Archive for » May, 2009 «

Making Friends

30 May 2009 by

Hubby thought the kids will miss him badly, but he’s going to be very disappointed. LOL! They didn’t even look for hubby, not even once for the past few days. :P Poor hubby, his heart must be breaking reading this. LOL!

The main reason why the kids are doing so well, despite being spoiled by granny, is that they are having a lot of fun making friends in our neighborhood. This week, both of them went to our neighbor’s house to watch TV together, for the first time. They went to the neighbor’s house on their own, under my permission of course. But I told them not to do this often as it was a Thursday, and they should not have watched TV on school days. :P


Isabelle and her friend. She likes to hang out at her car porch and play masak-masak with her toy kitchen sinks, dolls and all her other toys.

 


Did I mention that her friend’s mother likes to give my gal Yakult and tidbits too?  Now you know why she likes to go to their house. LOL!

 

Since hubby is not around, I didn’t go to the office (my mom is alone at home mah…) and I bring the kids back home straight after school. By doing so, the kids can play in the evening with other children.

Anyway, I snapped some photos yesterday so that hubby can see how much fun they are having here…


Most of the evenings, our kids will play outside of the house, with their friends mostly. They are getting closer with our neighbor’s kids.

 


Cycling is a daily activity too.

 

Some times, I will bring the kids to the playground and the field, if they want to. There are more children playing there.


Running around on the grass…

 


Or should I say, rolling on the grass? LOL!

 


Playing at the playground

 

I told hubby that Justin got “bullied” by the older kids on the field yesterday. I don’t know why, but one of the older boys asked him to take off his sandals, and they ran off with his sandals and made him chased after them. I can see that Justin was quite annoyed but he didn’t give up in chasing the kids, who threw his sandals from one to another.


Poor Justin running after the older kids

 

I didn’t interfere though as I wanted to see how Justin handle this. To my surprise, he managed to get back his sandals, put them on, and walk away leaving the kids! I’m very proud of him, and I’m glad that he took this as a game. :) Thank god he didn’t start a fight. LOL!

But still, I’m counting down to the day when hubby to come back from Malaysia. I think the kids miss the indoor playgrounds, Funarium, and also the swimming pool. Only hubby is good at handling them for more active play. So, dear, fast fast book your flight ticket ya?

Category: Fun Time  9 Comments

Spending Time with Mommy…

25 May 2009 by

I’m not a good playmate, as comparing to hubby. Since we moved here, he’s the one who’s spending more time with the kids while I busy at the kitchen, hand wash some clothes (oh ya, not all can be machine-washed!) and busy with other stuffs. But there are a few things which my kids would prefer me over their daddy, such as:

  • Bento-ing
  • Reading
  • Posing in front of my camera
  • Tugging them to sleep and etc…

So, last Saturday, all 3 of us had some quality time together, while hubby was away at the office. I haven’t enrolled them into art class since they started school, but we shall do so after hubby’s back from business trip. I sipeh lazy to drive around la… :P

Thus, we had lots of fun when…


Isabelle decided to put on a fashion show…Look at her bizarre fashion taste, especially her head band. LOL!

 


Mommy, I’m pretty or not? (Oh ya, that’s the favorite Marie’s tee which she wears very often)

 


Justin joined in the fun too, and since he knows that I won’t show his photo openly on this blog, he decided to cover his face for me. LOL!

 


This is the Brachiosaurus which he hugs to sleep every night…It’s one big dino!

 

Of course, I snapped a few more silly shots, and my kids were really playful in front of my camera. :) After that, it’s quiet time when we read some books and played some puzzles. I used to wonder why Isabelle is not keen to learn about alphabet and numbers, as Justin basically knew A – Z and 1 – 10 before 3 years old. But then, every kid develops at her own pace, so I’ve always assured myself no need to be kiasu about this.

Recently, Isabelle likes to play with the alphabet and number puzzles, which belong to Justin when he was a toddler.


Isabelle’s playing the puzzles.

 

She can’t recognize all of them yet, but there is no hurry. I know my gal, if you want to force her to name the letters or numbers, she won’t touch the play sets again, so we shall let her learn at her own pace.

