Our Term 1 Mid-term Break 2013

Only 1 week of break, which is totally not enough :P Most hobby classes are still in full swing.

姐姐 is going to have her Grade 2 RAD ballet exam in April so she spent 3 days training hard, one evening for 2.5 hours and another morning for 3 hours (extra which is usually school hours) and one weekend for 2 hours. Wow, her ballet teacher and principal really fully utilize the children's free time. Even school exam we don't drill like this, maybe due to new exam syllabus and less than 6 months training for the Grade 2 exam this year :P Luckily we manage to squeeze in a 2-days short trip for them.

Another class took up her time during the holiday, her English class did replacement for the missed lesson during school replacement on 16 March.

Iguanas and snakes, yikes!
弟弟 asked me to take his photo with the pets at the courtyard where he and 姐姐 goes for English class.

Other than lessons, we spent some time at the library i-Play when we went to get some BM story books for her NILAM homework. They were happy to play here. 弟弟 spent most of the time trying to build a wooden house. 姐姐 was running around bouncing a ball and knocked once into the wooden house and he was so annoyed about it even though she apologized fervently. Due to the hard work he put in, he asked me to take photos of him and specified the angles too :)

The little wooden house he built. He grabbed most of the diggers there, creating his own "play corner" with his favourite things.

Maybe with the trip and hot weather, 姐姐 did not get enough rest and run up a flu and cough :( To comfort myself, I just think of "小病是福" sigh. Her weight is now 25.5 kg as measured at the clinic (and 弟弟 is 24 kg, my goodness). Instead of syrup medicine, this time she got small pills and she's good in swallowing them.

After art class, we took some time to run around the nearby playground. I have always liked the yellow flowering trees here.

Yellow flowering Angsana trees at the playground

The food at the side are our lunch. Just want to show my favourite noodle soup and 爸爸's favourite pasembur at Batu Lanchang market.

Another visit to Sakae Sushi again :P

Their favourite sushi - tamago maki, fried hotate, potato salad

Salmon Don and Tamago Sushi. 姐姐 showing her incisor finally growing, 弟弟 suddenly sneezed when we took the photo.

The kids eat free set came very late and after several attempts to remind the servers. They didn't even bring them the Sakae froggie cap even after we requested.

Kids eat free set for one, they are just posing with the same set.

After this break, it'll be exams all the way until May, so posting will be limited :P

School update - Year 3 KSSR Dunia Seni Visual and 弟弟's growth development

They really have more mini projects than I imagined. This week their teacher asked them to prepare some toy shapes using sponges, mini clothes for the toys and the "eyes". 姐姐 designed the toy shapes, she chose to draw a bear and a rabbit. 弟弟 was so interested when she was drawing it out and was hovering around her.

Cutting became 爸爸's job since we didn't want her to accidentally cut herself. Then the clothes.. since I'm no tailor, guess who had to cut out the clothes? Hehe, it's not me. The bear didn't turn out like a bear, it looked more like a frog. So we suggested to her to make it a froggie instead.

Before assembly - blank faces :)

She brings everything to school to "assemble" - the eyes and put finishing touches to the faces using marker pen.

Her finished craft work - sponge toy

姐姐's previous homework this term. Before Chinese New Year, there were quite a few CNY themed work including Dunia Seni Visual. Hers was one of those displayed on her class notice board and she was happy about it.

Her moral studies work, see - more drawing needed. She told us it's copied out from her textbook.

Example of work done for moral studies

There are holiday homework that are like mini projects too. For English, they are required to search for Helen Kellar and share in the class about what they learnt. In addition, teacher assigned them to 3 NILAM summary for one BM, one English and one Mandarin story book.

Remember, frequently missing or not submitting projects means the child will be graded lower than what they could have achieved. However some schools are good that they supplied everything for the projects, maybe they collect funds from parents ahead?

See the little cactus in the bottle?

