Technically, he is NOT WRONG.

We have TWO super hyper active offspring at home. While Ryan is ever jumping and fighting with his imaginary monsters, Chenya is ever inquisitive, curious of almost everything and is constantly on a look out for new nooks and corners in the house to explore and new things to play with. Having both of them in the apartment at the same time, awake and playing together, will guarantee you endless screaming and shouting, and inevitably, a never ending streams of 'No', 'Be careful', 'Don't do that!' or 'STOP!' from either me or their mom.

Last night, while Chenya was standing by the balcony window looking out for smoke that has been billowing from a very tall chimney some distance away (she seemed to enjoy watching and we have that almost the entire day now as we are entering into a very cold winter in Beijing), Ryan (being Ryan as usual, innovative in finding new ways to have fun, often getting into our nerves) was playing behind the curtain.

Chenya, not to be outdone, immediately imitate and followed and almost pull down the entire curtain. This girl is kinda of a 'destroyer' of sorts. Within a day of shifting in, she has already managed to spoilt a light switch and I just discovered the 'Panasonic' logo on our LCD tv, halfway being peeled off!

Not only are we worried that she would pull the curtain down but more importantly how she would hurt herself.

His mommy immediately went into a strings of 'Ryan, no!', 'Ryan, stop that!', 'Chenya, don't play with the curtain!'. Ryan as usual would pay no attention once he is in his 'Play 'Mode' until someone has to raise his or her voice and that his mommy finally did, running out of patience.

 

'How many times have I asked you not to play with the curtain?' she went on, not exactly expecting an answer but merely voicing her frustration.

 

"Say 'I will not play with curtains!' she continued. "Say 10 times!"

"10 times." Ryan obediently followed!

I burst into laughter almost spilling my coffee all over the dining table.

Technically speaking, he was Not wrong!

His teacher has been `Unclefied!'

Ryan's new class teacher in Beijing, Jeff walked in, greeting us with a smile.

 

It was an impromptu arrangement and we were glad that Ryan (yes, he shared the same name as our cheeky Ryan), the Campus Director made that last minute meeting so that we could hear what his class teacher has to say about Ryan after a few days at his new school.

 

After all, we were a little worried as to how he has been adapting to his new environment, friends, routine and teachers.

 

For a start, he has started to take the school bus to and from school everyday instead of being fetched by me. To an extend, I think he likes it because there are other friends on board as well.

 

"Hello. I'm Jeff" Jeff extended his hand for a handshake...."and I am the UNCLE" with a smile.

 

For a moment, I could not comprehend what he meant.

 

"I am the UNCLE!" Jeff repeated.

 

And then, it dawned upon me that that was what Ryan has been calling him, his very own teacher "Uncle!"

 

He has managed to bring something very Malaysian over to Beijing China and introduced that to his school because it is customary for us back in Malaysia to teach our children to politely address an older gentlemen as `Uncle' and a lady 'Auntie', although not every lady would take to being called an `Auntie' happily as it suggest that they are no longer qualified to be categorised as sweet and young.

 

Well, at least, he was smart enough to only address his male teacher as Uncle and has not called his sweet looking assistant teacher as "Auntie".

 

We are glad that we have been told that he has been adapting well in school and getting along with his friends and teachers. With that anxiety finally put to rest, we know that our settling down process is taking shape quite nicely and soon, we could start exploring this new land and adventure.

You are giving me a HEADACHE!

As I was browsing through the Tomy Roma's menu at Anaheim, Los Angeles after a two hours drive back from San Diego where we have spent a day earlier at the Sea World, carefully selecting a hearty meal that would hopefully gives me enough energy to last me till midnight later at Disneyland, Ryan, as usual wanting attention, asked me which ultraman figurine that he has brought along for this holiday would I want?

"Daddy, you want Dyna or Ultraman Gaia?" he asked, shoving the two figurines into my face.

Irritated, tired and just wanting to get him off my back, I said "Tiga". For the uninitiated, Tiga is yet another Ultraman in the huge ultraman family.

