Christmas Tree Assistants Over the Years

Daddy and I were looking at an old picture of Ko-ko helping to set up the tree. So I dug deep into my archives and found these... 

2013: Evan putting up the decorations. Evelyn was too young to help

 2014: Evelyn is now old enough to help out.. at the lower branches. Evan also has a height limit

 2015: Daddy's two assistants. Helping to set up the branches.

 2016: Kids still need some help to place ornaments on higher branches

 2017: Even Evelyn can reach up to higher branches.. on a stool. We're so worried she falls forward onto the tree!!

 2018: Daddy's job is mainly to set up the tree (with everyone's help) and my job is to place the lights. The rest is left to the both of you. Just a bit of rearranging on our side. 

 2019: Ko-ko is able to reach to the topmost branch. Oh.. and on job remains for daddy to do.. that is to place the angel at the very top of the tree and to set up the extension for the lights. 

This tree that daddy lugged all the way back from Singapore was sure worth it. Over the years we have amassed a lot of ornaments from the places we have visited. This year we got them from Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Estonia. We have also ornaments from Alaska, Japan and even Switzerland (when Ah Kong went on a business trip). Of course we also bought many when we saw new ones in Penang and even in KL. 

Our angel was "murdered" by Ko-ko a few years back and that year when we went to KL, we found the beautiful angel which is now sitting on our tree. 

It's funny how Mei-mei mentioned that it is now a tradition for us: to set up the tree together every year and also to had Christmas music playing in the background while we set up the tree from scratch. Just need to make sure that the tradition includes putting away the tree and ornaments.. that seems to be "traditionally" my job!!

It's a good tradition and I hope that we will continue with this for a long time more. ❤

A Day at Ikea

It's been over 6 months since Ikea opened in Batu Kawan, but we had not stepped into the store (so afraid of the crowds) until this week. Daddy and I had Monday off so we headed there for a quick look around and lunch. 

Then we decided to go again on Sunday as we had spotted several good buys. The whole family went, but we had to take 2 cars as we had checked in advance and knew that the items needed to be carried in the Mazda with the seats put down. 

So off we went. The first thing we did when we arrived was to have lunch.. before the crowd came in. We managed to get a table for the 6 of us and then queued up for our lunch. The lunch was better than what we had on Monday where our Swedish meatballs was disappointingly cold. 

Then while the family started to wander around Ikea, we headed back downstairs as Ikea was having a competition to design a toy (where the winning design would be made into a soft toy sold in Ikea worldwide). Miss Ang in school had told you all about the competition and since we were there at the time of the competition, Evelyn joined in. 

She got a form and had to draw and design the "toy" there and then.

When it was done, she was given a certificate of participation and had her photo taken

Mummy also had to take a photo

Then we joined the family to shop and walk around. This little girl had a great time. 

Checking out the chair (which we bought later on)

"Bravely" posing with the TOY snake

Posing in the "toy house" 

Pretending to have tea under the mosquito netting

Joining the animals for dinner

Having a tea party

After walking for a LONG LONG time, we headed home. Then the boys continued to "work" -- to build the furniture we had bought:

Working on the bench outside

Funnily the thought that Ko-ko has graduated from Lego to Ikea came to mind as he was building this chair