When I pick her up from school, she was showing me this little bottle which she "won". Well, from what she mentioned, there was a group of folks who visited her school and gave a talk about the environment. They had Q&A session with prizes for correct answer. She was picked to answer one of the questions (to her it's a big deal) and she got the prize for correct answer (think she answered to a question about tomato plant?). Kept telling me about the 6 months life of the little cactus :) And I googled about the company called WA Ecosystem, the plant is called My Little Darling.

What had 弟弟 been up to all this time? The usual school and homework routine. Mondays he will get a list of words/sentences for Mandarin 听写 and 默写. He is tested on Wednesdays. Wednesdays he will get a list of words/sentences for BM ejaan. Then he is tested on Fridays. Fridays he will get a list of words for English spelling. Tested on Mondays. And repeat the cycle every week. We saw the English reader book and the BM bacaan book. However this holiday they didn't let him take it back. So bad, why are they being so secretive about the materials?  

One of the days when  爸爸 was on business trip, I was late sending 弟弟 to school. He told us not much emphasis on lesson that day, phew. That's because the teacher took weight and height measurements of the children. He told us he is 118cm and 24kg. Not sure how accurate is this as he doesn't seem that tall (later at doctor's clinic he weighs 22kg). Anyway, glad that he was not punished for being late that day :) He did mention before kids who are late were caned by the teacher.

My birthday celebration :)

We went for Sakae Children's Day for the Nth time. But the kids still stick to their favourites only.

Didn't know she could use chopstick on her own to slurp up the ramen noodles

弟弟 trying the ramen soup

姐姐 helping 弟弟 to wipe his mouth clean since they sit together

We got some workbooks for 姐姐. Since she is the first batch under KSSR, it's difficult looking for Year 3 workbooks at the beginning of the year. Only Popular Gurney Plaza has more choices for SJKC workbooks. And that's after Chinese New Year. I only got those subjects she is not going for classes.

For my birthday celebration, I was treated to TGIF :) 弟弟 told me he is wearing black as he knows my idols like to wear black. Hm, he can really come up with many reasons to get his own way.

The mock aeroplane fascinates them

Appetizer - Fried Mozzarella

Keywest Fish (doesn't look like the photo in menu :P), Friday's Cheeseburger and the kids' free meal - fish and chips and chicken strips

Dessert - Brownie Obsession

After that, we saw a booth with Hello Kitty car so took a photo :)

The Hello Kitty car

As 爸爸 was always on business trip, we missed seeing the Kek Lok Si light up. Too crowded during CNY holidays but no time after that. He brought back many gifts from his trips, but we always prefer him to be at home. All the gifts in the world is not going to replace that :)

Chinese New Year visits and activities

A minimalist approach to Chinese New Year. Not as heavy traffic compared to yesterday where everywhere was almost a standstill.

On CNY eve, we had buffet lunch with 公公, 婆婆 and Ah Kong at Cafe Laurel, Evergreen Laurel Hotel (公公 likes it there as not so crowded). The children enjoyed desserts, ice-creams and lemon tea from the coffee/tea counter. Main dishes were just side dishes to them :) We only took one photo as too busy eating and they got too messy for photos.

Mains - The oranges were decorations but 公公 took for them :P

I wanted to give the children something they like during CNY eve so they get to choose their breakfast. It's home-style fried eggs and sausages haha. I'm not a traditionalist and couldn't make them anything traditional for CNY, so I'm pretty happy with their choice. Otherwise if it's up to 爸爸, we'd be having hawker fare breakfast - which is not my style at all.

The children in their new pajamas.
姐姐 in Hello Kitty pajamas and 弟弟 in Cars pajamas.

姐姐 got a mandarin orange for good luck from PIBG on the last day of school. She's one of the temporary class monitors so she and the other class monitor counted and carried the box of mandarin oranges back to the class for distribution to her classmates.