"Huh? Tiga? No! I don't have Tiga!" he screamed.
"I asked you which one you want? Dyna or Gaia?" he continued.
"But I want Tiga" I repeated, wanting to agitate him and give me a piece of his own medicine when he agitates me non stop.
"I told YOUuuuuu. I don't have Tiga!" he repeated.
"Why not?" I asked, sensing blood, knowing that he was getting impatient.
"I didn't bringggggg!" he explained.
"Why not?" I persisted.
"I told youuuuu, I didn't bring!" he said
"Why? I wanted Tiga because he is so strong!" I insisted.
"But I didn't bringggggg!" his eyes rolling with frustration and agitation.
"But I want!" I pressed on, a line that he uses so often on us that will never fail to drive us up the wall.
"I told you alreadyyyyyy, I didn't bring!" you can have either Dyna or Gaia Onlyyyy!" trying to stress his point.
"But I only want Tiga." I insisted.

At this point, he was already irritated with me to the max, a moment of which I enjoyed tremendously. What a evil daddy I am, but hell, I am having fun for once and having him at the receiving end.

He rolled his eyes and one hand on his head and exclaimed, "Daddy! You are giving me a Headache!"

Both my wife and I burst into laughter and we were laughing so hard till we cried and I am pretty sure that the patrons next to us must have thought the Chinese next to them have absolutely gone mad and were too loud, like all other Chinese they must have came across.

It's pay back time ! Hehehehehe

"No Way!"

Mommy came back from Beijing recently and the kids were totally excited to see her after so long. All her fears that Chenya will not recognised her or would want her anymore after not seeing her for over three weeks were unfounded when Chenya screamed in delight the moment she saw her mommy. Mommy of course was over the moon.

My mom came over for a visit and stayed for a week with us and an opportunity to do some bonding with her grandchildren especially the cheeky Chenya before we move to Beijing in October. One day, my mom, not being literate in English, asked us, what does "No way!" meant.

"Why?" I asked. She said that she heard Chenya uttered those words when fighting with her brother over toys. "Are you sure?" we asked her again in disbelief.

"I don't know" she replied. "But sounded like that. You know me. I don't know what they were talking in English." she continued.

When mommy came back from Beijing, she brought back with her gifts for both of them and as usual, they would fight over their toys. Somehow, children being children, always find toys belonging to others seemed to be more attractive than their own.

While Ryan was not looking, Chenya quietly grab hold of her brother's box of snake and ladder board game. The moment Ryan saw it, he got up and went after her sister. "No. Chenya! Kor Kor's one! Cannot Play!"

The moment she saw her brother coming, she turned around and ran.

"No Chenya!. Give me back!" Ryan went after her and was trying to grab the toy out of her hand...

"NO WAY!" she screamed back, pulled hard and with the toy firmly in her hands, she scurried to the kitchen with Ryan hot on her heels, screaming..."Daddy! Chenya took my toys!"

Both of us were too shocked and at the same time, utterly happy hearing what she said, to intervene in helping until Ryan shouted again..."Mommy! Chenya took my toy!"

"No Chenya....Give kor kor back his toy!" mommy went after her while Chenya was giggling cheekily in the kitchen, waving the toy in her hand as if to exhibit her victory in her `battle' with her brother.

She is definitely the fiercer one with a temper in the family and will probably soon be establishing her turf and boundaries and territories.

When in Rome do what the Romans do!

My first impression of Beijing China was not exactly nice nor charming. Having heard too many horror stories of how obnoxious the Chinese can be and their rather disgusting behavior, I was really apprehensive.

For one, Chinese in China do not seemed to understand the meaning of queuing up for anything. They seemed to be a rather single minded very focused people who only sees their objective and where they want to go and what they want to do, and in the process, are totally ignorant of the people around them or the inconvenience that they could have caused others in their pursuit of their objective.

They don't seemed to understand nor have ever heard of the concept of `first come first serve'. There seemed to be only one concept in China (or places that I have observed so far) and that concept is "Me First and Now!"

