Being Princess ....On Her Own

My girl, took part in her school's costume competition last 2 week. I was in China that time and not able to help her to dress up and make up. Luckily her friend's mother helped her to make up, and another friend's mother snapped this nice picture for me. 

All girls dream to become princess...she is no exception. She was now brave to walk on stage and even showed some posts.

She seems to enjoy participating in those school activities now. The first Chinese poem citing, she was still too nervous to speak out, audience can't even hear her voice. But the second Chinese story telling, she told me she was brave to speak out loud. Although she is still far from winning a prize, I am proud of her because she is in the journey of gaining self-confidence.

She later told me she tight her hair nicely, put on the crown and she was so beautiful.

三岁的叛逆和自我意识

虽说是养了2个孩子，对于管教孩子还是不能得心应手。常常被自己老妈投诉孩子坏，一点就大喊大叫。可是，老妈呀，你可知道我也是速手无策。

迈进三岁的宏缙，开始不听话了，我行我素，喜欢做的东西不给就大哭，我想这就是叛逆期了。常爱拿扫把当刀枪， 挥来挥去，我们要他收起，他当耳边风， 什么东西都要自己做，自己冲凉，自己吃饭，昨天看我帮他姐姐挖耳朵，他竟然说他要帮姐姐挖，可见他觉得自己的能力范围还蛮大的。当我看着他拿花洒自己冲凉的那一刹那，小小的身躯，水都不能准确的喷到头发，心想这孩子开始要独立自主了。

看了专家写关于三岁的自我意识，用哭来引人注意，还说没有叛逆期的孩子不正常， 因为会比较没有意志力，（暗暗自喜），只要做妈妈的细心引导， 孩子是会安然度过这过度期的，难免宽心了点。

说到我这儿子，他还是有很多可爱的地方。昨天让他睡觉时听到他改歌词，妈妈唱，“小宝宝，快睡觉，明天一早起来”，他接着唱，‘小宝宝，快睡觉，明天一早起来吃lollipop"。三岁的他也常让人出乎意料吧！

他也想像大人一样开火煮菜，玩得不亦乐乎。

向高爬是男儿本色？

Kuala Lumpur trip

Recently during the mid school holiday, we brought our kids to Kuala Lumpur, a long trip i consider because they have never leave home for such a long time - 4 days.

We first brought them to KLCC, to see the beautiful Malaysian-pround Twin Tower. They first "wah" and excited when seeing so many sky-rocketed buildings. Later, for some reason it seem bored for them already(maybe due to long hours sitting in the car, because their father didn't know the direction well). We visited the Aquaria in KLCC, which i think not bad to visit, the most giant view is the long tunnel where we saw 2 big sharks, monster fish(魔鬼鱼), tortoise and many other unknown fishes.

Giant monster fish...just realize the body's bottom looks like a smiling face!

Very hungry Pirana fish, leave only bones!

A giant cylinder aquarium.... magnificent view!

"What is that fish, mommy?"......A fantastic experience for the lttle one!太多鱼了，真是目不暇给！

A family photo in front of big fake shark.

The next day and the following days, we were out of ideas of where to bring them to. So, we brought them to The Mines to have the expensive boat rides(~RM 25 per adult for 20 minutes), to feed fishes(this was the most happy moment for kids).

Boat rides at "The Mines"...凉风阵阵，蛮不错啦。

Ice-cream time!

While hanging out at "The Garden", kids were attracted to the beautiful water fountain.

Finally at the last night we stayed in K.L., the tired little Hong Jin begged us to go home. When we asked him whose "home" to go to, he said " Hong Jin's home". Although we have wonderful time during the trip, still the most comfortable place is our home. "Home Sweet Home", even to the little one.

A mother's worry of lower English in Chinese Primary School

My daughter, Jin Hui has been attending Chinese Primary School for 4 months. In Malaysia, the Chinese Primary School  means teaching and communicating in Chinese where the students are also being taught Malay and English languages but regretfully English is only taught 1 hour per week.

Basically, she likes the school, the teachers and friends and begin to like learning Chinese. Writing in Chinese was a suffer for her when she was in kindergarten because Chinese was introduced to her at a later stage after she learnt the easier English writing. I am very thankful to her teachers who are very detailing in correcting her minor Chinese writing error. I could foresee she will master Chinese language very well in the next few years.

Most of the school buildings are funded by Malaysian Chinese public,
the names of the major donators are written on the buildings.

