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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Cinnamon Raisin Cheezy Bread ( Sourdough )

We got a USD 10 voucher for Panera bread which is going to expire end of this month. So, daddy bought a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread and three cheese bread.

Seems like the girls favour the earlier one. Think because it has raisin, and the amount of cinnamon is just right in the bread, not too heavy.

We made our own version of Cinnamon Rasin cheezy bread today. We can just eat the bread without spreading on butter or jam, as it has a crispy crust  ( topped with some tillamook cheddar cheese ) and soft inner. The long sourdough fermentation really differentiate this bread from the commercial bread as you will be able to taste the sourness and sweetness at the same time.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

First time going to cinema with the three girls

We went to cinema with the THREE GIRLS yesterday. Daddy was so lucky to get 5 free tickets from his company. The girls were so excited when they were told that we will be going to the cinema on Saturday morning.
On Friday evening, we told the girls that we will be going to a cinema ( with a TV which is bigger than the TV at home, and it is slightly dark inside ). We did this as we need to mentally prepared them, so that they are not afraid, as what we had experienced with ES before ( she does not like it as it is very loud and dark inside ).
Everybody was provided with a complimentary drink and popcorn. Getting ready to their first movie in cinema!
Chimpanzee
We thought we will be coming out from the cinema within 20 minutes. To our surprise, we almost finished the whole movie. We came out from the cinema before the ending, after almost 1 hour plus. MSLS were enjoying the movie as we can hear laughters and talking during the show. While ES who was sitting between Daddy and I, commented to us ," the movie was scary." Think this is because she still cannot get use to the big screen and sound system in  cinema.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Going to pre-K

They just started to attend pre-kindergarten on the 28th March. They were given a trial day, to see if they can adapt to it. As expected, they almost cried for the whole day. Think it is because of the separation anxiety, as they always with me since I quit my job.

They reluctant to go into the restroom ( It is in  their classroom ). And they pee in the class. We had to bring more pants, socks and shows for them to change. Something that we can't understand, even though we showed them where the restroom is, they still reluctant to go in even we accompany them ( when we reach their school every morning ). These continued for four days.

After the first week in school, we brought them to a shopping mall. And we went into a family restroom, with  adult and children toilet bowls. tried to explain to them that the one that they are using ( children toilet bowl ) is the same as what they have in school.

On Monday the following week, we tried to remind them that they went to a smaller potty before ( in the shopping mall ) and pointed to the one in their classroom.

On that day itself, they are willing to use the restroom in school. Thanks for the teacher for their persistency and did agreed that they should not be put on diapers again since they are already diaperless at home.

How about the crying part?
Daddy and I had agreed before that no matter how they are, we need to just send them in the class, and come out after explain to them that we need to go to work. Just like what we did to ES. It worked well. Do not be soft-hearted and stay in the classroom to accompany them, it will make them more rely on us and wanted our presence there.
Day1: Crying almost for 2 hours. Teacher tried to bring them to a friend's party ( from another class ), cried again.

Day2 : Cried for awhile. Stopped. Cried when they saw us ( when we pick up them )

After that, once awhile they will cry and teacher will ask if they wanted to have their breakfast, or play with baby dolls, read books. Overall, they stopped crying when they see us after school.



Everyday, we will be given a report regarding what they have eaten, if they had finished everything, potty time,  what they learned on that day and how they behave.

LS was reading her own report. They like to take their own papers after school everyday, as there is a sticker on it. They always take out the sticker. Think that it is a fun thing to do...

MSLS at 29 months


  • MS is 14.0kg, while LS is 13.5kg.
  • LS is diaperless now. Wheareas MS just wear it during night time. During daytime, they will pee or poo in their potty o toilet without askingfor  our assistance. Quite independent on this. They will say " shh shh..." or "xiao bian " for pee, and "da bian" or " chou chou" for poo.                                                                              
  • Have their milk 4 -5 times per day ( after afternoon nap, before sleep, during midnight, early in the morning, after back from school ).

