adiós 2008, hola 2009!

on the road we were on the last day of 2008
heading to kampung beriawa, keningau,
to join hubs' uncle & family in their annual get-together
on welcoming the new year.
it was the 2nd trip for the boys to the interior
which proved to be as much fun
as an recalled roads & landmarks along the journey.
we took the tambunan road on a cloudy, moody last day
that came with rain in the late afternoon.

han relaxing in their beautiful wooden lodge.

what's a new year's eve celebration without drinking & merrymaking?
hubs having his fair share of the tajau...

...which can subsequently lead to poco-poco!
hubs was definitely feeling the groove that evening! way to go hubs!
i didn't wait but to snap him in action (chuckle).
you sure could sway those hips of yours like a pro. haha!

lil uncle ethan & his older nephew an were inseparable.
both are huge fans of ben10,
so it was them & the omnitrix fighting the villains all night long!

the most anticipated event besides the countdown
was the lighting of the firecrakers.
its loud, noisy sound, blinding bright light & smoke
accompanied the new year 2009!

beautiful display of fireworks from the hillside came next
& a treat it was for everyone!

red bits of paper from the firecrackers strewn all over the staircase,
welcoming a promising, prosperous & prayfully a peaceful new year.

taking time to unwind on the veranda after a late night
before hitting the road.
i love the stillness of life in the kampung.

heading home on the 1st day of 2009 via the keningau-kimanis road.
the view you'd get from this highway is superb,
nonetheless damaging to car radiators due to its steep slopes.

autobot, transform & roll out!
'daddy, daddy, chase the lorry!'

after a well rested afternoon from the day's travelling,
we made for the signal hill observatory platform
to view the 1st sunset of 2009.
a beautiful chapter it was to end our day!

primary one

& an is...
in like with it for now...hopefully (all fingers + toes crossed) for the definite schooling years to come!
able to wake up at 6am or so without a fuss...thank goodness!
not intimidated by the bigger & much crowded school...phew!
enjoying his ol' & new schoolmates which is a major relieve.
able to part with hubs or myself when we leave his classroom in the mornings.
having too much fun that he forgets to eat what i'd packed for him during his 20-minute recess.
telling me to fetch him 3 hours later after school & mommy said, 'no!'
in negotiation with mommy so that mommy fetches him slightly later.
wanting to spend more time playing & talking to his newfound friends after school.
adapting & growing up.

a week of new hectic schooling schedule has passed & mommy is...

thanking GOD for his smooth transition to primary school.
seeing how he's becoming quite independent & doing more on his own.
very proud of her big boy!

the only one thing that mommy isn't so pleased with is...
the icky, mucky, soiled, white-turned-black school shirt, socks, shoes
& his super soaked, sweaty self that he came home in for the last 5 days*!

* i'm just so glad that he's not in an all boys' school
cos i can picture him coming home beyond comprehension.
the clorox company is (i'm very sure) sending me a thank you note pretty soon
for diligently using & will be supporting their products for yonks!
better still, they can cast me in one of their commercials anytime
cos i truly, with all my heart, in the last 5 days, understand what dirty laundry is!
this is no joke!
(ta66y's current facial expression: dead serious)