Zoo Negara & Pusat Sains Negara 23 December 2010

In the butterfly zoo.

Us at the Zoo.

Bak & Arwen on the tram.

Arwen feeding the animals. It was fun!

At the Science Centre. We made glass painting and a key chain.

Bak took us to the Zoo! It was fun and not hot at all. We reached there so early, the zoo was practically empty. We covered the whole zoo in 3 hours only! Once on foot and once by tram. Well, as usual with Bak we have to walk very fast. I thought it would take us the whole day! Since we finished early we get to go to the Science Centre for the free glass painting workshop with Mak Teh!
Yippee!

Mama & Bak's 8th Wedding Anniversary 20 December 2010

Arwen snapped this picture

Arwen as usual always excited whenever a cake & candles are involved! Happiness!

The bouquet of flowers that Bak gave Mama.

Bella's Lullaby

Bella

When you grow up you shall come across the Twilight Saga series; the books, the movies, the soundtrack and all that comes with these. Bak gave me the complete Twilight Saga series book set for my 35th birthday, this year. I wasn't so into it really, at first because underneath all that vampire thing, it was basically a book on teen romance for teenagers. It was classified as for teens in bookstores! I've seen the first 2 movies and I thought that they're great but nothing earth shattering like "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. However, while reading them, I think I fell in love with the books. I'm 35 but I loved it. The whole enchilada. I could not put the books down especially the 3rd book, Eclipse. Seriously hilarious. Love Jacob in that book. There are 4 really thick books and I finished them all in less than 2 weeks. Well Mama's got work to do still, can't be reading books all the time like a teenager now can I? :) Otherwise, I would have probably finished them in a week!

Right now today, I checked out Youtube for the Eclipse soundtrack. Loved the following 3 tracks and downloaded them into my Iphone.
1) My Love - by Sia
2) Bella's Lullaby - Carter Burwell
3) Bella's lullaby aka River Flows In You - Yiruma (this song may not actually be in the soundtrack but the fans wish it was because it is such a beautiful song)

You love song no 3 too as apparently its the song that Iman always play on her piano when we go to Pak Long's house. I was checking out the song and suddenly you came next to me and said "Ma, I know this song. I love this song!" I was shocked and went "huh?" and then I remember that this song does sound very familiar. It has to be Iman! How very clever of you to recognise the song! I didn't!

Anyway, I think that no matter what age I grow into, no matter how old I get, deep inside I shall always have that teenager inside of me. Its good and bad and also a topic entirely worthy of its own title but for now I really want to say that I may have matured and have more experience in life but it was when I was a teenager that I experienced most of my 'firsts' emotions and that stays with me forever. Good and bad.

Pusat Sains Negara 11 December 2010

Played at the playground while waiting for the others to arrive.

You hated the dinosaurs because they made loud noisy sounds!

You loved it here!

Jigsaw Dinosaur

Actually Mama didn't plan to come along with Mak Teh and the gang to Pusat Sains because you just had a fever the day before and was not completely well but I was in the vicinity of the area as I had to meet Auntie Tina at 11 am. On the way back I decided what the heck "let's just go!" as you seemed to be ok this morning. We stayed there until closing time at 5pm. What a great day!

Arts & Crafts

We love to do arts & crafts. All these started from Playhouse Disney's "Craft My Day" segment from maybe middle of this year. We made almost all of the crafts shown in that segment. Then we moved on to FingerTips on astro TVIQ. The show is on every day and when like now Mama is a bit busy to make all these crafts but we still watch it every day. We love FingerTips!

Baby, you're a Firework!

At the moment I so love the song Firework by Katy Perry. When you're bigger and can appreciate the lyrics of this song, listen to it. It's inspirational. When I was growing up, sometimes I feel down, sad, and simply not worth anything but I know better now. I hope you will never feel like this but if you do, listen to this song and just know that you are original, special and cannot ever ever be replaced.

Currently, both of us are so into Tinkerbell. I love the movies and so do you. Tinkerbell & the Great Fairy Rescue is the first movie length cartoon you've ever watched. You were never interested in these animated movies. That was before September 2010. Now you've moved on to Tinkerbell & the Lost Treasure

I really love the song " How to Believe" and "A Gift of A Friend" from these 2 movies. Talking about movies you've started watching Barbie movies too. Your first one was Barbie Fashion Fairy Tale. You like to be Glimmer, one of the Flairies from the movie. You've started dressing up in dresses at home and tying your hair up like Glimmer. So cute.

Arwen Turns 5

Happy birthday Darling Arwen!! We love you so much! Can't believe that you're 5 years old!

