唐诗 － 咏鹅

Big C

Small C

咏鹅

yong e

骆宾王

lou bin wang

鹅，鹅，鹅

e, e, e

曲项向天歌

qu xiang xiang tian ge

白毛浮绿水

bai mao fu lv shui

红掌拨清波

hong zhang ba qing bo

I didn't know that BaoBei actually introduces Tang Poems until I found some papers with some Tang Poems on my dressing table. So, I asked them last night if they are able to recite these Poems. They were so thrilled to show-off what they had learned from BaoBei.

One of their favourites is definitely this one because it is amongst the easiest with the repeating 鹅，鹅，鹅. 

骆宾王 (Lou Bin Wang) is the Poet emerged during the Tang Dynasty. 

The title is 咏鹅 (About Swan) was cited by Lou Bing Wang when he was only 7-year-old. He described what he observed from a flock of swans on the lake. 

Ladybird's Peter & Jane

I am a kiasu mother, and I was desperate to get Big C to READ. So, I bought a set of Ladybird's Peter & Jane 1a,b,c & 2a,b,c a while ago. Big C was able to read 1a before she turned 3. Well done! Praise is needed in this case since I have not mentioned about this before. I am FAIR! Ok. Then, Big C entered P&J SCHOOL which I kind of slacked off a little, and did not continue with the set.  Hahaha...plus I feel it gets a little boring when 1b is still talking about Peter, Jane & Pat. My friends told me that I should have bought them separately to encourage them to read before they can get a new book, which I think it is such brilliant idea. I am not just kiasu, and I am greedy too. It was cheaper to get a set! So, I bought a set. Before I got this brilliant ideas of buying them separately, I even told Wd to purchase a SET because is CHEAPER. Muahahaha.....

So, after the last holiday which Big C attended the 1-1/2 months VY, as I mentioned before she also picked up books on her own. Well, maybe due to her freedom of "playing" with the books, Big C also enjoy books. She loves those girly themed book, Hello kitty, Princesses, Barbies. Since her Nursery, her tremendous improvement in her colouring skills, no more scribbles. She loves activities books, if she could figure out what to do, she would just join the dots or match the pictures. Otherwise, she would wait till I am home, and request MaMa to guide her. 

Now, she is 4+, well, in education-age, she is known as 5 (she is a Nov Baby) :P Yes, many excuses for mothers with year-end babies to feel it's normal for their children to be slower than those already 5 OFFICIALLY, and feel extra proud if their year-end children can perform better than the already 5. :P No doubt, there is a slight "hitch" in such thought, but can't help it. Mothers are the protector of their children, and that makes overprotective mothers and spoilt children. :P Like Mine. 

COME BACK! Now, she is 4+. 

She has finally completed 2b. Well done. I never like book 1c & 2c because they require the children to fill in the blank. Hmm, I mean it's good. Get them guessing and encourage them to spell. But I feel NOT YET. Hahaha..I love writing blog. While writing and commenting, then I realise "YES, get them guess the word to fill in the blank!" Before writing this, I wanted to say, I am not going to proceed with 1c & 2c because Big C is not at the stage to fill in the blank. Alamak! How could I make such judgmental error before even get Big C to try. 

I am going to buy 3a ONLY, and encourage her to finish before buying the next book. I will bring her to the bookshop and specifically let her know that she had completed 2b, well done, and her rewards would be getting a NEW book. Good Job, Big C!

Vital Years Updates

I am not sure if I mentioned about how Cs benefited from attending Vital Years' programme. 

But I want to record what I have seen from Little C lately.

My girls are fond of books, well, AT LEAST they enjoy picking up books from the little bookshelves to do whatever they like. Sometimes, they would pick up sticker books messing with the marble floors and doors with their stickers. Sometimes, they would pick up colouring books to practise their "scribbling" skill. Sometimes, the would pick up books and pretend to READ them out loud. When they were much younger, Cs used to rip up a lot of books which really drives me crazy. That was the time that I couldn't control myself from the FURIOUS shouting at Cs. The worse I had seen with Big C was she tore some pages into pieces and put those little nasty pieces into her mouth, gulped down. It was petrified and at the same time outraged to watch such scenes with my own eyes. My girl swallowed pieces of papers torn from the "Three Little Pigs". Argghhhh.... She was two! 

