Paving the way to getting handmade presents

Amelia's second birthday is coming up and I decided it was time to get him started on the journey of handmade presents. So I went out and got some beads and some elastic thread for Zach to make bracelets for Amelia. (Well, I kinda needed some craft activity for us to do together because his craft box has been empty for awhile. Poor thing.)



Anyway, he loved it! He wanted to make two bracelets and I gave him total control over the order of beads. I had to help him complete the bracelets, of course. I double looped the elastic thread and tied three knots and pulled the ends through at least two or three beads.



I think he did well, don't you think? I had to make sure that I hid the bracelets so that he wouldn't give the bracelets to her. He can't wait to surprise her! So sweet.

Never be afraid to change

Remember that library bag I was in the middle of making for Zach when he started Kindy? Well, I finally finished it on Sunday night. Only because he needed it on Monday morning!

It didn't turn out the way I wanted it to but it is much improved. I took away the intended handles which would have made it look more like a tote bag, replaced it with a single loop handle and inserted a zip. MY VERY FIRST ZIP! (Helena, you'll be proud of me.)

You can't see the entire dinosaur silhouette as it wraps around the bag. The image you see is of it hanging on Zach's hook by the front door, ready to go. It hangs in front of his McQueen bag and the news bag (He was asked to present news on Monday. A kinda show and tell.)

I kinda like how it turned out. A lot less girly and a lot more boyish I must say.

Extraordinary mondays - a rose is a rose is a rose

Now, this really deserves to be an Extraordinary Mondays post.

This is a picture of the very very first flower my dearest husband has ever ever bought me in our entire courtship and marriage. He surprised me with this rose on Sunday when Amelia walked into the house with it in her hand and gave it to me.

For those who know us personally, you would know that this is highly unusual. He showers me with electronic gadgets because I am that kinda gal. I have a list of electronic STUFF that is as long as my arm. You name it, I probably have it. Xbox, Wii, MD player (remember those?), iPhone (and countless phones before that), PSP, digital camera, wireless headphones, laptop and the list goes on. A FLOWER? A rose at that.

Now, I'm probably sounding ungrateful. Maybe I'm just a little confused. Before he gave me the flower on Sunday, I have wondered how it would feel if he did give me flowers. I had on occasions, when I was younger, asked (read "pestered") him about not ever receiving flowers from him. Now that I am in possession of a flower that he has given me, I almost feel deflated. I thought I would be elated, ecstatic but I wasn't. It was a lot less euphoric than I had imagined it would be. I was surprised.

Maybe I've just grown up, matured and become more practical. Don't get me wrong. The rose is lovely. I am touched. BUT I think the biggest thing Khoa has given me via this rose is a reminder. I may like the idea of receiving flowers but that's what society dictates. What I truly love is the fact that he understands what I really like and gives me presents whenever he feels like it, which is very often I must say.

Thank you, for reminding me that I'm unique and that I should rise above mundanity and specialise in being ME!

Happy lunar new year!!

We are in the midst of last minute frantic cleaning of the house in preparation for lunar new year tomorrow.

Zach's probably going to really enjoy tomorrow morning when he gets his "hong pao" (Mandarin) or "li xi" (Vietnamese). I bet his eyes are going to light up when he opens them to see the money inside. The next thing he is going to say is that he wants to buy toys!!

We are off to have reunion dinner tonight. Yum yum! I do wish I was back home in Malaysia so that I can join in the festivities of tonight with all my relatives on dad's side and then to meet up with my mom's side the following day. *sigh*

Did I tell you...

... that I bought myself a pair of pink steel cap boots? They are my oh-so-offbeat Canberra souvenirs!

I can't wait to wear them on a site visit but haven't had a chance yet. Don't they just look so good? There's pink on the undersole too. I'm going to be a trendsetter! Why would you want to wear boring men's steel caps when you could make a statement that women can equally thrive in the building industry and still be fashionable?

Architecture series in Lego

Image taken from Architecture.lego.com

Wow! I want the series! I played with Lego bricks since I could remember. I much preferred my Lego bricks than my dolls. I would build houses and buildings and would dream up fantastical worlds. I dare say that Lego was the reason why I trained in architecture!

Anyway, back to this architecture Lego. The designs in the series are designed by Adam Reed Tucker. Head over to Lego.com and check it out!

Extraordinary mondays - Soulemama

Have you heard of Soulemama? If you haven't you really should go ahead and hop over to her blog. She is amazing. Selfless mother, crafter, homeschool teacher and writer of books. Avid knitter and cook. Reading her blog inspires me but at the same time tires me out!

On some level, I wish I was able to do what she does but one another more practical and realistic level, I like the career path I am traveling on, love the fact that I do get a little bit of time aside to do little things with the kids and am always a little ecstatic when I have time to myself (to be completely selfish). Although I may never write a craft book and could never imagine what it is like to stay home with the kids everyday, I am blessed and want for nothing. What more could a girl ask for!

Mini me

Amelia has just been most adorable today!! She's been potting around the house being a mini me , complete with putting IKEA furniture together and wearing high heels (technically, the heels are my sis-in-law's). I hope when the time comes, she won't be shying away from helping with the housework!

Give away a mammogram

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

CLICK AWAY!!!

Extraordinary mondays - Misty eyes

Today, my little baby Zach took his first steps to adulthood.

Okay, an exaggeration but today was his first day in Kindergarten and his first day where he is in a completely different place to anyone related to him. Today is the day that begins his story of his life away from home, where only he will know exactly what happens during his time away from us.

Were there tears at school? Absolutely none. Just pure excitement with a pinch of anxiety for familiar company at the start. He was so sweet, he asked if Amelia could stay with him. She would have loved to if she was allowed!

From what he told us, he had a great day. He says that school is NICE. He has already made a friend, Zac, on the simple basis that they share the same name and wants to invite him over to play with his dinosaurs.

He has also brought back his very first craft he made in school. A flag with his name and a picture he drew (which we are still trying to get him to tell us what it is of). One of many, I am sure. One of many which I will have to eventually make the decision to keep or to throw away.

Oh, I also got called a liar by Zach. When saying goodbye, I said that we will come pick him up later without thinking of going into the specifics that I had to go to work. When Khoa went to pick him up, he asked for me and said, "Mummy said that she was going to come pick me up". When they got home, he ran around the house looking for me and when he realised that I wasn't home, he said to Khoa, "Mummy is a liar" with tears in his eyes. Mental note to self, be specific with your soon-to-be four year old!

Zach is in bed now after his eventful day. Here I am feeling once again misty eyed thinking about the significance of this day. My first born in school. I was teary when Khoa and I said a prayer for Zach as he slept last night and as I watched him sleep peacefully. I guess I'm going to have lots more of these misty eyed days.

I'm going to miss my little baby boy.