Book Review: It Could Have Been Worse

I love children books. I enjoy looking for books for my children to read, be it at a bookstore, book sale or library. And scouting for books have been even more interesting the day my children decided they wanted to choose their own books. This is where you see what sort of stuff they are interested in. For example, at one time K would look for books about going to the doctors. D still looks for dinosaur and dragon books. I usually go for whatever books with a good story line and captivating illustrations. Of course I also try to look out for books that have won awards or recommended by teachers.

Well, I've been wanting to blog on books that we've read and enjoyed. Now that blogger allows for labels, what better time to start. Keep track of our favorite books filed under the label "Children Books".

Let me start off with this book. It's called "IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE".
A little mouse is on his way home but he seems to have some bad luck falling off branches, dropping into a hole, sitting on some prickly stuff, falling into the water etc.... Sounds like a bad day right? Well, what the mouse doesn't know is that his bad luck was actually his good luck. You see, if he hadn't fallen off the branches, he would have been eaten by a cat. Or if he didn't fall into a hole, an eagle would have gotten him. So you see, it could have been worse.
This story isn't just for kids. It was a good one for me too. I had some bad luck that week with the car battery going dead several times and then having a punctured tyre. Well, as the book says, "it could have been worse".

Best of Friends, Worst of Enemies

First of all, just wanna say that FINALLY I got the pictures up on my last post. Was trying for days and the pictures just wouldn't get posted. Well, they are there now. Yay! Now I get to show off my garden. Hahahaha.

Ok, just something short about the kids. They can be the best of friends and the worst of enemies. And it only takes a couple of seconds to go from one to the other. The fights have been quite frequent the last few days and I must say, it is driving me nuts. I've come to the conclusion that mothers are allowed to throw up their hands once in a while and say "I give up." Well... not totally give up. I've learned that trying to talk sense to them when they are mad doesn't help. Actually, it just makes you more frustrated. So now I allow them to let out whatever anger is in them, then after the storm has subsided, try to talk sense. Afterall, when I'm angry, I need to get it out too. Only problem is to reduce the violence -- hitting and biting. Even after many lessons and lectures, little D still cannot hold back. Well, all a parent can do is to keep teaching.
Which brings me to a book I just borrowed from the library which I hope can help litte D with his biting. It's called "The Shark Who Bit Things He Shouldn't". Cute little story about a shark who is so proud of his sharp, white teeth. He would see something and say "I know I shouldn't bite this, but I will." Well, he eventually gets caught by a granny who used a toffee-apple as bait. It got stuck to the shark's teeth and hilariously, his teeth got pulled out. But granny, who also can take her teeth out, had pity for the shark and gave his teeth back BUT with advice that from then on he musn't bite anything he shouldn't.
Well, after saying all that, I just wanted to point out that even if you've read tons of parenting books and articles, there will be circumstances and situations when you don't know what to do or say. It's okay. Like they say, our children didn't come with an instruction manual. Just keep plodding along. Sometimes the answers take a while to reach us.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

It's been really fun to watch the vegetables in my garden grow. That's why the quote that says “One of the most delightful thing about a garden is the anticipation it provides” is just perfect to describe how I feel about my garden. Of course I do not take credit for the gardening. Actually, I'm quite hopeless and instead of green fingers, mine can be called black fingers – once that ends in the death of the plant :(My FIL and DH has put in much work and now we get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. There was actually plenty to do as the ground was just horrible. We had to get rid of the weeds and big rocks. Then we had to purchase some good soil and my DH was diligent in watering the ground with water from the fish pond plus rice water. Constant weeding was necessary. My kids wondered why we were throwing rubbish in the garden as DH dug holes to make compost. Carrot skin, apple skin, vegetable ends and whatever would rot organically.

The kids have tried to help and though we don't make a lesson out of it, I'm sure they've learned something. What have we allowed them to do? Throw away the big stones, water the garden and weeding. It's been interesting coz' things we take for granted, you have to stop to explain to the kids. For example:

• What is a weed?
• Why don't we want weeds?
• Which part of the plant do you water? The leaves or the roots?
• What is a root? How does it look like? Why do you water the roots? (This is where weeds are good coz' you can pull them out and show what roots look like),
• Why you must not pluck the flowers?
• What are the names of the vegetables?
• Why are we throwing rubbish in the garden?

