Amira Balqis @ 44 months

Scoot scoot makeover!

There was this particular day we went to a relative's house and Kakak saw this scooter outside and started playing with it. It was in a truly wasted-looking condition but works alright. The grandma said she could take it home since they wanted to throw it away anyway. 

It was quite sad actually seeing her scooting happily with it. She didn't mind a bit that it wasn't new, as a matter of fact, it was so worn out! As much as it saddened me, I did not plan to get a new one for her, because I still stood firm in my beliefs that my children will not be getting ALL the things they want as easy as they thought, material things that is (books are different story). Some will have to wait, while others may have to be earned even if we have the means. I hope by this way they will learn to value more of what they owned and not be spoiled senselessly by materialistic wealth.   

So what I did was to promise her that one day I will make her scooter pretty and pink! That was just what we did last weekend. With cans of spray paint, some fabrics and mod podge, we started our project. After about several hours of spray and mod podging later, I was honestly elated upon seeing the transformation of the scooter! Kakak was beaming too!

Now, all it need is just a change of tyres! And maybe a bell and some ribbons. 

Tadaa!

A smurfy weekend!

It wasn't as great as I thought it would be. The smurf movie that is. Abah even dozed off in the middle. And I would have to think twice the next time we want to watch any movie, because Adik is so fidgety and restless! I think she's not the movie kinda person, she is not even interested in cartoons unless it is the singing part. Its a good thing of course.

Kakak on the other hand, could be numbed by watching tom and jerry and mr bean - yes mr bean! I don't get it! - for hours! I am making it a challenge for myself to reduce - or totally scrap! - the tv amount for my children, insyaAllah!

Steps to be taken, more and more activities. Alhamdulillah for blogs out there who shared tons of ideas and also to Pinterest! -which I have to tell myself dozen of times to Just Stop Pinning Already and Get Moving- sheesh!

But that would also mean, more commitment on my side - its not like Im not already committed or something, what am I living for if not my family, in their every waking hour every single day, I feel like I don't even have a life of my own anymore! I can't remember the last time I went out alone, or read a good book without disturbance, or talked to my friends, or even having a decent conversation with anybody, and I think Im beginning to rust in the art of talking. Even as an introvert, I do need a good conversation with a listening adult once in a while right - note that, listening. Okay, enough of that already.

Wait..what's this post supposed to be about actually...aahh a smurfy weekend.

I love our weekends when we are not travelling back anywhere. It is super tiring. And I hate the packing. And the heaping laundry after that.

Well, let's just feast on pictures and captions shall we.

A smurfy weekend in Kuantan. 

Walking along the beach after a McDonald's breakfast

She loves loves and loves to walk

Something caught her attention

Always has a funny pose for the camera

"I want those!"

We didn't let her so she decided to walk off with her stroller

hmph! stomp stomp!

I'm a big girl Mama!

"I don't wanna let go!"

Time to get smurfy!

That was a lovely weekend!

Abah's girl...

She is like her Abah in more ways than he would admit - well he wouldn't admit only the negative ones.

But alhamdulillah, I would like to believe that she has also inherited his talent - drawing.

She love posing with her 'masterpiece'

her drawing interpretation of the plushie

totally on her own

Next, the cat

Again unguided. 

#2 JFF: Back to village @ Terengganu - Sensory activity

In Just For Fun (JFF), me and my daughters will be doing a random FUN activity! Most ideas are sourced from great mommies and teachers out there online and in books tho some came right form my not so creative mind. They are so fun insyaAllah you will definitely be tempted to try them out with your lil ones! Be sure to link up or leave a comment if you do coz I would love to hear your side of fun! :)

There is a front yard at Nyang's house, where we stay everytime we are back at Abah's hometown. Me and Kakak decided to 'explore' it.

I thought there might be things that could be collected and talked about. So we went on looking for something to hold them. Finally we found a cracked pail. Perfect!

And exploration began..

That's the pail and things are filled in

Happy hunting!

Items laid out, touched, smelled and tasted. Among them are a twig, a rock, different coloured leaves, kaffir leaves, a lime, dried leaf...

Lime tasting..lol!

