Baby Orange Is 1 Years Old!

Wow, Baby Orange is moving into his toddler stage :) He is 1 years old! Although it is school day and we are busy, Papa got him a cartoon cake to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Baby Orange! May you be healthy and happy!

Family photo for Baby Orange's first birthday!

Cherry is in charge of carrying him to take photo as he can't stand still

Baby Orange, why look so serious?
Baby Orange: You all want to see my full face photo mah.....!

Singing birthday song for Baby Orange!

Help Baby Orange blow his candle!

Cut his cake!
Oh, another funny photo of me..... :P

Sibling photo.... and Baby Orange finally gets his red egg! And being so happy about it :)

If you see those blurry photos of Baby Orange, that's because he moved while we took photos. OK, which baby doesn't keep moving around hehe.....

Wesak Day 2015

This is Baby Orange's first time celebrating Wesak Day! Every year from some years ago, we will bring the children to the Malaysian Buddhist Association Penang branch during Wesak Day. We queued for the Buddha statue bathing session 浴佛. It is quite organized here :) We donated and get our flower water for bathing at home.

Children participate in bathing the Buddha statue 浴佛。
Baby Orange did the 浴佛 with me but Papa didn't get a good photo.

Children holding on their flower water after prayers to Buddha

Then it is prayers with candles for the family. Didn't want to jostle with crowd as Baby Orange still so small, so we went home to bathe using flower water. We actually bathed before going for prayers so this is just pouring the water over ourselves :)

Baby Orange splashing in his tub with flower water. He enjoyed it :)

Asia Youth Exchange Program (AYEP 2015) - Japan Cultural at Lost Paradise Resort, Penang

Cherry applied to attend this Japanese cultural camp organized by JCI Elite. Their school HM truly encouraged the students to go for this camp for experience and exposure. I think about 10 children from their school attended (all from Std 4 and 5).

It was held at Lost Paradise Resort. Children from different schools gathered for a fun-filled weekend stay.

We were initially quite reluctant to let her go, as she had to skip some weekend classes. However the program seemed to benefit her, so we finally gave our ok for her to sign up as she is very keen. She missed the full day holiday workshop at school last year and keep looking out for such program to attend. This one is a little different as not only the children enjoy their weekend activities, they are actually going to select some of these children to join their Asia Youth Exchange Program to go to Fukuyama, Japan for a one-week summer camp (self-pay of course, parents sendiri sponsor).

Papa took Cherry to take photos around Lost Paradise Resort. It's beautiful :)

More views

And more :D

Papa brought her to Lost Paradise Resort early in the morning on Saturday. The children registered and they are attend the opening ceremony and given briefing. The program is conducted in English. The children are potential candidates for the Fukuyama summer camp where international students will get together.

The organising team created a watsapp chatroom and gave parents tips what to pack for the AYEP camp. They also updated parents on the children's activities with photos and videos. Very caring of them :) They took good care of the children too. The children are not allowed to leave the group and they are not allowed to play in the pool or watersports for safety reason. Strictly follow the program and that is for the children's benefit and safety.

Cherry in red t-shirt. I only share those photos that I can see her. 

I'm not sure which session though, lost track as it was about a year ago :P

After registration, they have ice-breaking & team-building session. Here they get into their teams. They are given a plain folder and have to use their creativity to decorate it using their limited resources.

AYEP 2015 group photo

Dining area... Itadakimasu!

Lunch is chicken, veggie and rice, with soya milk sponsored by well-wisher. After lunch is basic Japanese conversation class. Then it's sushi-making lesson. They ate the sushi they made for tea :)

Sushi-making lesson. Cherry standing at the back.

Evening exercise to freshen up before shower and dinner.

They had fun doing some senamrobik haha...

Dinner is McDonald's, the children loved the treat. Didn't have a good photo of Cherry so didn't post here.

After dinner it's presentation skills program, and the children are to group together and prepare for their group presentation tomorrow.

Cherry at the back, still in her red t-shirt.

JCI facilitators check out their presentation and help them improve.
Some photos like these we can see her back only, but we know it's her hehe...

