OVO-Delic...

A side of Saturn in our kitchen?
Mad Scientists Dalee & Zozie experimented with colors and eggs this afternoon.  Single colors were combined into a primordial soup of chroma.  You can get some pretty funky results with this fun activity!

Back to "Old School" egg coloring for Easter.
No plastic shells, no candy.  Just a coloring kit and a dozen eggs.  It's such a versatile medium, the egg never stops to amaze me...or Zozie.  We've done several fun OVO Presentations, and are always ready to discover more.  Dalee not only created the beautiful eggs, he also created the beautiful photos below...

Chinese + Egg Hunts?
Growing up, it always grossed out my Chinese immigrant parents when I would insist on coloring real eggs and hiding them for a hunt in the back yard.
You may ask...What's wrong with that?
Well, it just didn't make any sense to them that you would boil perfectly good eggs, dunk them in really artificial coloring, throw them into the dirt, then pick them up again, just to peel and eat them.  All the while, the eggs were not refrigerated and could be out all day.  It just wasn't appetizing to them.

But, C'mon...
all this coming from people who enjoy "Century Egg" or Pídàn (皮蛋).  
Also known as perserved egg, hundred-year egg, thousand-year egg, and millennium egg.
Ok, just by the name, you get that the eggs are probably left out for a REALLY LONG TIME.  This is a Chinese delicacy made by preserving duck, chicken, or quail eggs in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, lime, and rice hulls for several weeks to months.  Result?  A dark green grey yolk smelling of sulphur and ammonia, while the egg white becomes a dark translucent brown jelly....yum...wait...yum???

As for us, at the end of the day, it was great to see Zozie so excited just to peel and eat an egg that he colored.  We skipped the "tossing it in the dirt part".  Guess the Chinese thing did rub off on me alittle.  And I guess I do also enjoy the flavors of the Bizillion-Year-Egg, jelly yolk and all.  Either way, eating the egg WAS the prize, for me and Zozie.  Now that's a sweet reward inside a shell...with alittle extra protein.

 

artist at work.

my prize!

Oh, Oh, Oh...

It's Halloween again.
We opted for the faster Marker Jack-O-Lantern face this year!
Zozie liked that he could do multiple versions each day of the week...
Draw, put out on porch.  Next day, wipe clean (washable markers), draw another face, put out on porch.
Rains.  Oops.
Mama, my pumpkin face is melted!
It's ok, now we can draw AGAIN, right?

At school, there was the annual "Halloween Fashion Show Extravaganza".
And indeed it was.
Kids in fantastic costumes, having a dance party to the tunes of KATY PERRY's Fireworks.

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine.
Just own the night, like the 4th of July.
(but in October).
Oh, oh, oh...

Zozie wanted to be a Zoo elephant, and me to be his Zookeeper.  Not exactly sure what the difference is between a "Zoo elephant" vs. just an "elephant" for costuming purposes?  Pulling my safari shirt tight across my near 4month pooch belly, we made our debut that morning, bopping along.

In the evening, there's no getting away from the Trick-or-Treating this year.
We went along one block and collected the treats, then came home to do the best part of the evening...
The What will you pick? Game.

So what IS the What will you pick? Game, you ask?
The rules are simple.
Each person gets a tupperware bowl.
In our case, we had 3 people. (Zozie, Mama, Dalee).

We place the pile o' goodies in the middle.
Then we go around in a circle, asking "What will you pick? , taking turns to place one piece of treat in our bowl.  Keep going till the stash is gone.
We place the lid on our tupperware and each have our own bowl of treats.

Best part of the game for mama & dalee?
That Zozie just has 1/3 of all he collected.
(Shhhhh.....)

Red.White.Blue.

It's time for the FAIR!!!  

We got our annual flag-on-a-stick and wore our Red, White, and Blues.

It was a BEAUTIFUL Monday morning and we rode our bikes to our local city park for the celebration.  Circus Imagination was in town again, one of the highlights from last year.  This is a unique kids circus since the kids are actually the acts so no two shows are alike.  This "No TV - Yes Backyard" motto of CI is very Berkeley indeed...  Zozie was interested last year, but now at 3, is completely entranced.  He smiled his biggest smile to be picked as a wild animal in the show, but oh well, better luck next time.

After the circus, we watched a magic show performed by the "Magical Nathaniel", a local student who won first place at his HS talent contest a few years back.  Zozie was silent, and staring.  This was serious stuff.  Especially his rope tricks.  It was great to see locals get the chance to participate in these community events, and Z went home with a new passion for *MAGIC*.

A couple of mild carni-rides, an ice slushy, 2 plates of Organic Thai food (again, we are in Berkeley)...it was time for a nap break, then back on our bikes TO THE BERKELEY MARINA!  It felt so refreshing to whiz by the long lines of cars to get into the festivities.  The dragon boats & kettle corn were big hits and so was the "Bike Valet".  Yup.  Park your bike for you, for FREE.  Gosh I love hippies.  

The Best part of the 4th?  The Fireworks - @ 7pm sharp.  In our pajamas, the 3 of us on the couch,YouTube clip of Stadium of Fire at BYU.

