May here and there

Happenings in May...

Isabel is 18 months old. You know you really slack with No.3 when you forget about baby's vaccination schedule. The Klinik Kesihatan Ibu & Anak called me to remind me about my missed appointment! Efficient, huh.

She's increasingly cheeky, has a decent vocabulary that includes "iPad" and still does not have a toothbrush. I know....I'm a bad mummy.

 

Joy had her end-of-semester-occupation-themed-party on the last day of semester. I accidentally said "last day of school" and she was horrified, thinking it was the end of her kindy stint. She really does love school and homework!

So she went as a ballerina because I thought her apron made her look more like a hawker.

We tried a few new makan places, thanks to LivingSocial vouchers.

Mantra @ Sunway Pyramid... Isabel enjoyed the Mango Lassi.

We ordered these 4 dishes...

clockwise from top : Lamb Briyani, Salmon Tandoori, Butter Chicken, Palak Paneer

...a Cheese Naan and the Mango Lassi. Total bill came to RM113. With the RM100 voucher we had for which we paid RM50, our total cost was RM63. Worthwhile. Food quality and ambience was good. I'd say way better than over-rated and over-priced nasi kandar.

We also found another convenient good-food-no-frills place in Tang Pin Kitchen located in SS2. I particularly like the Fried Chee Cheong Fun which costs only RM4.

It's signature dish is the Mee Pok which is pretty much like the Hakka Mee. So far, we've been there 3 times. I like the Hak Lor Mai (Black glutinous rice) and the Tau Fu Fah is pretty good too.

Exams are over and the holidays are here. I've no idea how Joy did with her assessment but she came home with a present which she said was given by her teacher because she "got all correct". Truth be told, I didn't even know she had her assessment till it was over and done with.

 

Joseph put in a lot of hard work preparing for the exam because I 'tortured' him with revision and coached him for 2 months before the exam. He made significant improvements in all his subjects and I feel his results are commendable for a 'banana' with no tuition. I sure hope he continues with this attitude and aptitude for learning.

For my mummy on Mother's Day...

 For 35 years you've been my mummy
A gem - worth far more than rubies
For love you sacrificed your career
... Always for us, never your pleasure
Though time was never your own
Hard work you never did moan

Now that I'm a mummy
And you are a blessed granny
I finally understand all you went through
Sleepless nights, joy and heartaches too

No gifts nor words will ever suffice
To thank you for your sacrifice
I only hope to be the best mummy
Like the one you are to me!

8 years of motherhood

**This post has been in my drafts folder for the past 2 weeks! I have to get it out before May greets us.

My eldest celebrated his 8th birthday on 14th April 2013. I've been a mother for 8 years!

We had a 'bad piggies in Dino World'-themed party for him.

There were about a dozen 'dinos' stomping around my apt, trying to pop other dino's eggs...

The Cherry on the Cake baked a really lovely and delicious chocolate mud cake for Joseph.

I catered from Luscious Treats again.

Absolutely love the lamb meatballs with mint yoghurt sauce!

birthday boy was very happy with his presents!

Blessed (belated) Birthday Joseph! We pray you will grow up to be an obedient son, a loving brother and most important of all...a man after God's own heart!

praying for Joseph

Easter Brunch

Blessed Easter! Jesus is Alive!!!

 

We went for Easter celebration yesterday evening and had a very lazy morning at home, catching up on some much-needed rest. Then we did something totally secular - Easter Brunch at a hotel.

Located on the 11th Floor of The Intermark building, Makan Kitchen at Doubletree by Hilton was our destination. We had a very spacious corner with 270degree views of Kuala Lumpur city.

We decided to do this only because kids eat free just for today. And we still get our full Hilton Premium Club benefits which means we get 50% discount for 2 persons dining.

The chocolate fountain was PINK!

Keropok to keep Isabel busy so that I can eat

Round 1 - roast chicken, chicken 'char siu', roast duck and oyster omelette

A clown came around to make some balloon sculptures for the kids.

Round 2 - baked cauliflower, baked egg with dunno what, turkey ham, lamb stew, beef stew

Round 3 - chicken tandoori on naan, indian-style clams, murtabak and pan-seared salmon

After a round of eating, the kids were invited to the poolside for an Easter egg hunt and some games.

They didn't win any prizes but came back with a huge handful of sweets!!! Nevertheless, the had fun and I reminded them that was the important thing.

