Dinasaurs Night

Daddy & son chilling out in front of the computer checking out dinosaurs~ Both of them is at the First Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs book and checking out the internet link stated inside the book.

Duck-billed, triceratops, sauropods etc etc. If you ask Little DinoEgg what are amphibians, he can tell you immediately =)

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"Zoinks & Double Zoinks!"

This is currently Little DinoEgg's favourite cartoon besides Ben10. At least its better then Ben10, no aliens, fighting, kicking etc. However there are "ghosts" and "monsters". He was watching the show excitedly and then covering his face with his hands OR run away from the tv when the "ghosts" and "monsters" come out. I have to reassure him that its all fake, there are always someone pretending to be a "ghost" or "monster", as in Halloween where pple wear masks n play pretend. Took him a few weeks to come to terms to that n not be scared.

Then he got caught up with Shaggy's favourite word "Zoinks!" =.= Well its better then pretending to turn the Omitrix and turn into XLR8 and run amok in the house lol

So far, every morning when he has washed up n changed into his uniform, he will be sitting in front of the tv watching Scooby Doo that starts at 7am in Boomerang till he leaves for school at 8am+.

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Toilet Training for the 3rd time?

Little DinoEgg wet the bed today after keeping himself dry for the pass week :) He was able to either get up ard 2-3am to ask either me or daddy to bring him to the toilet or he will do it after he wakes up at 7am.

I guess ytd he was too tired to wake up, let's see if tonight will be successful again.

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Pan & suit

On afternoon half day as I have a dental appointment, have to remove my stitches. Decided to do a quick shopping before my appointment. I got myself a non stick frying pan and thermal swimsuit for Little DinoEgg.

Metro was having some promo for Tefal products, was walking round n round the shelves, not sure which Tefal to buy, there are Preference, Evidence, Selective etc. They look the same, description on the paper package looks the same, they feel the same, weighs about the same... aarrggghhhh!!! Then I decided on Evidence and my choice just happens to be the correct one. I went to Tefal website and it says Evidence - Daily cooking, practical, good value for money. hahaha~

JH's dad told me last Saturday that Arena is having a warehouse sale from 24th to 27th Nov'10. I am unable to take leave so I decided to just get the thermal swimsuit from Arena Centrepoint. And I did the right choice, they were having up to 30% discount storewide! Grabbed one for Little DinoEgg, cost me $59.05 after 20% discount :)

Lastly, I did an early Christmas shopping, bought Little DinoEgg's Christmas present too. Since I was around the area and Toysrus is having sale.

Fruitful day. I shall try my new fry pan this weekend n Little DinoEgg gets to wear a "thick swimsuit" this Saturday.

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Sunday's dinner

Tonight's menu; Nuts & Lily bulb soup, stir fried broccoli with carrot, stir fried dark soy sauce pork and butter+lemon fish fillet.

This is the 1st time I am doing the lemon+butter fish. I have a fish fillet in the fridge so thought I try to cook it with different style. I search the web for some recipes to get some idea.

Grilled butter lemon fish fillet
Ingredients
* 1 fish fillet
* 2-3 tbsp butter
* 1 lemon to juice it later
* soy sauce

Method
1. Put the fish fillet onto the grilling plate, add some soy sauce. Grill it for 10-15mins (depending on the size of the fillet)
2. Melt the butter in a pan. Add in the lemon juice.
3. Pour the sauce onto the grilled fish, serve.

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Swimming T4 Lesson#5

Today only Little DinoEgg & JH :( T went for the early class as he can't make it for this class.

Actually its good, coz Coach R can focus on the 2 boys, especially JH who is still afraid of water. Both of them did the "batman flight" and they enjoy it so much! Little DinoEgg can now jump into the pool with the 2 boards and swim on his own. He is enjoying every bits of it. And I guess JH felt abit confident seeing Little DinoEgg swimming without fear.