Hence, during my first visit, being accustomed to queuing up for anything and everything, I find myself totally frustrated at every turn. At the airport, we have people cutting queues without an iota of guilt. It was even frustrating when it comes to taking a good picture. While I am accustomed to waiting in line for my turn to take a picture from a certain location, I found out too soon that that does not always work. You could end up waiting for hours because there will always be some Chinese who would just sneaked in. And the worst part of it was, they don't leave after having their picture taken, oblivious that there are still others waiting to take a picture. Instead, they would linger on, either having a conversation or comparing their pictures in their camera.

Well, the phrase "When in Rome, do what the Romans do" holds true. On my subsequent visit to the Forbidden City, I told myself that I will not be intimated and I will behave exactly like how a Chinese in China would behaved. Although I would still queue as much as I can, I will do everything I can to ensure that no one would be able to sneak in front of me. As far as taking a pictures is concerned, no more Mr Nice Guy who would wait till the person in front is finished with their pictures. I will just stationed myself where I feel would give me the best angle and I will make sure that I will not move either until I am satisfied that I have captured the angle I wanted.

There were certain occasions when I find some inconsiderate idiots just walking up in front of my camera while I was taking my shot. Instead of being frustrated and gets totally irritated, I find myself coolly picking myself up and walking right in front of them, oblivious that they too are in the midst of taking a picture, and anchored myself for the shot that I have originally intended to take.

I find myself happier, less irritated and suddenly more at home in Beijing as if I am now just one of the crowd. After all, that is what everyone else is doing. I think I am going to do well and fit Beijing before too long.

On the Way! On the Way!

Malaysians are known to be notorious time keepers. Let just said that punctuality is not something we really put any value to and being late or having to wait for someone is almost our second nature.

Nobody expects a wedding dinner to start on time, and because of that nobody will ever try to go to a wedding dinner on time and hence, when will we ever be ready to start a wedding dinner on time. Go figure ....

I for one, hate being late and I really hate waiting for anyone. But unfortunately, living in Malaysia and being a Malaysian, I have to get accustomed to it. Waiting for a client who turned up 30 minutes later with an excuse of `traffic jam' is a norm.

"Sorry..Sorry" he would said..."traffic jam...don't know why ar? So bad today...Normally, would only take me 10 minutes but today also don't know why. 30 minutes also can not move ...Sorry sorry." he would continue ...

And what would be our most common response, being as diplomatic as we can, while we control every urge we have to give him one of the `importance of being punctual' lecture ....."yes ar .....aiyoh..common lor...nowadays traffic is like that lar. Really cannot tell one hor .." with a forced smile ...

The other common expression that we would normally hear when we call someone who is already running 20 minutes on the cell phone ..."On the way...on the way!"

I was sitting in the coffee shop yesterday morning at about 9:30am having my `engine-starting' coffee. In came, a man in his forties with two of his friend. He looks like a contractor judging from his attire. They sat down and he ordered his coffee and was having a gay conversation with his friends. Then his phone rang ....

He picked it up and said "On the way. On the way already." and then puts it down.

Obviously someone on the other end of the line must be chasing him or asking him when he would be arriving. In an unhurried manner, he put down his phone, have another sip of his coffee, folded his legs and lighted a cigarette. He was obviously in no hurry to leave and seemed to be oblivious that someone on the other end of the previous conversation was either already waiting for him or will be waiting for him soon.

By the time I left 15 minutes later, he was still there with his cigarette, his coffee and his mates.

I too have my fair share of friends whom I known for a fact that when they said that they were `on their way' it simply meant that they have just left the house, or are about to leave the house, or worse yet, totally have forgotten the appointment but too ashamed to admit it and will be frantically getting dressed for the appointment.

So, if someone tells you the next time that they are 'on their way'...you can start ordering you next round of coffee or puff the next round of your cigarettes because you can be sure that the 'traffic jam' outside is going to be unexpectedly bad .........

He gets better and better ....

Yesterday I woke up with a nasty sore throat, a body that seemed to be wanting to fall apart and a perpetual pounding in my head.

