Busy Busy Quarter

I'm still caught in a busy schedule... now, what's new? Much had been accomplished though.. such as the kids' new school for new year, brushing up on Jem's phonics and packing up of our place etc. But a lazy bug taken a bite on me today and I seriously couldn't start my engine to do anything except to play with my games and kids.

We had just finished a round of catching at the playground and now seated in front of the tv watching a newly purchased vcd. Since my notebook is in front of me... I might as well blog while spending some 'quality' tv watching session with them.

Let's get it rolling with (as usual) FOOD....

Check out this Chewy Chocolate Soft Cookies we baked! Managed to get the kind of texture but somehow it is too rich for my liking... simply too chocolaty. Think need some twitching before posting the recipe... but look at the picture... doesn't it looks mmmmm... YUMMY!
I'm rather addicted to a cafe game in Facebook as well.. there's just this thing about kitchen that makes a woman either scream in exasperation or smile in satisfaction. Especially during tough times, I find myself seeking comfort in trying out more dishes (both online and offline)... its ironic, and definitely a fast way to add onto the pile of housework to be completed. But motherhood is really tough and one just needed some way to let off some "steam" before sanity evaporates to nothing.

Talking about that, I still remember some time back while rushing home from getting Jem's donuts.. I saw a hysteric mom with a cool teenage girl. She's down her knees (the mom) shouting at her girl (or mebbe to the world) and crying away... the conversation went something like this :

Mom : I really cannot take it anymore... please I beg you... go and die... go somewhere to jump down and die.
Daughter : Cannot
Mom : Why cannot?!?!? I cannot go on anymore... I beg you.
Daughter : I don't know where to jump.
Mom : (pointing to a nearby block) over there... I go with you now.
Daughter : Not today. Some other days perhaps... but not today. I still got things to do.

The mom screamed even more loudly but I'm pretty far from them to hear properly already. I am in a rush remember? But I did catch sight of some kind uncles loitering near them and calling police before striding off in peace lah...

So mummies... before you lose your cool, come by to pick up some recipes... I have plenty to share.

Mother 's Day 2009

A beautiful surprise came through the door for me...

A lovely touch from my husband dearest...

Jerome said he wants to give me flowers as well... in the many years to come. To show his sincerity, he plucked flower weeds downstairs. I was moved... very much... so much that I had to sigh when I had to go on to teach not to pluck flowers as it will kill it etc.

I love you guys.... very much.

Back to My Blogging Days..

Wwow... It's been 4 months since I last blogged. Excuse for the absence? The arrival of our 3rd son, Jardin Ting.

No, I'm definitely not one of the good citizen that supports the government's call to procreate in action. That is not within my means.

So we added onto the family... a family puppy. One that is chosen and loved by all of us. It wasn't easy for us to come to a consensus on which kind of dogs we would want not to mention The One that we would all fall for. But by God's grace, after weeks of search... we found him.

Yah, another "him" despited my strong desire for another female in our midst. That elusive princess still did not materialise.

TAdA ! Jardin who joined us on the 10th May 2009, 6 months old as of this post :

The last few months wasn't easy for me really... to adapt to this new child of mine. While I love animals dearly... I'm more of a cat lover. Yes! I adore that arrogant, high and mighty creature. I love that baby who lazily lounge day in day out like some princess. So I've been busy learning to love this puppy who whines and craves for attention constantly... who follows me to every corner of the house... who care less for cleanliness (so very guy!!!)... who suffers separation anxiety... who constantly look at me with that set of doleful eyes hoping to be placed on the laps soon.

He definitely seeks attentions more than Jem and Jay!

But do I love him? Of course! Who can resist those sets of eyes? Thus the hours spent grooming, cooking, playing, training and walking him...

Another son... another gift from God...

And now I'm ready to be back on the blog... with more excitements in our lives.

Wedding Montage (Testing)

Did this montage for my cousin Joanne's wedding. Was planning to take it down after she view it online but was duly forgotten during the busy period.

It sure brings back sweet memories after viewing thus I'm going to let it remains here...

Maybe one day... I'll do one for my own marriage too?

If time permits....

Back to Tioman

We took this picture in 2003 on our boat ride to Tioman. That was about 6 years ago and we were dive buddies. Back then we share the joy of chasing the fishes and enjoying the beauty of nudibranches..

Over the weekend, we took a similar picture on our ride to Tioman... this time round, as husband and wife with our shared joy of our 2 Js.

Love you husband! Hope that we will have more beautiful moments coming our ways...

Out of my windows

I have clickery click fingers... i think. Well, some of my photos do turn out pretty decent to me. But they are definitely not green enough for my liking... my fingers I mean.

