How to help your children find they talent?

I know this is a very serious question

This are one of the many questions that running through my mind

whenever I unable to sleep at night

Laying on my bed...having my kids in my arms 

Looking at the stars and wondering

how to make my kids as bright as the star when they grow up one day!

And of course...I never have a satisfied answer or solution

As a mom...I teach, I guide, I supervise, I pray for them.

And finally...something happened!

Paper Model - Sheep - Free Template and Instruction

2015 Chinese New Year Goat Lantern

Every pre-Chinese New Year,

Jojo's school will ask each student to submit a lantern

made of red packets to hang in the school hall.

As this year is the year of goat / sheep...

we thought we should try something

more fun than making the ordinary Chinese lantern.

Jojo found a very interesting website from Japan which

have tutorial and PDF template to make

a paper model Sheep

here is the link 

http://papermodel.jp/eto.html

With some modification

this is what she came out at last.

After finish the paper model sheep

she added some red packets which pre-cut into

round shape and pasted on the sheep'body'

She also added a pair of 'horn' for the sheep.

My 42 birthday!

This morning when I checked Google

saw the Google home page greeted me with so many cakes...

so, I clicked on it...and only did I found out...

It's my birthday, today!

Melaka River Cruise

My trips to Melaka only last 2 days...

but the pictures I tooks is most than hundreds.

The town is too pretty...

Here are some of my favorite shoots during taking a river cruise

on my second day there.

Melaka River Side - Night view

This post is part 2 of my recent trip to Melaka during Christmas Holiday.

While my girls enjoy their bedtimes stories....actually is my parents in law 'old times' stories,

me and my hubby sneak out to have a walk by the Melaka river bank.

Melaka is a small place...not in measurement...but all the excitement

of sight seeing, food, leisure, shopping are all closely situated side by side...

What I mean is all the 'happenings' are just side by side the Melaka river.

So, never worry about renting a car while travelling in Melaka...

most of the exciting places can be reach by walking...or you may consider bicycle.

There are lots of guest house which offer bicycles renting service.

Here are some photos I managed to take during the walk.

Do you have this when you were kids?

When I was a kid, I have Lego blocked and teddy bear...but this DIY 'gun' is the best toy my dad ever made for me...(not mentioning the big kite...the rubber band skipping rope...etc)

This is the best 'weapon' for the combat games....and when my big brother and I watched the "Lone Ranger.....( I mean the black and white version!  The one which keep on repeating...Hi Ho...Silver...it took me sometimes...what he actually means...I was too young to understand!). 

This is a very popular toy in my childhood time...Just wondering ...do you have the same thing during your childhood....Our mom and dad may not have 'pinterest' or 'facebook' at that moment...but all mom and dad....have their 'mind' ....connected world wide...Right?

Now, I need to fabricate one of these my hubby coming up birthday...Shh...don't tell him...He will gone nuts to be able to 'reunion' with his old love!

Smile and stay calm.

(I know is hard to do...that's why we need to tell ourselves REPEATLY...Everyday!)

Love and kisses,

PC 

Cute and fun clothes pins...

Remember the last post about the cute little pink cats I showed you?

Well, this is what is all about....

They are clothe pins!

LOL...so cute...

Love

PC

First day at school...

Oh, dear.  I've been missing for quite sometimes.  Please forgive me...but if you happened to be a mom...especially and SAHM...you will definitely understand.  School holidays ...Christmas holidays...New Year holidays....are meant for kids...teenagers...singles...dads...but definitely not for moms...those are the busiest moments of the whole years.  Because at those days...the cooking...washing...cleaning...are EVEN MORE and NEVER ENDS!!!

So, wish you all a great new year....2013!!! Which ends all the 'end of the world' stories!!!..  Hmm, wonder what 'date' will they come up next?

So, what 'BIG' happening at my corner of the world?  Well, it definitely is "BACK TO SCHOOL"!

This year, Mei Mei turns 7 years old and she is joining Jojo

to attend primary school.  Jojo is in Primary Yr 3 this year.

Chinese New Year shopping list...

