All About Your Child

Keatkeat’s 8th birthday was great in every way, his many wishes came true this year. Though his birthday is on 2nd of November every year, the celebration actually starts on 1st November. This year, his birthday celebration was even extended to 6th November. *smile*

1st November lunch at Pizza Hut:
Keatkeat loves the Hawaiian Pizza at Pizza Hut, but Allan and I are not Pizza Hut fans, so because of that my boys hardly get to eat at Pizza Hut. But because it was his pre-birthday celebration, we went but only the boys ate. Oh well, our purpose is to make him happy, but it does not mean we need to ‘sacrifice‘ (don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with Pizza Hut, just that we prefer to go elsewhere for our pizzas). Allan and I still get to eat a hearty noodles meal at the hawker center. *smile* So everyone was happy. *thumbs up*

1st November dinner at Tony Romas:
IT WAS MAGICAL!!!
Keatkeat has seen magicians performed in the past, but for the first time, Keatkeat PARTICIPATED in it. It felt like as if we had hired a personal Magician for Keatkeat’s birthday celebration. *Super Grin*

And the birthday boy gets to keep the ‘magical poker card‘ as a birthday gift. *smile*

12 Midnight Cake Cutting:
He missed his choo-choo train cake. So we ordered it again. The previous time he had that choo-choo train cake was on his 5th Birthday. He said: “This time, I want a different design, but the toy train must be on my cake.”

 Then it was unwrapping presents time after gobbling down his cake….

His Birthday Presents 2011

He is going Crazy over 'Gogos', so I bought him the Album to start his collection.

His first Gogos collection

From Ah Yi

Present from cousin C.H.

Present from cousin Z.Y.

Present from cousin M.Y. and W.D.

From BakBak

From Bak Leong

Keatkeat has always wanted a gun for his birthday ever since his bro had one. So his dream came true this year. Thank you Yi-Bak and Yi-Bak-Leong

2nd November: A day in Malaysia
Well, it was his dream to celebrate his birthday overseas. To him, Malaysia is good enough. After school, we went straight to our neighbour-country, a day of shopping fun and ended it at his latest favourite Seafood Restaurant: “Tian Lai Seafood Restaurant in Johor Bahru”

If you remember the picture of the note above, Keatkeat’s future uncle-in-law would be giving him an ice-cream workshop as a birthday gift on 6th November. Thus will do a separate post on that later….

Happy 8th Birthday Keatkeat!

***Sincere apologies for the blurry photos. I am still struggling playing with Photobucket.

Happy 8th Birthday Keatkeat!

Today is the best day to post this. As I recall what it was like on this day in 2003. Contractions started. My first child was giving signals that he was ready to meet me in person.

When the clock strikes 12 in less than 5mins, we would be saying “Happy 8th Birthday, Keatkeat”

My future bro-in-law had this ‘old’ video of Keatkeat when he was 2 years old and the recording dated: 3/23/2006 12:55am

There was this short period of time when Allan and I used to sell handphone casing and accessories. The moment we decided to remove that product from our retail list, those leftovers became Keatkeat’s toys.

And because we often end our retail business after 10.30pm, have our quick late dinner, which I usually call it ‘dinper’ (dinner + supper), drive to my in-law’s place to pick up my boys before we head home; by then, its usually after 12midnight.

So its not surprising at all that this video was taken at 12.55am.

The quality of the video may seem horrible now, but I am thankful that during that time, video on phone was made possible. Or else we would not be able to view my cute first born in action again this day.

Thank you future bro-in-law! *Grin*

Memory Flash Back ~ Keatkeat 2 years old

Remember my blog post about the ‘weird‘ song choice for Binbin’s Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony dance performance? See blog post “Starlight Moonlight ~ Secret”

Finally, Binbin’s teacher has completed the choreography of their dance moves. Here’s Binbin showing us…

Allan and I still feel that an English song choice would be better, so that the kids can sing and dance to it; thus improving their facial expressions… Oh well, so long as Binbin enjoyed it, that’s all it matters. *smile*

In comparison to his elder brother’s Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony dance performance 2 years ago, Binbin’s dance is so much more difficult! So many different actions! Compare it with Keatkeat’s easy performance in 2009, over here at this blog post “Graduation Ceremony Rehearsal”

As if its not ‘tough’ enough, Binbin and some of his friends, together with Kindergarten 2 children from another school is having a joint musical performance too. See his Xylophone practice here “Musically Talented Child?“

I have lots of way-over-due drafts waiting for me but I am not going to post anything till this exciting blog post is up and running!

