Dylan’s 2nd Birthday Celebration @ School

As usual, my kids always get to celebrate their birthday – TWICE! Once at home and the other at school.

We arranged a small party for Dylan at his daycare on the actual day of his birthday. Hubb and I took half day off to celebrate this special occasion with him.

Dylan was preoccupied in a group coloring activity when we arrived. He does not seem to be surprised by our presence.

Both kids were happy to see the Mickey Mouse cake. Big brother Bryan also gave a kiss to Dylan. Dylan does not favor any particular cartoon. But since he knows Mickey and is a little mousie himself, we got him a Mickey cake.
The part all the kids have been waiting for…birthday song singing time!

Dylan was singing the song to the plush Tigger, a present from one of the teachers.

Cake cutting time!

A group photo with some of the teachers

How can mommy & daddy miss out on the fun, right?

While everyone is eating cake in the kitchen, my 2 boys are running around the hall, having fun. They know they can have their way and not get scolded by the teachers because their daddy & mommy is around.

Dylan is so “spoilt” at his daycare. Can you believe it that he received more presents from his teachers at daycare than the party at home. That is because for the party at home, all our guests gave him angpows instead. Daddy & mommy have yet to open the angpows to get him a gift. Most probably they will all go to his savings account.

First Dry Night

Bryan was fully potty trained including nights not long after he turned 2. I did not expect him to be so “independent” as we only started potty training after he turned 2. So our potty training period was actually very short.

I thought Bryan was an exception and he was considered very advance. So I do not expect the same from Dylan.

Dylan started to sleep without diapers last week at school. And through the recent long weekend, his afternoon naps were dry too. *great job Dylan*

And this morning, he woke up with a dry diaper too! Hubb was very surprised when he changed him this morning as his diaper was so light! He thought that I had just changed his diaper.

Is this an indication that he will also be “fast” like his gege? I don’t know but we are not going to pressure him. He is not even 2 yet! I am already very proud of the fact that he can stay dry through afternoon naps and that we can take him kai-kai diaperless, so anything more is a BIG BONUS!

Well Done Dylan!

Previously, Dylan will cry when i drop him off at school, it it were anyone else other than Ms S who greet him at the gate.

But for the last 2 weeks, Dylan would happily wave bye bye to me no matter who it was at the gate.

I do not dare to blog about this at first, coz scared pantang..but since it has been 2 weeks…I think it is safe to conclude that he is really settled into school.

And yesterday, i was greeted with another good news when i picked him up from school.

He had been diaperless through his afternoon nap and no wee-wee in bed too! It was the first time that the teacher let him nap without diapers and we are happy that it was a successful one too.

Well done Dylan! Keep it up!

Life Sciences

Bryan loves butterflies. Everyone who know him knows that.

He’s got lots of books on butterflies – fiction + nonfiction, English, Malay, Chinese. He can name the different parts and lifecycles of butterflies. He can even tell you the difference between a moth and a butterfly, and spot one from the other.

So whenever there are any caterpillars at my mom or my aunt’s house, they will keep the caterpillar for him. Wait for it to turn into a chrysalis (pupa) and transform to a butterfly.

The first few times we kept the caterpillars, he refused to let the butterflies fly away. We will either keep the butterflies in empty aquarium, net laundry basket or a big box with  a netting over it. We will also put some fresh flowers for the butterfy. But butterflies have short life span and don’t survive well in captivity. So they normally die after a few days.

I keep telling Bryan that he must let the butterflies go. That the butterflies are miserable because they misses their friends. But he answered, “If I let them go, then I cannot see them anymore already lo. I want the butterfly die. Then cannot fly away already lo”

*Faints* I was thinking “OH NO! I gotta do something about this.”

So I continued to brainwash him about how precious life is, that everything has a right to live, to be free and to be happy.

On the third time, it was at my mom’s house. Bryan was very excited when he saw that the butterfly had transformed when he came back from school.

