2025 Christmas

Daddy and I woke up and headed out to go last minute Christmas shopping today. Then since it was close to the time to pick up the dinner order, we spent more time around Gurney Paragon until 4pm and slowly made our way to the restaurant. 

Luckily it was ready and we headed home. Showered and then sat around with the family, enjoying Christmas songs and chatting (with our pre-dinner drinks). 

Our 2 babies:

We decided to start our leisurely paced dinner earlier today. Set up all the food (heated what needed to be heated up) and took our family photo:

The boys got around to carving the duck and beef Wellington:

Dinner was easy and quite nice. 

We finished off with the chocolate pralines from Läderach:

Of course, then the little one wants to open presents, insisting that we'd usually allow for the presents to be opened on the eve. Ko-ko of course said: No, should wait till Christmas morning. He said this knowing that his present hadn't arrived yet (his climbing shoes, which he had ordered). 

Anyhow, we finally allowed the presents to be opened on the eve. 

Mei-mei got her (pre-selected) toy:

Ko-ko got a surprise. An Apple watch:

We were very surprised and proud to find that Mei-mei didn't indicate any jealousy that her Ko-ko got an Apple watch and she just got a toy. 

But we surprised her with another present.. that was on the way: an Apple watch too. So happy to see your happy face. 

Christmas Tree for 2025

You sent me a video on Instagram to remind me that it was time to put up our Christmas tree. So today, daddy brought up the tree and the 3 of us set it up. Ko-ko was away at the Penang Science Fair volunteering.

Daddy checking on the tree

After setting up the tree, I put on the lights and then we left the tree as it is as we thought that Ko-ko may want to help decorate the tree. 

Assistant cleaning up the mess

By the time he got back, he was dead tired. Surprisingly you were fine, as you also had extra Karate lessons. So you decided on the color theme this year: Silver (or white) and blue.

And finally, here's our completed tree for this year:

Simple Christmas

As we'd already treated you both to the Japan holiday, there was no plans for any Christmas celebration this year.  Of course, this didn't stop Mei-mei from reconfirming that there would not be any presents this year...

Daddy and I woke up and headed to Village Grocer to pick some foodstuff for our Christmas brunch. Today's brunch is smoked salmon with cream cheese on English muffins. Simple, but delicious:

For the rest of the day, we just relaxed at home. 

2024 Christmas Tree

Yes, I know it's only the start of November, but since Ko-ko is back, so we decided to have the tree set up this week before he heads back to KL. Daddy (albeit being sick) carried the tree up and set it up with Mei-mei's help.

Next Mei-mei and I started to open the branches. Then she went up to continue with her homework while I put up the lights. Needed daddy to help me with the top branch as it's too high. Finally the 2 kiddies came back down to put on the ornaments. And that included throwing the candy cane at the tree to see if it will stick/hook onto the tree!!

Colour theme for this year is red and gold (and some white). 

Then daddy came down again to shift the tree, put on the angel and keep the box away.

And voila.. our Christmas tree!

2023 Christmas Tree is Up

Since Ko-ko is back this weekend, we decided to put up the Christmas tree. It's not too early.. in fact, may be a little later than usual. Anyhow.. Mei-mei determined the theme this year to be blue and silver as she had done a quick check to validate that last year's theme was red and gold. 

Before we got home to start the "project", Ko-ko informed me that there was a typo on the name when he tried to do check in. Walaueh... so I had to get onto a call with Firefly to determine what needed to be done. In the meantime, Mei-mei and daddy started to set up the branches. 

By the time I was done, the tree was ready. So we quickly opened up the branches and I set to putting up the lights. 

This is what she was up to while waiting for me

Once I was done with the lights, my job was about done! Lucky me. I got to sit back and watch the two of you put up the decorations. You're both tall enough to decorate the whole tree. 💕 Sometimes Mei-mei would ask for help to put an ornament at a certain high point. 

And finally, it was daddy's turn to put the angel. 

Et voila.. we're done!

Christmas Eve Dinner

This year, we had extra guests for our Christmas Eve dinner. Chek Kong, Chim Poh and Kor Poh joined us. We finally decided to go with barbecue as this would ensure that the menu would be suitable to our guests' food preferences.

We planned the timing to cook and roast the food, but sometimes, things do not go as planned. The chicken took longer than anticipated (not hot enough). Daddy got a little stressed out. Look at his 3 supervisors:

Of course, I needed to take a picture of "the best present" we had under/near the tree. Can you guess which it is?

Finally the chicken, prawns and steaks were done and the salmon were slowly cooking in the grill. Daddy went up for a quick shower while the steaks rested and we prepared the dining table:

Our dinner spread

A family photo before dinner was served

We were all rather hungry by then. So everyone started tucking in the food. Soon, it was time for the salmon to be served. 

