Ceramic + Painting = FUN

What to kill the summer boredom??? Go out and do something new you have never done. My sons never gone out to do the ceramic painting. Actually, the idea of going to Ceramic was coming from my friend, Nikki who went out with her nieces a couple of weeks ago. So, I thought it was a perfect way to use our afternoon time.

The boys took their time to look at what they like to paint their FIRST pottery ceramic. Dylan chose a dachshund dog. It is because he has three Webkidz puppies on the top of his bedroom's computer. He broke his puppy just before I paid for his first ceramic puppy. He was SO UPSET and CRIED! Fortunately, the cash register had a soft heart by dismissing the charge on me and let him to get another one before he started painting his puppy.

Ryan chose a "Hot-Wheels" car. That was an excellent choice because he loves CARS! Not only loving cars, he likes to play with other things in his room. But to paint the first car was an awesome choice.

While I was watching the boys painting their first ceramic, I was pretty amazed how well they picked the colors, and painted on their item. For example, Ryan painted black for the wheels. Dylan picked blue eyes because he has BLUE eyes. Are the kids' mind amazing?

As for me, I chose a heart vase. It suits for all year around-- loving everyone: my friends and family as well. It would be interesting how my art skill turns out when the boys and I come out to pick our items up next Monday. Yet, it was worth to do something fun by trying out something new instead of mopping around watching T.V. all day.

Highlights of the Week

There were few highlights we have had this ZANY week especially Dylan and Ryan. They brought us a lot of headaches, yet made us smile for a life time.

The first highlight was when we received a package. Ryan was SO curious what was in the box. The first thing he took out was plastic air bubbles. He enjoyed jumping ups and downs because Ryan loved the sounds of the pops. Soon, Dylan joined the club. Good grief, my husband and I are deaf. Thus, we did not get any headache on this part of the highlights of this week.

As soon Dylan got tired of popping the air bubbles, he went out to the garage to play with his Hot Wheels and Cars. The boys kept their toys in the "playroom" garage. Know what I discovered in the garage? Dylan created all of his Hot Wheels and Cars in color categories. Frankly, he had always been that way since he was toddler. At the same time, he influenced Ryan to do the same habits. Oh boy, I currently am dealing my two sons who are becoming PERFECTIONISTS!

The third highlight was Ryan found several ways to keep himself busy. One was that he discovered his new hobby by taking all of the couch pillows out of the couch, piled it up and laid on the top of the pillows. His favorite comment, " Look what I made a big mountain. I will climb it up. " He especially liked giving me a hard time while I was either trying to vacuum under the couch or putting the pillows back where it belonged. Ryan would not give it up until he was about to go to bed. He just giggled at me when I got frustrated. He is expert on turning my frustration down then put my smiling face on, just like his dad.

Last, this one happened nearly every day of this week. Both Dylan and Ryan found their new adventures: running through the sprinkles and jumping in the mud. When Ryan saw the sprinkles went on in our backyard, Ryan yelled at Dylan, "The sprinkles are on. Let's put our bathing suits on." If I had stopped them, they would say, "Oh come on, we need the fun!" Who could argue with them? The worst part was watching them filling the mud all over their body. But the FUN part was hosing the COLD water on them. However, I disliked washing their dirty bathing suits or mopping the kitchen floor at everytime they dripped the dirts nearby our backyard screen door.

Even though, they had drove me NUTS all this week, but my memories with lots of smiling faces last me a life time. I would not want to trade anything.

Sleeping Position

Just discovered Dylan sleeping on his bedroom floor before I hit the sack. Would you be able to have a full of sleep if you slept on a floor? Not me.

Ice Cream

Have you had a slightest idea about the History of an Ice Cream? Don't let this watering you until you finish reading this post. It started out around May 13, 1872, the Puget Sound Ice Company, headed by Capt. Marshall Blinn, imported ice from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and began selling it in Seattle. Would that be interesting if Puget Sound Ice Company still standing?

Since we are not in Seattle, the boys and I instead headed out for 31 Baskin-Robbins Flavor Ice Cream nearby our home. Robbins opened his first ice cream store in Glendale, Calif., in December 1945, following his discharge from the Army. Have you ever thought about how did the store's name came up? Actually, I learned from reading the information the name came from the founder's last name (Irvine Robbins) and his late brother in law's last name. Today, Baskin-Robbins is part of Dunkin' Brands Inc. and has more than 5,800 franchises worldwide.

Recently, the founder had died in his sleep about two months ago. In honor of his ice cream invention, the boys got their afternoon special treat from me. You bet, they were delighted when I announced that I would take them out for an ice cream. It was a PERFECT timing for me to take them out because of today's special: it only cost me a dollar per scoops and fifty cent for the topping. I only paid four dollars.

