some random things this week

-When reading the Bible...Nel asked some questions.
1) Mum, if Noah took so many animals on his ark, how come the lions and tigers didn't attack him?
2) Mum, why didn't God get married?

-Nel came back from school and said, "Mum, today I learnt that there are 5 bowels." I replied "what? what did you say?" Nel said "Five Bowels mum, A E I O U." :)

-Today, Jo grabbed a pretend mike and danced and sang like she was song leading in church! absolutely cute and adorable. I had to try hard to control laughter. tooo cute. :)

- Jo sang "Do a deer a fin-dar deer, Ray a cho-co-late sun, Me a tin I owe myself, Fa a chocolate song, So a chica-chicaha... La a chichichica-ah, Ti- Oh Oh Oh OH Oh oh.... that will bring us back to do...

_Jo asked for a painting brush today. I gave her one and continued talking to Nel. When I turned around, she had lifted her shirt and was painting her belly button!

That's it folks. Will not post for a while. God bless. :)

today, me and my children held a little recital of our own. :) I switched off all the hall lights, leaving the light above the piano on. So my little Nel and Jo took turns performing, bowing each time before a piece was played.You should've seen the way Jo bows, drives me to fits of laughter. hahaha...

They played, "improvisations" based on picture books placed on the piano. haha... I was just thoroughly entertained. In between, they sang songs, quoted Bible verses, ending each performance with more bows! haha...

As the recital progressed, Jo got creative. She did her cutest bow, climbed up the piano stool, and began playing the piano with her nose, then forehead. Hearing our laughter, she was further encouraged to try playing the piano with other body parts, like her cheeks, elbow and ears. The grand finale was when she stopped to pick the booger from her nose. hahahaha...

Finally, this mama decided that the recital wouldn't be complete without a performance from me. So I took my bow, went up to the piano to perform a classical piece.

I ended the recital by playing and singing a lovely song which I've sang to my children since the day they were born. I sing it to them almost every night.... "May the Lord Bless you and Keep You" by Twila Paris. So imagine this, as I played the piano and sang.... my little Nel got up and started dancing the most beautiful, touching dance in the dimly lited hall.... she and I seemed so connected then...

I just felt like she was a baby in my arms all over again...it was beautiful... I had tears in my eyes at the end of the performance....looking at my beautiful children...and knowing that yeah, they're truly a blessing from the Lord.

strong will

Of late Jo’s been a really strong willed child. I suppose that’s not altogether a bad characteristic. She’s probably going to be very goal orientated, focused on things she does…which is already apparent in some of the things she does.

Only thing is…sometimes it gets overboard. I feel that as a parent, I cannot give in to her every whim and fancy …and sometimes she has to learn that things will not always go her way.

Yesterday for instance,…. Were were ready for nap when Jo said “mum, move away, Jo wants to wipe the bed.” I thought move???? Alright, so I got up and moved away. As soon as I moved away, she began crying (her VERY high pitch cry…which sends blood rocketing into my head so it pounds…) and said “Mum, I want you to come back now. Back to this bed!”

I decided this was one of the times I had to “teach” her that she cannot always have her own way. So I told her firmly “mummy is staying right here. You told me to move, I moved.” What proceeded was ONE hour of screaming and insisting that I move back to the bed. It was so difficult. I felt like my head was gonna burst. Finally after 1 hour, she calmed down and said “sorry mummy.....sorry” And she came by me and settled down. Phew………..

Some other incidents….after finishing her potty…she says “mummy flush.” As soon as I’ve flushed she cries “Why mummy flushed? Jo wants to flush, why mummy flush? why mummy flush?” and starts with her crying again. I get so frustrated. Sometimes I just let her be and leave. I tell her "when you’ve done crying, you come to mummy". She’ll come crying….and screaming! Hahaha….

Sometimes if it’s reasonable, I give in. She’s been like this for 2 weeks now. I’ve no idea why….I hope it’s just a passing phase, coz it’s tough. Nel was never like this, always easy…though mischievous.