Back at Makan Kitchen, I finally got my hands on some satay. These were very popular and disappeared as soon as they were removed from the grill.


Round 4 - satay

Round 5 - some honeydew and coconut pudding and soya milk.

Round 6 - chocolate tart, some berry-crumble with vanilla sauce.

They kids came back up after an hour and continued eating.

We finally left at about 3pm, very full and tired. Burp!
The total bill - RM55++ only.

Life these days

It's the end of March already?

I'm starting to really slack at this blogging thing.

But seriously...you can't blame me. It's almost impossible to find the time to put two hands to the computer.

It's been over 4 months since we have on our own. No mother, no maid. I'm a full-time-mummy-part-time-dentist. My unpaid job 6 days of the week includes (but not limited to)...
Cooking
Marketing/grocery-shopping
Washing dishes
Washing the sinks
Cleaning the stove
Vacuum/wipe floors
Clean fans
Wash toilets
Change bedsheets
Laundry (hang, keep, fold, iron)
Chauffeur kids to/from school
Feed Isabel
Wash Isabel
Make Isabel sleep
Prepare kids recess snack daily
Check Joseph's homework

 

We have more or less settled into a comfortable routine with busy mornings and quiet afternoons. After the older 2 go to school, I put Isabel to nap and get some rest myself before preparing dinner.

 

It helps that I have a very hands-on husband who has no qualms with housework.

 

On Saturdays, Daaling turns into superdad to take care of all 3 while I work in the clinic. Even when he is on duty to lead worship at Children's Church, he times Isabel's nap such that he rocks her to sleep just before he goes on stage and she sleeps through the worship in the stroller.

 

This past week is a lot more relaxing. With the school holidays, there's no need to rush to pack them off to school. We sent Joseph down south to his cousin's place for almost the whole week. I can only imagine the fun he had because he now wants to spend the entire month of December there! 

Kids really do grow up so fast. I'm still trying to get used to Joseph's increasing independence. We will be sending him to his first Scripture Union camp during the next school holidays. It's a 4D3N camp. Although not his first time away from home, it will be his first time away with no adult relatives. Oh well...at least he will have his cousin and some friends.

 

In the mean time, I still have my princesses to cling to me. Cherish it while it lasts!

Lunch at Prego@Westin KL

Daaling and I had a lunch date at Prego at The Westin KL today. We wanted to utilize our Starwood Privilege card before it expires very soon!

 

After placing our orders, we were served this complimentary bread which at first glance looks like a piece of rock. Do not be fooled! It was really cottony soft on the inside with a crisp crunchy crust.

complimentary bread with tomato salsa

 I had the something chicken ravioli with mushroom in cream sauce. It came in a huge plate which made the portion seem very small. Nevertheless it was filling enough.

Daaling opted for some I-dunno-what spaghetti which was very good.

Seeing the wood-fire oven, I insisted we must try their pizza. So we shared a salmone pizza. No regrets. This was a small size which measured roughly 8 inches across.

For dessert, we ordered a mud pie...

...and the tiramisu.

I would say it was a very satisfying lunch when you consider that we paid half price for everything, with our Starwood Privilege card.

 

We also had the chef himself and the manager stop by our table to say "Hi!" and ask how things were.

And....parking was free!!! (**two hours complimentary parking)

Chinese New Year 2013 - part 1

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Blessed Chinese New Year!

 

We spent the last one week with daaling's side of the family starting with an early reunion dinner on Friday night. After dinner, the kids queued up to receive ang paus from Ah Kong and Ah Mah.

Isabel grabs her ang paus very tightly, even refusing to let papa take it for safekeeping.

Joy is happy to receive ang paus because she is now old enough to know that ang pau contains money and money can buy bling bling!

As per Tan tradition, nights are spent playing cards - gin rummy.

We also did the traditional loh sang...

On the eve of CNY, we had our reunion dinner at Lucky Palace in Seremban2. The place was packed! Food was so so and service was horrendous. But the fireworks after dinner was cool!

The first day of CNY being a Sunday, we dressed up and went to church.

 

It was a good time of family bonding. Joe and Joy enjoyed playing with their cousins. They went swimming, climbing around in the playground, shooting each other with Nerf guns and singing silly songs.

 

Ah Mah also showed Joe and Joy how to pull out her homegrown yam to make yam cakes as well as how to make xiau long bao.

 

Next... reunion dinner with my side of the family.