Coming to the end of 2010

Coming to the end of Year 2010...As I reflect on the past one year, I recall of many happenings, some trips and still counting my blessings. But for the past one month, I would like to highlight some here.

Hannah - Music Drama Class recital

Goldilocks Teaching the Three Brown Bears to Recycle

Christmas shopping

One Utama 

The Gardens and Mid Valley Megamall

Bangsar Shopping Centre

Cosy and nice to walk around. Met Santa and got a gift from Santa, a teddy bear. Experience snow fall too. Children were playing 'snow', surrounded by real Christmas trees and a fountain.

Christmas Gathering       The cell group had Christmas gathering at my place. There is always lots of laughter and cries too. Well with 7 toddlers running and playing, there bound to be some jumping, falling, running into, snatching and fighting for 'the seat'. That night went well, though with some mishaps, nothing major. I remember Isaac fell off a stool and said "No pain, no pain". Haha that was funny. I had fun seeing them playing together. They are such joy to have. Thanks too to my two girls helped out in entertaining the children. As for food thank you mama Cheah for the yummy and ever popular lobak. PN did well in her curry chicken attempt.

from L to R ...children playing, giving out Christmas gifts, children playing and Ann with her baby Caylee (and kissing balloon)

Christmas Celebration at IOI Boulevard   Many programmes took place that night but I didn't snap much. It was raining and strong wind when we reached there that evening. But as the night got darker rain also got less heavier and eventually stopped. Something I did during the event which I have not done for many, many years ie Donate Blood. As for my girls, they took part in the colouring competition.

colouring competiton

Children Church Christmas Celebration   We sang some carols, aunty Florence told the true meaning of Christmas, aunty Mi Lin led the children with some games. Then we served yummy food. A group of orphanage joined us.



Trip to Malacca  We don't go to Malacca often. I would say maybe 2 years once. But in this month of December we went there twice. First was part of our balik kampung holiday to Muar/Malacca when Alyssa was hospitalised. Then few days ago was due to my father in law admitted into the ICU ward for brain hemorrhage. Both times also in Pantai Hospital. We contributed a lot to the parking business in the hospital.

from L to R ... the girls at aunty Rosemary's house, Lao Qian Icy Cold Coffee, the long queue outside chicken ball rice shop and Hannah really bored waiting for chicken ball rice

 

I am just praying all things will end on a happy note. New hope, new beginning for the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gathering with friends

This is probably the last gathering at the Teoh's residence in Ara Damansara as they are migrating to Australia.

from top L - R Joseph, Michael, Esther, Natalie, Alyssa, Cynthia, Hannah, Chloe, Zoe, Isaac, Danielle (with her cute cute face) and Vanessa.

Food - Nasi lemak, fried chicken (ayam goreng berempah), squid curry, sambal. Also roti jala (lasy pancakes) with curry chicken and satay. For the children specially prepared sausages and sandwiches. Dessert pulut inti (glutinous rice with sweet coconut).
Fun - 'The Amazing Race Home Edition' (prepared by uh-hum...me)

and balloons fight (balloons I brought but fight not my idea).

Fellowship - Catching up with cell members from the good old days. Good old days as we grow older things get better. Old - because we are getting older and children are getting bigger.



Thank you Irvin and Geraldine for your warm hospitality and generous dinner. We are going to miss you. It's my prayer that you'll continue to look onto the Almighty God for His directions and may His blessings and protection follows you and your family in the new land.

Memories of year end 2009 and beginning of 2010

It's coming to end of 3rd week of school. Time flies. Was thinking to blog on school holidays, Christmas gathering, 1 week shopping spree and school reopen. Well since I can't turn back clock, might as well do all these in one post.

Year end school holiday was quite short for me. We had trips back to Ipoh and Muar. Then Christmas and school reopen preparation. Put up Christmas tree and some deco. Clean up the house for Christmas gathering. Get all the uniforms, shoes, bags and stationeries ready. Wrap some books and it was year end already.

Thank God we had some events in between making the school holidays more interesting. Our cell group Christmas gathering! Food, children laughter (and crying), parents mingling, gift exchange......what a day of the year to look forward to. Seeing the children grow and achieving their milestones year after year, that really make me feel 'satisfied' like I've just had bitter sweet thick and creamy durian or a cup of really rich ice blended mocha.

Parents busy with gift exchange

On the final week of the year 2009, hubby took leave from work and we went shopping. After a few days, my two girls were sick of the word 'shopping'. Till now we still joke with them about going shopping. Whenever they ask where are we going (when we about to go out), hubby and I will answer "shopping!". Then with a frown on their face "huh...shopping again!!!"



And then we welcome the year 2010.............


School term started on 4 January. Hannah going to Year 1 (afternoon session) and Alyssa to Year 4 (morning session). What drags me most to this day was waking up at 6 in the morning. Good bye to my sweet mornings as this day will change my sleeping hours for many, many years to come. On the bright side...since waking up so early in the morning, I might as well go for early workout in the gym or for a morning jog around my area.



Well, the thought counts. I failed the 1st and 2nd week. Was very sleepy and tired. Some days were raining too, so I couldn't jog (thank God). This week quite good...went to gym 3 times and managed to run 5 km outside here yesterday.

