Early Valentine's Day date

I went to a date with a very special person on Saturday - my son, J.
It was more like running errands, but it was only J and me, and I'd call it a date.

We went to Home Depot for free kids workshop (they offer every 1st Saturday). This month's craft was of course, Valentine's Day gift - a heart shape shelf. Right away, J knew that shelf was going to become "a perfect gift" for M. He glued, hammered, and put stickers to decorate a one-of-the-kind heart shape shelf, just for his sister M. (I thought I was his date, but obviously he had the other girl in his mind...)

While we were at another place, he saw a box of frozen donuts and was drooling over it. So I suggested, instead of the stale looking frozen donuts, to go get fresh one at our local bakery. To last this Mommy-and-J only time, he requested us to eat our lunch there (i.e., cream-filled donuts and chocolate milk). While we were eating, glancing over my shoulder, he found another perfect gift for his sister (again, I was his date here. But it's okay, I guess. He is a very thoughtful boy) - a brownie with Hello Kitty decoration on the top. So we bought that brownie and a donuts to take home.
It was a good date, he said, but maybe it was more like a trip to get his Valentine's Day gifts....oh well, it was for his sister. And M just loved the gifts so much (not so much of the brownie itself, but, oh yes, the Hello Kitty!).

By the way, the original purpose of me wanting to go Home Depot was to find some paint samples. After living in this house for almost 7 years, I finally got an idea of color theme for our glossy everything beige dining room with antique mahogany dining set (picture below). My husband thinks I'm crazy to even think about painting our house, but I'm ready for some change. We shall see....

I'm a mom.

The other day, I called my work to discuss with my co-worker about something. As she answered the phone, she asked me "How are you? What's you doing today?" Of course any emergency in M's life happens when Mommy is on the phone. So she was yelling my name for help. My co-worker said, "Ah, you are being Mom today! Good for you!"
Yep. I'm a mom. Full-blown. And I like it when people value the importance of motherhood as I do.

It's not even noon, and I think I already had an event of the day. And I just had to share with my hubby. So I e-mail him:

Do you wanna hear how I spent last 3 minutes?
It all started from changing K's poop, which he was wiggling and did not want to stay still. While I was cleaning that, M called for help that she needed "something white and round and round" (i.e. toilet paper). So I told her to wait while I finally managed to button up K's onesie. Then I realized that the dog was right by the gate making the puking noise. Great. So I hurried up to open the gate...well, I didn't make it. There was a big yellow paddle with a chuck (I think it was dent-a-bone he didn't digest from last night). So I grabbed bunch of paper towel to clean the mess. While I was doing that, of course, K decided to go visit M in the bathroom. I picked him up and move him in the living room, went back to finish cleaning, and then finally gave M a fresh new roll of TP.
All of which, I believe, took me about grand 3 minutes. (typing took longer than that!)


Of course, my hubby shared the story with his co-workers in surrounding cubicles. And his sympathetic co-workers said that they wanted to take me out for a drink. Ha ha.
Well, it's okay. I don't drink. Plus, my hubby is taking me out for a date tonight.

This photo was captured by my dear friend Kristin who is a wonderful photographer. This is one of many favorite photos she took for us. I feel beautiful. And I'm a mom.

"The greatest work we will ever do will be within the walls of our home"

~David O. McKay

Project photo archive

Now Christmas is over, I can post (and show off!) some of my recent projects - of course, Christmas gifts. The best part was to see all those recipients' faces the moment they opened. That's why I can't stop making gifts. It is so rewarding to see those faces!

Since my husband has many siblings and many many kids (total 25, I think. I've lost count...), we each rotate one family gift every year. It is nice to know who is coming next year, and I have been thinking about their gifts for a long time. Really, it gets challenging when a family has 4 girls ranged from age 11 to 16.

A necklace for my niece K.
This was a fun one to make.

Another floral/pearl necklace for my niece L.
Not a great pic, but she loved the actual item.

A purse for my niece E.This was a challenge one as she said she is not a jewelry or flower accessory type of girl. So, I asked her what she wanted. She told me a small purse with long strap, like a messenger bag. When I saw this fabric in the remnant section, I knew what I wanted to do. Still, I was worried to see this hard-to-read 16-year-old's reaction to this. The answer? "Awesome!"

And this for their parents, Red Envelope inspired family tree frame.

A photo from my floral shoppe (well, not really, but my friend wanted to purchase)
small floral hair pins for my friend's girl.

Merry Christmas!

Santa House

We finally went to see Santa last night. We thought Monday night won't be that bad. Wrong! The line was so long and we waited more than an hour to see him. But it was well worth it. J and M each wrote a letter with printed pictures of toy they want for Christmas. Baby K was just in awe of the sight of all kind of lights and toys inside the Santa House. Best of all, we did the trip with cousins and had pizzas afterward. The only problem (forget the 20 degree weather and the hour-long waiting line and the 23 lb. baby on my hip wanting to move) that my sister-in-law's camera didn't have the memory stick and I ran out of battery for our camera! Luckily, thank goodness to technology and those smart phones, her husband's phone had a memory stick which can hold 2 pictures and my hubby took videos with his cell phone. Lesson learned? Check batteries (including back-up ones) and memory stick for your camera before you leave for a special trip, like, say, Santa House. For now, I just hope kids' little hearts will do better job than memory sticks.

Jotting down little things

I need to write things down before I forget...the things that I don't want to forget. It is a journal after all....(I may add some picture later)

Today was my first parent-teacher conference at J's kindergarten. J is just thriving in school, loving being there, and just enjoying everything about it. The teacher told us that J tells his teacher everyday, "Hi, Mrs. M. I like School." "Hi, Mrs. M. I like you. I'm glad you are my teacher." His teacher reminded us how fortunate he is to have both parents who love him and teach him. Yes, we are blessed to be together.
And my husband said to me, "You can do a lot of things, but I don't think you can be a kindergarten teacher." Yap, he is right. I am thankful for public school education!

Baby K turned a year-old. Always smiling, happy child. He had his first black eye yesterday by falling from a high chair at a friend's house. He was poked 6 times at the doctor's office the hour before (oh, poor thing). But my happy baby came back after the first taste of lollipop.

While my husband was driving with just M the other day, they saw a flock of turkeys. M said, "Mmmm, turkeys! I ate turkey at Thanksgiving. They are yummy. Mmmm, I want to eat turkey!" Yap. My kind of girl. She'll never be a vegetarian. Though I don't remember seeing her eating any turkey at Thanksgiving....

Today I made some reindeer (with a Moose-shaped cookie cutter) cookies with leftover gingerbread cookie dough with kids. We sang "Rudolph the red-nose reindeer" as we decorated.

Because of parent-teacher conference, J was home today. It was fun to have him home. He made funny faces and made K giggle so much that we all started giggling. K's smile is contagious, and his giggle is really contagious. I should video-tape next time.

J and I had our own cuddle time as I read books to him tonight. He told me many times that he loves me, and he loves being with me.
Yes, love is spoken here.

Birthday gifts for my niece

I know I have not posted Halloween pictures yet, and it is on my to-do list. But for now, I'm posting the pictures of "the products of the day". Yes, it was another one of those housekeeping strike days. And yes, I am making more flowers...

A pair of $1.00 gloves turned out pretty with beads embellishment.

I hope she'll like them.