3-storey classroom, to be shared by both morning and afternoon classes.

However, the disadvantage to send to Chinese Primary School is they are getting less chance to study English, which is undeniable important for her future life, either in higher education or working. How can I help her to be competent in English as well, especially able to speak in English loud without shy? Besides, I am quite surprise to find out how simple and easy is their Standard One English's textbook.  They are still teaching "good morning, good afternoon... and other simple single words, which they have learned well 2-3 years before in their kindergarten. They never have an English spelling while they have Chinese and Malay spelling every week. Most of the Malaysian children attended 2-3 years of preschool and already have some min. explosure on English, and i think some changes must be made on enhancing the level of the English standard, but not to debate over and over again about teaching Mathematics and Science in English. Just remember ~ children are able to learn as much as they are challenged. 

Jin Hui and her cousin in school uniform

Exploring Grandma's Garden

My little son loves to explore his grandma's garden...almost every evening except the raining days. He learns to name the trees, the fruits, enjoying touching the plants too.

He sometimes accompanys the grandma to pick the chilli. Maybe someday he can help her grandma to plant the trees, to clear the grasses, and learn the art of growing.

Give me a SMILE before our exploration!

The delicous and juicy pineapple...even a toddler likes it!

Grandma planted this so-called"mulberry tree"
for the joy of little Hong Jin's picking.

"Youtun" tree, the leaves are believed to treat cancer.
We sometimes blended with apples to make juices.

Picking wild flowers...when asked who to give,
disappointedly not to mommy, but to throw away..! Oh! What a boy!

天真的两岁

忙得透不过气， 还是要偷些时间写下孩子们成长的点点滴滴， 好让这些回忆在老来细细回味。

宏缙两岁四个月，讲的话有时像大人。

芊卉姐姐被妈妈骂时， 他会看着妈妈说， “妈妈骂姐姐啊? 姐姐没有听话的喔?"

有时被人说他不可以做这样,做那样, 他会很快的反应:"我都没有!" 一副清白的样子.

他超爱他的被单, 我说妈咪没有, 他就会帮我盖一点, 说他跟妈咪share share.

妈咪陪他睡觉, 突然他说要去冰箱看看有什么, 看到有糖果, 他会以退为进, 先说;"妈咪, 暗暗不可以吃糖糖的, 是吗?' 妈咪说是的. 过了一分钟, 他又用同一招,结果妈咪累了先问他, 是不是要吃糖糖? 他才点头说是, 妈咪只好妥协了.

妈咪要出门去做工,婆婆帮忙把他骗进家里,不让他看见妈咪出去, 连续8天,婆婆都用同一招都还管用, 就是说去婆婆房间看蟑螂,他却每次都信以为真,  孩子就是这么的天真!

Jin Hui's own Identity card

Recently I bought a new wallet for Jin Hui, so that she could bring money to school to buy food at canteen.
One day, surprisingly i saw she made her own "ic" to put in her new wallet. She once asked about my identity card in my wallet and wonder why she doesn't have one, and i told her to make her own one.
She really keep in mind and made her own.



She even draw a picture of her...isn't it cute?



A Lovely "Gao San Qing" Dance

Remember Jin Hui's graduation dance of "Gao San Qing"? My 2 years old Hong Jin can dance too! We were amazed to see he danced when we sang the song one day. He is not shy at all to present in front of crowds.

We like the final part when he say "xie xie, thank you and terima kasih"(means thank you in chinese and Malay).

The funniest part now is he will immediately lie on the floor whenever we sing this song regardless of what he is doing.

Happy Chinese New Year 2012

Happy Chinese New Year 2012! It was a fun occasion for the kids not just because of the ang pow, soft drinks (only available at home during Chinese New Year), fireworks, but also precious time with their parents who have a week of holiday this year.

Little Hong Jin was so excited to meet with many relatives(old faces and new faces) and greeted them with his style of “Gong Xi Fa Cai, Hong Pao Na Lai”. He loves to watch the fireworks; whenever there is a firework sound from the neighborhood, he will quickly left whatever he is doing and find his father to grab him high to see the fireworks.

I can feel he is uneasy to let me go to work after a week of close companion.

Sister Jin Hui was on the other hand happy with no school day. She now begin to know the value of money, and kept negotiating with me to keep more of her ang pow money. Hope she will learn to calculate the money soon and no longer being cheated.(She was being cheated by a new friend to exchange RM 2 with 3 coins total to 80cents but she thought she was getting advantage).