Hari Raya month is over finally. As a family we had a good time this year. I think I enjoyed every moment of it. My kids are growing up fine and my extended family is ever expanding. It was a great time for me, as my kids began to understand Ramadhan and enjoyed Hariraya.

I took a week holiday off work and it went by very fast. It was a busy one, went back to Melaka and then flew to Kedah. Then we organized an open house at home and received lots of friends and relative.
My kids were excited too. Fatini who is seven years old this year, started the fasting ritual. She never missed her sahur time and understand her obligation in fasting, which made me tremendously proud of her. I didn't have to do much work to get her to start the fasting at her age. I did have to carry her to the dinner table though and she ate with eyes closed sometimes. But the determination was there. She always makes me proud by the way, performing very well in school and in anything she does.

Emir, who has not started fasting yet, enjoyed the break fasting rituals and never missed it. In fact he woke up to join us in the early sahur time once or twice.

Well, I can say we had a great time this year.

To Emir

Emir had his birthday last December. He turned 5. He didn't have a big party this year because I was too busy. However we celebrated his birthday at school.
No matter what, he was so happy. and being Emir, his feeling showed to the utmost. He had been talking to his friends about his birthday the whole week.

Emir,
You are 5 already. You are the dearest to my heart. I love you so much.
It doesn't take much to make you happy and your feelings show clearly everytime.
You are the one who hugged me tightly when you sleep, always kiss me, and always say that you love me
You praised that the food I served you is good and delicious
that I'm the best cook in the world
that I'm the best mummy in the world
that I smell soooo nice
that I look so pretty

Emir,
there's no way that i can find someone like you in the whole world
you are very intelligent and smart
you are handsome and considerate

Emir
Even though sometimes you drive me up the wall
such as when you disturbed your sister
and you throw tanstrums when your expectation is not met
but even then you gave in so easily to me
and the "sorry" words you uttered to me seconds later
always followed by your kisses

Emir
I prayed you grow into a good person dunia akhirat
that you become a good son
and you become most successful in the real meaningful sense

Kids and new school

This year my daughter started her primary school. She had been so excited about this transition to a bigger school. The first week was filled with excitement for her. She adapted very well. The first day I hang out at the school for the whole day. Funny to see so many parents hanging around like me. Lots of them filled the whole window panes until the security send them away. The second day I stayed there for half day. The third day I only came during lunch to see her. The following days I never showed my face again, hahaha.
I don't know who's more thrilled, between me or Fatini. I was so proud of her. She got independent speedily and already making friends.
My son is on the next level of kindergarten. He was excited too but somehow his excitement was always clouded by Fatini's. Everytime he started to tell me about his day, Fatini will tell her side in a more excited voice. I think he felt jealous a bit and Fatini was not helping at all with her cutting in on his conversation.

Just you wait, Emir, just another year and you'll be in Primary school.

Holiday Dec 2010

In December 2010 we went to the famous Australia Gold Coast. I planned for a two weeks vacation to complete the school holiday. We had ourself a selfcontained apartment at Surfers Paradise, just a block away from the famous beach. We also rented a car to get us around.
Obviously this december happened to be a difficult time for Australia as some part of Queensland had been striken with a flood disaster. Luckily it did not affect Gold Coast even though half the time we were there it was raining and windy. But the temperature was quite warm and cozy.
Anyway, it didn't dampen the kids spirit. Emir and Fatini loved Gold Coast for the various attraction it offered.
We went to the Sea world, Movie world, Wet&wild, the Paradise Farm, Carrambin Wild Life, Carrera Market, the beach, the parks etc. Mostly, we visited each place about twice so that the kids could enjoy their time to their heart contents.
We also loved the restaurants which served lovely dishes.

Emir behaved much better during this vacation than he had on previous year vacation in Hong Kong where he threw a major tantrum mostly out of exhaustion. He grew up a bit this year. There were small tantrums here and there but manageable tiny ones. Fatini was on her best behaviour as always. We used prams everywhere we went so that the kids wouldn't be too tired from too much walking. And the prams helped us to carry the bags as well. A side benefit was prams allowed us to get a special entrance during some peak days at the theme park.

We came back on the 1st January. Fatini supposed to start school on the 3rd. Luckily most preparation had been done before we went to the vacation.
As normal, after come back to Malaysia, I was swarmed with laundry and housework and some tidbits tasks left for Fatini's school preparation.
Anyway, I would say that the kids were happy and I was happy for the break and time spent with my kids.