Jo's first real punishment

Little Jo decided to try and see what it'd feel like to smack her older sister. So, while snatching her sister's stuff away, she smacked Nel on the face and yanked her hair. (yes, a 2 year old can do that!) So I pulled her away, got to her level, looked in her eye and said "You CANNOT hit your che-che (sister), you understand? Hands are not for hitting.."

Jo looked at me seriously, and said "yes mummy, no hit Nel, no hitting Nel."

I replied "you sure you understand what mummy said?"

Jo looked at me somberly and replied "sure mummy, Jo cannot hit Nel."

I then took her to the corner of the room, placed both her hands on her ears and told her to face the wall and stand there for a while. I've tried this before, and she burst into tears the last time. This time, she quietly did as told and did not cry a tear. However, she took lots of peeks at us, hoping we'd allow her out. She had this really serious frown on her face and if I happened to catch her taking a peek, she blinked her eye in a really funny manner. I was trying hard to be serious, but I could not help turning away for a bit of laughter. No, I'm not a sadist, it's just she looked so seriously cute! hahahaha.....

Finally I said "ok Jo, you can come here now."

Jo walked over to me, smiling, and said "Jo want to say sorry to Nel. No beating Nel." So she walked to Nel, tenderly stroked her hair and said "sorry, Nel, Jo sorry." *sigh*..... the end.

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Apart from that, yesterday we celebrated mooncake festival. I don't know the significance of it, I don't celebrate it in the real sense of it, but traditionally it's a night where you eat mooncake, and children walk around the neighbourhood with their brightly litted candles. So we got together with the neighbourhood kids and did just that. It was fun, except for a few lanterns that got burnt. But that is part of the fun, watching the lantern light up in flames! hahaha...

Addtions to the family.

Wish I could tell you that I am pregnant with a new baby. but no, no, no. Am not pregnant, do not plan to get pregnant in the near future.... maybe in 2 years...maybe maybe.....

However, in a matter of one week, we acquired a dog and a rabbit and we have a terapin boarding with us as well. Nel ( and I) REALLY REALLY wanted a dog, and we were going around checking out Animal Shelters. Nel (meaning I) fell in love with a Schnauzer mixed with Terrier and asked to adopt that little fella. Unfortunately it'd just come in and was not ready for adoption, and they wouldn't allow us to place bookings. Well a volunteer happened to be there and took my number down. Two days later she called me to ask if I was interested in a rescue Poodle. It's pure bred, but kept in a small cage for an entire year by a cruel breeder.

The little fella's hair was all mangled up and he had weak hind feet due to being caged up. Well, after several visits to the vet..he was ready for adoption. And yeah, we took him in. :) He is simply adorable, REALLY active little fella who's really inquisitive and cute. :) We take him for long walks, so his legs have strengthened. He's so strong he actually pulled Jo flat onto her nose once when she held the leash. Thank God we were on grassy patch. Anyway...enough of stories already. By the way, we've named the poodle Camel.

Oh yeah, in the same week, my dear dad, not knowing of our intention to get the dog, decided the kids needed to have pets around and got us rabbits. Sadly one died within a few days. I guess, we're learning how to handle these little creatures. One survives, and his name is Tee-tee.

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary

well we spent a whole day at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary . It was a hot day, and 5 families went with us. Had our picnic at the site and at about 12 the show began. First we watched as they bathed the elephant

then it was feeding time. You get to go up close and feed the elephants all sorts of fruits.

and finally riding time. Here's the man preparing the elephant. If you notice, no carriage. You just sit on the elephant and hang on tight to the man, and feel the elephant's very prickly hair tickle your thighs! :)

They also brought out two REALLY cute, ADORABLE baby elephants, which the children, especially Jo REALLY loved. (they are orphans rescued from the forest.)

The water activities (elephant dunks you, and swimming with the elephants) were canceled due to strong currents. too bad, or I might have posted a picture of me being dunked. Next time. :)

Finally, if I've anything to say, it'd be STOP illegal logging, and safe the rainforest. I'm passionate about nature, and I feel sad when their (animals) homes are being destroyed. Why are we destroying God's beautiful creation?
The complete set of photos can be found at flickr where I post my pictures

more why questions from Nel

Nel has been asking tonnes of questions...that I admit, sometimes, I loose my patience. *aarrghh...I can hear the lightning strike me for being an impatient mother.* You see her torrent of questions usually come when I'm driving. Coz she's sitting down with nothing to do...so she either starts asking questions, or she starts making up strings of songs which she INSISTS I listen and appreciate and clap!! or she starts disturbing/playing with her sister.

I can take a little bit of listening, and answer some questions, but when I'm on the busy highway and Nel's questions or songs increase, my head starts to pound and sometimes I yell out "zip your mouth or we're gonna blah blah blah." Ok, I need to be more patient. Praying for MORE.

Well, yesterday her question was quite CUTE! Here's what she asked "Mum, why is it, I can see your chest bump out and Ah Ma's (grandma's) chest and aunty's chest all bump out (protruding) but I cannot see daddy's or Ah Kong's (grandpa) or mine?"

I thought, oh my, here we go, another question about anatomy. (If you remember, when she was 4 she once asked why Lu's belly button was dangling and hanging out of his tummy!) Well...so I was about to go into breast tissues and milk ducts etc etc....when she herself answered the question. She said "Is it coz you, AhMa and aunty are women, and daddy and AhKong are men? and because I'm just a little girl? that's why our chest are flat?"

"Yes Nel!" I replied happily. Not wanting to go into scientific detail since I was driving. Maybe it's time to get a science book on human anatomy for her. Ok, we're off to the Elephant Sanctuary in some forest where we get to ride the elephants, feed them and bathe them. Ciao.

It's been an interesting week with all sorts of things going on. Well...it was a long weekend coz of our coutry's 50th independence celebration, which was a REALLY big do! too lazy to blog about it though...it was just a really busy weekend with lotsa concerts and fireworks (which baby J didn't like at all) and blah blah blah.

Here's a quiz for you. CAn you guess what is Baby J's favourite food? If not, click here for a clue. Download J's voice .wma (will take about 40 seconds. Please keep speakers on.)

Ok let's see who gets the question right! haha...

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Ok I've been tagged by Sonia . Sorry Sonia, coz I'm lazy to go copy the rules. but basically if I remember correctly I have to list down 8 things about me which you all don't know. Oh well, I actually did 101 in my previous blog, but here goes 8.

----at one time of my life I owned 3 wild chickens, a dog, a cat, a turtle, some fish and lots of stray cats.

----- I love Korean, Japanese and Italian food

----- I have consistent sinus problems and cannot stand dust

----- I love the outdoors

----- I am by nature an introvert

----- I did at one time wish my body was proportioned differently (haha)

----- I also love Indian food, esp North Indian cuisine

----- I love my parents dearly

there's the list. Ok, hoping you all have a beautiful week. It's rainy over here. I just spent some cash on new plants. Cannot specify ammount, lest hubby finds out. hahaha... my garden is packed! coz it's so tiny. I cannot help but envy those with huge compounds. I dream of having a large compound one day so I can plant to my heart's content.