  • Daily diet consists of bread/ oat with sliced bananas or raisin, sweet potatoes, fruit & vege juice for breakfast, porridge or rice before after back school, fruits/ yogurt/ beans during tea time, and rice or noodles for dinner. LS tends to be a slow eater.
  • They do not want our help in wearing their shoes, pants, learning how to wear their shirts, and still learning how to put on the buttons.
  • Start talking in sentence now, mixture of english and mandarin. Start using " What", "Why", "Where".... Like to ask Where are we going ? ( when they are asked to take a bath, change clothes ).
  • Like to draw on blank paper, with circle or straight line. When I asked them what are they drawing, they will reply back " snake... big house... ship...etc"
  • Like to play " masak masak", pretend to be a doctor, fireman and start enjoy playing lego.

 the other usage of my cookie cutter

  • Still learning how to sort out different colours.
  • They will address each other as " Abbe".
  • Sometimes, they will both discuss on something and ask each other if it is ok.
  • Started to attend pre-K.
  • Like to learn gymnastics from their eldest sister.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Happy Birthday, Packy!



It was a beautiful Saturday. Full of sunshine, we love it! These are some of the flowers in our neighbourhood. Spring - more colours, more sunshine!

It is tulips season




After our lunch, we went to the zoo. The parking lot was full, as it is one of those sunny days in spring, especially during weekends. Everybody seems like going outdoor, and zoo is one of the favourite places for family outing. A lot of walking, and the girls enjoyed seeing different types of animals.
Coincidently, It was Packy, the elephant's birthday. There was a celebration for him. Packy the elephant celebrated his 50th birthday today by becoming the first animal knighted by the Royal Rosarians, listening to thousands of fans sing him Happy Birthday and swallowing a 40-pound cake in nine minutes and 57 seconds. Packy was knighted as an honorary Royal Rosarian, joining Mickey Mouse and the Oregon Duck among Portland's ambassadors of good will. Rose Festival officials announced he will serve as grand marshal of this year's Grand Floral Parade (though he won't be there in person).

The 12,600-pound pachyderm and face of the Oregon Zoo debuted on April 14, 1962, the first elephant born in North America in 44 years.
ES was trying to touch the elephant's teeth.

Happy Birthay Packy
ES with her "elephant's ears ".


It's time to go home... LS walking back to our car with a big smile. She was happy with today's outing!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Cupcake Friday : Lemon Blossom

 It's Friday, friday, friday is my favourite day!
Almost every Friday morning, when ES wakes up, she will sing this song.
After back from school in the evening, we cycled near our neighbourhood.

 Passed by a river...

 Oppssss, it's going to rain. We need to go home...

Made a batch of lemon blossom on Friday night - Vanilla cupcake, with lemon curb as filling and light lemon cream cheese frosting, plus a slice of lemon as topping.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Easter 2012

Before Easter, daddy explained to ES in a simple manner what is Easter. Easter is a feast where we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion.  We attended Sunday morning mass on Easter Sunday. It is always the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for churches.

Because the use of eggs was forbidden during Lent, they were brought to the table on Easter Day, coloured red to symbolize the Easter joy. The symbolic meaning of a new creation of mankind by Jesus risen from the dead was probably an invention of later times. The custom may have its origin in paganism, for a great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring. Easter eggs, the children are told, come from Rome with the bells which on Thursday go to Rome and return Saturday morning. The sponsors in some countries give Easter eggs to their god-children. Coloured eggs are used by children at Easter in a sort of game which consists in testing the strength of the shells (Kraus, Real-Encyklopædie, s.v. Ei). Both coloured and uncoloured eggs are used in some parts of the United States for this game, known as "egg-picking".

ES drew some colourful easter eggs and decorated our fireplace.
Besides that, I bought a few colourful plastic eggs and hide them, for the girls to play egg hunting. The girls enjoyed the fun activity at home while celebrating Easter.

Daddy invited  his friends to come over to our house for a simple dinner. I cooked one of popo's popular dishes, steam pork sliced with yam.
Budweiser braised mussel
Honey roasted chicken
And finally, for dessert, we had lemon strawberry trifle ( consists of lemon curb, orange pound cake, strawberries and raspberries ). Just managed to prepared for the guests and the girls on Easter, we made another batch of trifle again two days later. The sweet and sour taste in this dessert is really a great combination. Daddy, ES and myself had at least two triffles and we wanted more...

