Happy 38th bday to me...

Been very, very busy every since I came back from Cameron Highland. Lots of assignment at work... and lots of activities at home :( But hey!!! I am 38 now!! Celebrated my birthday on the 22nd August.... aduhh... 2 more years to reach the glamourous(??) 40!!! :P

Anyway, got lots of wishes from friends and family members who still remember (wow guys... I am so touched!... thank you for remembering!!). I got a Jodi Picoult's book from Zita.... (thanks babe!). And a wonderful birthday card from Izzaty and her cousins (Imran, Adiel, Alea) and their favourite Uncle Ee. What did hubby give me? Hmm.... as usual.. I got to choose my own present lor... but until now I still did not have the time to do it :( Hubby brought me and the kids to Berjaya Times Square last weekend to watch the Mummy3 movie... and of course... kononnya to get something for my birthday present + singgah kejap lat Low Yat and Sg Wang... to survey the price of Nintendo DS Lite for the kids (present for them from their daddy for getting Gold award in Kumon this year!).. Unfortunately.. tak sempat cari present for Mommy... but the kids did get their Nintendos!! Sheesh!!! Tak aci betulllll.... :P

So basically... nothing special laa on my birthday... but a few days later.. Kak Sal, as usual... being a nice big sister in the office... brought an ice-cream cake for those who celebrated their birthday in August in our office - Michelle Fong, Bujal.. and of course... the plain 'ol me!!! :D


Thanks Kak Sal... The cake... as always... was delicious!!! You're the best!!! *hugs*

'HSM On Ice' and Trip To Cameron Highland

It's school holiday!!! The kids are excited... especially Izzaty!! Coz she is really looking forward to go to the High School Musical (HSM) On Ice Show :) As for Izzat.... school holiday means he can wake up late... hehe. So last Saturday evening, Izzaty and I went to the High School Musical On Ice show... and that is our first 'on ice' show ever!! :D We went there with my sis, Na and her daughter, Danisyah. We were pretty late arriving at Putra Stadium Bukit Jalil... so the 4 of us berlari bagai nak rak to make sure we'd be there on time!! :D Anyway, the show was okay... (not 'that' great lah... but the kids love it... and that's all that matters!) Met my brother, Angah during the show. His kids, Sara and Adam pakai topi ala2 Ryan and Sharpay during the show.... cute sangat!! :)

Izzaty and Danisyah having fun during the show

Sara - bergaya ala2 'Sharpay' during the show... ;)

The next day, we were off to Cameron Highland. My mother, MIL, Zamri and bibik ikut sekali... so I had to drive our MyVi whilst hubby drove the Altis... (aisay darling... we really have to consider buying an MPV lah!! kuang, kuang, kuang!). I must say it was quite an experience driving at Cameron Highland.. especially at the Boh's Plantation where the roads are sooo narrow. Weather was cold (it was raining on our 2nd day in Cameron Highland.. so tersangat la sejuknya!! Rasa cam kat oversea you!). It was my first trip to Boh's plantation. We also went to Kasimanis strawberry farm, Butterfly garden and a few other places. We especially love shopping at the pasar malam! So many fresh vegetables! And cheap too! Everyday bibik buat sup sayur kat sana.... yummmy!!! Our appartment is at 'Puncak Arabella' which has 3 rooms but can fit up to 20 people I guess... coz there were lots of spare matresses provided. Pendek cerita.... everyone had fun lah!! ;)

Izzaty choosing strawberries
Chilling out at the Boh's plantation cafe

At the famous 'Smoke House'

I am one happy mom today!!! :D

Yeap... I am so happy today! :D This afternoon, when we were having lunch, bibik came from outside bringing our mails from the mailbox. When she mentioned there was a letter for Izzat.. my heart suddenly beat faster.. and rushed to see the letter.. and I guessed right!!! Both Izzaty and Izzat received an invitation letters to the Kumon ASHR ceremony which will be held at Berjaya Times Square on 2nd November 2008!! Wowee.... I screamed happily.. and hugged both my kids to congratulate them!!!! Phew... I can't describe my feeling actually.. Izzat is now gold??? It's....... *I'm speechless... dunno how to put my feelings in words!!!*

So.. this would be Izzaty's 2nd invitation.. and Izzat's first. Hope this will motivate both kids to study harder... I love you sayangs..... and you made me very happy today!!! *muahh!!* And of course, I must thank Allah... for the blessing and happiness I've received... siapalah kami Ya Allah... tanpa Mu.....

I am an FB Newbie..