By far the most funnest (is there such a word) activity for the kids is digging. They are lucky that my garden is grassless and therefore looks like one giant sandpit to them. Of course, they has to be a limit as to where, when and how much they dig. Plus very important to teach hygiene – hands and legs must be washed immediately.

One thing I read that has not worked for me is the idea that kids are more eager to eat what they have planted. Well, my kids still think the brinjal is yuck, even if it came from the garden. Hahahah.

Well, if you want to read more about gardening for children, here are two sites:

• Ready, Set, Grow: The Benefits of Gardening with Kids
• Gardening with kids

Birthdays, Birthdays!

August is birthday month for us. Damus was born on the 9th while Karina was born on the 25th. However, we usually cheat and just have 1 big bash for them. This year we sort of piggy backed on Lia's party for her boys, Jamie and Josh (bless her kind heart) who also shares the same birthday as Damus. We figured that having a party in Puncak Alam was not going to be too popular cause no one knows where it is and if they did, they would be quite relunctant to travel this far out. Min (bless another kind heart) made two beautiful cakes, one for the boys and one for Karina. She recently blogged on this topic plus another entry about her cake baking journey. You gals are the best! My kids really enjoyed themselves. The loved the cake and they loved the company.

Anyway, here is a little tribute to them on the birthdays.

Damus, mummy is amazed at how much you've grown. No, not in size (you're my cili padi) but in your skills and intellectual development. I know my little boy has grown when I watch you:

• succeed at wearing your own pants
• going to the toilet yourself
• eating independently and making minimal mess
• helping me take in the clothes and folding the handkerchiefs
• talking like an adult and making funny comments like "welcome everybody to my lips, muak"
• trying to keep me warm when I am cold
• kissing my cheek to take back the runny nose you gave me
• pretending to read and getting 50% of the words right coz' you have already memorized the story
• successfully bouncing the basketball many times and also being quite handy with a badminton racquet
• put away your folded clothes by yourself
  
• constantly singing your many nursery rhymes and other songs

Karina, mummy has placed very high expectations on you because of my ignorance and mistakes. Afterall, you are my firstborn and therefore, everything is trial and error with you. But you have raised to the challenge very well. I look at you and know you've grown when you:

• bathe yourself and help me bathe your brother
• read the scriptures and rattle off difficult words such as resurrection, nevertheless and commandment
• willingly and independently bearing your testimony in front of the congregation every first Sunday at church
• successfully memorizing all the words of the songs you needed to sing for the concert and singing so confidently
• put away your own clothes after its been folded
• try to learn how to write and give me envelopes with selfmade cards that say, thank you or I love you
• play badminton so well. you actually return my shots
• go to sleep with the lights off and I'm not in the room yet
• make it a point to change the mosquito vape mats and turn it on every night
• help pour your brother a drink when mummy is not free

Happy birthday kiddos. Remember, no matter how much I scream at you, I love you both beyond words.

This and That

My poor blog, sorry I've been away. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And one of the measures that needs to be taken is being more wise in managing my time. Priority has to go to building content for DH's website:
http://physicalhealthguide.com

That which doth not help the home or bring in money has to take a back seat. Anyway, here is an update to keep the cobwebs away.

1. Kids have been pretty good in keeping themselves busy. Just give them excess to recycled paper and other stationary, then let their imagination do the rest. Karina is now at the stage where she scribbles nonsensical words and numbers. But that is ok. At least she knows how to enjoy the printed word. Definately much better than her previous kindergarten homework which was just copying the same thing over and over again, for pages and pages. That was a real joy killer. Damus' scribbling is also evolving. I see recognizable letters such as "D", "b", "h" and "i".














Busy fingers, busy minds.













Finished product. A present for Mommy wrapped in recycled paper.













Messages and drawings on my door. You like?

2. We've been more diligent with our homeschooling. Karina's reading is improving. We also make it a priority to read scriptures first thing in the morning. She may not understand all the words but it's a routine we want her to get use to. We don't really have a fixed syllabus. Mainly concentrating on English and maths and whatever else catches our interest like puzzles, mazes, online games. I'm more interested in driving the idea that learning is fun. Though I admit I need to work on my patience. Bad teacher! Evening is badminton time. She really has improved since we moved here. Things are more relaxed with Damus. We do nursery rhymes and singing. Instead of teaching the names alphabets, I concentrate more on teaching him the sounds of alphabets (will blog on this later on). We also read books and I must say, his concentration is fantastic when it comes to reading books. We can sit for half an hour or more just reading, and he'll take one book after another. His badminton and ball bouncing are not too bad too.