Then, the kids dozed off for a nap, and hubby came back shortly. After their nap, we fixed a simple kids bento together and it’s fun to see them “playing with their food”.


“I fixed this bento, you know? You know?” Isabelle’s talking to daddy…

 

In short, it’s a nice afternoon with the kids. I think hubby would love to spend a few quality hours with the kids too when he’s back from his trip. He won’t be seeing them for 2 weeks, and I know he will surely miss them.

Category: Isabelle, Justin, Mothering Moments  11 Comments

Popo is Coming…

21 May 2009 by

At first, MIL is supposed to be here in Bangkok with the 2 grandchildren under her care for the coming school holiday in M’sia, but then, everyone is very kiasi of H1N1, so they canceled the trip. So, my kids won’t be seeing their cousins again until dunno when…

Then, hubby has to make a trip back home next week to settle some matters, so he asked my mom to be here with us. The kids can’t go back as they have just started school again, and skipping school for 2 weeks seems to be too long…I hate to do all the accumulated homework with them later! :P Furthermore, hubby will be away in Ipoh, KL and JB, so we might be stuck in Penang or Ipoh, without internet connection and a car for mommy. Thus, it doesn’t sound like a good idea after all.

I’m glad that my mom is willing to come, despite the virus. Of course, I’m praying for the best for her, and also hubby la…Airports leh…Got people fly back mah…Kiasi a bit loh….

So, my kids will be ALL SPOILED by their granny again, and without hubby at home to chi chi cham about how my mom likes to feed them their meals, how she likes to give tidbits, how she likes to spoil them to the max, I think we will have a jolly good time. LOL!

Category: Mothering Moments  10 Comments

We Are Buddhists

21 May 2009 by

I’m not a religious person, and since both my parents are Buddhists, I was brought up as one as well. But I don’t pray often, and will only do so if I’m asked to. :P

My hubby is a Buddhist and he prays often. We bring our kids to the temple for prayers on Sundays, and sometimes, we will join BIL’s family for prayers too. Most Thai people are very religious, and they like to visit the temples, especially on those festive days.

Actually, we don’t have a praying altar at home, and I don’t think I would like to have one either in the future. As I said, I’m not religious at all! LOL! But if hubby wants to set up one, he can do so on his own. :P I wonder if he will need a Mala Prayer Bodhi Seed Beads or a Crystal Singing Bowls from Tibet? If he’s interested, he can get them from Silver Sky Imports, which is committed to a fair trade with the people in Himalayas by providing them a reasonable living wage for their workmanship. To me, these items are collectibles, and they are very unique. I wonder how the crystal singing bowl sounds like as I have never seen one in real. But then, it’s not suitable for us at the moment as my two kids will surely break it! LOL!

So, if hubby really wants to get anything from this store, the praying beads will be a better choice.

Category: Mothering Moments  Comments off

Back To School for the New Term

18 May 2009 by

After 10 weeks of summer holiday, our kids are back to school again today. We tugged them in earlier last night and talked to them numerous times that school starts again and it’s back to studying, homework, and some extra classes after school.

This morning, both kids woke up early, way before their alarm clock rang! Then, both of them had breakfast on their own by getting the bowls, the cereals, the milk and etc. Wah, so good leh…

Way before hubby and I finished our breakfast, the kids already went upstairs to their playroom and waiting for “further instruction”. Of course, we urged them to get showered and changed into their uniform. Both of them dressed up by themselves, FUSS FREE!!! It’s so different from other days, when I so kek hei with her in the morning. You know? When it’s rushing in the morning, a crying and fussing kid is the last thing you want to deal with, I would prefer to swallow some Colonix and go lao sai instead of coaxing a fussy kid who makes my blood boiled! :P Thus, it’s one of those exceptional day when Isabelle’s not putting up a fuss. How wonderful!

So, by the time all of us got ready, we managed to leave the house earlier than expected, and we reached their school just in time for the assembly. Looking at how my kids singing the national anthem in enthusiasm and doing their prayers, they surely missed this morning routine at school huh? LOL!

