My mum was mean...

... and so am I!

I received this forwarded email from my mum :)

Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my Mean Mum told me, I loved you enough… to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.

I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.

I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough. . to say NO when I knew you would HATE me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all.

I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too. And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.

Was your mum mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches.

And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, and learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, and empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers; she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friend's just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 18.

Because of our mother we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated honest adults.. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mum was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean mums!

And what my mum had to say…

"How true. I was really a mean mum, but I loved my children. Now, I see my daughter picking up the trait. My grandchildren are in good hands, because their mum is a mean mum too."

Hahahaha. I totally agree. We are mean mums, isn’t it, amma? I know you were mean, and I undertsand why you were mean, and I choose to be mean TOO! :)

I have followed your trick of 1, 2, 3, and learnt from you that sometimes, little smacking works :)

Sorry boys, you have to face a mean mum as you grow up, but it is all for your own good ;)

Pssstt, boys, its all ammachi's fault! She is the one who taught me to be a GOOD mum, by being a MEAN mum :)

______________________________
ammachi : maternal grandmother

Sourish sweet

Champion started loving strawberries since he was 17 months old. We found it amusing that he loved the fruit so much, compared to any fruit, because most of the time, the strawberries are sour than sweet. Sometimes, even if we felt it was too sour, but he wouldn't mind.



He usually doesn't move around until he finishes his bowl of strawberries.

Looking at Champion eating strawberries, the next thing lil' President would ask for is strawberries.

We were amused by lil' President's facial expression on every bite of his strawberry.

If not, amma …?

As part of my toilet training effort, I would ask Champion, every now and then, whether he wants to pee, and rush him to the toilet...

Even then, when I forget to remind him, and if he forgets, he would just do it in his nappy. It’s not like when he was younger, the nappy is good enough to hold his pee. Now that he is older, he pees more. Sometimes, it even wets the sofa. Arrgghh!

Since he doesn’t like the potty, I try to train him to do it in the toilet. He is quite okay with that. Many times I have reminded him, and he repeats after me...

Amms : If wanna ‘usa’ (tamil word for pee), go where?
Champion : Bathoom! (don’t wanna confuse him with the term bathroom and toilet just yet)
Amms : If not, amma...?
Champion : Beat you! (he gets a smack on the thigh)

He got it quite right, although he is directly repeating what I told him (instead of saying 'beat me'). But he still understands what I mean :)

Not that I really beat him.. but just to make him tell me when he wants to pee.. ;P

He used to only go to the toilet after we ask him whether he wanna pee, and when he says yes.

Last night, I asked him a few times whether he wanna pee, he said no. Later, he came to me and said 'usa', and rushed him to the toilet. He even was twisting his legs to hold his pee. So young also know how to hold already ;)

Then my maid told me that the whole day he had been telling if he wanted to pee, except for once when he forgot.

Yipee! My Champion is on the way to his toilet training..

The end ...

...of a cockroach!

I spotted a cockroach under the table!

Amms : Apps, there’s a cockroach!!!
Apps : Just hit it. (he was carrying lil’ President)
Amms : No, you do it. (I took lil’ President from him, and ran out of the room)

Seeing me running out of the room, Champion was wondering what was happening...

Champion : What? What?
Amms : There’s a cockroach..
Champion : Where?
Amms : There..
Apps : Go hit it.. (telling Champion to hit it, since he has seen apps hitting it before)

Champion bends down, goes towards the table, and bangs his palms together! Huh?!

At first I was scared he was really gonna hit the cockroach, either step or bang it with his palm. Out of curiosity, we just left him to see what he was going to do with the cockroach. Then, he ends up banging his palms instead. LOL!

Of course, our hero, apps, had to hit it with a roll of newspaper. Not that I cannot hit the cockroach, I just didn’t want to see the inner stuffs of the cockroach come out!

After that, Champion went closer and wanted to carry it. Eewww...
Stop! Cannot touch. Dirty. Must throw.. Luckily he agreed to that, and didn't want to investigate further. Phew!

Crunch, Munch, Munch!!!

Apps was sharing a pear with lil' President, giving him small bites.

