An Encouraging Event - Sports Day @ Tadika Santa Anna

Sports Day is definitely an encouraging event for a kid during their kindergarten years to promote their motor skills coordination, independent, confidence level as well as team spirit. 

This year, due to the haze and unpredictable hot weather, Annabelle's Sports Day is held indoor for the first time. It is a great decision as there was a heavy shower of rain just an hour at the start of the event.

This year, as usual; both me and Ivan are involved to help out. Ivan is the emcee of the day while I am helping to control the sound systems. 

How about Abigail? She is wondering around, and whining a little because she liked to join in the matching of the Sports Day. She wants to join in the game and etc. She whine saying: " I want to go to jie jie's class." This shows she has grown and wanted to participate. 

Annabelle has shown so much of improvement this year as compared to last year. She was confident in her event of sports. She looked so cheerful and happy to be at the Sports Day. She did her sports event very well and she aim to get a trophy as she told me. 

Bravo to Annabelle, Abigail and Darling Ivan Vincent too.... Thank You Tadika Santa Anna. 

Welcome.. welcome... 

She aim high for the trophy, although she hasn't receive one she has learnt and grown with the spirit.

So proud of her... carrying the plaque board leading her classmates 

Abigail join in the warm up dance

Her event... 

Balancing act

Receiving her medal (4th place) from the Chairman of the School 

"Waala.. it was a success!" 

Of course must count my sister in... :) partner in crime :p

Annabelle & Abigail - 三岁定八十

The girls denoted "Homework" as work to be done once they reached home. Lately, Annabelle loves to read and do her homework. She will asked me: "Mummy, can I do homework?" This is definitely a thumb up for her. I would like to thank her teachers at Tadika and also her enrichment center to assist her to develop this hobby.

Abigail on the other hand, still too young to sit still at the table. She will play her trick, after few lines or few activities, she will find excuses to leave the table. The Chinese saying"三岁定八十 " I am smiling to myself when writing this while thinking about the Chinese idioms.

"The Chinese saying "Three years old fixes eighty" (三歲定八十) means roughly: From the character and personality traits revealed by a three year old, one can infer that he will have similar traits as an eighty year old. "

Having said that, I applause both the girls for their initiatives.

"Girl, please keep up this good practice." "Yes, mummy and papa are very proud of you."

Just some video/ pictures to shares. 

Don't mind her "Han Yu Pin Yin"

"Paradigm Shift" Parenting

Recently we looked back into some video we recorded when they were young, we had so much of fun, we laugh so much... and Annabelle will say : "Mummy, why I take mei mei's "chu-pi"?" . Abigail will asked: "That is my "small time?" I drink nien nien?"

This is how time flies. Our princesses have grown up that they are 5 years old and 3 years old now. Our time spend together becoming even more precious as we do not want to miss any moments. We still do recording on them, I will continue taking photos of them as I would like to take down all these moments. This also explain, I am still writing this blog although I can just post those video or photos online as one day when we are too old to remember when that photos or that videos were taken; this blog is their point of reference.

Lately, we have discovered that both the princesses are growing their interests on area such as gardening, role-playing (they will imitate they are the pirates, and the crews), they can follows dance step when Hi-5 is show, they loves cinema and like to watch movies together and they both will be looking into the cupboard filled with photos frame and say: "This is the place we met the SantaClaus! This is the place we went with po-po and gong-gong".

Annabelle is able to reach to the switches of the house with just a little tip-toes. Abigail is able to fill water from the "Hello Kitchen" by herself. Pausing at this point, I clearly know that they have grown. Both girls will asked "Where is papa? He has meeting?". Annabelle will get very emo and sad when I tell her "One day, when papa mummy grow old..." she will pause and say softly and the eyes filled with tears : " ... But, I don't want you to grow old..."

See, how beautiful God has blessed us. They are more precious than jewel and God will continue be with us.

So, fast forward, as they grow; our priority as parents is different. I have dedicated sometime to sit down with her to do homework. We have searched suitable enrichment center for her to pick up Mandarin and languages. We constantly remind Abigail that she is going to school next year, so she need to sleep early and she cannot whine in school. This is not "kiasu" parenting, this is called paradigm-shift parenting (I coined those words... hahaha). We just need to shift our priority. :)

Logico Primo Time 

Annabelle can handle it on her own

Writing time 

Writing or Posing? 

Simple Addition 

They just love watering the plant 

Abigail has grown to overcome the fear of doing this. 

She has excel in this climb 

Of all these, they enjoyed when we brought them to Genting during CNY 2016 

"Lord, please continue to bless me and Ivan with good health and strength so that we can see our kids grow into their adolescence and adulthood. Please continue to guide us as parents and be in the center of this family. Amen!"

Chapter of Their Life : Chickenpox

Yes, this is a chapter of their life. Another milestone?! (Should I bookmark this in this blog?!) Both of them?! Yes, for both of them!

It all started on the night during their bath. OMG! I saw both their back filled with red spots. Hmm, in my mind, "Oh No! so many ants bites?". After the bath, I called the daycare auntie and ask her if she has noticed that too, she mentioned yes and was sharing what she has done to check onto the ants (if any).

