So now that we are done with the beach pictures and the pool pictures, here are some of the other fun pictures taken during our trip to Orange Beach. [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach56.jpg:Peanut buttery baby:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions One of the good things about vacation is the opportunity for all of us to sit and have breakfast together without the need to rush anywhere. It is always a fun time. The following is a compilation of photos taken at breakfast (on different days, obviously) in Orange Beach: [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach02.jpg:Adik loved to feed himself peanut butter from the single-serving peanut butter container:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach13.jpg:Yaya always helps Papa put sugar and cream in his coffee:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach14.jpg:The siblings are finding each other’s “bee-bo” (belly button):center:0]] Adik learnt that Yaya does not want to eat peanut butter and starts to tease her with it: [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach24.jpg:Have some peanut butter, Yaya!:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach25.jpg:Yaya stays far away from the […]
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Return to Orange Beach – The Pool
So the beach pictures are done. Now for some pictures of the fun we had at the hotel pool in Orange Beach, AL. [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach01.jpg:Love this shot of Adik:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions We got new water wings for Yaya and a little boat for Adik at the Publix across the way: [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach09.jpg:Adik enjoying his boat:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach10.jpg:Splashed himself all wet:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach11.jpg:Yaya loves her new water wings:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach12.jpg:Yaya gives Adik a tow:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach22.jpg:Dangerously pushing Adik forwards while he gerams the water (she can tip his face right into the water this way):center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach23.jpg:Keeping his head area dry:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach38.jpg:Obsessing with pouring water in and out of the toy while Yaya practises her swimming moves:center:0]] [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach39.jpg:Papa and Adik:center:0]] The pool was our way of getting the kids off the beach. And it was also nice to hang out in the pool in the evening after the lunch/rest/naptime. We had an excellent […]
Continue readingReturn to Orange Beach – The Beach
Contrary to popular belief, the beach in Orange Beach, AL is actually not orange. In fact, the sand was beautiful, white, fine sand. Wheee! We loved it so much when we went there in April that we decided to go back there for a longer almost week-long vacation there in September. At the time of this entry, it has been almost a month since we were there, but given my track record it’s a wonder it’s only been delayed a few weeks. Hehe [[image:2013_sep_orangebeach35.jpg:The kids playing on the beach:center:0]] We chose to go after the Labor Day weekend, so not only was it fairly quiet, and we had the beach mostly to ourselves, but it was still hot and summery. And with off-season rates, well, it was icing on the cake. We drove down to Alabama in a 2-day road trip (each way), arriving on Sunday September 8th and leaving […]
Continue readingChicago: The Children’s Museum
So on the second day in Chicago, it was freezing cold (high of 38 F / 4 C – in May!!!!) so we decided to do something indoors. We went to the Children’s Museum which conveniently, was a short (and cold and windy) walk away from the hotel. As it turned out, it was one of the best things ever! Yaya had a fabulous time and still talks about it. [[image:2013_may_chicago23.jpg:Hard-hat Yaya:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions At the museum, Vin and I pretty much had to separate. One of us stayed with Yaya and the other with Adik, and at some points we switched up. So there aren’t very many pictures of the kids together. However there are plenty of pictures: [[image:2013_may_chicago24.jpg:On a CTA Bus:center:0]] [[image:2013_may_chicago25.jpg:At a treehouse:center:0]] [[image:2013_may_chicago26.jpg:Fishing for toy fishies:center:0]] [[image:2013_may_chicago27.jpg:Adik and Vin at the cushioned baby play area:center:0]] [[image:2013_may_chicago28.jpg:Telescoping for Mama:center:0]] [[image:2013_may_chicago29.jpg:Look at all […]
Continue readingBeach Escapade: Part II
We continue our adventures in Orange Beach, AL with a beautiful sunny day! It more than made up for the rainy afternoon that we had: [[image:2013_april_orangebeach44.jpg:What a beautiful day:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions After a quick breakfast, we are on the beach! Vin makes his own sandcastle since Yaya insists on making sand-cement in her buckets and not being able to get the sand out. [[image:2013_april_orangebeach25.jpg:King of his castle:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach26.jpg:Adik continues to geram the sand:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach27.jpg:Striking down Mama’s castle:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach28.jpg:Build me more castles to tear down, Mama!:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach29.jpg:Happy boy loves the sand:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach30.jpg:Yaya paddles while Papa takes a stroll:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach31.jpg:Adik loves being buried:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach32.jpg:Let’s throw sand!:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach33.jpg:Papa ensures that Yaya isn’t pulled out to sea:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach34.jpg:My family:center:0]] [[image:2013_april_orangebeach35.jpg:Adik wades in the surf:center:0]] Adik loved the sea – he kept running into the surf and giggling as the waves crashed around him. He stayed in until he started […]
