I’ve had enough of my long hair! I despise it! Since M was home early coz Adie is sick, I decided to try out the salon beside the building next to ours and finally have my hair cut. It’s been over a year since I last had one. Ughhhh! Always so many things to do at home, out of home, etc. etc. and agenda that keeps coming up, that sadly hinders a ME time in a salon. Anyway, before going for a haircut, I wanted to have a photo souvenir of how long my hair was.

But of course, as soon as the kids saw me posing for the cam, they suddenly swarmed over me. Caity was sticking close to me and Adie was pulling me in to the living room. I didn’t even manage to brush my hair. Achhhh! So here’s my long and messy hair, the shot done by M very quickly.

Unfortunately when we went to the salon, their schedule was fully booked with clients for that day until today.  The first vacant slot would be tomorrow, Wednesday. I was a bit disappointed that my plan was delayed once again. I am really tempted to grab my hair in a bunch and cut it myself!!!!

I went home and labored in the kitchen while M and the kids stayed in the playground.

This I made:

Atsara!  The green thing you see is broccoli.

I also made lumpia but didn’t get to wrap it yet.  Ahhhhh! Why do I make such complicated food when I am already too busy?

And this little boy has been driving me crazy the past four days.

His fever is gone but on Sunday there were small red rashes that appeared on his body. He has been moody. He’d cry and cry, and cry for no reason. Even when I pick him and hold him in my arms, he’d still cry. It came to a point that I lost my patience and had to send M and the kids out as it was really making me upset. I felt so helpless and so tired from lack of sleep. All the things that I know would work to amuse him failed and what works is taking him outside. He also has no appetite for food and milk. He’d eat, 1, 2, 3 spoons then spit out the fourth… Messy! Ambot!!! I feel like I’m an overworked slave lately.    When M and Adie were out on Sunday afternoon while Caity and I napped, he sent me SMS that he “bought something for Mrs. Grumpeee.”  hehe that made me laugh.  Yeah I’ve been grumpy lately.  And before you judge me, try sleeping like 4 hours at night, with crying interruptions, and spend your whole day comforting a sick child (who by the way is heavy to carry) while you still have to take care of another child, who’d tell you, “Mama, please help me with this… Mama, please give me this and that… Mama, play with me…” plus you have to do tons of other stuff at home. Do that for 4 days and tell me how it’s affecting you.

Anywayyyyy, life goes on.

Yesterday, we went to a picnic with my new friend, a Chinese girl named Choya from Taiwan whom I met in my Czech language course. She brought sandwiches while I packed spring rolls, smoked chicken, cherry tomatoes and sliced apples for the kids.

The location was by the lake. The first time Choya brought us there, we both agreed it was a nice spot to have picnic. Finally, after our busy schedules, we got the time to do it. Caity wasss excited! She likes picnic and she misses feeding the ducks too!  It was two weeks since we last visited the place.

There’s Choya with Adie.

How old do you think is she? You think she uses nanotokin? Nahhh! She just naturally looks young for her age and that’s a gift not everyone is blessed with.  (:

Ohhhh and take at look at my son.  As you can see, the little boy’s mouth is stuffed with apple and in his hand, he already has a replacement ready as soon as the apple went down his throat! hahaha

We didn’t get to eat properly as the kids were all over the place, running around, climbing the logs, Caity crossing the road to see the ducks, etc.  Next time, it’s better to let them stay strapped in their respective strollers while we eat and let them run free when we’re done eating.  Oh yeah, we used a stroller for Caity coz as per experience, she gets tired from the walk and would asked to be carried.  Using stroller is better than carrying a heavy Caity.

Feeding the ducks and ducklings which wasn’t so much fun…

Waddling and playing with the water is more fun!!!

Adie smiles while watching his ate Caity and his surroundings…

Happy Caity! Ugh! the buildings seen from behind the trees and bushes destroys the scene, yeah?

