the BIG BAD WOLF!

It was the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale.... and I went there 3 rounds cuz it's really such a worth-to-go sales! :D

First was a trip made with my team-mates in the curriculum department. hehe... konon-lah source and buy books for the department (of cuz we did that! hehe...), but I also did my own shopping le (killed 2 birdies with 1 stone!) And I went back there again in the evening after work to buy more books and also found out some books I wanted have been sold out!

Few days later, I thought I must go there again to get some more books that I've missed! hehehe... so we went there again just before leaving for Melaka that Saturday! (the temptation was too great to bear! :D) Anyway, this round, I went with lil Sarah & hubby. Of cuz, hubby's reaction was like... "WOW" when he stepped in. He didnt tell me that, but I just know :p

He bought himself a whole box of books too! ha!

Got more books for Sarah... and then again, the 2 books that I wanted weren't there anymore. Sigh... they're all up for grabs (literally!)!

OK-la.... that's for the sales. Well, bought a few princess books for Sarah. I didn't want to pamper her with princess stuffs, but the sales were just too good to be true! And so, I got her many many books which include 1 "big" princess book and 4 other "smaller" ones... :p

It would be pampering if I got her the whole volume (which is really really a good deal!), but no... I decided to close one eye and just got her a few.

This is how the "big" book look like...

This became one of her favourite story books. She would ask me to read it to her each time I return home from work.

My first attempt in reading her the book went like this:

Mummy read the whole "Beauty & the Beast" story... (without reading the text... in other words, using my own words).

Mummy : So you like the story?

Sarah : (thougth for a moment...) Why got so many "and then" one?

Mummy : Oh, you don't like it?

Sarah : (shook head) Why always "and then... and then... and then... and then..." one?

Mummy : Really? OK, next time when mummy read, no more "and then... and then... and then" OK?

Sarah : OK!

I didn't realise that I kept saying "And then" at the beginning of every page... haha! She was really showing attentiveness while listening to mummy! :)

And so... the very next day, she asked me to read to her the same story book...

Mummy : (testing her memory...) What words that you didn't like Mummy to say?

Sarah : And then.... :)

Mummy : OK-lah... so today, i will read to you from the book, OK?

Mummy read the first line of Beauty and the Beast....

Mummy : How is it? Nice?

Sarah : Yes! Don't want "and then... and then... and then... and then..." OK?

Mummy : OK! :)

She's literally my "ah-counter"! LOL!

And well, since there is a CD that came along with the book, it's now in the car and every time she's in the car, she would request for "Belle's story" or "Little Mermaid's story" or "Snow White's story"

So, thus the season of the princesses' tales.... thanks to the BIG BAD WOLF!

An accident happened....

It was on 20th April in the wee hours of the morning that my car met with an accident. No, it wasn't me that drove... it was hubby!

I got his permission to blog about this incident, so definitely I am not here to "condemn" him! :*

This was my car after the accident:

Thank God it didn't look like this:

When the accident took place, all that matters was his life. It could have been worst, but the LORD's hand was upon him. I also thank God that the accident happened NOT with another car but with a tree. So, that alone was a blessing too. Else, things could get more complicated.

Also, thank God that my sister-in-law loan me her car. Else, I will not be able to go to work as usual too. Some other arrangement has to be made. And again, things could be more complicated too!

All in all... we all learn one thing here, in one way or another. We learn to appreciate the things and people around us. We learn to be more careful and always pray for God's protection. It is more often than not that we take our lives and our belongings for granted.

My car is now in the workshop and I will only able to get it back some time next week. Looking at a brighter side, I will get a brand new car by next week! :)

[News] 9-month-old baby chokes to death on fish ball

2010/04/14
TAMPIN: A 9-month-old baby choked on a fish ball and died while being fed by a caretaker at a nursery in Jalan Cantik near the Tampin Hospital yesterday.

Wan Nur Alif Wan Arif Fadhla was sent by his parents to the nursery at 7.30am, but two hours later, he was believed to have choked on the fish ball the size of an adult's thumb.He was immediately rushed to the hospital some 50 metres away but was pronounced dead on arrival.The baby's father, Wan Arif Fadhla Wan Yusof, 41, said he received a call from his wife, Nur Azita Ibrahim, 31, at about 11.15am, informing him of the incident."My wife is a school teacher and she called me from the school, saying that our son had been admitted to the hospital."When I arrived at the hospital, I was told that my son had died. He had choked on a fish ball and was unable to breathe," said Wan Arif Fadhla, a civil servant.