So I started my “brainwashing” again.

Bryan: Mommy look. This is a Malayan Mormon butterfly. Same like the one at Butterfly farm one hor?
Me: Yes. Bryan. You can look at the butterflies for a while. Then after that you have to let the butterfly go.
Bryan: But, but I want to see the butterfly for long long time. If I let it go, then I cannot see oredi..you know.
Me: Yes, but the butterfly wants to go home. Back to Butterfly Farm. If I keep you in a room and don’t let you go home. Will you be happy?
Bryan: No. *Think*
Bryan: Why the butterfly don want to fly one?
(Of course la..not much place to fly mah. Only a box)
Me: Because the butterfly is sad. Not happy. It misses its friends.
Bryan: It misses the bee, the grasshopper, the beetle, the stick bug hor?
Me: Yes.
Bryan: *Think* Think* I think I will let the butterfly go.
Me: *Grinning happily*
Bryan: But but I want to see a while first. Wait until I finish dinner ok.

After dinner. He gladly proclaimed that he is ready to let the butterfly go. Dylan, him and my parents took the box outside the house and let the butterfly go. The butterfly was quite lifeless in the box but as soon as it was out, flutters quickly away and fly really high.

Bryan: Mommy, the butterfly is soooo happy to fly out. It can fly SOOOOOO high you know. Now I cannot see the butterfly already. I think the butterfly fly back to butterfly farm already.

2 weeks ago, my aunt found 2 caterpillars on her plant again.

So I took both the caterpillars with some stalks of her plant so that the caterpillar can continue feeding on it. Mana tau, by the next morning, the plant habis kena sapu. I had to go to the market and shop for sommo “food” for the caterpillar. Caterpillars only feed on specific plants depending on the species. Coincidentally, this species feeds on curry leaves.

But after a day, the caterpillars turned into chrysalis.

After about a week, I thought it will be nice for Bryan to take the chrysalis to school for show & tell. And the school can keep it there until it turns to a butterfly, and it should not be long now. I called his principle and told her the idea. She was very excited about the idea. I told her that I will let Bryan bring the chrysalis on Monday just in case the butterfly decided to come out during the weekend.

Unfortunately, the butterflies really decided to come out on the weekend. One on Saturday morning and the other on Sunday morning.

This time, I no longer had any trouble asking Bryan to let the butterflies go.

Jump posing for the camera

Getting a last look at the butterfly

Fly away to freedom

On one of the days, we were so happy when the butterfly flutters to my neighbor’s plants and start feeding on the nectar there for a long time. It gave Bryan and Dylan a chance for them to look at it longer.

Posing with the freed butterfly

I think being able to let go and move on is such an important skill/ value to have in life. And I am very happy to see that my little boy has learnt to be kind to other living things and to let go of the things he loved so dearly. I am so proud of you Bryan.

P/s: To reinforce this value in him, I told his teachers at school to praise him for his kindness too.

2010 New Year Celebrations

After the Christmas party, my friends started to plan for the New Year’s eve party. Hubb and I debated for some time whether to take Bryan and Dylan to the party since it is a school day and Dylan will usually be tired by 8pm-ish.

In the end we decided to welcome the New Year as a family. We would take the kids to the party and see how it goes. If the boys got tired, we’ll go home after dinner.

There were a few venue suggestions for the celebrations. Chilli’s at downtown Gurney or TGIF at Queensbay Mall, which is nearer to our home. In the end, we decided to go to TGIF because Chilli’s do not allow reservations on that day. Since it was a big group (12 adults + 4 kids), we do not want to take the risks.

We head straight to QBM straight after picking the kids up from daycare. We were afraid of traffic jam, and no carparks. But traffic was clear. Since our dinner arrangement was at 7pm, we took the boy to the “compulsory” spot first…Borders & Toys R Us. I even fed the boys some char siu paus as they complained that they were hungry already… (yeah, even lil Dylan). Luckily I had brought some paus as backup (in case the kids won’t eat the TGIF food)

There were no Kids Eat Free offer at TGIF that day, and they only have limited menu on that day, and everything cost Rm10-RM15 more that day. What a bummer!

