Eeanne in Buddhist Gem Kids Dhamma Class

Mommy has been waiting for almost a year to enroll Eeanne into BGF Kids Dhamma Class, and this year we have finally started in January as BGF only take in kids above 4yo.

So what is Dhamma Class? Of course it is not about all the Buddhist religion theories for a 4 y.o. kid. It is more on the good moral and value cultivation through a Buddhist dhamma(teaching). Here kids are guided to live in a buddhist way to learn their public responsibility in every aspect especially the filial piety values to parents, respectful to themselves, others, society and nature.

The class is started with simple puja leaded by the teachers, followed by a story telling that always ends with a take home moral and value to be learnt.

All kids like especially the art and craft session, kids will draw and make characters related to the story they just heard. As recently kids were taught to use dooh to make the farm animals after the organic farm visit.

In between, there will be a short rest time with light meal served such as biscuit, bread etc. Then there will be group singing session with all kids sitting in a circle passing the teddy bearJ

Mommy likes the most on the ending program which is the kids “meditation”!! Hahaha…it is real hard to keep kids quiet even for one minute, kids are always have much to talk and gestures to move around. But during this “meditation” session, all kids are required to lie down, close their eyes and pretending to sleep! At this stage of age, they will not be taught of what is meditation and how to do it, what it is required is just to let them practice how to be quiet just for themselves, not falling asleep and just doing nothing..:-) The lights will be switched off and it is kinda peaceful and sweet to look at all those little ones lying at their own styles…

The session begins with offering of fruits, flower and joss stick together with few songs like this:

"May my mind be bright as the light, light, light"

"May I study, work hard and have a happy life"

Moral story time....

Art and craft time....

Singing(using the rhyme of "Are You Sleeping")...."I love mommy, I love daddy, buddha too, buddha too....Mommy is my teacher, daddy is my teacher, buddha too, buddha too..."

Kids Meditation...

Visit To The KL Library

Actually this post is a long pending post which mommy had uploaded all these pic a month ago but busy+lazy to write some note on it..:-P

This was a visit to KL Libray....O..M...G...mommy just checked and this visit was actually in March2011!!....oh...pai sei....really a long postphoned blog...

Can't recall what mommy supposed to write about this KL Library visit, anyhow it was too long to recall what to jot down here...:-)

Since the first visit to KL Library, mommy found that the books there are really something different from what mommy usually bought for Eeanne in the bookstores, those stories sound fresh and something new to both mommy and Eeanne, it is nothing about "once upon a time..." story, but more lively facts or creative imagination type of tales.

With mommy and Eeanne's membership, each of us are allowed to borrow 3 books, thus on each visit mommy will renew 6 books for Eeanne. So every or alternate night, it will be definitely one KL Library book story telling besides Eeanne's other favorite story from Ladybird series.

This is in the story room up stair, on alternate Saturday, there will be a story telling session by teacher Anne in this room. We attended once and Eeanne loves the interactive way of Teacher Anne's story.

In front of KL Library building

Few of Eeanne's favorite collections....

Mommy likes this especially, a very creative way describing why babies are "lazy"....

Sometimes mommy feels glad that Eeanne is a book lover too.....Mommy has been keep buying books for Eeanne and ended up mommy myself being so tie up every night to ensure all those books are read to Eeanne. These are the 3 recent books that mommy buys from Scholastic via Montessouri school, 3 of the best that mommy purposely buy to let Eeanne reflects on herself:

1) Martha doesn't say sorry

2) Why should I help?

3) Why should I listen?

Haha....it is really effective to guide via role play using these book stories, and it really shows some positive impact on Eeanne. In fact, until now, Eeanne will on and off still take out the "Martha doesn't say sorry" to read by herself, and mommy found out that the word "sorry" has been easily slip out from Eeanne's lip recently which previously was so stubbornly resisted...

Eeanne's School Uniform

After 3 1/2 month long awaiting, Eeanne finally gets her school uniform on 24/3 (term 2).

During the early year, due to the uniform defects(according to the school), it was some delay on the new uniform delivery. Everyday mommy needs to crack the head on what to wear for Eeanne for morning class and daycare. And daddy also believes that with the uniform. it can solve the problem of Eeanne's crankiness every morning of reluctant on going to school.

