ETHAN

My not-so-little Ethan. He loves to stay on the balcony and look out at the world from up there. He just loves the outdoors a lot and he loves observing people and things. =D

BANANA CAKE

1/2 C butter, softened
1 C sugar
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1/2 C milk
1 1/2 C flour
1 tsp baking powder

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir until well mixed. Grease and flour a 9" x 5" loaf pan. Pour batter into pan and bake at 350 deg F for 45 minutes, or until cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan.

from Cooking For Two

TAGGED!

Michael sent me this. Which is so unexpected because I would think that he's not one to do this. But cheers to him for being a great sport! Miss yah!

1. FIRST NAME? Lea
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Last night while watching Ghost Whisperer. Hey, I'm a cry baby!
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yup.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? What kind of question is this? Any meat will do as long as its properly cooked.
6. KIDS? Two wonderful boys.
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Why not? I would love to be friends with me. =D
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? My Cozy Nook is my journal now.
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Nope. Not the type.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yeah, even if the idea scares the hell out of me, it's in my ___ Things to Do Before I Die list.
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Corn flakes. I'm a simple girl.
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not always.
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I have to be for my boys but Ruther has always been my rock. Always.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Oooh! My all-time favorite is Mango and okay, Rocky Road, but I love Arce Avocado ice cream too.
16. SHOE SIZE? 7.5
17. RED OR PINK? Pink.
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR SELF? Ruther says I think too much. And okay, I agree.
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My sweetie.
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? It's okay. I would love to hear what they have to say.
21. WHAT COLOR TROUSERS/SHORTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Green shorts. Barefooted.
22. LAST THING YOU ATE? A slice of pizza.
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? "I'm the Map" from Dora the Explorer (the boys are watching it behind me)
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? A lovely orange.
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Scents of home.
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE: Do cellphones count? My husband then.
27. THE FIRST TWO THINGS YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Personality and smile.
28. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Hmmmm... Let me think... Hahaha! Of course!
29. FAVORITE DRINK? Used to be coffee but I'm playing the healthy card so good ol' water.
30. FAVORITE SPORT? Badminton.
31. EYE COLOR? Brown.
32. HAT SIZE? Will tell you when I find out.
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Not anymore.
34. FAVORITE FOOD? Don't have a particular favorite. Really depends on my mood and yes, hormones. =D
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Always always happy endings.
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIE THEATRE? Jumper.
37. WHAT COLOR TOP ARE YOU WEARING? Light green blouse (to match my green shorts).
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? Autumn is my favorite season but I'll take summer over winter. Am just not used to the cold - yet.
39. HUGS OR KISSES? Why can't I have both?
41. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I really don't know...
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? Leche flan.
42. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I also don't know. (But I'm saying this to be on the safe side.) =D
43. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? The Ultimate Guice to Homeschooling by Debra Bell, Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark, Survival Japanese by Boye de Mente, and my Psychology textbooks.
44. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Am using Sanseido's New Concise Japanese-English Dictionary as a mousepad.
45. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? American Idol. Am hoping Ramiele Malubay makes it to the top 3 at least. But Carly is a strong contender.
46. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Sounds of nature.
47. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles. Thanks to my mom and dad and of course, Ruther.
48. THE FARTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Japan. Miss it so...
49. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can sneeze with my eyes open. Kidding! Hahaha! I am a resourceful person. I'm like a female McGyver. =D
50. WHEN & WHERE WERE YOU BORN? July; Zamboanga City
51. WHEN YOU ARE THINKING, DO YOU LOOK UP, DOWN OR SCRATCH YOUR HEAD? I just look straight ahead.
52. WHAT NAME DO YOU WISH YOU HAD? I don't know. Am happy with my name.
53. NAME OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH? Nasul Sajili. (Hope I got that right.)
54. LIVING WITH PARENTS OR ALONE? With in-laws.
55. DO YOU LOVE YOU BROTHER(S)/SISTER(S)? Of course I do!

CEREAL

Nikki strings some cereal for the birds. =D I thought he was going to like the cereal but he didn't (he's sooooo picky with food) so I thought of giving some to the birds outside. Fortunately he agreed. =D

END OF FEBRUARY

Can you believe tomorrow is the last day of February? Or is it just me who's wondering about this really mundane thing?

I know, I know. It's better not to count the days before I see Ruther. It's better to just live through everyday and not reflect on Ruther's absence (as if that's possible). It's not as hard as I imagined it to be, to be honest. I thought that I would really be so affected and depressed. I think it helps that I'm too distracted with my lessons and homeschooling the boys. I suppose I have to be grateful for that. But then, in the evenings, when I sense the empty space beside me, I know that my life will not be complete until Ruther and I are together again.

BREAD PUDDING

The secret to really good bread pudding is to let the bread soak in the custard mixture well before it is baked. - Vicky Barrera

1 egg
1 C milk
1/4 C sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 C leftover bread, torn into small pieces
1/2 C raisins or chocolate chips

Beat together the egg, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Add the bread and mix well so that the bread is well moistened with the custard. Stir in the raisins or chocolate chips. Pour the bread pudding into a small ovenproof casserole and bake at 350 deg F for about 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden.

