My Chloe is a very blessed girl  – not only did she recieved another ang pow all the way from Malaysia from Auntie Barb and Ashley – she also received an Winter Olympic Toque and a Valentine Chocolate from Auntie Macy & William from Vancouver.  This Auntie Barb is so tech savvy and sent her ang pow by paypal some more!  super tokong right ..??  Thank You .. Barb and Macy .. for your thoughtfulness..!

We don’t really get to celebrate Chinese New Year here in Canada but this year – we were not only invited for a get together with some chinese kids and their families, Chloe also received a ang pow mailed all the way from Singapore.  Of course – we all know who it is from – it’s from her Kai Mah !   Chloe’s Kai Mah is really , really thoughtful and you will see why below.

Chloe was very excited and cannot wait to show off her ang pow to everyone – it was already night time by the time we brought it home because it was a registered mail.

Not only was there money in it – they were “new” money – something I haven’t seen nor practice for the longest time since arriving here in Canada.  As much as I would love to keep tradition going for Chloe – it is sometimes hard to do so – because I can’t even find an ang pow without getting it from the city.  But we do try and it is people like her Kai Mah from Singapore that helps with teaching Chloe the culture I grew up in – afterall, she is half Chinese eh.

We rarely eat at our local McDonald’s because they really, really sux!  big time!   but since we were getting some free insurance quotes – we decided to head there first.  But the food is not only mediocre – they get your order wrong – don’t give you the proper condiments to go with your food  – charge you wrong and on top of it – no indoor or outdoor playground for the kids.  While other McDonald’s in the city would have renovated at least a few times since I’ve been in Canada – this one refuses to upgrade to a better environment.  But i can’t blame them – why spend more money when the ppl still come and eat and have their kid’s party there.

But we went anyways – because it was PB’s attempt to try and make my Sunday a good one – coz’ i complain A LOT!  that my Sundays are not fruitful.  And of course – they did all the above – as mentioned – Chloe entertained herself with the very little they had there – we ended up half full after spending like almost $9 on a pancake (no butter given) – 2 hashbrowns (that were not ready) – a sausage Mcmuffin (but turned out to be with eggs when we specifically told them no eggs please) and a large coffee because that was the deal they said (but i ended up paying more by $0.50)

While we were there – an employee was mopping the floor and i can understand why she did it at that time – since that was in between breakfast and lunch.  But boy! i wouldn’t want any old folks to be walking in or out because the floor was so wet – you could probably kill yourself if you slip on it.

We brought Chloe’s own milk as you can see – she finished like half a pancake and a bite of the hashbrown and that was it.  So pretty much a big waste.  No i don’t like going to Mcdonald’s in this town.

So Mr R was up in the city and so generously offered to go pick up some Chinese food from the Asian Grocery store for us at Queen Street.  We ordered a box of food and miscellaneous and we had fish cake with Wanton noodles.  I haven’t had wanton noodles for a few months now – so it was really good.  Chloe loves it but she had hers with chicken – because she refuses to eat fish cake therefore I have to go to www.supplementreviews.org to read all about the stuff i have to give to chloe for an alternative.

Chloe is so fussy with her food – it really makes it hard for me to cook anything for her – so i try to slip in the good stuff for her – even though it’s little..  i feel it is better than none.  She loves her wanton noodles and luncheon meat though – you can offer it to her everyday .. and she will have no problems with it.

Chloe is a very fussy eater who would love to have pond kits like any other kids.  I’m sure you all know by now but she never refuses mashed potatoes with ham and corn.  So this is what we give her on Sundays when we don’t have to work and the “ang moh” can cook for her.  I only cook lunch for her and dinner – “ang moh” gotta do it for himself and Chloe.  I wished i could give her this for lunch every day when she is in school but if we did, she wouldn’t eat them all – either she wouldn’t finish her potatoes or her corn.  I think it is because we have to dump everything into a thermos, therefore it probably doesn’t look as nice – and plus she is in a hurry to go out and play with her friends – so usually end up not finished – sometimes really hard to please that kid.  Most kids at this age eats just about everything right?  but nope .. not mind * roll eyes *