It was not enough for him. He demanded for more. Lil' President gave big bounces on apps arms, a big wail and apps had to give in. Hmmm, my little boy can really demand ;P



Although the pear was a bit too big for his little fingers to hold, he managed quite well. I just had to admire the way he was enjoying his pear :P

Champion at 'ayground'

Like any other kid, Champion loves the playground too. In the mornings, when I open the window, he will want us to carry him, so that he can see the 'ayground' (that's what he calls the playground :)

It's nice that we have a playground in front of the house. I like to see the children playing in the playground.. such a beautiful sight.

We brought Champion and lil' Champion to the playground last weekend. Champion is getting brave. This time, he walked up the silde!

He stood at the highest point, like a captain of a ship, and looked at us, smiling happily. I had goose bumps. I was so afraid that he was standing so high, without adult supervision. It was such a small standing space.

What can I do?! Of course, I sent apps to the top too! Hahahaha! He was the biggest kid!

Champion wanted to try the twisted slide, and got in up to the entrance and came out again. He did that many times. Apps tried to encourage him on the top, while I was at the end of the slide cheering on him to come down.

At last, after so many attempts, after allowing so many older kids do it first, he came down the slide! I was down there to catch him, just in case he is not able to hold himself at the end of the slide. But I was proud that he was able to control himself carefully. Hooraay!

He went up again, climbing the slide and did it again! Good for you, Champion. You're getting brave.

Lil' President enjoyed the playground too. Although he had to be carried around, he loved the colours, the children and playing with the spring see-saw and slide, supervised.

It's a pity I was not able to capture these moments.. didn't bring camera as we had to concentrate on the boys.

Who put you in?

We only had turned our heads away from him for a few seconds, and when we looked back, he was already sitting IN the basket, and was playing with his toys from in there!



We were wondering how did he get in there?
But, we were not suprised of what happened after that!

To inflate, or deflate?

I was trying to inflate the baby gym, when Champion comes and goes, "I do, I do!"

So I let him try the air pump. I helped him by holding the bottom of the air pump so that it doesn’t move while he concentrates on pumping. He is quite strong. It’s actually quite tough to use the pump, for a kid. It can be tiring too.



"Phew! This is all I can do. Why it is not inflated? Why is it deflated instead?" That’s what he seemed to be telling me.. (picture on the right).

Apparently, Champion was too slow pumping the air in, and the air took its opportunity to sneak out!

When apps came back, he taught Champion how to pump like a big boy!



Huff! Puff! Huff! Puff!

Got too tired of standing and doing it, Champion continued while sitting down. And of course, that means he couldn’t use his feet to hold the pump down :P

Got two into one

When I asked apps whether we should bring one or two strollers, he said no need to bring. Since it was a short trip to Jaya Jusco, he said we should train them to sit in the trolley (for our convenience).

We tried our luck.. placed lil President into the trolley seat, he was happy; placed Champion in the trolley, for him to stand, he was shocked. One, because his place is taken by thambhi, and because he was not used to it.

We convinced him, made him feel like a 'Champion' leading thambhi, and he was happy standing there.



They had a fun time trying to reach out to things displayed around them..

After roaming around for a while, we noticed Champion leaning on lil President's back rest. Ooopps! He was getting tired I think. So, we got another trolley before we went on..

It was quiet an easy and relaxing outing this time.. Instead of carrying one of the boys (or sometimes both of them), we just had to drive them around in the trolley.

Am I doing it right?

Sometimes I wonder “Will I bring up my children the right way?”
But wait! What is defined as the ‘right way’?

Okay, never mind that. I don’t think anyone can come up with a manual for doing it right, isn't it?. Even if they do, the human machine we have around will not necessarily follow instructions :)

So, we have to carefully think and monitor ourselves, on how we are bringing up the kids.

Many times, I have hoped that I can bring up my kids the way my parents brought me up. I can say, I am quite happy of the person I am today. I must not forget,

I am what I am because of them!

With that, I know I am following a bit of the way amms brought us up.. (with some modifications here and there, to suit the age and necessity)

One example of me following amms is the counting. Counting 1, 2, 3! Funny ah? How can 1, 2, 3 be implemented in disciplining a child?!

Whenever we are naughty and we deserve a spank or two, amms will call out to us. Of course, being disobedient and scared, we would not approach her. Then, her counting starts. She says, “If I come to you, you will get more. If you come to me, you will get less.” Then she counts, “1.., 2.., 3!” Normally, before she finishes the 3, we are next to her. And then its finished.

