It's polling time again...

Today is polling day for Malaysia. I'm going out to play my part as a responsible citizen. Who am I voting? That's my vote & my right to keep it to myself.

I did not change my address. Still using the same address when I first registered. So, I am now at my parents'. HB changed his. His poling station is no longer at my parents' but in Puchong, where we are staying. Unfortunately, he is on duty today & won't be able to play his part voting.It will be a full house today at my parents'! Fun but headache... with 9 grandchildren in a roof!

My girls are rather too young to understand about politics & elections. I did explain what I could to them. What excites them most is of course the campaign. Banners, posters, flags are everywhere... And their school is used as a polling station. Bet you can imagine the atmosphere outside their school... As Wardah put it in her sweet but sharp tongue, "Apa nak jadi dengan sekolah Wardah ni... Dah macam circus!" - "My school is turning to a circus!". Hahahaha! Putting up with that girl is never a bore...

To all, happy voting!

Nadeen's Baby Talk

I am pretty sure none of you understand what Nadeen is trying to convey. Well... as her mother I of course am able to comprehend the sounds she utters.. ;) Here is the translation of Nadeen's baby talk.

Hey! I am 3 months now. I love it here rather than being in that dark, confined place I was before. But what I like most is this family. I think I belong to this family. They are such an amazing lot. Always making each other happy... There are hmmm... how many of them ya? Altogether is about the same amount of these tiny little fingers of mine. Not both hands, just one. There is this lady who is so concerned of me putting those yummy chewy fingers in my mouth. I believe she is my Mama. That was what I heard she addressed herself. To me and to the other older girls. They must be my siblings.

The eldest is this girl who goes everywhere with her books. I wonder whether the book is glued to her hand... I wish I can read just like her. She of course sometimes reads to me. But a different book! Why does everyone has to read the same books to me..?

Next is the noisiest of all in the family. I wonder whether the mouth of hers ever stop chattering? Perhaps not... I witnessed her once talking with her eyes shut!! But she is fun to be with. Loves talking to me, making me happy & rocking me to sleep in my favorite rocker.

The youngest of all is always kissing me! I wonder whether she thinks I am one of her many dolls. There were quite a few times Mama was fussy over her kissing me, even hugging me. The next thing I knew, I was coughing & slimy liquid kept wetting my nostrils... But that did not stop her kissing me happily.

There is a man in the house too. But he is seldom home. Whenever he is home, he will normally bring the others out & leave me home with an older lady. I don't mind that at all. Without them I can have all the naps I need. One thing I realize though... my Mama is somehow always in a happier mood whenever he is around. Wonder why....?

This is one of the many happy moments in my life. My little Nadeen has started baby talking & it won't be long till she joins her sisters invading my peacefulness ;-D

If you like what you read & viewed, do vote for me HERE. Thank you!

Shame on me!

The other day I was assisting Yasmin with her homework She was doing her Malay language homework & did not seem to have problems with it. Since baby Nadeen & Balqis both were napping & Wardah was at school, I might as well entertain myself. Signed in on "facebook" & started racing cars...! Though rather shameful to admit... I am positively sure there are lots of you people as "facebook addictive" as me!

After a few races, Yasmin had problem with "kata seerti" - synonym. She asked the synonym for "usaha", I managed to get "ikhtiar" somewhere in my head. Then she went on with "ikut". I failed to get a word... Told her to go to the next word. Next was "berkumpul". Seriously I couldn't think of one! (pssst... perhaps the racing had really gotten into me!!)

Know what Yasmin said? "Mama, why don't you type www.kata seerti.com?"..... Lucky me, she didn't realise that her mama was racing cars & also buying friends! She did type the url but couldn't find such site. I browsed in search & found one. For the record, the synonym for "ikut" is "turut" & "berkumpul" is "berhimpun". Why didn't I get that???

Balqis's Masterpiece

Balqis surprised me with a drawing today. A picture of baby Nadeen that she drew herself. What a cutie! She is really into drawing & colouring nowadays.

The colourful drawing on the head is not rainbow. That according to the artist is Nadeen's hair!

She insisted to pose with her piece of art!

Back to work

Yeah, I'm back at work today after the long break before & after the "kenduri". In fact haven't really put enough effort on my work lately. Not to mention the long rest after having Nadeen.

