I don't have the chance to touch the PC for the past week. It has been a very busy and hectic week for me. As I am typing this, all my three children are sleeping. All of them are having flu and cough at this moment. The medicines make them drowsy and hopefully they can recover soon.

Thank you for all your hari raya wishes for me. I'm sorry I don't have the chance to reply. Let me wish all of you from the bottom of my heart, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Mohon Maaf Zahir Dan Batin....

For me, this hari raya was not as excited as before. I don't know why I felt this way. Ramadhan went so fast and I felt that I did not make full use of the blessed month. I let it go without doing enough.

I think this year is a revelation year for me. A few things happened had made me realized that life is UNPREDICTABLE. I thought I had less but I realized that there's others who has nothing yet never complained. I am really ashamed of myself. On hari raya's eve, I visited a relative who is not as fortunate as others. She has 5 children and she is not working. The sad thing about her life is that....her husband married another woman oversea. I knew he neglected his wife and children, yet she never spoke ill of him. According to her, she redha what her husband did to her. She did not want a divorce as she knew, it would break her children's heart. She put aside her feelings as long as he is happy. She gave her consent for his marriage as she did not want him to deepen his sins. I was really shocked to see the condition of her house. Her house is almost empty. People complained that they have no new curtains, not enough kuihs and cakes for raya, not enough new dresses and shoes and bags etc etc...she has nothing. Her children's hari raya clothes was being donated by a kind hearted relative. There's only a small rice cooker and a old washing machine in her kitchen. She does not have a fridge. Yet she did not complaint a bit. As an outsider like me, I would surely blamed her husband for doing this to her, but...she blamed herself. She said that she did not play her part enough as a wife, that is why he went astray. I was speechless. There is nothing I can do other than do my part as any fellow Muslim would do. My heart goes to her children. May she remain strong and calm. May Allah lead her husband to the right path and show him how his wife has sacrificed and suffered.

As years went by, I have different perception of hari raya. Hari Raya is the day for seeking forgiveness for the wrong doings that I have done to others. "Maaf Zahir dan Batin" is not just another words, it has deep meaning. Our sins to Allah, we can seek forgiveness, but our sins to other human...???

So I really meant it when I say, "Mohon Maaf Zahir Dan Batin, dari hujung rambut ke hujung kaki, di depan atau di belakang, antara sedar dan tidak, dunia dan akhirat".

Life is not as simple as it seems.

Life is so unpredictable.

One minute life can be great. The next minute life can be diminutive.

Life can be shattered with just one negative remark.

Even how hurtful life can be, life still have to go on.

Only HE decides what each's life should be.

And life got to find its own strength to carry through....

This is what we have done to our PLANS.

8.45 a.m - Hubby sent Afrina to class then Hubby went to JB isi minyak.

11.45 a.m - Hubby picked us up to fetch Afrina from school then we went to Phoon Huat to get the ingredients for the cookies and cakes.

(1st upset) - We did go to Phoon Huat. Hubby waited in the car with the kids while I went in alone. The place was so CROWDED!!!. The queue line to the cashier was already half of the shop. In order to get from one shelf to another, I had to walked passed the people queuing and also those who were still shopping. And worst, the shelves were almost empty and the staff were stacking the products with cartons and boxes lying around. Bad plan, should not go there on weekends. Especially when Hari Raya is just round the corner. So end up, I gave up. I left the shop buying NOTHING!!!

1.30 p.m - (2nd upset) Since no ingredients available, my plan to bake cookies cancelled.

(3rd upset) - Hubby slept all the way till almost 4.00 p.m!!!! His plan to clean the living room, hang the curtains and shift the furniture, all done in his dreams. As for me, after doing the laundry and folded the clean clothes, I just watched tv with my kids. I got Afiqah to wake hubby up. Lucky he woke up, if not.....*roll up sleeves*

5.00 p.m - Went to Causeway Point and bought new shoes for the girls. No time to scout for Affandy's shirt. I saw Barbie's skirts which were on sale and thought I want to buy those for my girls. But I changed my mind. Maybe some other time, if the skirts are still available. At 6.00 p.m, we went to Bazaar Raya Utara to get food for iftar. Another crowded place. After bought what we wanted, we went to McDonald's to get my favourite drinks - ICE MILO!! We reached home just in time for iftar.