Can you believe it, we’re only in 2nd week of school, and she’s been already punished 3 times! Well, twice it was the boy next to her who started it, but she reacted and so got punished too. The third was when she got caught playing with water in the toilet. Haha….. but she’s like that. I dropped her off at her Chinese class yesterday, and typical her, while all the kids walked obediently in, my little Nel had to go hide behind a teacher’s car so they had to look for her. Then she pops out and shouts “boo!” ah, that mischievous streak. Life is fun with her. :)

Any suggestions for Jo? She was such a good baby...just till 2 weeks ago. *sigh*

Nel's First day at Kindy

Well...finally Nel is in kindergarten. She will be 6 in May and I figured, better let her have one year in kindy before she starts standard (grade) 1 next year. As mum, I admit I was a little anxious. Some of my friends laughed at me...coz to them it is no big deal. They say their kids are "professionals" at attending school already, coz they've been in kindy since 3 or 4 years old.

Well, I've held my girl back, teaching her myself when I wasn't working. but the years of holding back have finally come to and end...and yeah, it's time now to let my child go out to a real school.
Funnily, she kinda felt sad too. I guess, we have some pretty strong bonding between mum and child. :) and the years spent at home have been worth it, coz she's really close to her little sister too.

One day before school began, she looked seriously at Jo and said "Jo,...che-che (sister) is going to start school already.....are you going to miss me? I'm going to miss you." I thought that was pretty touching. Well, as mum, my prayers have always been that my daughters would love and care for each other.

Anyway, day one came, and she and cousin Lyd went together. :) they had so much fun. :) Yeah, she totally enjoyed it. Only thing is she sits next to a boy who has lotsa bad words in his mouth. but since Nel has been home with me all these years, she knows she's not supposed to say certain words. So when she came home she said "Mum, you know, I don't like J. He sits next to me. and today he said "stupid"."
I said "what did he say Nel?" coz she was whispering the word. hehe...
Nel replied "he said the "S" word..."

Well, we talked about it, how to deal with it... and bla la bla....
ok...gonna head to bed now. I'm used to waking up a little late, coz I sleep late. but with recent early mornings everyday...i'm tired. *yawn*
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ohhhh and update on Jo, she started potty training, and she got it right on the first day itself. :) so now I get to safe up on diapers! hooray. :)
goodnight folks.............and here;s to tomorrow. cheers.

Happy NEw Year everyone. We just got back from Sabah on New Year's day. It was a wonderful trip with family and extended family, about 30 something of us. We were actually there for my cousin's wedding. In between we did lots of shopping, sight seeing and eating. Sabah is really known for its incredibly fresh and wide variety of seafood. So of course, we ate and we ate and we ate. The wedding was lovely...romantic, emotional and joyful. Congrats my dear cousin on your wedding. :)

Well they say a picture speaks a thousand words...so here are some shots taken from that beautiful "land beneath the wind."

Lots of seafood here, dried and fresh. (Sea Cucumber...very expensive if purchased from the city.)Fresh seafood in abundance! we ate and ate and ate.....not very good for health I know...but hard to resist...
My cousin Vincent and his bride Angel saying their vows...they make a very beautiful couple.

We had to try this species of durian..very different from the usual ones we get in the city.

A fisherman's boat

Some of the stuff you get at the Phillipino Market. Actually most of us bought baskets, batiks and Pearls. I got myself some really lovely pearl necklaces....after spending close to an hour bargaining.
Stalls by the ocean Night market coming alive. We bought some of these lovely delicous grilled chicken
MOre fisherman's boats...
sunset
Part of the mountain. I climbed it in 1999 and hubby plans to climb again next year.

kundasang...very cool mountain area with fresh veges. Lovely place...I plan to stay here for a few days on the next trip.
by the pier
This is me after I fell into the mud. Since I'm the photographer, no shots of my mud packed butt. :) Basically I was standing there telling everyone, "Be careful, slippery, careful careful...." and then whooopps....I WAS in the MUD! haha...

Some of the very beautiful Padi Fields At Ranau. Really so beautifully green as seen in the picture. Lots of water buffaloes too.

Anyway, if you have an acc at Facebook, you can view the whole collection. and no, this is not and add for facebook. :)

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From now on comments will be moderated. So if you don't see your comment appear immediately, don't worry, it'll appear after I've read it and know it's from a friend and not stranger. God bless.