8 to 9

There is a time for everything.
As I anticipate 2008 to come at the end of 2007, as if drinking a good bottle of wine, 2008 is down to its last drop soon.
Being a STM (short-term memory) person, I hardly could think of much of 2008 unless its in a span of plus minus 30 mins. I'll do better in 2009 since I now blog. Some flashback:
2007 became 2008.

Aung turned 35

We donated heavily to road tax, erp, gas and parking offences with our trusty Latio.

Gee turned 31 and decided that it was a good year to stay closer to God and further away from us - I mean to choose between us and GOD.... you better not choose US.

Aung and myself along with Eileen and Claude went to a to die for ali-lia resort in cha-am for my 30th birthday.

Maoster was a joy all 12 months.

We visited my sister twice in Vietnam - once in July and now as I am typing this. Both times, I ate like a pig while Maoster basically only had one thing to say - swimming pool. That's all he wanted to do.

Work was good for good 8 months or so and sucked for 4 months where sales basically is 0.

I found myself pregnant again for the 2nd time and found myself miscarriaged for the first time.

HL got pregnant which is really one of the happiest thing that happen for Nehemiah.

Miriam got pregnant and at last bringing up the ratio of girls in church to come.

There were about 3 weddings that I attended

Mother Thong lost his dad this year and well, I sort of lost my god-grandpa.

Gee went to Canada and well is now living in 2 time zones.

The economy turned so bad that I think either I really had to work harder or I need not work any harder again the next year.

Cell group was established and Aung family become members.

We continued to serve in the music ministry and Maoster a follower in our ministry

Yishun 9am celebrated its 10th year

I celebrated my 12th year in YCCA (Anglican) chinese

Aung and myself celebrated 4th year of our marriage

I am still fat and surprisingly happy and all my funny bones intact

Aung got us Mio Tv which basically embarrasingly some of my fav tv shows are Masterchef goes Large and Do you look good naked which is really crap esp the latter but how do u resist looking at women far larger and sorry with more cellulite than I already had.... seriously therapeutic!

Maoster acknowledged us as parents and now calls us more than we wanted or appreciated - mostly when we are in the middle of either a conversation, a nap, our favourite program or the most unforgiving during sex.

I can't really remember if I made new friends ( i mean if new staffs are counted???)

Aung got himself an iPhone in the name of giving it to me but nah.... i only hold it when he is not on it which is about 10 mins a day when he is driving

I read a few good reads - like the kite runner etc etc etc

I hardly exercised

I cooked almost all weekends

Aung who is always didn't win anything in his life won $160 of robinsons voucher during his D&D which i spent it on bras and he on shoes. He think he had turned lucky for once.

The issues of why orange and yellow are always so irritating constantly torment us and I am forever in Jaundiced.

Elvis is yeah still alive

We went to Y10 music retreat during NDP period

I led worship leading on x-mas this year.

Not sure if I did anything else good or bad this year .... or anything that I forgot to mentioned it here. Do you know what I missed out? Let me know, okay? Bye 2008, looking forward to 2009!

Christmas Cheer to All!

Because Christmas is about Love.....

Blessed Christmas to all

May our Good Lord Bless You and Keep You

This Christmas and beyond....

The story of AH TOOT...

It was a not so hot, not so cold day.

The house was quiet.

Suddenly an evil thought came to the minds of 2 people.

Snip it off the evil thought rang even louder in both minds.

Then off goes his top.

Then off goes his shorts.

He said NO to razor.

He said NO to the big scissors.

Aung worked on his back and sides ( which is not rather obvious)

Bunster worked on his fringe....

And, there you have it Mr Toot.

Oh boy did we ( Aung & Bunster) had fun!

We rolled on the floor and laughed till our side aches.

One more reason for having kids if you are still not sure if you want them....

They are just like a toy on some days like this!

Very itchy leh mommy, are we done yet?

Really, even my butt is so itchy!

Yar, at least some form of reward!

Don't ask me about my hair no more!

Don't we all love Mr Toot?

Christmas Reminder

The night was cold

The air was tight

I wonder how they coped that night

***

There was no room

There was no bed

All they wanted was to rest their head

***

The messenger that came of light

Told them that it will turn out right

Kings from far followed the star

Hoping to see the new born child

***

The child as we all knew

Grew up really fine

He was made of greatness and was so full of charm

He spoke of many wonders

He spoke of many truths

He told us tales that we never knew

***

He showed us when there was darkness ,there was certain to be light

He showed us when all hopes are gone , there was always some in sight

He showed us what is undying love, he showed us what is right

He showed us we are but a child and hugged us really tight

***

The day he died, we all must know

The pain he went through although he tried not to show

His body was broken, the curtain slayed into two

Our debts were paid and some still had no clue

***

The years went by so fast and quick

We don't really spend much time to think

We rush to get near the christmas tree

Holding our glasses and feasts with much glee

Oh such happy moments and all about me me me!

***

The night was cold

The air was tight

A child was born that very night

A child that is King

A child that is Lord

A child that is Saviour

To all who nears

***

May you be reminded of our Lord's great love

As you kissed under the mistletoe

That although we are but a wretched soul

He loved us with so much glow

Catching the butterflies....