Dylan had the same taste as his dad. He picked out two scoops of Mint Chocolate Chips with rainbow sprinkles. He was satisfied. Ryan had a total opposite of choice of an ice cream flavor. He loved a pure CHOCOLATE FUDGE ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. Again, the choice of an ice cream was coming from his dad's taste. I'm not into Chocolate at all. I would rather to have Home-made Vanilla Bean, Praline Cream or Reese's. But this time I was not in the mood of having an ice cream. Next time will do!

If you were here with me, I would pay you for a special ice cream treat. What would it be your choice of an ice cream? Have I convince you enough to go out for an ice cream?

Kids' Bedroom Inspiration

When we first moved to a brand new house nearly five years ago, everything was all bland white walls without curtains. Getting our kids' bedroom done was the first thing we had in our mind. We did not paint right away because we knew the kids' change their minds when it comes to the bedroom theme.

Instead of painting the wall for the first five years, we created bed setting to make sure that they are sticking the to the characters they like. Dylan immediately wanted, "Nemo." That was when he was nearly three years old. Ryan had the Winnie the Pooh Bed from Dylan's toddler bedspread. Fortunately, they were able to sleep through the night with the bland white wall and blinds.

As the kids got older, they were interested getting into the bedroom theme. We started out painting Ryan's room as a trail and errors. The ceiling was painted baby blue as a sky with white clouds. The more color they see in Ryan's room, they got excited even Dylan. He knew his room was next.

While we were painting Ryan's room, we encouraged them to help us painting the green hills for Thomas and His Friends Bedroom Theme. Ryan was so excited to sleep on his bed with glowing stars, ceiling fans, desk and seeing all of the Thomas and His Friends on the wall. Now, he wanted to change to a different bedroom theme: Hot Wheels, Speed Race or Wall-E. In fact, he couldn't make his own mind up. If he kept changing his mind, we will wait until he makes up his mind, then we easily would be able to put the new borders over the train tracks. It would not make any difference.

After we finished painting Ryan's room, we started doing in Dylan's room. We created Cars Bedroom Theme. It was not an easy task because his mural borders were created in different lengths on the wall. Also painting part of the red was difficult to cover the white wall.

Dylan had everything like Ryan's (desk, ceiling fans, and computer and glowing stars. ) The only thing Dylan had asked us NOT to put the white clouds in his room. Do you know why? It was because he did not want to copy Ryan's. So far, he has not talked about changing to a different bedroom theme. We would not be surprised if he asks me in a couple of months from now.

As of right now, they started to close their bedroom door when they wanted to read books, playing with the computer or doing homework. I learned from reading a research that it is very normal for kids to do this kind of stuff (closing their bedroom door) at this age. It was a good thing they did not have the locks. What's next???

Besides shutting their bedroom door, do you have any childhood bedroom memories? If so, please share it with me.

Update Photo

Aren't they darling?

BBQ Salmon for Kids

If you have read my recent post about encouraging my kids eating Omega-3 Vitamins, I still wanted them to get more Omega-3 at least twice a week. This time, David and I gambled ourselves by encouraging our kids to get into eating the BBQ Salmons with Herbs.

Naturally, the boys had a negative reaction when they saw four small pieces of BBQ Salmon on their dish for dinner. We told them that it really does the brain good. It was not easy for Dylan to accept the fact because he knew we sometimes find our way around to get him into something. Thus, it did not convince him until he saw his younger brother rambled everything in this mouth: BBQ Salmon

Ryan as usual was the opposite. He acted like he was starved but he loved the Salmon! Actually, he was the kind of a person who nearly would try anything new.

Eventually, Dylan shut his eyes and put one small piece of Salmon with lemon in his mouth. He announced, "It is the most delicious Salmon I ever eaten!" Then, we told him about the Brotherly Bear from Disney movie who loves to catch Salmon and eat it. His eyes grew bigger and said he wanted to go camping nearby the river, so he can catch more Salmon like the grizzly bear.

I would not mind to eat the BBQ Salmon as long there are no grossing looks on a fish. Personally, I REFUSED to eat any fish that has dead eyes, gills, fins or skins left on a dish. That even counts on looking at the fish whenever go out to fish market. You would not want to be around with me; otherwise, I seriously would puke. David was the ones who is more braver to eat the fish even straight from the river before cooking the fish.

Not only being stubborned, I would even eat the left -over BBQ Salmon. Out from the refrigerator, I would put it on the Ritz Cracker. Truthfully, it is really DELICIOUS If you are a fish lover, then you ought to try it.

Our destination has paid it off by encouraging our sons eating the BBQ Salmon. Let's hope they will be Seafood lovers just like us.