Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Ceej and his cars

The Ceej-ling has a new obsession. Its this thing he has about arranging things. I have no idea where he gets it from cuz neither myself of his daddy is even remotely organized in any way. I find it interesting how kids learn so quickly then figure out to do things even better as time goes on.

First he did this.


Then he did this.

I am such a proud mother!

Friday, November 13, 2009

My son, the artist!

This week, our Ceej started "school". It was a big step for me to do this because I felt that he was okay to be home with me all day. But something was missing...you know, the interaction with children, the group experience, and spending time with other people besides me. All these things I can't teach him at home. Our neighbor down the street has graciously been able to take him in 2 times a week temporarily to see how he'll do. He's the youngest amongst all the other kids and they do curriculum there daily so he's not just playing all day. I want him to learn! I want him to be a genius by the ripe age of 2.

Other kids at "school" were trying to teach him how to color with crayons. So I tested him at home to see how well he would do.
So, what do you think? Future graphic designer? Painter? Art teacher? I'm dreaming too early... he's only 18 months old.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

It's been a while

Yes, I know. The last time I've posted up anything on this blog was at the end of summer. Its been busy! I'll get back into it soon...

Just need to:
Get better sleep
Cook some healthier foods
Fix our front and back yard. The flowers are dying and need to be replaced.

Smiles!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Oh tomatoes!

Its been a really really busy summer for me. So busy that many of my eco living ways were thrown out the door (temporarily, I hope). It's really not that convenient trying to be green. I have recently eaten many packaged foods (more fast food than normal too) and I haven't cloth diapered in close to 2 months. Plus my hopes in starting a compost pile has dwindled, perhaps next year I'll get around to it. But somehow I found a little time to try to grow something...

As some of you have seen in one of my past post (see here), you would prob remember that I recently took a stab at gardening. Oh boy, I'm so embarrassed to admit that I'm absolutely terrible at it! Its my second season of attempting it too. Last year was a horrible year where I tried to grow some zucchini. I didn't know this but zucchini can over take your yard in an instant. The leaves which shade the fruit are really huge and in a matter of weeks can block other plants if its not situated in a good spot.

Anyways, my mom and father in law convinced me to try again. This time with tomatoes. Everyone told me that "oh its easy!" or "all you have to do is water it". Um, well...let's just say that what happened last year had repeated itself. While other people I know growing tomatoes have already harvested large amounts, mine just started to turn from green to a pale pink. I'd say I have to wait at least a couple more weeks for my harvest to ripen. Apart from growing tomatoes, there's green beans somewhere in the mix. Its just a mess out there. The plants hit my legs while I'm trying to water them every morning.



On a brighter note, the Ceej has started walking. Within a matter of weeks, he looked from being a baby into a full on toddler. Actually, he looks like a total kid now.

Also, yesterday I saw Julie & Julia. The best movie of the summer, fo sho!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

It's hotter in Arizona

Yeah, that's so obvious. I went from it being in the 90's last week here in San Jo and went into a oven in Arizona as it was 110 degrees there. Man, good thing there's lots of AC everywhere I go. It was a fun trip, just a little short. Thomas was on missions and I had a few days to do nothing so I took this opportunity to visit my very good friend, Erin Li/Dayala.

Sorry about the bad picture quality of these pictures. It was taken by my terrible Red Easy Share Kodak Camera.

Ready to fly! He did great! No crying or fussing, just a lot of curiosity.



Had to hit up Chik-fi-la. Love this place! They had free breaky the whole entire week, featuring something different everyday. Ofcourse I felt bad just getting the free items so we ordered some other things. When I ordered coffee, they had 3 different roast for me to choose from. Beat that, Mc D's! Anyways another thing I noticed is that Chik-fi-la is very "Christian". They close on Sundays and they play Christian music over the loud speakers. So I guess you somewhat get indoctrinated while eating your chicken sandwich.


We also headed to the Pheonix Children's Museum. I remember taking this picture and saying/thinking something like "hurry hurry, its freakin' hot!". Poor Ceej, his legs are burning up. Anyways, fun place and better than the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum. A lot of hands on fun and great kids art displays mixed into the building's design.

Lots of stroller parking everywhere. Its needed...

This is Ceej's favorite! Its all these swimming noodles tied up on the ceiling that cover part of the top floor. Kids just run in and out of it and laugh with glee.

Ceej "butting" into other kids and mommy reading time. He likes to butt into everything nowadays.
This was prob my most fave thing in Pheonix. Erin and I were looking around for something local, special and different. We found the Urban Cookie. The owner (as seen here) is describing to us everything that he makes and the ingredients, etc. Nice guy, makes me jealous a little because he seems like he really enjoys what he does. We bought a bunch of cookies and found my favorite which was a pineapple coconut cookie. Good stuff!
Erin nicely posing next to the vanilla lemon cupcake. The frosting is nice and light, not heavy like Sprinkles cupcakes.
Night times consisted of sitting inside, cooling off, and swimming.
Last but not least, Erin and her hubs, Ryan celebrated three years of marriage. I totally forgot that it was that same week we visited! Oops... bad on me. I should've known! I was in their wedding too. Anyways, Erin got three pairs of jordan's to represent each year together. Inside joke. Har.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

A Tent for Toddler


Yeah, I don't really know what I was thinking when I purchased this at Ikea the other day. It didn't look THIS big at the store! Why in the world does a toddler need a tent anyways??? Our living room has been officially taken over....

