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This Post Is Brought To You By The Letter Z

November 18, 2013 in Growing Up, Hannah, Parenting | No comments

About a week before the last day of school, Hannah told me that there was going to be a special dress-up party in school on the day before the school holidays were to start.  She learns phonics using Letterland characters, and her teacher had told her class that they each were to choose one of the Letterland characters to dress up as.

The following day, I found out from her teacher that in addition to dressing up, they each had to bring a food item that began with the sound made by that Letterland character.  For example, Clever Cat could bring cupcakes, cheese or carrots.

So after some deliberation and discussion with Hannah, she decided that she wanted to be Zig Zag Zebra.  I even French-braided her hair for her that morning…because that’s the closest we could get to a zebra’s mane!

And when I asked her what on earth I could possibly make that began with Z, she immediately exclaimed, “Zucchini Pie!”

You see, I had made Zucchini Pie a few weeks ago, and had asked Hannah and Ethan to help out then, so I guess that’s why she remembered.

So the night before saw me making this…it’s actually not Zucchini Pie per se, but more like mini Zucchini Pies or Zucchini tots.  Tastes awesome and plus, the kids are getting their greens with this one too! 🙂

 

Hannah also presented cute handmade bookmarks to her teachers as a token of gratitude.  She had picked those flowers during one of our evening walks and we pressed it in a book.  I then laminated them for her.

Goodbye Nursery, we’re looking forward to a splendid and exciting year ahead next year in K1!

The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid

September 27, 2013 in Ethan, Growing Up, Parenting | 1 comment

Recently, Ethan has developed a passion (or addiction) for reading books from the Geronimo Stilton series.  I take full credit for starting the ball rolling. 🙂

You see, early this month, while Ethan was having his soccer practice, Hannah and I hung out at the library, and on a whim, I decided to borrow a couple of Geronimo Stilton books for him.  Well, whaddya know?  He LOVES them!

He even asked me to print out a list of all the Geronimo Stilton books so he can check them off as he completed reading each one.  He borrows at least 2-3 Geronimo Stilton books from the library every week and he can finish reading one book in less than an hour now! 🙂

So anyway, as Ethan and I were discussing book reports the other day, I asked him if he would like to write a book report on one of the Geronimo Stilton books he had read and he was up for it.  So here’s his first book report:

Please disregard the ratings at the bottom of the report.  The kids were playing Master Chef and giving the “dishes” their own ratings…

Here’s One for Malaysia Day

September 16, 2013 in Ethan, Growing Up, Parenting | 1 comment

Children are tomorrow’s generation, and who better to carry the mindset of change better than children themselves?  With ever-open minds that absorb knowledge like a sponge, a child’s education is determined by his upbringing and his exposure to events around him.  As parents, we play a pivotal role in ensuring our children get a wholesome education not just for now, but for life.  We are examples for our children through what we do and say.

A couple of months ago, while we were in Six Flags, a lady manning the cash register struck a conversation with Ethan.

Lady: Hey buddy…how are you doing?
Ethan: Good!
Lady: Did you have a great time today?
Ethan: Yes, we had so much fun!
Lady: Where are you guys from?  Are you guys Chinese?
Ethan: No.  We’re Malaysians!

Earlier last week, I was with Ethan and Emma at the bank, to open a savings account for Emma.  While getting the documentation sorted out, Ethan was waiting for me at the side when one of the bank officers/tellers started making small talk with him.

Bank Officer: Is your father an Englishman? (I think she meant Caucasian.  We get that a lot because a lot of people seem to think our kids look mixed…well, anyway…)
Ethan: No he’s not.
Bank Officer: No?
Ethan: Yeah, my Dad is a Malaysian!
Bank Officer: Malaysian? But Malaysian got 3 TYPES wor… Malay, Chinese and Indian.  Which one? (What the..??  Now you see how most Malaysians are still bent on race)
Ethan: Malay!