They did the usual blow bubbles routine and this silly boy hits his chin at the side of the pool. How did that happen? Well, he was being playful... ... when he got up from under the water he pushed himself so high up n body leaning forward, when he goes down he hit the floor. He cry out in pain and Coach R actually went to hug him knowing that he hurt himself coz he was playful.

The boys did a "upside down turtle" float, Coach R instructed them to hugged their board; fingers interlaced and feet hooked at each other, tilt head backwards and float. Initially Little DinoEgg was unsure, even though Coach R assured him that he will be holding on to him. A few times when the waves hit Little DinoEgg, he quickly grabbed Coach R. Seeing that this is not working, Coach R makes both of them wear life jackets n do the "upside down turtle" float again. This is better coz the boys can concentrate on getting the feel of floating on their backs and not fearing they will go under the water.

Class ends 10mins early coz the weather was cool, Mr Sun went into hiding. Both the boys were feeling cold n shivering, better leave the pool or risk them getting a cold.

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Licence to Travel

Little DinoEgg got his passport today. We went down without any appointment, waited for an hour and got our hands on his new passport.

Now he can travel out of the country!

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Smooches everywhere

Little DinoEgg wanted me to read a second book to him before his bedtime. I was tired but did not want to tell him NO abruptly. Instead, I hold on to my right cheeks, show him a frown n said "I can't. My teeth hurts. Aaa-ooouuucchhh~~".

"Mummy, I sayang you!" stroking my "painful" cheeks, and he planted a big kiss on my cheeks hoping to make it feel better. So sweet~ I thanks him but show him the "painful" face again. He surprise me with more kisses on BOTH of my cheeks!

SMOOCH SMOOCH SMOOCH SMOOCH SMOOCH

That leaves a very happy mummy but still no 2nd story book hahah~ at least not from me :P Daddy took over and read to him the dinosaur book.

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Prawns & Fish

Couldn't decide whether to cook broccoli or steam prawns. Earlier while in CP, chance upon Popular's sale at the event hall. Grabbed 2 recipe books; 海鲜大全 and 肉类家常菜, I flipped through the seafood recipe book and saw the sliced prawns recipe. However it needs water chestnut, which I did not buy today, but I think I can just do with out it. Who knows while I was searching the fridge I found water chestnut which I bought last week! And so slice prawns WITH water chestnut it is =)

Sliced Prawns in Ketchap Sauce

Ingredients

* 8 prawns

* 50g water chestnut

* 200g broccoli

* 5g scallion/spring onion

Seasoning A

* 1/2 egg white

* 1/2 tbsp salt

* 1 tbsp corn starch

* 1/2 tbsp pepper powder

Seasoning B

* 1 tbsp ketchap

* 1 tbsp white sugar

* 1/2 tbsp salt

* 1 tbsp cooking wine

* 1 tbsp corn starch

Method

1. Shell the prawns, clean and slice it into halves. Coat with Seasoning A well.

2. Slice the water chestnut.

3. Cut the broccoli and blanch it.

4. Heat wok with 500g oil till medium, fry prawn and water chestnut briefly, dish them out and put it aside.

5. Stir fry scallion/spring onion and ginger briefly, add Seasoning B.

6. Put in the prawns and stir fry for a while, thicken the sauce, dish up to serve.

I did not cut the prawns into half as my grey prawns were kinda small, will not look nice if I half it further. For Seasoning A I only mix corn starch and salt, I was too lazy to do the egg white (What am I going to do with the egg yolk?). I left out the cooking wine in Season B so that Little DinoEgg can enjoy this dish. I boil the broccoli stem longer then the flower to ensure its soft n tender. FIL said it tastes just right, not too tough, soft enough for him to eat (He do not have much teeth left so chewing is a challenge for him).

Fish~~ I cook this coz hmm.. no idea what else to cook hahaha~ I guess its coz FIL love fish and its a simple dish to cook too.

