Prayer

Our deepest condolences to the family members of everyone on board #QZ8501 (and also to #MH370 & #MH17). Al Fatihah for all Muslim passengers / crew of the unfortunate flights. We pray that Allah gives the utmost strength to the families of the victims.

To Allah we shall belong and to Him we shall return.

Our prayer also to those flood victims in Pantai Timur. Semoga Allah permudahkan segala urusan.

Innalillahi Waina Hirojiun.

*2014 – a tough year for all Malaysian.

BBW 2014 Second Trip

I love books. I wish I can have a small library at my place so I could arrange all my books there together with a reading space. I love to buy books at a cheaper price and that explains why I love to go to the Big Bad Wolf (BBW) Books Sale. Haha!

My first trip was during its opening day (5^th December, 2014) together with my husband and my lil darlings. They also love books as much as I do. I would rather spend my money on their books rather than on their toys. Hehe. During my 1^st trip we were quite in hurry as we wanted to go back to KT on the same day. When we were on the road trip going back to KT, I told hubby that I’d love to make another trip soon to BBW without the kids so that I will have enough time to buy books. He was so supportive with the idea and asked me to book flight tickets the day after. He even volunteered to have bonding session with our lil darlings so I could have my ‘me-time’ during my solo trip to KL. Fast forward, I haven’t bought the flight tickets when hubby asked me to do so since Sunday morning as I was not sure whether I could do it on my own; I mean - to go to KL alone without my husband and my daughters; leave the kids with husband as he is quite busy during the weekdays with work and classes; the journey to BBW alone, does it worth by leaving my family? and etc. So many questions and answers need to be considered. Haha. Yes, I am that paranoid.

So came Tuesday morning, no plan has been commenced despite hubby told me to do so and the bad news was: the flight ticket fares had increased! *cries* Hubby had to use his persuasive power over me and that morning, I did my online flight tickets booking with hubby on the phone to give details of his credit card as he was the one who wanted to treat his paranoid wife. Haha. After booking had been made, I contacted my primary school friend, Nadia and asked her to join me at the BBW as I wanted to order some cream puffs. She agreed. So yeay! A week before that, Masz (my best friend from secondary school) and I were whatsapp-ing each other and we were planning to see each other when the time permits (we had to cancel a few meet ups in KT, Kuantan, KL etc and considered them as ‘tak ada jodoh’ as our last meeting was during I was pregnant with Khayra i.e 5 years ago).

So when the day has arrived, on Friday, 12^th December, 2014 – I woke up with mixed feelings – excited as I will have my ‘me time’ soon and on the other hand, I was quite nervous. Oh, FYI it was only a day trip to KL but yeah, still caused me to have a nightmare before I proceeded with the bookings. Hewhewhew. I was more than excited before boarding the flight when Masz had confirmed that she will be meeting me at the airport during that day. *star jump*

I reached Subang airport at 9.40am, took a taxi to Mines (costs me RM46 – I just wanted to be there early) and I did gave all information about the taxi’s driver to my hubby; the driver’s name, IC and plate number. Bahaha, such a drama queen this paranoid wife! Hehehe.

The taxi dropped me off at the nearest entrance to the BBW hall and I reached there at 10.30am (about less than half an hour from Subang airport). Felt excited the moment I reached the main hall. Hahahahaha. Met Nadia at 12pm and we went out from Mines to have our lunch in Bangi. Total damage at BBW : RM187.00. Managed to grab a few activity books for the kids (price range between RM3 – RM10), 1000+ sticker set (reduced to RM5 only per box), Chicken Soup for the Soul (price range from RM3 – RM10), a plaque poster to hubby, Disney Junior Playtime Story Pack (Mickey and friend, Doc McStuffins, Jack and Never Land Pirates) & Dora and Friends Story pack (RM16 in which each consists of 8 mini story books), Dora numbers flash cards (RM6), Cinderella / Sleeping Beauty / Rapunzel and Snow White & the Seven Dwarf story books at RM2 each, Kisah Sahabat Nabi (RM2 each), Treasury of Wit & Wisdom (RM8), Barbie Book Stand (RM20), Magnetic Dressing Up Fairies and Princesses (RM8 each) etc. Good bargain yo! 