21 Oct 2010 At Chilli's Empire Shopping Gallery on your birthday.

We had lunch at Chili's as per your request because you simply love the Chips & Dip (tortilla chips with queso) and the kid's pizza. This was the first time we went to the Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang. You got a free brownie with ice cream as your birthday present. The whole staff came out to sing happy birthday to you with a candle. You were so surprised that I think they shocked you with their very, very loud singing. You stuck close to me and I thought you were scared and that you might cry but when the song finished, you automatically blew out the candle without being asked almost immediately. You sure love blowing out candles! It was quite funny really. I was just so glad that you didn't cry.

The shopping mall had this 5 storey high slide but you were about 2 inches short of the minimum height requirement. Next year, insyaAllah we'll go again ok. Here are the pictures of the slide:-

This was taken from the 2nd level.

This was the view from the top floor. Looks fun!

 Tok brought over a cake for you!

At night, we had dinner at Silver Spoons, Kota Damansara & after that we had a blowing candle session at home with a cake that Tok bought. Yummy!

So happy with your Jelly pool cake!

23 Oct 2010 (Saturday), your birthday party with your cousins at Tok Bak's

That's the Pinata we made!

Arwen with the 'bounty' from the pinata!

Then on 23 Oct, a Saturday we had a celebration at Tok Bak's house. We had loads of fun playing games with your cousins and especially with the pinata that we made ourselves! You had requested for one and thank goodness we were able to make one. A big heart shaped one too! All made with stuff around the house. I put up the video in You tube. Check it out!

Bak & Mama love you baby girl! mmmuahhh!

Talk

Raya Haji this year - I was wearing my baju kurung and you said to me "mama, you look pretty."  What a lovely thing to say and I replied "Thank you Arwen, you look pretty too!" but you said,

"No mama, I look beautiful!!" hahahahaha....

_____________________________________________________

After  my cousin Yohanis' wedding in Shah Alam we went back to Pak Long's house in his car. He made a pit stop at a shopping mall as Mak Long wanted to buy something real quick. Since it wouldn't take long, Pak Long waited by the road side. lalalala....waiting..waiting..and then suddenly you said to me " Ma, it says 'No waiting.'". Huh? What? Lo and behold we were waiting exactly opposite a road sign which clearly stated "No waiting" hahahahaah..pandainye anak mama ni. You can read quite well for an almost 5 year old. Actually you've been picking up reading maybe since you were about 2++ years old. Thanks to Mrs. Phipps' cds!

Bad news

At Tropicana Medical Centre.

8 November 2010; on Bak's birthday of all days Mama had a miscarriage. We've been trying to get a brother or a sister for you for quite a while now. Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage. The pregnancy was only about 2 to 3 weeks old. This picture was taken after i underwent the D&C procedure to clean my uterus. It was a first time for me going under anesthesia. It was a bit scary. Bak was not there with me because he had to pick you up from school. The procedure was less than 10 minutes but the after effects took me about 2 weeks to recover. Hopefully, you will get a brother or sister in 2011 ok! InsyaAllah. Every time I talk to you about a brother or a sister you always say you didn't want one but after today, you said ok and you want to call it little Miss Lucky.

Kesian Bak tak dapat proper birthday celebration this year. Sorry Bak!

I City & Wet City

I City on 4 Nov 2010

Wet City aka Wet World on 5 Nov 2010

We went to sleep over at Pak Long's house in Shah Alam with Mak Teh, and all your cousins as I city & Wet City are in Shah Alam. It was great fun!

For Knowledge

Pengajaran

Allah tidak menjanjikan hidup ini tidak pernah susah, bersuka-ria tanpa kesedihan, Panas tanpa hujan tetapi ia memberi kita kekuatan, menenangkan kita semasa kesedihan dan menunjukkan jalan yangsebenar-benarnya. Janganlah kita sombong dengan kelebihan yang sementara.


LUANGKAN MASA ANDA SELAMA 15 - 20 MINIT UNTUK MENGETAHUI APAKAH MESEJ YANG DISAMPAIKAN SEBELUM ANDA BUANG NOTES INI SEBALIKNYA FOWARDKAN KEPADA SAUDARA ISLAM KITA YANG LAIN TERIMA KASIH. WASSALAM.

KEHEBATAN SURAH AL-IKHLAS

'Au zubillah himinashsyaitan nirrajim..bismilla hirrahmannirrah

Tafsirannya:  Aku berlindung dengan Allah daripada syaitan yang direjam, Allah yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Mengasihani.

