Dump truck babies

            Sal has a thing for all things construction related. Excavators, dump trucks, bulldozers, grading machines....you name it, he loves it. I was going through my photos the other day and showed him this picture from his newborn days. My sister brought over my brother in law's original Tonka truck so I could try and recreate a pinterest inspired "baby sleeping in a Tonka" picture. 

The original? Awesome. Mine? Eh..not a fail, but not as successful as I had hoped. 

There's a reason people hire professionals for newborn photos. Lesson learned.

                  

                                               [ Sal at a couple weeks old]

                 

                                           [ Sal at a couple years old]

After convincing Sal that it was actually a picture of baby Sal, and not Carla, he ran to his wannabe Tonka and pretended to sleep on it, "yike baby Sal". It was too cute not to snap a quick picture. These days ALL of my photos are blurry. The boy does not sit still. 

Who knows, maybe I'll pull his Tonka out at high school graduation and make him try to recreate it again. 

That wouldn't be embarrassing or anything.

Stay small, Sal. Stay small.

Hit me with your best shot

I've got to start off by saying that we are really proud of Sal and his eagerness to potty train. Granted, he's been working on it since last summer and we are still slapping diapers on when we leave the house, but really--he's how shall I say? House trained. Public toilets in China are high on ick factor and I've got no problem letting him finish out our time here in diapers to save myself and him from dry heaving in the public restrooms. 

That aside we've got issues. 

Specifically, aiming issues. 

He's a big boy. He stands like "da big boys do, right dad?"

Problem is, mama doesn't like cleaning up the walls and floor around the toilet every time he stands like the big boys. A stool helped temporarily. Then he decided to put one foot on the stool and one on the floor to pee--which then caused my bath towels to get shot. 

I tried Cheerios. I ended up with a bowl full in my toilet and a toddler telling me we need to buy more. 

I shared my woes with my family and this is what my sister came up with. She used her silhouette cameo to cut out vinyl adhesive excavators and cement mixers to adhere to my toilet bowls. 

He was pumped to pee on the cement mixer and our overspray rate has decreased considerably. 

I'm guessing bathtub decals would suffice as well if you don't have a crafty sister like mine. Just clean and dry your bowl, then adhere. I've cleaned over this one with no issues so far. 

Fingers crossed this works! 

Sink or float?

The dog days of summer are loooong.

Wuxi sunrise happens at 5:14am. That's early.

You know who else rises at 5:14am?

This girl.

I'm not complaining because she does sleep through most nights from 7:30pm to sunrise, but I'm looking forward to the later sunrises and cooler weather that autumn will bring. If I could fast forward through China's summers, I would-- and I wouldn't even feel bad about it. 

Not one bit. 

In an attempt to keep Sal from parking himself in front of the tv for Paw Patrol/Team Umizoomi/ Dora /Diego/ Mighty Machines, I've been channeling my inner preschool teacher and trying some simple activities with him. I know its hot out, but he can't watch tv all day to pass the summer away. 

Because seriously, if allowed, he would totally watch tv 24/7. I'm cool with tv time--but watch too much tv and your brain will rot, right?

Our latest activity has been "sink or float". 

I filled a clear rice container with water and gathered some items we had around the house. My collections included a coin, Duplo block, matchbox car, balsa wood peg, house key, golf ball, ping pong ball, Pom Pom, wooden block, rock & sponge.

We sat next to the tub, and I demonstrated the difference between an item floating on top, or sinking below.  I suggested he choose an item and test it to see whether it sinks to the bottom, under the water, or floats on top, above the water. He guessed that everything would sink, but that's okay! He's 2.5, and the exposure to this kind of experimenting is enough. He played with dropping things in from various heights and even though all of his predictions were that things would sink, he did shout out with excitement when some items actually floated. 

After a while of experimenting together, I retreated to the air conditioned living room, and he sat on our patio plunking items in and taking them out over and over. I overheard his chatter while playing, and he was still using the words "oh you sinked! The rock sinked" or "it's foating. The sfunge (sponge) is foating". 

I honestly think that kids learn best through play. I especially like activities that can be teacher/parent led, but also allow for children to experiment on their own without help. I feel like this activity is a wonderful way to introduce science and related vocabulary with toddlers. I also really just love the way Sal says, "mama, I have an idea. Let's do a speramin (experiment)".

