This one costs $12.99. Maybe I should have bought it? Opening and closing the door switches the cargo inside! It’s on sale ‘cos it’s a Christmas toy

I had not been inside before despite it being opened for years now, boasting the world’s largest indoor roller coaster. So what better opportune to bring the kids along.

We got there, saw and greeted kau-foo, got the free passes, and disappeared! How rude!

One of the rides that Caitlin had eagerly wanted to try was the bumper car. She had tried this once before when we went to Genting Highlands; where she froze upon the cars starting and other riders started to bump into her (read it here).

This time however, I guess she knew the objective of the ride, and wasn’t too miffed about being bumped into as much. However, whilst driving she was actually avoiding everyone as much as she could! I guess this was her first driving lesson, and not a bad one at that- I was watching her and she was avoiding “cars” quite well

Little brother Caleb however, I guess was going through what his jie-jie was going through on her first time. He wasn’t sure what to make of this. I could see he was hanging on (but not for dear life, probably cos he doesn’t know what to worry!) and looking everywhere. Perhaps he was getting motion sickness in that he wasn’t in control of the direction, and also the jerking whiplash stop-starting of the car.

When jie-jie wanted to go on it again, he opted out So we went on the train ride again

I think in all she went like 4 times

So we were on our way to a supermarket. I was running the shopping list verbally with her, play-testing if she can recall all the items we needed.

“Why don’t we make a shopping list?”

“Good idea, but I am driving….”

“I’ll do it.”

Hmm? She is going to school- yes, but I didn’t think she would be able to spell the items.

She proceeded to get the small notepad I keep in the car, and a pen. “What do we need to get again?”

“Some milk- two cartons, actually; yoghurt, those veggies Mummee needed for tonight’s dinner; oh and if we can find it, a case for Mummee’s phone…”

“Milk….. yoghurt……”, scribble scribble scribble. “Ok done.”

Can you see it?

She had scribbled out the yoghurt once it was in the shopping trolley, but you can just about make it out by the shape of the tubs that she had earlier coloured in

And, the phone that goes into a pouch!

I have owned an iPhone since the 3G model (and don’t get me started on how I lost that one); using the 3GS now.

Caitlin has always been “using” it for the simple games I have downloaded; where I had learned quickly that it was better to delete the arcade-ish games and install educational ones. I gotta say, whether Hot Mummee believes me or not, that that math game has indeed helped Caitlin to an extent. The user-interface, the touch screen and the cheers from getting the right answer, do indeed make her wanna think hard, count properly, and “win” the game.

So she is quite well versed with getting around and finding what she wants.

Recently on my trip to LA, I had bought the iPad for my brothers. (Okay the real story is that I bought it for myself, and was supposed to get another 2 when HM told me off. So I stopped after buying the second one!)

Caitlin had no trouble using that too.

This is not a plug for Apple; though if they were to give me a free iPad I would gladly reword this post My point is that they take to technology so easily.

Caleb is now fighting over his sister for time with my iPhone too these days. Other than (trying, for his age) playing games he is actually very well versed with the finger side-swiping whilst looking at the photos. He likes to review the photos as well as watch the videos.

I am reminded of how I was always the go-to kid when my dad had trouble with the VCR, back in the early 80′s. I also self-taught how to hook up 2 VCR’s and started making copies of borrowed tapes…

In the genes, you say?

Being the rather laid back parents that we are; okay maybe “lazy” is the better description, we had only left it to the kids to entertain themselves with repeated playing of their favourite DVD’s.

One in particular this season was/is Ice Age 3 (as opposed to last season, being Bee Movie). If you don’t know the franchise, the main characters are a couple of mammoths, a sabre tooth tiger, a sloth, and two brothers of possums. In a previous installment these have banded together as a herd, sharing with us viewers their adventures. I wouldn’t call them “adorable”; maybe because it has been repeatedly played-to-death so often that it has definitely lost its appeal.

They say kids and people dream about what they thought of or saw the most of during the day. Yup, you guessed it: Caitlin dreamt about these characters. Two nights in a row, in fact.

She shared this with me over a few “sessions”, first being during our car ride to Grandma’s in the morning before going to work, and then continued when she saw me afterwards.

She dreamt of Manny and Elly, the mammoth couple.