It's less than 2 weeks before we celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year... and there are so much to prepare.  Some new (or...you can say newly refashion) clothes for the kids.  Some gift for my parents, in law and friends... Some goodies to serve the guests who come over for visit during new year... Cleaning and a little bit redo and house decorating...

Here is my this week shopping list...

#1 Must buy

Mandarin Orange - in chines 'Kam" which sound like gold words in Chinese-Cantonese dialect.

So, during new year..everyone want some 'Kam' (gold).

This is a #1 must have in the list - for gifts and serve the guest or even decorating!

#2 Must buy

Chinese New Year Hamper...during Chirstmas all the good stuff and place under the Christmas tree...

Chinese prefer to 'stuff n wrap' all the good stuff (mostly food, wine...) in a basket! 

I normally DIY my own hamper... get an empty basket and 

wrapped up all my parents favorite food and snacks!

But these day...hamper can come with anything...

instead of 'Kam'....it could be 'Apple'! 

Hmmm....

#3 Must buy

Nian Gao 年糕 or New year cakes 

are sweet sticky Chinese pastries made from glutinous rice.

Nian Gao sounds similar to Nian Gao年高 (年年高生) 

implying promotions or prosperity year after year. 

This association makes Nian Gao a popular gift item during the New Year period.

#4 Drinks

This year I'm not going to buy the packaged drinks for the guests...I'll serve

them with my homemade Roselle drinks!  Ha! Ha!  Healthy and cheap!

#5 Lucky Bamboo

 Bamboo shoots - is a term which sounds like "wishing that everything would be well"

Some believe different numbers of stalks are thought to symbolize slightly different kinds of luck, 
2 stalks = love 
3 or 6 stalks = happiness 
5 or 7 stalks = health 
8 stalks = wealth 
9 stalks = general good fortune 
21 stalks = blessings

What would you prefer...I prefer the one that match my home decor and not too expensive!

I got my 3 layered lucky bamboo at Tesco for RM6.88!

#6 Pussy Willow

Know as 'Yin Lou' in Chinese - Cantonese. 'Yin' simply sound like 'money' and 'silver'.  

For me....I just love the look of the long stem flower and it can last for years!

I saw Ecosave advertised 12 stalk of pussy willow for RM17.88...must check out tonight!

Do you celebrate Chinese New Year or have you visited your friends who celebrate Chinese New Year,

what is Chinese New Year like at your place?

What is you 'must do', 'must buy' and ',must have'?

Love

PC

Getting ready for back to school...

After one and half months of school breaks...now, my two little 'monsters' are going back to school again.  So, that's what I've been busy about.  I know I should prepare earlier...I did plan and write down all the necessaries 'to buy' and 'to do' list...just the school holiday activities list never ends and the girls and I were too carry away doing all the fun / new things together.

Now, rush...rush...rush to get all the things ready...first Jojo's 'to do' and 'to buy' list.

Jojo - 'to do'

#1 - This is the one that less exicited according to Jojo...having her hair cut

School' s rules...hair length should not exceed 2 inches from ear lobe.

(Cut by ....ME!... I'm not very good but oklah for cutting straight line!)

Checked!

#2 - Get the school uniform ready

Here all girls wear dark blue pinafore and white shirt

Ironed and make sure all missing buttons are replaced.

Checked!

#3 - Wash and paint the school's white shoes

Wearing canvas white shoes is a must for all schools here.

Clean canvas shoes need to put a layer of white chalk paint...

Checked!

#4-Trimmed and clean nails

Remove all the nail polished and heena we did during holiday

Checked!

Jojo - 'to buy'

#1 - New school bag

Her old one wear off already ...by year long 'heavy duty' of carrying all the texts books.

The total weight on the school bag last year after loaded all the books was more than 10 kg!

(I split the load into two bags...one back pack and one hand carry)

Last year, Jojo has a 'princess' bag...this year she spotted this pink 'Doraemon' 

in 'Longwan' a local low price mini market!

We got this for RM29...and the quality is very good!

Checked!

#2 - New white socks and shoes!

