Da Man

Hubba bonding with our kiddos out at sea. Port Dickson, December 2010.


My heart still skips a beat whenever I see him. My husband. How is it possible?

Last weekend, we celebrated Father's Day in advance with a casual dinner as hubs doesn't like us to make a big deal out of it. "Its always the company over anything else", he'd always say... "As long as I have my family and people I love around me, nothing else matters".

He’s been the most wonderful husband and father, and I still love him oh, so very much.

Happy Father’s Day, darling.

Ever mine, ever thine, ever ours.

Amboi! Cantik nia!

Its the school hols and I took some time off work to teach the kiddos abit about their heritage today.

Here's a picture of my handsome and smart looking baba with my sweet and shy little nonya. Oh, how both my grandmothers would be so proud to see their *choo-choos in this get-up. I bet they are smiling from above :)

*grandchildren

Taller than yesterday

This picture of my son Ethan was taken on the morning after his 9th birthday.

Just before he left home for school, with his sleepy puppy dog half opened eyes, he asked me this, "Mummy, am I taller today than I was yesterday now that I am a year older?"

And my heart – oh my heart – it melted into a glorious mush of love.

Clearly this poor boy was slightly affected with everyone's comments about how his younger sister who is two years younger than him is now almost as tall as him ....or dare I say taller by the millimetres!

Belle turns se7en!

Our sweet girl turns 7 today! We had a small celebration with just family over the weekend. Just the birthday girl had wanted, we had a poh-piah party together with other finger foods.

Birthday girl Belle had planned her birthday cake since her last birthday! She was torn between 2 cakes last year and kept the one she did not choose last year for this year!

Hubs and me brought the kiddos out today as its the March one-week school holiday. As birthday present, Chloe chose to do a session at BUILD-A-BEAR. Hubs and me weren't keen at allowing her mainly because she has enough furry bears and soft toys at home but more importantly because she's sensitive and has allergies. She chose a chihuahua instead of a teddy. After deliberating and making sure that it wasn't 'too furry', we relented. We did not chose any outfit for her new furry friend as we thought the prices were just too ridiculous. My mother could do a better job dressing her new chihuahua as she did with ALL her stuffed toys!

The kiddos spent some time at doing some craft work for about an hour whilst hubs and me spent some time hanging out together.

Picked the kids up before heading to our fave Japanese joint, Sushi-Tei for dinner.

Back to the future?

Though the kiddos love their occasional mini glass of moscato which they are allowed to have during special occasions. It stops right there.
And at the moment, the kiddos control both hubs and me especially when they see us having a drink or two. Crossing fingers their dislike for alcohol and its scent last as long as possible.

Look who entered Primary School!

Wasn't it just like yesterday when my sweet little one entered kindergarten? (Picture at the top shows her first Sports Day in kindergarten).

And look at her now! All ready to enter Primary School! Picture with her daddy just before we left home for school.


This is my contribution to the CHIJ family. Bet my aunties, cousins and nieces would be proud of that fact!

Home Sweet Home

Hubs was at school, so I sat at our cozy nook by the window listening to the crickets chirrup outside our balcony window with my dinner of a yummy home made Japanese salad with Goma dressing (the best and I'm hooked btw!).

I then nestled into the sofa and did some reading. The house was so quiet. So tranquil. The kiddos have found new spaces within our (not so) new home to nestle just like me. I think they feel really at peace with the quiet of the area as well.

Do I miss our first home? Of course I do. Just ask the kids, they miss it too. Without a doubt. But I realize now that what I will miss are the memories that we have made in it. Small it may be, it was perfect. We held many parties and gatherings which brought people together. The kids used to enjoy playing hide-and-go-seek with their father. Roller blading and riding their skate scooters along the corridors was another pastime they enjoyed playing with their cousins. And the good thing about that is I can take those memories along with me, wherever we may go. A home is not made just our of nice furniture and lighting, it's made of the LOVE within it.

There's no place like home. Dorothy was right. There really is no place like it.

ps. I'll leave you with a picture of the kiddos in their new fave corner within our nest. Of all places, at the corner of the steps in our home.

Little Chef Scott

A couple of weekends ago, when I totally lost my voice and was zombified from the amount of medication I took, my oldest one made himself in charge of preparing lunch. There was adult supervision of course given the fact that he's only 8!

He really took charge and was very serious about preparing a delish lunch of Sheperd's Pie! He saved a portion of the pie in the fridge so that I could have it a few days later. Ain't he sweet?

I am not being biased here but you gotta believe me when I say it was yummos to the max!

Brother and Sister

Everyone, come meet the proudest big brother on earth last Friday when his little sister graduated from the same kindergarten he went to when he was younger.

:))))

My baby graduates from kindie!

This is Chloe Isabelle, my dearest daughter at six months. I can remember very clearly when and what happened after this picture was taken. It was taken on a Friday night after hubs had washed her up and I had changed her. Hubs and me made a great tag team, either he would bathe one of our kids and I would change them and vice versa. Anyway, she was in such a smiley mood that evening that I actually have a series of pictures we took of her. So so precious and looking back, I'm glad and lucky too, I had the camera ready!

Oh was it not just like yesterday when she was a little baby? Today at 5.50am when I opened my eyes, it all seemed so surreal. There I lay in bed thanking God for the day (of coz with the Bazooka Bass sounding snores of the hubs in the background! LOL! Sorry couldn't help it! Love you hon!) and for blessing us with our awesome kiddos!