But it's definitely not stopping me from digging into the compost. It's really therapatic... just like mud, soil are pretty much cooling and soothing to the hands as well. I simply love gardening... hmmm, as much as walking through a garden, a floral farm, a field full of wild flowers. Yah, I'm sure you get the picture.. it's plants that my passion blossom for.

These are the current view from my window... I sure hope the flowers are here to stay.

So those who would be kind enough to attend my funeral next time, please note that I would love to have ; tulips, lilies, gerberas of different colours, carnations, sunflowers, forget-me-nots and lavendars!

A Prophecy? I hope not...

It was the kids' first day of school... so you can imagine what kind of haste Mark and I were in.

And in the midst of hustling, we saw this big message on the wall of our lift lobby. We were shocked! But first thing first, we gotta get the kids to school.
I got to admit... while we were in the car, i was going through strings of mix up desperate prayers for the kids and also for wisdom and patience not to jump at the driver next to me. Well, if the message was not meant for me, who else can it be?

After getting our reluntant kids closed behind the classroom doors, we discussed and made a call to the police. We were really worried and I definitely wouldn't want my door to have red paints for CNY.

Thank God that when the police guys were here, they confirmed it was a prank as the same message appeared on other floors as well with the unit numbers changed accordingly.

The worst victim here is the one with his number scribbled on the wall for contact... poor fella most probably gotta change his mobile. Yah... we called him and realised.. that it wasn't just a simple prank.

As for the kids... Jem spent his first day in class yawning away. Jay found a cosy corner to go zzzz. Haiz~

Blessed in ways others do not understand

I simply had to stop my chores to pen down these thoughts... cos I know for many years to come, I would want to feel the same way again and again.

CNY is round the bend... and I'm doing what I do every year.. Spring Cleaning. Most of my friends will think I clean obsessively...hmmm, maybe. But yah, i'm one who loves the pleasure of a clean, cosy home to lounge in. Even when I hardly have the luxury to lounge now with the two monsterous kids around.

I'm in bad need of a part time helper. Seriously, its no joke to have 3 guys in a 5-room flat who have little desire to maintain peace, harmony and most of all... neatness! Cleaning up after them is like clearing the walkway, while it is still snowing. Especially now that I'm badly down with flu.

So there I was... earlier on, scrubbing vigorously on the walls of the toilet. I just couldn't understand how can it get so grubby despite me scrubbing it ever so often? I vividly remember a friend once share how his mum made him scrub those tiles with a toothbrush whenever CNY draws near. Poor mum didn't even realised that she was incurring the wrath of her own son while trying to keep a clean house! Suddenly I have the crazy notion that maybe we should let the house turn mouldy like the way people delibrately let their tangerines do so in CNY to 'fa' in their life. hmmm... harmony will prevails since no one need to do anything and who knows, the 'magic' might just work and we get super 'fa'? YUCKS!! i scrubbed the grimes even more thoroughly.

Maybe I should fly off somewhere till the festive is over...

SMACK! The truth hit me real hard!

Friends... whom have known me for years, aren't you happy for me? (For those who doesn't... I was 'orphaned' at 3 and been living on my own since a tender age.) I used to fly off on my own elsewhere during CNY when I was single in order to avoid having reunion dinner with my grandma's family. No, she loves me lots and me too... but she never understood the pain of having 'reunion' dinner when my dad was kicking alive somewhere having his reunion with other families... just not his daughter. Nor did she know that the ang baos she happily deck out on his behalf actually contains my money and its an ironic stab deep into my heart when she hands me my ang bao from daddy.

But now... within the walls of this flat that I grumbly scrubbed, live my loving family. They are the guys whom I know have no qualms in leaving fingerprints on my just wiped door... but never fail to tell me they love me each day as well. Will I exchange another flight for them this season? Definitely NOT!

"Father in Heaven, I thank you for the love ones around me... that makes even scrubbing dirts a worthwhile task... a fulfilment paramounts to a holiday trip, just to see them lounge in a clean and cosy home."

So mums... who are having a 'taxing' time preparing for CNY, may you too find the joy of 'slaving' away for your family this Spring. It is really a wonderful thing to work hard for people you love, than to enjoy with no one to share. Bask in the lovely atmosphere of flowers and blessings...even when cleaning is part of the agenda.

Cheerios!

End Note for Year 2008

In a day's time, we are moving on to a brand new year.. While the sun still shines on, some feels for global warming... others awaits for more blooms. As the waves continue to splash on our shores, some look out for tsunami... others wow at yet another magnificent sun rise.