Call us OLD, call us BABIES, but those were the best seats in the house for the hottest firework display in the country.  Whoohooo...David Archuleta!!  Z actually asked "why the fireworks is NOT stopping?" and that "maybe I need to pause it".  It was seriously so much action that a toddler couldn't handle it.

Lights out by 9pm.  

Best 4th EVER.

Happy Daddy!

Matching fish stamps.

Today is Father's Day!
Our in-house daddy loves nature so we decided on a sandy picnic at Lake Anza @ Tilden Park.
The water was crisp and refreshing...err, freezing is actually more like it.
But we had a blast nonetheless, it's always so beautiful to look at the clouds while gliding through the water on your back...ahhhhh.  The highlight for Zozie was watching a "big girl", around age 10, being buried in sand by her brother and sister.  "Why they do that mama?"  Just because Zo.  Just because.

We are grateful for all the daddies out there and up there.
And of course, to our own "Da-Lee"...

Burrrr....

Mama joins the freeze fest.

A special Daddy Day message:

Pr-OVO!

Off to Grandma Wallelah's (Loretta's) for Easter.

This is going to be special.

First flight alone with daddy.

First time doing ovo(s) in Provo.

First Girls-Get-Away Spa Weekend for mommy.

Everyone Wins.

Alrighty....let's see...they told me something about some eggs, a field, and running....

 

 

Dance party @ Grandma's!!

Grandma Wallelah & Auntie Hannah!

Who needs bunnies when an elephant is around eh?

 

This is a warning...Step AWAY from the eggs.

A week earlier....a "Candy-Less" Egg Hunt with our Mandarin Mommy Group!
Stickers and toys galore! 

Who needs sugar eh?
Mommy doesn't.

4 U

It's all made up.

So don't buy it.

Hug your child.  Kiss your spouse.  Love your self.

3 Gems.

Everyday.

Dralion...

新年快樂! 恭喜發財!

It is the year 4,709 on the lunar calendar. 
Our Mandarin Playgroup was started over 2 years ago.
Hapa families with Hapa Kids.
Funny how they all sort of look like cousins.
Maybe soon, there might be a Hapa box for them to check on forms.
It's a unique social circle for the kids to share our special brand of multicultural Asian heritage.

This year, the Hare brought the New Year on Feb 4th.  Our 2nd Annual Turtle Potluck is finally catching up to the hopping year...a week later.

The lunar celebration is technically 2 weeks long.
But eating Dumplings is a month-long CHOW-FEST.  

So we are stuffing our faces, proudly.

 Nothing says CHINESE like the word:  Auspicious.aus.pi.cious  [aw-spish-uhs]   Why Red?  It's Auspicious.

Why Firecrackers?  It's Auspicious.

Why Dragons?  It's Auspicious.

Why is that Auspicious?  Doesn't matter...IT JUST IS.

Anything that promises success, prosperity, opportunity, and favored by fortune, it's a Big-Chinese-Thumbs-UP!  Not sure why eating a particular combination of typical Chinese food would do it.... 
but less asking, more eating!
  
OUR FEAST
Rice (米飯; mǐfàn) - Fertility, luck, wealth, link between Heaven (Gods) and Earth (Men) Noodles (麵條; miàntiáo) Uncut - Long life Garden Tofu (什锦蔬菜; shíjǐn shūcài) - Family harmony *To include:  Muer Black fungus(木耳; mù ěr) - Longevity  Three Winter Plate *To Include:  1. Snowpeas (荷蘭豆; hélándòu) - Unity  2. Bamboo shoots (竹笋尖; zhú sǔn jiān) - New start  3.  Shitake (冬菇; dōnggū) - longevity, sizing opportunities Fish (whole) - (魚/餘 yú) - Surplus of prosperity Fish ball (魚蛋; yúdàn) - Reunion (Round) Prawn (大蝦; dàxiā) - Liveliness Chicken (whole) (雞肉; jīròu) - Completeness & joy Dumplings (jiǎozi, 餃子/角子) - Wealth *To Include: Chinese garlic chives (韭菜, jiǔcài) - everlasting, eternity, long life Turnip Cake (蘿蔔糕; luóbo gāo) - Good omen Sweet Sticking Cake (年糕; nián'gāo) 年高 /年年高升) - Advance to higher positions & prosperity. Red Bean Soup (紅豆湯) - Sweet union  Gluten Balls (湯圓 ,tāngyuán) Sweet dumplings - togetherness, reunion Custard Egg(蛋, dàn) - fertility  Fruit Platter: Tangerine (橘; jú) - luck, Grapes (葡萄, pútaó) - fertility, Pineapple (凤梨; fènglí) - wealth, Peach (桃; táo) - immortality, Pomelo (柚子; yòuzi) - abundance, Apples (苹果; píngguǒ) - wisdom, peace.  Boy, I'm stuffed just typing this.

Chinese New Year Focus :

1)  FOOD:  Loaded with symbolism

2)  Family gatherings & paying respect to ancestors.

3)  Up keeping traditions based on the moon & sun's cycles.

