The Serenity

Finally had the chance to bring the whole family to perform our Tarawih at Masjid Petempatan Melayu Sembawang.  That mosque is one of our favourite mosque so far.

I simply love the atmosphere and surrounding there, especially at night.  Very different and very far from the city.  It’s best that you have your own transport to get there, as the mosque is right deep inside.  My girls said that the mosque is situated in a forest.

Coincidentally, Ustaz HMN Tijany hafizahullah led the prayer.   After that, he gave a short lecture and taught us  some “massage” to do to our fellow jemaah on their back body.  The “massage” came along with some dhikir.  It was great to be massaged by other jemaah.  My girls giggled all the way as they are not used to be massaged.  Yesterday was full of fun but meaningful.  I learnt some good tips from Ustaz too.

We had a short reception after the class and mingled around with other fellow jemaah.  I met most of them for the very first time, but we chatted and joked around like we’ve known one another for a long time.  It really felt like I am living in a  ”kampong”.

Out We Go

My children have been pestering to go for swimming for quite sometime.  Since Ramadhan is coming soon, we decided to bring them to swim today.  The weather was perfect and the swimming pool was almost empty.

As today is Hubby’s off day, we “sneaked out” of the house right after Hubby and Affandy came back from the Friday prayers.  ”Sneaked out” is the right and perfect term to use for my situation right now.  Only those who are close would understand.  Spending quality time to bond is very important to me as it is one of the things that keep me sane.

Watching and observing my children really awed me.  I love to watch them practice their swimming skills or just playing in the water.  They had their fun.  At the same time, I read and listened to some music.

Affandy said that today was his best day ever.  How could I not smile with that words from my little boy?

The best part about going out was that, I got the privilege to close my kitchen.  We had nasi bungkus for lunch.  Dinner was Mee Kuah Mama, Nasi Ayam and Roti Prata.  Simply heaven.

My Bookworm Girl

Afrina and I, share the same passion ~ reading.

We read books almost everyday.  The library is our favourite hang out place.  I love to go library with my bookworm girl.  We can read books at one corner of the library, without realizing that we have sat for hours, just do reading.  We were so engrossed in our reading, we were oblivious of what was going on around us.

Two Movies In A Week

Oh dear! !

My children have been swimming for three days in a week, now their skins are getting dark.

Today went on very smoothly.  I, myself, was surprised when I asked them again if they were up for a movie after lunch.  Afrina and Afiqah spontaneously said yes, but not Affandy.  And again I offer my handphone for him to play with.

So the four of us watched Night At The Museum 2.  First part of the movie, Affandy played games on my handphone, while my girls and I laughed watching the movie.  Then, Affandy started to watch the movie and he enjoyed the show and had been laughing so hard.

While my kids engrossed watching the movie, I fell asleep!!

I found that the movie was so predictable and my eyes felt so heavy.

I woke up when my handphone vibrated and the movie almost ended.

I saw that the sky was getting dark and we had to rush home as I hang my laundry outside.  We reached home, I quickly brought in my laundry and the heavy rain started to fall.  Phewww…

We just relaxed and chilled at home.  After our Maghrib prayers, I brought my children out for dinner.  Since the eating place was only two bus-stop away, we walked home after our dinner.  It was fun actually to walk home at night.  We strolled slowly along the pavement and we talked about lots of things in life.  Ten minutes later, we’re home.

Afiqah had been complaining that her fringe always got into her eyes.  I trimmed her fringe and she looks much better now.

Seriously, I’m missing Hubby more.  He should be on the way to Mecca right now.  I want to dream about him tonight…..

We Visited The Birds

I specially arranged to visit the Jurong Bird Park today.  Afrina has some projects to do on birds, so I guess Bird Park is the best place to get more information and photos of birds.

The best part was, I brought along my baby (reads : camera).  I needed to take photos to fulfil my passion.  It’s kind of therapeutic action.

The entrace fee to the park made me speechless.  It’s very expensive and I don’t think I will visit the park again for the next few years.  If it’s not for my girl’s project, I would rather go somewhere else.

The weather was scorching hot.  My children and I were sweating all over.  At time like this, how I wished Hubby was with us.  We were just getting started but Afiqah and Affandy wanted to go home.  Somehow they were not facinated with the birds.  Might be due to the hot weather.

It’s not easy to concentrate on photography, and coaxing my two younger kids to move on, at the same time.  They were ecstatic when we reached the exit point.  By that time, my children were hungry already.

Somehow I was satisfied as I managed to bring them out of our residential area on my own.  I had no idea how to get to the park in the first place.  So I looked out on the internet and followed my guts.  I tried to ride the MRT and public buses as much as possible.  I knew my children enjoyed the ride and the view.

More photos at my Flickr and Multiply.

The Water Again And The Movie

Today was the second day of Afiqah’s swimming course.  We headed down to the swimming complex in the morning, and I just let the children had their fun.  While keeping an eye on my children, I had a long conversation with one of my aunt on the phone.  Another test befell…

I didn’t want to think much about it.  I need to concentrate on my duty as a mother.  With Hubby not in town, I have full responsibility of my children.