************

I’m extremely proud of Ethan that without any prompting from us, he can confidently answer that he is a Malaysian, forgoing the need to stress whether it’s Malay, Chinese, Indian or “lain-lain”.  If only more Malaysians can think the same way…

Happy Malaysia Day, everyone!

Frying an Egg 101

September 3, 2013 in Ethan, Growing Up, Milestones, Parenting | No comments

Ethan expressed an interest to learn how to cook, and today I told him he could fry an egg for me for lunch. 🙂

After all, seven is as good an age as any to learn how to cook, no?

I let him crack the egg into a bowl on his own; choose the egg from the fridge and hit it firmly on the edge of the bowl, then pull the shells apart so the egg slides gently into the bowl (he did it beautifully, with the yolk intact, and no remnants of eggshells floating inside).

Then I turned on the stove and explained that the pan needs to be hot before we poured the oil in.

Then Ethan poured the egg into the pan and waited for it to cook, and then he used a spatula to lift the egg out of the pan and onto my plate.

He was so pleased with himself, and he’s asking me what he will be cooking tomorrow.

Are there any Junior Masterchef classes in Penang? 😀

The Layover – Day 3: Saying Goodbye and Heading for Home

August 27, 2013 in Emma, Ethan, Hannah, Parenting, Vacation | 1 comment

Our third (and final) day in Anaheim was supposed to be a short one, because our flight out from LAX to HKG was at about midnight that day.  However, our plan of waking up extra early to get a headstart on all those Fast Passes with our Magic Morning entry went up in smoke when we all slept in.  Fatigue and exhaustion from the previous days and all that jazz.

Nevertheless, we made do with the time we had and since the kids placed priority on the Radiator Springs Racers ride (at California Adventure Park) they had missed the day before, we headed straight for that one.  Unfortunately the Fast Passes for that ride were all taken up and the wait in line (without a Fast Pass) would be about 1.5 hours.

I suggested that they just go for it, since we had no choice anyway.  The queue would definitely get longer and longer as time wore on anyhow.  So Pete, Ethan and Hannah proceeded to wait their turn, while I took Emma for a walk.  Good thing they did too, because the queue became longer and longer as time wore on…in fact, it was more than 2 hours when they were done!

Anyway, my time alone with Emma wasn’t too bad.  There was a very comfortable child care center, complete with nursing room, changing tables, child potties and sinks not too far away.  There was also a similar-styled baby room in Disneyland.

I loved that:

  • Each individual diaper-changing station had a fresh stack of paper liners for the diaper changing table.  Very hygienic!
  • Each diaper-changing station was also padded along all four sides, and the place where baby would be laid down was on a lower level than the edges.  I thought this was a very useful and preventative measure to ensure baby does not roll over and fall over.
  • The room was tastefully decorated in baby prints.
  • There was a sink and soap provided, together with paper towels.
  • They also had little potties for smaller kids.  Definitely cozier than the adult restrooms!  Only Hannah *qualified* to use these little potties though.
The nursing room in Disneyland had at least 5-6 comfortable chairs for nursing, and there were 4 chairs at the center in California Adventure Park.  There were also magazines and reading material, and also a table and power outlet for moms who wanted to use the electrical breast pump.

On hindsight, there should have been a few of these rooms in the park, not just ONE for each of Disneyland and California Adventure.  But I digress.

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My Three Little Miracles

August 8, 2013 in Christianity, Emma, Ethan, Hannah, Parenting | 1 comment

I could ask for nothing more than my three little miracles, each one created with love, unique and special in their own way.

Every morning I wake up not knowing what the day will bring, but resting with the fact that it will be filled with their laughter and banter, “Mommy, can I have this, please?” and “Mommy, he did this to me!” and “Mommy, she’s whining!”

I want only to cherish them, nurture them and give them the best I can give.  I want them to grow up beautifully, knowing that they can always be confident in who they are and not have to live up to the standards of society, whatever they may be.