Steam Fish Fillet

Ingredients

* 200g Dory Fish Fillet

* 2 tbsp chopped Young Fresh Ginger

* 2 tsp chopped Garlic

* 1 tbsp sesame oil

* 2 tbsp steam fish sauce

* 1 tbsp chopped Spring Onion

Method

1. Clean the fish fillet and pat dry it thoroughly with kitchen paper.

2. Place the fish in a plate (or tray) for steaming.

3. Sprinkle the chopped ginger on top.

5. Steam the fish fillet in a pre-heated wok for about 6 minutes.

6. In a non-stick pan, fry and brown the chopped garlic with 1 tablespoon oil

7. Pour the oil and fried garlic on to the fish when it is cooked.

8. Sprinkle the chopped spring onion.

10. The fish is ready to be served.

Daddy says I did not fry the garlic long enough thus it taste abit spicy :( Overall the fish is tasty.

These 2 dishes plus the corn+carrot+pork ribs soup and this afternoon's leftover makes a good and healthy dinner for 4 adults and 1 kid.

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爱心餐

I am still on medical leave so I thought I cook lunch for daddy today. After I send Little DinoEgg to school, I quickly drop by NTUC (I do not want to fight my ways with those aunties again!)

Decided to buy stuffs for lunch and dinner. Grabbed broccoli, xiao bai cai, french beans, pork ribss, lean meat, prawns and pork's liver. Too bad, I did not see any cod fish today but I bought fish fillet instead. I have no idea what to cook for daddy so I just buy whatever I see and THINK I can cook later.

After I rest for like an hour, I started to prepare for lunch! And hour later I managed to cook 2 simple dish for daddy's lunch. Last nights left over soup is in the menu too.

Stir fried pork's liver

Stir fried french beans with luncheon meat

Lunch, packed and ready to go!

Daddy eating

Thanks to Tiger thermal jar, I delivered the food still pipping hot to daddy. I asked daddy hows the food and he says "Normal lor." Hmm... what does Normal means?? I asked him again whether the food is nice, he says "Normal lor" again..... *sigh* how to know whether my cooking is good or not?

As usual I search for recipe from the net.

I found the stir fried pork's liver recipe from Patricia's blog My Wok Life with a slight change.

Stir Fried Pork's Liver with ginger and sesame oil
Ingredients
* 1 piece of pig's liver (about palm size big), thinly sliced
* 1 stalk of scallion/ spring onion, cut into 2" long crosswise
* 2 small thin slices of old ginger
* 2 teaspoons of Shao Hsing Hua Diao rice wine (绍兴花雕酒)
* 2 teaspoons of oyster sauce (I left this out coz dun have this at home hahaha!)
* 1 teaspoon of light soy sauce
* ½ teaspoon of dark soy sauce (I left this out)
* 1 clove of garlic, minced
* Pinch of sugar (I left this out, totally forgotten about it)
* 1 tablespoon of sesame oil

Method:
1. Blanch the sliced liver in boiled water for 20 secs or so, remove for cooking later.
2. Heat the sesame oil in a wok, throw in the garlic and ginger, stir fry till fragrance. Throw in the spring onion and stir fry for a few secs.
3. Throw in the sliced pork liver and add in the Shao Hsing Hua Diao rice wine and light soy sauce. I mix these in a bowl before hand and just pour it in at 1 shot.
4. Stir fry quickly and dish up to serve.

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Stir Fried French Beans & Luncheon Meat
Ingredients
* 150g French Beans
* 1 tsp Minced Garlic (I used 1 clove)
* 1 Tbsp Light Soy Sauce (I left this out)
* Pinch of Salt (I left this out too since I think the luncheon meat is salty already)
* 100ml Chicken Stock or 1/2 Chicken Stock Cube dissolved in 100ml Water (I only use a teeny weeny bit of chicken stock cube)
* 1 tsp Cornflour mixed with 1 tbsp Water

Method:
1. Slice the french beans diagonally. (I use hand to break them, doing it while watching tv lol)
2. Heat a little cooking oil in a wok. (I use olive oil, my preferred choice)
3. Stir-fry the luncheon meat till slightly crispy. Put them aside.
4. Stir-fry garlic until fragrant.
5. Stir-fry the french beans and when the french beans start looking a little translucent, add the luncheon meat
6. Simmer for 3 minutes until the vegetables are cooked through but remain crunchy. (You may have to add a little water if the sauce has reduced excessively.)