Continue readingFriends in the Windy City
In honor of Laura and Roberto’s visit to Chicago, we decided to spend the weekend there. Laura and I have been working together for a few years now, but we have never met in person since Laura lives in Argentina. We drove up and had dinner with Laura, Roberto, and the Chicago contingent of Jen, Mike and Scott: [[image:2013_may_chicago03.jpg:Laura, Mike, Scott, Jen and Yaya:center:0]] Despite being at the famed Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza place, neither child ate the cheesy goodness that night. * Mouse over the pictures for captions But Jen and Yaya renewed their friendship and sealed it with post-it flag manicures [[image:2013_may_chicago01.jpg:Lovely long post-it flag press on nails:center:0]] [[image:2013_may_chicago02.jpg:They really do look like nails!:center:0]] [[image:2013_may_chicago04.jpg:Adik happily draws and eats cheerios:center:0]] Yaya and Adik get their first train ride (of any sort). The El route that we took included being underground as well as elevated! Yay! [[image:2013_may_chicago05.jpg:On the […]
Continue readingBeach Escapade: Part I
So we went to the beach in April! We went to Orange Beach, AL. Neither Vin nor I’d ever been (not just to Orange Beach but to Alabama in general) so this was a first. We had an amazing time! [[image:2013_april_orangebeach12.jpg:Family portrait on the beach:center:0]] Oh Adik! Why didn’t you look up? Anyway, I had been planning a short entry with a few pictures of our fabulous time in Orange Beach, but I ended up with way too many photos and a chronic inability to edit it anymore. I think we must refrain from taking so many pictures next time. Some of them actually turn out quite nice. * Mouse over pictures for captions So rather than being all talky talky, let’s let the photos speak for themselves. We begin with Day 2 of traveling – waking up in Athens, AL and then driving the rest of the way to […]
Continue readingRafe’s 12 Month (First!) Birthday
And now, Yaya can no longer declare that Adik is zero years old! The boy is now one! Yayyyyy!! He’s pretty pleased about it, too! [[image:2012_1229_rafe28.jpg:What you get when you ask him to smiiiiiile:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions It is just staggering how quickly a year has passed. Adik is no longer a tiny little newborn, but a fun little boy – he’s become a real person with a sense of humor, preferences that he can communicate, and a wonderfully sweet attitude to life. He’s a lovely easy-going baby, and happiest most when everyone is playing and laughing. In this past month, Adik has gone from being a world-class crawler to an almost-toddler. He can now walk about six steps independently. He loves to hold our hand (only one though!) and walks around getting into everything. He still is primarily a crawler – and it is amazing […]
Continue reading53 Months
53 Months! Again, backdated. She’s really getting close to her 54th month, but let’s not go there, yes? [[image:2012-yaya53month-04.jpg:Mama tied a ribbon in my hair:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for captions It has been a busy month. Lots of work to finish up, deadlines to meet, during the lead up to the end of the year, and then the Winter Break occurred. Yes, I realize I backdated this post, but I am using some photos from our after-Christmas trip (cheater! cheater!). No traveling until after the girl’s actual birthday, but then some traveling after Christmas. As you will see. Yaya is still on the no new games or new toys until she tries something new to eat. She did not try anything new, therefore, she did not get any new toys or games. Kind of nice for the wallet though – you want a new game or toy? What […]
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Ferry Rides To Pulau Pinang
So we went to Kulim to visit Irfan’s aunt Cik Su who works there. Because Kulim was very close to Pulau Pinang, we thought we’d take a drive there. We ended up going there twice in two days, and enjoyed a ferry ride to the island each time. When Sila and I were small we loved our family trips to Pulau Pinang with our parents, some of them were way before there was a bridge across the strait. Although the ferry rides by cars were special events, they were very old, half-forgotten memories. Many times I’ve wondered if it was really fun as I remembered them. The last time we were there as a family was 1994, if memory serves. I’m happy to report that they still are. These cranes are like sentinels. Once the car is parked, we all got out to enjoy the ride out at the bow. […]
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Salam Aidilfitri from Sitiawan
This year we spent Eid-ul-Fitr in Sitiawan. Here’s a photo of everyone during Eid morning. Then later that night, we had guests over the internet in the form of the Renstroms. Yaya and Adik also joined the fun. Adik wanted to crawl through the computer screen to join us, but Yaya held him back. EID MUBARAK!