Book Chair *drool*

My (first) 12-hour solo trip

My #BBWstash

After performing our Zuhur prayer, Nadia dropped me off at Bandar Tasik Selatan (BTS) ERL (cost: RM26) (with her signature cream puffs – so fluffy and delicious : please order yours from her (iG : nadiadessert) and I went straight to KLIA2 to meet Masz at 4pm. Waited for Masz at Toys R Us and managed to do a quick shopping for my lil darlings. Hehe. Met Masz at 4.15pm and we headed to Papparich. It was nice to meet Masz after an overdue meet up plans. So many things to catch up with her. We talked and laughed our hearts out and didn’t bother with people surroundings us. She accompanied me until I board the plane. Hope can see you later again Masz! Thanks for your time that day :)

I managed to performed Maghrib and Isyak prayers before boarding the plane and came home safely to my dearest husband and daughters. The best 12 hours of my ‘me time’ that day.

Thank you, hubby for your permission, your treat and your time with our lil darlings! *kisses*

Two Lil Munchkins

Penyayang sangat Kakak Khayra ni. Sayang (campur geram, of course) Adik Hafiya!

Semoga ikatan kasih sayang Khayra dan Hafiya ini dibawa sehingga ke Syurga. Amin.

Loves;

Ibu dan Abah.

KL Trip and BBW2014

We just got back from KL trip.

Dato’ Boss bagi cuti hari Khamis sebab ada firm trip to Melaka and Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. We didn’t join the trip sebab hubs ada kes kat KL on Thursday, so ambil cuti on Wednesday, terus dapat straight Selasa – Jumaat di KL.

Everywhere is on S-A-L-E in KL (Christmas sale / Year End Sale). I wish money can grow on tree. Teehee. We managed to go to One Utama dan Sogo kejap for a quick shopping, had dinner at Group Base (reminiscing memory masa hubs was staying in Damansara and working at B*NM) and went to Coliseum Cafe at PJ for Mama’s birthday dinner. We went to Big Bad Wolf (BBW) book sale (#bbw2014) during its opening day and went crazehhh over there. Managed to meet Zmah and family at BBW as we planned to meet for a while kat BBW untuk shopping books together sebab tak sempat nak lepak as this time was a short trip to KL (too bad Linda could not join us sebab ada wedding kat Kedah). Orang cakap, jumpa melepas rindu. Ececece.

Started our journey back to KT at 4.30pm after Asar prayer, made a pit stop at Mesra Mall as Khayra wanted to watch either Big Hero 6 or Penguins of Madagascar as we didn’t manage to catch a movie in KL for this trip. We settled for Penguins of Madagascar sebab sampai lewat sikit from show time of Big Hero 6. Then teruskan perjalanan ke KT. Sampai KT I did the unpacking things, laundry etc and sleep at 3am. Fuhh. Nasib baik the next day still cuti. 

So these are our catch at BBW. Cheap books are rocks! Murah sangat, even yang Dora collection tu pun murah (just RM3) dari previous years (been collecting them for Khayra and Hafiya – previous years they sold them at RM5). Found the Ready-To-Read Dora books collection (Level 1 / 6 pieces per pack) last 2 years but this year they sell it on loose (RM6 per piece) so kena mencari juga to cukupkan all the titles. I personally think the Ready-To-Read Dora series book is good for her age and kids would enjoy reading them. I’ve never come across these series kat kedai buku, so it is a good investment sebab Hafiya pun suka Dora just like her big sister. Hehe. Buku Kisah para Nabi tu pun murah, RM2 per piece / title. Syoklah kami borong.

