Happy 9th Birthday Victoria

Victoria turned 9 on 10th April 2014!!  

5th April - The Saturday before her birthday, Daddy brought us to Pizza Hut for a treat because we don't really hang out at fast food joints, and this was something special to the kids.  But don't know why, this girl was happy one moment, and upset at something the next, and then the two siblings were supposed to share an ice cream dessert together but ended up I finished it for them... oh well, the few smiley pictures were not that great, so here's something more pleasing to look at ; P

Popo GongGong came up for the weekend.  Vic chose burgers for her dinner menu, so we brought her to The Grind Burger Bar at Section 17, PJ. It was also GongGong's birthday the next day (6th April) so it was a nice cozy celebration for the two birthday "kids."  

Happy birthday to Vic and Gong Gong

Family picture

Chocolate cheese birthday cake by Just Heavenly.  It was alright, not so heavenly though. 

Daddy's charcoal burger... may not look very appetizing due to the color of the bun but it's yummylicious! 

Gong Gong's burger... huge!  

No idea who ate this... maybe me

One with Popo Gong Gong

Enjoys his bite sized burger, sliced up nicely by Kakak

A few weeks before her birthday, we were still undecided on where and how to celebrate.  Yea, as always there would be a birthday dinner but I thought maybe she'd like a little difference this year - maybe a small playdate with her friends.  A picnic would need too much adult supervision and involvement so we ruled that out.  A trip to Skytrex, which was an outdoor eco-recreational adventure may send an adrenaline rush to some, but my girl - although she lovveeesss roller coaster rides and such, is still a timid mice like her mummy when it came to challenges like walking along shaky planks 5-70 feet across trees above ground level, or climbing up ropes or God forbid... doing the Flying Fox.  

Saturday, 12th April

After a decision to select three good friends to play with at Kids E World, in IPC Shopping Mall, we had to find a suitable date which was really tough because we had to skip an art class and rush to Children Church thereafter only to play for less than 2 hours and a quick meal at McDonald's.  

William and two other friends (one from cell and another a younger sibling of Vic's good friend) were part of the play outing too.  So there were 6 kids altogether, together with our helper Joanne and hubby.  I had an appointment so I couldn't make it.  I'm touched that her friends, although all were staggeredly late, made it and this must have made Victoria's day.  Because if they could easily have said no thank you, as they each had their respective weekly activities on a Saturday morning.  

Girls with their dracula french fries!

So there... you see Vic's birthday celebration runs like a festive season... from the weekend before to the weekend after!

To my precious princess Vic,

Sometimes I have so much to say to you - the good things of course, and sometimes I just have none.  Because girl, you can either be such a cheerful, clownish and sweet girl and then change to a solemn, moody child over a small displeasure.  I wish I understand you more.  I wish you open up your heart and thoughts more to your loved ones.  You ain't getting any younger, and very soon we'll be celebrating your 13th birthday.  Already this year, Gong Gong made an observation that this is your last single digit birthday.  

Mummy Daddy love you. I hope you know and believe that.  Remember a time you shared your feelings with Kakak behind our backs about we not loving you?  That really hurt.  I came into your room when you were asleep, and prayed and shed tears.  Despite the times when I nag and scold you, or reprimand you for giving me an attitude, I would NEVER, ever trade you for anyone else.  

But if there was one thing I could advice you on girl, please be more teachable.  You are at a stage where you talk back and question us.  You have your views and I encourage you to voice them in a gentle manner.  You may not get what you want at all times, but at least you tried.  You may not be right all the time, but that doesn't mean you are not bright.  You are our unpolished diamond.

I wish you good health, I wish you love, I wish you forgiveness, I wish you joy and happiness to radiate from within you, I wish you everlasting good friends, I wish you passion in your studies and music and art, I wish you maturity beyond your age and childhood pleasure, most of all, I wish you Jesus.  Stay close to Him in whom you are always VICTORIOUS.  

Love,
Mummy

Growing Up

Look, by now if you've been reading my blog long enough or know be close enough, to know that I'm pretty emotional and sentimental when it comes to certain things close to my heart.  Certain thoughts can make my eyes got misty very fast.

It's been a long time since I last walked my son into class ever since we started this morning car pooling routine with a neighbor whose daughter studies in the same school.  Also, it's always so convenient to drop the kids off at the entrance where the teachers are ever ready to open your car door, bring the child out, and then the child walks straight into the school.  Also, we are always almost right on the dot on time, so it makes sense not to park, because it will take another 5 minutes.

So having said all that, I haven't had much chance to walk my boy in, unlike last year when he was in the afternoon session.