7. Serve.

I have a great time cooking this afternoon :) though I feel tired after coming back from daddy's office.

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Fruitful trip to MPH

After our SSO Baby Proms concert, we headed off to Velocity for a quick lunch and dive into the Usbornes books at MPH. Starhub is having a promo, 30% off any 3 books from MPH Bestsellers, Usborne Children Books & Lonely Planet Travel Guides. Few days ago Little DinoEgg asked for a book on dinosaurs, I saw a few while choosing for the books couple of days ago. Since we have no plans for the afternoon, I thought we try to find 1 dinosaur book.

There were a few books on dinosaurs, from sticker book to story book to world atlas of Dinosaurs, all which I think its either not what I want (we have enough stickers!) or its contents are too difficult for Little DinoEgg to understand. I wanted to give up and buy some story books instead but Little DinoEgg would not let go of this book; First Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life

This book is clearly not for his age but he insisted! Even threw tantrum when I told him that he will not be able to understand or read the book. I try distracting him with the other Usborne's story books but my plan fail... in the end he still wants this book AND the story books! So I head off to the cashier to pay for 4 books; 3 books @ 30% discount and 1 book at full price, hoping that the dinosaur books can get 30% discount. To my happiness (lol ya, very happy), the cashier told me that if I get another book then all 5 books will be entitled to 30% off~ I grabbed another story book and I paid slightly over $30 for them. On top of that, I got a free MPH membership card. I am grinning from ear to ear.

While walking out of the store, one of their promo poster caught my eyes. Spend a minimum $30 and be entitled to get a few items at discounted price. The Crayola Mix 'Em Markers is just right for Little DinoEgg as the Crayola washable markers I bought for him earlier this year seems to be "at the end of its life", not much ink left. I went back into the store and got it at $14 instead of usual price of $20. 16 markers but with more then 16 colors, cool~

Both of us were very happy with our "loots". I am keeping my fingers crossed that Little DinoEgg will not ask me to read that dinosaur book to him LOL Gosh... the names are so long n difficult to pronounce! I shall push the "job" to daddy xD

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on my 2nd day of MC

I was feeling better today thought the pain is still there, nothing a painkiller can't fix, therefore I thought of cooking dinner today. I laze around after doing the laundry and hanging them out to dry, wanted to leave home at 10am+ for NTUC to do the groceries shopping but I felt hungry. Cook plain kuey teow and eat very very slowly, by time I was done, its after 12pm. Decided to try my luck at Giant Tampines as I know by now the fresh veggies & fishes at NTUC will most likely be gone.

With no idea of tonight's menu, I moved around Giant with the big trolley. Up and down, up and down, up and down... gosh! I should really try to make it a habit to do up a grocery list. An hour plus later I left Giant with $92+ worth of groceries.

Sesame oil chicken wings

Cabbage with hair moss

Steam sea bass

Pear & shin of pork soup

Trying out a few new dishes. They did not turn out good except for the soup. The chicken wings were not fully cooked but the sauce is tasty. Have to simmer the chicken wings longer. I forgot to add in dried shrimps to the cabbage with hair moss, the dish turn out bland :(

As for the soup, here are the recipe;

Pear & shin of pork soup
Ingredients
* 2 pears
* 2tsp of nan xin bei xin (bitter & sweet almond)
* 1 lemon to juice it later
* soy sauce

This soup helps to clear phlegm n makes your cough better.

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No more wisdom

I finally get to deal with my wisdom tooth which has been giving me problem for the pass few years. I have been putting it off as I am scared of going to the dentist. All those equipments sends chills down my spine even by the thought of it. However it got worst this year n I decided that I've had enough sufferings, I would very much like to enjoy my life AND food!

Made an appointment and today's the day *nervous* Sent Little DinoEgg to school n made my way to RM macmac, I am determine to have a last decent food before my op which will means soft food for at least a week fm today.

