photography workshop

the 2nd photography workshop was held on 6-7 of this month
& a group of 30 very eager participants headed to the
scenic kudat golf & marina resort for the weekend.
the 1st workshop took place at the
monsopiad cultural village sabah which i missed!

before arriving at our destination, we were already
given our 1st assignment which was to take 3 shots
that'd reflect kampung gombizau, a bee farm in matunggung.
the shots submitted by all 30 participants were used
for discussion the next day.
i, for one made my 1st mistake in taking a cliché shot,
a typical shot that everyone would attempt to take
in showing that they've been to a particular place
by taking the picture of the sign!
i failed my 1st mission terribly but with lots more hope & heart
to better myself :o)

the above picture was cropped to show a closer view of the bees.
again, it wasn't done correctly.
i should've focused on an interesting looking bee
(one with a sense of humour i.e.) instead of the swarm.
ok, noted!
nah, i didn't submit a 3rd shot for this assignment
as the rest of it were super irrelevant.
after the bees, i happily clicked on other stuff. haha!

our 2nd assignment focused on the resort upon our arrival there.
this came out not too bad before it rained non-stop
for the period of our stay there.
yes, never make weather an excuse - that was what we were taught!
i so LOVE clouds & a clear horizon!

this is one of my favourite shots.

i couldn't resist taking another cliché shot. sorry!

on the 2nd day of our workshop,
we left the sheltered resort for a rather wet assignment outdoors.
i'd say we're a good bunch cos despite the gloomy weather, our spirits ran high.
you should've seen the flashes go off all over kudat's dry market,
giving light to the darkness on an overcast day.
it was definitely a bright burst of energy coming from everyone.
we were also taught to communicate with our subject/s
& not simply shoot at anyone without their permission,
therefore avoid becoming rude & annoying photographers.
i met liana, a bubbly 6 year old adorned with a cute tiara.
she's a princess alright :o)

this wasn't an easy shot to take as many waited for their desiccated coconut.
this poor guy kept going as his customers in line were endless.

shelves full of seashells from the seashore.

adi, a friendly fish monger indeed.
i asked him permission to photograph his fishes
& he started to pose for me instead. haha!
we need more characters like him!

i love the red in the fish...

as well as the greenish blue in this one.
it's so goth this fish!

ulai, my roommate & the newest appointed nikon coolpix model!
what did she do on this trip?
the pictures below are testimony to what she has learnt/gained(?)
in the photography workshop. hmmm...

she has turned into a paparazzi that's for sure!

need i say more?

most of her pictures are taken this way -
she's the photographer as well as the subject. go figure!

again, need i say more?

aha! she finally got this group picture right!
at least her head was nowhere near to be seen in this shot!
you're so funnylah ulai!
next time i'll tie you to me at the next workshop
so that you'll not escape from sitting right at the back.
i bet you're thinking, "what next workshop?"

p.s. dear anne in red, why weren't you facing the camera?

i personally enjoyed myself & look forward to the next.
thanks anne & flo for organizing the workshop & showing us all a wonderful time!
ulai was just tagging along kan?

end of school term

a couple of hours more to go before an's kindy grad day & i've got mixed emotions! i'm happy that he has completed his kindy without so much of a hitch & at the same time i can't believe/don't want to believe that he's starting primary school next year. i know that 6 years will indeed fly by & then it'll be high school too soon! is it selfish of me to want him to stay this way a lil longer, just for now? haha!

speaking of growing up, i think kids these days do it too fast. not that they want to but times are definitely changing & they're expected to know a whole lot more than we were at their age in our time. a good example would be the education system. i remembered my kindy days being carefree & full of play. the more serious stuff only came in primary school which is quite the reverse for an. his homework can be baffling sometimes & i'm in the process of relearning a whole lot of new things from their text books just to keep up with his school work. so when he does his homework, i do mine as well :o)

on a happier note, we can't wait for the school hols to begin. yay! mommy also needs a break from text books & homework! i hope i can finally sit down & organise the folders of pics taken over a period of 8 months. it has been pretty busy lately with school concerts, functions & year end activities. both boys were involved in their school concert. han & his very cute friends did a number called the penguin dance, oh so adorable! an was on the drums for his class choir & played 2 songs. i was nervous for him when the curtains opened. it was as if i was the one having stage fright! he got through the 2 songs with gusto & i silently uttered my thank you prayer. hubs & i were applauding like crazy, signalling to him on stage with our 2 thumbs up. hehe!

i'm feeling poetry in my veins right now, so i'm going to leave you with a poem by w. h. davies entitled leisure which we were made to memorise in high school. i remember it to this day cos truly what's life if it's all consumed by worries. this poem is my reminder. enjoy...

