Little Kids, Big Heart

Last year Charlotte's school organized a "charity restaurant" which the children cooked and served lunch for parents and friends. They did the same thing this year and the theme was to love the earth, "大手小手爱地球" and the money collected will be donated as the Pakistan flood aid.

This event lasted for 3 days, each day for the respective grade (4yrs old, 5yrs old and 6 yrs old) to have a chance to be a waiter/waitress to serve while be in the kitchen as little chef for the other 2 days. Last year didn't know what to expect I attended the event myself. I felt it was very meaningful after the event and hence I invited both side of Charlotte's grandparents this year to join me, except daddy as daddy is away in Europe.

Before the arrival of guests, the kids line up in front of the porch awaiting for their love ones. They were all very excited and very well prepared (they had a week of intensive training).

The event started with an introduction by a 6 years old, sharing the Pakistan flood tragedy and how much pollution human being had created to the earth. It was a very simple narrative but yet very real and touching. I had a hard time controlling my tears from dropping down. Maybe preggers are more emotional anyway...

It was then followed by a song presentation.

We were then being seated at the "restaurant" and the kids started their role and showed us what they have learn from the past week.

First, it was a cold towel presentation.

Then it was order taking and making recommendation. (Charlotte did a good job in recommending, in fact, we didn't have enough and went back for the 2nd round the next day!)

Preparing the table...

Start serving... 

I went back the next day noon knowing that it will be Charlotte's turn to be in the kitchen as chef and took some pictures. I am really impressed once again by the commitment, passion, patience, love and care of the Tzu Chi organization and all the teachers and helpers at the school to train and manage the little one in the kitchen. I know I don't have the patience when Charlotte asked to help out in my kitchen. To me, she will only make the matter worse, make my kitchen dirtier, take longer time to complete what I want to complete and etc. I really respect the dedications that all the school personnel and volunteers had shown.

The school prepared smaller and lower desks and individual stove for the little chef to cook. The "restaurant" has Western, Chinese and Japanese menus, hence their workstations were divided into the respective theme and the little chef were positioned at their respective station and get busy!

The kids were well taught, aside from having fun they too fully understand the message that they want to send through this event. We were told to do 5 simple things in life to help save the earth:
1. 省电 (don't waste electricity)
2, 省水 (don't waste water)
3. 吃素 (be a vegetarian, don't slaughter)
4. 少用交通工具 (cut down usage on transportation, walk if possible)
5. 多用环保餐具 (use recyclable container)
 
Although this school is not as acedemically advance compared to most of the kindergarten in town, we appreciate that our children are properly taught with the right value in life. We believe this will bring them a long way.

 

Daddy's Girl

What can be better than spending a nice sunny morning in a pool, goofing around?

I see obvious resemblance in this picture

 

Pat likes to carry her the baby way, not just in the water you know?

Then & Now

This is picture was taken when Charlotte was 7 months old. She loved running her fingers on the keys when we put her in front of a piano. She had never bang her palms on the key like most kids do even at that young age. I don't know how she got the idea of using her fingers since then. After 5 years...

she is almost finishing book 1.

I started my piano lesson at age of 13, and it was never a challenge coordinating left and right hand when you are that "old". Charlotte is now starting to play with both hands and coordinating different finger on different hand at different note could be a challenge. I see her determination, I see her concentration in getting it right and I am very pleased. I taught her a song last night and she asked to be left practising while I attend my evening meeting. And I did get a very pleasing result after 1 hour! A very good girl isn't she?  

It's Just Beautiful!

A couple weeks back we received the key to our studio suites and we finally made our visit there last weekend. Our unit is at the top floor, although not sea view but the views from all angles were spectacular! Because we have the corner unit, the living room window has the view all way to Gurney Drive, and the balcony is over looking the tennis court and swimming pool.

The workmanship and finishing are the best of all houses we bought so far. Kitchen, bathrooms, bedroom are all done up, lighting and air conditioning are installed, all one needs is a bed, a sofa set, a satellite dish and a TV to move in.

Charlotte had the biggest fun enjoying a swim of the brand new infinity pool on the roof top and the environment was very green and peaceful.

We also made way to the beach front to check out the view and scenery.

The spectacular view, pleasing workmanship, beautiful environment and architectures made us feel like getting another unit. But I believe that good thing doesn't come twice, let's eyeing for some place else...meanwhile, we can still bring Charlotte for a swim until we hand over the key to the new owner *wink*

What's Up Weekend?

