CHECK!!

Guess what?

Both Vic and Will has taken a liking to chess!  It all started so random a few months back, and I have to credit hubby for being the one to introduce this game to them.  He is a master at chess and teaches them little tricks as they play along.

I have even learnt new terms from the kids, such as stalemate and castling.  The boy and his father even have their own secret terms like "do the Lockdown."

William loves chess, so much so that he'd invite us to play with him at every opportunity, sometimes at the most awkward times like during meals.  Victoria has more on her plate with tuition and homework and activities so to be fair, she have less time to practice on the board but equally excited about the game.

William would give a virtual level to each of us.  I am the worse at playing chess so he says I am at the beginner level.  Both my kids have beaten me at chess many times, and I have only a couple of victories to boast about.  I salute them because I did not let them win on purpose.

Daddy and Yeh Yeh are the "ultimate levels", and if they beat any of them, it will be a HUGE victory to them, one worth celebrating with ice cream!  In the beginning, losing to Daddy can end the game with some tears, so Daddy has resorted to allow the kids to "handicap" him by removing a few key players (like the Queen and Castle) in the beginning of the game yet Daddy still wins.

Popo playing chinese chess with Vic.  Unfortunately, none of us in this household knows how to play chinese chess so there's no challenger for Vic.  On the right, William challenges Gong Gong to a game, of which he won! 

We even have the Chess app installed in our phones so they either practice with the computer or start a game with someone.  I think this is a great game to kill off the boredom as it encourages them to strategize and think.

If you like chess or can play chess, invite them for a game and you will immediately be their new best friend!  The magic word in the house now is "CHECK" or better still, "CHECK MATE!"

Cutting It Short-er!

It's really hard to convince Vic to go for a hair cut.  I think she aims to have hair as long as Rapunzel, but alas, the weight of the hair will probably make her drop more hair!

We've been talking about giving her a haircut, and at one point she said OK.  I was pretty tied up with some stuff and also her exam was around the corner and I didn't want to "traumatize" her by taking that few inches off, so I left it be.

A couple of weeks after the exams, I reminded myself again that we should really go for that overdue hair cut!

So off we went, mother and daughter one Sunday afternoon, to the salon in a hypermarket nearby.  Good thing too, because it rained when we were leaving.  As a small reward or consolation, I bought her some sushi after the visit to the salon.

Damage for this haircut is only RM18.  Just dry cut, no wash or blow.  She wants her hair layered, so she has it layered.  It's about 3-4 inches shorter now.  Still can tie a ponytail with the new length but the girl thinks its too short, and mummy thinks its still too long.

A Love Letter To Victoria

My dearest Princess,

I have not written a love letter to you for a long time now.  As I sit here at my desk, after having potter around the kitchen for a bit this morning, my mind drifted off once in a while on you. I'm wondering what you are doing now at school, whether you'll come back chatty or moody.  You're only 9 this year, but my, how you have grown as you experience a growth spurt this year.

I know you don't like me teasing you about your size, but sometimes I do that just so we can have some crazy moments, not because I want to hurt you, dear.  I like to squeeze your thighs and compare them with mine, or smack your bum just because I still can, and sometimes wrap my arms around your neck.

We don't often shopped together for clothes and girly stuff.  I hope you understand that's because both our schedules don't allow such luxury of time, and neither does mummy believe that we should buy carelessly whilst daddy work so hard at work.  We don't always see eye to eye on fashion too.  Sigh.  But do you remember the last time we headed off to Paradigm Mall, just you and I, to grab some stuff and also pop in Lovisa to look at some cute ear rings?  I thought you'd like them, and it's nice that you asked me for my opinion.  Eventhough we were rushing to our next destination, I really wanted to get you something from this shop and I'm glad I did.

Now that you have those cute little ear rings, I hope you'd remember our short escapade everytime you wear them.  We should have more mummy-daughter doing girly stuff.

So, how are you at school?  Isn't great that you have made 3 wonderful friends you can call them your BFF?  I hope these friendships last, and most importantly I hope they will be good influences on you, just as you become a good influence to them.  Remember we don't have to be followers all the time, and we don't have to cave in to peer pressure ok?  It's normal to want to be the same, but it's ok to be different too, because that's what makes you special.  So your hair will grow longer, now that we've gotten them snipped off a few inches.   So what if people notice that your hair is shorter now, because that doesn't change who YOU are.

My girl, my precious girl.  You said you never liked to be the eldest.  How I wish you have someone to look up to, as a jie jie.  I know I have been hard on you most of the times, pushing you to do better, aim higher, smile more, talk more, etc and that's only because I love you.  I'm sorry when I've scolded you too harshly.  I'm sorry for not taking time off to hug you.  I'm sorry for always being too engrossed in my own things or work and just expecting you to accept that.

I love you.  I really do.  I hope you believe that.  My heart breaks when you talk rudely to me.  Growing up doesn't mean you are allowed to talk rudely.  My heart breaks when you don't listen to me, and choose to be stubborn and do things your way instead.  How many times have I said... or reminded... or threatened... but you don't hear me.  Because of this, Daddy and Mummy really pray that you don't fall into the wrong crowd because you're just round the corner to being a teenager.

Would be nice if you share more about your feelings and learn to express yourself more.  It's hard to keep persuading you to come out of your shell, girl.  But if I can assure you again and again, I'd like to say that I love you no matter what.

Looking forward to the school holidays so we can do some fun stuff together.  Last night, I told you the hard truth that life is not about having fun, but everything is about hardwork and perseverance. I hope I did not demotivate you.  Hang on to your piano lessons, girl, but if it really drives you crazy just to practice, then stop it.  (note to self:  better start to secretly record her playing so that I can listen to them next time)


Love you XOXO,
Mummy

A Playdate and Some Sewing

During the one week school break in September, we did not go anywhere.  Vic had her replacement tuition classes, and Daddy was away in Nepal.  The kids kept themselves busy being here and there in the house, and time passes whenever you're with them... somehow this also means they dilly dally alot!

They had some friends over - Kristen and Josh.  K and V used to be in the same school before Vic moved to her current school, but they remained BFF through occasional messages on their phones and playdates during the holidays.  Josh is the same age as W, so it's great that all four could play together.

Homemade burger patty with whole meal buns, and airfried potato wedges and salad.  

They seem a bit shy for the camera, don't they?

Boys having fun with their food

They've had playdates before and it's sometimes the Monkey game, Monopoly, UNO, or handicraft, phone games, movies, tea time, and baking once, etc.

There's never enough time by the time they need to leave.  Oh well, still many more holidays and playdates to come!  Hopefully friendships like these last a long time!

Besides that, here's the children's first time experience at sewing.  I have quite a lot of clothe left from a previous project, and bought a bag of buttons from Chatuchak Market in July, so I thought why not let them try to sew something.  For a start, they sewed their names.  Nothing fanciful but it's good to keep them focused, quiet and sitted for a while.  I'm pleasantly surprised that the boy takes sewing so seriously!

On my part, I told them we could make their masterpiece into a pencil box or frame it up.  They chose the former.  Up till today, I have not done my part yet *gulp*

Here are the apprentice tailors at work: