Ever wonder why we blog?  Well, blogging is like writing a diary.  We jot down important dates, remembering happy or sad event, food/recipe that we have tried, or sharing good stuff liked eye wrinkle cream , etc.  We blog not because we want to show off.  Just merely for recording it down.  I always refer back to my blog post for dates.  And I want to record this important date -

The two girls has started their ballet lesson early August.  I have to gave in after years of pestering from the eldest girl (9 y/o).  And this time, I make her promise, “You Finish What You Have Started!” No turning back half way.  And make her sign at the dotted line that it is her, who wants to take up Ballet and not me!

Surprisingly after the first lesson, her teacher told me she had so much talent in dancing and I should have sent her much earlier (*oopsie).  Dancing comes so naturally in her.  I can’t agree more when I watched her during her third lesson.  She is able to follow the steps and flocking like any of her friends.  The teacher even booked her for the coming Grade 1 exam this November.  Wah, save my $$$ man!

Now coming to the Little Missy (4 y/o).  Because of peer pressure, she wants to dance too.  I can say no (despite she is still young and will be wasting my money on Baby Ballet) to her but I can’t stand her whining!  The two girls really love it very much and has been looking forward to their lesson every week especially Little Missy.

Picture time.  Too this shot of Little Missy on her 3rd lesson.  Will upload more in FB when I have time.

There, now I have the dates here so the next time if I want to refer back to what year and what month they started their lesson, all I need to do is type  in the keyword on the left search engine bar and viola!

I have been a Flexitarian for almost 18 months ow.  Lately I have discovered that I dislike to eat KFC.  The smell, the oil, the meat, the whole KFC really put me off.  I do take meat occasionally and still goes for Bah Kut Teh .  But this KFC thing is weird. Generally, I am leaner now compare to last year which I almost resorted to weight loss pills.  I think the idea of being a Flexitarian is not bad at all.  It sure gave me the benefit of doubt.

Few weeks ago, we decided to dine out at Yogitree in The Garden, Mid Valley.  The shop concept is to serve everything that is organic and pure.  The food is great!  I’ve got the review in Yogajess (shameless self promotion *cough*). While waiting for our food to arrive, I decided to take few Yoga poses pictures for my other blog.  Knowing kids, they won’t leave me alone and always participate in the things I do.

The result?

Full Lotus Pose

Tree Pose

Very cheeky little boy.  Nowadays whenever I am in Tree Pose, he will tease me with his cheeky pose.  Really makes me piak his backside. LOL

I’ve known some parents who is very protective over their children.  This cannot, that cannot.  Must be like this cannot like that. Over protective parents  is definitely robbing them of their childhood.  But of course, they are the kid’s parents.  What can we say right?  All of us have different opinion over things.  Certain things seem right to me but not to others.

To me, I think playing in the rain is alright. LOL

Come on, I did this when I was young too. See, still one healthy fat mama here.

My nephew Jonathan, refuse to let go of his toy car even his Daddy was ’shaking’ him.

This is the first time for Jonathan and 2nd times for my kids.  Aiyoh, my eldest is already 9 years old and this is only 2nd time she played under the rain?  Must be some kind of joke right?  Maybe I should let them do it more often.

No la, joking only.  This incident happened few months ago.  Cannot remember how all the kids ended up in the rain.  This is what happen when you leave kids under UNCLE KIMMY’S supervision!

This is another story when Daddy is  away on his long business trip.   Instead of getting upset and moody, I kept myself sane with self motivation like positive thinking and be cheerful.  This incident happened very recently.

Whenever Daddy is not around, I will take over the ‘driver’ role.  That morning as I was get out from the house, there is a huge and I mean really HUGE vapour trail right above the sky.  I quickly shouted for the kids to come over to have a look.  It’s nice to see the expression on their face and I boasted that it was a rocket who did that trail .  I know, bad me.  You see, they was so thrilled and thought that it is such an amazing trail.  We have not seen such a HUGE trail before!  And I was talking to them how world is so amazing, God created amazing things, bla bla.  We strike a very cheerful conversation that morning.  We even sang Amazing Grace in the car.  I’ve never felt so good (in the morning) before.  As our car was turning into the 2nd block of our house, we saw an adult dog and a puppy playfully biting each other.  We all know dog’s language  of affectionate is by biting right?  And I go, “Look!  There’s another amazing things happened!” And the kids goes, “WOW!”,  “WOOOOO!”

