FIL stayed over for the week, and this morning when Zaria came down for breakfast, she asked, “Yeh yeh, what are you doing in my house?” o.O”

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Zaria : “Mummy, I love you.” (she’s saying this so frequently now, and it really makes my day.)
Me : (just asked for the fun of it) “Why you love mummy?”
Zaria : “Because… (thinking).. I like you.”
Me : “But why you like mummy?”
Zaria : “Because… (thinking).. Because… (still thinking).. You are cute.”
Haha.. I think she couldn’t find a reason.

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After getting down friom the car in the car park, I was carrying Zaria to enter Ikano (for those outside of Malaysia, it’s where Ikea is).
Zaria : “Mummy, Where are we going?”
Me : (just for the fun of it) “We’re going One Utama.”
Zaria : “No, this is not One Ooftama.” (she knows where we were but she was playing along. “Where are we going?”
Me : “We’re going Five Utama, maybe.”
Zaria : “No, this is not Five Ooftama. This is Ikea.”
Me : “Who said this is Ikea. This is Five Utama.”
Zaria : “No..” *she took a sniff of the air* “You smell (and see).”
(The Ikea smell is unmistakable, that’s for sure).

I love the way Zaria uses words she’s familiar with to pronunce new words. I love :

The way she says milipede as Lilly-pede. (Lilly is a name Zara gave to her toy tortoise).

The way she says matchmaker (from Mulan show) as Fat maker (since the matchmaker is, well, FAT).

Credit : Picture taken from iCandi.

The way she says rambutan as Rumple-utan. (from her story book Rumplestiltskin & another story about Orang Utan)

The way she says accidentally as Accident gently.

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I like the way Zara talk back to Daddy (but not when she talks back to me).

Once Daddy kept correcting her Grammar, and she got fed up, “Don’t be such a show off, dad.”

Another time Zara wanted Daddy to bring her to my sis’ place so she can play with her cousins, and Daddy replied, “Why do we want to go there? So boring, nothing to do.”
Zara very quickly answered, “Oh, when you go to your mother’s place you happy la, got things to do la. When I ask you to go to my cousin’s place, you say boring la?

I like the way she prayed on some nights.
“I pray that my Daddy will not dilly dally when we want to go out.”
“I pray that my Daddy will not fall asleep when he’s jaga-ing (Malay : looking after) us.”

Not by me, but by 2.5yrs Zaria.

Because of her fall, and the various visit to the doctor, Zaria could do a review on doctors.

She calls Dr Patrick Chan (the chest pead in case you are interested) from Gleneagles, “Toy Doctor”; because he has heaps of toys in the waiting room.

She calls the dentist, “Auntie Dentist”, and she’s the only female doctor she’s seen recently.

And here is her review.
Meimei: “I like boy doctors. I don’t like girl doctors.”
Me : “Why?”
Meimei: “Because girl doctor the whole thing is (was) so painful.”
It took me a while to get it….
The dentist caused her pain (although she was cool throughout), but the rest of the male doctors only listen to her breathing… but I was surprised she used the phrase “the whole thing”.

Like an old lady this one.

“Ohh KAY” That’s how Zaria says her ok, she emphasises the KAY, and say it with a lot of authority.

We went passed a barber, and Daddy jokingly said, “Come, I bring you go in to cut your hair botak.”
Zaria’s reply, “I don’t want to cut botak, I want to cut bootiful, Ohh KAY?”

We had dinner with the in-laws, after dinner Zaria wanted Daddy to carry her. Daddy pretended, “Daddy very tired, can Yeh-yeh or Mah-mah carry you?”
Zaria’s reply, “They carry, I (will) vomit, OUURK *vomit sound*, Ohh KAY?”

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Lately, don’t know why she’s becoming a tyrant, especially to children around her age or those younger than her.

