On our way back from school, Zara told me, “Lin Jing and I are in love you know. But he’s going to marry Rachel. Sigh”
I asked, “How do you know he’s in love with you?”
“CL told me that, CL told me Lin Jing loves me, but he cannot get married with me. He can only marry Rachel.”
Love can be really complicated for a 5 year old.
o.O”

Last week, when I picked her up on the last day of school, smiling happily she showed me a heart shape magic wand Lin Jing gave her. “See, Ling Jing gave me this. He loves me.”
I asked her just out of curiosity, “He only gave that to you?”
“No, he gave all the girls one.”
“Huh? So he gave everyone?”
Defensively, she said, “He’s very kind you see. He knows girls like magic wand. So he gave all the girls one.”
o.O

In the car on our way back, she told me, “I’m so sad, after today, I won’t be seeing Lin Jing again.” Lin Jing is a year older, and he’ll be in Primary one next year, in another school.
Soon after, she added, “Never mind, I’ll find a new boy friend. Mickel will be my boy friend next year. Luckily I have a replacement.”
o.O”

Have you ever walked passed those Reflexology centre and wonder what they do inside? Wondering if it’s a dodgy place, if it’s to cater more for male patrons than female?

I used to walk passed one and have all these thoughts running through my mind. Even when I’d tried and liked the dui na (推拿- Chinese ancient massage) I did in my Shanghai trip last year, I didn’t feel comfortable enough to walk in to the ones in Malaysia, until I tried out Liang Xin Reflexology Centre (良心) in Penang. I got hooked! And realised not all reflexology centres are dodgy (but still, some are).

Since then, almost every week, I’ll get dui na done. I’d tried Wen Hsing in Sunway a couple of times, the masseur was good, but the facility was so so. The bed smelled a little, making me uncomfortable to lie on. Then I found another place where the masseur was even better, and the facilities much better and cleaner, and the price the same.

I started going there, and use the same masseur every time.

I have tried Indonesian, Thai, Malay and even Clarin massage before, and most of the time I would doze off mid way, the massages were normally relaxing. With dui na, it’s different. They massage your meridians, rub on areas you hurt most, many times I felt the urge to punch the masseur, but refrained myself. It’s not enjoyable during the session, in fact, it’s filled with pain, but after that, it feels good, like the strain I’d been carrying melted away and I normally sleep like a baby after that.

I’d also tried scraping (刮痧) and cupping (拔罐). Both left marks on the back which looked like I’d been badly abused. Scraping bruises took about 3 days to clear, cupping marks took about 4 weeks to clear off from my back (4 weeks after I’d done the cupping, there are still some very light circle marks on my back). I don’t really feel any effect after these.

However, since I’d started going for dui na regularly, I don’t feel as lethargic during the day, nor having all the aches and pains at the back after sitting and working long hours. So it must be doing something good to me, maybe even the scraping and cupping helped too.

Daddy thinks I’m wasting my money, but I don’t indulge on anything else (ok, ok, maybe the occasional splurge on skin care or books), so I’m not listening to him.

Confused with her school concert date, we decided to celebrate Zara’s birthday a week earlier, thinking the concert would be held on her actual birthday, but it is actually a week later. We are obviously parents who do not read school notices.

On 14th November, we invited our neigbours, 6 families all in plus my SIL and MIL who also moved to our neigbourhood recently, to celebrate Zara’s birthday. This time, I ordered Nasi Dagang, fish curry and fried bee-hoon from a new restaurant near our place; at home, Jelly fried a veg, some chicken wings, and I baked some cheese puffs, apple crumble, and of course, Zara’s cake.

Zara has been very much into mermaids these days, so I thought I’ll create a mermaid cake for her with sea creatures all included.

Baking of the cake and cupcakes started Friday morning. In the afternoon, I tried to mould a mermaid using fondant, and in fact it was a nice mermaid with a tail that sparkled. I’m not sure what went wrong, but I suspect it’s due to the humid weather, the mermaid started sweating, and turning soft; by evening, it was one fat and flat mermaid. So at night, I started creating another mermaid, this time making its body thinner, and then I left it in a air tight container with dehumidifier sachets. I can still see the mermaid softening a bit, but it was better than the fat mermaid. Because of the softening of the fondant, I didn’t feel comfortable creating more sea creatures for the cake.

The fat mermaid that was ‘sweating’ away.

I decorated the cake and the cup cakes till 2am on Friday, and this was the end result.
Still a lot of room for improvement, but I guess for a first fondant cake attempt, it’s not too bad.

The cake (for adults) surrounded by cupcakes (for the kids).

