GOLDEN TICKET

For some mths in sch Ian has been eyeing on the golden ticket given by his sch lib but he has never won any. It entitled the kid to some movie screening after sch hours. Tdy we visited the Discovery Ctr, coz it is sch hols and coinciding with Christmas there were a few programs for kids. Our highlight was to watch Sing the movie and didn't expect more fun at the place. We haven't been here for some time and it does reminisces of the past yrs when we went that place when Ian was so little and Joann was barely walking ard. Tdy both kids were roaming ard the different stations knowing what they like eg the game stations when we acted as participants.

Today's theme was of occupations of the past and they could be architect. news reporter, soccer player, doctor or soldier and going ard the booths they could get stamps and get a prize. We went thru all the stations and was kindof fun for them. We watched the movie 'Sing' and it was inspirational as the animals who acted as characters could sing really well and quite awed by their songs. But ending was nice when they all overcame their fears or even problems to get into the singing act together.

Then we roamed the exhibits and we did read that there was an event Let it Snow at 1;30pm and we were early for it, Ian spotted the top prize was golden ticket of $50 capital mall vouchers and he was really aiming for it. SO much so that insisted mummy to participate as well. He went into the chamber thingy with Joann and were given seconds to be in there to catch as much tickets and to choose the 1 ticket they would love to win. And this boy had strategise to step on the golden ticket and then pick it up when all other tickets were floating ard. He wasn't sure if he could get hold of it but true enough he picked up the top prize. The organisers took pic of us and posted on their FB page and managed to capture a shot to blog about it. And here's the delighted boy with his golden ticket to end the year =)

3 day children's camp

Joann's sch is in Jubilee Church and every yr end they hold children's camp and coz the entry age is 5 and this yr we got invited to attend and so we sent Ian and Joann for the camp. Ian attended it when he was 5 yo too but coz we have been travelling every yr which coincides with the camp date. So this is the 1st yr both kids could attend together and was kindof nice to have them going for something they both would benefit and learn much from.

he theme is Catch Jesus in Action and its about what Jesus does for us (He chooses us, He takes care of us, He heals us, He provides for us) Pretty cool for the theme of Galilee by the sea and from the way the kids tell us, every day is sth new and fun for them. Was abit apprehensive of how Joann will take it as in her tiredness and her ability to vocalise her thots since she is the youngest camper but with the brother and Joy cousin who are there, we know she is in good hands and they tell us how much she eats and they will help her here and there. The camp ended with a concert for the parents to know what our kids went thru and they learnt so many songs and though camp ended a week already but they are still singing 'How great is our God' and many other lovely songs which I would have wished they could sing daily of such reminders of how our God is good and how he is more than just a man. Glad we got hold of the pics so we could rem of this 3 days camp they went.

Our 1st family mission trip 18-22 Nov 2016

We have been planning for a family mission trip for some time but couldn't find a good time and plus my dad hasn't been well lately so weren't sure if we could make it for a 3 generation mission trip. Glad Elena had us in the plan to Takhmao, Cambodia and we were there to teach English lesson and was good exposure for our kids coz the kids were about their age and teaching them simple English might be more fun teaching their peers. So the kids were teaching the Cambodian kids while we were there to supervise their planning and teaching. Upper room ministry is interesting and its to the rural kids and it was eye opener for our kids to see how village is like coz we took a bumpy ride into the village coz of the poor laying of road. We were into this hotel just opposite the upper room and was convenient to just cross the street to be there. It was newly built so was kindof nice for us to stay in and could go the local mkt to soak in the village living. Though we couldn't speak v much of their Khmer language, guess our kids attracted them a lot and the kids were hanging out at the church pretty much of the time and just running ard and drawing with them just made the few days seem passed so fast.

We had 2 sessions of English lessons and some workshops and even computer lessons. The last day, we did a little skit at the Sunday school and to drive home the message to spend time with God is more important than anything. Their kind of fervour to sing  and worship God kindof rub of us, remembering that God is the God of the whole earth and are we city dwellers losing our fervour more than these pple living in village. Guess too much technology made us losing our closeness to God. This is the takeaway from the mission trip for us. So rule was no iPhone or ipad for the kids throughout the trip. Its just down to us and with the Cambodians for the few days there. They will be in our minds etched with the prayer needs for them and the church, I hope the trip did change our kids somewhat.

The next stop we went was Phnom Penh city to tour the city and we stayed at Harvest House Inn which was run by the missionaries there and we had van to ferry us ard and it is horrendous traffic there as its always jam and bikes are everywhere so kindof a challenge to drive there so glad we went ard the Central Mkt, had the coconut ice cream. We visited the sch run by the missionaries and pretty awed by the kind of standard they are upholding in the city and how it has expanded for the past 20 yrs. It was kindof nice to see how Phnom Penh has changed and will be changing in the near future for the younger generations and now Cambodia places a special place in our hearts and our prayers go out for them.

Our Msia getaway

Our usual Msia getaway includes the kids' fav kidzania stop and LEGOLAND while we like Melaka so its our usual road trip but it's the 1st with our new car. The kids were excited that they woke up real early on 1st day and well good to beat the Tuas jam so we were into JB rather fast for breakfast before hitting to KL, petaling jaya and we tried for the 1st time at 1st world hotel and it was kinda nice coz they had kidzania package so it included extra bed for the kid and also afternoon tea. The kids (esp Ian) were v thrilled with the tea set as we were the only ones eating at the lounge and it was a huge set for us. Shopping is cool at 1 Utama coz its near convenient and lots of familiar shops there and well think our stay is not enough coz 2nd day was spent just at Kidzania. Tho it was Msia sch hols, it wasn't crowded like June and they had lots of new pop up stations which the kids loved as it was a Kids vs food challenge and we could even do the brick jelly with them. This time, Joann is more independent as she told us she is fine to do stuff alone and she went Macs and Vitagen on her own. Usually quite dependent on her gor2 to wear uniform for her, this time she did it by herself and was very confident of what she was doing, guess its coz of repeated visit and she was doing a few stations just her and the kidzania staff. The kids went endlessly ard the stations trying to clock more stamps and we left only at 6pm (we started at 10am) and Ian went on without food (guess buffet breakfast was full enough for him) and he clocked 21 stamps (with extra 3 food stations which didn't give stamps) and he had total of 700kidzo$. He went off really pleased with his achievement though he had target of 30 stations hmm guess will upgrade to ultimate passport next visit then. We took the hotel shuttle back hotel so we could only grab a quick dinner since we didn't expect to be out so late. There goes the kids' dream of eating at Ikea haha

Next day we hit to Melaka and its our fav town coz of its laybackness I guess. We qiong some more shopping b4 checking into Puri and then went our usual local mkt walk, had the yummy naans b4 going to the jonker street and its like back to old town we knew the places rather well but was kindof rush coz we only stayed 1 nite and so next day we hit straight to dao sa bia and then off to JB. Coz we had bad jam from KL to Melaka and were glad to JB was super fast so we went LEGOLAND since weather was really good and hot! We went to the new ride and the kids loved the ninjago rides and we were a couple of times to clock better scores hahahh guess its our fav ride coz its air con and even Joann could score in the shooting game. We did our few fav stops and were off to Granada hotel for more shopping and food and the kids' pokemon tretta arcade games. Next day was at LEGOLAND again coz we wanted some stops which were pretty long yesterday and had more rides and more ninjago shooting. We were burnt enough to go back already and guess we were all tired out from the fun and walks. It was a fun and chill out trip tho must say quite qiong with all the walking ard and going for endless rides but the kids loved it right.