Penang International Science Fair with Evan

As our company was the main organisers for this year's Penang International Science Fair, we were given an opportunity to pre-register our children. A lucky thing that you were the right age for the minimum age to participate. So I signed up for the Sunday session. We woke up really early and Ah Kong dropped us in Straits Quay. We got your tag and goodies bag along with some snacks which were provided and then went up to the convention centre to wait for the time to go in. Here you are, waiting to enter. You were pre-registered for the Lego Robotics session.

Parents were not allowed to go in. But lucky for me, a friend was volunteering that day, so she managed to get these pictures of you along working on the robot with the volunteer.

While you were building robots, I went down to look around and see what else there was at the science fair. When the hour was up, I went back up to collect you. It was well arranged where I had the other portion of your tag which both had my phone number. The volunteer would only match both numbers before letting you go off with me. We went to the other side of the convention centre and of course you got excited when you saw the Lego's set up by Legoland which had a booth there:

Took me a while to convince you to leave. Why it is that you've got lots of Lego at home and yet you need to play with other people's Lego??!!
Here is another booth which you were playing with another child. I have no idea what it was supposed to be:

Then we went down where Agilent was one of the sponsors and were having some games. All you need is to get your "passport" then go to the 4 stations to play the games, then get your passport stamped for the corresponding game.  

After the first game, we had to leave as we had bought tickets for the astrodome. The astrodone was an interesting experience. I think you loved it.
We went back down to continue with the other 3 games. Daddy had already finished his golf game and was on the way to pick us up. But since you were not done yet (due to the very LARGE crowd), he parked his car and waited till you finished.

Here you are trying out the last 3 games:

When you finished and got all 4 pages of your passport stamped, you collected your gift which was a little bottle with Agilent logo and we headed home. Only half a day, but it was fun. I enjoyed this time spent together just with you. I hope you did too.

My Love Notes from Evan

When you started school this year I had asked if you wanted me to have your recess snack ordered from the counter. But you had told me that you didn't want it. You wanted to bring your own food from home. So on top of packing your little container with your box milk or Milo along with a selection of biscuits, I would also add a little note for you.

One night, you asked me where I kept the "sticky yellow paper" and when I showed you, you asked if you could have a piece. You also wanted to write me a little note. These are a few of the notes you had written to me:

My heart melts when I see this message with so many hearts. I love you too darling.

Evelyn's First Solids

At 6 months and 9 days, we introduced solids to you. We had wanted to do so earlier but were very busy the past 2 weekends. So today we went home during our lunch time to feed you the solids.

When we got back we were a little disappointed to find that you were asleep. But as I was cooking instant noodles for our lunch, you woke up. So daddy quickly washed and sterilised all the "equipment" that I had bought in preparation for your new adventure in solids.

So what first food did you eat? This organic rice cereal which daddy bought when he was in Singapore. We were worried that we may have problems finding the rice cereal which we wanted as I heard that it was very popular and always out of stock. So the pantry is all stocked with your cereals *grin*

Mummy had bought a new set of everything for you. Here's your rice cereal all mixed and ready for you. I mixed a little too much for you for a first meal. It was one spoonful of cereal and 1oz of milk.

OK, everything is ready and you are seated on the high chair all strapped in and wearing your bib. Everyone stood around watching in anticipation of you taking your first solids. Ko-ko, Ah Kong, Ah Ma, Kakak and daddy with his camera as I got ready to feed you.

When I showed you the spoon, you refused to open your mouth. It was a surprise as daddy had been tempting you with his spoon and everytime you'd open your mouth, hoping for a little taste. Perhaps you thought that mummy was also only tempting you with food. Finally after much persuasion you opened your mouth. As expected you did not know how to push the food to the back of your mouth to swallow. But after a few tries.. yay you did it. And you sure looked like you loved it. Don't believe me? This picture says it all:

See.. I told you Evan Ko-ko was also as excited as you about you eating solids. He had changed into his school uniform and watched and encouraged you as you ate your solids.

