Birthday parties

A few weekends ago, the kids and I attended 3 birthday parties - first birthday party was of my buddy's son's 6th birthday at McDonald's, another of my maternal Grandpa (great-grandfather of my kids)'s 95th birthday and the third was the birthday of Victoria's BFF from school.

I've known my buddy for 13 years now, and she and her son Lucas shares the same birthday.  We first knew each other when we were single (but not available) ladies working in the bank, then through our change of jobs, wedding, first child, second child, etc... how time flies. 

This is Lucas' 6th Birthday @McDonald Mutiara Damansara.  The kids each had Happy Meal with a little minion (I still don't understand what's the craze about) inside, played some games besides the usual sing-song-blow-cake-photo-session.

Vic had her special Fillet-O-Fish without the tartar sauce.  I took her nuggets instead.  William apparently ate two servings of nuggets since Tayla (sitting beside him) found the nuggets a tad too "spicy" for her tastebuds.

Look at the collection of Ironmen!!  All belonged to Lucas' Daddy.  Come in handy to decorate the yummylicious cakes.  The red velvet at the back was very moist, soft and fluffy... simply glorious!

A picture of Victoria jie jie with sweet Tayla.  We "babysitted" her as her parents were not around and as usual, she is so easy to manage. 

Tai Gong's 95th Birthday at Restaurant Sam You, PJ. 

My grandpa holds a special place in my heart, right next to my even more special late grandma whom I call my Popo and who passed away 15 years ago.  I grew up a few years in Ipoh in my maternal grandparents' home, and they took care of me when I was a toddler.  I don't remember much, but I do remember my grandpa used to bring me for evening walks down the road and we'd stop to see some white pigeons in the neighbor's house. 

Now my grandpa is too old and sadly, too grumpy too to remember to relish such sweet memories.  I wish and pray for peace in his heart, and that he'd smile more in his last few years on Earth. 

A family picture with the patriach.  The kids found it funny to put on funny faces like Vic's bunny look and William's fries-cigar.

William is always ever-ready to blow candles on the birthday cakes.

And finally... Kristen's 8th birthday at Camp 5, 1 Utama Shopping Mall.  First time experience for both kids.  While jie jie and her friends went in for an hour's supervised climbing session, William and the other younger siblings of Vic's friend stayed at the boulder area next to the cafe. 

For a boy who thinks he's a superhero who can cling on to walls, this is just the perfect sport for him.  He loved it so much that he cried when we told him it's time to leave! 

First try... getting a little push from Daddy

Group shot

All geared up and getting ready for action. 

Fooling around with Zachary

After the climb, the kids were famished. 

This was taken during the initial "testing time" which is to gauge how well the kids can climb.  Vic was very timid during the actual climb.  She took so long at one stage that the guide started yawning!  

Childhood is so much more fun with parties, don't you think?  A mother friend exclaimed that she doesn't like her daughter to go for so many parties because she thinks these parties will spoil the child and derail the child from her focus on studies, but it's not like every weekend there is a party to go to, right? 

I'm happy that the kids have friends and invitations to go to.  These are just a fun way of destressing, a change from the monotonous studies and school, and also great bonding time with friends!  Pity the parents, though, we have to shop for the birthday presents and chauffeur them around... but hey, who's complaining!  Haha...

Hurry Up!

This seem to be my most popular phrase now in the house - HURRY UP!  And I am not even telling this to my girl (because girls are generally slower than boys, and have higher tendency to dilly dally, right?) but it's to William.

Aarrghhh!  It starts from the morning, from a gentle "Boy boy, go clean up now, go brush your teeth, etc" and then it's "Hurry up, eat your breakfast, we're gonna be late for Baobei."

Mealtimes is a common time for me to keep repeating these same words like a broken record player.  It's either "Hurry up!" or "Quickly!" or somewhere along the lines of being late, and counting down.  The little fler is unfortunately unfazed, and he's still in his carefree mode, happy-go-lucky mood and launches into his infectious laughter whenever I am too serious with him.  How to handle la?  His eyes talk, like they are telling me to chill and inviting me to laugh along.  But for the sake of punctuality, I have to put up a strong and serious front.

On my left, his sister eats her food without much a problem.  The only thing I have to remind her is to NOT gobble down her food.  Aaahh, how I wish the boy on my right would quicken even half the speed of his sister.  His backside seems to have invisible needles too, that makes him NEED to walk around.  Maybe it needs to feel the tip of Mr R O Tan...

But the cane is hardly out.  It comes out when his mouth stops chewing for more than 10 minutes or if I don't see his food diminish.

Where have all the time gone to?  Sometimes I imagine myself in his little 5yo body, being bossed around to hasten his steps and coaxed to move along.  It sure ain't no fun. But if it ain't this way, then would things get moving?

So William... or Spiderman or SM as you call yourself, remember that with great powers comes great responsibilities.  In your case, by being older means bigger responsibilities.