Joy graduates from kindy

The third quarter of 2014 ended with my second baby graduating from kindergarten. They really do grow up so fast. 

Some time before the concert and kindergarten, Joy came home with a speech and told me she was to memorize it as she had been shortlisted to give the welcome speech. She was subsequently chosen to give the welcome speech in English and I felt greatly honoured to be given this privilege.

After all the practicing (until even Isabel can say the speech!) she spoke confidently to the crowd in the huge auditorium and I was very proud of her. 

TJC is a big kindy of 16 classes with an enrollment of about 300 students (my estimation) and the concert and graduation is a grand affair. You get your face and full name flashed up on TWO big screens as you walk up the stage to receive your scroll. 

The graduation was followed by dance items in the 70s theme. Joy's class did the JaJambo.

She's actually a natural on stage since she's regularly on the Children's Church worship team and she's also sung and danced for a few performances with Children's Church but she was very serious-looking for this dance.

Joy and her class teacher

I have no doubts this girl will adapt to primary school quickly and easily. She will have a kindy friend (who is also from her children's church cell) for classmate next year (you can actually pakat to register together to be in the same class) and there's always her kor kor around. 

Joy-Anne darling... one chapter of your life will soon close and you will begin a new chapter. I'm thankful for the two years of wonderful experiences you have had in kindergarten and I'm amazed at how you have grown.  

The next chapter will be more challenging with lots of new experiences. You will be less protected, more exposed. You'll have to be more independent, more proactive. We will not always be around. But Jesus will be. Take Jesus with you. He will guide you, comfort you, lead you and protect you. 

We love you and we are so proud of you!

Two, three or more : Isaac is 10 months old.

After the sixth month mark, time seems to move faster....

I need coffee...

The early months of endless crying and long marathon night feeds seem a distant past now even though it's been barely a year. He's still not sleeping through the night....suckling more for comfort than hunger.

Isaac is 10 months old and I'm looking forward to celebrating his first birthday!

He's cruising and cries in protest as soon as he's let down into the playpen. He wants to explore the house and there's no stopping him now that he's discovered the play area and the slide. He has already climbed up the slide and up the two steps to my platform bed....all by himself!

Feeding has improved. This past week especially has been good. I can feed Isabel and Isaac simultaneously and they both finish their meal in half an hour.

Mothering 4 kids almost full time with no domestic help is tiring but rewarding. My days are crazy busy and everyday feels like a marathon. 

When I go out to work on Saturdays, there is a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment as I drive home. I'm nicely dressed (well, nicer than the other six days of the week) and I can quantify my achievement for the day. There's a figure to how many patients I treated and how much money I earned.

When I'm a SAHM, it's just cook, feed, clean, cook, feed, clean, cook, feed, clean...

At the end of the day everything is just poo, pee and the occasional puke. There's no tangible accomplishment.Unless you count the number of diapers in the bin. 

Some days I get really frustrated because at the end of the day...it feels like I didn't get anything done. Then I look at my four babies sleeping peacefully and I thank God for the beautiful blessings I have.

After 10 months, our combined weight is still 56 kg....the same as just before I delivered him.

I'm thankful ...

...to be present when they wake and when they go to bed.

...to be the one who feeds them, bathe them and wash their bottoms.

...to be the one who teaches them ABCs and 123

...to be the one they run to when they hurt themselves.
...to be the one who sings and dances with them and plays with them.
...to rock them to sleep and whisper "mummy loves you" in their ear.

It's a very tough job. Way harder than my paid job.

But a most blessed job!

Visiting Ah Mah in Kuantan

I have one surviving grandparent - my paternal grandmother. She will be 90 years old come January 2015. We've never been particularly close because we only usually visited Kuantan once a year during Chinese New Year. 

at my wedding in 2002

When she moved to Penang to stay with my parents, I had already moved to PJ for university and subsequently settled here.

I last saw her in January this year when we visited her at my aunt's house in Kuantan. She had already aged a lot since the previous time I saw her which was last year. In February this year, she moved into a nursing home. We took advantage of the Raya break to make a trip to Kuantan to visit her again and what I saw shocked me beyond words. 

I could not recognize her. For a moment, I wondered if we were in the correct room. She's all skin and bones!! 

Living in the nursing home (even though a very nice and good one) must have made her very depressed. She eats very little and speaks in a very soft frail voice. I had to put my ear almost right to her mouth to hear her. 

We took her out for dinner at Mexica Garden Seafood Restaurant. I chose this place based on a friend's recommendation and reading food blogs. It is located just across the street from where we stayed (MS Garden Hotel), pretty near the nursing home and easily accessible (huge parking lot right in front of the restaurant).

Much to our delight, the restaurant owner, Doris, recognized my grandma as her long time friend and promptly ushered us to a private dining room. With her recommendation of their house specialties, we had a very sumptuous meal indeed!

These steamed buns each came with a generous piece of sweet sour fish fillet which was crispy on the outside and very tender and juicy on the inside. RM4.00 a piece.

steamed buns with crispy sweet sour fish fillet 

marmite chicken

Another house specialty is the salted egg yolk friend pumpkin. It was very delicious and only RM25 for a huge plate.

salted egg yolk fried pumpkin

home made beancurd with mushrooms and mixed vege

Our entourage of 6 adults and 7 kids stayed a night at MS Garden Hotel in 2 Family Quad rooms (one King and one Queen bed or 4 single beds). The kids enjoyed jumping on the beds and splashing in the tubs.

The next day we visited Ah Mah in the nursing home again. We spent some time singing her favourite hymns and praying for her. She looked happier and could lift her hands to worship.

