Cinema in the car

The first screening.

With the iPad, and hooked on to a little mini speaker, the kids are good to go!

Better still travelling on long distances. At night. I'm impressed too! And both hubs and I get a quiet peaceful drive home.

I don't understand what magic spells the Phineas and Ferb movie - across the 2nd dimension, has though. They watched it for like, dozens of times and they still calling for me to show that movie again and again! Anyway, I love to hear them singing the songs with the characters with their little cute voices. THAT is magical to me.

Naming each day

Yesterday, on a Tuesday, I was diligently tutoring didi and meimei at home in the afternoon.

Working on a question, didi had cracked his head and asked me if the answer he had is correct. I looked at it, and told him where the trick lied in. His eyes opened up enlightened and asked something about why the question is asked in such a way.

I was dumbfounded and said nonchalantly, that's because it's a tricky question, and today's a tricky Tuesday. His lips curved into a grin admist a long hour of strenuous revision with them. And then we went on naming each day as manic Monday, wacky Wednesday, freaky Friday, scary Saturday, sunny Sunday.....

Didi is mostly enjoying coming up with different ones that we have a good laugh about some of them and boy, I wonder how long this game gonna lasts as its not showing any signs of stopping. I had to threaten them that I will kick them out of my room if there were another word.

But yeah, it sure was fun and made them think of more words to follow the alphabets and name those 7 days. Maybe tomorrow I ask them to name the months also.

A sweet act of korkor

Just when I thought how sweet a friend's son could be, offering his mama his very much loved meatball when his mama comments how hungry she was, I was, in turn, being given sweet treatment from korkor as well.

As I showed them a piece of tapao walnut chocolate cake at home for them after school, they went berserk and can't wait for me to cut it up and chomp on it. Simply dividing it into 4 parts unevenly, the 2 boys jumped quickly and snatched the biggest 2 away while leaving the 2 smallest for meimei and me.

Meimei's lips turned down almost immediately and pouted, while feeling sad for her, I offered her a bite of mine. She gladly chomped and took ONE BIG BITE, leaving almost nothing left. I went wide-eyed and said, I have nothing!

And just then, without even prompting, korkor offered me his. I felt really touched. This sweet son of mine does have a little soft spot. I put my hand round his shoulder, which is almost my height by now, and said "You are a very good boy, that's very nice of you, but that's ok, I know how much you love it, you eat la".

Meimei, probably felt guilty, or seeing that I praised her elder brother for his generosity, came over and offered hers back to me. I beamed with pride with the 2 of them.

Didi? Can't see him anywhere enjoying peacefully his acquired share of dessert. sigh..... let there still be hope.

Another one of those days.

Feelings hurt by the hub yet again, I hid myself in the kids' room with didi and meimei and couldn't help crying in front of them. It was their bedtime hour. Meimei went sad and misty eyed seeing me cry while giving me bear hugs and lugging close to my side. Didi was rather cold hearted. Really lengjai moe boon sum. He kept a distance and didn't offer any comforting words. Pity his future girlfriends! If it's your daughter, let me advise you this, loving him would be very sanfu!

As for korkor, he came in and went out to report about the gloomy weather to his papa. Then much later, as I went back out and in again to my room, papa came in to talk to me. Korkor followed suit and tell his dad "leave mommy alone laa...", seeing me crying even more as we talked. Then he went out after being ordered.

Later, before he went to sleep, he came in and asked "how is your mood already? are you feeling better now?". I asked if he could give me a hug, and he came over and did just that.

I can't describe enough how comforting it was.

A scientific discussion with korkor.

Korkor asked me this morning, why do we feel itchy at that spot where the mozzie bites? I shrugged my shoulders and I then proceeded to tell him how when we get a wound, the bleeding comes, and the blood would hardened up, forming a shield to keep us from bleeding away and blocking bacteria and dirt from entering while making sure the new layer of skin is safely formed inside, then when it's almost ready for the new skin to emerge, we would feel a tad bit itchy around that area and it's unsafe to scratch it as the "shield" might break free and it starts bleeding all over again and the process repeats?

And we wondered... is the story relevant to his question? *gazing into the air*

Do you know why it's itchy when the mozzie comes and strikes?

How old are you?