Hmm, I wonder whether were we naughty enough to run away from her. I can’t remember. But I know, when we got back, we would have got it anyway, even more. So, I hope we didn’t run away ;P

Now, I am following suit. When Champion is naughty or is doing something dangerous, I will tell him not to do it. If he is nice, he will stop. Naturally, kids are supposed to be naughty. So, when he is feeling mischievous, he will not obey me.

Aaah! Then I need to count. When I start counting, he knows he has to stop his naughty / dangerous activity before my count ends. Otherwise, he knows he will get a small smack on his leg / butt.

It usually works!

I find it very useful. When we go out, I can use the same practice. This way, I get the message across that he has to stop before my count ends without raising my voice, while he understands my message without embarrassing himself.

When apps saw how my counting works, he tried it himself. Unfortunately, it did not work.. Hahahaha! Apparently, Champion only makes it applicable to the person who taught him :P

Apps, you have to find your own way of making it simple for the both of you :)

And of course, I followed the expressions of love she taught us.. And with Champion's verbal skills improving, he has moved from Oooo much! to Lovu!

That's interesting..

I was reading this article on Nurturing Creative Children at youngnurition.net, and I found one part of it particularly intersting.

Extract of the article Nurturing Creative Children...

Q8) Simple breathing exercises can be used to stimulate the brain to perform better. Please elaborate how this can be done, for example, to help a child think better prior to an exam?

A) Close your left nostril with your left fore-finger, take a deep breath, hold for a count of six and then breathe out from the right nostril. Feel the air coming out from your right nostril with the palm of your right hand. Now, reverse the process. Close your right nostril and breathe out rough your left and feel the air with your left palm. Do you feel any difference?

The air from one nostril will always be stronger than the other. If the air from the right nostril is stronger, it means that the left brain is dominant since the left brain controls the right side of the body and the right brain controls the left side of the body.

We could take advantage of this fact. For example, If your child is sitting for a mathematics exam, tell your child to close his/her left nostril and breathe through the right nostril. Do it for about 10 minutes or more to activate the left (logical) brain. This could improve your child's logical thinking leading to better results.

Cool huh! Have to remember this when my kids are going to school..

Shopping, with the boys

Shopping with kids has not been a breeze for us. Suddenly Champion says he wants to be carried. Suddenly lil' President says he wants to be carried. Each of us carrying one of them, pushing a trolley full of things, as well as a stroller... NOT EASY!

Nowadays, Champion doesn't prefer to sit in the trolley. I think he feels constrained. So, he is either in the stroller, in apps arms or walking.. He doesn’t sit in the stroller very long, and will ask apps to carry him. When apps get tired, he will put him down to walk on his own.. which means he has to be ready to run after Champion! Champion loves his freedom to stride along the corridors of the shopping complexes.

On the other hand, lil President doesn’t want to sit in the stroller already. He wants me to carry! But how am I to do shopping like that? Since he is now big enough for the trolley, I tried placing him there. Cool. He kept himself occupied, by investigating the stuffs we have bought :P

A night with the boys

Apps came home late yesterday. He was attending a health talk, as the chairman.

So, it’s just me and the boys last night. It can be tough, you know. Especially when both of them want attention at the same time...

I asked Champion whether he wants to eat (recently he has been a poor eater). He said he wants to feed the fish. Ahhh! Good chance. I told him, "The fish wants you to eat first, then only feed them!"

He said, "aaah?"

I told him again, "You eat first, and then feed the fish okay" and went off to prepare his meal.

Luckily, he ate (at least 5 mouthful of rice and vege)! Lil' President only ate 2 small feeds.

After washing up, Champion asks me to open the fridge. Then he got excited and called out, "Orange". I asked him, "You want orange?" He said, "Yes."

After cutting it, I gave him a piece, and he asked, "Thambhi?" "Give thambhi one?", I asked him. He said, "Aaa", nodding his head.

Champion sits down, enjoys his orange, one by one. On the other hand, lil' President squeezes the orange in his palms, with the juice flowing down his hands, neck, legs.. and the floor.

Fascinated by the way Champion was enjoying his orange, I asked him, "You like orange?" He said, "Yes" and continued eating until he finished them. I think the amount of fruits I consummed when I was pregnant for him is influencing him... he loves fruits.

Then he asks, "Some more?" Ahhh, finished already. I told him, "Amma buy for you tomorrow, okay." He said, "Okay".

After washing up, I remembered what I had told him earlier. I allowed him to feed the fish. After putting in their feed, he looked at the fishes, whether they were eating what he put in.