I asked if I was there. No. I asked if they were big. She said not really. I corrected her that mammoths used to be huge like a big car or bus (I try to watch Discovery channel as much as I can; will explain “try” another time!) I wanted to ask if they were friendly, but she quickly offered that they were, ‘cos they and the herd were travelling together with her; except Diego the sabre tooth lion. I guess Caitlin doesn’t quite fancy him all that much.

Later at home when she was relating her dreams during her later sessions, we overheard Hot Mummee exclaiming how she’s got a headache. Caitlin whispers to me “Maybe Mummee didn’t have nice dreams like I did; please don’t tell her I said that, okay?”

I like when she shares stuff with me. I hope she keeps this up forever through the ages, for obvious reasons.

Last year’s Halloween in particular (because I can’t remember if 2007′s Halloween left any impression on this then-just under 4 years old), the kids in our building came around all dressed and made up. Caitlin was more than just a little disturbed, besides seeing “ugly” faces she was also left wondering why the hell kids would wanna scare other fellow human beings, what possible pleasure would be derived from going through all that trouble.

This year, as the date was approaching and shops started putting up the decor, she kinda grew accustomed to this once-a-year event (“just like a birthday”) and somewhat accepted this oddity in human psyche. Either that or she’s been quietly getting more and more disturbed harboring and bottling this up to someday become a really disturbed serial killer to carry out acts like in movies of similar namesake.

Since my parents have moved to the new gated community, we had spent our first weekend at their new house; as we do every weekend (since otherwise we don’t get to see my parents during the week). This community also has a few expats, and, unsurprisingly, they were going to do something with/for their kids. There was a flyer indicating a party starting at 7pm, that for all interested kids (and adults alike) to gather at the playground, and for interested residents game enough to treat or be tricked, to at least paste a picture of a pumpkin on their doors/windows.

Caitlin’s cousins were initially interested in participating, so Caitlin was kinda roped into it too. So, earlier in the afternoon we went shopping for a costume for her amidst buying stuff for the new house. We went to Toys R Us, and instead of choosing something typical to Halloween, she opted for what she’s kinda always wanted: a pair of fairy wings and a wand. Good too, cos I was somewhat concerned about what to do with the costumer come this time tomorrow.

The time came, and we were getting ready. Caitlin’s cousins pulled out, problem thought they were too old for this. I didn’t really know how to dress her seeing as she was going to be (just!) a fairy, I let her decide what to wear; which was just a t-shirt and jeans. Already looking out the window there were kids all decked out; i saw a lot of black (witches, Morticia Addams-like We were a little late; by the time we had gulped down our dinner there were traveling parties of kids door-knocking already.

And wouldn’t it you know it, it started drizzling! I quickly grabbed a brolly and got ourselves to join one of the groups. Being the odd one out amongst the group of kids who obviously already knew each other, we just tagged along and tried to make small talk; Caitlin too Ok, there were also parents who were also dressed up and played chaperones.

To be honest in my mind i had wanted to tag along on my inline skates: Nothing is more scary than an old man trying to be young by being on skates! It was just too bad that it started raining. Honestly. Caitlin is still too young to say these words: Dad, you embarrass me.

It was a rather fun time even for Caitlin She managed to collect a substantial amount of candy, getting more into this after each door-knock. She was still rather apprehensive though, as she wasn’t really audible with her “trick or treat” and “thank yous”.

It was quite nice culturally to see how the residents got into this: The porches were decorated with the typical pumpkin and other “scary” things; there was one with a severed head and hand; which I can only presume that Caitlin either didn’t see or pretend she didn’t to someday grow up to be…

The timing was such that the small groups somehow all finished nearly the same time, and instead of gathering at the now-drenched playground the setup was moved to presumably the organiser’s porch. it was a potluck event, but I had only brought drinks. Caitlin however was already quite relaxed once she got stuck into the chips and the mini sausages. The lady (organizer) even had a game. She took out a stack of disposable diapers and lined them along the table, saying that this is a game but not a race; “who wants to join in?” I yelled out that Caitlin’s brother has some used ones where we could provide, to which she said “these ARE used ones!” There were kids who were game, and when the game started they were told to open it up and eat what was inside: very real looking op! She had really gone through the trouble and made whatever that was to look very very much like what Caleb produces in his diapers! Most of the kids and even some adults were really enjoying it though!

My brother, seeing as this was a “photo event” had set up his camera on his porch, that for a “fee” for the candy, you gotta pose for him

I agree with him (on his Flickr site) that this would be the best dressed of the night

There are more at his site

We made sure Caitlin understands that she has to bring and share all that sugar with her school friends. No resistance there, she’s always liked to bring stuff to share, if only there were enough to go around when there’s something she wants to bring.

