Thursday, November 19, 2015

Deepavali On Ice 14 & 15 November 2015


It is their first time being able to perform solo on a performance on ice. Needless to say, they are very happy and loving every second of it. 

 The performance was finally over. They are happy and satisfied but also sad that it is over. I crashed in bed and took two full days to recuperate and get back up on my feet. I felt so exhausted. A sign of desperate need to increase stamina.  


Homeschool Scout with Quek TL 11 November 2015

Jack up Mr Quek's vehicle !!!

Rope climbing and swinging - my children's favourite.  :)

Kidzania Congrezz Kids's testimonials November 2015

Hui's Kidzania Congress Kids term will come to an end pretty soon. The best thing for her is the monthly free entry she gets. She simply love to play at the park. It is a huge play land.

As it is coming to an end, the kids were asked to write a testimonial of what they have learned and what advice they would give to the next batch of Congress Kids. I showed Hui the email from Kidzania.

This is what she wrote,

" I learned that teamwork makes good progress. I also learned that everyone is important and hard work pays off"

When I read the line, I was surprised ! I asked, did Kidzania meetings teach that ? !!
She replied "Huh no, I don't know what to write"
Hahaha I laughed out loud. I said , "" That line is brilliant. I like "everyone is important."  ""

And her advice was " Be prepared to work under noises as the children are noisy".

I asked "hmmm, is there a way to rephrase the advice to be more pleasantly sound? "
  
Here is the edited version,
"Be prepared to work under noises because all Congrezz Kids are full of ideas"

Hahaha.

The Theory of Everything 2015

Someone recommended us this movie. My kids and I huddled and watched together. It was one of the many great moments spent.
I found it an easy way to briefly introduce them to Stephen Hawking. The two young reader books of him have been displayed on the book shelf untouched for some time now. I saw Hui stared at them after the movie, contemplating of reading it. I hope they find pleasure in reading those books.

 For me, I am not a fan of cosmology. What moved me is the quote mentioned in the movie

"It is clear that we are just an advanced breed of primates on a minor planet orbiting around a very average star in the outer suburb of one among 100 billion galaxies. But ever since the dawn of civilization people have craved the understanding of the underlying order of the world. There ought to be something very special about the boundary condition of the universe. And what can be more special than that there is no boundary? And there should be no boundary to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem there is always something you can do and succeed at. While there is life, there is hope."

However bad life may seem there is always something you can do and succeed at. 

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Homeschool Scout with Quek TL (Term 3) 4 November 2015

Using hand drill. 

We started scout after a long break due to haze. Kids are excited to see their scout master Mr Quek again.

There is a long list of tests in order to get "Lencana Keris Gangsa."  It looks difficult. Despite of that, kids are looking forward to tackle each and every one of it.

Outdoor again 29 October 2015

Hui and her water gun
 
En with Miffy, taking a cat nap under the sun 


It is a huge relief that finally the sky is clear. The kids ran for a dip in the cool of the water. Hui said " It is  sooooo nice that it is impossible to describe"

A Gift in Return 28 October 2015

tote bag, handkerchief and scrunchy

Someone whom we just met gave Hui a beautiful ballet costume. I advised Hui to show appreciation by making something for her in return.  She sewn the tote bag, handkerchief and scrunchy. There is nothing better than a thoughtful handmade stuffs I think.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Prison Museum, Jalan Parameswara Melaka 11 October 2015

Stepping past this green prison gate sent shivers down my spine. 

I was excited stumbling upon this prison museum while driving in Melaka. A visit to a prison has been on En's list for the longest time. And I can't wait (with wobbly legs) to bring her here when she is back from Europe. 

A dummy at the watch tower of the prison. 

We are allowed to take photos inside the prison except at the gallow and corporal punishment area. It was too creepy for me to take any except at the watch tower, in the broad daylight! The prison was quiet when we visited and we were alone most of the time. The ticketing staff said, "Tour guide is only available on the week day."  

Straits Chinese Jewellery Museum, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Melaka 4 October 2015

It is another informative Peranakan museum to help feed the curious mind of my child. 
The colour of the mourning clothing for the Straits Chinese, our tour guide, Julie said. 

A photo of a 12 years old nyonya with elaborate jewellery.  

Hui's drawing 4 October 2015

Perhaps it is due to the frequent visits to Melaka, Hui began to draw nyonya inspired hairstyle. 

Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum and Cafe 1511 Guesthouse Melaka 3 October 2015

The two lanterns at the corner of the entrance symbolize the family origins and surnames in Chinese. 

We visited this museum 5 years ago and we didn't have a guide back then. This time round, we had a tour guide and that helped us understand the display much better. There are a total of three terrace lots which belong to the Chan family since 1861. The museum occupies two lots whereas the third lot is turned into a cafe and guest house called Cafe 1511 guesthouse. 

Cafe 1511 used to be the servant quarters of the Chan family. 

We booked a room at the attic. The steep climb of the stairs from the cafe at the ground floor led us to the rooms above. 

The windows that overlook the courtyard in the middle of the home below. 

I like it here, being in a historical building. 

Another stairs brought us to our room in the attic. 

The lovely traditional ventilation holes. 

One of the two rooms in the attic. 

Spartan Race Malaysia 10 October 2015

Skinned knee from falling. 

A few of the kids fell when the big group of children started to run. She tripped on someone who fell in front of her. I saw her got up and asked her friend whom has also fallen down if she was okay. Then she ran towards her first obstacles. It was a 1 km run with 16 obstacles for her age group (8 to 10) 


Friday, October 2, 2015

Kids Training Parents!!! 1 October 2015

So my little one handed me this book and said,  "Read it mom, it is so funny." She got the book from the recent book sale. 

Note to self - Watch my words, expression and body language when I speak. 

Holy Moly! I almost wanted to say something when I saw how my older one dressed up the other day !! Yeah, thank you for the great tip Dr Heinz Doozandohntz, I shall get rid of my old photographs immediately. 

"DO persuade your parents to buy you a pet - you need one for company and to teach you a sense of responsibility"
Oh yeah, I bought the guppies! (gulped)