Raising children..

Imitation Kippling Part II

2011-05-16T10:08:00.003+08:00

Several years ago, my hubby and I went In search of Imitation Kipling at Petaling Street. We walked the entire street and only found 2 shops with it. Early this year,we headed there again, in hope of finding that shop again. Alas, we couldn't find it, and every shop we stopped to ask told us that noone in Petaling Street sells Imitation Kipling coz it was too expensive.

I thought that was strange, considering that they were selling fake Gucci and Prada and other brands for prices as high as 300Rm over! I saw a tourist bargaining, and was happy to buy a handbag at RM250! (definitely got conned!)

Well..so we gave up. But a few weeks ago, I was surprised to find a store at Tropicana Mall selling Imitation Kipling for RM100. Pretty nice designs too! I was tempted to get one, and am SO GLAD I didn't. Coz recently my friend got pretty good quality Kipling at SS2 Market for only RM30!!! :)

Guess, I'll be goin there for early morn breakfast soon!

2011-03-21T09:17:00.003+08:00

Moved all personal posts now to http://poundthegarlic.blogspot.com

F1 Taxi Driver from LCCT

2011-03-19T11:28:00.002+08:00

After a lovely CNY celebration with relatives in Kuching...we excitedly (meaning, I was excited but hubby was partially sad and children were reluctant..after all it was fun and holidays there) boarded the plane for home. Upon arrival, we purchased our cab ticket and stood in line to get into a cab. I prayed we'd get a better one than last year. Last year, we had one who kept dozing off, and he drove zig zag several times!!

This year, the taxi driver was no better. The moment our luggages were loaded, he zoomed off like an F1 Driver. The Speedometer went 90...100.....(I thought surely this must be the speed limit) but it went on to 110..120..130..touching 140!!

His taxi also smelled like he'd had too many ciggies, and while driving he kept twitching his face and shoulder muscles..a sign of stress and tension i suppose.

I reasoned with myself quietly and thought.."well..maybe the speed is good, we could arrive early for CNY dinner here." But after several bends at neck breaking speed..I couldn't take it anymore. I imagined the cab sliding off the curb at a bent and all sorts of accidents that could happen if he kept speeding.

So I decided to speak to him in my so-so Bahasa language to see if talking would help him slow down.

"encik..dah lama pandu taxi ke?" Taxi Speed 140

he replied "ya!" in an abrupt, unfriendly way and kept speeding.

"cuaca sini ok hari ni kan. kat kampung hujan lebat tiap hari." speed still 140

"sini, tiap tiap hari hujan jugak, hari ni aje cuaca ok lar. Tengok Johor,banjir kat sana."

"Encik tak cuti ke?"

"mana ade cuti. Semalam kerja sampai 12:30 malam. Hari ni, pagi pagi dah mula. banyak orang Cina balik hari ini. Nak minum kopi pun tak boleh. Rehat skjap, mereka dah panggil. Tapi tak pe la, untung banyak sikit hari ini."

"wah. mesti penat. Kalau ada masa, nanti jemput masuk skejap lah untuk minum kopi." Speed dropped to 120

'Kampung kat mana?' he asked in a slightly friendlier tone.

"Oh, I dari sini, suami dari S'wak."

'Wa, mee kolok terkenal sana.' he smiled.

"Wah, Encik pun tau Mee Kolok ke?!" I asked, surprised!. " Roti canai sana pun sedap jugak!"

"Ada ke roti canai? susah nak cari makanan Melayu kat sana." Speed 100

'Banyak, sana, roti spesial tau. Murtabak pun bes!" I replied. Speed all the way down to 90.

etc etc..and he maintained that speed all the way home, driving in a much more relaxed manner with less twitches.

Finally we arrived and I asked "encik nak kopi?"

"eh..takpe lar." He smiled and drove away.

moon on 11th Sept 2010 21:03

2010-09-13T22:02:00.002+08:00

was out in frasers hill the whole weekend. on 11th Sept, I decided to stand out on the balcony to just enjoy the cool fresh air. Lo and behold, the clouds blew away just for a few minutes, and I saw this beautiful sight. Grabbed my camera and took a few shots. Later the clouds moved again, and though I waited, this sight did not show again. I'm certainly very thankful for the 10 mins where i got to enjoy this scenery. I think this is the moon with planet venus.

2010-07-15T12:12:00.002+08:00

i never knew I'd grow to fall in love with them when I first hosted them. Puia and Esther are refugees from Myanmar, and I'd say, it was God's plan for us to meet. Sometimes they put up at my brother's place, and sometimes mine.

I've lots of memories with them...beautiful memories. But it all came to an end too soon, far too soon. I know they've gone to a better country where they will have full right to education and a better life instead of living in constant fear of being detained, raped or asaulted by local authorities. I'm thankful the UN has sped up their application, allowing them to leave in less than 2 years.

but as they left last night...I felt a part of me breaking. How did I allow myself to fall in love so much with these beautiful children...but I'm glad I did. I don't know when we'll meet again...

It's crazy, but I found myself crying the night....and as I drove myself to university for the very first class of this semester this morn, I again cried. I scolded myself for I could not show up with red and puffy eyes, especially when I'm the lecturer. it's ridiculous right? it is...I shouldn't be feeling and crying like this. but truth is I miss them.

Etched in my memory are the good times, the last hug where I just didn't want to let go..hearing them say I love you..their kisses on my cheek....i miss them it hurts. I really hope time will rationalize me and numb these feelings quickly so it'll be more bearable.

in the mean time, I pray that the work done by the UNCHR will be recognized here, coz until they do, the refugees here will continue to suffer abuse from certain parties..

2010-06-15T22:52:00.001+08:00

Just got back from Gerik, absolutely peaceful town, and 40 mins drive from there is Tasik Banding and Belum National Park. BEAUTIFUL!

Anyway...wanted to write this down before I forget, about an experience at the mall last week. Nel decided she wanted to have one on one time with daddy So off they went, leaving me and Jo to shop for my shoes.

Well, Jo was “great” help at deciding, coz she kept bringing me high heels in striking pink and red, and heels with glitter; instead of the boring conventional black I was looking for.

However, she was great help in other ways. She helped me talk with the sales people. in at least 4 instances at different stores, she went over to the sales person and requested for the size I wanted. Which is size 7, (yes my feet are huge). The reaction of the various sales people were interesting.

The first looked down at her and ignored her. When she repeated “size 7 please”, she frowned and ignored her again. After a third request from Jo, she looked down at my little girl and asked “where is your mother?” Jo pointed in my direction, I looked at the sales lady and mouthed the words “size 7 please!” She promptly went and brough the pair of shoes. Later on, impressed she had conversation with Jo. :)

The second sales person was a man who stared and smiled in Jo in disbelief. He thought it a joke and ignored her. But looking around he saw me staring at him, he pointed at me, and pointed at Jo. I nodded, and he brought me the shoe size I wanted.

The third was a sharp boy. Upon request from Jo, he looked around and saw me. He immediately brought the shoe.

The fourth were 2 men talking together. When they received the request from Jo “size 7 please?” One of them took the shoe, looked at the other and continued chatting and laughing. Perhaps they were laughing at my little girl. She stood there, not moving and repeated “size 7 please”. The looked at her, smiled, said some cute words but did not get the shoe. Finally after a 3rd request from Jo, they realized she wasn’t kidding, looked around and saw me. One of them raised an eyebrow indicating “you want this?” I replied with a nod.
Interesting…why was it so hard for them to bring a size 7 shoe when requested by a little girl? Haha….

Anyway...yeah, recently me and girls watched "The BLind Side". Jo asked a hundred questions, and I threatened to remove her and ground her. I cried buckets of tears and wondered why my Nel was silent as stone. I turned towards her and saw her crying silent tears. Awww...yeah, she's always been the feeling, people person.

2010-05-13T19:44:00.002+08:00

Woke this morning, did some dishes left over from last night...and the whole sink got clogged up AGAIN! Got fed up, left dishes in sink and walked away.

Had to get ready for other things. Went up, took a quick shower.
While returning to the kitchen, I heard the sound "SlosH ! SlosH! Slosh!." Wondering what the heck it was, I rushed in to see my Nel, pumping the sink hard with a plunger. hahahaha...oh my, well, that tough little girl UNCLOGGED my sink! Amazing she is! :)

Anyways, in terms of learning...we're into studying continents of the world and body organs. Recently finished an intro to the solar system. not bad. :)

As for Jo.. the little fella woke up this morning and her first thoughts were "Mum, you know what's disgusting?"
I replied "no, what is?"
Jo said seriously "mum, brides are disgusting!"
Surprised, I asked "why???"
she replied "well, because they kiss their husband's mouth on the wedding day, and all the germs from the husband's mouth crawls into the bride's mouth. Disgusting." LoL..oh well...gonna ciao. has been a long day of work. Will rest now, and hope to catch some badminton.

2010-04-14T09:08:00.001+08:00

..Sometimes, after the fit of anger has passed,
the wrongs made right,
the mess and chaos tidied up and made orderly again,...

I watch my children fast asleep and deeply regret the things I've said.

I kiss them and whisper "I love you's"
but they can't hear me or feel me..they're fast asleep.
Tomorrow I'll make things right.... I really hope to.

It's amazing, how my little one, after the barage of unkind words spoken by me last night, ran crying to her sister's room, was comforted, and in less than 5 minutes back in my room saying "I love you mummy,...I want mummy, i love you mummy." She said a cute prayer, then fell asleep in my arms. Children forgive so easily...trust so fully...love unconditionally.

Yup...tomorrow I must try to be a better mum...continuously try.

2010-04-08T00:41:00.003+08:00

Nel my 8 year old, has a special gift. However, it is not related to science, math, art, music or language. I'm talking about the gift of serving.

Today.. most families here have maids that serve parents and kids!! Many of these kids don't even know how to pour a glass of water for themselves, let alone for others. "kiasuism" is on the rise and i personally think that an over emphasis is being given to scoring for tests, mental math etc etc...all related to school education.

Although education is very important in today's world... I believe that there are other aspects that are equally important, which should not be neglected. eg. a child's character, spiritual growth, sense of others, serving the community etc etc.

Anyway...I'm rambling (it's 1 am). Anyway, back to Nel, whenever we have visitors..she's usually the first to serve them drinks, tidbits and stuff. Her actions always surprise my friends, as one friend recently said while receiving a drink from Nel "my child would never do that!"
I'd to say I was secretly proud of my Nel. :) in fact, heck, she's better than me when it comes to serving.

Even my friend's maids who come by are treated well and served by my little gal. I guess, she really has a special heart for others. Yeah, like a typical 8 year old, she has her days of mischief, temper and stuff, ...but hang around and you'll discover the wonderful heart of giving she has.

ok...back to bed now for me.

tough days

2010-03-29T22:01:00.000+08:00

There are days when the area in my throat is tight from nagging, my lips are thinly pursed, and my muscles tensed. Sometimes it can be overwhelming having to juggle children, household chores and work.

There are days when the children seem out of hand, refusing to obey rules, whining and complaining…and I’m trying to drive them so that work can get done, and the house can be neat all before my students arrive in the noon for music classes, particularly before the fussy parent arrives.

Today is such a day. I’ve cleaned the house so many times, yet there are still some toys strewn here and there, and crumbs beneath the study table. Jodie’s changed clothes 4 times today and it’s not even evening yet. I’ve given her several warnings. Danelle’s been day dreaming instead of focusing on work. Piles of laundry await folding and washing. In the kitchen there is a mini flood coz Jodie’s been making drinks again and left a puddle of water in the middle. and right now they're fighting over which movie to watch.

I know, I will not have time to cook dinner again, coz the day is gonna be packed with students and replacements. So I’ll probably throw in some spaghetti with sauce, grab a very quick bite during the very short evening break.Whatever bits of time I have, are minutes snatched in between to pour out my thoughts on the blog, check a little facebook... and sometimes to complete a painting..bits and pieces here and there.

Yeah…some days just seem so unbearable.

Truly without God I might get depressed somedays. But He gives me strength, joy and inspiration when I need it, especially when teaching my own children and other children. For what’s the point of teaching unless I truly love what I’m doing. [and yes, I do love teaching]

Ah yes, He [God] gives me the strength which I need, to juggle all. I guess, He’s given that strength and endurance to most mothers. If we don’t have it, then we need to look to Him and ask, and then it all becomes more bearable.

To my cousin with twins...God is your strength, remember that. love you.

how Jo fell in love with the Cicada

2010-03-22T19:37:00.004+08:00

Since my children and I love the outdoors, we decided to have a few days of science in the great outdoors. The focus of the trip would be finding insects and spiders. It was really exciting. Just within one night, and a day outdoors, we (my children and cousins) discovered at least 30-50 different types of insects, spiders, moths, butterflies and birds. Amazing.

During our hunt, I heard the unmistakable sound of the cicada. When we first saw it, it was flying like a mad insect without direction, vertically and horizontally. That frightened the children a little, especially when it went zooming over their heads.

Finally I caught it and asked the children “Who wants to hold the cicada?” Nobody volunteered. Then li'l Jo said “I will.” She held it and was a little taken aback when it buzzed strongly while croaking within her little palms. She let it go immediately but I told her that she was REALLY a VERY brave girl for holding it. Immediately she caught it herself and held it.

It was love at second hold. :)

Jo held that cicada lovingly, talked to it, petted it and we gave it a name, Chica. Then came time to let Chica go, and Jo was really sad. While trekking she kept asking “Mum, does Chica know I miss him? Is he thinking of me? Will he come back to meet me? I miss Chica..”

That evening while walking, we heard a faint sound of a cicada nearby. Jo ran excitedly towards the sound saying “It’s Chica! It’s Chica!” She caught it….but alas, this was a very weak cicada, one that was…dying. Jo noticed how it did not buzz as strongly and how it’s sound was so much weaker. She said “mum, is Chica dying? Mum….he’s sick, he’s dying,….he’s dying…” as the cicada kept calling in a very weak voice. Jo began crying streams of tears… I said “Jo, maybe this is not Chica. Chica has a strong voice, and strong wings…maybe this is a different cicada Jo, but we’ll let it go into the woods.” So I walked a crying Jo to the trees and let the cicada go. She kept crying… “Will it live mum? is it happy I let it go mum? Mum…it’s dying…why is it dying…? Mum..what if it’s Chica? And Chica is dying ?”

We headed home…and then guess what? A strong buzzing cicada flew over us and Jo waited till it landed, held it and shouted “MUM! this is CHICA! It’s CHICA!” …… It still touches me as I recall how gently she talked to that insect. The parting was difficult again with more tears… Then I had to tell her the truth that there were thousands of cicadas… thousands.

That night, heading back to our apartment, Jo ran ahead. We then heard her little voice shouting excitedly “Mum, I caught a firefly!” I didn’t believe her at first and thought she must’ve been mistaken. We caught up with her…and within her little palm, was really a firefly! We took it back to the apartment ..and while the children examined it, it flew up. So we switched off the lights, lay on the floor and watched the firefly showing off it’s beautiful glow. Then somewhere in that moment, the children dozed off one by one…probably with beautiful dreams of the lovely day they’ve had.

I took 100's of shots....too lazy to put all here, but here are just 3 shots.

2010-03-15T19:35:00.004+08:00

Wanting to get away from the polluted city life, once again we headed to the forest, this time, much nearer, Templer’s Park.

I’ve always imagined it to be the overcrowded waterfall with filth and stinking toilets everywhere, and have not been there for at least 20 something years. However, a friend called and said he knew a jungle trek there where few people bothered to walk. So we went, the same 8 adults and 11 children. I must say, it was really a beautiful, serene walk in the forest. We trekked 45 minutes along the peaceful meandering stream, heard lots of bird calls, chanced upon a giant millipede and finally arrived at a beautiful waterfall. The best thing was that, we had the WHOLE falls to ourselves. Totally lovely and refreshing! We’ll be back there and have identified a possible camping site. :)

the lovely stream along the trek

lovely tall bamboo along the path

the lowest part of the several tiers waterfall...heard it's 7?

my favourite jacuzzi spot in this waterfall! COLD, shivering STRONG water...totally refreshing. Best part is it has a little space behind the water...

Ab attempting to get behind into the space behind the water. I tried it, and it's shiveringly cold and powerful when the water hits you! brrr....

Abnow almost behind the water in that space. It's an awesome experience. you get to hear the very powerful n LOUD sound of water rushing...while breathing in pure oxygen....while shivering your butt off!

finally, the most awesome thing I saw there..even took a video of it!! it's a blue wasp, called the blue mud dauber I think...and it's injected its venom into the widow spider..and dragging it to its nest! really cool!

Overall...what a wonderful way to learn and observe nature, science in the outdoors...my children love it! :)

MESS MESS!

2010-03-08T10:33:00.003+08:00

Tippity tappity tippity tap…move the very quick, light and nimble feet of my daughter Jo. Very frequently when I’m teaching piano and Nel is away at language class, Jo would approach me while asking “what shall I do mum? what shall I do???” and I’d reply in a low, impatient voice “Go do whatever you want…now shoo, go, go.” She’d then usually ask “May I…..” as her voice becomes fuzzy in my mind as I return focus to my student…while simply replying “yes” to whatever she says.

Then…off she’d go, quick as lightning…tippity..tappity tap.

When the day is done, and I’m free…I’m often Surprised, HoRRified, Amused by her creations and MESS she’s created, either in all the rooms upstairs or in the kitchen or bathroom. Last week for instance, she cleared 20 over books off the study table, put a cloth over to build a tent underneath. Underneath the table she placed towels, blankets, and a whole lot of stuff. There were just books and clothes everywhere! Unbelievable mess!

On Fri, I discovered she’d taken out every single sock she could find in the house (my husband’s mine and Nel’s), laid a “jungle trek” from the living room, up the stairs, to the room. In between this “trek” of socks, were strewn all sorts of toys and stuff, bait it seems for Nel to follow the trek. It was MAJOR MESS!

Yesterday I discovered that she and Nel had ferried food stuff from the fridge to the living room, using the bike they brought in from outside. They were picnicking on 2 large towels, and needless to say, there were crumbs and dirt tracks everywhere in the living room.

Some days I’d find her in the shower…and judging by the way the water’s running out of the tub, she’s been in there for at least half hour, having imaginary conversations with her dolls. There would be damp towels on the bathroom floor, EMPTY bottles of soap and shampoo coz she’s bathed her dolls. [she’s done this many times…despite warnings…it’s time for the paddle?]

I won’t even begin to mention the mess in the kitchen and in the FRIDGE! Sometimes I laugh coz it’s so amusing, but most days I put on a stern voice and very firmly make her clear every single bit of mess she’s created. Still I have to do the mopping and vacuuming after she’s cleared up.

What am I gonna do with this child of mine? As I write this, my fridge is a mess coz she’s stuffed it with crackers and sandwiches she’s made for everyone, ice cubes she’s made in diff containers. And now she’s sleeping in an imaginary bed made by Nel underneath the curtains, surrounded by toys. This bed by the way is amazing. Built by Nel it even includes lighting (made by attaching a flashlight to a very long rope tied to the curtains).

Shall I send her to boarding school to reduce the mess in the house? I guess…not an option for now, probably never.... sigh

2010-03-05T15:02:00.004+08:00

My grandma passed away last year, but thoughts of her remain fresh in my memory. Grandma was a woman of prayer, a woman of faith. I spent many afternoons with her when I was young as she would babysit us whenever my parents were busy at work.

My favourite memory is of my AhMa in her rocking chair, chuckling at our mischievous antics, and sometimes threatening us with the cane if we got out of hand. :) Often, while fanning herself with the old fashioned paper fan, she'd take out an old chinese calender (the ones where you tear the pages out as the day passes). She'd say in Hokkien "teach me the ABC's" and I would teach her, as she practiced, and struggled especially in pronouncing her R's and L's. She loved to learn, and it's amazing how she's read the whole Bible despite not having proper education during her childhood.

In between all these hours spent with her, she'd spend time reminding us to pray. Prayer before meals was always a lengthy afair. When younger, I could never understand her complicated Hokkien, and never really did....I'd just wait wait and wait till I heard her say Amen, then gladly eat my food.

When I was older I realised that her prayers were lengthy simply coz she'd pray for all her children, naming them one by one (10 children!) and then pray for her grandchildren (22 altogether).

I'll never forget the time before I left for the US to further my studies. I sat with her and listened as she spoke. She said "whatever you do, you must put God first. Always remember to pray (ki-to). Don't ever find a guy who's not a Christian. WHen you find a guy, make sure he's someone who loves the Lord...and remember to come home when you're done. Remember...always kito, kito."

I know that when I was away she prayed for me at least twice a day. I know coz she told me so. Perhaps that is the reason why, when at least 80% of my friends dropped away from church, I kept going. It has to be my grandma and my parents' prayers.

One winter vacation when I visited her, she received me with hugs and kisses and said "come, come eat with me. I've only cooked a simple lunch, come eat with me." before we ate she told me "I pray for all my children and all of you at least 2 times a day. Let's pray first." I sat there, partially understanding her prayer...as she mentioned again the names of her 10 children and 20 over grandchildren one by one.