Another turning towards their daycare, my 9 years old Daughter said, “Things are so amazing this morning even  eggs grew on plant.” And I paused for a moment.  Did I hear her correctly?  and I asked her one more time, “HUH!  Where got eggs grow on plants wan.”

“There la.  I did not bluff you.”

o.O

After dropping the kids at daycare, I was still smiling from ear to ear.  That morning, I know the rest of my day is going be a smooth sailing day

JZ:  Do you like pet?
Me:  Yes.
JZ:  Do you have a pet at home?
Me:  No.  Why?
JZ:  How come I never see any animal pics in your blog before?
Me:  Haha.  No pics doesn’t mean that I don’t love animal.  Aiyoh, how to have pet at home when I don’t have enough time for the 3 monkeys.  Don’t forget I am FTWM (full time working mum).  By the time I reached home, gotta juggle between housework and the kids.

I was quite surprise that this blogger is quite observant on the things that I’ve posted.  So, for the sake of showing to the world him that I love animal and not necessarily to have a pet at home, here are some pics of my Niece’s 8 weeks puppy which I took during Chinese New Year.  They have to bring back all the 3 dogs (2 puppies and the Mummy dog) to hometown during CNY!  You tell me la, where to find time to keep a pet at home?  However, I did extend my offer to friends who need someone to babysit their dog.

Super cute, right?

Conversation with my then, 6 years old Son:

Son:  Mummy, can we have a dog at home?
Mummy:  Well, you tell me.  Who feed you rice?
Son:  Mummy.
Mummy:  Who bath you?
Son:  Mummy.
Mummy:  Who cook for you?
Son:  Mummy.
Mummy:  Well, wait till you can feed yourself, bath yourself and cook for yourself then only mummy bring back a pet dog, ok?

Sis was helping with the deco while I was busy in the kitchen.  Little MissTroubleMaker in action *rolling eye*

Early of the year when the kids goes back to school after their final term holidays, I set out some rules for them. I know it required lots of discipline and has to be very stern to make sure it work:

1. Back from school, no TV
2. Take a shower before dinner
3. No eating dinner in front of the TV
4. Homework by 8pm
5. light bulbs off at 10pm
6. Wash your own school shoes on Saturday

And how do I fair?  Bear in mind that I have a very obedient 9 years old girl and a mischievous 7 years old boy.

Rules no. 1 – The first thing when they (usually no.1) stepped in to the house, I gotta put on my loud speaker, “NO TV!” – Yay, it works!

Rules no. 2 – Failed. Cos the kids took such a long time (usually no.2) in the shower. Too much time was wasted.

Rules no. 3 – Sometimes yes and sometimes no. I’m too soft hearted

Rules no. 4 – Successful!

Rules no. 5 – Unfinished (usually no. 2) homework to be continue the next day at the daycare.

Rules no. 6. Up till today, they only wash twice. The rest of the time was Mummy, Mummy, Mummy!!!! That too, I am soft hearted. Double whammer! Not that Mummy hand wash their school shoes. The washing machine takes care of the job. But one thing I make them do is to apply the shoe white before putting them under the sun. Kids just simply love that chore very much.

Since some of the rules did not work out for me, I tried the other way i.e.

7pm – Reached home. Had dinner. Sometimes at the dining table, sometimes on the couch. I gave up on that, really. Watched a little cartoon on TV.

8pm – No. 1 will shower first while no. 2 still hook on TV. Then no. 2 turn to shower while no.1 continue TV.

8.30pm – Homework.

10pm – Off to bed.

Not the way I’ve planned out initially but this way, everyone is happy and I don’t get too stress up yelling at kids to do this and do that.

8 years ago, I have problem with my first baby where she will chew or bite on the crib rail when she was teething. If we left her unattended in the crib, she will have paint crust all over her mouth. Good thing is my second and third baby doesn’t have this chewing habit. One year ago, I pass the crib to my Sister and lo and behold, her baby has the chewing habit too.

