Stupid Stupid Stupid

The other day, Dad was roped in to play 'tag' with Chastan and Cheryl. While playing, something made Chastan angry. He just stopped in his tracks, stood there with an angry face and went "STUPID STUPID STUPID ".

Dad did not say anything then because, first he was stunned and second, most importantly, he did not want put any emphasis that this was not an appropriate word to be used in anger.

Again on another occcassion in the car, he used this word. Then last week at the bookstore at Jusco, someone accidently knocked into him. Annoyed, Chastan got up and said "Stupid" but luckily he was not loud and Dad was grateful, the chap who bumbed into Chastan could not have heard it.

Without reprimanding him, Dad said to Chastan "You should not use that word" and then continued "Where did you learn that word?"

"TV" shouted Cheryl who was nearby.

Then another time when Mummy scolded him, Chastan went "Stupid, Mummy stupid"

Swimming - New Trick

It has been months since the last time the children went to the pool. So this evening being a hot day, Mummy reminded Dad to take the children down to the pool. Cheryl had on her full body one piece swimsuit and a body float while Chastan wore his trunks, a t-shirt and the arm-floats. While Cheryl eagerly jumped in, Chastan was reluctant to get into the pool. He stood at the edge and was trying to pull down his shorts. Only after Dad took off his arm floats and t-shirt did he get into the wading pool.

When time to leave, Chastan, being the good boy he is, went back quietly with Mummy while Dad stayed back with Cheryl to take her into adult pool. In the adult pool, dad asked Cheryl to close her mouth, nose and go under water, which she did a few times, staying under water for only a split second each time.

When time to leave and changing into her new bathrobe that Aunty Rose bought for her.

Cheryl: "Dad, can I put on the bathrobe myself "
Dad: "Ok"
Cheryl: "I'm sure my friends will be jealous if they see this new bathrobe"
Dad: "Yes, certainly"
Cheryl: "Dad, thank you for showing the new trick"
Dad: "Uh?"
Cheryl: "You know, holding my nose and going under water"
Dad: " Oh, you are welcome"

Big Sister

Earlier this evening while Dad was spending some quality time with the children.

Dad: "Chastan, I am your father"
Chastan: "Daddieee"
Dad: "Mummy is your mother"
Chastan: "Mummieee"
Dad: "And Cheryl is your sister"
Chastan: "Che Cheaaah"
Right at this moment, Cheryl who was listening in,
Cheryl: "Correction"
Dad: "Huh?"
Cheryl: "BIG Sister"

Children at Jusco (1)

Watch how Cheryl and Chastan play together at a shopping centre.




Now watch how they 'play' together again.

Hide & Seek

Hide & Seek is one of the games Chastan and Cheryl love to play at home. While Cheryl is able to count, Chastan is not. But still he loves to be 'it' and facing the wall he will close his eyes and say "One two three seven nine eady not".

Not much choice hiding places in our small apartment, but for Chastan anywhere will do as long as his eyes are not seen. But then he is good. Once when we had house helper problems and when Dad stayed home to babysit, dad could find Chastan when it was time to go and bring Cheryl back from school.

Dad practically panicked, he kept calling for Chastan but not a sound was heard. Checking all the rooms, bathrooms and under the beds and even in the closets (yes, the clothes cupboard is a hiding place), no sign. After a frantic few minutes, he was found hiding behind a door which cannot be opened fully due to a floor shelf behind it. He was squatting there snugly facing the corner between the door and the shelf, face down and quiet, very very quiet. The gleeful smile on Chastan's face showed dad that he had been had.

Chastan hiding on the bed

With Chastan, Hide & Seek can be played anywhere, even in a shopping mall.

Chastan hiding in One Utama

Pocoyo

This is Chastan's favourite cartoon. To the uninitiated, Pocoyo is the one in blue, the pink elephant is Ellie and Patto is the duck. Two other regular characters not in this picture are Loola, the dog and Sleepy Bird.

Pocoyo, in this cartoon series, would normally express his anger by folding his arms across his chest. Chastan too does it when he is angry. Is this type of gesture by Chastan, in expressing his anger, an influence by TV or is it natural?

Parents-Teachers Day

Today was Parents-Teachers Day at Cheryl's school, Midah Kindergarten. It was also the day to collect the report card.

In the 1st half year exams, Cheryl scored full marks in all papers and she was positioned joint 1st together with Lui Kok Leong and another of her classmates. However she lost a few marks in the year end exams which saw her drop to 2nd place in the overall results. Her classmate and same apartment friend, Kok Leong, maintained 1st position while her best friend in school, Sherryl Siah, retained her 3rd position.

Mummy with Cheryl meeting the English teacher
(Chastan standing behind Cheryl)

Midah Kindergarten Class Positions

Cheryl in 2nd place in exams for the 5 year olds

Cheryl joint 1st position in 1st half year exams

Cheryl's 2006 Report Card

Church of the Holy Rosary

This morning we attended services at Holy Rosary Church on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Rosary.
Once inside the Church, our house assisstant Sapuna said" Saya suka gereja ini, banyak cantek". Then Cheryl said "I like this Church".
A little while later, Chastan, 2yrs 4 months old, pointing to the sanctuary said "One, two. three, four five Jesus".