Nope, I have not been offered a new post. It's my same old voluntary work for life... a homemaker! Apart of taxing the girls to school & getting errands here & there, I have not looked into their school work thoroughly. How time flies.. and next week they are seating for their Test 1.

This morning, that was what we did. Revising through the subjects they have learned in school focusing more on the Malay language. I am not sure whether they are weak in the subject is the issue. Probably the way they are tested in that subject is tricky. Even I get confused... hahaha!

How in the world do you elaborate to them the usage of prefix "ke", "ber", "per"? Not to mention the suffix "an", "kan", "i". Back in college English prefixes & suffixes could help me in determining certain vocabularies. But in Malay? You know a word because you practically use that word...

Perhaps it's our first language. We overlook it. My girls are struggling to accept it as their mother tongue. It is evidently my mistake. For sending them to an English medium kindergarten & also for conversing mostly in English with them. TV programmes they watch also play a role... Last time their favourite was the Disney channel. I guess that's where Yasmin picked up her accent.

Now frankly, I am rather glad with "Geng Bas Sekolah" on air. At least they can improve their Malay language rather than bringing home words like "perasan", "berlagak", "mampus" from school. Though the words mean negatively, I take it positively. Gave them the real meaning & prohibit such words uttered.

This stage is challenging but fun And... I have to do it all over again with Balqis & Nadeen. But of course with experience.

Kenduri Aqiqah, Cukur Jambul, Birthday Party - All in a Day!

Thank you to all for making yesterday a success. It was truthfully tiring but I enjoyed every bit of each moment. Not the cleaning up obviously...

Nadeen as a good baby she is, was quiet through out the ceremony. She was awake during "Marhaban" but did not cry at all. Even during the "Cukur Jambul" she was wide awake. Maybe was confused with what being done to her!

Water, "bunga rampai' & scissors used for "cukur jambul"

My father

My mother

My father in-law

My mother in-law

Hubby

That's me

Please help me...

The gifts given to those performing the "Cukur Jambul"

Wardah with some of the gifts to be given to the guests

The Roasted Lamb was a hit!

Another was a complimentary dessert from our caterer, ABC "Air Batu Campur". Unfortunately no picture of the ABC snapped.

At 3pm it was the elder girls, Yasmin & Wardah to cut their birthday cakes. It was hubby's idea to combine everything in a day. At first, I was rather reluctant. Wardah's birthday is in January & Yasmin's is in March. But the thought of having the catered food instead of me cooking... Hey! Why not?

Yasmin & her 48 cupcakes

Wardah, cutting her castle cake!

It was my brother in- law's birthday that day. Wardah didn't mind sharing the cake with her Uncle Hafiz.

Our concern was Balqis. She had nothing to celebrate that day. But I already informed Yasmin, just in case Balqis wanted to blow her cake, let her be. I thought wrongly. She understood it was not her cake. A big girl now... after all she is Nadeen's big sis!

Balqis squashing the froggy in her mouth!

The castle cake I made for Wardah - to view how I decorated the cake do visit my site at In The Kitcen With Me

Yasmin wanted the theme of a pond for her cupcakes... This was the best I could do

Posing with their presents

We did not have the time to shave off Nadeen's hair. Hubby was called up for work & his pick up was at 7am. Pity him! But he was not flying. Instead, flying as a passenger to Kota Kinabalu.

Again... Thank you everyone for coming!!

Chef Yasmin

I was looking at my Yasmin the other day. She was as usual engrossed with her reading. She has outgrown being my baby girl! The little bundle of joy I brought home almost 9 years ago... Now a big sis to 3 other girls! Maybe she gets carried away with her hobby most of the time but her concern for her sisters is unmistakable.

Yasmin has been asking me to teach her to cook. As I was in the kitchen, I saw a box of instant mix jelly. Thought of guiding Yasmin in her first menu ever. The girls love jelly... bet all kids do.

She did everything all by herself. I was there monitoring. Though at 9, the kitchen is not really child friendly for her. Her sisters were crazy over her jelly. Started digging up once the jelly was ready. My Yasmin, even though how much she loved the jelly, was aware that her papa was away. She saved her share to give to papa. I gave mine to hers. It sure did taste good but frankly, jelly is not in my favourites.

My little chef

Balqis, the jelly monster

A dainty pose of Wardah eating hers

Just can't part from her book

To read more about Yasmin & to get the recipe of her jelly visit her My Whole Wide World