A letter to my son

Dear son,

It's your birthday and this is the year you are of age to be behind the wheels. All grown up now, sniff.

It's like a report card day for me as well, as I check on how you are growing up as a man and if I have done a good job in being a mom. i think you are not the finest young man I try to nurture, but I am still beaming with pride with you. Going into the teens, I know many who give their moms a big heartache and headache, with their rebellious nature and long black face. I'm glad you didn't give me such a hard time.

You have always made me proudest, being the most obedient with the least complaints, doing the things I tell you to without much fuss. I know you don't like cooking and doing housework, well, how can I blame you as I myself don't like it either. I gathered that different people have different interests and if you don't like to cook gourmet food, then be it. You will be cooking something for yourself to avoid from starving to death, I'm sure. When you are there. When you are on your own. You will work on how best to live your life.

I know you hardly say it, but I can tell, you care so much about your dad, your brother and sister, although yeah, sometimes they are really be quite a pain in the a**. I'm counting my stars you are my child, really.

Your dad and I, could do better, I know. There are times when we don't agree with each other. I have to admit, I often feel I'm such a failure in this parenting job. I had visualized my children growing up to be kind, popular, good mannerism, gentlemanly, responsible, filial, capable of good thinking skills and know how, great cooks, great conversationist... I think it's too much to ask for, huh? You might not be all that but counting how good you are in some and perhaps, other areas, I guess it's a score! I remind myself now and then that I should not, ought not, impose my beliefs and aspirations on you, but I do hope, my only hope that you have good values, that's all I wish.

I will never tire myself from saying this, and I think I haven't been saying this enough, I love you, Papa loves you. VERY!

Your mom.
30.6.2017

Didi is 10

Didi's 10th birthday was here and celebrated with a small little affair.. That's the first decade of his life gone.  He's at this stage where he would loooooovvvvveeeee to pick on meimei for every single little thing she does or does not do. Argh!! Help me oh Lord!

He's also at this age where his rebellious temper is more evident and sometimes I must admit, I am very afraid. I am trying to enforce more positive vibes unto him and using less of the punishments and scoldings, but he JUST drives me up the wall!

It's so damn challenging with this kid. I mean, korkor and meimei have their own weaknesses too, but at least they are very obedient. With didi, I felt like he had no choice but to listen to me at this stage, but when that day comes, he doesn't need to depend on me anymore, he wouldn't care! OMG! Why am I so negative now? Oh, God, please .... HELP ME!

One day, I told my hubs, he really ought to look at his own fatherly role. Sometimes, I just feel he's an exact replica of him, father and son, both so stubborn, pessimistic, insensitive. However, as I ponder deeper, this is like, it's exactly where he's picking up all these from! I reminded hubs again and again and again, to mind his language and to check how he treats him. As far as I know, all 3 have so different characters (though kor kor and meimei are more similar) and we shouldn't be treating them in the same manner, though the love is still equal among the 3 of them.

For all I know, didi might just be one of some rare conditions, which I hadn't been checking on, and I don't intend to check on as well. In any case, it's only putting a label on his forehead and then start treating him differently. Why don't we put aside this labeling step and start treating him differently right now? I always feel explaining in length and in detail to him every thing that he does wrong is working, though really really tiring and exhausting.

Anyway, he's really quite a child still. I hope this bickering stage would end as he ages, and still be in good terms with his only brother and sister he has in his life. That's all I hope for... for now.

Love him lots and Happy Birthday, my child.

How I celebrated my 41st

Being a weekday, furthermore it was exam week for the kids, we didn't have much of a grand celebration for my birthday this year.

BUT I had a very happy birthday indeed!

I have to be thankful to FB, many people made my day by dropping a word or two on my timeline.

One of my yoga workout buddy saw someone posted a very early birthday wish and arranged to have a birthday lunch with me a day before. In the end, there were only both of us, but I still had a good treat.

My birthday fell on a Wednesday, and meimei wished me happy birthday even before her eyes were opened when I woke her up for school. Don't that just make one's day?

In the afternoon, after bringing them home from school, I sneaked out to have a teatime tete-a-tete with a friend. Mom was here to take care of the kids. Life's made wonderful with moms and friends like these.

