Don't mess around with her

This year Vic and I chose Taekwondo as her extra co-curriculum activity in school.  We dropped Art Class for a start and hopefully start learning how to swim sometime this year. 

Last week, we registered Vic and collected her smart new uniform.  Here she is faking a pose for the camera:

The hall was very hot because the school was too "kiam sap" (stingy) to turn on the air conditioner, and there was no ceiling fan.  Not knowing what to expect for her first lesson, I chose a decent colored pink blouse for Vic, but that was probably a wrong choice due to the heat. 

This morning Vic attended her second lesson.  This round, she wore a black spaghetti under her white uniform.  Here are some shots of Vic in action:

Basic steps

Learning how to front kick

Master Kevin instructed them to sit straight upright, no fiddling and looking around and no chatting.

This is how you do a front kick!  A demo, from the Master himself.

Pay attention!  (I personally think she looks so sweet here)

And so begins her journey of learning self-defense.  Don't play play, ok...

Tom's first visit to the vet

Our pet tortoise of more than 5 years (who ran stumbled into my parent's garden then and subsequently designated to live with us because of Victoria - the only grandchild then) was aptly named Tom - yes, Tom the Tortoise, just like how I'd name any of the following - Herbert the Hamster, Frederick the Frog or Slimy the Snake.  But of course, we have no Herbert, nor Frederick or Slimy.

Just Tom.

Tom is a weird creature.  Always wanting to explore the world (read, escape / jau lou / lari rumah) but yet gets excited when he sees us return home either by popping his head out or waddling fast in his cage container.

But yesterday, when hubby left for work, he noticed that Tom was sleeping - eyes closed, not moving.  That's not usual as Tom would normally be active during that time.  He's not one to snooze in the mornings.

Then we noticed that his front two paws have a small area of redness near his nails, maybe looks like lesion. He slept the whole morning and we were beginning to worry.  Afterall, tortoises are supposedly hardy creatures, right.  If he can fall sick, does that mean it is something serious that warrants immediate attention?

So hubby came home during lunch, squeeze through traffic jam just to bring Tom to see a vet that a friend recommended.  I met him later after dropping William off at kindy.

Tom was given immediate attention because there was no crowd.  Dr Liong is a very kind, gentle and patient lady who took time to understand Tom's routine and diet.  As there was no change in either diet or routine, the vet could not diagnose the cause of the problem, but can only treat the affected areas. 

She took his weight - a grand total of 300g - and then prescribed Tom some medication.  He was given oral antibiotics (this is the tricky part as we have to get the drops into his mouth either by hiding in a shrimp or soaking him in medicated water), cream to apply on dry skin daily and some vitamins for bi-weekly intake.

The vet cleaning up Tom's affected areas

After 5 years, you only weigh 300g???!!  Where did all the food go?

Are you laughing or smiling to yourself in disbelief by now?  Or do I sound too serious here?  Honestly, hubby and I were controlling our laughter when we were with the doctor.  I mean, we are talking about a TORTOISE, alright?  Not a child nor a dog.

Not bad... got manicure somemore.  Getting her nails clipped

But I guess Tom is more than a tortoise.  Like any other pets (besides the fishes), they are apart of the family.  It was good that our maid followed us during this trip as she is the main caretaker of Tom. 

Finally, guess what?  A secret revealed!  That Tom our tortoise, whom we thought to be a male all these years, is actually a FEMALE TORTOISE!  So imagine that!  A mistaken identity.  But after a quick discussion with hubby, we decided to keep her name as Tom, and now we make a conscious effort to call him... a her.

To check a tortoise's gender, just turn the tortoise over and feel the bottom.  If it is flat, it is a female.  If it is sunken or indented, then it is a male. 

Tom oh Tom... do get well.  So far he has had two cream applications and a soak in vitamin water.  I have a prawn defrosting now so later we can insert antibiotic for him, slice it into bite size and hopefully, he'd just gobble that down without suspicion. 

However, both his eyes cannot open today.  I hope he'll recover very soon although the vet estimated 2 weeks for full recovery.

