Road Trip 2015 - Old Sacramento

Ohh yeah~ Our first family trip in 2015 and it was a road trip! We drove approximately 205 miles (330km, about 3.5hours drive) to one of the most popular vacation spots in California, North Lake Tahoe. Jeez, god knows why we had the guts to do that (partially due to financial constrains, ahem) because our last road trip experience from Portland to Seattle with Chloe was a complete disaster! She N.E.V.E.R likes staying in her carseat. Be that as it may, we're so glad that we decided to take the "calculated risk," she was surprisingly great this round, thanks to Pocky sticks and roasted seaweed.


#1 Because it was a long drive and we all needed a break, we made a stop at Sacramento, the capital city of California. A very serene and laid-back city indeed.


#2 Fueling at Tower Cafe. Love its adventurous decor infused with tons of different cultural influences.


#3 Coloring makes her happy :)


#4


#5 The foods were decent, nothing extra special, also potentially due to our spoiled palates. Blame all the good restaurants in San Francisco :p


#6 This store is simply magical, located at Old Sacramento.


#7


#8 California State Railroad Museum.


#9


#10


#11 Historical building.


#12 ❤❤


#13 ❤❤

#14


#15 Walking around + sightseeing~~


#16 Love this one albeit my hideous fringe. Chean (and Photoshop) never fails me, he is the best photographer ever ;)


#17 Here's the brutal disappointment I encountered before ringing in the new year, I got a less than fortunate haircut, probably one of the worst haircuts I ever had since 12 years old. Sigh. I cincai went to a salon nearby my house because I really, very badly wanted a fresh look for 2015. Fast forward the disastrous experience, I walked home with a super awkward bangs. Sigh x100. Lesson learned, never ever visit a hair salon in haste.

Anyway... Maybe this is a good thing, a lesson in letting go... Hopefully I'll be able to keep my motivation up in blogging and finish the entire road trip posts before my bangs grow out nicely, lol... See you around~~



XOXO,
Bev

Favorite Pastime

#1 喜欢刘小恩希的这幅涂鸦作品。恰静、不聒噪且带着一点郁郁的蓝。


#2 这是刚完成时的模样，宝宝称它为《蝴蝶》。


#3 正在努力作画中认真的小背影，好可爱。

替感冒中的宝宝取消了这个星期的课，让她待在家里休息，我想应该是在家太无聊的关系，突然变得热爱画画。我的女儿是一个很清楚自己想要做什么的孩子，或许这句话套在一个才两岁多的孩子来说很难以置信吧，可是我和Chean从很小开始察觉，她确实是个确认自己想要做的事后就会很非常专注认真的孩子（像粑粑～）。学校的老师觉得如此，家人朋友和保姆也这么说（嗯，我请保姆啦！）。所以，看着她拖着感冒的小身子，一直在那努力地完成“作品”时，心十分纠结，想要叫她休息一会儿，但又不忍心打扰她。就只能站在她身边，一会儿擦鼻涕，一会儿让喝水地伺候着，直到她说：“I'm all done！”

所以，这次的po文全是关于她这星期在家作的画，记录她努力划下的色彩。


#4 The Giraffe Spots《长颈鹿的斑点》。她说，她看见了兔子还有米奇老鼠。


#5 握着画笔的早晨七点钟。


#6 这《At The Zoo》是她用两个小时完成的。涂累了，放着，躺在地上；发闷了，放着，去玩别的。但只要她没说“I'm all done” 我都将她的画摆着，让她可以随时继续涂鸦她的“作品”。


#7 正在用Magic Nuudles建造动物园的栏杆呢，我快笑飙泪了～


#8 用功ing。


#9 你能看见她所谓的《Penguin》吗？她特别强调只有一只哦～

然后，我把这副画分享到Facebook时很多人都能看见那只企鹅耶，连Chean也看到！唯独麻麻我找不着，呜呜～ 于是决定再三请问宝宝那只企鹅到底在哪儿...

Mommy: Baby, where is the penguin?
Chloe: It's hiding...
Mommy: Hiding?!
Chloe: It's A.B.S.T.R.A.C.T!
Mommy: *dumbfounded*

Daddy: Where are the penguin's eyes?
Chloe: *point to the pic* Right here...
Daddy: (turns his head to me) See, told you it's a profile.