WHAT is this life if, full of care,
we have no time to stand & stare?—

no time to stand beneath the boughs,
and stare as long as sheep & cows:

no time to see, when woods we pass,
where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

no time to see, in broad daylight,
streams full of stars, like skies at night:

no time to turn at Beauty's glance,
& watch her feet, how they can dance:

no time to wait till her mouth can
enrich that smile her eyes began?

a poor life this if, full of care,
we have no time to stand and stare.

back on the blog

it sure feels g-r-e-a-t to be BACK here! i do miss the feel of a keyboard under my fingers, weird as it may sound. i'd love to write more once i get my notebook sorted out. YAY & thanks for dropping by!

in memory of our angel

we love you baby
even before you were born.
we saw you in ultrasounds
& felt your lil' moves.

we love you baby
but SOMEONE loves you more.
HE was the one that made you
& HE has brought you home.

we love you baby
we always will.
though you're no longer with us
you remain in our hearts forevermore.

last day @ work

it was honestly the last place i thought we'd hang out for lunch! thanks so much for this experience & boy did we sing our lungs out, except jurra who's still recovering from a bad throat (you poor thing!). i was actually having my 1st bout of morning sickness today. i kept telling myself that it's mind over matter & that i shouldn't think too much about it even though my stomach was feeling gassier than usual. anyway, our trip to kbox has proven successful! i eventually got over the morning sickness & was having the greatest, funnest lunch hour of my life! thank you ulai, alice, joyce, jurra & neneth for showing me a fabulous time! you girls ROCK big time! yeah yeah! also, i'd like to thank jo & lorna for your very thoughtful gifts! love it! we'll stay in touch that's for sure! i'm praying & hoping to get my new notebook soonest (*hinting hubs dearest).

again, thank you all for your friendship during my time here! GOD bless :o)

quality time

han was extra whiny around me last night. i was trying to fold the laundry which was piled sky-high in the basket & at the same time doing my best to entertain this lil boy by putting on his favourite cds one after another. it didn't work, not one bit. he walked back & forth, went up & down the stairs, cried when i put a stop to his cd & turned on star world to watch american idol. he looked at me & demanded for fun song factory to be played again. i put down the t-shirt that i was folding & pushed the laundry basket aside. i told him to come to me & gave him a hug. his face lit up with a smile & his mood changed immediately. he went on to sit on my lap, making himself comfortable. his lil hands held onto mine with a soft grip, not letting go. sometimes he'd face me & give me one of his biggest, sweetest smile. he didn't mind that we were watching american idol. he was contented with the way things were. my lil boy only wanted to have me & my time. i should've known.

election campaign

election posters, banners, flags & billboards have sprung up overnight with the upcoming election. what caught an's attention this morning as hubs drove him to school was the democratic action party's symbol on the left. he gazed with more interest at the display of coloured flags situated at a busy junction. the mini flags, looking ever so festive were strung together to form a circle with the support of wooden posts.

an casually asked, 'is it rocket day?'

wet, wetter, wettest!

that's what happens when i let them have a soapy good time.
they go from wet to wetter in a split second,
then wettest when they start splashing each other
with lil buckets of water! tsk tsk tsk!
to scold or not to scold? that's the question! haha!
nah, i'd usually let them go overboard once in a blue moon.
who says getting wet isn't fun?
i'd my days with water & it sure was heaps fun!

one of the boys started calling this outdoor activity soapy time.
so whenever i give them the green light,
they'll run out to the backyard gleefully
shouting at the top of their voices
's...o...a...p...y
t...i...m...eeeeeeeeeeee!!!'

2 boys + water + soap + household brushes + lil buckets
+ splashing + getting wet = soapy time

an actually does a thorough job in washing
his broken excavator & tricycle that are kept outside.
they look really clean after he washes 'em.
he gets to help with the cars sometimes
which really excites him.
i'm definitely looking forward to the day
when he's old enough to be assigned
with this chore :o)

posing for soapy time!

stomach microscope

...is the latest technology
in place of the ultrasound scan!
believe it or
not!

an:
is baby a boy or a girl? (while placing his hand on my tummy)
me:
when baby has grown bigger in mommy's tummy, then doctor will be able to see if it's a boy or a girl.
an:
do they use the er...er...stomach...mi...mi...what's it again mommy? the one scientist use...
me:
you mean microscope?
an:
yes yes the stomach mi...tro...top...
me:
mi-cro-scope. the microscope is used in a lab to see very small things. the stomach microscope is called the ultrasound.
an:
ul-tra-sound
me:
yes, the doctor will use the ultrasound scan on mommy's tummy to see baby.
an:
(deep in thoughts)

on a another note,
what would you tell your child
if you were asked
where babies make their exit?