Later on, Choya filled a shallow hole in the ground with water.  It was a small hole yet enough for Caity to fit in.  She hopped and hopped on it, calling it the muddy puddle (just like from the cartoon show Peppa Pig).

All in all, it was superb day! I can’t wait for the next time, definitely with M.  Have a nice Prague weekend! “O vikendu pujdu na piknik s rodinou!” Oh, that is if Adie is already okay.

Yesterday we had a nice time by the lake with the kids and a friend. We came home late in the afternoon, with Adie already whinny coz it was past his nap time. When we got home, I fed, washed and put him to bed. He’ll have another round of feeding when he wakes up later at night. That’s what I thought, which didn’t happen. He slept soundly until the morning! I went to pee around 5am, it was already bright outside and I was surprised that Adie was still asleep. Since the daylight started early this Spring, he lately usually wakes up about this time. I was worried, so I tiptoed inside his room and was relieved that he was still breathing. Whew! 12 hours of sleep without in-between feeding. Yay! He must be hungry, I woke him up. teehee! I noticed he was a bit warm. After feeding, I placed him back in his crib and he slept until 8. Poor Adie woke up with a fever. ): The effects of the vaccination is on him!

Earlier in the afternoon, I snuggled with him in our bed and he didn’t budge. He’d usually squirm, move around and play in the bed, but this time he just laid there, trying to sleep while I caress him. Too cute! I can hear his heavy breathing and feel his soft chubby cheeks against mine. I relished the moment coz I don’t usually get to sleep with him as he is used to sleeping on his own in his crib.

I hope Adie will get well soon. As much as I enjoyed cuddling a cooperative baby, I don’t like my kid to suffer from discomfort. Besides, I can’t do much with him being extra clingy and whinny when he’s sick. I might just acne from stress and worry about acne treatment. So please Lord, let my little Adie’s fever go away. We want to enjoy our weekend together as a family, with both kids in tiptop health!

Do you know what’s your birthstone? I think I know what mine was before, but forget all about it. hehe. Anyway, when I had Caity’s ear pierced during our PH vacation, I wasn’t able to bring her earrings. Fortunately, the clinic was selling earrings. They suggested to choose a pair with her birthstone. Good idea! Since she was born on August, her birthstone is Peridot.

My past birthday, I was thinking of getting a ring with my birthstone on it – a gift for myself? Why not. It would be nice to wear a real, sparkling gem on my finger as opposed to the fashion rings I’m wearing. teehee!

Anyway, for those wondering what their birthstones may be, here’s a list of the modern birthstones. It might come handy one day. (:

january – garnet
february – amethyst
March – aquamarine
April – diamond
May – emerald
June – moonstone, pearl
July – ruby
august – peridot
september – sapphire
october – opal tormaline
november birthstone – topaz
december birthstone – torquoise, blue topaz

18th of May, Adie had a 3 in 1 vaccination for measles, rubella and mumps. When Caity woke up that morning and saw Adie already dressed for the doctor’s appointment, she complained and cried. “My Adieee! Waaaaa!” She didn’t want him to go. We had to explain and assure her that Adie will come back and it was all okay with her.

When M and Adie came back from the vaccination, Caity was very happy to see her little brother again. “Mama! Adie’s back!!!“. She squealed in delight. But when she saw the bandage on his tiny arm, she was concerned and sad. “Adie has booboo, Mama.” Awww such a sweet little girl.  She might oftentimes fight with Adie when they’re playing but deep inside Caity is a loving and protective sister to her baby brother.  She kept kissing the booboo and telling him that it’s okay. “My Adie, my Adie…“.

We were told the effects of the vaccination would happen a week later but for some reason, Adie developed runny and clogged nose after their return.  He was having a hard time sleeping coz he can not breathe properly.  I took out his car seat/rocker and placed him there.  The inclined sitting position is supposed to make it easier for him to breathe but he still cried and cried.  Caity was quick to go to his side and rocked him to sleep and she even tried to make him smile.

#s 3 and 4, she succeeded!