Side track, on Saturday morning, Zara was being a bit naughty, and due to lack of sleep, I was getting grouchy, and I told her off, “If I knew you would be so naughty, I wouldn’t bake you the cake.” Now this was before she actually saw the cake I completed the night before, and guess what my spunky daughter said? “It’s ok mum. I can ask Daddy to buy from the shop. The ones in the shops are nicer anyway.” *crack! went my heart*
After she saw the cake, she felt really sorry, and started apologising profusedly. But you see, she is capable of saying such things.

Ok, back to the party.

It was a good turn out, and the girls have fun playing with their play mates (whom they regularly meet and play together at the park). I am thankful to my SIL who was entertaining 11 children in the play room with baloon fights and all, while I spent time chatting with the neighbours.

Now, Zaria has been attending friends’ parties, and she has stopped crying during birthday song singing since early this year, so we thought there won’t be any drama on Zara’s birthday. When the birthday song singing started, she was quiet for a while, and then suddenly burst into tears.
Later, when we asked her why she cried, she said “Everybody was singing so loud.” o.O”

Thanks to Kathy, who still caught Zara blowing her candles amidst the chaos (the loud bawl from Zaria, and Daddy running off with Zaria to calm her down).

One of the children came to me at the end of the party and said, “This is the best party ever. I have so much fun.” I give my SIL credit for entertaining the kids. 😛

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On Friday, a day before Zara’s actual birthday, we celebrated Zara’s and Zaria’s birthday in school. Zaria’s birthday is not until end of the year, but she wanted so much to celebrate with her friends and teachers in school I thought we’ll do this 1 month earlier together with Zara’s.

The day before, Zara helped me to think of how to decorate her cupcakes. She wanted flowers in the middle of each cake, and I got her to decide on the colours (with me making a few small batches of fondant in different colours). The final product, was a batch of cupcakes decorated with (store bought) sugar flowers.

I sent them to school in the morning, and stayed till their break time. I helped the teacher to set up the snack area to prepare for the ‘cupcake party’ (since that’s the only food served)

Zara and Zaria were beaming with happiness. When the birthday song was sung, Zaria didn’t cry, but was smiling and looking around. (Later when I asked her why she cried in jie-jie’s party, but not in school, her reply, “I only like children singing, I don’t like adults singing birthday song.” She’s sure full of excuses).

They were both happy to distribute their party packs to their friends too. Later, when Zaria came home without a party pack and started sharing Zara’s goodies, Jelly asked Zaria, “Why you didn’t take one party pack home?” She replied, “The party packs are for my friends. Not for me.”

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Happy 5th Birthday Zara, may you grow up healthy and filled with love and happiness. Daddy, mummy and mei-meil love you very much.

Here is Fifi

Here is Flower.

Here is Daisy.

You think they are the same ‘dog’?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
But they are not.

Zara has had her Fifi for almost 3 years now, this is the soft toy she brings on her trips, she hugs to sleep, watches TV with.

This is the soft toy she plays pretend with, and every time when we tell her about an experience, or a fact, she’ll always apply it on Fifi and tell us in return, “You know right, Fifi also been to China before with her mummy…” or “Fifi eats a lot of carrots, that’s why her eyes are very sharp, she can see very far away….”

Last weekend, we went to Ikea, to get Zara a new Fifi, because hers was wearing out, she named her new Fifi, Flower. Zaria insisted she wanted a Fifi too, so we got her one, and Zara named it Daisy.

Zaria hugged Daisy to sleep the 1st night, brought her to school on the 2nd day, and then chucked it away and only took it out when we reminded her about Daisy.

Fifi is easy to identify, as she’s scruffy looking. I had to write Daisy’s and Flower’s names on their labels so the girls know who is who, but I guess after a while, when the soft toys take on their owners’ scent, they’ll be able to identify who is Daisy and who is Flower. (Actually, Zara already know how to tell Daisy and Flower apart. According to her, Fifi has sad eyes, Flower is always frowning, Daisy has normal eyes) However, I doubt Zaria will still show interest after a few days though.

One day, Zara handled an expensive toy lizzard roughly and torn a big piece of fabric where a sucker was glued to the palm of of the lizzard.

I was really upset. Although I bought it during a sale, it’s still none the less expensive. I told her “From now onwards, I won’t buy you any more toys!”. I could see she was upset as well with my reaction, but she didn’t say anything.

I went to our bed room and did some reading. Zara came in, with trembling voice (not from fear but rather on the verge of crying) she said, “It’s ok, you don’t have to buy me any more toys. I don’t want any.” and before I could say anything, she walked away.