When we met our neighbour with her 1 year + daughter, Abby, I asked her to go play with Abby, and her reply, “I (will) beat her.” o.O”

Yesterday when Leena came with Shern to collect the cot I was selling, I asked Zaria to say hi to Shern, she replied, “I (will) kick the boy.” o.O”

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She recently calls me by my name, adding Mummy in front, “Mummy Ehk-nes.” Especially when she didn’t get a response from me when she just calls me “Mummy.”
I.e. “Mummy…” ….. (no reply) “MumMY Ehk-nes!! MumMY Ehk-nes!!” until I reply.

And she likes to interupt participate when we’re talking.
“Mummy, sooosh..” “Soosh, don’t talk.” “Mummy Ehk-nes, don’t talk, ohh KAY?”

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That day, Zara did something wrong, and I asked her to say sorry to me.
Zara said it irritably, “Sorry Mummy.”
Zaria corrected her, “When say sorry, must say nicely, like this (in a small sweet voice) Sorry mummy. ohh KAY cheh?” o.O”

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We saw a lady who was wearing a black burqa in the clinic, and Zaria immediately pointed at the lady and shouted, “Mummy, why the auntie wearing mask?” Loud enough for the whole clinic to hear. o.O”

Girls’ conversation About Penis

Zaria : Daddy is not a girl you know.
Zaria : He has no petpet.
Zaria : He got penis at the petpet there.

Zara : You know when boys go to she-she, they must hold the penis to she-she.
Zara : If not, right, the penis will swing here swing there, and the she-she will spray every where.

Zaria talking to Jelly About fierce Mummy
Zaria : Mummy always scold me you know
Zaria : Always shout at me. So loud!
Jelly : Your mummy got smack you or not.
Zaria : Nooooo.. she didn’t smack me.
(haha.. at least I’m not that bad)
Zaria : She shoot me only.
o.O”
(OK, I’m the bad guy at home)

On Working From Home
(This conversation with Zara’s friend took place in Zara’s school, Zaria’s friend, WY, cannot understand why someone can work from home)

WY : You don’t tell your mummy ya..
WY : *whisper* *whisper*
Zara : *loudly* Aigh. I told you before right, my mummy works at home.
Me : What did WY ask you?
Zara : She asked me why you wear like that to go to work.
(I was wearing shorts and t-shirt)
WY : *facing me* What work you do? Why work from home one? My mummy have to work in office.
Me : Hmm.. It’s special for me, that’s why I can work at home.

Another day, when I went to pick the girls up, WY came to me again.
WY : Who do you work for huh?
Me : Hmm.. (trying to find an answer where a 5yr old can understand).. My boss lor.
WY : Oh.. (asthough she understood finally) Your boss goes to your house ah?

Hehe.. I think it’s tough for children who have parents working in the ‘office’ understand the concept of working from home.

Zaria’s favourite phrase now is “Why not?”

Zara : Zaria, don’t colour on jiejie’s book.
Zaria : “Why not?”

While I’m working,
Zaria : Mummy, I want to sit on your lap.
Me : No, mummy is working.
Zaria : “Why not?”

Daddy : This is your last chocolate already, you cannot have any more.
Zaria : “Why not?”

o.O”

Zaria was digging out books from the shelf in the study, and have those books strewn all over the floor. Before she went down stairs (and out of the room), I told her, “Zaria, you took the books out and scattered them on the floor, you must clean up before you go downstairs.
“I’m not jiejie, ok.” She replied while walking out of the room.

o.O”
(and it’s the case in the house, Zara will clean and tidy up but Zaria always ‘designate’ to Jelly or just refused by saying “I cannot.”).

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Yesterday, just out of the blue, Zara said, “Mum, I don’t like my name you know. Why do you call me Zara?”
Me : *a bit surprised* “Zara is a beautiful name, why don’t you like it?”
Zara : “I want a name with feelings.”
o.O” Can some one please tell me what is a name with feelings?
Me : “What do you mean a name with feelings? What kind of names would you like to be called”
Zara : “How about Shanika?”
o.O” Where did she get that name from? Anybody knows if any princesses in Disney or Barbie show which is called Shanika?