I’d say given how Caitlin admitted that she had fun, next year she’d likely be as game and enthusiastic as the older kids from the night. Her little bother would be just under 3 then; cant say how he’d be yet, seeing as he is actually showing signs of timidness yet look-at-you-from-corner-of-the-eye attitude.

It was also Hot Mummee’s birthday on the 21st Also, Yee yee (HM’s younger sister) is also back from Hawaii for a month; and it’s also going to be HM’s cousin’s wedding this weekend!

So we had quite a few activities lined up in the last 2 weeks or so!

As a nice little “cheap” treat, I brought Caitlin for a swim in our pool downstairs (of the condo building). Off and on I have been taking her floats out of her swimgear the last few times we went for a dip- she is tall enough already and can stand at the shallow end. She really surprised me by “going under” (as she calls it) and even remembering that one time I tried to teach her to exhale through her nose. I was watching her submerging and blowing bubbles out of her nose and really enjoy exploring this new skill and sensations!

The other highlight was also the rare times that we as a family ventured outdoors together! HM’s not really an outdoorsy person, and with Caleb being still somewhat waddling, we don’t venture outdoors much. But being somewhat bored with the days-off, we contacted Moomykin and Cuddlyfamily to see what they were doing.

We ended up planning a picnic!

The kids had the most fun, whilst I enjoyed (not enough of!) Moomykin’s decadent potato and egg salad and Cuddlyfamily’s homemade cookies! Most of my time was spent watching over the kids; more so with Caleb and (possibly?) his first visit to a playground.

Oh, we had also bumped into See Ming (aka xmocha) and Sim and Max!

The picnic wasn’t as scary as we had feared (okay we are city folks after all). The dreaded rain held off just for us, where it had been raining every 12 hours or so the previous umpteen days regardless of day or night, and also the kids weren’t too much of a handful.

After the picnic morning HM, Yee yee and I, and their brother and some friends went for karaoke (don’t laugh- all are quite good singers and it’s also good stress relief!), followed by seafood dinner- it was after all HM’s day, and she got to choose which crab, and the cooking style to eat!

Took today and Friday off from work, just to “do stuff” with Caitlin. All week so far she’s been holed up in the apartment with Hot Mummee working from home, and really working. Poor kids haven’t been outdoors at all for some 72 hours or so earlier in the week.

Today I took Caitlin for a long-awaited swim. Long, cos as you know she’s not been well, and then there was the hazy spell. Not surprisingly it was a good fun-time in the sun; we both got a slight but much needed tan from it. She hasn’t forgotten what she’s learnt from the pool- not that I had taught her a lot, but she still managed to paddle from the ends of the pool to the other, still with her floaties of course.

Later in the day I had wanted her to catch some shuteye before the replacement art class- again, replacement from when she was down with fever, but she won’t have it. 35min before the class was to start, this is what happened- I reckon she had only dozed off 5 minutes before I snapped this.

I still woke her up though, partly cos I was “selfish” and wanted her to still attend this cos, after all its paid for. But partly also I know (hoped?) she would still enjoy it.

Woke her, asked if she still wanted to go.

Rubbing her eyes, “Yes….”

When I signed her up for this replacement class last week, I had noticed that this session, being on a Thursday afternoon, only had 4 names. Today, she was the only one who turned up.

So, given the undivided attention, when I went to get Caitlin at the end of the class the teacher told me that because she was the only one, they had finished one, and resumed to make another

So for tomorrow, Friday, I was thinking I’d bring her to go watch Up. Let’s hope the plan goes well; cos I have a feeling somehow it won’t….

UPDATE

Well, we managed to catch the movie Up.

As usual Caitlin didn’t catch her afternoon nap. I had to force her to lie down with the threat of no-movie if she didn’t try. As the protesting died down because she eventually dozed off, I snuck out to get the tickets in order to maximise her shut-eye time, waking her only at the last minute.

As I woke her, it crossed my mind that she may want to continue sleeping as she normally does when awoken “prematurely”, ending up being a grump for about 30 minutes. Waking her, I popped the make-or-break question: Do you wanna go for the movie (or not)? It was quite the waker-upper question- we were on time and all for the movie.

