Langkawi

We have two family vacations each year.

One to Pulau Langkawi in August, and the other to Cameron Highlands usually at the end of the year. One to enjoy the sun and the sea. The other to take in the cold, crisp air in green surroundings.

This year, Anya and family, plus grandma came along. So we had a total of about ten people in our entourage. The four day vacation seemed a little short. I guess it was because we were having so much fun.

The days were spent without much regard for time.


On the second day, we took the cable car ride up to Gunung Mat Cincang. After the initial vertigo, we managed to take in the panoramic view of the island. It was breathtaking. After spending almost half the day up in the hills, we hit Langkawi Fair. Thankfully, the kids managed to catch some shut-eye on the way there. When we arrived, they were famished.

We tucked in to a nice local lunch, and then did some shopping. We stocked up on duty-free Nike and some Speedo gear for Little A.

The third day, the kids enjoyed themselves in the pool. Later the boys together with daddy built sandcastles on the beach. Mommy and Auntie B went to the spa, where we got a heavenly massage, and indulged in girl talk in the steam room.


Dinner was a much anticipated event. Everyone would be starving after the day's activities, and we'd stuff our faces silly. Dinner on the first night was at Coco Beach. Fresh seafood served on the beach at sunset. Ah... this is the life!

Dinner the second night was in the hotel Beach Restaurant, situated on slits on the sea. With waves lapping, and the sea breeze blowing, we wanted dinner to last forever. It was also my birthday, so daddy had the service staff bring us a slice of cake with a candle. Strollers, together with the entourage sang "Happy Birthday", and Little A, Little J and Baby K all blew out the lone candle.

What a great vacation!

Yet Another Birthday

We just had another birthday in the family - this time it's Little J's. He turned four yesterday.

For those of you who don't know Little J well, he is one of the easiest-going kids around. He goes along with anyone, any event and doesn't fuss about anything at all. One seriously accomodating child. It is indeed a pleasure to see him smile through whatever given situation.

Simple boy with simple tastes, Little J will grow up to be exactly like daddy.

I asked him about two weeks ago what kind of cake he wanted, and unlike any other child, he was unfazed. I had to literally show him pictures on various websites, and had to guide and lead him until he made a decision.

After his big brother Little A's birthday, Little J would ask, " Mommy, when is MY birthday?"

"Soon...."

"When is it?"

"After Anya's birthday" was a simple enough answer.

After having been told that, Little J would answer anyone who asked when his birthday was, "After Anya's birthday!" Never mind if they didn't know who Anya was.

Little J finally picked out a 3-D frog jelly cake after having combed through the few choices I had shortlisted for him. As his birthday drew nearer, he would periodically ask, "Is it my birthday yet?" followed by "When can we buy the frog cake?"

It had become tradition that the boys cut a cake at kindergarten on their birthdays. It would be the usual moist chocolate cake coated with smarties, courtesy of Grandma. Because Little J's birthday was on Saturday, we had the cake-cutting ceremony on friday.

On Saturday, he was impatient and wanted to blow more candles. Little J was badgering us throughout the day about where his cake was although we had explained to him that we would wait till dinner, when everyone was present.

"But I want to have my birthday (cake) now!!!"

"Later, sweetie..., at night after dinner."

"Now, I want my birthday (cake) in the morning!!!"

. . . And it went on like that till dinner.

All's well that ends well. Here's Little J and his frog.

Happy Birthday Little J! We love you.

All Grown Up

My little girl is all grown up.

I was looking at some old photos - well, not exactly old. Photos of about a year ago of Baby K, and I realized she's so much bigger!

One would imagine that I, of all people - her mom- would notice how much and fast she's grown. On the contrary, seeing her everyday I am the last to realize how time has just zoomed right on by.

The same goes for Little A and J, both are little men in their own right. Boisterous and energetic, no doubt. Little A is intelligent, quick-witted, humourous, and protective of his younger siblings. Little J is funny, gracious, kind and giving.

I am indeed proud of my kids!

The Tooth Fairy

Little A lost his first tooth a week into his sixth birthday. Coincidentally, it was the same one that popped out when he cut his first baby tooth at six months old.

Initially he was really sad. "I don't want people to laugh at me," was all he said, even after we had assured him that all his friends would go through the same stage.

And so, mommy had to spin a tale about the tooth fairy. I told him that after his tooth fell, he would need to put it under his pillow and the tooth fairy would come visit him. She would then leave him 50 sen in exchange for the tooth.

He was so taken by the whole story, he couldn't wait for that little tooth to fall out. Daddy told me later in the day that he repeated this tale to him after I had left for work.

When we picked him up from school that day, the wobbly little tooth had fallen out. Little A had kept it in his bag. "Don't forget to put it under my pillow, mommy," he said.

He went to bed without much fuss that night and was actually happy to sleep early. And later that night, the tooth fairy did come - she didn't take his tooth but she left 50 sen anyway :)

School Holidays

The last couple of weeks have been crazy.

Between work, the kids, and managing the house I've had to creatively stretch time, stealing a few hours here and there to get stuff done. And then came the week-long school holidays and that left no time for anything else.

I was consumed with guilt about not having taken the boys anywhere for the holidays. It was tough enough staying home, let alone going out anywhere with two boisterous boys! Towards the end of the holidays and against my better judgement, I decided we should go for a movie.