Caity and her Adie. (:

So much has happened this month. I just couldn’t find the time to post, the usual excuse. Ehmmm!

The first weekend of May, we had friends visiting from Switzerland. They were actually on a road trip and Prague was their last stop. We didn’t get to show them around coz M was busy with work and what can a mother of two small kids do? ): I just took them out for a walk to our recent discovery, the lake, the day they arrived. Way ayo! The next day, they went to the city to see the sights by themselves and when they came back in the afternoon, they decided to hit the road again for a trip home.

Sheila and I…

Then last week we went to a place in South Moravia called Kyjov, more than 200 kilometers away to spend the weekend with friends. When I say friends, I mean lots of them! hehe You will see in the pics below. It was actually a joint birthday celebration of three May celebrants including me. We tagged along our husbands and kids which ended up to be a riot (in a fun kind of way)! The guys enjoyed their time together with their dear beers which culminated on the last day by watching the hockey championship between Russia and Czech teams. Hurrah for the Czechs for winning bronze! The girls on the other hand were content with chatting, over food, about the challenges of inter-racial marriage, online it degree, work and other girly topics. Whew! The kids, well, they had a blast playing with each other and being surrounded with loads of toys. What can I say, our host is an owner of a toy store, and naturally pampered his kids with all kinds of toys.

Us, girls!

The kids minus Adie who was in the stroller…

The happy guys and their *pivo…

Thennnnnn, last Monday I turned a year older. My friends came to our house for a little birthday celebration on Tuesday. Okay that meant preparing something for my foodie friends. hehe

That’s not the last though. This weekend my mother-in-law and I will have a joint birthday celebration which I have to prepare for too. So you see, my May is brimming with activities, but I’m not complaining!

*Czech for beer.

Just our typical Sunday, but M prepared breakfast for us which was not usual. Teehee! We had Gouda cheese, bread, my fave sausage and each one of us a cup of our favorite drink (mine has to be hot chocolate!).

We attended the 12noon Mass at Pražské Jezulátko but because of the annual Prague Marathon, we had to park our car in a mall and walk all the way to the church.  No big deal, it wasn’t that far but dang!  I was wearing 3 inches shoes! huhuhu. As expected, we were late.  On the way back to the car, we hopped in the tram for a short ride, as my feet were already tired. All the rushing and walking made us tired and hungry. M’s breakfast didn’t hold us too long!  We stopped in at McDo for a snacks/lunch.

In the afternoon we went to this lake by the forest not far from our flat.  It was the third time for me and the kids to be there since we discovered it on Thursday.  It was the first for M.  (:
It was a lovely day.  The nature trip made it all the more amazing.  I can spend an entire day there just sitting and soaking up on the beauty of nature around me. God is such an amazing Creator!

At McDo…

On the way to the lake. M busy watching the Russia vs. Czech hockey game in his phone.

Taking a walk with Minnie Mouse.

The swan is coming!

Feeding the ducks and the fish…

Caity and I…

She loved climbing on the logs.

Dandelions for me from Caity. “Mama, for you!”

M still watching the game…

Adie was asleep in his stroller the whole time we were by the lake.  Absent sa pics!

Photos taken on May 8, 2011.

If you’re looking for a protective cover for your blackberry phones, Ipads or any mobile phones for that matter, you’ll end up wanting not just one but more because of the many uber cute choices for silicone cases!

When I was choosing for my HTC phone, I immediately choose the first one that I liked and stopped looking coz I might be overwhelmed with the many choices. M ordered my case online and we got it last week. My phone is now dressed in pink Sakura case which is appropriate for the Spring season. Too cute! My phone’s color is originally red, which is actually nice but it’s covered with the case now. hehe

And since I’m lovin’ animal prints lately, I also like this Zebra inspired case for Blackberry phone:

How about you? What design does your phone case have?

Caity’s been bugging me to play with clay.  The last Play-Doh she had were already hard as rocks; no amount of water could probably make them soft again.  O-oh!  Super Mama needs to rescue her princess!  And off I checked the ever-reliable internet for some home clay dough recipe.

