Pampering Our Men... and Vice-versa

Was reading this post at Mumsgather the other day, and I have to say:

These are the things I do to pamper Gadget-daddy:

Greet him at the door when he gets home, unless I am engaged with the kids, or did not hear him come in.

Get him his dinner, as in, dish out the rice and make sure what Mil cooked is OK for him (he is one Malaysian who does not take chilly and is 95% carnivorous). Otherwise, I will make him a couple of fried eggs or fried rice.

Get him water after meals and whenever he requests for one.

Make him tea, pour him juice, herbal tea, etc.

Make him a late dinner/ supper even after I'm already all ready for bed.

Cover him when he's asleep in case he gets cold in the middle of the night.

Be his pedicurist.

Give him a massage - back. legs, shoulders - where it's hurting, whenever needed. Usually after a strenuous badminton or basketball game.

Make sure there's a never ending supply of soap and shampoo and hair gel in the bathroom. (Isn't it like magic that these never run out? :D)

Make sure laundry is done in time for his travels.

Pack his bag for him when he/we have to travel.

Stay up to keep him company if he has to work late - Hahaha... that's when I go visiting you blog buddies.



Pampering Mommy, Gadget-daddy will:

Give a back rub frequently, especially these days.

Give me a good back scrub in the showers.

Do chores willingly upon request: laundry (excluding ironing), changing bed sheets, feeding the boys, bathing the boys, picking up after the boys.

Let me choose what to do on a Saturday.

Watch the boys so I can have lunch with a friend.

Attend to all my fuss, whines and cries regarding glitches on the computer.

Sit up in the middle of the night to lend me a shoulder to cry on and hear my complains.

Pour water for me after meals, should he finish first.

Make the effort to get us out on a date when the boys are taking their nap on a Saturday.

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

I'm sure there are more to list down, but, Oh... need to hit the hay. Actually promised Gadget-daddy I'd sleep early... Opps.
Sorry, Honey.

Anyone interested to put up your list? :)

How to Play

Micah: Mommy, I want a new train set.

Micah loves train and is always asking for a new train set. The thing is...

Mommy: But you already have so many trains. More than you can play at a time. And you always break the tracks. Some of your trains can still go, but they have no tracks, so they can't run. And some of them are broken because you crash them. So how to buy you new ones? It's just wasting money.

But at the back of my mind, a little voice asks: But isn't this how play is suppose to be? Toys aren't meant to last forever anyway.

How now brown cow?

Anyone? Guys, especially, is this how play is to be - I mean for the boys?

Photo taken: July 2006

Photo taken: July 2007

The "If" Tag

5"If"s that would have made your life somewhat different today.

Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. List 5 things that could make your life very different should it come true.
3. Tag 5 other people.

1. If Gadget-daddy and I had not courted so long we'd probably be having our 5th or 6th kid now.

I had always enjoyed being in a 5-kids family and love kids. Gadget-daddy loves them too, and if we had started out having kids earlier, I guess I'd be carrying maybe our 5th or 6th one now. Of course I can't imagine what a circus it'd be, but it'd also be heaps of fun.


2. If Gadget-daddy had gotten posted to Belgium right after he graduated, I suppose I'd be ice-skating, skiing and speaking French today.

He had a job offer, they really wanted him, but the work permit could not go through. It was quite exciting at that time for us to think of staying in Europe, but my Dad was also getting pretty sick at that time, so I must say God works everything out well for all of us somehow. The more important things anyway.


3. If I we were staying on our own, I'd probably be cooking more like Lia. :)

Lots of home made bread and milk in the fridge. Healthy meals baked in ovens and easy recipes to whip up. I'd do this one thing I learnt from my MiL: boil a good pot of soup which is used as base for cooking vege or making rice porridge or eating noodle soup. She even uses the soup to cook our rice in sometimes so that it's extra tasty and nutritious.


4. If I had insisted on changing school in my pre-U days, I would never had met Gadget-daddy.

I wanted to do English Literature and heard it was not offered in St. John's (where Gadget-daddy and I met). But due to government's red tape, I was informed that I could only make a school transfer after school strted, and that it would take up to 6 months to actually change school. Too much time wasted, I figured and stuck to where I was. And in the end, I did manage to do English Lit in St.John's, though it was more like a private tutorials with a couple of friends and some students from 2 other schools. Well, the rest is history.


5. If I had not stopped, I'd have ended under a bus.

Here's the story:
I was taking the public bus to school. I usually head out while it's still dark, abotu 30 mins before sunrise. One morning, as I had cossed a road, I made a jump for the curb, as I saw a bus speeding down the road. As I jumped up, my school bag's strap snapped and my bag fell onto the road. I was going make a jump for it when I felt something* made me stop short. Right at the edge of the curb when I stopped, I saw my school bag crushed under the bus. That could have been me. I was actually in a state of shock, and just picked up my bag - what it had become, and hugged it the rest of the way. Only when I got to school I broke into tears when I told a few friends what happened. Everything was wet from a crushed water bottle I had in my bag. Amazingly the calculator in the bag still worked, despite a crumpled durface.