He said he was very disappointed that the nursery staff had not cut fish ball into small pieces before feeding it to Wan Nur Alif. Wan Arif Fadhla said he had lodged a report at the Tampin police station.Wan Nur Alif will be buried at the Muslim cemetery in Kampung Pulau Kerengga in Marang, Terangganu.Tampin police chief Superintendent Wooi Hooi Cheng said the nursery staff would be questioned pertaining to the incident.When contacted, an officer of a district Welfare Department said a probe would be conducted.The officer also said the nursery had been in operation for many years.

News article taken from NST

This is a totally devastating news of what a nursery could do to a child. That is why it is extremely important to know inside out of the place we sent our children to whether it is a daycare, a nursery, a kindergarten, etc. We must do all the necessary checkings to ensure the safety of our children. Do they have the basic knowledge of childcare and education? Do they have the basic knowledge of health & safety for these little ones? Does the centre provide a safe environment for these little ones? Well, for this case, I don't know what the caretaker is thinking, but giving a fish ball? to a 9-month old baby? My goodness! I think this caretaker is really insane!

Daddy, Sarah & Alvin!

Mines Shopping Complex in Seri Kembangan has totally taken a leap in their business (I believe!) as they draw many people in ever since they change management. Well, no doubt after the facelift (almost like a total make-over!), Mines look so much more "high-class" now and thus attracting more and more people almost everyday. At present, you can see Alvin & Chipmunks Christmas deco at their center stage. It's lovely! FYI, coming up soon to theaters... Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Here's daddy & Sarah with the big Christmas tree & Alvin on the tree! :)

[R.E.A.L] OPEN DAY on 31st October 2009

Hi everyone!

Just a short note to share... that our centres' open day is this coming Saturday from 9am - 3pm!

Come! Bring your child, aged 4 - 6, and check out my centre at Bandar Tun Hussein Onn. We have lots of activities prepared for your child too on this special open day. When you register your child on this day, we will waive the registration fee and give you a mystery gift as well! Chun leh.... :)

See you then!

On the job @ Operafest Children's Choir

I was working late last Friday - doing shooting in the first and foremost performance in Lightbox Theater @ Jaya One. It was a good experience being so-called one of the pioneers in this theater, together with the crew for the day - Boss Andrew, BB Daniel the Lion & Kiddo Olivia... :)

I was there at 3pm to get ready for the rehearsal and later for the performance that night. Here are some pix to share about the day....

Crew @ work...
Picture (Top-Left & Bottom-Right): Boss Andrew... garang-nya muka!
(Top-Right): Kiddo Olivia and BB Daniel
(Bottom-Left): Me... thanks to the photographer that this is my "best" picture taken for the day... :p

The Operafest Children & Mrs Kam during the rehearsal...

Not many photos here... why? I didn't charge my batteries lor... boo hoo hoo...
But no worries, there is always BB Daniel who is always ready with his camera! :)

Check out more pix in his blog about Operafest performance on 24th July & 26th July.

Happenings @ Work

It'll be slightly more than 1 month before I head on to another journey in my career. It has truly been an exciting journey for me - lots of ups & downs. Hehe... Yet all in all, I have learned a lot of things from the experiences and exposure of one thing leading to another... not one that I expected, but then in every phase of life (or at least in my career), I have more to gain than lose. Praise the Lord for that!

My final project before I begin my new journey is the "BIG MOVE" project. It's also another new journey that my church and the organization as a whole is going through, and I'm excited for the move. I'm glad to be part of this project (at least for the initial stage!). It's a good thing to move. It's challenging, but it's GOOD! :)

The first thing about this "Big Move" is the construction and the forming of the physical theater in Jaya One aka "Lightbox Theater". Of course, sifu Andrew Coomby is the guy behind all these. He's a tremendous blessing to us all - a catalyst for change!... and I'm proud to be involved (in one way or another) in the coming church celebrations as well as the coming performances which are to be held in the theater, first being the Operafest Children's Choir. Check out more about the event here, organized by PJLA. (Thanks to Daniel for being so updated with information on site. Check out his blog post about the Operafest Children's Choir rehearsal! :))

OK... so that's currently the happenings in my life for the work part... more updates after this! :)

Back to work!

