Gong Xi Fa Cai

 

Happy Chinese New Year! May the year of the water dragon bring us all luck, prosperity and good health! This year we are at our new home celebrating chinese new year for the first time here. I havent even finished blogging about Christmas and what do you know, it is already Chinese New Year! A couple of days after Christmas I had the tree put away and a sprinkling of red replaces the decoration in our house for the month of January.

The house has lately also been smelling of baked new year's goods and other treats. I haven't done baking for new year's for the longest time, and this year I am starting again with hubby's request, starting with some pineapple tarts. I even attempted homemade nian gao and braised shiitake mushrooms! We live in a very multicultural street and we have been so lucky to have had all sorts of treats given to us "for chinese new year!". Some interesting items included sweet indian dumplings( I forgot what they were called), deep fried and then soaked in a sweet sugar syrup. Just before we sat down for our reunion dinner, yet another knock on our door opens up to the sight of freshly steamed giant buns with red dates slotted into them, check that out!

We were away last year and the rest of the family here had an almost non existent chinese new year celebration (they had fish and chips for their reunion dinner! And leftovers for the first day haha!). So this year, we had everyone over our place and placed a feast in front of them. It is tradition back in Singapore to have steamboat for reunion dinner at my parents' house, so I do the same at mine. If we can have a steaming hot pot in Singapore's tropical weather, we can most certainly do the same in 34 degree heat in melbourne!

I can certainly no chef, I have never cooked the traditional dishes for the festive occasion before attempting the braised shiitake mushrooms, so hooray for the steamboat because all I had to do was buy the ingredients and away we feast! But the very aspiring and competent chef of my father in law, made a magnificent Lou Hei (a traditional Singaporean chinese new year salad -very apt!). It was so yummy! Third day into the new year we've already done it twice! Kayden got right into the tossing! He had his little spoon instead of chopsticks and was also flicking the salad into the air! He even stood on the table so he can do it higher than everyone else hah! We clinked our glasses and swished the meats into the simmering pot, sweating the night away! But hey it was a great dinner!

As the new year begins, we reflect on how much things and people have changed, Especially how much our little man has grown and really starting to develop his own personality. He now understands almost everything we say and sound his own opinions even when eavesdropping on the adults! A year ago, at new year's he was only still a babbling baby, scooting around on all fours! Now, on the first day of new year, with his hands clasped together, he tells us "Gong Xi Gong Xi!". But, only if you have a red packet in your hand ready to hand it to him! The cheeky little thing! He already knows the value of money! (He knows it gets him strawberries at the supermarket - "Pay! Eat!").

I hope you are all having a great start to the year so far!

Our Christmas week in photos

First off, Happy New Year to all! I hope everyone's had a lovely festive season!

We had so much going on, you have no idea. Lots of Christmas entries to come. I have so much to share! Warning! Photo heavy entry.


K and I both came down with a yucky viral infection that left us both covered in bright red spots a week before Christmas. Thank god we both recovered in time to soak in the Christmas festivities!

Just before Christmas Eve dinner, we went to catch our local fire brigade Santa Christmas parade!

It's faster if you pedal K!

We came back after and had some frozen watermelon trees!

Photos with the little man were almost all blurry because he wouldn't keep still (hence the playdoh in his hand) or he refueses to look at the camera!

Christmas Eve was just us. Our little family of 3. I made a really simple chicken roast, scalloped potatoes and some organic greens. Here he is, waving to us to hurry up! It's chow time!

 Christmas for us is a huge extended family affair. Most of my mother-in-law's family lives here in Melbourne. And she ranks number 15 in her family. She has 14 other siblings! FOURTEEN. The little ones running around, the teenagers (where by rank, I am, urgh. Their grand aunty, due to the huge age gap between the senior members of the family) all slouched on the couches and carpet (on their gadgets of course), the parentals all gathered around the long dinner table sipping on their wines and gossiping, and us toddler moms sharing our latest parenting woes while trying to make sure our minis aren't scoffing down too much junk food! I love it!

Oh the food! We have some restaurateurs and chefs in the family, so we really do get spoilt at family occasions.  I always forget to take photos because I get too excited wowing at the food, calling out "Who made THIS yummy!?", pleading for recipes and piling my plate high. So I only remember my camera towards the end (where I jump up from my chair, leave my empty plate in its place to take photos of the food. So these were the sweets they were just only just starting to serve towards the end of the evening. No photos of my plate. I was too busy keeping little fingers picking marshmallows off reindeer cookies from me.