After teatime over, I stopped by to my favorite baker's to get a cake for myself. Sounds pathetic, but, well, it's ok to me. As long as I get to eat a piece of cake that I love.

At home again, after dinner, I quickly rushed them over to sing me a happy birthday song, blow out some candles and take a picture together. It was done in a rush because I need to be attending a meeting soon. The cake was very delicious though and I regretted not getting a bigger one coz my dad and mom were around. It was finished the next day. I couldn't even get a second helping.

I opened up my own birthday present I bought for myself on behalf of hubs and felt really happy with it! And he wasn't around either to spoil my mood! So, it was a VERY good day for me!! And it wasn't yet over. The next day, another yoga workout buddy insisted to give me a treat as well and I had a lunch treat again! Then, on Sunday, another 2 wonderful, gorgeous ladies went out for a dinner together with me, as a celebration for both me and one of the other two's birthdays. What a great birthday it had been! 

 

 Glimpse of my birthday gift

 The usual birthday do.

Excellent cake! Should I get one tomorrow? I think yes!

I'm 41! woohoo~

Turning 7 finally!

She had been counting down to this day since like forever!

Finally, it was here and I lavished on her a little party by the pool a few days before (with guests she chose herself), and her birthday wish on ANOTHER Barbie doll again with few cute clothing to change into.

Her papa surely thinks that it's a waste of money buying toys (7 yo still playing barbie doll meh?), especially these kind of toys. To me, how many more years she would like Barbie dolls leh? She yearns for it so much, so just pamper her la. After all, it's only once a year!

Come to think of it, she reminded me of myself. I love playing with paper dolls when I was small too. But those days, we don't have the luxury of these lovely awesome beauties. We could only draw and cut them out to play with it.

I told myself, later we would sew some clothes ourselves for her dolls. Later later....

11 years old

Ain't he handsome?

We got an electronic dictionary for him (again!) and by paying it with our credit card in Midvalley, I got their giveaway sweet tote bag for free. How good a deal is that. Both of us got something for our "sweat" 11 years ago.

(Oh, btw, that was on 30 June, so don't bother to wish him jor)

Didi's 8th birthday picture

Celebrating him turning 8th this year in a very small scale.

But it took half a year for his birthday gift to arrive - his bicycle, with 2 training wheels STILL!

Korkor wants a bike too for his coming 11th birthday, and I said, "look, didi waited for almost 6 months for his, so all you need to do now is to be patient and wait" heh!

The beginning of 4.

Today, the best thing that ever happened was the kids" bear hugs, followed by a call from a very dear friend in Penang (THANKS, SM!) and able to have lunch with a cutesy happy mommy.

Else, everything totally sucks!

Didn't imagine this is it, the starting of 40's.

Happy Birthday to myself *wipe tears away*

Celebrating my dad's 70th b'day

Acting upon my mom's suggestion brought up last year to celebrate my dad's turning 70, as we missed the boat for his 60th year, my brothers and I planned ahead for it months before this date.

The Labor's day weekend was a good time to hold the event, though short, but still better than just a normal weekend as all 3 of us staying at Spore and Thailand would be able to make it home together in 1 go.

All of us got home on that Friday and met up at Woolley's, and oh boy, there were a lot of food court stuffs I myself hadn't eaten for a long time. Seeham, jut-lor, ikan pari, yau-yu-ngong-choi, go figure what they are! Yum yum!

We all bunked in at our old home, sans me and my hub, coz there were really not enough space!

The next day, I went over and picked them up to attend church service. All except my hub, coz he's an AQ's member! Our tummies were growling by the time it was over and all I could think of was the curry mee. The famous shop of curry mee in Jln Hugh Low had sold out! Fortunately I was smartie pants enough to drive my passengers right in front of the shop to drop them off first. We quickly detoured to another one, frantically in search for curry, no matter what. Oh boy! I could have another bowl of that! With the cham-ping and my closest family around, what more can be appetizing than that.

After that brunch, my teenage nephew was hurrying me to scoot off for the next activity. Geez! It was so darn hard to find an activity to suit all of us. There are basically 4 sub-groups in this group of people here.

