My latest passion

Crochet. I've done some in the past, but was never into it. Recently I inherited a crochet book from my friend, and thought I'd give a try. Oh boy, it's fun! I now understand those ladies with balls of yarn and needles stitching away! Yes, my house may have been neglected a bit lately because of it, but I've been having so much fun!

Baby beanie with flower for our new niece M.
(Model: my daughter's 18 inch baby doll who happened to have similar size head)
It was my own creation, and of course I didn't write down what I did. It's truly one of the kind!

And the monkey. You've got to have a amigurumi monkey, right?
Yes, this one I followed an instruction.

Now I know how to break the codes such as "2 sc in next 2 ch" and "tog2sc" stuff in those American version of crochet books, it opened up a whole new world of crafting to me.

You know he is up to something when he is quiet...

Then, all of a sudden, you hear "slop, slurrrp, he he, slop, slop..."

Yap. That was my baby K. Eating food off the floor.
Menu: Cajun-spiced baked tilapia with alfredo sauce, green beans, and rice pilaf.
Yummy.

Okay, that didn't sound good...let me try again.

There was a leftover on the dining table packed and ready for my hubby's lunch. Hubby was out with older kids. Baby K was happily playing, while I was in kitchen doing dishes.
I guess, he was happily playing and eating. I guess my baby is now tall enough to reach stuff on the table. I thought I fed him good. I mean, he ate the whole fillet of tilapia, a good portion of rice pilaf, milk, etc., way more than his big sister consumed for the day.
I thought he was full.
I was wrong.
Sorry, baby, you don't have lunch tomorrow, because K and Leo (our dog) decided to share it instead. I know you were looking forward to it. Maybe K felt bad that Leo didn't have enough food of his own. He is such a lucky dog.

Getting pretty close to perfect

About a few weeks ago, J decided he doesn't like store-bought bread (when kids are hungry at bedtime, they get only bread-and-butter). He likes "Mama's jam on Mama's bread" for breakfast more than Coco Puffs. Mama's secret? Bread machine "dough" setting. Less work for me, but it does good kneading job for me. Then bake the bread in oven. Oh, the smell of freshly baked bread! I have a feeling that it's going to be a bread baking day.

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!