WHen I came back for good...she prayed that I'd find a good husband (and also tried to matchmake with her friend's grandchildren from church!). She prayed for me...all the time. When she left it was very hard to let her go.... but these words of her remain embedded in my heart till now.... "ki-to, ki-to", pray pray. Whenever I face troubles, worries...I'm reminded "ki-to."

I'm not a perfect mum.... but I hope that I will be able to pass this on to my children...that in all circumstances to remain steadfast in the Lord, to trust in Him...and ki-to, to pray, to pray.

2010-03-02T09:47:00.005+08:00

Part of bringing up my children is allowing them to enjoy nature. And thus, we headed for yet another adventure, this time to Endau Rompin, and I can’t stop thinking about the wonderful time we had there. I miss that place. The whole vacation was just absolutely beautiful….beautiful weather, the sound of the gurgling river right beside our camping ground, the singing of the gibbon early in the morning, the funny “three tone” toad as I call it coz of it’s song…the singing of the insects…the cool weather. Magical is how I’d describe the place. Most of all, what made it so beautiful were the people who came along with us.

our campground

We were four families, living together on the same ground, sharing food and water. 10 adults and 11 VERY ENERGETIC LOVELY children. :) The first day was spent just lazing in the refreshing stream followed by a sumptuous meal of BBQ-ed stuff. What followed was shadow theatre, chit chatting and great fun and fellowship.
children doing shadow show :)

Our second day was in every way unforgettable. Based on the advice of the office at Bekok, we decided to track to Takah Berangin since it was only a 2 1/2 km walk, while Takah Tinggi was a 4 km walk. What WRONG advice it was! Later we found out that although Takah Berangin was only 21/2 hours walk, it would take the same duration as the other..total estimated time for both are 2 hours. Reason is that the path to Takah Berangin contained some very steep terrain and is the toughest track from our campground. Can you imagine us, especially 3 and 4 year old Lu and Jo doing that track? Thank GOD, we all MADE IT safely!

We got to the waterfall after a very very tiring and strenuous 3 hours, esp for the children (but which was also exciting with views of a millipede nest, elephant dung, exotic plants and insects!).

one of the many interesting sights along the way. A nest of millipedes

And yes, the waterfall was every bit worth it!!!! Beautiful and windy as it’s name-Takah Berangin! When you get to the centre of the pool you feel a very strong wind blowing, and also natural fish spa! yeap, could not get the fish to stop nibbling my feet! haha..

our guide in the middle of the falls. no photo of me in the falls

The journey back was equally tiring, and half way Jo fell asleep and poor daddy had to carry her.

Lu too fell asleep and Josh had to carry him. Finally ¾ way back, Josh unable to take the stress of carrying Lu any longer, put Lu down, and SLIPPED!!! His shouts and groans that followed were really frightening…. My first thought was that he’d broken his legs, but found out he had sprained BOTH legs! We prayed…fervently, but the guide told us to move on, as we had to get the children back before nightfall or it would get dangerous on the steep descent. We got out safely…and later when Josh finally came out with two walking sticks (GREAT THANKS to DING!) we all cheered and thanked God.

Night was delicious dinner …and the super children still very energetic despite the total tracking time of 6 hours, visited each other’s tents, had more fun doing shadow shows, playing with the torch, building sand castles at night and telling stories. There was so much laughter, so much freedom and joy…all under the beautiful Chap Goh Mei moonlit sky.

refusing to sleep they played late into the night under the clear moonlit sky... So lovely to hear the giggling and laughter of children playing their hearts out..

We didn’t want to leave on the third day and after a hearty breakfast right by the stream…

children feeding the fish before jumping in for a swim later.

we jumped into the stream and stayed every minute of the morning playing in the stream…..till the packing team shouted “TIME TO LEAVE!”.

Then with a heavy sigh and heart, we reluctantly got into dry clothes and headed home. I’ll definitely be there again…… When I asked the children “do you want to come back here again?” they shouted with a unifying “YES!!!!” Ian suggested we should stay for a month! Now I’m not sure if that’s possible! Hahaha….

We parents were definitely proud of our FABULOUS kids who made it through that tough climb to the falls. The guide told us, they were the first group of children he'd ever taken to the falls. Hats off to them! :)

2010-03-02T09:38:00.003+08:00

My dad, who made us beautiful, huge, magnificent kites when me and my bro were young, decided he wanted to share his passion for kites with his grandchildren. So he invited us for an evening at Pantai Remis (located near K. Selangor).

The beach there is partly sandy and MOSTLY MUDDY! it's an excellent place to dig for mussels, lalas, cockershells. (oh yeah, fishing too!) Well...my children enjoyed flying kites for a while, but in the end abandoned the kites for something more TEMPTING,--------> MUD! MUD! MUD!I remember warning my children before leaving home "DO NOT WET YOUR CLOTHES!" It never occured to me that the warning should have been "DO NOT GET YOURSELF DIRTY!" and thus this is what happened..............

first muddy hands.....and feet...

then muddy dress..... and the ultimate...muddy spots on face! *uughh!*
So you know, if you have very inquisitive kids who don't mind some/a lot of dirt...beware! haha...Overall, P Remis is an ordinary beach, I give it a rating of C- or D. A little dangerous coz of the cars parked on the beach and Mat Rempits. However, SUNSET there is REALLY beautiful, I think lovely for artists and photographers.!

Nel walking on rocks as the sun sets..

lovely sunset

Anyway, yeah to clean Jo up, we headed to the nice clean toilet with the nice keeper, but it was closed. So we found another one located behind the stalls, where we had to pay 30cents each and 1$ for Jo. The lady was terribly RUDE!As for going back there......I'd say maybe..... but my children would answer with a YES

2010-02-02T14:57:00.005+08:00

WE climbed Broga Hill (near Semenyih) on Mon, and my children can't stop talking about it. My children, especially Nel totally loved that trip. We arrived Broga at 7:30am, although ideally 7am would be better coz it gets hot quite early.

the start of the climb. palm oil estate and the jungle in the first 10-15 mins of climb.

Anyway, I discovered that my daughter Nel, and my bro’s 2 older kids are way way fitter than me! They ran while I was taking it step by step. (Man! I’m so UNFIT!) but then again, I had to look after Jo who is not as fast and strong yet, while Ml had to look after Lu. There were times when the 3 older children were a peak ahead of me!

Altogether there are 3 peaks at Broga. I think the longest climb would be the one to first peak.The rest are easier, although the constant climbing can be tiring for an unfit person.

beautiful view from the 1st peak

photo of 2nd peak (taken while resting on 1st peak)

3rd peak! the children's favourite !

Children loved 3rd peak, coz there’s a tiny portion where you have to use ropes to help you over the boulders. They absolutely loved that. As for little Jo who’s not much of a climber, lotsa hugs, encouraging words and snacks got her to the top of 3rd peak too. Thank God for the cold ribena which I’d prepared the night before, that really helped her through. All together we took 3 hours, which included stops for sandwiches, snacks, drinks, and chit-chat on top of second peak with friends. I think Nel would've accomplished it at a much shorter time, coz she was running most of the way.

Coming down was a little more tricky coz the path is mostly sandy, so it was a slippery descent. On certain paths where there were hardly any clear steps, the children took the opportunity to slide down. And mind you, they did it at quite high speed, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves! Almost like sledding on ice! Haha… (I overheard some adults saying “we should try sliding too but none did. Haha..

journey down..

Lastly I think anybody can do Broga, coz even little Lu who’s just 3, made it all the way (but it included several tiny falls) and sheer determination, coz he practically crawled some of the steeper paths and all without complaining too! Bravo him!

Little Lu (my bro's 3 yr old), refused to be carried, and climbed like this most of the journey

Things to bring along if you’ve got young kids joining-

-power drink (ribena), junk food, chocolates, tissue, wet wipes, change of clothes, band-aid, hats, sun block and good shoes.

To cool off after the climb, we proceeded to the waterfall at Hutan Lipur. Very suitable for children as it has a lovely, shallow stream with lots of sand for play.

Then we headed off to the famous ikan bakar (grilled fish) shop located behind the Chinese temple. we were very hungry and ordered about 5 fish cooked Asam, tomyam, spicy bean sauce, steamed and nyonya. Very fresh.

This is the restaurant which serves good ikan bakar in Broga

The children did not want the day to end yet, so we went to Rabbit Funland, (right across from the entrance to Broga Hill) where they fed and petted goats/kids, rabbits, ponies and monkeys. The highlight was watching newborn rabbits….and of course chillin in the hammock with an icecream after a very long long exciting day.

newborn baby rabbits

2010-01-28T08:12:00.007+08:00

the wonderful part of working half day is that i get to spend time doin stuff with my children in the mornings. We've decided to pull Jo out from kindy for a while and see how it goes. So far, i think she's quite a self-directed learner.

Yesterday for instance, we started off the day by reading from the Bible (NIV) about Joseph. Having finished, we had some delicous omelette for breakfast. Then she decided to draw some pics. Here's what she drew.

It's a pic of our house, surrounded by fruit trees. See the alphabets on her picture? she decided to label them all, and that in a way is a lesson in writing and phonetics.

The second one is about a little banana who decides to explore the world of trees and fruits. Something she's been interested in lately. He's standing amongst some pineapples while the other trees are smiling at him. there are also squirrel holes on all the trees. THe third tree from the left is a banana tree with smiling bananas! haha..

Then of course, she had to draw her usual Ariel the mermaid, something she's been crazy about for more than a year now!!

Later she told me she wanted to open a shop. So she made this sign, and drew a computer for her shop.

this is the computer which she drew. And she kinda "typed" on it everytime i purchased an item. And it would produce imaginary receipts. haha..

I asked her "what shop would you like to have Jo?" and she told me, "a jewelery shop."

She asked if she could sell some of mine, (haha) and I said "Jo, if you want to earn some money, then you've got to work hard for it. I'm afraid you'll have to make your own."

So we got some beads out, and she made these, a bracelet and a pair of earrings. I helped her knot it at the end. She told me it was hard work. haha....

Finally ready, she placed them between some pillows, which she called her treasure box. She charged me $2 for each item, and when i paid her, she even gave me change! I asked her why, and she said "mum, I'm the seller, so I can lower the price when I want coz I'm a kind seller." :)

Then we read some from Peter and Jane, did a little math. and she went off to play.

Night time, she and Nel requested to be read from the book "The Little Princess" by F. H. Burnett. I highly recommend it. Makes lovely reading and good material for discussion.

and she ended the day by coloring this. Yeah, a good day for a 4 1/2 year old i think.

refusal to go to school

2010-01-23T12:13:00.001+08:00

i thought Jodie would fit right in school and have a fun-filled days. She seemed to make friends easily and is a keen learner. Alas...my thoughts were wrong. It's been 3 weeks now, and everyday has been a struggle.

out of 100 5 year olds in that school, my daughter is the only one who wails and clings tightly to me, refusing to let me go, and making me promise to get her early. Why is she the only one? It can't be the system if the other 99 fit in perfectly. I'm beginning to think it's seperation anxiety.... I checked a few links and most said children should settle within 2 weeks.

This week her crying has somewhat worsen. The thing is, when I pick her from school, she's perfectly happy. We go for lunch and then back home. Around 3pm, she starts worrying and asking if she has to go to school the next day, saying "mum...you must promise to pick me up early.." by nightfall, her panic increases... and she will say in between sobs "mum...I will miss you, mum, promise me to pick me early.... mum, the teacher is fierce...but mum, i will miss you, i will miss you, i will miss you......"

yesterday when evening came, she asked "mum, is it night already? why does it turn dark so early mum? mum, when I get up I will miss you...." I told her she had no school on sat. Yet she went to the door, praying aloud... "God, please please, make the day longer so the night won't come so soon. God, please because if night comes too early, I'll have to sleep and in the morning I will miss my mummy...please God..please..." followed by more crying.

what do I do from a psychological point of view? some of the pages say that I must allow my child to face her fears and her fear will reduce eventually. Yet some say it must be treated with care, or it would have a life time impact on her. how do I treat it? if i let her stay home...will I be helping her? or making it worse coz she will never deal with it? ........... does she have seperation anxiety disorder or is this normal?

2010-01-14T11:00:00.006+08:00

3 years ago, I wrote about how Nel's crappy swimming teacher shouted at her when she refused to put her head in the water. She was just 5 then. it got to a point where the teacher shouted and shouted while Nel cried torrents of tears. It ended when I furiously marched to the pool side, angry with the teacher, frustrated with Nel.

Somebody wrote, "if an adult teacher cannot imagine how a child feels like when putting her head in the water for the first time, then he should stick his head in a bucket of oil/flour and know how terrifying it can be."

Anyway, when I first pulled her out from that crappy swimming class, several people told me I was being an over protective mother and must learn to toughen up, and let my child face tough moments. Some told me I was gonna create a sissy child and to stop spoiling my child.

I didn't listen to them. I listened to my motherly instincts.

I taught her myself for almost a year to help her overcome the fear of water. Finally when I felt she was ready, I enrolled her in another class with a diff teacher. At first it went ok. Then came time for her to swim a lap by herself. While swimming halfway, she choked and panicked. The teacher grabbed her but asked her to continue. She replied "I can't, i'm too tired, I can't go on."

The teacher insisted "I don't care! you swim to the end!!" Nel replied "I really cannot, please don't make me do it, I cannot."

Instead of being understanding, the teacher raised her voice and shouted "I don't care you swim, you swim, you swim!!!!!"

Nel started crying, and screaming. Then in anger, the teacher threw her into deeper water. I saw my daughter go under several times, gasping for breath. I ran to the pool and shouted for the teacher to stop! She stopped.

I lodged a complain against her, she resigned. Some people thought I was being soft again. but I think, when a child is young, it is a mother's right to protect her child against such mean teachers.

Nel switched teachers for the 3rd time. it's been several months now, and she enjoys it very much. She's done breast stroke and free style (in training now). Her teacher commented yesterday that she was doing very well. With this current teacher, she even overcame her fear of jumping into deep water.

So mothers....I don't think we should teach our children to be "tough" now. I think, when they are young, a teacher's personality matters. I'd prefer my child to enjoy what she's learning, rather than putting up with a mean teacher, just to learn to be tough.

nel swimming

helping out in the kitchen

2010-01-11T21:21:00.004+08:00

last week Jojo started kindy. I registered her last Feb and had paid the deposit. It is the kindy that Nel went to, and she had so much fun there so I thought I'd let Jo experience a year or 2 there. Thought of withdrawing this year, but hubby said to give it a shot. So far it's been crying spells every morning! she will turn 5 in August, but everymorning she wakes and tells me "mummy, i'm only 3 years old. mum, i'm too young to go to school, I want to stay with mummy."
ahh...it melts my heart to hear that, and I so feel like withdrawing her immediately. but I guess, I'm gonna try to be strong on this one and wait it through a month and see how she does.

As for the home, my children have taken a greater interest in helping me prepare meals recently. Almost everytime I am in the kitchen, i'd hear Jo or Nel asking "mum, may I help?" So far here's how they've helped out:-

-making the spread for egg sandwich. (danelle knows the ingredients and mixes the whole thing by herself, and Jo is fast learning.)

-buttering the bread

-helping to marinade the chicken/beef before cooking (even Jo knows the ingredients now. :))

-using a butter knife to cut mushrooms, luncheon meat, baked potatoes, papaya, fish cake etc.

-plucking spinach leaves from stalk

- helping to pound garlic

- shredding seaweed

-baking cookies

- scooping food out from the wok after it's cooled down

-making own milo and ribena

I'm sure the list will grow longer as they grow. :)

2009-08-27T17:03:00.004+08:00

Of late, the pain in my neck, and back seems worse. I also get these tension headaches almost everyday, and sleep is often disturbed. I've seen a rheumatologist and orthopaedic, and they all say nothing's wrong. So there's nothing wrong? but the pain in my body persists.

I'm now seeing a chiropractor. So far, he's hardly done any chiropractor stuff. What he does is dry needling and trigger point massage.
Dry needling hurts, for me at least. It feels like a needle inserted into a nerve causing a painful sensation. So far, it's been 4 sessions. He says, it'll take a while before I feel any relief, since my pain is rather chronic. Let's pray and hope it will bring relief, coz I'm sick of the pain, really sick of it.
I know, I hardly write like this....I guess, I've come to the limit of what I can bear. I feel tired most days.

Putting that aside, today I taught at the refugee center. What can I say, their struggles are far more than what I've ever endured. Stuck in between nowhere, no legal status, fear of being caught and tortured.... life is certainly not fair for them. For those who've gotten UN approval to go on to new countries, I rejoice with them. For those who are still stuck here.... I pray for them. The children are such eager learners....they absorb stuff like sponges. What a joy to teach them. :)

I hear there is another group nearby. They've requested for help, many children there, and they don't even have food somedays....

Perhaps...if you know some refugee centers near you, you could do something to help. My life is kinda interesting at this point, I still lecture at the university on some days, I have some private students, and then I spend half of the hours teaching orphans and refugees.

As for my children, they come with me when I teach. I think it's good for them. They observe what I do. When we eat with them (the refugees), my children help to serve food to these less fortunate children. Truly it is more blessed to give then to receive.

end of post. I know....mostly rambling. Will end here...raining outside..how lovely :)

English Grey Tea, turned blue

2009-08-05T13:52:00.003+08:00

I was doing some water colour painting yesterday when hubby came home. Since hubby was home, I decided to give total focus to my art to catch up for lost time. While I was painting I heard hubby mumbling something like

"My colleague brought back special Grey Tea from England and gave me a satchet to try. I saved it just for you, it's really special."

I mumbled "ok" and continued with my art work. A little later, he brought a lovely warm cup of grey tea and placed it next to me. "Here it is" he said, "try it."

I mumbled "ok" and continued painting.

Hubby disappeared from my sight. I then, *sigh* subconsciously dipped my ENTIRE paint brush, loaded with prussion blue, straight into the precious cup of English Grey tea. Yes, the only sachet of Grey Tea, which his colleague brought back from England, which hubby refused to drink coz he was saving it just for me.

Hubby came by looked at the cup, and I swear, his eyes opened wider than I've ever seen, when he saw the blue spattered all over the top of the tea cup, and dripping into the Grey Tea, turning it into a funny shade of colour. (sheepish grin)

ok, at first, he was a little mad....... and then, we had to laugh and REALLY laugh about it!
Anyway, then I told him, a month ago, I'd bought some Grey tea from Marks and Spencer, and told him, perhaps it might taste the same. So we settled for that. hahaha.....

2009-07-14T22:37:00.002+08:00

Mr.L was a very weird, lonely man. He was tall and skinny and bonny. So bonny even his cheeks sank in instead of popping out nicely like red apples. He spoke with a Very loud voice, but funnily he’d tell little kids off for speaking too loudly.

Mr L was never married, he lived alone next door to my parents. All he had were his 5 shirts, 2 pants and a motorbike. We are not sure what furniture he had in his house, coz he’s never invited anyone in. (I know what shirts he had, coz he always washed them and hung them very neatly on the line outside.)

Every morning, Mr L would put on his best work shirt, and his best work pants which were three quarters long, barely reaching to his ankle. Then he’d get on his grumpy motorbike and coax it to start. That darn bike would spitter sputter and choke but would refuse to start till Mr. L did some tinkering and knocking here and there. Then off they’d go to work. Again, I’m not sure what he did for a living, but someone said he sold ice.

In the evenings, Mr L would come back, change to his tattered white singlet with holes here and there; and put on a different pair of three quarter length pants with thread dangling at the end. I’m not sure why his pants were always too short, perhaps he grew taller in his old age (he must be about 50 something) or perhaps his pants shrunk. Then Mr. L would pick up a long sharp stick and go check his barren brown, dry garden for any fallen leaves. He’d pick the leaves one by one, then go outside and sweep the leaves on the ground while mumbling and grumbling about why the government shouldn’t plant trees, for they create unnecessary mess with all the falling leaves.

Once a poor old cat sat in Mr. L’s very hard brown garden. I said poor cat, coz Mr. L picked up a long stick, held it with two hands and raised it above his head. Then slowly with his eyes popping out, he approached the cat, and chased it with all his might out of the garden, across the road and into the next lane. Now, if I was the cat, I’d never step in there EVER. And smart as cats are, none of them ever returned to this garden.

I’m not sure if Mr L ever ate well, but I know he listened to music at nights. Perhaps he had a very old record in his house? For we’d hear Chinese opera or Beethoven’s symphonies blasting ever so loudly, so loudly we’d hear it through the walls of my parent’s house, across the street and several streets down.

One fine day…Mr. L’s bike broke down. It spittered and sputtered as usual, but refused to start. So Mr L had no choice but to cycle to work. Now cycling on the very very busy highway is surely a very dangerous act, especially if the bike is an old rusty one with no reflectors. He met with an accident one day and landed in the hospital for a few days.