1. Young kids from age 6 to 8
2. Teenagers from 13 to 16
3. Adults from 40 to 45
4. Elderly from 67 to 70

Only korkor stood out like a sore thumb, as he is neither group 1 nor 2. Poor kiddo! The stuffs that interests the young ones are too lame for him and the teenagers find him too small. He's just neither here nor there.

In the end, we went for a session of bowling, instead of the Lost World, as I suggested. I guess only the adults (that's us!) are the most accommodating people. Did we have fun, you bet! But I think it would be better if all of us jam at my home in KL instead. The kids can still bowl from Wii, and we can just sit and chat and eat. Well, anyway...

We rest for awhile and get prepared for the dinner at 7. There were 4 big tables reserved and it was very crowded. Absolutely full house, with a wedding dinner at the same venue. The night went well, and best part was to see my parents really really happy. They were beaming with so much joy in their faces! And when my dad saw the iPad, my mom wanted to open it up! Lucky I managed to save it! Else, there goes 1.5k...

My nephew asked me why we get an iPad for his yehyeh. I told him because we all wanted that for ourselves, don't we?? He was dumbfounded, but jokes aside, I further explained to him that we should not discriminate the old folks and give an opportunity for them to explore and enjoy the beauty of the new technologies and the delight it can bring to them. I do hope from this, he and our kids would learn too that they shouldn't abandon us when we get old and involve us with even advance technology in the future. Selfish thoughts, isn't it? Yeah, admittedly so. *guilty*

But then again, if it's a win-win situation, I believe it's the best choice! Dad is too happy with his new toy and he is showing off the pictures we took during the weekend to anyone who's interested, or not, for that matter. He even wanted to sign up for computer courses now! haha! That would keep him very occupied. And hopefully my ears can take some rest with the rants from each of them when there's a battle ensued. Sigh! Did I story before how my dad would call me often to complain about mom, then my mom tell her side of story, yada yada yada... I don't like being referee, but I know they just wanted to let it out of their system and all would be good again, but .... can't they just call up my brothers for a change??

Well, ok, here's some pictures from that night...






Happy birthday, dad! We all love you.

Birthday party of an 11yo girl

Last night we attended my good friend's eldest daughter's 11th birthday at their home, which was a good timing as hub wasn't around for the weekend on a business trip to Sydney.

Their home is a spacious 3 storeys semidee which I had a part in designing once upon a time and is really good for any parties to be held there with the amount of vast space in and out of the house.

There were easily over 50 children last night, and a number of adults who are friends of my friend. They served spaghetti with finger food for the kids while the adults were served separately with a homecooked chinese meal with 8 dishes and a soup. I have to add, it's amazing! How her mommy did all that by herself with the help of her maid and her mother-in-law! Maybe the dad helped a bit as well, still, it's to me, LOTS of work there! The last time I did the big party for didi, we tapau-ed the food! *head hang in shame*

Not only I could see the amount of work preparing for the party, there was major work needed in running the whole show! Replenishing the food, recycling the utensils, filling back the drinks, clearing up and cleaning up... OMG! I can't see myself doing all those work for my kids! And I feel so guilty, should I be actually?

Two teenage girls were there to facilitate some games for the children and they didn't stop playing right until way over midnight! Not all stayed till the end, the crowd slowly became smaller as the night inched nearer to midnight and it was more manageable and fun.

My kids didn't have this privilege of having a party with all their friends over yet so far. As much as I wanted to do it for them, thinking of all the work involved already put me off. I can manage with a handful of guests, just like what we had done before. Maybe some day, I would just make it up to them by treating them a birthday bash with their own classmates when they turn 12, before the party of booze and ecstasy is what they want.


We went home at 12.15am, and that was really because meimei's battery really on very low level and needed recharged.

Didi's 8th birthday

I had almost forgot to jot down our birthday celebration for didi we had for this year. What a bummer.

He turned 8 just before we went back to hometown for CNY. On that day itself, he was a happy little boy, joyfully telling his teacher of his birthday and everyone in class sang a birthday song to him. He beamed in delight with sparkling eyes when he told me. So cute.