With the girls in school, tuition or doing homework, I found myself more time to do housework. So I cleared some of the mess which was piled up in the upstairs hall. Earlier, I moved some stuff from living hall, the girls' room all to the upstairs hall adding to the boxes which has been there for years. Sorted some books to keep and some to send to recycling centre.

Next project will be filing (which is long, long overdue) and also to prepare itinerary for our Bali holiday trip. Going with my godsis family.

Time passes, children keep on growing, house always get dusty, car needs to be washed often and life goes on....what remains just memories of the past (if only we can remember everything). Recently, I made a challenge for myself to impact on other people's life through God's way. To see me more fired up for God and also hopefully influence others too.

School Reunion

More than a year ago, some schoolmates started discussing on organising a school reunion in the year 2009. In the evening 28 Nov 2009, the school reunion took place at Impiana Casuarina Hotel, Ipoh. The excitement of seeing friends (after many, many moons) was overwhelming.

All along I knew not many as I expected would attend this gathering and I was quite disappointed some of my close friends back in school days won't be going. But soon the feeling of disappointment disappeared. I saw many school friends, many that I've not seen since we left school, some came for the previous reunion 10 years ago. I must say we didn't change much. TG. Many commented I still looked the same. Still pretty I guess!


The evening was filled with surprises. First - teachers were also invited. Primary & secondary school teachers including our headmistresses. Salute to the committees in getting them to come. They were introduced one by one as they came in to the ballroom to take their seats. Then there were slide shows of our photos taken during school days. I saw a photo of me which I don't recall at all taken together with some girls in school. I was slimmer and darker back then.

The most shocking that evening was my primary school teacher came up to me (before meals were even served) and called out my name. She asked if I remember her. Frankly at that moment I was really blur and shock seeing so many teachers right before me. She remembered my name, so I have to answer ........

Me : "YES, of course I remember you".
Teacher : "Remember my daughter, Sok Ching?"
(Me - Ahhhhhh......Mrs Cheong)
Me : "Oh yes, how is your daughter Sok Ping (the older one)?)
Teacher : "She.............."


Mrs Cheong was my class teacher in Primary 4, I think. Whenever I see her or bump into her during my secondary days, I will go up to her and greet her, "Good morning, Mrs Cheong". She was one of my favourite teachers. Now I know I'm one of her favourite students.

A very memorable evening .... thank you to my school friends out there who has sacrificing their time and effort in organising this reunion, bringing the teachers, schoolmates together, preparing slide shows, decorating the ballroom, looking into all the details for our comfort and enjoyment. Next reunion?

Gathering with friends

Any excuse for a gathering of friends with food & drinks is always good. We just had a one last Sunday evening, a get together for a family who just came back from Perth, Australia (for a holiday).

I personally was not very close to this couple (before they migrated to Australia) but did attend a few gatherings together. Come to think of it, that was like more than 10 years ago, when I was still single and carefree.

Well, now we are all married and have children. It's more meaningful to have gatherings now for parents to reconnect and basically sharing of thoughts and enjoy each others company. For the kids.....it is so much fun.....no need to eat also can.

Foooood............foooooodddddddddd

(The last time we had gathering at the Teoh's residence was in Nov'08)

Kid's table

12 kids (ranging from 1 year - 10 years old)

Pastor enjoying his meal. Check out the dessert.

Two daddy playing with new 'toy' - dictionary. More dessert here.

What a great evening! Got food, dessert and DURIANS! (Sorry Techcrazee - none for you. Not even this - see below!!!!! Hahahahaha!)

Note: Techcrazee was craving for durians but wifey is on confinement. He has to eat durian ice-cream instead to cool down.

Gathering with friends

Last Saturday, we had a gathering at a friend’s house in Ara Damansara. That day was also our Agung’s official birthday and the Saturday before school reopens.

There were 8 couples, 7 children and 4 babies (1 couple last minute could not make it due to baby was crying the whole day and couldn’t sleep since midnight!). As Malaysian, when there is a social gathering, there must be food. We had pot bless dinner (or more commonly known as pot luck).

The menu was :

Fried Rice
Pasta with Bolognese sauce
BBQ Chicken wings
Satay
Lobak
Mixed Vegetables
Chicken Pie
Jelly
Fruits

So we eat, eat and eat… chat, chat and chat… laugh, laugh and laugh… also auntie WY lecturing Arielle. The kids had their own table and TV too.

After eating, some mummies were having a good fellowship with one another in the kitchen while washing and cleaning. Sharing tips on ‘how to get rid of ants’.

In the dining hall, mummies and daddies were busy chasing after their children while trying to have some conversations.

In the living hall, others decided to watch Chronicles of Narnia showing on Disney Channel.

Generally, it was a good gathering for some young parents and not so young parents together with their children.

My hubby and I stayed back for another 2 hours, chit chatting with the host. Children were having a good time playing. They washed some cups, drink some more, wash cups again and wiped the kitchen floor. Then they eat and wash again. Kids….

(For friends who were invited to this gathering, you may view some photos taken during the gathering from facebook .)