COME BACK! Hahaha..Come back on Vital Years topic. Little C attended Vital Years since September 2012. Let's talk about her recognition of alphabets both lowercase and uppercase, hhmm, till date, she is still confuse between d & b, P & q. Honestly, at this image,to them these are images rather than alphabets. So, I guess it will take some times for her to realise their differences. She is able to recognize "T" but not "t", she tends to read "t" as "not", maybe VY is trying to make Little C recognize "not" which confused Little C. She also got a little mixed up between "V" & "W" but with a little hint, she would usually able to blurt out correctly. 

And then, reading habits. Little C impressed me. It is not important if she can READ, but the HABIT of picking up books is amazing. I guess it will be the first step of developing reading habit. Is it? I guess we must build a consistent reading ambiance in the family, and continue to encourage the girls to read. What happened after Little C picked up a book? 

She flips the book page by page. She uses her pointer to point at the words on the left page and rely on the picture illustrated on the right page to make up her own story. As she makes up her story with the illustration, she uses her pointer to move word by word, and lastly she stops her story at last word. WELL DONE! Book Habit plus her imagination, these are enough to impress me! I adore how she makes up her own story and her attentiveness which we love to watch till she finishes her book before we praise her aloud. 

Sleep Training for Cs

Yes, I have gone through the stage of getting Cs to "sleep through the night" - Phew~ It's the hardest phase in my parenting record so far. (*I know, more parenting challenges to come.*) I cannot imagine getting myself back to the Sleep-deprived stage, whereby M & Me were only getting 2 - 4 hours sleep a day in SECTIONS. Geezzz.....  

So, what's the Sleep Training context about today? Well, I can't help feeling envious of my friends' kids who are able to sleep on their own. I am not expecting my kids to sleep in their OWN room yet as I don't have a spare room for now. But, at least getting them to bed on their OWN. 

Cs have been very very very attached to M & Me, especially in the night. For some reasons, M & Me are very much comfortable and happy to sleep together with Cs as we feel that's our BONDING TIME with the kids since we don't see the kids for long hours during the weekdays. Hmm...somehow, we get a little wearied of the routine. Oppsie. :P

I am rather strict with the girls' sleeping routine, especially Big C. I always get them ready by 9 - 9:30pm for bed. By 10pm, they should be all asleep. It will a lot easier if it was Novi who sent them to bed, by most 1/2 hour times, they will be asleep. However, if it was me or M *Sigh*, they will put on their wonderful act and dragged it till late. I mean really late like 11pm or even 12 midnight sometimes. SO TIRING! Sometimes, we reached home late intentionally, so that Cs will just resort with sleeping early since Kakak will definitely not going to entertain them till late. Bad MaMa, I know. :p

Somehow I feel, this is not right! Cs have to learn to sleep on their own. They can do it during the daytime for their naps, why not in the night? I don't see a problem at all. So, I come out with a good plan. First, I have to coax Big C to be a "brave" princess using Mermaid Ariel as her role model. Hahaha...Yes... Princess Ariel is set as the "Brave" Princess from the audio storybook that I have been playing her Cs.

Then, I "threatened" her that if she is not "brave" enough to sleep on her own, I will not let PaPa into the room and have PaPa continue to work and not be home.

Then, again I used a lot of "Princess' Rules" to make sleeping on her own is a very very "Princess" thing to do. 

Little C is a lot easier, most of the times, she would just fall asleep on her own without much hassle. Unless, Big C put up a big show, wailing for PaPa & MaMa, otherwise Little C is pretty much happy to get to bed at around 9pm. 

Well, I am not sure whether was the COAXING or the THREATENING worked. 

Day 1 : FAILED!