Anyway, it’s back to normal school days for the next 5 months until their term break in October. There will be more homework too as Justin is in K2 and Isabelle is in K1 now. I hope that they will have a great time at school for the new semester.

Category: Isabelle, Justin, Mothering Moments  14 Comments

Do You Love Me?

12 May 2009 by

Isabelle is not really talkative but some times, she likes to repeat the same thing over and over again. Recently, she likes to ask Justin, “Koh koh, do you love me?” Of course, Justin will reply “yes” until he’s totally annoyed if he’s been asked like 20 times in an hour. LOL!

A few days ago, Isabelle asked the same question again at dinner and Justin ignored her because he’s busy eating. Then, Isabelle turned to hubby and asked, “Papa, why koh koh don’t love me?” LOL! Hubby and I really beh tahan, we said koh koh loves her, but he’s busy eating. Then she said, “Koh koh no answer me.” O.o Ok loh, Justin finally answered “Ya la, koh koh love you la. Don’t ask again.” But minutes later, she did it again and kept asking the same question. LOL!

This morning, she did it again. She asked the same question to Justin for like more than 20 times since they woke up until they left for school. I can see that Justin’s answering her “ya ya ya” like a robot now. LOL!

Hubby asked if she can stop asking but she still likes to ask the same question. Funnily, she only likes to ask but not us. Why? Koh koh’s not treating her well izzit? LOL!

Category: Isabelle, Justin  7 Comments

Rain and Shine

12 May 2009 by

I thought it won’t rain much during summer, but it seems like the weather has gone haywire lately. It rains heavily once a while, and there are thunder storms in the middle of the night too. Isabelle would easily get up if it’s too loud and she will come to me and cling on my arm because she’s afraid of the storm. Most of the time I won’t be able to fall asleep again because she is not only holding my arm, she will move her hand up and down and it’s too tingling for me to go to sleep like this!

Today is a cloudy day, and it rained in the morning. I think the temperature dropped too, so it’s not as hot as before. Actually, I love the rain, but not when I have to go out walking on the streets. I hate to dirty my heels, and I don’t like the mud on the car carpet. Hubby will have to wash and vacuum the car more often, if not I will nag and nag until he’s sick of it. LOL! But then again, he might argue with me that the car will surely be dirty in the rain, so no need to send it for car wash. He won’t mind the mud messing up his north face walking shoes nor the car carpet either.

Sigh…MAN!

But if it rains and shines alternately on the same day, my kids might easily fall sick. Justin was not feeling well yesterday and he skipped dinner. I hope that he will get well soon because the new school term starts next week.

Category: Mothering Moments  3 Comments

Cleaner House Now!

12 May 2009 by

 My part time housekeeper has been working for us for a month, and so far, I’m pleased with her work. She does not do the laundry, but it’s a burden of our shoulders because the house is so much cleaner now with her coming to our place twice a week. Hubby promised that he would help me out but after a week, he could not get up early anymore. LOL! Man…they have always thought that cleaning up is such an easy job. :P

Anyway, without a daily housekeeper, we have trained our kids to tidy up their bed and playroom by themselves. So far, I’m quite pleased with their progress, even if Isabelle might fuss a little when she refuses to pick up her toys. Frankly, I think we hubby should stop buying toys frequently. But he tends to forget this when the kids bug him to get toys for them. Most of the toys are not costly, but they are filling up the playroom and I’m out of storage space for them. I thought of getting more cabinets or racks, but we are not sure how long will we be staying in this house. Moving a lot of furniture and stuffs can be very stressful!

I guess I can consider setting up a Garage Sale to clear off some of the things, especially those toys and books my kids have lost interests in. But then, if you ask them, they will surely say that they still want the toys!!! I haven’t organize a garage sale before, and I’m not sure if it works in my neighborhood. But if you are interested in running a Yard Sale and if you hope to advertise your sale, check out GarageSalesTracker.com. There is a free sale listing offer right now, so do check it out if you are interested as it is only available for limited time.