Bacalah ayat ini sebelum anda memulakan apa-apa saja kerja kerana denganbacaan ini akan keluarlah iblis dan syaitan yang berada didalam tubuh kita dan juga di sekeliling kita, mereka akan berlari keluar umpama cacing kepanasan.  Sebelum anda masuk rumah, bacalah ayat di atas,  kemudian bacalah surah Al-Ikhlas (iaitu ayat: Qulhuwallahu ahad. Allahussamad. Lamyalid walam yu-lad. Walam yakul lahu kufuwan ahad..) sebanyak 3 kali.

Masuklah rumah dengan kaki kanan dan dengan membaca bismillah... Berilah salam kepada anggota rumah dan  sekiranya tiada orang di rumah berilah salam kerana malaikat rumah akan menyahut. Amalkanlah bersolat kerana salam pertama (ianya wajib) yang diucapkan pada akhir solat akan membantu kita menjawab persoalan kubur.    Apabila malaikat memberi salam, seorang yang jarang bersolat akan sukar menjawab salam tersebut. Tetapi bagi mereka yang kerap bersolat, amalan daripada salam yang diucap di akhir solat akan menolongnya menjawab salam malaikat itu.

Diriwayatkan oleh Iman Bukhari sabda Nabi Muhammad sa.w: 'Barang siapa membaca Qul huwa'llahu ahad 100,000 kali maka sesungguhnya ia telah menebus dirinya dari  Allah, maka menyeru yang menyeru dari pihak Allah di langit dan di bumi.  Kusaksikan bahwa sifulan itu telah menjadi pemendekaan Allah sesungguhnya ia adalah pemerdekaan dari sisi Allah, Sesungguhnya ia adalah pemerdekaan dari neraka'. Inilah yang dinamakan membaca Qulhua'llah ahad satu hatam yaitu 100,000 kali dengan diwiridkan seberapa ribu kesanggupan kita sehari..

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W yang bermaksud:

Barangsiapa membaca surah Al-Ikhlas sewaktu sakit sehingga dia meninggal dunia, maka dia tidak akan membusuk di dalam kuburnya, akan selamat dia dari kesempitan kuburnya dan para malaikat akan membawanya dengan sayap mereka melintasi titian siratul mustaqim lalu menuju ke syurga. (Demikian diterangkan dalam Tadzikaratul Qurthuby). 

Rasulullah SAW pernah bertanya sebuah teka-teki kepada umatnya
Siapakah antara Kamu yang dapat khatam Qur'an dalam jangkamasa dua-tiga minit?
Tiada seorang dari sahabatnya yang menjawab.
Malah Saiyidina Ummar telah mengatakan bahawa ianya mustahil untuk mengatam Qur'an dalam begitu cepat. Kemudiannya Saiyyidina Ali mengangkat tangannya.
Saiyidina Ummar bersuara kepada Saiyidina Ali bahawa Saiyidina Ali (yang sedang kecil pada waktu itu) tidak tahu apa yang dikatakannya itu.
Lantas Saiyidina Ali membaca surah Al-Ikhlas tiga kali.
Rasulullah SAW menjawab  dengan mengatakan bahawa Saiyidina Ali betul. Membaca surah Al-Ikhlas sekali ganjarannya sama dengan membaca 10 jus kitab Al-Quran...
Lalu dengan membaca surah Al-Ikhlas sebanyak tiga kali qatamlah Quran kerana ianya sama dengan membaca 30 jus Al-Quran.

Berkata Ibnu Abbas r.a. bahawa Rasulullah SAW telah bersabda:

Ketika saya (Rasulullah SAW) israk ke langit, maka saya telah melihat Arasy di atas 360,000  sendi dan jarak jauh antara satu sendi ke satu sendi ialah 300,000 tahun perjalanan. 

Pada tiap-tiap sendi itu terdapat padang sahara sebanyak 12,000 dan luasnyasetiap satu padang   sahara itu seluas dari timur hingga ke barat. Pada setiap    padang sahara itu terdapat 80,000 malaikat yang mana kesemuanya membaca surah Al-Ikhlas. 

Setelah mereka selesai membaca surah tersebut maka berkata mereka: Wahai Tuhan kami, sesungguhnya pahala dari bacaan kami ini kami berikan kepada orang yang membaca surah Al-Ikhlas baik ianya lelaki mahupun perempuan...