3. Recently our church held a concert to showcase the talents of the primary kids. Karina had 4 songs to sing (in a group) and she did wonderful. We practiced at home for 2 weeks and she really enjoyed it. I must admit, I had tears in my eyes. It just touched my heart deeply. The song is called "Children Holding Hands Around the World". With that I just want to say how grateful I am that my children have the opportunity to grow up in the gospel. I know it will be an asset to them to know that they are a child of God and that God loves them. When they go out into the cruel world, may they be equipped with the whole "armor of God" to fight their battles. I know that others may not feel the same way but I do. It is my testimony that children need to be spiritually fed and that it is our duty as parents to feed them. I am grateful for the proclamation on families published by the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. Through it I have learnt my duties as a wife and mother and will continue to use it as my guide.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (

Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Once again, please do not think I am imposing my beliefs on you. Just want to share what I belief in. Now, enjoy the song. Click on the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YluoIk-gAM4

Vegetable Brain?

I managed to get Karina to sit down and do some studying without fuss or distractions yesterday and today. We sat down and did some English, some Maths and also learned how to tell time. All because of an out of the blue comment I made. As usual, Karina would be a little hesitant when I mention that it's "school" time. She would rather be playing.

Mommy: If you don't do your work, you will end up with a vegetable brain.
Karina: What is a vegetable brain?
Mommy: You know like a rotten vegetable? What do we do with rotten vegetables?
Karina: Throw away.
Mommy: Yup, that's right. If you don't exercise your brain, it will end up like a rotten vegetable.
Karina: Hahahaha. Mommy, that is so funny.

(While doing work)
Karina: See mom, I'm exercising my brain.

Things I Love When I Have Morning Sickness

There are many things to hate when one is down with morning sickness. But instead of dwelling on the negatives, I'd like to list some of the positives I've encountered.

THINGS I LOVE WHEN I HAVE MORNING SICKNESS:

1. A darling husband who is ever willing to cook me porridge coz' I can't eat anything else.
2. He also picks up where I fail like preparing meals for the kids and sometimes bathing them.
3. He doesn't demand or complain about the neglected housework.
4. He understands when I lie in bed almost the whole day coz' that is all I can do with the strength I have.
5. A fantastic FIL who cooks potato chips for me just because of a fleeting crave.
6. A cute son who hugs me when I feel cold and says "Mommy, I keep you warm."
7. A loving daughter who understands that Mommy feels sick so she bathes herself and also her brother. She also says "Mommy, I will try not to disturb you."
8. Listening to your children pray "Dear Heavenly Father, please help Mommy not feel sick."

I'm so glad my children get to see how wonderful their father is. He is not afraid to help with the housework or care for the children. To end, I would like to share a saying that goes like this:

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."

Brain Exercises for Preschoolers

Looking for new stuff to entertain your children? Well, here are some stuff I found that my kids like. Fortunately, they don't know it's educational too. Hahahah.

1. Mazes by Cartoon Critters
2. Mazes by Krazydad - There are 5 levels of difficulty to choose from.
3. Mazes by Print Activities - As they say, mazes are "excellent for developing kids small motor skills and spacial perception skills".
4. Brain Games - Especially like the one where you get to control the traffic lights. See if you can avoid causing a jam.

Mimosa Pudica Fun

This morning sickness has not been good for my blogging. When the energy level is down, it's difficult to sit in front of the computer and think. But I think my poor blog is due for an update.

Well, just to share our newest discovery. While playing in a nearby park, I noticed the many Mimosa Pudica around the area. Of course growing up I called them "Touch-Me-Nots" or in Bahasa Malaysia, "Pokok Semalu". You know, those thorny little plants that close their leaves when you touch them? Anyway, I realized my children had not been introduced to this wonder and so I rallied them round and showed them the magic of this plant. Now our walks in the evening is not just about getting some fresh air, but also to spot and play with the many Mimosa Pudica along the roadside. I must say, it does keep them occupied for a while.

And while posting this blog, I learned that this plant even have medicinal values. So the next time you see a Mimosa Pudica, don't just think it's a pesky thorny plant. There is more than meets the eye.
1. Khasiat Pokok Semalu Untuk Wanita (sorry this is in Bahasa Malaysia).
2. Some medical data.