The next morning, I noticed Abigail's nose and also neck line has more spots. I still didn't suspect it was chickenpox but I told Ivan that we need to get this check.

Da.. da... at 10am, Ivan texted me from the clinic and confirmed it is chickenpox (CP). He then brought both the girls home, called daycare auntie to inform her about it. Doctor advise to give the medicine (syrup) just in case the fever rise up. We reached home about 2pm after collected the necessary (i.e. neem leave, bought some bread, coconut waters).

Ivan carefully spread the neem leaves on the bed. The girls were just so excited seeing that while asking "Papa, why put these leaves?!", "Can I help you?"... then, of course they enjoy the day so well as they can stay at home.

First day night, we could clearly see that Abigail's body has more spots than Annabelle. (PS: both gotten CP vaccination when they are 1-2 years old). The night was not too pleasant for Abigail, she got up many times scratching her body while crying to me: "Mummy... Mummy... pain... pain..." I offered to apply calamine lotion, she refused. I offered to apply normal lotion, she refused while crying.. at last, she wanted to apply Bepathen nappy rash.. I applied for her, she finally slept at about 4am.

On this side of the bed, Annabelle too awake by the sister's cries. She asked me: "Why my body so itchy!" I explained and comforted her. But she is very understanding and obedient, she listened and stop scratching and went back to sleep.

The 2nd day of the CP was even tougher. It was a Friday. I thought I better take one day of emergency leave (EL) from office as I could see more spots are emerging at the children's body. In the afternoon, the hot weather and sweaty body of them make them feel even more uncomfortable. However, they still ate well (porridge, soup, rice with sauce) and play non-stop. :) Mummy wanted to distract them from the itchiness, told papa to give them some work. (Revision Worksheets, Art and crafts, CNY decoration, coloring, etc.)

As in the practice, we did not bath them for 2 days. We were worried that the scar on their body will be sore when water touches it. I just wipe them with warm clean towel, put on loose cotton pyjamas for them.

As the 3rd and 4th day of the CP, it can see that they felt better although still see them scratching those spots especially near the side of their back. Then, we began to bath them with water only (no soap).

For the past one week, they were quarantine in the house. Thank God that Papa is able to be with them while working from home. Everyday, they just waited for me to come back. During these one week was one of those week where working/ clocking in 5 hours in the office is the longest working hours as my heart is with the kids in the house. :|

Annabelle missed her school so much. Abigail told me that she wants to go to "Amma House". 

Today, everything reverted to normal. Annabelle is back to school. Abigail is at Amma house. Papa is meeting customers and mummy is working. :)

All right, the myth/ tradition of CP is now coming to an end;

1. Even your kids are vaccinated, they may still be contacted with the virus to build their immunization. 
2. The same vaccine was given to the kids, they may have different amount of spots/ CP on their body. 
3. We only bath the children at the 3rd day, in Indian culture; it said "pouring of water". The mixture was neem leaves and tumeric - kunyit (mix well) and put into water and bath the children.
4. We don't spread around to the world about their CP. We hope all spots come and go very peaceful.

I remembered I had mine when I was 12 years old when I remembered how my parents and my po-po took care of me. So now it is my turn! This is a life-time experience for the girls and us as parents.

"Annabelle and Abigail, remember this experience ya! You had your Chicken Pox when you are 5 years old and 3 years old respectively." 

Hoo.. .Hoo... Hoo... Is Christmas Time!

The month of December is the happiest month for the kids. The girls have been asking us to put up the Christmas tree as they saw trees and decorations are up in the shopping mall and shops around town. 

Last Sunday evening, mission accomplished. The trees are up and the crib are set. Now, I need to acknowledged that the mission is done with effort from both of my girl and my dear husband. Decorating Christmas is a huge mission and it must be done in sequence of steps. I bet you knew it! But this process will be much more meaningful when we did it as a family. Now you read the following conversations.

Annabelle said: "Mummy, you spread out the trees branches, while I go and help Papa with the crib!"

Annabelle asked Abigail: "Mei Mei, do you know which one is Mother Mary?" while they tried to lay out all the characters of the Nativity set on the coffee table. 

Annabelle told : " Mummy, can you please go. We can do the decorations!".  While she put the decorations, she said this to mummy.

Abigail said: "Mummy, I want to put the stars." Annabelle said : "Abigail ma, we put together ok!"

Papa said: "Go take shower, we pray before putting the star. OK?" . The girl nodded. 

Right! These are our little conversations while putting up the Christmas tree. We pray together before putting the stars on top of the Christmas tree... I personally find this is very meaningful and lovely. What say you? 

Her Achievements (4 years old) @ Tadika Santa Anna

She shed some tears in the beginning of the schooling year. We rewarded her using stars chart & reward system if you could recall. Before the chart was filled with stars, she has already overcome the going school anxiety. Beginning of the school year, she Zzzz in class but in just one month; she has adjust herself and is able to stay awake and focus in class. Bravo! This is our girl ~ Annabelle.