Besides that, you can add some details about your sale, such as the sale products, and images are allowed as well. There is no extra charges for images, and if I’m a buy, I would prefer to check out the images to have a better idea about the sale. If it rains on the day of your sale, you can change the date of your garage sale and it’s free!

On the other hand, if you are looking for any garage sales, you can also search for one from this website. I really like the automated driving instruction. It’s easier to locate a garage sale this way than being lost in a housing area!

So far, I haven’t seen any garage sale here, maybe it’s not so popular. But if I have a lot of things to dump give away, I might just donate them.

Category: Ngam ngam cham cham  Comments off

Our Weekend

11 May 2009 by

Summer holiday is almost over, and we decided to spend more time at home. My kids are still trying to max out their time watching DVD because they can only do so during the weekends since they have started their summer camp. Nonetheless, hubby and I wanted to limit their time on TV, so we “dragged” them out to the park on Saturday evening.


Daddy and mommy dragged us to the park, but we were happy to be here too.

 

Our kids like feeding the fishes in the lake, but funnily, there are not a lot of fishes anymore.


Why no fish wan?

 


The fish very ho mia, eat pandan bread. I said in my bento blog last week that I hardly see pandan bread anymore, and we managed to get a loaf just for fish feeding!

 


We changed from one feeding spot to another…

 


…but there is still no sign of fishes. Funny…

 

So we went cycling and trying out the exercise equipments at the park.


Balancing is one of our kids’ favorites.

 


And of coz, they love cycling!

 

Some of our friends and relatives have been asking why hubby lost so much weight…See the pic? He’s running with the kids while the wife just stood far far with the camera. Now you know why he lost weight since we moved here huh? Our active kids have been keeping daddy busy as their playmate.

We didn’t do anything special on Mother’s Day except bringing the kids to an indoor playground. So, did I get anything yesterday? Of coz not!!! But I went shopping while hubby watched the kids. And I managed to sleep until 10am yesterday. That’s a great present for a mommy who only gets less than 6 hours sleep on normal days. :)

Category: Family Moments, Fun Time, Special Day  6 Comments

A Visit to Angel Tomorrow

04 May 2009 by

The store owner of Angel Tomorrow, Sangwan, emailed me days ago, asking me if I’m interested to check out her used book store. I love buying books for my kids, and upon knowing that she has a lot of used books from US, I wanted to bring my kids there for a look. It’s not easy to locate her new store, but if you are interested to find out about the map and location, please check out her website.

She has recently moved her store here from a shopping complex, so it’s not fully furnished yet. But nonetheless, it didn’t stop our kids from checking out the books.


Justin and Isabelle helped themselves with the books as soon as we got here. Of course, they can only look at the pictures as both of them can’t read by themselves yet.

 

I found that most of the books are still in good condition. It’s not easy to get English books here, except from Asia Books or Kinokuniya, as far as I know. But if the used books are still in good condition, I won’t mind buying some for my kids. Did I mention that the books are selling at reasonably cheaper price too?


The children books section.

 


There are books for adults too.

 


As we were browsing through the books, the store owner was busy unpacking the pallets!

 

There are still a lot of books in boxes, but Justin couldn’t wait to dig them out. :P

 

I bought a cook book by Jamie Oliver, and hubby got a book about business management. Mmm…another cooking book for me, and if I can cook as well as Jamie, I should check out Lipofuze reviews as I would be over weight soon. LOL!

My kids chose most of their books by themselves, but I got them 2 books from Dr. Suess too.

 

I don’t know why they just don’t like Dr. Suess, maybe the illustrations are not attractive to them. I shall keep the books away until they are ready.

Needless to say, both our kids love this book store a lot.


I love to see my kids spending time on books…even if they can’t read yet.

 

So, here are some of the books we got…


The used books we bought are all in good condition.

 

I’m so happy that Sangwan gave me a GREAT DISCOUNT on the books, and we saved so much on the purchase!

So, if you are interested to get used books imported from US, please check out Angel Tomorrow.

Category: Fun Time, Shopping  11 Comments
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