I am blessed because in their own little ways, I know, deep in my heart, that they love me too.  He still holds my hand when we cross the street, she says, “I love you a bajilion times, Mommy!” while giving me squeezy-hugs, and the littlest one’s gaze follows me wherever I go.  Can’t wait for her to start talking. 🙂

My life is filled with challenges, and yet it is filled with love.

And every night I go to bed, it is with a fervent prayer that God’s blessing be upon each one of them.  I’m so grateful for their presence in my life and I could ask for nothing more.

The Layover – Day 2: California Adventure Park

July 31, 2013 in Emma, Ethan, Hannah, Parenting, Vacation | No comments

You didn’t think we’d leave California Adventure Park out of the vacation while we were there, did you?  Well, we didn’t!

We had gotten ourselves 3-day park hopper tickets and Day 2 saw us make our way to California Adventure Park.  The queues to get in were unbelievably long and following Murphy’s Law, our line was the slowest-moving of the lot!  We also arrived somewhat later than the first day, though….haha.

Our first stop was at the newest section of the park: Cars Land.  I had been to California Adventure Park twice before, but this is the first time I stepped foot in Cars Land!

Modeled after the hit movie Cars, this was Radiator Springs in the flesh!!  How awesome is that!?

Can you just tell that the kids were getting so impatient to get moving into Cars Land?

Ethan and Hannah had wanted to get on the Radiator Springs Racers ride where they would ride in cars around a race track, like what you see in the movie Cars.  Unfortunately, the Fast Pass for this ever-so-popular ride was all taken up for the day, and the wait time was like 2 hours!  So Ethan was contented with just a picture (for now).

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The Hottest Planet

July 30, 2013 in Ethan, Growing Up, Hannah, Parenting | No comments

The kids were playing their own version of Cash Cab in the car one day.  They actually do this a lot, and it’s amazing to see how much they have learnt!  Also, it’s awesome to see Ethan imparting his knowledge to his sister this way.

Ethan: Okay Hannah.  Here’s the question, listen carefully, alright?   What’s the hottest planet in our solar system?
Hannah: Errr….
Ethan: Okay… A: Mercury; B: Venus; and C: Earth
Hannah: Ummm….. B: Venus!
Ethan: What about you, Mommy?
Mommy: A: Mercury!
Ethan: The correct answer is…. (pauses for effect) …………. VENUS!
Hannah: Yay!!!!
Mommy: Hey, no way!  Are you sure, Ethan?  Mercury is the closest planet to the sun!
Ethan: Yes Mommy, but Venus is the hottest!
Mommy: And where did you read that from?
Ethan: From my Encyclopedia of Knowledge!  I’ll show you when we get home, Mommy!  Venus is the hottest planet because it has a layer of carbon dioxide gas that traps the heat in!

And indeed, my little boy is right.

Refer to this article for more detailed information.

And I’m the happiest Mommy in the world to be proven wrong. 🙂

The Layover – Day 1: Disneyland!

July 22, 2013 in Emma, Ethan, Hannah, Parenting, Vacation | 1 comment

When I mentioned that we were heading back to Malaysia from Massachusetts, I just *might* have left out one eenie-weenie detail about our trip. 😀

You see, our first flight was a 5-hour-or-so one from Boston to Los Angeles, and we decided to give the kids a treat by taking them to Disneyland for a few days while we were there.

Believe you me, it was a decision Pete and I had been discussing back and forth several months before.  We weighed the pros and cons, taking into consideration the transportation aspect, as well as the commute and accommodation.  Finally we relented, and decided that this short holiday at the Happiest Place on Earth would truly be a memorable one for the kids.  It would be worth every hassle and every obstacle we might face.

After a one-hour shuttle ride from LAX to Anaheim, we checked into our hotel at about 10p.m. that night, had a really quick dinner/supper and called it a night.  Everyone was tired but excited about the following day.