Thereafter he became a little afraid of cycling and started to buy parts hoping to build his motorbike again. I’m not sure why he didn’t just buy a brand new one. In the mean time, he had to cycle to work, but more cautiously.

Last week, Mr.L didn’t come home for a few days. We grew worried, but thought perhaps he’d decided to take a break and visit his sisters. My mum worried even climbed over the fence to make sure Mr. L had not fainted in his own house. 6th day came and no Mr. L. Then in the morning, my mum heard a boom on his door and went to see if Mr L had returned.

Alas, no Mr.L but his three sisters. Mr.L met with another accident, and the police only informed his family 3 whole days later. This time,…… Mr. L, did not survive. His sisters did not find anything in his house worth taking, they couldn’t even find the documents to the house in which he lived.Though he was somewhat strange, we will always miss the sounds of him tinkering and knocking the bike, the loud opera music and in a strange way, his loud complaining voice. Rest in peace Mr. L.

vacation

2009-06-16T09:34:00.003+08:00

well, the 2 week hols just flew by too quickly. :( We spent 8 days in a quiet cool place with no TV, no Computer and no Radio. Cool huh? haha.... We awoke every morning to fresh misty air coming in through our balcony.

Enjoyed it so much the children were reluctant to even come home. We spent most of our time reading, doing puzzles, jungle trekking (this was when I got stung by a furry caterpillar..yukk and ouch!!!!!!), bird watching, insect hunting, butterfly watching. I must say, my children have turned out to be true nature lovers, or perhaps I've influenced them to be so.

Our longest walk (bird watching) was 3 hours, and I'm proud of my little Jo who walked every step with us. :)

There were days spent at a cool stream where they built sandcastles, and Nel had great fun throwing objects upstream to see the course it would take while flowing downstream. I had fun with that too, and so did her grandpa. hahaha....

I'm just looking forward to the next hols .....but alas they seem so far away.....

now....if I can only find the right remedy to heal the sting. It's 5 days now and it's still swollen, itchy and painful, although the level of pain has subsided.

laundry

2009-06-04T00:21:00.003+08:00

Yesterday I put some clothes in the washer to wash.....

Then I had to teach, get lunch for the children. and in the noon I and kids rushed off to the refugee center. we had a lovely time there, although it was hot and crowded with so many many children. There were moments I was near to tears when we all sang together, but I held back my tears...why should I cry in front of them, when they need encouragement instead, after going through such tough and trying times. When I read their stories...I cry.

Evening came, and we celebrated my dad's birthday at dinner come karaoke. was fun. Came home, and found my laundry smelling damp and yucky , still in the washer.

Today, I added a few clothes to yesterday's yucky damp clothes in the washer, and put them all for another round of washing.

Folded my very high pile of laundry, got lunch for the kids, did some important stuff and rushed off to the library coz books were due. Dad called to say shirt was too big, so I went to collect it and rushed off to the mall to have it changed.

Evening came, got home and realised that once again, I'd forgotten to dry the clothes. Again they smell yucky and damp. :(

TOmorrow will be day 3 and third time of washing the very SAME clothes that I put into the washer yesterday. Perhaps, I'll add just one or 2 more shirts and rewash them for the 3rd time. I don't know if I will remember to dry them tomorrow coz I've got a full day of teaching. I pray I will remember...coz right before my eyes, I see a few loads waiting to be washed...

compulsive liar? i hope not.

2009-05-15T14:24:00.002+08:00

Just didn't feel like doing anything last night. Jo (now 3+ yrs old) however, wanted to play and kept asking "what do you want to do mum?" I kept replying "nothing."
Finally, thouroughly fed up with my answer, she took a deep breath and said very sternly

"Why don't you want to do anything? All you want to do is nothing....if all you want to do is nothing..then I am going to do something and you can do your nothing while I do something!"

And mind you, she said it all in one big breath. hahahaha.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
on a walk with Jo yesterday we came across some very big roots. I asked her "Jo, what do roots do?" without hesitation she replied "roots for for tripping people!" hahaha...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

now on a serious matter...Jo's been telling lies quiet a bit lately. I'm trying my best to deal with it..but she keeps at it. Yesterday for instance 3 big lies.

No.1) she was building blocks and showed me her creation. I told her it was lovely and left the room. Several minutes later, I heard a loud moan and she said "it broke, mum, it broke!!" I entered the room and the blocks were broken apart. I asked her "how did it break?"
she replied "it fell off the bed."
"How did it fall off the bed Jo?"
Jo said, "well, the bed was wiggling and so the blocks fell off."
"hmm...so were you jumping on the bed to make it wiggle?"
"No mum, I didn't jump on the bed, it wiggled by itself. "
"bed can't wiggle by itself, tell teh truth!"
"ok,ok" said Jo. "The blanket was wobbling coz the wind blew it, and it made the bed wiggle and.."
"Jo, I think your nose is growing longer...."
Jo touched her nose and asked "Like Pinocchio's?"
I nodded.
"ok mum, the truth is I took the blocks apart"

She she took it apart and pretended to moan! I can't believe it!
XXXXXXXX

No.2.
me: "Jo, go to the toilet, we have to go out soon, and I won't use the dirty public toilets."
Jo: "ok mum" and she went off to the toilet. She was in there about 30 seconds and came out.
Me: "so quickly jo? did you flush?"
Jo: "oh, I forgot."
Me:" let's go flush."

we went to the toilet and I noticed that we water in the toilet bowl was crystal clear, not a drop of pee. so I said sternly "Jo, did you shee-shee (pee) ?? tell me the truth."
Jo looked at me sheepishly and replied "errm...actually I didn't." So I made her pee there and then. *sigh*
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

no.3. Jo: "mum, I need tissue.
Me: why?
Jo: nothing
me: tell the truth
jo: ok,ok, I spilled some water
Me: where did you get the water? where is the cup?
Jo: umm....missing
Me: ok, now tell me what you spilled??? (I already knew it was glue, but wanted her to say it for herself.)
Jo: ummmm...ok,ok, I spilled glue

There's a whole lot more ... I'm trying to praise her when she tells the truth. I've told her the story of the boy who cried wolf, and tried several other methods. but it's not working yet. Any tips???

my little messenger

2009-05-13T15:23:00.003+08:00

we mothers/fathers sometimes use our children as messengers, and i did just that yesterday. hubby works late and I wondered if he'd be willing to go for a run at the field.

So I told Jo to call her dad and told her to say "dad, please come back by 7 so you can go run wit mummy. It is not safe for women to run alone. If you don't come, mummy will be running alone among the strange men."

I then dialled the phone and asked Jo to talk. Here's what she said to her daddy "Dad....dad, you must come home by 7 to run with mummy. There are many robbers you know, bad robbers. Dad, you Better come home, or mummy will RUN AWAY with the men!!"

I thought that was so hilarious. hahaha..

______________________________
Nel....she's been so busy with school work and homework she hardly gets to do anything else. She's lost weight too. Here's what she misses now she's at school..
she misses....evening walks,
.......cycling to the park,
....... visits to the library
... playing in the stream
......splashing in puddles after the rain
.... walking the dog..... She is missing out on so much, coz the school keeps giving MORE AND MORE AND MORE homework!!!

These 2 weeks it's exam time. You'd think teachers would give homework a break so the child can do revision, but NO. Last night she had so much homework she only slept at midnight! I get so frustrated. *sigh*

2009-04-24T10:26:00.003+08:00

my daughters have been crazy about princesses. Jodie is near obsession with Ariel (little Mermaid)..... and i'm beginning to think Ariel is bad influence. Obsession is never a good thing anyway..... She even dreams of Ariel, acts like Ariel and already talks of marrying a prince someday. I tell her that real life prince are hardly nice people.

Anyway...they were discussing princesses as usual yesterday together with their cousin Lyd. They made a list of princesses together with drawings they made themselves. I don't have a camera yet (the last was stolen when the thief broke into my house), thus no pics of their drawings. The pics i guarantee would have brought big smiles to your faces as it did to mine. haha.... Anyway, the list went like this...

1) Gjesmeen (Jasmine from Aladin, if you didn't get it)

2) Cinderela (almost accurate spelling here, except for one L)

3) Sno Whit

4) Moolan (yeah..mooo like a cow! haha...)

5) Ariel (this one they can spell perfectly)

6) Bell

and......this is the best, they spelled her

Slipping Butty !!

my very last conversation with Ah Ma

2009-04-09T08:03:00.006+08:00

My grandma was discharged from the hospital last weekend. Somehow…by a miracle….the hemorrhaging stopped.

For me the episode was like God forewarning us that…..Ahma’s life on earth would not be for long. Her heart has been weak, and she’s been surviving on just tiny heart vessels coz all her major arteries have been clogged up. How long more she’d have…we weren’t sure.

So I visited her last Saturday at her place. I’m glad I did. When I arrived, she had just been shifted to her wheel chair. She had been feeling tired and wanted to go lie down. But as soon as she saw me, her tiredness left. :) She insisted on being moved back to her day chair. Her maid/nurse refused to move her, and left to do work in the kitchen.

Then Ahma made her own attempt at getting up, and she’s too frail for this, so my hubby helped move her back to her own day chair. I sat next to her, and she looked up at me and smiled…such a child like smile, expressing real happiness. We talked for a while..and she seemed to remember me. Some moments she would look at me and study my face intently and at other moments fade into her own world….calling her maid and daughters every 2 minutes.

While she was in hospital… the lost of blood and drop in oxygen at one point affected her brains…causing her to loose memory. So for her to remember me for a while meant a lot.

Then we sat in silence for a while and suddenly she looked at me and asked “lu eh laubu leh?” (where’s your mum?)
I replied in Chinese “she’s in the kitchen, preparing your meal.”
Ahma looked at me and said “Ee u lai meh?” (she came?)
I said “yes Ahma, she came.”
Ahma looked at me doubtingly and asked “tiang si lu eh lau bu?” (who’s your mum?)
I replied that she was Mary……and she looked at me and asked “lu si tiang?” (who are you?)

It was so strange having such a conversation with my own grandma. After a while…she kinda recollected who I was again. Then it started to rain very heavily…Grandma kept asking several people if her window was shut. She refused to believe any of them that her windows had been shut properly and kept asking about it every minute. Finally I told her I’d go check. I walked to her room, stayed there for a while so she’d think I was shutting the windows, coz yea, they were shut already long time ago.

I came out, held her arm and said “Ahma, I’ve shut your windows, don’t worry, no rain is gonna get in.” She looked at me, with child like expression again and a smile and said “cin eh ah?" (really?) lu u sim, lu u sim. Kam sia, kamsia.” (you have a heart, thank you, thank you.)

Finally she had a headache, I massaged her head a little and then they sent her to bed and I went home.

I never knew…..that’d be my last conversation with my Ahma. She passed away last night....

I’m honored to be called her grandchild. She who raised 10 children and put her full faith and trust in God. She who encouraged her children and grandchildren to put God and prayer first in everything. I am truly blessed….

I know she’s in a better place…. But honestly…it is hard to let go…very hard… and I can't stop crying...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To my Ahma, I won't say "rest in peace" coz I know you're not sleeping, but already in a better place where there's no pain, where there's much joy, in the arms of our Heavenly Father. I miss you...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
my brother wrote this on his notes:

I was at Lin Wei's, Ampang. She had fractured her leg, so I had to visit. Cindy came along. I had just finished defending how having 10 well brought up children was better than having just 1. I explained to Lin Wei's mom how my grandma have 10 children and NONE are delinquent in caring for their mother. All give a share of their little and plenty to her every month, and all chip in for her hospital bills and other comforts.
And then the phone rang. "Ah Ma passed away," said my sister. "What?" I retorted... not knowing how to react... I had no answers... And so I dropped Cindy off and headed straight to my Ah Ma's in PJ.

I was tempted to not go. I did not want to see all the crying. But I knew that I was being selfish. I switched my focus onto my mom. I love my mom and want to be there for her when it counts most. She was always there for me... And so I went...And there they were, all standing and some sitting beside her lifeless body, praying and thanking God for her awesome life.

Tears involuntarily streamed down and I was overcome with grief. I could not believe it had happened so fast. Just 12 days after she was discharged from hospital.As I stood there shoulder to shoulder with my cousin Martin and uncle SK, we sobbed and we prayed... and as I looked around, I lamented: "There is life in death. Even in such a close knitted family, Ah Ma's death brought everyone closer in an instant. Even as death took place, the depths of our hearts became alive, and love overflowed. No pretense, no machismo, but in all real humility, the men along with the women cried openly.

How ironic... life in death....I could only imagine how even torn families with soured relationships may at that moment repair itself and put differences aside... unite and brave the mourning together... Ah, but tonite, I mourn the lost of my beloved Ah Ma... my beloved Ah Ma... I said My beloved Ah Ma... Goodbye Ah Ma... rest well... And this is our comfort: that because Jesus loves her, He's taken her home, to a better place where she rejoins her beloveds... Ah Kong and Aunt Annie.... and there will be no more pain and suffering... and one day, we will all be together for all eternity. Hallelujah! Amen!

2009-03-29T23:55:00.003+08:00

my Ah-ma, my dear grandmama, the pillar of strength in the lives of her many children and grandchildren has become rather frail lately....at times acting child like. Her source of strength has always been God. She used to pray no less than 3 times a day for all her 10 children and 20+ grandchildren.... and because of that, we've seen God's blessings showered upon her family down to her great grandchildren. I'm so blessed to have such an Ahma, for she's taught me the power of prayer and faith and hope in God.

I have many beautiful memories of my Ahma, and today they all came flooding back to me as I drove. ..... memories from when I was a little girl, sitting by her rocking chair teaching her the Alphabets while she taught me to write my name in Chinese, memories of having lunch just with her alone, and listening to her pray....

My grandma was hospitalized yesterday... she had massive blood lost and was rushed to the ICU. Several times she glimpsed upwards and smiled as if ready to go into her Maker's hands....but God sustained her...and she's a little better today, though still very weak.

I'm praying that God will heal her.....

2009-03-25T20:21:00.002+08:00

wow....a month since I blogged. Juggling part time work and household chores and cooking is not easy. Sometimes i wished i worked full time, that way I wouldn't have to worry about cooking lunch and cleaning constant mess, just send em to the babysitters. At other times I wished I was full time mum, so I wouldn't have to rush my household chores and the children. I'm constantly rushing so I can get to work on time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyway...today was an interesting day. I spent the afternoon at an NGO, auditioning underpriviledged children and orphans. If all goes as planned, I will be teaching music to these underpriviledged children starting next month.

I remember the first time I volunteered at an orphanage the year I came back from the US. I helped out at 2 orphanages and it was in many ways a rewarding experience. Most of the time these children wanted someone to talk to, someone who'd love them, who'd come regularly and not drop out like many volunteers do.

Sometimes teaching them is not easy. There was this time I was teaching a group of 6-7 year olds music. I think there were 10 of them. I remember how they came barefooted in shabby clothes. It was hard teaching that class. Everyone wanted to sit next to me, and hold my hands....so there was much shoving and pushing and I spent most of the time trying to control these children. At one time I told them "Let's hold hands and make a circle and dance around." So I had like 2-3 children holding parts of my hands, and some hanging on to my shirt...and we moved, not in a perfect circle, but more like a perfect blob of people, all clinging on to me.

Anyway, today's children seem pretty talented, especially in rhythm and dance! they could hip-hop, do break dance, do hand stands and cartwheels. Interesting. Some of them were so shy...and some so very brave and independent. But they all had huge lovely eyes....

I don't know yet what teaching them will be like.... I anticipate that a few of them will be a problem.. Some may have ADHD i think...and problems understanding. Most of them speak Tamil. we'll see when time comes, but I am already looking forward to the time when classes will begin.

A walk in the rain

2009-02-23T08:31:00.004+08:00

We met up with some very dear friends who'd just come back from abroad. A lovely meeting after many years. We had been brainstorming about all the possible places to go..and in the end we went to a forest nearby.
Just before we left the clouds turned black.... but we decided to go ahead, hoping it'd be one of those showers that would end in just 5 minutes. Alas, we were wrong. As soon as we arrived it began to pour, and then drizzle and pour. I thank God that all of us were not the type to chicken out...and I must say our children were very brave and they enjoyed the rain tremendously. :)
We walked close to 2 hours on the track, mostly uphill, ..... through drizzle and sometimes very heavy rain. The two youngest of the lot, Jo and Md fell asleep at some point and the fathers had to carry an extra load of 12 kgs most of the way. :)
We finished the walk drenched in rain water, and some of us collected an extra souvenir on the way...leech bites followed by non stop oozing blood. haha........
All in all.....we decided it'd be a walk to remember for a long long time.

I enjoyed myself a lot too....I suppose we'll meet again in 3 to 4 years time? we'll plan something better next time yeah ? Perhaps East??

2009-02-15T17:29:00.003+08:00

Burglars broke into our house yesterday evening while we were out havin dinner. When we got back, hubby opened the gate and went in first, while I helped the kids down. Then he shouted with panic in his voice "HON!! thieves have broken in!!!!" and without thinking twice he boldly went in to check. I really panicked and asked the kids to get into the car and lock. I panicked coz some years back, my friend's house was broken into, and when he went into check 2 robbers were still there armed with knives. (hubby later realised that he should've called police to check and not gone in by himself.)

Thank God, in this instance, the burglars had left. They'd broken the window, hacked at the wall to break the grill and entered. They took most of the electronic equipment and precious jewelry which were given to me on my wedding day. The house was a mess, drawers opened and stuff thrown about. Estimated lost is quite a lot. I don't understand why none of my neighbours heard anything? About 6 policemen came by took reports and left. Apparently there is burglary almost EVERYDAY! scary isn't it?

I suspect......that robbers may be teens or college going age. All police could say was that there are several robbery gangs about....so if you're staying in my area...please be very careful.

Already, I'm a light sleeper. I wake at the slightest noise...I think, I'm gonna be even more paranoid for a while....

(I am however, very thankful that they did not come while we were in. I don't care if the stuff's lost as long as our family's ok.)

2009-02-11T00:44:00.004+08:00

some days, I feel like I'm climbing a mountain made of rice. I climb and climb but get nowhere.
I try my best, but stuff keeps slipping by me.
Sometimes in glee, i think that the mountain is finally somewhat getting smaller, shorter .....and then someone pours a new bag of rice on the mountain which I already cannot conquer.
Perhaps I should just jump into the rice? but then, I might get buried in there and suffocate. Or should I just wish for some water to cook the whole mountain of rice. Nah, I'd just get cooked right with it, and it'll get too darn hot.
perhaps, I should just turn around and sit my butt on that mountain and slide right down and walk away....

but that too is impossible.....

2009-01-26T00:05:00.004+08:00

as I write this, I have fingers in my ears, one hand typing. I feel I am about to go deaf and am gonna be smoked out like the mozzies! it's Chinese New year eve and the fire crackers have been going on for 20 mins now. The sound of the crackers (LOUD ones) are interjected frequently by the FRIGHTENING bomb like crackers. I jump everytime one explodes (JUMP)(JUMP) ouch my ears!! Will end here and head for the quieter cnfines of the room, which isn't much quieter since much of the house is made of wood and not sound proof. (JUMP) (JUMP) . I feel ilke I'm in the midst of a war. Gonna run now.
Happy New year everyone! :)

p.s Although this is the year of the Ox, I've been eating like a pig here. I must say, the food in Kuching has improved TREMENDOUSLY, lots of fantastic restaurants!!

nel cries..

2009-01-16T20:14:00.003+08:00

today I dropped Nel at school as usual. I watched her walk reluctantly to her row in the assembly hall. She looked lost and alone. I waited for a while coz she kept looking out for me. Finally the school bell rang indicating time to walk to their respective classes.

I left the school premises.
.
.
.
.
Picked her up in the evening.... and this was her story....

"Mum.....why did you leave so early? I wanted to run to you to give you one last hug before you left but I couldn't find you. Mum...... as I walked to class, I wanted to cry, but I told myself not to cry.
I tried and tried not to cry,...... but when I got to class, I couldn't control anymore and I cried. I was embarassed, so I hid under the table. Nobody noticed me coz I sit right at the back.

Then all the children left for the computer lab, but I continued crying under my table. My class teacher heard me crying after the children left. She also saw me, coz I made sure that my head was out a little so somebody would see me.
She was kind mum, she talked to me and walked me to my computer class. She told me because I am new, she'd sit with me, and she sat with me till I felt better. Mum, she's a kind teacher.
I want to give her a card and a present mum."

That was Nel's story today... Wow, my daughter hiding under a table and crying? Anyway, I'll make sure Nel gets to write the card she wants to write. Such a kind teacher...we need more like her around instead of the shouting/caning type. I appreciate that teacher, will write her a note myself.

2009-01-14T00:19:00.004+08:00

today, i drove an hour to work. 5 mins before lecture, I was so darned thirsty, and realised I'd left my water bottle at home. NO canteen nearby. However, there was a water dispenser in the office, but NO paper cups. Desperate for some water, while the secretaries were away, I grabbed the fax paper, made a cone and "collected" some water in it and drank whatever was left after half of it leaked through the sides onto the carpet.