There are more to come on the Japan trip, however, here are some short ones not on Japan :

Now have you heard about goreng pisang seller putting straws into the oil to make whatever they are frying crunchier? Do you believe it? I didn’t until last week.

Zara and Zaria love Keropok lekor, so sometimes I stopped by this stall to buy some for them. Last week, I parked right in front of the stall, and after getting some, I was busy passing the keropok to the girls, wrapping the bottom with tissue first where the girls could hold.
I saw the seller pouring oil into the wok. You know those cheap oil in plastic bags?
After the bag was empty, I saw her dipped the plastic bag into the oil. That caught my attention, and I stopped what I was doing, sat upright and watched again, the corner of the bag where she dipped into the oil had actually melted. I thought that’s the end, and then she dipped the bag further, melting the rest of it in the hot oil, leaving only the corner which she was still holding on. And the smirk on her face, as though she was enjoying poisoning the oil.
I didn’t look further, I quickly took back the keropok where I’d given to the girls drove off, swearing never to buy again.
I’m not sure if only that stall is doing it, or all stalls do it, but really…. BUEK!!

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Now for something nicer…

We always go to the wet market on Saturday with Zara. It was drizzling last Saturday, so I told Zara she should stay at home. She kept saying she wanted to follow, but I insisted she shouldn’t.
Zara then said “I waited for you for so long already, now you want me to wait for you again?”
I didn’t know what she was saying, “I don’t know what you mean you waited for me for so long. When did you wait for me?”
Zara replied, “You went to Japan for so long right? I waited for you for so long to come back.” Ouch!

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After one of their fights, Zaria came to complain, “I don’t like Zara any more.”
“Mummy send Zara (to) ah Kim’s house” o.O”
To her, Ah Kim’s house must be like a torture chamber.

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I asked Zaria, “Tonight should we watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?”
Zaria replied, “The boy got a lot of blood one?”
I didn’t get it the first time, so I asked, “Why got blood?”
She said, “Because, the boy (Harry) got-blood of fire.” o.O”

My 2 years old

Zaria was naughty so I asked her to stand at the naughty corner, she was only allowed to leave when the timer went off (I normally set a timer on how long the girls have to stand at the naughty corner.)

Before the timer went off, Zaria went back to the play room.
I went after her, “Why are you not standing at the naughty corner? The alarm hasn’t sounded yet.”
She replied, “My leg is itchy.”
I told her, “Itchy also must stand. Go!”
Since itchy didn’t work, she tried again, “My leg is painful now.”
Trying to stifle a smile, I told her, “Painful also must stand! Until the alarm goes off. Go!”
She looked at me with puppy eyes, thinking I will give in, “My leg is very painful you know.”
A punishment is a punishment, I tried to hold on to my stern face, “Very painful also must go.”
She knew she lost the battle, she walked back to the naughty corner and stood until the timer went off.

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My 4yrs old

Zara had “Colour Carnival” day at school, and she wanted to wear her ‘party’ dress to school.
I told her they would be getting wet and paint all over so she should just wear a t-shirt and pants to school.
She said she won’t get wet and paint all over and she would be careful in her party dress.
I told her it’s “Colour Carnival” and she’s supposed to get paint and wet. The teachers would even do face painting or body painting for them.

She was upset because she could not wear her party dress, so she complained, “Do you know there’s chemical in paint? And you want the teacher to paint on me? After the chemical get into my blood then how?” o.O”

Anybody needs defend lawyers? You know who to call.

I so love the way the girls talk these days, so don’t mind me doing post after post of their conversations.