The boys had been to the cinema several times before and most times it's been manageable. Save for the constant runs to the bathroom.

We decided on 'Charlotte's Web' since Little A had seen the trailer on TV and wanted to watch it. "Its about a spider and a pig, mommy," he piped.

Off to the cinema we went. Bright and early on a Friday, before the crowds got there. We got our tickets and popcorn, and the mandatory visit to the bathroom before the movie. After all the ads and trailers, just as the movie was about the begin... Little J, in a whisper "Mommy, I have to go toilet". Maybe if I pretended not to hear he will forget.

"Mommy..." It got a little louder. Ignore, ignore. And then Little J started chanting, "have to got toilet... have to go toilet... have to go toilet..." Jeez. I gave in and took him.

The rest of the movie went rather well by my standards. Little A had given his opinion throughout the show, or had asked questions, and made comments, most of which were met with my "Uh-Huh." Which meant, 'OK, whatever you say...just as long as you keep quiet and not bother other people.'

After the movie we walked about the mall a little. Several times Little A thought he'd lost me, and would yell at the top of his voice, "Maaaa-mmmmeeeee!!!" People walking past wondered whose child this was, making all that ruckus. Save for those few times, which I regard to be nothing extraordinary, the day went quiet uneventful.

The next day, we took the boys on their first picnic. A lot of thought went into the planning; I was up at 5.30am on Saturday making egg sandwiches. I had the picnic mat, thermos of milo, water, wet wipes, hand cleanser, snacks, just about everything except the kitchen sink.

We woke the kids up after we loaded up our car, and promptly made our way to my sister's house. Auntie B, Uncle AD and Anya were all ready to go, so off we went!

The skies were looking a little gloomy on our way to the Lake Gardens. Undeterred, we forged ahead. I wasn't calling this off, not on the count of a few dark clouds. Heck, not after all that planning and packing!

We got there just before 8am. We found a little spot near the playground where we set our stuff down. The boys ran off immediately to the play area. Auntie B and I started laying out the food with Baby K and little Anya watching the birds and pigeons around us. It was turning out to be quite fun.

About 30 minutes later, Auntie B and I decided to send Daddy and Uncle AD on an errand - to get us some nasi lemak Tanglin.

The boys took a break from playing to have some egg sandwich and milo, while Auntie B and I had a tete-a-tete. Halfway through having fun, we felt a few drops of rain on our head. Before we knew it, more drops! Next thing we knew, we were grabbing and packing up everything we had in sight, and running to the gazebos nearby.

Daddy and Uncle AD had just bought the nasi lemak, and was coming back when the rain started. Daddy brought with him umbrellas and promptly took us all back to the car. And just in time too. Once we got in, it rained cats and dogs!

We went back to Auntie B's place, and had our nasi lemak on the balcony, while the kids played and watched Hi-5 on TV. It was nice to enjoy the rain indoors while we chatted the morning away.

Well, at least we got an hour of picnicking in before we got rained out. One thing for sure, we'll attempt it again soon - possibly the next school holidays?

Happy Birthday Little A!

Little A was born exactly six years ago yesterday.

I recall how we had anticipated the birth of our firstborn with delight and trepidation. Two carefree adults thrown into the tumultuous world of parenthood, armed with stacks of "How To..." parenting books. You'd think after six years, and two kids later, we've got this parenting thing down pat. Hah! I say again - just when you think they grow out of a stage, they get into another. It's constant and never-ending.

We love our kids, they are our pride and joy. As any parent will tell you, there's probably very little what we wouldn't do for them. Parenting is a journey and we are still learning. We have more fun these days because we are now more tolerant (have learnt to ignore whining and wailings) and patient (desensitized to whining and wailings).

Happy Birthday Little A, we love you!

I'm Falling. . .

Something really embarrassing happened to me today.

I had just parked my car, and I was walking to the place I will be working at this couple of months. Not but 20 steps later, I felt myself buckle (thanks to the uneven pavement and my heels, not to mention the what-felt-like-a-50-kg notebook bag), and before I quite knew what was happening, I found myself sprawled by the pavement. Several people turned to look... I turned lobster red....

No sooner had I stumbled, tripped and fallen, I got up, dusted myself and pretended like nothing had happened.

This brought me back to the time I did the same unglamorous thing in the heart of 'glamorous' Bangsar. It happened in a split second, and I was all over the pavement. Unfortunately, that time, I had hurt my ankle and couldn't get up at lightning speed. Still, I pretended like I was looking for something and sat on the ground while I tried to save whatever face I had left!

My Little J does that. Not only does he look like me, he inherited my defective gene of tripping on any type of flooring.

When he was barely two, he fell and slammed his face somewhere - I'm not sure on what exactly. This cracked his four front teeth. Over time, these pearly whites broke, and slowly ate away. Today, at almost four, he has lost almost all of these teeth. He looks adorable still but you should see the problem he encounters biting on an apple. He has to gnaw on it with his gigi taring. Quite a sight.

He's still tripping all over the place. Falling in malls, in school, in the playground, and just about everywhere else. Hopefully, he will grow out of this stage. Otherwise, he'll end up like me - having to master the act of pretending to look for things he konon dropped - by roadsides, in parking lots, and in people's houses. Sigh.