Then it's time to say goodnight.

Cherry and her roommates

The next morning, they go for morning exercise. Before that they are supposed to tidy-up their rooms. They were sent back as some rooms were not tidy enough and it's a practise for them. If they are staying with host family, of course they are expected to keep tidy.

Morning exercise at the beach

After breakfast, they are given some time to go through the basic Japanese materials.

Cherry in pink pants - studying

Then they present their presentation to the JCI facilitators. After lunch, it is making sweets and Japanese green tea. This is the program Cherry enjoyed the most. They get to eat the sweets and enjoy Japanese green tea. Didn't get her photo here too. 

Group photo after presentation

Finally, graduation and closing ceremony with parents. 

Final group photo at closing ceremony

Overall it is an enjoyable camp that she get to learn to be independent and take care of herself :) Thank you JCI Elite and facilitators for taking the time to coach the children in this program. The facilitators are all volunteers. 

My Birthday Makan 2015

Er... not telling my age hehe....

The children get a makan session to celebrate my birthday at Hotel Jen. One of their favourite buffet place in George Town.

Baby Orange! Children loved the desserts especially ice-cream counter :)

Erm.... Baby Orange: You big kids why bring me here... I want mum mum there ..... 

JXC Book 2 Class Party for 哥哥

哥哥's class had their class party for JXC Book 2. It's mini class performance for their class, to motivate these kids to continue work hard at their music playing.

Didi with his present

Queue for his turn.
Some of the children are siblings who attended the class party, that's why there are different age groups.

He plays Merry-Go-Round as his solo piece and sings Summit on the Rainbow with his classmates.

His performance at the class party.

Chinese New Year 2015

The first CNY for Baby Orange!

CNY At Home

Papa cooked the CNY eve dinner this year at home. That's because usually we have to be on time for dinner outside during CNY time, and that is lacking. So it is better he cook for everyone even though he just amateur cook. Some dishes he "cheated" like rendang and kangkung belacan he used packet mix :) The stir-fry roasted pork he bought the porkie from stall. And the salad prawn batter is just store-bought type. The only help I gave is making the salad for salad prawn, using Kewpie mayonnaise haha.....

We did a Sakae Sushi lou sang takeaway at home :)
Didi got scalded by hot kettle during CNY visit to Ah Kong house, see the scald mark on his arm?

Our CNY eve reunion dinner cooked by Papa.
I didn't post adults photos as Papa took it badly :P
Missing Cousin Ally this year as she was in UK.

Children in their new pajamas for CNY eve - all cartoons again

CNY At School (年初六回校庆新年)

The children had a week's holiday from school. On the 6th day of CNY, they go back to school for CNY celebration at school. This is the school's tradition every year to have children come back to school in new clothes or traditional costumes. They got angpao from their class teachers too.

Cherry in cheongsam and Didi in his traditional costume.
He match it with jeans as this was his costume for 6 years old kindy concert.

Didi shake hands with Ms Chan and getting his angpao.
Second year he gets angpao at school. 

Cherry in her cheongsam getting angpao from Ms Tenh.
Fifth year she gets angpao at school.

Going home after CNY celebration at school

CNY shopping and makan 

What is CNY without more shopping and makan right? Went for many shopping trips and makan on the side. Remember that CNY is extremely crowded at Penang, so we try not to go those tourist spots. Traffic is bad at all main roads too as our roads are really much narrower compared to KL.

Irrawaddy Fine Foods brunch, Cherry had Egg Omelette Sandwich and hot chocolate. Didi had Chicken Schnitzel.
I had Full English Breakfast,  and Papa ordered Pasta Carbonara set. Baby Orange shared with us. 

Gurney Paragon red lanterns. Love the blue sky!

Lunch at Angus House. Only I had steak :P

Outside Angus House, Gurney Paragon

12 Animal Zodiac CNY decoration at Queensbay Mall.
They took photos with all our Chinese animal zodiacs.

Queensbay Mall CNY 2015 decorations

More Queensbay Mall CNY decorations. Really elaborate.,,,

Children at Daorae Korean Restaurant.
No mood for Chinese food during CNY due to overcrowding.