This year seems to be a dark year for most with bad things happening one after another. Many are hoping for a better year ahead although forecasts by 'experts' are not very uplifting.

Darkness.. Brightness.. Hottest days... Wettest moments... this year... next year...

My family will only be doing the same... chasing after the sunshine, enjoying the warm while it last.. cuddle close when it lacks.

So our wishes for you is not a "Happy New Year" but..

May you walk into the new year with the choice to have Joy close to your heart!

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Miles of oceans apart

At this very moment while I typed... Mark and I are miles apart. He is away in Shanghai for an incentive trip.

While many are concerned about how am I coping on my own with the two kids, or how is he coping with the melamine rich food in china, I only have one thought... My husband whom I'm so accustomed to have him walk through the door each night at this time is far away from me.

No, I'm not turning into a depressive maniac nor striked with love sickness... Instead, I'm awed and amazed by love. 10 years of living on my own made me appreciate and adore my freedom, thinking that I will always value those moments of singlehood. Truthfully I had valued and even looked forward to such trips which I can be relieved from my duties as a wife and be myself. Yet on this night, going 4 years into my marriage, I came to understand what the bible meant to have love that binds us together as One. For this very moment, I'm aware that part of me is missing...

You can laugh at the mushiness... or entertaining the thought of puking but I'm still gonna indulge in my infatuation. And I wish that people around me will continue to be swept away by this crazy thing call love.

It's been some time

It sure has been been some time since I have last posted.

The whole family was constantly down with flu, fever and cough for 2 weeks and I had bad bouts of chest pains which the doc can't confirm the cause. But thank God I managed to clear the ECG test.

After that was crazy work schedules...

So here I am... back to my writing days.

I'll start the drum rolling with photos of Jem's haircut sometime back at Vivo City. Doesn't he has the look of a hooligan?

Lobsy have a new tank!!

Retaining the memories of the roses

Remember the roses Mark bought for me in Cameron?

Not only did I take pictures to keep it in remembrance, I read up and air dry the petals! Yeap!! I made my own potpourri out of those roses.

It's for real...

Some have been asking me... is your blog for real? How can one keep having good, fun times and no down times? Am I stashing away the bad stuff, sweeping it into some dark corners so that all can envy me for the blessed life i lead?

The truth is out... i do have my fair share of down times as every woman out there and I do face the same kind of problems... sickness, incorrigible husband, untamable kids, forever rising bills, neverending to-do list, constant aching back and muscles and insatiable demands from everyone.

Just 2 weeks back, Mark and I had a big fight which as usual tempted me to show him the door and me falling into the pit by raising the 'd' word. Details of the fight were the usual complaints for the past 4 yrs and as usual resolved by soft spoken sorries from both side. Why? Because the bible says in Ephesians 4:26 "Do not let your sun go down while you are still angry,". For the non-believer, please read it as sleep is more appealing than staying angry/upset.

While I was in the bad time... I was busy weeping and my eyes hurt from too much crying thus prevent me from blogging. Subsequently, my mind got overwhelmed by how good the crabs were, a treat we often give ourselves for surviving the ordeals.. and since i relish the sweetness of the meat more than the bitterness of the fight, i think i rather write about the dish of chilli crabs instead.

I was down with bad bout of flu, terrible two frustrations, pain and aches from cleaning up the messes as well. I ought to complain to that.. because of it, I gotta gave a birthday party a miss. But it definitely didn't stop me from going out in the evening to enjoy National Day's firework and air show.. oh wow!those planes were amazing!!! Not to mention the beautiful fireworks... u get my drift? its always the beauty overriding the saddies..

As for those like concerns on Jem's terrible pronounciations, Jay's extreme tantrums, an ostentious expense that throws the month's budget off balance, lack of time to finish work, existence of irritants etc., Matthew 6:34 says"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" Be it biblically or logically, it holds the truth... so i might jolly well use the time and energy people spend on worrying to play..and subsquently blog on the 'playtime'.

So rejoice, you ladies out there! For your problem plagued family life is indeed normalcy. You can attribute my absence of down times as short term memory lost or permanent immersion in self denial. In whichever way, you can still continue to envy me cos indeed I am blessed. For the meaning of 'blessed' is not in having everything but in contentment of everything....

Another cake for Jem

We really had too much cakes this month but I simply couldn't resist not get getting Jem this one when I saw it. Oh well, take it as a reward for being a good boy then

Some shots that I like

Some shots from the birdpark that I personally like

Trust and Obey

Trust and obey... two simple lessons from God taht I had learned since young... yet so hard to practice in real life. It's just so hard to trust in rocky situations and obey in overwhelming moments where the Door of Escape seems so extra sparkly.