To kick off the feast, kids enjoyed hand rolling their own rice balls for dessert.  

Then, the party continued with some Bunny hats I made for all the little hares at Circletime!  After some songs and New Year cheers, it was time for a special visitor...

 Our very own.... Dralion.
(Nope, not the Cirque Show...something EVEN better.)

It's mostly a Lion Dance, but Zo insists that he is a DRAGON.  Plus it's usually 2 people to a Lion, but just go with us.

Here we are with OUR version:
1)  A Red Robe (used our Xmas robe)
2)  A Paper Mask (ma & pa made)
3)  A Small Basket
4)  A Red Packet (with $1 Inside)
5)  A Piece of Green (Fake toy lettuce)
6)  A "Mandarin Orange"
(Small stuffed basketball)

reused some old birthday wrapping paper and extra card stock.

A brief story on our dance...
A Hungry Dragon approaches.
We offer a basket of treats to bring in the New Year.
Once he spots the treats, he is happy, VERY happy...and starts to do some criss-cross fancy footwork to show his pleasure.

Then he circles the basket and gobbles up the Orange first (Oranges = Wealth & Luck...or Auspicious.)  Then he sees the "Choy" and is again excited...this time, he may do some rolls and tumbles.
Gulp, he nabs the greens, "chews" it, then spits it back out!
This is a symbolic blessing that there will be an abundance of everything in the coming year.  The red money packet is the Dragons prize.
All this with loud drumming, chimes, and firecrackers to scare off evil spirits.

Our Firecrackers?  Giant bubble wrap!!.
A few good twists and some hardy stomps...can't tell the difference!

  
The Dralion is HERE...with Firecrackers (Video Clip)



An Encore Performance at his Berkeley Mini-Preschool:
You'll see the "Fancy Footwork" at 1:00 mark on this second clip!

Both routines were self choreographed by Zo, I just drummed accordingly.
Based VERY loosely on the 2 performances he saw in real-life on stage at some Chinese celebrations!

My Prize.  

Already an Auspicious year.

The Cheater.

兔年來了!  The year of the Rabbit is coming...

Nothing says Chinese New Year like DUMPLINGS!
This year, New Year is on 2/4.  But for the Chinese, it's pretty much an excuse to take an entire month to gorge themselves on unbelievably tasty food while wearing RED and some variation on GOLD to be cheerful. 
None of this "One Day Holiday" stuff like in the West.  
It ends when WE say it ends... OK?

Here at HapaLAB, Zo is having one of his New Year lunches...
4 Veggie Dumpling (Gyozas) with Stir-fried Asparagus & Button Mushrooms.
Dipping Sauce:  Black vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, dark sesame oil.
*A tiny dash of dark brown sugar rounds out the tartness.

Actually, Chinese New Years or not, Gyozas are one of Zozie's favorite meals.
Why?  Because he can use his "Toto & Zeze."

It's a set of "Training Chopsticks", or Cheaters, that he got as a gift.
Toto = The Dog & Zeze = The Cat.
Cute chubby animal decals at the top of the utensil.
I'm assuming they are plump from all the food they ate, with their chopsticks.

It offers circular chopstick connectors and 3 silicon finger loops to assist in the grip motion.  Charmingly called Edison Chopsticks, it's a Korean company based in Australia.  Typical of any Asian infant/toddler products, there are usually product claims of its magical powers to increase a child's intelligence by using it, stated in grammatically incorrect English, of course.   

"IQ UP!"  "EQ UP!"
"Especially for childeren users"  
"Improving Intelligence"
Thus the brand name EDISON.  (Ah yes.  Lightbulb on!)
You can find yourself a set between $6-$10 on Amazon or Online Stores.  

Not sure why there are no English editors in Asian product marketing?  But I have to say, we always get the best chuckles from some of these VERY creative use of English...or Chinglish.  But the Chinese are not the only ones to be speaking Engrish these days...

Anyways, Zozo sure loves his Toto & Zeze at nearly every non-liquid meal.
Although towards the end of the video, he is asking for "my doe-doe" (or Edamame:  Soy Bean Pods), a preferred FINGER food.  Hummm...

Boy... I sure hope his IQ & EQ will up from using these.

If anything can do it, cheater chopsticks can.

However, do I get a refund if they no UP?

HAPA Holidays!

Just when there's really NO MORE ROOM in our tiny apartment....

How about a family piano for the holidays?
Sure...we'll just squeeze it in behind the couch.
Just like a sofa table...now instead of a boring old walkway to the bedrooms, we have a "Music Nook!"
Zo loves it so far, so we're good.


A song from us..to you...Hapa Holidays!

Our Haus.

Nothing says December like ICING.

Hapa Lab is in Holiday Mode...we are making some serious glue for our serious Gingerbread Haus.

Cooking is one of the best ways for the kiddos to enjoy the holiday season and put those practical life skills to fun use!   All that mixing, spreading, dipping, layering....an edible craft project is always a hit for a toddler.

Gathering all the ingredients...

preparing the tenants.

 can always use MORE gumdrops!

 I see room for one more......squeeeeeeeeeze.




 Our Before...

and After...