深深地让我上了一课，想起了《小王子》著作。唉，我这思想狭窄的大人，必须更努力地解读孩子丰富的想象力。


#10 这是今早做的《The Happy Popsicles》。哈哈，她太爱冰淇淋和冰棒了！很明显还在想念上个周末吃过的味道！


#11 《开心的冰棒》。 因为那时阿姨正在打扫中，所以只能让她小幅度地作画，要知道收拾是蛮头疼的，哈哈～



以上就是刘小恩希最近热爱的事，喜欢涂鸦，喜欢调色，喜欢探索。这或许是天赋，或许就只是单纯的嗜好，其实对于我来说都无所谓，小孩总是对身边的事充满好奇心，说不好下星期又会恋上不同的新玩意，这都没关系，成长是她自己的，要玩什么，要学习什么，选择权当然在她。所以我一直觉得自己在教育上的责任，从来就只是满足她及辅助她完成她想要完成的事而已。优不优秀，成不成才都是其次，我和Chean只想要让她做一个自由的孩子。




#12 ❤❤



共勉之，
Mama Bev

Big Love Small Meals

#1 March 31, 2014. Our weekly brainstorming session. What's for dinner baby?

关于学做饭这码事，是怀孕后给自己的功课。从厌恶、束手无策、到热衷、认真学习的三年多里，指甲长了又变短，锅子烧坏了又入购，手上的烫伤痊愈了又起新水泡... 被这样的矛盾反复折磨一番后，我犯贱地爱上了烹饪。

是，是真爱...

和许多的80后一样，有孩子之前的我根本不爱做饭，一贯都是饭来张口族，没事不进厨房，怕油烟怕热锅，心血来潮时顶多只能烘个杯子蛋糕的女生。怀孕初期，想要学习健康饮食，所以开始学做饭。因为啊，就算很不会烧菜的妈妈们也总有办法做出一两道美味佳肴，所以一直以为做饭并不是一件什么难事，但发现自己所尝试的菜肴频频失败后，真心觉得烹饪其实是巨讲究的，就算只是一顿普普通通的“家常便饭”。

了解到满汉全席是遥不可及的梦想，所以初时，我只想要学会做几道简单的中式料理，那些食材和做法不复杂的家常菜，想要复制妈妈的味道。随着宝宝开始吃辅食时，觉得更应该注重食材的品质和新鲜度，所以学会了逛超市。我现在是每一个礼拜到不同的有机超市膜拜三次的虔诚信徒。食材，特别是肉类，不新鲜的话不上桌，因为肉质不好怎么做也枉费心机。之后，厌食嘴刁的宝宝又给我新挑战，让我更注意经常变换饮食的花样品种，也让我从那时候更了解食物真正原始的味道，懂得运用食材的原味做料理。


#2 这是热腾腾，今天给刘宝宝做的晚餐, Chicken Katsu Bento.


#3 Sept 5, 2014. Dinner. Baked Chicken with Parmesan and Thyme, Mac & Cheese, tomato soup and roasted veggies on side.


#4 March 18, 2014. 冬菇鸡肉+海带+Quinoa烩饭。


#5 April 14, 2014. Dinner. Pasta with tomato sauce, lettuce, pork meatballs, and Parmesan cheese. Also attempted oven baked sweet potato chips but it was an epic fail :'(


#6 March 21, 2014. Breakfast. Banana balls get dressed up like Small Potatoes~


#7 April 16, 2014. Breakfast. Organic bacon sandwich = Honey oat bread + bacon + red cabbage + mayo + grated mozzarella cheese.


#8 March 18, 2014. Breakfast. Mee suah with prawns + mix veggies + broccoli + choy sum.


#9 March 7, 2014. Lunch. Organic garden burger. Black bean tofu + soy bean tofu + shredded carrots + spring onions + sesame = Burger patty.


#10 April 9, 2014. Snack. Garden fruit salad. Organic ingredients: French breakfast radish, lettuce, avocado, blueberries, green apple, dried cranberries, olive oil, sea salt.


#11 Sept 3, 2014. Light Dinner. Creamy tomato soup.



以上的照片都在我的FB里po过。常常有许多可爱的朋友们对我加油打气，说我是个伟大的妈妈，很感谢大家，但其实转变不伟大，我真的不觉得自己有什么伟大的，我只是找到幸福的另一个定义而已❤❤

