At first i planned to write down Jo’s 7th birthday events after his lunar birthday. The act of typing out the story has been putting off day after day, now i am finally here after few months of quiescence. A cliche, better late than never, right?

Jo turned 7 on 15th of March. How time flies, it was like he just born yesterday, but now, he has grown up to be a very well-favored gentleman. He’s tall, handsome and manly, yet sometimes stubborn. He has affection for his sister, but not for Eli. The liking can be conveyed through the way when he talks to Jem, sometimes in a sweet tone and sometimes in an extra sweet and soft tone. A pretty big contrast on how he talks to Eli.

On his birthday, as usual, i greeted him “Happy Birthday” when i woke him. Then, taking few photos of him as a birthday ritual before he off to school. Next time when he gets older, we will countdown with him under a cosy quilt, i promise.

He had the celebration in his class, but sadly to say, we were not allowed to join the party as instructed by his class teacher. So i just delivered the goodies box and the cake to the school and left. His teacher, Miss Wong had video-ed the happiest moments of the celebration and had taken some nice photos of him and his classmates for me as his birthday keepsake. By looking at those photos given by Miss Wong, i believed that he had good time celebrating his big day with his friends.

Birthday Card from P1-B students.

At night, we had dinner at Pizza Hut, requested by the birthday boy. Another candles blowing and cake cutting ceremony again. Actually i was pretty upset when i looked at the cake i ordered, the bakery didn’t decorate his name properly as what i mentioned to them but they still had face to collect the money for the decoration. I should have taken the cake by myself instead of taking by hubs, if i were the one who was standing there then i would definitely refuse to pay for the mistake they made. After this matter, i have never gone back to that bakery, they pay for the mistake they made.

Since Jo still had another cake which bought by his classmate’ mother, so after dinner, we went to hubs’ ex-colleagues’ (KK, Raymond and Alex) house for another celebration.

Celebration @14 th floor

On his lunar birthday which was on  29/3/11, i baked a fruits cake and steamed a chicken drumstick for him. Most of the birthday ritual foods were prepared except the red color hard boiled egg.

As for his present, he got this. Do you still remember of his last year birthday present, with this, making it into a complete set of fighter.

今天是处暑，在我还没有真正享受到阳光时天气又将逐渐变凉。

时间过的真快，暑假在小孩吵吵闹闹中快要过完了，还有8天就是秋季开学。

一如往年，暑假还是在家，而家里除了吵还是吵。
早已想好要去欧洲最后还是去不成，毕竟还是放不下孩子。
老公说把孩子都带去吧，那我宁愿呆在家，说白了，带他们出去玩是受罪而不是享受。

我家孩子有别于他家的孩子，吃的玩的都挑。
每天三餐我准备的落力，却喂的劳气，一个暑假里我也忘了自己咒诅了他们多少次。
真希望有朝一日我醒来，我家的孩子能变成饭来就张口的大吃狂。

说真的，还有点不舍得暑假就这样般得过去。 唉。。。

摄于七月的某一个艳阳天

Today, last day of year 2010, i better write something in my “deserted” blog to mark the END of this year. Actually, i have not been updating my blog as hardworking and frequent as i used to, my enthusiasm for blogging has stopped especially after having Jem. She has been a very clingy girl and she wants only me most of the times. So basically, holding iPhone in my right hand and carrying her in my left hand has been my daily activity. Sitting in front of the laptop seems only luxury.

So, did you miss reading my blog? Please, say you did.

So, what we’d been up to during Christmas eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day? Well, let the photos do the talking.

On Christmas Eve : -

Eli’s school had a Christmas party and performance, i went there alone. After colored the card which prepared by his teacher, he was asked to give the card to me, but he said he wanted to give it to his papa. He’s loath to give me the card eventually.

The brothers and sister were standing nicely downstair of my house to get their faces captured before we’re heading to Pizza Hut. Hubs back home earlier as planned, i’d initially planned to go out around 5pm so that we could get a table at restaurant before it’s overfilled by people. But, we’re only managed to go out around 5:45pm, as a result, we had waited an hour to get our number called. I actually was quite unhappy when i saw the throng of people crowded outside the Pizza Hut.

After dinner, we went to Anglican Church. We didn’t stay long because the kids were making noise there. Then we went to visit the largest Catholic Church in BaoAn which it’s a new built church. Both churches were crowded by disciples actually. We only managed to stand outside the gate.

On Christmas Day : -

The boys had been asking for unwrapping the Christmas presents for week. They just could not wait any longer to see their toys, except Jem.