930am came n I am already sitting inside the dental clinic waiting. 945am I am on The Chair nervous like a little girl >.<~ When its time for the jabs, i perspire... asking for something to clutch in my hand. The Dr Lee is so considerate and understanding, she gets her assistant to get Garfield (one of the many soft toys at the waiting area for the kids to play with) for me. I clutched, hugged, squeezed, pulled at Garfield so hard that I am amazed that I did not tear any part of him.

45mins later my ordeal ended with my 2 wisdom tooth. I took a peek at myself in the mirror... Gosh! I look like a hamster with food stuffed in my "cheek pouch".

Its 1pm, the pain killers are wearing off n I am feeling the pain. Going to sleep it off till its time to take the pain killers.

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1st piece of Artwork

Little DinoEgg : Mummy, what do you want? (holding his pencil in his hand and a piece of paper on the table)
Me : How about a star?
Little DinoEgg : Ok~ There you go. What else do you want?
Me : How about you draw me a giraffe?

And this is what I got. Little DinoEgg's 1st piece of artwork, he drew it himself, not copying from some where. And with a little bit of suggestions from me of course to help him along.

Lone giraffe & tree

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Swimmg T4 Lesson#4

Big advancement today! Little DinoEgg is swimming on his own! Coach R let him try to swim with his "bat man wings" and he did good. Thus he made him swim to 1/3 of the pool and back a few times. He is so happy to be "free" to swim, smiling so ever happy.

Another great improvement is~~~ Little DinoEgg finally did a jump into the water! At first he squat at the poolside as usual, not jumping in when Coach R tells him to. I guess Coach R told him that if he do not jump in, he will get Tristen to push him in (I was sitting quite a distance away). He did not budge, so Tristen gave him a shove and SPLASH! he went into the water and into Coach R's arms! I was so afraid that he will start crying and scolding Tristen but he did not *phew* Instead he went back up and then jump in by himself again! Good Job Son!

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Internal organs

Father & son reading the "See Inside Your Body" book again :)

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Our Body

I was looking for Pinnochio story book when I happen to chance upon this book, Usborne's See Inside Your Body, I thought it will be an useful book to get for Little DinoEgg since he shows interest in how a human body works. This book cost $20+ and with my Kinokuniya card's 10% discount, its slightly over $20.

And I was right! This is his bedtime story tonite! Happily listening to daddy explaining, lifting up the flaps to see the "inside" and asking loads of questions.

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Swimming T4 Lesson#3

Dark clouds, thunder roaring far away and soon its drizzling. We moved into the covered pool to continue the lesson.

Little DinoEgg is swimming with two floats under each arms; Coach R says its his "Bat man wings" LOL Coach R made him swim while he hold on to him lightly by the waist, maneuvering him when he swim off course.

When its time for the "jumping into the pool" time, Little DinoEgg did not fare very well. He still does not want to jump in when instructed. Coach R has to encourage/persuade/threaten and finally leave him alone and go to the other classmates. I took this chance to talk to Little DinoEgg. He says the water is very cold thus he do not want to go in. I told him that if he goes into the water n starts swimming he will not feel cold, but he refuse :( Running out of reasons I threaten him (ok thats not the best tactic); either you jump in or I push him in. That freaked him out and he starts wailing (ok my fault).

After a while I managed to calm him down and eventually he did a small tiny leap into the pool and into Coach R's arms where he swim back to the poolside. I must try to make him jump into the water (like the 1st time where he jump into with a big leap and without any fear) without any hesitation.

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How does our ears work...

Daddy came out of the room after Little DinoEgg had fall asleep n told me about their bed time conversation.

Yupe, thats what Little DinoEgg ask daddy. He asked daddy what is inside the ear, what is underneath his skin. Daddy explained to him patiently that inside the ear there is an ear drum, there are blood vessels underneath the skin, red blood cells etc etc. An hour later, a very satisfied Little DinoEgg finally fall asleep.

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