The day was rather busy with those tuition classes the kids have till 9+, as such we didn't get to eat out at a place of his choice. I bought a cake for him and we sang for him that night when papa came home.

The next day we were back in Ipoh and I promised him we'll get a bike as his bday gift. I still yet to deliver that promise. Not good, not good. I'll get that done for him by this week.

Last Sun night, when we were done with groceries in the evening, we would have gone somewhere simple to have our dinner when didi said he wanted to eat at Chillis. Papa said let's go, since we promised him we would take him somewhere of his choice. And THAT was the dinner hub told me to "treat" as Valentine's celebration as well!

Happy 8th birthday, my little honey.

10 years old.

Ahh.. it's that time of the year again..

Do you want to be reminded how my first labor went? *yawn*

If you do, go here and read *bigger yawn*

If you don't, and you can't give the right answer for the "test" later, then.. then.. then...

nothing will happen anyway..

It's his 10th birthday this year. A decade had gone by. The first 10-years. Yan-sang-yau-gei-dor-sap-nin?! Must toong-toong-fai-fai celebrate, yes or not?

NOT!

I lazy, don't want to hold big party. This time of the year, I offered him a better package deal, though he seemed to be all geared up for a big birthday bash like his brother did, especially after seeing all the birthday pressies his didi had.

I had a heart-to-heart talk with him, I said that he had his big celebrations earlier, while his didi didn't have any since his were always around CNY window, and celebrated in Ipoh with some boring relatives. (No, I didn't say that, the last part, that is)

I suggested to him, why not he ask a few of his top few good friends to have a blast in MegaKidz for a few hours or so, entrance fees all on me? His eyes twinkled and his face lit up. My plan worked.

As such, he was told to summon a few friends up and to give me the answer by Thurs the latest. Sat was the big day to pull this plan through. By that time, he still hadn't yet given me a concrete answer but only said his top 2 best friends couldn't make it. So, what to do? A mom's got to do what she had to do, though I had hoped he settled this simple task by himself.

Told him to ask another 4 friends for their mom's contact number and let me sms them. I said, it's now or never, if he had not be able to do that, then sorry, his 10th birthday would just be another day.

On Friday, he excitedly came home and passed me the list of numbers and I did exactly what I promised. I guess his heart was hoping very hard, keeping his fingers all crossed, and obviously very happy when the replies came back on the affirmative. I even offered one of them to pick her up from her home since her parents were all tied up for the afternoon.

There were 2 boys and 2 girls he had invited personally. He told me only one of the girl is his good friend, and the other is not. I asked him why he didn't invite others then. He said never mind la, both of them are good friends. Really, I was quite impressed when I heard that. Seldom see the soft part in him, and I think he's pretty considerate and kind in that one little tiny department of him.

They were all excited for that day, and we had brought along a little teeny weeny cake (papa's fault that it's so small!), a very huge contrast to the parties that were held the same time at the same area. But the kids still had a lot of fun and I had the chance to hold a small talk with 2 mothers of my son's friends while they played. Easy, no stress, no worries.

I am happy with this simple celebration. And it's the beginning of like-wise celebrations to come. To let them really enjoy themselves with their own friends, and to get to know their friends too.

But the coming actual birthday, I would still have a cake for him, just us. As always.

A birthday to the 40s

Early in the morning on the next day we got home from our trip, I was still blurry and lazy to do anything. Then while making breakfast, didi wanted to know what date it was for something he was doing (forgot what it was) and I told him to check the calendar himself, for my mind was really blank!

Then he ran back and asked me if it was the 9th. And it hit me! Not immediate, but maybe a few nano seconds later. It was my hub's birthday and I forgot about it totally! Even the night before when we were watching a movie way past 12. Jeez... what a wife I am!

So I quickly grabbed my phone and sms-ed him. Also asked if he wanted to eat out or in that night. No replies from him. Guess he was too busy after being away for 2 days from the office.

As lunch approached, I hadn't yet thought about what to cook, being lazy still, so I called him and asked if he liked us to join him for lunch. He said ok. I wanted to see his new workplace too for they have just shifted to another place.