Jo had the coolest present ever which was Yo Yo, it had actually been his dream toy for months but i was so reluctant to get one for him because it’s way too expensive. But he has been a good boy and since it’s Christmas so hubs bought for him. After a week of practicing, he can now play some simple tricks. Hopefully he can master this Yo Yo in no time.

Eli who loves toy cars, receiving his Hot Wheels Auto Shop happily. Hubs bought him the vehicles before, making them store completely now.

Barbie Doll for Jem. Poor Barbie, Jem has been swaying its hair violently.

As for me, i received a set of La Mer from my Santa Claus. Jo’s classmate’s father took them back for me from California on Christmas night. We had Christmas dinner with his family at 濠江酒家.

As for hubs, he got himself the Kinect sensor with one software game ~ Adventures. But it becomes the toy of his boys eventually.

On Boxing Day :-

We at first planned to have our breakfast buffet at Intercontinental Hotel, but their breakfast stops serving at 10:30am. We were late for 15 minutes. So we headed to Holiday Plaza for our brunch buffet instead.

Had the brunch at 四海一家, paid only for 2 adults and one kid, Eli and Jem were entitled to FOC brunch.

At night, hubs and me went dining outside, yes, just two of us. We had claypot porridge (三毛砂锅粥 ) at street stall in Xi-Xiang (西乡) before we fetched Jo from his soccer class. It was cold and windy back then so the hot porridge simply served as a comfort food for my stomach.

Then on Monday, hubs, Jem and me went down to HK. I got myself a bottle of Kahlua, planning to make a Tiramisu cake. As for hubs, he had a fruitful trip as he bought himself a pair of shoes from Clark and some Winter wears from Uniqlo.

Clark has sales, paid thousand for it after 50% discount.

And, i got Biotherm Hydra Detox for my hubs, as his Christmas present. I redeemed it at 32 points, deducted the points from my Biotherm member card.  That’s what i could give him since i do not have income.

These are what we’d been up to.

Time is running fast, i have to get my hair a wash before heading out tonight. See you all again next year.

Wishing you all have a blessed new year 2011.

我在深圳住了4年多，可是真不好意思，我从来都不知道深圳有什么地方好玩。就连深圳最出名的 “世界之窗” 就在我家附近，我也没有去过。

但是。。。

如果你问我 “你家在哪里？” ，我一定会毫不犹疑地告诉你 “我家在中国的深圳” 。哦， 不对， 我是马来西亚土生土长的沙巴人， 我的家应该在。。。其实我也不知哪里才是我的家。

家的定义应该是 “哪里有你最多的东西，那里就是你的家”。 那，我的家非深圳莫属。

20/8, 老公没有做工，我们就趁着这天放假带孩子去东部的海边玩。在下午两点我们一家大小就浩浩荡荡地出发了。 原以为只要跟着路牌，到“南澳”应该很容易，可是车子走了好久，我们都不知道怎样驾进去高速，结果我们只好一直沿着海岸线走。 从宝安到罗湖再到盐田， 我们走了差不多一个钟， 在盐田看到了“盐田港”，“中英街”和“明思克航母世界”，又走了好久，来到了“大小梅沙”，看到了“海洋世界”。 之后我们要找进高速的入口到南澳去，我们沿着山依着海，经过了好多好多不同的地方， 都不知怎样进高速公路。 从高楼林立到乡间小路， 更经过了有钱人百年归老后的家~背山面海的「大鵬灣華僑墓園」，据说， 出名影星狄娜就葬在那边。 在大鹏里我们还经过了“玫瑰海岸”， 它是这里最大的外景和海景婚纱摄影拍摄基地。 天啊， 我既然不知深圳有一个这么漂亮的地方！

冷清的海滩

两个男孩的苦瓜脸

当我们到达“南澳”时已经是五点了， 在“芒果网”预定了酒店， 可是因为我没有带护照， 所以入住不了。 心想也没关系，就让小孩玩玩沙游游泳，我们就去吃海鲜然后回家。 一家兴致勃勃地走到海边的围栏，我还心想 “不怪得人人都说南澳的海滩比大小梅沙的海滩漂亮， 果然是真的， 又没有人挤人往的现像， 小孩肯定玩得开心”。 但没多久， 老公说 “为什么海水是红的？“， 我一看吓呆了， 海水果然是红色的！ 第一个念头是 “怎么这么脏！” 难怪这里的海滩这么冷清。 不用紧， 既然来了， 就下去玩沙算了， 来到入口处， 看到原来是要买票才能进去的。 哇，还要人民币20元！ 我长的这么大， 还真第一次知道去海边是要付钱的！

