Miss Information Counter

Your first impression of Victoria, if you do get the privilege to meet HRH, is that she is reserved and shy. Yes, that is true but looks can also be deceiving. When she warms up to you, she can be very chatty, sticky and informative.

Lately I find the latter so true. I make it a point to talk about her day in school after fetching her, and if she's not in the mood to share, which is the usual scenario, I need to do a little more probing. But when she does share about her day or friends, I find that she knows quite a lot of things.

She knows which kid is from what class, which teacher teaches which class, whose brother is also studying in the same kindy, whether the baby in a pregnant teacher's belly is a boy or girl, and which teacher will discontinue teaching next year. Haha.

So how does she knows all these, I ask her? Was she NOT paying attention in class (the kindy have a open classroom concept)? No, Vic told me that during recess time, she looked around and did her survey and info-gathering. I smile to myself - sound so familiar. ;)

Today she tells me that teacher Esther said thank you to her and gave her a hug for the card she made for teacher. So sweet. Yes, indeed it is sad when teachers move on, or even when kids lose their kindy friends when they graduate to Primary One.

For me, I can remember only a couple of my kindy friend in particular an Indian girl with long plaids who came toward me, wanting to tell me she wanted to vomit, but the moment she opened her mouth, I got her vomit all waterfall-ed on me! And then there's this cute boy called Jason I think. A pretty small sized girl whom I admired, and her cousin sister or sister who looked big for her age. And that's all.

I hope I can put down Vic's memories in kindy, lock it up in a safe box for her, and when she grows older, she will remember her kindy days and friends with much fondness. Maybe then if Facebook still exist, she can even "hunt" them down. ;)

A cowboy toothbrush

Still in the hype of all the Toy Story stuff, I remembered a toothbrush bought sometime ago, still unopened, that had the picture of Sheriff Woody on it. Just the perfect gift for William, and hopefully a good motivation for this boy to brush his teeth, because honestly I have some trouble in this department (deja vu, sigh).

I tell ya, this is purely coincidence that we bought and kept this toothbrush so long ago. Unfortunately there is only one. And when I saw it with the stack of other new toothbrushes (mainly Vic's), I quickly booked it for the brother as Vic had many other choices and girly ones. Naturally, the boy loved it!

But my plan backfired initially as he just enjoyed holding the "cowboy brush teeth" instead of actually using it to brush his teeth! He even asked to bring it out! Aiseh man!

So one morning after coaxing, encouraging and bribing, which all didn't work, I ended up threatening him to throw cowboy toothbrush away if he didn't allow me to brush his teeth. What's the point, I say. Afterall, a toothbrush is supposed to serve it's purpose and if it doesn't, it's a waste, it'll just go to the dustbin... and to rub in my point, I pointed to the "clean" dustbin in our room.

Stil... no result. William ran from one corner to another, and I followed suit. We even hid behind curtains and Fat Hailey tried to help too. All failed.

So, no choice. I put his toothbrush in the bin. It took him 5 seconds before the hard truth sunk in, and then tears fell, the boy cried. OK, good. Just the result that I wanted. For the first 5 seconds, I even thought he'd be so heartless and rather NOT brush his teeth.

Taking advantage of the moment, I quickly got him to agree to have his teeth cleaned, then I washed his toothbrush, dab on some paste and then brush his teeth - finally he open his mouth for me volunteerily. Doing the "aaahh" is not so difficult, but the "eeee" part takes a heck lot of cooperation from him. He is more stubborn in this sense than his sister at his age.

Until today, he still remembers the incident, sometimes I remind him again when he doesn't want to cooperate. Other times, I let him be.

A little gift for Teacher Esther

Teacher Esther doesn't teach Victoria's class in school, well, only sometimes I hear. She is Victoria's favourite teacher in school though. I'm not surprise thought, because she's a young, smiley, pleasant lady.

I hear she may not be teaching next year but I don't want to speculate or pass rumours. Today Vic said she wants to draw a special card for teacher Esther.

This is what she did. I hope teacher Esther appreciates this little gesture.

Aiseh, man!

This is a new phrase that William has learnt from his Yeh Yeh... "aiseh, man!"

Lately I noticed that he uses this term at almost very appropriate situations, like last weekend, when he was standing IN my fridge digging for dunno-what again, and he accidentally dropped my container of ginger, and without looking at the fallen object, he exclaimed, "Aiseh, man!" whereas I was standing behind him and said, "Oops!"

Last night he peed in his pants on the living room floor. Watching his pee flow down, and his frantic mother quickly wiping the pee off the timber flooring, he said, "Aiseh, man! William peed on the floor again."