I mean, how can I resist this kid?

Evaporated milk ice cream

A few weeks back, I made coconut milk ice cream for our Friday night dessert. I don't have an ice cream machine, and it was labor intensive. Lots of timers being set, scraping sides and re chilling until set. And well....it was really icy and more of a sorbet texture than ice cream. Plus, I could still taste the coconut, and I am NOT a coconut fan.

Meh.

My friend Barb also has a recipe for non-icecream machine ice cream, but she was out of town and I didn't want to hassle her for her recipe but I knew it required whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk. I pulled up pinterest and searched for SCM ice cream and found this recipe at Cookies & Cups. I checked my pantry and had both ingredients. Heavy whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk. 

Or so I thought.

I whipped my cream in the chilled bowl and opened the can of sweetened condensed milk. Something didn't look right. It must be old. I checked the expiry date. 7/2015. Still good. Hmmm. It's runnier than I remember SCM being. 

And then I re-read my label. 

Fuuuuuuuuhhhhhhh-k.

Evaporated Milk.

Boo! 

I'm not exactly a good recipe follower anyways. I usually try shortcuts and substitutes that fail more times than not, so today was no different. 

I scrambled and searched google for the difference between evaporated and sweetened condensed. Both are made by heating milk until liquid evaporates, however, SCM has sugar added during the process. One CAN make their own SCM if they so desire by heating the evaporated milk and adding 3/4c sugar to every 5oz of evaporated milk. Once dissolved, turn off heat and let cool. Voila! SCM. 

But, Ehhh- that's too much work. 

I dumped the evaporated milk into my stiff peaked whipping cream, tossed in 1/4c sugar and crossed my fingers that it would still work. Once mixed, I divided into 1/2 cup portions using baby food containers and Popsicle moulds. NZ requested berry icecream, so I puréed blueberries and threw in some whole berries as well. Other flavors made: peanut butter hot chocolate & vanilla with sprinkles. I just added the mixings and stirred them into the individual cups. 

I put the Popsicles and cups in the freezer for an hour and a half until lunchtime. After lunch (and the kids were in bed), I treated myself to the vanilla sprinkles cup....

Guess what?

It totally worked.

 I'm actually glad I didn't have SCM on hand, because this one is the perfect marriage of "not too sweet" and creamy. 

Here's the recipe:

Evaporated Milk Ice Cream

Makes 6 1/2cup servings

1 cup heavy whipping cream (very cold-I store mine at the rear of my refrigerator, top shelf)

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Mixings

Medium size stainless bowl

Handheld or stand mixer

Spatula

1. Chill stainless bowl for 30-45 minutes in freezer

2. Pour 1c whipping cream in chilled bowl. Beat on high with mixer until peaks form. Approx 5 min.

3. Add 1/2c evaporated milk & fold in 1/4c sugar with spatula. 

It will look very liquidy. Don't fret.

4. Divide into small single serve containers. 

5. Mix in your mixings (alternatively, you could mix them in with step 3 if making all the same flavor).

6. Freeze for 1 hour minimum. 

7. Serve and enjoy!

Lost wallets and peeing in pools

I woke up to one of the clearest days I have seen in a while. The air seemed cooler and there was a nice breeze flowing. 

At 5:30 a.m.

The rest of the day was much like the last week has been. Too hot to do much of anything. The kids and I tried to walk a half mile to B&Q to buy superglue, but we only made it as far as the convenience store at the entrance to our compound. Sal was insistent that "the wady have my [his] wallet" at the convenience store. He left his wallet and money on the dashboard of the store's train ride on Tuesday and it was gone within minutes of us remembering and going back for it. 

He went in and asked the clerk "you have my wallet?" today and she had no idea what he was saying so she just told him how cute he was in mandarin. 

From there, we tried to spend a few minutes in the shaded sandbox playing, but sand and sweat don't mix--nor does a hot baby stuck in the stroller while her brother plays. 

After ten minutes of being sand magnets, we returned to our apartment, cranked the a/c and filled the pool on the patio. 

Carla took her first dip in it today and christened it with pee within her first two minutes. 

Summertime is in full effect. 

And that folks, was our day.

#firstworldproblems

As of late, about 90% of conversations in our house begin with, "when we go home..." followed by "I want to/I'm going to/ let's...." fill in the blank.

