Books Shopping

Not too long to come, Terry will get to carry his first school bag and go to kindergarten, be alone at the school everyday for the good 3 hours. To get him more prepare for the study environment, lately I went to shop for some pre-schooler's books, so that he got the idea of what a writing and activities books like, which is different from the story books or objects book that he is reading now.

I got the tracing, alphabets and numbers writing book from Popular Bookstore.
Last Saturday, Mummy Moon saw road banner on MPH book fair at IMU College and invited me to go along. It is just 3 minutes drive away from my place.

It held from 24 Oct - 1 Nov 2009, 10am to 8pm @ Ground Floor, Annex Block. This fair is also open to the public. They are offering discount up to 50%.


Lots of pre-school’s book and cartoon VCDs on sales and value buy. Here are what I grab, total spend RM42.


Learners series activities book at RM4.50 each


This is like a picture dictionary at RM19.90 comes with 20% off


Floor puzzle at RM15.90 with 50% off

Thomas Train track toy

Thomas Train toys are famous on building railway tracks and building train island. These toys are normally suitable for age 3+ to play. So far in Terry's Thomas toy collection, he only has a very few toys for under 3 years old. Everytime when we pass by Thomas toy display, he was so interested in those big set of train track, but I never get that for him simply because it is not suitable for him to play yet. Even those die-cast train model also not getting.

Now he is 3.5 years have the "license" to play the big set. Since a few shopping trips ago I've been started to check out some track sets. Last 2 weeks during Isetan sales, after looking left, right, up, down on the Thomas toys, finally I found one that he'll likes to play. It's a Thomas & Bertie Take Along "The Great Race" Set. I'm sure this is up to his taste, since he likes slide and race so much.

This set so far I don't think I saw before in other department stores that I visited. Isetan is on 30% sales on selected Thomas's toy, this set is the last piece on the shelve. It was RM119.90 before less. I top up another die-cast metal train - ROSIE for him to race with the other 2. True enough he heart this new toy very much and no one can touch or play after the whole thing setup. I love the design of it too, it is less pieces to build up and the covered bridge also work as a storage case.

There goes to this Thomas fan, it was his first piece of expansive toy.

Kindergarten Hunt

Terry will starts his schooling days in year 2010. How times fly, this big baby of mine just growing up too fast and going to step into schooling age.

During the 2 weeks after Raya holiday, I was busy checking out for kindy in my living area and also have been puzzling what kind of kindy should I send Terry to. At the same time also busy asking around some pre-schooler's mummies on opinion and suggestion. Luckily my mum was working in 3 kindergarten before, at least she gave me some idea about kindergarten, teachers and students. So, from there roughly I know what should I look into, but not so into details on academic, cause she is not a teacher.


Roughly I have visited and enquired on 5-6 kindergarten including the famous one like Beaconhouse, Fungates and Q-Dees. I went checking out on what is the study system for an age 4 kids, the facilities and the environment of the school. So far, my measurement for a kindy I want are basically like these,

- Have a systematic learning method or programme
(Montessori method or own school learning program and see what they focus on)

- Less writing work for an age 4
(I don't expect him to do well in academic yet for the first year and mainly want him to have fun while learning and with minimum writing involve. First year of school is let him gets well with the schooling environment and mixing with people, which is not pushing him to read and write well. He got more to handle down in 15-20 years coming. In some school, I know there are many writing work to do and also homework to bring back. Think about this, if the kid cannot hold the pencil well yet, who going to do the homework, is us parent. I asked this question to one of the kindy principal and she speechless. I understand we are kiasu now to make sure our kid can do well in all areas, but I know pushing a kid goes beyond our expectation is not the right way to develop them. So I can say I'm pretty relax in first year schooling. As long as all area goes a balance way. Of cause the learning and study cannot fully depends on school and teachers, we need to do our part too.)

- Good interaction between teachers, students and parents
(Whereby we follow closely what is our child progress in school, not twice or thrice a year during report card day, but as frequent as possible for teacher and parent's talk)

- Shoe take off in the school
(For the purpose of cleaniness, kids wearing shoe into the class will directly bringing in lots of germs. They sit and play on the floor, touching here and there then they may put their hands into the mouth or eat with hands and etc..thus they may get sick easily)

- Airy environment
(Not fully air-con environment and good ventilation. Poor air circulation in a confined area also can makes one sick easily)

- Small scale school
(Teachers and students know everyone well and can mix with different age friends. Unlike big school, seldom got chance mix everyone together)

After bringing back some brocherus, discuss with some mommies and asking hubby which he preferred (he asked me to decide), finally I enrolled him into a Montessori school. This taska was recommended by my ex-colleague and later known from my church sister, whom her son also study there. With their opinion and heard some good recommendation, it actually support my decision to registered Terry in. Most important, this taska met 80% of what I want.