Finally!!! Shoes with lights!

Remember when I wrote about Victoria's reading progress a month ago?

Reading

Well, her progress has improved. I dare not say she has overcome the challenge of pronounciation and spelling, but she can now read common words like "this, that, they, them, it, his, him, she, he, back" and slightly bigger words like "house, toys, wolf, found, sound, place, build" and the Toys Story book is up to Page 6 with a breeze through Page 1-3.

Oh, but I can still remember the stress, tension and her tears and cries of not wanting and not knowing how to read. Oh, the times when Mr Rotan came out and the times I so wanted to kick myself rather than teach her elementary english.

Since the deal was made between Daddy and Vic that she will get her sneakers with lights if she can read, then the deal has to be kept. And this offer is only valid if she can read before our Korea trip next month (oops, did I just give away the surprise?)

Yesterday we went over to Parkson 1U to find those shoes that she first fell in love with. But after their reno, they no longer carry that line of shoes, so today we went to 1U again, this time to Jusco and Daddy and Vic found the Barbie brand in the color that she wants - blue - for only RM39.90 (ok what, considering other brands charging close to and above RM100)

Let me remind you that my Vic is not into girly stuff like Barbie dolls but this she wants, and this she got... (peer influence is soooo strong)

Comes with blue and pink lights!
Trying on the shoes at home, and keeping them on even as I type this...

Mathematics

As for her maths, here are samples of her work.
On average, she does 100 to 140 questions a week - each round consist of 20 questions of addition or 20 questions of subtraction, minimum 20 per day and maximum 40 per day. She doesn't get exemption when she's on holiday as her grandparents are also substitute teachers if Mummy is not around ; )

This girl is sneeky smart, as in there are days when she quickly volunteers to do extra maths problems, or ask me to give her maths problems without mentioning her daily reading, hoping I will forget or have a lenient heart. Well, sometimes she gets away, most of the other times not.

So, well done Victoria-in-your-shoes-with-lights. Just remember to take them out when you sleep!

Snip snip snap!

William goes to an Indian barber to have his hair cut, almost every month or 6 weeks. That's because this boy sweats easily and although I love the smell of his sweat (in fact I think I might be addicted), I think it's better for him to maintain the short crew cut hairstyle.

He likes the idea of anything "scissors" which he calls the "snip snip snap" - this phrase taken from The Elves & The Shoemaker storybook. So he sits quietly with minimum fidgeting on the barber's double chair and watch the barber snip snip snaps away! Once awhile, he turns to the side or back and calls out to Kakak (the maid's turn after his).

Oh, and it's great to support our neighborhood businesses, and this Indian guy only charges RM5 for William.

When he was a baby, he used to be scared of the razor.
This is the beginning - razor the back first.

Vain pot checking out his new haircut!
Waiting for Kakak to finish her turn

Speaking chinese

My kids are quite banana (chinese, but don't speak chinese) when it comes to speaking the dialect or language. Not through any of their fault, because daddy and mummy are also self-professed ones as we do not know Mandarin.

In terms of learning foreign language (anything other than English is foreign), hubs is much better than me, as when he was in Penang a year or so, he ended up conversing in Hokkien almost like the locals. As for me, if I end up alone at the table waiting for food, best just pay with a big note and wait for the change, than to bother asking and deciphering how much in hokkien. Oh, and a little bit of Indian he knows, which serves very well in humoring the kids.

As for me, my two years of French private tuition has unfortunately all gone down to waste. Sorry, dad... but now I can hardly say more than 10 french words.

What more, now a language of our heritage and culture... Mandarin! Acknowledging the handicap and the huge potential of knowing the language, we want to ensure that the kids, beginning with Vic, picks up this language - either by enrolling her in a chinese medium school so she is "forced" to converse or by frequent tuition.

When I gave some feedback, which I deemed as constructive to her chinese private tutor a month ago, the tutor took it personally and "felt stressed" therefore decided to quit teaching and refunded my money. No serious loss to us, as I think going to group tuitions will be advantageous to Vic as she get to play, learn and converse in Mandarin with other children.

Lately she attempted to speak a little Mandarin in response to my very basic skills. She says funny things like, "Ni yau mah?", "Ni yau wor mah? Ni bu yau wor, wor bu yau ni" which ends up in both of us laughing with good humor.

And then this little boy who eavesdrop on my conversation with hubs, picked up his 2nd cantonese word, of all words - LOU GONG! He ends his sentences with "lou gong" even though it makes no sense, and also calls his sister, "Jie jie lou gong" or calls me "lou gong"... everyone and everything seem to be "lou gong" to him!

