Hiking at the Penang National Park

We took the boys to the Penang National Park on 27 November 2011. Angie and I are no strangers here but it was ages since we last visited. We arrived at the visitor's complex at about 10.45am. After registering ourselves, off we went on our little hike in the direction of Teluk Aling.

For the boys, getting to the destination didn't mean anything to them. They just enjoyed going on a hike, stopping anywhere or at anything that caught their attention, e.g. the beach, the wooden/rope swings, the bridge, thick overhead vines, etc. Hence, we got nowhere near Teluk Aling, but it was time well spent nonetheless. We showed the boys the interesting coastal screwpine plants (pandanus odoratissimus) which had fruits that looked like pineapples. We also spotted a skink climbing a tree.


[Justin having a break on a branch]


[Julian hot on the trail]


[Justin testing the bridge]


[Destination: Teluk Aling, or so it seemed]


[Beach-side swing]


[Julian and Justin at the signpost]

It was about 12.45pm and scorching hot by the time we got back to the car. We headed straight to a restaurant not far from the visitor's complex for lunch.

The Js Duet

On the night of 18 December 2011, Julian and Justin sang their first duet.

Julian: Twinkle, twinkle little...
Justin: Star
Julian: How I wonder what you...
Justin: Are
Julian: Up above the world so...
Justin: High
Julian: Like a diamond in the...
Justin: Sky
Julian: Twinkle, twinkle little...
Justin: Star
Julian: How I wonder what you...
Justin: Are

Daddy and Mummy just had to applaud... even though it was bedtime and they should be in bed! :-)

We're Pregnant, Yet Again!

We're expecting our third baby! Angie is now 25 weeks along and baby is due end of March 2012.

Unlike when we were expecting Julian and Justin, Angie had some cravings for certain food.

This time, we decided that we wanted to know baby's gender. From our two previous visits to the gynaecologist, baby is a girl! :o)


[Baby at 11 weeks]


[Baby's face at 25 weeks]

Goodies from Italy

Mom and Dad went on an 8D5N trip to Italy (5-12 November 2011). They brought back lots of goodies such as big sausages, wooden Pinocchio toys, pasta, pasta sauces, chocolates, coffee, T-shirt, and rosaries. During their transit at Abu Dhabi, they bought some pistachio nuts. Thanks, Mom and Dad!


[Italian stuff]

Read about their trip: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Double Horsey Again

Here are some recent photos of the boys taken in November 2011.


[What's cooking?]


[Boys with balloons]


[Double horsey with Daddy]

Julian at 54 Months

Julian turned 54 months (4 years 6 months) on 28 November 2011.

Here are his updates:

• He can read quite well now. I think we did not mention this in his earlier blog entries.
  
• He now eats more varieties of food. He is more open to eating (certain) noodles but would opt for rice anytime. He would happily eat fish, meat, and of course egg and tofu. No veg still, but he will eat certain fruits. He generally refuses porridge and anything mushy like mashed potatoes.
  
• He's not very adventurous with food, often declining new food offered.
  
• After dinner at home, he would always say "I need a surprise". Translation: "I want a treat" (chocolate/box drink/any other goodies).
  

[Julian sleeping in a box]


[Julian eating in a box, or is he at a fish spa?]


[Modern cooking, the handphone way]


[Julian the pilot-wannabe]

Speaking of airplanes... Julian had a tendency to look at things from the corner of his eyes when pointing at something. We told him to not to do this, and to look straight... otherwise, he couldn't be a pilot when he grows up (because pilots are supposed to have good eyesight). So, one day, this conversation ensued...
Daddy: What is the pilot doing?
Julian: Looking straight!
Daddy: ?!?!

Justin at 28 Months

Justin turned 28 months on 25 November 2011.

Here are his updates:

• He can recognise all the letters of the alphabet, both capitals and small letters.
  
• He can pretend to sleep, complete with snoring!
  
• He likes to ask "what you doing (mummy/daddy)?"
  
• He is friendly with others and would willingly say, "hello aunty/uncle".
  
• He likes jigsaw puzzles.
  
• He can 'fill in the blanks' for a few Christmas songs: Jingle bells (his favourite), Deck the Halls (the Fa la la part) and We wish you a merry Christmas.
  
• He can spoon-feed himself quite well - when he wants to.
  
• He can express his preferences and is talking a lot more now. Picking up fast from big bro!
  
• He is now strong enough to open the fridge door at home! *horrors* He likes to rummage for - what else - chocolates (or any other 'goodies')!

[Justin on Daddy's head]


[Justin on the stairs]


[Justin on the stairs, again]


[Have wheels will travel]


[Justin doing the Angry Bird squint]

Julian's 2011 Kindy Concert

Julian's kindy held their annual concert on 19 November 2011 at the school premises. Grandpa and Grandma, and Ah Kong and Poh Poh were amongst those in the audience.

He was involved in a dance (to the song Choco Latte), and in a play set according to Disney's version of Beauty and the Beast. He played the baker in the market scene (he called himself the "roti man"), and was later part of the mob.


[One, two, three! Cho-co Lat-te...]


[There goes the "roti man" with his tray like always...]


[Part of the mob, armed with a rolling pin]