Stocking up for Chinese New Year

It is slightly short of a month to the Lunar New Year and just like many others, I have begun stocking up.  It's amazing to see how the decorations change in the malls just a week after Christmas, from the nostalgic Christmassy feeling to alot a red and images of the snake - because it's the Year of the Snake this year, according to Chinese Horoscope.

I'm not fond of snakes, as I mentioned, I don't like to hear of one, or see one, let alone touch or go near one, or even speak of it.  But this year, everything for the next two months will be about the Year of the Snake, and I am even married to one born in this year!

That aside, have you started stocking up your pai nian stuff, buying CNY clothings, decorating your home or stocking up your pantry for the reunion?

I have so far bought two blouses for Vic unplanned, a shirt for William also unplanned, a nice blouse for myself planned - ahem - and another shirt for hubby - planned.  The house is still undecorated but that can be done pretty fast with the help of my two little ones.  As for food stuff, I'm half way stocking up on my pai nian stuff, and also bought fresh frozen fish from M25 

M25 offers a range of ocean catch, preservative-free seafood at very reasonable prices.  Whilst the prices of seafood at the markets have gone up considerably and ridiculously, M25 still maintains its price.  For example, I bought my 7 star grouper at RM73/kg whilst my regular fishmonger at the wet market quoted me RM100/kg.  Imagine my savings, without quality compromised!

Some fishes have sold out due to the coming festival, but the last week when I was at their shop, they still have big 7 star groupers and normal groupers, white snappers (red snapper sold out), white prawns, tiger prawns, lai yu mang, fa mang, premium black teat sea cucumbers (less ash than those sold at medical halls), fish maw, etc

Unlike many fish sellers or frozen seafood shops, M25 engages reliable suppliers and knows the source of its seafood.  Stringent quality checks and packaging processes are implemented before it is air freight over to West Malaysia. 

Besides frozen seafood, they sell dried shrimps and prawn crackers - the famous ones from Sandakan - too.  So fret not, you don't have to fly to East Malaysia to enjoy these now, they are sold here right behind our doorstep.

To find out more or ask about their full offerings, please call Paul Lai at 016-3384357 or 03-77266588.  They are located at:

26, Lorong Zaaba,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur.

This is not a paid post and all opinions are sincerely mine.  The usual stuff about the writer not being responsible for any mishaps applies. 

But I do hope you find the seafood offered by M25 pleasingly palatable, surprisingly affordable and most importantly, knowing that it is NOT FARMED and PRESERVATIVE-FREE, the way seafood should be!

 

Finally... two wheels!!

Looks like Vic has exceeded my expectations, or that I have underestimated her.

Remember her shiny new bicycle that Daddy bought for her Christmas present just a month back?  Well, during the first time to the park, she still wanted to use her old bike - the one with the learning wheels, and I was obviously disappointed as I thought she lacked enthusiasm.  Being me, I gave her a penny worth of my thoughts that it'd be useless to own a new bike if she'd continue using the old one because she dare not overcome the fear or take on the challenge.

Taken at Taman Tun park

We had a simple picnic that morning.  Nice place for family outing.

The second time, Daddy loaded her old bike into his car before he went to work, and we were to meet up in the evening at the park.  That day, Vic decided she wanted to bring her new bike instead, and I told her since Daddy already took her old bike, just let it be.

So, twice at the park she used the old bike.  Back home, she cycled on her new bike in our tiny porch a couple of times.

But last Sunday was a historic day.

6th January 2013.  This was the day she went out with Daddy to the nearby park with her new bike whilst I stayed home with the other sick child.

They came home nearing dinner time and she was ecstatic!  She told me that she finally learnt to cycle - REALLY cycle that is, and Daddy had to run after her.  I looked at hubby for confirmation and disbelief.  Then I knew it's real.  She finally did it!  And sadly, I was not there to witness her first triumph but I was really happy for her!  Now she's found a new form of freedom... oh dear, another sign of my baby growing up.

So, here it is... my girl in action - taken three mornings ago when she wanted to ride along the road.

Now she's wishing we have a big compound to cycle in... ah well...

