Our Apartment Reno 2011

Since property price was going up so much, we decided to put our house hunting on hold first hopefully the right one would come one day. The location for house was limited due to mainly family reason. If we were to re-locate to a new place, a lot of major changes need to be done. JL was already 7 years old and he needed space for himself. Eventually, we also needed to give each JL and AL a room as they grew older. 

Then PaPa and I came out with a plan to do some minor renovation on the current apartment 845 sq ft. We decided to divide the kids’ room into JL’s room and store room. The current Store cum Office room would be AL’s room. PaPa and I would work from our dining table. Our apartment was on continuous renovation since 2003 and ended in 2007. We thought 2007 would be the last one, but it didn’t. 

• History of our mini apartment renovation-Part 1
• History of our mini apartment renovation – Part 2
• History of our mini apartment renovation – Part 3
• History of the Kids’ Room- Part 1
• History of the Kids’ Room- Part 2
• History of the Kids’ Room- Part 3

PaPa did the measurement and draw up the plan using AutoCAD. Here is our proposed plan below drawn by me using Excel (please take note that it is not the accurate measurement. PaPa had the accurate measurement). There were a few items we have yet to decide how to arrange until the gypsum board wall being set-up.

Coincident, PaPa’s SIL’s friend was doing renovation in his apartment same block as ours. We decided to use the same contractor since it was considered a minor renovation. Well, the renovation would be starting tomorrow and according to the contractor, it would take 2 days. There goes our long weekend with all the dust until the contractor complete the renovation next Tuesday. 

However, our renovation movement of things started early this week. PaPa had to empty out the Store cum Office room. Such a small store area had things enough to cover the whole apartment dining area, master bedroom and part of the kitchen. Imagine, walking in the apartment via a small, dusty and squeeze paths in a maze. Few days of mess was enough to give PaPa rashes on his body (PaPa is allergy to dust) and for me, more blackheads on nose and pimples on the foreheads.

More updates and more photos on the next posts…

Good Friday....& Happy Easter

Wishing everyone Good Friday today and Happy Easter this Sunday (24Apr2011)

We were the Reason

As little children, we would dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find
But we never realised a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

CHORUS:
We were the reason that He gave his life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

CHORUS

We were the reason that He gave his life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

I've finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do, every word that I say
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him

******************

Amazing Love

I’m forgiven ‘cause You forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your sprit is within me,
Cause You died and rose again.
(Repeat x2)

(Chorus)
Amazing love,
How can it be?
That You, my King would die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honour You,
In all I do, I honour You.

I’m forgiven ‘cause You forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your sprit is within me,
Cause You died and rose again.

******************

Above All

Verse 1
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began

Verse 2
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders
The world has ever known
Above all wealth
And treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure
What You're worth

CHORUS
Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Verse 1
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began

Verse 2
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders
The world has ever known
Above all wealth
And treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure
What You're worth

CHORUS
Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

CHORUS
Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all


keep on blessing me
over and over and
over and over and
over and over again
over and over and over
and over and over and
over again above all
again
above all

 

 ******************

PohPoh’s Experience in Education…

We learnt through experience from our 1st child. JL changed 2 kindy from the time he was 3 till 6. It was a great learning experience for us. When it was AL’s time, we were more experienced but still learning.

However, from JL’s experience, we realized that a good system can be a good system if it was executable correctly but could be a lousy system if it was not properly execute. No matter how good is a system, if the teachers have no passion and love for kids, it will not be effective.

I was fortunate to have a mother who is very experience in kindy since 1987. My mother was a principal when we were young. Later she became a consultant back in north giving people consultancy and training. She sacrificed her passion and moved to Klang Valley just to be with JL. JL left his nanny who had taken care of him since he was 2 months old with loving tender to be taken care by his grandparents.

PohPoh only had SPM and was working as a nurse in a clinic. After married, she became full time housewife. A pastor’s wife offered her a job in a kindy where she went for courses during school holiday and eventually completed the whole course under Persatuan Tadika Malaysia. Besides that, she also took several different courses including SmartReaders etc... From a person who had no experience in kindy but with a passion and love for kids had driven her to develop herself. Even till now, her desire to upgrade herself has not stopped… thus making her a better person. She is very patient even to manage the toughest kids. She managed from the most difficult kids to special kids (e.g. autism).

JL had his Montessori skills being taught by his PohPoh when he was 3 at home while he attended a kindy using FG system. Montessori skill was a long term skill developing the kid’s motor skill. I didn’t appreciate much but now I could see the outcome from JL. From a simple holding pencil skill has indeed helped him in his school for example the ability to copy from the blackboard fast and neatly.

