Chinese New Year Eve

The men were cleaning up the porch and brought in the shoes. The number of shoes is indicative of how many people we have in the house!!

As would be the tradition, dinner was popiah. This dish certainly takes days of advanced preparation. Kor Poh had already cooked and peeled the crabs and fried the shallots before we even arrived in Ipoh. Chim Poh and Kor Poh were lucky to have strong Uncle Ollie this year to help carry the vegetables from the market. The day before and this morning was spent cutting and preparing the vegetables for dinner.
And it's finally time to enjoy the fruits of our labour. Dinnertime. Oh and the kids (except Ko-ko) were treated to Ah Ma's yummy fish and chips.

Our dinner spread 

My popiah 

Ta-da... all rolled up 

That evening, we prepared to welcome the new year with our usual firework display (Round 1).

And then they decided to crack open Ah Tai Kong's antique brandy which has been sitting on the bar for MANY, MANY years. As expected, the cork was all brittle and daddy managed to remove the cork by using some toothpicks.

Cheers! Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

Eve of Eve of Chinese New Year

We spent the day preparing for the reunion dinner. There was over 30 people having dinner in the house. We cut the ingredients for the popiah and also prepared the Seung Wan Yuen ingredients as well as to make them into the ball shapes. 

Mixing up the seung wan yuen ingredients

Dinner that night was a few dishes which Kor Poh had cooked. As usual, it was delicious.

Off to Ipoh

We received an invitation from Chek Kong to have dinner today as this Chinese New Year we had additional family back for the celebration: Natalie Kor-kor and Uncle Ollie as well as Jack Hou Chek-chek and family. 

So today, we picked the both of you up from school and after everyone was showered, we packed the car and headed to Ipoh. 

While daddy was worried that we'd be late to arrive at the house and hence be late for dinner, it turned out that by the time we arrived, not everyone was ready yet! So we sat around while waiting for everyone and then it was time to head to Tong Hoi for dinner. 

Oops.. not photos of our delicious dinner. 

Happy New Year 2020

The plan was to have a cheese and cold cut platter while waiting to usher in the new year. But we had a head-start instead. By 11 p.m., our platter was all ready and we were already feasting!!

Baking with Evelyn

You asked to bake something today. With the limited ingredients we have at home, I finally found a simple chocolate chip cupcake we could whip up. 

First you needed to line the cupcake molds. So this was the pattern you created:

Then we measured out all the ingredients we needed and put them all in my mixing bowl. To slowly add the flour, I had you sit on the floor.. so reduce the risk of spilling them all over. 

The final step is to pour the batter into the cupcake liners. I first poured the batter into a measuring cup so that it is easier for you to pour it into the liners: 

 Oh and the most important step of all.. clean-up *grin*

Licking the bowl and spatula clean

Ta-da.. our cupcakes are ready. As there was a party at Annabelle Che-che's house that night, you brought a couple of cupcakes for Audrey.

School Christmas

Received these photos from your Homeroom teacher last night through the school app. 

Christmas Eve Dinner

It's Christmas eve and this year we had Nanna, Grampy and Also Alan Ku-ku over for a barbecue dinner at home. 

The tree has loads of presents 

My model insisted to have her photo taken

Dinner menu was a simple barbecue. Master chef daddy was very busy.

Chicken 

Australian Wagyu steaks

After the chicken and steaks were done, daddy had a quick shower and then came down to cut the steaks: 

Yummy.. 

Then we all sat down to have dinner:

Our dinner spread for the night  

Next, the salmon was ready and here it is

Oh and a family photo

It was a slow and leisurely dinner, just enjoying good food and drinks and great company. After clearing up, we had dessert:

Stollen and Fruit Pudding

After much persuasion (just to make it difficult for Evan).. we allowed the kids to open their presents.

Ku-ku with his gifts from the kids 

Everyone with their presents 

Artwork for Ku-ku to put on his fridge 

Happy kids with the presents from Ku-ku and Uncle Matthew 

Excited kids with their presents from Ee-ee 

Kids opening presents (shared) from Mummy and Daddy.. PS4 

The Play Station was immediately hooked up to the TV and you both had a good time trying out the game "Overcooked":

Evelyn was in a "Santa mood". So before Christmas she wrapped up presents (she really put a lot of thought in to the presents) and put them under the tree. This is what I got - a handmade card and a present (her own toy.. forgot to take a picture of that):

Merry Christmas.

Winter Solstice Dinner

We had the Phuah's over for dinner and Ah Ma cooked Pohpiah this year. 

Our popiah and also extras (grilled chicken)

Aunty Amy also made the Hainanese dessert usually served during the Winter Solstice "Pua-aat": 

Happy Birthday, Daddy

Ordered a cake in the morning from our favourite cake shop, Mon Delice and asked Ah Ma to help pick it up for me. And of course the moment we got home, Miss Big Mouth loudly announced that there is a cake in the fridge *sigh*...

The yummy mango cake

After dinner and after Kakak had cleaned up the dining table, it was time to bring out the cake and for you kids to bring out the cards you made. 

Daddy's card from Evelyn 

Daddy's card from Evan

We sang the birthday song, blew out and relighted the candle (3 times!!) and then daddy ceremoniously cut the cake with the help from the both of you and it was time to savour the cake. 

 Here is the cards you both made for daddy. Beautiful!

Happy Birthday darling. We love you loads. 

2019 Christmas Charity Performance

The school played host to the Penang State's Christmas Charity Performance this year. And Mei-mei was part of the choir performing. We did not realise it was a state function for the Christian community, thinking it was a school function. Oops.. 

Anyway, we stayed to until the intermission and then headed home as it was a Sunday and you both needed to rest as there was school the next day. 

Mei-mei sneaking a wave at us 

Singing

The school choir sang 3 songs. You also had a leading role to sing with your friend. We're so proud of you. Great job, little girl!!

Wushu Grade 4

It was a busy Sunday for us, especially poor daddy  who had to drive around the whole day. After dropping Mei-mei for rehearsal and returning to school to find out she wasn't ready to go off, we headed to Union Primary school to drop you off for your Wushu test which was to start at 2.15p.m. Too bad I could not hang around with you as I needed to rush off with daddy to pick up Evelyn. 

I left you sitting with your group and to wait for your turn. You were #28 in the list and we were wondering how long it would take before it gets to be your turn. Turned out that the test is taken in groups of 4. So after we picked up Mei-mei and rested for no more than 15 minutes at home, you called to say that you were done.

So off we went again to pick you up. You sounded optimistic on passing. Hopefully so. Then you can move on to the next level for Wushu. Great job, darling.