Terengganu Again

I'm officially the lousiest blogging mom around cos I don't take enough photographs of our short vacations. It's just so troublesome to be fiddling with a camera in the presence of the two kids.

Anyway, we did it again. 8-10hr long coach ride gives you much reason to stuff the kids with things you don't normally give.



The thing I was most thankful for was, Pumpkin's poop time. It was always when we were about to reach the hotel or at the hotel room itself. Good girl!


I had to give pool pics a miss cos I want to worry less abt the camera being unattended. But now I regret it cos that was the part the kids liked most.





2nd time round and I have to say they're still so much more well-behaved in the bumpy loooong bus ride than they are at home.

We Miss Gigs

Finally got round to sending the cybergamer brother to the airport last night. He was off to Seoul to challenge but we killed two birds with a stone; gathered a bit to meet The Guragas before he heads back ozzie for start of term.



And why I still yearn for a DSLR; Depth-of-field photos. Did I mention I lost my Nikon FM2 while I studying?

PLAYtime @ Esplanade

Munchkin seemed to have enjoyed PLAYtime (thanks, Chloe for the recommendation) at Esplanade yesterday with my friend Feza and her 3yo, Elly. Recommended for 2-4yr olds so if you've run out of ideas on where to bring your kids, consider this. There's another one happening in August: Into the Deep, Deep Forest – Adventures of the Mouse Deer.

Motherhood Unites

Cheesy title but it's a fact.

Sue and I have known each other since our days in art school but we couldn't term ourselves friends then cos in that 3 years, we barely spoke. Later we found each other working in the same building but there weren't anything more than hello-goodbye exchanges. Even our occasional running into each other at Tower Records were nothing more than 3 sentences. We were stiff like that.

Until (was it?) last year when were reunited via FB and blogsphere, we learnt that our 1st-born are both girls, only 3mths apart. We got pregnant again and we both gave birth to another girl, a month apart. All of a sudden, I think we felt like we've been BFFs forever.

Never mind the fact that we both came from the same school, same workplace, currently temporarily living in the north, share the same taste in music, had the same man attending to our southern region (we shared the same obygyn. what were you thinking?), it only took motherhood to break the ice.

I spent a lovely afternoon with her and our girls and our helpers. She has the cutest pair, they make heads turn.

Gig + Zoo Weekend

Sometimes I wish The Spouse works regular office hours so that we can do normal family weekends instead of him having to take leave to do so. Since a friend was coming down from Indonesia, he took both last saturday and sunday off work. We made use of sunday for the zoo which I've been wanting to do for loooooong while. Quite a shame we took this long since we don't live that far away.

Munchkin loved feeding the goats. I think we found ourselves another regular spot.

Elly & Sarah part II

Took almost a year to finally meet up again! We can do better than that, elly mommy.
I wrote an entry last year of Elly, the Munchkin's friend since in utero.

I think I can just do nothing but watch them play all day.

Sarah & Elly (2008)

Pumpkin's 1st Trip

Spent the long weekend tripping to Awana Kijal Terengganu with the camera's battery charging at home. The hotel was okay, beach was pretty but not safe for swim and the kids were at their best. Not a single whimper throughout the 8hr long bus ride except for Pumpkin's regular indication for milk.




The tantrum started as soon as we got to our doorstep last night. Munches refused to enter, wailing non-stop "Want to go to our room!". She was referring to the hotel room at Awana. Took a while to pacify her so I thought that was a good excuse to plan something for later weeks of June.

Mini gig-goers

Sunday got fine (what more with Mister beaming ear to ear over pool's win) and our trip to esplanade with the kids was fab. from the weather, to the bands to the sound technicals, to our parking spot, to our seats (thanks faezah who spared us centre top space when the place is almost packed to brim) to the company. mocca+yuna+typewriter = one of the best reasons to take the trip down with the kids.

Carousel Dinner

Should be made mandatory every year. Mister is always prepared for an excuse to dine at Carousel so the cybergamerbrother's birthday was a good one. Except we had to do an advanced one since his actual birthday would expect most restaurants to be filled with lovebirds.