After work, drove an hour home, picked Jo from my mum's. Drove another 50 mins to pick Nel from school and got home darned tired. Helped Nel with homework, wiped up the stinking pee left by my dog, cleaned dishes did laundry. So darn tired, and now I can't sleep. *sigh* [it's 12:28am]

Oh yeah, Nel has received her first warning at school. She finished this Chinese Science homework and passed it up a few days ago. Now teacher is asking her where is that book! Her teacher said "where is the book? bring it tomorrow or you'll get the cane!"

Darn teacher. Give my child a break, this is just the first week at school! I can't find that book at home, perhaps she's passed it on to the wrong teacher? my dear sis-in-law will be speaking to the teacher on behalf of me tomorrow. hope Nel will be spared the cane or they (the teachers) shall see my wrath befall them !! (that is, if I can speak in broken Chinese, or they can understand my English.) *more sighs*

Nel's first day at school

2009-01-10T09:13:00.004+08:00

Nel officially started standard 1 last Monday. So far smooth sailing…so I thought. Well, she’s in Chinese school and doesn’t understand most words. She can barely speak or understand that language.

So the first few days she just went by dreaming n ignoring most instructions coz she didn’t understand anything. She didn’t even raise her hands when her name was called. They probably pronounced her English name all wrong, and she probably didn’t recognize her own Chinese name.

2nd day she desperately needed to go to the toilet and didn’t even dare to ask for fear she’d mention the wrong Chinese word. Thank God my sis-in-law was peeping in and noticed Nel’s desperate face.

She comes home and says “no homework” coz the homework notices are written in Chinese.

Most of all, I told myself, they’re gonna turn our daughter into a communist. Hahaha…. They’re told- How to stand, heads up, finger always on mouth when walking to toilet, no talking, bangs above eyebrows etc etc….and they’ve been warned that if homework is not done, they’ll be given the cane. (one or 2 strokes on the palm!) *shudder*

She carries a tonne of books to school everyday…really, it’s heavy for me too! So I’ve bought her a trolley bag or whatever you call it. Comes with wheels.

Ok, perhaps I’m being pessimistic…. Coz, c’mon, thousands and thousands of kids have been through this system, but survived. Well, bottom line, I’m watching her closely.

Imagine, just 4 days of school, over roti canai yesterday… she said in desperation “Mum, school is so BORING! All you do is SIT SIT SIT SIT! And write and listen. The boy sitting next to me is so naughty. He keeps saying the bad word mum. And the 2 boys in front of me like to tease me. Mum, I prefer my kindy, I don’t like this school.”

I told her “Nel, hang on…just a year….And everytime they start the teasing, you ignore them and do your work quietly. Think about how when you come home each day, mum and Jo will be waiting for you and we can play.”

Nel replied “one year mum??? but it’s too long………… too long. I don’t even get to play anymore, I come home so late…I’ve not been to the playground at all this week! ”

She sounded like she’s been given a prison sentence. And there were tears welling in her eyes as she spoke.

Before going to school I said “Nel…let’s pray.”

I prayed “God…help Nel settle in school and to enjoy her learning. Most of all, I pray that either the boys become nice to her, or you change her seat and put her next to a nice girl.”

Before going to school we sat on the swing for a while, us and our idiotic dog.

Time passed and in the evening she came home and said “guess what mum??? remember you prayed for me today?? Mum, teacher changed my seat! God didn’t make the boys nicer, so He changed where I sit and now I’m sitting next to a nice girl! God answered our prayer mum!”
I was happy for her. Well…we’ll see how it goes in the months to come. I’m still kinda pro home-schooling…I really wanna do that…but we’ll wait a few months

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As for my SVT, I went to see a specialist. He said that the episodes I had were too frequent....and suggested that I may want to undergo a catheter ablation where the catheters are inserted into the veins in the groin and into the heart. They do some tests and zap some nerves. That's as far as I understand. I've opted for medication for now, and see how it goes.

2008-12-27T09:56:00.002+08:00

Ever since Jo was born, we've had help with the housework. Recently, we decided to do away with that help, and life has been different. My life of luxury has been removed and when I wake up each day, I wonder where to start.

Well, I don't really have to wonder, coz the first thing I see is the pile of laundry stinking the house. When I get that load of laundry to the washing machine, I see the mess of pee and poo that my dog's left in the laundry area. I think my crazy over excited dog has a bladder control problem. He pees far too much!

Oh yeah, I also have my two little "crumbsters", i'll call them that coz they leave crumbs, and spills and toys everywhere (although they're learning now to clean up themselves). Apart from them, there's also the poopy rabbits on my porch. THey never suffer from constipation, they seem to have problem keeping poo in their bodies. They leave a mountain of poop for me each day!

ahhh...the list goes on and on. For this week, I'll survive, as I'm on a break. Come next week.....*shivers* I'll have to learn to cope. For I work now 5 days a week....
if all gets a little too tough...I'll have to do something.

First on the list....
----- get rid of rabbits
----- bug hubby till he gets me a dryer. Drying takes too much time...especially with rainy weather, rewashing and redrying takes farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr too much time!
------- keep Camel the mad dog in a cage when I'm not around
----move into a one bedroom hut to minimize cleaning (preferably built on stilts with holes between floor planks to minimize sweeping.)
------ get rid of all plates, leaving one per person to discourage random use of plates and cups
------ get rid of all clothes leaving 2 per person to discourage unnecessary change of clothes

Any other suggestions????? (I'll be happy to get some.)

Anyway, my kids have been kinda cute. Sometimes when they notice me doing work, they come along and queue up, little Jo behind Nel. They stand straight and say out loudly "Mummy's Helpers are Here! How may we help you!" haahha.....

the other day I told them to help me by bringing in their own clothes from the laundry line. After a while, they were still outside, and I went to peek. This is what they were doing...

Nel took down a trousers and said "Jo, this will look nice on your head." She put it on Jo's head as a hat. Next she took down a shirt "Jo, this will look nice as a cape." she tied it around Jo's neck. WHen they were done, little Jo walked in with clothes tied all around her body. She looked really funny and amusing. :) haha....

ok....ciao. gotta go...... work to do. Lecture begins next week too....I haven't prepared my notes... and filled in all documents.... heck, don't care. Gonna take the kids out today. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-08T09:29:00.002+08:00

I had SVT (heart palpitation) again last weekend....this time hubby wasn't around. I tried some of the self physical maneuver the doctors have taught me, but it still refused to stop. After a while, I found that I started to see black if I stood up, and I was beginning to feel shortness of breath and numbness in my elbows and tightness in chest. Having no choice, I called my dad, and he rushed over to send me to the hospital. (3rd time this year.)

5 mins before we arrived at the hospital, it suddenly stopped. Still I asked to see the doctor. My blood pressure was still low and heart rate was still at about 130. In my previous SVT attack, my heart rate was at about 200plus. I was asked to lie down and rest till the heart rate dropped further and then I was allowed home. I have an appointment with a specialist this week. *sigh*

I've had this since teenage. But all these years, the episodes have been rare, perhaps once a year..and they last no longer than 10 minutes. But this year alone, it's occured 3-4 times, each time lasting longer. The one I just had lasted an hour. It's certainly not a comfortable feeling at all. Well, will see what the specialists say.

Anyway, this is my last week of teaching before I take a 2 week break. Can't wait. :)

2008-12-04T00:48:00.000+08:00

This is a long overdue update on the development of my children.

Well my little Jo is now 3 years and a few months old. She’s becoming quite the entertainer, acting all the time. Sometimes the character she puts on is so funny that me and Nel really have no choice but to burst into fits of laughter. We did that today, and Jo trying hard not to laugh herself, found her mouth twitching from trying to keep a serious face, and wanting to burst into laughter. She talks to everyone now, from children to adults, talking in long sentences with breaks in between to take in deep breaths of air (which sound like gasping for air.)
She knows her alphabets and has been telling stories and pretending to read from books. A particular book she likes is one about nursery rhyme characters. It’s a short book consisting of 2 lines a page. A few weeks ago, I thought that she was reading the book word for word accurately. However, I now realize that she wasn’t reading, but was reciting, coz she’d actually memorized the book! Hahaha….

Oh yeah, last Sunday we were at the old Folks Home, and she just suddenly decided to lie down smack in the middle. I told her to get up, and she replied “ I can’t mum, I’m a mermaid!” Which brings up the topic of obsession. She seems to be “obsessed” right now, about mermaids, pink dolphins and white horses.

As for Nel, she’s really into arranging stuff. She arranges her colors in certain ways, she stacks up toys or cards in certain ways…and they’re mostly in a certain pattern. Most of the time, she rearranges furniture, toys and stuff in the house to create an imaginary playground. Jo absolutely loves that, coz it creates scenes for her imagination. :)

Ask Nel what she likes most and she’ll tell you stories, play, snacks and long walks.
At the playground last week, while I was talking with her friend’s mum, she was secretly climbing the slide tunnel. When I turned around, she was up there about 10 feet above ground, not inside the tunnel but outside. For some it’s no big deal, but I’m afraid of heights, and so I tried to stay calm. She tells me she wants to go rock climbing, I suppose I will have to take her.

She and Camel (our poodle) are best friends when outdoors. You’ll see Nel hair flying in the wind, holding Camel’s leash and running. My mad/hyperactive dog doesn’t mind it at all. haha... Sometimes you see them sitting together on a bench, Nel red in the cheeks from all that running.
Ok…so much more to update..but it’s late.

2008-12-03T16:41:00.003+08:00

today i thought...how nice if my life were not as it is....
I wish....that I lived somewhere on an island,
where I do not have to drive another mile,
where I do not have to rush for the next appointment..

today i thought...how nice if I ran a bed and breakfast cottage
homeschooled my children on the island..
had plenty of leisure time..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

but then I'm reminded of what I heard in church last Sunday..... for some reason...I was so touched...I could barely contain my emotions. The message came after a sleepless saturday night when I questioned so many things...such as the meaning to life, the reason for my existence, the purpose of our actions, my goal in life... [no, no, I'm not depressed...i just ponder on these questions sometimes..when life becomes so mundane, hectic and meaningless...]

I'm currently reading about Hudson Taylor's life, trying to get my focus back on track. Perhaps it will inspire me in some way, or change my perspective of life

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
also...of late, I'm getting more adult students. it is encouraging to see these ladies, as old as 50 wanting to learn something new. It is every bit as rewarding as teaching a 6 year old. :) I'm inspired by them, by their love of learning,.... and hope that as a teacher I will be able to inspire them.

too much to do..

2008-11-21T09:08:00.006+08:00

i've not written anything in 2 weeks....
.. that's tough for me, coz I like writing.
From writing almost everyday ---
--to only once in 2 weeks.....
All of a suDDeN.....i have nothing in my head.
it's not really like I have nothing in my head,
actually i have tonnes to think about,
TOO much to think about,
too MUCH to do.... and thus,
....nothing to write....

**I need to quit analysing so much, quit thinking so much, quit feeling so much, quit trying to read into everything..how do I shut my mind up???? but then if I quit all these, i'd just be an existing piece of blob...haha...**

me hard working? nah..

2008-11-05T21:09:00.007+08:00

Gl recently played a game of tag in which we were supposed to describe each other, based on what we know of each other through our blogs.

Here's how she described me "generous, hard working and a bit hard on yourself, in touch with your artistic and intellectual sides. "

Well, dear G, you were mostly right, except for the hard working part. :)
I wouldn't say I'm very hardworking. :) I do a lot of things, not coz I'm hard working though, but because I like variety. Like I have 3 diff kinda jobs right now (all part time), coz one job would be too monotonous for me. (I dislike monotonous stuff, I detest paper work, I dread meetings...ho ho ho...don't let my bosses read this. ) and sometimes,.... I like to do nothing at all, except to laze around with a book or 2.

Anyway, I'd like to tell you a story from a bit of my life which will give you a little more idea of what I'm really like (most of the time). I still remember this was in Iowa in 1997. I took a research class and one of the assignments was to write a 20 page paper on any research topic. I chose to study Indian music, as in traditional Indian music from India. We were given about 3 weeks to complete the assignment.

I went to the library, grabbed about 20 books off the shelf and borrowed them. Once home, the books sat on my table untouched for many days. As the dateline drew nearer, I began just flipping through the pages of some of the books. Where I thought the information was relevant, I folded the corner of the pages. That was it, and the books remained again untouched, but somewhat scattered around the room, due to my slightly disorganized nature. (I did think however, about stuff which I might write about..it was mostly organized in my thoughts.)

1 day before the paper was due, my neighbour who lived in the basement offered me a free ticket to a football game. I couldn't resist a football game (especially when U of Iowa was going to play against Northwestern)! so I agreed to go. I went to the game, and really regretted it, coz no.1, it started snowing halfway through the game and I only had my spring jacket on. No. 2, the guy had other intentions then just watching the game. (that is a diff story, but I can tell you, I hopped seat to seat trying to get away from him.)

Anyway, game finished, and U of Iowa lost. disappointing. I got home and it was evening and the paper was due first thing in the morning. I still did not panic.

Somewhere around 8 or 9pm, the panic kicked in. I started opening the books to the folded pages and began typing all the important references and information I would have to use. Then my roommate CYee came in, and instead of doing our work, we decided to take pictures to relieve some of the self-inflicted stress. (she too had an assignment due).

About midnight or 1am, I started typing furiously. I rearranged sentences, paragraphs, typed in thoughts and worked like crazy, writing and rewriting. I remember not sleeping at all that night. I got it done in the nick of time, put on my winter coat and walked out in that bitterly cold morning (about 8am) towards the nearest computer lab. That time, though the paper was done, the panic was full blown, coz it'd not been printed yet! and class was at 9am. (I remember trembling in nervousness!)

I managed to get it printed, rushed to class which was on the other side of the river (a good half hour's walk from the lab.) Got there just on time, handed in the paper and slumped down on my chair relieved.

Since then, I've told myself never to repeat such a thing. Sometimes I've succeeded in planning ahead, but mostly I remain last minute, well not so last minute nowadays (last hour?). The results came out and I scored an A-. I know, had I been more hard working, I would've gotten that A. but you know, it's hard to change.....

Does this tell you a little more bout me G? (or did you suspect it already? :) )

My roommate CYee taking a pic amongst my books. (CYee, we had such good times didn't we?? I really miss those days...)

Me, in that horrible hairstyle, taking pics with my clutter of books...at about 2 or 3 am in the morn .)

reading before bedtime

2008-10-26T19:31:00.002+08:00

Nel loves to ask her daddy to read, especially before bedtime. Yesterday I had a glimpse of what’s it like coz Nel was in my room. She grabbed a book off the shelf and told her daddy to read it. The book happened to be Gulliver’s Travels, the original classic version, in very very small font.

So both father and daughter rested on the bed as daddy read. I left them and went to shower Jo, prepared her for bedtime. When I got back to the room, I found Nel, half asleep. Her father (my husband :)) was reading, not chapter one, BUT the preface to Gulliver’s Travels, in the most monotonous voice I’ve ever heard. Low.....sleepy...... monotonous voice! He too looked half asleep like he’d just read the history book!!

I said loudly, Nel, “why in the world did you ask your dad to read Gulliver’s travels of all thing?” then turning to my husband I asked “and Hon! Why in the world are you reading the preface???”

Nel woke from her half slumber and said “mum, don’t disturb, I want dad to read so I can sleep!”

I was amused, I’d thought it’s coz she loved stories, but no, it’s coz the voice of her father has the powers to put my little one to sleep! Hmmmm….

I looked at my husband who had not replied to my question, but who’d continued reading in his monotonous voice, showing great disinterest in the preface to Gulliver’s Travels. He read like he was reading a legal document or something, and as his voice became lower, his eyelids almost closing, he struggled to read the very last paragraph in the Preface. And he read it like this:

“Gul-li-vers travels..was, (eyes half closing), like the most of (nodding off here)..like most of Sw…Sw..Swift’s work….(temporary silence) ano..anomy…anonous…anomy..amonynoy.....anonymously and is the….(eyes closed….)….is the…..(reading in his sleep now.)”

That’s when I interrupted again, “Nel, get to your room now, you’re almost asleep." Then turning to my husband I said quite loudly, "Hon, if you’d like to put Nel to sleep, read it to her in her room, and you can both fall asleep there.”

Hahahaha…..

The next day I asked Nel if she enjoyed Gulliver's Travels. She replied "who's Gulliver? did dad read me a story?" Oh, and when popping into Nel's room the next morning, I also noticed that Gulliver's Travels was opened to Chapter one, page one. I suppose that's when the father (my husband) fell into a deep sleep.

2008-10-21T21:55:00.001+08:00

I lost it….I lost my temper last night, and poor Jo and Nel were the ones who had to face the brunt of my anger.

I’d just been tired, coz I’ve been down with a cold and headaches. So last night, after dinner, I escaped to my room, picked up a book to read. That’s how I unstress myself, by reading or blogging.

Jo came in, picked up a book about animals and nests and said “mum, read to me, read to me!”

I said “no, I’m not going to read that book to you. We just read it in the evening, and Nel read it to you twice today already.”

She kept bugging and bugging me. Jo’s like that, persistent in what she wants, knows what she wants.

Finally I replied angrily “if you won’t stop bugging me, I’ll leave this room, so stop it now!”

She kept at it, bugging me to read the book.

Finally I stood up and said “That’s it! I’ve had enough!”

I stomped out of the room and headed towards the guest room. Little Jo followed behind, screaming and crying “wait mum, wait for me, please mum….”

I shut the door, locked it and heard Jo screaming outside.

Her dad came up and asked “what’s going on??”

Finally, feeling a little regret, I unlocked the door and came out. Took Jo to the room with me. Jo started venting her feelings, my little 3 year old.

“Mum, I only wanted you to read the book. You walked away! Mum, you don’t like me, you don’t like me.” She said sadly while sobbing.

Jo continued “You read your book, but you didn’t want to read mine. Daddy is a good daddy, he read my book.”

I asked “does that make me a bad mummy?”

She replied “Yes, you are a bad mummy, coz you walked away, and you don’t like me.”

Realising that she genuinely felt hurt, I replied “Jo, I do love you, just that sometimes I Need time to do my own things, read my own books.”

“but you walked away. That means you don’t like me.” Said Jo with a sad face..

I looked at her and said “Jo, …….”

“Jo, I’m sorry I hurt your feelings…I didn’t mean to, I’m just really tired today. Forgive me Jo?”

She nodded quietly.
I suppose with my little girl, walking away is not a good solution. I will have to find a different way to cope when I’m tired the next time.

Nel's graduation

2008-10-20T15:09:00.003+08:00

In the past, I could never understand parents who made such a big deal about their children's graduation, particularly children graduating from kindergarten! I thought the parents were "kiasu", crazy and made it too big a deal. i mean, come on! it's just kindergarten for pete's sake!
i used to tell them relax, there's like 12 years of school and at least 4 years of college to go!

Well...I used to think that way, till my own Nel had a graduation ceremony of her own in kindy, just this last weekend. haha.....

So there I was, an over excited mother, armed with her camera, dressed in Sunday best. We made sure to get there early, but ALAS! there were much much more over zealous parents who had booked most of the front row seats! darn I thought.

Anyway..... so Nel and gang went up on stage to present a poem they had practiced for weeks! and she and her classmates also performed a dance item. I was definitely a proud mum. hahahaha....

And then, of course, came the "graduation" ceremony. hehehe...... and oh boy, I'm embarassed to admit that I became just like one of the other parents whom I'd criticized before. I stood up and cheered for my daughter as she received her scroll and teddy bear. I was also a very proud mum when she received the Best in Reading award. I took lots of pictures, and I'm even blogging about it! ( I know...I sound like a bragging mum now!)

I know, some of you are gonna tell me "big deal!" just like how I used to think of other parents.

Thing is this....now I realise those parents were just cheering their children on. WHen I went to Nel's graduation ceremony, I just wanted to be there to let her know that I love her. I wanted to clap and cheer to let her know that everything that mattered to her, matters to me. I wanted to cheer for every little step she takes.

I suppose most parents do that. we boast about our kid's first smile, the first time they roll over, and crawl and take their first steps. Kindergarten is also another step, and so I continue to cheer her on. So bother if people are gonna think I'm "kiasu" or whatever.....hehehe.... We even took her to Burger King to celebrate! hahaha...

*for G, literally translated "kiasu" means, afraid of loosing. Like most mums are "kiasu" and they make sure they send their kids for tonnes of classes so that their children do better than other kids."

update on Jo

2008-10-16T14:26:00.003+08:00

As I was cleaning up my blog, I came across this recording I made of Jo's singing when she was exactly 2 years old.
http://www.soundupload.com/audio/s6tab3dwmp

I listen and I'm pretty amazed. :) She's still singing a lot...loves to sing. Also very sensitive to sounds. When a recording is on, she asks about the sounds in the background, if they're flute/strings/drums/guitar... She insists that she likes the guitar and trumpet.