幸亏在我们要买票时看到了这个告示：

海边清静原来是有原因的。 其实我也是第一次知道“赤潮”的真正面貌。 就是海水是红红的， 好可怕。。

人烟稀少的南澳街

竟然不能游泳玩沙也没有关系， 我们可以吃海鲜。。。。。

但是， “赤潮”出现时海鲜也不能吃！ 那边全部的海鲜馆都在“拍苍蝇”。 不用紧， 车里有很多零食， 小孩又不饿， 我们就回去市里才吃。 原以为回程走高速就可以很快回到市区， 可是， 天不从人愿。。。

我们还是没有进到回市里的高速，紧紧跟着路牌还是走错路。 那时我才发现我们马来西亚的路牌实在一目了然， 够清楚直接， 哪像这边的乱七八糟。 从南澳回到大鹏， 从大鹏去到了葵涌， 又去到了坪山， 到了龙岗， 经过了“客家民俗博物馆”， 之后又到了横岗， 再到布吉来到了坂田， 我们一直走都不知为何进不了“机荷高速”， 坂田之后来到了南坪， 在南坪快速路一眼望去都是密密麻麻的货柜车， 小轿车根本是寥寥可数。 我心想“糟了，　这次不知又要去到哪里了”。　又走了好久，　终于来到了北环高速，　看到了熟悉的IKEA, 心想总算可以认的路回家了，　谁知我们又走错路！　兜兜转转，　我们终于回到了南头。　那时已经是晚上９点了！　小孩都在车上睡得香甜。。。还是带了他们到流塘路去吃“三毛砂锅粥”，　回到家已是１０点多了。

在我们出游的八个小时里，　深圳大大小小的地方就这样留下了我们的车胎印。　也是头一次去了那么多地方！

我告诉我自己，　在没有导航的帮助下，　绝对不再出远门！

The oven has been here for 2 weeks, however, i’d been so idealess on how to make the most of my oven although i had been longing for baking a lot for a thousand times! Furthermore, i did not know where i could get those baking ingredients. No bakeware, no proper ingredients, simply clueless.

One day, Agnes’s baking ideas flashed into my mind, so off i went to browse her Sugar and Spice. I had jotted down the things i wanted and started looking the bakeware and ingredients online. Managed to get some from TaoBao, some Betty Crocker instant cake mix from Holiday Plaza and a non-stick rectangle bakeware from Ikea.

I was half ready with those little amount of bakeware and ingredients, but i couldn’t wait any longer as i wanted to do something with the flour i have. So, i just proceeded to achieve my baking mission on last Saturday. At first, i was thinking to bake a bread. But eventually the bread turned out to be a plateful of steamed buns, recipe here.

Actually, it was a bit late after i decided to make the steamed buns, and the worst was, i did not have baking soda at home. I was then wondering what could be a possible substitute for baking soda, but every sites i read say baking soda is a MUST. So a trip on foot to wet market (i once saw it available in wet market) seemed necessary although it was raining heavily outside.

After i was home, i started to mix everything in the mixer bowl in haste. Had modified the original recipe a bit, i used Jo’s Enfakid milk powder to substitute for dry milk powder, and used olive oil instead of canola oil. Then started operating the stand mixer. But the mixer went dead on me when the dough was half way done.

Luckily i have dough roller at home otherwise i would have to knead the dough with my bare hands!

The dough double in size after resting about 30mins.

Shaped the dough into folded form. (i skipped the buns rest step and steamed them directly)

The steamed buns FINAL look. They are too crowded in my stainless steel steamer. I should have followed the recipe to leave space for each bun, so that they could puff up nicely.

I used sardine + onion as my bun filling. The buns were tasty and fluffy too. Perhaps they would turn out even more tastier and fluffier if i could follow each step properly.

I still have some leftover dough, so i made a plateful of dough balls coated with oatmeal and steam them, they were for Sunday breakfast. They were soft and tasted well with peanut butter.

**Jo was pretty helpful as he helped me to cut all the parchment papers!

Eli has been sick since last Thursday, that’s the birthday jinx which the kid will sick before or on his/her birthday. However, we still celebrated his 3rd birthday on 3/7 which the date was also his lunar birthday.