Baby Orange dancing and trying watermelon

Baby Orange: More, more mum mum!

And that sums up Chinese New Year 2015! Same every year hahaha......

Holiday makan-makan and jalan-jalan (only Penang)

We didn't go anywhere for the holidays because Baby Orange doesn't like being in a car. So no holidays for us except around Penang. 2015 school year was deferred by one week due to flood crisis in many states of Malaysia. Their school did a donation drive for flood victims once school reopened, and the children contributed some of their pocket money. We do try to educate them on empathy for those impacted by natural disaster and how hard life would be.

On a happier note, a recollection of what Baby Orange and the children did during school holidays, makan-makan and jalan-jalan around Penang only :P

Kids having a closer look at Christmas 2014 decorations at 1st Avenue

I wanted to show the mango sticky rice from a stall at Tesco food court, it is quite good!
Excuse the messy plate of rice from the boy  :P

This was at Wang Chao Jun Restaurant 王昭君小食館 before Baby Orange joins our family

A dessert shop at All Seasons Place, it had since closed :( 

We enjoyed a buffet lunch at E&O's Sarkies before Baby Orange's arrival. Too bad the buffet was not as enjoyable now for the children, as they didn't like to be waited on to get their desserts. The food variety didn't suit them too.

At E&O Hotel for buffet lunch

During my confinement month with Baby Orange, the children had lunch at Habanero QBM. Didn't know what they had but seems like they kind of liked it.

Habanero Queensbay Mall

Then Cousin Ally and her friend visited us and Baby Orange in his first month :)

View of Balik Pulau from Bukit Genting Restaurant

Cousin Ally, her friend and Didi

Food at Bukit Genting Restaurant.
And only Cherry bears with the hot sun for photo. of the restaurant

They visited Kek Lok Si and Air Itam Dam.

Feeding tortoises at Kek Lok Si

Ride up to Kuan Yin viewing pavilion

Photo with Kuan Yin statue

Around the grounds at Kek Lok Si

Air Itam Dam. I haven't been here either :P

Then they went mural-hunting around George Town.

Interesting looking mural

This seems to be around Armenian Street

These mural at Jalan Magazine, seemed to be not so vibrant coloured nowadays

Had more meals out once Baby Orange is around 6 months and able to sit with us.
This was at Gelatomio Gurney Plaza and Kim Gary's. Other photos posted in Baby Orange updates.

Then it's holiday month upon us, time flies :)

Christmas 2014 decorations at Queensbay Mall

Christmas 2014 decorations at 1st Avenue.
We were at the area for buffet lunch for Cherry's birthday.

大姑, Uncle Michael and cousins visited us during holidays and to see Baby Orange for the first time. 

Girl with Balloon by Ernest at Straits Quay

Outside Uncle Albert's

Christmas 2014 decorations at Straits Quay

Then it's us out and about for back-to-school supplies, thus more shopping.

Baby Orange and us enjoying Christmas atmosphere at 1st Avenue

Inside the Christmas tree

Papa and Baby Orange wefie

Baby Orange trying ramen at Sakae Sushi

Kids' meal and Baby Orange tried some veggie from noodle soup dish at 600CC

We had early birthday celebration for Didi before school reopens. Too bad Baby Orange didn't like it there as he preferred air-conditioning haha.

Early birthday celebration for Didi before school starts. We were at Tamarind Brasserie, Parkroyal Hotel Penang.

Outside Tamarind Brasserie

Beach

First time at the beach for Baby Orange

The children around the hotel grounds

More makan and shopping ....... since it's holidays. And I think we were hunting for dress and shoes for the children's upcoming music concert.

Chilli's Gurney Plaza

Breakfast at Pacific Coffee, Gurney Paragon

Penang-on-6 at Gurney Paragon

Children's favourite cartoon characters at Gurney Paragon play area

St Jo at Gurney Paragon

Panda display at Queensbay Mall