 

By the way, this is my yearly contribution. I'm the one that brings the finger lickin good (if I could even say so myself!) sticky date pudding. Short of putting a decorative bunch of mint leaves and strawberries on top, I have resigned to just leaving it look all boring and brown. So long it tastes yum I say!

My father-in-law's homemade silky smooth beancurd dessert - gone in minutes! So good!

Looks plain, but these were worth a mention because there were made by our 13 year old niece. They were so surprisingly soft, fluffy and fragrant! I see she gave up icing them, she made hundreds of mini ones!

Haha, I'm beginning to see a trend here. Plain again, but so melt in your mouth goodness! Fruit parcels these ones.

By 9pm, the little ones were getting feral, tired and grouchy. For some, it was a long drive home. It was an indication it was time for pressies!  The army of kids and teenagers gathered in the large family room and the sound of paper ripping was followed by squeals of excitement that followed.

He opens his first present. His favourite one of all!

Looks like it was no secret that K is addicted to the app =) You should have heard him laugh when he saw it!

He kept getting distracted, soon he was engulfed by his own presents. 

The boys checking out each other's presents. By the way, we got that Thomas book as part of a present for K's cousin, but because he picked it out for little D, he kept stealing it back thinking it was his!

It

It was a very big night for Kayden, we got home at midnight. He was all stimulated and sleep was not an option!  The very next day was Boxing day. After a light lunch, it was presents again. Round 2! K doesn't really get the significance of presents at Christmas yet. He now thinks all presents wrapped up belong to him and he has to open them all! We had dinner that night at his grandparents. And of course, it was Round 3 after dinner. He's abit of a Thomas (& Cars. Not just the movie, but especially the movie) fan. There were trains and more trains, cars and more cars!

This wasn't a present, a hand me down from someone but he couldn't get enough of it!

Mommy and Daddy got some goodies too! I have since put away some of his Christmas pressies. I'm rationing them out throughout the year.

 In short, we had a great Christmas. The little man got spoilt! And so did we. Surrounded by the ones we treasure near and far at this time of the year. Sharing the laughter and smiles. I took lots of mental snapshots too. There is NO dieting to be had. With Chinese New Year coming up in a few weeks, what diet!? Easter choccies have already made their appearance on the supermarket shelves!

Groovy baby!

With Christmas already in the air, there is much joy to be had. We attended the wedding of a cousin yesterday. Almost all week long it was sunshine and warm breezes. But the day before the wedding. It POURED. It poured so much, our backyard looked like a mud pool, Kayden would be more than happy to roll about in. It was so gloomy and horrid. There were reports of flash floodings. 

But someone must have been listening to all our prayers for the wedding couple. Because the next morning, it was as if that torrential downpour never happened. (if you don't look at my backyard).

He had his own glass. And of course, he had to clink glasses all night long. "Cheers Mommy!"

 

See us? On the bottom right hand branch. Towards the tip of the branch, that little cluster of 3 leaves pointing down?

It turned out to be one of most beautiful of days. It was a beautiful wedding, very befitting for a stunning looking couple. We are so happy and grateful to be part of their special day.

We wined and dined.  We danced with the family. We listened to some very touching speeches. We laughed with one another until we reached for tissues.

 

Kayden wolfed down his shoestring fries. Just fries for his dinner. I didn't take a photo. He swooped at those fries so quick it was almost all gone by the time i remembered. That scrumptious looking chicken he went "cut! cut! CUT!!!" went untouched. He wined on his serve of tomato sauce. I heard his 2.5year old cousin dunked his dinner roll in it. They both indulged in individual platters of ice cream served to them. Complete with chocolate fondue, smarties and rainbow sprinkles. He's never ever set eyes on Smarties. Oh.Nope. Correction. As I type this, I just realised. I made milky way cars for his birthday. Of course he remembered! Sugar rush!

And just as well he decided to hit the dancefloor to boogie the night away! Me being the photo hoarder, the memory card screamed FULL! at me somewhat towards the start of the music! I only caught a few photos and videos here and there, but mostly blurred from all that booty shaking! Extremely cute! He imitated the adults. He did the twist, joined in a conga line and he even tried doing the swirl during the waltz while holding onto someone's hand. Heck, he even almost ran in to cut into the new Mr and Mrs first dance! It was a whole different style of head, shoulders, knees and toes for him!

My cheeky monkey!

