Last soccer game for this season

Today was the last game of the spring soccer season. The Golden Dragons didn't win or lose, this league didn't county any goals. Not sure if I like this.



Matilda is of course Lukas' most trusted audience.

Happy Mother's Day!

And off they go!

Lukas and Matilda going for a ride.

Learning math

These days, Lukas is learning how to substract. The additions he mastered well and he is moving now to the more challenging substractions.

Ms. Ilma, his teacher, has all these little methods how to make it easier for them to get the idea and it works very well. Hand on the head, hand behind the back, whatever it takes to make them understand. Thank you Ms. Ilma for being patient and resourceful!

Have a nice weekend!

Trip to Cancun

What a great trip it was! Our one week visit to Cancun last week has given us time to relax and spend time together. The kids mastered all the flights with patience and lots of sleeping.



Here is the view from our balcony that we woke up to every morning. The ocean was warm and pleasant to swim in but with strong current at times.



We took public transportation to get around in Cancun since the taxis are expensive and the bus stop are convieniently located on the main street, just short walking distance from the hotel or in town. This was our biggest adventure on this trip and we loved the open windows, crazy driving style and rap music played by the drivers.



Of course, I found another pair of sunglasses for Matilda at our local Target shortly before the trip so she was covered and ready to pose.



On our daily walks, we have seen many iguanas hanging around the hotel. Very much to Lukas' disliking. He is terrified of them. Matilda not so much, she was waving to all of them.

Family portrait

Another beautiful drawing of our family by Lukas. Notice the exact hair color of each family member. :)

Test test :)

I like Picasa and it looks like you can do lots more with it then just viewing photos. Here is my first test of a collage. Looks good to me.

Happy Easter!

A trail of eggs in the hallway have led to many speculations this morning. Lukas was worried that maybe an Easter basket has exploded. Or the bunny. But arriving at the kitchen table, he quickly noticed that his and Matilda's baskets were OK and no harm was done. Rather Bunny/Mommy was trying to be funny by placing eggs all over the hallway middle of the night. Oh well.

We hope you are having a nice Easter Sunday!

No words needed!

Cool party and the health check up

So last Saturday we celebrated Lukas birthday in style. Lukas friends from kindergarten, family friends and family were invited to Auntie Pauline's poolhouse and even Spongebob showed up for a game or two.




As you can see, the picture perfect smile was guaranteed when we opened all the gifts. Star Wars Lego, Atlantis Lego, Ben10 Lego and the always cool Ironman items, clothing, games and many other gifts are now making our small house even smaller. :)

Today we had the 5-year-old-checkup and boy, was Lukas anxious to get it over with. 4 shots, 1 TB skin test and blood drawing later he proclaimed that he doesn't love me anymore, but I will take that any day knowing that he will stay healthy and happy for the rest of his life.

We love that boy to pieces.

Happy 5th birthday Lukas!

Another year has passed, another birthday for Lukas. Officially, he is due at 7:31 PM but of course, we are celebrating since this morning.

Lukas is patient, thoughtful, smart and a good mensch. He has his moments but those are now more predictable and happen not too often. He loves and fights with Matilda, like they all do. But he cares for her and always makes sure she gets a kiss and a hug, even if she doesn't want it.

We celebrated this afternoon with his kindergarten friends and tomorrow we have a big party with friends and family. Can't wait to see his face when he enters the poolhouse decorated with Spongebob stuff. I hope he will have lots of fun. Photos will follow next week.

Happy birthday my dearest Lukas. I love you very much.

First field trip

Today Lukas and his kindergarten friends went on their first field trip. To a Mexican restaurant. :) Even though the restaurant is right around the corner from school, the trip involved taking a van which was very exciting.

All kids behaved beautifully and they were rewarded with a stamp in their "passports" and crayons and a booklet to draw in.

This was a great first field trip! Thank you Ms. Ilma. :)

Another soccer season started

Last week Lukas soccer practice started again. Unfortunately this league is not as competitive as the last one we were with, so at the Saturday game there was no goalie and no counting of points. Weird because how do we know who will win the trophy but let's see where this leads us.

The kids had fun, and that is what matters (I guess). Go Golden Dragons!

Signed by a competitive mom. ;)



Matilda is the best audience ever!



Lukas in his new uniform.

First days of sun!

Finally, last week the sun came back and we all needed to get out and move and breath the fresh and warm air. Where else to go then to Lake Elizabeth in Fremont where a big playground was awaiting us and hours of play were guaranteed. Did we have lots of fun!

Spring, make sure you stay with us now.

yes?

First art class

Since Matilda doesn't attend any school yet, I signed her up for singing and art class. So on two mornings, she is letting her free spirit dance and on another morning she can get messy as much as she wants. Here is her very first painting, hanging now on our fridge.

Spring

Here is Lukas doing his homework last week. The assignment was to draw something that reminds him of spring. Playground and sun!

Monkey see, monkey do

No other comment needed. :)

Kindergarten registration - done

Where did the time go? Just this morning I stood in line in front of Lukas' future kindergarten and filled out the paperwork. This is the beginning of his academical years and I can't believe it's almost here already.

My boy is growing up.

Yoga for kids

Thank you Wii for introducing my children to yoga. I don't think that I will ever attend a yoga class so this is the closest they will get to it. Lukas is totally into it (as reported last year already) and now Matilda starts too.

Too cute watching those two stretching and making funny figures.

I hate playdough!

Judging from the photo below, you wouldn't think that I have a very bad relationship with playdough. I think it is messy and sticky and not really kid and kitchen floor friendly. The kids are allowed to playdough on the kitchen floor only and on the provided mat. But there is always some of it stuck to their socks, to their clothing and the floor. Yak to whomever invented that stuff.

But hey, anything for the kids...

Good read(s)

Zak is a thirtysomething and stuck in his life. Torn between two ladies and with an unhappy childhood lingering in his head and soul, he might be also dead sick. That is all what I will reveal about this great book that I highly recommend to read: "Everything changes" by Jonathan Tropper.

The first book that I read from Tropper was "This is where I leave you". Another messed up guy in search for healing and happiness.

I got both books at our local library. Don't you love the library?

Pear Custard Tart

Hm hm hm hm hm hm. I found the recipe for this pear custard tart in one of Martha Stewart's magazines and it was an instant hit. It is super easy and fast to make (I promise, super easy) and it tastes super yummy. The pears go very well with the custard together.

If you would like the recipe, ping me.

Chinese New Year celebration

Today we celebrated Chinese New Year. Gong Hei Fat Choi to all of you!!



We have taken Lukas to a temple before but Matilda hasn't been yet so this morning we have visited the Budhist Temple in Milpitas and in the afternoon a temple in San Jose.



The temple is San Jose was very busy this afternoon and the air was heavy with burning scent and firecracker noise. Lukas was intrigued by the scents and asked if he can lit one too. Auntie Pauline took him then and showed him around.

Our Valentine's Day dinner ist planned for next week. Let's hope it doesn't fall off the table completely. ;)

Orla Kiely - another good buy

By now you know that I love Orla Kiely stuff. Purses, wallets, reusable bags and mugs. Actually, I own few more items but I will not list them right here because Patrick is starting to get suspicious.

Anyway, now I am a proud owner of a beautiful as well as helpful pouch made out of Orla Kiely fabric. Yay for this find at Sugar Cane on Etsy!

The package arrived from the U.K. wrapped in cute paper and tied with a red ribbon. And the smallest little envelope revealed tiny stickers. Can it get any better?