PohPoh was also the person who helped to prepare JL for Standard 1 in Chinese school. She, same as me, was not Chinese educated. We were glad that JL was able to adapt well in Chinese school without having problem understand instruction in Chinese. For a child coming from a family with parents knowing zero in mandarin, he was managing well.

AL was fortunate to be taken care since she was a baby. She was able to hold pencil very well just before she turned to 2 years old.

When we had AL, we moved JL from FG to a kindy nearby the apartment to avoid the morning rush. As time passed, PohPoh eventually became the kindy’s advisor.

This year, JL and AL were blessed because PohPoh helped to set-up the ‘Anching’ centre to guide JL and also a full Montessori for 3 years old (for AL). After discussion with PohPoh, we decided to let AL go through Montessori system for 2 years before we start to prepare her for Chinese School when she is 5 years old. Knowing that we will not be able to afford Private or International school, so we need to make sure AL is as prepared as her KorKor when she go to Standard 1.

For a person who loves kids so much that she makes sure the kids are well take care from balanced food to clean place to rest.

What I learnt from my mom is, regardless of the system used, the most important is the principal and teacher who run the place. It is s difficult to find passionate and loving teachers because education has become so commercialized and money making business.

How do you hunt and survey a kindy for your kid?

BeyBlade Competition -- 13 & 19 March 2011

After going two competitions where 1st competition JL lost at 1st round and at the 2nd one he lost at 2nd round, JL wanted to go for more competition. PaPa had been helping him to understand the different ways to fix up the blades and the strategy. PaPa also took some time to practice with JL so that he would properly launch the blade.

During the last school holidays, there were 3 competitions but we only registered for JL 2 competitions.

On 13 March 2011, he went for a competition in Parkson KLCC. He won the 1st round but lost the 2nd round. PaPa was with JL, taking video captures while I took AL to walk around Parkson in the stroller. AL and I were checking some girly things like her favorite pink things and also we walked pass the lingerie section. I was admiring those beautiful lingerie especially those sexy bridal lingerie. Opps…a bit of side track and back to BeyBlade.

After losing the 2nd round, PaPa studied the video capture with JL to explain what can be done to improve further. Their discussion was only between PaPa and JL. I never understand the BeyBlade language (and strategy) except there were the blade, handle, compass and launcher.

On 19March 2011 (on JL’s 7th Birthday), JL went to TheCurve for a BeyBlade Championship. It was the biggest competition for BeyBlade with a lot of experienced contestants. JL did well and was the top 4 of his group.

1st Round

2nd Round

3rd Round

4th Round (Top 4 of the Group)

He was the youngest among the top 4 in his group. However, he did not make it to the semi-final losing to a previous year champion. If JL would have met any of the other 2 boys, his chances to be the top 2 in the group and be in the semi-final would be higher.

Here was JL taking photo with the last year champion who beat JL during the top 4. PaPa and I were proud of his achievement. We told him win or lose, it was ok as long as he tried his best and yes he tried his best.

Backpacker & Camping

PaPa and I always prefer carrying backpack rather than shoulder carry bag. We bought backpack with a lot of compartments to carry the kids’ things when we go out. Having to carry a backpack would free up both our hands to manage the kids.

We also got small backpack for each of the kids to carry to church. Every Saturday during church going time, we would be carrying three backpacks in the car. The kids would each carry their own small backpack to church. After church service, I would transfer their water tumblers to the bigger bag and use the bigger backpack to go out for our after church activities such as dinner time etc…

Even to office, I would be carrying notebook backpack with no handbag. All my other personal belongings would all be in the notebook backpack.

At times PaPa would check out in the internet and magazines such as Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide 2011 to get update and maybe one day we may venture into a real backpackers family going for camping. JL had been asking about camping but I don’t think we are ready for that yet…

Long journey in car

It has been a long time since we last had our long car journey as a family. I would usually pack activities to entertain the kids. Besides that, I also must make sure there are some food and drinks. It was usually like having picnic in the car while PaPa would be eating or drinking and driving. In between we would have our short break for the toilet and also for PaPa to stretch his legs after long duration driving manual car. Maybe we should organize another one more car trip since both kids are much older because there would be a lot of things to learn while travelling in the car.

New LED TV

It has always been my dream but the new LED was bought by my sister, no me. She got a very good bargain which was almost 50% than the normal price. Why not since her tv is already giving problem. She didn’t need to hunt for any new tv brackets because the LED was able to be mounted on the panel from the previous tv. The next gathering, JL would be playing wii using the new LED.