Just like everybody else, I look forward to every weekend. Not that I always have special arrangements but I just love the slower pace, sleep in a little bit and most importantly spending family quality time. I have been missing most of these for at least 5-6 weeks now, working through weekends. I started to feel exhausted, stressed out and to a certain extend feeling lost. But, good thing that we had something came up last weekend and I decided to pull myself away and step back from work for a few days.

It all started on Friday morning, it was Charlotte's school's Sport's Day. Initially we didn't sign up because parents are required to present as the games need to be participated together with the child. Both Pat and I decided that we should take part so that Charlotte wouldn't miss out either. It was just a half a day event anyway.

The event started with a very grand opening, with "Negaraku", "Pulau Pinang" and lastly the school anthem of course. Games started shortly after the warm up and cheer practise.

It was quite a warm day and the sun was bright. Some kids started to get tired, some asked to be carried, as for Charlotte? She had a strong shoulder to rely on...

and the orange team was the winner!!! (Quick update, short summary because I have a lot to write...)

That concludes what we did on first half of Friday. We had to quickly head home and rest because we had plan for second half of the day...

Yes, the Pisces Cruise! This started from a show & tell that daddy started when we passed by Port Swettenham one evening and the Cruise was there. Charlotte immediately demanded to go aboard without knowing that we had to purchase a ticket. Daddy promised that he would take her to the ship one day.

Since we already took Friday first half off from work, we thought let's hit two birds with one stone. Charlotte was very excited and she expected a lot from the Cruise. But it was really just a one night cruise to nowhere, mostly for gambling on board. Anyway, it was just an experience since daddy had promised the little girl.

True enough, there wasn't many places to wonder for long. Very soon we ran out of idea of what to do, plus we were with Pat's parents and a child, gambling was the only game that would last for hours and only Pat was interested in it. We spent some time at sunset launch, which there was a stage game going on. We were daring Charlotte to participate in the game and she said no, which was very predictable. What we didn't know was, secretly she was preparing herself for it. She observed the first round of the game and probably thought she was able to handle it and she requested to go up to the stage and participate! We were all very doubtful of it but Pat accompanied her anyway. It was a simple game, but required quick response. Charlotte was the youngest participant among all, and obviously everybody was paying attention to her. Every time she answered, the floor cheered for her, and she answered correctly, didn't disappoint her supporters. She actually out beat some adults and won the game!!

I have to say that was the only highlight for the cruise experience. Charlotte enjoyed the game, and the TV in the room the most (LOL).

I wanted to take some sun rise pictures but when I gotten the permission from Charlotte to get out to the deck the next morning it was already too late :(

The ship docked the next morning. It was difficult to make the little girl understand that the cruise experience had ended. To her, it was ended as soon as she woke up from her sleep! I'm sorry dear, we'll see if we can make another cruise experience next time, a better and longer one :)

Our weekend marathon continued. Charlotte was invited to 2 birthday parties. One was on Saturday night, she cousin Kim turned 15 and another one was on Sunday morning, her friend Ching Ern turned 4!

Ching Ern's mommy is one of those that I think has the best planning skill. She planned her son Sean's birthday back in Feb this year was a total thrilled and set high expectations of how-to-have-a-great-toddler-birthday-party standard. Those who got invited could not expect but only to be surprised!

It was a "Princess Party" theme and it was a fail proof theme for the girls (actually only girls were invited, sorry to the princes and kings). We went to the party with A present but came home with a BAG of goodies!

Host first made a "Royal Briefing" and then the Princess Party was officially started! 

And the girls were magically transformed to princesses!

I tell ya, the "satisfaction" on their face and the wowing were non stop as Wooi Sin pulled out her plan one after another. They had princesses dress up, find the Cinderella's lost slipper, the royal treasure hunt, princesses bubble popping and etc...You'll be so envy if you don't have a daughter (sorry, no offence) 

The girls had so much fun that they thought it was their respective birthday. They sang the birthday song together, cut the birthday cake together and open the presents together (well most of them opened up the present for Ching Ern)!

This was up till Sunday noon. What we did on the second half? Actually I was already in the wind down mood, thinking of the beginning of a working week come next day. However, Pat on the other hand had slept for almost all day after the world cup final. He was all charged and ready to go and he excited Charlotte by telling her about going to park!