Love-ometer

How do you stop sibling rivalry? What do you do when your kids bicker at each other, breathe out threats, whine, complain, fight, pout, yell, tease, hit, scold etc...? Have you ever found yourself lost, confused and helpless at those moments when they turn to you to play judge? I know I have.
Of course, after reading plenty of parenting books and articles, you know that it is absolutely essential that you never play judge. Taking sides is a big NO-NO because usually the one you thought innocent, isn't completely innocent. There is always a side of the story that you never got to see or hear. Parents are advised to help the siblings solve their own problems. Yeah, but how? Especially when you are talking about siblings below the age of 5? Well, here are my two ways:

• I put both of them on the bench (similar to time-out). They both have to sit facing each other. They get off when they have both decided to make up and be friends again.
  It's usually the older one that will start initiating the peace talks cuz' they want to get off.
• Use the Love-ometer.
  What's that? Well, I got the idea when I came across something written by a Sunday School teacher on how she managed to get her young kids to be reverent in her class. She had some sort of chart that would show the reverence level in the class. She didn't have to yell or shout. If the class got to noisy and chaotic, the reverence chart would be adjusted accordingly.
  So I took that idea and taught my children that our home has a love-ometer (like a thermometer). When we do and say kind things, the love goes up. When we fight, quarrel, tease and say mean things, the love goes down. When there's plenty of love in the house, everyone is happy. But when the love goes down, the monsters all come out, especially Monster Mommy. And every kid will tell you that they really don't like it when Monster Mommy takes over their real Mommy.
  So when the contention gets to high in my home, the children are reminded about the love-ometer. If the love level gets to low, they have to start doing things that will help push the love back up again e.g. saying sorry, sharing etc....

I was planning to do a craft on the love-ometer. Unfortunately I'm not to crafty and have yet to get it done. But even then, my invisible love-ometer seems to be pretty effective.

Look Out For The Impromptu Lessons

My excitement of being pregnant has been washed away by the daily discomfort of nauseousness, tiredness and headaches. My poor kids have been the victims of neglect. But they have also been very understanding. I hope they don't start to dislike baby. My son told me one afternoon “throw baby away because baby make you sick.” Sweet but a bit worrying.

Anyway, I feel quite guilty coz' I haven't been diligent in teaching them. Yes, they are going to “Mummy's School” for the time being. However, this has made me more alert in catching those “impromptu” lessons. Here are 2 examples:

• Decided to go for a walk one night to ease off the discomforts. The streetlights were on casting shadows on the road. My girl comments “Hey, my shadow is almost as tall as yours.” (Blink, blink, lights go off in my head). We had an enjoyable discovery session about “shadows”. Here were some of the questions we explored:
  1. What makes the shadows? Light. Where there were no light, there were no shadows.
  2. How do you make it grow so small that it's right under your feet? Stand directly underneath the lightbulb.
  3. When is the shadow on our left / right / front / back?
  4. Does your shadow look like you? And does it do what you do?
  
• Pointing to an envelope while introducing the letter sound /e/ to my son. Although an ordinary object, I suddenly wondered if he really knew what an envelope was for. I then talked about writing letters, putting stamps, writing the name and address on the envelope, posting it at the post office, and our friend the postman who delivers the letters. The children seemed pretty intrigued and now our project is to test if the system works. So, they decided they want to write to Grandma and see if she will really get the “envelope.”

So I guess the point of this blog is to remember that lessons are not only found in books. Let us not confine our children's learning to a desk. Life itself is full of lessons. We just have to awaken our senses to things that have become “ordinary” to us because to them, it may not be that "ordinary" afterall.

Teeheehee... Could This Be No.3?

I have the symptoms... missed period, chilly, tired. And today, the food don't smell so good anymore. Did my own testing and that came out positive. The only thing I don't have is a doctor's confirmation. But I'm 99% sure.

Well, some people like to keep these things quiet. They don't like to tell people until they are like 4-5 months pregnant. Some fear that something unpleasant will happen if they tell people before 3 months is up. I'm not like that. Once I know, I feel like shouting out to the whole world. It's such wonderful and exciting news. Well, that's me.

So, ready or not, number 3 seems to be on it's way. Here I go again!

Froggy Update

Some people have been wondering what have become of my tadpoles. Well, half way through my moving house, two of the tadpoles decided to mature into frogs. It happened rather quickly after they developed 4 legs.

After I had moved into the current house, there was another tadpole on his way to becoming a froggy. He was getting pretty close but ended up dead one morning. Don't know what happened. I wonder if he drowned as I added a little bit of water to the tank the day before. Not too much but I guess it may have been too much for him. How sad!

