Today is a very special day which calls for a double celebration (囍)! Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting again. It is a celebration of a UNION and also REUNION... (nope, not my sister's wedding bells either)

Today is Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, also known as Chú Xī (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year." It is a very important day for the Chinese as this is the day where families gather for a feast with their family members especially those who have been away from home.

On this day, this year I'm also celebrating the 9th Anniversary of our union. And I see this as a very auspicious year as '9' in Chinese is considered to be the luckiest number because all odd numbers are considered heavenly and nine is the highest single digit odd number; and the Chinese word for nine (In Mandarin - jui and in Cantonese - kow) sounds like the Chinese word for "long" as in long life or everlasting.

Cheers to a prosperous 2011 and everlasting happiness!

My little girl is really starting to show her ability to think fast. This is especially so when she is put in a situation whereby she is not comfortable with. She is quite good at talking her way out of things, I feel.

While out one evening she was posed tricky questions by the dad and put in a difficult position. How the questions came about was because the brother wasn't around. Cayden was being punished and kept back in school to finish up his homework hence dad started to test the little one.

Dad : Mei Mei, since Ko Ko is not here so you will have to take his place and stay with Kong Kong.

('Mei Mei' - younger sister in Cantonese)
('Ko Ko' - older brother)
('Kong Kong' - usually to address the maternal grandfather but in the Choo household's case the Paternal Grandfather is also addressed in the same manner hence lots of people get confused thinking my father in law is my father lol)

Anyway, back to the story.

Caitlyn : I don't want.

Dad : Why don't you want to? Ko Ko is not here so you can sleep with Kong Kong, watch TV in his room. Kong Kong has a big TV in his room, you know?

Caitlyn : The TV is spoilt.

Dad : Oh, TV spoilt? Never mind then you sing to Kong Kong so that he can fall asleep, ok?

Caitlyn : Yes. (She fell for the trick. She loves to sing hence didn't give much thought to her answer here.)

Dad : Ok! So what song will you be singing?

Caitlyn : You Raise Me Up.....no..no..no... sing Rock A Bye Baby!

Dad : Can also. So you are ready ya to sleep at Kong Kong's house tonight?

Caitlyn : No, I don't want.

Dad : Why? You said that you can sing to Kong Kong and put him to sleep. Why you don't want?

Caitlyn : I got no voice already!

Dad : ???!!

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Scenario : Shopping for a pair of running shoes and socks for Cayden.

While we were choosing shoes for Cayden, Caitlyn was also busy looking around. Suddenly she appeared happily and claiming she found a pair of shoes for herself. Well, her taste was not bad as it was quite a sweet pair of baby pink sneakers with floral motif but then it was too big for her.

Caitlyn : Ok, I want this pair, Daddy.

Daddy : No, Mei Mei. We will buy it for you next time. For your birthday.

Caitlyn : Why? Me want this one...

(Ignored...)

Caitlyn : Daddy, MAY I have this one PLEEAASSSEE. (She thought if she used the magic words it would work.)

Daddy : Next time ok Mei Mei? Next time we buy for you.

Caitlyn : Ok
...........

Off to the departmental store to get the socks. We were looking at the wide selection of socks available. Caitlyn too had her share of choosing and yet again her requests to get a pair was turned down.

Caitlyn : I need socks. I don't have socks, Daddy.

Daddy : Never mind. You wear sandals so you don't need the socks.

Caitlyn : Then what are you buying for me, Daddy?

Daddy : Nothing Mei Mei. Just socks for Ko Ko.

Caitlyn : Why you don't buy me something? I also want to buy something.

(Plea goes unanswered and she comes looking for me)

Caitlyn : Daddy said he is buying me something! (Smiling away happily)

I turned to look for Cavin who was not too far away and he heard the little one's exclamation. We both laughed at her determination.

She was still persistent and kept asking us what we will be getting for her as we were walking towards the food section.

Daddy : Ok we go buy kacang for Mei Mei ok?

Caitlyn : Yah, buy this kacang! (Pointing at a box of Ferrero Rocher)

We exchanged glances again....

Well in the end we bought her a packet of kacang as promised, not the Ferrero though. Her efforts did pay off :D


Moral of the story :

"The most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come."






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It was certainly great news when we first found out that Nadia will be representing Malaysia in this year's Miss World pageant in Sanya, China. But on the other hand all of us at S&A will be missing a very helpful, intelligent and (not forgetting) pretty colleague.

"We miss and love you Nadia Heng!!"

It has been a tiring July, August and September. In these 3 months I learned a lot about motherhood as Cavin has been away for work.

No one said that juggling work and family is easy and I can vouch to that. I do enjoy caring for my 2 children but after a stressFULL day at work sometimes I do lash out at the kids for the smallest of things and for that I'm truly sorry, Cayden & Caitlyn.

To add to the tiring month, we moved to our new place in July and there were lots of unpacking to do. The house was a mess, the kids further add their mess (thank you very much)....it was really exhausting. On most weekdays I was just not up to unpacking the boxes after a long day. Thankfully Cavin managed to come home on most weekends and he is really an expert at unpacking (training he had from the 2 prior shiftings we went thru. Another long story which I may or may not write about.). Besides the unpacking in the new house, there was also more packing at the old house. I'm really glad we are almost (still quite a few boxes unpacked) done. Generally it's a nice feeling being in a new house, new environment and different type of house.

In the first few weeks, I'll try my best to prepare dinner at home. Certain days I manage to finish cooking before the kids (especially Cayden) fell asleep. Most days they will be nodding off at the dinner table. In the end I gave up on cooking coz I end up eating alone or trying to keep them awake while shoving the food into their lil mouths :( . The cleaning up after dinner was also taking up a lot of time hence these days I'd rather eat outside before heading home. At least I don't have to further tire and stress myself out. Pre-cooking porridge in the morning using a slow cooker was another solution which was viable.

Laundry is scheduled for every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday evenings. Ironing of Cavin's shirts has been outsourced for some time now (Thank God) but I still do iron the uniform for the kids.

Getting Cayden to do his mental arithmetic homework was/is another pain.... have to endure headache and sore throat from the constant scolding. I have been scolding him ever so often till the younger one occasionally mimic my nagging. (Dunno whether to laugh or to cry)

Work has also not been a bed of roses. A diversification of business, has caused displeasure, fatigue and resentment in many. Tensions rise...tempers flair...throwing in the towel is an option and the current buzz...

Oh well..life goes on. Just trudge along while praying hard that life will be less stressful.