FINALLY!!!!

Keatkeat knows how to ride the bicycle on two wheels! The training wheels were removed. We had been waiting for the ‘not-growing-tall-enough-fast-enough‘ Keatkeat’s feet to touch the ground firmly before the training wheels were taken out.

Today was his THIRD day practising on two wheels. Just 10mins before the video below was taken, he was still struggling to get his 3 full cycles on the pedal. Somehow we felt that the original place, which we were teaching him how to ride, had a short distance, so we changed the location.

First time at this new place, Keatkeat and Binbin climbed on their bicycle and Keatkeat ZOOMED AWAY before anyone of us could react!!!

*Eyes Widened and Jaws Dropped*

Chasing behind him, Allan and I were shocked, excited and fearful, our emotions were like the debris from a Tsunami. Total Mess!

Shocked because he was still struggling to cycle a few minutes ago.
Excited because he finally accomplished something ‘big’ on his own!
Fearful because he may forget to brake! *laugh*

So Allan ran after him, ready to catch him if he falls. In the end, he was able to stop his bike as if he had been riding for months! *clap clap clap*

Then we asked him to do it again, just to make sure that it was not by chance that he could do it. At the same time, we had our phone video camera switched on. *smile*

Look at that HUGE Grin filled with full of Pride between his teeth at the end of the ride. The cutest thing was he did the double thumbs up for himself so naturally! *laugh*

Keatkeat: “Mummy, do you know why I can do it?”
Me: “Why?”
Keatkeat: “Because it is a surprise gift for Papa. He helped me to ride the bicycle when my body was injured, when I fell at the canal.”
Me: “Have you told Papa that?”
Keatkeat: “No.”
Me: “Go tell him now.”
Keatkeat: “OooooooooKAY!” and he rode off!

In the beginning, we chose to let him practise at the long path beside the canal. But the ground was too rough for the unprotected young cyclist. So we decided to train him below the estates on the Second and Third day.

And he did his very first overtake like a Pro!!!! See video below.

Keatkeat is usually the scaredy cat in the family. His usual phrase, “Don’t want. Very scared. What if this or that happens?” So we were expecting him to stop when he was approaching the lady. Instead he overtook her like a Pro!
*clap clap clap*

For the very first time, Keatkeat mastered a skill earlier than his younger brother. Typing this sentence down feels strange to me too. Whenever we teach the two children a skill at the same time, the younger one would always do better and excel in it much earlier than his 18months older brother. Weird but true.

Great Job Keatkeat!
*clap clap clap*

This significant day is so easy to remember because it is Hari Raya Puasa too. *smile* So if ever anyone were to ask, “When did your child learn how to ride a bicycle with two wheels?” I would reply, “2011 Hari Raya Puasa!”
*wink*

This is how we teach our child to ride a two-wheeled bicycle:

1. bring the right pedal up to (almost) the highest point. Right pedal’s direction is leaning more towards the front.
2. place right foot on the right pedal.
3. left foot remain on the ground.
4. arms on handle.
5. front wheel direction is straight, not turning.
6. eyes focus on destination.
7. Step HARD on the right pedal.
8. Bring the left foot up onto the left pedal QUICKLY.
9. Remind the child to ‘Look For Empty Space’; because it it normal that in a fearful or uncertain state, the child would have thoughts like, “what if I knock on the wall or the pillar or people.”

When that happens 99% of the chance is the direction of the bicycle would go towards what they wish to avoid the most. Which is also known as the Law of Attraction. What you focus on, expands and you WILL hit onto it.

So when you tell him or her to ‘Look For Empty Space’, he or she will keep looking for empty space to ride his or her bike on, thus avoiding all obstacles.
*smile*

I wanted my 7 year old boy to master two-wheeled bicycle when he was five year old, but his scaredy-cat nature outwin his desire to master the skill.

When did your child learn how to ride a bicycle with two-wheels?

My 10 year old niece is usually camera shy. Today she is definitely different. She brought her recorder, sat infront of Allan and I and started playing ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’.

“Video!” I suggested. Immediately she knew I was going to post it on my blog. *giggle* She rejected at first. Then her confidence in playing this tune made her say yes for the very first time!

Lest she changes her mind. Video on and recorded. *smile*

Good Job Girl! *clap clap clap*