Since apps, was not around, I let lil' President play around with the toys, while I have Champion in my arms… we watched Star News Asia. Trying to get him understand what’s showing on TV, I explained to him what was happening. He went, aahh, why, where, there, see, police, fight, etc.

Not enough of it, we continued watching Medical Investigation. He went on to asked me those favourite questions.. why, what, where, how! After a little of explaining, I was getting tired.. Too much explanation already. My mind was too tired for more.

I need a TIMEOUT!

Just then, Champion climbed over my shoulder to watch thambhi crawling around (I was facing the opposite side). Lil' President then reached out for the poof, to stand up. He lost his balance and fell on his back. Seeing this, Champion looked at me and said, "Ma, thambhi... Thambhi fall"

Oooppps! I didn’t hear him cry. I think he was shocked from that fall. I immediately put Champion done and carried lil' President.. Just then he started crying.. The moments in my arms, he felt better, and stopped crying.. I consoled him, made faces, and then he smiled again. Phew!

Okay, NOW is time to sleep!
(before any more casualities happen due to their sleepiness)

Sigh! There’s gonna be lots of these moments as apps has now advanced from being an Occupational Health Doctor to being a director in a medical management and service company. I heard there’s lots of those talks, symposium, and social events that he has to attend after office hours.

Apps, we’re gonna be missing you being around as often as you used to be. But, don't worry, apps. We understand...

Old McDonald had a Farm

Champion listens to the nursery rhymes in my car, on the way home. Normally I will sing along while he claps.

Then suddenly he sang out,

E-I-E-I-O..
Moo-moo here, Moo-moo there..
E-I-E-I-O..

And he went on joining me with his bits and pieces. I was dumb founded. I just cheered him. I am delighted that he is learning more songs.. other than his usual Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, etc..

When the song finished, he asked me, "Ma, some more..".

Little did I realize that he was learning the songs.. He knew quite a lot of songs, but in small bits and pieces. If he didn’t know the song, he will be quite.. listening. I think he’s trying to learn the words.

When we got hone, I called apps to the car so that he can listen to Champion sing his E-I-E-I-O!

But Champion was shy. When apps was there, he just smiled at him, and didn’t sing a word. Pity apps, no show for him this time!

Story time

Somehow, Champion is asking for lots of crow stories. With the numerous request, it leaves us to create new crow stories.

Apps goes on with his wild narrations...

One day, a crow was very hungry. He was flying around, and he saw an old lady selling 'kueh'. He asked the old lady for one 'kueh'.

But the old lady said, he has to pay her, "No money, no kueh".

But the crow got no money. So he fly away… Flying, flying, flying, he saw a vase. Inside the vase, he saw got 'susu'. *hah ???*

Then he had an idea. The crow put stones inside the vase, and then the crow could drink the 'susu'. He drank the 'susu' finish.

Because the crow put so much stones inside the vase, the vase broke! And inside the vase, got so much money! Waahh!

Then the crow took the money and flies back to the old lady and bought some 'kueh' to eat.

And the crow lived happily ever after.

THE END

I don't seem to be able to keep up with apps. He has been telling a lot of stories (weird and wild ones), which is difficult to remember and retell it in the blog.

Although Champion is already asking us the Why, What, How, Where, When, etc. questions, he hasn't been able to reason out the logic of the story.

Wait till Champion is old enough to reason out with apps, then apps has to face these questions. Then, apps, you better be ready to answer him. :)

______________________________
Champion terms milk as 'susu'.

Picture speaks

Champion ...
"Thambhi, come back and sit with me!"

President ...
"Anna, let me go! I wanna play."

That's what I felt they were communicating with each other :P

By the way, Champion is calling lil President 'thambhi' clearly now, compared to 'ammi' few months back.

Missed us

After three days at my parent's house, Champion came back last night. He was asleep by the time he reached our house.

While changing him into his pyjama, he opened his eyes small, and looked at me. I gave him a broad smile (I missed him, a lot). And he responded with a small, cute smile.

He then looked around, saw his apps, gave him another smile. He then asked, in a soft voice, "Thambhi?". Then I told him, "Thambhi sleeping.. see.."

He turned to his right and saw thambhi sleeping.. He smiled. After changing him, I softly asked him in his ear, "You love amma?" He nodded. *sigh* I asked him, "How much?" Tiredly, he showed me a widely opened arm. *sigh*

And, of course, apps tries his luck. "You love appa?" By then, Champion was too tired already.. and barely replied him. Too bad lah, apps. Hehehe...