After being persuaded by a few frens... I had finally registered myself as Facebook (FB) user :) I found it quite entertaining actually... and the most facinating things happened to me after just 3 days being a FB user... I managed to 'meet' old frens.. I mean really, really old frens that I have not meet for years... in FB :) Among the my FB frens are :

Sury - the first person who requested me to join FB. She is a fren from my UMKC days. My x-housemate... also happened to by my sis' (Na) x-schoolmate :) Jarang dapat jumpa Sury after we graduated from UMKC. So I guess FB helped us to sambung balik silaturrahim tu.. :)

Zita - another person who persuaded me to join FB. We've been friends for 28 years... We went to the same primary school... and later same secondary school(TKC).. among the oldest and the bestest buddies I've ever had!! :) After SPM, I went to ITM and later UMKC... Zita went to UK... so we lost contact for a while. And guess what? I met her in IRC (Internet Relay Chat)!!! So our friendship resumed after that... until now..

Aniza Masbah @ I.Z - we've been friends for 28 years!! Our parents are old frens. I can still remember when I was 10... she was the smartest malay girl at our tution center.. and later we both entered TKC. After SPM... memang jarang jumpa dia.. she went to UK... but alhamdulillah... now dah ada FB... insyaAllah boleh lah keep in touch selalu.... :)

My senior, Kak Anis Hidayu @ Kak Ayu... at UMKC. Had been like a sis to me during our UMKC life...

I was a bit surprise when she send me messages in FB... asking if I am her junior... I haven't met her for like 15 years!! (probably more! Last met her during her wedding.. tak ingat which year..1994 kot??!). Of course I remember you Kak Ayu... Glad we're in touch now!! Thanks to FB again!!

Mail - Ni bukanYB or anyone :) Mat belia pun bukan! :) This is and old fren... Ismail from my UMKC days... :) Happened to be my fellow computer science student and we sometimes discussed and study together. Her wife, SHIKIN is also in FB... but I'm not able to get her pic... They are now in JB... happily married with 2 cute daughters. Last I met Mail & Shikin was... err... on their wedding day with Shikin in 1995.. .or was it 1996?? tak ingat sungguh...

May, my sister in law. My elder brother's wife. A freelance translater who works at home. She also has an online business - Kinda Sweet Scrapbooking & Stuff.

Fazlina - My cousin who's now in Bahrain. We married on the same day... so we shared the same anniversary date :)

Zack Amin- this is not his pic.. but his son - Adam. Zack studied in Columbia U in NYC. A very smart kid! And handsome too! Punya la ramai peminat dolu2... hehe. Now he's happily married to Tasha (Na's old fren during STF days). They are expecting their 2nd child soon... Last I met him... zaman2 lepas beranakkan Izzaty dulu.... year 1999.

Yusri or known as KiDDo to me :) This is a pic of his son - Harith. Yusri is like the 'lil brother that I don't have. We are pretty closed during our student life in US. He studied in WashU, St Louise but suka lepak with us in Kansas City during semester break. We've been in touch and never stop doing it walau pun dah graduate and masing2 dah kawin... We shared lots and lots of secret... eiii.. bahaya mamat ni! Kau jangan pecah rahsia lama aku tau!!!

Aspalela - ni pesal tak letak gambar dia tak tau lah :) As is the closest cousin to me.... she's a year older.. so we were pretty close during our childhood and teenage years.

Abang Zainul and Kak Saadiah - my senior during UMKC life. I did not expect Abg Zainul to remember me... but he did.. and he sent a message via FB.. so cool!! :) Dah berkurun tak keep in touch.. infact, ever since I came back to Malaysia in 1994, I've never heard from them... but they still remember me.. Alhamdulillah..:)

Ruby - my younger sis or fondly known as 'Cik Tam' by my kids. This is a pic of Amirul.. Ruby's first born. She has another baby - Nadia... our 'puteri raggae' :)

Izzaty in level G

Izzaty has upgraded herself to level G (Kumon Math) and level DI (Kumon English). She sat for both exams last Friday and.... Alhamdulillah.... passed both papers and upgraded herself one level up! I'm proud of you girl.... we all are!! *hugs* In Kumon, Math level G is equivalent to secondary 2 syllabus (wow.... that's tough! I hope you can manage girl!)... and English level DI is equivalent to Australian 10 years old syllabus (and I have seen the worksheets... OMG! boleh tahan susah laa... macam ni mama surrender lah... malu tak dapat tolong... hehe). Izzat is still struggling in level C.... but the truth is.. I am quite nervous if he go to level D..... not sure how he would cope with the challenge.... coz from my past experience with Izzaty.... level D is a real killer.... *sigh!*.
The kids are having KAFA monthly test this week... aiyoooo!! It's not easy to make the kids sit down and study their KAFA subjects... especially Izzat! Their sekolah kebangsaan results are already out .... sad to say Izzat 'dropped' in a few subjects. He got 'B' in Pemahaman and English. Aiyoooo.... have to work harder lah Izzat... I know you can do it!!

