Sketches of Life

I am in awe every time I see the paintings on the wall of the art & drawing class that my eldest attends. They are really creative bunch of people. How I wish I am like them. Once a upon a time I love to draw and to paint. I did well with sceneries but I didn’t get any proper guidance so the new found skill slowly diminishes.

Well, now when I see that my eldest shows interest in drawing, I quickly enroll her to the drawing class so that she won’t regret not be given the opportunity like her mommy. As for me now, my art goes to especially my baking skill. I make sure that my cookies are pretty! Hahaha.

Sometimes I wonder those artists who always participate in exhibitions, how do they transport their paintings from one gallery to another gallery. Art Moving must be quite a tedious job packing and unpacking, wrapping and unwrapping. Due to it, many of them will invest in good and reliable moving company and also hire movers that know the value of their artwork. Well, if one of their paintings is sold, I guess paying for the services is only minimal to them.

Before I resigned, I was thinking that I might have free time at home to continue my studies. As I was going through the online college courses, I was thinking whether to pursue a master degree, another 2nd degree or just get a TESL diploma.

Now that I am at home, jobless without any fixed income, I am thinking more about getting money. The US economy is bad and I just hope I don’t loose my online job come next week. I am very worried now. I am thinking about starting a few more niche blog and earn from adsense. Then when I see the income coming again, I might consider studying again.

“This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.”

I had this crazy idea last night. I wanted to enroll myself in the same art class as my daughters’.

On Thursday, I went to register my eldest in the Great: Art & Drawing Class and they told me that parents can stay around. So I was thinking to myself; why not I too join the class and learn from scratch and later I could use the skill I pick up to teach my other girl and boy. Since I will be there for 2 hours, better not waste my time. Driving home would cost a lot of petrol money.

So today, I went with both my girls because my 2nd girl insisted that she wanted to join the art class too. So, there I sat in a room with 3 to 16 years old kids. I felt so out of place and chicken out. I dare not open my mouth to verbalise my “dream”. So I just sat there and assist my girls with their colouring. Well, in a way, I could learn from observing too and it is FOC.

Maybe later when they advance to drawing and water colour, I might want to sign up.

Living in a kampung (village), my children got themselves dirty from head to toe almost everyday. The tough part is having a girl that sucks her finger! No matter how many times I reminded her to wash her fingers before sucking, she failed to do that. Once she got hold of her smelly pillow (bantal busuk) she will suck away along with the dirts on her finger! That really freaks me out. When she was younger, she often got mouth infection. Now, Praise God, she is immune to them. But that does not mean I ignore teaching them about personal hygiene and cleaning themselves.

Thanks to Huggies® Cleanteam®, cleaning is going to be more fun. Can’t wait to try their cleaning products.

I need to find more money now, as much as possible, something like enough for me to buy Branson condo because my eldest girl only wants to eat in clean restaurant.

Meaning, no hawker stalls, no old run down restaurant even though the food is nice and “Longkang” food near Madam King is totally out of the question.

I wonder who put that idea in her head. I will sure strangle that person if I find who he/she is!!!

I left my son with my mom whenever we want convenience when dining out, going shopping and the recent, going for a short vacation. Most of the time, my 2 girls will tag along. They are older and independent. So, no need carrying, no need feeding and they speak. Furthermore I don’t think we can handle 3 active and stubborn tiny feet in a crowd at the same time.

As a mother, I don’t feel good doing these. I felt guilty for leaving him out. So to compensate it, I am planning for a special birthday celebration for my son. I planned for a 2D1N trip to a beach resort in PD that has Water Park. It will be just us; hubby, my girls, my boy and me.

Thanks to my mouth; I blurted it out to one of my sister in laws and she told me that she has free one night voucher to that resort and she is going to give it to me! Praise the Lord, I saved RM320. That’s the price for one night stay in that resort; kinda expensive ya?

I hope the resort provide free Wi-Fi wireless broadband Internet access like the Indian Creek Hotel. Then I wouldn’t miss my WWW so much coz there’s nothing much to do once the children are asleep. Psst…that’s my menses week.

In 15 days time, we will be having our first vacation up on a hill. A real vacation like those All Inclusive Mexico Vacations. We will be going to Genting Highland with our girls only as our son is too young for most rides and there is only the 2 of us. Don’t think we can handle 3 kids at a theme park.

My girls are very excited about it and no more whining when it is time to go to school because I told them, if they do not want to go to school, no Genting Highland. After Genting trip, I wonder what else can I “bribe” them to make sure they want to go to school. Worst come to worst, I just wave the cane.

When I first read about the fashion school in california the first thing that come to my mind is “Design”; making beautiful clothes. However that is not the real picture, fashion schools in california offers more than just Fashion Designing courses, they also have the fashion merchandising schools and fashion marketing schools.

