My kids prefer the PC over TV, that’s why we’ve given up our cable subscription coz they’d rather watch their favorite kiddie movies and music videos from Youtube. There are a lot of cool music videos (even educational ones) which they love to sing or dance along. Adie especially likes music and gets bored with kid shows that are all blah, blah, blah.  Thanks to youtube downloader, I can have copies of their favorites saved in our hard drive. Current video faves of the kids are from Tutitu, Super Simple Songs and Mother Goose Club channels. User nay1115 also have nice videos which Caity and Adie recently discovered. Now my head is filled with silly kids’ songs… “Daddy Finger, Daddy Finger, where are you? Here I am, here I am. How do you do?”    “One little calf is sitting on a hot pot, bursting into tears. Help, mom! Help, mom! Oh my butt is burning up.” The latter is actually my personal favorite coz I sing it with funny actions and expressions which sends the kids to fit of giggles!  We’re crazy like that.

Aftermath of Typhoon Sendong. Photo taken from inquirer.net.

A tragic news from home greeted me when I opened the internet on Sunday morning. Iligan and Cagayan de Oro were hit by Typhoon Sendong last weekend leaving hundreds of people dead and missing and without homes as flash floods wreaked havoc on lives and properties. Most of my mom’s siblings live in these two places. I’ve got many cousins and relatives there, fortunately they are safe though for some, their homes were badly battered by floods. It’s too sad to think that this had to happen a week before Christmas.

If you want to help the victims, please do so. You can find ways how to send your donation of cash or kind in this link:
http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/community/news/help-the-victims-of-typhoon-sendong
or thru Iligan Bloggers Society – One for Iligan.

Share your blessings and you will be blessed in return!

We checked out the newly opened indoor playground in Galerie Butovice one weekday. M had three days off from work, it’s like having a loooonnnggg weekend! Me and the kids, so happy. (:

From one ride to another…

Trying the trampoline…

Notice how Adie’s cheeks are flushed red, probably from all the excitement.

You can camp here with the kids as long as you want.  The entrance fee per kid is 99 czk (about 5 USD), for unlimited time. Adults are free.  There’s a restaurant where you can order food if you get hungry, prices are affordable.  The kids will surely have a grand time playing with the slides, swing, trampolines, tunnels, ball pools, ride-on toys, play house or they can get creative and sit down to color/draw.  If that isn’t enough, there are also lessons in dancing, drama, exercise and lots more.  They also accept babysitting. And they have friendly staff.

I left M and the kids here for sometime for some gift-shopping.  How convenient! We definitely like this place.  We’ll come back here, that’s for sure.

Taking a break.

While waiting for our order…

Back to playing…

Caity driving the battery-operated bike.

A kiss of gratitude?

Tired, yet happy parents coz we’ve got happy kids!

As expected, the kids complained when we told them it was time to go home.  Good thing they were given coins upon signing in which they can exchange for candies/sweets.  That made our exit easy. hehe

Linking up for:
Colorful Weekend
Kids in Doodles

Czech women are notoriously known for baking Christmas cookies during this season. I know how my mother-in-law would diligently spend a day baking various kinds of cookies which doesn’t count the days for preparation, and we’re (always) among the happy recipients of her baked treats. (:  I had the chance of helping her prepare, cut and form cookies on my first year in CZ and I can attest that it’s laborious!

Have a look!  Below are the delectable cookies the mam baked 4 years ago.  Can you count how many varieties are there?

They taste soooo good! My bro-in-law who was home one time for the holidays brought back these goodies with him to Barcelona where he’s based and his friends who tasted them couldn’t believe they were home-made. Since then, whenever he comes home for a visit, mam always makes sure he brings cookies with him back to Barcelona.

I admit I don’t have the time and the energy for this baking pursuit so I’ll just wait for Mam to give us our share for this year. teehee!
But I decided to expose Caity to this tradition by starting with simple cookies. It was Friday night and instead of dinner, we were baking cookies.