Well, that's all the schedules for today. Not sure what are the plans for tomorrow. I'll just wait and see.....

This is our PLANS for today.

8.45 a.m - Hubby send Afrina to class then Hubby go to JB isi minyak.

11.45 a.m - Hubby pick us up to fetch Afrina from school then go to Phoon Huat to get the ingredients for the cookies and cakes.

1.30 p.m - Hubby wants to clean the living room, hang the curtains and SHIFT the furniture. If I don't help hubby, I'll start making the cookies.

4.30 p.m - Go to Causeway Point to get new shoes and dress/shirts for the kids and also to Bazar Utara to get food for iftar.

Like I said, this is our PLANS for today. Let's see if all the PLANS works. Just wait and see......

For the past 6 years, you were there when I need you most. You made my life easier and spiced up my life. I couldn't imagine life without you.

But now you're gone...you left me. It hurts me to see you leave. Life is incomplete without you. The room will never be the same again. But I accept the fact that we are not meant to be together anymore. I have to find your replacement....I just have to. It will make my life easier. I'm sorry...rest assured that you will be missed. Goodbye......



*wailing* spice rack aku dah pecah!!!!! Habis semua garam dan kunyit aku!!! *wailing again*

The above was a housewarming gift from her. Sorry friend, it's not my fault. Care to get me another one? *wink*

So it's confirmed that yesterday was my lazy day. But not that lazy to go to Bazar Utara at Causeway Point to buy these foods for iftar....

Since Afiqah was not around, so it was easier to handle two kids. As it was raining yesterday, I did not bring Affandy's stroller along. Now my arm is aching as I carried him most of the time.

So hopefully TODAY I will make the tahu goreng. And pizza also!!!!

This morning Hubby kept on warming up the oven even though the power tripped for a couple of times. We were advised by his cousin to keep on warming up the oven until no more power tripped. According to her, as we seldom use the oven, somehow moisture was trapped in the oven. We followed her advise and now YAHOOOOOO, eh salah, ALHAMDULILLAH!! At last I can have homemade pizza for iftar. I wonder how it will taste??

So now, where are all my recipes for the cookies and cakes?

Yesterday I visited all my bloggers website....majority of them change their layout. Rajin benar semua orang ni. I also feel like changing but...I can't let go of this existing one. I love this skin so much and PINK is my favourite colour. Maybe next time, if I have the time. Maybe the base colour will still be pink. Maybe I won't change. Maybe.....

By the way, my girls' ex-babysitter "borrowed" Afiqah today. She misses my girls so much. Too bad Afrina was not around and she is still schooling. Maybe in school holidays, she will take them both. I felt pity for her. She is lonely as all her three sons have grown up. The youngest is in Sec 4. The eldest will be getting married soon and she is a widower. She doesn't mind if I leave my kids with her if I have errands to do. But I feel that it's not right to bother her anymore. Maybe next time.... Maybe.....

Today for iftar, I planned to make tahu goreng. Already bought the tahu, only need to make the sauce. Me today very the lazy and very the selenge tau. I bought a packet of sauce which stated there, "Sambal Jenganan untuk Tahu Goreng". So being lazy, I thought just pour water and the sauce will be ready. But I read again, there's a small print said "Instant grounded peanut". Lah..... Ingatkan sauce instant, rupanya nak kena siapkan bahan-bahan lain. Ini cuma kacang tanah aje. Upset betollah!! So maybe I will prepare the sauce. Maybe I will just buy foods from Vista Point. Maybe...

Berapa banyak maybe dah.......

HERE I AM

Time passed very fast when you have loads of things to do. Alhamdullillah, I managed to steal some of the time to update. I kind of miss this blogging things, tagging my fellow bloggers and wonder if I've been missed...I doubt so...*He He He*

For a start, Afrina just completed her final exam. She seemed to take it easy, maybe too easy that it made me worried. But she had the confidence that she could do it and I was hoping she pass with good grades. Maybe my expectations were too high, but aren't all mothers are like that?