Meimei developed a knack of asking everyone around her how old they are. It was harmless initially, but when it gets too overboard, it began to irks them and me.

My mom was around for the last few days, and whilst in the car, she asked her how old she is (for the uncountable times we know of). So both of us just ignored her and pretended we didn't hear her. She then started to answer her question herself with another question, like "51?"

Wanting to just quickly shut her up and changed the subject, I replied "yeah, you are right!".

She then pondered for awhile and said "Can't be!". I asked why? She said "You are coming to 40 already mah.. how can y-poh be 51? It's too close!"

I was taken aback and humored that she has that notion. And I wondered if she knew why she can't be 51 if I'm turning 40. I tried to probe her further but she can't give me the answer.

Very much a logic person she is. But of course, she couldn't yet tell that y-poh would have been 11 when she gave birth to me. The boys wouldn't have had the same conversation at that age. They would just probably accept it, and as history shown, they weren't quite interested in this topic anyway.

Knowing her classmates is not so fun.

What is it with girls demanding everyone of her family members to know all her friends in her class? Or is it just mine?

Last year, she would come up with this crazy quiz whenever we were in the car and asked questions like "OK, who can tell me the names of my friends that start with letter A" If didi shouts it out, then she'll say, "You are CORRECT! You get 1 point!". This gets to a stage where it was very irritating and annoying the heaven out of korkor and he would purposefully NOT answer her. When that happens, she would demand and demand till they succumb to her own personal delight.

This year, in fact, it's today, that I am "tested" by her with the names of her classmates, again! (sort of). She told me the names of the girl and boy who starts the Q everyday outside their class and it goes on till... I don't know! And she demands that I remember them all! Today she tested me, that little bugger! And I'm supposed to answer her all correctly! I told her mommy's getting old and don't have a good memory anymore and she would sarcastically imply I'm suffering from Alzheimer. Surely she didn't use that word, but it sure hurts!

Maybe next time I ask her to write the names down instead. Sigh... the torture I'm getting from her at this young age already!

Karaoke in the car

It was a rare occasion that day I was driving in the car with the kids, fetching them to their various classes, I forgot what now. We were all listening to the song "forget me" and go oh-oh-oh and shhh.... and why, why, why (in rising pitch) together, laughing silly to ourselves.

Car ride like that is much bearable that way instead of the usual bickering, shouting, kicking and monkeying around. I always tell them it's very inconsiderate for them to make noise at the back of the car, in that enclosed little space which is cramping all of us in, creating stress to the driver who's already very stressful chauffering them around, avoiding an accident, careful of cars in front, coming from sides and at the back, changing traffic lights, reckless motorists, king-of-the-road pedestrians, stray dogs and birds and bees...

And that would usually shut them up. Not all the time, but that one time.

So when that doesn't work anymore, I will play the "forget me" song and we'll go oh-oh-oh again...

Sex education getting tougher.

Of all questions kor asked me so far, today's one was the most difficult one to answer....

"mommy, your tummy still have any more sperms inside?" *faint*

wahlau.... i was really dumbfounded! should i tell him i'm not very sure if those left by his dad 2 nights ago were still in there or already flushed out? *raised 1 eyebrow*

i'm not very sure why he asked me that question actually, so i asked him why he wants to know. i have a feeling he wanted to have a little baby sister. this kid, he sure adores cute little babies. but meimei is too big and getting more and more annoying for his liking.

this time, i really have to "jar sor pan moong" on his question. but he persisted, and i annoyingly told him i don't know!! (which was the truth) and i said sperm has a lifespan of between 2 days to a few days. sooo.... that left him quietly to think about my answer.

*whew*

A taste of her own medicine.

And we were on the way back from school, in the car. I asked meimei about school, she answered the standard answer "fine".

"So what was it all about this morning when I see all the children going to the hall?"

"We played some games, then the stayback children did the drama"

"Oh, you were in a drama?"

"NO laaa.. only the stayback children, I said !!!" *in an irritated tone*

"Okkiee.. so what was the drama all about, anyway?"

"I don't know laa, you always ask, ask, ask... I give up already" *more irritated*

Stifling giggles, I probed further what games she played.