Also found this recording of her reciting verses when she was 2 years and 2 months old.
http://www.soundupload.com/audio/05bo52vk06

She remains as strong will as ever although her tantrums have decreased tremendously! (phew!) They went away because I chose to ignore most of her tantrums and did not give in.

Currently she is crazy about princesses. She insists on wearing only certain dresses and it is quite hard to make her wear something she doesn't like.
She's also fascinated with this book about hibernation, particularly about how the dormouse hibernates. And thus, this mummy (me) has now read that particular book, several times a day for several weeks now!

Yesterday Jo was extremely quiet....and finally I found her under the blanket lying down very quietly. I asked her what she was doing and she replied "I'm a dormouse mum, I'm hibernating. Don't disturb me."

Nel my caring child

2008-10-15T08:54:00.006+08:00

For some of you who’ve read my old blog, you’d remember this story I once wrote about the time just before I gave birth to Jo (3 years ago now!).

It was way past midnight and I just could not sleep because I found it difficult to breath and I had terrible back aches. So I went to the bedroom sofa and just sat there. Nel woke up. Realizing I wasn’t on the bed, she asked “are you ok mum?”

I explained to her why I wasn’t sleeping. She went to the bed, grabbed a few pillows and brought them to me. “Here mum, put one behind your back. Do you feel better now mum?” she asked caringly. She passed me two more pillows and told me to put it under each arm, and then brought me her tiny stool and told me to put my foot on it to rest.

Then she asked very gently “do you feel much better now mum?” I felt deeply touched by her actions and thoughtfulness. She climbed right by me and asked “can I stay here with you mum?” I nodded my head, and she fell asleep with her little head resting on my shoulders, her hands holding mine. That was Nel at age 3.

She’s still the same very caring person. Only thing is that she’s now 6. With that comes a whole load of new emotions which sometimes seem a little overwhelming for her. There are days she gets moody and easily frustrated. She gets upset when she notices people whispering while looking her way, she gets very hurt if adults talk about her in front of her, she doesn’t like people laughing at her etc etc etc. However, she IS trying to cope with these reactions…and on certain days she manages to brush these feelings aside. But there are also days she gets hurt and stomps off or cries.

On the positive side, she is very caring and aware of other people’s needs. We still visit the retirement home once a month or once every 2 months. Though always a little shy at first, she eventually goes round holding the hands of the elderly folks there. I can tell you, they love her visits.

Then just yesterday, I had a major headache, more like migraine. Jo was the usual active self, disturbing me, pretending to be an owl and then a lion the next minute. Talking to herself letting her wild imagination run. Nel came in and told Jo to be quiet. Finally hubby decided to take both kids out.

Immediately Jo climbed on her daddy’s back, ready to go out. Nel however, lingered on a little…. She asked “mum…will you be ok here on your own? Are you sure you’ll be ok?”
I said “Yes, Nel I’ll be ok, you go enjoy yourself.”

Then she noticed that the bathroom door was open, letting the glaring light in. She asked “mum, would you like me to close the door and switch off the lights?” I nodded, and she closed the door quietly. She lingered on still a bit…. And then said “Mum, I’ll miss you…your hugs….”

I smiled and said “go with dad, he’s waiting. Enjoy yourself .”

She tiptoed out quietly, shut the door gently and went to the shops with dad.
(so emotional isn't she?......)

2008-10-15T08:52:00.002+08:00

I came home yesterday and found a lovely sunflower from my husband. There was also a wedding anniversary card, written and signed by Nel on behalf of my husband, jo and my husband. haha..... :)

hubby and I also had a date at KLCC to watch the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra ....

all for our 8th Wedding Anniversary....

Happy Wedding Anniversary hon...love ya...

2008-10-04T12:13:00.006+08:00

last weekend we decided to head to Bukit Cahaya in Shah Alam for some jungle experience. Part of our mission was to visit the 4 seasons house, which is currently featuring Autumn. It did not turn out as planned.

First we walked in the hot hot hot sun. Passed the padi fields...which was interesting (although children were really, more absorbed in their ice cream and the scarecrow.)

Padi is really almost ready for harvesting. So I plucked some and showed kids the husk and rice inside.
Then we walked on in the hot hot sun, towards the animal farm. Viewed porcupines, horses, deers, guinea pigs, birds.

Walked on in the very hot hot sun.....and then we heard it.

Kaboooooooooommmm!!!! Brrrrooooooooooommmmmmmm!!!!

Thunder roared through that forest, warning us of the imminent storm, despite the hot hot sun. Within seconds it started becoming very very windy.

I shouted out to Mil and our kids, "walk faster! walk faster! we've gotta get to the house with Four seasons. It's featuring Autumn now. Walk faster!!"

Alas, our kids saw a hanging bridge, couldn't resist, had to detour to cross that one. They did not cross just once, but several times back and forth!

Crossed it....

more Loud, thunderous warnings resounded through the whole forest............

I yelled "walk faster, walk faster!"

We walked as fast as the little ones could go, youngest being Dudu (2 years) and Jo (3). Mind you these little shorties can walk quite fast and for a good long distance!

Then we saw the sign , Autumn House 50 meters away. It started to drizzle. We saw a small drink stall ahead. I yelled "faster, faster!!" The last of us got under that stall and it POURED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! real heavy heavy rain.

It was dark, windy and rainy. Thank God we had shelter. waited for More than an hour! Rain turned to drizzle, park was closed. Didn't want to risk being shut in there, we decided to walk in the drizzle out.

We had not hats/umbrellas, so I made Little Jo put on this shirt on her head, and we walked......a long way... out. That was our day at the park.

Simple Science project at Tasik Biru

2008-10-04T12:06:00.009+08:00

Drove to Tasik Biru Kundang. (If going there, it's near Sg Buluh, in an area called Kuang.)

Somehow the lake is not as blue as it used to be anymore. It's more like green now, and the water is getting a little dirtier. Still it is a nice place for a picnic. THere were lotsa kampung kids diving into the lake, doing summersaults and water gymnastics.

we brought with us.... Lemang and rendang, nuggets for the kids, water and a change of clothes.
(Lemang - rice cooked in bamboo poles. This one's been taken out of the bamboo and cut for us)In the tupperware is the rendang (like beef curry...totally delicous if you can take spicy food)

Our objective of heading to that lake was to have a good time, to relax and help Nel with a simple Science project.

Project was - to discover things that float/sink. For this we brought: egg cartons, styrofoam, bottles, wooden spatulas, rope and tape.

The egg carton went in first. Of course at first it float . Nel placed a rock on it, stepped on it and it eventually sank. Now she knows, paper stuff eventually absorbs water and sink.
(pic missing)

Finally dad helped her create this simple boat (3 bottles and 2 spatulas). She put her dolly on it, and had a fun time pulling her dolly in the little boat...

Nel setting her dolly on sail. Someone told me, it looked like the reenactment of the Baby Moses among the reeds story. haha...

Later we discovered that her dolly didn't need the boat as it can float by itself too.

Next, pulled her dolly in the styrofoam which was spacious with a little hole in the middle for dolly to sit. Nel asked "Mum, this has a hole, but it can float. Why then, does a boat sink when it has a hole?"

Enjoyed the water a little more, and then headed home.

was a beautiful day.....i think kids love learning science this way, instead of being cooped up in a room learning from text books. Am planning for more such projects.

Sepang Gold Coast Beach

2008-10-02T14:58:00.006+08:00

Have been on several short day trips recently... mostly nature trips.... I have this believe that part of my job as a mother is to get them to love nature places and to appreciate the beautiful things GOd has made.

Last week we went to the Sepang Gold Coast Beach (about 15 mins from the F1 circuit in Sepang). Someone told me that it was more like a swamp area.... Anyway, we went to check it out. What we found was major development going on. They're building chalets on water...

Anyway there were 2 main picnic areas. Ok, honestly my bro rated it the World's Worst Beach (and that's partly coz he suffered a deep gash in his feet after stepping on an oyster shell, pointing upwards, hidden in the mud. OUCH!!!) . .Anyway, i think it's a wonderful learning place for children. At low tide, the water recedes several kilometers, uncovering the muddy bed of the sea. Thus it became a learning site for the kids.

Some parts were so muddy, we found our feet sinking till mud covered our ankles. Lovely thing is the children found all sorts of muscles, lalas, cockershells, and even beautiful Sand dollars!

I was excited when I found the long sea worms. (That's what I call em.) It brought back memories of childhood. My dad used to be an avid fishing kaki. We went fishing at lakes, ponds and seaside. My job was always to hunt for worms for my dad. I remember digging through mud at low tide to hunt for these very long thin worms. So to see them made me so excited! I'm not sure if my kids were excited as me, but now they know you can find worms under the bed of the sea! haha..

WE also talked to a fisherman there. He told us that before the construction began he used to yield about 4 kgs of lalas (clams, muscles..) Now he's down to only about 1 kg. :(

Anyway....the sunset was quite lovely, and we bought some kites to fly....followed by a really delicous finger licking good dinner consisting of a variety of seafood...

Here's some pics...... A word of caution .....if your kids are going there...you'll need lotsa sunblock, hat, and if you have boots better... coz i think bcause of the construction there...some bricks and stuff get buried in the mud. And bring lotsa water and a change of clothes.

The beach at low tide (notice how far the water receeds..caution, do not go too far out. Fisherman warned us, coz some people had been stranded on portions of the beach before when caught unaware by the rising tide.)

fisherman's son/grandson digging for lalas

L throwing sand into the sun

little Jo looking for her share of shells

sunset

nxt post will be on Kuala Selangor Nature Park (we were there just yesterday)

More on Jo my little gal

2008-09-15T13:29:00.005+08:00

Jo continues to be the one with wild imagination and dramatic acting skills. She is less sticky nowadays and makes friends rather quickly. However, she still refuses to go to Sunday School.

Well, last week while waiting for Nel to finish her ballet class, a few little girls stepped in. I told Jo to go make friends, and she promptly went. She walked, a little hesitant at first, then flashed her impish grin and whispered to the girls "The monsters are coming, quick, run and hide in the bushes!!!"

The little girls ask "where's the bushes?"
Jo replies, "behind, behind! runnnnnnn"
So a bunch of little girls and my little Jo run to the back and they hid in the changing rooms. I thought that was kinda funny! hahaha...

Today, Jo decided she loves veges, since we've been reading about how giraffes love their leaves.
Well, she ate one spinach leaf after another. At one point, I stopped her for a moment to put a spoon of rice into her little mouth.

She dramatically spit it all out on the plate and said in a panicky voice "I have to talk to you mum, I have to talk to you!"

I replied "ok, what's the matter Jo?"
Jo said "I'm a giraffe mum, giraffes DON'T eat rice! "

2008-09-06T23:50:00.002+08:00

it's been raining almost everyday... i love the rain, love the smell of it outside my window...love the way it cools down the day, love the smell of fresh wind blowing through my window.

I don't like the fact that time flies by so quickly. Just last week, I registered Nel for primary school. Come December, I will go get her her first set of primary books, her first pinafore, her first white school shoes, her first bag with wheels as I've been told they have to carry a lot of books.

After debating whether to home school her or to enrol her in a Chinese school, we've decided to give Chinese school a try and see how it goes. While most kids here start going to kindergarten and all sorts of enrichment programs by the age of 3/4, I only started her at 6. I wanted to hold her back a little longer, spend more time with her....

but time has gone by so quickly...and really, now it's almost time when I will see her only half a day, while the teachers and friends will fill the other half. I am a little anxious, I know silly me. *sigh*

Anyway, today, me and hubby attended the first session of the Marriage seminar. A truly wonderful course, people say. and yes, I enjoyed the first session. The hall was decorated with flowers, soft lights and fabrics. Every couple was seated at their own table decorated with more flowers and candlelight. oh, and there was also yummy desserts served.

well.. Today, they talked about the seasons of marriage.

I'm at what they call the "summer" season. I suppose it's true. Take perfume for instance, i used to love breeze, fruity scents. I still love them...but I'm also beginning to love the warmer, richer scents. These days are filled with activities around the children..and some with the hubby. He has reminded me not to neglect him. haha...

I cherish this summer season....for it will not last very long. I cherish the laughter of my children filling my household, I cherish the sweet voices calling me "mummy", I love the smell of their little heads as I hold them in my arms... i love the feeling of their soft hands in mine...i love everything about them.

As in every family there are "hotter" and difficult days when things go wrong and tempers flare... and there is sometimes tiredness and fatigue.....but overall...I enjoy this season....
and while it lasts, I pray the Lord will grant me wisdom, strength, love, patience and much joy..

2008-08-15T08:47:00.002+08:00

we've had a string of birthdays recently...so there's been plenty of cake to eat! haha...

Anyway....can't believe it, but it's gonna be almost a year since my car glided off the road and hit the divider. Till today, I thank God for protecting us, specially after I read of the high rate of deaths and accidents which occur during rainy seasons!

I've another testimony to share here. Last thursday I was at church late coz I was at a musician's practice. Drove home close to 11pm and felt that my car was kinda wobly but didn't give much thought to it. just wanted to get home.

the next morning, rushed, got ready coz it was my turn to send the kids to school. SO I packed the kids in the car at bout 7:50am and went over to pick up my bro's kid. On the way to my bro's place, I passed by my bro's neighbour who was on her morning walk. I honked, she waved.

Arrived at my bro's house, picked Lyd up and drove off to school which is half hour away.
As I drove out my neighbourhood and was about to approach the highway, my handphone rang.
I picked it up, though I don't usually do when I'm driving.

Anyway, it was Crl, my bro's neighbour! She said "You know, there's something wrong, your tire is totally flat! totally flat!!! I heard a strange noise as you passed me, and I checked with my husband, and yes your tyre is flat! So I rushed home, grabbed my handphone and called you!"

I thank God for Crl, coz she ran home just to call me. And the timing was excellent, coz it reached me, just before I hit the highway. I was able to pull up to the side and got down to inspect my car. Yeah, the tyre wasn't just a little flat, it was TOTALLY flat, running on the rim!

I thank God for protecting us yet once again. coz I would've sped..and with that tyre, it would have been dangerous!

So the kids and I waited and my sis in law came to get the children while I made a U and drove home very slowly.

Yeap...God is good. I thank God for His protection...

Meet the TEachers

2008-08-07T11:19:00.003+08:00

it's been just so busy since semester started, so busy I now long for a break. Handling kids and work is tiring... but we're coping.

Anyway, I had a few "meet the teachers" meeting recently. Some reports on Nel...

Kindergarten teacher: Nel is a very loving girl. However, she is very very strong willed. If she likes something, she does it with her whole heart, if she doesn't like it, she refuses with her whole heart too. She's also very sensitive, and a very intelligent girl. She has occasionally lost her temper.

(Yeah...I know my Nel, strong headed. On several occasions when in a crowd/class, she has refused to do certain things. WHen I question her privately, her reasons are mainly because she's afraid she won't do it well enough, or that other kids are watching her or would laugh at her... These are usually the main reasons when she refuses to do something. How do I help her get over these feelings?)

Sunday School Teacher: Nel is sometimes strong willed. Today, she refused to come to the front and refused to put her hands up when asked to do so. Is there something wrong at home? has something gone terribly wrong? Perhaps something has entered her!

(my gosh!!!! that last statement got me fuming for a while. A teacher shouldn't be "suspertitious" but find out first why the child acted that way! When I asked Nel at home,
she replied "I didn't want to go to the front, coz I was afraid the teacher would ask me to do something embrassing and all the kids would be looking at me." "I didn't put up my hands because look, all my buttons are popping and coming off, if I put my hands up, my whole dress would be undone."
I looked at her dress, and yup, the whole upper half had come undone. Simple reason...and the teacher read it so dramatically! hrrrmph!)

Ballet teacher: Nel is a very creative and intelligent child. Only sometimes moody. When moody she doesn't respond to commands as other children do. She chooses to create her own dance and moves. However, that shows me she is intelligent with a mind of her own. She just needs to cooperate more. When in a good mood, her dance work is really beautiful. :)

(well, I've been talking to her about this, and yesterday's class the teacher commented that she had improved so much. Yipee. )

So you see my Nel....strong willed, moody, loving, intelligent..at times stubborn, sensitive. I find myself constantly talking to her, reasoning with her.... but most of all, I've come to realise that she needs A LOT of reassurance...

She often says to me "mum, the most important thing to me in the whole world is being with you and dad."

As for my Jo, she's imaginative as ever and strong willed. today in a conversation with and older girl ... E (7 yrs old) : Jo let's keep the toys, I Never loose my toys."
Jo (just turned 3): Oh really E? I loose my toys everyday.. *makes a sad face* what do I do?"

hehehehe.... anyway...gotta go. Working in the noon.....

2008-07-26T23:58:00.004+08:00

tday I had the afternoon off. That was nice, as I hardly get Saturdays off. Since it was a cool afternoon, me and the girls went out to sit on the swing. Naturally the girls took off their shoes and went barefooted. Later, while gettin off the swing, Nel picked Jo's shoes for her. Little Jo put on her shoes with a smile and said in the sweetest voice, "Thanks Nel, thanks for giving me my shoes, that's so awesome. "

I told that to my hubby later and we had to giggle about it. hahaha...it's a word we hardly use around here, but she must have picked it up from the tv. :)

Anyway, that was followed by some gardening and catching worms for an upcoming fishing trip.

As for me, I've been busy working, and the kids have been up to mischief as I work. Today I came up to find oily finger prints over my computer screen. The things you find in a house with kids! let's see what I've found in the past...

mouldy rotting cheese under sofa
poop in the bathtub
rotting banana in the kitchen playset
toothbrush in the toilet bowl
empty shampoo bottles all emptied down the toilet bowl again
pepper and salt in my drink
and the list goes on............................

In fact, just last week, while reading, I noticed that there seemed to be an endless stream of ants going in and out of my handbag. I emptied it but nothing unusual came out. Then I checked the tiny side pocket, and lo and behold, I found Jo's half eaten lollipop from a week ago. It was covered with dead black ants, and needless to say, that pocket was filled with ants!! ewwww.....
i killed them all! and showed the lolli to my children. I said "See, lollis attract ants! That's what you get in your mouth when you eat lollis." I thought that would deter them from liking sweets for the rest of their lives. Alas, I was wrong. The very next day I walked into a shop and guess what Jo asked for? a Purple lollipop. Purple remains her favourite color.

ok, the night is here.... time to head to bed, but not before preparing a little for next week's lecture. taaa all.

2008-07-17T09:28:00.003+08:00

I've been busy busy. Semester has started and I've been given a new course to teach. That means a lot of reading and research to do and notes to prepare. WOrking part time is not easy. Sometimes I think full time would've have been easier. WHen I was working full time I had the office to myself to do all my work without distractions.

Now I work part time, i barely get by reading a page before one of my kids come disturbing. So I find myself either resorting to the television as a baby sitter, or I find myself working very late into the nights after the kids are in bed. It's not good for my darkening eye bags and achy shoulders.

My schedule is different every day. Sometimes I've forgotten classes totally and parent and kid appear at my doorstep to find me in rags and hair looking like a crow's nest. haha....and sometimes I've scheduled 2-3 classes together without realising it. Then when all these students appear at my doorstep, I ask them why they're at my house. I must be going nuts.

Being a full time mum would be nice, but reality states that I should work to help with household income. CAn't place the entire burden on hubby alone. COst of living is getting incredibly high.

Yesterday after a full day's work (kids and work work), hubby called to ask if I'd join some friends for a bowling game. Though I was feeling so extremely tired....I decided to just go. I did ok on the scores and it was pretty fun.

We got back at almost 11:30pm. Considering I woke up about 5am, you'd know how tired I was. PUt my super duper wakey kids to bed... then went brushed my teeth and washed my own face.

Mechanically I put on my face moisturizer ...and after a while realised it was extra creamy, and smelled different. I looked at the bottle and knew why then. On the bottle it read, "Hair Nourishing cream. Will promote hair growth." Rewashed my face and put on the right moisturizer.

Well, I woke up this morning and checked my face, no, no extra facial growth. thank goodness.
ok... the day awaits, I must go. it's gonna be a heck of a long day. (there's extra classes for my speech students coz concert is this saturday.)
taaaaa..........................

continued from last post..

2008-07-03T00:04:00.005+08:00

today Nel came back and said excitedly "mum, I did well in my Chinese spelling test. Some of my friends didn't even know the words. And mum, do you know why I did well? because this morning, daddy woke up early and taught me those words. My daddy can teach Chinese so well! " She said it, like a daughter so proud of her dad's ability. that little effort of my hubby to spend that bit of time with Nel meant the world to her.

How the miracle took place? I don't know. Well, perhaps it's because of the prayer I said last night. BEfore going to bed, I prayed

"Lord, teach me to be a more patient mother...give me wisdom to guide my children when I don't know how to, teach me to have unconditional love and to love them for who they are, and not what they do."

I prayed that earnestly last night...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyway, yeah, I popped by the library today and chanced upon this book by Tony Humphreys "Self-Esteem: The Key to Your Child's Education." I've now just managed to go through one chapter, but it really is a good book. Here, in just the first chapter I found some really good stuff...let me quote them here..