Sabda Rasulullah SAW lagi:

Demi Allah yang jiwaku ditanganNya, sesungguhnya Qul Huwallahu Ahadu itutertulis di sayap malaikat Jibrail a.s, Allahhus Somad itu tertulis di sayap malaikat Mikail a.s, Lamyalid walam yuulad tertulis pada sayap malaikat Izrail a.s, Walam yakullahu kufuwan ahadu tertulis pada sayap malaikat Israfil a.s.

Siapa membaca surah Fatihah, al-ikhlas, al-falaq, dan an-annas setiap satu sebanyak 7 kali selepas solat jumaat, nescaya terpelihara dari perkara keji dan segala bala hinggalah ke jumaat yang berikiutnya..

Jika dibaca 3 surah ini al-ikhlas, al-falaq and an-nass pagi dan petang nescaya tidak mengalami apa-apa kesusahan.

Nota: Jika sekiranya kawan-kawan ingin mengumpul saham akhirat, sampaikanlah ilmu ini kepada kawan2 yang lain.
Sepertimana sabda Rasulullah SAW
Sampaikanlah pesananku walaupun satu ayat'.
Sesungguhnya apabila matinya seseorang anak Adam itu, hanya 3 perkara yang akan dibawanya bersama : 
1) Sedekah/amal jariahnya
 2) Doa anak-anaknya yang soleh
3) Ilmu yang bermanfaat yang disampaikannya kepada orang lain

Arwen recites the Al-Fatihah

Finally today I get to record you reciting the Fatihah. I am so proud of you sweetie. All thanks to your teachers. Here's the video. Actually you managed to recite the whole surah by the 3rd wek of school, which I thought was simply amazing! It was the 2nd week of Ramadhan (August 2010). I was actually surprised when you recited for me the first time but I didn't manage to record that. You were so cute, trying your hardest to say it out and your mouth went muncung like mulut Donald Duck yang boleh ikat riben tu. So adorable. I wish I could have recorded that but it's ok. Then, after Ramadhan you didn't want to recite for me anymore until today.

You remembered that we made a deal yesterday, I asked for 1 Fatihah if I let you play at the Ikano jumping castle. So you fulfilled your end of the deal. Good job sayang. Mama is so proud of you. Mama berdoa that we can raise you to be anak yang solehah dan beriman.

Busy, busy, busy

Mama has been really busy lately. Sometimes I miss the times when you were a baby, when I had some time during the day that I have to lie down with you because I have to breastfeed you and I can catch a bit of Oprah and some movies as I didn't have to negotiate with you on watching something else other than Playhouse Disney.

I bet no one would believe me if I told them that I have no time to lie down and take a rest during the day anymore. They would surely think that since I am a stay at home mom, I can relax any time I want. This is so NOT true. On top of that, Mama's also busy with my online business Brandedbutcheap. It gets a little bit crazy from time to time and the house is a mess most of the time but I have to do it. So here's to us balancing it all.

Talk

1 October 2010

This is so cute! You just recently learned your full name, my full name & Bak's full name. Also, you learned to imitate how we call each other. You are such a good imitator. Down to the exact last bit of intonation. So similar!

Balloon Art Festival at Pavillion

Another late entry. We were here on 14 June 2010. This is what I wrote in my notebook as we were waiting for the time to leave to leave Pavilion and pick up Bak from his office. You were so tired that you fell asleep at the food court booth seat after Shireen & Aunty Linda left.

I'm here at the Pavillion KL as I'm writing this. Back on hallowed ground where my alma mater BBGS used to stand. This was where I'd be for 5 days a week minus the holidays for 11 years of my growing up years. Today, my 4 and a half year old daughter is sleeping with her head on my lap; tired out from the day's outing. It's always bittersweet coming to the Pavillion but today was a good day. We came here today because of the Balloon Art Festival. We had fun. You got a heart-shaped balloon, we had lunch with Bak (he walked all the way from his office in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng!) We watched a magic show & you were brave enough to go up on the stage to assist the magician! I was so proud! Then you got the free pass for the balloon ride & you were brave enough to go up on that as well. Then Aunty Linda & Shireen had to go back. I decided to stay at Pavillion to wait for 5pm to pick up Bak from work rather than go to Tok Bak's house as we're going over tomorrow anyway.

So here you are asleep at the food court & Mama's got another hour to kill untill 5 pm. :)

Now, I'm going to write about the Balloon art Festival

We had fun today with Shireen & Aunty Linda. We saw a magic show and when the clown asked for a volunteer who can cook, Aunty Linda & i keep pointing to you and surprisingly you actually agreed to participate! Amazing! My daughter who used to freeze up whenever anyone comes up to her can now voluntarily go onto the stage to assist a clown in a magic show. I was so proud of you darling. Here's the video.