I hope BBW boleh buat kat KT juga macam kat the other states yang diorang jelajah. Please Wolf, come over to KT, pretty please! :)

Hafiya Reads - Things Around Us

I have a problem to upload this video on Instagram though. Hmmp, before I lost the clip, I think I want to share it right here for our memory J

Hafiya – reading a book J

(This video was taken on 19.09.2014 – a month before she turned 2 years old). 

The Scenes

We were having our dinner together with my PIL last night at a restaurant when suddenly we heard a sound of vehicle’s brake and I noticed a black object melantun di tengah jalan. The restaurant was located next to a straight road heading to a main road. Tiba-tiba orang ramai berkerumun to see what has happened and my husband joined the crowd. Suddenly nampak ada seorang bapa mendukung seorang anak kecil sambil menangis and said:

(in Terengganu’s dialect) “Bakpe orang buat ke anok ambe gini. Bakpe, bakpe bakpe…”

I could clearly see in front of my eyes these following scenarios:

A father tengah merintih menangis mengenang nasib diri anak kecilnya.

A little boy (he was unconscious) sedang didukung oleh bapanya yang menangis.

The face of the little boy yang tenang tapi tidak sedarkan diri dan terkulai sebegitu. 
The crowd trying to help and advising the father to take the little boy to the hospital right away.

The way of the father was carrying the unconscious boy, with his sad face, his lost of direction, his tears and his whimpers.

I couldn't sleep well last night because of this (even though I did not see the actual accident scene). The above scenes were playing repeatedly inside my head. My FIL was also in teary eyes. Khayra became upset and wanted to sleep with us last night.

Too sad and I just couldn't imagine how the father’s reaction after this, how about the little boy’s condition and how about the driver’s of the FWD take this?

Please Allah, protect all of us. 

Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin. 

Clingy Mom

I have never been sleeping alone at night without my babies ever since Khayra was born (that was 5 years ago). Back then, I will nurse them to sleep while they were babies and still BF. Being easy babies (syukur, Alhamdulillah), both of them will sleep throughout the night (STTN) when they were 40 days old and usually wake up only for feeding during Subuh or at 6.00 o’clock in the morning.  

My nature of work gives me flexible time and I could count with my fingers how many outstation cases / courses I need to attend in these 8 years of practicing (or in 5 years when I became a mom) and leaving my girl(s) behind. None of the cases / courses that I need to attend requires me to stay back or had to stay overnight leaving my girl(s) behind.

So when one of our biggest bank panels invited me for a 2D1N course on Islamic Banking at Kuantan during working days, I was happily told my husband that all of us can tag along and he can apply for a leave and stay with the girls at the hotel - while I attending the full day course and we can go out for dinner and shopping thereafter (yihaa!). Little did I know, that my husband had back to back trials during that week (sobs!). I became panic. It was impossible to bring along both girls when hubby will not be around as it was a full day course for 2 days and Kuantan is like 3 hours drive from KT (mayday! mayday!). After discussing all the possible ways and alternatives on this matter, we decided that I have to go alone and left my girls with my husband (huwaaa!). I cried literally even though that was the best option for us.

So on 28^th – 30^th May (I even remember the historical dates!); I drove to Kuantan with a heavy heart with my PA after sending my girls at their respective daycare centers (it was school holiday and that would be another hard reason for me to leave them at home. Tsk!). Khayra cried the night before I went to Kuantan and Adik Hafiya was still not understood why Ibu and her big sister were crying. Hahaha.

We had to go a day earlier to settle my case at Kuantan before going to the course on Islamic Banking. That was the FIRST TIME I sleep without my little girls being around me or in the same room or vicinity and so much drama before making that final decision. Hehehe. 

*Hashtag : clingymom
                workingmomdilemma

We were on Skype at night and early in the morning before I left for the course and the girls seemed all fine while her Ibu can’t sleep at all thinking and missing them terribly. Haha. My darling husband always sent pictures of them of what they were doing / eating / wearing. Bahahaha. I could always trust my husband on this matter, I know. Thank you husband for taking a good care of them (love you long time!).