She appreciated the mandarin orange from school a whole lot, maybe because she laboured to select and carry them to her class

Chinese New Year eve dinner prepared by 爸爸。Everything is nice except the 炒沙葛 was too sweet :P

Hehe our homecooked CNY eve dinner

On Chinese New Year 初一, we went to 拜拜 at Guan Yin Temple 观音亭 after lunch. So crowded, part of the main altar is under repair so everyone's squashed to the side. 姐姐 and 爸爸 犯太岁 this year so they had extra prayers.

Another year of 拜拜 at Guan Yin Temple 观音亭

On the way back we saw a Marking George Town sculpture "Untrained Parakeet" on King Street near to where we parked. We actually missed one right at the junction of Lebuh China.

Untrained Parakeet sculpture on King Street

At night, we visited Hean Boo Thean floating temple 玄母殿 along Weld Quay. We followed the big sign to turn as we came from Jelutong Expressway. The children loved this place as it is breezy and cool. It's decorated very brightly and nicely for Chinese New Year. See them smiling brightly for the photos :) Of course it's 拜拜 first before taking photos and sight-seeing. There's numbering on the 香炉 and indication how many joss stick to put, very thoughtful for visitors.

On the platform facing main altar

The main altar

Sight-seeing around 玄母殿 Hean Boo Thean floating temple.

Facing the sea

On the first floor where 南海观世音菩萨与金童玉女 prayer altar is housed.

There are many pots of chrysenthemum as decorations around the temple - lovely!

View from the first floor

Komtar in the background

These are statues depicting 二十四孝之故事

View from the temple.

Komtar in the background again, and there's a boat taking visitors from the temple to the heritage clan jetties

Interesting finds inside the temple.

Dragon pillar and lanterns inside the temple. There's a lighted mobile prayer altar that looked like from past procession.

CNY decorations

The second day 老姑 visited with the children's cousins. Everyone's growing up so fast.

姐姐, 弟弟, cousins 靖, 纬，裕

At the playground where the aunties, uncles and cousins are staying in Penang.
And lunch with 捞生 (爸爸 only got the back of the children's heads :P)

With Cousin Rachel, she's 14 now

Around the playground

Visit to Penang Heritage Clan Jetties Chew Jetty and Tan Jetty - Pre-Chinese New Year 2013

There are several activities for Chinese New Year. We had done clothes shopping end of last year since 姐姐 prefers the Christmasy dresses compared to Chinese New Year styles.

Spring at Queensbay Mall
Early CNY tossing 鱼生 at Sakae Sushi. This year the children seem to enjoy it more. Queensbay Mall is sooo packed this Sunday. When 姐姐 had her ballet class on Saturday, we were stuck in traffic jam on Scotland Road due to Thaipusam crowd.

Toss and eat for good luck :)

The Chinese New Year spring decorations around Queensbay Mall. They wanted to take photo with all the toy snakes they saw on the trees.

Mr Snake on the tree

See the toy snakes hanging on the trees?

The "情人桥" at Queensbay Mall Central Atrium

Joy of Snake Year Festivity at 1st Avenue

Some photos just because we're there. On hot days most people hide in malls. I like the way the lanterns looked. But the mall is quiet as there is no activity even though it's a replacement holiday. We might be back for the weekend.

Chinese New Year theme decorations

Cannot escape eating when going out with the children.

弟弟 taking photo of rat zodiac, 姐姐 taking photo of her animal zodiac.

They had cheese baked rice and jelly for dessert (part of the set). They couldn't finish the rice but still have room for dessert. 

Chew Jetty and Tan Jetty visit

Since we're in town and the weather is fine, we played tourist and went to visit Chew Jetty and Tan Jetty. 爸爸 had become quite an expert of some of the Penang heritage areas after bringing Ally, 大姑 and gang around there.

Stopover at Victoria Street (Lebuh Victoria) for "Property" sculpture.
This is at the section after the big fire station.

Made it to Chew Jetty! And lucky to find a parking spot just near the entrance.

Chew Jetty entrance.