On another note, our delayed Christmas pressie for Vic has finally arrived in the mail... it's a ipod shuffle in apple green colour that we came free with the new Brother printer that we bought.  During those times at the store, she'd look at these and asked what they were for, and she's always like listening to songs on my dinosaur phone.

                                       
So this one is for you, Vic... make sure you don't neglect your studies ok?  The first song to be downloaded inside will be her favourite from Michael Learns to Rock, titled "Breaking My Heart."

First Day Back At School

Last year my two children started their formal education in two new environment - Vic in Standard One and William at kindergarten.

This year seems to be less of a challenge and less excitement although both kids were looking forward to return to school even during the school holidays.  Victoria - I guess it's simply because she loves being out of home, doing something and being somewhere.  William - he was bored in November despite two holidays and asked me why there was no school.  But beginning of this year, he started singing a different tune of not wanting to go to school.


Victoria

Started Standard 2 school last Wednesday 2nd January 2012 like another normal day at school - happy, excited and confident!  I chose to walk her into class, but was stopped by a teacher on duty at the school gate, so based on another parent's tip, I sneaked strolled in another gate unquestioned.  I headed straight upstairs to locate her new classroom, then pop into the assembly hall to find my little girl where she and all the other students were gathered.

This year Daddy and I were "wiser" in terms of strategically parking our car where it will NOT be blocked, and easy to exit.  Daddy joined me after the children were dismissed to their respective classes.  Her new class teacher is a middle-aged lady who seems experienced and pretty fierce strict.  Immediately after introducing herself to her new class, she asked them "Now that you are in Standard Two and no longer Standard One, do you still want your daddy mummy to be waiting outside the classroom?"  Thereafter, she informed us parents to leave, and we obediently did.  Dare we not.  Hahaha...

Waved good bye to Vic, and unlike last year, she didn't want us to meet her during recess time so we ran off to do other errands.

Can you see Vic?  Teacher later changed everyone's places and she's now sitted next to the window with a boy called Zachery

Willliam

Today - 7th January 2013 is William's first day back to kindergarten.  He caught my flu virus over the weekend, which unfortunately have spread throughout this household and affected my hubby first (well obviously he is the most likely victim despite being the biggest of all), then Vic (a mild case for her, and thank God for probiotics and natural supplements) and next was William and the maid.  William's state deteriorated over Saturday night from a mild cough to one that sounded like "a man's" according to him (he was later diagnosed with slight wheezing), fever and running nose.

After visiting the paed and pumping him with a cocktail of medicine - Ventolin, Prednisolone, Aerius and Sterimar spray, he slept for a good 3 hours in the afternoon.

He's up and better today to attend school - thank God.  After Chinese tuition in the morning, I gave him a bath to freshen up and then home cooked mee sua soup with home made fish balls and his favourite wolfberries.

William is now in afternoon class, you see, as this will allow him a smoother routine and less stress for all of us, hopefully.  He was happy at class and I left after half an hour as there were no other parents beside me.  Obviously quite weird, and the teacher looked at me a few times too.  My boy boy gave me his custom 3 kisses when I told him I'm going, and then as if not enough, he added another 3 more - one on each cheek and the final one on my mouth.  I know a father from another class was staring, but who cares... !!

In a short while more, I'll be picking him up... let's see how his first day went.

Christmas celebrations

Last year Christmas was another eventful festival - filled with makan sessions - a dinner spent catching up with friends and their respective families (oh, how this group has grown!), another Christmas dinner cum farewell for a beloved friend who by now has migrated to Australia with her family, an Eve dinner my side of the family and Christmas luncheon with Daddy's side.

Besides watching the kids open their presents full of excitement and glee, decorating the Christmas tree, chilling out with friends and family over food, watching Christmas musicals and plays and just dwelling in the house of God on Christmas Day itself, I love... just the family time together, even if we huddle along the walkways and eat our rotis at the mamak.  But truth be told... I'm still dreaming of a white Christmas...

Speaking of which, William made me say a prayer I really didn't mean and didn't want to.  He was so persistent that I asked God for this on his behalf, I couldn't turn him down.  So, it went something like this - just a few weeks before Christmas...

