Julian at 74 Months

Julian turned 74 months old on 28 July 2013. We were recently informed that his concentration at kindy is improving, something we are happy to hear. He has also recently been having his swimming lessons at the apartment pool.


[Julian]


[Julian in the pool with his swimming coach]

Bayview Beach Stay 2013

We were at Bayview Beach Resort for another hotel-stay from 26-28 July 2013. We were last here in September 2012 with Angie's parents. This time around, we were here with my parents and Niq, Chui Ying, Gabriel & Rosalie. We also took the opportunity to have a belated birthday celebration for Justin.

This time, we booked the family room instead of the suite. It was spacious, and unlike the suite which had a separate room, the family room was one large L-shaped room.


[The grands]


[Julian's dead beach-find]


[Justin's hand sand art]


[Jianna and her bucket]


[A group photo]

Justin is 4 Years Old!

Happy Birthday, Justin! Justin celebrated his 4th birthday on 25 July 2013.

At kindy, he had a celebration with his friends on 19 July. We specially made him a white butterfly sponge cake upon his request. It was decorated with colourful Smarties candy. On the actual day, we had a simple celebration at home and made do with some cupcakes. We also had a belated celebration for him with the extended family on 27 July during our recent beach holiday (more on this in a separate post).


[Justin's butterfly sponge cake]


[Celebration at kindy]


[A simple celebration at home]


[Belated celebration at Bayview Beach Resort]

Here are his updates:

• He recently enjoys drawing cute and fat airplanes. He would then want to write the names of the airlines and this is when he would ask for some help with spelling.
  
• We learnt that he often resisted doing writing exercises in kindy. This resulted in him getting homework to do.
  

[Justin licking a homemade ice lolly]


[Justin during a recent kindy event at Queensbay Mall]

Jianna at 15 Months

Jianna turned 15 months old on 30 June 2013. She now weighs 9.1kg and has grown 4cm (78 cm) since her last clinic visit 3 months ago.

Here are some updates:

• When we say "good!", she would raise one hand trying to mimick a thumbs-up.
  
• She's quite possessive of things she wants and especially of Mummy. She gets jealous when her brothers cuddle up to Mummy and she would push them away or even attempt to hit them.
  
• She says "mor-mor" (for no, more, or the sound of a cow).
  
• She's getting better at sitting in the car seat while Mummy's in the back seat with her.
  
• She can feed herself with a spoon with some help and when we're in the mood to allow her to make a mess.
  

[Jianna has caught on her brothers' love for airplanes]


[Jianna in her car seat...]


[... but sitting on Julian's lap is more fun!]


[Bottoms up!]


[Jianna feeding herself]


[Diddle diddle dumpling, our daughter Jianna, went to bed with her shoes still on... no that didn't sound right :o)]

Julian at 73 Months

Julian turned 73 months old on 28 June 2013. We have started teaching him to wash up after passing motion with some degree of success.

A recent conversation after Julian noticed a funeral nearby our apartment.
Julian: There's a funeral over there.
Daddy: Yes.
Julian: Someone passed away.
Daddy: Yes.
Julian: He's gone to heaven to live with God...
Daddy: Yes.
Julian: ... in a coffin.
Daddy: ?!?!


[Julian loves reading]


[Julian loves watering plants (or playing with water)]


[A Father's Day card that Julian made during cathecism class. It reads: Dear daddy... I love you very much... I am at work now... I am writing a card for you... Love, Julian]

Justin at 47 Months

Justin turned 47 months old on 25 June 2013. Here are some recent photos of him.


[Justin the air traffic controller]


[Justin reading with Mummy]


[Justin]

U View Cafe

I frequent the U View Cafe in USM for lunch. It's located facing the smaller field near the Batu Uban gate. They serve a variety of western and local food. Prices are comparable to what you'd pay in most foodcourts or coffee shops in Penang.


[Chancellory Chicken Chop]


[Fish and Chips]


[Nenda (Grandmother) Fried Rice]


[Mamak-style Fried Noodle]


[Japanese-style Noodles]

Some details are available on Foursquare.

Recreation Around Campus

Angie and I had always associated USM with studies and work. Lately, with the kids, we have managed to associate it with some fun and recreation.

Since early this year, we have had picnic there a few times. Currently, our picnic spot of choice is the shady grassy strip between the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS) and the Graduate School of Business. Overlooking the USM swimming pool, this spot is scenic and breezy. Cleaning up is convenient as the Anjung Budi building is nearby.


[Picnic on campus]


[Pine trees give a highland feel to the surroundings]


[Justin doing his picnic dance]

Besides picnics, we have also brought the kids to USM's Tuanku Fauziah Museum and Gallery, as well as for leisurely strolls.


[USM Museum: Julian the spaceman wannabe]


[USM Museum: Julian intrigued by the replica of the Perak Man burial exhibit]


[Giant Letters of USM: This can be seen from the main road near the Batu Uban gate]

KL with the Kids: Day 3

Day 3 (11 April 2013) of our KL holiday saw us at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong at about 10am. The plan was to do the canopy walk and then meet up with WY for a picnic at the FRIM picnic site at about 11.30am. Alas, little did we realise that we would need to do quite a fair bit of trekking before even getting to the canopy walkway. Given the time constraint, and with 3 kids in tow, we decided not to proceed. But venture into the jungle we did, just a bit.


[Julian with the giant yam]


[Jungle Jianna]

After the mini jungle trek, we had a picnic by the stream. The kids (the boys especially) had fun playing in the water with the toys WY brought for them. WY also cooked up a storm with delicious spaghetti and meatballs, mash potatoes and edamame beans.


[Picnic at FRIM]


[Our picnic lunch]


[Justin at the picnic]

After FRIM, we headed back to the city to pick JL in Brickfields at about 2.30pm. We then headed to the Lake Gardens.


[A family photo at the Lake Gardens (photo by JL)]


[At the Deer Park in the Lake Gardens]

After the Deer Park, we went to the KL Bird Park at about 3.45pm. The kids found it quite fascinating to have some of the birds roaming and flying around so close to them. There were many peacocks, chickens and cattle egrets around the main entrance. However, Julian was startled when a peacock pecked at his pants. The highlight of the visit was when we saw a little chick being pecked by a peacock, carried off by a flying cattle egret and then dropped on the floor. We rescued the chick just in time before it was harmed further but not before being threatened with an attack by the cattle egret. We carried the chick to the souvenir shop where it was put in a box to be handed over to the staff-in-charge. The boys were absolutely thrilled by the rescue operation.


[A family photo at the Bird Park (photo by JL)]


[Julian keeping an eye on a peacock while a cattle egret looks on]

Jianna at 14 Months

Jianna turned 14 months old on 30 May 2013. Here are some updates:

• Had earlier resisted formula milk at daycare but is now taking more. She's more keen on solids. At home, she is still breastfed on demand.
  
• Learning to talk "dada" (for daddy), "ba-bye" (for bye-bye), "pah-purh" (for diaper)
  
• She sweats very easily and would only sleep comfortably when the ceiling fan is turned on to full.
  
• She has caught her brothers' interest in planes. She can 'fly' a toy plane and also move her hand in upward motion (plus sound effect) when a plane takes off at the airport. 

[Jianna on the carpet]


[Jianna at the Batu Maung cargo complex carpark]


[Tennis, anyone?]


[Jianna on the rocking horse]


[Jianna's debut at the apartment pool]