Bulaklak Pang-kasal = Wedding Bouquet

Bulaklak = Flower

Eto ang aking bulaklak na pinaghalong orchids at rosas na yakap yakap ko nung ikinasal ako dito sa Alemanya nuong 2001. Ngayon ay 2009 na. Pero kita nyo naman, parang fresh na fresh pa rin sya. Wala akong ginawa dyan. Basta nilagay ko lang sya dyan sa paso na iyan at ginawang dekorasyon.

This is my wedding bouquet which is a mixture of roses and orchids. It's been almost eight years since but the flowers still look so fresh.

Talking about Stealing

Mama, do you know what, A wanted to steal F's wallet in the school.

I was shocked with what I heard so I asked her to repeat them word for word.

MC slowly told her story again: A saw that F's wallet is full of money so she thought of trying to steal that wallet. But MC told her that she must not do that.

And then she admitted with a frown that since A kept on pestering her about it, MC told her she should just go and do it. Upon hearing those words, my husband intervened and told her...' next time you should simply keep quiet or inform the teacher that someone is pestering you that you cannot concentrate on school works.'

He explained further that she might be blamed if the wallet is reported lost or worst, if reported stolen.'

And I added that the next time A or someone else talks to you about stealing, inform the teacher.

I hope we said the right things. We cannot choose the friends of our children but we could always tell them how they should behave when their friends go astray.

Is she being bullied?

MC came home from school last Wednesday with a long face. She told me what happened.

She had to go in front of the class to her teacher because the bad boy in the class hit her so hard with his sport bag that she hurt. She informed her teacher. The teacher told the boy that when he do that again, he would be punished. He is a repeat offender.

And then MC told us that later on, it was another boy who kicked and picked on her. I told her she should tell the teacher. And make sure that the boy would hear from the teacher about it.

Opa heard about it. His advice? 'Next time, when she warned him and still he continued hurting her? She should give something back but make it hurt. Well, that's the soldier speaking :D

And my husband? He told her when it happened again, warn the boys that next time, she would kick back.

I dont know with men, they seem to miss some points or are they into scoring? I am glad MC simply laughed about it with them.

I repeated to her that she should first tell her teacher about it. The punishment should come from her first. I told her to trust her teacher for she knows what to do. But I told her that it is good that she told us about what happened.

Is she being bullied? I dont think so. I think the kids were simply too wild that day.

Fitness Partners

I admire my husband.

He's kept his diet plan and jogs regularly since November last year. He's lost weight and gained more confidence and loves it! I envy him, actually :D

I have been planning to keep up with him. But there's Christmas and new year and it was so cold and it was too slippery and I have no time and and and... Yup, excuses!

That was before I realized, my favorite pair of jeans doesnt fit me anymore!

I forgot the many excuses and started with watching what I eat. And I asked my husband for a date last Monday, we went jogging.

The first day it was raining. The second day it was snowing. The third day it was slippery. The fourth day it was stormy.

Yet we went on our jogging date. So you see, if there's a will? There's jogging paths :D

Today is Weiberfastnacht or Fat Thursday

beware men, the ladies are ready to get your ties :D

Today is Weiberfasching. It is also called the German Fettdonnerstag or Schmutziger Donnerstag (roughly translated Fat Thursday or Dirty Thursday), or the Weiberfastnacht (Wives Carnival) which means the official start of the carnival season.

According to wikipedia: Fat Thursday (Polish Tłusty czwartek, German Fettdonnerstag, Schmutziger Donnerstag, or in areas where carnival is celebrated Weiberfastnacht) is a traditional Polish and German feast marking the last Thursday before Lent. Because Lent is a time of fasting, the next opportunity to feast would not be until Easter. It is similar to, but should not be confused with, the French festival of Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday"). Traditionally it is a day dedicated to eating, when people meet in their homes or cafés with their friends and relatives and eat large quantities of sweets, cakes and other meals forbidden during Lent. Among the most popular all-national dishes served on that day are pączki or berliner, fist-sized donuts filled with rose marmalade, and faworki, French dough fingers served with lots of powdered sugar.