Jojo hate to wash her white socks and shoes

and I hate to see white sock and shoes turning 'black' within a day!

So, I bought enough socks for her in order to change one everyday

and 3 white shoes to change on alternate days!

So they would get too dirty and easier to wash off the stain.

I got the socks from RM1 store and 

shoes for only RM4.50 from Tesco (not branded one lah)

Checked!

#3 - Black hair pin, headband.

Jojo's is only hair accessories allow to use are hair pin or headband

and in black color only....

no rubber bands ...cannot tie hair...all must be short

As she always misplaced her black pins...

I bought a dozen of these...

Checked!

#4 - Exercise Books

The school have they own exercise book printed with school logo...

This year package for Primary 2 is RM 7.50... not too expensive

I bought some extra just in case ...

There was once she use up her book at night and 

I've rush to her classmate's house to get one!

Checked!

As For Mei Mei....

She is 6 years old this years...

her school bag is still very new... she washed it on the first day of holiday

Her kindergarden T-shirts are still ok

No need to prepare shoes too...she can wear slippers or whatever she want

The only 'to do' is....

convince her that the school break is over and now she got to 

...GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!!

Now say 'cheese' before we head to school...

What a 'fake' smile!

While the kids are in school...
now I can have sometimes to 'restart' my 'homework'
check back for my next project...
hints....sew...sew..sew...stitch...stitch...ouch!

Love
PC

Logos Hope...The floating book fair!

Logos Hope, the world's largest floating book fair has docked at Penang port and has been attracting a array of tourists and visitors from all over the country - including the kids and the rest of the family!

We went there after lunch hour...it's a weekend and we were caught in a long queue at the police register counter and another queue for at the tickets counter (there was a row of about 50 peoples in front us)!

Luckily we don't really waste a lot of time queue... So, I steal some times for photo shooting...

I visited Logos earlier during her last visit in Penang - long ago before I have Jojo and Mei Mei.

  I always love book fair and and a book fair on ship!  Well, you don't have that everyday don't you! - Now, this is a must see!  

An old port ...

During the queue...

On the way...

Ticket counter

The admission fee  is RM1.00 and free for children under 12 years old.

A quote on the wall near the entrance...

Sample of the room in the ship...tiny but nice

Wall of history

Some interesting item on display...

Wow!  Look at the crowd.

The price of the book range from RM8 to RM80.

There's a children corner to pass their time while waiting

for their parents 'shopping'.

Mei Mei loves the little piano at the cafe area...

After that visit..she told me she change her ambition

from pet shop owner to "A Big Ship Owner".  Huh?

Logos Hope sails around the world.  Have you ever visit her?

See you

Love

PC

Places around the neighborhood..(1)

It has been a pretty busy weeks...

One of my aunt from 'far away land' drop by for a visit 

last few week.  So, we bring her for a sight seeing 

around the neighborhood we live.

I bring the camera along, so you can join us for a short tour too!

The first place we bought her to is a Chinese Temple.

It's not very grand but I love the architectural details all over the building.

The entrance

The 'Silence warning sign'

Into the temple

These wall are fill with 3D marble craving

Each panel tell a story...

I love this one!

Dragon pillar

Table

A big panel of marble craving beside a water fountain

Dragon on roof

Inside the temple

This temple look even marvelous during at night,

I'll share that later.

Always remember 

Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, 

never completely forget about it.  ~Jacques Prévert

Love

PC

An evening at the beach...

We went to the beach last weekend.

Our house is quite close to the beach, about 5 minutes drive.

Mei Mei and Jo Jo were shouting when our car get close to the beach.

There was a huge Panda kite welcome them on the field beside the beach!

Another fascinating kite were there too!

The girls enjoy playing and running wild!

We spotted a group of Indians ladies digging up something...

Look!  Inside their basket!  They planned to have this for their dinner!

Jo Jo tried her hand to dig up some too!  Her first 'victim'.  

There are plenty of them, Mei Mei and Jo Jo caught a handful of them...

Later, we returned them to the sea when we are leaving.

A last shoot of the beautiful sky before we head for home!