We have a special visitor who visits us every night. I am not sure why toads like to come into our house. Many times, I free them back into the garden, yet they still return. Funny thing is my garden is in front of the house, but they enter back from the back of my house. I am not sure whether it is the same toad, but all of them look the same.

One night, I called the children to come look at the toad. Timothy was very excited and he walked up to the toad bravely and confidently. He thought it will be harmless. I think he moved so fast that the toad got frightened and jump. When he saw the jump, Tim was so afraid and ran as fast as he can, yelling, follow by Emily behind him. I think he ran a mile away. :giggles:

I was looking for 2 piggy banks for Tim & Emily. I want them to learn to start saving money. Every time we go shopping, my children will request me to buy this and that. Of coz, with my bags of tricks, usually they ended up getting nothing. Now I just tell them to fill up their piggy banks and use their money to buy.

At this age, they don’t know what the value of money is. They think RM1 can get everything. When I say the item is expensive, they just accept it. Lately Tim starts to question.

Anyway, I wanted to get a piggy bank that is unbreakable. I finally found a plastic one. It is fairly cheap too. Emily was so excited, now every time asked me for coins so that she can slot it in. She will go find loose change that is around the house or in the car.

Do you know why it is call piggy banks and not any other animals? I heard that it was from the idea of the farmer feeding the pigs and only getting the returns after he slaughtered the pig. Similarly when you break the piggy bank (the clay type) you will get the money. Today, piggy banks come with an opening at the bottom.

It reminds me of my sister’s funny story. When she was young, she had difficulty saving money. On her birthday, I bought her a steal coin box and presented to her. She was excited and put some money in it. After a short while, she realized there is no opening at all to get the money out and since it is made of steal, need a can opener to open.

I am procrastinating when it comes to taking my children for dental checks. I am afraid they will not corporate with the dentist or be frightened by it. Secondly, I haven’t found a friendly dentist for children. It is very important that the first dental visit be a pleasant one so that the subsequent visits will be easy.

Last week, I received a flyer from Tim’s school asking permission for him to go for dental checkup. I am so pleased that Tim was pretty excited that he wanted to go. I believed the teacher had explained to the children what it is all about. He came home, telling me that he wants the doctor to check his teeth. It is easier if the children go together, they would want to follow one another’s example, allowing the doctor to check the teeth. It sure takes away my sweat when I hear Tim wants to go.

Today, he came home telling me his experience, actually I asked. He said the doctor took some tools and checked his teeth, showing me how the doctor did it. Doctor also asked him, why the two front teeth are missing? He told us the doctor teaches him how to brush his teeth by brushing on a dummy set of teeth. I guess he learnt a lot and had fun. It was held at Sunshire Square Penang, they gave balloons and goodie bag where most of the stuffs in there are not good for teeth.

I was sorting out my digital pictures, I can tell you I have a few Gigs of my children pictures on my hard drive. Going digital is a good thing, imagine how much money I have to spend on buying film and developing it.

I selected some of the Tim and Emily’s pictures and put them together. At this age, no matter how bad they fight, they always get back and play together. There are no hard feelings in children. One moment, they can fight by screaming at one another. Next minute, you see them playing together.

Not in the adult world, when we are offended or make an argument, we can store hard feelings for life. There is something we ought to learn from our children. Forgive and Forget.

I have 2 TV hoggers at home. They always want to watch their favorite cartoons. Demanding for Mr Bean, Barney, Monster Eye and etc… Sometimes they just want to leave it on and not watch it. However when I switch channel, they will make noise.

Usually at the evening, I would want to catch the TVB series. Most of the time, when I say I want to watch Chinese Show, they will let me have my hour of TVB series. However, not in peace, they will make background noises or ask me questions.

Today, with my 20inch IMAC, they can watch their cartoon and a big screen, just like in the movie theatre. Daddy had taken out the funny looking speaker and the sound quality is fantastic. While the watch their cartoon in the study room, I can watch my TVB series in peace.

