Easter 2013 Cake

We had an Easter Party today and i thought i'd make a simple cake and looked all over the internet for some cute but simple ideas. My friend Diana sent me this cake that was the cutest cake.

I have always wanted to make it but didn't have an occasion, but i found a modification of this cake here it is!! It is my first time making figurines using fondant and i have to say, you got to be pretty artistic to do this. I can't quite figure out why one of my bunnies looked like a bear and the other one an elk(with bunny ears).

My funky bunnies

Here's the cake 

A close up

This was made with a chocolate sponge, whipped cream with cherry filling and topped with cream cheese frosting.

Easter Gifts for the boys

The boys woke up early and went on a quick egg hunt around the house and found a few eggs from the Easter Bunny, and some gifts from Grandma and Granddad.

The boys liked their books and like their 'stuffies' even more.

Check out our eggs

Yes Mummy, another Stuffy from Grandma and Granddad

Please send food to my children

A food parcel arrived from England today for the boys.  They love Quavers almost as much as Siew Gin and I see they now have Salt and Vinegar Flavor (hint hint Grandma).

The boys are just like their Daddy and love chips, in particular Salt and Vinegar.

Continuing to explore deepest, darkest Colorado
Please send more food!

Tyler completes Kumon A maths

Tyler finished Kumon A maths today.  He has 'mastered' addition and subtraction and will be moving on to multiplication and division soon...

Finished at last

Dinosaur Ridge

Tyler has been asking to go to Dinosaur Ridge for some time, and Cody seemed excited to go as well, so this morning after breakfast and Kumon we drove to the ridge to explore.

They have quite a few life size dinosaurs outside and a tiny exhibit room inside (not worth the $2 each, but I figure that it was worth paying as it helps maintain the other stuff the kids did like.

As luck would have it, there was also a fire engine there so the boys especially Cody got to check that out as well.

The last time that Siew Gin and I did this trail you could drive on the road, but it seems that 3 or 4 years ago they closed it to traffic so you can now walk up the road and enjoy seeing the Dinosaur stuff.

The boys complained a bit about walking uphill, Tyler more than Cody, and they both got carried for some of the way.

At the very top there is the Dakota ridge trail which you can take and gives a nice view of Red Rocks.  Maybe we will revisit it again in the summer.

Fire Engine alert

That Dinosaur is a big one Daddy !!

Check out those Dinosaur prints

Sitting where the Dinosaurs once walked

Crazy one (or is is two?)

Tyler completes Kumon AII reading

Tyler has been working hard on his reading, and he completed his Kumon Reading Level AII today. He should be completing his Maths level A tomorrow !!

Another level completed

Partying days are over for me, Shashank!

Our friend Shashank got a spanking new job in SF and since he's always been such a nice young man, I decided to go "party" with him one last time. It's been a LOOOONNGG time since i went out "partying" so i struggled to find clothes to wear! Ha! All my clothes were too formal and proper. So, i just opted for non-dressy jeans look!

First we went to Upstairs which was a nice relaxing bar and it was quite nice to be able to catch up and chit chat. But after that was closed, we went to another cheap and cheerful bar which was when i was feeling a little old amongst all the young college kids. Anyways, as i sat in the crowded smelly bar in Boulder, i thought to myself, "this is supposed to be fun??"

At 2 am, the bar was finally closed and i balked at the idea of going somewhere else to go hang out, so, i bid them farewell for the night and barely made it home on time before my eyes shut for the night!

Anyways, it did make me ponder. Did i ever enjoy this kind of scene or did i get old? hmm...

Upstairs

The infamous Red Wall

Apparently Shashank's memory lane

p.s i think my wardrobe also needs a bit of updating!!!

Couples Night

It was our turn to host Couple's Night. Due to my near-disastrous-rare-lamb experience the last time, i figured i should try to redeem myself but serving something actually cooked this time! I opted for Red Wine Braised Short Ribs, served with Crispy Polenta and Green Beans and also a side of Brazilian Cheese Bread.

