He beat me to it!

The boys and I worked on Mother's Day crafts.. using stones. A different theme each year *wink*

Started of with the Mother's Day message for the ladies in the house...
Some with flower and butterfly, some other with smiley face :)

Went on to create a special Mother's Day message for small Ammachi *wink*

The art work got grander and grander.. finishing with the Mother's Day rock for ammachi.
Thytus liked the message on the stone.. Hmmm, that means...

So, all the time we were working on the stone, apps was watching. Little did I realize that I would have a Mother's Day rock for myself!

When I had stepped away, he worked with my art and craft supplies to create this beautiful rock! He explained using all of my ladybird supplies, that they all represent the boys and him :) Hahaha.. couldn't be mad with him for using my precious art and craft supplies.. since he sat down to create something for me :)

From the man himself.. love it!

He stands out...

Dearest Appa,

It’s your birthday,
... and I want you to know
I appreciate you more and more,
... as the years come and go.

All your good qualities,
... stand out and shine;
Fathers are priceless,
... and I’m so glad you’re mine!

 

Happy 64th birthday, Appa!

He's hiding something from me...

I was talking with him on the phone when he asked me, "Is appa there?"
I said, "no, I am at work.."
"Ohhh, then never mind" he said.
I asked him "why?"
"It's a secret! I will only tell appa..." he replied firmly.

"How could you have secrets from me?" feeling a little taken aback..
"No, its not like that. It's about my plans for Mother's Day.. and that's why I can't tell you." he pacified me.
Arrgghh! I made him tell... *regret*
"Ohhh.. ok." feeling better knowing that he had a valid reason to hide it from me *BIG grin*
"By the way, can you wake up at 11am on Sunday?" he asks me..
"How can I? You have Sunday school.. I have to prepare your breakfast.." I told him.
"Arghh! *silence* You think I can not go to Sunday school this week?" trying his luck..
"You'll have to ask your father this.." being not sure what to tell him.. since he seems like he has a plan for me on Mother's Day..

Even if he is unable to proceed with his plans.. I am already sooooo touch! Thytus, you are just toooo sweet! I love you baby...

Always my little boy!

He is 7 today!

This little boy..

Is not little anymore!

But this little boy..

Will always be a little boy to me!

Just like his brother, Nixon wanted a football themed cake. So, we got him the cake with the Liverpool design. This chocolate cake was decorated with little footballs and jersey.. We cut the cake after the dinner treat with paternal and maternal grandparents, uncles and aunties..

Saluting all

A woman, renewing her driver's license was asked by the woman at Registry to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

“What I mean is,” explained the woman at Registry, “do you have a job or are you just a ...?”

“Of course I have a job,” snapped the woman. “I'm a Mum.”

“We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,” said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'City Registrar.'

“What is your occupation?” she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. “I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “just what you do in your field?”

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research,(what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6-month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mum.' Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make Grandmothers 'Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations' And Great Grandmothers 'Executive Senior Research Associates?

I think so!

I also think it makes Aunts Associate Research Assistants.'

(source - www)
-------------------------

Amma,


You have not only completed your masters, you even have double Masters! As the 'Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations' :) you are the inspiration that has made me the person that I am today. The best part is that you have done a great job as a mother & grandmother while you have a career.


Happy mother's day amma.. *big hug*

On my special day

As I enjoy this special day, I forget to note that I am a year older today! I always forget how old I am.. You ask me my age, and I have to actually calculate it!

For the first time, I am away from home on my birthday.. far away from my loved ones. I am all the way in Hong Kong on a business trip!

I am usually on leave on birthday, but this time I am WORKING!

Nevertheless, I am..

.. loving the wishes from family and friends
.. looking forward to my conference call with my sons tonight
.. loving the cool weather in Hong Kong
.. looking forward to a great work day

Most of all, I thank God for the blessings he showers on me. I am blessed to have a great family, wonderful friends and superb life!

No choice!

Christmas is here.. and we have a long list of Christmas shopping to do!

We were wondering how to do our shopping with 4 kids tagging along.. but we have no choice! In between shopping, we have to ...