She then proceeded to tell me it was a ball-passing game. Then whoever pass the ball the fastest wins!

So I played stupid and asked "oh oh! So I stand next to you and pass the ball to you and then I win?"

"TSK!! (what la you?!) Noooo.. Like this, I stand here and my friend stand here (thumb and index finger apart) and I pass to her, stand very far one.."

"OH. ok. So did you win?"

"No la. The 5yos win."

"WHAT?? You guys 6yos lost to 5yos?"

"*major* TSK!! NO LA. ONE TIME ONLY WUDDD... "*highly irritated*

I must say, I like the irritated looks on her face. Really fun to kacau her like that.

Oh, who are you, little girl?

Amidst the fighting, bickering, teasing between the 3 of them, it's nice to see the soft side of them once in awhile.

Just like yesterday when shopping for groceries, meimei and I were playing on a "joke" which had her pretending she's someone else''s dotter. After awhile, it was didi who pleaded with me with his worried eyes to stop the joke with her jor. I asked him why and he put his arms round my neck and just asked me to stop. I thought that was such a simple yet sweet act of him, probably saddened by the thought that he would not have her as his sister anymore.

Then the rest of the time at the mart, it was just a pleasant time. I wonder if I can pull this trick on them the 2nd round?

Learning time zone difference.

Korkor laan-lek gum, gave a maths problem for the younger 2 to solve over dinner. He asked, if our flight to Pukit is at 8pm and the flight takes 2 hours, what time will we arrive there?

Meimei complained its too difficult for herwhile didi was busy eating dinner. He asked korkor to repeat it later. Instantly, he answered 10pm! Korkor with his smug face, said WRONG ANSWER!

And he later gave a short lecture on why it should be 9pm instead of 10. To which I think, he really needs to slow down with his speech! I do not hear what he was rambling, but of course I do know his point. Meanwhile didi still maintained he is right.

Preparation for beach vacation.

I went to the malls last Fri, intending to check out the bikinis and get one to go to the beach vacation soon.

After trying a few pieces, I can't seem to find the one where I can stuff lots of waterproof cottonwool in. Unless I want to hold my breath and tuck the tummy in all the time, I don't think I want to display my out-of-shape bod subject to everyone else's jeer.

Anyway, while I was there, I bought those kiddo's snorkelling gears and bet they would surely enjoy themselves playing with 'em.

Truly, when they saw it, all of them were so excited, especially didi, since he wanted those for ages! I am such a mean mom to make him wait this long.

Brought them down later for some "test drive", and didi jumped right into the water, with the gear already worn at home. He took it like a fish to water, paddling his feet furiously while the head submerged all the time. He even gave a thumbs-up halfway while still swimming, it was so so funny. I hope they don't freak out when they see the fishes swimming all around them later.

Now to get all my long sleeves and long pants. Gosh! I am gonna look like a walking charcoal when I get back.

One beautiful morning in my life.

These 2 days, meimei had been waking up the same time as us, accompanying me out to send the kids to school.

This morning, I thought, what the heck, since she's up and about, might as well get her to get ready for school herself and head straight to some light breakfast before her school is opened at 8.

She's so excited and happy with the idea. Probably she wanted me back to send her to school, instead of papa who did the task on Mon and Tues. And she could be early. So it wasn't any problem for her to get bathed and changed by her own in lightning speed.

It was a beautiful morning after all, having breakfast in the cool morning breeze with the early folks. The experience seems so different from the usual weekends brekkies we have. I wonder why.

I enjoyed myself so much with her this morning, sharing a bowl of loe shue fun and talking. She wanna play some 1-2-jum but I told her I wanna chat. I can't remember what we talked about but we both were so happy. It was such a sweet moment to savor.

But when we reached her school, her Mandarin teacher greeted her "jau-an" and asked if she did her homework this time... Apparently it's been 3 times she didn't do her chinese homework (yes, I don't check, I want to instill a sense of responsibility in them. Their homework, not for me to check. Just bear the consequences if they don't want to do them).

Her happiness was shortlived as I told her since she's early, she can sit down and finish it off then. How sad she looked that time. I suppose she was looking forward to play with her friends. I was afraid the dam might burst. But she was ok after all.

