Ian's 4th Birthday

Abby is in Prep!

31.1.15 (Sat)

It was already the last day of the month! Time flies!

Finally, Abby started going to school after a long break from Kindy in Malaysia. She went to Prep at Macgregor State School (one of the top 3 state schools in Brisbane) on 27th Jan 2015. In Brisbane, you go to the school  that is under your location catchment. We are lucky that we fell under the Macgregor State School catchment!

So, during school days, I have to wake up by 7am and get ready her breakfast and lunch box. By 8.10am, all 3 of us (Abby, Ian and me) will start walking to the school, about 15mns walk. (Hubby goes to work with the car) Thanked God that the weather was good except for Wed (28/1) that it was drizzling. With no choice, Abby has to take the small umbrella while Ian and I shared the big umbrella.

The class door will be open at 8.45am and all the students need to place their water bottle in a basket prepared outside the class and is allowed to bring in one snack for break. There are 25 students in Abby's class and she is in the Diamond group. She is in Prep G and G stands for Guppy. The teacher is very thoughtful to prepare a small aquarium with some guppy fishes inside. And there is also a reward system where the student gets a guppy sticker when he/she does something good, 10 guppies = 1 reward. So, for the first 4 days of school, Abby collected 9 guppies and one more to go to claim her reward.

Everyday after school, she has so much to share with me on whats happening in class. We knew that the Australia education system is different from Malaysia. They hardly have any homeworks to do. The classroom setting is like a mini playhouse - with book corners, kitchen set, computers etc. No wonder Abby said she loves going to school!

Abigail's 5th Birthday Celebration

11.12.14 (Thurs)

Last Sat (6/12), we organised a mini thanksgiving lunch to celebrate Abby's upcoming 5th birthday. We only invited three families to join us. Unfortunately, one of the family couldn't make it. Nonetheless, we thanked God for a good fellowship with our guests.

Abby knew about this thanksgiving lunch few weeks ago and she was really excited about it. She even made a mark on her calendar on the important event and counting down each day.

On Fri (5/12), I started preparing some of the things for the party, especially baking her birthday cake. This year, I decided to bake her a Barbie doll cake. I googled some ideas on youtube and hopefully with my baking skills, I am able to bake the cake. Besides the Barbie doll cake, I also baked some carrot walnut cake in muffin cup and also the cake in the egg shell. You may click here for the Barbie doll cake recipe.

Then, on Sat itself, I woke up around 6am for another round of cooking  marathon.  I have prepared:
Fried meehun

Rice with salmon fish, green peas and egg

Japanese curry chicken

Chicken mushroom soup

Mixed vegetables

Thanked God that it rained in the morning and stopped before the guests arrived. We had a good time chatting with each other, laughing together over silly jokes and the kids, happily playing around the house. Food were too much to finish. 

Highlight of the day - the Barbie doll cake. Glad that the cake turned out to be beautiful and I was proud of myself. Abby liked the cake very much. In fact, after blowing the candle, I put back the cake into the fridge so that I can admired my 'masterpiece' a lil longer before 'crashing' it! Haha.

Abby received some presents. We told her to open the presents on her actual birth date and she agreed. 

On 12.12.14, we had another birthday party for Abby - just the 4 of us. I baked a mini rainbow cake for her and Ian sang a lovely birthday song for JieJie. Finally, Abby can unwrap all her presents!

 

Abby's very first card received by post!

24.11.14 (Mon)

Today when we came back from grocery shopping, the postman just arrived. As usual, I asked Abby to collect mails (if any). She stood beside the letter box, waiting patiently. The postman came and passed some mails to her. (I was busy carrying the shopping bags from the car)

"Mum! Mum! Looked, I got a parcel!" shouted Abby.

I turned around and saw her holding a brown envelope. (I knew who sent the card)

"Oh wow, who send you the mail?"

"I don't know. Let's open it!"

"We shall open it inside the house ok?" (coz my sis asked to take a video of her opening the card, to capture her expression)

When my sister told me she wanted to send over the Mcd toys (I asked her to buy for Abby) as Abby's birthday present, I suggested why not she mailed a birthday card to her instead, She will be very happy coz Abby always complained to me that no one send her cards. (ever since we came here, Abby has been sending cards to family members and friends on special occasions) Initially, I thought my sister will just buy a normal birthday card from the shop and mailed over. When Abby opened up the envelope , I was so impressed of the artwork done! Thank you all for your sincerity, especially to my sister for her creativity! 

 

 

Conversation btw a dad and children before going to bed

Every night before going to bed, Hubby and I will be reading books with the children and praying together. On one particular night, Hubby had a casual chat with them.