Here's what we are looking forward to:

1. Dishwasher. 

Why? For the sole sake of washing and sanitizing nasty sippy cups. I've scoured and scrubbed with soap for two years, only to have to throw out half of our cups from residue I just can't clean out. The microwave sterilizing bags help, but they are no substitute for the sanitary cycle on a dishwasher. 

2. A four or five burner stovetop. 

Why? We've been surviving on two gas burners that are tough to balance pots on. We often have to cook in sections, or precook a portion of a meal before hand to free up a burner. 

3. New vehicles. His & Hers. 

Why? Do I really need to explain? We're full blooded Californians, we drive everywhere. We've both spent a good number of hours perusing craigslist and carmax to peek inside cars we have interest in. But oh em gee, are cars ever expensive? I don't think you can get anything decent for under $35k now. We are in for a shock, I'm sure.

4. Separate washer and dryer.

Why? Right now, it takes a full day between an hour washing, a three hour drying cycle and then hang drying moist "dry" clothes in 100% humidity. Things just don't dry here during the summer. Nick and Sal are having to put up with crunchy t shirts and skivvies since our dryer doesn't seem to get the job done. I look forward to washing and drying in less than two hours, as well as being able to wash a load while the previous one is drying.

 

5. Family time.

Why? We miss our families (and friends). We look forward to the retirement of (grand)parents and spending time with them, showing our kids what life with freedom is really like. Running through backyards, watching the boats come in, eating sandy PB&J sandwiches, etc. we don't have anything here that we really look forward to, other than eating. Which leads me to my next can't-wait-for....

6. Our treadmill.

Why? The weather in Wuxi is either too hot, too cold or too unsafe to exercise in. We've got friends who brave it out, but they aren't thin skinned Californians like us. We'll both log some miles on it each day--NZ before work, and me during nap times. I miss exercising regularly. 

7. Reading labels on food.

Why? It's going to be nice to know what we are feeding ourselves and our kids. The imported jars/packages we buy here have a super adhesive sticker ALWAYS covering the nutritional facts of packages that we would otherwise be able to read. 

8. Buying quality clothing, toys and appliances.

Why? I told NZ that I feel like we have been shopping at the dollar store for the last two years. Nothing lasts, everything breaks, and although cheap--nothing is good quality. I'd like a toaster that doesn't burn toast, a Teflon pan that doesn't lose its coating with the first batch of eggs we cook and a freaking cement mixer truck that won't lose its cab every time my son picks it up. 

9. Internet freedom and a DVR.

Why? We pay for the fastest speed internet available in China, yet we have never had more than 80% efficiency from it, despite switching wireless routers and having a tech guy out twice. NZ rarely gets through a Netflix show without losing connection midway, not to reconnect until the following night. It can take a couple of days to watch a show. DVR's don't exist here unless you fashion your own. I'm going to love having full access to blogger, facebook, youtube and gmail. 

That being said, these deserve the hashtag #firstworldproblems. 

We have most definitely formed a new and deeper appreciation for everything we have access to in the states. We have adapted to our minimal lifestyle here, and it has put into perspective what we really loved about the states. 

It's not the name brands, or what's popular...it's the simple things that made day to day life easier for us. We both miss being able to wake up and hop on the treadmill while watching DVR'd shows, then showering in water that smells clean, followed by perfectly toasted toast and driving to work in our own cars. Although life was technically more complicated when we lived in the USA, so many of those things also provided freedom in a way we never knew we would miss it. 

Perhaps in a year from now, when we are back and settled, I'll feel differently and reminisce about how we lived on so little while overseas. 

The grass is always greener, right?

Time will only tell.

We've got mail!

My sister spoils us. 

This months care package included a whole lot of stoke. 

Sal made out like a bandit with a Tonka set and police badge from uncle Juls, and custom excavator cookies from aunt Stephanie. 

I came in second with all of this elastic for headbands. I've got enough to make a few sizes and will probably make some gifts for friends. 

Carla got some leggings and she and Nick both got some reading material. A few books for her, and a Surfer magazine for him. You know--just to make him miss the ocean more, lol. 

But really, we've loved and appreciated all of the care packages we've been sent over the last few years. It's not cheap, and it's not easy to ship to China. So, the fact that people have gone out of their way to send a slice of home has made us feel remembered while we are away.