Chi chat before Sleep

Belakangan ini cukup sering Aku dan Calvin suka gantian temenin Josh tidur saat malam.

One day Josh bilang, Mau tidur sama papa mama.

Kenapa Josh mau tidur sama papa mama?

Josh "Iya, biar bobo lihat papa mama!"

Mama: "Josh kalo tidur memang matanya tutup atau buka?"

Josh: Kalo tidur tutup mata."

Mama: "Kalo sudah tidur gimana lihat papa mama? Kan tutup mata." (Biasa mama selalu bertanya kembali.)

Josh terdiam, tapi tetap bilang: "Iya biar lihat papa mama."

^^ hehehe.

Percakapan singkat yang membuat Hatiku tersentuh, boleh mendengar ungkapan kasih dari seorang anak.

Potato Brownies

On the mood to make a snack for Josh.

As I just want a simple process with available ingredient, then I search for the Steamed Potato Brownies recipe.

It was a trial, and honestly I didn't expect lot, but the texture turn out really soft.

I took the original recipe here but I adjust it for example I skip the emulsifier and baking powder, reduce the sugar (as I want to eat with Ice cream) and suddenly think to divide it into two flavor.

Here my recipe:

A.

7 egg white

100gram sugar

B.

4 egg yolk

80gram margarin

100gram potato

80gram all purpose flour

25gram choco powder* 

around 10ml milk

*erhmm this kinda too much as I divide the mixture, so the choco turn out bitter, shall reduce it to 10gram.

Instead of using the baking powder, I prefer to maximized the white egg function. Batter in the different bowl.

For the Ingredient B, divide it into two and then put the choco powder and milk. 

Then mixed with white egg.

Grease the pan, and I steamed the first flavor for around 8 minutes and then put the choco mixture and steamed it again for around 15minutes or till it's done.

Since We ate with Coffee Ice cream and petit orange, it's balance the flavor (sweet and fresh, and the bitter flies).

P.S. There a lot of recipe out there, some using the coconut milk. Might try it next time.

Taman Eden 100 - 15 minutes drive from Prapat Danau Toba

Visiting Prapat Danau Toba (Toba lake) is a must for Calvin.
Took around 45minutes - 1hour from Pematang Siantar.
A short driving time compare to Jakarta, but what mattet most will Calvin brave enough to drive there with a manual car. Erhmm the road near Toba lake was no joke, the twist and turn.

We headed there on Wednesday, start from 11am and arrived at 12am.
The next story in Danau Toba will be covered here.

Because of the road, Calvin like hesistant when I aksed him to visit Taman Eden 100. He afraid that the road might worse than before.
While We have declined our planned to Samosir and come on that's only 15minutes drive from Prapat, what a short distance, and we never know when we will back there, therefore I keep begging him to visit there.
I understand it and I search and googling about the place and found out the road there much better, no heavy turn or twist :p.

Yeay,he being convinced by my word, hehehe.

Taking a lunch and wrap the noddle we headed to Taman Eden 100.
Opened your eyes along the road is a must!!!!
Why? Don't left the beautiful scenery behind.

There was a place where you can see the mountain, the lake, the green paddy field, with a beautiful sky. I think to stop for taking a picture  but seem it's hard to cross the road then I planned to done it later. Sigh, no picture cause it was rain when we back from Taman Eden.

Honestly I really enjoy our trip while on the road, like I wash my eyes with all this beautiful green scenery, a tall tree along the road as you in jungle. May be I'm sick of seeing building across the road in Jakarta, now I could laid back and rest for a while. A refreshing moment.

After 15minutes drive, we arrived.
Don't hesistant to asked people whether we still on track or has missed it.
The sign was on you left side but not too big and in black colour.

Ticket price is really affordable and actually you could gave more if you want.

Beside the Entrance House

We decide to go to the spring water fall, around 10minutes walk. Look at the Map.

On the first sign, instead turn to the right for waterfall, we turn to the left, and we got to see the berries farm. There was rabbit and chicken too :p.
We think to have a strawberry there, but rainy season made it not growing well.

Then we walk around, played with the rabbit. Oh there few male student there, and they start to took something from the tree and eat it.
Ehhhh, that look like berries, a black one. And we took then eat it, sour.
Then we saw they move to other places and took another berries, ehhhh that red one, a raspberry wuhuuu..
But to pick raspberry need an extra care of your self, alot of thorn on the branch and the moquito awww.... I think I scartch my hand n my leg many times. Then the farmer help us to pick it especially the one on the middle.
We paid for the raspberry 3 small boxes around 25.000IDR. But actually we got more as we ate from the tree directly.

Then we walked again and yipiii... a water fall wait for us.
The water is so cold and feeling so fresh.
We played around one hour, enjoying the water, taking a picture, and also eating the berries. To make it more delicious, we put it on the water and we got a cold berries :p.
Josh is really happy and my mom also. And of course Calvin didn't regreat we made it here.

 

raspberry

On the way there and back we can saw a lot of fruit tree. And I read somewhere that we can own the tree (our name was put on the tree) if we made a donation.