If you fingers are not skillful enough to design but you have an eye for fashion, check out what fashion schools in los angeles has to offer for talented people like you.

Ermmm…­arhhhhhhh…­ermmmmm..­.*scratch head*

If A, B and C also you cannot remember, don’t go to kindergarten anymore! You go out from this house. You can come in once you know your ABC!

He dragged his wailing girl out from the house and lock her out.

She cried in fear. It was so dark outside.

After 10 mins, he let her in.

Asked the same question. What comes after A? She got the answer this time and she also knew what comes after B too.

Since that night, A to Z is kacang putih (a breeze)!

It takes fear to get her brain working!

That girl was me of course! Even though he chase me out of the house, cane me when I got 2nd last in kindergarten and cane me when I don’t get 1st in Primary school, I don’t hate him. I will find the best in-home care services, if the needs were to arise. He is not getting younger you see. He did that for my own good. It’s just his way of disciplining me and I am proud of who I am now because of him.

I wonder whether I should do the same to my 2nd girl. Hahahaha.

When I was introduced to accounts in Form 6, I love it so much that I wanted to become an accountant instead of teacher, doctor or lawyer. Well, that is the standard ambition all of us know when we were at that age. But once I step foot in Form 6, I started to dislike accounts. It is so tough and I do not know what the heck the book is talking about. I guess, partly it was due to the direct translation from English to Malay. If the text book were in English, I think I would be an accountant now and reading accounting jobs blog.

Thanks to Leah, I finally got my books and I can’t wait to start learning how to use from it her. It seems that she is using these books to teach English in her tuition class. Well, I plan to master this, teach my children and give English tuition too to earn some side income.

You can read all about this SWR program from here.

The price I paid for the above set is USD105 for the books and USD37 for shipping. Very expensive shipping cost!

All this, thanks to paid post. If I got to pay from my RM. I don’t think I would buy them!

Finally I received my National Geographic magazine last week after more than one month since they took my money from my checking accounts.

Well I got my camera first 2 weeks before that but the camera is so lousy. Free item, can’t complaint right. So now the camera is dunno where! hehehe.

Now, my girls, instead of bring their storybook for me to read before their bedtime. They asked me to read to them the magazine! They got so fascinated with the pictures in the magazine. Their favorite in this month’s magazine is the Volcanoes and the Gorilla.

I don’t read word by word on what that was written in the magazine. I go like this…”Once upon a time deep in the forest, there live a family of Gorilla. There is Papa Gorilla, Mommy Gorilla, Sister Gorilla and Baby Gorilla. They love to sit and play on the tree….”

I tried reading word by word, they fell asleep!

I think all mommies couldn’t resist not visiting any baby stores that they come across. Even mommy-to-be will be gleeing happy with all those cute lil toys, clothes, toiletries etc. Sometimes when I am there, I wonder whether I am buying them for my children or for myself.

Hubby always commented that I buy because I didn’t get to have them when I was their age. Partly true also. My dad income does not permit him to spend on luxury item. So we have the minimal in life. Clothes and toys are from the night market. Made in China cheap and low quality product. Si I tend to pamper my children now. In a way, I am pampering myself. Hehe.

I wanted my children to be able to read and write in Chinese because I can’t. Even though I am a Malaysian Chinese, I don’t speak and write in Chinese. Some of us, don’t even look like a Chinese, especially hubby. It is more difficult for me because I look like one but does not speak their language. Those from other state cannot comprehend it and they mock me, especially when I was in Penang!

But after hearing so much about the schooling hours and the tones of homework that is given to the Chinese school goers, I am thinking twice in putting my children into Chinese school. I want them to have fun learning not to suffer doing homework everyday. I might homeschool them and as for higher education, there are so many accredited online university. So no worries for them not getting any degree later.

“This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.”

I fried Keropok for the Christmas Party. Cheap, fast and everyone loves Keropok. It is actually free for me coz someone bought it and left it here. It has been on the shelf for months.

About the party, this is my first experience and next year, I will just send my girls there and go home.

No presentation from the children. Just singing, dancing and games for the children. Parents are not involved. Most of them sit/stand around and chat with each other. I have no chat partner coz I speak English! Most of them, or maybe ALL of them speaks Chinese.

Hubby smart. He left after the children have taken their dinner there and only came back at 10pm to fetch us home.

Normally at my children’s kindy, when they have party that involves the parent, they will inform us in advance to prepare a some food for the party.

Two days ago, I saw the message in my girl’s Message Book that there will be Christmas Party tonight. Hmmm…how come the Principal or the teachers did not inform me about food preparation??? Yesterday, I asked the Principal.

He told me to just bring food for my children and if I can bake the Steam Chocolate Cake, it would be good coz the teachers love it but he does not expect it as it was late a minute arrangement. Tahu pun Furthermore, it was my sis who baked it and she is in China now.