So, when I was driving Ryan to Bangsar Village for his normal music class, I was not very much in the mood to talk. He was asking if he could stay back after the afternoon music class and played a while at Borders bookstore which he normally would. I told him that he can't.....

Ryan: Why cannot daddy?
Daddy: Because daddy is not feeling well...daddy wants to go back and sleep.
Ryan: Daddy not sick? Not feeling? (showing his very very concerned face)
Daddy: Yes. We go another time ok..?
Ryan : Ok....
Ryan : Daddy....you must go and see doctor and stay in the hospital for a few days if you are sick.
Daddy: Huh?
Ryan : Yes. You must go and see doctor. Before you go you must put in the Ultraman DVD into the TV so that kakak can just pressed and start before you go. OK? Daddy? Promise? Promise you go and see doctor and stay in hospital?

So, what do you think I am promising to?
Promising to go and see the doctor because I am sick? Is that what the promise was all about? Or promising to a not-so-hidden agenda of his?

The cheeky lad of mine is getting better and better in negotiating what he actually wants. He just might have a brilliant career as a politician and I then can retire to rear cows and live in a luxurious condo in Bangsar .......:)

I was lectured !

I received a pretty good lecture from my son Ryan 2 nights ago. Yupe. My 4 year old son gave me a piece of his mind.

We were having dinner at Citta Mall and he wanted to follow along. Ryan, being Ryan, he would definitely want to order something that he likes. This time, he ordered a bottle drink since he already had his dinner prior to this.

We were happily enjoying our dinner and he was happily playing with his iPad and drinking his juice that he ordered himself.

When we were about to finish, he realised that he still have half a bottle left and he requested that he be allowed to take the bottle home.

"No problem." I said.

"But..I need straw wor ..." he replied.

"Can. Then you asked uncle to give you a straw to take home lor ..." I continued...

"OK..." he replied and immediately wanted to get up from his baby chair to go to the counter to ask for his straw...

"Wait lar ....wait for uncle to come and ask ma..." I stopped him...

He looked at me with a very frustrated look and a frown on his face ...

"Why you don't let me go? Huh? You said go and ask uncle for the straw. I want to go but daddy said Cannot Cannot Cannot! Always said CANNOT! But you asked me go ma ...Now you said CANNOT!" he rambled, frowning and with his arms crossed .....

At this juncture, my wife cannot stop giggling, looking at how her son is grilling his daddy and obviously enjoying and savoring every moment of it. As for daddy, guilty as charged.

What choice do I have? I did not specifically said "Ask from uncle AFTERWARDS" did  I....?

So I helped him down from his baby chair and he happily ran to the counter and got what he wanted ... a straw so that he can take home with his drink...

And what did daddy get? A lecture from his son ......:)

I am dumbfounded ....

I was picking up Ryan from his daycare yesterday and he was all excited about a piece of sticker from one of his teachers. He was in his usual talkative self and was talking non stop in the car. I must admit that I was not really paying much attention, firstly because, he can get rather annoying asking you the same question over and over again and secondly, I was negotiating my way over some heavy evening traffic.

Then out of the blue, he asked me, "Daddy, did you listen to what I say?"

I was caught....

"What did you just said?" I asked.

"I said I got this piece of sticker from Ms Jess." he replied and waved the sticker at me.

Honestly, I was just entertaining him and was not really paying much attention.

"What did  you get?" I asked again....

"This sticker lar ....!" he replied, this time, rather impatiently ....

"What sticker?" I asked without actually looking at him...he was sitting at the back of the car...

"THIS STICKER LAR!" he replied ...

"Who gave you the sticker?" I asked, hoping to strike off a conversation ...

"Ms Jess LAR!" he replied, obviously annoyed with me for not paying attention ...

And the next sentence got me all dumbfounded ...

"Daddy, you must put on your BIG EARS and open your BIG EYES when I talked to you..OK?"

I was like "Huh?"...."Put on my big ears and open my big eyes..?" I asked...