School holiday starts this weekend!! Izzaty and I are joining MakTeh and Danisyah going to High School Musical On Ice Concert this coming Saturday.. yeay!!! I am actually looking forward to it (mengalahkan remaja pulak mama sorang ni.. hehe). And the next day, we are all going to Cameron Highland.. insyaAllah. Really can't wait for this trip... Izzaty has been requesting to go to Cameron Highland.. and Izzat can't wait to enjoy his favourite drink - 'teh boh' at Boh's Plantation Restautrant :)

Gathering at DikMa's

We had a greatttttttt time at DikMa's place. It's potluck. And since my sisters had volenteered to bring heavy food (Na brought her 'signature' laksa johor, Along brought nasi himpit and serunding, Mak and DikMa's maid prepared mihun and pengat durian).... I just volenteered to bring the easiest dessert to prepare I can thought of... custard buah :D

Baby Fauzan is soooo cute!! Everyone adores him! Even Izzat (who claimed 'bukan best sangat ada adik ni' when we told him that Aiman got a baby brother)!! He slept the whole time we were there.. even when his cousins memekak2 (seriously! rumah DikMa dah jadi macam nurseries when all cucu2 Wan berkumpul!!) around him. Everyone was there except for Acap (that's a bit wierd... he must be in a bad mood or something coz dia jarang missed a gathering!) and Joe (in MRSM Merbok)... Angah and family came after Maghrib... so we did not get the chance to meet them. But overall.... meriah lah!!! Everyone had fun!! These are some of the pics captured with my old HP Nokia 3230...

The latest addition of the 'Manaf family' - Baby Fauzan.

Izzaty and Izzat membelek baby Fauzan...



The girls - Danisyah, Aisyah, Izzaty (and a boy - Damian). Sara was not in the pic... since Angah's family datang after Maghrib prayer. Eh... sorang lagi girl - Nadia... belum sampai lagi.

Oh kesian nya ibu dalam pantang..... pandang je lah those delicious food ye... tak boleh makan tau!! Awak tu kan dalam pantang... heheheeee... :D

Dr MakTeh Na checking on her new nephew... Mata agak a bit yellowish laa doc...

Perasmi meja makan - Hubby and Saadan - dah tak sabar meng'soru' laksa johor!!!

My first nephew....Farhan. "Happy Belated birthday Farhan!" Too bad the present MakLang gave you tak muat on you... tu lee... sape suruh besau sangat.... ahak!!! Tak pe... dah dapat 'claim' lain kan?? hehe...

Makan dan makan lagi.... yum! yum! Ibu dlm pantang tu masih lagi kat hujung meja.... gigit jari je lah ye.... tak dapat join kami makan!!! Hehe! Errr... bapak dalam pantang yg berkain pelekat tu...... pandang jugak ke?? Jom makan sekali lagiiii... ;)

Aksi2 the little boys - Daniel, Izzat, Aiman, Damian & Amirul.

Happy birthday Aishah.... hope you like the present MakLang gave you!

The little girls - Aishah and Nadia. The funny thing was... PakLong boleh tanya "Ni anak sape ni??" - pointing to Nadia. Astaghfirullah.... tu la Ruby... lain kali rajin2 sket bawa CikDia kite ke rumah sedara mara! hahaha... :D

My mom, my mother-in-law and Zaimi's 'lil sister.

Tu diaaaa.... bibik2 pun buat re-union kat dapurrr.... hehe!

Shopping for flowers

Hubby is in the mood to add more flowers in our garden. Ye laa... tak lama lagi pun raya kan...:) So on this good Saturday morning, we went to...... no! no! Not not Cameron Highland (mind you!! belum sampai lagi hajat Izzaty to go Cameron Highland)... but just Sungai Buloh... somewhere near the big hospital... :) Have not been here for a very, very long time... lots of changes and construction in progress...

So many beautiful flowers... the weather also nice... feel like in Cameron Highland pulak!

Hubby and MIL sibuk memilih bunga pilihan hati...

While sibuk memilih bunga... anak dara kami sempat posing at these beautiful orchids ;)

We bought this pokok 'cili purple' for RM8.. 'Aisay Amoi.... kasi kurang sket laa... "

This evening, we're going to DikMa's house.... nak jumpa the new addition of our family - DikMa's latest baby boy - Baby Fauzan :) Hatta cakap 'kecik je baby ni... must be sebab anak nombor 3... macam Alang." Hah??!!! Mentang2 le aku kecik pendek.... ceh! Tak pe.. tak pe... hopefully this Baby Fauzan will look soooo cute like his MakLang... heheh! ;) Can't wait to see my latest nephew! Dah lama tak pegang baby nih.. hehe. There'll be a potluck at DikMa's house... so I'm bringing caremel fruitade... dah buat pun pagi tadi with my little assistant - Izzaty :) And of course not forgetting... Bibik :) Will update more on Baby Fauzan after meeting him later...