I told them not to be afraid, and that I will be just right at the door. I will be there for them IMMEDIATELY they shout out for me. Well, lights off, MaMa's out of the rooms, girls on bed. Not long after, Big C ran out and called for the loo. I had no choice but to bring them one after another. The story didn't end at the loo, they started to request for water, the lights on then the lights off UNTIL I surrendered and went in to bed with them. 

My plan continued to fail me for daysssssss until 

Day XX :

As usual, I told that I will be right at the door. Before I got out of the room, I told them no "shh shh", no water. But I gave them the option to have the lights on, and Big C chose to have the lights on. Thus, I left the room with the lights on, door closed. The girls chatted and laughed in the room, those melodious laughters and voices were so heart-melting. At the end, I sat by the door for almost 1/2 hours, listening to their beautiful voices. After which I realised that it was not right for them to CHAT in the night, it's time for bed. I shouted out at the door, and ordered them to SLEEP immediately. The room remained quiet for a while, and I slipped away to have my TV time. YUPPY!

Well, I didn't win all the times but at least I have the 50% winning record so far. Kakak is also doing the same, she would stay at the door and peep into the room once a while to make sure the girls are asleep before she take her rest. The situation is getting better each day. :)

Hopefully, it will be PERMANENT and that I will be the 100% winner! Muahahaha

K1 Theme Day 1 - Myself

Time to play Dress-up.

Theme : Myself

Dress Code : Something that I like to wear

Easy huh? 

Big C is very girly, anything that makes her a princess is the BEST!

A Pink Dress, A Pink Magic Wand, A Pink Tiara & A Happy Princess Smile.

 

Not to be left out, 

Little C put on her 

Purple Rapunzel Dress, A Minnie Mouse Hair Band & An Adorable Look.

Feb's Fab Event - Welcoming the Year of Snake

Gong Hey Gong Hey!

The greeting posted late as today's the 9th day of CNY. :P

I have some more photos to post but they require a little more effort such as "EDITING" or "TRANSFERRING" from my D600 to my Apple. 

Didn't shoot much photos but if I can spare "a little" time to work on it, I am sure I have some good photos to post for this CNY, especially photos of Cs in their traditional Chinese Costume, visit to the Tien Hou Temple and so on. 

So, I am going to work on the iphone's photos FIRST! 

Gong Hey Gong Hey!

Feb's Fab Event No. 3 - Fireworks

9th Feb 2013

The girls love the fireworks and this is our very first experience playing the fireworks together as a family. 

Well, it's definitely not my first encounter, but since it was "banned" years ago, the fireworks didn't come to my interest. 

I got this from a friend and we had a few blasts, and had a whole lots of them which I am going to dispose in a day or two. First, we feel it is a little dangerous and Big C was startled with the loud noise during the blast. 

This Big C loves the fireworks but at the same times she hates it too. 

又爱又恨！Hahaha.... When we stopped playing, she insisted us to do it again. When we were all set to lit up the fireworks, she was wailing hard and clinging tight to whoever next to her. Whereas Little C was totally the opposite, she loves the fireworks too, she was really steady and calm even though I saw her little body jerked a little, I am sure she was startled too. :)

Feb's Fab Event No. 2 - Yee's Family Reunion

BFFs Version 0.03

* Don't ask me why Version 0.03, A's mom said 0.03 and I copied*

Yes, A's mom & MaMa are BFF, so as our children, the 2nd generation BFFs.

Cs and A are BFFs not just due to the "hereditary" status. Hahahaha...

A's nanny is happened to be the member of the Yee Family too and that's explained why A's presence in the Yee's Family Reunion Dinner. 

8th Feb 2013

The Yee family had the GROUP Reunion Dinner one day before the CNY's eve, so that the individual families can have their own Quality Family Time on the eve itself. Brilliant! 

Feb's Fab Event No. 1 - Birthday Girl

MaMa's Sister (Ah Yee , the Birthday Girl) with Sweetie Pie (Little C)

Yeah! It's Ah Yee's Birthday in Feb!

We had a simple Family Dinner together @ Pavillion with lots of loves & joys.