Continue readingRafe’s 7 Month Birthday
And so the boy is 7 months old (and a bit, but thank god for backdated entries, right?) 😉 [[image:2012_0729_rafe07.jpg:Flanked by his sister’s cats Purrsley and Duchess:center:0]] *Mouse over pictures for captions Unbelievably, another month has flown by and Adik is growing and developing so quickly. Last month’s rolling and lunging has quickly become a fast-moving commando crawl. The child is mobile! He’s happy to just roam around the house. We do have to make sure he doesn’t get trampled by Yaya (who of course is oblivious of the fact that she could actually hurt her brother if she steps on him), and it doesn’t help that he always wants to follow her around and try to do what she’s doing. But it’s awfully fun to watch his little personality appear and see the things that catch his attention (and then gets taken away from him by Yaya) and the […]
Continue readingThe Amazing Adventures of Yaya, Adik and Auntie Jo – Part 2
So, here is the second part of Jo’s visit. The second half of her trip was just as fun and action-packed. But first we come home and relax a little after the excitement of Indiana. [[image:2012-jovisit-23.jpg:Yaya, Auntie Jo and Adik (and Purrsley) play “trains”:center:0]] * Mouse over the pictures for more captions [[image:2012-jovisit-22.jpg:Both kids got milk!:center:0]] [[image:2012-jovisit-38.jpg:The Amazing Flying Adik!!:center:0]] We drove up to Canada during the second weekend of Jo’s visit. It was both Victoria Day weekend and Auntie Vera’s birthday that Monday! There was another family reunion, this time in London, ONT. The last reunion in Canada took place almost five years ago! This will be the first time the Canadian family gets to meet Yaya and Adik in person! Also the first time Yaya and Adik go to Michigan and Ontario. While Yaya has already been to Malaysia and has crossed international borders, this would be Adik’s […]
Continue readingThe Amazing Adventures of Yaya, Adik and Auntie Jo – Part 1
We had a nice treat when the kids’ Auntie Jo visited all the way from Leeds! Yaya had lots of time to play with Jo, and Jo had lots of time to cuddle Adik. And still spend some time with Vin and me ;-). The last time Jo visited was at Yaya’s 2nd birthday, and this time with not as hot weather in May, it was just as much fun. [[image:2012-jovisit-02.jpg:Jo with Yaya and Adik:center:0]] * Mouse over pictures for captions We hung out at home for the first few days, chilling and letting the kids get to know their Aunt. Yaya took to her right away and showed her her room, and included Jo in all the games, and gave Jo her own roles to play in the play-acting games. [[image:2012-jovisit-01.jpg:This shirt that Auntie Jo gave Yaya has an “attached tutu”!!:center:0]] [[image:2012-jovisit-03.jpg:Let’s all make Adik laugh!:center:0]] [[image:2012-jovisit-04.jpg:Auntie Jo gives […]
Continue reading35 Months
Can we just pretend that this is on time? Or at least not so late that the girl is almost 36 months old? No excuses really. Anyway, here is our 35 month old Yaya (almost 3 years old now!!!! wooooo!). [[image:2011-0622-yaya24.jpg:I’m in a hotel crib!:center:0]] June was so long ago I barely remember it. We drove home from the work outing in New Jersey on June 2nd, and had lovely weather (for a change). No complaints from me. But we had a busy month though. Lots of work (for Mama) and then on the week leading up to the big 35 month birthday, we did a ton of traveling, and this time for fun! Yay! First vacation of 2011! But before we get to that, quick report: food intake unchanged. Still very limited options of what she will eat. Potty training: Yaya 4000, Mama and Papa 0. So that means […]
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Adventure on Langkawi Island
A couple of weeks earlier, Irfan, Atok, Opah, Ain & I went on a three-day vacation to Langkawi, where I had been on work assignment before twice since 2006 but never had the time to relax there and enjoy the sights. And it ultimately freaking hurt! But thanks to previous journeys to the island, I called a contact and booked a homestay bungalow, the one we rented during LIMA back in December 2009. I had thought back then that it was a great location, and promised I would return there with the family to enjoy it. Usually when tourists travel to Langkawi, they would find a chalet or hotel near the beach. The homestay we rented was situated on the side of a hill, surrounded by a kampung and overlooking a spectacular landscape, not far from the Langkawi Airport. Elsewhere on the island, we stopped by beaches, tourist spots and […]
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