Since their portions are usually huge, we decided that the boys will just share what we have. Hubb and I ordered the Jack Daniels Grilled Chicken and a Jack Daniels Burger.

Dylan had mostly fries, bits of bread and some chicken while Bryan had almost half of hubb’s burger patties, some chicken, fries and bread. It wasn’t really a healthy meal for them (esp Dylan) but we had to compromise each time we take them out to eat.

Before dinner, both my boys were quite shy. But after the fuel up, they warm up to my friends’ kids. The TGIF staff gave them each a balloon. And before long, the kids were busy having fun with the balloons. Throwing and catching balloon.

We were lucky to have a table near the corner with some space. So the kids gathered at that corner to play. A few of us adults have to help watch over the balloons to make sure that they don’t fly to the other guests table. A few times, it actually did. But luckily everyone is in a celebratory mood, and the guests will usually happily throw the balloon back to us.

When the kids got bored of the balloon throwing, I took out some coloring books & coloring pencils, and that continued to keep them entertained.

At about 9pm-ish, Dylan started to show signs of tiredness. Hubb asked him if he wants to sleep and then carried him in his arms. Dylan laid his head on hubb’s shoulder. Hubb pat pat pat his back and in almost no time, Dylan was fast asleep…Awww….it was such a sweet sight for me.

Since Bryan was having a lot of fun with his new friends, we decided to continue to stick around. Afterall Dylan was napping. We doubt he’ll nap for long and we hope the power nap will help to power him right past midnight for the countdown.

We left TGIF around 930 and went to JCo donuts. We ordered more drinks and Jco yogurt and continued the “lepak” session there. The kids continued their coloring sessions there and Dylan continued his power nap.

We decided to hang out at Jco until 12mn for the fireworks. There was a concert right outside the mall, and there were a few sponsors handing out free party packs. So the adults went out and got some for the kids to play with. So the kids continued their “party”…It was such fun to see them play.

Dylan woke up about an hour later…refreshed and ready to join the older kids to play.

At 12mn, we walked outside for the fireworks. It was not as great as I expected but Bryan enjoyed it very much. Dylan was a bit scared and kept asking me to take him back indoors.

We left after the fireworks. We reached home around 12:45mn, gave the kids their shower and milk. Both are still super charged from the activity with no signs of tiredness. I had a hard time convincing Bryan that it was too late for story books and that he had to go straight to bed. But as soon as the lights go off, both kids were in dreamland already.

I realized later that I had not been to a countdown party for at least 7/8 years. It was a really meaningful countdown for me as we welcomed it as a family.

I am really glad that I decided to bring the boys along. Everyone had so much fun. Nothing is happier for me than to watch my 2 boys having fun. And to share that with my wonderful husband and good friends….Priceless!

Happy Belated New Year everybody!

Bryan’s 2009 Concert

As Bryan’s current school is new (~8 months), they actually did not have a concert this year. They have classes up to 4 years old. As there are not many children, and most of them being 3 or younger, the principle decided to skip the concert this year. She explained to us that if she were to have a concert it will have to be a really short one. Takkan she want us to come for a 30 minutes concert?

Anyway, the old school (TT) will continue to have a concert as usual.

And 3 lucky kids from Bryan’s school got to participate at TT’s concert.

I found out later that the teachers held “auditions” to pick out the lucky (ahem..talented) students to participate in the old school’s concert. I never thought Bryan would “pass” the audition as he is so playful.

And what did Bryan get to do?

He get to sing a duet with no one other than his good friend Wei Xuan!

