Saturday and the city

It's a different Saturday night this very night. We are spending it in JW Marriott in city center, totally enjoying ourselves chilling the time away. Freaking but true, it's the first time ever we were actually on foot at Bintang Walk with the kids. We never take the kids here, as it seems to be the touristy area and nothing happening for the kids. In fact, even before I was married, I seldom go clubbing and drinking. Only once in awhile I would be at a disco, and that would be like, once or twice a year the most.

Over dinner at the buffet restaurant in Chatz, opposite Sg Wang, one of the waiters handed over a balloon each to the kids, filled with helium. These balloons just can't wait to fly up in the air and would be sticking to the ceiling like a magnet (as what didi described in his own words). The kids, especially didi and meimei are absolutely fascinated with them, as it's rare these days balloons are filled with helium. Most times it's just tied to a plasticky stick and mom (that's me!) would take it home and used it as a threat to cane when she's getting crazy.

While they play, I just sat and observed them. Didi seems to be so charming this night, putting on his best smile happily while playing with a simple little balloon. As I watched him, I can't help feeling so damn proud he's my son, so handsomely cute. Yeah, I'm biased like all moms do. I'm allowed to, so what?

As we were getting ready to walk back to the hotel, we warned them to hold on tight to them as once it's out of your hands, it wouldn't come back. But ouch! Didi's the first one to lose it, it escaped from his clutch in Lot 10. I was all ready for a mental breakdown, but hey, all is good, he was cool about it after like, 2 mins, even though he really loved that little "toy" for awhile he had it.

We took some pictures in the mall, walked slowly back to the hotel, and looked around, absorbing in all the happenings in that area. Meimei was the second one to lose the balloon, and whaddayaknow, when she was about to burst into tears, koko just handed his to her without prompting. Wasn't that just so sweet? I was so proud of him even though for a slight second I was wondering if he was just not very excited about that thing in his hand and having to hold on to it just annoys him? Anyway... we should think of the positive instead.

Meanwhile, didi, while all the while was hand in hand with mine (I love how he comes over to hold my hand everytime), said "It's just a balloon only, no need to cry", as if like comforting himself instead. I agreed with him "Yeah, when it likes to go, just let it go, don't force it as this won't bring happiness to both as well"... like so deeeeeep meaning liddat.

So, although seeing these kids of mine fight and tease each other so often, hearing others praise good comments about them or times when I am witnessing their obedience or impromptu nice gestures, make me feel, either I'm lucky that I am blessed with such nice kids or something is terribly right with our parenting skills after all.

Midyear reviews from the teachers

After meeting the boys' teachers at school discussing on their achievements, koko asked me how my own parents talked to my teachers during MY time, as he remembered it was an English medium school I went to. My reply was "ah well, that time they don't go to see the teachers coz they know I was very well behaved in school". He kinda find it unbelievable (that they missed this all-important event, not the well-behavior part), I think I saw him rolling eyes too.

Anyway, it's true. I remember throughout my schooling days, my parents didn't go to school on the parent-teacher's day to collect my report book. I was the only one, if not among the few handfuls whose parents gave a no-show. It was disappointing, to say the least, when the rest had their parents lined up to meet the teachers and discuss on their kids' progress. I felt like the ugly duckling whose parents didn't bother about my well-being in school. But later, I realized, it's not that they didn't bother. They told me that they never had to worry about me, academics or not. So, why bother to make that trip. Now I know, maybe they couldn't converse in English as well, but nay.. I know the teachers speak Cantonese to those parents who can't speak English.

In a way, I think koko is very like me. Seeing him keeping a low profile in school, managing his homework responsibly and striving to do harder, reminds tremendously that's me. Those were his teacher's remarks recently, I am all proud of him, not only for his big improvement of over 30 people in the whole bunch of std 4's, but also his overall good behavior.

As for didi, well, he was given a 0.01% improvement on his character in class. Well, should I be grateful for that! Anyway, as long as I think he's not in big trouble, that's good enough.

Meimei is doing well herself, the only remark she gets from teacher is "She's very playful", which can be translated into a good thing or a bad thing. I like to interpret it as "cute", as the way the teacher said those words were with a smile, almost endearing. She confirmed my thoughts and said that it wasn't a big deal since she didn't make any trouble at all apart from being playful with her friends. I heart my little baby. I keep reminding myself to enjoy this baby-hood time for it's running short now, as they won't be so cute and cuddly anymore when they are all grown up, like koko now.

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.

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...

No more games for the boys.

The roads must be jam packed this morning, with the start of the new school term. I, once again, hogged the road at 7 am, like all the other parents do, guai-guai joined the queue to the school, sending the boys off. I was so afraid the alarm wouldn't ring that I automatically woke up 10 mins before it was set to ring. Which was rather amazing, since I slept late the night before, and every mornings for the past 1.5 weeks, I had been waking up at 8+, sometimes 9+, lazing around in bed till 10+. That's the beauty of school holidays, I feel so much more rejuvenated.

The boys didn't make much fuss, korkor said something about fearful of a new class teacher (whom he hasn't met yet!) he and his classmates will be getting today. I think I'm bringing up a sissy here, scared of such trivial things geh? Ish!

They say in unison that they are already missing the holidays. Poor chaps. Are the holidays really that fun? All the time at home only wor? Although, they really had a blast this time playing computer games, Wii games, Ipod/Iphone Angry Birds..for almost the whole freaking day everyday!

Initially, I wanted them to read more books, do some "exercises", not physical ones, but school related ones, but after the first dew days on their holiday homework, they wouldn't want to do anything else related to school anymore! Well, I'm at some fault too, being lazy and ..... lazy.... and .... still lazy (duh! I couldn't think of other reasons)...I just let them do what they want to do!

They are happy! But I am drown with guilt! However, I consoled myself that at the very least, they had a good school holidays at home, and it wouldn't really hurt that much to scrap all memories of schoolwork for the time being. I mean, will they get any less successful when they grow up just because they spent a non-productive week of playing games only? Will they become office boys instead of doctors just because this mom of theirs is not bothered?! *trembling and biting nails*

Well, ok, so this term, I would be more hardworking than ever for them! (listen first!).

I just hope the class teachers warm them up a bit first before drilling them on "listen-write", spelling, ejaan, and oh dear! the second LINUS test that didi MUST pass this time... really freaky, I wonder if he even remembers 50% of those Malay words he learnt before.

Suatu hari yang meriah di Bird Park, KL

Our first visit to Bird Park was in 2008. Sometimes, it feels nice to be able to retrieve the journal-ed event and revisit our feelings at that time. And yet even amazing is to compare the children's faces before and now. What a big change! And we won't notice it as we live day by day. Yet even surprising was that I had quite a number of commentors at that time! What happened *gasp*? Why they ditched me? *gasp*

Anyway, this time, being our (meimei and I) third time to the park, it needs no more intro anymore. I took the kids, sempena cuti sekolah yang ke-2 tahun 2010, after some pestering from goolypop who was obviously scared of being attack by those mighty birds and dinosaurs. The kids had a great time chasing each other in the park, so, pictures ensued, with captions not necessary meant to be "real". Add on funny captions too, if you have, but peeps, no offensive words ah..

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!