Working days

Need to go to works these few days. This morning, when Jeff, grandma and me left home for work, Linus missed us so much, he said to me 'how about you play with me?' I did want to stay because he was far too cute! However, to have a prosperous Christmas and new year, I gave to capture the chances to work....

Will spend all time with him and Lucas after this project!

Love you boys!!!!!

BABIES!!!!!! (Episode 4)

Did I tell you the hamster mommy had her second pregnancy? She had given birth last Saturday morning.


We could see seven reddish baby hamsters in the cage, all are extremely tiny.


Frankly, not sure if all of them can survive.  Wish them all the best!


If all of them survive, wish me all the best!!

Christmas is all around

This is my first time making gingerbread cookies.


I have made around two dozens.  Many had been eaten up right after coming out from the oven by the three boys.  Others were 'decorated' by Lucas and Linus, and then the toppings (decorating gel/ icing and sprinkles) were licked up by the boys immediately, leaving the messy cookies on a plate.


These are six of my creations.  Since I am not a very experienced cook, I did not make the icing and decoration from the scratch, I bought the ready-to-use products from a supermarket.

I had made Christmas cookies last year but they were not gingerbread.  In this year, I was wondering why I didn't think about making this festive snack with ginger, then I searched for recipes on website, from www.allrecipes.com to some local blog, then I found one from a blogger called Kiki: http://kikitam16.mysinablog.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=386108


I had modified the recipe a bit since I didn't have some ingredients.  For example, I use grated ginger to replace ground ginger.


My kids and Jeff loved the cookies a lot.  They had wolfed all down within two days.  I should bake another 2 dozens for the approaching Christmas!

BABIES!!!!!!!!! (Episode 3)

Here is the news:

1. Only one out for the four hamster babies can survive after 14 days.  Three passed away because of malnutrition (The mom could not provide enough milk for all babies, and this female hamster is just too young to be a mother, she lost interest to feed those weaker babies at certain point of time).

2. I am not sure if this is a good news or a bad news, the hamster mother is pregnant again.  The due day will be around 1-2 weeks time. She had mated with the dad again just right after the delivery, before we separated them.......

Learning:

1. The fittest survive.  This is part of the mother nature, no matter how much food and supplement I refresh for the mother everyday.

2. Formula milk powder saves a lot of people.

3. The meaning of 'vicious cycle', I mean the ovulation and conception and pregnancy and delivery and so on ...

Thanks for everyone who gave me suggestions and advice of how to take care this family.  

Mother Pizza and baby girl Coca Cola

Cannibalism is quite common among pet hamsters after birth. However, based on the information I got from websites, not all hamster moms and dads would bite their kids' heads off, it would only happen if:

1. The pet owner touched the babies and changed the their scent, the parents would think they are alienated and kill them.

2. The hamster mom is too young, she may be too nervous to take care of the babies.  It is ridiculous, hamsters just cannibalize the babies because they are too nervous.

3. The hamster babies are too weak (again, it happens quite often if the mom is too young and not mature totally).

Lucas names the hamster baby Coca Cola, because it is brown colour.  Hi kid, you have just won a fierce competition!

A lovely day

After four hardworking days, I love to have a non working day on Friday.


Anticipating the family dinner tonight!


Life is so good!!!!!