Bean'sTalk: Peace & Ta

"Peace give Bean Chocky I scream."

Bean was politely requesting for ice-cream. For breakfast. With chocolate sprinkles. 

That sounds like an extortion to you? No, it was not. It is just Bean trying to convey his wish.

Upon seeing a bowlful of this super delicious treat, he smiled sweetly. Almost a cheeky grin.

"Ta."

Thanks, he meant.

Then he dug right in, finished every single bit.

Oh, toddlerhood is such fun.

Snippets: Secret Message

"Mummy, I feel like crying!", followed by an early morning sob at breakfast table on Monday.

It was not Monday blues.

It was that touching?

To cheer Girl up again, and be ready for school run after breakfast, some emergency chocolate sprinkles came to the rescue.

Et voilà!

Problem solved! 

*teehee*

Stonor Mummy cautioned me for an emotional roller coaster in the tween years to come! She is right. I had better be ready when it comes.

Bean'sTalk: Oraight, Sow Wee, No!

Bean has yet to say "alright" eloquently but he has his Manglish version picked up from The Playschool.

It is quite fun to relive this phase (Girl had her star'H' phase) and I love conversing with him just to hear his cute voice.

Anecdotes:

Please put the toy cars back into its box.

Oraight.

Please wash your hands.

Oraight.

Please brush your teeth.

Oraight.

Please say "sorry". (After he has committed toddler crime of snatching objects of affection from others).

Oraight. Saw wee.

Please go to sleep.

No!

Bean deserves a bear hug and tickle in his tum just for being himself! 

Snippets: Bento Amateur

"Mummy, I never bother looking at school food menu anymore." 

She said that to seal the deal. I now have a new career that calls for assembling breakfast and lunch into kawaii bento after subuh. 

Unfortunately for her, she forgot her lunch bag (transition from classroom-gym-lunch-vocal studio-home) but she ate most of it on her way home. She was lucky to enjoy the delicious, improved school lunch earlier too!

Here are some of the lessons I have learnt:

1. Whatever items I can prepare the night before, I would. 

This saves me precious time in the morning to have fruits and vegetables all ready in containers and ready to be placed into the lunch bag.

2. If I can load the dishwasher before sending Girl to school, I would. 

Coming home to a clean and empty sink with washed dishes ready to be put away feels productive, and sets me in a good mood for the rest of the day.

3. If I can make a larger portion of her breakfast and lunch so The Other Half and I can have it for our lunch, I would.

Saves effort and time (expenses too!).

4. If I can find and purchase some perfectly matching food containers, I would.

They pack so neatly and do not move much when being carried, resulting in tidy food that is pretty to eat. Presentation is key. 

5. If I can get away with a cold meal, I would.

It is much easier to pack a cold sandwich with fruits and vegetables into a lunch bag with ice-pack than mixing it with a thermos of hot food. Food safety issues is a high priority.

Well, it is akin to preparing sahur meals, I started to console myself. After the trial run last week, I seek for sincerity within my heart and find that it is what motivates me.

Bon appetit, my love. May every bite deliver you His Baraqah. Amin!

P/S: The Other Half recalls all the bento boxes I used to pack for him during our dating days. Egg mayo sandwiches wrapped with hidden love notes and sometimes tied up with big red bow as if it were Valentine's or Christmas. Sweet memories indeed.

Snippets: Bento Trial Week Finalé

"I feel full in my tummy, Mummy!"

So glad she did not feel any hunger during schooling hours. Her diet is now better/more balanced and the best part is her mood has improved too. 

The amount of food she consumes after school during car ride home is reducing, a good indicator!

Today, I managed to snoop on her during her breakfast, and seeing how proud she was of carrying her lunch bag, cutlery case and water bottle just made my heart swell inside. She washed her hands, sat down and tucked right in. Her discretion to decide which is for breakfast and which is lunch to be eaten later is perfect. No notes, no reminders required although I will throw in a love note here and there for surprise sake.

Syukur alhamdulillah.

I guess I am going to purchase a few more food containers and cooler bags since this is for real. A new career, for me. Almost.

Stonor Mummy and I were just saying we had not imagined in our wildest dreams when we were growing up to be here at the brink of 40, bento-ing for our little ones. At 6 am!!

Life does have a trick or two up its sleeve *wink*

Snippets: Bento Novice

Day 2 is not too bad since the kitchen efficiency at 6 am had more or less been figured out.

Now let's wait for her verdict for seaweed egg rolls, shell pasta, steamed vegetables and fruits.

"Mummy! I love it, except the seaweed egg rolls."

Verdict: Maintain the fruits and vegetables, pasta is a winner. Ditch the seaweed egg rolls.

Wish me luck for Day 3. I am almost giving up from the fatigue!

Snippets: Bento Virgin

"Mummy! I ate all my breakfast and lunch from my bento box! It was so delicious!"

3 containers were polished clean and she did not share her food this time. Good job!

I should be so grateful. But. But. But.

May I sigh? 

I do not like creating the kawaii ones at 6am! It would be so nice if I have someone else to delegate this arduous task to. Wishful thinking, I know.

At 6 am, my creative self is still asleep!!

There were 2 teddy bear-shaped cheese sandwiches at the back, and even they were still lying down fast asleep.

There was another container with cute carrots, baby corn and broccoli but I was running late, gulped my coffee down just as Bean was waking up crying and looking for me. Then a quick feed and I rushed out the door to send Girl to The Big School. The Other Half sent Bean to his Playschool. That explains the absence of photograph of the second container.

The third container stored a dozen almond nuts. Also not photographed. 

Wish me bento luck for Day 2.

*yawn*

Can you believe I have to jot all these down so that I can start the rotating bento menu?

*pengsan*