Uniform, which represent the sense of belonging in the community group, perhaps will light up Eeanne in her school life, seeing everyone is wearing the same as she is, the joy of "we are in a group" may really build up children's confidence and interest in school.

A boyish look of Eeanne...2 sets of this uniform are provided with one sport wear T-shirt.

Looks like mama yeye and mommy are more excited than Eeanne to receive the uniform..:-)

The Feel of Letting Go...(TTDI Park Insight)

It was a plan some time ago to bring Eeanne to TTDI park, and finally we visited this mother nature few weeks ago, fall in love with it and paid a 2nd visit last weekend. In fact, daddy mommy would like to bring Eeanne to this park more often, if possible to make it a weekly family activity.

It has been almost 6-7 years since mommy's last visit to this park, the place is still as popular as it is with its constant flow of loyalty patrons from aged 1 to 80.

There are several wide and lengthy jogging paths and we especially like the one near to the forest with shedding trees, full of fresh air and negative ions!!

Besides the jogging activities, there is a mini stream which is the main spot for all kids besides the nearby playground. There are many locals and expatriates set up their picnic mats by the stream (and mommy daddy are already planning for one weekend:-)). All the kids are so fascinated by the tiny guppy fish hiding under the rocks. We had missed out the joy of this fishing activity during our first visit, however during the last weekend visit, Eeanne brought her mini fishing pail and net while mommy helped to catch a few tiny guppies for Eeanne.

It could be rather a hard attempt for kids to catch those tiny fish in the stream. It was so heart touching that day we met an kind expatriate who brought some colored fish to be thrown to the stream to satisfy the eagerness of the kids. While throwing at one end, he asked Eeanne to stand at the other end with the net ready, and the fish was just willingly swam into Eeanne's net and that is really really satisfying, at least for Eeanne..:-)

We know that we can't bring those fish back which will die in few days due to environment changes, thus mommy told Eeanne to let go the fish back into the stream. We hold the pail with around 10 fishes and counted 1...2...3....and slowly poured all the fish into the water. At that very moment of seeing those fishes swimming out from the pail, there was an indescribable feeling of joy emerged, the bliss of letting go was truly felt by both daddy and mommy, a kind of feeling which has been oppressed and long lost in our daily challenging life. For Eeanne, we know that she might not feel the same as mommy daddy felt, however, when asked whether she is happy to see those fish swim away, Eeanne answered: "YES!" At least Eeanne is happy to let go the fish :-)

For now, Eeanne is anticipating for our next visit to the park but this round she is asking mommy daddy to buy fish to let it go rather than concentrating on the idea of fishing in the stream...:-)

Lesson for Eeanne:

"On the journey in pursuing our life goals and dreams, we should do our best to commit and be responsible, every strive should be in full hearted and sincere. However we may need to practise to "let go" the result of whatever outcome it will bring."

The rocking bridge and mini stream of the beautiful park.

Where is my fish...?

Natural foot reflexology....Kids are always very healthy and can't feel the throbbing pain at all!!

Ching Ming in Ipoh

Ching Ming 清明 which carries the meaning of Clear and Bright, is the day for mourning the dead. In Chinese families, it is the day to pay respect to their ancestors by visiting their tombs, cleaning the graves, bringing their favourite food and fruit and burning the paper money and necessary needs to the ancestors. In now modern day, there is even paper ipad burnt to ancestors, our ancestors are always kept updated on current trend huh…J

For our family, it is not just a solemn occasion to pay respect to the ancestors, it is also a time for happy reunions with the family members!! Every year, all cousins are anticipating for all reunion opportunities with no exception for this year Ching Ming, and we really had a great time which always be….:-)

As usual, mommy and Eeanne were exempted from visiting the graves, so Eeanne can’t really understand and experience the morning “hill hiking” feel, Eeanne is so naïve to ask the first thing in the morning once she opened her eyes: “where is everyone?”, so mommy explained the meaning of Ching Ming and Eeanne just nodded her head knowingly and murmured: “oh….”:-P

So…where are our ancestor’s graves? It is in I…POH…….the place with all the nice food, hehehe…

We went back on Saturday and reach around noon time, far away from our initial too ambitious schedule to leave home at 7a.m….biasa lah, that is our no.1 weakness in time concept!

