The Jolly season is here

Nope, the jolly season is not necessarily Xmas. It's the school holidays! It is the 7 weeks of school holidays which will drain the blood out of me! Ok perhaps it's not that bad. It means no school uniform hand-washing and ironing, no trips to the schools, no homework and tuition, and no more school parties!! But there'll be a lot of trips to everywhere else like the malls, friends' houses, wherever they feel like going (if mom agrees of course!). For as long as I remember, all the holidays passed by without any of us noticed it. All of sudden it was just ended with us thinking, what did we do during the holidays? Just eat play sleep?

This year perhaps a bit different. The first week was over with lotsa fun with their cousins, swimming, going to malls (god knows what fun is the mall??), online games, etc, etc. The next two weeks, they have started their Tahfiz camp daily at 830 to 1130. Thus will keep them busy the whole two weeks as they have lots of surahs to memorise. Then I thought of sending Eussuv to a tuition class as he did quite badly in his finals in October. Not sure yet about this one. 

We are going fishing with some friends this weekend. Our first time ever. Hope it'll be fun. The kids are ecstatic about it. We shall see.

Other than that we have yet to plan for anything. No plan of going anywhere else. We are nervously waiting -and hoping- for any offer for Irsyad to go to a boarding school (oh boy! I forgot to mention or rather "announce" that he managed to score all As in his UPSR!). And I'm supposed to take him to a dentist for his braces.. as well an appointment to see ENT specialist for his sinus.. if necessary. And I'm supposed to clean up their rooms to prepare for next year's school terms. Where am I going to trash all their books??  Aaahhh... so much to do and so little time. So disorganised of me!

But for now.. I just want to sit back and sing.. oh it's a jolly good season.. it's a jolly good season.....!

Another day

How times fly! I thought I would be a bit relaxed after THE exam (UPSR) but I was so wrong. I was so damn busy! I didn't have t the time to write (nor the mood!). There were too many school activities, parties, games, trips. And not to mention final exams for other kids. My time was spent cooking and transporting kids here and there. The cooking part is somewhat ridiculous... parties are every week thus I have to do extra cooking.. pasta la, muffin la, cake la.. Then there's October birthday party for Eussuv and Syasya. Though only close friends were invited, it was still a party and I still had to cook. But being me, not so rajin one, I only had something simple for the kids and, catered something else for adults. It was a very small party but it was a great one.

Tomorrow is gonna be a big day .. UPSR results will be out. And the day after is PSRA results. I reminded Irsyad (and myself as well) over and over again that we have to accept whatever results that he gets. He has tried hard, we all have. And the rest is in His hands. Who are we to question Him. We will have to brace tomorrow with open hearts.
Right after the results, they will head off to Melaka for a school trip. Something they have planned for months and coincidentally  the results are out on the same day. Since bookings have been made, they decided to go ahead with it. I for one don't really agree with this because I need him to be around to "digest" whatever results he may get, with me. Not far away with some friends. It's bad enough that now that he spends too much time with friends "online"!

As for now, I shall keep myself busy for another class party this afternoon and worry about tomorrow .. tomorrow itself!

It's finally here..

The most awaited moment is finally here. Irsyad is sitting for his Math UPSR paper at this very moment. Or maybe he's just done with it. We waited for this moment for so long with a lot of hardship and struggle and not forgetting some sacrifice. And I couldn't believe it's finally here. He's apparently very nervous since yesterday morning on the first day. I thought he would be cool.. I was wrong. He had nervous cough and stomach pain early morning. This rarely happened on normal days. He braced through his BM paper with a few doubts afterwards. Came back and asked me, "Mom, what is tepak sirih?" Oh dearrrr! He answered "seikat" tepak sirih and "sebatang" kacip!!!! I don't blame him for not knowing.. he's never even seen tepak sirih. He thought it was just sirih.. so it's seikat!

At the eleventh hour last night he started asking me basic questions of Math. Like formula of profit. Ouhhhh... I feel like calling his tuition teacher and ask him.. what's going on here?? He's nervous alrite! Tomorrow will be a longgg day with English paper 1 and 2, and Science. To wrap it up they will also have aptitude test. A test that nobody knows what it's all about... and the teachers never bother to tell them what is it all about and for what. Typical of Malaysian education system. 

After all his efforts, I just hope he'll do well. But like I told him many many times, "just do your best, I will accept whatever results you bring home. I know you've worked hard. I still love you anyway!"

There are over 490,000 candidates sitting for UPSR this year.. and I thought whoaaaa.. that many?? Really? So imagine if you want to put them into boarding school, imagine the fight.I will start thinking of secondary school nearer to the time. Next week will another exam, PSRA, for his agama school. But first, we will balik kampung for raya this weekend. A delayed raya due to UPSR!

Ramadhan that's almost ending

I couldn't believe August is almost over not to mention Syawal is just another 10 days away. I didn't even get to wish Selamat Berpuasa to all my friends! Perhaps I should already be wishing everybody Selamat Hari Raya. This has been the most hectic Ramadhan ever! It's full with cooking plus the usual routine housework that never ends. I have to adjust my routine to suit the cooking timing. 

Then there's exams and exams. Couldn't understand why they have to schedule exams during Ramadhan. If we are truly an Islamic country, there should be no school in Ramadhan at all. Like we all don't know what kind of country we live in!!! OK back to exams, Irsyad will be sitting for his UPSR a week after raya. That would also mean, no raya this year. I (not Irsyad) will be too nervous to celebrate the Eid! Which this also means, we are not going back to my hometown this year. The good thing is, 3 other cousins of his, are also sitting for the exam. Thus none of my siblings are going back to our hometown. Instead we all decide to welcome Syawal here in KL. How boring huh! Even my siblings will be travelling here. A change of celebration for once. I hope things will go well and as planned!