Emelda's 1st Birthday

My cousin's daughter turned 1 and I liked how my aunt did the sweet deco. She has gotten pretty good doing for weddings and company functions but those are major. I like the fact that she takes the trouble to do kids' birthday parties too.



The hut turned into a shisha den.


The "kitchen" was not too close so not interfered by BBQ smoke.




deco: http://rissagallery.multiply.com/

Potential Makcik's Hangout

From my mobile blog:

You know you are becoming a member of the makcik\ah-soh community when you squeal upon seeing a big green neon signage that reads "Giant" on a nearby newly-renovated reopened mall.

---------------------------------------
So Mister and I dropped by this evening, being the huge fan of beef that he is, of course his sole intention was to check out the halal meat counter inside Giant itself. And we met another expectation, Banquet, which is not open yet but already listed on the directory. And to top it off, good news for the kids, a Splash Park too, soon.

Weekend hypermarket date anyone?

Puddle Pop

Munchkin and I caught Madagascar 2 yesterday at a nearby (near empty)cinema not for the movie (we could've done DVDs like everyone else) but only because I hadn't gone to one in ages and I wanted her to have her first cinema experience (she sure loved it). Another first time was also her going out in wellies and I was glad I made her put them on cos she had a splashing good walk home.

Thing is, Munchkin makes great company to go out with now (I get to laugh at everything she says) but I cannot do that often reason being the dreaded feeling to have to leave Pumpkin at home with Matriarch. But I'll make sure you get your turn, baby.

Guess What?

We found a new Elephant!

The family went shopping at Causeway Point last night and we decided to take a look at Kiddy Palace (I didn't see it here the last time I checked) and there it was, only two pieces, almost hidden by the bigger toys on the rack. We showed Munchkin and she beamed but we wanted her to know that it wasn't her old one (though I bet she could tell) and that we had to purchase this so she should be aware that not everything she lost can be retrieved.


We did this while our man tried out a new shirt.

Before heading home, Mister suggested we get the other piece (did I mention before we like to over-react?) without her knowledge. It was after all, only $4.50. And the best part was, the twin brother elephant saved the evening. At the payment counter, I was flustered not being able to find my discount card (we bought other things as well lah.. not that I die die must get discount for a $4.50 item) when another sales person came and asked if I bought the same elephant earlier. I showed her the receipt and lo and behold! They kept my card cos I had left it there earlier.
Phew.

Filial Piety vs Post-Natal Confinement

The family spent a night at Swissotel last weekend because Matriarch had made advanced booking for a discounted stay in conjunction with her friend's birthday. I couldn't let her go on her own because filial piety wins. Well at least.. I did my best keeping confined to the hotel's premises.. and maybe the basement of Raffles City Shopping Centre.

Munchkin with her Cousin Sirin

Me doing the Karen Cheng at 2 weeks post-natal. 10kg down, 10kg more to go.

Probably our first couple pic since our wedding.

Morning after.

Stolen Photos of the Family Picnic at Botanics

Additional photos stolen from Linda's and Andz's Multiply of the Family Picnic at Botanics two weeks back.


Boy Talk


My chubby pale arms.


Force Vomit Junior Bassist


Grrrl Talk


Picnicking

Unintentional Dad's Day Dinner

Unintentional because it was supposed to be a birthday dinner but it fell on Dad's Day. Plus it was partially my brother's (who has been a dad for almost 11 years) treat so it turned out more of a Dad's Day Dinner at the Carousel. Matriarch had always suggested dinner there but it is constantly fully-booked so we managed to do a way advanced booking for last Sunday.


My brother the Midnight Hero (he only sleeps in the day) with Munchkin and my niece.


Me as the dugong. I've lost my collar bones and jawline. We'll work something out later.

Picnicking @ Botanics

Saturday was a picnic day at Botanics with the "family geng".


Shaft pointing out squirrels to Munchkin.


My potluck item - Secret Recipe's signature Chocolate Banana cake. (2 candles for 2 Liverpool FC die-hards birthday boys who received Man U item from a Man U die-hard).

Elly & Sarah

Elly and Munchkin have been friends since they were in utero, sort of. But we haven't met up with her and Mummy for quite some time so we managed to do a little catching up last Tuesday. Elly's grown super cute.





This is them a year ago.

And more pics from last year.