Tadannnn!

My little helper placed sprinkles on top to add cheer to our dull cookies.

Caity helped me cut the dough into shapes while I was also busy rolling/cutting the dough, supervising my little helper and minding Adie (who was trying to steal our cookie cutters) all at the same time.  It had to be done fast, as cooking took only 6-10 minutes.  No pics during production time!

Ooopss! Somebody is getting more cookies!

As soon as the first batch came out, still hot and smelling soooo good, the impatient and over excited kids positioned themselves around the table waiting for me to lay the goodies.  “Cookies! Cookies!” they chanted.  It’s so much fun to have more than 1 kid in the house!    Caity was so happy to see her play things work turn into something edible.  It was yummy, still is.  The taste is reminiscent of Monde’s Eggnog cookies or Rosquillos. yumyumyum…

Got my recipe for the best rolled sugar cookies here. You should give it a try!

I didn’t bother to clean up last night’s aftermath of play time in the living room coz there were other 100 things to do before the day ended.  Although Caity did tidy up, well that wasn’t enough. I decided to deal with it when Adie goes for his morning nap. Caity has been cutting papers, Adie has been leaving pencils here and there and who knows where else, there’s a trail of dried clay sticking on the carpet, etc. etc. etc. It’s gonna be a tough battle for me. It’s one of the days when I wish we have alloc laminate flooring instead of carpet, coz its easier to clean especially when the enemy is clay!

Then I caught sight of the laundry basket with dirty clothes, and the sink with dishes that screams to be washed…. o-oh!  I guess I’ll just leave them like that for a little while, coz for now it’s time for me to prepare and pick up Caity from school.  Have to wake up the little dude and walk under the rain!!!  Whattamorning!  Well at least I was able to iron some clothes…

Caity has been bugging me to put up the Christmas tree already. Last week was a busy one. M had to work long hours in the office, coming home late at night. I wanted putting up the tree to be a family affair, so I told her later when M’s not busy. But you know, kids can be impatient. This mama had to think how to fulfill her request.

Here’s the solution:

An improvised Christmas tree from dried tree branches!

I placed the “tree” on a large vase, brought out some Christmas balls for them to deck the tree with and viola! a kid’s wish granted!  As soon as I showed them how to do it, they immediately took over and were lost in their own world, hanging the balls, taking it, then hanging them back. It kept them occupied for a pretty long time, until they started quarreling as to who gets the most balls.

I took out more Christmas decors for them to play and that settled the little fight.

Caity had something else in mind:

The Christmas tree ornaments can be used as earrings for this season! (:

Cost of the fun?  Nothing!  The branches were picked on one of our outdoor walks and the Christmas decors were taken out from the dungeon.

Our entry for:
Colorful Weekend
Kids in Doodles

The title says for the kids but let me be specific, I actually mean MY KIDS!

Lately, family and friends have been asking us for tips on what gifts to give our kiddies this Christmas. I’m glad they asked! We’ve heard of gift-giving mishaps and kids not liking what they receive. To avoid that, better ask the person who knows these kids well, better than just predicting or assuming their likes. Heehee! Here goes the gifts for kids:

1. Toys that encourage the kids to be creative.
Think art supplies (crayons, watercolors, colored pencils, etc.), clay, DIY kits, etc. My kids love to doodle, color and paint, everyday without fail! I think we have more than enough artworks to open an exhibit.

2. Toys that make them think and learn.
BOOKS, Puzzles, building toys, wooden (alphabet,numbers or animals) blocks, Legos, etc.

3. Musical toys. My kids would pretend blowing the trumpet, as influenced by one of the songs from their fave show Veggie Tales. Last Christmas, they mostly got musical instruments but they don’t have xylophone and guitar and yes, trumpet!