A couple of days before the concert (during rehearsal), I got a call fr the principle telling me to brainwash Bryan. Apparently my boy got too carried away when he got to rehearse on the mic. He was so excited to hear his own voice out loud, that he would talk, laugh, make noises on the mic. And when he got too playful, his partner WX will scold him using the mic…and both will laugh sommo….*pengsan*

So I told him that he need to perform well for the concert. No talking, no laughing… Just sing properly. And if he does well, I will take him to the Penang Butterfly Farm (again).

So on the day of the concert…Bryan told me in the car,

“Mommy, later at the concert, I must sing properly.”
“Cannot say ‘Hello Mommy & Daddy’.”
“Cannot say ‘Oh Forgot!’”
“Cannot laugh”
“Then after concert you take me to Butterfly Farm ok…”

Singing the duet with Wei Xuan – Close to You by Carpenters

And he did very well during his performance. Yeah..you can still see that he was a little playful holding the mic, since the mic is different from the one he used earlier. He also changed placed while singing. But he was pretty relaxed during the performance. No stage fright.

I was very proud of him.

Besides the duet performance, he (and the other 2 invited performers) also got to participate in the group singing.

Group Singing Performance (during Opening)
- 6 Little Ducks
- The Grand Duke
- Tom Tom

Finale Singing Performance
Heal the World

Bravo Bryan! This weekend, we’ll go Penang Butterfly Farm..ok! It’s a promise!

Bryan’s 4th Birthday Party @ School

2 days after his party at home, is Bryan’s actual birthday. I had ordered a 2kg cake for his party at school. Tak larat to bake a cake big enough for all the students la…

I told Bryan that we will have a party at school for him too. But he kept saying, “No, i don’t want. I only want party at home.”

But I chose to ignore his comment. He had such a wonderful time during last year’s party and I thought he would want a party at school this year too.

Just like last year, both my husb and I took leave to attend the party at school. I must give credit to my husb for always prioritizing the kids. No matter how busy he is at work, he will always have time for the kids. At home, no matter how lazy he is, if it is a chore related to the kids, he will always do it. .

We dropped the kids at school as usual on Monday morning. Then we went to the bakery to pick up the cake. The party is supposed to be during the kids’ snack time at 10am.

When we got there. I looked for didi at the main hall (that’s where the baby class is). But Dylan is nowhere to be seen. One of the teachers then took me upstairs to peek at Bryan at his classroom. He was still having his lesson, but Dylan was not in that classroom neither. Later I found him at the Std 1 “before school” classroom. The teacher was teaching the multiplication tables and he was sitting right in front of the teacher with some toys in his hand.

That’s how “spoilt” my Dylan is at the school. The teachers lets him go anywhere he wants, as long as he is happy. That’s also what i like about this school. They are very flexible, especially with new kids as long as they feel comfortable and is happy. Bryan too used to join the 4 year old class when he started the nursery at 2+ years. That’s because he is more attached to the year 4 teacher.

I went downstairs and waited for my kids to come down. Both Bryan and Dylan was very excited to see hubb and I. But Dylan was more excited when he saw the birthday cake!
Bryan on the other hand, does not seem excited at all.

Luckily, when Bryan warmed up and started to enjoy the attention & the party when the teacher lit the candles and the children started to sing for him.

But still, Dylan is the more excited one. Laughing and clapping all the time. You would think that HE is the birthday boy.

After the birthday song singing, the teachers distributed the cakes to all the students. For hubb and I, we had a “wonderful” time just watching our kids eat. Dylan really eats very well at school. He can eat and eat. Though he is eating much better at home now, it is still not as eagerly as in school.

The kids then went back to their classroom after the party. Dylan tagged along to his gege’s classroom.

Gege distributed party packs to his classmates. It is not necessary to give party packs but I want Bryan to learn giving things away.

And while gege is busy, didi is also busy…Busy scribbling the teacher’s book at the corner..with a pen and pencil in each hand.

Though Bryan did not enjoy the party as much as I thought he would, I did not regret having the party. Because Dylan had a wonderful time. He loved the party so much!