7th Day of CNY 2013

Festive period is always a GREAT time to call for a gathering.

So, we did. The ARGS group, all looking young & pretty. :P

Here are the pretties and mini pretty from ARGS.

The suggestion of group photo came late :(

we have more members who left us just 15 mins before this photo was taken. Not to worry, another call for ARGS gathering in March. 

PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS!!!! 

We used to have time and the mood to take pictures of our food. 

I guessed now, with the increased number of minis, mommies and daddies were really busy either feeding or playing with their minis including ME!

Well, no photos to elaborate, let me just briefly file in our POTLUCK list :-

ME - Lap Mei Fan in Claypot

N&W - Thai Inspired Lemongrass Dessert

E&C - Roast Duck

CC - Stir Fried Assorted Mushroom

M&H - Green Salad

SY - MIL Special Assam Prawn Recipe

WL&BY - Homemade Dao Yu Bak (Braised Pork)

D - Golden Ingot (Fried Dumpling) & Sausages

D&J - Special "Christmas Tree" Fruit Platters

J&K - Yee Sang!

What else What else? Should be all...? I think

Welcoming 2013 with my BFF

My "Party Mode" set in on the New Year's eve, and I managed to persuade my BFF to have an easy count-down with in the Shangrila Hotel's Lobby Lounge. We used to hang out in this lounge some years back (when we were still single & YOUNG!), I thought going back there would bring us back a lot of good old memories. 

Yes, She is my BFF. :P

This wine cost us RM 350.00 ++

In order to secure a place for the new year's eve count down, I was asked to make FULL payment in advance. Geezz, M argued with the hotel and get by without advance payment. It was all BSH*T! The lounge was considered "EMPTY" for such a big night! It was barely half-filled. WANT OUR ADVANCE TO SECURE OUR SEATS? What?! The hotel expected a huge crowd and they actually arranged the tables and chairs less than an inch away from one another. Nope, it didn't reach the five-star standard, NO WAY! The ambient was overly quiet and slow. The worse part was the band!!! which I had great expectation of from my previous experience with Shangrila-Lounge. We did not set HIGH EXPECTATION, but it was really disappointing, the word "LOUSY" fits very well. I am sorry, but it's true. Songs selection was wrong, the singer couldn't not hike up the atmosphere. Nothing seems to be right.

The Queen Julian!

Lovely Couple. 

W, S, M & C

Venue, Songs, crowds didn't favour us. BUT, BFF had a good fun entertaining each other with lots of stupid act and iphone shots. :) 

Happy New Year 2013 to ALL!

Status 7/2/2013

You will never stop hurting me.... and this is my destiny? Hope you will change one day and my tears will stop before I turn blind. :( 

Mount Kinabalu

Journey to Mt. Kinabalu starts from here.

I took an early flight departed from Kuala Lumpur at 8:30am, arrived Kota Kinabalu at 11:20am.

I met up with my buddy from Singapore in the K.K. Airport as her flight arrived at the same time.

We had our lunch in the Airport. There weren't much choices, in fact, we didn't see anywhere else other than KFC. Maybe, we did not try to explore the airport. :P

After our KFC lunch, We took the airport cab at about 1pm heading straight to Mesilau Nature Resort which is 2-1/2 hours away from the K.K. Airport. It may sounds a long journey, but it was quite a brief one to both us especially when we started chatting away about everything about our children, our backpacks, our men etc. "Not very long after", we arrived the resort.

It was drizzling when we arrived Mesilau. I checked the weather forecast before the trip, and the outlook didn't look good, it was a sign of rain throughout the week. However, it didn't worry me too much since everything has been scheduled and paid. 

We checked in the resort at about 4pm, and continued our conversation in our room until the time for dinner which was 7pm. Our target for the night was to sleep at 9pm since we are expecting a full blast hiking up to the base camp. True enough, our chittery chattery stopped at 9pm sharp!

We woke up at 6:30am the next morning, and we took about 1/2 hour to freshen ourself up. Packed up our backpack, and off to the restaurant to have our simple breakfast which included : Orange Juice, Tea/Coffee, Toasts, Eggs, Sausages, Bean in Tomato Sauce and Fruits. 