I'm now looking forward to more of this early morning brekkies with her, before next year when she goes to school with her brothers. Time is ticking.

Post world cup depression

World Cup is so over. And I hadn't watch even 1 match. Well, I admit I'm not any football fan, so what?

I don't need to impress my hubs that I'm not a big fan, as he himself is not one himself too. He does bet in a few matches for thrills though. I think he lost after all these bets averaged out. Didn't bet much on it, I think it's like RM50 or so each time. Then again, a few notes of RM50 would be like so precious to me when it's lost into thin air.

We didn't subscribe to Astro channel which airs the live matches, so we had to rely on the local networks, our good ole teeveeduaaaa for the last few rounds. The signal was quite bad that it was non-apprehensible, so hubs was nagging for me to make a complain to the management office to fix it up before the semi-finals. I got it done by then, but we still didn't watch those. *shrugs*

Over the weekend at the KL hotel stay, the boys got a glimpse of the live telecast of dunno which vs. which la, and surprisingly their eyes were fixed on the game! I was thinking.. this is really kinda a boys' thing. The girl didn't have any emotions watching what was going on in the field.

So, when the last 2 matches of WC were here, korkor wanted to wake up and catch it before the next wait of another 4 years. He begged me to let him, not that I forbid, I really have no idea. I told him he can watch, that's ok with me, just don't disturb my beauty sleep. So, the boys were very excited and set the alarm for 2.30am, went to bed at 10+ on Sat night.

By the time I finished watching a movie with hubs, "17 again", btw, a nice movie to watch, if you haven't yet, I was tired and about to go to bed. Now, thinking of the consequences when the alarm rings at 2.30...

1. they would be making so much fuss and noise that I would have to be awaken too...
2. poor boys, is it good for them when they are already not having enough winks throughout the week?

I hesitated and contemplated, then I decided to do the unthinkable.

I went inside their room and cancel the alarm... oopsy..

So, the next morning, they woke up and didi had the saddest looking face. He thought korkor was greedy and selfish and didn't wake him up for the game. While korkor was scratching his head all over and came up with all sorts of possible reasons why and what happened. I went, "that's okay.. you guys were too tired..." with the most understanding expression... heh!

I guess I didn't know how much they really wanted to watch the game. Fun meh? Perhaps it's the thought of waking up in the middle of the night that excites them??!!

Anyway, last night, doing the whole round again for the finals, this time, I didn't repeat what I did. Didi even wanted to sleep TOGETHER with koko just in case. I thought that if they could really wake up and watch the game, then be it. I try to make up the lost sleep for them later.

And whaddayaknow? They really missed the game AGAIN! (ok, maybe not entirely, but...) hehe! So it's proven, with or without me messing around with the alarm, it wasn't my fault that they missed 2 god-forsaken-hours-football matches in a row.

Watch reruns la, same la...

p/s: waking didi up in the morning for school was so funny. I kept telling him to wake up to get ready for school, he didn't move an inch. Then I whispered into his ear "wake up lor, wanna watch FIFA world cup anot?", only then heard me and nodded. It was such a disappointing news to him when I said it was so over, it's time for school already actually. *grin*

Again!

Know what? Our home has become a yank-tooth-centre now.

Meimei is the 2nd client today, her first time experience, after witnessing how fun it was the last time for her brave 2nd bro.


I can see how well we are in the job now too, my hands are not shaking when tying the knot on the shaky tooth and papa just yank out like so nonchalantly. When meimei went to him, he said "yes? want me to pull the thread, huh? okeh.."



But we still need more practise, as it was before, the tooth only came out after the 2nd tie-and-pull. Who wants to have tooth removed, please make appointment now...

Maller's Day for me.

Korkor's bought this stalk of fake rose for me for Maller's Day. Now, I'm supposed to feel happy and pleased about this, but somehow ... ?? Fancy the school's bookshop using this trick to "con" unsuspecting little children? It costs RM1.50 per stalk, not 50 cents wor...

I don't know about others, but I think the children would have "peer pressure" a bit. Others are buying that for their mothers, it's like a wave effect. I tried to teach my son to bargain with the seller, buy in bulk together with his classmates la, get a discount! But what do they know.