To pay or not to pay?

Which would you do?

Pray and hope for a parking spot and rush in to buy your stuff (food) from the supermarket within 15 minutes and get a free parking (or maybe not), OR just pay the parking fee of RM2 and enjoy your walk in the supermarket and buy what you want within the hour during your lunch break. Hehehe...

I don't know about you, but i've got an accountant colleague who will choose no. 1... hehehe... been through that rushing period with her many times, and most times we succeeded except once that we exceeded our time and had to pay RM2 for 20 minutes! LOL! The last time when we did this together - we went to Cold Storage @ Jaya 1, rushed in to buy our lunch and managed to save ourselves rm2, I told her i've gotta blog about this! We laughed saying, "We made it!" the moment we passed the paying booth without paying a single cent! :)

All I can say is... an accountant IS an accountant!

1st Putrajaya Dragon Boat Race 2009

It was a super hot and sunny day when the dragon boat race took place at Putrajaya last Saturday. Sarah wore her hat almost at all times... she knew she needed to protect herself from the hot sun. :)

The racers from both local & international were getting ready for their turns...

... and the race begun... and continued... until evening that day. It must have been a very very tiring week for all participants.

As always, events like this draw crowds especially photographers!
Check out super-mom Soo Pei! One hand carry Reanne, another hand carry camera! Hehe... :)
A family of 3 with DSLRs caught hubby's attention.
Check out the 2nd pix - father, mother & son photographers! All 3 were with DSLRs. According to hubby all high-end cameras and with big big lenses! (wah!!!)

They offered free horse riding at the same venue too! And of course we seized that free ride! Sarah was a little afraid of it when I carried her up. She cried so we let Daddy carry her while Mummy enjoy the short ride. Sarah, next time okie? :)
On the other hand, dear Reanne was very brave. Check out the cool look on her face during the whole ride. Way to go, Reanne!

[News] Mum reverses car into toddler

This is such a sad sad sad case.... When I read this, I was reminded of the case with Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter. The same thing happened... :(

Mum reverses car into toddler

KUALA LUMPUR: A three-year-old girl was killed when her mother, who was driving her car out of a car park in Desa Sri Hartamas, knocked into the child who was outside the vehicle.

Isabel Cheong died on the spot after suffering head injuries when her 29-year-old mother reversed the car.

She did not notice that her child was behind the car yesterday at Jalan 25/70A, acting city traffic police chief Deputy Supt Ng Fook Long said.

“The mother only realised she had run over her child after hearing her cries. She immediately got down to check what had happened.

“Passers-by tried to help pull the child out, but by the time she was dislodged from under the car, she had died,” he said.

The body was sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a post-mortem.

News article taken from the star online.


I hope every parents, guardians, siblings... will be more careful next time. Make sure your little ones are not anywhere out of your sight, especially when you are in the car and your child is not.

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009

The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009 was held in Putrajaya 2 weeks ago from 19-22 March.

My bro-in-law, CCK, invited us to join his family for a short outing there. We didnt make it the early morning one on that Saturday but we manage to join them for the night glow that same night. It was cool. It was fun indeed. Just a break from the usual routine... :)

Seeing so many people there brings forth an excitement in the air! It was Sarah's first time in Putrajaya and being so mobile now that she can walk steadily, she was pretty excited as well! It was fun to see the family going for outings like this. While the Daddys get their cameras out taking pictures of everything and anything, we Mummys take care of our little ones, enjoying the moments together!

Well, we expected the balloons to fly up in the dark - imagine so many big hot air balloons glowing brightly in the sky! That would really be fun, but no... that only remained in our imagination... maybe we can see that in the future. YES! :)

Be a contributor...

I was browsing through about Hannah Yeoh and the recent gotong-royong project that was organized by her office in Subang Jaya SS13 flats, and i came across her blog and i was deeply encouraged by what we can do for our community. I've blogged a little bit about it last month, and it seemed like a project that has already passed. But today, as i look at it again, it was actually a start of greater things ahead and more projects to come. Being part of the church and also Mediaworks, I am glad that I can contribute even in the post production of this project.

