Magpie whereabouts again ?

See the two magpie standing at the window dono this time what are they up to...







Look like some kind of trading is going on...











Negotiation not successful?








Look like Clarabelle is at the upper hand...

Magpie

Magpie is a kind of passerine bird. I recalled seeing in an animal documentary show how these birds scavenged the residence's belonging and safe kept it as own collection.





Can figure where this photo taken from??
I know it is difficult but can figure there are some CDs ?
Yes! This photo solved the lately mysterious missing of numerous pieces of Barney cds and the culprit, of course is my two daughter. The hideout was actually the internal compartment of our projection TV. There is a slot between the screen and compartment, dono when they realised it and had hided so many cds inside.

See the father is dismantling the TV to retrieve the loot.

This is what we had acquired:
6 barney cds,
3 crayon xiao xin cds (mummy watching),
and 3 coaster !!!

Discipline

This chain photo amused me alot. It was taken when I was administering discipline in them. Cant recalled since when their daily life style have been associating with hitting & pushing each other so that day I decided to introduce "time-out" on them. That is to stop their whatever activities and make them stand straight against the wall, no movement, no noise for 5 mins. The purpose is to inculcate them hitting people is an unacceptable behaviour, when they hit people, their fun time will be paused. I was very sceptical how this going to work on them....

Check out the two monkies. Piror to that I was explaining to them why mummy make them stood there and it's wrong to hit each other or people... mummy dislike children hitting blar blar blar... but my words doesnt seem to hit into their head and they were whinning hoping I would give in. But I decided to ignore them by pretending sleeping and had captured these photos...
(Photo starting left to right downward)
Photo 1 - they thought I had fallen asleep... feeling bored and start to self entertained... Abella was looking out for me, see if I have awake.
Photo 2 - balancing on one leg... Clarabelle looking toward my direction also.
Photo 3 - suspecting me awake, tamed down abit.
Photo 4 - thought coast cleared... start their monkey things again.
Photo 5,6 - feeling bored standing.
Photo 7 - see Clarabelle folded her arm, she is angry, she had learnt that from barney in the series about feeling, the children folded their arm when they are mad, rubbed the eyes when sad, smiled when happy...
Photo 8 - monkey things again.
Photo 9 - approached mummy hoping will grant mercy... why not 5 mins time up already.

My girls have come to the stage that need discipline and I think this is one of the toughest task in parenthood. I object physical punishment on children as it gives them the idea that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems. They might also feel that they have paid for their misbehaviour and are free to do it again. Though physical punishment can stop children misbehave instantly but is temporary only. They merely due to terrified of adult and fear of pain but not because they think it is wrong to do so. Physical punishment also make the children hate themself and others as they will think that there are something wrong with them. It will ruins their self-esteem and doesn't work anymore when they become a teenager.

So much so about discipline and what does it take for effective discipline? Yeah is the letter P-atience. Yes mummy does have some patience but still... girls dont stretch mummy limit.

Barney or BJ ?

Last weekend I realised this confused print on the children's favourite mascot character. So I asked Abella : " This is Barney or BJ ?" The confused girl almost say Barney then she paused and replied BJ! I proceed to ask Clarabelle and the confident girl replied "Barney" without much hesitation. I wouldnt say the latter reply is wrong as I think Clarabelle acknowedge the colour but Abella is appearance. Indeed this two girls are different in certain way...

In case those who still cant tell the confusion... check out this picture

Barney is the center character in purple and green whereas BJ is on the right in yellow and green.

Montessori Lesson

Few day ago I was surfing the internet trying to find a school for my girls and stumble on this Montessori. I ever hearsay about montessori but not until that day I really understand the philosophy. I was quite impressed by their curriculum and very keen to put the girls into a montessori school. However there are still many issue to be ironed out. In this mean time I thought maybe I can start exploring montessori at home.






Their first montessori lesson- Experiencing Practical Life, tying shoe laces.
The moment I took out the pair of shoe, both of them were so excited, kept reciting shoe shoe and each start wearing one piece and ran away with it. I paused them by showing them how to pull the shoe lace thru the holes and asked them to mimic me. Well, my observation is, both of them can mimic quite well but they still need to acquire more concentration inorder to complete a task from beginning to end.


See, they had lost patient and start walking with the oversized shoe. I was still enjoying watching the two clumsy girls walking around with the oversized shoe and then knocked my head when realised myself was being negligence. It was quite dangerous for them to wear the oversize shoe as they might trip and fall or even twist their ankle. So we called it a day for the shoe laces tying lesson.

Silly Hat

See the silly hat Abella had worn on her head? It's a free sample diaper pant and Abella just enjoy wearing on her head. This silly girl never fail to amuse her mummy. kekeke








She is sure mummy's "pistachio nuts" ! Of course, Clarabelle, you're mummy's love also...

Putting on The Pant

Lately my girls love doing the putting on pant activity. Putting on another pant even though she already had one. Whenever they pass by the laundry basket where I use to put their dirty cloth or newly bought to be washed cloth, they will pick up the pant and begin this activity.





I was amazed that Clara was doing quite well without my guidance.











Can see that she was very happy with her achievenment.











Then she felt somewhere not appropriate and started to pull the pant further up with the aid of jumping force, hopefully can adjust the pant.














Thinking that after jumping, the pant should had fitted nicely though still feeling somewhere not complete...

Monkey wearing the sheep coat

During our CNY visiting, many people were praising my girls are sweety pie, quiet and composed... all the good praising a girl can receive.

look ! arn't they look sweet?

This is all artifical quiet ! Check out their legs in this photo... it's blur cos their legs are moving as they are actually kicking each other!

Still kicking!

Actually my girls are as mischievious as a monkey. They are only superficially quiet with people around. Behide the sheep's coat is actually the wildful monkey!

Girl's 2nd Chinese New Year

! 恭贺新禧 !

It's our Chinese Lunur New Year again!

This year we cannot celebrate as it is part of our filial piety to mourn my mil for 1 year.

Nevertheless my fil say its Ok for the grandchildren to wear red and he bought my children this tradition red chinese costume. As for the adults, we must keep all low profile.

Saying not celebrating mean we cannot give angbao and say well wishing words. For most chinese, CNY festival is also an annual gathering or house visiting event and everyone will wish each other when meet.

The thing make me awkward is that when we were at relatives or friends house, people still say well wishing to us but we can only keep mute but give a smile. Those who know about us will understand but those who dont know must be very puzzle. The worst is those that had gave my children angbao must be expecting me to give their children too. This tradition practice is conflicting the saying "give and take".

I almost want to make announcement that I am not celebrating CNY but this seem inappropriate as it's an happy occasion and only auspicious words allow.

Actually we should be staying at home but then some will say its an annual meet up, too long to wait till next year, keep pestering us to turn up.

Hai... whatever, all are human say.

I posted their last CNY photo and realised how my babies have "flourished" !