- It is a school focus on Montessori teaching and development of a child from the base and basic. As they proceed their learning will be on track with primary standard too, with still using the Montessori tools but in more an advance one later. I strongly believe the develop them from foundation on all area is very important. Although some may think that those Montessori method are extra thing, but what I see the foundation of shaping them and teaching them step by step is the right way. Another thing I like about it is the time table is very friendly enough. Knowing that Monday is the boring day of the week start, the class activity of the day comes more a relax one and not focus on the book. Everyday there will be reading program on sets English storybook.

- Writing work only at school with all guidance by teacher. From basic to diffcult, learning on English, Mandrin and Counting just like regular kindy too. Homework only comes on Friday. I'm still pretty fine with this. Even they not give any, I will also buy some books for him to write or colour on free time.

- Parents will get a weekly progress report and giving back us what they have done (worksheet, art work and etc). Report on what they have learn and what is their weakness area. If any of that mention and need attention, we parent can take immediate action to follow up and strengthen them.

- No shoe are allow inside the school, which I think is the best and clean.

- Many windows in the classroom with fan and air-con. AC turn on in the mid morning or when the weather is hot. The school is quite well maintained and clean, although the building outside and the playground equipment looks a bit old.

- The school building is a double story house. It is pretty small enough with the right amount of students in each class. Each class have an average 20-22 students with teachers and sufficient helpers.

As I slowly find out kindy years school fee and make comparison with other, it doesn't comes cheap at all. Anyway, I strike to give a balance one to Terry. The one I took is RM290/ month and the yearly school fee after sum up all others is around RM4350. Another thing I like about this school is no uniform needed, which I seldom see in other kindy.

It is 2 months aways before his school starts. I should slowly start to prepare him and brain wash him about going to school. He actually got the idea already, know what is teacher and school about. When asking him about it sometime he says want, sometime don't want, depends on his mood, but not sure on the actual day how he does. I got to prepare to change my SAHM schedule, prepare to teach him more things as possible before school starts like buy some pre-schooler books and practise go to bed earlier.

Can't wait for his schooling days to start, in fact I think I will get myself stress up on the night before of worrying this and that. But somehow he has grown up now and need to learn to be independant. What an exciting year to look forward!

Mid-Autumn

My boring blog is started to flood with paid posts if I'm still not updating it. So since yesterday my blog goes on diarrhea. Sorry for making you read a lot today, there are few more coming. I admit that in recent months the LAZY bugs did bitten me badly. Few days ago was my own domain (judelittle.com) 2nd Anniversary. I was having a personal blog there too actually, but I believe it is almost abandon now. When the webhost reminded me for renewal, I was thinking whether still want to keep it. Well, I tell myself, since I've started and I will give myself sometime to continue it. I don't want to waste my effort to let go that easy just because of lazy =P

OK, back to this back-dated (3/10) post topic.
Few days ago before the actual Mid-Autumn day, I was actually having a bad dream. I dreamt of Terry holding on a stick with a glass paper lantern and got his face badly burnt. So scary, I jumped up from my sleep, immediately open my eye and wipe cool sweat. Luckily it was just a dream. I was actually planned to buy a lantern for him if saw any. Since after I've that bad dream, I don’t want to buy anymore.

As usual, Mid-Autumn means family gathering. At night, back to FIL’s house to have dinner. After the dinner, SIL#1 invited us down to the condo’s pool side to play lantern. She bought a few Japanese paper lanterns. This year was Terry first time seeing a lantern. He knows it was something can play and he got no mood to finish his dinner before we get down. When we were down at poolside, he was full of thrill and can’t wait to play with it. When he saw the candle lit up, he said 'Happy Birthday' and wanted to blow off. LOL!

After SIL light up the lantern for him, they walked round and round the pool side for many times. Others we stayed at a round table and yak mooncake, tea and some fruits. I'm very full as we just after dinner and durians at home.

At first Terry was skeptical to hold the lantern's stick. When I slowly let go my hand and make sure he won't drop it then I let him hold by his own. He was happily giggles when holding it on his own.

When we almost wanted to end the session, we saw the moon appearing. It was not big and bright enough as there were thick clouds covering it. We headed home at 11pm+. That’s how my Mooncake day past.

Playing lantern...candles...makes me think back of my childhood days too. As an adult, I don’t seem enjoy playing it that much like how I used to play during those days. It was so much of fun playing with neighbor friends and cousins holding the lantern walk down the street and light up candles round the gate. I even enjoyed playing it alone for many days before and after the actual day. As for now, I try to not miss the fun playing with my young ones.