Success and failure in themselves have no effect on a child's motivation to learn, but the reactions of parents, teachers and other significant adults to success and failure can have a devastating effect.

Parents need to encourage children in their efforts to master an activity. What counts is the effort and NOT the performance.

Parents who put too much pressure on children for academic performance unwittingly damage the child's self esteem.

Parents who are overly protective/hands off, can undermine children's belief in themselves.

The Self-esteem of the child is affected by the parents' relationship with each other. The child who regularly witnesses openly hostile or silent hostility between parents can become chronically insecure.

That's about the gist of the first chapter. Now it's off to snooze land, will continue reading tomorrow. Semester begins, and thus my lecture begins next week. I will be busy busy busy again. but no complains, i thank God for this job, coz it brings in the additional income which I really need.

2008-06-28T08:48:00.005+08:00

Last Thurs, me & Nel, my sis-i-law and Lyd went out together. Just us two mums and our two 6 year old daughters. it was like a "date" with our eldest child (bonding time.)

We caught the LRT towards town center to catch the broadway version of "Beauty and the Beast." Well, we got there half an hour before time, and decided to indulge in some New Zealand icecream first. yummy............. :)

at ten to 8, we headed for the show to check out the souvenirs and program booklet. Incredibly pricy, everything to me, was pricy....unless you're earning a lot and have nothing to do with the money, the 40Rm keychain is a really crazy price to pay.

ok, so we skipped that and went looking for our seats. Nel just enjoyed the show so much. At one point where the Beast was dying, she actually cried. She just seems a lot more emotional nowadays. When I asked if she was ok, she got embarassed, pulled on an angry face and turned away. hahaha...

Anyway the show ended at 10:30 and we had to walk quite a distance towards the LRT station... coz the shopping mall was closed, and it was drizzling...so we had to go by a longer route. WHen we got to the station, my sis saw a train and shouted "Run!! run!! catch it before it goes."

So we ran like mad people, squeezed in to that packed train and after 20 mins realised we were going in the wrong direction! arrghhh. ...... and by that time, it was already 11++pm. We got off, waited to catch another train...and finally got on the right one, which probably was the last train of the night?

Our two little girls were tired, and nodding off....and really, though there were not many people on the last train, there were quite a few unusual people. We saw a girl which Ju says was an "emo", drunkards, cross dressers...and some pretty scary lookin ones

Finally we arrived at the last stop at almost midnight. The station was closed except for a little side door. We had to go through the building to get to our car, and there wasn't a soul in sight in that large building. was really kinda spooky to me, well, not spooky......but I was worried about thugs and drug addicts...

Anyway, we got home safe at almost 12:30am. Late huh? bottom line, if it's a night show, next time we'll drive. Still all in all, our kids and us, enjoyed it so much. It was also good mum and daughter bonding time, minus the presence of the younger one. Well worth it. If you've got 2 or more kids, I recommend this, taking time out to be alone with each child. My parents were wonderful in that they helped by baby sitting the younger one.

2008-06-24T08:46:00.003+08:00

Of late, things have been busy. Blogging seems to be last on my mine, but I just had to do an update of the children..for record's sake. haha...

Nel has been asking more questions of late... Some questions she threw at me just yesterday..

- Mum, how did you know Dad was the right/good person, good enough so you married him? and how did dad know you were the right person?

- Mum, if the devil disappeared today, would everyone suddenly change and become good?

- Mum.....I want to hear God's voice, how does one hear God's voice?

- Mum, who made God? who made the angels? Who was before God?

- Is God real? does He really listen ?

- Mum....why is dad's legs thinner than yours? (ok this one is obvious, my hubby's always underweight, while I'm always trying to loose weight...*sigh* )

As for Jo, she's really becoming the Drama queen. She changes emotions very quickly, through ACTING! Like, when we're on the stairs, she very often stretches out her hands, acts like she's in trouble and cry out "help me mum....help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" She does other stuff like, take a spatula, and it becomes her oar when she rows her boat (her tiny car), or if she's on a stool, the floor suddenly becomes an ocean of sharks...etc etc.

Overall, we're ok. Some days are good, some days tiring...ok will run. I know, this is such an unspired entry....well, next time will write something better.

Grooming

2008-06-04T18:36:00.006+08:00

my sis in law has been looking for a make-up class, wanting to improve herself in terms of dressing and make up.

As I was searching through my phone for a friend's no, I saw a number which I had listed under "grooming". I must have taken that number down a long time ago, but couldn't remember where from. Thinking it must be grooming for ladies, I called the number. A rather rude guy who spoke in broken English picked the phone up.

I asked, "Do you conduct grooming classes?"

He replied impatiently "yes, yes, .."

Wondering how the heck could a rude sounding guy conduct grooming classes for ladies, I asked again " you conduct grooming classes? Actually I'm looking for make up classes, do you of.."

Before I could finish the sentence, he replied "yes, yes lar, we offer everything, send me email, sms, sms! I will send you brochure." then he hung up.

I thought, perhaps he's just the rude clerk. Later when I checked my email, I received this from him....................

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.... now I remember where I took the "grooming" number from, - from a pet store, when I once considered trying grooming my own dog!! hahaha..... So, nope, don't think I'll be passing this brochure or no. to my sis in law. hehehe...

my favourite jewelry

2008-05-29T13:41:00.009+08:00

I am crazy about accessories, yeah, cheap kinda jewelry, preferably stones and shells. It’s nice having diff colored accessories to match with diff color clothes. However, I keep buying the same 2 colors (in diff shades), coz I’m crazy about these colors. You’d know what colors I’m talking about when you see the pics.

Well, it’s school holidays for the kids here, so I had some spare time to take pics of some of the pieces I own. They didn’t cost me much. I like my accessories unique and cheap. So I usually go bargain hunting at random small stores, and really, most of these pieces were bought for under 15RM, except for one or two which cost about 30RM, but not more than that.

I think…I should go look for more reds and purples coz I have lotsa clothes with those colors too. Oh well..gotta go.

p.s we spent the weekend up in the hills with close friends. That was really nice. Five families with a total of 11 kids. Was really enjoyable, especially for the kids! Nel also celebrated her 6th birthday up there. Happy Birthday my little Nel…you’re growing up…way too fast for me.

love turquoise colored stones...this one combined with brown stones is my favourite.

That piece with the flower is really old from early 1990's ..bought from Walmart Illinois. :) The one with the stone is quite new. Am looking for a pair of matching earrings now. well, actually I ordered a pair already, for a really cheap price, to be collected next week.

More turquoise colored jewelry. Some bought by my mum on her travels. The one which alternates between white and turquoise was bought in Sabah for just 8RM. Beautiful.

This combination of shells and beads was purchased in Sarawak for 10Rm. I love it's unique shade of green. So beautiful like a sunflower.

another turquoise piece bought by my friend from Thailand, and the green piece at the back is a choker, hand made by a native S'wakian.

More matching turquoise jewelry...the bracelet in front bought by my mum while on a trip to India.
Earrings in the background from Somerset, and that beautiful beaded bracelet in the middle bought while on an adventure trip. Was on a boat ride on a rough river near Mulu Caves. We visited the Penan long house, and the ladies made such beautiful jewelry. It's priceless. Bought it for only 4Rm.

this pendant was bought from an Indian preservation center in New Mexico. One of my favourites too.

A favourite bought in the 80's, one of the rare pink pieces i have. Made of shells....

2008-05-21T21:38:00.004+08:00

we had a lovely weekend at the beach...my family and my bro's. The apartment was nice. It was a double storey apartment with three rooms. Anyway, we were mostly in the sun....and the weather was beautiful...cloudy, cool and windy.

The first day the waves were rather strong...so the children spent most of their time building sandcastles.. while I had a good swim, well, dip, in the ocean.

The children had a whole room to themselves, and thus once back in the apartment, they decided to lock the room door to give themselves some privacy from the adults. Finally after too long a silence, I knocked on the door and threatened to blow the door down if they did not open. They opened the door, and I saw them, biscuit crumbs all over the face. They were having a picnic in there. Cans of biscuits opened and stacked up on plastic bags turned into mats! hahaha...

in marched the mums, (me and my sis in law) who made them pick up every biscuit, return them to the cans, and clean the floor which was really covered with all sorts of crumbs!

Night was exciting... all tucked up in the same bed, I talked to them a little...before lights went out.

Day 2 started with a hearty breakfast of nasi lemak, sausages and noodles before more time in the sun. The tide was low and the water was far out, making it fantastic for catching crabs, and so we did. Anyway, some random pics...

Louis playin in the sand

Jo tryin to build a castle

Sunset at Port Dickson

ONe of the small crabs we caught. We let them all go again, back to the sea.

the photo

2008-05-15T14:31:00.006+08:00

Many years ago.... to be precise, Spring time almost 10 years ago, I received an email from a person called Ted while I was still in the US putting the final touches to my Masters thesis.

Ted in that email asked if I still remembered him? I thought about the numerous times I'd met him, yet never really talked. I remembered him as the person who came up to talk to my brother once after we'd performed for a friend's wedding.....the man I saw from a distance when a best friend visited his brother who happened to be Ted's housemate (Ted smiled at me ).... I remembered him as the man who I met at camp. On that last day at camp, during farewell lunch..somehow all seats were fully occupied except for one at my table. Ted came and sat there and we finally talked, but just for about 4 minutes. Then I had to leave. Later I flew back to the States.

Anyway, back to that spring time 10 years ago, the email came as a surprise coz I never expected an email from him. He wrote to tell of how he'd been trying to trace me and get my contact when he bumped into my friend and got my email. Well...after a few emails back and forth, he asked for a photo of me. I thought, why not? he seemed like a nice guy and sent him this one.

Our relationship didn't happen. I went on to meet someone else and he too met someone else. I stopped writing him emails after a while, coz I just couldn't trust someone whom I'd just talked to for 5 mins over lunch.

However, when I came back, I volunteered in an orphanage and coincidentally, Ted was a volunteer there too. Need i say more? I just couldn't avoid him...so we got married. :)
Recently, while cleaning, I came across this photo I sent him.

He told me "Do you know, when I received this photo...I thought you were a wild sort of girl? Probably not my kind.."

Do you know why he thought that? well, first of all, he's kinda old fashioned type, logical, straight forward, kind and honest. Well, anyway....he thought I was wild because the photo........

ok, I've decided not to tell why. Maybe you could guess? look at the photo and guess why would Ted think me wild? hahaha... seriously I don't have my eyebrow or nose pierced, no tatoo...

oh well, gotta go. Take care all.

My moronic dog who spoilt my day

2008-05-07T21:42:00.008+08:00

so the hand-foot and mouth disease has finally gone. yahoooo...........................

but truth be told, I'm drained out, and a little down in the dumps. it's from the lack of sleep. Somehow, Jo's still been waking up at least 3-4 times a night even though the ulcers have subsided. Yesterday, I was just getting so cranky and feeling so down we decided to all go for a walk.

So the children and I and Camel (our dog) headed for a walk. Nel decided to hold Camel's leash. While walking, Nel saw a coconut tree and started counting the coconuts on the tree. At that moment, she forgot Camel. Camel saw his chance of escape, and dashed as fast as his legs could carry him. And mind you, Camel who jumps like a pogo stick is also a very very fast runner.

Nel ran after him, which spurred that wicked little dog to run even faster. I screamed "STOPPPPPPPPP" so loud the neighbours came out to look. Of course, nobody helped me catch Camel. So there went my peaceful walk. I walked fast, furiously, calling very loudly after Camel, and my idiotic dog, having caught the scent of another dog's pee, was fast on it's track. He didn't give a hoot to my call.

Then the rascal went further down the road and took a turn. AT that moment, I looked at my children trailing behind....and thought, "Camel or the kids? Camel or the kids?"

Darn, of course, it would have to be kids first. So I walked back to the kids, muttering curses under my breath. I lifted JO with one arm, and in my anger uttered certain words to Nel which I regret till now.

So with that 12 kgs in my arm and another one crying behind me, we continued our search for Camel. TUrned the corner and saw that scent maniac still sniffing the sidewalk and pillars. He sneaked looks at us from the corner of the eye, less we catch him and cut short his freedom.

I was almost to him when he ran again all the way to the next turn, nearing a busy road where cars were zooming by. I thought, he's either gonna die, or get lost, can't keep up with this chase. Finally, prayed a little....and then decided to squat. I sat there, called him....and to my relief, he decided he loved his master (me) more than whatever dog who's scent had attracted him. phew....

we walked home.... Nel ahead, wounded from my words. Bad mother i am......

Finally I decided I had to undo my words...had to let pride go. I sat down under the tree, and called Nel to my side. Reluctantly she came. We talked about the meaning of Responsibility, a new word for her. and blah blah blah.....and i kinda apologized. In the end, I gave her one more chance to handle CAmel's leash.

At that moment, the coy neighbour's cat, the one that loves to irritate Camel decided to come by. Of course, that dumb dog succumbed to the lure of the cat and barked like a moron, while trying to break loose from his leash. When will he ever learn not to give in, for his barking surely gives pleasure to that cat who was smiling wickedly. Well, Nel passed the test this time, for she held on to that leash with all her might and told Camel to keep quiet and sit down.

All in all.....it's so tough after sleepless nights and tiring days to keep cool. It's so easy to get angry and say things that hurt. It's so easy to hurt those you love most.... God forgive me when I become the mother I do not want to be. Well.....ok....time to go. I'm hoping for better sleep tonight.....

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update... Nel had a long fish bone lodged at the very back of her throat, the dumb GP said "no bone, can't see a bone." Found myself on that traffic road to Aunt Pauline's clinic again in OUG. That terrific doctor....she got that bone out. She's just a FANTASTIC doctor.

Nel's paintint of a fish

Nel's painting of herself. See the spots on the mouth? she said those are the ulcers which were in her mouth when she had the HFM.

Kenny G

2008-05-05T13:17:00.004+08:00

the kids still have it, Nel has not been to school for 4 days now. Knowing the schooling system here which gives kids 2-3 homework each day, there will be TONNES of homework for her to do once she's back in kindy. *sigh*

She's got ulcers on her lips still, and as for Jo, she's much better. Her statement yesterday was "mum, i've got blood on my tongue!" but today she said "i'm ok already mummy." but on looking into her mouth, there were still some small ulcers at the back. We're all tired of being cooped up at home and patience is running low.

Anyway, 2 weeks ago before this whole HFM thing started, hubby had bought me a surprise ticket to Kenny G's concert in Gentings. The last time he was in Malaysia some time in 1990, I was there too. :) Back then he was very popular and lotsa people were crazy about him. Now...he's so so.

Still hubby's idea of a surprise night out was REALLy nice. :) Well the drive took about an hour and half. The concert was enjoyable. I told hubby how Kenny G liked walking in from the back of the auditorium, and true enough, he did that, surprising and thrilling the audience to bits and pieces! haha... Anyway, can't believe how crowded Genting is, even on a fri night. People have too much money to throw away? (for my friends abroad, Genting is a highland famous for it's Casinos and Theme parks)

Well, photos are in hubby's phone. I've not downloaded them yet. However, we did queue up like crazy people (hundreds were in line!!!) to get his autograph. and here's the proof...hehe....

For today...I'm gonna attempt making home made ice-cream. Will let you all know how it turned out. Blessings..

Day 4 HFMD

2008-05-03T08:59:00.003+08:00

Isn't this getting boring? HFMD again? haha....

oh well....it's day four. The fever has subsided, and that makes things much better. THey are able to play as normal and are back to the love/fight relationship.

As for eating...Nel has taken the opportunity to ask for her favourite ice creams and jelly. (junk food.) Other than that, still no real solid food...coz her mouth is still filled with ulcers. She finds watery porridge ok, and her other favourite at this time is warm mushroom soup with some macaroni. She finds that manageable.

As for Jo.... she's still pretty much on milk and ice cream with about 5 mouths of porridge yesterday which I had to "force" her to eat.

I don't know why they call it Hand Foot and Mouth...coz by yesterday the spots started showin up on Nel's body. They look like blisters on her body. they are mainly on her fingers, toes, thighs, and butt. So they should call it Hand Legs/Butt and Mouth disease.

gotta go...

Day 2 HFMD

2008-05-01T22:18:00.004+08:00

as predicted it pretty much a sleepless night. Jo woke constantly, whining each time. As it is, I'm a light sleeper ... and with last night's whining, I was a non sleeper. Awoke with slight headaches, but did not nap at all today. That just doesn't happen. Hubby on the other hand had a wonderful 2 hour nap during the day! (public holiday today..Labour day.)

Jo was cranky most of today....while Nel was feverish in the morning complaining of throat pain. I asked them both to open their mouths, and .....errrghhhhh.....tonnes of red and white spots on the upper palate, and even more in the throat area behind the tongue. In fact, the whole throat looked so swollen. No wonder the crying and whining.

Thank God, the doc had given me Cataflam Oral Drops in case the children experienced severe pain. So I gave Jo the cataflam, and wonders and wonders, she became her usual self for about 3 hours before the cranky side of her reappeared. Nel was quite ok after some fever/pain med, perhaps because she's older. Eating is hard for both of them, and they have just been surviving on milk, cold liquids and ice cream.

Jo is already skinny, and I suppose, this will take more pounds off her.

Anyway....yeah, about to put these babies to bed, and as of now, spots are beginning to appear near their lips, palms and feet. arrghhhh......

Nel is crying a little...she's asking "mum, will the blisters get more painful? it's pain mum...." I'm praying they won't get more painful.

gotta go.....

HFMD

2008-04-30T22:59:00.003+08:00

today's just been absolutely draining.....
it started last night when Nel developed fever.... today morn, rushed her to the pediatrician, my aunt Pauline's clinic, which is a 40 mins drive through crazy traffic. I go to her, coz I don't trust any of the doctors around my place.

Well...turns out, Nel has HFMD . That poor girl had fever the whole of last night and the whole of today...with sores beginning to form on her upper palate...which will turn to painful ulcers, said the doctor. Needless to say, she's not eaten much.

Anyway, after the visit to the doctor, I dropped the kids at my dad's and drove to a meeting at the uni where I will be lecturing part time. I suppose, because my mind was so troubled by my children's health, I actually took sooooooo many wrong turns! a 40 minute drive became ONE and HALF hours! I ended up in the busy KL City .... and arrived at the meeting 40 mins late.

Later I drove by dad's to pick my children up only to find Jo crying and whining...complaining of pains everywhere, mainly on her joints and mouth. SHe was running a fever...and she was crying non stop, refusing any form of liquid or food.

Once again, I found myself on the very busy road, heading towards Aunt Pauline's clinic. By the time we reached the clinic and saw the doc, I was so tired, I thought I was just gonna cry. I know, boo hoo, cry baby. haha.... well i Was just darn tired.

So Jo is down with HFMD too..... her entire throat is swollen.... poor baby.

Really....times like this, mothering is tough....

We have to console the crying baby..

try to soothe away the pains...

carry the baby who's sick and clingy no matter how our back aches..

gently persuade them to take that little bite or drink ...

and most of all, remain strong...for a mother cannot afford to fall sick...coz she has to tend to all her little children...(and sometimes husband)....

ok.....will try to sleep now....though...it seems impossible....am not looking forward to tomorrow...but am trusting the Lord to heal them quickly...

Abstract Art by Nel

2008-04-29T13:25:00.002+08:00

Nel's been bugging me for art lessons. Currently she goes to ballet. I suppose if her interests in art is stronger than ballet, we will switch her to art by next year. Still ballet is good....mainly for her to learn working/dancing as a group, memory of sequence (dance steps), confidence etc etc etc.

She's always doodling, and coming up with rather abstract stuff... if not that, then she's into building blocks or stories. She's always asking strange questions and has interesting thoughts which she comes up with every now and then. Anyway, she drew this today. If you can tell it's actually a face with an alien kinda nose :) and some very abstract patterns in the middle. :)

Anyway, it's a long weekend this week, and I'm looking forward to it. Will be heading out of town for an adventure. God bless and have a lovely rest of the week. :)

third child...yes or no?

2008-04-25T18:02:00.004+08:00

Another week's gone by...time goes by too quickly. Starting mid year, my schedule will be doubly busy with more teaching assignments far from home . Though part of me dreads the thought of travelling and spending more time away from home, from my children, I will give thanks. One, because i know, while I'm working my children will be in good hands with my own mum. Second, because recently due to all sorts of unexpected events, my bank account has taken a sharp dip, and when I prayed about it, these job offers came. So I will give thanks. :)

Anyway .... other than that, while going through physio this week, the therapist mentioned the dreaded subject, the subject of the third child. Why is it, soooooooooooo many people are asking me to have a third child? My in laws bug me, my mum's friends bug me...almost everyone except my parents. phew, thank goodness they don't.

Do you know all my in laws have 3-4 children? do you know all my nieces and nephew in laws have also 3-4 children? On hubby's side, i'm the only one with 2.

This issue has been bugging my mind like crazy coz I'm not getting younger...and time is ticking.