Hubby: What do u want to be when you grow up?

Abby: I want to be a princess!

Hubby: Then you need to marry a prince and Papa will be rich!

Ian: Papa, I want to be prince!

Hubby: Oh then you need to marry a princess.

Abby: That's me! I want to marry Ian!

Hubby: Another princess. You cannot marry Ian.

Abby: Oh but why? I love my brother!

Hubby: You can love your brother but cannot marry him.

Abby, the story teller

25.6.14 (Wed)

Every night before going to bed, either Hubby or me will read stories to the children. It has been a daily routine and if we are too tired or lazy to read with them, they will make noise. Abby and Ian have their own books to read. And, for Ian, he has been reading the same book every night until he could even remembered the words. We could see that Abby learnt a lot of new words from reading.

 

Sometimes, Ian will request his sister to read for him and Abby is delighted to do so. I was beside them when Abby was reading for her brother. I felt so touched and thanked God for these two wonderful children.

 

 

 

 

 

Abby - Winner of the Sunday School Singing Competition 2014!

10.3.14 (Monday)

Yesterday was our church's Sunday School's Singing Competition. This was also Abby's second year participating in the event. Early this year, I asked what song she would like to sing and she chose 彩虹船. So, we started practicing the song 2 months ahead and was glad that she won the competition!

On that morning, I dressed her up nicely in her new dress and kept wanting her to practice the song on our way to church. She was quite steady and not nervous at all. But, when she actually stood in front of so many people, she got nervous and forgotten all about the actions, but managed to finish the song well. (Last year, I had to hold her hand when she was singing)

During the results time, Abby's name was being called in Chinese, 李歆凌..I saw her still sitting on the floor. Apparently, she was not used to being called in her Chinese name till friends next to her notify her..Then, she stood up and received her awards from the Reverent with smiling face. I knew she was really happy to be the Champion. 

彩虹船 救恩船 住在里面有平安

诺亚一家听主话 洪水降下不害怕

感谢天父预备船 救我脱离洪水难

赞美耶稣赐平安给我作伴

彩虹船 救恩船 住在里面有平安

我要学习听主话 遇到困难不害怕

Abby's 4th Birthday

16.12.13 (Mon)

4 days ago, Abby celebrated her 4th birthday. This year, she had four birthday celebrations and blown 4 cakes! As a baker, I baked her 40 cupcakes (for bday celebration in Sunday School) and 2 cakes (for Kindy & home bday celebration)

 

We were back in Klang on 27/11-30/11. So happened on 28/11 was Abby's lunar's birthday so we had one celebration for her, with her grandma, grand aunt, aunt & my cousin. We had dinner at Klang Club and my aunt, ie her grand aunt, bought her a strawberry cake. Abby was so happy to blow her first cake of the year and she was so thoughtful to ask Ian, to cut the cake together with her..so sweet!

Next, her birthday celebration in Sunday School on 8/12. Because it was school holidays, many children were away for holiday, so instead of baking a cake, I baked cupcakes. (easier to eat, and not much cleaning up after that) I went to the bakery shop and bought the princess "sticker", to place on top of the cupcake. And the cupcakes turned out to be so cute, the children liked it! Abby also helped to pack her own goodies bags the day before and she was so excited. Abby received some presents from her friends.

On her actual day, 12/12, she had two birthday celebrations, one in school and the other at home. I baked two cakes - fruit cake & strawberry yoghurt cake. I was very happy with both cakes, especially trying out the mini santa claus using strawberry and whipping cream.

I brought the cake and goodies bags to her school around 10am, during their snack time. I took out the "Birthday girl" shirt that hubby bought in US 4 years ago and surprisingly, Abby could still wear it. And, she wanted to wear her princess crown to school.
Abby: Mummy, I want to wear my princess crown to school.
Me: Why?
Abby: So that my friends know I am a Princess!

Her School Principal was very thoughtful that she asked the kitchen lady to prepare birthday "red eggs" for Abby's party. Everyone was happy especially Abby.

At night, we invited Hubby's sister and family over for simple dinner. After dinner, it was time for cake cutting, Abby's last birthday celebration. Ian also wanted to blow the candles and cut the cake with Abby. Abby received two big presents tonight, all were her favourite toys!

Finally, all celebrations were over and Mummy get to rest. Happy Birthday my dear Princess Abigail.

Abby, the Model Child 2013

15.11.13 (Fri)

Today is the prize giving ceremony, also the last day of the school term for Abby's Kindy. Parents were allowed to attend the ceremony too. So, around 9.30am, I drove to the Kindy with Ian.