In a blink of an eye, six years have flown by and our youngest graduated from kindergarten today. Another milestone for Chloe Isabelle.




Got all teary eyed and emotional today (and choked, too!) when we gave the loudest cheers when her name was called for her to get on stage to receive her Graduation Certificate!

Halloween Movie Fest

Popped by the Library@Esplanade this afternoon.

Since Ethan's last paper yesterday, both hubs and me felt that he needed the break to breathe and relax a little, especially since he hadn't watch much TV. So, along with other favourite titles, I borrowed these DVDs since its the Halloween weekend.

Can't wait for the kiddos and their cousins to start their Halloween Movie Marathon, cuddle up and scream themselves silly!

Belle's First Canvas

Since young, Belle was always fascinated by colours around her. She loved her first set of Crayolas I got her when she was just 12 months old. I remember popping into Popular's every week to replenish drawing blocks for the home.

Miss Arty Farty would draw pictures, make little notes or cards for her grandparents, her cousins, for hubs and me. I feel so special because each drawing I have from her reminds me of her growing up in different stages! From her toddler days to her present kindie period. You can't find as many typos on her cards these days as compared to when she was a tiny tod.

Anyway, she was bugging us to get her a canvas as she felt she was ready to start on acrylics.

So 3 weeks ago, I got her a canvas and the above picture was the magic she produced! Said my young artist this evening, "Mummy, I am not quite done yet. There's still a special mixture I have to use for the finish".

Ok Belle, whatever you say. It looks gorgeous to me as it is.

Breathe

There are moments in my life when I feel like my spirit is tapping my heart to remind me just why I still mortally exist.

Today, I had more of those 'tapping' moments.

It was in the deep brown eyes of Ethan laughing.

It was in Chloe's desire to help me with anything. Today it was massaging my back and rubbing "Vicks Vaporub" on my chest. She is just so sweet. After she was done with the massage, she fished out her book from her bookshelf and read me one of her favourite stories,
TOPSY AND TIM AT THE BISCUIT FACTORY.

Oh, how I love and adore my babies!

Breathe

There are moments in my life when I feel like my spirit is tapping my heart to remind me just why I still mortally exist.

Today, I had more of those 'tapping' moments.

It was in the deep brown eyes of Ethan laughing.

It was in Chloe's desire to help me with anything. Today it was massaging my back and rubbing "Vicks Vaporub" on my chest. She is just so sweet. After she was done with the massage, she fished out her book from her bookshelf andread me one of her favourite stories,
TOPSY AND TIM AT THE BISCUIT FACTORY.

Oh, how I love and adore my babies!

Sacrament of Reconciliation

My eldest one received the second sacrament of his life yesterday. Yes, it was Ethan's First Confession and boy, was he truly nervous about it or what!

He was all cool this whole week when I reminded him from time to time to remember to reflect on his wrongdoings. But as the days went by which let to Saturday, especially when we were on our way to church earlier, he sort of became all serious and asked to practice the reading that he was doing for the little ceremony. As his catechist (and mother), I was getting quite a quick out of seeing him all serious and panicky. { Ethan if you are reading this, I truly apologise. But someday when you become a parent, you'd know how proud papa and me were of you, buddy!;) }

Congratulations my dear on your First Holy Confession. Thank you for helping me out in class. I must say its been quite an experience and I've enjoyed journeying and growing together with you spiritually.

Hugs,
Mummy

Boys will be boys

Told Scott to go to the school library during recess time instead of getting all sweaty and tired from playing soccer.

Guess what book my son borrowed home?

The kiddos enjoying Timbaland

I know I've posted this before but I really, really miss the kiddos when they were in the kindie age group. For those of you who have yet to see this, all I say to you is to sit back and ENJOY!

This is a classic! I can't wait for their reaction say...8 to 10 years from now!!!

Look Ma! My tooth!

Finally, the front tooth that's been standing solo for close to a month came off this evening. NO, there was no wrestling match involved, no slamming of any door with string-tied-to-door-knob-on-one-end-and-shaky-tooth-the-other-end. Thank GOD.

It all happened when Belle was watching tv and suddenly felt the need to just shake her tooth violently. There was blood all over her face, of course....which gave me a heart attack when I walked up to her. Luckily before I threw a fit (in every sense of the word), she grinned and gave me the sweetest smile ever and said that she was NOT IN PAIN. Phew. The tooth was still hanging off her gums and just when I turned my back to grab a warm towel, our dear helper Maria just put her fingers in Belle's mouth and yanked her tooth out before anyone could react. It all happened so fast...too fast that we all ended up rolling with laughter!

Now my little precious one was serious when she said, "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH!" and urm, "TWO DOLLARS FROM THE TOOTH FAIRY, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WON'T HURT EITHER!"

All I want for Christmas is ...

...MY NEW FRONT TOOTH!

Father and daughter wrestling caused Belle's front tooth to be knocked out. Ref Scottie cried out 'Foul Play!'

Belle's Brekkie

This was what my precious little gal did to her brekkie of peanut butter and jelly sandwich this morning! Notice what she did to her vitamins!


Little Miss Cheeky then posed for me!


After the first bite, she decided that, "Her sandwich was angry!"

Ahhh...the creative and imaginative mind of my little girl :)