Chew Jetty is rather crowded at the time we went. It is also more commercialized, there are many stores selling souvenirs or snacks. There are several Japanese tour groups there with their guides. Wow, some of the ahjummas were wearing heels or high-heeled strappy wedges, pottering around on the wooden planks :)

One of the purpose to visit Chew Jetty - for the mural "Children in a boat". However it faded very badly  *sobs* :( Didn't see any of the Japanese tourist stopped to see it, they probably didn't know about the mural art that is so popular in Penang since last year.

The faded "Children In A Boat" at Chew Jetty

View of the sea from "Children In A Boat" mural. We saw a fish jump up a little further down.

There are houses along both sides of Chew Jetty. We walked until the end where there's a temple. 爸爸 was so busy trying to take photos while the tourists were busy admiring the view there. We manage not to capture the tourists in the photo, they were busy looking at the view but not really taking photos (maybe too hot for them?).

Penang Bridge in the background. Not sure if you can see with the sun exposure but I could see in the original photo :P

This is the part of Chew Jetty which we can see Penang ferry terminal

弟弟's expression is so funny here :) too hot I suppose :P

On the way out, we saw a jelly fish swimming around the stilts of the houses. This is the first time the children saw a jelly fish at such close range (which is not in an aquarium). We stopped by one of the stores to get 冰条 flavoured ice in tubes - Milo flavour for 姐姐, lychee for 弟弟 and sour plum for me.

Beh tahan, holding hands and eating 冰条 - colourful wall somewhere on Chew Jetty.

Because we allowed them to eat ice, everything became bearable for them. They are ok to walk to Tan Jetty nearby. Tan Jetty is where Ally said they followed wedding photo troupe and mistook it or Chew Jetty earlier. Compared to Chew Jetty, Tan Jetty is quiet and peaceful. After the last house selling Thai food, it's a long row of wooden planks to the end (no rails, nothing! Next drop is into the water argh!). For me it's so scary :P but the children think it's an adventure. Seems like the waters off Tan Jetty is clearer compared to Chew Jetty. Maybe due to the Thaipusam weekend where there's a huge influx of visitors and maybe also becuase Chew Jetty is nearer to the Penang ferry terminal.

Towards the end there's a very special toilet. Only a rectangular hole im the middle hahaha! Out of respect for people who had done their business there, I told 爸爸 not to take photo of that toilet :) Actually we can see Komtar from here, just that 爸爸 focus on water-theme too hot to take any shots from different angle and we had to watch the children very closely.

There are a few people fishing here.

See, they went to almost the end of Tan Jetty with 爸爸

Told 爸爸 to take photo of the quaint houses, end up he focus on the water

地板很烫！

Sitting in front of the place selling Thai food. See the wedding couple at the back?

After we are home, the children keep talking about Chew Jetty and Tan Jetty, and that they were not scared at all. Honestly this is not a place for hyperactive kids, or maybe you could stop at the last house and not go to the end. And thank goodness it's high tide, otherwise we would only see mud around the area. For the record, the day we went is 初十七.

God of Prosperity and Jiang Nan Scholars at 1st Avenue

Such heavy traffic around the malls, all the carparks were full, even the open space carparks. We were lucky to find parking along Lebuh McNair, which is a short walk to 1st Avenue. So the kids get to see God of Prosperity (财神) and  Jiang Nan Scholars (江南四大才子). Oh ya, thanks to them the children got chocolate packaged as gold coins.

God of Prosperity (财神) and  Jiang Nan Scholars (江南四大才子)

We had a little tea break at Gloria Jean's Coffees. I love watching the children eat. However they are really possesive and even behaved like little dinos or 暴龙 when it comes to food. We (or rather they) had Cookies and Cream Chiller, Irish Nut Creme, cheesecake, almond pear pie and popcorn (which is complimentary with the chiller). They loved everything especially popcorn.

Enjoying at Gloria Jean's Coffees

When they went to wash their hands, they saw M&M's mascot outside. They were so excited as the M&M mascot is really cute.

Met M&M mascot at 1st Avenue

Stopped by Penang Times Square

Decorations at Penang Times Square

I'm trying to limit the number of post so trying to squeeze everything here.