So the whole office didn't know it was his birthday, it seemed, and 2 of them joined us for lunch, treat on him. Went to Papah Rich and stuffed ourselves full.

Came back home and started work on the big pile of laundry and cleaning up the house. It took all my effort.. puff! puff!

When he came home from work, we had dinner and went out to get a cake. He said "no heart" from me! I defended saying I wanted to, but it was raining! Fortunately, he's not very sentimental in stuffs like these.

So that was our little family celebration for his first turning 40s birthday. I should have recorded how we sang the bday song. All 4 of us were singing together but all different versions one. It sounded so messy but fun! He rolled his eyes too wondering what kind of song that was!

His mommy, as almost every year, wanted to be part of his birthday celebrations and came over to KL over the weekend for that. For her, it wasn't his birthday until the "eat dumpling" festival day, as she only refers to the chinese calendar.

It was a big feast for us, 6 adults and 3 kids for an 8 course meal for 10. The highlight was the abalones.

Yumz!

Cupcakes with pink, yellow and blue sai on top for him. Else he would be jeles why I went all the way out making these sai-looking cupcakes for another friend while he has nothing from me. I am getting in love playing with these icing, but need a lot of practise, certainly. Or I should just make a brownish colored icing to make it looked more like sai! Yes, that would be yummy!

Gum yao dar ii sui...

Aww... my friend goolypop sent me these larv-ley little cupcakes for me. Though some ants feasted on it before I did, but hey! it's a good time to share!

(p/s: thanks, you! I suppose you didn't mean that I shall send the same surprise to you end of this month, hoh?


We had a buffet dinner at some fancy hotel the night before, so that was so to speak, the celebration before the real day itself. Hub needed to rush off to the airport in the early morning, before we were awake and left the whole day to us at home to fend for ourselves.

Bought this cake before the dinner last night, but we were totally stuffed, hence we didn't touch the cake or sing the song. The kids were too tired, heck, I was dead tired myself, watching TV till early early morning the night before.

OK, stop counting the candles, I ter-put a couple more candles on it.

Well, not to worry, we still needed to eat something for breakfast and the cake would do. Always can rely on the faithful kids to sing me a birthday song, hai-gum-eee laa..




Tee hee! The vid is so cute, well, at least to me. I know this would be so memorable in later years.

We spent the day doing some home tuition, there are still 3 more days to go for the boys to show their knowledge and all they have learnt so far in school. The kids did not make so much fuss, it was a very quiet morning while they were at work, and well, me at "work" too, settling the daily housework and cooking lunch.

After lunch, I let the kids watched "Lion King" and soon, it was 5pm, good time to go for a dip since it had been too warm and humid the whole day. We came back up to have spaghetti for dinner, rested awhile and told them to go to bed at 8+. There's some free time left before me going to bed myself, so I am watching "A Christmas Carol" and blogging at the same time.

And that's, well, my birthday this year. Gum yao 29 swui ler..

Happy Butts-day to me (according to korkor!)

The party we had for celebrating his 7th bday.

Time was indeed not enough when preparing a party, even though it was planned in advance and even though we "tapau"ed most of the food to feed the guests.

I had to ensure the food and cake was ordered few days before, the ingredients and the things needed for the bbq is listed down and comprehensive enough, as I already learned the lesson that going up and down for those things would be so damn tiring. Fortunately, I really had brought almost everything needed down to the poolside.

Then there were the door gifts that was needed to tipu the budak-budak. And some simple games to entertain them as well. And then there were the chicken wings and drums to be marinated before the day itself...*whew* All these tasks are so daunting.

By Saturday, it was just some minor "touch-ups" like rushing over to Tesco after breakfast to get the last few things that I need, going over to CK's home to borrow (or lend ah?*personal joke here*) some tables, cleaning up the sotong for the bbq, making sandwiches and salad and finally moving the things down to the hall.

Lucky my mom was here to help out here and there, I feel so fortunate to have such a great mom to help me out without even prompting.

By the time everything much was settled, my gawd, it was 6.30pm already, unfortunately, it started to drizzle and the fire was just up. I had my 2 part time maids to help me manage the bbq pit while I went up to take a shower quickly. The first to arrive was Beatrice and her kids. Then came goolypop with her son, and Lai with his family.