A Semi-Casual Father's Day



I couldn't resist not making this for father's day! Thomas loved it! In a time of recession, this does fit the bill. It only cost me about $3.50 and an hour of labor. Thanks for being a great daddy to the Ceej-ling! Love you!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

This B.o.b. is fast!


This is Ceej's new ride. It's flippin' awesome!

Art by a 2 year old

I love watching my niece do her everyday things. She's so expressive and simple-minded. Everything she does is full of excitement, wonder, and glee.







New chicken, new plants, and a new purse for me

This is what's been goin' down in my town...


If you know me, I heart Mojitos. Its pretty much the only drink I can make at home mainly because I have this huge abundance of mint in my backyard. The other day I had an epiphany. If I love mojitos so much, why don't I just make chicken with the same ingredients!!! It worked! So so good that even the Ceej and my neice gobbled it up!


After thinking long and hard, I decided that growing my own vegetables isn't most economical thing to do. You don't save a whole lot of money growing your own because you spend so much time taking care of it. Besides, the local farmers depend on us to survive! Plus I really don't have the land to raise a variety of vegetables. But somehow I got talked into it (by my own mother and father in law). Let's see how it grows. Give me a few weeks and I'll give you an update. Got tomatoes (2 types) and green beans coming...crossing my fingers that they don't die too early before I get a little crop.


Last by not least, I finally got around to sewing something for myself. I had about a year of sewing a lot of gifts and things related to cloth diapering. I deserve it! Especially since this fabric only cost me less than $2 and less than 2 hours of labor.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

The Ching's Reunite!

Finally! The Ching's regroup for a family photo shoot! The husbands were busy at work but at least most of us were able to make it! Thank you to our friend Calvina for helping us!

Love how Miriya is busy peeling a cutie here.




See more here: Calvina Photography

Too cute for words and too cute to eat!


Oh well, I ate it anyways (in celebration of Kris Allen's win on American Idol)!

Great job sister's at the Joint on making these cup cake lollipops! Delish! See more cupcake lollipops on Dozen Flours.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

That was 10 years ago


Recently a friend reminded me that my 10 year high school reunion was coming up! I can't believe it! Am I really THAT old? Where has the time gone? Often I think that I haven't done enough in the past 10 years since high school but once I think a little harder, a lot has happened!

Like the puffy feathers in my senior picture? Does pro image even exist anymore?

Monday, May 11, 2009

Time to let the hair go

I love his hair. Its what makes him different and stand out from the crowd of other Chinese babies. But it was getting really hot and he'd be sweaty all the time. I agreed with my hubs that it was time to let the hair go.



Prepping him to get his hair cut. This is how he looked before.


During the hair cut, we had to bribe him with lots of snacks. Eventually that didn't work and it turned into a cry fest.


But finally it was all over. Now he looks so clean cut, so fresh, so ready to go out to town. Looks like an engineer.

Friday, May 8, 2009

The year of party favors!


Tomorrow we're having another party at our place. This time we are celebrating my nephew's one month birthday, my neice's 2nd birthday, CJ's first birthday (again!), 2 cousins graduating from college, and Mother's day. Phew...! Anyways, preppin' for that is a lot of work. Parties always need party favors, right? So I've made a handful of different party favors at all sorts of events this year. I'm getting a little more desperate on what things to make. I want something easy, cheap, fun, and most of things being edible. Please give me some ideas! 

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

A question for my readers...if there are any out there!

Does anyone know how to pick a ripe pineapple?

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Backyard Patio Upgrade




Finally got around to making some nice pillows for the backyard patio. It took me about a year of living here to decide that this is what it needed. I look around to buy some pillows but I didn't see any nice neutral ones that were priced right. So I just sewed some up- ended up being about 5 bucks for materials each and about an hour of labor for all three. Makes me smile looking at our backyard now! Next up is possibly a garden!?

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Mother of One!

The Ceej turns 1 today. This time last year I was laboring like crazy. Push, push, push...

I love this kid. As crazy as he is, he brings joy into my life. Happy Birthday! Mama and Dada/baba love you!

Before

After

Monday, April 27, 2009

My husband is my guitar hero


Look at him go! Doing two things at once. 

No special occasion, its just good.




Last Chinese New Year we had a friend bring over a huge pot of black sesame paste. I didn't like it a whole lot but the Ceej absolutely loved it! I did recently made some pre-frozen black sesame rice ball desserts from the local Chinese market and offered it to him. The evidence is on his face. Its a hit! Our kid likes Chinese desserts! I didn't like it growing up but I've grown to enjoy it over the past few years. Next up is red bean!