If You Need a Pick-Me-Up Video...

I saw this video a while back, and saw it again tonight. Never fails to make me appreciate the little things in life.

What's For Dinner?

Tonight was one of those nights. "What's for dinner?" is probably one of the many constant things I ask myself on a daily basis, and is usually not done in a timely manner and most of the time not done AT ALL (breakfast for dinner, anyone?)

Well, yesterday I didn't make anything for dinner. I wasn't up to the task. I was lazy and I gave in. So my dear hubs went out and bought the ingredients for our tortilla soup - and as usual (when it comes to meals like this), the kids had something else.

I was stuck with "what's for dinner" question all day today, AGAIN! My meal calendar was blank. I was scanning my head for anything I knew what to make but they didn't seem appealing. "STIR-FRY" is what my head always said. Still clueless after the kids' nap, I threw one frozen chicken breast on a sauce pan and boiled it, not knowing what I'd make of it. "Stir-fry" is what my brain still told me. So stir-fry it was! But how will I make the stir-fry? "Easy! Just let me tell you later," is what my dear brain replied.

I made some rice. Got the chicken out and shredded it. Took out some frozen broccoli florets, LUCKY we had a red bell pepper in the fridge, and the usual onion and garlic. No measurements, just basic guessing. No sense of smell, so I couldn't smell what I was cooking. All I knew was to throw in whatever came into my head. Sautéed the onion and garlic in olive oil, unthawed the broccoli quickly in the sink with cold water, threw it in the pan, sprinkled it with whatever spices I found in my cabinets (lemon pepper, chicken rub, season-all, salt, pepper). Stirred/mixed it with the sautéed garlic and onion for a little bit.  Covered the pan for a little while, hoping the taste of the spices will stick to the veggies and the little steam will make the broccoli soft because it's frozen. Threw in the bell pepper, and the shredded chicken - and stirred!

But omigosh, it's getting too dry! I opened the fridge, and voila! Some leftover chicken broth from last night's dinner. Poured a bit in (again no measurements, just guessing) in the frying pan. Sprinkled some more spices (same ones) hoping this will turn out good. Covered it and left for however minutes on low heat until I thought it was good enough to consume.

My heart almost melted during dinner when J attacked the broccoli and the red bell pepper first before anything else, and C ate BROCCOLI without any tantrums thrown, and he finished his whole bowl! (J ate a lot, too, but played with the rest). My picky-eater liked my experimental dinner! It's this kind of night when both kids love the meal, that makes me say it was all worth it.

Sorry, no pictures. I was kinda lazy to take a picture of it, but it was honestly yummy!

Just for Laughs - Nina Conti Ventriloquist

I found this video a while back. I'm not much into ventriloquist. I was never entertained much by such things and puppets even when I was young. BUT! This one made me laugh a lot.

By the way, I won't be a hypocrite and pretend like the super momma. I admit I've gone back to playing that game, but with more discipline. It's only when I'm really really bored to save me from getting bored-sad (is that even a word?). Like when most of the things I think of doing will still get me bored. But most of the time, I write in my journal or read the book (see side bar) that I'm reading - slowly (it's kind of boring) - when the kids are napping. I've attempted making cards here and there but every time I do, one of them gets up from their naps already. Haha! So that can wait. For now it's reading, writing, and editing photos, and sometimes the games (my me-time anyway). I was thinking of self-studying (just links and other random things) online about my hobbies, you know? That would probably keep me entertained while the kids nap. I still want to post handmade cards on my very inactive Etsy account. I don't bring our laptop downstairs anymore when I'm down there with the kids and don't look much on my phone so I can focus more on them. As long as I know my main priority, I think a little bit of gaming once in a while when the kids aren't around me is not a bad thing.

I'll be posting on our family blog about what's been up with us lately.

"Hey Jimmy Kimmel, I Told My KidsI Ate All Their Halloween Candy"

A lot of people have posted this and I keep skipping it. Well, since both of my kids were down for their nap kind of late today (thank you DST!.. not), I checked this one out. It made me laugh, especially the first several ones. Poor kids...

I wonder if this would've worked with C. He's probably just gonna say, "all gone!"