And what is his 1st Cantonese word? It's "mmm moi" (said in a very angmoh way!) Cuteness!

Oh, and just to add in, before I was pregnant, I was kiasu-max, and thought of letting the foetus listen to French CDs, hoping they will come out speaking French! Crazy me! Haha, of course I didn't get around to do that. ; P

I have pee on my pants...

... and it's NOT mine.

I was sitted on our bean bag just now, typing away on my laptop when I suddenly felt something very warm on my back. Then I realised... oh NO! William was peeing behind me.

This boy ah, he's been doing pretty well by peeing in the potty when we ask him to, and when he wants to do his "big business" he will be very quiet and hide in the corner, and if we catch him before he's finished, he gets on the throne and finishes his business there.

So far, it's diapers when he naps in the afternoon, sleeps at night and when we go out of the house. Our friend here refuses to stand and pee, which is ENTIRELY my mistake because I started him off by sitting him down. Also, he sees his jie jie and mummy sitting down too - so I'll have to retrain him next time.


OK, back to my wet pants. The little cowboy was standing and hugging me from the back when he peed on me. Vic started laughing the moment she saw. Ahh, that's sooo her! : P

My STAR student

Early last week, Vic told me that her class teacher was going to pick a star student from her class. I asked her if she understood what is a "star student" and then I helped elaborate on her understanding, that he or she is one who comes to school on time, submits her homework on time, clean and tidy, answers teacher and attentive in class, and also helpful and respectful of her friends and teachers, eg greeting her teacher in the morning. (Well, at least that would be MY definition if I was the class teacher, hehe... would I be considered a tough teacher?)

And to manage the little girl's expectation, in case she doesn't get picked (not that she indicated that she was hoping to. Vic, she is oh so relaxed and care-free), I told her that her friends could be very good as well, but teacher will have to pick on ONE student, the better one amongst the good ones. So, if she doesn't get picked, she don't have to be disheartened and that doesn't mean she's not good.

Last Friday, she came home and informed us that she got a little gift in the form of a box of color pencils from her teacher. Sometimes, her teacher gives her stickers but this is by far, the biggest and most significant gift. So I probed. Then she told us that she was picked star student from her class.

Wowzers!!

We are all so proud of you, Vic. Daddy was outstation and when he heard the good news, he said he had tears of joy. Popo Gong Gong, Mama Yeh Yeh, William, Daddy Mummy and God is very very proud of you, Vic!

I would like to talk about... LIZARDS

Yes, you heard me right. This is my children's blog and I would like to talk about those yucky, four legged reptile gecko!

From as young as I could remember, I would scream at the sight of lizards, or cockroaches or even big bugs and crickets. But lizards win hands down.

When I was pregnant with Victoria, I remembered many, MANY instances where these nasty lizards appeared out of no where - in the kitchen sink, behind the bottles, under the table and a few (could be the same idiot) even attempted to jump on me when I opened the house windows.

Of course I screamed for dear life, and poor Vic inside me, that must really scared the "shit" out of her (not literally). ; )

When I was pregnant with William, there were fewer, or near NONE lizards in my house, and I reminded myself to remain calm if I chance upon one - well, because I don't want my boy to grow up afraid of lizards. He will have to take over this honorable duty of removing this hybrid from our residence.

Over the years, lizards are almost non existent in our house, and whenever there is one or two who venture in from the outside world, they meet their Maker very soon. The very moment I see one, I'd sound the alarm, and if hubs is around he comes running to my rescue and the two kids stand on guard. It's a blessing that our new Cambodian maid is not afraid of lizards like her crazy madam and she has gained some brownie points by whacking them for me. ; )

This is the only lizard that I allow in the house...


I hope when Vic and Will grow older, they will not be like me - afraid of lizards. Sometimes cheeky Vic will frighten her brother by saying, "If you don't.... the lizards will come and bite you!" or "You sleep downstairs with the lizards at night" and the poor boy will go into stunt mode.

Oops I overslept!

This morning I woke at 736am with a start! Oh no! It's Wednesday, and I'm supposed to wake at the sound of my alarm at 650am, but I put it on snooze, told myself just another 10 minutes, and then dreamt that I was cooking porridge for hub's breakfast to go with his salmon last night.

Yikes. Thank God for sunshine flowing into the bedroom, and the warmth must have brought me back to reality.

Quickly I jumped up (I'm the bouncing out of bed kind), gave hubs a push or kick (I can't recall) and "pat pat" Vic up. Just then, the little boy also stirred, too early for him and that started him on the wrong footing this morning.