We went downstairs and started eating, while the clown magician also arrived.


Tapau-ed food - fried rice, hokkien meehoon, sweet and sour pork, salty egg prawn and yummy drummy drumsticks. We also had satay, sausages, chicken drums and wings, prawns and sotong from the bbq pit. I made finger food like fishballs, salad and egg mayo sandwiches too. There were really quite a lot of food on the table, but as expected, I didn't eat much. Somehow, I felt uneasy to be enjoying food, worrying that my guests would feel bored or not entertained well enough.
Lots of pressies waiting to be opened. Didi was much excited about his "loot" and kept asking me when he can open up those packages.

I let the kids on with a simple little game of "Higglytown heroes", as I called it, having them to ask the aunties around for signatories on their profession listed in the paper. I think it charges up the kids for awhile, but kids being kids, they get warm up pretty soon and were very fast running around, enjoying themselves.

The clown magician started making balloons in different shapes for the kids and performed a magic show. I wasn't there to see the show, but judging from the look of it, it wasn't very impressive and the kids lost concentration after awhile. Jeezus.. there goes my $$$.... almost wasted.

Then again, he made some really cool balloons and can hold their attention for awhile, albeit not for long. Kids nowadays are so smart, they are not easily impressed but kept searching around looking for clues or loops to find out where the trick lies in. I think they were having more fun in that part rather than in the magic tricks.

Had the honor from the teachers of preschool and the parent of didi's classmate, who also sent her son to the same preschool as him.

Goolypop who helped me to snap the pictures for me. Poor chap, the only person who doesn't know anyone around, but mostly knew who's who though.

My schoolmates, who are one of the few around to be in contact and seeing each other pretty often.

After singing the birthday song for didi, I pulled my mom out and made the crowd sing a birthday song for her too since it's her birthday around here somewhere...


Gooly playing with his door gift. Hearsay he loves it a lot. Happy to hear that!

The clown magician was supposed to hang around for 1.5 hours, but I wonder if he felt guilty or what, he stayed on much longer and lingered around making more balloons for my guests.

Passed the door gifts and the crowd started to go home. Only a few left behind for a little while longer and we chatted way till midnight. I was so tired when everyone left. Don't have any energy left to clear the clutter in the kitchen.

Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable party for me, very much exciting for didi and the kids. I was having a fun time chatting with my friends, leaving the dirty work to the maids, and having my mom to organize the leftover food for me, without me worrying a single thing. Meanwhile, there was some other who just can't help pointing out what flaws there were and that I should do this and this and that and that.. which went on for the next day as well! Imagine that! Heiz..

Happy as a bee.

I had a pleasant weekend, so pleasant that I was telling myself "what a nice Monday today is" and more shocking that I held my hubby's hand and tell him I had a very happy weekend and almost saying "thanks for that, my darling"! That will shock him so much that I think he will piss in his pants. No la, don't do that to him, as he has only one miserable slacks to work and he's wearing it when I was saying that to him.

So, what was in the weekend that made me so happy, huh?

The weekend actually started on Friday for me, staying at home, professing tender loving care to my 3 brats. The fragrant aroma of char-siew really made all of us hungry at home, and I waited for the boss to come home to have dinner together. Ala.. he called at 7.30 to tell me his colleague is leaving and they were going to have yum-seng session woh... how upsetting.

So, anyway, he came home after midnight, I was showing him I wasn't the type of person he can bully, and he left me alone to sleep.

By next morning, all was forgotten, and let it be a good day. We went for breakfast, came home and had some rest while I get some ironing done. It felt good that everything was in order. I made some simple lunch and everybody off to bed. By 3pm, his boss called him and asked him if he wants to join him to go climb hill woh.. bugger, see him every Mon to Fri not enough, Sat also want to kidnap my boss away.

But my boss knows the house rules.. he conveniently reported to him during weekends, he has to listen to me! Else, big wok.