You may view the video here in utube.
Also, do check out her blog and my earlier post about the project! :)

Healing After Tragedy: Chapman Copes With Loss of Daughter

Steven Curtis Chapman: "While We Are Grieving This Process, There Is a Hope"

By JANICE JOHNSTON and EMILY YACUS

Aug. 6, 2008

Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman and his family suffered a profound loss on May 21 when his 5-year-old daughter Maria Sue was accidentally hit by his 17-year-old son, after she ran into the path of his SUV in their driveway. Maria later died at a Nashville hospital. The Chapman family gave an exclusive interview to "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts in their Tennessee home, discussing the accident, their faith and family strength in the wake of their tragedy.

Read more here.

A Literacy Workshop for Parents

Last Thursday, had ladies' day out with Marilyn & Paulla... err... well, actually it's ladies' day in (haha!) - in Segi College, that is. :)

It was quite a last minute invitation but it was hard to resist when seemed to me, this workshop would be really something that I, as a new parent, would need to know. Hubby on the other hand need to go back earlier to take care of Sarah, so he couldnt attend even though he wanted to.

I got permission from CEO to leave office earlier that day. Thank you, Elijah. :)

Many of those who attended were either parents or early-childhood educators - Paulla's one of them! I learn a lot through the teachings as well as through the sharing and questions from the attendees.

The workshop presenter, Carolyn Choo, has been actively involved in education for more than 20 years, sharing her passion for literacy and literature with preschoolers, college students, undergraduates and adult learners.... like me! Hehehe...

Well.... what do i learn from the workshop? I'd say.... It was good! It was worth going! Let me share with you as much as I possibly can remember... :p

How can we encourage our children to enjoy the printed words?

For a start.... do you know that books have sound and smell, which little children can hear and sense the smell? Interesting right? There are some things that even we adults have no idea of. Children, on the other hand, are very creative – young as they are, and their imagination will grow deeper and wider as we adults help them to understand the links between sounds and shapes of the alphabets, that make the words, that make the sentences.

How to make book experiences enjoyable for both child and parent?
Here are some guidelines :-

• choose the right book (to connect with the children, we need to choose books that is suitable to the child’s development)

• use expression as you read

• point to pictures and label

• have the child respond (ask questions to encourage the child to think. Link the story to the child)

• have the child predict and link the book to life

• have child supply sound effects while you read (interaction makes it MORE interesting!!!)

• ask what sounds and smells might be in the story (ask the child what they can see, taste and smell… you cant get this on TV! Books stimulates the mind)

• review and retell

• a celebration of reading and of books but not a comprehension drill

In this workshop, we also went through the basic of the phonics tools, ie the "Letter-sound relationship". It was interesting. It brought me back to the days when i watched Sesame Street when i was a kid!

"c" - "a" - "t"...... "c" - "aaaat"...... "c" - "aat"........ "CAT"! Muaahahahhahaa! :D

Yep! That's how we should teach our child to read and not just memorizing letters or words. By this, even though the process might be slow, it will strengthen the foundation of literacy, and when they grow older, having this foundation will enable them to recognize all words.

So... firstly, train the child to hear the differences of SOUND - get to know the basic sounds of English (phonics). You can play games like "I spy with my eyes...", "Rhyme games" and "Songs & music & movement". If you have problems with phonics, do visit here
Remember this: Worksheets & workbooks are not for younger children. They need to move and use their senses!

Secondly, train the child to see the differences of SHAPE - use everyday items (in the house) to bring shape awareness to the child. You can do pairing activities like putting labels on household products. Introduce alphabet shapes.

Finally, match the letters and sounds. Once they are familiar with the matching of letters and sounds, they can match almost any words with its pronunciation. Start with three letter words, and when the child's ready, you may introduce more word patterns.