Look at the funny IMAC speaker called “Harman Kardon SoundSticks II”

The first song that Timothy learn that melt my heart was this song.

  Mummy Daddy I love you
  You know I love you
  I know you love me too
  That’s why I sing for you.

Children can do things that make our heart melt and it does not require any big effort. Emily also learns to sing while she was in school. She loves the closing Barney song and it comes with action.

  I love you, you love me
  We big happy family
  With a great big hug
  And a kiss from me to you *come around and give a big kiss on my cheeks*
  Won’t you say I love you too…

She loves to sing this as well besides the twinkle twinkle little star and bla bla black sheep.

  Someone knocking at the door.
  1 and 2 and 3 and 4 *showing the numbers on her fingers*
  Open open open wide
  How do you do?
  Please come inside

I just want to capture all these songs for remembrance.

How do you teach your child the difference between boy or gal? I was having that trouble and put it off until they understand. However yesterday I found that Tim can really differentiate who is boy and who is gal. Really, I don’t know how he learnt it. Emily is still struggling with it.

Mummy: Daddy
Tim: Boy
Mummy:Mummy
Tim: Gal
Mummy:Timothy
Tim: Boy
Mummy: Emily
Tim: Gal
Mummy: Mickey Mouse
Tim: Boy
Mummy:Minnie Mouse
Tim: Gal
Mummy:Pinocchio
Tim: Boy
Mummy: Peter Pan
Tim: Boy
Mummy:Wendy
Tim: Gal
Mummy:Genie (in Aladdin)
Tim: Boy
Mummy: Gu Ma
Tim: Gal
Mummy: Gu Cheong
Tim: Boy
Mummy: Por Por
Tim: Gal

As for Emily: I am a gal, kor kor is a boy, papa is a man and mummy is a woman.

Emily: Mickey mouse is a gal.
Mummy:Mickey is a boy.
Emily: No Mickey is a boy.
Mummy:Minnie mouse is a gal but Mickey is a boy.
Emily: Mickey is a boy. *want to cry*
Mummy: Tomorrow you ask papa whether Mickey is a boy or gal. *if I go on, she will sure cry*
Emily: OK. Emily is a gal.
Mummy: Yes.

Timothy has been learning to trap ants. Every time he sees an ant, he will take his plastic toy cup and trap the ants. He will yell for my hubby and I to see how clever he has trapped the ant.

Mummy: Why don’t you kill the ant?
Tim: No ah, later it will bite me.

By the way, he will leave the cup there and make sure no one moves it. One night while I was working late, I saw the cup in the middle of the living room. I took a look, poor ant being trap for hours, going in circles. I took it out and fling it in the garden. I wonder what Tim will trap next.

Tim and Emily is in their manageable age when I do not have to constantly monitor them. They can practically play by themselves and watch TV. It is a burden off my shoulder. Then my friends will start to ask me, when are you starting your third one? I told them no thanks, 2 is enough. Yeah if I were younger I may think of it. Now I am at the age where my energy wears down easily.

Once I did dream of having at least 6 children. It will be more fun during festive season to have a big crowd at home. People yakking and having fun.

Now since both Tim & Emily have grown, I will start planning for more vacations with them. I still have 1 worry, I hope that Emily has a stronger immune system, so that she will not fall sick easily.

Look! It is Timtraman and Emtaro in action. I got them some mask for them to play. It cost RM3 each, so costly hor. Anyway the mask is a good quality one with holes so that they can breathe easily. It has been a long time since I saw this mask. I remember when I was young, I used to play mask with my brother. It was made out of paper cardboard. You know the 10 sen kind of quality. My children ones are made out of plastic. Oh well times have change.

What do Timtraman and Emtaro do? They make me laugh when they wear the mask. Both are my lovely heroes and I know I can count on them to rescue me when I am not in a good mood. I also got them some foam sword for play fighting. Those foam material is pretty safe, not painful when it hits. Of coz play under supervision of parents or any adult.