not so SPORTing Day!

Yesterday was a very hard day to me. Indeed I was rush for everything because Adam's school sport day. Usually on every wednesday Adam will go to music class. But, I had to cancel that and he went home by bus with the bigger kids and only arrived home at 1:05. About 30 minutes late that usual.

I had to rush him to get ready for sport day at 3, with lunch and at the same time he wanted to play and watched television.
As soon as we arrived in his school he told me he was sleepy and didn't want to go into the class. He cried until the class.
I thought he was going to stop. He didn't. It continued until the event started. Ahh..and then I thought he will stop crying and join the sport day. But he didn't. Not at all. For seven games he didn't want to do. I didn't know how to react and I didn't want to ask him to try because I let his teachers to do because it is considered as school time.
There were other parents who tried to encourage him, but I would rather say pressuring him by saying look at other people do it and you can do it too.

I felt so down because I couldn't get any best picture of him running or jumping. When everything finished he was happy! But he knew I wasn't so we didn't talk much in the car. I just asked him why didn't he do it, he said "I don't know".

Last night was very tiring day for me. I don't feel like to do anything else. Luckily I have my mom around. I asked her if I did anything wrong for pushing him so much and my mom didn't think so. She said may be he just doesn't want to do it.

I know he is 4, I am not pushing him. But I don't him to think it is ok to do what he did today.

Today, I went to talk to his teacher. She also couldn't understand why did Adam behave as such. He usually normal and participated at school during PE time.

I am still thinking about it today, but I don't want it to ruin my whole day with him. So I just did what I have to do today, but only god's know how is my feeling.

My mom is here

Kids happiness :-) with their nyayi







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The hungry caterpillar (2)

It has been a while I read this book to my kids. I read it again to Sophie, and at the same also I thought it is best to make something art craft about it again. My kids are happy when we are going to paint, colouring or doing any craft project.

With 2 kids, preparation is a must. I usually give them tasks to do. Adam was assigned to do to fill up water into the cup. Sophie got things ready on the table, materials like water colour, newspaper etc. together with me. I poured colour painting into the pallet, because I don't trust my kids do it themselves yet. They will pour nearly whole bottle.

This wasn't Sophie first time with water colour. She was so concentrating doing it. Insisted to do her own way, which is colourful. So we called it The Colourful Caterpillar. Adam made the hungry caterpillar.

These art works are made from, eggs box, water colour, paper for fruits, and the tentacles I used the straw cleaner :-). Because this is something bendy and handy we have at home. You can use  paper , stick or anything.

As we we were doing this craft, I told my children about the story as well.
On Monday he ate one apple,
On Tuesday he ate 2 pears,
On Wednesday he ate 3 plums,
On Thursday he ate 4 strawberries.
On Friday he ate 5 oranges,

My 2 years old Sophie knows the stages from caterpillar, cocoon and butterfly.
............................
When we finished this, my son asked me when I am going to buy egg again... :-)

Love art

While I was reading to Soph, Adam made this dalam diam diam.




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Downstairs

I have been working from J's office since he left. One bad thing, the office is so close to fridge. I need to cut down that trip!!


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5 minutes

One day, before putting Sophie to her bed.
Sophie,"5 minutes, mom"
Me,"What for?"
Sophie,"play my toys"
Me, "No No ... Bed time now"

How can this 2 years old girl knew how to negotiate 5 minutes with me. I think I used 5 minutes time too much as a reminder to my kids like clearing up their toys, while they are still playing. Or when we need to make a move to do something else, 5 minutes is kind of short period for them, I assumed.


Today, after finished reading books to my kids and before put them to sleep,

Sophie, "5 minutes, mom"
Me, "No... bed time now"


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Robot

"Mom, here you go. I made you robot that can clean the house", Adam.



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The star today

When reading the star today I feel that we are not living and safe world anymore. So many crime stories.

What happen to these people? The brutal one, buried lady in the cement. The maid threw a baby. The car hijacking and killed a few people.

Be safe everyone wherever you go.

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Visit Doctor

Yesterday, Adam didn't go to school. We went to visit doctor because Adam felt down while being chased by many girls on Strait Quay.
He banged his head in the floor. At night he complained that his head is pain. So in the morning we visited doctor.
He drew this photo before we left home. Doctor Chiah, Adam and I.
May be we are being paranoid but, it is better to check. Alhamdulillah, he is fine. We will still have to monitor him.




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Big bed now

Tonight is Soph's third night sleeping on her this bed. She is officially out of her baby cot.
I don't know what make her want to do sleep on the big bed. For the past weeks we have been asking her if she wants to sleep on this bed, but she never wanted it. The only thing I did in the morning, was washing her bedsheet, mosquito net and blanket.  That night, she told me "I want to sleep on big bed tonight mom"

So proud of you her...
We figure out she is the type if she wants to do something, don't force her ... she will do it when she wants to do it...

Ok now I know where did she get it from.  I remember someone told me exactly like that about J... :-D

Myth

I have been told by many of my Chinese friends to avoid chicken when coughing. On the other hand,  western culture uses chicken broth or soup to cure cold and cough...

Hmmm...

Say Yes Mom!

I was sitting on the sofa. Sophie came;
Sophie, "Can I sit down with you?"
Me, "uh uh" ... reluctant answer from me...
Sophie, "Can I sit down with you?"
Me, "uh uh"
Sophie, "Say YES mom"
Me, "YES" OK OK... She is right I should have said YES.


