Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Novelty
This year has brought with it quite a few changes, one of which is me having to learn how to cook. Yes siree, I never thought there'd come a day in which that would happen (breakfast doesn't count).
Ok, it's not like I'm cooking any great dishes, just the basic beans, rice, something simple with meat, noodles ... I've sort of learned how to make chicken risotto and beef stroganoff (with major intervention from my mom).
Oh, and I made tomato sauce from scratch today! I wouldn't say it tasted great, but it was edible, heh.
One of my goals for this year was to learn how to cook, even though I still firmly hold to my belief that God didn't create me to cook. He blessed me with an awesome husband who, among other things, cooks very well, and I know that that makes up for my total lack of culinary know-how. But since it's always good to learn something new (and useful), cooking is on this year's list.
I have suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch a long way to go, sigh. Well, if I can learn the basics and a couple of dishes, I'll be happy.
Oh yes, and I definitely need to learn how to bake a cake. I've sworn to never make my children's birthday cakes (don't want to disappoint them), but I figured it'd be good to know how to make a cake like for a snack or something :).
I'm probably the joke of my family when it comes to cooking or anything having to do with the kitchen (not counting the two youngest who are worse, snicker, snicker). It's completely my fault though, so I can't complain ...
Ok, it's not like I'm cooking any great dishes, just the basic beans, rice, something simple with meat, noodles ... I've sort of learned how to make chicken risotto and beef stroganoff (with major intervention from my mom).
Oh, and I made tomato sauce from scratch today! I wouldn't say it tasted great, but it was edible, heh.
One of my goals for this year was to learn how to cook, even though I still firmly hold to my belief that God didn't create me to cook. He blessed me with an awesome husband who, among other things, cooks very well, and I know that that makes up for my total lack of culinary know-how. But since it's always good to learn something new (and useful), cooking is on this year's list.
I have suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch a long way to go, sigh. Well, if I can learn the basics and a couple of dishes, I'll be happy.
Oh yes, and I definitely need to learn how to bake a cake. I've sworn to never make my children's birthday cakes (don't want to disappoint them), but I figured it'd be good to know how to make a cake like for a snack or something :).
I'm probably the joke of my family when it comes to cooking or anything having to do with the kitchen (not counting the two youngest who are worse, snicker, snicker). It's completely my fault though, so I can't complain ...
Sunday, June 27, 2010
June Randomness
A couple of weeks ago a family spent a few days here on business. Their stay ended up being quite fun for Alina because there was a little boy around her age and it had been quite a while since she'd played with someone her age.
It's a pity I didn't take more pictures. Anyway, here are a couple of them playing Can-Can during one of the evenings.
Meanwhile Laura watches mommy playing Boggle by herself:
Laura continues with her obsession with chapsitcks and lipsticks (or anything that resembles them, including stick glue):
Oh, I actually managed to make semi-decent chocolate chip cookies the week before last!
They're quite simple to make, but something always goes wrong whenever I attempt to make them. At least they tasted good and the girls devoured them in a jiffy, hehe.
A satisfied customer:
Yes, the little monkey is growing up and learning to enjoy helping out with household duties. Her latest thing is washing dishes ... at least she thinks that's what she's doing.
The first time she tried her hand at it, she managed to give herself a bath (by sticking her head under the faucet). I do believe she's finally gotten the hang of it and has passed from the first phase, that of wetting everything, to the second phase, which is soaping up the dishes.
Accomplishing phase two of dishwashing:
Entertaining herself with Boggle cubes:
The tower she made (before it crumbled after she tried to put the 9th cube):
It's a pity I didn't take more pictures. Anyway, here are a couple of them playing Can-Can during one of the evenings.
Meanwhile Laura watches mommy playing Boggle by herself:
Laura continues with her obsession with chapsitcks and lipsticks (or anything that resembles them, including stick glue):
Oh, I actually managed to make semi-decent chocolate chip cookies the week before last!
They're quite simple to make, but something always goes wrong whenever I attempt to make them. At least they tasted good and the girls devoured them in a jiffy, hehe.
A satisfied customer:
Yes, the little monkey is growing up and learning to enjoy helping out with household duties. Her latest thing is washing dishes ... at least she thinks that's what she's doing.
The first time she tried her hand at it, she managed to give herself a bath (by sticking her head under the faucet). I do believe she's finally gotten the hang of it and has passed from the first phase, that of wetting everything, to the second phase, which is soaping up the dishes.
Accomplishing phase two of dishwashing:
Entertaining herself with Boggle cubes:
The tower she made (before it crumbled after she tried to put the 9th cube):
Saturday, June 26, 2010
About Cats and Dogs ...
... for memory's sake.
Alina: Bob, when we move to São Paulo can we get a cat?
Me: Maybe. What kind of cat would you want?
Alina: A white cat. Do you know what kind of cat is white?
Me: No, but we can look it up it up, do some research.
Alina: Good! So we can get two cats but they have to be the same kind 'cause I want them to have kittens.
Me: But I'm allergic to cats.
Alina: Oh, that's ok, you don't need to be by them all the time. And I don't need to sleep with you any more so they can stay with me!
A few minutes later ...
Alina: Bob, do you know why cats are the best option (for a pet)? Because dogs are messy and need baths and cats don't. And then bunnies and hamsters are fragile and delicate and always die. Then parakeets ... they are birds and always run away. And fish, well, you can't play with them. That's why cats are perfect!
As she rambled on I wondered where she came up with all these words like "fragile", "delicate", "option" ... I thought it was so cute the way she stated the pros to having a cat in the hopes of convincing me to get her one. She probably felt like such a grown-up knowing so much about the right kind of pet to get.