Today it strikes my mind that he said, “Bring food for your children” Eh…party without food? Cannot be lar. So I called his wife who runs another kindy and we are going to have the Christmas party at her kindy.

She told me that food will be provided. The kindy will prepare some and parents too! Ok ok, I don’t like going there empty handed. Will think of something to prepare within an hour time from now!

I think my girls principal know I no money this month! Not like this lady who just bought LCD TV recently.

After my aunt telling me about the cost of TESL locally, I gave up searching for it here. It is so costly here. I don’t know why, out of many online degree programs my eyes, my mind and my heart is in education instead of business or information technology. Maybe that is my calling; to be a teacher, to teach.

When I was in campus, during my final year, I received prophesy about me being a pen, being used to write upon the lives of others. One of it is, I will teach. So in order to teach, I need to equip myself with enough knowledge and skills about teaching and that is why I am seriously considering signing up for TESL course.

This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

This month is a very quite month for me. No more 5 to 10 post a day. This is because, without Page Rank, I don’t receive much offer and due to it, I can’t earn much US dollar now and the idea of taking up a degree with an online university is not a good idea anymore unless capella university can offer me a sponsorship. Hehe.

Capella University is quite established that serves nearly 20,000 students from all 50 states and 56 countries, offering 104 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. I am sure they would be able to find sponsorship for poor people like me who really wants to pursue my studies.

This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com

Well, after having my 3rd child, I am kind phobia to get pregnant again, to give birth and to breastfeed. The pregnancy and child birth is okay but I fear to breastfeed again after having to experience the most excruciating pain in my life thus far that is the breast infection.

Due to it, I gave away most of my maternity clothes to my sister because I don’t think I will ever wear them again.

It is so quiet in the market place. Those who doing paid post, you know what I am talking about. No opp for us in Asia because those advertiser that will want to pay us will be the one who is buying links for higher page rank and most of us has been smack hard by Google. PR0 now; no advertiser wants us now.

Even that I am still resigning because my main reason to resign is not because of the lucrative income that I used to get during the good times. My main reason is to be there for my children; to guide them in their studies and if it is God’s will, I will homeschool them.

If there is a need to bring more moolah into the family, there is lots of way to do it. One of it is by selling insurance. With the help of Insurance Marketing like QuotesAuction.com, I am sure I will be able to earn from selling insurance to friends and family members. But then ah, I don’t really like sales and marketing. Oh well, if I really need to then I will get my experienced insurance agent cum friend to help me out. The main thing, can earn some money.

Just imagine this. You are typing away on your computer. Writing your masterpiece for your blog. Your little ones are playing around you. “Mommy, look at this” “Mommy she bite me!” “Mommy I am hungry” Turn around to give them some of my attention. “Please don’t disturb Mommy. Mommy is VERY busy.” As usual, they won’t listen, one. Turn back to continue typing. “Eh, why Mommy’s, monitor is black now??? “Oh No! Where is your brother?” “Under the chair Mommy” the girls replied.

He must be the culprit, pressing the power button and shut down my computer. “Oh No!!! Mommy has not save Mommy’s work! Arrgghhhh!!!” “Barnabas, can Mommy squeeze you?” hehe…don’t get me wrong, I am not a child abuser.

At that moment of time, I wish I have the hideaway computer workstation like the above. As for me I will keep it close when the children are around. It not only prevents my CPU and printer from collecting dust. It also prevents little rascal that is obsess with pressing buttons.

So far I have not seen this kind of Office Furniture in the furniture shop here. I found the above from Saxen Business Solution. It is only available in UK plus free shipping to UK Mainland. Hmm…maybe Malaysian kids are not as rascal as theirs eh. Hehe.

It’s like only yesterday I was carrying her in my arm and swaying her to sleep and last Saturday, I saw her walking up the stage to receive her awards.

I was like “Wow! My girls are in school already!!! I have not done anything yet. Even that she got 1st in class.” I felt kinda sad because I am not part of her success besides passing the good genes to her. hehe She did it ALL BY HERSELF!

Last night, she took out a book, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” and asks me to read to her. She did not want me to read to her, she wanted me to guide her to read it. I was so surprise that she is able to recognize some of the words. She can read! Where was I when all this happened?

I was left to excel in school all by myself because my parent was not educated. My dad studied until Std 6 only and my mom only went to sewing school. My children has parent who are graduates. They should not be left on their own. I can’t impose on them what my parent did to me. They deserve our time.

Where is our time? Working, blogging, house chores and minding the smaller ones. I am going to remove one of it to be able to have more time for them. Yup, I am 100% decided to resign from work. Not end of this year. I wanna get my bonus first. Latest by middle of next year. I hope. We still have business loan to settle.

A week ago, on Friday, when hubby called the maid agency, she told him that the maid did not report to the agency in Indonesia. Told us to wait for another week. If there is still no news she suggests that we pick a new one.