Then, moving on along the year; she experiments many new experiences in the school. She will come home and asked me to pack for her a toothbrush, a small towel and a mug. This is for a good practice that the school instil for oral health. Isn't it a new experience.

Then, she start bringing back some cards from Chinese New Years wishes card to Raya decorated card. She presented her first songs of Happy Mother's Day to me which I tear and hug her dearly.

The school year carry on, she came and told me one day "Mummy, my friend XX does not want to "friend" me!" "Mummy, I am sad because she played with everyone except for me!" (mind you, she stressed EXCEPT FOR ME!). I used to console her and encourage her just before bed time that said: "Never mind, one day, she will play with you." . "You just continue to say Hi and be polite to her." Now, she and XX good friend.

I used to worry if she can handle herself well at school especially during toilet use and I constantly checked that with the School Principal which is Ivan's auntie. (How fortunate we are!) The feedback I received was, she can handle it very well and she is doing it by herself with minimal guidance from the teacher assistance. She attended her first field trip in school. She came home telling me the stories and what she encounter there.

Days by days, she goes to school and came home. Her response still the same "Fun, Nice, Good..." (Oh yes, that's all!). I used to doubt and just love to hear more.

In the 3rd quarter of the year, another mother in the center share with me; I came to know that they sat for examination. OMG! She did not utter a word at all about it. Oh no.. is everything ok?

Today, this girl has emerged as the "First and Overall Best Pupil" in N1 Bunga Raya class. This is a surprise for me and of course Ivan. She did so well. We are so proud of her. She is humble about it and actually still doubtful why she receive prize on the prize giving ceremony. When I asked her, "Annabelle, do you know why you receive prize?" She just smiled and answered: "Because I good girl!"... This is so innocent.

2015 school year was indeed fun-filing and experiential for her. I can testify by seeing the photograph that the school principal captured along the year. We are so happy with her progress. The school may not be the top kindergarten around Klang area, but they have provided the best they can do for the children.

some of their class's Arts & Crafts

Dance - they have performed and did very well

Teacher Manjit and their students 

Her school has provided Computer classes. These cert is her achievement.
The assessment record is the result of her computer classes. Automatically capture along the year. 

Great remark from the teacher. We are so pleased. 

Her achievement over 2015. Bravo and well done our princess. 

We sincerely thank Tadika Santa Anna for their effort. 
Teacher Manjit; I thank you for your passion and patient in handling each kid. 
Teacher Rita, your name is always mentioned by Annabelle; your kind assistance and attention to her are appreciated by us. 
Teacher Wong老师, my daughter has developed her interest in Mandarin and very keen in attending Chinese School, Thank You 老师.   

"Nature is ONE of the Teacher"

One and half month ago, as I was planning the final charity project for my department. We have decided and gotten the approval to visit the Orang Asli Kampung on 3 Oct 2015, I have this question: "Should I bring both the girls?" in my mind. I have decided to bring the children as Ivan has agreed to come along the trip.

Two weeks before the event, Ivan has to say NO to that as his office has a training in Genting. Again, the thought running in my mind; "Should I bring both of them?". It was then along a conversations with Annabelle and Abigail that firmed up my decision.

****One fine afternoon****

"Abigail, you better tidy up your toys else mummy will pack them and give it to the poor children." said mummy.

Annabelle said:"Mummy, is it the poor children of the home that we visited last time." 

Mummy smiled and answered: "Yes".

***********************

So, the trip was held last Saturday. Both of them were well behaved and got up very early. After settled everything, buy one thosai for them to eat in the car; we are on the road to college to meet my students. On the way, I give them stern advice that they need to listen to me, don't run about in the village. They both nodded with thosai in their mouth. :)

The journey got excited when Abigail saw the bus arrived and parked. This is going to be her first bus ride. You should see the joy on her face. Annabelle was excited too, she was very friendly mingling with my students and addressing all of them "Jie Jie" "Kor Kor".

Fast forward the story, we reached Banting (travelling through the haze), the Orang Asli Kg. on time. We were welcomed with the special hand crafted crown, Annabelle loved it and feel shy when the crown was put on her head.

We explored all activities that the Orang Asli did ranging from menyumpit, anyaman daun, visiting the ancestor home and etc. All these activities was an eye opener for me and definitely my students.

The highlight of this blog post was not the activities but on what Annabelle and Abigail did during the trip. The witnessed the kids at the village playing inside the drain (it is very clean and dry). They played and chased around the compound. Both of them make friend with the local kids, who one of them named Meele. They hold hand, walk together. Meele gave flowers to her on the way walking around the kampung area.

I smiled when my colleague told me, Meele called Annabelle "Jie Jie". When I heard, Abigail called the local boy of her age "Annae"...

Annabelle and Abigail were sweating running, playing catch-catch, swing on the tree, opening and closing the door and windows of the hut that are in the kampung. Really a joy to see them enjoying themselves.

This trip give both of them a good experience. They know the life of living out from the city area where they are in. They making friends with others despite different races and cultures. They learnt how to respect others.

More important; mummy and papa make a right choice to bring them along for the trip :) HoooHoo...