We were meeting my extended family for dinner. On our way, Daddy turned into a petrol station to fill up, and right there is a KFC. Zara asked, “Why are you stopping? I want to go to the restaurant now.”
Knowing she couldn’t wait to meet her cousins, Daddy teased Zara, “I think we’ll just have KFC for dinner today.”
Zara replied, “If you eat KFC, you are not having proper dinner, you are just eating FAT.” o.O”
(on other days she would have happily accepted the offer)

On our way home from school, Zara as usual asked, “What are we having for lunch?” I told her we’re having spagetti and cheese which is her favourite. She replied happily, “Yummy! Now my eyes will lit up like stars.”

One day, when we were talking about big houses and cars and why we don’t have them.
She told me, “We are not rich, you know why? You are not working enough. Got holiday, you want to do your own things or go holiday and you don’t work. And you don’t work long enough.” o.O”
(Of course I later told her we don’t work long hours because we want to spend time with both of them, and if she preferred us to live in big house and drive big cars but then never get to see us around except during bed time. She replied, “It’s ok we’re not very rich, because I want you to spend time with me.”)

Zara attempting to tickle Zaria’s neck, but it was a bit like strangling her, and Zaria was getting upset.
Me told her stenrly, “Stop bullying your meimei.”
Zara replied, “This is not bullying, this is irritating. OK?” o.O

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I was helping Zara with homework (and I must admit I’m very impatient). When I paused to ask Zara what she was writing (which was 九 or 9), she would count from the start of the page in Chinese (each page 1 number), but missed a few pages, so when it got to 9, she would say a number smaller than 9. This happened a few times, so I got really annoyed, and started holding her finger and point to the numbers while she counted. I exerted a little more force on her finger when we pointed a number, so she started crying. She calmed down after I apologised and finished her homework.

When we got to the living room, Jelly said this conversation took place between Zaria and her.
“Aunty, why jiejie crying?”
“Because jiejie don’t know how to count.”
“I know how to count you know. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10”

I smiled and asked Zaria, “So next time when mummy help you with homework, willl you make mummy upset?”
She replied, “Noooo, I will make mummy happy. Becossssss, I know how to count!”

Captured some of these interesting conversations with Zara.

In Hong Kong when she asked me to buy her something, and I told her it’s very expensive, she replied, “You need a lot of coins for this?

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After being punished for being naughty, she talked to herself.
“I want to have new super power.”
“so that it will fight my bad power and make me change to be good.”
“and the bacteria will also go away.”

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One morning during the school holidays, I told Zara I was working that day, and Daddy also said he needed to work.
Zara said, “No, I want one of you to play with me.”
Daddy said, “Auntie Jelly will jaga and play with you.”
Zara’s reply, “I want a playmate, ok. Not someone who keeps going to wash dishes.” o.O”

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During Jelly’s holidays, we were eating out very frequently.
In one of the restaurants, Zara commented the food was good. I told her, “So we can come here to eat every day if mummy’s not cooking?”
Zara’s reply, “No, we cannot come here every day. Just like you cannot wear back the same baju (Malay : Clothes) even if you like it very much.” o.O”

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On our flight back from Hong Kong, Zara asked, “Is this aeroplane Air Asia?”
I replied, “No, this is not Air Asia.” (since we were flying MAS)
Zara asked, “Is this another species of aeroplane?” (I guess we can say that). o.O”

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On our way home from my brother’s place (which is a gated community), Zara declared, “Ah Ku so rich that’s why he put(s) a guard house near his house right? So that the robbers will not rob his money. We are not so rich, that’s why we don’t have a guard house.” o.O”

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While talking about love, i.e. she loves me, she knows I love her, and Zaria etc.
I casually asked, “Do you think mummy and daddy love each other?”
She replied, “I also don’t know, because the two of you always shout at each other. o.O”

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Visited by Egghead, whom we always joked that we could be in-laws since he has 2 3 sons and I have 2 daugthers, I jokingly told Zara, “This uncle here may be your father-in-law you know. If he’s your father-in-law then *pointing to LLS* who will he be?”
Zara (who ‘aspires’ to marry a prince) thought for a moment, then when she realised what that meant, she said gravely, “You don’t talk to me about boys ok?” o.O”