When we arrived at the parking lot, a small rain start to fall. Kiddo were hungry and eat the noddle.
Please visit with family, team or group or at least three persons.
Please keep the trash with you. There were many basket bin also.
Oh, if we want to visit the 7layers waterfall need a 2 hours walk or other places inside, then we need a guide, need to inform on the front desk.

way back

We ended our trip with rain ^^.
And starting that day every night, the city showered with rain. We might be lucky enough to have a bright day during our visit to Danau Toba - Taman Eden.

For reading more about Taman Eden, the owner, more inside, read here.
What I want to say our nation, Indonesia is very blessed with the natural beauty and resource. By reading the story of Taman Eden, we know it's not only a beautiful place but it's gave us a hope -there are people out there keep working hard for preserving our nature. What have we done?

P.S. All picture taken with mobile phone, as my pocket camera fall into water. Glad it's still work but it's still on the reparation for the auto focus function.

Merry Christmas 2013

Last year Christmas, my mother was on the middle of Chemotherapy treatment.

This year, we were glad that she could join us for attending a Christmas Service on Church.

Listening to the Word of God remind us about the True meaning of Christmas.

Honestly, Josh couldn't sit quietly for a long service, but we still took him for his learning process.

I hope that our little Josh learn each and everyday that Christmas is when Jesus the Savior has given unto us.

Merry Christmas 2013, Immanuel - God with Us.

Art and Craft - Christmas Tree Ornament 2013

For 2012, we have made a small Christmas Tree from paper, here. This year as I didn't have any Christmas ornament in home, I asked Josh, why don't we made one and hang it on our room door.

All we need is:

a green leaves

a dried tiny branch

unused box

Crayon

Double Tip

Unused paper (red and yellow colour)

- I always keep an Invitation paper so it's the right time to used it now ^^

Here the Christmas Ornament hanging on our Room Door.

When I asked Josh, who made that, he proudly said that he made it and mommy also.

December 2013 Year End Family Holiday

December 2013 has been another great month for us.
As my mom witnesses my sister marriage moment early this month also we have a short family holiday to my hometown Pematang Siantar, so Calvin could see with his own eyes where I grown up.

Actually I never know when I will be back to my hometown again. And there was two things that made me decide to asked Calvin took a leave for 10 days i.e. my cousin married a week after my sister and I want to visit my other cousin who was ill for months.

That why, I'm so late on updating this blog ^^.
Will share the story about our holiday, stay tune.

Water Coloring

Yesterday when I want to cook for dinner, Josh aksed me to do the water coloring.
At first I just gave him a paper and he start brush the paint everywhere.

Then within a few minute he just start for searching a new thing to do.
I came with idea... oh how about I drew something with coloring pencil and Josh shall put the same color within the line.

And here the result.
He keep coming to me with a paper and asking me to drew for him so he can coloring it. I guess he get fun with this simple activity.

Straw Painting

It's been a long long time I haven't done any art and craft activity with Josh.

Since he attend the playgroup, I kinda lazy to do such thing as I know he got such activity in school also.

Most of our time spent with reading, playing and cooking.

Sometime ago when I surf other blog, I found out that straw painting might be interesting and easy to be done.

So here we are, do the straw painting.

Hmmm it's bit hard for Josh to blow from the paint through the straw. I guess that because the diameter of the straw is quite big. I must choosenthe tiny one hmmm like tho one that we used to drink mineral cup water

Instead of blowing, we stamp the straw, moving the straw freely on the paper.

Here the result.

Fable Costume - School 9 Nov 2013

This was a small little project that I talking about. I have prepare a costume for Josh.

Josh's school was having an Open day event. We followed two competition i.e. Fable character fashion show and story telling parent with child.

I remember in my childhood, my mom also let me follow the event in school.

Last year my mom brought a Tiger hat, so I plan to make a Tiger costume. That because I really have no idea that I can rent it with reasonable price while buying a costume is costly. Here am I, challenging my self to make a costume. I have imagine and draw in my mind. My sista help me buy the cloth.

But my mom seem so worried. After I draw the pattern and cut the cloth, my mom bring it to her friend for side stich. Yeah, definetly reduce my burden. I think to hand stiched it which took a lot of time. Ermmmm I wish I could used stich machine now.

So here the result :)

On the day when Josh saw his friend wearing the costume, he want to wear it too. Glad that I try to make one for him. When he saw his friend go on stage, He want to followed it and he jump and gave a tiger sound.

While for the story telling, Josh feel shy and he hug me tightly. But at least he saw his mom try to be brave telling the story in front of judges.

We left before the event finished cause we need to rush to other places. We didn't get any trophy but that not the main point here. At least we try out once to build his confidence to stand in crowd and deliver your performance or story.

Book is expensive. Who say?

Along this week, there was book stand inside the playgroup building.

I wanna brought all purpose adhesive for my lil project, then I spot on two books that I want to have.

When I paid, guess what, the total of two books cheaper than the glue :p.
Cost of the book - 3dollar
Cost of the adhesive - 4dollar.