Nothing extraordinary to blog about but both Charlotte and myself were having fun exploring the jumping fun and I was surprised to see how high she could jump these days!

We did all of these in one weekend, unbelieveable isn't it? Not all were planned but it all turned out well. We had so much fun together.   

She's A Great Kid!

While most parents had some sort of getaway with their children during the 2 weeks school holiday, Charlotte was with my parents, and at home at all time. I was very busy at work and practically did not see daylight (except during lunch), and Pat was on business travel. Everyday, Charlotte woke up without me, and she waited for me to come home to tell me what she did and what happened during the day. Sometimes I was way too tired and fell asleep while she was telling the story and she would tell me "妈妈, 昨天你已经睡了可是我还没有说完" then she continued "没关系, 因为我知道你累了". That made me feel even worse and I promised that I will listen until she finishes the story that day but then I fell asleep again without me knowing it.

I felt very sorry and the guilt kicks in everyday. However, I was glad that she was very well taken care of, she ate well, learnt many things that I was not expecting her to know or pick up, and most importantly she was happy when I got home every night.

She is a great kid and I am very proud of her. She carries good manners, show respect to people, thoughtful and very kind hearted. One night, when she was telling the story, she asked me if I noticed grandma's hand. I said no and asked why? She said grandma burnt her hand when she was cooking and she asked me to buy cream for grandma tomorrow.

Last Wednesday night, I told her that the next day will be grandma's birthday and I asked her what she want to prepare for that occasion. She suggested that we give grandma a surprise, and get her a cake! Well, to me that's very easy to do. I got the cake after work (I left office early that day) and when I was home my mom showed me the birthday card that Charlotte made for her, from scratch! My mom said she asked for a piece of white paper and color pencils in the morning and my mom had no idea what she was up to. Charlotte drew a wonderful picture, and she wrote "I LUV U AMA", "I GIF U PRASEN", "HAPPY BUFDAY AMA". My mom had no idea what she wrote but I was laughing with my tears running in my eyes when I read it (forgot to take a picture of that card). It was a very colorful card and she even made an colorful envelope to put the card inside! She told my mom to put the card under the Christmas tree, I think she got confused with Christmas somehow *LOL* My mom was very happy with a small celebration we had at home, and a small gift that I bought for her but I couldn't take her out for a treat because I had to attend a night conference call.

I can see how sensitive and thoughtful Charlotte is, and I am very proud of her for having good manners, gentle and very understanding. I want to encourage her good behaviour and also to keep her happy while I am trying to get my busy work schedule worked out.

Yup, we took her for her 3rd movie! We know Charlotte could relate Toy Story Part 3 very well as she watched part 1 and part 2 since 2 years old, and still watching! I personally like part 3 more than the 2 episodes before because it has a very good story line and moral value too. I also got her...

A talking Jessie! you should see her big grin when I bring the box home today. She was thrilled!!

It is tough to be a working mom, isn't it? Trying to keep everybody happy, both at work and at home. My turn? Soon! ;)

It's Water Time!

We initially thought of utilizing the 2 hours free redemption at the Lil Rock Kids Club the 3rd day, but as I said earlier we usually take the "let's see what happens..." approach and it turned out that we had something else, something that was rather exciting!

This picture was taken at breakfast, the table we had was over looking the swimming pool. It was spectacular!

After breakfast, we headed to the photo shooting service room to claim our free shot at the Hard Rock Hotel trade mark and this time, thank God that Charlotte was cooperative enough and we have a nice family picture :)

We then went to the tourists information service at the hotel to find out interesting places that fits us. We were told about several but we chose the Turtle Island since we could also try some water activities while we were there.

So we were set towards the water but the water was rough, strong wind, see it on the back ground of this picture.

I pictured the Turtle Island as something real, open, and free but I was kind of disappointed when I saw it has an entrance, and things are "compartmentalized" but still, Charlotte enjoyed it and had a great time.  

The tour around the Turtle Island was probably only took us like ~30min. On our way back, Pat decided to go for a little snorkeling although we've been warned that the weather was not too good, it was high tide and probably see nothing. True enough, the boat we were in was had glass bottom so that Charlotte and I can stay on the boat and view the corals while Pat went for snorkeling. Unfortunately, nothing was to be seen and Charlotte was quite disappointed.