 

 

By the time I reached there, the teachers were busy decorating the living hall with balloons, snacks and trophies..the students were upstairs, having some activities. Ian was so excited to see toys on the cupboard..so while waiting for the ceremony to start, he went on to grab a box of blocks and played.

 

 

Finally the ceremony started. Those students who will be receiving award were seated patiently on the chair. Then, the teacher called out their names one by one to receive the trophy. There were 5 model child (N1, N2, K1x2 & K2) and Top 3 students of each class.

 

When Abby's name was called, I could see her smiling, walking shyly to the front and received her trophy. I knew she was happy coz to her, trophy meant a BIG thing. (Papa has lots of trophies in his room too). Hubby even told her, "Abby, next time you get more trophies, then Papa will buy a cupboard for you to keep them!" Haha.

 

And, yippie, my 2 weeks of holidays started!

 

 

The gal wearing a hairband, many commented she is Abby's twin sister, even Hubby also mistaken her as Abby!

 

 

 

Abby's 2nd term assessment

13.11.13 (Wed)

Yesterday was Abby's kindy's Parents-Teacher Day, ie, Report Card Day! Abby sat for her 2nd term examination end of Oct and it's time to see how she score.

 

One week before her exam, I came out with some sample exam questions on BM, English, Phonics & Mathematics, to help Abby prepare herself for the upcoming exams. She made some careless mistakes (even with me giving her tips and chances)! I was quite worried for her, especially her Chinese subject, where she would need to be tested on 数笔画，听写笔画. She scored 84% for Chinese last term. Many of my friends commented on my FB that as parents, we shouldn't pressure our children too much, especially she is only 4 yrs old. Well, true also, as preschool nowadays, was unlike our times. I don't remember sitting for exams, having Science and Computer lessons...Anyhow, hopefully Abby will do better 1st term assessment.

 

So, when we reached the Kindy, teachers were there greeting us with smiley faces. Her class teacher shown us her report card..hmm..overall, she improved in all the areas, scored 100% in 4 subjects (BM, English, Science & Phonics (1st term 96%)), 87% in Chinese (1st term 84%) and 97% in Mathematics (1st term 100%), with an average points of 97.33%. (1st term 96.67%)

 

While Hubby chatting with her teacher, I saw a piece of notice on the table, something on the model child 2013. Then, her teacher took the notice, and congratulated us, informing that Abby has been chosen as the Model Child year 2013 for her class. (Total students: 9) We were really surprised, at the same time happy and proud for Abby! I guessed she still won't understand what does Model Child means to her now..but I am sure when she grows up next time, and see the trophy, she will be proud of herself too! 

 

Initially Hubby promised her if she scored 100% in all subjects, she will be rewarded. Since she was chosen as the Model Child, Hubby decided to buy her the present she requested.

 

This week will be the last week of the school term. Next year she will be going to K1 class. Hopefully she will continue to learn and perform well in her academic.

 

Concentrating on doing her sample exam paper

Careless mistakes made in Maths & Chinese!

 

Passport photo for the children!

22.9.13 (Sun)

Today Hubby shown me two "passport" photos of Abby & Ian, taken 2 years back, in year 2011..We took that for some application purposes..and today, for the same application, we were required to take the "passport" size photo again..and I told Hubby, it wasn't going to be as easy as before, coz both of them had grown up and kinda hard to "instruct" them, to stand still and not to smile (one of the requirement) while looking at the camera!

 

As usual..Abby won't stand still and she liked to shake her body..but, still manageable..as for Ian..we had to use "bait" - ie sweets! However, he would just stared at the sweets and not willing to stare at the camera..After few rounds of trying, finally mission accomplished!

 

 

2nd BEST Camp, organised by BWCMC

16.9.13 (Mon)

Happy Malaysia Day!

In conjunction with public holiday, our church, Butterworth Chinese Methodist  Church (BWCMC), organised the 2nd BEST Camp, targeted for 6-12yrs old children..Praised God for the 90+ children who registered for the camp, and most of them were from non-Christian families.

 

Both Abby & Ian also joined the camp..I fetched them to church around 7.50am..(Poor kids, gotta woke up so early to get prepared) Traffic was smooth and both kids behaved well in the car..

 

Light breakfast was served in the church and I could see many unfamiliar faces amongst the children..The camp started off with a very lively and energetic Praise and Worship session..I personally enjoyed the session..the praise leader did a good job!

 

Then, games session is a MUST especially in a children camp..Though it was just four simple station games but the children had so much fun! Other programmes were sketch by the youths, short sharing by Reverend, craftwork session..All in all, the children had a wonderful day!

Craftwork done by the children

I baked 100 mini cupcakes for the camp (camp's order)