Our Pet Displays Balance and Control

And I am proud to let you know that it is my nine-year-old IC who patiently taught Rikki this trick displaying balance and control.

Who would have thought IC and Rikki would both have the patience to actually make this trick a success?

I always tell the girls to make time to play, feed or practice some tricks with Rikki. Sometimes they have loads of excuses but when they do make time, we would see the result :-)

First with a slice of apple 

Then a piece of Turkish bread

Happy 76th Birthday, Tatay!

Tatay is now 76 years old!

My father is now 76 years old.

His white hair showed just how good looking he is, right?

He's still got a little beer belly, but you know what?
I am proud to let you know that he worked to loose his beer belly.
He used to jog regularly, until he reached his ideal weight!

Here's something that he can't resist...sweets!
His got a sweet tooth!
He would even 'fight' with his apos (grandchildren) for the last chocolate piece!

And that relationship with his apos defines him, too.
He is fun. He jokes around.

But when everything should be taken seriously, then everything is serious.
Though he can't leave it just like that without cracking a joke to ease the tension.

My father taught us to face life positively.
He always tell us: We don't have everything but as long as we are happy, then that would be our everything!

We really wish we could be there to celebrate with you, to join the 'fight' for that last piece of chocolate...

Happy birthday, dear Tatay! We love you!

We are Boston

Prayers for the dead.
Prayers for the injured.

Prayers for everybody affected, including that somebody who even thought about doing such a horrible thing, for that somebody who moved to create such a horrible thing.

Special prayers for the runners.
Special prayers for the children and the old people.
Special prayers for the spectators.
Special prayers for the helpers.
Special prayers for the families of the victims.

Prayers for the people of Boston.
Prayers for the people of the world.

Prayers.
Peace. Unity. Love.

We are Boston.

Let's hug our loved ones...

Happy 9th Birthday, IC!

IC turns nine today.

Happy 9th Birthday, dear IC!

Last year, it fell on Friday the 13th, and she said, "who cares if my birthday is Friday the 13th?"

She doesn't need me now when it's time to dress up for her Halloween and Carnival costumes. But she still wants me to approve and tell her that she looks great.

And how surprised I was that, Pippi Longstockings remained a favorite character!

She enjoyed and resolutely joined the rock climbing training, despite wearing a long dress! She got nervous during her first Vaulting Tournament yet refused to ask help jumping down from the tall horse.

She discovered the excitement and patience of being a fan and was rewarded -- she got to watch a concert from her biggest idol, too. She also got to meet and greet, and receive an autograph from her idol. She waited patiently, too!

Choco and Cream Cheese Sandwich

A few days after Easter, the baskets of the girls are still full with their Easter sweets, and more are still coming from visiting relatives.

What to do with all the chocolates?

Here's something that am sure would be a hit for the kids, Choco and Cream Cheese Sandwich.

Choco and Cream Cheese Sandwich 

Ingredients:

25 g Easter chocolates
3-4 tbsp cream cheese
1-2 tsp cacao powder
1/2 tsp vanilla powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
1-2 tbsp oatmeal
4 pcs toast bread slices
1-2 tbsp butter

Preparation:

Easter Chocolates

1. Melt chocolates then mix cream cheese.
2. Add cacao powder, vanilla powder and mix. Then mix oatmeal thoroughly.
3. Spread butter on toast bread slices then spread the choco and cream mix.
4. Place the toast bread on a sandwich maker and bake around 3-4 minutes.
(If you don't have a sandwich maker, use a pan with a little butter to toast the sandwich.)

The recipe is good for two.

Tips: You could serve it for breakfast with slices of fruits on the side or as dessert topped with an ice cream or whipped cream!

Easter Sunday 2013 in Photos

Sharing our Easter photos, enjoy!

As tradition goes in Germany, we decorated our bushes with eggs, ready to celebrate Easter.

The garden is also decorated with eggs. The girls worked hard :-)

For this Easter branches covered with eggs inside the house, we have to thank my husband.

IC joined the Palm Sunday celebration for the first time, bringing along her palm leaves/branch that she created with the help of her Papa. Together with other future participants of the First Communion celebration this April, they walked around the church for a short procession.

Back home, both girls and their Papa, started coloring eggs -- an Easter tradition in our family. My role is to take pictures :-)