Sweet Pea Journey

Family, Friendship, Food, Fun and Everything in Between!

Author: Sweet Pea

Kids and Parenting

First Week of School

First week of school is major success, for both kids! I am so proud of them!

First off, kids couldn’t wait to get on the big yellow school bus, and swipe their badges! Bus driver is a super nice older gentleman, made sure the younger kids have proper seats and close to him so he could take care of any needs.

Kids couldn’t stop talking about the fun stuff at school and what they did, new friends they made, lunch items they got.. My daughter is learning carefully planning and spending money, so proud of her!

After school care is amazing too, kids don’t even want to leave when I pick them up! Every morning, I don’t need to drag them out of bed, they are up early and excited, because they don’t want to miss the school bus ride! These little cutie pies are so grown and independent now, makes me one proud and happy mama!

Yep, we even had a mini concert in the front yard while waiting for the school bus!

Kids and Parenting

Kindergarten Picture

Can’t thank my amazing friend Steph enough. She has been such great support and inspiration! I am in the midst of craziness of moving, cleaning, fixing house, enrolling kids, doctor appointments for everyone, and feeling bad not able to do everything I’d love to for the kids for their first day of school, real non-daycare school, Steph surprised me with an amazing custom-made shirt for my baby girl and super fun photo shoot session for the kids!

The results? Stunning! People come and go in life, some shine bright light of joy, some takes away, amazing friendship is priceless!

Kids and Parenting

Getting Ready for First Day of School

I gotta say, I may be just as excited as the kids! This is a huge milestone for them! I came across a few types of back-to-school mom funny videos, I am not quite as bad as first time back-to-school mom, but pretty darn close! Both my kids are able to get enrolled, one kindergarten, one pre-k. I guess I’d better get use to this.

According to school’s instruction, I got their back packs ready – full of NOTHING!

I came from China, I am not used to this.. when I was in elementary (I’m pretty sure it is still the case in China), we went to school and got enrolled. We were handed a list of text books and schedule of classes. We had to go to the school bookstore and buy all the books and make hand written copies of schedules to keep at home and in our own pencil box. Then we wrap up all the textbooks nicely and put our names on the book covers. Everyday, we check our schedule for the following day, and pack our backpacks accordingly, with pencil box, textbooks required, scratch papers, note books… our backpacks were 15 lb easy, every day.

Instead of packing these, I sent their school supplies to school while meeting the teachers, all the heavy lifting was done by my mom and me. If you read my previous blogs, you know both of us are recovering from surgery. Luckily, her left side of the body is good, my right hand is normal. 2 ladies carried the heavy box of 2 classroom school supplies to school, kinda funny but we made it.

Kids nowadays have it easy. I know my parents told me the same thing when I was growing up. Even though we all say it, I am not quite sure which path majority of us are sending our kids down to with our actions. Most kids nowadays are too soft, too whinny, too fragile, too entitled, mine are probably one of these right now. Working progress. I know most of my friends who have kids are same as me in terms of what to teach our kids, and they need to grow up honest people, work for things they want in life, polite and kind.  At the end of the day, when the kids go to pre-k and kindergarten, being the youngest kids in the school, who is there to protect them and comfort them, if all they know is to whine and cry when other kids don’t give them what they want all the time, and when things are not fair? Are they going to have a security blanket when they are 15, or are they expecting someone to carry their pencil for them when they are 12?

Honesty, kindness go a long way, never claim nothing that’s not theirs, and grow up to be a person that never feel the need of hiding what they have done, because they will never do anything that they will need to be ashamed of.  That’s a mom’s wish, and that’s what I will do my best for.

Kids and Parenting

Back-to-School Shopping

How fun! My first time, newbie back-to-school shopping and registration! Of course, I had to jump in and join that tax-free weekend school supply shopping, to experience what people are complaining about every year, and of course, who doesn’t want to save a few bucks on taxes?

Turned out, I had to go to 4 different stores just to find everything on my kids’ school supply list, for kindergarten and pre-K. Most of the time, the kids were with me. Yep, I am crazy, but I might as well get the full experience right? It turned out, finding school supplies in a crazy swirl of shoppers was fun, especially when you locate the last one of yellow pocket folder with brad (I mean huh??)… :p

Then the fun part? Getting the kids packing their own school supply box! Both kids were super excited! They can’t wait to go see their school, their teachers and make new friends!

Life and random things

Online Market Place

So I have listed a few things on Facebook Marketplace, since I am downsizing big time. It’s quite interesting, if you haven’t had this experience yet. Of course you talk to random people, I certainly have.