4. Ride on toys – any kids would love this. Caity is asking for a scooter.

5. Toys they’ll surely love. Adie is a typical boy. He’s into cars, trains, anything that has wheels. Both kids like dog and they go to sleep with their stuffed dog toys. A few weeks back, Caity saw a pink poodle toy that she’s crazy about and a toy rabbit in a cage. She’d be the happiest girl if she’d get it on Christmas.


6. Useful stuff like clothing, shoes… hmmmm car, house, hehe
7. Passes for zoos, museums, kiddie shows, etc. I know one little girl who was given an annual family pass to the zoo by her grandparents. They got to see the animals often especially during summer. A very smart gift to give to a kid.
8. GIFT OF TIME. The best! It surpasses all the gifts mentioned above.

That’s it! I hope it helps you decide what gifts for kids you’d buy. Happy shopping!

Been eating brownies (which I baked last night) since my morning started. Woke up from an afternoon finding myself eating some more, paired with hot choco with marshmallows. Perks me up! Yum!

For lunch, I made this Arroz ala Valenciana, my comfort food for this dreary weather.

And I made a quick project for Christmas decors from left-over yarns. Pompoms made using fork (not the same one I used eating the Valenciana though!). Heeeh! Would you believe that? Got the idea from Pinterest.

Last week my father-in-law arrived from his three-week Asian tour with three of his friends.  I got souvenir magnets from him to add to my collection and some goodies from Negros!

They went to Singapore, Philippines and Bali, Indonesia.  Their Philippine stint included a tour in Taal Lake, Tagaytay, Corregidor, Intramuros and other parts of Manila and Makati.  Sheeeshh, I haven’t even been those places yet! We found a travel agent that took very good care of them and even went out of his way to make their stay a pleasant one.

After their stay in Manila, they transferred to Negros to visit my parents.  It’s the second time for them to see each other.  The first time was when my parents came to Prague to see us.  Mom prepared a well-planned itinerary for them; tour in the Victorias Milling Company to see how sugar is made, they attended the reenactment of the Cinco de Noviembre battle in Silay where their presence was recognized by the Mayor, they visited the Negros Museum, saw the Ruins, trekked the hilly Mambukal terrain up to the 7th falls, went swimming in Pacific Shores, etc. etc.  It was a fully-packed and very busy 4 days for them in Negros and of course, aside from seeing the sights, my family made sure that they get to taste the famous delicious Negros cuisine and Filipino hospitality at its best.  I am glad our Czech guests enjoyed their stay in the Philippines.

I’m posting some of their pics courtesy of mah sistah (Happy Steps Travel Blog)!

Lunch by the sea. They feasted on oysters, crabs, fish and shrimps! They’re seated from tallest to shortest! haha

Lunch at Pacific Shores with my family…

At Don Salvador Benedicto…


Mom with the towering Czechs. (:

The Mambukal Boating Lagoon

Posing in front of their cottage at Mambukal Mountain Resort.

My two dads. (: At home, during their farewell lunch.

This weekend, we’ve discovered a new nook that not only caters to what I have been looking for, for ages, but also there’s a special place for the kids to play (for free!) at such a convenient place.

• It’s a bookstore that sells arts and crafts stuff, something that I have been itching to find, coz there are a million creative things I want to do!
• It has a play area! Though small, it was spanking new and not crowded!
• Beside the play area is a coffee shop where you can relax, drink coffee and try their cakes while keeping an eye on the kids!
• All these great wonders, surrounded with heavenly smell of new books, where you can browse on pages while the kids are having fun. Isn’t it neat?
• And what’s best is that it’s located in the mall where we go  for our weekly grocery shopping, and parking is for free too!

It’s a perfect place for the family to hang out. (: If not for Adie’s butt explosion, we would have stayed there for hours.

I didn’t go out of that place empty-handed. Bought some needed craft supplies, of course! And as we went out, Caity was doing a fake cry, “huhuhu, buh-bye… huhuhu“. Till next week!

What a fun and colorful weekend!