Joyeux NOEL

NOEL, dinner is ready!

Dough is ready...

Mama says to roll it really flat, I need some muscles here....

Spray on some home-made, nut -free pesto .....

hmmm, tomato slices make it a great Christmas color here....

Cheese, bacon and fresh basil finish up the toppings.... into the oven they go....

"NOEL, DINNER IS READY!!!!"

lets keep track

I caught Noel's "conversation" with her yaya (the plastic bath duckie) tonight....

Noel to yaya: " Hey, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Yaya : "-------"

Noel to yaya again: "Hmmm, do you know what I want to do when I grow up?"

Yaya: "--------(still silence!)"

Noel to yaya, AGAIN : " I want to be a trumpet player!"

She went on, picked up another toy, pretended it to be a trumpet and played a big concert for yaya and her friends.

Okay, so it starts at this age, hmmm, let's keep track and see what she really becomes when she grows up.  As for me, I am lucky enough that my childhood wish did come through - An artist.

By the way, we made cookies  yesterday - Apple oatmeal cookies, they even have a "home" - the center piece from auntie Maggie's wedding.

"mama, I made something for you...."

"Mama, come here, I made something for you....."

When I came to the living room, here they are, on the table, Noel has prepared us a .....

"Mama, these are sandwiches, they are delicious, one for you and one for me!"

Ever since we found out Noel's peanut allergy, we say good bye to eating out (which is extremely difficult for me, I hate cooking....)  But able to eat a much healthier diet is a blessing, and it really is funny to see how Noel is "copying" me in the kitchen, well, baby, I hope you grow up to be a better cook that I am.  And by the way, auntie Carmen, what do you think of this?  LOL!

Nice walk around campus before dinner.....

cookie time!

I got home last night and Noel's drawing pad was on the kitchen counter AGAIN!  Well, that is good.   I know Jenni (well, if you have been reading the blogs, you know it's our dear babysitter AGAIN.)  left it there every time Noel makes a good drawing.  This way, little girl does not erase it and mama gets to see it in person.  How thoughtful!

Okay, this is the drawing of Noel and Jenni making cookies together.

Yeah, at least few times a month, when I get home, the house is permeated with the aroma of freshly baked cookies.  Jenni and Noel make the best cookies!  I was amazed at the details of this drawing - the cookies on the cookie sheet, the small dots by the cookies are chocolate chips that Noel gets to enjoy before the cookies are ready.  Noel even tells you that she is standing on the little stool so she can reach the kitchen counter; and Jenni has the long legs.... (yeah, I bet she will never draw that about her mama!)

One thing I still could not figure out - why is Noel's hair stands up like that???

Little helper

The bad thing about peanut allergy, is that Noel can never try any pastry out there in the bakeries; at the same time, the good thing about it, is that we are spending lots time at home making "healthier" version of what I normally get when eating out.

So I am determined that my little girl will not miss the yummy pastries out there, we are making a semi-home made version.  Noel is a little helper - the little chocolate chips ended up more in her stomach than in the pastries.

We stuffed those triangles with ham and chess, they will be our lunch tomorrow!

And those mini chocolate pastries - Noel's favorite!

And why do we have so much time playing around in the kitchen?.....

cooking up a feast!

Tonight, my eyes were glued to this episode of "Bizarre Food" on the Travel channel.  I barely remember Noel came to me and asked : " what does mama want to eat?"  I gave her a quick answer : " steak!"

Auntie Junny (my sister in Taiwan) LOVES Noel, even with the distance, she is determined to spoil the little girl.  A package arrived at the door last week, with all the goodies from her, a big box of "monkey chocolate" , hello kitty hair clips..etc  The most impressive gift is a hello kitty cooking set.  The set is so neat even my colleagues are crazy about them.  The food pieces have Velcro in the middle so Noel can use the toy knife (came with the set) and cut the food open.  Guess what, for the fish, you can fillet it, HOW COOL IS THAT!

The set also came with pots and the cutest toy stove.  Noel has been cooking up a storm for everyone that comes to visit. 

Okay, go back to the story tonight, few minutes later, it's commercial break, I looked down by my feet......

Once upon a time....

                 

Once upon a time..... as soon as the princess feels better, mom puts her to work at once....