Then, I went off to settle things around the room..

Champion turned to thambhi’s side.. He said, "Thambhi, sleep."

Normally, there would be a bolster between them, so that they don’t hurt each other. But awaiting to put lil President into the cot, I didn’t place the bolster in between them. He moved closer to thambhi. I was afraid that he will wake (or disturb) thambhi.. but decided to leave them, and just watch them from afar (just in case).

Then, I saw the sweetest thing.. Champion started to pat lil President, softly.. *very touched* Apps watched and was smiling too..

When it was time for me to get into bed, I placed lil President into the cot and off the lights. Apparently, Champion didn’t notice me moving lil President. When I got into bed, I felt Champion caressing my hand, hugging my arm, and went on the feel around..

Then he carried his head, looked around, and asked "Thambhi, where?"

Hahahaha, he thought my arm was thambhi’s arm. He looked for thambhi’s face when he carried his head to look around, and when he didn’t see his thambhi, he sat up and asked for him.

When we told him his thambhi was in the cot, he went on and on and on, asking.. "Thambhi, where?"

At last, he made apps carry him and show him where is thambhi.. Phew! Only then he was satisfied.

When he came back to bed, he roamed around, sleeping upside down, straight, curled, etc.. then he approached me, put his cheek on my cheek, and lied down for a while.. *melted*

After a while, he re-positioned himself on my tummy.

Soon thereafter, reluctantly, I moved him to sleep next to me.. (thinking that he might be uncomfortable)

He then reached out for my arm, hugged it, and tried to get back to sleep. Apps tried to put his arm on Champion, but he pushed apps arm off *oopps*

After a little while, he turns to apps, apps hugs him.. Then I try to put my hands on him, he pushed me away..

Then he started patting his butt, an indicating for someone to pat him (to put himself to sleep). I patted him. No! He pushed my hand away. He wanted his apps to do it.. So, apps patted him.

I guess he missed all of us.. wanted to feel of us.. and wanted to have solo moments with all three of us..

"Champion, we missed you too!"

----- ooOoo-----

This was told to me by thambhi (my brother).

Before leaving my parents house, Champion helped in some packing. Champion went to their larder, picked out some snacks, said, "Me, me.." and put it in his bag.

And when I saw the amount of snacks he 'bungkus' from my parent's house, I was shocked. One whole basket full. He gonna eat all of it, I thought! Cute little Champion :P

Similar expressions

One of his talk abouts...

Learnt it from Champion?

What's the password?

Nowadays, if Champion wants something, he has to give me the password. What's the password? Its "Please.."

But he does gets mixed up, and tells me "two" instead. Why? It's because of my Oooo much training.

But now, there is an improvement to the 'Oooo much' training. When I say "I love you", he will say "Lovu!" When he says this, its sound like his mouth is full... very lovingly cute!

Hehehehe, he's getting it already.

I am surely waiting for him to say "Amma, I love you!".. just the way my amma thought us (my thambhs and I) ;P

Hmmm, an idea for expression of love I 'stole' from my amma :)

Showers of Love

I was showered with love, in abundance. That's what I felt last night.

On the bed, putting the boys to sleep...

Champion : Amma... *with the most loving tone*

Amms : Yes, sayang... *lovingly*


Champion : Amma... *with the most loving tone*

Amms : Yes, sayang... *lovingly*


Champion : Amma... *with the most loving tone*

Amms : Yes, sayang... *lovingly*

And this went on for more than 20 times (no joke!). In between I whispered to apps, "What does he want?" Apps said, "I don't know".

Then, comes jealous apps. He interrupted and said, "Yes baby..."

Champion goes on again, but calling out "Appa...".

This went on for another few times, and then silence...

Champion had dozed off... zzzz.

Hmm, I wonder why he called out to us, so lovingly. Whatever the reason, I melted with the way he was calling me, and for the numerous times he called me with no apparent reason.

"Champion, I love you !"

Bedtime stories

When Champion asked for a bedtime story, we assumed that he wanted to listen to the 'Lion and the mouse' story (a story which we know he knows). When we asked him, "What story you want?", he answered us, "Crow".

Wow! He had another story in mind. I guess he didn't want to hear the same story again. Hmmm, my mum must have been telling him lots of stories :)

Okay, so apps told him the story. The storyline was going fine, until one part, I had to interrupt..