There's so much to tell since July.. but I don't have the time nor the energy to write. Perhaps I will update later.

For now I wish everybody Selamat Hari Raya and happy holidays. Maaf Zahir Batin. Hope everybody have a safe raya!

School snippets

Every school day I listen to endless school stories from the kids. It's interesting, funny, disgusting, scary, as well as "menggeramkan". And often, I want to write it out so that I can keep the stories alive. Then again I never get around to write as time does not permit me. Two snippets below however are still fresh in my mind and it's kinda hilarious and at the same time "woke me up"!

Snippet 1
A few weeks ago as we were having breakfast before kids went off to school and hubby to work, I commented something about dear hubby. Something about his appearance. He didn't quite like what I said so I had to counter it with something else so that it will not spoil his morning. Then we were interrupted by Irsyad who said this .. "Oh you know Mom, yesterday as I reached the school, my friend saw you and asked me, is that your grandma?"I can feel for a moment my world stopped, my jaw dropped to the floor and my body sinking into the ground! So what did you say, I asked. "Nope, it's my mom". The whole time the whole family was listening. And dear hubby, instead of saying something to soothe me as not to "spoil my day".. had to say this.. there I told you, you have to watch your appearence, bla bla bla. It really spoiled my day! I felt bad the whole day and thought real hard... gosh, I looked that old? Being a housewife has changed that much?? Oh dear!


Snippet 2
Just last week I had to attend the report card day for Eussuv and Syasya. Everything went well, nothing extraordinary. At home, just near bed time that nite, as I was feeling so exhausted after a long day of "work", Eussuv opened his mouth and told his story. Two gals in his class were chatting while waiting for their parents to come for their report cards. Parents were seated just outside the class while waiting for their turn. One of the gals said, ok let's see who's mom is prettier, yours or mine. The other gal agreed and they waited impatiently for their moms to turn up. Suddenly came this "grandma" flashing a smile and popping her head into the class to ensure she was in the right class. And the gals were amazed and said... my god, who's mom is that.. so so pretty (better expressed as .. mak sapa tu? lawa gilaaa!!)!! The other gal said, hmmm let me guess, must be Eussuv's mom! She turned around and asked Eussuv: Eussuv, is that your mom? Nonchalantly, Eussuv admitted the mom who is "lawa gilaaaa" is his mom! The gals then said, there you go, our moms "dah kalah". I was laughing really hard... I was no longer exhausted. It was like an antidote suddenly being injected into my body after the grandma episode!

Sometimes I can go crazy with the kids, but there are also the ones who will cure me. They actually taught me a lot about life around me and they are the ones who actually made me realise of who I am and what I really am. One thing for sure now, I no longer take my appearence lightly especially with the kids around!!

Happenings in April and May

This is an overdue entry which I was supposed to upload but didn't have the time to get around it. So here it is. My busy schedule included these happy and colorful events. 



The two little ones on the way to the mosque for the akad nikah ceremony of one of their favourite cousins, my nephew Hafiz.



The bride and groom with the groom's mom, my sister - after the akad at the mosque.



The happy newlywed at the bride's reception in PJ.



Reception at my sister's house in Kuantan. In times like this, kids are the happiest! They enjoyed the moments, the crowd.. even the heat!



Another wedding, of my niece. The three little flower gals who were not too happy with the scarf around their neck!



Blame it on the cameraman... and the camera. My family and the handsome pair of pengantin.

The bride and groom with their respective parents at the groom's reception.

We all had great time meeting family and relatives whom in these days, we only get to see during weddings, hari raya, or funerals. I pray both couples be blessed with happiness, health and wealth for the rest of their married lives.

Oh scoliosis!

I can't believe it was 5 weeks ago since I last blog! A lot has been going on .. and I am still maidless. Of course, life must still go on. I am adjusting (and accepting) life as it is. Even though I wish my health is better so that I can do better. 

I have a physical condition called "scoliosis", where my back bone is somewhat curved. It's inborn. It's genetically inherited. It was not so obvious when I was small but it's rather obvious now that I have aged. I can't do and lift heavy things and gets tired easily. The only way to correct it is via surgery but must done at an early age like in the teens while the bones are are still 'soft'. Two of my nieces (the twins) had their surgery last year and this year respectively at the age of 18 and 19. When I was that age, my mom already inquired about this surgery unfortunately the technology has yet to reach Malaysia then. When I was in the States, I went to see a chiropractor who confirmed my condition. But all he was interested in was to sell their products to ease my discomfort. So I left it as it is. Since it's not such a bother then.

Now however I can really feel it and sometimes look like Hunchback of Notre Dame. Because of this also I often get muscle spasm on my lower back. I've had this many times for the past few years and every time I got it I will not be able to walk properly for a few days. Usually I'll just get some muscle relaxant pills and some rest. Things will get back to normal within a week. I got one a few weeks ago .. and boy.. imagine the chaos in my household. No cooking, laundry and cleaning for a few days. Hubby had to take leave to transport the kids to school. Luckily it was only for a few days. It had to be!

Whatever it is, I am still thankful it is only physical. It is nothing major that I should to be too worried about. I only have to be careful!