This past week...

....It rained every day.
....our kitchen sink leak got fixed. But not really.
....our printer died. Died.
....Sophia finished Right Start Math Level B (Yeah)
....Bella continued in her reading lessons (now on lesson 20, more on that later!)
....I broke my toe. (It is a beautiful purple red color).
....I am over six months pregnant.
....our washing machine broke. Again. Same part, less than 6 months since it was last replaced for over 100 USD. This machine is maybe 5 years old.
....the printer was replaced but took over two days to get working properly due to the fact that it was not compatible with Windows 8.
....Sophia finished First Language Lessons level 1, and recited the poetry for the fam on Saturday, good job.
....Sophia started a new Phonics, spelling, grammar, handwriting program: The Phonics Road.
....our school 'year' at home is finishing up and going right into next year. No breaks yet, since one is coming in September/October.
....we took Sophia's training wheels off her bike. This weekend David patiently guided her around the track many times. She is really getting it. The last time ended with a tumble for them both, scratches and scrapes, nothing broken.
....I made pecan pie and had close friends over. I forgot to put the butter in the pie, and I actually think it tasted better. As I made it I contemplated planting a pecan tree...
....We received a package. More maternity clothes (needed, thanks!), and chocolate chips, a perfect combo.

Next week? who knows. New math curriculum starting. Pressing on with 2 more weeks of CC, and a big birthday prep for Bella's fourth!

Children's day at School

Every June 1st in China is Children's day. The girls' school decided that their activities would be on the days prior, Thursday and Friday. Parents were expected for the xiao ban (younger classes) on Thursday morning, and for the DaBan (older classes) on Friday. Of course, no one else has children in both, but that was okay. These were fun and it actually didn't take all morning like we expected.

Each day started the same way, with a practice fire drill, while all the parents watched. Then they all did some dances. Bella did not budge. She stood there but did not participate. In her classroom setting she does participate, but in crowds, good luck.

Soph's class also did the dances/drill on both days.

Bella did not even want to participate in the few games planned. She only wanted to swing on the tire swings. I told her we would do the swings after she did one game. She finally did participate and did well.

This is her favorite teacher giving instructions, She loves her 'Yang Laoshi" (Teacher Yang).

Sophia's day arrived, and it was the same routine. She was told not to wear a skirt, as they would be doing games as well.

Their classroom was set up like a clinic with different students at each station, and all others being the patients. They LOVED this. They had sheets of paper for the 'doctor' to write on, and depending on your ailment they had different stations, and a pharmacy with a bunch of empty boxes of medicines for the 'pharmacists' to give out.

She had a sore throat.

David had a stomach ache.

Then we went outside for the spider web game, which we had heard about all week from Soph. 

Then it was back inside for another clinic visit. This was the first time I had been around all the parents in a while. I caused quite the scene with my pregnant self. David was literally in the corner laughing his head off at me as 5-6 moms gathered around and spouted off amazement and questions at my having baby number 4. Mostly I got: 'so tiring, oh my'. And I have had to dispel the lie going around that your body can only handle one C-section or it is 'SOOO dangerous'. But still, many were saying the normal: Blessed/happy congratulations that I do get a lot. The teachers cracked up when I went to their set-up clinic and told the student doc that I was pregnant, look how big my belly is.

Daddy date: children's day weekend

I love this photo. Beautiful girls, awesome husband.
He decided to take the girls to a movie. Finally there was a children's one playing because it was Children's day (June 1st). It was in Chinese but David said it was clear and easy to understand. This was Bella's first time in a movie theater. I was not surprised when I got a text saying that He and Bella were outside because it was 'too scary', even though the content was really not scary. David called it a bust, but Sophia liked it and this was completely predictable of Bella, though we wanted to give her a shot at it. She walked in all talkative: 'I didn't like it, it wasn't fun, it was too dark.' I knew it had to do with many elements, not just the actual movie. Yes, there was a shark, and he wasn't super nice, but he didn't eat people or anything. The darkness, and loudness is probably what affected her more than anything, oh yeah and I did I mention that it was 3D!!! At least they got to eat some chocolate and sour skittles. We will stick with Dora at home for you girl!

Kids play

 Sophia and Tobin camp out in the hallway. Sophia made a bed/contraption with two doll strollers and a cushioned stool. Tobin, the minimalist, put pillows on the floor and feet on the wall.


The girls are actually growing into some of their dress up dresses and look like little ladies....Then they add the shawls/scarves, and fans, and really look like they are ready for afternoon tea!

Greek Yum!

 Pita/naan bread and Greek Salad. The girls helped a lot with the bread. Sophia actually got good at rolling it out perfectly. This helped because every few minutes I was taking some out of the oven while she rolled out more, and I was making the sauce to go with it.

Chicken kebabs, grilled delicious!

We ate something like this (minus the Greek sauces) in a Malaysian night market, and I had a craving/whim to try it. We have a new grill and so far the local meat has been good, but not superb on it. This was entirely different, it was awesome. I followed this entire recipe pretty much to a 'T'. And then I remembered the Feta Cheese our friends brought us and I threw together a Greek salad to go with it. 