So imagine in the midst of my crazy schedule nowadays, Jem sang these two songs to me whenever I get upset..

Jem (singing) : "Mummy, mummy I love you.... mummy, mummy I love you..."

Me : I love you too, Jerome. Thank you...

Jem (singing) : "Trust and obey, for there's no other way. To be happy in Jesus... but to trust and obey."

Me : Sing with mummy again... "Trust and obey..."

Jem : God is good, God is great... We thank Jesus for our food. AMEN!

by now I think he has exhausted all that he knows to comfort me... Yes, that's my sensitive boy.. (you read it right SENSITIVE, not sensible). Jerome, his name means Holy. Our ever sensitive boy knows when someone is sad... feels deeply for the depressed. He will try to be the Comforter in his own way.

Yes.. its my prayer too that one day, he will stand in his place as a Son of God to offer comfort to those who needs it... amen.

Jay's Painful Episode

6th June 6008... The first time we rushed Jay down to KKH at night.

Other than he was having running nose the day before... there wasn't really much sign of distress. He was still cheeky and naughty as ever though he required me to sit next to him more often. Thus even after I msn Mark that Jay seems unwell, we decided that it was still alright for him to work late in the office.

He wasn't eating well the whole day, refusing his biscuits etc but did manage some porridge for lunch. But the nightmare begun when i offered dinner. Not only he cried, he repeatedly asked me to 'throw' his favourite rice away... I carried him to calm him down as he's crying hysterically and brought him to the kitchen. He chose to have grapes instead.. oh well, anything to fill his little tummy. But the crying session started again after he finished those grapes...

Sorry, but understand me a bit... while many felt that crying and clinging is a norm for toddlers, it's really not so in my family. My 2 Js hardly cry for more than 15mins even when they were ill or for Jem's case, hospitalised. So I truly felt that Jay was in some distress when he cried all the way till 10pm but I wasn't able to 'see' what exactly was hurting him. So despited no high temperature or obvious signs, I requested to go KKH once Mark reached home. We got a stressful ride cos little jay was still howling away or worse.. he's like drowsy, nodding off yet waking up to howl.

He's fine now... after a few dose of paracetamol and medication. The doc says he was in pain having viral infection somewhere and was too tired out by the time we reaches. Lucky in a way too that we went early cos she said that fever will come and ask us to be prepared with the medication. True enough at 2am, his temperature was rising. Imagine us rushing down to KKH at that wee hour if we wasn't prepared.

Haiz~ parenthood... We give thanks there's more sweet time then tough time. Thus it's our philosophy to play more and create more joyous moments so that such crying episodes seem so minimal.

Jem's Dancing

Can't remember since when Jem went into dancing... but yah, he likes to show off his moves every now and then. I seriously don't know where he picks these up from since his daddy was anti High 5 right at the beginning... and I don't think that clumsy purple dino can manage such sleekness.

Spreading its Little Green Wings

How often do we zoom in life and ignore all the little miracles that's around us?

Ever since i started gardening, time seems to go real slow when i'm near my plants for the daily watering and pruning. I know I know... can hear you commenting about old age catching up.. blah blah blah. But one has to experience it to understand the sense of awe that Life is giving.

I love to plant from seeds. It gives the most sense of satisfaction to see little seedlings spring out from those seeds. Then the two leaves gives way to mature leaves to signify its graduation from a seedling to a proper plant. Then the thickening of the stem.. more branches... budding flowers... and hopefully fruits.

This pot consists of seeds from some calamansi i bought to go along with my chinchilok recently. I nearly gave up after weeks of no signs and wanted to use the soil for basil seeds instead. While waiting for a goood weather to do the planting... little green wings appeared. Mark jokingly says that they might be in time to decorate for next year CNY *roll eyes*





This is my tomato plant... growing very very slowly. I kept having to remind myself patience patience... i do hope it grows well.



This is a pot of chinese celery... the only pot that was not grown from seeds. It's not really growing well.. somehow i just don't have a knack for herbs. But i'm still trying to keep it alive with organic plant food bought from Far East Flora. I love chinese celery in my soup but Mark doesn't appreciate. Thus i hope to pluck from the pot rather to buy from the supermarket as I always have to throw away quite a fair bit.



I still have a pot of chilli padis at my corridor that I started from seeds as well. It has little buds on it now.. will make it a point to take photos should flower blooms.

I still have a packet of basil seeds untouch.. let's wait for a good day to sow "little miracles".