Beach Time!

While lepak-ing at home watching videos on demand, Ariq asked if we can go to the beach. Since nothing was planned & it has been quite a while since we last went to the beach...why not!
The kids cheered when we said "Ok, let's go!"
But I stressed to the kids that they will not be swimming! I just can't stand sand and everything...it tough washing with the sand stuck to the clothes!
Before heading to the beach, we went to Penny University at East Coast Road. Our intention was to get some of their popular RVCs but they were sold out by then! The lady there said that their cupcakes would be gone the very morning itself! So no RVCs? We bought pies instead!

Then we went to the beach. Ariq rented a bike which he only cycled for half hour only...Ergh! Aqil & Arisya had fun playing with the sand. We bought a new set of sand tools for the kids. The kids only get to dip their feet in the sea water....NO SWIMMING! Haha!

Arisya playing with the sand!

Smores Chocolate Pie frm Penny University

The dude trying to give a cool pose?

With my angelz!

Apple Pie from Penny University

Aqil enjoying the feel of the sand.

Ariq's 10th Pool Party!

18th Nov 2012 - exactly 10 yrs ago he was born into this world. Our firstborn. Our bundle of joy then...coz there's 3 bundles now! Haha!
The birthday boy requested for a pool party instead of a chalet coz he said then we'll have to walk over to the pool. Lots of excuses! But we followed his request...well, its his birthday after all.

We ordered his birthday cake from Indulge, a Malay owned bakery. Well, the owner is actually a friend of the husbern and thus we got 10% discount! And we requested for the choice of cake...thanks to Hisham! Oh yes...did I mentioned that the owner has the same name as my husbern? Haha!

Well...my lucky boy got an extra cake this year! His Nenek Jawa ordered a pulut kuning cake for him! I made the ordering actually but MIL paid for it ;)) Thanks to AM Delights for the pulut tuning!

Ariq had a whale of time on his birthday at the pool with the company of his siblings n cuzzins! We are so glad that the kids had such wonderful time...what can be better than a whole day of swimming and eating right? 

Food was easy! Haha! We did BBQing...thus not much cooking done! Well, I did prepare some fried vermicelli, mum cooked some nasi lemak and elder sis brought ice jelly cocktail! For BBQ, we had chicken, fish balls, otah, prawns, squids, sausages and ikan pari! Can gemok or what! 

And Arisya already requested "Umi...I also want my birthday at the pool!" *winks*

Chocolaty Time

After tuition, as per normal...hub said "Where to?". Haha! He has always make me the one to decide where to go. So...we headed to Katong@112 for our twosome time. Well, I have already had it in my head since the night before because I saw a friend's post in FB! So tempting!
And thus, it was Max Brenner for some chocolates and more chocolates!

I love the interior of the cafe....it was so cozily designed. A perfect place if you wanna have a good chat with someone...or even get together with friends!

We ordered the Classic Chocolate Fondue. It was strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, brownies and choc chip cookies dipped in 3 different type of sauces! White chocolate, milk chocolate and caramel!

We also ordered drinks for ourselves. A hot Chocolate Mocha for me and an Italian White Chocolate for the hub. I'd give a double thumbs up for the Chocolate Mocha. It is way much tastier than the Mochas I had before which were from Starbucks & CBTL. Well, this one at Max Brenner is more chocolaty than coffee as compared to the others which are more coffee than chocolate.

I'd very much recommend this place to those who have sweet tooth! :))

http://fiestagalore.tumblr.com

First Camp

Ariq went for his first camp last Wednesday. It was a 3 days 2 nights camp. He was extremely excited about the camp...bugging me to pack his bag since day 1 he got the camping list. Well, I wasn't really worried about him going for the camp. He's the most independent of my 3 angels. And he's been away from us before...for holiday trips with his grandparents & aunties. Hence the reason why I wasn't really worried.

