ZHEN'S 7TH BIRTHDAY

19 November 2011, Saturday

It was Zhen's birthday and I had arranged a little surprise birthday party for her with a few of my friends and their kids, niece, nephew & friends' kids.

Zhen was surprised and happy.  She told me that she thought, it was just a normal dinner with me catching up with my friends as usual, whenever I'm back in Penang.

She was also happy that her birthday presents were mostly stuff she liked.  She asked me why was it that my friends knew what she likes?

While busy chatting with Zhen and listening to her, I had sort of 'left out' Min.  Out of a sudden, she bursted out, "I, not happy!  My birthday not here yet!".  That got me laughing and promised her a birthday party too, next month.

LOY KRATHONG SONG

19 November 2011, Saturday 

A 'Loy Krathong' song being played by one of the storytellers in PInKS Festival 2011.

WAYANG KULIT SHOW

19 November 2011, Saturday

The backstage of a 'Wayang Kulit' show in PInKS Festival 2011.

PInKS FESTIVAL 2011

19 November 2011, Saturday 

We made a trip to Penang for the Penang International Kids Storytelling (PInKS) Festival 2011.  It was around 12:30pm, when we reached Straits Quay.  There was a 'Wayang Kulit' show at the main stage.  Zhen & Min had never seen a wayang kulit show before.  Min was a little scared of the puppets, and I took her to the backstage to have a look. [Video]

After lunch, Zhen & Min went around all 4 tents set-up, with 4 storytellers telling their stories.

The girls settled down with the storyteller who was using puppets, in telling his story.

Meanwhile, in the next tent, a storyteller was playing the song 'Loy Krathong'.
[Video]

We went over to the "Non-stop Nursery Rhymes and Poetry Recitation by children aged between 4 and 12 years old" event.  I had registered Zhen earlier on, with the poem "No Pencil" by Ken Nesbitt.  Min wanted to follow her 'jie jie' to recite a poem too.  I registered her name there and then, and she recited "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

The girls were very happy & proud with their certificate of participation.

CAMPING IN THE ROOM

6 November 2011, Sunday

Kids having fun 'camping' in their room (the jungle), after watching The Jungle Book.  They had their stuff toys, 'cooking utensils', and some story books with them.

 

‘Studies show that kids with active exposure to language have social and educational advantages over their peers - and reading is one of the best exposures to language.’ ~ kidshealth.org

READING

5 November 2011, Saturday 

Zhen reading a Noddy story to her 4yo sister and her 5mo cousin sister.

 

Reading tips from Reading with Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers 

"Expose your little one to as many words as possible FROM BIRTH by talking, pointing out details of the world, and reading books OF ALL KINDS.  Remember, children who have never heard certain words, seen those words, or come into context with them, can have difficulty knowing what those words mean (or how to spell them) once they begin school and new words and concepts are presented in books and lessons everyday."

BALLET

2 November 2011, Wednesday

My little princesses in ballet class.

POOL TIME

15 October 2011, Saturday

It's pool time on a sunny Saturday morning.

BABY TOOTH

21 October 2011, Friday
Lee Zhen's first baby tooth fell off today.  Did the tooth fairy drop by?

HAIRDRESSER

2 October 2011, Sunday

Zhen playing as a hairdresser, one fine Sunday morning.

DRAWINGS

8 October 2011, Saturday

We were at the temple (Vihara Buddha Gotama) this morning... the girls enjoyed their time at the temple... offered food to the Sangha, had their lunch, then it's playtime... sometimes they would go run about in the field outside, sometimes they would just stay indoors to draw.

by Lee Zhen

 

  

  

by Lee Min

MIN DOODLES, ZHEN DRAWS

October 2011

Min doodles a little...

    

  Zhen draws a little...

ANGRY BIRDS FEVER

September 2011

Angry Birds here, Angry Birds there, Angry Birds by Lee Zhen...

WEDDING GREETING CARD

27 October 2011, Thursday

A wedding greeting card Zhen drew for her father's god-brother (Kenny) and his wife (Apple).  May they live happily ever after!

 

 

 

 

 

COLOUR OF THE FINGER

26 September 2011, Monday

Min is doing her homework and wants to colour the picture of a finger. 

Min:  "Finger, what colour, mum?"

Me:   "Finger, what colour?  Beige."

Min:  "Beige."  (standing & swaying)

Me:   "Yellow."

Min:  "Yellow."  (standing & swaying)

Me:   "Brown."

Min:  "Brown."  (standing & swaying)

Me:   "Black."

Min:  "Black."  (standing & swaying)

Me:   "Orange."

Min:  "Orange."  (standing & swaying)

Me:   "Apple."

Min:  "Apple!"  (stop swaying and turns towards me)

Min:  "Apple?  Eat one ah!"