Some people lied right to my face, some are simply no-show without any courtesy notice, some agree on a price and when they show up, they want to pay 10% of the agreed price and grab 10 times more…

Some times, my mom was the only person dealing with these people, she finds it challenging yet addicting, negotiating in English. Sure, it’s exhausting, especially if you end up with the hardcore bargainer, who would not leave without  a bagful of super buys. But at least she showed up, after she said she would. There are tons, confirming and promising they want whatever, and never showed up, even after setting a time and discussing logistics. I don’t get it why people would make empty promises and then don’t even have the basic respect to tell others the plan has changed, so they don’t waste other people’s time? Because there is no respect to others, I suppose.

Another one really bothered me was one lady, who really wanted me to help meeting her half way, because she got 4 kids, and has no time to travel or pick through things. Not a problem, I was glad to help. The day of, I already drove 20 minutes, 10 minutes from the agreed location, I messaged her to confirm she is on her way. She replied saying she had a flat tire. What’s your thought? Mine was that’s a lie. I have been in town for over 15 years, I had 2 flats total. But who knows, maybe that’s true. So I offered to drive the goods all the way to her instead of meeting half way. She quickly left the group.

I just don’t get it. Total strangers are more comfortable lying than telling the truth. She could have simply told me sorry I am no longer interested, what can happen? I wouldn’t be asking why, I still wouldn’t know who she is. Nothing different would happen from lying to my face. I am upset not only because she lied to me, or made me drive that far for nothing, but also she is the mother of 4 kids, what is she teaching them? She told me she had to drive with her kids, so she lied to me in front of her kids too. They would grow up, naturally thinking it’s OK to lie, a small lie here and there, small lies grow bigger, leading to no good.

Why can’t people just be honest, own up to their behaviors, and set good examples for their kids? I was born in the 80’s, I still consider myself old school, respect and honesty, two must-haves for people. That’s what I teach my kids, quite strict with them on these two matters too. Even though I feel like I am fighting against the norm nowadays, I still would give my all to bring up my kids kind and honest people. I can’t wait for these good qualities to come back in style soon!

Cooking

Cherry and Pineapple Dump Cake

Made a simple yet amazing cake with my little sous chef. Memory made!

This is super simple, yet scrumptious, perfect to make with kids.

Ingredients:

1 21 oz can of cherry pie filling

1 20 oz can of crushed pineapple

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 handful of any nuts (totally optional)

1 cup of butter (2 sticks) melted

 

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 350F.

Spray 9 x 13 baking dish lightly, dump crushed pineapple with juice into baking dish, spread to form an even layer.

Dump cherry pie filling onto pineapple, smear to form an even layer. The smearing part is awesome for kids, tons of fun!

Sprinkle yellow cake mix on top of fruit mix. Same as before, form an even layer, don’t mix with fruit. Sprinkle slivered almonds on top of cake mix if desired.

Pour melted butter on top, try to cover as much area as you could.

Bake at 350F for 55-60 minutes.

Cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!

 

Kids and Parenting

Back-To-School Hair Cut

Time for a big boy hair cut again, perfect for back to school.

As usual, my amazing daughter is my awesome little helper, she is always there, always ready to jump in and help without me asking! Love her to pieces!

Kids and Parenting

Let Kids be Kids

Which kid doesn’t have fun being dirty? So I embraced kids’ nature, followed by a nice long relaxing bath. Happy days!

School playground had fresh mulch, just in time for back-to-school. However, the mulch piles  have not been spreaded out yet. So they became my kids’ mountains and valleys…the aftermath? :p Happy days!

 

Cooking

Turmeric Ginger Tea – Home Remedy That Works!

Home remedy, for inflammation, and upset tummy. With a hint of lemon and raw honey, even the kids were fighting over this. I made a batch of spice mix, so next time I don’t need to pull out all the little jars.

Super easy to make:

Ingredients:

1 tsp ground turmeric – be careful, this yellow stuff will stain literally anything and everything!

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 TBSP raw honey, or maple syrup if you like. But I don’t stock up on any maple syrup at my house, so raw honey in a heart beat, healthier anyway

1 tsp lemon juice, or squirt about half a juicy lemon (fresh is better!)

 

Method:

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil on the stove. Dump in all ground spices and stir to dissolve. Lower heat to simmer the spice infused water for about 10 minutes.

Cool the tea slightly and strain the tea (if you like), most of the ground spices will sink to the bottom anyway. Pour tea into a tea cup, add raw honey and lemon juice, stir well and enjoy!

Warning, this stuff works wonders! To me, this is way better than any pill or medicine out of a bottle.