The best part about this party was that it was entirely conceptualised and produced by Girl and her friends.
They conspired with Grandma to do the grocery shopping and the daddies to ensure the mummies come at the right time, while they spent the whole afternoon putting together a feast (with a little help from Ate).
So when we got back, we were greeted with appetisers and a cool drink, handwritten menu cards and table paper mats, and an awesome 3-course dinner.
To top it all, the night ended with some dancing. What a lovely way to end a wonderful evening with loved ones.
Big Boy and Baby Boy celebrated their birthdays this month. We tried hard to think of a way to combine and celebrate their different interests.
Big Boy was in a Minecraft + Lego phase
Baby Boy was still in his tractor phase
So we got in touch with Bricks4Kidz in Petaling Jaya and gave them this brief: Something Minecraft. Something Tractor. Something Lego. For kids aged between 5 and 8.
And they came back with this specially designed package: Minecrafting with Construction Monsters (Model building include: bulldozers, dump truck, scissor lift, Minecraft character Steve, Minecart, and Creeper).
Sounds good enough for me! So one Saturday morning, we gathered at the 10 Boulevard outlet, and the Bricks4Kidz staff took it from there. They did the decor, the programme and the games, so basically there was little I had to do except take photos and chit chat. There was even a play yard with some Duplo pieces for the younger kids to play with. All the children were well and properly occupied until it was time to leave.
The Minecraft crafting table
The older kids with the more complicated Technic sets
So Big Boy's first few weeks of school was hampered by a swollen eye. It was big and nasty looking.
At first, we thought it was a stye. But the doctor diagnosed it as a chalazion, resulting from a blocked oil gland. I still don't really know the difference, but you can read more about it here.
After diagnosis, the doctor assured us that it wasn't contagious, so Boy could attend classes as usual, with the teacher's approval. I was concerned that he would be teased for his swollen eye, but his classmates were understanding. They just asked what happened, and then that was it.
The only remedy we were told to do was to wash with salt water and do hot compress on the chalazion and to clean the pus when it bursts. We were also given an antiseptic cream to apply after the chalazion burst — not before, else there will be new skin forming on the surface while the gland is still clogged.
It took about two weeks for it to fully subside. Thankful that we didn't need to do any surgery to remove it :-)
It's been a fun ride with Baby Boy, with his cheeky smiles, cute dimple and winning ways. And as he turns 5 this January, he's growing up fast, yet always my baby!
Here are some highlights of the month.
Time to remove the bike stabilizers ... Becoz apparently that's what Peppa Pig did ...
Art at work
A hotel or something
Aargh ... the start of spelling tests ... and the going was really rough at the beginning. Thankfully it's gotten better.
Fun stuff at school too: Demonstrations and experiments
Musicals have always been a part of our lives and families. We grew up on a steady diet of The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins and such, and soundtracks are part of our car's CD list.
Five years ago, Girl #1 took part in the Fusion musical theatre workshop and loved it. They did songs from Annie and Mamma Mia. The next year, it was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
After a few years hiatus, we signed her and Boy #1 up for another workshop, this time by The Jumping JellyBeans theatre company (bascially the same people behind Fusion). Musicals to be covered included Cats, Hairspray and Frozen.
The week-long holiday programme was held at the Pusat Kreatif Kanak-Kanak Tuanku Bainun in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. I have probably passed it many times but never knew what lay inside. It's a really picturesque place, with many studios and auditorium, to encourage children in the arts.
The Courtyard at the Creative Centre
The children learned how to sing and dance under the tutelage of facilitators from Malaysia and the UK (some of whom performed in the Broadway edition of these musicals). So they were taught actual choreography and inside tips and tricks by the pros! This was definitely an integral part of the experience. It was grueling training, though and the kiddos were often exhausted by the end of each day.
Learning the moves and positions
The last day of the workshop was performance day!
Sorry for the poor photo quality ... my handphone doesn't perform well under low light. Thankfully, the children performed excellently.
Gumbie Cat
Scenes from Hairspray
In Summer — probably one of the cutest number of the afternoon
The cast ... a job well done!
There was limited seating, so each family had limited number of tickets for the show. Thankfully, the entire performance can be viewed here. Enjoy!