*Insert hashtag : firsttimeleavingmygirlsaway
                         firsttimenotsleepingwithmygirlsaroundme

So after an average of 30 hours (it was not even a complete 3 days away from my little girls! LOL!) being away from them, I safely came back home to this :

Melts my heart.

*Insert hashtag : janganpisahkankami

Karangan Panjang (Pheww)

Assalamualaikum.

Fuhh, setahun tak update. Fuh fuh fuh (tiup habuk). Suami ada encourage suruh update tapi apakan daya, masa tak mengizinkan (d’uhh).

Where to start eih? I am still a full time working mother (tsk!) and still a mom of two girls. I will write randomly jelah today ye ikut sub topic (ecewah). Rindu sebenarnya bila baca entry lama. Kesian Hafiya, not so much update on her (we love you nevertheless, Adik!).

KHAYRA

Dah berusia 5 tahun pada bulan 7 yang lalu. Kami buat small birthday celebration kat Secret Recipe memandangkan birthday Khayra jatuh pada bulan Ramadhan. Next, masa pergi KL during Nuzul Quran, kita buat small celebration dengan anak-anak my besties; anak Linda (Wijdan) dan anak Zmah (Hana) kat Umai Café Putrajaya. Ordered Frozen cake from my primary school best friend, Nadia yang tinggal di Putrajaya and dia delivered kat hotel. Kami menginap 1 malam di The Everly Putrajaya sebab nak jumpa kawan-kawan sambil buat birthdays Khayra, Wijdan dan Hana (hari lahir diorang lebih kurang dekat-dekat) dan juga berbuka puasa bersama Liza yang kebetulan balik bercuti dari UK. Malam tu juga Khayra dapat surprise gifts dari kami (apart from dapat hadiah-hadiah dari my besties), iaitu Frozen dolls and Frozen plush dolls yang kami kirim dari Liza – beli direct from Disney Store UK. Masa tu kan semua tengah in pasal Frozen so banyak websites sold out. Hmpph. Terima kasih banyak Liza for the efforts carikan Frozen dolls and Frozen plush dolls untuk Khayra dan Hafiya. Memang drama sungguh nak belikan sebab kena berebut kat website Disney Store UK (sebab selalu sold out and ada limit on quantity to buy) and kesungguhan Liza menapak cari kat semua kedai Disney and kedai toys kat UK! Haha, thank you so-so-so much!

Khayra dah masuk sekolah baru this year, sekolah tadika abah Khayra (dan Mak Ngah dan Pak Long Khayra juga). First day, nangis sebek juga masa kami tinggalkan dia (sebab new environment kot, alahai anak ibu!). Tapi bila picked her up at 12, Teacher Rozita cakap dia OK je lepas tu. Nangis kejap je. Hehe. So sebenarnya Khayra nangis sebek tu setiap kali kami tinggalkan dia pagi hari kat class berlarutan untuk 1 month plus. Bahahaha. Tapi sebab Teacher dia cakap she was all fine, that she will participate in class, boleh repeat apa Teacher ajar, berkawan elok, makan OK semua, so kami rasa tu adalah simpton separation anxiety je lah kot. Hehe. Fast forward, Alhamdulillah tamat tadika 5 tahun di St. Theresa dengan kepujian dari Teacher. Dan within 2-3 months kat sana, dah nampak perubahan Khayra that she is more independent, tak clingy sangat, tak takut stranger sangat (she is a kind of very-very reserve dan pemalu dengan orang luar before this) dan keyakinan diri tu nampak lebih tinggi. Masa Report’s Day, Teacher komen, she’s the best in class, cepat buat kerja dan homework dan tergolong dalam kumpulan yang tak bermasalah dalam kelas. Alhamdulillah. Cuma kena give more attention on her hand writing dan penulisan Jawi. Sekolah Khayra ni ada pelbagai kaum dan setiap kali perayaan, diorang akan ada menyanyi lagu budaya masing-masing. Konsep 1Malaysia gitu. Best friends Khayra adalah Ivy, Damia, Sharifah dan Lylia.