PLAYDOUGH FUN

For 2 days now, Ethan and I have been having lessons while playing with Playdough. Ethan is a sensory learner. Not only that, he likes fun, spontaneous learning and he usually thrives in a very creative environment. So I always have to think of ways to have lessons with him in the disguise of play. Ethan has always loved arts and crafts and never minded getting messy so I thought it would perfect to have lessons with him with the Playdough. Here were some of the things we did:

1. Rolled play dough into long sausages and made letters and numbers out of it.
2. Used cookie cutters to make different shapes and he had to match a particular shape with its partner.
3. Using his plastic knife, he would chop the ready-made sausages like a chef.
4. Using a smooth bottle as a rolling pin, he would flatten the Playdough and pretend it’s cookie batter.
5. We would cut out different shapes and things and make Playdough sandwiches.
6. Using the cut-out shapes, I would ask him to count the pieces we had already.
7. Mixing 2 colors of Playdough to make new colors.
8. Making Playdough insects and bugs. He loves bugs a lot. He loved the millipede I made although the tiny legs kept falling off.
9. Using a special toy, we would press Playdough in the mold and make noodles. He also loves this one and even pretends the noodles are hair!
10. We would roll the Playdough out and then press some prints onto it using his toys and other things.

So far, Ethan is having a lot of fun with the Playdough so I’m thinking of getting him more colors. Admittedly, it’s not cheap here in the Philippines, but I suppose for someone as creative as Ethan it will be something he will appreciate a lot.

Here are other Playdough ideas:

• Make a birthday cake. Use real candles or pretend ones made from straws orpopsicle sticks. Count out the right number of candles and sing “Happy Birthday toyou!"
• Roll the playdough out and then use spools to print flowers into it. Try other thingsthat make prints, such as Duplo.
• Make a nest and some bird eggs.
• Make a cup, a bowl, etc and pretend to use them.
• Make a road and drive cars around it. Put playdough in dump trucks and drive themaround.
• Make a pretend jungle or river, or whatever, and use your plastic animals to playwith it.
• Roll it into a very thin sausage and then make it into a spiral or a cobra.
• Roll it into balls and make it into snowmen, animals, etc.
• Make a self-hardening dough or one that you bake. Give your child some things tostick in the dough to make a sculpture. Use feathers, coloured pasta, pipe cleaners,popsicle sticks, coloured straws, etc.

BIRD

You might think we were at an exotic resort but Ruther took this photo at Bluroze. It's such a funny-looking bird, isn't it? =D

Photo taken last February 8.

ALL ABOUT ME

This tag is from Mhay. Thanks for this girl! =D

My name: Lea (Yette is my nick)
Childhood ambition: to be a doctor (I don't know why but during my childhood, most of the kids I know answered "doctor" to the question, "what would you like to be when you grow up?") Now, though, I'm happy being a stay-at-home wife and mom but maybe someday, I could be in a job that involves kids. =D
Fondest memory: Ruther's and my wedding day, hands down
Soundtrack: none in particular. I try to listen to all sorts of music genres but I do love the soundtracks from Adam Sandler's movies
Retreat: the bathroom
Wildest dream: to live in Japan and travel the world
Proudest moment: bringing Nikki and Ethan into this world
Biggest challenge: successfully homeschooling the boys and finding my life's purpose
Alarm clock: my trusty cellphone
Perfect day: spending it with Ruther and the boys
First job: Blue Cross (and let me just say, it really sucked so I quit)
Indulgence: chocolates
Last purchase: groceries
Favorite movie: Meet Joe Black
Inspiration: my family
My life is: simple and happy and once Ruther, the boys and I can finally be together, it will be complete
My card is: nonexistent =D

BEEF WITH BROCCOLI OR CAULIFLOWER

1/4 kilo sirloin steak
2 tsp salt
2 tsp rice wine or sherry
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 C oil
1/4 kilo broccoli or cauliflower, divided into flowerets
chicken stock or water, if needed
2 stalks leeks, cut into 1" lengths
1 small can button mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp soy sauce

Slice sirloin steak into narrow strips. Put in a bowl with 1 tsp salt, wine and cornstarch. Mix well. Set aside for 20 minutes.
Heat half of the oil in a wok or frying pan. Add the broccoli or cauliflower and the remaining salt. Stir-fry for a few minutes, adding a little stock or water to moisten, if necessary. Remove from pan and drain. Heat the remaining oil. Add the leeks and stir fry for a few seconds. Add the steak and stir fry until evenly browned. Stir in mushrooms, soy sauce, and broccoli or cauliflower. Continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes.
Serve with hot rice.