While having lunch after the swimming session, I just blurted out the question if we should watch a movie.  I received a spontaneous reply from them.  The girls wanted to watch Hannah Montana The Movie, but it’s not Affandy’s kind of movie.  He said it’s girls movie and it’s borrrrinnnnnggggg.  I had to bribe him by allowing him to play with my handphone if he agreed to watch the movie with us.

Being Affandy, and the movie really bored him, he played games on my handphone.  But only for a while.  In the middle of the movie, he started to get restless.  Since the cinema was almost empty, he ran about and changed seats whenever he liked.  As long as he kept his voice down, I left him be.

We went straight home after the movie.

I am missing my Hubby.

I Finally Baked!!

As much as it hurts, life still goes on.

On a happier note, I finally baked something after such a long time.  My girls helped me around, while my boy kept asking, “can eat already?”

It’s just a simple Chocolate Rice Cupcakes, but watching the kids enjoying munching my baking, I felt so good.  I’ll try my best to bake at least once a week.

My #1 Fan

Satisfied Fan

 

Please make life easier for me, Ya Allah……

Water And Sisters

Today Afiqah started her intensive swimming course.  Even though I do not know how to swim, I want my children to at least know how to float in the water.  Afrina can swim on her own already, while Affandy is still not confident yet.  Afiqah is somehow in the middle, so I enrolled her in the swimming course.

For this week and next week, we will be heading to the swimming complex three times a week in the morning.  Since today was the first day of the course, there’s still no big progress yet.  At least I could see that she could jump to the water straight on her own.  While Afiqah concentrated on her course, Afrina and Affandy were just having fun in the water on their own.

Later in the afternoon, I had special guests who I heart so much, came to my house.  They are my MQG sisters.  Two of them even took leave to be with us.  And we had so much food on the table.  Lately it’s quite difficult to gather everyone, but even with a few of us only,  my house was filled with laughter.

The best part about my MQG sisters, we could talk about almost anything.  We have been friends for so long, and I know, we love one another.  I could simply let it out when I was with them.

I am happy for N as she and her family are invited to the Holy Lands to perform her Umrah next week.  Suddenly the atmosphere changed, from laughter to tears (well, I was one of them).  May Allah protects her and her family and may Allah bless them with peace and smooth journey.  Amin.

Sunday Was Good…And Not So Good

My Sunday morning was quite relax as there was no Dhuha class and my girls had no madrasah today.  So I took this opportunity to go to the market and worked on my kitchen.  I had no intention to bake, but I decided to warm up my oven since it has not been switched on for a very long time.  Unfortunately, due to the moisture in the oven, the power supply tripped more than five times and I felt worried already.  Since Hubby was not in town, I called up my uncle for help.  He said he would come to my house later in the afternoon.

Alhamdulillah, Afrina came back safely in the afternoon.  I asked for my brother-in-law’s help to fetch her.  Save me the trouble to travel from north all the way to the east.  She came back very contented and tired.  She said she had so much fun but lack of sleep.  The food was delicious and she did make some new friends.  I asked her to freshen up as we had an invitation to attend.

My cousin had given birth to her third child and she invited us to the cukur rambut ceremony.  The baby smells so good and I could not refrain myself from carrying and kissing him.

Muhammad Syazwandi

He’s yawning

Looking at me

Me Feeding Him

Since my cousin’s place is within walking distance from house, some of my relatives came to my house after the ceremony.  I entertained my guests while one of my uncles did something to the switch of my oven.  And now my oven is ready for baking!! 

All my relatives left after Asar prayers, leaving me and my three children.  I ALMOST burned my left hand fingers today.  I was heating up my leftover chicken dish on the stove and did not realized that I turned the heat to high.  Since I need to stir the dish, I put on my glove and hold the pot with my left hand.  I was shocked to see the glove catched fire and I fanned my left hand really hard to put off the fire.  Alhamdulillah, the top part of the glove was burned, but not my four fingers.  Thank you Allah for that.

For The Very First Time

In my 10 years of having her, this is the first time that she is on her own.

My first grown up baby-girl, Afrina, joined the Kids Camp organized by Andalus.  She wanted to attend this camp since last year, but only this time I was confident to let her go.  She has never been apart from her family on her own before.

I would be lying if I said that I did not feel worry for her.  But deep in my heart, I knew that she will be always under Allah’s protection.  I pray that she will come back safely and bring back lots of fun and memorable experiences.

As Hubby was not working today, we sent Afrina off right after Hubby performed his Friday prayers.  To my surprised,  there were four buses waiting for the students.  I hope that Afrina will easily make friends with some of the girls attending the camp.  Afrina is a little bit shy in making new friends, unlike her sister, Afiqah.

InsyaAllah, she will be back on Sunday afternoon.