"Dear God, please can you send some snow to Malaysia so we can all build snowmen and play with snow?  Thank you, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Mind you, I had no role in his sudden desire for this.  Fortunately he didn't follow up on why his prayer was not answered.  Phew.

That aside, I ordered this pair of Smurfs for the kids in early October from Samantha
and upon receiving them in November, I hid them amongst Daddy's clothing in our wardrobe where the kids would never, EVER reach or even looked at.  Haha, not that I have anything against Daddy's clothes. 

Image taken from Samm's Amigurumi Cafe - the rest are not ours, just the Smurfs.  She's one gifted, multi-tasking lady!

The Smurf craze was in for my two kids, but after learning our lesson in the Toy Story Christmas two years ago where we and relatives bought almost every type of TS merchandize on the shelf and then by CNY the following year, they moved on to another animation.  Not that TS toys are collecting dusts here but Buzz Lightyear have not flown to eternity and beyond for many months now, and Cowboy and Cowgirl are merely spectators on my CD rack.  So back to Smurf, we decided to take it easy this time... 

So the two handmade crochet smurfs - a Smurfette and a Baker Smurf were on the way.

Then on one shopping trip to Isetan, we saw 12 inches tall Smurf soft toys on the clearance rack... if I recall correctly, they were going for 80% discount.  The popular characters were gone, but Vic was happy to adopt Grouchy Smurf and William picked Clumsy Smurf. 

Then came the surprise of a new bicycle EACH - which all started with upgrading William from his toddler tricycle.  Since we were at the bicycle shop, we might as well change Vic's current bicycle which was of poor quality bought from Carrefour 3 years ago, to one of good steel and handling (and I was told, double rims too!)  Hers came without the learning wheels so this is her motivation to learn to ride.

Obviously the two bikes were too big to wrap, and no point too as the kids chose them themselves.  Thank God for Yeh Yeh's car that could load both bikes in and transported them from the Seremban shop to our house in PJ. I was surprised that a big car like Daddy's had such restricted boot space.

Riding at the Taman Tun park

Here are more pictures of Christmas...

The girls with Popo Gong Gong

Goofing around with cousin Ling.  William insisted that his present should be wrapped, so he can place it under our christmas tree back home (such a traditionalist!) and poor Gong Gong has to quickly source for brown paper as there was no wrapping paper in the house.  My bad, because I remembered offering to bring wrapping paper but last minute decided it was unnecessary as the boy will just rip it apart anyway...

Would you believe this boy... he didn't unwrap a single present, not at Popo Gong Gong's house, nor at Mama Yeh Yeh's house, only because he wanted to place ALL his presents under OUR Christmas tree at home, and then leave it there till... until I had to threaten offer him that I will open it for him, if he doesn't.  Quickly, the ever-so-willing Jie Jie jumped in the opportunity and helped him to open his presents.  Here, he is holding a TS puzzle by Yee Sok and Yee Sam.

What's this?  An ukulele!!  This is the second Christmas present from Gong Gong... So, Vic, now you know what to do, yea? 

Something girlish that Vic chose with Yeh Yeh for her Christmas pressie... a box of handicraft work to make necklaces, bracelets, headbands, etc. 

And finally... a pose beside the Christmas tree of moi...

The year that passed… 2012 in retrospective

If anyone noticed, I have not been FB active the past one month, despite so many activities and things to share.  I guess the novelty is rubbing off me or just plain busy.  But I’m around, yea… still snooping and liking, and a little comment now and then.  Just awhile back, for the first time today, at 10pm, I checked my FB and saw like what thousands others do, status updates of well wishes, thoughts and sharing of the year this had been, and the year that will come. 

Personally myself, I have not really thought of 2012 as a whole.  So it’s hard to summarize 365 days into one sentence, or even a paragraph. 

The weeks earlier, we have all been so busy – busy travelling, busy eating, busy playing, busy with each other, and towards the last week - busy with errands.  I’ve even discovered some vouchers ending this year and we hurriedly went on a mission to use them up (Robinsons, Sushi King, Eu Yan Sang).  Two other vouchers giving out free meals were burnt because well… we didn’t have time for that, and I was too drained out with a stuffy nose and weakened immune this evening to drag myself out for that last chance to claim that meal.  Oh well, win some… lose some. 