It's interesting how when we caught the tadpoles, I thought they were all going to turn into frogs and the same time. But it looks like they take turns -- only one or two mature at a time. Now I have another two with legs and the rest... they look like they are happy being tadpoles.

Getting Kids to Like Spicy Food

The other day we decided not to cook but to get our dinner from the pasar malam. It was unfortunate that most of the food were spicy and my oldest girl wasn't very happy with what we brought home. This brings me to the question of "How do you get your kids to take spicy food?"

I myself grew up not taking too much spicy food. My only experience with chilli was the "nasi lemak" I bought during recess break at the school canteen. Even then I had to extinguish the fire with lots of cold water. I'm much better now when it comes to spicy food. That much I owe to my DH and FIL who are the "cannot-live-without-chilli" kind.

Anyway, on a trip to Hong Kong a few years ago, we shared an apartment with an Indian family. Their little girl who is the same age with my daughter happily helped herself to Curry Maggi Mee. If I'm not mistaken, most Malay and Indian families cook spicy food most of the time. How did they get their children to take spicy food? Did they adopt an "eat it or leave it" attitude?

As mentioned before, my daughter is not a big fan of spicy food. My son however, seems to have inherit his father's genes and is able to handle the taste. He wanted to try Asam Laksa and we let him. Surprisingly he came back for more. Sometimes during church occasions someone cooks some spicy noodle. He doesn't mind it. Today we had ladies fingers (okra) cooked in sambal. That was his favorite dish.

So I wonder, is eating spicy food something you learn to acquire or is it a "either you have it or don't have it" sort of thing? What do you guys do with your kids on this issue?

p.s.: By the way, I finally found my putu piring which I desperately looked for during the puasa month but failed to obtain.

Back Online

Finally, the moving house saga is over. It was a crazy week mixed along with a touch of bad luck. Not only had I to deal with lots of packing but also had to stress over hitting a motorbike. To add to the stress, I also managed to leave my house keys in my mom's car and she drove home to Seremban with it (that's about an hours drive away). I'm definitely glad to put it behind me. Looking forward to experiencing rainbows after the rain.

I know many people have lots of tips on moving house. This is mine (warning: this may apply to Malaysians only):

• When looking to hire wiremen, aircond contractors, grill makers, plumbers and whatsoever, do not drive around looking for their shop. Instead, pay attention to tree trunks, lamp posts or whatever fixture you can find along the roads as that is where they stick their advertisements.
• Also, the usually irritating little flyers and name cards they stick in your mailbox, do come in handy at this time.
• When you make an appointment with telekom to install your telephone line, be ready for them NOT to turn up. Insists on getting the contractor's number so you can call him direct. In my case, the contractor didn't turn up for the appointment because he didn't get the order in the first place. It took me 4 days to get my phone line up and another 4 days for the broadband to work.
  Moral of the story: If you can't live without your internet, better have a Plan B e.g. make sure you know where the nearest internet cafe is located.

Well, the kids look like they have adjusted well. This area has many young families and so they are quite a lot of kids their age. However, this is a Malay community and my kids have yet to speak Bahasa Malaysia. But amazingly, language is no barrier when you want to have fun and have a desire to make friends. My daughter didn't understand what the girl next door was saying but they were running around and having a good time.

Anyway, it's great to be online again. Life resumes to it's normal mode.

Bebereviews.com

Just want to quickly introduce everyone to a wonderful site for parents: http://bebereviews.com
More so for parents in the U.S. as I doubt we get such fantastic, creative children products here in Malaysia. But it's great education to what's available out there. Below is their introduction:
"A weekly e-magazine about the latest & greatest products for your child. Plus, read articles geared towards caring for your child, recipes, health tips, & more all right here!"

They now have a new column called Daily Scoop. It's a daily column where you will find celebrity mommy gossip, coupon codes, discounts, special sales and more!

Oh yes! One last thing. You can also add yourself to their Mommy Blogosphere. Just go to this link:
http://www.bebereviews.com/blog_directory.htm

Enjoy!

Update On My Tadpoles

My tadpoles are still alive. I've been waiting for their legs to emerge and it seems like it never will. Finally today, I saw some hind legs on one tadpole. Yes, only one has legs. It is very faint but it is there. Woohoo!