The ribs came out still tender and the sauce rich. Polenta also came out the way i like it, crispy outside and creamy inside. Even the kids(our kids) loved it!! :), which reminds me, i should go save the recipe!!

Braised Short Ribs with Crispy Polenta

Elaine's Grape and Goat Cheese appetizer

Pic of the Group

p.s Also a good reminder to go buy wine glasses because that night i realized i only had 6 wine glasses and apparently drinking red wine from champagne glasses are a bit no-no with my posh pants friends!!!

Science Trip to NCAR

We had an hour or so spare this morning, so we took a trip to NCAR.  I have hiked from here many times, but have never been inside the building.  There are quite a lot of exhibits to see, I wouldn't say it was the most exciting tour, but it was quite cool for the kids.

Check out the Eagle

Ready to visit NCAR

Fun with magnets

Checking out the memory match game

Cody finishes Kumon Level 6a

Cody has just finished level 6a of Kumon.  Next level involves writing, so progress may be a little slower.

Add caption

Snowman Wars

Another Snowman by me, Siew Gin falling further behind in the Snowman wars

Check out the cool snowman

St Paddy's Day 2013

Sabrina held her annual St Paddy's Day and she had her usual fare of corn beef and cabbage and sheppard's pie. It was good food and good company.

We haven't taken a group picture for a while and this turned out nice! :)

Our group picture

Tyler was away for sleepover, so we only had Cody for the night!

First Hike of 2013

Winter is finally showing some signs of ending and at the first sign of spring/summer, we went for a hike. However, it wasn't as warm as i had expected and though i had thought about putting more clothes on the kids, i forgot to do the same for myself!!!

It was a short hike, not without lots of whining from the kids.

Start of the hike

Father and Son outfit

 Tyler checking out some ducks in the pond

Cody clutching to Alan's head for his dear life!!!

Shashank is off to pastures new

Our friend Shashank has taken a job in California, so he stopped by at Sabrina's St Patrick's Day Party to say goodbye to us and the kids.  He has been really great with the kids and they will miss him for sure.

I guess 4 out of 5 kids posing isn't bad

Lazy Squirrel Alert

It's bad enough the rabbits are eating the grass, now the squirrels have taken it upon themselves to mock us by sunbathing on our deck..

Check me out

Tyler Science Fair

Tyler has been hard at work on his science project - Potato Battery Clock, and this week he and the rest of the school got to present to their class and then at the science fair.

His was pretty cool, but there were some other ones that were good and could be good ones to try next year. Predictably Tyler liked his friend Matthews the best (Burping Cola).

Ones I liked were :-

eggs- walking on eggs to see if they can handle the weight, capturing a rainbow - using a prism, mentos car - powering a skateboard using mentos and colorful crystals - rock candy.

Look at me so cool, with the smallest display

Cody Science Fair

Cody's class did a joint science project this year, and they did the classic 'sink or float'.  Cody was quite enthusiastic with his answers to the questions, and has been talking about air makes you float for some time.  I did like the coke vs diet coke experiment to see which floated better.

Of course I know the answer 'Air'

Alan Birthday Celebration

My Birthday was a nice quiet family occasion, as the previous night we had hosted couples food night at our house, and we didn't have the energy to do too many things.

Siew Gin and the kids woke me up with cards and we took advantage of last years gift from the badminton club to go eat out for breakfast at the earlybird  This place is surprisingly popular and the food was good, though not super exciting.

Did manage to sneak in a run as well, to offset all the good food as well as talk to everyone in England.

Took in a movie at home while the kids were sleeping, and then finished the evening off with Steak and Chips which were excellent.  

Siew Gin made a cake, and everyone enjoyed blowing out the many candles and eating the cake.

Tyler ate his entire plate, that was a great present

Blow that cake out everyone

Now that is a Snow Man

Siew Gin always complains that my snowmen are not really snowmen and how she will show Cody, Tyler and myself how to make a real one  - Quote "When the snow is the right type of snow"

Today, we had our first real snow storm of the season, 4.5 inches fell in a short time, and it was the heavy clumpy just right for building snowmen type of snow.