So, we did some hanky panky stuffs while the kids slept, and get everyone ready off for dinner outside. Initially, wanted to dine at SF Steakhouse to utilize some unused vouchers, but later, changed our mind. Settled for my favorite Chillis, and it was a very pleasant family time dinner. Hubby especially loved their "Kids eat free" and the bottomless drinks. Yeah, the bill came to RM80 but it stuffed us all full to the brim and the food was delicious, as always.

The next day, hubby had to attend a meeting in the morning and we stayed at home, me making some MLM stuff food supplement drink for breakfast and cooked lunch too. Made the boys do their homework and by the time the 2nd one lost his attention span, I made the eldest boy complete some "tuition" homework (tutor: me). Felt so good to have enlightened him in devising his own Mathematics formula using algebra... treat x as the price of the teddy bear you want to find out and thus, x-9.50=11.95, find the value of x! He must be confused like hell!

We awaited for his guests to arrive for his little party birthday celebration at 4.30 and they were punctual. Gee.. I think they must be pestering their parents to go go go..

It was such a windy day, little A insisted that we all go out and fly kite. Boy! Were they thrilled! This is the kind of city kids that we get. But poor daddy, while trying so hard to make the fly go high up in the sky, he accidentally twisted his ankle and gosh, it must be real painful. He is still limping like Will Smith in "I am legend" when he was walking for his dear life from the scavengers. Funny, why that would remind me of that scene looking at how he walks now.

There were 5 adults and 12 children for the little party and we took them all up to play some indoor games at first. All wet and outdoor plans were taken out from the itinerary as the clouds looked like it was going to pour anytime.

We had a game of passing the ball, all 12 children in a circle. You sure know the game, right? Whoever holds the ball when the music stops have to be penalized. I told the kids they can sing, or dance, or act or play the piano or just do whatever they want. The first boy,7, acted as a little monkey, so cute. The 2nd boy played the piano, yeah, he's good! The 3rd one was my little girl, one of the youngest there and she cried! haha.. that was really cute, she ran over to me and hid her face in my chest and cried like "I'm soooo innocent!!"

With children, a game can't last too long, and soon, I was thinking of introducing another game to them to keep them occupied. But the sky looked like it had cleared up and it was such a good weather to picnic out by the poolside and enjoy the outdoors.

Hence, we all gotong-royong took all the things and stuffs down to the pool gazebo and... the kids can't resist the pool! All were looking so longingly to jump inside, what with the only kid there seemingly to be so happy playing in the water, like saying "i'm having so much fun, you not coming in, what a waste". It broke my heart to disappoint these kids, so I went back up and took clothings and towels for them to change into and gosh! they disappeared into the pool in lightning speed. It was really fun. I had so much fun myself.

We then ate pizza and grilled chicken wings, and sausage and fishball and tidbits, with the flow of drinks and vitagen.. you can imagine.

Then we cleared the table, gathered round and lit up the big Ben 10 cake and sang Happy Birthday song to my son. A small little party like this is always much more pleasant and fun than a big gang of people with only some shallow conversations in between. So much for the day, and that derived such good mood today for me.

In fact, today's his actual day of birth 8 years ago, and for a short moment in time, I looked back at the day he was born and smiled to myself what wonderful gifts God had given me and I thanked Him for that.

As goolypop said, can't wait for next Sunday to come, yeah! How's your weekend been?

Little guy's birthday

I just love birthdays.. as it's a good excuse to indulge in now-my-favorite cake, tiramisu.
Especially celebrating the children's birthdays. It's like celebrating another milestone achieved and his existence here on Earth as part of my very own flesh and blood.

I love the celebration to be simple. Just a family dinner with a nice cake. Later on when the children are more demanding, probably we'll treat them with a gift too, but for now, this would do.



He steals my heart most when he comes back to "manja" me 5 mins after I reprimanded him for something he had done wrongly. Like I'm still his lovey-dovey most special person in his life. hehe..



The other day I took him to a shopping mall while waiting for his dad. He wanted to poo-poo and so, I took him to the loo. It was a hard one to start his poo, and when he managed to "pushed" it out with all his strength, he said "YES! Tuck Joh!" (Meaning, "YES, I did it"). I could still smile about it when I recall that incident.



Why am I mixing poo and cake in this entry, huh? Anyway, happy birthday, little boy.

