A long hiatus - A 2014 wrap up

2014 was an interesting year to remember.  We had done so many things together and we started to see you from a different angle.  There are times you insist to make decisions and even though not all decision are welcomed but we have to accept that you're now another decision maker in this household.

• You almost hates rice (especially the white one) and always argue with ayah on this matter
• You love pasta and cheese so much.  You and Mommy share same interest on this
• You always run to hide when you saw something scary on tv (even from cartoon).. penakut :)
• You love school and your friends so much
• By year end, finally you agree to let go daytime diapers.  Big achievement.  We were bit worried about this as your school already gave instruction that year 5 student no longer allowed to war diapers to school
• Still on bottle fed on formula.  Resist when ever I suggest that you start to drink from cup.
• Start to avoid from asking for formula in public.  I guess deep inside you feel embarrassed.  It make me worried as I hope that you will drink formula at least for few more years (with cup)

• We start to argue a lot on which T shirt and pants to wear and not to wear.  You hates collar T shirt and you only wear shirt if ayah wore it at the same time
• The worst decision made by you this year was when you wrote your name on the mosque wall when I was doing my prayer during Ramadhan this year. 
• You always wanted to help me in the kitchen and it made me proud but at the same time, you will get the whole kitchen wet by washing only 1 plate
• You also good at preparing Pizza.  And, you boost a lot about that :)
• You start to develop a bad habit of not tidying your toys.I hope this habit wont last long
• We still struggle to get you to shower
• We still struggle to get you to understand that you couldn't disturb us when we do our prayer
• The behavior discussion always end with only temporary improvement and it only last for few minutes. 
 

 

When were weren't traveling

at home

 

at wawasan park

 





 Spend quality times with your furry siblings





Swimming




Help mommy to promote my charity fund for strays.  
Muezza Fund was named after our beloved Muezza






 Celebrate Aidul Fitri with family and extended family






Visiting the nearby kids playland


And finally on 21st December 2014, we celebrate your 4th birthday.  Was a quiet birthday celebration where only 4 of us (including aunty) were there.  Again, I hope it's ok for you the way we choose to celebrate your birthday.  So what did you get for your birthday?  A lego set which I hope you will keep it and make them as collection.  By the time I wrote this post that Lego pieces almost gone :)











Our 2014 story comes to end.  We are ready for another journey.  We had some much fun this year and after all, seeing you from different angle is not too bad.  In all the frustration, there were lots of laughter too.  Our only intention is to make you a better human being and a soleh son, not to punish you.  Love you Dik.  Deep inside us, you are always the greatest gift from Allah.  

A long hiatus - A 2014 story (Part 2)

Other than the pre-school things, your 2014 spent moderately.

Family side, nothing much happen.  Things were just routine.  Every now and then, we went back to ayah's kampung and also Nenek will come and stay with us.

How about your personal achievement?  You achieved a lot.  You speak fluently in Malay, almost there in English and you started to write and you learn so many things this year.   Your strength is your happy go lucky character, your ability to converse all the time, your social skills that made people attracted to you, your unique feature resemble Mongolian or Kiwis or Hawaiians and you are witty.

The challenge that we are facing this year is you're started to show the naughty side of yours.  Maybe it's the way to express your opinion.  To be frank, there are times both of ayah & mommy struggle to handle you especially in public.  Hide and seek seems to be your favorite sport in public and we were always worried that you might went missing in the crowds.  No matter how many time we tried to slow talk to make you understand, but t seems that you enjoy it even more.  So the temporary solution to it, we seldom went out for shopping.

Another issue that we face is you are a little loud when it comes to talk.  It was OK in our home but it was a problem once we went public especially mosque.  We initially thought that you were ready  to join the Terawih prayer this year but it turn out to be lots of people displeased with our decision.  I tried hard to make you understand the idea that mosque suppose to be a quiet place where people can pray peacefully.   Maybe you're too young and maybe there were too many kids around.  I personally hopes this too will gone in time.

Traveling side, we didn't travel much this year except for some short trips.  The reason behind this is mainly on financial constrains. 


1. Bandung, Indonesia

We went to Bandung for a short trip in February just to unwind.  Ayah wasn't feeling well when we were there so we end up spend most of the time in hotel.  Not too bad actually as I also found Bandung too crowded this time.  For you, traveling is always fun, no matter how we spend the time. 

Van De Java Mall

De Java Bandung Hotel

Van De Java Mall

2. National Science Centre, KL

We went to National Science Centre in early April 2014.  Initially we thought you will not enjoy the trip.  But it was opposite.  You tried almost everything and seems very interested to learn (maybe can be defined as to treat everything as a toy).  I guess it is supposed to be that way.  

3. Legoland, Johor

We brought you to Legoland because we knew that you love LEGO.  You enjoy part of the trip but when it comes to theme park,  we failed to convince you that it is fun to try few things there.  Overall, it was a nice trip even though we sweat under the hot sun. 

Mutiara Johor Bahru Hotel

 Lego miniatures

 

Indoor and outdoor park

4.   Singapore

I must say, all of us get so bored for not having a big vacation this year.  I'm the most restless one.  So, with the small budget that we had, we made a trip to Singapore.  Mommy took few days off and then we off to Seberang Selat.  

Ayah drove us to negara Seberang Selat and we reach Singapore at night.    

Universal Studio Singapore
 

Marina Bay Sands & surrounding scenery

Botanical Garden

The Merlion

Overall, the Singapore trip was ok.  I'm not too fond with big city but I fall in love with Botanical Garden.  We might come back in few years to visit USS again and maybe a trip the Singapore Night Safari.

5.   ICT Shah Alam

Since there is no Europe trip for us this year.. we made to ICT to get the feeling of Europe.  Haha.  It was a spontaneous idea but turn out the trip wasn't bad at all.  We were lucky as your 2012 winter coat is still fit, so no need to invest on the winter gear.

Your last snow experience was when you was 1 year old.  I guess even though you can't remember clearly but somehow the memory is there.  Both ayah & I freezing cold but you was totally OK. 

6.   Thailand Overland

Again, towards end of the year, I felt something is missing.  All our earlier trips was a short one and felt something is not complete.  So we initiate another trip towards year end and during your school holiday.  An 8 days overland trip to Hatyai & Bangkok.  We took train from Kuala Lumpur to Hatyai.  It was our first experience taking an overnight train and I was bit sceptical in the beginning but at the end all of us love the journey.  You also seems to love the train ride so much and keep asking us when can we repeat the trip.

Since we already came to Hatyai in 2011, so we only spent 1 night in Hatyai before continue the train journey to Bangkok.   

KL-Hatyai Night Train ride

Hatyai Centara Hotel

Hatyai 3D Museum

 Hatyai Floating Market

 Bangkok

Ayutthaya

I guess, 2014 turn to be quite a fun year for our family.  Even though we weren't able to travel ouside Asean this year but we had good time traveling and enjoying each other company.  That's what family all about.  Stick to each other and make best of our time.