"Yes, teacher said 'Children, put on your big ears to listen and open your big eyes to see'?" he replied.

What can I say except "I am sorry Ryan..."

This son of mine is growing up fast ....

Practicing to eat ALONE!

There are people who can be alone and there are people who just cannot be alone. My wife and I are of the complete opposite and maybe that is why we could compliment each other...The saying "Opposite attracts" seemed to hold so true...I am what she is not and she is what I am not (Thank God!)

From a young age, I have learnt to enjoy being alone. I enjoy the peace and freedom I possessed when I am alone, being able to eat when I eat, where I eat, what I eat, where I go, when I go and do what I do, how I do it and when I do it.

I am so used to having a drink alone and having my meals alone. In fact, there are times that I really enjoy it.

Now, please don't get me wrong. It is not that I don't enjoy the company of my better half. In fact, having her is the best thing that had happened to me. Like the old favourite song in Sound of Music, "Somwhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something GOOD!" But there are times when being alone, allows me to explore things more freely. One example of course, was when I go on a photography trip.

My wife on the other hand is the complete opposite. She is not used to be alone very much. She needs company as much as she could. I guessed the only time she could be left alone and pretty happy at that was when she go on a shopping spree, especially when she goes to those Factory Outlets in US. As far as she could remember, she has never really taken a meal alone. She admitted that if she is alone, she rather not eat. She would not walk down to the cafetaria for example and have her meal if she is alone.

But situation sometimes forces one to start adapting and she is trying....

She will be going to Beijing first to start on her new role and we will be following a couple of months later after I have settled the things that needed to be settled back here in Malaysia. And, while she is there during the first few months, she would have no choice but to EAT ALONE!

It is a terrifying idea to her. And to get herself prepared for that, she ACTUALLY went down from her office in KLCC a couple of days ago and attempted to have lunch ALL BY HERSELF!

And she said that this is probably her second time in her entire life so far! Bravo dear! So proud of you!

And she said that it was a harrowing experience because she said that she felt like a fool, all alone eating her lunch. But she is trying and I am so proud of you.....

Girlie ! Girlie !

Chenya is almost like a tomboy at this stage. She is more active and curious than Ryan at his age. As I have mentioned before, she is constantly on the move, climbing everything that she can hang on to....

So, mommy afraid that she would turn out to be more tomboyish, started to teach her to act more feminine like.

So, now every time, mommy said "Chenya, girlie, girlie..." ..

.... this is how she would act and pose .....

But don't be easily fooled that she is all feminine and gentle .....

She can easily turned into this as well .....

This is definitely not a lady that you want to fool around with .......hahahahaha

Have a good weekend ahead...my dear friends and readers....and TQ for dropping by ....

My legs are for ....

"Daddy ....hold" Ryan asked as I got him ready for school and he wants to be carried into the car .....
"Why? Cannot walk meh?" I responded
"No ...." he answered.
"Why not? You got legs ma ...." I reminded him
"My legs not for walking daddy ...." he replied
"Huh? Then your legs for what?" I said
"My legs are for running and....swimming ...and jumping!" he replied matter of factly
"Why are your legs not for walking?" I queried further
"Because I get tired ...." he replied without hestitation
"....running and jumping not tired meh? " I continued
"No. I got energy to run and jump. Walking staircase also tired ma." he responded
"Your school got stairs also ma " I said
"So, in school, you walk or teacher carry you? " I asked further
"In school, I walk myself." Ryan replied
"Why? Why in school can walk?" was my next question
"In school, walk stairs not tired ma...." he replied convincingly...

(Slap head)

Then he asked me "Daddy, can you jump?"
"Yes ..." I replied
"Can you run?" he asked further
"Yes, of course!" I replied
"Can you walk?" he probed
"Yes, of course!" I replied again

Then wanting to catch him of guard ....I asked ...

"Can you walk?"
"Yesss....errrrrrr....NO! My legs only for running!"

OK. I rest my case.

Taken in Club Med Cherating in February 2012 this year when we had a holiday there. This little guy can certainly jump and run. Walk ....errrrrr.....oh no...his legs were not meant for that ...