Friday, April 6, 2012

Hot Cross Bun ( Sourdough )

A hot cross bun is a sweet, spiced bun made with currants or raisins and marked with a cross on the top, traditionally eaten on Good Friday. In many historically Christian countries, buns are traditionally eaten hot or toasted on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the Crucifixion.

There’s so much legend and lore behind Hot Cross Buns, which date back to the old country. English folklore said that Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday would never spoil throughout the following year. Some bakers believed that holding on to one Hot Cross Bun and hanging it in the kitchen meant that all yeast products in the coming year would rise successfully. Some sailors took Hot Cross Buns on their voyages to ensure their ships wouldn’t sink. And friends who gift one another with Hot Cross Buns every year are said to remain friends for life.

Made two version of hot cross buns using sourdough starter today:
(1) Raisin Cinnamon Hot Cross Bun
(2) Chocolate Chips Hot Cross Bun

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Cranberry Scones

Spring is here. Days are close to 12 hours long now. It is a time of growth. Flowers start blossoming, new leaves are coming out again. It is getting warmer, as sometimes will be about 16 degree C, but it is also accompanied with frequent rainfall. MSLS just started to attend pre-kindergarten last Tuesday. Was glad that they are quite adapted to it now.

Baked some cranberry scones last few days. Scone is an easy to make breakfast. It is more easier when we are making it in a cool environment, compared to back in hometown. Because we do not want the butter to melt during the process.

Cranberry Scone with apple jam.

Ingredients: (makes about 10, using 6cm cutter)

200g cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
50g unsalted butter, Cold, cut into small cubes
30g caster sugar 1 pinch of salt 90ml milk
40g dried cranberries

 Method:
  1. Sieve cake flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Place unsalted butter into mixing bowl. With a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Add in sugar, salt and dried cranberries, toss gently until just combined.
  4. Add in milk, gather the mixture to form a rough dough.
  5. Place dough on lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough gently for about four to five times. -
  6. Pat the dough to a rectangle shape, about 3cm thick.
  7. Cut the dough into half. Stack one half over the other. Pat the dough into 3cm thick rectangular shape again.
  8. Repeat the above step for another 2 times (note: handle the dough lightly, scones will become tough when over handled.)
  9. Finally, pat the dough into 2cm-2.5cm thick. Use a lightly floured cookie cutter (4 cm diameter), cut dough into rounds. To ensure better rise, press the cutter straight down, do not twist the cutter. - Gather the remaining dough, pat into 2cm - 2.5cm thick and cut out the remaining rounds. -
  10. Place the rounds on baking tray (lined with parchment paper) about 1 inch apart.
  11. Bake in preheated oven at 200degC or 400 degree F for 10-12mins or until lightly browned. Transfer to wire rack to cool, serve warm.
I baked it for around 15 minutes as the top surface still not in golden brown yet. It turns out to be very soft and fluffy.

Recipe adapted from Happy home baking

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Cherry blossoms

We went to Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park at Southwest Portland last Saturday. We are lucky to see the cherry blossoms on a sunny afternoon. As  stated in weather forecast, it will be sunny from 12 noon to 3pm.

Sakura....




MS was busy looking at the ship.
The three girls having fun with their friends, YJ & YY.

Mum, can we pick up the flowers?
We are tired running around, chasing each others. Taking a rest under the sakura tree.
Walking along the river.
After viewing the beatiful scenary, we wanted to look for oodoo donuts, that we saw in food network last few weeks. Passed by the morning market.
Wow, It was a loooong queue. It will be about 45 minutes waiting. We decided not to try this time as the girls were quite tired after spending a few hours in the park. Next time!


Yesterday morning, while we are preparing for breakfast, ES took out her April homework. One of the activities is she has to draw her favourite animals and write a story about it. She drew an orca. But she did not write any story about it. Infact, she wrote a story about her Sakura trip!

This is what ES wrote:
Yesterday I visit the sakura trees. It was fun. My friend was there. We played near the trees. We sit on the rock. We took pictures. I pick three flowers. I gave it to my friend, she gave me a smile. I eat a donut.