Happy birthday, my darling

The birth of the first newborn is always the NO. 1 (NUMBER ONE!) most special moment in anyone's life. Far more precious than getting exam's results, or graduating, or getting married or any other else, for whatever that matters.

I was being operated for my first child's birth, as the doctor advised for the pregnancy complication I was facing. I hadn't been so scared in my whole life, and all I asked from his father was to be there before I might even die in the process and never see him or my baby at all. He really disappoint me arriving 10 mins AFTER I was pushed into the labor ward, and the reason was he had to eat his breakfast. Yeah, how can I ask him to skip his all important meal of the day, right?

Well, then the whole thing was done before I realised it. Imagine that... somebody cut you up and you don't even feel a thing! Not even a slightest pain! But of course, the pain would come later. The unbearable pain! Well, then, that's for me to worry later. When I woke up, I just wanted to see how my baby looked like and if he had proper physical development. This is how he is.. the most wonderful thing I've ever seen in my life (well, then, I think it's basically what every new mommy thinks during "those" moments).



When I came out from the ward, my hubby said the sweetest words my ears ever heard .... "Ini isteri saya?". And as if the nurse wasn't convincing, he added "Betul ke?"

He not knowing the baby's gender yet, asked me what we had produced. I said I wasn't telling, so he proceeded to ask the nurse beside me. The nurse gave a weird look and told him "Tanya-la isteri kamu", he said "Dia tak bagi tau saya". She gave a wry smile "Huh?".

Only when we were back in the room, he figured out it's a boy when the nurses "unwrapped" the baby to clean him up. He was so delighted, his wish came true.




The days after were pretty monotonous.. we learning being parents, and I was driven on a post natal emotions roller coaster ride. Damn not easy handling a baby. You can see his dad wasn't being very patient already in that picture there.



OMIGOD!! How terrible I looked! No wonder my own hubby asked those words "Ini isteri saya?" Can't blame him much, hoh?





Actually, he wasn't strangling his own son there la.. He was trying hard to burp him after a feed. First timer being a daddy, he wasn't used to handling a fragile little human being in his hands. But daddy is a hero, not afraid of changing nappies with dirty poos and pees, and getting his milk ready when he's hungry.



Fast forward to years later to the present day...

See how big he has grown. Today, we celebrate his birthday with his friends in school, as with other birthday children in June.



He has to do a "presentation" of his younger days and what he can achieved at what age. Boy! That was more stressful for me preparing his presentation notes!



All the food the preschool prepared for the little party which they do every month. It's a wonder how well behaved the children were when taking the food from the table, I think at times adults need to learn from the children too.



Then, at night, we had a small celebration again at home with family. It's Ern ern's 1st birthday on the next day too, and it is a good opportunity to celebrate their birthdays together. I made grilled chicken wings, spaghetti with minced pork in sauce, fishballs, tuna sandwiches, mango pudding and broccoli salad for the occasion. Jen Mei brought the nice black forest cake for us to sink our teeth into.







No doubt it's a special moment for the mommies to celebrate their each birthdays every passing year.



Happy birthday, my dear son! Mommy promise another spectacular birthday next year for you!

"Cow one" day..

"Cow one" is the direct translation from Cantonese which means BIRTHDAY.

I should have celebrated this day with my mom, as she painstakingly gave birth to me 35 years ago on this day. Hadn't thought of that before until I gave birth myself. Damn lot of pain. Guys would never understand what we women had been through.

I never do celebrate my own birthday though. This year, since it was back to homeland, we had a small celebration dinner with close friends. It's just what I wanted, a simple and pleasant evening, done in a low key manner, with my favorite cake and my children.
















My biggest birthday present seems to be the one who came from Indonesia. Just wasn't packed in a box with ribbons and birthday wrap. She claimed she's 36 and her eldest child is 25. Why, if she's really 36, then I should be celebrating my 18th birthday that day only. Who's she trying to fool anyway?

Oddly, she seemed to be trying too hard to please us. As she came the very first time, she ran to my children and hug them like she haven't seen them for a long time. Isn't that a bit too much? Sigh.... And the way things are looking, I think I would have a long way to go to educate her.