Leaving Her Nanny Soon

After much consideration, we decided to put Li Syuen under our own care.

December will be a month of trying out. First and foremost, we are worried that Li Syuen might wear out due to long hours of staying up. Secondly, we are still feeling uncomfortable as she had to cut down her outdoor activity due to our working schedule. Thirdly, we are worried that she might not adapt to the new "locked or restricted" environment.

Under the care of her nanny and nanny's husband, Li Syuen spent most of her evening time playing at the playground or farming. Li Syuen had been to all the playground available in Kuala Kuang. She knew the location of every playground better than I! Other than playing at the playground, she will do some farming stuff with her uncle. She will do some digging, shoveling, planting, watering and harvesting. An evening spent with great outdoor activities. It is really a pity to give up that very precious evening activity. I managed to take a photo or two of the small little farm that ran by Li Syuen and her uncle. Pardon me as I took the photos from my car :P

Somerimes, she helped her uncle to feed the chicken and washed away the chicken's shit.

Couldn't imagine that Li Syuen was taken care by them for almost 5 years now. Li Syuen was taken care by her nanny on her 2nd month of birth now that she is leaving her nanny soon, she and I feel kinda pity and sad.

Li Ning was also under the care of the same nanny since her 2nd month of birth. Now, it is Li Ning's turn to replace Li Syuen, going to all the playground and do the farming stuff. Hope both of them enjoy every moment no matter wherever and whenever they are.

Choosing The Right Bike For Your Child

As Li Syuen had outgrown on the tricycle, we decided to buy her a bike. I found that it is kinda hard to choose the right bike so, I decided to browse a few website before paying the money. As we all knew, kids can experience or learn the laws of inertia, pedaling, steering, braking and sitting on a saddle so, it is a must item on our list.

The very first thing to consider is the right size of the bike. We wouldn't want it too small or too big for our daughter. Some people might consider to buy a bigger size for their children as they are afraid that their children might outgrow it too soon but we must bear this in mind that a over-sized bike is dangerous. Click here for the guideline of the right size http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtoride/a/bike_sizes.htm The bike should fit the child. He or she should be able to dismount and straddle the bike flat footedly. And then with a slight lean of the bike, get their bottom back onto the seat, put their foot on the pedal and ride away.

The next thing to consider is the brakes. There are two kind of brakes, coaster brakes and handbrakes. Coaster brakes serves better as children's hands are small and limited hand strength. Make sure the brakes are good quality as it is stiff and strong enough to handle the weight and speed. If the bike only has brakes that work by rubbing on the wheel rims, it is best to have rims made of alloy. Steel rims are dangerous because when they get wet, they have a low co-efficient of friction so it takes much longer to stop the bicycle. Ideally the hub, spokes and rim should be metal.

Li Syuen's tricycle was past down to Li Ning. Li Ning had fun with her tricycle.

Hubby joined in the fun too.

A Late Coming Prize

18 November 2011, I attended the Graduation Ceremony of SJK(C) Kuala Kuang,together with the Kuala Kuang Pre-school and Li Syuen's kindergarten. Some of the parents felt puzzled that why I attended the ceremony as Li Syuen is only 4 years old. I guess that I attended the ceremony because I had something in my mind that I needed to do. First, of course is for congratulating and farewelling my Primary 6 and K2 students. Secondly, is for accompany Li Syuen.

This year Li Syuen got number 4 in her class, we as her parents are so proud of her but we handled it with low profile. As her friends who managed to get top 3 in her class going up the stage to get their prizes, I noticed that Li Syuen looked sad. I kept quiet and see how will she response. Then, she asked me "Mummy, why I didn't get any prize?" I told her that because they worked harder than you. To my surprise, she told me "Mummy, I worked hard too!" At that time, I'm really at the lost of word. But, in my mind I knew that she had to OVERCOME this DISAPPOINTMENT all by herself. Too much word of comforting will make thing worse so, I gave her words of ENCOURAGEMENT! After a few minutes of inspiring her, she is fine and being happy again. I think that we should all work SMART but not work HARD but most important of all is ENJOYING the PROCESS and forget all about the OUTCOME. I hope that one day, Li Syuen and Li Ning understand this.

This is indeed a very good opportunity for Li Syuen to learn to stand back on her own feet and to overcome disappointment. I had always feeling uneasy with the school issue, especially when it comes to "awarding" someone. In my mind, we study to gain knowledge not to get award. And we deeply hope that Li Syuen understand this. That's why I always handle with great care when it comes to school issue.

