Snowy mountain... here we come!!!

Updates from down south - tim's version :)

have been a house-bound daddy for the past 2months plus and it was really a adventure like no other. Things such as kids taking turn to get sick, runny nose, high fever, viral infection, cough... you name it.

The cycle of being sick really drain both of us down as we need to constantly check the kids at night, feed them well, sponge them for high fever... many sleepless nights and tired day since the start of winter. Some says it's normal for the kids as they go to the childcare once a week and tend to bring back some virus here and there, but this is a bit too much for both of us to bear and it's in a cyclical period, so I felt something doggy about it.

The previous tenant for our place seems to have some legal problem with the local authority as we keep getting letters addressing to the previous owner from the child protection authority, local legal authority. I didn't open the letter if you are wondering. So from there I assume that there might be some problem in the house while they were staying here. Then one evening, after discussing with Audrey about it and shared our tiredness of having the kids getting sick every alternate weeks, we decided to pray against the sickness in the house and cleanse the spiritual realm of  the house with God's presence and His blood and break the cycle of sickness.

After that prayer, we felt that the whole burden of worrying for the kids' health had been lifted and since that prayer (3 weeks ago), we are kept in good health. The temperature is not getting better as we are in the midst of the winter. We believe that it's God's mercy and He answered our prayer since that day and the kids are getting healthier ever since. No more high fever, no more viral infection... PRAISE GOD for that!!!!

Thank God also that the kids are enjoying themselves with new environment here. Shanna is going to kindergarden 4days a week and I get to spend more time with Ian on one-on-one basis and able to teach him with more focus.

I'm able to dish out more different dishes now and it's getting more and more simplified. it's like the transition from 3 course chinese meal to one wok solution with carb, vege and protein, all in one dish. Ian's tummy is getting rounder and his more like Michelin baby now then when we were in PG. Shanna's face is rounder now also but she's still as skinny as before on her arm and leg... maybe she's taller also....

:)

Melbourne Museum Visit

When the weather was at its hottest peak, we thought the Melbourne Museum might be a good place to chill out and have fun.

Besides the dinosaur skeletal displays which was exciting for all of us, there is also a very comprehensive animal display with stuffed animals of all kinds. This museum is very child-friendly, with indoor and outdoor play areas for the children. While most of the displays were also very child-interactive.

Both our children enjoyed themselves. Shanna was more enraptured with the interactive buttons than the actual displays, but nonetheless, it was a good experience.

Overall, the museum is worth a visit for families with children. While I'm still dreaming of paying a return visit to the Smithsonian Museums in the distant future :)

Delayed Post: Shanna's 4 Year Old Birthday

OK. So this is also another delayed post. We still have many, not being hardworking enough on this blog.

It just didn't seem too late to post this entry about Shanna's 4 years old birthday, since Ian's 1 year old birthday posting came 2 months after his actual birthday... We did celebrate their birthdays at the actual time,  that is what counts, right? :P

Our darling girl turned 4 years old on 5th March 2013, about 2 weeks after we arrived at Melbourne. Most of her birthday presents were still in the container sailing from Penang to Melbourne. I had, however, an idea to make her a tepee as a present, ever since I saw this one here. So, Daddy Tim got the supplies from Bunnings Warehouse and I got the cloth from a fabric store online, and this tepee was up when the birthday girl opened her eyes on the morning of her birthday.

We had a small and cozy birthday celebration with our friends at home. Talented Ida of Sugar Rattle made the cutest Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cupcake and cake set for Shanna. Of course, the little birthday girl was delighted with the cake.

Lovely cake by Aunty Ida

 

Being 4 years old is exciting. Shanna decided to become a 'big girl' after she turned 4. Overnight, she started going to Sunday school by herself and she stopped drinking milk from her bottle. She is now looking forward to be 5 years old! Slow down, little girl. D&M are enjoying the time spent with you as a 4 year old, though sometimes your 'Why?' questions drive us speechless.

Shanna's reading picked up a lot during the period she attended Vital Years pre-school in Penang. She can read Peter & Jane 3B quite easily, and going on to 4A, and while she has the potential to learn many more words, progress is not as fast nowadays since she stays home with a busy mummy who has to cook and clean and take care of 2 kids. She still loves to read story books, and books about how things work, how people live, etc. She still doesn't know how to appreciate dolls, rather, building toys, trains, balls, are what she prefers. She loves to talk and make jokes. She now speaks half Malaysian and half Aussie accent.

Since Shanna has been staying home with me, she has learnt to eat faster and all by herself with the aid of a timer. Her chores include helping us to set the table for meals and taking her own plate and utensils back to the kitchen counter once she is done.

Shanna takes care of Ian by reporting to us: Ian put the toy in his mouth! Ian spilled water over his pants. Ian wants to go out, Mummy! Ian, remember to turn off the toy when you are done playing.
They have their loving moments, unfortunately most of the time they fight instead.

Now Shanna's best friend is Esrene. When I pick Shanna up after Sunday School, she is usually right next to Esrene. Shanna wants to be a princess now, because Esrene likes princesses. Shanna loves drinking fresh milk, just like Esrene. She even wants to play doll, so she can be like Esrene. We are happy that Shanna and Esrene like each other. They are so cute together.

Best friends!

To our Shanna girl, Daddy and Mummy and Ian love you always! You are our best girl!

~ Audrey

Delayed Post: Ian's 1 YO Birthday Photos

Thanks to all who came to this gathering for Ian's birthday and our farewell, it was a memorable evening for us with family and friends. 

P/S there are too many photos to post here, so anyone who would like to get copies of photos just drop either Tim or me an email.

Life at Our New Home

Since we moved to Melbourne, I have taken off the hat of being an engineer with Intel and put on a new hat of homemaker. To be honest, I never saw myself as a stay home mom, but we feel this is the best thing to do for our family at this time.

And so I find myself cooking,

Feeding,

And cleaning up messes.

Playing, sometimes at the park,

At the backyard,

Memory games... with me losing to the small girl,

Spending time with these two cuties everyday,

While all three of us eagerly await Daddy's return from work :)

Thank God for friends here.

And for weekends :)