an:
mommy, where will baby come out from?
me:
(taken by surprised by his question, so i kept mum)
an:
i don't want the doctor to operate you & cut you. (not liking the sight of blood)
me:
(wanting to reassure him) the doctor will not cut mommy.
an:
so baby comes out from your leg. (pointing at his right leg)
me:
no, baby doesn't come out from there.
an:
your belly button? (pointing at my belly button)
me:
uhm, yes...(bleep! wrong answer! but that'll do for now. sigh!)

sahm

that's what i'll be starting 1st march, a sahm. hubs wants me to fully concentrate on the kids & i'm ok with that. i'd certainly miss work, the things i get to do (i'd be lying if i said otherwise) & my wonderful colleagues whom i've shared most of my lunch hours with at some time or another & are great friends. it'll be hectic days ahead (any mommies can attest to that i'm sure) but worthwhile. my new occupation includes being a full time driver, a housemaid & occasionally a cook (which i'm lousy at). it's hard work & there are mommies who do all that on top of a full time job (phew!). but i also believe that when GOD grants us the title of motherhood, He'll armour us with a bigger heart & the right tools so that we're mom the builder & handy mommy - 'can mommy fix it, yes she can!' or 'hola! handy mommy’s repair shop. you break it, she fixes it!' now that's a good reminder when i find meself at my wits' end. haha!

with a happy & joyful heart, i'm here to announce that i'm expecting baby no. 3! hubs must've prayed real hard for the past months for our angel. i still remember one of our conversations we'd during our courting days about how many kids we'll have. he said 5 (he comes from a family of 5) & i stubbornly said 1. he settled for 3 cos it's in between 1 & 5. i thought to meself then that 2 should be just right. by end of october, i'd have to deal with 3 - like they always say, 'the more the merrier!' i'm still at the earliest stage - coming to the 4th week. i've only felt the change in my body when i got tired more often & completely lost appetite for food. the 1st test came out negative & i waited another 3 days to do the next test with a very reliable wh accu test which came out positive. AMEN! i pray for a good pregnancy & definitely a smooth delivery. we're now getting the boys ready for their baby bro/sis, so before bedtime last night, they both hugged & kissed my belly & spoke to baby which was touchingly sweet!

p.s. a special thanks to a dear friend for getting me the pregnancy kit when i needed it the most. you know who you are :o)

ah ma's birthday

dad surprised mom with a beautiful bouquet of roses!
he'd a kinda shy look on his face when i asked him, 'is that for mom?'
she was truly touched by dad's gesture as she held them.
but when we were alone in the kitchen she asked me,
'did u make daddy buy the flowers for me?'
of course i said 'no!' & told her i was surprised myself. haha!
dad at 66 & mom, who just turned 63 make such a loving couple!

i teased dad by demanding to know how much he paid for it
which i know can be a bomb on valentine's day.
he smiled & wouldn't tell me. awww so cute!

pretty in pink

hubs did get up early to buy crabs
cos there was no supply from lahad datu.
he went all the way to tuaran for 'em.
we'd baked cheese crabs!

beautiful crab roe from the tuaran crabs

then we'd crabs from donggongon market
courtesy of my FIL, who btw is a great cook!
hubs learnt to cook from him & yes, i'm very blest.
the fierce looking donggongon crabs
soon turned into chili crabs by hubs' skillful hands.

juicy & yummy butter prawns, last dish prepared by hubs.
we were all spoilt rotten on valentine's day big thanks to him :o)

happy valentine's day in advance

mom will be celebrating her birthday tomorrow, yup, on valentine's day, & yes, she's one lucky mom cos it gives us all the more reason to celebrate the most talked about day, 14 february. i'm taking a day off work which i do every valentine's day, yay, so that i won't miss a moment of her birthday & also i make meself available for her to order me around. haha! nah, she's way too nice!

hubs, as chief chef, will be in charge of the kitchen in preparing the birthday-cum-valentine's day dinner for us. he has ordered fresh crabs & prawns from lahad datu but due to the cny hols, it's hard for the supplier to confirm any orders for now. i pray & hope that we can have them for tomorrow (fingers & toes crossed), if not, hubs would've to wake up real early in the morning to get them fresh, if any, from the market.

i'm in charge of the cake which is the simplest of all task & settled for a carrot cheese cake. mom loves healthy cakes but i must add that a carrot cheese cake can be sinfully rich as well. haha! when i told an about my cake choice, he exclaimed 'not again!' it's actually my 1st time ordering a carrot cheese cake, i suppose his 'not again!' meant that he's not at all keen on a veggie cake.

to all loved ones near & far...valentine's day is more than a day for celebrating romance. it's also a day for celebrating true friends of the heart like you. happy valentine's day with love!

balik kampung

we spent the 2nd day of cny at kampung tombovo with hubs' side of the family, meaning the whole kampung. the boys had an enjoyable time playing with their cousins, including a very cute & young uncle ethan. The annual tradition for the lee family is the lion dance performance which as always is the highlight of the day & the kids love it to bits.