We changed Kayden into his PJs just before we left the hotel. As expected, the boy was sound asleep, by the time we pulled out of the carpark, dreaming of more dancing in his slumberland, I'm sure of that. He was still dancing on the way to our car.

What a wonderful way to spend an evening!

Let the Christmas decorating BEGIN!

Note that he is holding onto a purple crayon. 

He wants to help Mommy colour the christmas bears on our tree!

2nd Birthday Fun

 

We celebrated K's second birthday over the weekend! The little man had so much fun with his little friends he slept in till 11.30am the next morning. I got together all of his little friends for a kiddy tea party. K had no clue why people kept giving him bags and boxes but took them anyway. After we all sang him happy birthday, he puts his hands up in the air when we say hip hip hooray!

In the evening, we had a small family barbecue where we sang him happy birthday once again. We opened up all his presents. Little man was spoilt rotten! The look on his face like above was just priceless.

As he (tries) to blow out his candles, a little girl piped out 'He didn't make a wishhhhh!!!!!!!'.

But Mommy did my boy. Stay happy and healthy always. May you always be surrounded by love and joy.

Weekend dining

Our little family have been enjoying our time together so much since we've been back. On the weekends, we kick start the day by heading out for a nice brunch. Yes. By the time we're ready to start our day on the weekends, more often than not, it is to some an ungodly 11am. Brunch it is.

Recently, we also attended the wedding of a close family friend. Despite being extremely well travelled for the month, the couple looked radiantly blissful. The groom is a close childhood friend of my husband. Their union could not have been any more appropriately celebrated with some fireworks! A private show of fireworks for a wedding!

Wow, definitely a first for me!  It was a cold, cold icy winter's night. But the skies were clear and starry. Most of the guests rugged up with scarves and coats and streamed out onto the balcony to watch the spectacular displays! It drew gasps and squeals of delight from most of us! Somebody said it was better than the New Year's fireworks!

Naturally, we were all wondering in hush tones how much that cost! We later found out from Richard, that it was actually alot more affordable than most of us thought it would cost! If the thought of ever saving up for that Chanel Jumbo ever crossed your mind, you can most probably enjoy a 15 minute display at the very least. I see that one tick off my bucket list for the future!

K's almost birthday celebration

Last week, we celebrated K's 18 months milestone. K had a blast! Here are a few highlights of the evening.



Till today, K's still not used to the Singapore weather, he sweats like a pig!
With only a nappy on, he was almost butt naked on his day!



I just had to take a photo of this! Too cute!
I must be the only person who haven't seen something like this before!



To his delight, someone gifted him a reindeer balloon. He was zipping around the room taking his new found friend for a 'walk'. Just barely a week later, poor Rudolph looks more than a little weary. Too many walks with Kayden I reckon.

The boy keeps forgetting he comes with a leash, and is often dragging his friend around the house by its ear.

That broken horn was no accident. Then off came one of his hooves later as well because he kept stepping on it accidentaly. I"ll spare you it's sorry state. Too gruesome for a happy kiddy post.

I hear it didn't come too cheap.  But hey! Well worth the price paid for it I reckon! It's a sure winner! He absolutely LOVES it. I've seen him give him slobbery kisses, eye popping hugs and heard many intimate conversations between the two.  These days, he even shares his food with Rudolph. "Ahhhhhhhmmmmm!", he says, before feeding it to Rudolph.

When I told hubby I was organizing this little celebration, he joked that Kayden might be more interested in smashing into his cake.

Well. It happened. Even before we had a chance to light the candles on it too!

We all laughed it off, but the boy was horrified that the blue icing was smeared into his palm. And that his hand was stained blue. He squished it around and proclaimed "Eeeeeee!!"  while the rest of us said, "Blue hands!". He had his arm outstretched for a while, waiting for somebody to wipe it off for him.

All good after. Until he did it AGAIN!

No kidding! The cake was so badly mauled I think I went into denial, so no photos of it after that.  I just wanted to eat some cake already! I did respond hubby back then that K could do whatever he wanted with his cake. It's his anyway. But I should really have stated he might do so AFTER the obligatory photos and cake cutting. 6 more months to your 2nd birthday boy, I'll remember next time.

And next time, I'll also save my money on buying party hats. He absolutely hated it! I swear he probably only had it on his head for 5 seconds before he tried to pull it off everytime.

 It's all good, the money can go towards his eating fund.

You don't need me to tell you which were the crappy photos I took! All the other beautiful shots credited to K's Godma!

Thanks for all the well wishes and pressies everyone!