Reasons why I should have no. 3 ...
1) everyone says I should try for a boy. (What is the probability of getting one????)
2) The older folks tell me when they hit 50's and 60's they look back and regretted not having more.
3) hubby wants one more
4) It might get quiet around when the children all go to school
5) perhaps out of 3, one might be willing to look after us when I am old? haha..

Reasons NOT to have no.3
1) Increased expenditure, less money to go round
2) Go through TERRIBLe pregnancy again with horrible morning sickness
3) All teaching jobs will be affected again
4) Go through the dreaded C-Section again. I hated it and the pain after!
5) Go through post partum depression again
6) Sleepless nights all over again
7) no freedom to do as I like still... meaning travel...and possibly studying again...

See...the reasons for NOT far outweighs the reasons to have. That's why I can't bring myself to it. But on the other hand....I'm beginning to coo at and admire other people's babies... I'm thinking, if I want one i have to have it now.... I just can't make up my mind.......... just can't. So I wish people would stop bugging me about this for a while.....

Anyway, after all that here's some humor found on http://www.engrish.com/ . Michi, I hope you won't mind these jokes? coz some taken from Japan. Just thought the translation of words here are funny. :) Have a good weekend everyone. :)

No thanks...err...but out of curiosity, is his urine sweet or sour?

this one makes me dizzy reading..

Perhaps this one parents should buy for daughter's boyfriends.

no thanks, i don't think slipping is good at all

ok, but how do I know if my refrigerator is anxious?

yeah...I won't.....can feed with other people's ?

More art work by JO

2008-04-20T00:07:00.002+08:00

This is just continuation from the last post. As mentioned, Jo suddenly decided that she likes drawing. So she's been practicing doing lots of faces. Today her drawing has gotten more detailed. Check out the nose, and ears. :)

hands and legs still stem from the head. :) Her drawing now has eyebrows and ears!
These are her drawings of her Ah Kong (Grandpa) and Ah Ma (Grandma)
The little one herself with her art and telescope.
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Have a blessed weekend everyone

Art

2008-04-18T21:03:00.007+08:00

day 2 physio. They added 2 pound weights to my exercises. The pain persists... but doctor already said it would take a few months of physio. I'm also to start regular swimming. With frequent thunderstorms and busy schedule...I don't know how I'm gonna fit that in...but will try.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As for my kids... the crazy rainy weather which has not stopped since Jan has prevented us from going out for our regular walks in the evenings. This drives the children (and me) crazy especially if they are cooped up at home the whole day. However, they have been busy with art. I suppose, since I'm a musician and very much into art myself, my children have a natural inclination towards art and music too.

Well today, Jo took out her sketch pad and these are the pictures she drew today at age 2 years and half.

She says, this is mummy. That messy part in the middle is my tummy. and if you look carefully, she has drawn hands on the side, and two sticks for my legs. If only my legs were thin as sticks! haha....

This is her drawing of daddy.
And this her drawing of Nel. Again, a large messy tummy area, and two very curly hands on the side. haha... 2 sticks for the legs which stem from the head. haha...

THis is Nel's work of art. She's very into building blocks...and so is Jo.

Nel's drawing of turtle on the sea. She is passionate about animals, especially that of the ocean. Right now, she's into saving the whales. haha...

Nel's very colorful CHristmas tree.

Nel's half drawn house with colorful roof.
Random doodle from Nel...again more Christmas trees. (You can tell when her favourite time of the year is.)

Day 1 Physiotherapy

2008-04-15T22:12:00.004+08:00

Finally ... I started my physiotherapy today. The session lasted for an hour and a half. Some of it was painful, some of it was relaxing. The ice packs were nice. My shoulders have gotten so bad lately it's hard to wash my own hair or do things for the children without some pain. So I figured, time to get it fixed.

Jo sat down quietly and observed what they were doing. She's really good for a 2 1/2 year old. :) but at one point, when she saw them putting stuff on me, she panicked, and the poor little one started crying badly. So I told her to stand by my bed and hold my hand. She did that in between sobs. I'd to assure her that I was ok, and the physio was helping me and not hurting me. Let's hope the shoulders and back will get better with each session. I'm praying hard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tonight as I put the children to bed Jo said "Mummy, I'm so happy to be with you."

As for Nel she said "Mum.....I wish I was a baby again...."

I asked her why she wished that... and she replied "When I was a baby, you hugged me while I closed my eyes and you used to tap my back till I fell asleep."

I recalled back to the days before Jo was born. Nel being the very affectionate person she is, would snuggle close to me, her hand always touching my shoulders to make sure I was right there beside her when she slept. but when Jo was born, we had to move Nel to a different room, coz Jo was a super wakey baby, waking up 5-6 times a night.

Anyway, so today, I snuggled close beside her, and she held my hand with one, and with the other, held my shoulders like she did when she was a baby. Then she said "sing me my favourite song mum, "May The Lord Bless you.."

So I sang..and she fell asleep, soundly like a baby. :)

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As for my weekly cooking/baking sessions with Junee...last friday, me and Junee attempted to make Onde Onde...and here are the pictures. Yup, they turned out delicous and are very easy to make . :)

The Paste - Glutinous flour, tapioca flour, juice from screwpine leaves

Fill each one with palm sugar and roll into balls making sure sugar is properly sealed inside.

boil, drain and roll in coconut

Bite into it and fill it "burst" in your mouth as the palm sugar melts in your mouth. yumm...

Personality

2008-04-09T23:06:00.006+08:00

Minni, the mother of Bethany , sent me this linkto Nurture by Nature where you can take a quiz to determine a child's personality type. So I did the quiz on behalf of my kids, and here's the result for Nel's personality. I find it quite accurate!

The Joys and Challenges of Raising an INFP
INFPs are idealistic, committed, and deeply passionate, but tend to idealize relationships, and are easily hurt and tend to hold grudges. Spontaneous and highly original, they also tend to be quite disorganized and become overwhelmed by details.
How to Nurture INFPs
-encourage them to talk about their ideas;

-listen quietly and give them your undivided attention
-allow them to watch from the sidelines;

-give them plenty of time to play alone or day dream
-respect the intensity of their feelings;

- appeal to their desire for harmony in times of conflict
-speak softly and maintain eye and close physical contact

Enduring self-esteem for INFPs comes from knowing that their deep feelings are legitimate and that the people they care about love them regardless of the roller coaster of emotions they often ride.

Results for...Jo ....may not be as accurate...as certain things are not very clear yet...like if she's a thinker or feeler. Yes, she is imaginative, and intellectually curious. She's stubborn, strong willed. However, she doesn't appear emotionally aloof and superior. She's actually very affectionate and shows it clearly, :) ....except in new social environment. Gotta do this test again when she's older.

The Joys and Challenges of Raising an INTJ
INTJs are imaginative and intellectually curious but tend to also be stubborn and unwilling to back down. While they are logical, direct, and skeptical, they are usually intensely private, independent, and appear emotionally aloof and superior.
How to Nurture INTJs
-don’t push them into social situations;

-respect their hesitancy and follow their lead
-provide a constantly expanding source of intellectual stimulation
-expect an analytical thinking style, and don’t take their criticism personally
-be fair and consistent;

-offer the logical rational for your decisions
Enduring self-esteem for INTJs comes from being valued and respected for their unique perspective and their constantly increasing levels of competence.

Camel my little poodle

2008-04-03T19:53:00.005+08:00

Day 4 Detox. Let's say I'm not going by the diet plan faithfully. However, I've been eating healthy. :) Cannot go without rice as directed. Addicted to rice. ahaha..

Conversation with Jo over breakfast today.

Jo: Mum, does Ivan obey his mummy? (Ivan is a friend from her toddler group)

Me: Well, I think so.

Jo: Jo obeys mummy. I am a good girl. (pause....and after a while she says)

Mum, .............I like being with you mum. (she says it with a smile.)

Awwww....that was so wonderful to hear. It just brightened my day. :)

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Today we took Camel our adopted dog for grooming. his fur was just growing wild. If you read my earlier post on Camel, you'd know he was rescued from cruelty, and we adopted him. Well, here's the little fella after his hair cut. The best thing is the groomer knows Camel, coz it was he who rescued Camel. So he did it all for free! ANyway, Camel now looks Totally adorable! :)

Camel eyeing Nel's food

Sits still when on a leash

Camel posing

Camel is usually a VERY active dog! I had to censor this pic.

no x rated pic allowed on this family site. haha...

Camel jumping to get the treat

He can jump VERY high! I call him a pogo stick.

1st day De-Tox

2008-03-31T20:55:00.000+08:00

There's a crazy fad going around now, and it's De-tox! yeah, it's something my friends, (which means 30 somethin's and older) are talking about and doing. I never thought I'd get to this stage, but (sigh) i finally have.

Anyways, i went to Cheryl's new pharmacy, called CHERYL PHARMACY yesterday... a Truly unique experience. It's like stepping into a cozy home with all sorts of interesting products which make you feel like you've gotta buy buy buy. Nothing like the boring medicine smelling pharmacy you find outside. You've gotta go there to know what I mean. ANyway, yes, so I bought bought bought...... am especially happy with the organic shampoo which has a lovely aroma and brings this cool, clean tingly feeling to my scalp. Also happy with the yogurt maker. :)

And yes, I was persuaded to buy Juvanex, a detox program. I think I need it for lotsa reasons....
So I started that today. Anyways, it says in the booklet, "to maximise the effect, try to follow eating suggestions inset." So I looked at the suggestions and it said "Day 1 and Day 2 - fruits every 2 hours." "Day 3 and 4 add vegetables to fruits."
I thought...that sounds easy, and went and bought a WHOLE lot of fruits.

So today, I started. Juvanex in the morning followed by fruits. ........ but err....... my stomach wanted more........ more......so I thought a bit of wheat bread won't hurt, and I had that. Then came lunch....... and I had more fruits...dragon fruit, pears and grapes. I drooled as i watched my children swallow their rice, vege, chicken and potatoes....... *drool Drool* and began to wonder if I'd survive this, just one day.

I've to disappoint you by admitting that when Jo couldn't finish her drumstick, I reasoned that food should not be wasted, so I helped her finish it. hahaha..... but ok, it was just 2-4 bites.

Then I decided to take my mind off food, go swim. So swim we went. and after the swim, I was totally LONGING for food, esp a bit of meat...not pork or beef, just some good fish. I love fish. I stole some cereal from my kids and went home and had more fruits.

so I decided to read the booklet again, and to my relief saw, "a small portion of brown rice with vege soup" is allowed. ahhhh.... that was a tremendous relief!! That concludes my first day of detox. I feel ok, not tired or grouchy as they said some might feel. However, I do feel a little hotter than usual, so I've got my air conditioning running at full force.

Let's hope I survive the second day without breaking too many rules. I suppose I want to follow it as closely as possible to get max results and also hopefully to loose some weight. I still need to get rid of that post pregnancy fat, which seems to have become "permanent deposit" around my waist line.

Anyway, one thing i learnt today, i probably can never be vegetarian. haha...

Baking again..

2008-03-29T08:54:00.000+08:00

This week I decided it was time to take out the mixer and start baking again after a few months rest. The last time i baked was for Christmas, and i Was baking so much, I didn't wanna bake at all after that.

Well, as you all know, Nel's started kindergarten, and she has to take snacks to school everyday. Sometimes it's sandwiches, but she mostly prefers biscuits (cookies). So, I decided better make her some wholesome, healthy ones free of preservatives and low in sugar. :)

Well, I picked this Oatmeal COokie recipe from Martha Stewart's cook book. mOdified the recipe a little by cutting ammount of sugar by half. Usually I add raisins, but this time, I thought I'd make it a little more sinfully delicous. I replaced the raisins with really good bitter sweet dark chocolate. The result.......................... ahhhhh....absolutely delicious.

I gave a batch to Aunt Gladys. She's my mum's friend since the time I was about 7. Later she sms'ed me and the message goes "thanks....very delicious, all gone in 5 minutes!" Nel loves it, so I'm happy, coz it's nutritious. :)

Looks kinda sparce, but that's coz we had already eaten them, warm, fresh out the oven....before I took this shot.

yeah...oatmeal, wheatgerm and good good dark chocolate.

one batch of cookies here..

Then, I decided we'd bake some sausage buns. Junee helped me out on this one... I'm afraid the bread didn't turn out as tender as I'd like it. Fault of the recipe I think. ok, my fault too for experimenting way too much. I added Atta flour to see if it'd turn out well. Anyway, it makes really good breakfast rolls if eaten hot with cream cheese spread. slrrpppp........ i think I'll go get some now. see ya.

Picture taken before entering the oven. No pictures after that. Was too busy tasting.

Super Moth

2008-03-24T20:31:00.001+08:00

COnversation with Nel today:

Nel: Mum, why can't my dolls and teddy bear talk like the ones in the story book and cartoons?

Me: coz, that's all imaginary, they're only in stories and on TV, they're not real.

Nel: Mum, is someone watching us on TV?

Me: Why do you ask that?

Nel: well, we watch people on TV all the time, so surely someone else must be watching us on TV.
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Conversation with Jo while reading a book on farm animals:

Jo: Look mum, baby cow likes to drink mummy's milk, and baby Goat likes to drink mummy goat's milk.
(Jo turns the page)
Jo: Look mum, baby chicks like to drink mummy chicken's milk.

Me: No, Jo, baby chicks don't take mummy chicken's milk. they eat grains. Look at this Jo, the mama chicken can lay eggs! lots of them.

(Jo looks....and after a moment says)

Jo: Jo cannot lay eggs. ....... but Jo can Eat Eggs!!! yummy. :)
(Jo turns the page to look at a picture of a lady milking the goat)
Jo: Mum, why is the lady.....why is she pulling the the..... the...... the....... the............ milk?

Me: She's milking the goat, when she pulls the milk comes out.

Jo: (thinking hard...) Mum, is it pain? Is it pain when the lady pulls it like that?
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Anyway, today we met a Super Moth! Actually this Super moth came by our house last night and hovered around the porch light.

This morning, while driving the kids to school, I looked in the rear view mirror to see Super Moth stuck to the back window! I told the girls "Look, the moth is stuck on the glass!" The girls got REALLY excited!!
After 10 mins of speeding down the highway, it WAS STILL THERE! "Wow," I said in a screechy high voice pretending to be the moth, "I wanna go school, I wanna go...wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee this is fun!! wooo hooooooooooo"

Then the moth started sliding slowly towards the edge of the car. I told the girls to say goodbye to it, but Super Moth decided to hang on!!!!!! and it DID!!! I dropped the girls, drove back another 20 minutes, and the moth was STILL there stuck fast on the back glass! Simply Amazing! So I grabbed my camera, and then proceeded to see if I could get it into a glass container. That's when Super MOth decided to say adios, and it flew off. I admit, I missed it when it left, for it sure created a super morning for us all. haha...

Dear Moth wherever you are, I hope you don't end up as bird's food.
now I must go google Moth to find out about it's amazing ability to stick on glass through wind, turns, bumps and brakes. It must be an adrenaline junkie!

Super Moth
Super Moth on edge of car, but hanging on tight.

Pretty aint' it?

Close up of its beautiful wings

2008-03-20T08:55:00.000+08:00

here's a weird conversation with Jo which I had yesterday. In my younger cousin's terms, the conversation would be described as "Lame." haha....

Well, it all started coz I have a dog named Camel. My friends have asked if I was crazy to name my dog Camel coz it might confuse my kids. Plus, at one time I too had a cat named "Dog" and a rabbit named "Kitty."

So it was over teh tarik "pulled tea?" while waiting for Nel to finish ballet class...

Me: Jo, do you have a camel in your house?

Jo: Yes, camel is in my house.

Me: A Camel in your house???!!!!! (eyes opened wide in shock and horror....)

Jo: Yes, and it's in my kitchen.

Me: In our kitchen?????? Oh my gosh, how can that HUGE camel get in our kitchen??? A Camel is supposed to live in the desert or in the zoo....

Jo: My camel can run and fetch balls and it likes to lick me, like this! (sticking out her little tongue)

Me: A Camel that runs and fetches balls??? Jo????? How can a camel do that???? (and here I whipped out a paper from my handbag and began drawing a big picture of the real camel, and a picture of my tiny poodle named Camel.)
Me: So Jo, which Camel are you talking about? which camel do you have in your house?? the big one or the smalllll one?

Jo: (pointing to the poodle) This one of course! my camel has curly hair. But I like the Big Camel. I want! I want! I want! My daddy took me to the zoo to look at the camel and I gave him grass to eat. I want that big camel mum. Can you buy me one???? I want I want!

Me: staring at her and wondering why on earth does she want a camel. and ok...trying hard to control my laughter, coz I had to look very serious about this matter of having a camel in the house!

Anyway, the people sitting near us must've thought we were crazy, or my daughter was over imaginative talking about a camel that can run and catch balls and which lives in our kitchen. :)
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Camel

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BTW, it'z crazy how hormonal changes wreak havoc in our bodies. Couple that with certain geneticically related tendencies...it creates some miseries for a 30 somethin.
One is the ballooning body. most female in my family are pear shaped. Ok, so Jennifer Lopez is supposedly pear shape, but she's fit and trim and has extra padding on the top. Problem with this body is with a lack of exercise, that pear is gonna turn into a plump plum!!

hormonal changes.....arrghhh.....affects lustre on skin, thinning hair, temper changes, and for women, sooooo many many many changes as we age. SO many of my friends are going for laser skin treatment, slimming treatment, hair treatment...... boy the cost of living for a 30 somethin is REALLY high isn't it? I have yet to splurge on such treatments... but may consider a few in the near future haha...

weaning

2008-03-10T14:00:00.000+08:00

Well, the election has come and gone...was my first time voting. thought, I had to do my part as a citizen of this country...
The results are out, and really, it's just mind blowing, the way the results have turned out. :) the people have spoken, the message is clear, and I just pray that things in this country will start to improve. HOpefully the opposition will carry out the things they've said. Otherwise, I suppose things will swing the other way again in 2013. Nuf bout that. http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/ (<<-- go here to read more about it.)
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Some updates on ze kids.

Jo's still strong headed as ever. I'm finally REALLY trying to wean her. The last few attempts were half hearted attempts...as I didn't want to loose that special bonding that comes with nursing. I've refused most of her requests for mummy's milk...and she kinda understands. Although she still begs for JUST one...and so I give in to just one.

There's mixed feelings in weaning.... first it's relieve that the sleepless nights will soon come to an end. Currently she wakes about twice a night instead of the usual 5-7 times. On the other hand...there is a tinge of sadness that she's no longer a baby...the baby that snuggles close to mama several times a day to be very close to mama. She loves to go off on her own to play now. However, the bonding which nursing brought about is still strong. Even when playing on her own, she returns every now and then to give me a hug, or say "I love you mum." :)
One drawback is, it is so VERY difficult to make her sleep nowadays. With nursing, that little girl is sedated in a very short time. Without nursing, it takes almost an hour to put this little monkey to sleep. She's very active.

Also, little Jo's imagination is very vivid and wild. The other day, I was about to just drop on the bed after a tiring day when she shouted "DON'T SIT!" I jumped up and asked "What????"
Jo replied "There's an ostrich on your bed, don't sit on it!"

oh well...blah blah blah. Nel's coping well in kindy. She loves it, and the teacher loves her. :) She's still struggling with the Chinese language.... but excels in all other subjects. ok, will end here....

or the kids will grow very wild soon without my supervision. :)

more 30 somethin thoughts

2008-02-25T09:31:00.000+08:00

I woke very early this morning.....grudgingly, with creaky, squeaky sounds in every joint all over my aching body. It's been like that for a long time. the shoulder pain and the back pain is perennially there... Yeah, I've been recommended intensive physiotherapy by the doctor, but never got around to starting it.

Anyway, stepped into my bathroom to brush my teeth before starting my job for the morning which is driving my daughter and niece to kindy. I looked at the very large bathroom mirror which stretches from one end of the wall to the other. In the reflection I see the rising sun shining its very gentle and mellow rays through the shutters. The rising sun's ray is so kind as it casts a very beautiful glow on everything it touches, including me. It hides all the flaws which comes with age, and for a moment, I really look like I'm 18 all over again. *sigh* :) hahaha..

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ok, before you accuse me of being vain, admit it, if you've been mid 30's before...surely there have been moments when you noticed the changes in the body, and yearn for younger days. right? :) hmmm.....is this mid life crisis?
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on another note...have you ever gone to bed with a pair of undies which keeps getting stuck between the butt? it's horrible experience. No matter which side you roll, one side keeps getting stuck and you have to yank it out. It really causes imsomnia and sleeplessness. I'm gonna throw that one out today.

Shots from trip to Kuching, and the Story of how I saw the Rafflesia

2008-02-14T23:16:00.002+08:00

As promised some shots from our recent trip back to Kuching. Hope you enjoy the pictures and stories.

Here's some from the Sarawak CUltural Village It's a place where you get to experience a bit of the ethnic diversity found in Sarawak. The children really enjoyed this place. They tried all sorts of ethnic musical instruments...tasted diff goodies, and Nel even went up on stage to dance the native dance and you'll see in one of the pictures, she got dressed up like them too. :)

One of the houses...Bidayuh i think?

a native lady showing us how weaving is done.