Hannah woke up super early and whispered eagerly, “Today we are going to DISNEYLAND!”

She flashed me the widest, biggest smile EVER.  It was the most rewarding thing.  And it wasn’t even 6a.m. yet!

Here are some of our pictures taken at Mickey Mouse Land…. 🙂

We had a room on the 7th floor in Fairfield Inn, Anaheim.  It was quite a high floor and a great location.  We could see the nightly fireworks from Disneyland from our room if we’d wanted to (we saw a bit of it the night we arrived), and the walkway on our hotel floor’s balcony overlooked this:

 

Ain’t that festive?

We had booked a room at this hotel because it was one of those that was just walking distance from the entrance of Disneyland.  It took us about 15 minutes just to get to the park, and we loved the location and convenience!

Plus…we managed to get a complimentary upgrade to a Disney-themed room!  They had rooms with Disney Princesses themes, Cars themes, Toy Story themes, you get the idea….What we got was the Mickey Mouse themed room!  Complete with Mickey Mouse wall decals, and Mickey Mouse framed pictures, down to Mickey Mouse bed runners, it really helped set the mood!

For our first day at Disneyland, we all wore Disneyland-themed shirts, even baby Emma.  All of us, in fact, had Mickey-themed shirts except Daddy.  We couldn’t find anything Mickey in his size, so he wore a Goofy shirt instead!

Compulsory shots when visiting Disneyland:

We had fun on all the rides!  The waiting in line wasn’t too much fun though, but somehow the waiting time wasn’t too bad.  Most of the time, we managed to get on after about 20 minutes or so of waiting time.  I could only ride with the kids when Emma was fast asleep.

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Moving Continents – We Did It!

July 18, 2013 in Emma, Ethan, Hannah, Milestones, Parenting, Vacation | 1 comment

What can we say?  It’s a near impossible task but we did it!  It’s not easy though, but we persevered and overcame all obstacles, and we’re now back in Penang, having traveled across the globe with two kids and one baby.

We had a total of three flights to take: Boston to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Hong Kong and then Hong Kong to Penang.  The shippers had arrived in our apartment in Marlborough, MA the day before we were to leave and took almost everything away.  I had forgotten to leave a couple of bed linens for our last night too, so that night we slept on our mattress with just our blanket.  Not even with pillows.  It was kinda okay because I guess we were all tired out anyway.

The next day, we almost missed our flight.  All the last-minute packing and rushing resulted in us reaching the airport in less than an hour before the plane was set to depart.  Thankfully, in true Amazing Race style, we managed to get priority check-ins and got on the plane in the nick of time.

On this domestic flight, Emma had a seat to herself.  We carried her in the infant carrier and I strapped her in rear-facing using the lap seat belt.  She seemed happy throughout the 5 hour plus flight and slept most of the time. Had to change her and clean her up a couple of times too, and let me just say that the restroom on this flight is not exactly spacious!  As for the seating arrangements, there were three seats on either side of the plane and so Hannah, Emma and I sat together, with Pete and Ethan across the aisle.

On the international LA to HK flight, Emma had to be placed in a bassinet, so Hannah and I occupied 2 of the 3 middle seats, with Emma in a bassinet, and Pete and Ethan were seated diagonally across the aisle behind us.  The kids missed their inflight supper that night too because when we boarded, it was already way past midnight.

We arrived in Hong Kong before 6a.m. in the morning, and had many hours to relax and chill because our next flight to Penang was at 3:00p.m.  Look at how red and rosy Emma’s cheeks were when we were in HK:

We spent our time in the Cathay Pacific lounge , taking our showers and having breakfast and lunch there.  The kids slept through most of the flight from HK to Penang, and after a quick dinner at the airport, we left for home in two taxicabs!

After that it was cleaning up the house and getting it ready to be lived in.  It was really an adventure and one that we will not forget for a long time.

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