I had also been training her to fast in Ramadhan. I did not wake her up for sahur, but gave a glass of milk everyday before going to school in the morning. This fasting month, her school did not serve drinks and foods as usual. Maybe they are training the students to fast too. So far, she can fast up to 3 pm. One of the days, she even cried and begged me for some food. Pitiful right? Hubby and me kept praising her each day she fast. Hopefully by next Ramadhan, she can fast for the whole day. Insya'Allah.

Actually, I have an agenda for this Ramadhan. In fact, I have 4 task to complete. There are :-

1) My newfound hobby - COMPLETED!!! (Alhamdullillah)

2) To alter my girls baju kurungs for hari raya (3 suits for each girl, that will be 6 suits to alter...mak oiii!!!) - Me the "kiasu" mother, bought them few months ago cause it's so cheap. I don't think I could get the same price now. I purposely bought 1 size bigger so they can wear for a long time. Anyway, baju kurungs is never out of date fashion.

3) Another hobby...not sure can fulfill or not.

4) To bake some cookies and cakes for hari raya. - This is a sad story. I have an oven which I can't remember when was the last time I used it. Years maybe. So one day, I thought of making pizza for iftar. So you see, I just need to warm up the oven and my pizza would be ready soon. But....when I turned on the oven, power tripped occurred! Not once but twice!!! So hubby said, forget about using the oven. He will look into in IF he got the time. There goes my pizza...it's still in the fridge waiting for the oven. So, my plan to bake cookies and cakes remain as a plan. To my lovely cousins, ada niat nak donate kuih ke kek kat Ummi?

All the task above does not include the daily housework and also the extra cleaning of the house for Hari Raya. But the best thing, we have painted half of our living room. Yes, I said half of our living room. I mean only certain walls were painted.Tak larat nak paint satu living room mak oiii!!! Even though we have two extra helpers....

dorang ni pengacau sebenarnye.....

So now, I'm going to visit each and every bloggers on my list. See what I have missed. Wah...I think I got a lot to catch up!

GOODBYE...FOR NOW....

Salam to all my dear bloggers....

I'm taking a short break from the blogging world. I would like to concentrate on my daughter, Afrina, as she will having her final exam very soon. I'm beginning to feel the pressure. And also because, tonight is the starting of Ramadhan and we begin our tarawih prayer. So I would like to cut down my time facing the PC. I also wish to concentrate on my newfound "hobby", which I hope to complete before Syawal. So you see, my time will be fully occupied. Not to forget, looking after my 3 super active children in this fasting month would be the greatest test for me.

But please do keep in touch. Please continue your tagging, commenting and emails. I will definitely visit all of you on my free time, hopefully I can find one. I will remember each of you in my heart.

May this Ramadhan month brings joy and Nur into our lives. May Allah rewards us His blessings and forgiveness...Amin....

Till we meet again......

Your friend,

Rina aka Mrsbeki

KO or OK???

I was very nervous actually on Sunday. My Parent-In Laws brought my two girls to their friend's house and I was alone with Affandy as hubby was not around too. I got to cook peacefully and prepared the table for the guests to come.

Then noon came and my PIL came back with my girls. As they were waiting for my BIL to fetch them, they rested in one of the rooms. Linda reached my house first, followed by Hunny (err.. excuse me, are u a model, he he he) with Babyhulk (he is so CUTE, but he didn't want to look at me... :( ) and Th0ts (u tembam like my Afiqah, no wonder Afiqah likes you *wink*). BabyHD with Danial (Affandy's handsome buddy) and sweet, demure Ramblerine came next (thank you so much for the gift dear, I love it so much. After reading it, the pain of giving birth like nothing at all). Then came our star....Miss Sexy Elmo!!! (Phweet!!!)

Look at the foods on the table.....


These did not include the cream puff by Elmo and the Ice-Cream by Th0ts. I kept asking the girls to help themselves with another serving. While we were having our fun conversation, little Affandy get cranky as it was time for his "memek". I excused myself and let the girls continue the fun.

One by one left, and my lovely cousins help out on the cleaning up (habis u all tapau eh, nasib baik ada ice-cream untuk I... *stick out tongue*). I did snap some pictures but should I publish it here...let me think about it eh..hah hah hah *evil laugh*. I really hope I could talk more with the girls but it seems that I was almost speechless. This was the first time gathering and I hope the next would be even better. I apologize if I was not being a good host and if my cooking was not that yummy. