The celebration continues

Our next door neighbour invited us over for their Chinese New Year celebration dinner. Our Mia got restless after half an hour there. Who knew.... she wanted milk again! It was only an hour and a half ago she was fed.

Arrrgh! I had to leave their house to make milk for her and Fred carried her home shortly. After feeding, we went back to the party.

Mia with my next door neighbour's mum (who is also a neighbour of ours)

Mia and my next door neighbour

There was a lion dance performance as well

By 9.15pm, we were back home. Our tired little girl just wants to snuggle up and sleep.

A Birthday and CNY Celebration... just us!

I don't fancy big parties. I used to. But since being "hooked up" I much prefer small parties of close families and friends.

This Chinese New Year, we've attended family gatherings - on both sides. So that's done.

Yesterday, Fred and I hosted a very small gathering of 10 + 1 for Chinese New Year and a secret birthday celebration. Thanks for bringing the food and drinks Janet, Teresa, Rosie, Mervyn & Christine.

My Mia has to be dressed up in her Chinese costume.

Rosie arrives with her puddings - she made them herself ;)

In that cooler - Beer, shandy and ice-cream. This Mr & Mrs Yong ahhhhh, carried their cooler to our place with the goodies. So thoughtful. Thanks Merv & Christine!
Mr & Mrs Yong: Mervyn & Christine with our Mia

My bridesmaids, maid-of-honor, and birthday girl

Mama Mia! What big arms you've got?!

Our busy ladies getting the food ready

Chicken soup by me; prawns, noodles and beancurd by Teresa; acar timun and chicken curry by Janet. I bought duck and roasted pork too (not photographed!)
Pudding by Rosie
Birthday girl still doesn't know this is her birthday celebration. She insists on getting a pink spoon for her pudding.
Maker meet (eat) her pudding

Our babysitter for the night, my niece Krystle @ Yen yen

Happy birthday Lola Dora! Thanks Christine for carrying out the cake and "saving" Teresa

What is going on?!

1. No water in the house since Sunday
2. No electricity on Monday night. So we went over to my parents house to stay. Back to my big old room. And now,
   
3. My big bathroom mirror dropped off the wall while Fred was brushing his teeth. The mirror landed on the water pipe behind the toilet bowl's tank and broke the pipe. Water everywhere! I had to run and turn the water off at the meter. So, no water for my parents' house now.

Aaaargh.

On the plus side, the electrician came to our own house despite him still being on holiday. Found the problem ... a couple of lizards did a Romeo and Juliet stint on Valentine's night. Yes, they committed suicide at our electrical meter. Luckily our electrician managed to sort out the problem.

Part 8: The very long holiday weekend

Monday 15th February 2010

In the evening we had another blow to our Chinese New Year celebration. As we were busy getting ready to go out for another Chinese Year open house, the electricity in our home went out! Aaargh! The thought of it being at night and the Chinese New Year long holiday is so frustrating. First we've got our water problem (no water in the house and we suspect one of the pipes under the house has burst) and now, no electricity.

I quickly went to pack clothes and Mia's supplies to take along with us. No way are we staying in the house tonight as it'll be too hot for Mia. So, I called up my mum to tell her we'll be staying in my old room.

But before going back to my parents house.....

We went to attend an open house. Well, we had to find a place to eat right?!

Good friends and good food aside, there was also a dragon dance to entertain us

And 8 lions came dancing. This is the only Chinese New Year picture of all 3 of us together!

Big 'muk 'muk and little 'muk 'muk

Mia struggles to keep awake for the lions. I tried to put her to sleep, but yet again she wants to go see the lions and the dragon.

Look at the goodies for the 8 lions to devour. Tiger beer for a tiger year, oranges and shots of whiskey. The dragon and lion dance lasted about an hour in all! There were fireworks and firecrackers as well but SOMEBODY was so caught up in the excitement that he forgot to take pictures.

Back in my old room, little Mia just rolled to her side and slept till morning. Poor baby, she was so exhausted!

Part 7: The very long holiday weekend

Monday 15th February 2010

We went to attend my cousin's open house in the kampung (village) in the afternoon. It was so good to catch up with the cousins whom I grew up with ... and also meeting their children (so many children!). When we were younger ( a lot younger than today), we used to go to this cousin's home every new year's eve because of the good food their late father prepares and of course for the ang pow!

Now, the cousins are all grown up, they continued the tradition of inviting relatives to their home to welcome the new year.

Fred and I distributed ang pows to the singles and the kiddies. They were so many of them and we finished the whole bunch of ang pows that we brought along with us! I hope I didn't miss out on anyone. Here are just some of my favourite pictures of the day to share:

Mia's first encounter with lion dance. She's so brave - she didn't cry at all with all the noise and 5 lions jumping around. In fact she kept looking at them.

Fire crackers are blown up to scare away the evil spirits

Cover Mia's ears. Not because she was scared of the firecrackers. Far from it. We don't want to harm her hearing.

Mia and I gave ang pow to the lion dancers, and in return we got a card

Just some of my cousin's children helping to take care of Mia. The one with the striped top is Faustina. She's so sweet. She went to look for and carry a stroller for Mia to sleep in.

My cousin Fung Eng @ Suzannah. She has 6 children!

Her husband Sunny and son Emanuel.

My cousin Ah-Boo the chef, with his mum (my dad's elder sister)

In pink is Cathy, cousin Ah Boo's wife. Next to her is my cousin Fung Ling @Lolita, she's got 3 kids now.

Cousin Ab Boo and Cathy don't have any children yet. Their dog Rocky is their baby for now. He's so cute.

Cathy and Rocky

Cousin Ah Boon with 2 of his 4 children: Emil & Bibi

Mia and her Nenek (Grandma)

Mia and her Kiki (Grandpa)

My dad wanted to tapau (take away) some of my aunt's kueh!

Part 6: The very long holiday weekend

Sunday 14th February 2010: Thanksgiving service at BCCM Kolombong

After our much needed rest, we went to BCCM Kolombong for our weekly church service.

Mia woke up just as we arrived in church

Fred was on duty today. While he's busy doing the setup, Mia and I went into the room at the back of the church. Here she is trying to flip. She's 75% there!

And we got little goodie bags from church in conjunction with the Chinese New Year service

Part 5: The very long holiday weekend

Sunday 14th February 2010: A little quiet time at home

Fred and Mia having a father-daughter time.

Our daughter is quite a chatterbox. Ever since she was 1.5 months she's been trying to talk in her "baby language". These days she especially loves to talk to her father as if wanting to report to him all that's been happening!

It was soon time for her nap. She can sleep better when she has her "gang" around her.

Part 4: The very long holiday weekend

Sunday 14th February 2010: Mee sup Pipin Part 3

Our Valentine brunch! Yes, we're back again at Mee sup Pipin stall. We like coming here because of the good food and ample parking.

Fred had his mee hoon sup again.

I gave the mee sup a try. Though simple, it tasted superb.

Mia tagged along this time (like we had a choice?!). It's always difficult to keep her in her stroller especially when she's awake. She hates to lie down because she can't see much from this position. However, I suppose she wanted to give us a break this time and she lay down quietly in her stroller while we enjoyed our brunch. But just look at her face. Obviously she's not so happy!

Part 3: The very long holiday weekend

Sunday 14th February 2010: Chinese New Year Day 1 & Valentine's Day


First, we went to send some surprise love love gifts to Mia's Auntie Janet... love love from Canada 'net! Oh yes, we also gave Janet her first and last CNY ang pow from us!!!

More ang pow for Mia from Janet's mum & Janet's auntie. Wohoooo!

We stayed at Janet's house for about half an hour then proceeded to my parents house to distribute ang pows, and send some more Chinese New Year goodies to them. After that we went to my father's/brother's car wash to distribute ang pows there too. It was fun. BUT.... we forgot to take pictures..... Aarrrrrgh!