So what are your 5 "if"s:
Ann
Mummy-yeoh
Jlow
Mumsgather
Hissychick
?


* Actually I would say I felt it was the voice of God that rang an alarm in me that said STOP, while my human instict was to jump and grab my bag.

Tagged by Infant

Tagged (by Infant)

Name: Kin

Sisters: 2
Brothers: 2
Shoe size: 8/9
Height : 5'4"

Where do you live: With my in-laws, or they with us. Either way to put it.

Favourite drinks: water, tea, milo.
Favourite breakfast: Nasi lemak/ chee-cheong-fun.

Have you ever been on a plane?: Y
Swam in the ocean : Y, just not in the middle of it.

Fallen asleep at school : Y
Broken someone’s heart: Not that I know of...

Fell off your chair : Y
Sat by the phone all night waiting for someone to call: Y

Saved e-mails: mostly

What is your room like : Kids stuff and our stuff all over

What’s right beside you: Bed

What is the last thing you ate: Nasi lemak for lunch. Mil bought from market this morning.
Ever had chicken pox: Y
Sore throat: Y

Stitches: Y
Broken nose: N
Do you believe in love at first sight: N
Like picnics: Sure
Who was the last person you danced with: Micah and Max

Last made you smile: Micah

You last yelled at: Micah

Today did you:

Talk to someone you like: Y. Hubby called from Jakarta

Kissed anyone: Y (sloppy kisses from Max)

Get sick: N
Talk to an ex: No ex.
Miss someone: Y. Gadget-daddy

Eat: Breakfast and lunch.
Best feeling in the world: When the boys cuddle and say "I love you" at the end of the day.
Do you sleep with stuffed animals: Sometimes- Micah or Max might leave s toy in bed.
What’s under your bed: Dust.
Who do you really hate: No one.

What time is it now? 2:40pm

Random:
Is there a person who is on your mind now: Y. Hubby.
Do you want children: Hope to reach 4.
Do you smile often: Yes
Do you like your hand-writing: Yes. Had good training and influences from friends during school days.
Are your toe nails painted: N.

Whose bed other than yours would you rather sleep in: None.
What color shirt are you wearing now: Black.
What were you doing at 7:00 p.m. yesterday: Giving the boys their dinner.
I can’t wait till... : Hubby gets home tonite!
When did you cry last : Maybe yesterday...

Are you a friendly person: Y
Do you have any pets: Y. 2 dogs, some fishes and a terrapin.
Where is the person you have feelings for right now? Jakarta.
Did the last person you held hands with mean anything to you now? Y
Do you sleep with the TV on? Not usually, but have fallen asleep in front of the TV.

Have you ever crawled through a window?Think I did when a kid to help unlock a room from the inside.

Can you handle the truth? Y
Are you too forgiving?Maybe... guess it depends. Time does heal all wounds.
Are you closer to your mother or father?Last time father, now mother as dad's gone now.

Who was the last person you cried in front of? Gadget-daddy

How many people can you say you’ve really loved?: Besides hubby and immediate family, most of my friends.
Do you eat healthy? Not really by the way MiL cooks. Lots of good food, but not as healthy as before I got married.
Do you still have pictures of you & your ex? No ex to begin with.
Have you ever cried because of something someone said to you? Y
If you’re having a bad day, who are you most likely to go to? Gadget-daddy, Sisters.

Are you loud or quiet most of the time? Depends on the dynamics of a group, or if I am yelling at the kids or not. Hahaha...
Are you confident? Mostly appear to be so, but when I am nervous I'd say the most nonsensical things. It happened a couple of times in front of my last boss and director.


5 things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. Teaching in HELP Inst.

2. Working on my MA.

3. Wondering when it'll be best to get married.

4. Taking Dad to the hospital frequently.

5. Teaching in Sunday School.

5 things on my to-do list today: (make it tomorrow)
1. Go to Science Center to return library books.

2. Laundry.
3. Mop the floor.
4. Run errands.
5. Hope to catch a movie.

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. cream crackers dipped in milo.

2. peanut-butter and jam sandwich.

3. prawn crackers.

4. apple pie

5. cashew nuts.

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Take my family on a holiday to North America - USA and Canada - to visit friends and relatives there.

2. Take my some friends for a weekend stay in Redang/ Bintan Island, or Maldives.

3. Run a restaurant that gives free soup everyday to everyone and anyone.

4. Start an NGO that offers free literacy classes to street people.

5. Build a retreat chalet at Fraser's Hill for anyone who needs some space to retain their sanity.

5 of my bad habits:
1. Grind my teeth when I sleep.

2. Nibble at the table before I sit for my meal.

3. Cry or keep silent when I am very angry.

4. Pick my teeth with my pinky's nail.

5. When overexcited, tends to interject into people's conversation.

I wanna tag:-

Ann

Florence

Tracy

A Good-nite Note

Worked on a post, then thought it over exposing myself - not ready for that just yet...may or may not be published...