This year, Weng Tarng suk suk brought us to this No. 1 best ever Seafood Noodle in Chemor..mmmmm….the most memorable and irresistible seafood beehoon mommy has ever tried! Even Eeanne also took the share of mommy’s prawn and daddy’s crab..:-(. The incredible part is the price is so….unbelievable…RM4/bowl!!! Where to find in KL!! It is really “fantabulous”!! Mommy and daddy have agreed to visit this place again on our next trip to Ipoh..hehe.

Eat…Eat…Eat…is our main program whenever we were in Ipoh. That night we went to “Mun Cheong” restaurant for sumptuous dinner by Yi Suk Bo. Really indescribable on all the special unique dishes served, everyone was enjoying it with the mood like a post CNY dinner with the laugh and toast. Even Eeanne was giving her best warmth by inviting everyone for a toast….my dear….

It was such a short and fruitful trip, we all are looking forward to our next coming reunion in May.

For Eeanne, besides the holiday joy of not going to school, it is a good ritual for her to appreciate more on the value of family bonding and mingle around with relatives. After all, what can be more precious than being together with family members….

Restoran Hoong Wan in Chemor....

See this....with prawn, crab and lala, but only RM4/bowl!!

Stir Fried Prawn

蒙古猪手

龙船疏菜

Crispy Chicken

mama yeye

my ku che(s), ku cheong and tai lo

my ku che(s), ku cheong and suk suk(s)

Negotiation in progress

iphone again...:-/

sam suk kong & sam suk bo

yi suk kong & yi suk bo

my loving family...

Weng Tarng & Timmy suk suk

My yi suk..

Our family members...

2011 Chinese New Year

Here is the wrap up of what Eeanne has done in the whole February2011. Hehe..mommy was busy and tired to update this blog since the CNY.

Generally it was a quiet slow pace CNY in Ipoh except the first day night in Karaoke with all the cousins (of course without all the kids). This year obviously Eeanne had enjoyed more with her cousins in Ipoh compared to last few years as human baby.

The downside of this CNY is after the long break, Eeanne is so reluctant to go back to her reality life of school, until today still in her holiday mood, crying and said "I want holiday, I don't want to go to school"...:-?

Steamboat dinner on the 4th day CNY with kong kong and bobo(is mommy's chinese birthday)

our usual annual visit to the Tien Ho Temple

Back to KL, at the MPH The Curve on the coloring contest which we were already late, however the organizer was so kind to give Eeanne the drawing and let her continue to color..:-)

On 14th Feb, Valentine's Day and Mommy's birthday too. We spent a wonderful dinner at Pasta Zanmai Japanese Restaurant and the below capture is the courtesy of Pasta Zanmai....

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!!

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!

"San Thai Kin Hong"!!

These are the few phrases that Eeanne used to wish people this Chinese New Year. Eeanne is even addicted to the few particular new year song and kept hymning wherever she went, it is really fun to look at her hymn while doing work..:)

This year Eeanne is more active and aggressive, running around the whole house together with her cousins in Ipoh sam sam's house, totally ignore mommy and daddy and even mama, anyway it is pleased to see Eeanne so happy playing with all her cousins.

This year we did a lot of last minutes shopping, daddy and mommy are equally busy until the day before new year eve to buy the necessities. We went back Ipoh and did all shopping there and finally feel the new year mood..;-)

Chinese New Year break is really a good time for us to recuperate from work stress, all the worries and unfurnished plan. Due to aging, think mommy and daddy prefer to just stay at home rather than visiting relatives, like now today is 1st day of CNY, never felt such a relaxing break to just spend time at home do blogging, facebook, exploring Iphone apps, reading long pending story book etc. Not even pampered ourselves with those unhealthy drink and junk food..:-) It is heart-felt contentment even just looking at Eeanne so joyfully chasing around with cousins..:-)

Mommy, daddy and Eeanne wish all bloggers and readers a happier, wealthier and healthier Chinese New Year...."huat" ar!!