It was drizzling while we were there....

what used to be a headhunter's house

Man playing the Sape. I SO want to get, buy one of it, but the man said, the ones he had were booked already. Sigh...perhaps next time.

See all these half made sapes? fully booked. The shop outside only sells souvenir ones. I would like to get a real one. He said to try on my next trip. Fingers crossed, I'll be the proud owner of one next time.

My little Nel, all dressed up in native costume. She looked beautiful. :)

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Here's some shots from the town of Sematan, almost at the tip of West Sarawak (about 3 hours drive from Kuching.) A really sleep little town with hardly anything except for a row of shop houses and REALLY cheap seafood. Well, there are also private chalets, isolated peaceful beaches, pepper farms and padi fields. A piece of heavenly tranquil on earth.

the only row of shops we saw there

Heavenly seafood for very very cheap. Half of what we pay in town.

Tranquility.... not a soul in sight except us....and the sand flies. haha...

The Red House... by a beach near Lunduk
Nel...my free spirited girl...running by the waters...into the sunset...

Here's some from Gunung Gading National Park located near the town of Lunduk, about 2 hours from Kuching. This is a park famous for the growth of the very rare Rafflesia flower. However, the Rafflesia is not always in bloom, and if they do, it only lasts for a week. I've a story to tell here.

We hiked 2 hours in the thick, humid rainforest only to face disappoinment. Not a Rafflesia in sight. Park rangers, said there was none in bloom. :( We even risked crossing a no entry sign to walk the Rafflesia route which was closed for repair of broken boards. I've to say, my kids were WONDERFUL. They walked those hours with us, Jo was carried every now and then when it got a little too dangerous. Finally, we decided, it was getting dark, thus time to head home. I refused to give up, and in desperation prayed "God, I came here..to see the beautiful Rafflesia... Please, let me see, just one. Amen."

I finished saying that prayer, and 2 seconds later, these 2 burly men with tatoo all over their bodies appeared. They looked at me and asked "enjoying your hike?" I replied "...well, I came to see the Rafflesia, and didn't see any." They replied "We know where there is one!"

I jumped in excitement and said "I'll follow you!" 5 minutes into the walk, I began to wonder if they were robbers or something...even my husband started wondering...... 10 mins passed, then they showed us a narrow trail off the main one. I began worrying a little. Then they man said "here it is!" I followed, looked behind a large tree, and there it was. :) A medium sized one....about 6 days old...but that man who showed us the way, wanted to move some sticks and he broke some of the petals!! grrr...... still I thanked him profusely...and was just so overjoyed at the sight of the Rafflesia. It's amazing how God answers simple prayers. :)

In the forbidden path. No one in sight, except us...me, my hubby, children, niece and nephew. We were looking for the Rafflesia.

Nel had watched Tarzan and asked if she could one day climb a vine. this one was PERFECT for climbing and so she climbed. :)

One of the many beautiful waterfalls found in this park. There are altogether 7 waterfalls in this park.

A Rafflesia bud which the men showed us. The rafflesia takes 9 months to bloom! and when it blooms, it starts decaying within 7 days.

The Rafflesia that took my breath away coz I was just so thrilled and overjoyed at finding one.

Me and the Rafflesia. As mentioned...petals broken by the careless men. *sigh* Nevertheless...still beautiful in my eyes.

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Kuching Town. Padungan Street, famous for it's Chinese New Year sales of flowers, fresh fruits, etc etc etc.

Nectarines and Peaches! Though expensive, i had no choice but to buy them. The temptation was unbearable. I just LOVE nectarines.

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Chinese New Year. As usual, the crazy, deafening, bombing sounds of fireworks, fire crackers and fire "bombs" and thick smoke permeated the air....to almost an unbearable level on New Year's eve.

New Year's day was "happening" with an endless stream of people visiting the house, angpows, lion dances, gambling (for some) and EATING.

The lion dance troupe. I took this shot from upstairs. here's the young boy, checking ME out. haha...
The lion dance that Nel found intriguing and entertaining. However, Jo thought otherwise, when she told me "mum, carry me, run, lion coming!!!!" I had to show her later, how they were only people inside... I suppose the music itself is already scary.

Lion dance in the house.
Well that's it for this album. Hope you enjoyed the pictures. :)

oh yeah, there were several other places which we visited like the Semenggok Orang Utan Sanctuary. That was nice when the kids saw the orang utans swinging HIGH up in the trees, and then directly above us!

We also found a famous seafood Kolo Mee restaurant. All fishballs handmade, as in, the lady used her hands to make them. Umm...seeing her make these fishballs, certainly made the noodles suddenly seem less appetizing. It's the way she was squishing them out of her palms.

Finally.........the time spent together as family was the best part of the whole trip. Also time for my children to be free...to experience nature as it is helps them appreciate the mighty God who created all things. :)

2008-02-13T21:27:00.000+08:00

Am finally back from the wonderful trip to Kuching. At first, I really dreaded the thought of going back for the annual celebration of Chinese New Year.

In the first few years of our marriage, going back to his hometown, was a torture. They used to think that my hubby had brought back an "Ang moh" wife (white/European wife). It didn't matter that my skin showed I was Chinese, fact was that my Chinese language was hopeless and I had little knowledge of the Chinese culture.

WHenever we go back, we stay with my hubby's 4th brother. That big village house is home to two families - 2nd brother and 4th brother, and mum. Each family has 4 children, thus making a total of 13 people. I say I stay with 4th brother, coz they've kinda divided the house into 2 zones, and I stay in 4th bro's zone. Why they've divided it? go figure yourself.

During my first few years, 4th bro's wife was...let's say, not very friendly. I will not specify in what way.... but ....needless to say, it created negative thoughts in my mind concerning my hubby's hometown and I spent many days in the guest room wishing I was home.

My mum in law, however, is a precious gem. Wise, calm and loving. Whenever my Chinese was lacking, we conversed in Bahasa Malaysia. haha..... My company there in the initial years before I had my my own children, were the children there. They made my visits there tolerable. They used to poke their heads into my room, and before long, I became very good friends with them. :) We've had really good times together doing all sorts of fun things. :)

In the years that followed, through my close friendship with the children...and my decision to remain polite and calm no matter what,...... things began to change for the better. This Chinese New Year, I'm happy to say that I got on very well with the entire family, partly because my Chinese has improved somewhat since then. :)

I even cooked some dishes for them, which they enjoyed. :) The trip was really wonderful. We did about 5 days of travelling...mostly to beaches and National Parks, and 5 days of visiting with friends and family. Their kids, now teens and qualified drivers, did the driving. :)

I've to say that this time, I came away, missing that place and the wonderful people and the wonderful in laws very much. :)

It's really a "happening" place, in the sense that there's always people around...I mean, it IS that way because out of the 8 children my mum in law has, 5 of them and their families and their children's children, live on the same street. That's why it is so "lau juak" - a Hokkien word meaning,........err....meaning.....warm and crowded with people you love to be with.

ok, will try to get some pics up. and will put them up soon. In the mean time, Happy Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year to my friends who celebrate it. :)

some random things this week

2008-01-28T22:02:00.000+08:00

-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. :)

2008-01-21T20:44:00.000+08:00

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

2008-01-18T09:17:00.000+08:00

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

2008-01-08T23:59:00.000+08:00

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.

2008-01-02T14:24:00.002+08:00

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.

2007-12-23T14:58:00.000+08:00

This is a busy CHristmas ...The dinner I planned for has come and gone. It was really good time catching up with old friends. Guess what? they all loved the food, and a few suggested I opened a restaurant. haha.... but no way. I spent way too long preparing all the food, if I were to open a restaurant, the dishes would never get to the guests on time. :)

ANyways, am gonna go cook now. Gonna help my sis in law prepare a dish for the party at her house tonight. Will probably make Mexican Chili topped with Mashed potatoes.
Tomorrow will be grandma's, and I will be the one bringing THE turkey. Then on Christmas day it will be at my parents. Well...what to do, we have a VERY large extended family.

I've a question, if Gail can answer? If I buy a self basting turkey, would I have to add salt still? How much? do I add a lot lesser than usual?
ANyway, here's some pictures. Enjoy.

Nel decorating her gingerbread star

The finished product. It was delicous and not like the super hard cookies you get outside. I substituted the Molasses with 3 parts Treacle and 1 part Golden Syrup. I also omitted the black pepper and cut back on the cloves. Yummy.

here's one decorated by Little Jo. YUmmy with extra cream, fingerprints and drool. Partly licked too before it was finished. :) Jo calls it the "funny gingerbread man."

My Golden turkey..I used fresh herbs. The fresh ones are SO expensive. Can you imagine, I paid 15$ for 2 sprigs of Thyme? and a hundred plus for this small turkey? I also covered the turkey with streaky Bacon which costs a LOT here. For 5 thin slices I paid something like 20$.

My Shepherd's Pie, which was really a favourite of the day. I layered the potatoes with Parmesan cheese in between...which really added flavour to the potatoes

Anyway, yeah...better get cooking now.

Merry CHristmas ALLLLLLL.....................

busy week

2007-12-17T09:46:00.000+08:00

Christmas is around the corner and I am busy. There's presents yet to be bought. I have a very large extended family... and I've only bought half the presents. It's tradition that we meet at my grandma's every Christmas day or Christmas Eve. All my 10 aunts and uncles and their children and children's children will be there. It's also tradition to give gifts to the umarried.... Can you hear me sigh as I watch my bills escalating and my bank account depleting? haha... but then, yes, I love giving... it's nice to give and my children will get to receive.

To add to the "buzy-ness"..there's all the extra classes I have to teach this week to make up for my going away next week. I'll be off to Sabah (East Malaysia) to witness my cousin's wedding by the beautiful ocean. I so look forward to that.

Not forgetting, I have 3 dinners to cook for. 3!!! well..I'll be making a turkey for grandma's, a Sheperd's Pie for a combined dinner with friends, and a whole meal at my own place.

I've not finalized my menu.... (the one at my own house.).. To date, the menu is gonna be

-Roast Turkey
-Sheperd's Pie
-Fettuccini with Creamy Tomato Italian Sausage Sauce
- Yam Rice (chinese style)
-Salad or long thin beans cooked with ham and herbs

If you have any suggestions to add to my menu, please feel free to advice. :) or better still, if you can come and help me out in the kitchen, I'd be absolutely delighted! haha...

Merry CHristmas to you my beautiful friends!

If Nel had 3 Wishes..

2007-12-12T09:16:00.000+08:00

Just before hitting the bed last night, Nel and I read a book together (which is what we usually do before bedtime). As I have been recently reading a child psychology book, I decided to use one of the questions on her. I interrupted her and asked “Nel, if you had three wishes, what would it be?”

She smiled and said “hmmmmmm……. No. 1, I wish I could be like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory.”

I asked “what do you mean? You mean you’d like more chocolates?? Or to own a giant Chocolate Factory?”

“No” she replied… “ I wish I could be so good just like Charlie. He’s such a good boy. Sometimes I do so many naughty things, so I can’t be so good.” Nel said this seriously and meant it.

Somehow, in my way of dealing with her, I had planted the thought in her head that she wasn’t a perfect child. Well, nobody is, but what she said showed that she had thought about this matter a lot…. Why? Had I set up too high an expectation for her? And I guess, sometimes in my impatience, I’d forgotten the rule of "7 positive comments to every one negative comment."

So we talked more and realizing it was a tender moment, I said “Danelle, I’m not perfect too. I make mistakes too. I make a lot of mistakes.”

Nel giggled softly, looked and me and said “really mum? What naughty thing did you do mum?”

I replied… “well… sometimes I get angry and shout, and say horrible things…. and that’s not good.”

Nel grinned a very huge grin! haha..

“Nel," I went on, "we all make mistakes, the thing is, we ask God to forgive us, and we try not to make that same mistake again. Yeah?”

She smiled and nodded and we prayed together, she prayed a cute, earnest prayer. How difficult it is sometimes for a 5 year old to control her impulses. Impulse to protect her toys, to hit out at a friend when provoked or to protect territory, to snatch etc etc etc. but that’s them, a 5 year old. Well, but I've to mention that Nel is also big hearted, loving, fun, independent, helpful and full of creativity! I’m learning how to handle it as mum, and I’ve to learn to have more patience, less I plant negative images into my daughter’s head about herself.

Her 2nd and 3rd wish were funny things. The 2nd one was that nail polishes would never fade off her nails. The 3rd one was that she could see real snow. Then she got ambitious about a 4th wish, which was “I wish I could have ice cream on my rice.”

I thought…hmm…that one seems possible to fulfill. I’ll go buy a bucket of ice cream now. Haha…

yeah....ice cream is good, especially when used as a bribe...to make up for my imperfections as mum. haha...

Today...

2007-12-06T00:35:00.000+08:00

Today started off as a really good day. My hair looked perfectly in place, shiny, bouncy and good. My skin glowed despite the very little sleep I had gotten. (yeah, Jo was super waky the whole of last night!!)
Well…put on my sky blue shirt, some earth-red colored lipstick and my beautiful turquoise colored earrings. Sprinkled a little bit of Sunflower perfume and went off to teach my morning piano students.

Felt really good today…felt young and vibrant. It’s amazing what your feelings can do to you, coz even the people I met today commented that I looked good.

Well it continued that way, till getting down from my car, I caught a glimpse of me in the mirror and noticed the fine wrinkles forming around the corner of my eyes. I was temporarily reminded that I was fast approaching middle age. Shooked off that feeling and went on doing stuff……….TILL I popped in to 7-11 to grab a roll of wrapping paper for my little niece’s present.

Dang those fellows, they surely spoilt my day. I asked for wrapping paper and they said “Wait ah AUNTY, let me go check to see if we have some.” A few moments later the guy reemerged and said “Sorry Aunty, no wrapping paper lar.”

I went back, sat on the bed, and reevaluated myself, giving myself terrible points for everything. One ratty word and that spoilt my day. Aunty indeed! Bah!

But hey, they day ain’t over yet, it’s just 630pm, and I’ve got a birthday party to go to. Gonna spruce myself up, shake off that mid 30’s feeling and enjoy the rest of the day. I can’t help feeling tired with kids and motherly duties. I wish I had all my kids when I was in my 20’s when energy was boundless and sleepless nights would be nothin.

Sigh………….ok,ok. Wake up girl; where’s the optimism I had this morning. Better go find it. But it’s always this way in the evenings when energy runs low.

Rabbit poop + food = sunflowers

2007-11-25T22:48:00.002+08:00

(Questions Nel asked this week: Mum…why is it that in all the books I read, children’s heads are soooo big and their bodies are sooooooo small?
Me: well, coz that’s reality. Look at all the toddlers and babies you know, their heads are big and their bodies are small right?
Nel: Mum, you’re and adult right? Is that why your head is small but your body soo big?
Me thinking: (yeah don’t remind me, I still have to loose that 5 kgs!!)
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My two rabbits have been eating like crazy, I suppose all rabbits eat a lot! Don’t be fooled by their petite structure and think they’re cheap pets to look after! It’s just about a couple of months and I’ve already bought a few BIG bags of food. Thing is this, a rabbit poops endlessly! That’s what they do all day. Eat and shit.

Well, those clumsy fellas sometimes topple all their food and also poop in their water bowl. Sometimes when I clean after them (as if cleaning after my own kids are not enough!) I just throw all the stuff into my plant pot. I throw them all, the leftover food and the heaps of poop.

Well, one fine day my pot started sprouting with all sorts of plants! Curious I left them there and studied them everyday. Eventually I discovered they all grew from the rabbit’s leftover food (mainly seeds…oats, barley, sunflower etc). Well…one particular one just kept growing taller and taller and taller………just like Jack and the Beanstalk, only it didn’t reach heaven…. it is none other then, the very beautiful Sunflower. :)

I’ve to tell you, my MOST favourite flower in the whole world is the Sunflower, so imagine my joy and excitement when I discovered that all of a sudden I had about 8 sunflowers growing in my garden! The tallest being about 9 feet. J Absolutely breathtaking…so beautiful…so….lovely….. so magnificent (especially the one that is 9 feet tall.)

So I’ve discovered rabbit food and rabbit poop go hand in hand. Throw the food, it grows. Throw the poop on it to fertilize it, creating the healthy tall sunflower.

Here’s some pics of sunflowers taken in my garden.

Some recent random pictures

2007-11-15T14:04:00.002+08:00

Life around here is as usual. It's terribly rainy over here. Yesterday the rain was so bad, I pulled over and stopped the car. It's just the fear of crashing again after the accident the other day. Other than that, we're ok. I think I've lost an inch off my waist. Well, another 4 more inches to go! but am working on it. Well, here's some random pictures taken recently.

Some wild flowers taken on one of our daily walks

Jo's hooked on books. She woke today at 6am and said "read mum!" arrrghhh...that is like torture to be woken at 6am! I'm not a morning person.

Little Nel's progressing well in her ballet classes. There's still lotsa times when she's not paying attention in there! but generally, she's doing well and she enjoys it.

We went to our favourite picnic spot again where the kids get to play with sand and wade in the stream. This time round we caught baby fishes, shrimp, and surprise, surprise, 2 dragonfly nymphs! that was an exciting catch coz none of us have ever seen nymphs before and I've been showing it to Nel in her encyclopedia.

This is a dead HUGE HUGE toad we found at the stream! You won't believe it, but yes, Chinese people eat this toad. I admit, I've tried it. They remove the skin, cut it and stirfry it with ginger and soya sauce and whatever. Basically it tastes like REALLy tender chicken. I'm not particularly crazy about the dish, but if nobody told me it was toad, I'd say it is delicous.

Baby Jo's been at it again, breaking my third lipstick this morning!!! Here's her wonderful work of art! but I do not condone this work of art, coz it just "burned" the money that went into purchasing this brand new lipstick just barely 2 weeks ago.

Other than that, life is good, the Lord is good. :)

Blessings to all.

2007-11-06T22:40:00.000+08:00

Before I forget...have to pen down some questions asked by Nel today...
1) Mum, when I get to heaven, if I ask God to sit with me on the train, will He sit with me?
2) Mum, if I'm naughty in heaven, will God punish me?
3) Mum, what color is God's clothes?
4) Mum, why is it you have to obey God and I have to obey you? is it, coz God is bigger than you and you are bigger than me? In that case, Daddy obeys God, you obey daddy, I obey you and Jo has to obey me right?

(I write it down, coz I print all this stuff for them to read in the future. :) )

Well, today I sent off a dear god-brother to the Phillipines to pursue a degree in Film making. Hope he'll cope well. Also spent the afternoon reading a journal I kept during one of the long trips across USA by Amtrak. I have to admit, I've changed so much since then. I had to laugh at some of the entries in that journal. Stuff like talking about my period, to running away from an expensive restaurant with friends, to crying after a friend shoved me while I was roller blading, and talk of peeing, pranks and some other crazy crazy stuff which I shouldn't relate here.

Just helps me realise that I shouldn't judge what young adults and teens talk about nowadays coz I was once like that. haaha...

soo...just rambling. I was again down with a bout of flue. This time my lungs were so congested i was wheezing (doc thought it was asthma, but it isn't). Then I had conjunctivitis. Well, my help came in the form of my little Nel. I told her I Was sick and she had to look after her sister, and she DID!

She kept Jo away from my room the whole day, told her to eat her lunch, kept her busy playing and reading and did all the things I would usually do. Amazing, coz Nel is only 5. I'm blessed. Today I'm much better. :

well...tis all for now.

oh yeah...my sink was clogged again. I dug and dug to bring up eeky black seaweed like substance. yukkkk... still it remained clogged till evening when husband took out the whole pipe to find MORE of that seaweed like substance clogging the ENTIRE pipe! arrrghhh...gross. Must clean the sink with a regular dose of Sodium Bicarbonate.
Happy week and here's kisses to all of you.

Jo quotes some verses

2007-10-31T21:13:00.000+08:00

Jo turns 2 years 3 months (27 months) on November 5th. It's a routine that before i give her milk at night we go through some Bible verses. She picks them up quite quickly and I've recorded her saying some of her verses. In case you can't hear them clearly they are
1) Love one Another
2) With God Nothing is impossible
3) I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart
4) Bless the Lord Oh my Soul, let everything that is within me bless His holy name
5) When I am afraid I will trust in You, my God in whom I trust
6) For God so loved the world He gave His only son
7) Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord.

To listen to Jo saying her verses, go here Recording of Jo and click on "Download verse2" to download. Will take about one min. (wma format)

Hope you enjoy listening. :)

Before I end today, Nel asked me 2 questions today. 1) will I have to brush my teeth when I get to heaven? 2) Will God give me a Husky when I get to heaven? I really want one. Do dogs live in heaven?

P.S while waiting for audio to download, you can try this really cool IQ Game . I enjoyed it! It's trying to get everyone from one side of the river to the other, but only taking 2 at a time without having certain people kill others.