Semana Santa

For those of you who have weak stomachs, I say

SKIP THIS POST!!!

If you don't like to see blood, SKIP THIS POST.

Here we go...

(ALL PHOTOS POSTED HERE, as well as some additional information,
 WERE TAKEN & GIVEN BY JACOB PAUL REYES)

As some of you might know, I grew up in the Philippines - where most

citizens are devout Christians, mostly Catholics.

So, as a young girl, I grew up watching these men walk by our 

streets on Good Friday every April doing their penance

during the Catholics' celebration of the "Semana Santa"

or Holy Week in the Philippines.
(the week leading up to Easter Sunday).

I've never really understood why they do this, though.

Probably just their way of showing their devotion.

Needless to say, the men's procession is the only thing I've seen my whole life,

although I knew they were also doing something else afterwards.

. . .

So, after their procession,

they leave their crowns of "thorns" (they are actually just leaves) 

upon their arrival to the Cathedral.

And then they let their friends beat them some more

as they lie facing down on the ground, 

as what kuya (big brother) Paul described it as their "last act of penance."

Those whips are made of stick and are just used to beat the backs

of the pennants and spread the blood all over, 

not to give them wounds or anything.

Kuya Paul wrote in his description on this picture  that the Catholic Church

"condemns this practice and does not let the devotees in"

that's why the front entrance of the Church was barricaded and this man (below)

would just have to do his penance in front of the cross

displayed outside by the church.

After their penance, the main passion play takes place where people carry their cross

to the hill (wherever that is - somewhere in Cutud [in my province]), I guess.

Actually in the past, this was only done in my province.

But recently other cities decided to make their own play as well.

These men were on their way to the hill:

Here you can see the three crosses on the hill at Cutud:

Then comes the raising of the men who were nailed t0 the cross

They were really nailed to the palms of their hands

Kuya Paul wrote on his description that this man (below) has been

nailed to the cross (according to the man himself) for the second time in his life.

Like I said, I don't know why they do this.

And like what kuya Paul wrote, the Catholic Church condemns this.

So I don't know why they still keep doing it.

But it's been a tradition in my country.

Reading

Caleb loves reading books.

We read to him everyday.

He loves it when you ask him where things are.

Most of the time he'll get it right.
He'll point at the right drawing/object.

Reading is always beneficial not just for babies but

for adults as well.

I just thought to share this video.

She started reading on her own when she was 13 months old!

AMAZING!
She could even read a cursive "Baby."

WOW!

Siblings

(photo from BabyandPregnancy)

Jesse's been feeling sick since yesterday.

He had food poisoning, probably from the pasta he ate for lunch at work.

Anyway, he was still not getting some food down today,

and he was really hungry. 

I was so tired with C, I fell asleep in the afternoon.

By the time I woke up (for the nth time),

Jesse was lying next to me and giving me hints

to make him some dinner.
I didn't even know I've been sleeping for almost 3 hours.

Poor guy.

I meant to take care of him, too, besides C.

But since it was going to take me long to make dinner

(I still had to thaw the really frozen chicken and find something I can make it with),

we decided to just go out and eat.

He wanted to try eating something more solid than jello and crackers.

We went to Panda Express, which is only a block away.

But - Jesse didn't want any.
I think just the sight of solid foods make him nauseous.

Anyway, while I was in line,

there were these two siblings playing around the seats.

Their parents were in front of me in line.

Then I heard the big brother (probably 5 y.o. or almost 6) 

talk to his younger sister who is probably 3 or 4 y.o..:

Bro: "Hey, guess what?"

Sis: "What?"

Bro: "We can't marry each other when we grow up."

(by this time, I had a smirk on my face)

Sis: "Why not?!?"

Bro: "Because my teacher said siblings don't marry each other."

Sis: "Oh.."

I wanted to laugh.
Their dad noticed that I was trying not to.

His comment - "yeah, they learn a lot in school!"

Kids say the funniest things!

P.S.

I hope Jesse will get well by tomorrow.

Counting her Blessings

This video is way too cute to pass.

What a way to start your day, huh?!?
I guess I can be like this girl everyday.

Enjoy!