I found a simple formula but it needed cream of tartar which I unfortunately don’t have.  I tweaked the recipe, adding more flour and oil until the consistency of the dough was that of a clay.  It worked!

This is supposed to be the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1 tsp. oil
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 cup warm water
food coloring

Directions: Mix all of the ingredients together, adding the food coloring last.

Stir ingredients over medium heat until smooth.

Remove from pan and knead dough until it’s blended and smooth.

When cool, store dough in airtight container or sealed plastic bag.

——————

My first attempt two weeks ago, I used a little of orange food coloring.  The clay had a dull flesh color.

Today’s dough, I divided it into three parts, and mixed each with colors of pink, orange and purple.  Lovely and bright colors. (:

And I also have become smarter. I kept half of what we made today; for that time the first batch would turn into solid rock and Caity would ask for more clay.
I’m glad we didn’t throw the empty Play-Doh containers from before, coz it came handy for storing our home made clay.

So who wants to order clay from us? Teehee.  We can take pictures of our creation and place them in a custom presentation folders for ease in choosing which colors to buy. Hah!  Seriously, I am very glad that I already know how to make DIY clay dough.  Who could have known that all (or almost) the ingredients needed are just sitting in our cupboard.

Couldn’t think of a better title.

Anywayyyyy, yesterday morning, we finished early with our daily routine.  The kids were bickering at each other which drove me crazy.  Since it was about 2 hours to Adie’s morning nap, I decided it was better to take them out even if the skies were cloudy and a bit chilly.   While I was getting our things ready, and dressing up the kids, more battle between the kids ensued. Arghhh!  Adie was trying to take Caity’s precious treasure box which sent the latter to shout at her brother.  Adie started crying, and as their referee, I rushed to settle the two.  Then when Caity was all done, she kept opening the main door, peeking outside.  I had to ask her to close it (many times!), then she was pestering me with “ready?” (over and over).  After like 30 minutes or more of preparing, we were finally breathing the outdoor air. Whew!

Prettiness…

Our first stop was at the playground nearby.  When Caity opened the gate, she was surprised no one was there.  She asked “where’s is everybody?”. teehee!  It was like 9 in the morning. Geeezzzzz!  Then she dumped all her toys in the sand and started playing.  Adie was complaining, whining, wanting to be put down and that’s when I realized that in the intent to rush out and stop the kid’s madness, I have forgotten to put his shoes on. ):  Poor Adie has to stay in his stroller all the time.  Bad mama!

We gave him dandelions to play with…

Caity was picking flowers, blowing the dead dandelions in the air, climbing the tree, we played hide and seek, chased birds…

Then it was time to go up the “mountain”.  It’s actually just a slope further ahead from where we live.  Past that hill is another playground and a woody part which we’ll call forest. (:
We spent some time in the playground.  Caity played in the swing and in the slide then off we headed to the forest. It’s like we stepped in into another world – so quiet, so calm…. even if Caity wanted to venture much further, I told her we had to get back coz she was actually tired, asking me to put her in Adie’s stroller.  Yay!

We walked some more around the neighborhood, waiting for Adie to fall asleep.  And when he did, we went home.  Caity and I were both tired and hungry.  We finished off a pack of crunchy chicharon. Yum!  Then Caity planted mung beans in two small pots.  She’s excited about it!

The afternoon was uneventful.  They napped, eat, play, eat… Oh, I had to cook boiled eggs coz Caity wanted to color them.  But when they were cooked, she forgot about coloring and enjoyed peeling the shells instead.

I’m glad I took the kids out early in the morning coz it rained the rest of the day, over night and until today.  We’re cooped in the house for the time being!

The flowers in the middle were picked by Caity from the playground.  Who could’ve thrown these pretty things in there? We brought it home to adorn our dining table. (:

The End.

All pics were taken by my camphone except for the last one.