The center of this Weiberfastnacht festival would be Cologne or Dusseldorf where the airports issue right inside the airplane a travel warning to men passengers. Women armed with scissors are out to cut those neck ties, a traditional 'game'. And men would be then comforted with kisses afterwards.

goodbye neck ties :D

Well, most of the men leave their neck ties at home now. But my husband let the girls experience this tradition last year where he took two old ties and asked the girls to cut them (see photos).

And then of course, I am joining the Ladies' Only Costume Ball tonight. I joined them last year where I even asked our neighbor's help to sew a costume for me. This time, I have the most of last year to prepare. Thus, I have too many costumes to choose from and I havent decided what to wear :D

Maala-ala Mo Kaya? = Do You Remember?

Tipanan = Date

Sina lolo at lola. Kuha mga ilang taon na. Akala mo silang dalawa lang ang magkasama. Akala mo silang dalawa lang ang may tipanan. Samantalang sa likuran lang nila ay andun ang buong pamilyang maiingay.

Look at my in laws. Going on a romantic date alone, though in reality, the whole family were noisily chatting on their backs.

Kitams? Kakainggit ano? Nag-celebrate sila ng 60 years wedding anniversary nitong 2008. Bago yumao si lola nitong nakaraang Oktubre din :(

They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year before my mom in law succumbed to a heart attack last October.

Mama is the best, thanks

After the Playtime English for the pre-schoolers which I am busy with at IC's kindergarten, one of the kids gushed out to IC 'you know what IC, your mama is the best'.

That made my heart burst and I wanted to hear what IC would so I hide and listened.

You know what she simply said? 'Thank you.'

Well, kids do know how to take compliments ;D

Our Valentine's Day

The kids were 'secretly busy last night.

MC and IC quietly slipped out and armed themselves with color pens, paste and papers; some glitters and decors, too. And they warned me: do not go in our rooms and that I should come only when they call for help.

This morning, I woke up being tickled and kissed. Then the girls and my husband gave me these cards. I got an invite to my favorite restaurant from my husband and the girls gave me their Valentine-flavored cards.

MC wrote everything by herself. My seven year old is making me real proud :D

She wrote:

Für Mama, alles gute fur VPalentinstag,

wünschen wir dir

14 Februar 2009

Liebe Mama

Rough translation:

For Mama, we wish you a happy Valentine's Day

14 February 2009

Dear Mama

Another gift is this orchid we got yesterday from Ikea. I knew it would be my Valentine's day gift but of course I pretended not to notice.

Now I gave my husband a cap and a bottle of sparkling wine that we would drink tonight and I gave the girls a stick on tatoo with glitters and chocolate-shaped chocolates. After all, Valentine's day is not only for lovers but for families, too.

How did we spend a family-filled Valentine's day? Since it snowed last night, we decided to go with the kids to the mountains to sled.

Mama Name Game

'What would my name be when I become a mom?,' asked IC a few nights ago.

'Would I remain as IC or would I get to be called mama only?,' she continued.

I told her she would remain IC. But that her kids would then call her mama, if that's what she wanted.

What made her ask? Because she dont really hear me being called my real name. My husband mostly calls me 'schatz' or 'mama'. And since IC's learning to write, when she ask her sister on how she should write my name, her big sister, MC; would mostly tell her the spelling of 'mama'.

In fact, MC only learned that I have another name when I became their teacher in playtime English in her kindergarten :D

Tuwalyang Puso

Puso = Heart

Ang dalawang tuwalyang tiniklop para maging korteng puso ay nakatawag pansin talaga sa amin nung pumasok kami sa aming silid tulugan nung nagbabakasyon kami sa Eagle Point Resort sa Batangas nitong nakaraang taon.
Two towels folded and placed together to look like a heart. We found it in our room when we stayed in Eagle Point Resort in Batangas last year.

Takbo agad ang mga bata at sempre hindi papayag na walang litrato kasama sila. Pagkatapos nun? Ayun, wala kaming tuwalya kasi ginawa nilang laruan :D

When the kids saw it? We couldnt use the towels for a long time, they became toys :D

I am a daughter, not a hero

What would you do if your parents ask for your help?

