First Experience Ever!!!

Our neighbor had three girls, and Jeannie was asked to babysit them for a good four hours last Thursday. Knowing my teen never enjoy playing girly stuff, I asked her to take some games over to our neighbor's house so as to entertain the girls. When she came home, I asked:

Me: So, how's your evening?
Jeannie: Great! Mom, the girls are so good and well behaved! Even the little one, Jessie would go to bed by herself when she is tired!!!
Me: Wow... that's great! Did you help pick up the toys when they are done?
Jeannie: Hm.... I forgot!
Me: Did you play games with the girls?
Jeannie: No... unfortunately!
Me: Then, what did you guys do the whole evening?
Jeannie: (Shaking her head as if she did not want to tell) Well, we played Barbies...
Me: Hahahahahah..... Yeah, my child is finally playing Barbies!!!

Sorry, honey. Mom is such a tease! :)

Galette des Rois (King Cake)

I don't like baking!!! But after taking the first bite of the Galette des Rois, I've a change of mind. :)

It all begins when Johnny got me a slice of pie (don't know why they call it cake when it looks more like a pie to me) from work about two weeks ago...

One of his French co-workers ordered a Galette des Rois, or King Cake from a local French bakery store in celebration of the Epiphany. Here is the website to the origin of the cake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake

I never am a big fan of dessert, but this pie is so yummy that I would skip the main course and go right into it. In fact, Johnny and I like it so much that we ordered one when the Cheungs was over; and they, as well predicted, also fell in love with it.

Everything is good about this pie except that the store would only make it in January. :(

Since Johnny and I both like it, I was determined to give it a try!

Well, an hour after when I was done baking the pie. My husband called and told me that he just ordered the King Cake for me, and we are to pick up on Sat. Yeah... Thanks hun!

Anyway... my pie turns out ok., the sweetness and taste are pretty close except the filling is a little stiff I I told Johnny that I am going to keep trying until I get the right consistancy!!! :)

No School Today!

School is cancelled today becasue of bad weather, and the kids don't seem to miss it at all. Neither do I!!! :)

Someone is having fun sledding with Evan, or may be not...

One, two, three... nice pose for mommy!!!

Ready, set, go.... competition is on FIRE??

Oh what fun, it is to ride in a...

Who let the dog out???? Who, who, who, who...

New Year Dinner

Tradition!

Jeannie: So mom, now that we are done cleaning... we should go shopping!

Me: Why?

Jeannie: Cause we need new clothes... Remember what you said about the Chinese New Year? E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G has to be new?

Me: Hmm.... good memory, girl! But, we just got you a few sweaters last month! :)

Jeannie: Yeah, but... they are not new anymore, and you mentioned of going clothes shopping with grandma EVERY NEW YEAR! (I finally realized she was playing jokes on me when I saw her giggling.)

Me: (Knowing my teen would hide new clothes in the closet for the Spring.) I suggested, "Why don't you check into your closet and look for all the new clothing items and put them on?"

Jeannie: Hahahaa.... that's different!!!

We were both laughing.

**May be I should move some of our Christmas budget to the Chinese New Year... :)

Happy Chinese New Year!

I must be getting old and losing my head! All along this past week, I've been telling the kids of the upcoming Chinese New Year falling on 1/28 (Wed), but to find out from Tracy C. that it's actually on 1/26 (Mon). Thank goodness that her family came over last night or else I would be calling my parents a few days late, and that would be terrible.

I love Chinese New Year. It reminds me of my mom. Mom is a traditional Chinese woman. She likes making authentic Chinese dishes for special occassion - such as turnip pudding, red bean pudding, "tong yuen" and vegetable dishes (tsai) for Chinese New Year; and of course her famous rice dumpling for the Dragon Boat Festival.

Mom not only make delicious Chinese dishes, she is also the "BEST cleaning person", or a clean freak (Haha... a name my brother and dad call her, and I hate to disagree more!). When I was young, mom and I would do a deep cleaning around the house as the New Year approached. This is absolutely not just a regular chores, it's an intense workout for the both of us! What I mean by that? Imagine cleaning all the cabinets, refrigerator, bathroom, bedrooms, windows, and doors inside out, from dusting to mopping, from ceiling to the floor. Then, the changing of bedsheets and a fresh coat of paint to the front door etc... To make my point, the house has to be spotless before the first day of the Chinese New Year.

As a kid, I often felt dragged by all these cleaning chores. But, now that I am older and have my own children; I realize how lucky I am to have a loving mom who taught me all these wonderful traditions, and how important it is for me to carry these traditions to my children.

So, what have we done in the past few days?? Having a Chinese New Year feast and the elbow grease cleaning, of course!!! Oh yeah, I love this festival and the fact that I could have a clean house is definitely a PLUS! Thanks, mom! :)

The Result

Here's the end result of my one week project.

I forgot to take a before picture of the couches in the current home, so I am pulling an ancient picture from our previous home. Both of the couches and the coffee table were stained in the same color. Looks all good to me... even my two-yr-old was impressed! :)