bright orange lion

fearless performers braving the firecrackers to ward off evil

playful lions

hubs fed both boys while mommy was busy snapping away :o)

uncle ethan with his nephews

an & his young uncle having a jolly good time

i love these 2 pictures of an & cousin mayesha

she was trying to get his attention & finally got it.
she's such a sweetie!

cny greetings

copycats

kids just love to imitate adults/their parents & does exactly what we do. i'm sure you've experienced it with your own child/children or nieces/nephews. it's cute that the lil ones can mimic us so well that at times it's hard not to laugh. an example of that would be my 5-year-old giving his lil bro his own set of instructions of how things should be done, sounding more like an adult.

in the backyard doing a bit of fun washing...
big bro:
di di, go get the brush! (an calls his lil bro, di di, meaning younger bro in mandarin)
di di:
(dutifully goes to the sink which is still quite high for him, standing on tiptoe, struggles to grab one of the brushes used for multi-purpose cleaning from an old rectangular cutlery container)
big bro:
(using the brush on his tricycle) di di, go get water!
di di:
(again he dutifully goes to the sink to fill a round container with water, soon after splashing the tricycle with it)
big bro:
di di, not like that! get some more water!
di di:
(by now he does his own thing, totally ignoring his big bro's orders)
big bro:
(continues with his demand) di di, bring me the oil tanker, i want to wash it. it's dirty.
it's fun watching them play "wash up", copying what hubs & i'd normally do when washing the car.

but what happens when children emulate the actions of their parents to perfection? han loves helping me with the laundry as early as the days he was able to stand on his own two feet. he'd drag/pull the laundry basket out to the back, take the small plastic chair by the side of the front loading washing machine, then having seated comfortably on it he puts the clothes carefully through the big porthole & into the washing drum.

mom & i were busy talking one of the mornings while i was just standing outside the door near the washing machine. han, like a gentleman, helped me with the laundry by doing all of the above. he'd usually stop once he has finished putting all the clothes in & having closed the door of the washing machine. mom & i continued on with out chit chat oblivious to what han was doing next cos most of the time he'd entertain himself by riding the tricycle. when i turned to look at where he was minutes later, he was standing quietly on the small plastic chair with an opened but empty bottle of fabric softener in his right hand. the detergent dispenser was sticking out & that was the first thing i checked. not much was to be seen in there. i quickly call out to mom to confirm that the bottle of 2 litre fabric softener was indeed empty & she said, 'no, there's still three-quarter of it left.' han had taken a step further that morning by imitating the way i pour the fabric softener into the detergent dispenser. i explained to him that he wasn't to do that again & only mommy with big hands can do such things. anyway, the laundry for that day came out smelling stronger than usual!

han @ 15 months

1st project: belt

i must admit, i only did 10% of the work & mom did the rest. what can i say, she couldn't resist it once she saw my yarn & needles! she'd knit away when she sits down to relax. trust me, knitting can be very soothing & calming! i can now cast on stitches & do plain simple knits with confidence. it took me forever to get it right but i did it! yay! right now i need help with casting off, i.e. securing all the stitches once you're done. since neneth is on a long break, jurra has been our (ulai & myself) replacement teacher. terima kasih di atas bimbingan dan tunjuk ajarmu!

my first ball of yarn which cost me RM6.80.
bravo color yarn by schachenmayr
weight of yarn: 50g (150m)
fibre content: 100% acrylic

needle size: 4mm

i'm going to have to buy myself another ball of yarn for practice cos mom did most of the knitting for my belt which doesn't count as my work. i think i'd get mom her own needles as well! to my knitting buddies, ulai & oojiez, gambatte ne!

knitting bug

i've caught the knitting bug from neneth which i find very addictive. my interest began when she knitted a beautiful sweater for baby ethan & i'd been bugging her ever since to teach me. neneth is very kind & gave me my first lesson in knitting yesterday (thanks heaps!). it was initially mind-blowing even when she taught me the basic stitches which is knit & purl, the reverse of knit. my fingers felt so clumsy & awkward around the circular needles although i did manage a few imperfect rows until they began to relax & the rhythm of knitting soon got me into a hypnotic state. haha!

neneth gave me the link to a site called knitting help where you can learn to knit with free knitting videos which is great for someone like me. i've also found other knitting sites with gorgeous patterns & one of 'em is garnstudio with its fabulous drops design. another site i absolutely like is vogueknitting. it's colourful, funky and trendy all at the same time!

click on the individual images
to view their pattern.

i'm going to take baby steps & not get too excited over my new found hobby. my first project (fingers crossed) would be to make meself a nice knitted belt, preferably in red. wish me success!

knitting totes by berroco
where you can get more
free patterns from here.