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Classmate's birthday party

Yesterday, we went to Adam's classmate's party. It was fire engine theme party.



It is good to see other parents and I got a chance making new friends. It is so small world that one of Japanese lady, whom her husband is working in the supplier company that I handled and she even knew the guy whom I was talking about.

Fire engine cake. Adam's reaction was WOW!

Sophie with fire engine hat.

Picnic & Ferry in Penang.

  Today we had a picnic at Youth Park, although initially I thought to drive a bit away and find a beach in the mainland side. As we passed by Youth Park, Adam said "Mom, why not we just go to Youth Park?" We brought our mat and sat under the tree that has a lot of dropping purple flowers. Felt like Japan. If this is in Japan, it is surely full of people laid their mat and having picnic.
   I made bento for my kids, and Sophie finished the protein bit so quickly. Adam finished all of his meal including vegetables. After 10 minutes, we were attacked by black ants and they both didn't like it so we moved into the car.
  We then decided to drive to the bridge and drive back to Penang by ferry. Sophie slept the whole journey, but I am sure Adam had a good time. He got out of the car as soon as the ferry move, and asked me 1000 questions through out the journey.

To get into island either using ferry or bridge is not free. We had to pay RM7.70 at toll ferry and they only accept cash. No touch and go or smart tag.

As soon as we arrived home, Adam drew this picture. The bottom picture is the 2 storey green ferry that we took today.



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Early night.

It is 6:30PM. Soph and Adam are ready to bed. I am writing this while waiting for them to play for a while and choosing what to read.
J is on the way to Boston. 16 hours flight from HK to JFK.


Hopefully, kids are behaving well while daddy is away for 3 weeks.




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Stubborn Soph

J and I find it is difficult to discipline Sophie. Unlike Adam she won't listen whenever we ask her to put her toys away after she played. She will give us all sort of excuse. "Oh mom, I am stuck, I can stand" or "I am tired" or "I don't want to put my toys away".
We don't spank her, or even scold her as much as we scold Adam. Today is the worst. I talked to her that she needs to put her toy away, and I went on with being good girl must do this and that... Guess what she did to me.





She covered her ears with fingers ignoring what I said to her. I don't if I should laugh or angry. Can't imagine when she is teenager. She got to stay on naughty corner for not tidying up her toys. But don't think she took it seriously as Adam did.

When it was nearly dinner time, Adam went to get her and asked her to apologize to us. She did but didn't think she is serious.

Hopefully she will become good girl, and this is just a part of terrible 2.





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Color painting

Afternoon activity.


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Cyberjaya

We always look for option to down move to KL. This time we found somewhere that we like. Away from busy traffic and at the same having many potential in term of property value, career and etc.

We found the property that we like too. Cyberjaya indeed is a green city, which has so many parks. We managed to go to 2 parks, Taman Saujana Hijau which is nearby to the property that we are aiming and Taman Tasik Cyberjaya which is very well maintain public park.



There are 2 international schools, this is our biggest concern now. We have 2 kids so we need to consider long term to be able to support our children as fees can be increased. We haven't seen the school yet. So it is all depending on the school now. Or else, we will still leave in Penang :-)


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KL this morning

Clear sky and road today. I wish KL is like this everyday.


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The lesser site

We were on the left side of the road. Penang traffic is going to be crazy this CNY with additional PSY event.


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CNY 2013

Adam's school celebrates all sort of occasion. Yesterday was Chinese New Year. He had to wear Chinese costume and this is what we got for him.







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CNY

As I remember since ever we married we only spend one time in Penang during CNY. Since then, we decided we must go out to be in somewhere else. It has become our tradition to celebrate at my sister's place.

So we are going tomorrow. At the same time we are going to survey for house .
Just finding a reason if settling in Klang Valley area will be better for us.
There is nothing bad about Penang, to find other place in case we need to.
After further research and a few factors are considered like, international school, my future job opportunity, airport nearby, day care, cold storage :p we think Cyberjaya may be the right place.

We had made arrangement with 2 house agents so far. The price in Cyberjaya continues rising and not cheap. We will see, but hoping we can find what we want. I will update what we are going to see there.

Axel Scheffler 's illustration

Yesterday, one of birthday card from MIL. Check out the stamp.




When I first saw it, I thought I have seen this picture. My husband said the same thing and yes, it is Axel Scheffler's, the Gruffalo illustrator. We have all of his work with Julia Donaldson. Well, may be not yet the last one still.
He is a fantastic artist. The illustration that tell story, especially about England. And it is suitable for kids.









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Art work

Do you keep all your kid's artwork? Some argument wether we should keep or not. J told me his grand dad used to live with Peter Blake before he became famous. So many of his illustration were just thrown away without knowing that he will become famous.






So, we decided, to file all of Adam's artwork because he draws about 3 to 5 pieces of drawing block everyday. True! He is like none stop drawing anything in his mind. We now ended up buying the A4 spiral sketch book that he can carry anywhere. So here are some of his drawing.


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Leave

When playing outside I like if my kids can collect dried leave, roots and stay close to nature. Let them feel it, and think what they can do with those nature.

Look, what I made from the leave that they collected.





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Recycle can

What do you do with your kids milk can? This is what I do. Spray pain and now they are toys organizer.




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