Initially I thought I would have a have a hard time leaving the school. I thought both the kids would stick to us. But both my kids did not bother much about hubb and I… so we slipped away quietly.

Happy 4th Birthday Bryan darling.

Bryan’s 4th Birthday Party @ Home

I am sooo slow at updating my blog. After Bryan’s birthday, the following weekend, we went for a family vacation. And there are barely time to work on my blog during the workweek due to tight work schedules.

Then, I caught the Astro On Demand Beyond the Realm of Concience drama bug. Hubb has been really kind to copy the latest episode from his colleague every day and letting me watch them while he helped with the chores for the day. Luckily I am already at ep 21, so it will end soon. (at ep 33).

Birthday preparations

Bryan had been looking forward to having his birthday party at home since we did Dylan’s party early this year. We’ve always had birthday parties at home except last year when I had Dylan. So we only we had family dinner at restaurant. It’s simple and easy (for hubb & me) but it is less fun for the kids. I know how much Bryan loves parties. So no matter how busy I was and how tired I am. I have to do a party for him.

I sent out the invitations a week before and took Friday off to prepare for the Saturday party. The day off was spent shopping for party packs, Saturday’s cooking items, party decorations, clean the house, and of course bake and decorate a cake. That’s certainly a long list of things to do considering that I can only do all these once I sent the kids off to school and I had to complete it by 5pm to pick the kids from school.

Since I baked Dylan’s cake, I gotta bake a cake for Bryan too. I had to bake it on Friday because if the cake fails, I’ll still have time to buy a new one. But luckily, the cake turned out all right though it is the first time that I use a whipped cream frosting.

Bryan was very excited when he saw the cake on Friday evening and he kept saying, “Thank you mommy. Thank you mommy!” Of course he was excited, it had lots of his favourite insect on it…Butterflies! But luckily he was ok when I told him that he need to keep the cake until Saturday night’s party.

Birthday party day

I sent my kids off to my parents house so that I can cook and decorate the house on Saturday. Luckily hubb helped a lot to clean the house, otherwise, I don’t think I could be able to make it.
My parents brought the kids back at 630pm, and I was just getting out of the shower then. Soon our guests started to arrive. Since we had the party on Halloween’s day (31 Oct), I had asked my guests to dress their little darlings in costumes.

Food is simple as it was mostly family members. As usual I am lucky to have my mom & my MIL help to prepare the food.

My homemade birthday cake passed the visual test – hubb said, “Looks ok” …yeah, it doesn’t look as great as the store bought ones but “I MADE IT WITH LOVE” so how can you compare, right?

So next is the “taste test.” And that will have to wait until the candle blowing, cake cutting ceremony is over.

The first person I asked about the taste was Wei Xuan & Bryan. And the dear princess remarked that it taste good. I wasn’t particularly convinced as she’s just a kid…right , and a sweet kid she is.

Then my relatives also commented that it tasted good.

Hubb had very high expectations when it comes to cakes. Initially, he did not want any…too full wor, he said. But since so many people said that it tasted good, he too took a slice and he said, “Taste good wor…taste very fresh.” Of course fresh la…I just made it!

We had a great time catching up with our relatives. We were very blessed that to have my granduncle and grandaunt from China joining us at the party too. My granduncle is my grandma’s brother who went to China when the Communist invaded Malaya in 1950s. This is his first trip home after almost 60 years.

Planning and executing the party was really tiring for hubb and me. All together, I think we took 2.5 days to prepare, have the party & to clean up after that.

But seeing how much the kids enjoyed themselves, it was all worth it. Bryan and Dylan had a blast! I know, because Bryan could not stop talking about his party. He went to school on Monday and told his teacher what a “big party” he had, who came to his house, and how many presents he received!

He loves his presents because most of them have butterflies. Story books, encyclopedias, butterfly specimens, butterfly wrappers…..LOL.

He enjoyed his party at home so much that he told me he doesn’t want his birthday party at school, which is coming up next on his actual birthday – 2 Nov…