* entertain them,
* answer the inquisitive questions,
* feed the 'not hungry' mouths, even after they have just had their meal,
* watch the 'non-stop walking' legs closely just in case they wander off,
* warn all those 'touch-everything-I-see' hands.

Having found that it is a bit difficult and may take us ages to complete our shopping lists (and also tiring), we decided to do it based on zones.. adult men, adult ladies, children, teens and iscellaneous.

That’s five. So far, 2 down, and 3 more to go!

'Magic' Candle

As his birthday was approaching, I asked Aaron to show me how..

He blows of the candles .. and he shows me how he puffs of the candles.

He cuts the cake, he gestures with his flat palm, cutting (the so-called cake) in front of him.

Ok, so I knew he knows what he has to do on his birthday.

The day arrives, and he was excited that it was HE who was gonna blow out the candles this time.. since it’s his birthday.

After the song, he happily blew of the candles.. and as he got ready to cut the cake, the candles lit again!
He blew it off, and it lit again.. and again.

In the end, he needed his brothers help to blow off the candles for good.. as I had used the ‘magic’ candle instead of the normal candles. Naughty eh ;)



PS : I thought of the replacement coz’ ever time there is a birthday, the kids (my sons including his cousins) will fight to blow off the candles first. Having that in mind, I planned used the ‘magic’ candle.. So, even the kids blow off the candles first, it will re-light and Aaron might have a chance. Little did I know that the kids would listen to our instructions to allow Aaron to blow off the candle :)

Happy Birthday Nixon!

Happy Birthday Thytus!

It's the season..

It's this time of the year again, and we were really busy.. putting up the tree and decorations, buying gifts for all, wrapping them, etc.

We let the boys put up the decorations on the tree.. and the tree ended up being heavily decorated on the lower half! We had to help move a bit to the upper half..

We also put up an old tree we had, a smaller one.. let Thytus and Nixon do the deceorations by themselves. They called it 'their tree'.

We managed to keep Aaron away from the tree, but he still tries to grab a deco or two when we are not watching. Luckily he does not know how to tear open teh wrappers of the gift, and thus, the gifts are still wrapped, lying there under the tree, waiting to be given away. Phew!

Thytus and Nixon are counting down to Christmas.. as they can't wait to open the presents! We stacked their presents under the big tree, and the next minute, they moved their presents to under 'their tree'. We had to give in :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Her homecoming

She was born on August 29, 2008 weighing just ~800g. Her birth was 3 months before the actual due date.

After that, she was required to stay in the hospital to gain weight, up to 1.7 kg. While she was in the NICU, nobody was allowed to visit her, except her parents. So, all of us was anxious to see thambhi’s little princess. All we got to see if her picture taken on the hand phone.

We waited for more than 2 months, and today, she made her way home from the hospital.

Welcome home my dear niece, Elizabeth Ivanka!

My baby is 1 today!

How time flies..
I remember how you couldn’t wait to be delivered.
You threatened me a couple of times.
And then you arrived very much near the due date. Phew!

I saw your first smile.
I saw you crawl.
I heard you call me ‘amma’.

Now you climb on your brothers.
I can see that you want to join in their play.

Now you can walk.
You don’t like us to carry you around.

My, my, my, how time flies.
My baby is already 1 today!


Happy birthday Aaron!

Double celebration

We had a bash for appa’s 60th birthday cum diamond jubilee wedding anniversary (or more commonly known as “aruvathan kalyanam’ among Indians) at Mid Valley.

Lots of friends and relatives joined in the celebration. Appa’s colleagues and old time friends came as well.

All of us stood up as appa and amma walked in the dining area. They exchanged garlands of flower, poured the champagne into the glasses and then cut the birthday bum wedding cake. Amma also took this opportunity to give apps a kiss. How sweet ;)

We also prepared a slide show for apps as well.. all bout him as a young boy till today, a proud father and happy grandfather. He was touched :)

They are just so different

We made a trip 2-day with the three boys to Genting. Yeap, we brought all three of them by ourselves. Imagine the amount of things I packed. Apps asked me whether I had packed the house! But you never know when they end up messing themselves more than once a day, right?!