You sure?

As parents, sometimes when our little angels are sleeping and when we looked at them, we feel so blessed ....and so many times, my wife looking at them would turned to me (jokingly .. I hope) and said "Hei...have a few more lor?"

One look at the picture above, and immediately you know the answer to that question ...Hahahaha....Trying to manage one Ryan at home often times drive us up the wall since he is a super active child. Imagine, trying to manage 8 of them! The answer to that question is a solid "TQ! NO WAY!"

King is not Enough!

We have been trying for ages to get Ryan to sleep in his own bed without much success...He now permanently occupies the center part of our King size bed. With one more baby coming in July, God knows where I am going to sleep next...and then again, there is still Zoewe, our toy poodle who absolutely just cannot be left alone (pretty much like her mommy and brother Ryan)...

I walked up to my bedroom that night, tired and all ready to just lay down on my comfy pillow for my sweet slumber when I came across this....... emmmmm....

King is simply not enough..I need a double King size bed soon or else I will be sleeping on the floor ....sigh....

When the water bag burst...bring the handphone charger !!

Ryan is almost 3 years old now. As my wife and I were sitting yesterday at Damansara Specialist Center waiting to get my stress test done, (and we were there since 10am in the morning!), we were discussing on how should we celebrate his coming 3rd birthday. Naturally, we ended up talking and remembering fondly his arrival 3 years ago ....and I'm still laughed at for doing probably one of the most unlikely or `stupidest' thing in my life....

Wife was carrying Ryan for 34 weeks then. She was coughing badly and her work load has been pretty stressful during that period. May was their financial year closing, hence, the pressure of chasing of sales figures to make up the volume or the stretch target was always there ...

On the 28th May night, she came back late at 11pm after a stressful meeting with her boss. I remembered she walked in wearily and was so tired that she said she will skip dinner and would probably just take a bath and retired. Ryan was not due for another couple of weeks. Suddenly, she called out from the bathroom, while sitting on the toilet seat saying that she is `leaking'. I came rushing in and not knowing what to say (honestly) told her to continue sitting and wait awhile if the `leak' continues. After another minute or two, she said `yes..still leaking with a bit of blood.'

Honestly, I have started panicking inside but being a all macho husband, have to put up a brave front. Don't know ask me why, but the next thing I told her to do was....'Ok. Go and have your bath first.' Maybe experience tells me that a bath is something she would not have a chance to take for the next couple of weeks if Ryan is really arriving.

After her shower, she confirmed that she was still `leaking'. "Ok" I told her. "Water bag burst liow. Time to go hospital for check up now." sounding confident and like I really knew what I was doing.

So we changed and get ourselves ready. Then she asked me what to bring along. And I told her to make sure to bring her handphone charger !!!!! Why? I really don't know. Maybe because somehow I have the inclination that she would be admitted and would need to make calls. Maybe because she has the tendency to run her phone battery to the ground and always complained that her handphone battery is flat. Maybe because I knew that she would still be making calls over the next few days (even in the hospital) to chase sales figures since it is the financial year closing. I really don't know why. But, my wife obediently pack her handphone charger and off we went to the hospital.

Her water bag did burst though the baby wasn't due yet. Wife ended up hosptilised for another 2 days with medication and steroids to prepare Ryan's arrival, planned on the 31st May. Was the handphone charger useful? OF COURSE! During her two days there, she DID made those calls to chase for the figures required.

Would I remind her to bring the handphone charger this round for our coming daughter? Of course besides other equally important items such as change of clothes, hot water tumbler etc..hahahaha

I am Humbled!

I was totally humbled by my son the other day.

Over weekend, we went out in the morning. When we arrived home, Ryan was his usual active self, jumping, climbing and running all over the house.

As it was time for his milk, he told me he wanted his milk. We were downstairs and we had a tin of his milk powder stored in the kitchen.

