"Super Bircher" muesli before the school bus

I didn't sleep well last night. Don't worry, this is not another whining post. You probably had enough with the last one. Perhaps I owe you an apology for all that complaining. Sorry, I know I shouldn't giving the fact I have home help and many people don't (that's me in Canberra soon!), but I felt much better when I finished writing the post.

This time there is no one to blame except the difficult circumstances of having my mother in the hospital. I couldn't close my eyes in peace until I got a text from my sister with a good outcome from the surgery. Praise the Lord and my friends, the nuns of the daycare center in Paranaque. 

I am looking forward to this Christmas in Spain. Time is precious, I agree, but being present with the people you love is even more, at least in my case. I will count the number of days I am going to spend with my mother and siblings: 13. Better than nothing! By the time I recover from the jet-lag, I come back to Manila with Aurelia and baby Juanan. 

Anyway, today is about what happens when Aurelia takes the bus in the mornings. We don't take it for granted, for us it is a big event. The traffic is really bad in Manila, so Nick and I decided it was better if Aurelia had a ride in the bus to school, just in the mornings. Otherwise, Nick would be late at the embassy. Just to let you know, if  you live in Manila, logistic with the car is essential. If you don't plan ahead your day and calculate the time to do your errands, there is a big chance your car will be stuck in traffic, you will get late everywhere and on and on…

It is nearly 7am when the green school shuttle arrives at our white metal gate. Our house is the last one in the route and for this reason, we feel less guilty sending her in the bus. Aurelia is lucky, she doesn't have to spend another 30 minutes waiting in her seat for other kids to be collected…she could sleep, I guess, but I know my daughter and she won't. Like her mother, once she is up, doesn't matter how tired she is, she WON'T go back to bed until 8pm. 

The excitement of Gabriel is to be filmed. I cannot tell you in words but you can have the picture in your mind: he jumps and shouts loudly "the busssssss!!!!!!!!"; says hi to the bus driver and to the bus-mother; says 15 times "bye Auugreria"; and waves until his little hand is exhausted.

When the bus turns left at the end of our street and disappears from his view, Gab looks at Nick and says: "bye dada!". When Nick leaves, Gab grabs his red Racing Car bag and looks at me and says: me!

The day has started in our family. 

Healthy breakfast...

...before the school bus

• 250ml vanilla yoghurt 
• 1/2 cup apple juice, not from concentrated
• 200g rolled oats
• 1 tbsp wheat germ
• 1 tbsp of black chia
• 1/2 grated apple, a few blueberries or chopped bananas
• some chopped nuts to garnish

1. Whisk together the yoghurt and apple juice in a bowl until combined and stir in the oats. Leave it in the fridge overnight.
2. Next morning, add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl (if it is too dried, add a bit of milk to loose it).

Notes: 

• Muesli is a Swish breakfast dish like a cross between porridge and regular muesli in which oats are softened, no cooked. It was devised by the health food advocate Dr. Bircher-Benner.
• It is a fresh alternative to the hot porridge, especially for those who live in the Tropics!
• Nuts are rich in protein, unsaturated fats (the good ones), calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and vitamin E and B.
• Wheat germ is the heart of the wheat kernel and so is rich in all of the good things that wheat needs to grow. It's inexpensive and very nutritional (iron, phosphorus, vitamin E and B). Keep it in the fridge.
• Blueberries are rich in some minerals and vitamins A, C, E and B and folate. It is true fresh blueberries are expensive and are seasonal, but you can always buy them frozen (but remember they will have liquid)
• Oats or avena are great for children not only for the nutritional level, but also for keeping the sugar level under control (so your child won't be hungry for a couple of hours).