We took a family photo with her and I dug out one taken just 4 years ago.

While we have multiplied, she has aged so much.

I came home and looked back on some old photographs and I'm thankful for the times I had to take her shopping and buy her favourite foods. 

Life is short.

Time flies.

Children grow.

People age.

Nothing lasts forever but the Word of God and our souls.

Looming a rainbow with the Rainbow Loom

This is a new fad. The Rainbow Loom.

My sil gave Joy a set of Rainbow Loom starter kit and she's taken to it like a duck to water. I had no idea she'd be so good at this. 

She can work at it independently and churn out bracelets for her friends.

...and her sister of course!

Buffet Breakfast at Lemon Garden Cafe @ Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur

We did something really crazy last week...

Just for the fun of eating, we woke the kids up early to drive downtown for a BIG buffet breakfast!

Lemon Garden Cafe @ Shangri-La KL supposedly serves the best buffet breakfast in town and it did not disappoint. The spread was really extensive and it was impossible to eat everything.

a healthy start

I naturally started with some fruits.....choices include dragon fruit, jackfruit and pomelo besides the usual honeydew, papaya, pineapple and watermelon (very bright red and not at all anaemic-looking.)

Thereafter I checked out the chinese section for some smoked duck porridge with condiments, siew mai, egg tart and prawn fritters.

Joy was so happy to have oatmeal! I'm glad to report that she also ate roti canai, 2 pancakes with honey, a waffle, a doughnut, yoghurt, butter, watermelon and drank milk with chocolate from the chocolate fountain.

Yup! You read that right. Chocolate fountain for breakfast!!!??!?!

In fact, it was TWO chocolate fountains - dark chocolate and milk chocolate.

muffins, doughbuts, croissants, cakes, cookies

My next round was some mamak mee goreng with lamb masala, smoked salmon, sauteed mushrooms, meatballs and otak-otak.

Isabel was given a doodle sheet and a set of colour pencils that had a sharpener on the cover. Cute and thoughtful.

I missed some photos of other stuff I ate because the kids kept me busy. But I did have 2 servings of this...

waffle with chocolate sauce and fresh berries and chocolate croissant.

The waffles were good. Made on the spot so it was warm and crispy!

very chewy chocolate chip cookie, blueberry muffin, mango smoothie and strawberry custard croissant

We had my nephew with us and he was a very good babysitter. Joseph was especially glad to have his company.

few types of yogurt, variety of honey, fruits and juices

fruits and yogurt to end the meal

I was so full that I skipped lunch and dinner. Eating like a camel ...it's really bad actually.

the (lemon??) garden where we had breakfast

After we finished eating, we got home just n time for my nephew to grab his bag and go to the airport to catch his flight back to Singapore.

saying goodbye to Daniel kor kor

Thanks to AhKongAhMah's Shangri-La gift vouchers, we paid only RM106 for 3 adults and 2 kids. The full rate is RM66++ per adult and half price for kids aged 6-12.

OMF Bungalow - another family holiday

We made another trip to one of my favourite holiday spots...

OMF Bungalow, Cameron Highlands and Pangkor Laut Resort are my 2 favourite local holiday spots. Unfortunately getting to both places involve a much-dreaded journey. 

the boys in action as soon as we arrived!

This very very old yet well-maintained and charming bungalow in a very secluded hilltop location is the perfect place for rest and relaxation. It is open to missionaries and christian groups.

Our family of 13 arrived in 2 MPVs and the kids immediately ran out to play. Fresh cool air filled my lungs right to the bronchioles....refreshing! 

In the evening after dinner (I forgot to take photo of our first meal), the girls were busy playing and Joy started on her Rainbow Loom...

...while the boys were introduced to carrom.

Every morning there is freshly-homebaked bread for breakfast. Mrs Chye, the caretaker also makes her own strawberry jam. Very fresh and not too sweet. 

After breakfast on the second day we relaxed around...

relaxing in the living room

pretty like flowers

our family just gets bigger each time we make another trip here

...and then we went out to Kasimanis Strawberry Farm just for the kids to look around. There's really nothing much but Cameron Highlands is synonymous with strawberries so we have to bring them here.

We also did the customary tea plantation visit.

Isaac is getting really heavy... and this 9-year-old sling is so well-used.

Back to the bungalow we went and before lunch, the kids played badminton again.

stick insect for lunch?

I love the food here....Mrs Chye is an excellent cook! Meals are usually 4 dishes - 3 vege and 1 meat. I ate a mountain of vegetables at every meal. No rice.

so cool to play outdoors....even if it's iPad.

In the evening on the second day, we had a bonus from Mrs Chye (did I mention she's really nice?) - scones!!!

more badminton

Second day dinner was western style...spaghetti with a huge plate of salad and pumpkin.

my mountain of vege....no spaghetti.

I forgot to take pictures of our bedroom and the bathroom so this is the closest thing....

sibling love

I've always been lucky to get one of the only 3 rooms with attached bathrooms. Rooms 5 and 6 are the best in my opinion because they are huge, have attached bathrooms and are located right next to the dining hall. I got Room 5 this round and it had a queen-sized bed and 2 single beds. 

swings, see-saw and slide in the compound

Tans

Two nights is really too short for such a lovely place. I would love to stay longer.

last meal before leaving...more vegetables with sweet sour kerabu fish fillet

It costs RM95 per Malaysian adult per night. Kids aged 2-6 cost RM35 while kids aged 7-12 cost RM65 per night. These rates include 3 main meals. Towels, basic toiletries, toilet paper and hair dryer are provided. Coffee/tea/milo are provided, DIY anytime of the day or night. 

I hope to go again next year... but with the same number of kids :-)