Despite the perfect storm, the only snowman built was by myself.  We await with bated breath Siew Gin's snowman..

Now that's a Whopper

Rocky Mountain Toy Train Show

I found some cheap tickets to go to the Rocky Mountain Toy Train Show this weekend and also invited Tyler's friend Mathew(and his family) to go with us, thinking the boys would love it. All boys love trains, right?

We got to see a lot of model trains and elaborate set ups, but i'm not sure the kids were able to appreciate all the details. And there was a big crowd. I must be getting old as i'm really not liking crowds so much these days!

Matthew, Tyler and Cody!

Cool train coming our way, mommy!

Waiting for the steam engine to heat up!!

It was a fun outing for Tyler as he got to hang out with Matthew and we also went out to enjoy some Korean food after! 

Cody's Swimming

I didn't actually get to watch Cody's swimming class. I got this video from Alan. But we've been quite impressed with his swimming lately when we take him on Sundays. He's able to swim about 1/2 a length of a 25 m pool. He always looks like he's drowning but he's pretty comfortable in the water.

Here's a little video of him

Tyler's swim progress

I had to work from home one day and had the chance to go to watch Tyler's swim team practice. It was amazing for me to watch him swim tirelessly lap after lap and actually listening to instructions(that's the amazing part!!)

As i watched him swim, i felt a little envious of parents who get to stay home and watch their kids grow up, and watching them learn. Because, really, those precious few years are gone in a flash. It really is a gift and i am now thankful for my year off in the Philippines where i got to spend a year with my kids instead of sending them off to daycare all day!!!

Anyways, i digress, here are some videos of him swimming and diving.

Tyler doing a free style

Tyler diving

Speed Stackers, ok, maybe low speed

Tyler got a set of Speed Stackers for one of his bonus prizes. They have been this for PE and yes, apparently it's a Sport!!

Here's a video of him doing it. It's hilarious!

Mango Mousse Cake

This cake was made specially for Tang. She has been asking for this cake ever since i've met her. And she also wanted to learn to make a cake. So, it was the perfect cake for her farewell. She came to help me make the cake over 2 nights and feels like she got the hang of baking now!!

Mango mousse cake

Cake was rather dry. May need some mango layering or liqueur of some sort. But it was a good cake for people who do not like sweet cakes!!

Farewell party for Tang

Our friend Tang is leaving to go back to New York and so we decided to do a little farewell for her. But unfortunately, Mother Nature decided that was the day to have a snow storm. But it turns out, it takes a little more than a snow storm to stop real Asian women from having their hot pot!! (i had to put REAL as our Sri Lankan counterpart wussed out)

Having Tang around has been fun and we all agree that we will miss her and hope that we will see her soon!

Ingredients for Hot Pot

Hot Pot on a snowy day - nothing beats that!!!

p.s. Tang made us some super awesome tom yum broth for our Hot Pot! All the more we have to try to get her to move back to Colorado some day!!!

p.s.s We did have a make up Hot Pot session for Hish just so she got to experience the Hot Pot experience!!!

Eating at Domo

And of course, an outing with Mommy is almost a definite guarantee that the food is going to be different. Domo is one of my favorite places as it's got super yummy food and also set it a very unique setting. It also has a beautiful Japanese garden and its own museum! How can you beat that!! The tables are made of stones and the stools are of tree trunks. The kids were quite entertained by the whole restaurant.

It was quite a long wait for our turn to eat and i have to admit, i was about to pass out! But all that hunger, did wonders to the boys' appetite!! Maybe i should starve them more??

Checked out the Japanese garden while waiting for our turn

Look at their faces!!

In front of the museum

It's a turtle!!!

Inside the museum

A scene in the museum

Let's get out of there, Cody!!!

When can we get our food, mommy??

I like this restaurant!!!

The nice setting in the restaurant