6:04

It's 6 in the morning and I just called Ruther to wake him up. He has to wake up early on Wednesdays and Fridays because he has Nihongo class and it's earlier (8:30am Japan time) than his usual work time (9am Japan time). Sometimes I worry about Ruther not getting enough rest in the evenings. I think I mentioned before that he has some difficulty sleeping or getting a full night's rest when he's not with me (he told me this). Sometimes though, it's the other way around with me (I said "sometimes", sweetie!) . Anyway, I like waking my husband up in the mornings. I think it's nice to start the day by talking to him, even if it is only through the phone. I like that we still have that connection despite the distance between us. Sometimes I have to wake him up more than once because he dozes of again after I call him. During the first few years of marriage, I would really hate that and think that he was intentionally ignoring my wake-up calls. But then I realized, even before we were married, he already had difficulty waking up in the mornings so I just told myself, "You have to learn to accept it, girl!" And so now, when I wake him up in the mornings, I try to put myself in his shoes and try to be more understanding. But of course, when he's going to be late for work, I try to use a sharper tone of voice to break the sleepiness from his brain. It usually works. Sometimes. =D

TREE OF LIFE

The lowly coconut tree...

Photo taken January 2008.

TUESDAY THOUGHTS

I'm thinking of getting a trim. I have a pretty good idea of what I want my hair to look like but I still need to find a photo of the hairstyle just to minimize the chances of well, I dunno, accidents maybe. :P I just don't want to risk looking like a hag after I leave the hair salon so I'm still looking at magazines for the hairstyle I want. Hopefully, it won't be too hard to find.

.....

I'm going to the post office later this afternoon to send Ruther his "care package". I'm sending him his butong pakwan (salted watermelon seeds) and a few other items that could not be found or that would be difficult to find in Japan. It will be nice to see the woman I made friends with there. She always takes the time to chat with me even if there's a long queue of people (I know that can be irritating to them but I'm not the one making conversation!). Last year, I gave her a nice pasalubong from Japan. I gave her a fan and some munchies and she was happy with them. It's always fun to make good friends in uncommon places and it's also nice to know that there's someone working in the post office who will not overcharge you for your packages to your husband. :D

CONGEE

1 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
2 C cooked rice
1 C minced cooked chicken
1 C chicken stock (use more if you like a more soupy consistency)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp minced green onions

Heat the cooking oil in the saucepan and saute the minced ginger for 2-3 minutes. Add the rice, minced chicken and chicken stock. Simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve topped with green onions.

MANGOES

Mangoes are in season again! Yay! Love this fruit a LOT! Don't they look yummy, not to mention sweet and juicy? =D

EDSA/ PEOPLE POWER DAY

The People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of nonviolent and prayerful mass street demonstrations in the Philippines that occurred in 1986. The protests were the culmination of a long resistance by the people against the 20-year running authoritarian regime of then current president Ferdinand Marcos and made news headlines as "the revolution that surprised the world". The majority of the demonstrations took place at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, known more commonly by its acronym EDSA, in Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila and involved over 200,000 Filipino civilians as well as several political and military figures. The protests, fueled by a resistance and opposition of years of corrupt governance by Marcos, occurred from February 22 to 25 in 1986, when Marcos fled Malacañang Palace to the United States and conceded[4] to Corazon Aquino as President of the Philippines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Power_Revolution

ALL BETTER

I'm feeling much better today, thankfully. I don't even know what caused my tummyache last night but I'm guessing it was something I ate for supper that did not agree with me. It was just a horrible feeling to just lie in bed and try not to move and pray that the pain would subside. I really don't like to take medicine these days (been taking so much analgesic when I was in college) so I try to use other ways of alleviating my symptoms. Anyway, shortly after I blogged yesterday about my tummyache, I emailed Ruther about it (he was sleeping by that time) and told him that I wish he was here with me to give me a hug. I just felt so low last night. And because of my tummyache, the boys and I slept at 2am! I know, not good, but I'm trying to remedy that tonight. Hopefully, I won't have any more tummyaches in the near future.

.....

The boys and I spent yesterday with my sis and bro at the mall. It was a nice family day. We went to Alabang Town Center because I had to buy Ruther's butong pakwan (salted watermelon seeds) there. It's his favorite and he's running out. The boys had fun playing in the activity center and even played a bit of duckpin bowling. Then we went to the dollar store and I bought lotion and peppermint tea there. My sis and bro bought some stuff as well. We then had some lunch and I got the boys some (what else?) fried chicken. My bro and I had the Balot-balot tapa which was yummy with the salted egg and tomato. Mmmmm... Anyway, I was going to look for a toy for the boys at Toys R' us but they were closed for renovations so I settled for the bookstores instead. Anyway, I got the boys several nice books and a workbook for Nikki. We went home after getting some ice cream and the boys were all tired out. After napping, we went to church and I really missed Ruther's presence there. I suppose I'll just have to think that in a few months, we'll be hearing mass together again. I just have to be strong about this.

Anyway, in the evening, Nikki and I did some lessons. We did more than usual and I was happy with Nikki's progress. We also did some cutting and pasting, an activity that he loves. Hopefully, later will be another successful homeschooling night. We'll just have to see about that.

P.S. Thanks to Amy and Becky for cheering me up. You guys are really great friends! =D

TUMMYACHE

Can't blog now. Got a really terrible tummyache. Need some medicine, tea, hot water bottle and rest.





Catch y'all tomorrow...