Yup, you certainly enjoyed it.

Halfway through your meal, Ko-ko had to go off. He was very understanding that mummy was feeding you so he only requested that daddy waved goodbye to him as he headed off to school with Ah Kong and Ah Ma. Here's Ko-ko cheerfully waving goodbye to daddy:

Daddy got back to the house after and took a picture of your icky little mouth:

You took around 15 minutes or so to finish up your rice cereal mixture and mummy gave you some water after that. So ends your first adventure with food. Another milestone for our little baby girl. Oh how time flies..

Happy Birthday To Our Darling Evan

I knew it was coming but I still feel all soppy to think that my little guy turns 7. I woke up this morning with the intention to make the little flag which you like to add to your breakfast. But as I was picking out the things I needed from my craft drawer (in the darkness as daddy and Evelyn were still sleeping) I heard you opening your room door. Thank goodness you were still in your sleepy mode. So I quickly told you to continue sleeping on my bed and picked up what I needed and went to the bathroom, locked the door and made this simple flag for you. 

Got ready and dressed then went downstairs to get breakfast for you, me and daddy. 

So here you go, a special breakfast for my special little boy on his special day: 

Got you to pose with your breakfast. Still having your sleepy face:

Happy Birthday darling. May you be blessed with all the good things there are in the world. We love you loads. (Angu-gu from Evelyn)

*Muakksss*

Spending the Day with Evan and Evelyn

It is the first day of the school holidays for you and the morning was spent in Adventist Hospital. You both had appointments to see Dr Mary. Evelyn had her 2 injections and Rotavirus to take while it was time for Dr Mary to review your never ending cough.

We missed the appointment as both daddy and I were very tired from Evelyn's restless night. So we had a rather lengthy wait before it was our turn. As it was already quite late, we decided to pick up Evan's medicine later on.

We headed to the next stop, Adventure Zone. Yup, we're there again. A little birthday treat for you.

 

As it was lunch time, we decided to have lunch there. Mummy also decided to have a "coffee bath". Sigh.. spilled the whole cup of coffee on myself. Lunch was pizza and a club sandwich. You barely ate as you just wanted to spend time on the slides. As for Evelyn, you just enjoyed yourself watching the crowd and then fell asleep.

Evan's 7th Birthday Party

As usual your birthday was planned for the weekend. You had wanted an "Italian night" party, but since some guests could not take cheese, we opted for option #2, barbecue. The days leading to the party was madness. Daddy and I had to make trips to Cold Storage, Tesco and Jusco to buy the things needed. Ah Ma also was busy preparing the things for the barbecue.

Here's the picture of my little birthday boy:

While waiting for the food to be ready, you played with your cousins. Abigail was a little unhappy in this picture as she was losing in the game.

Here's chef daddy preparing the barbecue chicken:

Everyone sitting everywhere in the house, eating, chatting and laughing. I love the easy-going pace when we have parties at home. Less stressful. Even Evelyn was good about it. She got to take naps in between in her own comfy baby cot.

This of course is the "kiddy table". You picked the cups and plates for the party this year.

I love it that you're so excited that we're celebrating your birthday. Look at your excited face when it's time for the cake and song:

Isn't the little jelly car cute?

And finally.. opening the presents...

Happiness when you saw all the toys picked for you:

Our guests also went home with a little picture of you:

Reunion Finale with the Phuah's

The weekend was a celebration with the Phuah's. As usual Ah Ma cooked up a storm. Strangely I forgot to take a picture of the food.. Hmmm.. There was a special "menu" for the children too. You enjoyed your dinner and most of you even went for seconds. After that, it was play time for the children. Here are the 3 of you posing with the many guns you have. Ian is not in the picture.. he must have ran off to play with the other toys.