Due to you assisting the clown you got a free pass to ride on the balloon. yippee! Initially you & Shireen both didn't want to go on the ride. Then after the magic show you wanted to pulak. Nasib baik dapat free pass.

ArtWorkShop at Sunway Giza Mall

12 June 2010

I wrote this down in my notebook while you went to the Artworkshop in Sunway Giza Mall. Only now do I manage to type it out.

Today (12 June 2010) you went to the Artworkshop in Sunway Giza Mall. You were there all by yourself without me for 1 and a half hour! Maybe you are ready for school, hmmm...which school to send to???

This is a picture of what you did at the workshop.

Butterfly Park

We went to the butterfly park. First time for you and for me too! In all my life living in KL i have never been here. Bak decided that today we shall go to the park since you were into butterfly wings & all at this time! Thank you Bak!

Ma...I look like....

26 July 2010

You went over to play at Shireen's house today and came back saying "Ma! I look like Shireen!"


hahaha..indeed you did!

Bowling

"This is how I throw the ball"

...:and then I run away!"

Shireen after throwing the ball.

22 July 2010

Aunty Linda & Shireen took us bowling at E-Curve @ Cineleisure. We've been here before but this is the first time that you actually bowled. So cute.

I took some photos and then suddenly I realised why am I not taking a video of you bowling. Just as I was about to record, you fell down! Kesian but the funny thing is I managed to catch your 2nd fall on video.

Block-ed

This year's Ramadhan Mama did a lot of driving. I sent Bak to work, came back and later towards the evening we went to pick up Bak at the office in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng and back to Kota Damansara. I haven't done so much driving in more than 5 years, ever since pregnant with you. It started because Bak had vertigo and we thought it best that he doesn't drive for a while.

Anyway, the point of this story is that I let you play games on my Iphone while I was driving to keep you occupied. Suddenly my phone rang and you seriously said " Mama, somebody is calling you. It's Block-ed." ???? Bak & I were like hmmm..what? Rupa-2nya, the caller id was blocked and the word "BLOCKED" appeared on the screen. You read it as "Block-ed"; 2 syllables. hahahaha..It was hilarious but also made me proud because you can really READ!

17 Ramadhan (27 August 2010) Arwen's Birthday

17 Ramadhan; Hari Nuzul Quran is your birthday in the Islamic calender. But of course, we must have a cake and blow out the candles. You're 5 years old. How time flies.

The picture of the moon was taken early in the morning. The cake blowing was done after Bak came back from work. You asked me "Where is everybody?, Where is the tent?" Hmmm..nak party la tu..:) sian Wen, nanti ye Wen in October k. Love you!

Arwen's First Day at Kindergarten

All set with the new roller bag.

Arwen & Mama just before leaving for school.

Arwen at school.

2 August 2010
Your first day of school. You were so good. You did not cry, you were brave. You said to me "Hurry Mama, I'm going to be late for school!" and later you told Aunty Anna, your teacher, "This is going to be great!". Seems like we prepared you well but then you didn't want to go to school the next day or the day after or the day after that. Apparently, in all the things that we did and told you in preparation of going to school, I forgot to tell you that you need to go to school EVERYDAY!!

So the 2nd day you already didn't want to go. Your teacher, Aunty Aida told me that on the 2nd day you went to the gate and cried and said "I want to go home. It's ok. I can go by myself. I know the way home". Luluh hati mama dengar tu but I had to be strong. It was only the 2nd day! You've got more than 18 years of schooling to do my dear.On the 3rd & 4th day, you keep telling the teacher with tears in your eyes, "I miss my mother, I miss my mother."  Then on Friday when I picked you up from school, the teacher asked you where do you want to go during the weekend holiday. You said "Chilli's!" hahahaha... we took you to Chilli's that very night as upah for being so brave in going to school.

During the weekend, we keep reminding you t hat you will have to go to school again next week and you asked Bak, with such hope - "For the last time?". Kesian anak mama ni.

The second week of school, you cried on Monday. Yang mama tak tahan tu you cried sedih and not cried tantrum. That just kills me! Tuesday onwards Alhamdulillah tak nangis dah. Leganye Mama. I think because you made a friend- Trisya and Mak Lin's suggestions also helped. She suggested that I write down the days and cancel them out after school is done. So I wrote out the 5 days of the week on your chalkboard and apparently it helped. You can't wait to cancel out the days! But at least no more crying!!

I love you my baby bulat yang dah besar and kena go to school ni..eeee...geram!