On Saturday morning, i told him that we’re going to celebrate his birthday later in afternoon and he can decide the birthday party venue for us. He wanted the party at KFC, since he was the star of the day so his liking would be ours although i seriously thought that KFC wasn’t an appropriate place for having a birthday party. We invited Vivian’s and Jess’s family along, so i preferred a private room hence we adults could chit chat while keeping an eye on our kids to make sure they are safe.

Nevertheless, i still made the booking at KFC and let him chose his favorite birthday cake at Pappagallo, Coastal City. He was super cranky and cried out loudly when we were at Pappagallo, so the mummy on behalf of her birthday boy, has chosen the blueberry cheese cake.

We arrived at KFC at 5pm sharp, by the time i saw my pre-booked area, my blood was boiling to a great extent over what KFC did. They didn’t prepare anything prior before we come. After standing there for more than 5 minutes, i told the staff angrily that i wanted to cancel the booking. What a big embarrassment for me and even for my friends. And, i couldn’t stand the folks there as well, some were even smoking, right inside KFC! Nonetheless, the party still ended celebrating there for the sake of letting the kids enjoying at the indoor playground.

Eli was a cranky birthday boy and had no expectations for the party initially, only managed to back to his usual self after adjusting himself to the excitement of the party by seeing the kids playing the slide.

The birthday boy didn’t take much food and showed no interest in eating his birthday cake, just like every other day. A little eater being little eater again and again without fail no matter what the occasion is.

Everyone headed back home after the cake cutting ceremony. That’s how Eli celebrated his 3rd birthday, it’s way too simple, no game and no fun but only the birthday presents are well enough to delight the birthday boy.

He chose this little car as his birthday present @ Toys ‘r’ Us, Holiday Plaza.

Happy 3rd Birthday, BaoBei. Hope you can grow up healthy, smart and genteel. May God bless you forever..

28/6/2010 marked our 7th ROM anniversary. We’re registered as husband and wife at Lion Club, PJ Sec 17 seven years back and had our customary wedding on 30/8/2003 in KK. In short 7 years, we are blessed with 3 kids. Even the youngest has grown up from a fragile baby to a little pretty toddler.

On Sunday night, we had a bet which was about if Germany win England, then we will have our celebration in JW Marriott Hotel. If England win, we will take simple dinner at Shang He (上合). Fortunately, Germany didn’t disappoint me.

I was pretty glad that both hubby and me could leave the house peacefully without seeing the kids crying. I told a white-lie which successfully let the kids staying at home with the maid. I actually made a deal with Eli beforehand that i would bring back a lollipop for him if he could stay at home without leeching on his papa. Eli agreed with me after initially refusing. As for Jem, she followed me everywhere after i was fully dressed up because she knew that it means someone is going out when someone is clad nicely. As for Jo, he always wants to stay at home, so no problem for him to see us leaving the house.

We weren’t so familiar those roads in SZ however we managed to find the hotel with the help of iPhone map. I was waiting for hubby at the lobby when hubby parked his car, then we went straight to the Cafe Chinois and started our dating.

The atmosphere was great because it’s not crowded and have WIFI. For the food served, i rated them 3 out of 5. For the price, it’s expensive (RMB547.40 for 2) and not proportional to the serving food. Having said that, we enjoyed our dinner to bits since there was no kids shouting and crying near my ears, leaving us to have peaceful celebration.

On our way back home, hubby said to me suddenly “i will buy you an Omega watch later when we are in HK”. His sentence has made me smile even there was no actual thing presenting in front of me. It’s the thought that counts!

So sorry dear, i have nothing to give you but giving you and your kids an affordable good care.

Happy 7th ROM Anniversary and many more anniversaries to come…

Summer holiday will be here in another couple of weeks, i am getting more and more headache as the day draws closer. Neither letting Jo watching telly nor fighting with Eli isn’t what the scene that i want for this long 7 weeks holiday. I can foresee, my Jem will be having hard time to get her afternoon nap also when the school holiday starts, imagine the whole house is filled with perpetual noise from her brothers!

I need to do something, especially for Jo. Because after the sunny summer, he will be attending primary 1 in September, so really have to get him prepared before he steps into the threshold of primary school.

What’s the “something”?

It’s once his violin teacher commented on Jo who wasn’t able to recognize Chinese words. His comment was about Jo must at least know 1000 single Chinese words before he starts his primary 1. I know, but the continuous switching schools has made him lagged behind than his peers. The education system in KK and in CN is totally different. In KK, kindergarten kids write Malay, English and Chinese words every day, 5 words each subject. Whereas in CN, kids do not practice writing during their kindergarten years, they just need to recognize and read words. Therefore, Jo is pretty good in rote reading the whole paragraph but without knowing each particular word.