We hit to the starting point of Mesilau Trail just right before 9pm. We had one guide and one young lady as our porter to join us in our hike to Low's Peak. In less than half and hour, the rain started to pour dogs & cats. We stopped at the 1st KM hut, and we waited for a while. But we thought it was not a very good idea to wait till the rain stops, as we have a LONG WAY ahead of us. Thus, without much hesitation, we proceeded our hike in the rain. 

All paths are filled with rain water, wet & muddy. Even though the weather didn't favour us, I must said I had a good time throughout the hike. It was a total different experience from my first climb to Mt. Kinabalu. To me, hiking in the rain is such a sensational & memorable, I was wearing my SMILE all the way up to the Base Camp, Laban Rata. The rain was really heavy and I didn't manage to take a photo of the rush of the water flow in the stream. 

The trail via Mesilau is not as monotonous as compared to Timpohon. Imagine, 4km of steps and steps, and then still step up after steps all the way up to the intersection of Mesilau & Timpohon Trail. In Mesilau, we see flights of wooden steps, rocky paths, red muddy paths, a easier trail and if the weather is fair, you will probably get some good views at the Lookout Point, which I did in my last climb here 5 years ago. 

At 1:50pm, the fascinating sight of the Laban Rata House made me felt a sense of relief which is indescribable - "phew, 1st part of the hike ends right here!". At the same time, the satisfaction of being up here 1-1/2 hours earlier than the last hike make me put up a VICTORY smile on my face. Yuppie!

The first thing I did when I arrived at Laban Rata was to get a mug of HOT Milo. I have not drunk Milo any tastier than this mug that I had in Laban Rata. It instantly warmed me up who was totally soaked in the rain during the hike.

 

This photo didn't show much, but this pair of shoes weathered the rough hike up here with me. Horray to my pair of lovely "gym shoes". They are now still in good condition after a wash!!! I was expecting to dispose it upon the journey ends, but it was still in superb condition. :P

Just for my own record and some friends' queries, these are the price list that you are going to expect in Laban Rata. Yes, my mug of yummy Milo cost me RM13.00 which I can get myself a small tin of it in town. What do you expect? When you in their RestHouse, one and only one, you are already been placed on the chopping board. Unless, BYO!

Again, there are limited resources up in Laban Rata, so you will expecting the weak generator stops in a sudden and came back running the current in another second. Needless to say, everyone's desires of HOT WATER SHOWER will be rather hard to come by. Well, IF you are lucky enough, LIKE ME, you will get occasion hot water during the shower. Unlucky for my dear buddy, she had icing cold water throughout her shower. LOL :P

We were awake at 2:30am, had a really simple SUPPER before we head off to Low's Peak. Elaine and I were amongst the last to leave Laban Rata. We left at around 3:30am and we overtook some hikers and we arrived at 5:30pm below Low's Peak to take some photos. We were approximately 100-150M away from the Low's Peak. It was super windy and I was extremely cold. The strong chilling wind put off my desire of using my D600 & Benro boy. Elaine is a Pro in Photography, and I think her photography desires fight the chilling winds and she was steadily setting up her tripod and camera for shoots, while I was shivering in the cold chilling wind, getting frustrated over the shutter which did not seem to work under my THICK WOOLEN GLOVES. I attempted to took the gloves off, in less than 2 seconds, I quickly put it on again. It was TOO cold for me to proceed. I decided to keep my D600 and the Benro back to my backpack, and took out my daily photo gadget, IPHONE, snapping away here and there, which was MUCH easier to manipulate. 

We returned to Laban Rata at 10:00am, we left Laban Rata at 10:30am after our breakfast in the resthouse. 

MaMa at Carson Fall

Our Finish Line at Timpohon Gate at 12:48 noon. 

VICTORY!

Welcoming the Year of Snake in P&J

Big C put on her Modern Chinese Dress to celebrate Chinese New Year in P&J.

Isn't she adorable? Awwww....