The crow was so hungry. It saw an old lady selling 'kueh' (his version of 'kuih'). The crow took some money and buy the 'kueh'..

"Hah?! Where got like that? Why you telling him the wrong thing?" I interrupted.

"No lah. Its my version. Just making it interesting for him lah.." apps answered me.

Hahaha. I know, he must have forgotten the storyline.

But apps really funny lah sometimes. He will change the storyline (when he is not sure how the original story goes) or will create some crazy stories, which I myself will laugh head over heels...

I don't know if I can remember it right, but here's one...

Once upon a time, there was this boy. He playing outside his house. Then his mother ask him to go to shop to buy 'something' (can't remember what was it).

The boy went to the shop happily. Suddenly it started raining. The river overflowed and it flooded the bridge. Then the boy cannot go to the shop.

Then the boy thought, “What to do?” The boy think, and think, and think.

“Ahhh, I know!”, the boy said. The boy takes all the water, put in his ears, and then put a cork to it! **

Then the boy go to the shop, buy the things for his mother. After that, he walk back home. When the boy got back to the bridge, he crossed it. Just after crossing it, he open his cork and let the water flow back into the river!

Then the boy went back home happily.

** At this point I started laughing like mad inside me, allowing them to continue the story.

Hahahaha.. Sometimes I myself like apps to tell the bedtime stories. Its fun!

A birthday, an engagement and a wedding

Suddenly there seems to be little time left. We will be celebrating Champion’s and lil President’s birthday in April. A week after that is thambhs engagement. In August, thambhs is getting married. Phew! There’s lots of things to do.

First of all, we have to plan for Champion’s and lil' President’s birthday party. We actually gave up Champion's 1st birthday party. We only did a simple one, among close family members. We had no choice, as I was expecting lil’ President and I was having many false contractions. We didn’t want to plan the party, and on the last minute be at the hospital.

So, this year, we thought we should give him what is due. Since both of their birthdays are in April, we’re going to celebrate them together.

Let me see. I have to look out for the caterers, prepare the party bags, get the boys their suits, etc. Hmm, I was even thinking of having a clown...

With thambhs engagement being just a week apart, I will have to source out their suit for his occasion earlier. I think I am gonna buy them ‘jippa’. They look cute in it. Oooh, did I mention? I am going to be the brides maid. Am I too old for it? Can’t help it. I am his one and only sister. I plan to wear my wedding saree for the engagement. Its not always we get to wear grand sarees. That means I need to re-sew the saree blouse. I had put on weight since my wedding three years ago.. and after two pregnancies. I must not forget hubby. I plan to get him a ‘jippa’ too.

Then I have to help amms (my mother) to prepare the trays that we will be bringing to the bride’s house on the day of engagement. I can't remember how many trays we are bringing, 11 or 13, or was it 15? Must check with amms.

Phew! That’s is a lot already.

And now, we have less than 6 months to the wedding. The church has been booked. Now we have to decide on the place for the reception, and we need to do it real fast. For other matters, thambhs said we shall have a meeting among close family members. He said, then we can designate the work to everybody and they shall be held responsible for it.. Fuyoo! So canggih ah?!

Its all so exciting. I can’t wait.

______________________________
thambhs : my younger brother

'Lent' begins...

Lent begins, with today being Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent, being the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On this day ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them of death, of the sorrow they should feel for their sins, and of the necessity of changing their lives.

Ash Wednesday, and questions you may have....

Lent is a time of penance, prayer, preparation for or recollection of baptism, and preparation for the celebration of Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is the day on which they faithful have their foreheads signed with ashes in the form of a Cross. It ends at noon on Holy Saturday.

Everything you wanted to know on Lent

Previously, I had observed the abstinence during the whole of Lent only twice so far. Now, its time I got back in track...

This year, hubby has decided to join me in observing abstinence during the 40days of Lent. It's gonna be a bit tough for hubby though, since he is a person who prefers to have some kind of meat dish during meals. But, being firm with his decision,he asked me to prepare him 'papadam' for his meals. He said it can help him through with the vege meals for 40 days. "Will do that. Hope it helps, dear."

Today, we shall be going to church for the 7.30 p.m. Ash Wednesday mass. I wonder what time I will arrive at the church, as the church I go to is situated along MRR2. Arrghh! The jam!

I hope I don't reach there towards the end of mass. *sigh*