All of us had a good time. Apps and I realized that Thytus and Nixon liked different kind of activities. At first, we though Thytus would like the bumper car, since he loves cars and racing. We were wrong. It was Nixon who loved it. Thytus asked to be brought out. He didn’t like the fact that everybody was banging into each other! On the other hand, Nixon loved it so much, he took a few rides every time we were at the bumper car station.

Thytus loved the other family rides. He did not get tired of it at all. At the end of the day I sat down with Nixon who dozed off on a chair while we wait for apps and Thytus to go on a few more rides!

Little Aaron was good little boy. He did not fuss much. He enjoyed his outing as much as his brother did. He handled the cold weather well too.

We’ll surely go back for more fun :)

Check out Champion, Lil’ President, Lil’ Prinz in action at Genting!

Happy Birthday lil' Presiden!

Happy birthday to you..
Happy birthday to you..
Happy birthday to lil' Presiden..
Happy birthday to you.

You are 3 years old today. Hmm, no more in the terrible twos, is that going to make any difference?

You make me scream, you make me smack your butt,
But you are not afraid. Nothing I do stops you from being yourself - naughty!

Nevertheless, I am proud of you. You take care of d-prinz whenever he cries. Every time I ask your help to talk to him while I feed him medicine or change his nappy, you are always trying your best.

You are very attached to appa. When he is not home, you come to me. Unlike anna who loves to stay with ammachi and taatha, you always think twice.

You speak very well and always impress us not just with your vocabulary, but with your wittiness as well. Sometimes you make the funniest statements. You never fail to amuse us :)

Time really flies

Since the last time I blogged, we celebrated so many events and went to many places. Let me see..

Late March, apps and I managed to have a short holiday in Sabah.. without the boys. Both of them stayed at amma's place.

In April, we celebrated Champion's 3rd birthday on April 7 (and again, officially), apps birthday on April 16 and lil' President's 2nd birthday on April 27.

In between, I also traveled to Japan for a one week business trip.

And of course, Mother's Day last Sunday. With my help, both the boys created Mother's Day fridge magnets! Check out their masterpieces here and here.

By the way, Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!

By the way, this tendency to create crafts and cards like this was brought down from amma. She always encouraged us to create out own cards and crafts for events like this. I have to thank her for the creativity she instilled in me.

Isn't it more meaningful and loving compared to something got off the shelf? :)

On Monday, we followed apps to Penang during his two day business trip.

More stories and pictures on our trips coming soon..

We walked down the aisle

.. this day, 4 years ago.

And this year's gift for us is another bundle of joy ;)

Sayang, as I feel lucky and blessed everday of my life, I would like to just say, I love you sooooo much! *hands open wide apart*

.. and I know you love me more than I love you!

Every time I ask apps "How much you love me?", he says "More than you love me." :)

Santa was in town

Christmas was really different this year.. with the special appearance of Santa Claus!

SIL initiated this plan with FIL to be the Santa Claus. I got presents for the children, while she prepared simple gifts for the household adults.

On Christmas day, we realized FIL cannot be the Santa Claus as he was going to receive a gift himself, as the father of the house. So, it was apps friend, Naren, who was the Santa Claus. He was real cool and sporting about the idea. When we asked him, there was no hesitance.. he immediately agreed!

All the children we shocked to see a Santa Claus walking into the house with a loud perfect Ho! Ho! Ho!

Champion got afraid with the loud cheering and Ho! Ho! Ho! .. but when everyone was excited by Santa Claus's presence, he started enjoying himself. Lil' President remained cool and just watched the fun.

Apart from the sweets and gifts, each of the kid got a BIG hug from Santa!



PS : Santa enjoyed himself so much, that he has asked for the Santa Claus contract for next year and the years to come!

It's that time again

I have been waiting for this time of the year... and Christmas is nearing day by day!

We put up the Christmas tree last week, but lil' President is still decorating and re-decorating the tree!

He picks of the decorative balls of the tree and would claim that they had fallen. He would then put them back on the tree..

We have started our Christmas shopping, but have yet to complete the list!

So many people to get girfts for..
So difficult to get suitable gifts for all ages..
Not easy going shopping with 2 boys..
And time is running short!

All the rush and mess is just making the festive season more fun and exciting ;)