So parents, it's time to enjoy literacy with your child! :)

Project Gotong-Royong in Subang Jaya

It was just last Saturday that my church was involved with a Gotong-Royong in Subang Jaya SS13, partnering with Y.B. Hannah Yeoh, a committed christian in government & MPSJ to address the concerns of those in that area.
Many of my church members were there including hubby, BB Daniel, BB CK & BB Joshua! You can read more about the event in their blogs! BB Daniel blogs from his handphone and i get live coverage of the event while at home then! i only receive copyright from CK for the photos posted here. hehehe... i wasnt there cuz i was taking care of baby Sarah at home.


p/s - BB = Brother Blogger! :D

Field Trip - MIS

After church service last Sunday, my family & the Chiews headed to MIS (Melaka International School) for a field trip. Had a simple lunch there and thereafter went around the school - checking out the different classes and co-curricular activities offered in this one and only international school in Melaka.

My bro is a legal adviser for the school and there were some issues to deal with with regards to the Melaka government wanting to acquire a part of the school land to build some roads... MIS was owned by the government in the earlier days but they did not do well, so they open it up to those who are interested to buy shares. After a while, Dr Mohamed Ishak & his wife, Mrs Shamsunnisa Ishak (the Chief Executive) bought over MIS and took full ownership of the school. MIS started out as a small school but now, Dr Ishak & wife bought a piece of land, build a huge school and develop a plantation to further educate the importance of going green. They successfully developed MIS but seems to us that the government is not too happy about that! Anyhow, the family were there to kill 2 birds with a stone, for the legal matter as well as to just stick our noses in to know more about this school and its going-ons (established since 1993).

Mrs Shamsunnisa brought us (together with some other unfamiliar faces) around the school. Then, Mr ... (a Chinese uncle :p), whom i guess is the farming fertilizer's expert brought us to the field and their botanical garden, telling us the different plants and its health function and also the process of making fertilizers! Very very smelly indeed! hahaha!

Paul & his good buddy Joseph were at their playful selves. So as what most boys would do, they were running here and there, getting themselves all sweat and smelly and having a jolly good time together. Baby Sarah on the other hand was sleeping half the time.

This plant on the left promotes healing for diabetes!

Vote for Me! Me! Me! :D

Harlo Uncles & Aunties!!!

Please vote for me!!! :D
Just follow this link & search for my name "Sarah Chong"
Vote for me EVERYDAY! *huggies*


p/s - some of you may wonder how to vote. Just click on the numbers beside the milk bottle. Click 10 so the baby will show a "Happy Face" :D

In Memory of Maria Sue Chapman

My condolences to the Chapman family.
I do not know them personally, nor do i know this little girl Maria, but just watching the short video posted in their site gave me a chance to know them.

Maria was such a darling and Steven Curtis is such a great father. The Chapman family has shown a great deal of love which has touched my heart so deeply. I pray that God will strengthen their hearts and may they grow stronger together, knowing that their little girl is in a better place called Heaven.

© 2007 Tucker Photography.

(Left to right Will Franklin, Maria, Steven, Shaoey, Mary Beth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily)

MARIA SUE CHAPMAN, DAUGHTER OF STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, DIES IN ACCIDENT AT FAMILY HOME

NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

Visit

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/mni/daughter-of-christian-music-star-killed-by-car.html

http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/2008/05/maria-and-siste.html

Water Crisis in Seri Kembangan

View from the 7th floor (zoomed-in of course! :))
Water truck from Syabas!
Residents of BH queueing up to fill up their pails!
Waiting for the lift...

Not sure whether it happened only at our apartment, or the surrounding neighborhood, or the whole of SK, but it sure was an experience for those staying here. Not sure what happened but there wasn't water at all in our tank! Not a single drip! It was like desert since Saturday afternoon. 2 truckloads of water supply came to our rescue, but still... it wasn't enough for the residents here. I guess it was on a 1st come 1st served basis.

We filled up 4 pails of water, and that was as much as we can take for that night. Had to forgo cooking at home and so we went out to dine instead. (there goes our fresh spinach we bought from Giant!) sigh...

Still no water on Sunday morning, but (*phew*) thank God water came back on Sunday evening (or maybe late afternoon) - filled up all our pails again (just in case!).
Sunday night - no more water (again!)!!! Monday morning - no good news yet! Really ridiculous! *sigh*

So, hopefully, we will go back tonight with water supply in our water tanks.

hmmm... i wonder whether the coming election has anything to do with this... hmmm...