But last Friday I had the chance.  So I strolled into class with him, and wished him good bye.  He bade me good bye mummy, and then walked to his table and as I watched him just a couple of metres away, he happily chatted with his friends, as if he forgotten me so soon.

I lingered a few seconds more, before feeling a little out of place as the teacher went about her morning routine checking on the kids and I stood there like a mother hoping.

Yes, I was a mother hoping.

I smiled and walked off to the door where the partition of the 6 year and 5 year old classes were.  That was a good 10 metres away from my boy but I had a good view of him still.  He was looking in my direction as he chatted with his friend still... and I seized the moment to blow him not one, but TWO flying kisses.  I knew it landed on his cheeks, as they always did.  He saw them coming.  But that was all he did.

Sob sob.

That was all he did.  He just looked at me for that two seconds, then continued on with his friend.

Sigh.

I left to the waiting car outside and shared my heart with hubby.  All he said was, "I told you so, one day he will ..."  Pretty consoling huh.

At home in the afternoon I shared my heart with my little boy.  The one who always hugged and kissed me, assured me a hundred times a day and more, on how much he loved me.  The one who would play with my hair everytime he misses me.  The one who'd plant oily kisses on my cheeks during meals.

Yes, he has not stopped, albeit all these love gestures have lessen.  But I asked him why didn't he return my flying kisses, nor did he hug or kiss me goodbye in the morning?

Then he shared with me that it was because when he did that, his friends would always tease him and laugh at him.  He had to hide behind the little partitions to kiss me in the beginning of the year.  They'd tease him for saying that he loves me.

I am wondering why kids that age can be so mean.  Don't they hug and kiss their mommies?  Don't they love their mommies too?  So I told my boy, "If something happen to mommy and that was your last chance to kiss and hug me, and you did not... because you were afraid your friends laughed at you... how would you feel?"

And let that thought linger in him.

Oh well.  Deep in me I know hubby is right.  One day.  My boy is growing up.  But I still hold on to his promises to me, that he'd still hug and kiss me in front of his friend EVEN when he's in college, he'd still hold my hands to cross the road, he'd still play with my hair and tell me he loves me, he'd still bring me out for lunches and call me now and then when he's started work as an adult.

Yes, those were his promises.

I write them down here with tears streaming down my cheeks, and hope he will keep them.

Celebrating Daddy's Birthday

Saturday, March 29th 

The months of March and April are filled with birthday celebrations... within our immediate family, it's Daddy's first, followed by Gong Gong a week later, and then Vic's a few days after, and finally plus another 2 weeks, it's William's.  If we add in nephews, aunts, and nieces, we'd have also Joshua's a day after Victoria's, and an aunt's birthday before Gong Gong's birthday... I think I may have missed out a couple of birthdays too, but let's not get carried away.

Daddy's birthday - as with previous years, was celebrated in a quiet fashion.  His wish.  I think maybe one year I should not grant his wish, but to really make a BOOM-BA-BA-LU-KA BIG celebration!  Haha... whatever that means.

In the morning, we took out little muffins the size of 50cent coins and a candle for Daddy to blow, followed by a birthday song, kisses and the kids presented Daddy with their self-made cards (comes with vouchers to redeem for free kisses, meals, hugs, drinks, etc)

Later, we had a simple lunch at Kitchen Creatures in Centre Point, Bandar Utama.  Our kids have their art class in the vicinity and it was convenient for us to pop in, have a nice lunch before sending the kids to Children Church.  Reservation was made to ensure we had a quiet corner table.

At night, we drove to Kuala Selangor, to celebrate an Office Blessing for a cell member.  There were 20+ of us including children, as we prayed and bless this new business belonging to a Korean brother.  Towards the end, the cell surprised hubby with a birthday cake and a birthday song, before hubby left for his F1 event in KLCC.

Receiving a birthday prayer of blessing

Green Tea Hokkaido birthday cake

And that about wraps up for Daddy's birthday... sorry no home made cakes from the wife, no special 3 course home cooked menu, nor did I sewed him a sweatshirt, buy him a present, or prepared anything other than a phone call restaurant reservation (eventhough I paid with my supplementary credit card, you were the one who paid for the meal).  I'm sorry honey, if compared to other wives who do so much more, but I hope you will always be assured of my love for you - 365 days a year.  Thank you for being a wonderful hubby to me, a dedicated father and a filial son - an exemplary model for the children to follow.

Jesus and Joseph

A few weeks back, William and Daddy were setting up a IKEA table.  The boy suddenly remarked, "Daddy, I am like Jesus and you are like Joseph the carpenter."  I thought it funny that he should compare himself to Jesus because Joseph was a carpenter and the father of Jesus, so in his little mind, this was how he accustomed the relationships.

; P