 Loved this picture of Boh-boh Poh, your two Tou-tou's and Ah Ma:

That evening, we were treated to coffee by our personal barista, daddy. Yummy coffee made from the new coffee machine:

On top of that, we had healthy dessert of ice-cream made from frozen fruits. Uncle Sin Tien brought his newly bought machine to make the ice-cream for us. Yummy..

As a surprise, we had a cake to celebrate Aunty Ean Na's birthday too. Here are you kids all excited to blow our the candle.. even before we started to sing the birthday song!

And once you've all helped yourselves to a piece of the chocolate decorating the cake, you all ran off to continue playing.

That's the last of the Chinese New Year celebrations for this year.

Chinese New Year in Ipoh

That morning we woke up at a leasurely pace as we were not having the lion dance this year. So we slowly woke up, had breakfast, did the usual round of giving and receiving ang pow. While chatting and hanging around, we also spend some time to take pictures.

 Daddy and Evelyn

 Our first family picture.

 Love this shot of the two of you

 The both of you with Ah Kong and Ah Ma

 All of us in one picture. Took this picture using tripod and timer. Turned out well.

Soon it was lunch time. As usual lunch was mee suah soup with fried egg. Yummy. 

The only picture we had of dinner was this of everyone doing the "lou sang".

Happy Chinese New Year

Reunion Dinner in Ipoh with the Ban's

As dinner was to be popiah and Ah Ma was going to buy the popiah skin for the reunion dinner, we only left for Ipoh on Saturday morning(the eve of Chinese New Year). Early that morning, Ah Ma and Ah Kong headed to Chowrasta market to buy the skin.

By the time they got back, we were still waking up! So after all was packed our two cars headed to Ipoh. Yup, we travelled in two cars as there were so many things to take, and this trip you both sat in your car seats. We reached Ipoh before Ah Kong and Ah Ma as they had to detour to buy some kuih.

By then, the wonderful cooks in the house had almost finished preparing (lots of cutting of the various vegetables) the ingredients for the popiah. Amazing!

Later that evening, I went to the kitchen to see them slowly stirring and mixing the many veggies into the one BIG cast-iron wok. Wow! Needs strong arms for this job. Ta-da.. here's the end result:

When it was dinner time, the table was set up in the main living room. And of course Evan helped out. My little helpful boy. I'm so proud of you.

Chim Poh gave you a tray so that you did not need to make so many trips to and from the kitchen. I was really worried that they little saucers might slip off the tray but you did a good job. Muakksss...  

Here is the food all ready and waiting to be eaten.

I'm drooling at the thought of this:

Here's the "bar" all ready for after-dinner drinks:

That night when we all went to sleep, someone decided to light up some firecrackers! Urghhh.. it woke us all up. Good thing you all went back to sleep easily.

First Reunion Dinner - With the Yeoh's

We had planned to go out for dinner.. but at the last minute on Saturday we decided to cook for the family instead. It would be easier as mei-mei was still so small and not easy to handle when we're out in the restaurant. So after everyone agreed on dinner at home, we rushed to Cold Storage to pick up what was needed for the dinner.

Daddy slaved in the kitchen the whole day with mummy helping while Kakak took care of Evelyn. You also had an important task. You were to be the waiter for the night and had to prepare the handwritten menu for our dinner guests.

Nanna, Grampy, Ee-ee and Teo-teo arrived just as you were finishing up the menu. I had drawn up an order form for you to tick too. Soon you were changed into your "waiter's attire" and it was dinner time. Ah Ma joined us too as Ah Kong had gone up to stay at the condo.

When everyone was seated, you went around to take their orders. You were so cute. My handsome little waiter comes complete with a little pencil tucked behind the ear:

Here's the handwritten menu (this was the original one written by mummy as a sample):

The little waiter busy taking orders:

Here you are holding up your order form which I had stuck to a hard cover book to make it easier for you to take orders:

After the full course was over, we sat around chatting and laughing and soon it was time for everyone to go home. That was the end of the first reunion dinner for the year. A few more to go...