Well, I don't blame her for wanting a cat, as opposed to another animal. She's probably traumatized with rabbits and hamsters, being that all the ones we've had here ever since she was born have died (I can't even remember them all!).
And then she hears her uncle and aunt telling tales about the dozens of parakeets they once had which died or escaped.
She continued blabbing about the advantages of having cats, but the above was all I was able to write down ... she does talk pretty fast. Precious child that I'm blessed with!
Alina: Bob, when we move to São Paulo can we get a cat?
Me: Maybe. What kind of cat would you want?
Alina: A white cat. Do you know what kind of cat is white?
Me: No, but we can look it up it up, do some research.
Alina: Good! So we can get two cats but they have to be the same kind 'cause I want them to have kittens.
Me: But I'm allergic to cats.
Alina: Oh, that's ok, you don't need to be by them all the time. And I don't need to sleep with you any more so they can stay with me!
A few minutes later ...
Alina: Bob, do you know why cats are the best option (for a pet)? Because dogs are messy and need baths and cats don't. And then bunnies and hamsters are fragile and delicate and always die. Then parakeets ... they are birds and always run away. And fish, well, you can't play with them. That's why cats are perfect!
As she rambled on I wondered where she came up with all these words like "fragile", "delicate", "option" ... I thought it was so cute the way she stated the pros to having a cat in the hopes of convincing me to get her one. She probably felt like such a grown-up knowing so much about the right kind of pet to get.
Well, I don't blame her for wanting a cat, as opposed to another animal. She's probably traumatized with rabbits and hamsters, being that all the ones we've had here ever since she was born have died (I can't even remember them all!).
And then she hears her uncle and aunt telling tales about the dozens of parakeets they once had which died or escaped.
She continued blabbing about the advantages of having cats, but the above was all I was able to write down ... she does talk pretty fast. Precious child that I'm blessed with!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
My 26th Birthday
Well, the best thing about it was that our family was together and we spent the whole day just hanging around (together :D).
In the evening, we had a dinner here at home to celebrate the geminis' birthday and some sort of "going away" thing for my parents who will be traveling to the States for 5 weeks or so.
My mom kindly forgot to inform people that it happened to be my birthday, so several of them were rather embarrassed when they arrived and found out.
Alina was more excited then I was about my birthday and she made it her duty to inform people that it was my birthday (hence the embarrassment of some individuals who hadn't previously been informed).
Anyway, overall it was a pleasant dinner. Laura went to bed before the food was served and Alina started falling asleep on the couch halfway into the dinner.
Poor thing, she cried as I put her to bed because she wanted to stay up until dessert was served. There was plenty left over and so she had some the next day.
One of my 'bestest' childhood friends called all the way from Pakistan, staying true to our tradition of calling each other on our birthdays (thanks Topher!). Some other friends also called and wrote and it all made my day special and meaningful.
Oh, and Gabriel got me some gorgeous flowers. No sooner had I placed them on my bedside table, then Laura sneakily picked some petals! Such a rascal!
Oh well, they've survived till now, so that is progress ... although they're probably a major temptation to the little destroyer.
I'm happy to be starting a new year of life, even though it means I'm that much older. My 25th year was extremely bittersweet ... plenty of good times were had, but also there were waaaaay too many disappointments.
Ah well, where there's life there's hope so I'm hoping for the best and trying to prepare for the worst ... sigh.
Oh, right, onto the pictures.
Thanks Love!
Alina's lovely shot of us:
The sweet child pulled out her clips, hence the crazy monkey look:
Peek-a-boo or "Don't take a picture of me!":
Horrid posture:
Alina and her aunt Marina:
Alina and Junior:
The father and mother with Marcia and Dinha:
Deep conversation :)
Mariane, Junior, the father, and Concéssio:
Me and Manu:
The Geminis ... beware!
In the evening, we had a dinner here at home to celebrate the geminis' birthday and some sort of "going away" thing for my parents who will be traveling to the States for 5 weeks or so.
My mom kindly forgot to inform people that it happened to be my birthday, so several of them were rather embarrassed when they arrived and found out.
Alina was more excited then I was about my birthday and she made it her duty to inform people that it was my birthday (hence the embarrassment of some individuals who hadn't previously been informed).
Anyway, overall it was a pleasant dinner. Laura went to bed before the food was served and Alina started falling asleep on the couch halfway into the dinner.
Poor thing, she cried as I put her to bed because she wanted to stay up until dessert was served. There was plenty left over and so she had some the next day.
One of my 'bestest' childhood friends called all the way from Pakistan, staying true to our tradition of calling each other on our birthdays (thanks Topher!). Some other friends also called and wrote and it all made my day special and meaningful.
Oh, and Gabriel got me some gorgeous flowers. No sooner had I placed them on my bedside table, then Laura sneakily picked some petals! Such a rascal!
Oh well, they've survived till now, so that is progress ... although they're probably a major temptation to the little destroyer.
I'm happy to be starting a new year of life, even though it means I'm that much older. My 25th year was extremely bittersweet ... plenty of good times were had, but also there were waaaaay too many disappointments.
Ah well, where there's life there's hope so I'm hoping for the best and trying to prepare for the worst ... sigh.
Oh, right, onto the pictures.
Thanks Love!
Alina's lovely shot of us:
The sweet child pulled out her clips, hence the crazy monkey look:
Peek-a-boo or "Don't take a picture of me!":
Horrid posture:
Alina and her aunt Marina:
Alina and Junior:
The father and mother with Marcia and Dinha:
Deep conversation :)
Mariane, Junior, the father, and Concéssio:
Me and Manu:
The Geminis ... beware!
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