SPOILT ROOF

25 September 2011, Sunday

A few men came to install heat insulation sheets for the house, this morning.  They were banging (tearing down) the old zincs, when Min woke up.  Her father brought her out to see those men at work.  He told little Min that the men are spoiling the house.
She came back to me and cried, "The roof spoil already!".  After a short while, she came out from the room with all her little bolsters and asked, "They all spoil the house, where to sleep?".

HELPING OUT

25 September 2011, Sunday

A rare occasion where the girls helped out with folding the clothes.

BONDING

19 September 2011, Monday

I was cutting Min's fingernails when she kissed me on the cheek out of a sudden.

This makes me recalled what a friend once told me.  She said she enjoyed cutting fingernails for his son, even though he knows how to do it by himself.  She said she enjoyed the BOND that is there.
Sooner or later, there will come a day when they (our children) will not want us to cut their fingernails or bathe them anymore.  Why not do these things for them now, when they still want us doing stuff for them?

I seldom bathe Zhen as I kept telling her that she's old enough to do it by herself.  But when I do bathe her (once in a while)... YES! I do enjoy that special BOND!

MALAY WEDDING

25 September 2011, Sunday

We were at a Malay wedding lunch today.  Min saw some boys eating rice with their hands and told me, "Naughty boys, they eat with hands!".  I explained to her that it is the Malay tradition that they eat with their hands.  Halfway through lunch, the girls saw the ceremony where the groom's procession with friends, relatives, musicians and people meeting the bride at the bride's home.  Min was scared by the sound of the "kompang" (a traditional musical instrument among the Malays).  Min said the people are holding shinning shining umbrellas (yellow umbrellas).  On the other hand, Zhen walked up to the procession and enjoyed the "show". 

SAND ART

17 September 2011, Saturday
After watching Smurfs at the cinema this morning, the kids went for some sand art.  They had an enjoyable day today.  They were so proud of their art work too!

Sand Art Clock by Zhen @ RM12

Sand Art - "A Cat (Azrael)" by Min @ RM6

WRITING WITH BOTH HANDS

19 September 2011, Monday

Do you know how to write with both hands at the same time?  :D

My 4yo, Min showed you how...

MAGAZINE COVER

16 September 2011, Friday night
Zhen drew this by copying a magazine cover...

BOOKMARKS

September 2011

Some bookmarks made by Zhen...

HAIR CLIPS

September 2011
Min shows us that there are other ways to put on hair clips...

GIVING BIRTH

16 September 2011, Friday

I was at the market this morning with my girls.
Lady at market:  "兩個女兒?"  (Two girls?)
Me: "是的"  (Yes.)
Lady:  "生多一個. 兩個這樣少."  (Have another one.  Two too little.)
Me:  "兩個夠了."  (Two is enough.)

I then smiled and walked away.
Min:  "生 baby 很痛的.  Have to cut stomach."  (Giving birth is painful.  Have to cut the stomach).

... showing her 2 little fingers as the scissors 'cutting' her little tummy!

Love her, my little 4yo!

Successful Caesarean section performed by indigenous healers in Kahura, Uganda.
As observed by R. W. Felkin in 1879.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarean_section

 how mothers deliver a baby from little girl point of view

SAGA SEEDS

3 September 2011, Saturday
The car park was full of saga seeds on the ground.  Since, we were not in a hurry, the kids spent some time collecting them.

MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL (中秋节) 2011

12 September 2011, Monday

It's Mid Autumn Festival... the kids had fun playing with lanterns and candles lighting.  They had an enjoyable time at a friend's house yesterday night too.

We saw a handmade lantern when we were at our friend's place.  It was made of tins.  A short video on the handmade lantern...

MARINA ISLAND, PANGKOR, PERAK

30 August 2011, Tuesday

 

 



A half day trip to Marina Island, Pangkor.  Kids had fun drawing on the beach and balancing themselves on some balancing balls at the park.

Marina Island, Pangkor is one of Malaysia's premier man-made islands, which are being built on the coast of Teluk Muruh, opposite Pangkor Island and Pangkor Laut, in the state of Perak, Malaysia. The project which is being developed by Marina Sanctuary Resort Sdn Bhd, is reclaimed from the sea with total area of 316.9 acres, 400 meters from the mainland's shoreline.

CAMERON HIGHLANDS, PAHANG

20 August 2011, Saturday

A short holiday trip to Cameron Highlands.  The girls plucked strawberries for the first time and enjoyed themselves very much.

TEDDY'S LAZY EYE

18 August 2011, Thursday
I was putting my girls' soft toys to the washing machine when I found this poor teddy...

Both of my girls have a lazy eye, on their right eye.  They have to patch their right eye for at least 1-2 hours every day.  So, I guessed they must have patched poor teddy and forgot to take the patch off.  :-)