January weekend in Penang

We came up to Penang last Thursday. I thought the kids would sleep all the way to Penang but they woke up even before we reached Ipoh. So we took a detour to Bukit Tambun for dinner.

We had soft-shell-crab, oh chien, lai liu har and fried rice. Less than RM50. Wayyyyy cheaper than the seafood dinner we had in Port Dickson.

On Friday morning, I had planned to visit the Butterfly Farm. But seeing the kids coughing and having stuffy noses, we visited the paediatrician instead. Hope Children's Hospital on Gotllieb Road was fantastic. I forgot to bring the camera. But the kids had a wonderful time playing in the spacious waiting area.

After the paediatrician, we went to Proton Edar just near my parent's place to check out the Exora. Joseph was so excited!

He jumped all over the MPV from the front, to the back, to the front, to the middle...

Joy-Anne cried her lungs out from the moment we stepped through the glass doors. I don't quite know what terrified her but she was not at all pleased to check out the MPV. Even the salesman was frightened by her crying.

Later in the evening, we went to the beach.

We tried getting Joy acquainted with the beach...

But my princess being a princess did not like the feeling of sand between her toes. She clung to me the rest of the time we were there.


Joseph happily ran around and tried making sandcastles.

On the way home, Joy-Anne entertained us with her singing but Joseph got angry because she didn't to sing his song.

After dinner that night, we went to Tesco and I bought a pack of mini cornetto. Joy loved it.

She would say, "I want mini ice cream" and she also fed kor kor.

We were at Penang Wesley on Saturday evening and the kids had a whale of a time at the simple playground.

Big kids included...

At night, Ah Ku and Kim Kim went pak-tho-ing in Batu Ferringhi...

Sunday morning - we went to Penang Wesley.

After church, we went to the car wash. Joseph took photos...

Joy-Anne cried the whole time even though she said, "I'm not scared!"

Sunday evening - we went over to Tairven and Wee Lyn's place for dinner. Ruth and family and Paul were also there. I took the opportunity to celebrate Joy-Anne's birthday.

Joseph had a great time being the magician's apprentice. I will have to wait for the rest of the photos from Tairven.

The kids played so much... Joy-Anne didn't eat a bite.

We had a lovely weekend in Penang. With the beach, car wash, checking out the Exora and the Adventure Zone, Joseph said he had an absolutely fantastic holiday. I feel like a terrible parent to have him skip school to play at the Adventure Zone, not that he's complaining. Then again, he's only 4plus. Years from now, it won't matter a single bit.

This will probably be our last time in this home in Penang. The next time we come up, we'll have to book a hotel room.

Round 2 at the Adventure Zone Penang

Yesterday, we went to the Adventure Zone again. This time we had Ah Ku and Kim Kim with us. More people = more fun!

We got there just past 10am when they opened. The place was totally empty and we had the entire place to ourselves.

Joy started at the toddler area but after that she started to seem unhappy and clung to me like a koala.

Joseph on the other hand was extremely happy and most at-home. Daalin was also less afraid of the near-vertical slides this time. He zoomed down with Ah Ku.

Ah Ku and Joseph had a race around the obstacle course. I thought they looked like a rabbit racing with a hippo.

Meanwhile, Joy made herself comfortable at the cosy kitchen play area.

She was much happier away from the terrifying slides.

Finally towards the end of our time there, Joy-Anne warmed up and started having fun.

Kim Kim was so daring to go on the highest slide.

This is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Roller coasters are not as terrifying because you are strapped into a cocoon-like seat. This is just free-falling with nothing to hold on to. But I mustered enough courage to take the bigger plunge...

Joseph surprised me by going on the slide all by himself. When he got to the bottom on the first round, he had a terrified look on his face and I asked him if he was alright. He pat his chest and said, "A bit frighten. Let's go again!!!" And he immediately got up and ran for the stairs again.

He really enjoyed himself much more this time than the previous time. It's certainly more fun when you have great company.

Info : Adventure Zone Penang

Location : Golden Sands Resort, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang.

Opening hours : 10am - 7pm daily.

