Time to cool off...

Yesterday was polling day for Malaysia. In Miri, two out of three seats were won by the Opposition party, DAP, while SUPP retain its one seat by a mere 58 votes. Wow, times are changing indeed.

In the afternoon, we brought Jonathan to the kiddy pool at Eastwood Valley for a dip. The weather has been so hot the last month. Thankfully, everyone woke up late from their naps, so when we reached there, it was about 6pm and the sky was overcast. So not hot piercing rays and I didn't even perspire!

Having a drink before going into the pool

Jill stayed home coz as I am pregnant, Simon was the only one that would go into the pool. She had also just woken up and by the time we feed her and got her ready, it would have been dinner time. Jonathan didn't want to go into the pool. Suspect he was afraid coz it's been about a year sine he got into the pool. Also, there were a couple of steps into the relatively big kiddy pool, so it made the pool appear quite deep and intimidating compared to normal kiddy pools that you can just dip your feet into it.

But once he saw Mason and Bradley having fun inside, Jon decided to change into his swimsuit. He was also attracted when Uncle Lawrence played with the squirt pump. Once he got it, he had so much fun squirting everyone!

I hold, you squirt

Checking out a cartoon on the small screen

Super Siong Swap #3

The ladies met last night at Made With Love in Singapore to take part in the Super Siong Swap, where they exchanged their completed doilies. Some who hadn't finished, brought their materials along and got help in finishing them. Susan organised this swap. We were given doilies and had to use any kind of flowers and mist. The doilies can be made into a banner or collated into a mini album. Kudos to her for thinking of this swap. But she had to take time off to rest coz of a sprained tailbone as a result of falling from a horse! Poor girl, I hope she recovers soon. Pooi took very nice photos of the swap, and here're my doilies. The first two Swaps were 1) to embellish mini squares, to be collated into a 12" by 12" layout and 2) to do a calendar page. Where do these ladies get their ideas from? Very talented! Would love to be able to join them if possible. Swee Ching has been arrowed to organise the next Swap, which Swee says should stand for "Swap, Whine and Praise". Haha!

Yummy

I just have to post this photo of Jillian even though it's a bit blur. Why? Read the bib...it says it all. heehee!

Poor Jillian has lost weight from her cold/fever/teething episode two weeks ago. She's now 10kg, down by 1kg. It's very obvious when she loses weight. How come weight loss has not a single shred of evidence when it happens to me?

The other day when I pick Jonathan up after school, he said, "Ma, faster, faster." urging me to drive faster.

Me: Why? Do you want to see the diggers and cement mixers?" (there's a repair workshop near his school)".

Jon: Faster, faster....then we fly.

Me: Can nai nai's car really fly?

Jon: Yes

Yesterday's conversation while driving home from school.

Jon: Ma, faster, faster.

Me: Last time, you told me I drive too fast. Now, you want me to go faster?

Jon: Yes, faster, faster.

Me: Why

Jon: Then....rocket, then fly!

I didn't take a photo of him while I am driving. But here's one of him insisting to sit in the toys' basket. So I put the toys back in the basket....with him inside.

Kids say the darniest things

Jon: Ma, I want to cut your hair Me: Er, OK Jon: Ma, I cut already Me: Thank you, Jon Jon: Ma, money please Me: Huh? Jon: I cut your hair. Gimme money (Jon had a hair cut last Sat and saw Simon paying at the counter.) Fast learner, he is.

Progress...

Jon's enjoying school very much, and enjoying the after school care. It's the end of his first month staying at school till about 4pm.

Brushing his teeth in the morning. He didn't want to brush his teeth at school in the morning. Preggers me forgot that I did give him the right toothpaste to bring to school, it's the toothpaste at home that he doesn't like. And coz he doesn't like the one at home (and I didn't go buy the one he likes - Kodomo lion), I haven't been reinforcing his tooth brushing. Bad mommy. Anyhows, after seeing how he dislike brushing his teeth, I went to buy two, yes two, tubes of toothpaste (one for home and another for school). He brushed his teeth like three times that day when he got home. Ahhh, all is well again.

Got his teacher to help take some photos of him at school. Enjoy.

Deep in concentration. Love his hair...anyone wants to use him for shampoo advert?

Doing his worksheets

Enjoying his noodles during break, an all time favourite

Food is the only thing he will share willingly

The worst is over

Jillian was sick for over a week. She had a runny nose two Saturdays ago, and after four days, she had a fever too. Plus she was teething and her gums were all red and swollen. So she had interrupted sleep, and I had to wake up every hour to either pat her bum to soothe her, of give her something to drink or apply the teething gel. When when she's not feeling well, she sticks to me like glue when she's awake. She will not let me change her or put her down for her naps, I have to rely on grandma to help. So thank goodness I am staying with my in-laws.

Anyways, on Tuesday, her drippy nose stopped leaking, but while I was preparing her bath and Simon was looking after her, she walked unsteadily and fell flat on her face resulting in a cut lip! Aiyoh! But after that, the worse is over.

Now my sweet Jill is her smiley, happy self, albeit with a husky voice.

On Sunday, Simon and Jon went out on a trip to Bintulu, a 2hr drive away, to check out the Farmers', Breeders' and Fishermen Day.

Jonathan loved the huge machinery, especially the humongous digger and a beautiful red tractor.

Thanks goodness for Wei Ming and his kids, Toby and sister, who kept Jon occupied during the car ride there.

Over at the Breeders' exhibits, Jon checked out the many local farm animals like sheep, goat, bullocks.

In the photo below, at the bottom of the tank is the famous Ikan Empurau, Sarawak's most expensive fish. It can fetch between RM350 and RM380 a kg and to have it served on the dining table will set you back by about RM1,200/kg at local restaurants. Even at that price, ikan empurau is hard to come by as the fish is rarely found, and only in the interiors of Kapit Division and Baram in northern Sarawak. Wonder if they hired any security guards to guard the fish?

Guess how much it is going for in a Chinese restaurant at the Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore?...a whooping S$1,000/kg! And people don't even bat en eyelid eating a 2-kg fish for a table of 10 diners. Either they struck the jackpot, or the tab is picked up on company accounts.

He had fun on the rides, which was an achievement coz I can't even get him to sit on the coin-operated rides in amusement parks. He even went on an old-fashioned (and literally, old) Ferris wheel, where he was on the same level as the huge kites.

Jon enjoyed the bumper car ride with Simon, where he received a bump. Pun intended.

I stayed at home and rest while Jill took her nap. In the end, the boys came back two hours later due to the heavy rain and bad road conditions. Jon came back so excitedly and spoke so much over a cup of warm Milo and biscuits. Looks like I have to get off my butt and start scrapbooking!