the plate on their red table and ask him to take his bread. He told me that he wanna eat on the couch and i told him no. I was busy preparing stuff and before i went upstair i reminded him again.

Mom: Lachlan, please.. take your bread now... we got to go out soon..

Lachie: i am...ee...eating.... (sounds abit irritated)

I was kind of surprise with his response. So, I took one look at him. Yes indeed, he took the plate to the couch and sitting there, munching his sandwich.

This time, he finished the bread all by himself on the couch and didnt make much mess too. (usually i have to feed him)