On the last day of school, as I was busy on that day, my hubby picked her up from school. She is extremely happy and her father wandered why. When they reached office, she told her dad that "Daddy, I had something to show you..I get first prize in the computer contest!" Her dad was overjoyed. Of course, me too! All we said to her is "Well Done" and we spent the day together AS USUAL. We didn't make a fuss about it because we do not what her to feel proud. And of course, we do not want her to be so obsess with the award.

I can see that she is in love with her trophy. She was busy the whole day with the trophy. She cleaned it, she wiped it, she swung it, she hugged it, she carried it wherever she went!! Thank God for this LATE COMING PRIZE cause she is definitely learning something from there!

H.O.M.E.

I found this very meaningful and interesting. It is in Mandarin and I tried to translate it into English. Please pardon me if I didn't translate it well enough.

家，可以大，可以小；能够遮风避雨就好。
家，可以吵，可以闹；没有恩怨情仇就好。
家，可以哭，可以笑；一家和乐开心就好。
家，可以穷，可以富；家人陪伴温暖就好。
家，可以远，可以近；记得回家的路就好。
家，可以老，可以旧；常回家陪爸妈就好。

Home, can be large, can be small; as long as can provide shelter from rain and wind is good enough.
Home, can be noisy, can be trouble; as long as no resentment and revengence is good enough.
Home, can be cry, can be laugh; as long as there is fun and happiness is good enough.
Home, can be poor, can be rich;  as long as there is family to accompany is good enough.
Home, can be far, can be close; as long as you remember the way home is good enough.
Home, can be old, can be dusty; as long as you accompany parents often is good enough.

Kathina Ceremony 2011

I had wanted to attend this for so long (5 years!) and finally, I made it this year. This is our first year we attended this ceremony as one whole family.
Kathina Ceremony provides one of the most popular occasions for merit-making. The Buddhist people celebrate this robe- offering ceremony with profound respect and devotion to the monks, who have just spent three months in the monastery observing the Vassã –the Rains Retreat. In rural Thailand, everybody in a village will participate in the Kathina ceremony as a community activity which may last anywhere from one day to as many as three days.

The night before Kathina ceremony, we prepared the ingredients for Nonya Pai Tee. And my mum woke up at 4 a.m. to cook the ingredients. We also ordered 200 of Mini Cakes and we were surprised that the cake shop auntie contributed 16 Swiss Rolls. And my brother's friend who happened to dropped by managed to join in the ceremony too. See...how happy they are!

This is our two stalls, Cakes and Nyonya Pai Tee. Don't misunderstand, this is not a charity sales. NO MONEY INVOLVED!! Whoever came, just took the foods and ate. We did not sell and they did not pay. But, they can make a little contribution to our monastery, not through us but through the person-in-charge. We had around 30 counters for them to make their contribution. This year, some of the contribution will go to Thailand for the flood victims, some of the contribution will be used to print Sutra books and the rest will be kept for the expenses of the monastery.

This is my brother and his friends, with my very BUSY and TENSION mum as well as my great helper, my hubby. This minute, I saw my mum and the next minute, my mum was gone! She was so busy!

Some of the foods stall. Forgot to ask my mum exactly how many stalls.

The other races also made their contribution, the non-halal stalls. I guess that when it is really all about doing good deeds, there is no difference between races.

The official offering to the monks. The followers came as early as 6 a.m., putting their offering along the roadside. It is indeed a grand view!

My devoted hubby, Oscar. Very happy that he supports in whatever I want to do. I think this is a very good experience for all of us, doing the good deeds together! And ya, just a reminder to all who read this, we DO NOT give MONEY to monk and MONK DO NOT ACCEPT MONEY TOO. Beware of those FAKE MONK.

Next, it was the Pindapata Food Offering.

There was chanting ceremony, robe-offering ceremony but I didn't managed to take any photos of it as I needed to standby at the stall. All I managed to take is this photo of the main hall before the ceremony started.

Anywhere, my hubby managed to take this photo of my girls and I. Yup! My girls still wearing their pyjamas at that time...hehehe...the girls are so happy that they managed to get the Angry Bird balloon and pencil. They had fun too throughout the whole event.

It was a success! Everything was taking care of. There were dustbin around and everyone was being very co-operated, keeping the environment clean. The toilets were clean too. And warm reminder of recycle use of the utensils were put up too.

At the end of the day, we were so tired but very HAPPY and very CONTENTED! Next year, we will be back again!