As you all know Chloe had been sick for a few weeks now – from a cold to cough and then very bad sore throat – followed by suspected asthma and then this morning – diarrhea.  As all mothers would know – it is darn hard to feed a kid – and with a sick kid – it’s even harder.  Had we been in Asia – congee or porridge as we called it would be the ideal – but my kid doesn’t like to eat congee at all.   She wouldn’t eat anything – even the soup needs to be a certain kind of soup.  And I thought I was bad and choosy – when it comes to life insurance rates – the kid is much worst with food.

So they didn’t have any vegie soup at Tim Hortons – only chicken noodle soup – so what would you do..??  and nope.. she wouldn’t drink chicken noodle soup.. yes..! what a silly girl right..??  so what did i do to make her drink her soup..??  I LIED..!!!  YES ! I LIED!!  well, i make up a story – i told chloe that the gals at Tims heard that she was sick .. and scrambled around to get some “chinese noodles” into a soup for her.. but they don’t have the exact kinda noodles.. they had to make it in a special shape -butterfly – .. because Chloe is a princess you see.  And that the gals at Tim’s would be very sad .. if she didnt drink it up – so yes – she was trick.. and she drank the soup up and ate all the butterfly pastas.  And Chloe said.. the gals at Tim’s were so nice to her.. she would draw them a picture to thank them.. waahahhahahaha!!!  Mother’s are the GREATEST eh..??  they can cook up any kinda stories just to make their kid eat and drink .. muaahahhaha!!!  i’m evil ..!!  hahaha!!

So it was Grammie’s birthday last week or maybe a week and a half ago .. and since we will be at the store that day, I reminded the “ang moh” to go get a cake – not a huge one – since Grammie wasn’t going home after visiting Chloe at the store.   So we waited for Chloe to come home from school – so that she can sing her Grammie a Happy Birthday song .. and blow the candles – because she loves blowing candles.   Everyone ate the cake..and there was like a good half a piece left.  I didn’t eat it .. because i was trying to be good since i had to go for my blood test soon.

Chloe is indeed a very blessed gal – because you see – she not only have aunties from everywhere who sends her presents – she has a Kai Mah from Singapore – who travels a lot and buy things for her from all over the world.  We cannot ask for a better Kai Mah and am very grateful for the love shown to Chloe.

Kai Mah Lina who went to Japan for a vacation brought back Japan for Chloe – everything from Hello Kitty.  So thoughtful – go for vacation also think of the Kai Lui.  A Hello Kitty cup for her hot drinks.

And goody bag from Sanrio Land

A picture/postcard of Hello Kitty – which Chloe promptly pasted in her room.

Hello Kitty Chopstick and another red color chopstick – very pretty but i didn’t get a good picture of it.

A Hello Kitty towel with Chloe’s birthday on it – super thoughtful right.

A place mat from Hello Kitty.  Thank you so much .. Kai Mah – Chloe said.  She said.. she loved everything – and will treasure them.

This is long overdue – like most of the things I need to post up here – hahah! busy lah!  anyhow, this was taken 2 weeks ago, when Chloe visited her grammie and grampie on a Sunday for sledding.  Grammie decided to bake some cupcakes with Chloe.

Yes! i believe in letting Chloe do as much as she can or comfortable with – but Grammie does all the preparation lah.  She didn’t like using the mixer at first but daddy got her a stool to stand on .. and she is good for a bit and mixing the flour and eggs.

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So I finally gave in instead of buying  cigars online for Chloe’s grampie’s birthday, I bought this Disney thermos for Chloe just to encourage her to eat her lunch.  She does have another one .. but it’s a plain black and grey one (which was taller – she can’t reached the bottom of her food)  and it wasn’t cheap either – but this one was way expensive since it was Disney.  You see, we have to bring in lunch to her everyday – well almost everyday except for one of two days because she is fussy like that about what she eats.