But the rainy season has started since last week with showers almost everyday. And on the first night itself, the rain decided to make its appearance again. It was nice being at home...on the cosy bed...snugged under the blanket. But my poor boy was at camp...in a tent....in the rain. Any mother would be worried. My poor boy....
Even on the second day...it rained. All the way even through the night. Again, I felt uneasy...he must be uncomfortable. Even when its not raining...sleeping in the tent at night is already cold. Well, I went camping before....hence, I know.
And true enough, when I called home on Friday to check if he has reached home....heard his hoarse voice on the line. My boy is unwell.....told him to rest and ended the call. When I reached home that day, he was sleeping....must be tired + feeling unwell.
But luckily...hub was home on Friday, hence he gave Ariq paracetamol almost immediately. So by the time I reached home from work, Ariq temp was back to normal. His voice was still hoarse though. He was tired....even when he was sharing his camp stories, he sounded tired.
6.15pm it was. Ariq said "I need to go fetch Arisya!" and he headed for the door. Hahaha! That has been his daily duty....even when he's tired, he still wanna go fetch Arisya. Sweet of him!

Aqil Danish Hisham

My 3 precious angels. God-sent. They are playful not naughty. They did things which made me mad...they are but children.
My third, he let me understand children better. From him, I get 1st hand lessons that not all children are the same. Everyone is unique. They maybe in the same school, in the same class but each and everyone of them is different.
Aqil Danish Hisham...the least labour pain I experienced out of my 3. He throws tantrum often. He started talking late, after the age of 3. He is diagnosed with ASD. But he may belong to the lower spectrum of the disorder.
I simply can't get angry with him. Unlike his older siblings who gets scolded every now and then. Not because I hate them but because I love them. Don't want them to make mistakes. And with Aqil, I realized that Ariq and Arisya are just children too. They are still exploring...still learning. My tolerancy towards children improves even towards my pupils in school.
Having pupils like Aqil in my sch made me decide to send him to special school/centre. He can't be in normal school. He will not be able to catch up, he will feel inferior. As a teacher, I can foresee what the teacher will feel like to have a pupil like him in class (normal stream I mean).
He starts talking after sessions of therapy. His sentences becomes longer. He starts responding to people. He is throws tantrum less often, though he still does.
He uses big words which I didn't even use. He draws well and now he is toilet-trained. I have my MIL to thank and also his therapists and teachers. I admit not being able to give him full attention but my lil boy is able to show amazing improvements.
His big bro and big sista loves and understand him. They give in to him always. Thank you darlings! At such a young age and able to show awesome sibling love.
I don't need them to be the best...I just want the best for them. Love & happiness...that's priority!

Hari Raya

Hari Raya Aidilfitri was barely 2 mths ago. And soon, it'll be Hari Raya Aidiladha. I love the festive season...it just has a warm feeling surrounding it. Aidilfitri was of coz celebrated in a grander way....with lots of visitings. This is one way of bonding...a good reason to meet up. Sometimes, even siblings don't get to see each other ..not in my case of coz.
Visiting relatives...meeting aunties, uncles, cousins etc...makes us feel close even though that might be the only time we meet in a year!
And Aidiladha this year is gonna be different for the first time as my parents will be performing the pilgrimage...insyaAllah. ;)) We sistaz have agreed to meet up at eldest sista's place. It sure is gonna a total feeling. Hoping parents will be able to perform their pilgrimage smoothly...insyaAllah!

Korea ~ June 2012 ( i )

Planned a trip to Seoul, South Korea for the June holidays. It was a free & easy one...but lil sista tagged along. This would be her 3rd trip to Korea hence we felt kinda safe with her around! Haha!
We took AirAsia which was absolutely much much cheaper! But the hassle is that we had to do a transit. Taking the flight frm SG was ok with Aqil as it was direct entrance to the plane. In fact he was excited abt taking a plane as he went "It's a plane! A big plane!"
Aqil even napped during the short flight frm SG to KL. We were so thankful that he was not cranky!
But over at KL LCCT, it was different! We had to walk over to the place coz budget terminals and normal terminals functions differently. As we approached the plane, Aqil began feeling scared...he started crying and covered his ears! :(
As we climbed up the stairs to the plane, he was struggling to free himself frm Ayah. Even in the plane, he was crying so loudly...attracting attention frm everyone.
And the stewardesses started coming over, trying to render some help in settling him down. But one charming steward who came over, carried him and brought him around the plane! And that did some kinda magic! He quietened down...as he was returned to us, he started crying again but we managed to hush him and get him to settle down.
He clung on to me as the plane took off as he was scared of the shaking and all. As the plane stabilised, managed to get him in his seat and distract him with iPad.
We were travelling at night so after an hr or so, he fell asleep all the way till we reached! So, alhamdullilah...we arrived safely!