Mother's day

Few days before mother's day, ES brought back this from school. It's a surprise for mother's day according to her. According to her teacher, Ms Jessica, it is supposed to be opened during mother's day.

 There is a card on top of the present - Happy Mother's Day card by ES.

 ES drew a picture of mom and herself.

Oh... It is a write up about MOTHER by her:

You are the best cook

You make me smily

You make my lunch

You tuck me into bed

I am happy you are in my family

MSLS too brought back two little plants from school, as mother's day present.  

They were busy watering the plants after came back from school.

 A simple card by MSLS, with the help of her teacher, MS Heather.

We are too far to celebrate mother's day with our two lovely mothers this year. We called back and wish them happy mother's day. How I wish I can cooked for them during this special occasion.

On mother's day, we cooked beef burger, with avocado salad and baked potato wedges.

And also an orange yogurt cake with vanilla buttercream frosting and strawberry cream cheese filling.

Thanks for all the lovely thoughts from my three girls and happy mother's day to our mum and all

mothers out there....  

Caterpillar

MSLS's artwork from school - caterpillar. 

If you believe you can do it, you can.....

I was trying to untie a knot with ES last two days. After awhile, still not able to do it. ES was standing beside me. She asked me to use a scissors to cut it, but I told her I would like to try first as the ribbon is so nice.

All of a sudden, she told me that:" Mummy, if you believe you can do it, then you will be able to do it. ( what she meant is able to untie the knot even it is difficult ). Just like not long ago, when I was playing with a puzzle, I tell myself I can do it. After trying, I managed to complete the whole puzzle." 

I was surprised by what she had told me, as I do not expect this comes out from my 5 years old girl!

Sourdough Sesame Loaf

Our bread for the week - sesame loaf. The girls prefer to put some butter and jam, or make it into egg sandwiches for their breakfast.

It's Friday, Friday, Friday is my favourite day!

ES will sing this song," It's Friday, Friday, Friday is my favourite day! " on every Friday. As she knows weekend is approaching.

 Having fun after back from school

 Cycled around our neighbourhood.

Basic Wholemeal Sourdough

Baked a simple and healthy loaf of bread last few days - no sugar, dairy and butter/ oil. Just using sourdough starter, whole wheat flour, water and sea salt. After overnight dough retardation, it gives a very satisfying bread-chewy and sour taste.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

We went to Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival on the 3rd Sunday of April. Went there many years back, before the girls were born. During the first visit, as far as I can remembered the tulip festival just focus on the varieties of tulips. This trip, we went there with the girls. It is not only tulips, there are a lots of activities and of course the all time favourite of the girls - cow train.

The Iverson family began growing tulips in 1974. The first tulips belonged to Dr. Holman who would ship part of the bulbs to Indiana every year for forcing. When he retired in the late 1970's we bought a few acres of bulbs.

By the early 1980's they had over 15 acres and needed to broaden the market base. Seeing this as an opportunity, in 1983 they started the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.

In the first few years they printed up black and white order sheets and sales were slow. Then, in 1985, we opened our fields for Easter weekend. The rest you may say, is history.

Now they open their fields for an entire month ( April ) and have greatly expanded their operation to include taking bulb orders, cut flowers, potted tulips, a gift shop, other plants, and all sorts of food and activities on weekends.

There is about 40 acres tulips in the field. We can see varieties of tulips bloom!  Every year the varieties are arranged differently in a new pattern of color as they rotate our tulip fields to a new location.

The girls enjoyed this more than the flowers....

ES trying a pair of wooden shoes.

The girls having fun with the cow train.