Here is the link to the recipe.

And here it is:

Greek Chicken Gyro

By Chef in Training March 30, 2012

• . GREEK CHICKEN .

• 2 medium lemons cut in wedges

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 8 garlic cloves minced
• 2 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• . TZATZIKI SAUCE .

• 1 1/2 cup plain yogurt

• 1/4 cup cucumber finely grated (squeeze off juice)
• 2 tsp. garlic
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp. vinegar
• . NAAN FLATBREAD .
• 3-4 cups flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. active dry or instant yeast
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 tsp sugar
• 3-4 Tbsp. butter melted

1. GREEK GYRO CHICKEN: Gently squeeze lemons into a large re-sealable plastic bag, leaving lemon wedges in the bag. Add ingredients & shake. Add chicken & turn to coat. Seal bag & fridge for 2- 4 hrs. turning ocassionally. Remove chicken and grill over medium heat until juices run clear.
2. TZATZIKI SAUCE: Mix together and serve over Gyros.
3. NAAN FLATBREAD: Pour the milk into a liquid measure and heat in the microwave until warm to the touch (about 110 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer). If using active dry yeast, mix the sugar and yeast into the milk and let it sit for 4-5 minutes until the mixture is foamy and the yeast has activated.
4. Once the yeast/milk mixture is foamy, pour the mixture into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer and add the salt and 2 1/2 cups of the flour (proceed with the second paragraph of the recipe). If using instant yeast, pour the warm milk into a large bowl or the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Add the sugar, instant yeast, salt and 2 1/2 cups of the flour. Proceed as directed below.
5. Mix well to combine. Continue adding flour gradually in small amounts, until a soft dough is formed that cleans the sides of the bowl.

6. Knead the dough by mixer or hand until it is smooth and elastic, about 3-5 minutes in the mixer or 10 minutes by hand.

7. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and let it rest at room temperature, covered lightly with greased plastic wrap, for about 2 hours.
8. After the dough has rested, turn it onto a lightly floured surface (I like to use my roul’pat for this) and divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, rounding each into a ball shape. Cover the pieces with a towel and let them rest for 30 minutes.
9. While the dough rests, preheat your oven to 500 degrees F and place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven.
10. Once the dough has rested for 30 minutes, one by one, roll each piece into a circle about 6-8 inches wide, depending on how thin or thick you want your naan. Lay the circle of dough on the hot pizza stone and spritz lightly with water.
11. Close the oven and bake the naan for 2-4 minutes, until it is lightly puffed (some pieces will puff more than others) and brown spots begin to appear on the top.
12. Remove the naan from the baking stone and place on a cooling rack. Brush lightly with melted butter. Stack the hot naan on top of each other as it comes out of the oven.
13. Cover with a towel and let the naan cool completely or serve warm.

Tobin Sleeps

 I don't think I have any pictures of Tobin sleeping except from when he was a newborn! Here you go, still in a crib yes. (After Sophia's crib paint chipped we nixed the crib thing and stuck with a pack-n-play for the others). We do hope to get him in his 'big boy bed' soon. Our girls transitioned between 18-20 months. But this boy is different. I could just see him jumping on the bed all night long and all the training it will take. But we will train! And soon. We have a guest coming mid-June, then we travel to Thailand for one week, after that, it is 'big boy boot camp', as my friend so aptly put it. We hope to potty train and transition to a real bed before September. I know....'many are the plans of....'. I may just chuck this all out the window depending on how I am feeling then, but this is our hope.

He is taking up the whole bed, but he loves it. And still loves his 'Baa Baa'.

Gardening

We are not gardeners. Or maybe I should say we have about zero experience at gardening. David and I are true novices, but that did not stop us. We did some research, talked to some people, but when it was all said and done we got out the seeds, read the package and put them in the soil. 

This of course was after David made these incredible raised beds and bought the necessary soil and talked to the grandpa next door who definitely has it going on when it comes to plants. We are laughing our way through this whole process because we know we may just fail. We started late, but our climate is so warm it shouldn't matter much. David also bought a very fragrant Osmanthus plant/tree, and 2 gardenia bushes! 

All of our seeds came from America except Spinach. Spinach is a long shot, but we went for it (we eat a ton of it). We have planted a few different kinds of tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and jalapeno peppers. I think that is it. Already things are sprouting! Really, in less than 8 days things came up that weren't weeds! It is rainy season so that is helping. But today was a scorcher, and they need watering but I don't think I will make it out there to do it!

Some neighborhood girls came to watch/help. 

 

 

 Two of these plants we already had. These are the Gardenias, Aloe, and Osmanthus we planted.

Tobin helped Daddy pat down the dirt.

 This is a slow start to what we hope will grow us (pun intended) into eating our own veg if possible in the future and not have to worry so much about pesticides and other things that are not regulated here (or at least not very well regulated). Plus, we really just want some Jalapenos!