Sebenarnya Khayra ni nampak sangat berminat dengan art. Dia suka spend time untuk melukis, colouring, painting and experimenting macam dalam siri Art Attack / Sains apa ntah kat TVIQ tu. So kadang ada weekend free, akan layan juga dia buat giant fly, giant bee, painting etc. Now Khayra suka sangat collect figurines (Sofia the First, Princesses, My Lil Pony, Frozen to name a few) dan Lego Friends (yang murah tu!).

Sangat sayang Adik Hafiya dan selalu mengalah (I think first born memang kebanyakan macam ni). 

HAFIYA

Dah berusia 2 tahun pada Oktober yang lalu. Kami buat small celebration dengan family (kebetulan Mak Ngah dan family ada balik). So just potong kek dan keluar dinner ramai-ramai. Ada juga buat celebration kat school, ibu tempah cupcakes dan buat goody bags for her friends.

Hafiya dah masuk (play) school / taska earlier this year. Setahun je duduk dengan Tok Wan. Tu pun Tok Wan pujuk hantar lambat sikit. Tapi tak sanggup susahkan Tok Wan dan biarlah dia rest. Hafiya ni sangat aktif dan tak duduk diam sangat. Hehe.

First day hantar school, Hafiya cebik kejap je. Lepas tu, tak nangis langsung, siap babai ibu lagi. Haha, lain sungguh dengan Kakak! So far, Teacher kata dia tak pelat dan boleh kenal semua kawan-kawan dalam kelas. Dah graduate BF tanpa drama macam Kakak juga, Alhamdulillah. No more co-sleeps with us tapi recently macam nangis juga kalau letak dalam cot dia. Nak juga peluk ibu. Huhu. Memula, dia macam susah kalau lepas balik travel nak tidur sendiri, sebab kalau travel kan tidur sekatil semua, so macam syok agaknya dekat dengan ibu abah kakak. Tulah permulaan dia sedar boleh tidur dengan ibu abah juga kalau nangis macam kena pukul bila ibu atau abah letak dalam cot. Haha, panjang akal. So kadang tak sampai hati biar dia nangis, angkat jelah letak atas bed kami. Kadang tengah malam abah transfer juga balik dalam cot dia, kadang sampai pagi tak terpindah. Haha.

Hafiya tak fussy eater juga macam Kakak, makan semua jenis makanan dan sayuran dan buahan. Ada jugalah ikut hari dia pilih nak sayur carrot je, atau nak broccoli je atau boleh je telan semuaa sekaligus atau just makan macam finger foods. Bab makan memang juara sebab makan banyak dan memang bertambah. Alhamdulillah.

Hafiya jarang demam (syukur, Alhamdulillah) tapi kalalu batuk tu agak lama boleh prolong sampai 3 weeks. Tapi doctor cakap sebab ada family history ada asthma so kalau batuk tu boleh prolong. As long as tak demam panas, should be OK. First dia demam masa usia 8 bulan, nak tumbuh gigi. Air liur memang menjejes lah siap kena pakai bib. Haha. Dia dah show interest in books dari kecil. Memang favourite dan boleh duduk diam kalau belek buku-buku. Favourite character sekarang ialah Dora (macam Kakak dulu!), Frozen dan Sofia. Oh, suka sangat menyanyi dan menari. Kalau Hi-5 tu, memang hafal semua lagu dan dance steps sekali! Haha.

Oh, sungguh sayang Kakaknya tapi ada juga sayang sambil cubit pipi Kakak dan gigit tangan Kakak. Haha.