Today is Tuesday already, the maid agency did not even bother to call us to inform about the status. Deposit taken from us. I really hate this kind of service.

Told hubby to call,

me: call d maid agency lar
David: for what?

Well, we are not really keen to have the maid around. More of privacy reason but we need someone to clean the house, accompany MIL and help me out with my children so that hubby can go cari makan. As for now, he is stuck at home, minding our children. He is SAHD for few months already.

I have always wanted to be a beautician or hair dresser. One of my aunt went to one of the hair schools to learn about hair dressing but she never practice it. I still remembered she came home to mannequin without the body. The head only with bushy thick black hair and she will start snipping away.

It looks fun and at that time I told myself that I want to do the same too but my dad wanted me to further my studies in the universities because none of his family members step foot in university before.

Since I am on my own now and planning to resign, this will be a good excuse for me to learn some skill that can really make money now.

I am planning to continue studying if I am really bored at home after I resigned. I am thinking about studying something simple like TESL. Since I need to be home all the time to be with my children, I will opt for online learning. I read that capella university is an accredited, fully online university that offers graduate online degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, public health, public safety, and psychology, and bachelor’s degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Maybe I should dig further to see whether I can afford to take up e-learning.

I have been thinking and planning in my head about my part-time home school curriculum when I finally resign. I only have half a day with them because the half of the day, they will be at school. I want to make it as fun as possible and not let them watch TV or play computer so much anymore. Must not let them to be specky like their mommy.

I am thinking of starting collecting as many arts and crafts materials as possible. Ceramic Clays and Modeling clays sounds fun too.

When shopping for arts and crafts materials, the only safety sign that I will look for is “Non-Toxic”. As I as reading the arts and crafts materials sold by AMACO then only I realized that we must look for lead-free glazes and talc-free clays. No wonder so many children have asthma nowadays. Must be extra cautious when buying arts and crafts materials.

Is the person who plucks apple call Apple Plucker? Please correct me if I am wrong.

I told my mom about our neighbour who went to Australia to pluck apples, she knew all along about it. That boy is actually trying to get away from being caught by the police. He sold drugs!

All I know that he was a bouncer in one night club and later operate snooker center before he left for Australia.

Well, if you are in this line, I am sure mixing with the wrong group of people cannot be avoidable. I am sad that he made the wrong choice.

That’s why as parents, we have to instill good value and teaching to my children. And if possible be there all the time for them. It makes a lot of difference. This boy’s mom passed away when he was in his primary school and his dad is the “softy” type; give in to every demand from his children.

Please don’t ever spare the rod.

I wanted to blog about Msau’s trip here but my time was occupied with shits and vomits! That is how I celebrated Hari Raya. No chance to go out visiting friends or going to the Fun Fair to take a ride on the Ferries Wheel.

Today is Monday. I have 3 more days to go before I go back to work and I hope that my children will be better soon so that we can do something fun together besides them purging and vomiting and us, cleaning them up.

I love to teach. This is one of the reasons I wanted to resign from my current job. In school, my favorite subject is English, Math and Algebra. I solve problem faster than my classmate then I will go around the class helping other to understand the Math problems and teaching them how to solve the problems.

This passion for teaching did not fade away even though I am working in a different field. Right now, I have the pleasure in helping 2 mommy bloggers in simple English grammar. I am like their online Tutor! I can’t offer my service to others because I am not as good as those tutors at Tutor Vista that offers Online Tutoring and Homework help. Maybe I will get involve in Tutoring once I graduated from a TESL course. By then, you might have to pay me to teach you English.

I learnt something new yesterday. Instead of just controlling my temper, I should learn to love, care and feel for my children.

You see, I am a hot tempered person but thank God I am able to control them with the help of God of course. Before I became a Christian, I was like a tigress. Anyone comes in my ways, I will roar!

But after having 3 children, my patience and temper is always tested. Many times I lost control and lost my temper. Like on Tuesday, my 2nd girl was having fever. She was very cranky and on the way to the clinic she told me that she is hungry. After seeing the doctor, I bought a packet of porridge for her but after one spoon, she did not want to eat them. Kept crying and telling me that she is hungry. I tried to pacify her many times but she still want to cry and spit out the porridge I fed her. At the same time, my eldest wants to eat too and not forgetting my son. Hubby helped feeding my son.

I was very stress up with all this, lost my temper and handed her to hubby. I just cannot take her cries anymore. I know she can stop it but she is just playing hard with me.

With hubby, she stops crying and ate her porridge till finish! Why? Because hubby feeds her with love. I just want to do my motherly duty, feed her while controlling my temper which is not the right attitude in parenting.

Even though I have 3 already, I sure have a lot to learn. My eldest is an easy child to mind but my 2nd is “middle child”. She wants a lot of attention which sometimes I cannot give.