So how did it go .. you are asking..?? well .. the brat still isn’t eating all her lunch but then she will have no excuse now eh.  And the other one a pink one but smaller one that she had for the longest time cracked – so there – I had to justify why i bought her such an expensive thermos.

Chloe loves her “chinese” noodles but in fact they are instant noodles what we normally called “gong jia mein”.  She would eat it everyday and for every meal if i allowed it.  She would beg and beg and beg for it – and as you all know – chloe had been sick for quite a bit.  She would be well for 1 day .. and then the cold would come back again.   I strongly suspect it was because she haven’t been eating well, since she wants her “Chinese” noodles so much.

As parents we want the best for our kids, like getting them  allergy bedding so she can sleep well if she have sensitive skin.  So we got “kai mah” to tell her that “chinese” noodles is not good for her .. and it might be the cause that she is sick so often.  In which – chloe replied that maybe, we could have a yard sale for the “chinese” noodles  .. muahahah!!  I guess she knows – mama is a yardsale junkie.   But she had been good.. and haven’t asked for “chinese” noodles for a few days now.  And yes, I encouraged her to help me in the kitchen all the time – even though they are small tasks  like getting ketchup and oyster sauce, I still wanna teach her.

So what did you eat on New Year’s Day ..?? or rather.. what kinda treats..?? or junk food..??   As for us.. we had to work ..  yes..! first day of New Year.. also gotta work.. but it wasn’t for long.. only till 5pm.  So we had some friends and customers who came by the store.. and gave us chocolates.. and i just loved this one.. !! Kahlua filled chocolate.. yummy.. yummy….!! of course i can only eat one lah..   but one is better than none right..??  For your info.. i used to love Kahlua milk on the rocks.. !  those were the days.. when i would sipped on my glass of Kahlua milk.. and  try look sophisticated  while listening to some live music in a pub.  These days.. if i can get on my lip gloss i would be most happy.. hahhaa!!

The “ang moh” and our “princess” love the chocolates .. but the princess is hacking her lungs out.. so cannot eat.  Everything in moderation we taught her.. and she knows better.  But “ang moh” where can resist.. eat lah..!!  afterall, gifts mah.  What about you ..?? what did you eat for junk food..??

Our lil’ brat is the most blessed kid – not only frens from all over the world sends gifts.. for Christmas .. and birthdays..  she also has a very generous Auntie Kai Mah from Singapore – who dotes on her.  I am sure that frens and family here knows all about Kai Mah’s generosity.  This package came before Chloe’s birthday.. but we kept it away from her.. till her real birthday .. and that was on the 19th.  So on the 19th morning.. we took out the presents.. sent all the way from Singapore.. and postage at $90 !!!!!!!!  pengz..!! Even more expensive than my  Orange NJ dental implants that we had helped an extended family with.

3 presents .. carefully wrapped.. and i heard very stylo-malo too.. going to the post office.  Kai Mah’s son .. had to go line up .. while Kai Mah wrapped the present .. and put on the package label .. and Kai Mah’s spouse .. had to drive and parked .. at the post office.

Chloe all excited.. and unwrapping her present.. even before breakfast.

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Christmas Day came .. but before going to Grammie’s and Grampie’s for dinner, we had to have a little lunch right..?? and guess who is making lunch?  Chef Boyadee..??  nope..  !! hhahaha!!!  Chef Chloe is in the kitchen.. and so she is doing all the cooking for the day.  She was making pasta for us.. and very happy about it.

See .. she is pretty good eh..??  and she wasn’t gonna let the hot water get to her either.   Very carefully .. she put the pasta into the boiling water.. but we made sure she understood how to do it.. because we showed her how to do it first.

Mission accomplished..  !  lunch is almost ready – just 10 minutes.. and we can all eat.