Aung and myself have a nagging feeling after we went for Orientation at Bethesda Church whereby Maoster will be starting his pre-nursery school come 2009.

It is for babies born in 2006 and class will be from 8:15am to 11:15am.

Love is the name of his class.

Unlike at Julia Gabriel, the parents of the kids there aren't exactly that friendly, but what the heck right?

All the kids there seemed a head taller than Maoster and seems highly independent and proficient.

Suddenly fear took over us, did we make the right choice? Is it too early for him? Would he like it in school? Would the kids bully him? Would they laugh at him because he hardly talk and still isn't toilet trained? Would he be able to cope with all the environment? Would he be crying because he can't quite express what he wants? What if he pooed and no one knew? Unlike Julia Gabriel, he wouldn't have the company of either Aung or myself.... he will be ALONE... ALONE without US..... Our precious firstborn will be thrown in the wild whereby he will be treated equal, fair and just an ordinary 2 plus kid... that idea can quite thrown me insane. What if he comes back, packed with low confidence, battered, bruised and totally abused?

The search for assurance began.... once the butterflies are confirmed in our tummies... darn! We can't find white shoes of his size ( is that an indication that he is still too "small"???).... yar of cos there were the NIKEs, the REEBOKs, the ADIDAS... but we wanted him to go to school with a normal white, non branded, cheap pair of school shoes.... after 3 weeks of hunting... finally we found it! ( and heaved a sign of relief that maybe there is hope still!)....

As the days goes nearer to 2009...apart from anticipating how the economy might impact the Aung family, the other bugging issue would be that Maoster is starting school....
I mean million of kids goes to school, what's so tough about that? What's there to worry about? All his cousins were from the same school.... It's normal to be going to school.... Suddenly I feel very uncool... I feel like a totally wasted, overly paranoid, totally &(*&^&% parent.
I cannot imagine what will happen on the first day of school... I will bring my biggest smile to cheer on my sonny... but I somehow have this nagging feeling that there will bound to be tears and my only fear is that, it might be mine....

I need to hide my face - that one crying buckets is my mommy!!!

Maoster's nice white shoes!

At least Ah Ma seems happy about her stitches - Maoster's hanky for my tears!

Help me catch the butterflies won't you? They are all inside me!!!

FREE SIZE

I have 2 amazing men in the family.
Both loved mother earth so much that they seldom buy themselves new clothes and shoes.
There is no much need to talk about Aung. I mean, if he eats he maintains his weight, if he skip a meal he lose a kg. If he eats alot, he feels sick. So....
And then there is Maoster. He loves to eat his greens a tad too much that he shouts for joy at the sight of corn, peas, carrots, pumpkin, long beans, lentils. Like his father, they both shared weakness for chicken pie -the ones with potatoes and mixed peas not the 100% chicken type. Aung admitted that when he was a tod, he finds the texture of meat to tough to bear and too "fiberous" to chew and impossible to bear! Isn't corn more "fiberous"???
Anyway back to loving and saving mother earth and my pocket - I am amazed at how "FREE SIZED" my men are... here's Maoster and his yellow top... note that this is only one of such tops...

July 07 -Maoster is 9 months old

Sept 07 - Maoster at 11 months old

A clearer shot at 11 months old

He walked in those shirt cutely at 3 days shy of turning 14 months

And amazingly at 25 months old! Still the same shirt!

Maybe I should skip the part of how my hubby was telling me that one of his t-shirt was one he had during his secondary school days!

Why do I feel strangely OUT OF PLACE AT HOME NOW!!!

THE (definitely not) LAST SUPPER

Date: 3 December 2008 (Wednesday)

Time: 11pm

Loot: Hong Kong Mee

Venue: Master Bedroom

Provided by: Aung

Split Among: Aung, Bunster & Maoster

Post-Event : Sleep right after it.

With regrets: Only Bunster was.

Conclusion: Fat is Fun.

Daddy, feed me quick!

I want to pretend to be Ginny!
The below video for Godma who wants to see the famous one finger up foodie rating of yummylicious by Maoster. This video is strictly not for parents who tucked in the kids at 8pm, who doesn't feed kids junkies and who don't allow eating in the bedroom and on fours. Video may contain sound from wind (its' the fan's).

M.Y.L.E.S (version 2)

Mission: To get Maoster to learn his name

Accomplished: He points to himself when we ask who is Myles or who is 洪赫磊 and of cos, he knows he is Mao Mao (that's his favourite for now)

Mission: To get Maoster to spell his name

Accomplished: Please see video above.

Mission: To get Maoster to say his name

Not quite there yet: He will say he is Mao Mao (hee..) or Hurray (赫磊)!

Overall 2.5 out of 3

Not Quite the sharpest pencil yet but definitely one worth having! :)

I'll whip your favourite all vegetarian meal with corn for you on the weekends!

M. Y. L. E. S

Mission: To get Maoster to learn his name

Mission: To get Maoster to spell his name

Mission: To get Maoster to say his name

If all things fail: At least we cheered him on!