Admission rates : RM20 + 5% govt tax on weekdays, RM30 + 5% on weekends for children. Adults enter free with children.

Dress code : Socks must be worn at all times. Long sleeves musts be worn when using the slides.

Happy 2nd Birthday Joy-Anne!

18 January 2010 - Joy-Anne is 2 years old today!

We had a little celebration for her last night, with some friends. It wasn't actually meant to be a party for her. We just wanted to meet up for dinner and since it was the night before her birthday, I decided to include a cake. More photos on this later.

My princess weighs 14.2kg and stands at 89.5cm tall.

She has the vocabulary of a 3-year old.

And she sings so well....

She is indeed a big bundle of joy - our Joy, by God's grace.

Joy-Anne - may the Lord bless you with grace and wisdom to find favour with God and man, as you grow up to know Jesus, love Jesus, serve Jesus and walk with the Lord all the days of your life. We love you!

action-packed singing

Joseph's singing seems to have improved. While Joy-Anne seems to have a natural good pitch, Joe's singing used to be kinda off-key and tuneless. I guess practice makes perfect. And he's got lots of actions to go with the singing too.

As for his guitar lessons... it will still take a lot of practice before he can get a good strumming rhythm.

Joy's new dress

I was blog-browsing some time last month and stumbled across this mom's blog where she was talking about a very lovely dress that her daughter didn't want to wear. I thought it was a very lovely dress indeed!

Since I agak-agak her girl is a little older than Joy, I asked her if she wanted to sell it. So I finally met up with her yesterday and closed the deal for the dress.

Joy-Anne happily put it on when we got home. It's a perfect fit. Size 5!!!


Now I have to find an occasion for her to wear it.

Back to School 2010

Joseph went back to school today. Tadika Juara Cerdik has a policy where only new students start on the first day of school. Returning students start a week later. So Joseph got an extra week of school holidays, much to his delight!

He was really unenthusiastic, giving me excuses like I've never been in Bluebell class before and I'm not so sure I want to go to the 5-year-old class.

We found his new class located right next to his former class. He must have got too used to the holidays and was strangly shy this morning. Initially he wouldn't let go of me. He said hi to Teacher Esther very softly. And he didn't want to sit down.

Joy-Anne however was very at home. She happily took Joseph's place while he clung to me.

The class enrollment is slightly larger because they squeezed 4 classes from last year into 3 classes this year. However it all seemed pretty controlled. No crying nor vomitting.

I hope Joseph doesn't make himself the exception. His eyes looked watery and he was almost gonna burst into tears when I said I had to go home. After lots and lots of assurance that I would never leave him behind, he asked me to pray for him before he let me go. When I walked out, he was singing with the class and doing the actions.

I think he'll be alright once he gets into the routine.

National Children's Leaders/Workers & Parenting Conference

If you are involved in children's ministry, work with children or simply love children, this is one event you don't want to miss.

For the second consecutive year, DUMC and SIBKL are jointly organizing this conference that will feature a panel of speakers who are experts in their field.

In Pastor Nancy's words...

"Rekindle the Vision, Ignite the Passion and Connect with Key Leaders at this Conference and more….The theme for this year’s Conference is “Leaving a Legacy of Worship!” in the lives of the children we teach and know. There are 3 keynote speakers for our plenary sessions and 11 workshop speakers who will offer 60 workshops ranging from leadership, ministry and technical skills to community work including parenting skills and mentoring of the internet generation. Come and be inspired by quality speakers and interact and ask questions whilst connecting with other delegates. Come, learn and extend your networking and contacts. God is a creative God and we can share ideas, celebrate victories and encourage one another as we continue to serve God with a fresh anointing, new ideas and renewed zeal. "

Click here for more information and the registration form.

I am so looking forward to this. Even if the only children you interact with are you own, you will be blessed!

two, three or more? - Joseph's prayer

The last few days, Joseph has been praying this :

Lord Jesus, please give us 2 more babies. One boy and one girl. Amen.

my entertaining kids

It's January again already. January is my birthday month! It's also Joy-Anne's and KongKong and Ah Chor's birthday month. That's 4 generations of January babies!