To my slight disappointment, being her third ever movie outing, she still asked “Is it finishing yet?” some 3/4 way into the movie. She is still obviously not mature enough to follow a storyline yet the first time (meaning she’s gotta be watching a movie repeatedly like on a DVD before somewhat understanding what’s going on.

Ah well, at least she did go to a cinema and catch this movie, after months of requesting we do each time we drive past the poster on the highway every morning.

Showed him the tongue action of his jie-jie

He immediately copied what he saw!

And by the way, having the radio going all the time while I drive, Caitlin has taken a liking to this currently popular song.

From a personal perspective, a great deal of how I learned English was also from songs, and “breaking down” the lyrics so that I could sing along (I suppose one also has to like music and singing to learn English this way, even if it’s only in the shower!) So, I found this YouTube clip while I was looking online for the lyrics for Caitlin to sing along too, as well.

My little girl is bobbing like she’s in a moshpit now; well, gentle bobs anyway. Maybe I should have left it for her to work out the lyrics herself too?

Luckily for everyone, Caleb actually likes to push from behind. But it won’t be long though, before he’d be wanting to ride.

Yes, they were still in their jammies. It’s Sunday okay- give us parents a break!

Evening came and it was time to get ready for bed.

Caleb can express his hunger quite audibly / comprehensibly now, by telling us “nan-nan”.

As you can see he’s quite comfortable on the beanbag. Quite a relief for all of us, since we don’t always have to be watching him when he feeds now.

Caitlin, on the other hand, was being rather cheeky about bedtime. Calls to her to go clean her teeth went unanswered.

We found her like this.

Now that’s one way of getting out of doing something. I gotta try that with Hot Mummee one day….

I mean a good laugh, you know the type that makes you laugh heartily, not the I am only entertaining or humoring you laugh.

It was in the evening, after dinner but before bedtime- I can still see it in my head. I was seated across her, she was in her blue short sleeved jammies, somewhat looking up at me, from her schoolbook homework; pretty sure she had a pencil in her hand.

She said the punchline. I found it really funny, and laughed longer and harder than usual.

She wasn’t conscious of herself like I thought she would, now that I think about it in retrospect. In the past she’d get somewhat self-conscious and demanded “Why you funny at me??” to which I often try to explain to her the difference between laughing at you, and laughing with you. I think she got this idea from possibly being teased at school, but not something or at a level that we should be concerned about.

So she laughed along. I think it was initially because she too thought it was a funny punchline, not going the “Why you funny at me” path; and then I think she kinda realised that Daddee was enjoying the joke, and joined in the hearty laugh.

I can still see it: In her blue jammies, the all teeth squinty eyed giggly hee-hee and occasionally mouth agape haha laugh.

Don’t ask me what it was that made us both laugh. I honestly cannot remember! The next morning I asked her, in the car on the way to school, and she too cannot remember!

But it was something else for me. It signaled that she is growing, that it wasn’t just simple things that made her laugh anymore; no, indeed it wasn’t what made her laugh but what she had said that made me laugh like I did.

Last night there were 3 packs of diapers recently purchased (with one for us to bring home the remaining stays at grandma’s). The kids, getting bored waiting for the adults to get ready for dinner, thought to amuse themselves.

As the bags are plastic, the kids were stacking and riding them. I had to watch them to ensure they don’t slide off backwards, as it so easily would since its so slippery.

This is what Caitlin did, in between being told to be careful.

Gotta hand it to her!

Call it chicken, call it because-my-hair-is-thinning. It’s because the shape of my head will only make me look (more) silly.

But my son sports it well- the second time proves it wasn’t a fluke

Sigh… Yes- That is drool on his chin…

buh-bye;

Grr-grr- “go-go” is what is uttered whenever we are ready to go out. Now he’s the one telling us we should go out.

Ma’am-mee (nope, still not calling Daddee);

circa and dar (“circle” and “star”, when Daddee was doodling with him);

tonne-ner whenever we enter a tunnel, or even under overhead bridges that remotely resemble anything undercover;

Runs around in circles of present-moment’s object of desire on the floor- a toy, a piece of paper, etc.

Caitlin:
She was pretty proud that she could rubber-band tie her rolled up doodling (“treasure map”) with a double twirl all by herself.

Caitlin’s cough and sniffles is getting better; thank goodness there’s no fever otherwise I’d be bringing her straight to a doctor, for obvious reasons of what’s in the air these days.

It’s mid afternoon. I think we’ll grr-grr to Midvalley using the tonne-ner parking, since really there’s nothing to do otherwise at home