Vic got up, brushed her teeth refusing help from me as lau gai boy sat on my lap. Then she wore her own uniform but forgotten her panty. Thank God I saw it on my bed, haha... tied a simple pony tail for her and then I rushed down to prepare breakfast.

When I came up again, Vic managed to pacify her brother with all his toys on the floor.

After she and daddy left, I brought William up again to clean him up - to which, everything he said, "I don't want" Uh-oh... tough morning. Then I realised Vic has folded her blanket - totally abnormal! Very pleased, very pleased (mind you, this doesn't happen all the time).

As for William, what pacified him and got him to cooperate to change his clothes was the prospect of watching Toys Story 2!!

Gave him his cheese but he didn't touch it at all, after sometime, I asked him why he's not eating his cheese, and William replied "William hand dirty, not washed yet"

Am so pleasantly surprised at his response. So I brought him to the kitchen, and he said he wants fork and spoon too (to eat cheese). ; P

Another wonderful weekend at Seremban

Whenever the kids are back in Seremban, it's like heaven to them, especially Vic! She was raised there and places like Jusco and CityPark brings back sweet memories to her.

So when we were back, she didn't hesitate to have her pillow talk with Mama on the first night (I introduced the concept of pillow talk to her a year ago, because it allows a special time where we can share secrets and feelings or just giggle away - totally girly!).

The kids got to play with cousin Grace and we got to carry baby Andrew (so the next time he sees us we are not that alien to him, I hope).

Saturday night at Jusco where the kids used up their "budget" to play the arcade upstairs whilst mummy did a quick buy of few irresistable items due to the super low price and additional member discounts. So what if no plastic bag, just load it into William's trusty stroller! : )

And Mama Yeh Yeh bought the kids each a Toys Story figurine toy! Exactly the SAME as the movie's, even comes with the string at the back of Woody the cowboy. William chose the cowboy naturally, and Vic picked Jessie the cowgirl. The kids were elated and slept with the toys beside them.

On Sunday evening, Popo Gong Gong brought all four grandkids to City Park for them to feed the fishes and playground. Unfortunately the fishes were already very full from all the generous park-goers. Ahh, what the heck, the kids just enjoy throwing in pieces of bread into the lake anyway!

William holding hands with cousin Grace (love it love it love it!)
Swing high high, Vic!
Tired but still got energy to play

Loads of fun over the weekend for the kids, praise God for fine weather, and family! Mummy and Dady also got to paktor a bit watching "Eat, Pray, Love" at the cinemas (woohoo!) and did my facial too ;P

Hilarious or foul?

Awhile back the two kids were having a little "dispute" because apparently the brother was pushing the sister from what it sounds, but when I looked up the stairs, I could only see the running boy teasing the sister.

To fan out the situation, I called the kids down to eat their probiotics. William came down first, but the sister overtook him on the way, naturally. She mumbled something to him, then he responded, "Bite your bird bird!"

Oops. Did that really come out from his mouth? OM goodness!! Hahaha, I laughed. At this age, I really don't know how he learnt this, as, trust me, neither hubs nor I speak in such a way, nor does the maid nor does Victoria.

Hilarious or foul? I thought this is sooo funny. Just NOT NOT NOT when he is in his teens, and just don't translate to cantonese. ; P

Their dream cars

My Vic changes her dream car as often as she changes her socks! One day, she wants the Mitsubishi Triton 4X4, another day she says she wants the BMW. Then she aspires to drive a S-class and finally changed to BMW.

A few days back, it was the Honda and now it's back to Ferrari. I think she has to study really REALLY hard and get a high paying job and then start her fleet collection of luxury cars. :)

All these while, William loves nothing more than the Toyota. Everytime he sees a Toyota on the road, he points out excitedly and says in his own cute pronounciation, "O-do-da!!"

You ask him what car he wants, it's always the Toyota. When he sees his grandparents, he wants to sit in their Toyota. When he sees the Toyota logo, he points it out to us... William is one loyal Toyota boy. :)

The little boss

The other day as I was driving to Vic's school, with William sitted at the back, the car in front suddenly braked. I had to put on an emergency brake too, trying to do so as gently as I could so that William will not feel the sudden jerk.

But oh no, after I braked my car, a little voice came from the brake advicing me to "drive slowly, mummy!"

And on the way back from Vic's school, he reminded me to drive slowly - come on, guys, by now you'd think I'm one of those reckless speed-devil women drivers out there? No way... haha, NOT if I have junior passengers. Anyway, I convinced him that I was not that fast, in fact "mummy is very slow, see all the cars behind our car?" *grin*

Then he said, "Daddy drive fast, mummy drive slow!" Attaaa-boy!