Joy-Anne has been practising singing "Happy Birthday to me!!!!" since she was 18 months old. She's pretty good at it now.

She's also getting increasingly cheeky. Just 2 days ago, she didn't finish her milk. When Nana wanted to feed the remaining 2 oz to her, she said, "I don't want to drink my milk. Better run away!"

She also says things like, "I told you to keep the toys." Two years ago, I wouldn't have imagined how entertaining the baby in my womb could be.

wearing their Christmas presents from TuaPek/Tua Um - Dora dress and Diego t-shirt. Diego is Joe's current new love.

And this is how entertaining Joe can be - using the corner to scratch his back!

Happy New Year 2010 and Happy Birthday KongKong - Hutong Lot10 and Chili's

We greeted the new year in church last night. The evening started with DUMC's 30th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at 7pm. It was a mammoth dinner with about 3000 diners. This was followed by Watchnight Service from 9pm till midnight.

The Celebration was a testimony of God's faithfulness. Our hearts well up in thankfulness and gratitude when we look back and see how a church of 22 persons has grown to 3600 in just 30 years.

Both kids fell asleep in church. This morning, they woke up at past 9am. We got them ready and then headed to Lot 10 to the famous new non-halal food court - Hutong. Getting there at about 11am, the place was already fairly crowded. Some stalls had longer queues than others. Thanks to the vouchers courtesy of YTL, we spent about RM20 besides paying RM7 for parking (per entry rate on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays). So exorbitant! I know there are cheaper parking rates nearby but with my grandmother's limited mobility and 2 small children, it's more convenient to park inside Lot 10 itself.

I think the food is way over-rated. If not for the vouchers, you wouldn't find me here. The fried oysters were pretty good though. Big and juicy. RM9.90 a plate (before 5% govt tax).

Joseph supporting Ah Chor while she walked slowly

We came home for the kids (and mama) to nap while Nana went to the gym and Daaling went for a swim. When they got up, we got ready to go out again. This time to Midvalley Megamall for dinner at Chili's.

Joseph wanted hotdog and Joy-Anne wanted pizza. Neither ate much of their own food.

They both walloped my smoothie instead.

Ah Ku had tequila-lime fish steak...

Nana had fish and chips but replaced the chips with mashed potatoes.

Mama had grilled salmon. It was good.

Kim Kim had the Quesadilla Explosion...

and Daalin had grilled chicken with portobello mushroom...

I ordered a second smoothie and the kids enjoyed it so much.

Joy had so much fun and was so excited running around that she didn't want to eat at all. When I caught her, she screamed for Nana...

We got a complimentary brownie for the birthday boy. Wish the guys at Chili's could have done the Beetle's When I'm 64...

They ate the brownie like hungry lions ravaging one tiny rabbit...

The total bill came to RM250.10. Since we had RM250 of vouchers, we paid a mere 10sen!

After dinner, we came home. Ah Ku's car arrived first and when I got home, I found Joe very happy on Ah Ku's bike!

I was quite surprised because prior to this, he was too afraid to ride it and would only sit on it with the engine off. Today however, while Ah Ku was giving the engine a warm-up, Joe said, "Ah Ku, how about we take the bike for a spin?". So Ah Ku obliged him and they went for quite a few spins.

Then we came up and cut KongKong's real birthday cake.

This is Kong Kong's birthday cake. French Vanila Millie Crepe from HumbleBeginnings. I only managed to be amongst the second five callers so it was 75% off, at RM15.

I 'wrote' all the words on top myself with chocolate sauce in a plastic bag used as a piping bag. Not too bad huh for a first timer.

I quite like the cake. It's something different. At RM62 for 0.9kg, it is a little pricey. But cheap cakes don't taste good. And good cakes don't come cheap.

But I say that if you're gonna consume the calories, it better be good!

Happy New Year 2010 everyone!

In 2 more days...

...KongKong will be singing this!

my dancing queen

Joy-Anne likes to dance .....

And she can break-dance too .....