Since after i received the comment from his violin teacher, i told myself i at least needed to teach him 5 new Chinese and English words everyday, so by the time in September, he at least can know 1000 words for both Chinese and English. I have been doing good in Chinese, but English, i am failed to achieve it. So for the forthcoming holidays, we will start our English lesson, from recognizing words till learning phonics.

I have also been thinking to send him to art class as well. Jo looks promising in drawing, definitely his drawing skill is better than playing violin.

That’s the “something”.

Jo has been looking forward to the Summer holiday, anyway, i hope he won’t show his dispirited face to me when he knows Summer holiday is actually another home schooling day.

It seems like yesterday i was sending him to kindergarten, see, a yesterday crying little boy has grown up to a little gentleman. I somehow feel very sorry for him because had been switching him to different kindergartens for the past 4 years. So far, he had been to 5 different kindergartens.

Jo looks charming with the graduation robe and tassel hat. (photo taken on 12/6)

How time flies….

By coincidence, Jem’s lunar birthday fell on 18/5 which was also my birthday. I didn’t prepare neither red egg nor drumstick for her, but just let her clad in her new outfit.

Hubby was on leave too, so we took Eli and Jem out to Holiday Plaza (益田广场). Had our brunch at Cafe De Coral before we started our “day-celebration”. But what a bummer as i remembered to bring the compact camera but forgot to bring along the memory card. *slap forehead*.

Blurred photo taken with iPhone. *slap forehead again*.

Got my Pappagallo ice-cream cake, from hubby.

The dry ice pack, to keep the ice-cream cake frozen.

The honey bee ice-cream cake.

The closeup look of the cake.

Not 23th but 32nd.

We left the Holiday Plaza around 4+pm, rushing back home to fetch Jo. Then we had our early dinner at Korean restaurant (汉阳宫). I booked a private tatami room and the kids were thrilled when they saw the room. It’s a spacious room for Jem to crawl around and for the boys to run around!

The brotherhood.

3 of them. Jem was struggling as she hates taking photo with her bros.

Crawling around…as if she was at her own territory.

Jem struggling again. She was only fine facing the camera when her brothers were not around. So terror..

My birthday celebration ended with this…….

Wondering the birthday gift?

I bought a singlet and a pair of sandal from H&M, can them consider as my birthday gift?

How time flies. It was just about one year ago that i drove to hospital and delivered my Jemima alone, but, in the twinkling of an eye, my Jemima turned 1 officially on 29/4/10.

Photo taken on 29/4/10. Got this Oshkosh set on 17/2/09 when Jem was still inside my tummy. Finally she can wear the set now.

She was definitely not an easy baby during the first few months of her life, her persistent breathing and vomiting problems had been callously leaving me in fear that i might lose her one day. The countless trips sending her to hospital and the countless times of medicine feeding are still vividly engraved in my memory. Gosh, was she trying to give revenge on her mommy who had ever thought of aborting her?

Well, let’s stop dwelling on the past tough times and let’s be thankful for having an adorable and healthy daughter now.

Now, let the photos do the talking : -

Birthday ritual, hard boiled eggs which excited her appetite but curiosity stopped after a bite.

From top to bottom, left to right :-
1. Birthday cake arrived at 5:45pm. Luckily the bakery was still willing to deliver it to us although it was raining heavily outside.
2. A big birthday present from Toys ‘r’ Us.
3. A pair of Pink Leather shoes from Clarks.
4. Voila, size UK4, EUR20.
5. The view, from the top of the cake.
6. From the side of the cake. It melts a bit, looks UGLY.

Despite poor weather, we still had a dinner at the Chinese restaurant (新宝乐) nearby, took a private room and had a lousy dinner. Yes, damn LOUSY! Even my maid commented “i don’t want to eat anymore, i will cook porridge later”.

The birthday dishes.

The only family portrait.

The boys cheering and drinking BEER.

After dinner, a cake cutting ceremony at home :-

Jemima was trying to push Jo’s hand away. She wanted ONLY her hands on the table.

Time to sing a birthday song.

Tasting her birthday cake.

Then, a long awaited present unwrapping time :-

Everyone started to tear the paper away, heartlessly.

A girlish doll “Baby Alive” from Papa.

Jemima’s thumbs and toes can take a rest now. Undoubtedly, the hands and feet of Baby Alive are the yummiest.

Even the bottle of Baby Alive has become hers.

Happy 1st Birthday Jemima. May health, peace, joy and love be yours forever.