Sunday night we had pasta for dinner. I used San Remo Spinach Fettuccine pasta.The truth is there was nothing in the fridge except for a packet of milk fish back fillet and I was uninspired to do something about it.

So I decided to make pasta.

After I cooked the spinach fettuccine pasta according to instructions, I made the “sauce”.

I melted 2 or 3 tbsp unsalted butter along with half a small block of grated cheese. With this, I put a little dried basil. Then I put in a can of tuna (solid in water) and cooked the fish meat for a bit. Then I put all-purpose cream and let it “boil” or have bubbles. Two teaspoons of mushroom sauce was also placed in the mixture.

After the pasta has been added to the sauce, I put in some loaf bread slices in the toaster and heated these a it. Spread a bit of the same unsalted butter on one side.

Finally, we had this:

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The kids and I went Trick or Treating at TriNoma last Thursday. I met two of my mommy blogger friends Cookie and Chats. Wenchie was also there but we weren’t able to meet. Our children did the rounds like a small army hunting down stores for candies.

It was fun and the kids had a wonderful time. My children and I took a lunch break to meet my husband and older daughter who earlier took a break from the hunt.

Here are some photos of the kiddies in their costumes:

Patchy in orange wig, VGood with a wand and Magnate in stroller, iMom’s children. Gabby in black costume as a spider and Adi in black costume as Medusa (egad! there are rubber snake toys on her head!), Cookie’s children. Tania in angel costume, Julian in a cowboy getup and Trixie in black shirt, my children. Photo taken at 10:19am.

It was like a mini-Amazing Race, getting to the stores faster than the other before the candies run out Some mothers were competitive too, because they themselves were holding the loot bags for their children, which I find unfair.

With the loot that they got, this made me think that we could have gotten some bags of candies from the supermarket which they would choose themselves for their utter enjoyment.

AND… (there is a but at the bottom of this page)

Doing that could have been erased some of the disappointments that they felt when some stores failed to give them a thing! Why did they sign up if they were not ready for the influx of children then?

More stores should have participated, a few candies wouldn’t hurt their budget if it would have people in their stores looking at what they have to offer. The risk of someone taking a thing or two is there, of course Speaking of which, there are two stores I would probably go back to when we find ourselves there next time. See what I mean?

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Parents expect a lot when they have their children go into therapy, whether it is occupational therapy or speech and/or language therapy and physical therapy.

Of course, they expect a lot because they pay a lot of money to be able to get these services for their children.

Here in the Philippines, parents/families of children receiving therapy services pay for these services, unlike those children in other countries who get these as part of their tax benefits.

Getting into these therapy services don’t mean instant relief and instant improvement of the developmental and behavioral problems that need to be addressed.

So what should parents expect during the first few weeks of therapy?

Below are a few observations I have made during the course of working with these therapists:

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She has been holding on to that thousand bucks for several months. Money was given by her godmothers when they had dinner one hot Saturday night last summer.

She wanted to give it to her mother then, to add to her tuition expenses. Her mom declined, and told her to keep it so she could buy what she needs.

A month ago, she bought a jacket, a hoodie which will be used to school because the classrooms can be very cold.

She insisted on giving to her mom what was left of her money, almost two thirds of the original amount. Again, she was told to keep it so she can get whatever else she needs for herself.

A few days ago, the mother went to her school to get the first trimester grades.

The grades are good, better than last year’s first trimester grade.

The mother was excited and can’t wait to go to tell the family waiting for her.

But the teacher dropped a bomb.

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A cup of warm lemon grass tea can do wonders. Julian had a bad attack of asthma last weekend and had cough and wheezes last Friday night till Saturday night. Sunday morning he was a bit better so we went to Tagaytay to bring something to friends living there.

Tita C gave Julian a cup of warm fresh lemon grass tea with honey after we had our lunch. Julian drank it slowly. After lunch he and Tania explored the different nooks and crannies of their home. Even if the weather was a bit cold, Julian was sweating profusely.

But what surprised us was he did not need the nebulizer.

In fact the machine has been untouched till now since the last time he used it, on our way to Tagaytay around 11am last Sunday.

Tania is running a fever now and I have given her half a cup to drink because it has been proven to reduce fever/body temperature. And now we wait for the fever to subside.

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UPDATE:

Tania’s fever was gone last night.

To those who want to know to make the fresh lemon grass tea, click this post I have written. Thank you.

Every Saturday, participants post photos based on a theme. The theme for this Saturday, September 6, 2008 is STRING(S).

Hmmm…this is a difficult theme for me but I just have two perfect photos for this theme.

Incidentally, I may not be able to visit many posts today because my husband and I are off to WordPress WordCamp Philippines 2008 with no less than Matt Mullenweg in town for the WordCamp

Violin for my eldest daughter’s violin lessons. She can also play the flute and play the piano.

Party decorations by my friend Kim for her 2 year old son, Kyle. Lots of strings used for the balloons in this room

Have fun photo hunting for strings and have a great weekend (with no strings attached)
photohunt