Christmas eve only means we have to open the store for less hours.  But this year, we opened an hour later than usual… because we had to finish shopping for Christmas.  We woke up early and left the house at 9.30am.. and got all our shopping done by 11.30am – FINALLY!  timing was great.. and the brat was well-behaved.. and didn’t fussed at all during the shopping time.   We even managed to get a gift for Chloe’s Kai Mah from Swaroski at Crescent’s Jewellery.   And lunch was for Macdonald’s .. at the store of course.. but the brat wants to eat it in her Spaceship.. that she and “ang moh” made together.

After lunch, “ang moh” went out to get the last of the groceries for Christmas.. because it would be a few days before any stores will be opened.  And what did the brat do..?? homework.. learning to spell and recognized the spellings of her colors.  And yes – we survived Christmas.. without any help.. but lots of friends.. who came by the store.. either to help with playing with Chloe or looking out the store for us.   We are indeed and truly blessed this year – we got all our gifts out for our friends and customers before Christmas Eve – this year.. i slack in the online and overseas frens department – but i know they will understand.

For those who are not aware of this..  when we talk about hockey in Canada.. it is ice hockey.  The “ang moh” told me.. that there is no other way to play it in Canada – unlike back home, where you can play them on a field full of grass or in the basketball court.  Yes ! i was in the hockey team back home – the ones we played at the Outer Banks rentals during a holiday some few years ago.

Canadians, especially the boys here are very into hockey – i know of someone who would do anything .. just be with those hockey boys .. hahhaha!!! But our friend’s kid – also is in love with hockey .. and obviously, during his birthday.. he wanted a ice hockey birthday cake.  Nice right..??  very ..! chloe enjoyed the cake so much .. and the birthday as well.  Thank you for having us.

Chloe had her first Christmas concert at her school – they had practiced for this song for a few weeks now.. and I was definitely proud of her.. looked how she loved the claps.. after the performance.  Everything went well, except at the end.. of the concert.. they let the kids go.. rushed to the door.. without waiting for individual parents to pick them up.  I can understand the older kids doesn’t need supervision.. but the younger kids.. i was hoping they would be more careful.  By the time, we got to Chloe .. she was already in tears.. coz’ she thought she had lost us.. and i panic too when i didn’t find her with her teachers.

We celebrated Chloe’s birthday today at the bowling alley.  Today isn’t the exact date but we usually do it early because of the weather here.   And this year, we didn’t order her cake from Sobeys or Superstore, we had her cake specially made by a friend’s sister – Crystal.  She is very talented and so reasonably priced .. you wouldn’t believe it.. and she even delivers..!!!!!  So for those from my area.. and if you are reading this.. make sure.. you order your cake from her.. they are REALLY good..! and plus she can make all sorts of design – very talented if you asked me.

Everyone at the party who tasted the cake thought it was an awesome cake..! we were really pleased.. plus Crystal was awesome .. because Chloe had wanted a Hannah Montana cake at first.. but changed her mind last minute.. and she still accommodated us. Thank you .. Crystal..!!  you know where we will be getting our birthday cake from.. from now on.

Chloe had a bladder infection and we had thought that by giving her yogurt everyday would have prevented it .. but i guess not..??  She wouldn’t drink cranberry juice of course.. but she have been eating this yogurt since she was like maybe 3 years old or a lil’ older..??  religiously .. everyday if not every other day.  What a bummer..! and we thought we were giving her everything healthy.

But having said all the above, the fruit yogurt from Tim Hortons is really good – chloe takes only the strawberry yogurt with lots of fruits in them.  It is way too sweet for me.. because i believe they have some sugary syrup in them.  So after learning that i’m diabetic, i only eat it once in a while.

Yes, we still went out to buy “ang moh” his birthday cake because chloe insisted that we do something special for daddy.  So daddy went out to pick his own cake.. and when he came home from work we blew out the candles and all – actually it was chloe who blew out the candle.  It was a pretty good cake .. to be honest, no golden lighting to go with it .. but it was still good.  “Ang moh” was pretty happy.

Chloe licking the frosting of course.. !  couldn’t wait.

Daddy and chloe on his 37th birthday.  Happy  birthday .. old fart..!!