Salmon on cedar wood planks.. heavenly

After dinner, the two of you went out to roast some marshmallows. Ko-ko tried to get the fire hotter:

It was finally time to open presents. By then, Ah Ma said that she had a tummy ache and had gone up to her bedroom. Mei-mei failed to get her to come down again and join us. We had to send up two elves to get her to join us. She finally came down. 

No points for guessing who was the busy elf tasked (or volunteered) to distribute out the gifts:

This was made by Mei-mei for Kor Poh

I always love these quiet dinners at home with close family.

We managed to stay up till past 12 midnight to welcome Christmas. 

Cousins visting

This weekend, we had visitors. Ariesse, Vianna, Ah Pek, Ah Mm, Pek Kong and Mm Poh stayed over on their way back to KL from a holiday in Hadyai. 

Mei-mei was very happy to have 2 girls to play with. Too bad it was a short stay and we could not arrange for some stuff for you all to do outside of the house. Mei-mei could not miss another ballet lesson since she had already missed 2 and this Saturday, Miss Foo needed to assess if she could take the upcoming Grade 3 exams or not. 

So right after ballet, the 3 of you set work to paint the ornaments we picked up from Ikea. 

3 busy bees, painting

Ornaments you all painted: Tree (collaboration between the 3 of you), Vianna's round bauble, Ariesse's Santa Bauble and Evelyn's tree bauble

You all painted very beautifully and now we have 4 customised ornaments are on our tree.

Santa's Elf at Work

This week seems to be a week of Christmas celebration.

On Tuesday, you had a round of celebration during Chapel. We have submitted the gift and you got the present (gift was from a child in the primary school, based on the lucky number you picked). You weren't too happy with the gift which was a box of pencils... but oh well it is a useful present.

All dressed up in "Mrs Claus" colours

On Thursday, you were assistant team leader for Girl's Brigade and you and Summer decided that you'd bring party packs. So here you are on Saturday packing the gifts before running off and asking me to stick on the stickers you had designed for the party pack. 

As for Ko-ko, you woke up this morning as I walked into your room. Gave me a shock thinking that you weren't feeling well. Turns out you just wanted to inform me that you woke up at 2am and realised you didn't wrap your gift for today's gift exchange!

I had to rush through the school breakfast and lunch packing as well as my own breakfast to go upstairs to wrap up your gift!

Hey.. while I'm typing this, it looks like I am the elf, not either of you!!

Christmas Tree Part 3: All done!

Daddy came down after showering (masked up) to shift the tree, put on the angel and also adjust the wiring for the lights along with the skirting for the tree.

Et voila:

Christmas Tree Part 2: It is Up!!

Well after we set up the tree on Saturday, we planned to decorate the tree on Friday, since we all have it off. But tonight after dinner, Mei-mei was so gung ho to have the decorations all up. We agreed on red and gold this year. The two of you had loads of fun putting them up. 

As usual, Evelyn even turned on some Christmas music to get us in the mood:

My Hardworking elves

So this was the surprise we had for daddy when he comes back... for the tree to be all ready (sans the angel and to shift to the correct location).

Christmas Tree - Part 1

The tree is partially set up today. We had planned to do it on Saturday, but there was too much work and homework to complete over the weekend. In fact today was almost a "no-go" as you still had a lot of homework and CA1 team work to discuss. We also had to go out for Tou-tou's birthday celebration dinner so we had very limited time.

In the end, daddy brought up the tree and we had the tree and lights set up first. Needed out muscle man to lift up the heavy box from downstairs before he headed off for his holiday. We plan to put up the ornaments on Friday, which is a public holiday. 

Daddy setting up the base

Ko-ko could not help us this round, but he was reminded that he would not be excused when we put up the ornaments this Friday.

Mei-mei helped to put on the branches up till the ones which were too high for her

Can't wait to finish decorating the tree. 

Queensbay Christmas Decorations

After having your ears pierced and our bellies filled, we headed to the atrium to take some pictures of the decorations. The malls always have amazing decorations. 

Christmas 2021

By the time we arrived home it was already 12 midnight and Mei-mei insisted to open presents. So we allowed you to each pick one to open. 

Picking a present

The next morning, you both opened the rest of the presents. 

Mei-mei had made origami to be given to everyone:

Ah Kong receiving his present

Daddy's origami

Happiness to receive the Polly Pockets

For our own Christmas dinner at home, we ordered food from E&O Hotel this year. All we needed to do was to pick up the food. 

This little photo bomber!

Our dinner spread

Daddy carving the duck

Posing with her origamis (which were already distributed out!)

"False background" of a fireplace on our TV

It was a simple affair at home, but I loved the feeling of celebrating it with family and having the delicious spread of food.