Anyway, I decided I'm not complaining. I ought to be happy. He seems very sincere to show his love and appreciation to me for doing everything I can being his mom. (Or am I imagining things??)

I told him, what I love most from him, is just simply, a hug and a kiss. "Can I have that?" *sounding hopeful*. He said "YES!", without any hesitation. heh! I thought that was rather sweeter than anything else. As I know.. boys being boys, they are very reluctant to give any hug or kiss as they grow bigger. And when they are men, they wouldn't be so eager to celebrate Maller's Day, maybe taking the excuse "my kids are having exam tomorrow laa".. EEK!!! That sounds so familiar!!!

DInner conversations.

I ought to eat dinner with them more often. Most of the time, I would serve their dinner earlier while I wait for their papa to come home so he doesn't need to eat on his own. Well, apart from that, another reason is I would be sneaking away to steal some "me time" on the internet, chatting craps endlessly.

Which is really not a good idea. Because, they would be taking too long time to finish off their meals, and both the boys would be having a helluva time making meimei go bawling away..."mommmeeee, you see korkor and 2kor....".

And most times, I end up shouting, threatening, warning, and doing all the wrong things!

So, I try to eat with them more often now. As while we eat, it's also a good time to catch up and have a little relaxing chat.

Today, korkor told me he would like to ask a few of his friends over for his birthday this year. Including SOME girls. So I asked him if he likes girls now, coz sometime before, he swore he hated girls and the description of them is one word.. yucks!

This time, he surprised me by admitting yeah, he likes girls now. And he wants many girlfriends. I imparted some wisdom to him, saying "no need so many geh.. 1 good one enough already, like mommy..." (that's one advantage talking to them.. no need to feel ashamed one! tee hee!). He said "but mommy not pretty now lorrr...". Deng! So frank, so hard to stomach. Ouch!

Sigh!!!! Watudo. They said "but mommy so fierce". I reminded them that it's them who made me what I am today, wokay. Before, I was such a sweet and demure girl. I wouldn't like to be a fierce mom too, would I?

Anyway, that was a pretty good meal conversation. It was all so cute. And all of them finished up their meals before 8pm, which means they could continue with their homework and the normal routine before bedtime. So no yelling, no shouting, no bullying, no all the wrong stuffs.

I just wonder.... if korkor is, at this early age, think of girls as in "cute girls"? You know what I mean? Jeez... sometimes I feel it's too early to be progressing so fast into that stage already. Please.. slow down a bit.. don't grow up too soon yet.

The beginning of some real reading

For a long time, korkor kept asking me what's the fun reading books with just words and without pictures at all when he sees me engrossed in novels. I'm now reading Sidney Sheldon's "Are you afraid of the dark?", borrowed from our playcenter library.

I tried explaining to him that it's really quite enjoyable. Painting the scene out in the mind, appreciating the beauty in the play of words, knowing how the feelings of the casts. It's intriguing, to say the least.

And I have tried to pull him into the world of reading these pictures-less books, but failed. That is, until today. Yay! I successfully did it finally! Made him read an Enid Blyton "The mystery of the secret room" and he was so engrossed with it that he pleaded with me to let him read on when it's his bedtime approaching. He loves it! I hope he would read more rather than play computer games during the school holidays.

Koko journalling.

The other day, korkor asked me for a diary so he can write one for his daily journal. He excitedly scribbled something on a page and instructed me not to look at it at all costs. And it was purposefully laid on the empty dining table, like asking for me to read it at all costs...

Do you think I peeped at it? Of course NOT!! (where got so free la?)

After 24 hours passed, he was like very uncomfortable that it was lying exactly where it had been, and after much fidgeting, he told me that he allowed me to read it but with 1 condition; i.e. not to scold him for whatever he has written in there. (I really scratched head by now.. what does he want from me leh, exactly?)

So I nonchalantly said "ok laa... I read it when I have nothing else to do la then. I won't scold you, but I would correct your grammar mistakes and maybe write a comment on two of my own opinions, is that ok?" He said ok, I surely didn't misinterpret his delighted tone in his words. Wonder why.

And for the past 2 days, he would write his daily journal and shoved it to my face. Cheh! No juicy secrets in there one? Waffor la? I'm getting confused as to what a preteen mind's is made up of actually. What is he up to?