能够为孩子准备营养丰富的每一餐是很快乐，很满足的事。活过了30个年头，虽然没怎么吃过山珍海味，但也吃过不少美食，最终发现有两种味道是最难忘也是最叫人怀念的，一种叫做妈妈的味道，像是冒着大雨回家后端上的一碗热汤，温暖窝心；另一种叫做儿时的味道，像是小时候跌倒后递上的棒棒糖，甜上心头。第一种无可取代的味道，我在用心地努力着，至于第二种，就让成长为宝宝准备着。



p/s：很多人说孩子厌食是被妈妈宠坏的，但其实孩子食欲不振有很多原因，比如长牙，腹胀或消化系统不好等等，希望其他家长们不要听见别人的孩子有什么状况时就把责任往孩子的妈那儿推。养儿育儿本来就是件不容易的事，但同理心真的可以减轻其他妈妈们的心理压力。如果你的孩子很爱吃，真心替你高兴，但同样的，也请大家尊重及体谅其他妈妈们的对孩子的用心。因为当儿科医生说孩子没长高，体重没增加的那种忐忑心情，我懂。

p/p/s：顺带谢谢我那很棒的妹妹，宝宝的专属营养师，有个读营养的妹妹真的赚大了！哇卡卡～



共勉之，
Mama Bev

Sleeping Buddy

#1 #2 #3

Converastion #1

Chloe: (In sad & manja tone) Mommy, 海马(Seahorse a.k.a the sleeping buddy) wants a cuddle but he has no hands...

Mama Bev: Aww... That's because he is a seahorse, seahorse has no hands, but you have hands, you can still give him a hug. 

Chloe: (Hugging seahorse) 海马 also has no legs. He wants to wear Chloe's shoes... 

Mama Bev: Aww... 海马 doesn't need shoes because he lives in the ocean and he swims all day long. You don't have to wear shoes when you're swimming, remember? 

Chloe: (persistently gliding the seahorse in her sandal) But he want(s) it... Chloe try(ies).

Mama Bev: You are so sweet and considerate, can I get a cuddle too?

Chloe: Y.E.S!

Converastion #2

Mama Bev: Do you have fun at school today? Are you happy at school?

Chloe: Chloe is upset.

Mama Bev: Why are you sad? What's the matter?

Chloe: Chloe miss(es) mommy, Chloe 要麻麻抱抱 (Chloe wants a cuddle).

Mama Bev: Aww... It's alright, baby, mommy will always come back for you, like now, mommy will always come pick you up after school. 

Chloe: 想要麻麻陪陪 (I want to be with mommy)，Chloe miss(es) mommy, Chloe is sad...

Mama Bev: It's okay to miss mommy, mommy misses you too! But missing mommy shouldn't be the reason for you to not enjoy school. If you get too upset you miss out on all the fun. Mommy can't be with you all the time but mommy is always near, right here (point to her heart) and mommy will always...

Chloe: COME BACK FOR YOU! (then skips away)

The above are two of the most heartwarming conversations we have today... She has such a gentle and kind soul (if I say so myself), it's so therapeutic talking to her every day... Please don't grow up too fast...



Lots of love,
Mama Bev

The First Day Of School

哈啰～ 宝宝上学啦！简短的记录一下这忙碌即充实，而且非常重要的一天～


#1 早上的七点钟，吃着麻麻准备的爱心早餐。


#2 快乐大步地上学去～


#3 感觉像一夜长大的孩子。


#4 到学校后深深的goodbye hug，我整个都被融化了。真的好棒！


#5 之后，我和刘先森就到cafe歇一会，享受之余更多的是想念...


#6 在San Francisco随便挑一家咖啡厅就是这么有feel...


#7 这是等女儿的咖啡。用的是纸杯，因为是要带走的。想要忙了该忙的，然后回家做一顿好吃的，呵呵～


#8 好美，质感真正好～ 所以在法国土生土长的丝带是长这样的哦～


#9 看完了今天要看的样板，要去接孩子放学了...


#10 该独立时独立，该黏麻麻时黏麻麻的孩子最可爱～

真心喜欢目前的生活步伐，不慌不忙，不急不乱，能够一直这样多美好～ 我这主妇的一天也这样过去了，明天呢，想要给刘先森做个西式料理～



p/s: 我知道大家其实想要知道更多关于美国幼儿教学的课程或上课的情况等等，一定会找机会和大家分享滴。至于大家一直关心的课题，觉得那么早送孩子上学担心孩子不能调适的问题，我只能说这学校真的很棒，因为在宝宝正式开课的前半年，我们已经参与过无数次学校举办的联谊活动，孩子也对老师们有了认识，而且上课的前一个星期学校更是开放让孩子参观和玩耍，让他们熟悉环境。更重要的是宝宝上的这所学校是没有硬性规定孩子们课堂上的活动，所以呢，所谓的上课，其实就是“玩耍”。也因为这样，宝宝调适的非常好～ 也谢谢大家的关心，都收到心里了！

再聊咯～



加油，
Mama Bev