Of course not all the book that cheap, they sold in discount, and sometime it's also a good book.

So if you have tight budget and still wanna buy a book, don't worry, there will a chance if we keep looking.

P.s. As there is no proper public library for children book, we can used the school library also (for the one who has the facility) or if you can arrange a story telling with book while playdate yihaaaa.

Family Day Out - Monas

Unplanned holiday. Wanna bring Josh to get the fresh air on the beach, but sista request for  visiting Monas as she haven't been there (Omo).

As it's less cost and near to in law house, we change direction to Monas. 

Don't know it is because holiday, a lot of seller display their stuff inside the Monas area and hang the cloth on fences. Of course.there still a seller stand which is look far better. Compare to the last visit, I guess the seller sold much variety items.

So here some of the picture how we enjoy Monas.

P.S. from Monas we having a chinese dimsum, then search for the furniture, and  end the day with starting the lil project.

Wherever the place, as long as we are together, it's enough.

Potato Dougnat

Last week after school Josh choose doughnat choco as his snack and he ate it all and didn't want to share with me.

Yup, Mama suddenly triggered to make a dougnat also.
Sometime before I heard about potato dougnat which soft in texture. I browse the recipe and tried to make it.

Here my first attempt.
The dougnat was not sweat so it's kinda balance if you top with chocholate or white sugar.
Eventough my mom like it and Josh eat alot but I'm still not satisfied with the recipe. Actually I mixed from two recipe (Indonesia web and food network), so I might need to try it again next time hehehe.

Next Door Story

Yesterday, when I walked out from the school, I heard a story about a children talk with unseen children.
Hehehehe, quite spooky huh!.

Before this, I watch a drama, and one of the stories was about the parent who abandon the kids and then the kiddo found an unseen new friend. At the end, the parent still didn't admit the mistake and a good businessman build an orphanage house for the kids.

Come to earlier story, I heard that the child told the parent that she won't be lonely anymore if her brother didn't want to play with her. She has a new friend now. But she came only at noon time, and not everyday, and she won't play with me when Mama around.

Honestly I don't know how to react when I heard that story.
All this time, believe it or not, I heard couple of times that our small children really sensitive and somehow they could see something unseen.

It's still brother my mind when I walked home.
At the end, I take the positive reminder to my self from that stories, that our time with the kids is not as long as we thought, it's surely pass, even I craved for me time, but invest in "our time" create an intimacy and build a great bonding is much more important.

Lunch Box - Simply Sushi Roll

When Josh's playgroup time finished longer, we need to prepare the Lunch Box.
The lunch time is only 15 minutes given.

Try to prepare full meal for Josh, one of the best option is Sushi Roll.
As Josh love to eat rice very much, I just bet he will like it.
And Bingooo.... He finished his lunch ^^.

Here my simply Sushi Roll menu for Josh.
- Japanese Rice with Rice Vinegar
- Nori (Seaweed)
- Japanese Cucumber
- Carrot
- Salmon (Cook, Add with Mayo, Mashed)
- Fried Egg

Then Roll it :p.

Here Josh enjoy his sushi for dinner.

Kebun Raya Bogor

We have another holiday last week. 

As we just want have short distance holiday, we visit Bogor on 14th November. 

During my whole life living in Jakarta, I never visit Bogor Botanical Park, erhmmm while I visit singapore botanical park twice. Shame on me *sigh* 

Me, Daddy, my Mom and lil Sista (who work near bogor) leave early morning. 

We arrived at 7am, and guess what, even the entrance gate haven't open yet. 

We trap in a traffic jam front of traditional market. 

We do asked with the angkot driver (local transport driver). They said, we just need to park outside and went inside. 

What?

Is there no parking lot? Couldn't be right?. 

Good thing, we just drive around and found out that we could entrance through one gate near the front gate. Hmm and the official staff just arrived. 

We could actually took the car inside. 

Price: 15.000 for domestic. 

30.000 for car 

If you know and interesting with the tropical plant, this definitely the right place. But for us -commoner may be all seem just green ^^. Anyway, we enjoyed our half day there ^^/.

If you want to have a picnic, don't forget to bring food and water, a mat, and of course applied mosquito repellent.

P.S. Don't forget to buy the Asinan Bogor and Roti Unyil ^^.

Bintaro Play Parq

Last week Josh have a mid term holiday. Together with eye screening schedule, we decided to bring Josh to Play Parq Bintaro for the rest of the day since Daddy taking one day leave.

Ticket entrance fee: IDR 60.000 for weekdays (only paid for Josh).
Since we came on Wednesday, we didn't felt the crowd, so totally enjoy without worrying that Josh might get squeezed by older children :p.

Spending 3 hours there, exit right before the closing time and we were happy to see Josh enjoy his day ^^/.

Pose before sleep

I stayed at my Mom's house with Josh. Before sleep, me and my sista pose together with Josh.

My sista will get married soon, while Josh getting bigger and I'm getting older, 

definitely will treasure this simple moment between us.

Family time - Ice cream

While We enjoyed "Gentong" ice cream, we try our new device. Seem I will fall in love with it ^^.