We love sensory activities! They are definitely hands-on, fun and never fail to spark the little one's curiosity.  There are tons of great ideas out there I would love to try. Especially the sensory tubs. Awesome! 

#1 THEME : Insects and spiders

Slowly progressing on our first theme. Honestly, our homeschool is not yet in full swing. I wouldn't dare say I am homeschooling my daughter yet. A lot of things to be planned, organized, prepared. I am still feeling bit lost and scattered. There are just too much awesome ideas and superbly creative activities on homeschooling, its both overwhelming and exciting!

Realizing that we will get to nowhere if I were to keep on researching for the best instead of slowly implementing some into action, I have decided to start it off with what Kakak love to do best. ART and CRAFT!

I have decided to go with thematic approach.To me themes are great! We can prepare our lessons focusing on them. It made more sense and the learning feels more natural as the areas of the curriculum link together.

It is, after all, how we, as adults, learn new things. Don't we start at what interest us and branch out from it?


So here are what we have done in summary, will be updating more as this theme is still ongoing:

I dare say that 90% were done by Kakak. We used mostly discarded items, or call them junks if you like. For example, our ladybug's body was made from the take-away drink holder at McDonald's! Its a great way to recycle, isnt it?

I simply love the beam on her face whenever she finishes her projects. Simply priceless.

Life is like riding a bicycle

 - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.  ~Albert Einstein

Happy 3rd Belated Birthday Kakak!

Hope you love your new ride. All purplish and princessy! 

Complete with front basket, back compartment, side mirror and a bell! Credit to Abah for such a great find!

The hardest part of raising a child is teaching them to ride bicycles.  A shaky child on a bicycle for the first time needs both support and freedom.  The realization that this is what the child will always need can hit hard.  ~Sloan Wilson

When baking is a piece of cake...

Alhamdulillah, Mama has managed to do some simple baking with Kakak. We have in fact baked about 6 cakes and brownies so far.

Honestly, I'm always a little (or maybe a lot) short of patience. That's essential for those baking from scratch. The measuring, the mess, the clean-up. Those are always a put-off!

But really, thank goodness for PRE-MIXES! They make my life so much easier! Not to mention, when stress aside, it was definitely fun doing it with Kakak. That's why we don't mind doing it over and over again.

"To me it does not really matter if you decide to simplify things. Don't be too hard on yourself. The most important thing is to have FUN!"

All you need is water, vegetable oil and eggs. How simpler can it be! I would prepare all the things needed, and Kakak would do it all by HERSELF!

We usually buy the Pillsbury's brand as it is Halal certified.  

Another chocolate cake!

Tadaa! I made simple ganache to pour over if we did choc cake. 

Brownies! Topped with orange-colored icing decorated by Kakak guided by Mama. No wonder its a mess!  

The brownies was specially made for Nenek to bring home to Singapore. One for Nenek and another for Nenek Nor. Specially and lovingly made by Amira Balqis.

Watch Amira in action! Click here!

little things that surprise me!

"It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class." J.Willard Marriott


Kakak,
Mama found a marker that day. I gave it to you and could see your face lighted up with joy - Subhanallah! Kids and simple pleasure. You thanked me as if I had given you the best thing in the world! But then again, you have always been generous with your gratitudes, you would never forget to thank Mama even for the little or simple things I gave you. I thank you for that, it really warms my heart. 


Immediately you went up to the greatly under-utilized whiteboard, and started to draw. I did not give much attention as I thought you were just making your usual artwork of random lines and circles. But I am very surprised and not to mention proud to see what you had done dear: 

Your 1st attempt! I truly did not know you were already capable of drawing such. With details: body, eyes, eyebrows, nose (the dots), mouth (nevermind its sad, you did not know how to make a smile yet), hands, and lastly breasts (that made me laugh! Of all the other bodyparts, thats what you drew, maybe you missed breastfeeding ya)

The 2nd one. With a rainbow! and the creature has teeth or is that beard?

This looks like rugrats! 

Mama is proud of you! 


On a little note, just so you know that you just turned 3, and you would still ask for a little bf. I know its hard for you to stop, but I'm sorry sayang, its becoming uncomfortable for Mama. Thank you for not demanding it much anymore, and thank you for making me feel like a great Mom just because I breastfed you, alhamdulillah!