Instead of wanting the maid to make it for him, he insisted that I make it for him. I am used to making his milk at night upstairs everyday but I have seldom make it for him during the day downstairs. Anyway, since he wanted me to make it, i went to the kitchen, opened the cabinet door and pull out a can of milk powder. I filled up his bottle with the right amount of hot and cold water and open the can of milk powder. As I looked the milk powder, I am already wondering why the milk powder looks different from the one I used every night.

And at the moment, this little rascal was shouting "NO! I don't want this ONE!"

"Go away! Go and Play first" I replied thinking that he was just being difficult and wanted more attention.

"NO! I don't want this ONE!" he insisted.

"Daddy said Go and wait!" I was getting impatient.

"NO. Not this ONE! THIS IS MOMMY'S ONE!" he shouted in reply.

OMG!. I took one look at the label and true enough, I have pull out the ENFAMAMA instead of his Pedisure. And the ENFAMAMA is my wife's milk powder. And I was about to make him a bottle of ENFAMAMA if he has not been so insistent that he DOES NOT WANT this bottle.

My wife has the BEST LAUGH! I was truly HUMBLED! I told him I was so sorry for shouting at him and thank him for correcting me, giving him a big big hug.

He of course, was on cloud nine, laughing cheekily for the next half an hour. My wife has not stop laughing since......

Bowl Bento! Bowl Bento! ????

What do you think that phrase actually is? Beats me initially. Let me tell you how it got started....

We were driving Ryan to Cheras to pick up his grandmother. On the way, in the midst of our conversation, my wife asked me what I would like to do for my birthday (which is due next month). While I was thinking and contemplating how to answer her...my son answered for me ....

'EAT!' he said....

I looked at him and said 'Huh? What?'

...and he repeated again..."EAT! Daddy eat. Mommy eat. Ryan eat. Poh Poh eat. Ma Ma eat.'

We were pleasantly surprised. He has associated birthdays with eating and parties because we always have a good dinner when there is someone having a birthday at home. For a child not even 3, I think he is pretty smart (sorry..I'm again being bias ....)

Then he uttered 'Bowl Bento! Bowl Bento!'

"What?" I asked and he repeated again 'Bowl Bento!'
"Bowl Bento?" I asked again and he was getting frustrated and impatient that I could not understand him.
"No...Bowl Bento!' he repeated himself.

I looked at my wife and my wife asked again, "Bowl what?"

He was getting really frustrated by now and repeated himself again. "Bowl Bento! Fire Bento!" and he put his lips together and blew .....

Have you guessed by now what this little monster is trying to tell us?

"BLOW CANDLES!" That was what he was trying to tell us. For my birthday, I need to blow candles for my birthday cake.

Now I am convinced that I have a genius on my hand ...(getting overly bias by now but then hei, I just can't help it...he has inherited my genes ....Hahaha)

Kids say the funniest things !!!

1st day of 2011 Chinese New Year.

Kids sometimes come up with lines that will totally either amaze and surprise you OR totally embarrass you.

For courtesy and since this is the Chinese New Year period, we have been teaching Ryan to say "Gong Xi! Gong Xi!" while holding his hands together and he picks it up rather quickly.

On the first day, we asked him to great us `Gong Xi! Gong Xi!' early in the morning and in return (as in our Chinese tradition) gave him his red packet (ang pow). He gladly takes it and attempt to put it into his pocket. (We have told him the night before that ang pow has money inside and he must be careful with it while we were packing our ang pows for the new year).

Before we went out, we called our helper (maid) and gave her an ang pow, telling her that it is our tradition as Chinese to do that for the new year. She gladly (of course) took the ang pow and said 'Thank You sir and maam".

Then I jokingly asked her to hold her hands together and say `Gong Xi! Gong Xi!' as a gesture to greet guests during the new Year. As she hold her hand together to utter those greetings, Ryan intercepted with his version of the instruction.....

"Say Gong Xi! Gong Xi! Got MONEY wan.....!!!"

OMG! (Slap forehead)....We were definitely amused since he said it in front of our maid...but I would probably dig a hole to hide out of embarrassment IF he were to say it right before our guests or friends ....!