Caught up with buddies on my blogroll...had a good time. Was inspired to start on something...did start, just 2 lines, looked at the clock on the right corner of the screen...

Ok. I need to sleep. Tomorrow is Friday. Micah's favourite day of the week, because it's the "last day" of school. And me happy because Gadget-daddy comes home tomorrow.

Nite-nite for now...

Both my beautiful boys were asleep (at last!) at 11pm.

Hope no traffic jam tomorrow...

Zzzzz.....

Tagged: With Memories

Got tagged by Ann.


1. In which month and year did you meet your husband for the first time?
Maybe August, 1990. Can't remember the month, but remembered the incident very clearly: It was at a Christian Fellowship meeting in St. John's and I was taking attendance.

2. In which month and year did you two officially starting dating?
17 February, 1994. After I finished my last assignment for that term, end of my first year in UM.

3. Where was the first dating place the two of you went to?
Erm.... can't remember...we were always together, like he would come pick me, or spend some time at my place or me at his place, involving family members, but mostly with other friends. How to count as date?
Maybe my 21st Birthday, but that was an accidental date, and we weren't officially dating... He came to take me out for dinner. Was suppose to bring a friend along, as a surprise, but could not contact her.

4. What was the most touching thing he did for you when you two were still dating?
Set up ICQ for me and patiently taught me how to use it before going off to finish his studies in UK.

5. How about after your marriage?
His presence and support during my father's funeral.

6. Share your lowest period of your life with him.
When I was going through a very heart-breaking experience...he never stayed away from me but braved all the storms with me and sometimes from me.
And also during my miscarriage in March 2008.

7. Share your happiest moment with him?
When we found out I was pregnant, for all 4 times!!.

8. Share your saddest moment with him.
The day he broke my heart.

9. Share your angriest moment with him.
There was an issue we had to sort out and he fell asleep. I woke him up with a bash of a pillow.

10. Share your funniest moment with him.
That time we went ice-skating at The Mines and he was suppose to pull me along for a "ride". Suddenly he went behind me and pushed me instead. Eventually I lost control and we both crashed on the ice.

11. Share your most frustrated moment with him.
When I couldn't get him to confirm a date for something I feel major. That was a project at my last work place which he volunteered to help. It was very stressful.

12. Lastly, when was the last time you two hold hands and walk under the moonlight, like how you used to do?
Moonlight...is kinda hard to come by as we are not usually outdoors by the time the moon is out. But we hold hand as often as we can, even in bed.

What about you?
Infant


Update on 5 Sept 2008:
Corrected the dates on Q1 and Q2.

Thanks to MRex.

Confusing Our Kids: Take 1

Scene 1:

Mommy (in an exasperated tone): Come on! Hurry up!

Child runs from the bedroom towards the stairs.

Mommy: Slowly. Slowly. No Rush. Remember, slow on the stairs.


********

Scene 2:

Grandma: Aiyo! Don't play with the cats. They have lots of germs.

The next day,

Grandma: Micah, come take the cat out of the kitchen. Quick!


*******

Scene 3:

Grandpa: Wash your hands properly. Use soap.

10 seconds later,

Grandpa: Aiya! Why you play with the soap! (Puts the soap out of reach.)

------ End of Take 1 ---------

Of Dreams And Imaginations

This morning Micah woke up calling for Mommy. I was already downstairs.

Then I met him at the top of the stairs and we sat there as he told me what he dreamt of:

"I dream that Rocket was my friend. He hugged me and I hug him back. He also rescued me.
And then Big Jet came and they wanted to fight. I told them they must love each other and not fight. Then we all became good friends."

"Ok. Let's go. Gotta get ready for school."

Ah, world peace for my little boy's imagine-playland.


*******

Later in the evening, just as I put the receiver down having spoken to my sister in Singapore,
Micah said, "Mommy, you must call me now."

"Ring, ring. Ring, ring."

"Hello?"

"Hello, Micah, where are you?"

"Hi, Mom. I'm on my way back from work."

"Oh? Are you driving?"

"No, I am on a train."

"OK. Do you need me to pick you up from the station?"

"No, the taxi man (Max) is here. I will take the taxi back."

"OK. See you soon. Bye."

"Bye."

"Hi, Mom, I'm home. Actually I took the plane back."

"Oh? where were you?"

"I was in Jakarta. See Daddy's here too!" (Points to the room's door.)

Ok. did you have a good plane ride?"

"Yes."

"Did you eat anything on the plane?"
(Max now climbing onto my lap, seeing us having so much fun.)

Micah, "Yes, I had a burger with fries, and something to drink."

Mom, "Wow."

Max, "I had some fish and potatoes and fish-ball, and chips and ribena."

Mom, "Ooo... tasty."

Micah, " I had black noodle with fish-ball and vege and garlic and onions."


Mom, "Wow, you did?"

Max, "I had black noodle with fish-ball and vege, no onion and no garlic."

Mom, "Ok..."

They then ran out to say good bye to their granduncle who was going home after fixing a few more pipes for us.



It's so fun to have imagine-play and have good "conversations".
:)