Any kind of help: simple, extreme, easy, hard, funny, sad, frustrating, smooth-sailing, even on dangerous missions as they see somethings sometimes...

Cook for them. Pay for their medicine. Call them regularly. Visit them. Do their bed. Wash their laundry. Go on vacation with them. Talk to them. Listen to them. Hug them. Drive them somewhere.

I would open my heart, my mind, my soul... and be there for them; as much as I can when I am so far away from them and much much more when I am just a few minutes drive away.

They are, after all, not young anymore. I was once young and they were there for me, even on extreme cases and not so easy moments. They sacrificed a lot for me and I am ready to sacrifice a lot for them in return.

I am brought that way, and I am glad I was brought that way. And I love that way, too.

Let me make it clear though. I am not trying to be a hero, I am simply being a daughter.

My little peacemaker

You know what, you are not my friend anymore!

That was what MC heard when she approached a very close friend. I heard those words, too but I didnt meddle with the two of them. MC quietly walked ahead and the other girl simply slowed down.

When we reached our house, MC still quiet, went inside. And the other girl just went on walking. That is remarkable as both of them wouldnt let go without saying their usual noisy goodbyes. I still didnt say anything.

The next day, both of them would usually asked to be brought together to their ballet lessons. That day, we had to bring both girls to their class separately. And nope, they didnt even greet each other.

While waiting, the girl's mom told me that she learned that it was MC who said those words to her. So I told her the truth, as I heard the words. We agreed that the girls should learn to work it our by themselves.

On our drive home after her ballet class, MC was thoughful. Finally, she said she want to call her friend. She want to visit her. She think they should meet so that they could talk about what happened. And you know what? Without any urging from me? She did.

Now everything is okay. That's my little peacemaker ;D

Tsokolateng pang Perya = Chocolates in Carnivals

Tsokolate = Chocolates

Kapag may peryahan dito sa Alemanya, maraming sikat na sikat na mga tsokolate na nagkalat para sa mga taong katulad ko na gustong gusto ang matamis. Ang pinakasikat ay ang Mohrenkuchen na parang marshmallow mini cakes ang dating. Iba iba ang kanyang lasa: merong normal na tsokolate, maitim na tsokolate, may tsokolate na binudburan ng niyog flakes at kung ano ano pa ;D

The most famous sweets during carnival time here in Germany are called Mohrenkuchen. They look and taste like mini marshmallows and are presented in different flavors.

Sempre ang orihinal na lasa ay yung tsokolate na Mohrenkucken.

The original would be the chocolate flavored ones.

Ito namang ang Fruchtspies. Sila ang mga tinuhog na prutas na karamihan ay mansanas, peras, saging, atbp. na nilublob naman sa tsokolate. Iba't ibang kulay at iba't ibang hugis ito kaya naman minsan e hindi mo talaga alam kung alin uunahin mo. Minsan ginagamit din nila ang kumpol kumpol na magkakaibang nuts.

These are called Fruchtspies. These are fruits covered with chocolates though they sometimes also have various nuts.

Ayan pa ang ibang Fruchtspies. Sa hugis nila ay parang pinya at ubas naman ang laman nito.

Pineapples and grapes are also popular Fruchtspies.

Pero sa totoo lang, hindi ko gusto ang lasa nila. Hinahanap ko pa rin ang yema at pulvoron ;D

I am Stupid

MC's got a tantrum and she chose to turn her temper on her Papa.

Then, she came running to me declaring, 'Ich hab schon heute morgen gesagt, Ich bin doof.' (I already told myself this morning that I am stupid).

Repeating herself over and over again that she is stupid. I told her she dont believe this. She ignored me and continued berating herself for being stupid.

I asked her then why she thinks she is stupid. I asked her what stupid means. I asked her to explain why she feels stupid. I asked her to let me know what stupid is.

Her only answer was to shake her head but she stopped crying.

I told her that she is not stupid. I told her that she is only saying that word because she is angry. I told her I know she is disappointed. And I know that she's saying that to get back to her Papa.

Then she gave me a big hug and simply cuddled closer. After a few minutes, she left my side and I saw her talking to her papa, explaining something. And they came out together smiling afterwards.

No, she is not stupid.