So.

What does 2012 mean to me?  How have the year treated me and my family? 

I guess pretty good, and no doubt God has been good and ever faithful.  Despite the shockingly unfavourable blood test result for Vic in August (which I didn’t come around to blog about it), I’m thankful for good health for everyone.  We have learnt to be more lenient on her diet although she still abstain from foods containing eggs, sugary stuff and colorings, I have allowed her to taste organic bread containing natural yeast, and also given her pau and tasted a little ice cream now and then.  Basically just letting her eat with faith.  I can’t tell how this impacted her health, although there’s no immediate detrimental signs, I’d rather wait for the next blood test to comment. 

This year, I know of two persons who passed on due to a long standing battle with cancer.  They are both significant in their area of ministry and work and the consolation is that they won, not lost.  For death did not hold them, victory was won on Calvary – RIP Pastor Sally Foo-Yeoh and Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik.  In this same year, I hear of at least 3 other persons who discovered cancer in their bodies.   

This made me think – is life really THIS fragile?  Yes, I presume so.  

So after years of procrastination, hubby and I finally met up with our lawyer to draft out our will. 

And I pray, I pray O Lord, keep us all healthy and strong this year, and the years to come.  Protect and bless our parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings, relatives and friends with good health, and may we never take our health for granted.  Eat well, peeps.  We are REALLY what we eat. 

Victoria – My Princess

She has indeed grown, not just in maturity but also in size.  She was experiencing a growth spurt this holiday, walloping adult portions at every meal and getting hungry even before dinner is due.  Her socks are too fitting now, and she’s outgrown almost all her pyjama, exposing her belly during her sleep.  She sure doesn’t look 7.5yo, and would you believe that next year she will be in Standard Two?  I hope she still fits in her uniform.  We got her a new school bag that should not fall frontwards, as per her requirement and reminded her to study hard next year. 

This year alone, she’d entered 3 competitions – a solo singing competition representing her class, a group Robotics competition and finally a basketball competition.  Although she only won the Robotics, we are mighty proud of her exposure.   

She dropped 4 teeth this year, and look quite funny with her holey smile.  Sometimes I forget and have to remind myself during mealtimes that not to nag her for chewing so long, or for cutting her food into smaller pieces.  I also wonder if it’s also because of her lack of teeth that causes her weak pronunciation??  Naaahhh…

William – My Boy boy

He started his kindy this year.  I’d say he did marvelously well for a first timer, learning his alphabet blends and improving on his Mandarin, and having been selected to be the Lion in his class for the School year end concert.  Being the boy, he shows no fear in handling animals which amazes me up till now (coming in close contact with rabbits, horses, goats, cows, turtles, snakes, eagle, chickens). 

During the holidays, he started Chinese tuition and almost everyday, he’d whined and asked not to go.  He cried a little during the first week, claiming that I did not hug him on the first day, and I did not kiss him on the second day, and I did not allow him to stick on a tattoo on the third day (which is just funny because he was finding reasons to cry in class, really).  

In the 3^rd quarter of this year, William spoke with a bad stammer.  It was so bad, you needed to have herculean patience and time to hear him out.  We were worried that he may not outgrow it although his sister did at his age.  The more he got excited, the more he stammered.  But during the holidays, thank God he outgrew it.  Now he just starts every sentence with “Just…”  so you can imagine, he’d “Just I want to ask you…” “Just I thought…” “Just can you…”  which is now getting on my nerves. Hopefully he will outgrow this too, and pretty soon. 

I'm thankful for my two lovely children and the way that they are growing.  I'm thankful for a husband who desires every second to be with us, and works hard for the family and the passion to serve God.   I'm thankful for enough to use, wear and eat.


1st January 2013

What better way to start the year than to visit an old folks home with our cell friends.  We sang songs, chatted with them, did a skit and gave out to each a bag of goodies and a small angpow.  The home is generally clean, with 25 inmates who look healthy and mainly mobile.  They welcomed us happily and some are very chatty too.

Wishing everyone good health and a happy new year!