The boatman was kind enough that he went under water and brought up a surprise for Charlotte...

A huge star fish!!!

I was just very grateful to him that he just helped me to sustain a happy kid while was daddy still looking for mermaids in the water...

Free & Easy

We hardly have a trip itinerary for a vacation like this. This is simply because we do not want to stress out because of itinerary that we need to complete or spots that we need to cover. We just go with the flow and take it easy. It is especially so when we bring Charlotte along. The "flow" is usually determined by our princess.

The first thing we did the next morning was to swim and spend some time at the very beautiful and huge swimming pool at the hotel. It has a man made, white sand "island" in the middle of the pool which we saw families with young children playing beach set there, and later a group of folks setting up for volley ball game. I'm not sure if calling it a "pool" is appropriate because the area the water covers is huge! Anyway, we spent a long time in the pool ourselves and Charlotte was complaining of muscle ache the next day, but she enjoyed it!  

  

Then it was more photo time and I was intended to take a few nice shots of the Hard Rock signature guitar but my princess wasn't very cooperative. So, here it the best shot I have with Charlotte, couldn't even make it to the signature signboard. 

I saw the horse drawn carriage lining up by the road site as we were approaching the hotel the evening before. I told Pat that Charlotte would be thrilled to have a ride but we didn't tell it to her as we were not sure if the service will be there around the clock or if it is too expensive. We headed out from the hotel after the photo shooting and looked for the carriage. I think we made her Cinderella dream came true (but of course the carriage was not as exclusive as the one in the movie la).

And then daddy scheduled a massage session and I sent Charlotte to the Lil Rock Kids Club. I wasn't very sure if Charlotte was willing to join in without me so I didn't plan to have a massage like Pat. But Charlotte was very happy when she found out that they were going to have "Kids Kitchen" and they were making pizza! She happily waved goodbye to me and I had a short while to go for a shopping spree! I walked around, up and under, but nothing attracted my attention. Seriously, what is there to buy in Bali? I came back to the hotel with a bottle of mineral water, so pathetic *slap forehead*

The beach was unbelievably crowded, the wave was high and obviously there was many surfers riding the wave. We hang around for a little bit and then we left for dinner.  

It was a very beautiful day and we had it free and easy, just the way we wanted.

Bali Getaway!

Five years ago, Pat and I went to Bali for the first time and I was about 6 weeks pregnant with Charlotte. I didn't enjoy that trip although I didn't suffer from morning sickness but I was feeling dizzy all the time. We didn't cover many famous tourism spots either. My memory of Bali was just the Hilton Hotel and taxi.

We took Charlotte along this trip and we were explaining to Charlotte that she was in my tummy when we were here  five years ago. Somehow, she's always quite happy when I told her she was once in my tummy :) This time we stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel. We touched down on Thursday night and we quickly checked ourselves in at the hotel and also had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe since it was rather late already. Then of course, it's picture time! Here are a few shots of the pool view at night.

 

Charlotte was getting tired shortly after, so we decided to head back to the room and call it a night. However, as we were passing by the live rock performance at the Centerstage and Charlotte was attracted to the performance (so did we) and we decided to hang around since it wasn't too pack on a week night. 

Charlotte requested to take the seat at the bar counter as she saw a few other children were there. Pat and I choose to sit at a table further to the back in order to get a better view of the rock band performance. I was amused to see her moved, clapped, cheered for the rock band and also made friends with other children. Initially, four of them were seated at the bar with just one popcorn serving. We saw Charlotte making small talks with the rest and they shared the popcorn with her (I guess she must be asking for the popcorn from them). After awhile, they took out another 3 popcorn servings so each of them had one to themselves. See how much the children enjoying the party...

By the way, we went back to the Centerstage on Saturday night and it was so packed that we couldn't even find a seat! Also, it was too smoky and noisy for Charlotte to hang around. So good thing that we had some nice time earlier. The band was really good!

One bonus service that we were quite happy to find out was that they have the Lil Rock Kids Club at the hotel, that we were able to spend some time on our own like having Spa or some outdoor activities while someone to look after the kids and they could still have fun. We get to redeem for 2 hours service at Lil Rock Kids Clud or it is charged at 25,000Rp/hour (RM10).

Our Bali getaway hence started...