Back in a week before the actual day, we have mooncake celebration night at church too. We got game, children coloring contest, presentation by Sunday school’s children, sermon and some foods in the end of the night.


The game is to guess the answer from the clue given hanging under the paper lantern, up high from the ceiling. I’m not getting all correct, very poor in this kind of guessing game. Only able to get less than 8 out of 15 with some by help.

Thomas Collection II

Terry - the all time big fan to Thomas & Friends is still very loyal and hearted with it. I think at the moment, nothing can replace his love to Thomas trains although I kept introducing him other cartoon's characters like Lighting McQueen car, Bob the Builder, Barney, Winnie the Pooh and etc.

Not to say, the collection are expanding too.

Sticker set, bought at morning market. RM1 each. The stickers still well keep in the plastic and he is not taking it out to stick anywhere yet. Just look see and put back to his bookshelf.

Kikansha Thomas Choco Pretzel RM3.50 from Isetan supermarket. Found this during one of our shopping trip when he make fuss. Once he got this, he totally keep quiet and happy munching it.

Thomas underwear RM18, bought from a seller in Multiply. Actually there are cheaper one at night market. I only know that after I bought this first pack.

Thomas Tank Engine Quilt Fabric 4 fat quarters (1 meter). Got this from an eBay seller in Australia. I bought 3 fq and she is so kind gave me another fq free make up to 1 meter. Include delivery, it is AU$20.70. (AU$5.45 per fq). The fabric is very good and soft. I plan to make him pillow case and bolster case for him or may be a quilt blanket.

Am I spoiling Terry with so many Thomas stuff?

Karaoke on FIL Birthday

Backdated @ 22/9/09

FIL's birthday fall on the Raya Holiday. We took this opportunity to have family gathering as well. SIL#1 booked a karaoke room at Neway Times Square for celebration. It was our first time brought Terry to sing and also with ILs. I really worried that the boy was not comfortable with the environment plus we went at his nap hour. Anyway I still go ahead and just leave if he not ok with it.

The last I went to sing K was way back in year 2005. Haha, I also afraid if I'm still can sing, true enough when try to choose songs, many of the songs I used to like I have forgotten the song's name. Not to say those latest one, familiar with the lyrics and singer, but I got no idea what is the name of the song. Everyone was singing except hubby, he shy to sing among family members.

Each head entry is entitled for 2 drinks or 1 snack 1 drink. We ordered some food, snack and drinks to yak while singing. For Terry, he was not counted in the head count, but charged belongs to peanut/snack fee, so he got free drinks too. The boy was having all fun time eating snack and drinking juice. We selected some children songs by Twins like Old McDonald, London Bridge, ABC, If You Are Happy, Ten Little Indian Boys, Mary Had A Little Lamb and etc.



Everybody sang together for him too when the songs played, but he refused to sing holding the mic. He only clap his hands and asking for some songs again and again. He found the microphone is something new to him. He kept playing the power button switch when other was singing. He had forgotten his tiredness and last till the karaoke section end.

Before we leave Neway, SIL brought a Baskin Robin ice-cream cake for FIL and we sang him a birthday song. We were so full after the cake and snack before, but FIL still wants to go for dinner.

FIL brought us for steamboat dinner at Hakka Restaurant. On the way to the restaurant the boy knock off immediately for 10 mins cat nap. Thank goodness he was not making fuss and cranky when I wakes him up. He managed to eat a little and all he wants is juices only then go tour round the restaurant with SIL while all of us still eating. After the dinner about 8pm, he dozed off immediately too and he not wake till back home. He was extremely tired and flat by then. I woke him up for milk at 11pm, then brush up and he continue to sleep again till next morning.

Green Helps

Although the calling for saving mother earth is very encouraging now, but it still not comes to my concern of stop using plastic bags or take away food with own containers. It is because the convenient is still there whenever we pack outside food or shopping.

Last year, there were news saying the disposable food containers or CFC food box will be stop using and we were asked to get ourselve prepared with own container and bags when need to pack food or shop. But, I don't think this calling is a successful one and supported by many. The usage of disposable-ware are still remain everywhere and people are still keep disposing it. I think in Penang, there are stores practising on NO plastic bags day. Am I right?

Why I'm writing this is because lately during one of the shopping trip hubby makes in Village Grocer, he got charged of RM0.10 for storing his purchased item into their plastic bags. He came back and complain it and said from now on he will prepared his own reusable shopping bags.

I strongly support his move and I also started to do so. If those days I got less carriage when going out, I will bring my own food tiers container to take away food and always get ready some reusable shopping bag in car. But, I always have this doubt when carrying own bags to shopping. Some stores are not allow to bring big bags in, so how are we going to use our own reusable bag in this case to support NO-PLASTIC-BAGS?

Anyway, just want to know, so far have you start practising the act?