Then 2 mins later, she came back in holding a sticker, with tears in her eyes, she said, “Actually I wanted to give you this. But now I won’t.” Again, she walked out of the room before I could react. I didn’t go after her either, because the book I was a page turner.

Another 10 mins later, Zara walked back in with a drawing. She just gave it to me, and walked out of the room. Below is her drawing.

You can see that she has drawn me crossing her out in my thoughts, and both the love next to our names being crossed out, she said it shows that we don’t love each other any more.

After looking at the drawing, I went out and saw her standing at the door sobbing. I told her I didn’t really mean what I said, and I was angry but now I forgave her for breaking the toy. She asked me, “Do you still love me?” I told her “Of course.” She asked me to wait, and she went back to the table to draw, and 5 minutes later, she came back with this.

She said now we have a lot of love for each other, and both of us are happy

Zaria is very chatty now, not many people see this part of her, since she’s rather quiet when there are other people around, but at home, this girl can talk.

The other day she asked me to help her to do her business. Normally what she needs is just some one to hold on to her hand while she sits on the (adult’s) throne, and then later help her wipe her buttocks. So I was in the toilet, holding her hand, and waiting for her. After a minute :
Zaria : My poo poo didn’t want to come out, want to stay inside my stomach.
Me : Never mind, you try, mummy will wait for you.
After a few more seconds,
Zaria : I think I must ‘pause‘ first.”
Me : (didn’t get her) Huh?
Zaria : I ‘pause‘ first. Later only poo poo.
o.O” (must have learnt from the pausing of her DVDs)

Later, we went to the mall, and she wanted to do her undone business. In the toilet :
Zaria : Now my poo poo want to come out already.
Me : OK.
Zaria : My poo poo is out. Can you smell it? o.O”
Me : Yah I know, it’s smelly.
Zaria : You can say ‘Eee Yoooo’ you know. o.O”
Me : (oblidging) Eee yooo… and are you done yet?
Zaria : Not yet, I want to shu-shu first. Because my poo poo want to swim in the shu-shu. o.O

She does has a funny sense of humour. 😛

Apologise for all the paid posts that have flooded my site. Suddenly I had ~20 assignments and all due the same time.

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We claimed credit card points for a new point and shoot, Panasonic DMC-TX7. Don’t ask me why this model, it’s Daddy’s points, so he got to choose the model.

See the quality of the photo taken with the point and shoot

vs the DSLR

Not bad hor?

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Some funny things the girls said recently.

Zaria wanted Daddy to read to her, and when he said he was busy, she came to me and instructed, “Mum, scold daddy, faster, he didn’t want to read to me”
(You can tell I’m always the one doing the scolding).

While waiting for Daddy to finalise his purchase in the camera shop, Zaria was saying, “It’s so boooooring here. I know what, lets go to to book shop. Mum, is there a book shop here?” After that, it was “I want to go to the book shop” all the way.

We were talking about why we need to have a maid at home. Zara said, “You don’t know how to wash the dishes right? That’s why you need Aunty Jelly.” Children are just so innocent.

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Zara’s passport is due for a renewal, and Zaria’s for a photo update.

This was Zaria’s old photo

This was the photo taken few days back.

Oh my, how much she has grown.

And look at Zara’s old photo, taken when she was about the same age as Zaria now.

How much THEY have grown!

Zaria on the other hand is speaking and communicating really well, she’s growing up to be quite fiery. She’s easy to get angry, and when she does get angry, she throws things, shouts, beats or scratches us. o.O”

Influenced by Zara, she tries to correct our English occasionally too.
One day I pointed a picture to her, “Mei look, so special this umbrella.”
She replied, “Don’t speak sloppy English, there’s no la in English.” o.O”

We were telling the girls about the trips Daddy and I used to take before they were born. When we went through the photos of our trip, Zaria started frowning, and she banged her fist on the album, “Why you didn’t bring me?” but then remembering, she brows straigtened and she added, “I not yet born? Oh.”

One evening, she came to me, “I love you mummy.” and kissed my lips.
“I love you too meimei.” I kissed her back.
She laid her head on my shoulder and a moment later, she remembered and asked, “If I naughty, you love me or not?” o.O”
I told her, although I don’t like it, I will still love her.
And she looked at me and said softly, “Sorry, mummy.”

One day after her nap, she wanted to get out of the room but the room door was close. Not able to get out, she started kicking the door, when I opened the door for her, she frowned and said, “I was trapped!”

That’s our Zaria, the fiery, spunky chilly padi