Wa Gwai 兩隻人見人愛的搗蛋嘩鬼 - My 2 Little Rascals

He has arrived! He has arrived! He has arrived!

I’m officially a “Goo Ma” (姑 媽) now. This is what we call Daddy’s older sister in Cantonese.

My sister-in-law, Penny, just delivered their first baby on Feb. 29 in Hong Kong after a 7 hour-ish labor and a little complications after the birth. That’s considered rather short labor for a first timer, and both the baby and Penny are doing fine now. You noticed I have been referring to the baby as “baby”? cux, they haven’t told us what his name was. All we knew was he weighted approximately 6.7lbs, he has the signature mouth of the Chu’s, and he is the first leap year baby in the family. I wonder if we should celebrate his birthday every 4 years? N-O W-A-Y !! Just celebrate on Feb. 28, since there’s the time difference in HKG and USA, I think it’s perfectly fine to celebrate on Feb. 28.

xoxo

Working for a motherboard R&D company, always find engineers moving around from one laboratory to another. Testing equipments and computer monitors took up all the desk space. Formaspace manufactures custom technical furniture such as workbenches, workstation, and laboratory furniture, accessories, and services. I’m sure they can offer flexible solution to maximize the use of space in our office.

Operation F-A-I-L-E-D !!

It was not really a good start. The outfit I prepared for Ashlyn to wear on the first day of the Chinese New Year, she refused to wear it. She said “there’s no princess!!” Like the other outfit she picked had princess on it? I had no problem getting her to wear the bling bling Mary Jane sneakers, cux they were pink and bling bling. As for Alex, he was just an easy going dude, rarely he refused to my choices of clothings for him.

Here is the spot light of the dinner —

Shark fin chicken soup in a small clay pot - 1 person serving

Yum Yum Yum.. Mmm Mmm GOOOOOD!

Winter has come and gone. Did you turn on the central heater in your house for most of the winter? How much was your electric bill? It is never too early to be prepared for next winter, especially start thinking about making purchase gas room heaters. Gas heaters are an efficient, affordable, energy saving, and economical way to heat any space. There are many sizes and types for your perfect needs. Whether it is vent-free, or direct vent, a propane or natural gas, it is clean, quick and efficient. No need to worry being in a cold room when there is power outage. The long term benefit of using propane or natural gas room heaters? Save energy and money.

Yesterday, Ashlyn had a mini potluck party to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the child care facility. It was held in the late afternoon, after their nap time. When I got there, the little tables were set up with pink table covers, plates, and napkins with hearts. All the kids were sitting in a circle, waiting for their parents to come.

Kids were wearing hats made of of paper plates, obviously it’s one of their craft projects in class, and they also made a treasure box, too. Kids brought the Valentine’s cards and they were all put together in a basket. I prepared the little treat bags for the kids. Ms. Parwin asked the kid, one by one, handing out their cards/treats to their friends in class. Ashlyn was a bit shy when she was called. Ms. Parwin helped her to hand out the bags to her friends.

They also made something for their parent(s). A heart shaped bag with their hand prints and a note attached to it. I think you better see it yourself to get a better idea. As Ashlyn brought it over to me, my heart just melted. Then she said, “Mama, you prepared the treats for me and my friends!” You could tell she was very happy and her eyes sparkled.

Ashlyn didn’t want to go, she said to me, “it’s a party, we haven’t had food yet! why leave so soon?” So we stayed a little while more, she had some cookies, brownies, and milk, and she took home the cupcake with pink toppings on it.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O

One of my best-friend, Angela, introduced me to day time soaps when we were in high school. I knew some of the well-known soap actors and actresses would involve in charity works. As the World Turns and Guiding Light, currently sponsor a college education contest, a Procter & Gamble Productions, where you just have to answer some simple questions, and you can win $50,000 for your child’s college education, or my child. No purchase necessary.

Every year, before the Chinese New Year, we would buy some flowers to decorate the house. Blooming flowers during the Chinese New Year means you will have wealth and social position (花開富貴). In the past, we always bought narcissus (水仙) and peach blossom (桃花), the typical festival plants/flowers. We would also get Mandarin Orange (年桔/四季桔). Other festival plants include Peony (牡丹), Chinese Herbaceous Peony (芍藥), and the funny looking plant with a sensitive name - Nipple Fruit (五代同堂), but the Chinese name is very meaningful - gathering of 5 generations.

My aunt got some flowers 2 days before the Chinese New Year, and I think they are chrysanthemum (菊花), and they look mums to me, and sword-leaved cymbidium (劍蘭). It’s dark orange color with hint of yellow, big and round. Just take a look a the pictures.

Gong Hat Fat Choi!! 恭 喜 發 財!! Translation: Wishing you Prosperity.

Today is the first day of the year of Rat. Last night I have prepared the outfits for Ashlyn & Alex to wear today. I remember when I was little, growing up in Hong Kong, the first day of the Chinese New Year was the most important holidays to celebrate. Dad would take us to the most upscale department store, Lane Crawford, after Christmas (after Christmas/Winter Sale), to buy new shoes for the Chinese New Year, and the upcoming school year. We were not allow to buy shoes during the first month of the new year, the entire month, because in Cantonese, the pronunciation of shoes (鞋)sounded like sighing, not a good start for the new year. I don’t remember where we got new clothes, cux Dad would get new clothes from overseas when he was on business trips. All the garments were new, from head to toe, inside to outside, every single garment was brand new. But when we were big enough to wear adults clothings, we shop at Esprit and Benetton (how many of you still remember these brands?). Oh, even the bed sheet was brand new.

Since after Xmas sales, I have been scouting for new shoes for Ashlyn (bling bling shoes) & Alex (McQueen shoes). With help from my cousin Jessica, I finally got everything prepared. Oh, and I got the perfect outfit for Ashlyn by accident from H&M. As for Alex, mom already got him the perfect silk jacket from Hong Kong 2 years ago.

Igor Presnukhin, RC cars champion, has put together a new site where he shares his knowledge in radio control car racing. RC Cars Tips and Tricks is a beginner’s guide to purchasing and racing RC cars, even teaches you how to fix a broken antenna. Whether you are amateur or professional RC cars racers, you’ll learn a thing or two from Igor.

Today is the Chinese New Years Eve, and I’m still at work. Unlike in Asia, they get at least 3 days of holidays (paid holidays) for the festivities.

Normally, my grandma (maternal) would prepare a feast for the Chinese New Years Eve dinner, but this year, they are going to dine out, simply because we (Johnson, Ashlyn, Alex and myself) will be having CNY Eve dinner with the in-laws (Johnson’s family). Grandma and my aunt didn’t want us to miss out on the good food, and the most important course of all, Chicken soap with shark fins. See how important we are. So, the feast will be prepared for tomorrow’s dinner, first day of the new year.

I shall take some good pictures and share with y’all later.

Wishing you all a healthy & prosperous year of the rat!

xoxo