I was relating to her my past experience where we will quickly carry baby out from the crib the moment we heard her woke up. The crib has then been painted for the 2nd time when second baby came along. My Sister then managed to locate a crib teething protector from the crib bedding shop. I find the crib teething protector is very innovative. Nowadays, we are so fortunate to have brilliant people to come up with such a brilliant invention!

Malaysia has summer all year round.  Hmmm… do I have to tell you that? lol.  Well, I do get question by my 8y/o as why Malaysia has no snow… why we live in Earth and not Planet Mars…. why the sea water is salty… why it rains…  That one I know!  “God up in Heaven is crying when he sees how naughty you are.”  You know, sometime we need to take God as alibi especially when you can tell your 8y/o is lying.  I used to say this, “You better tell the truth cos God up in heaven will know” or “You better not steal cos God up in heaven can see even though Mummy can’t see.”  I’m so sorry God.

Gee…. why am I saying all this. *slap self*  Anyway, I did a little of digital scrapbooking here.  Photographs was taken during one of our weekend outing to the park.  Kids are making themselves comfortable on my yoga mat and at the same time, playing games on my iPhone. Hmm… I’m itch for some picnic again.  Who want to join me?  Wesak Day?  Weekend?  TTDI?  Morib?  Anything la!

My nephew, Jonathan marked his first month of arrival. This day also marks the end of confinement period for the mother as she now is allowed to bath (asif!) and wonder out of the house freely. The feeling is something like getting out of jail after 10 years in prison. Really!

Being an Aunty to Baby Jonathan, I got up early in the morning (asif!) wandering in my garden and neighbourhood picking 7 type of flowers. You will know what is it for later.

The Baby was signed up for a medicure session…

… a pedicure pampering….

… and a new hairdo…

…. and of course the beauty centre which is run by none other than MsJessieling get an angpow. Hopefully she will be as fatt as the figure inside there . The finger nails, toe nails and hair was wrapped individually with a red paper or angpow packet.

Well, the folklore said that the womb is a dirty thing so after being in the womb for the past nine months, the baby is to remove some of the bad luck by shaving or trimming of his hair. But, but, why want to keep bad luck in red paper? *tsk, tsk*

The Baby was then adjourned to the spa for his flower bath.

Placing of mortar pounder will make him as brave as Tarzan and coins is for properity. Well, how about the flower? Errr…. is it so that when Baby Jonathan grew up, he will have a beautiful wife? *tsk, tsk*

Now, he is a clean Baby adorned in his new clothes. We gave the jewelleries a pass since I’m not into the jewellery folklore. All it, a one month old Baby is treated like a King or the Malay saying, “Raja Sehari”.

Moving on to the kitchen, these are the things to be given as gift to relatives & friends announcing the arrival of the new born. The red eggs looked rather spectacular.

The eggs symbolised a new life and red is rather a auspicious colour for chinese.

Ang Koo Kuih or Red Tortoise Cake means longevity and prosperity.

I was told, the tortoise shape (right in the pic) to be given when you had a baby girl. And when you had a baby boy, you have to gave both shapes. In olden days, the round ang ku (left in the pic) is shape into a cylinder.

The typical Foochow family must have Red Wine Mee Suah.

Fyi, this is not cooked by me. I prefered my broth to be rich in red wine and not so dialuted. However, Hokkien family would not miss on the Yellow Festive Rice or Nasi Kunyit which I cooked for the later evening banquet.

That evening, Jonathan was certainly pictured like an “Angel”, very well behaved and only dissapeared twice to his personal bar for feeds.

Looks like everybody get into the “pass-the-baby” game.

This is my blog, ok. So I get to beautify my own picture with The-King-Of-The-Day *ngek.

… with maternal Grandpa

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… with maternal Grandma

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… with paternal Grandma

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… with Da Yi (Eldest Aunty)

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… with Shan Yi (3rd Aunty)

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… with maternal Grand Uncle (Angpow. Yay!)

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… with Church friends

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(Look at his eyes. Looks like mother hor. Look at his hair so thick. Aiyah, such a beautiful genes. The Mother must produce more babies) Those are the things I heard that night. Crappy!

Here he is, end of the day after drifting in and out. Dozing peacefully none than wiser, being the King-Of-The-Day!