PlayDoh time

It's a holiday today! It's Singapore's 46th National day. Majulah Singapura!

No work for mommy today! Yey =) We didn't go anywhere and just stayed at home. Bonding moment with my boys. I introduced them to PlayDoh. It was given as a gift to Lyle some time ago which we haven't opened yet. I actually delayed opening it because I'm not a fan of playing with clay. Today is the day that my view of clay had changed =) Both Lyle and Lance enjoyed playing and molding the clay into different things they could imagine. We didn't notice the time we had been busy and when I checked the time almost 2 hours had already passed. We all had a good time and its a good way for my boys to learn and be creative.

Mommy's little helper

Lyle is starting to get interested in the kitchen. He's asking me what's the thing I'm holding or the vegetable I'm chopping and he tries to imitate what I'm doing.  It made me happy and proud when he said "Mommy, can I help you?" Of course this would mean that the kitchen will be messier if I let him but I dont want to put off the helpful spirit  he has on that moment. I assigned him the task of chopping the stalks of spinach. We search for the toy surgical knife from his play doctor set and that's what he used for chopping. He started his task and was so serious at it and at the same time having fun =) Here's a photo of Lyle while helping me in the kitchen.

This is just a start of Lyle's adventure in the kitchen. As for now, I'll just follow his interest and encourage him. I'll try my best not to worry so much about the mess (fellow moms, I know you unnderstand what I mean.. hehe). And of course, I'll schedule our cooking session when I'm not in a hurry and I have all the patience I can muster.

Here are some tips from a Babycenter guest blogger on how to have fun in the kitchen with your kids:

1. Do all your preparations before hand ~ unless you like getting them to help you find the ingredients needed. This just speeds up the process.

2. Find safe ways to involve them ~ I wouldn’t recommend they chop up the vegetables with the butcher knife, but they can do a lot more than you probably think.

3. Choose simple recipes ~ especially when first starting out. You don’t want to go big at first becuase you may end up frustrated and never want to cook with them again.

4. Allow taste testing ~ I know you stick your finger in to give it a taste so let them too! My favorite part of baking with my mom was licking the spoon, or the entire bowl for that matter.

5. Ask questions ~ “What do you think goes in next?” Kids can have a short attention span at the best of times and this will keep them interested.

6. Teach them a good chef always cleans up ~ There’s something very satisfactory when you’re done and it’s all cleaned up. Clutter/mess is just added stress you don’t need.

7. Take lots of pictures! ~ I don’t know about your kids, but my kids love to be the center of attention and with today’s digital generation, they love seeing themselves “on film”.

Here's the link to the the article - 7 tips for cooking with your kids

I'm back!

It's been a long time since the last time I posted anything here. I've been into a blogging hiatus and it took much effort to try to be back again. So much had happened and so many moments had passed that I wasn't able to share in this blog. My mind is wandering and been staring in the monitor for quite some time and couldn't think of anything. I really don't know where to start. I have to pick up the pieces and start with baby steps again. I don't have to pressure and overwhelm myself. I'll just post and write as comfortably as I can. I want this blog to be active again and would like to be back for good. I need to make time for this and not wait for the time to be able to write.  

Happy Mother's Day!

If anyone ever told 

a woman pondering motherhood

how many dishes she would wash,

how many diapers she would change,

or how many spelling words 

she would need to relearn,

she'd probably think twice

before having a child.

If anyone were to mention that the

terrible two's aren't half as

demanding at the turbulent teens,

that school and sports activities

require a mother's lifetime commitment,

and that friends, phones, and malls

are the essence of a young one's desires,

she might have a second thought 

or two.

But the funny thing about motherhood

is that once you are a mother,

you can never imagine your life

without the love and joy of your child.

Because with each and every obligation

and the endless amount of responsibility,

there is a wonderful feeling of happiness

that enters your heart

and stays with you wherever you go.

It is the feeling of LOVE...

the most beautiful emotion in life

- Deanna Beisser

Happy Mother's day to all mothers out there and most especially to my Mama! 

Thank you for everything. You and Papa had raised us well and continue to support and shower us with your love. I love you!

How to tell if your child is ready for preschool

Another good article from my favorite Parenting and Child development website - Babycenter.com. In this article are list of questions that will help parents to assess their children's readiness for preschool.

Here are the questions taken from the article:

• Is your child fairly independent?
• Has he spent time away from you?
• Can he work on projects on his own?
• Is he ready to participate in group activities?
• Is he used to keeping a regular schedule?
• Does he have the physical stamina for preschool?
• Why do you want to send him to preschool?