Z*MC

I still work at the same firm. Masih satu firma dengan abah dan suami tapi kami handle portfolio yang lain, different clients dan office kat tingkat yang berlainan. Get it? Haha. Ada orang tanya, tak bosan ke kerja satu pejabat. Alahai, apa yang bosan? Bukan kami berkepit pun 8 jam tu. Hmmph. Ada orang tanya lagi, lunch selalunya dengan suami atau abah dan/atau both, tak bosan ke? Alahai, apa nak bosan? – Masa lunch berdua tu (tanpa anak-anak) adalah masa dating kami, boleh lah cerita dan gossip semua benda. Family matters memang tak pernah bosan pada saya as I always put my family as my priority. Lagipun, kalau kat KT ni, you will see hampir semua pasangan akan ada waktu lunch dengan spouse masing-masing. Seriously. Sort of dating lah kot. Gitu. Hehe.

HOLIDAY

Eih, sukalah holiday ni. Haha. Topik yang tak bosan.

Last year kami berpeluang ke Sydney. Masa tu Hafiya still boleh ber-baby wearing (she was 6 month-old) dan fully BF so tak ada masalah bila letak dalam Pupsik Pouch tu. Now, mau nak kena kejar je. Haha. Then ada ke JB melawat my brother. Tak banyak berjalan last year sebab Hafiya still kecil dan kami baru nak adapt traveling with 2 kids. Hehe. Fuhh, kata orang.

Then this year, Hafiya besar sikit we managed to ajak (dan belanja) both of our parents bercuti naik Cruise (Star Cruise Libra) from Penang – Krabi – Phuket – Penang for 4D3N. Experience baru lah bagi kami. Adik bongsu saya pun turut serta dalam percutian tu. Best tau, tak reti nak explain. Tapi kalau ada peluang, pergi lah hop on cruise for a holiday. Makanan memang superb lah, 4 kali sehari and buffet style, ada restoren Halal kalau naik Superstar Libra. Both of our parents pun suka dan berpuas hati sangat. 

Next kita pergi Jakarta dengan my parents, just for shopping je. Tak pergi visits sangat pun sebab dah kali kedua pergi. Then family day side my husband kat Fraser’s Hill. Pening oo naik ke atas tu, jalan berlingkar macam ular, mabuk jugak seposen. Haha. 

Next pergi Bukit Gambang Resort City (BGRC) for weekend with my besties. Ni acara percutian dengan kawan baik berserta family. Had so much fun spending our 3D2N at BGRC. Banyak juga aktiviti – Safari Park (ada animal / bird shows, ada feeding the animals, ada fire show, The Lost Jungle Show, dinner with White Simba Lion etc.) and Water Park. Kami booking pakej 3H2M so memang best lah just lepak-lepak je kat sana ramai-ramai. Tapi Zmah and Bon terpaksa balik awal sebab Hani demam panas masa hari ke-2, risau takut denggi sebab ada 2-3 neighbours diorang yang kena). BGRC is recommended for family holiday.

Next pergi State Bar family day di Tok Aman Bali Beach Resort. Bukan di Bali ya, dekat Kelantan je. Heheh. Seronok juga lah sebab kami menang lucky draw dapat boiler dan pakej penginapan hotel (lokasi, rahsia. Haha). Khayra dan Hafiya menang untuk pakaian beragam (diorang pilih theme Frozen – d’uh, what else, hehe). Khayra dapat 5^th place and Hafiya menang 1^st place. Khayra juga masuk coloring contest (umur 4-6 tahun) dan dapat 1^st place. Suka sungguh bila dapat kumpul hadiah diorang ni. 

So, last week kami baru balik dari JB juga for a short visit. Penat oii bila travel dengan 2 kids ni. Macam tak sanggup untuk destinasi jauh. Bahahahah. Dengan pertambahan beg dan size bagasi, pertambahan baju dan barang untuk packing, pertambahan stroller dan size stroller (we bought a twin stroller for them), pertambahan tenaga untuk jaga dan awasi dua orang kanak-kanak, pertambahan kos (ahahah!) dan pertambahan bekal (we always pack some foods when travel sebab anak-anak suka makan dan mengunyah), pertambahan usia kami (sobs) dan lain-lain factor yang berkaitan, yeah things to consider makin banyak nowadays. Hahahaha.

So till then.

Selamat membaca karangan panjang. Ahahaha.