Hair Cut - Chastan

Chastan had his third hair cut by this barber on Sunday 01/10/2006.
He was very quite all throughout the session but as soon as he was brought down from the chair,
Chastan put both his hands up in the air and yelled "Yeah!".

Sunday Outing

This afternoon in the car after Church service at the Chapel of Our Lady of Good Health, Kg Pandan and breakfast,
Cheryl: "Is the way to Jusco?"
Dad: "This, the way to go home"
Cheryl: "No, I want to go to Jusco"
Dad: "Ok, I'll drop you off at Jusco and you go alone"
Cheryl: "No, we must go as family"
Dad: "What is family?"
Cheryl: "Family means, daddy, mummy, my brother and kakak. Cannot go alone" and right at this moment another voice was heard.
"I wan go Jusco NOW" yelled Chastan.

Dentist

This afternoon Mummy had a dental visit and Chastan tagged along, his 1st visit to a dentist.
Dr Raj carried Chastan and made him lay on the chair and switched on the light.
Chastan: "Off light" so Dr Raj switched off the light and said: "Open mouth".
Chastan openning mouth: "Aaah".
Dr Raj: "Good, your teeth are clean" and took him down.

Cheryl could not go as she was having a nap in the car.

Cheryl - to the Doctor

Chery had still not recovered from her flu, so we took her to the doctors again.

Dr Low asked if there was anything that was troubling Cheryl, about what she normally talks about or says. We told the doctor that quite often, whenever she and chastan have an argument (this is put mildly), Cheryl will go into the room and keep quite, seldom crying. While we were saying this to the doctor, Chastan who was seated was kicking Cheryl so Dad said "Chastan stop kicking Cheryl" and immediately Cheryl replied "it's ok dad, I don't mind Chastan kicking me because I want to be a sport". How not to love this girl more.

Beach Holiday - The Beach

First Cheryl didn't want to leave the hotel room. On seeing the beach, "wow this is great" , she didn't want to leave the beach.

But with the horses and their droppings, you wouldn't want to spend much time on the sand, would you?

Merdeka

Our country celebrates 49 years of independence this month.

I got some minature flags and gave one to Chastan who went running around waving it and shouting "(Ma)laysia (Mal)laysia". Anyone seeing this can be excused for thinking "How patriotic". But this thought came to mind, "if only the Powers that be (read UMNOPutras) allowed us to be so "

Nevertheless,

Happy Merdeka

Beach Holiday - The Hotel

We managed to get a room at the Holiday Inn Resort though not at the beach wing. For Cheryl, it did not matter, as long as it was a hotel room, "this is great dad. I don't want to go to the beach. I want to stay here" she said as soon as we entered the room.

As we unpacked, I was overjoyed when I noticed the little note on a wire at the table saying 'Internet Access'. Taking out my laptop, I quickly plugged in to test the connection speed. After a few minutes, the Holiday Inn website came on. I had to register??? Read T&C, WHAT ?RM1.90 per minute ? Oh my gosh! With Chastan and Cheryl around, it may cost me RM19.00 just to view all of Holiday Inn Penang's facilities on their website and another RM19.00 just to google Penang attractions. No way I am going to allow myself be robbed.

The buffet breakfast spread was okay. For a change, we did not have to get up in wee hours of the morning and Q for toast, like whats usually happens in Genting.

Chastan (2)

Chastan ran a slight temperature, 38.4, with a runny nose yesterday. When he is ill, he always wants to be carried and walk about, no sitting. He clung on to dad, refusing to go to Mummy or Kakak. But he was understanding and agreed to go to Mummy when I told him I had .to go and have a shower.

Trampoline

Cheryl received a trampoline as her birthday present from Aunty Sharon and Uncle Siew Too. Cheryl was so excited that she insisted Dad assembled the trampoline immediately.

Cheryl: "Wow!, Dad can I tell my friend I have a trampoline?"

Dad: "OK, you must also say it is a present"

Cheryl: "Ok dad"

Dad: "Cheryl, remember you must thank Aunty Sharon for this present when you see her the next time"

Cheryl: " OK daddy"

Dad: "So what must say when you see Aunty Sharon?"

Cheryl: "Hi"

Friday Scare

On Friday Chastan would just sit on the floor holding his left knee and saying "Pain Pain" and wanting to be carried which was unusual of him.

There were no bruises or marks of any kind on his leg and so I pushed the panic button. The doctor too could not find anything and said it was probably a sprain.

Coming back from the doctor and stopping over at the playground, there was a remarkable change. A very quick recovery indeed. The moment I put him down, he immediately ran and climbed up the slide together with Cheryl.

Next morning (Sat), once again he sat down holding his left knee and saying Pain. So another visit. to Dr Low this time as Cheryl too needed the doctor's attention for her flu.

After that, nothing. I don't know what to make of it. If he was acting, he sure was very good at it. Guess will just have to monitor.

Chastan

Searching for a recent picture of Chastan, I could not find any with a smiling face. In nearly all the pictures, he looked stern.

Only this one picture, where he is captured watching his favourite cartoon, which indeed says something of him.

.

Who is Who

Are these pictures of the same child or are they of twins?

If not, who is who?