Hanan Turns 4 & Beach Party Getaway

My little princess, Hanan Alia recently turned 4, and we planned a small family getaway to Morib (we stayed at Impian Morib Hotel) before Ramadhan, plus a beach party to celebrate Hanan's and my nephew Imran Iskandar's birthdays. We chose Morib because it is very near to my parent's place, barely 45 minutes away.

We stopped by the beach at around 11am and had the picnic + party. I made lasagna, mom made nasi lemak and the cake was smashed from the ride haha.... It's a small yet meaningful event for this family where my late youngest sister is greatly missed. The kids were so excited for the event they could barely sleep the night before lol

When we arrived, it was low tide! Oh well....the kids still enjoyed themselves coz they rarely get to see beaches :)

Birthday girl in mommy made dress!

This one happy princess, she was all laughter and smiles in her new dress. She picked the fabric herself and of course wanted pink for her special day. I stayed up late the night before finishing this and she stayed right by my side, that's how excited she was lol....I love the dress the only minus point is that the bodice was a tad too big with gapy armscye so I had to put a t-shirt inside. I made the bodice from a bright pink linen I just love the texture of that fabric!

The most awaited moment for the kids! See how excited they look? Lol...

Happy faces!! Thank you everyone for the presents!!
Special thanks to Untie Idamurni & Mya for the Rapunzel Jigsaw Puzzle & Aisha's creative set, they simply love it! :)

All four kids get presents, so you know now why we had to combine birthdays? :D

The women behind the events - my lovely mama, my sister Masni & yours truly!
Second pic on the right - me & baby Faris, what a peaceful baby, slept through the whole party commotion!!

All in all, it was 2 days one night well spent in Morib! We had the much needed r&r plus family bonding time. It's been a looooong time since we ever go anywhere together so I am very grateful for this....

For my darling princess Hanan Alia....

Right now you...

- are calmer and warms up to people more readily than before...

- are a tad possessive and passionate just about anything! This also means you fight hard baby... :)

- has the brightest smile and eyes that twinkles!

- like to say "Ye lah tu..." (yeah right..) in answer to what mommy and abah tried to explain to you lol

- like to create stories around your imaginary friends, school & teachers!! You are not in school yet but you have steady stories of your experience with "Ckigu Siti" (teacher Siti), your friend named Lola (imaginary) & your school which when mommy & abah asked to visit you would always say it is either closed or not accepting visitors!! Lol.... oh baby girl...you are perfect and we LOVE you! *hugs*

Last but not least, thank you everyone for reading such a long post, a special one for me and my little family...

Today is the first day of Ramadhan, here's wishing all my readers a blessed month may Allah grant all your wishes and happiness be with you...Ameen...

Trial, Tribulations & Laptop Sleeve

I've been awfully quiet, so unlike me. But many things are happening and real life takes over.

My family is saddened with devastating news of my little sister (the youngest) Lin, diagnosed with a rare type of cancerous spinal tumor. The scientific name - sarcoma something - scares me but at least it exists in the medical world and not a totally unknown condition, even though the doctors said it's like one in a million. She is undergoing scans and tests at the moment as we wait for her latest MRI result. She is so thin now, with so many trips to the GH Neuro ward, she had to take a break from college.

To cheer her up, we organised a double birthday celebration for her and my Aisha. As usual we had it at my parents' but this time at their new home 25 kilometers away from Putrajaya. My dad had recently retired and moved to Dengkil. It was a wonderful event and I could see how my worried parents cheered up a bit when all their children and grandchildren are around. The kids enjoyed it the most of course as in my family, whenever there is a birthday party, all four grandchildren get presents to avoid tears and tantrums lol...My dad said, next year we'd have to combine all four birthdays in one party coz he's retired now and not making as much money to buy so many presents hahaha...

For my beloved little sister, I made her a laptop sleeve. I chose Keykalou pattern coz her patterns are always reliable and quick to whip up. It's bright and cheerful, with hearts a plenty to remind her how much she is loved. I'm glad she loves it.

I never stop praying for my sister now. Hoping that she'd get through this ordeal to enjoy a long and fulfilling life ahead of her. I have to be brave because she needs the strength of her family. We all love you so much Lin, get well soon my little sis *hugs*

My Sweet Aisha Tuns 10!

My darling angel, you turn 10 today.

And look at you, my sweet, sweet love...slowly blooming in front of my eyes, into a beautiful young lady. When I first saw you 10 years ago, I knew you're beautiful, but to see you today, takes my breath away, everytime...

Right now, you (are).... :

....the sweetest girl next door...you have a shy & quiet demeanor, very different from mommy & your vivacious little sister. It's obvious you're taking after Abah, your beloved father :)

....also very sensitive...your eyes swell up in tears whenever mummy or abah give you a pep talk, but you usually try to hide it from me...

....the one your little sister looks up to. The very source of her envy as, being seven years apart, little Hanan obviously wants to be like the wise, big girl, kakak Aisha...

....in the first class at school, as you have been since Standard 1.

....very into crafty stuff - you love felt sewing, art & drawing, handmade greeting cards for your friends, origami, you name it.

....showing interests of being an entrepreneur.  One day, after gifting a handmade felt brooch to your friend, you came home asking my permission to sew more. It turned out your friends placed order of 5 more brooches!

....love reading. Anything from simple Mr Men series, The Magic Kitten to Enid Blyton.

....attend Cambridge Young Learners English language class, once a week

....don't like to wear dresses. Only top/tunic with pants/jeans/leggings or baju kurung. And you're ready to wear tudung soon, bless you...

....still hugs and kisses mummy & abah all the time :)

Aisha Alia, you are the reason I am here, striving, determined to be someone you could turn to when you need me. We've gone through so much together my darling, thank you for staying by my side for the last 10 years and I am hoping for hundreds more years to come. My prayers for your eternal happiness and meaningful life ahead.

Happy birthday sayang...mummy and abah love you so much *hugs & kisses*

Hanan Alia, 3 Years Old

Honey,

You turn 3 today.

It’s amazing to see how you’ve grown from this chubby wiggly baby…

To the vivacious little girl you are today…

Right now you…

-          Are very passionate about everything Pinchess (Princess) even if you are a bit of a tomboy

-          Still sleeps with mummy, as every night mummy struggles to put you on the Pinchess Bed you love but never intend to sleep on lol

-          Are at your happiest when we go for a walk or family outing

-          Speaks toddler talk that at times only mummy understands

-          Replace all the K in your speech with T eg : tatat Aisha, butan, matan, taler etc LOL

-          Love your big sister to bits even though at your most passionate moments would pull her hair or scratch her face grrrr….

-          Still cry when you see grown Men except for Abah, Papatok, Tok Ayah, Ayah Li, Pak Wan and Ayah Mad (we are very perplexed of this trait you have since you're just a tiny baby)

-          Still on the bottle at nap time

-          Love to play with Abah’s iPod and know exactly what to do with all those apps

-          Hate vegetables *sigh*….

-          Love to play in mummy’s sewing room till the wee hours, keeping me company

-          Have the most infectious gurgle-y laughter AND the loudest wail, ever

-          Have a stronger bond with mummy than anybody else

Mummy and Abah love you so much, you are PERFECT.

Happy Birthday sayang….*hugs*