Related post:
We Have Tadpoles

Moving House Blues

No thanks to the mini landslide that is happening beside my house, my family has decided to relocate. There use to be squatter houses next to us but that has given way to the construction of low cost flats. They dug away the earth without putting retention walls and now with the constant rain, the earth has eroded resulting in the small road beside my front neighbour's house and my house to give way. Of course now they are working on it. But damage has been done already.

The photos above where taken from my front gate. As you can see, they have put up barriers at the end of the road. It really is a hassle getting the car out of my house now. I have to back into my front neighbour's gate to get out.

Well, anyhow, we have found a place to stay at Puncak Alam. It is new territory to me. Feels a bit scary to venture to a non-familiar place, learning where to get things and probably getting lost as I try to find my way around. But in a small way, there is also a bit of excitement and sense of adventure. Of course I will miss my beloved Petaling Jaya. The area in Puncak Alam is not yet as developed. Just have to be patient and wait for everything to mushroom around the area.

Unfortunately after the decision to move comes the headache of actually packing, moving, cleaning, transferring .... I know many out there have vast experience. I do appreciate whatever feedback you can offer. No we will not be hiring professional movers. Cutting cost is a family priority now. Anyone in PJ area that can donate boxes to me?

Moving checklists that may be of interest:
1. http://www.packnmove.co.uk/moving_house_checklist.html
2. http://www.ourfamilyplace.com/homebuyer/moving.html

A Fruit Salad Bowl of Lessons

"One final thing. I'll just cut up the fruits for the salad and then I'll sit down and spend time with the kids." This was what I was thinking after spending the whole morning doing household chores. My poor kids were entertaining themselves in front of the T.V. waiting for Mommy. And then an idea struck me -- why not let them come sit with me while I cut up the fruits. We'll make things up as we go along.

So the kids happily gathered round Mommy and the lessons began:

1. How many mangoes are there? How many apples are there? How many altogether?
2. Ok, Mommy is taking one apple away to cut. How many left?
   Now I'm taking another one. 4 apples take away 1 is ...?
3. See, you put the cut apples in salt water so the apples don't turn brown. If you leave the cut apples exposed to air, they turn brown.
4. What is the name of this fruit? Winter Melon. And what about that one? Yes, strawberries.
5. How many boxes of strawberries? What do they taste like? Sweet, sour or salty? What color are they?
6. Look at the mangoes. What color are they on the outside? What color are they on the inside?
7. Ok, I will let you help me cut. But must be careful with the knife ok. Cut it into cubes like this. This is called what? CUBES. Well done.
8. What about this fruit? What is this? KIWI. Do you know where kiwis come from? They can't grow in Malaysia. They come all the way from New Zealand. What do they taste like?
9. All done now. Do you remember what fruits we used? How many fruits altogether?
10. Which one did we cut first? Second? Third? etc....

It was really a delightful time. The kids enjoyed the "bonding" time and of course we got to treat ourselves to yummy nutritious fruits. Not forgetting Mommy managed to squeeze in some math, science and geography lessons. It made me think how many times I may have missed out on opportunities like this. More often than not we get bogged down with our work, that we become shortsighted to the real life lessons awaiting our children if only we include them in the work.

Read Aloud With Gusto!

I'm going to assume that most of you reading this blog know about Donald Trump's reality show "The Apprentice." If you don't, it's ok. I just want to mention that in one episode as he was giving some business tips, he ended with this statement "Do it with Gusto."

I like that statement and I would like to take it and apply it to reading aloud to children. Yes, read aloud to children with GUSTO! What does that mean? It means do more than just read. Captivate them with your use of voice variations, facial expressions, and gestures. Engage them with repetitive phrases and questions. Make the story come alive for them.

I must admit that one has to be "in the mood" to be able to pull this off. So do try to put away your worries for 15 minutes and let go of your inhibitions. Don't be afraid of being silly in front of your kids. It's the silliness they crave for. It's your exaggeration and enthusiasm that will foster their love for reading.

I found it very humorous the other day when during my reading session with the kids, my 2 1/2 year old toddler declared that he would read to me instead that night. He flipped open the book, referred to the familiar pictures, pointed to the words and pretended to read. Of course he couldn't read the words. He used his own words instead but made it seem like that was what was written. And what was hilarious was that he was using different voices to portray the different characters. Oh, kids are such good copycats. Which goes to show that reading aloud with GUSTO is how they would like us to read.

You don't need special training. You just need to enjoy the story and awake the sleeping actor/actress within you. Remember, to read with GUSTO, just let loose, be silly, get into character and dive into the story with enthusiasm.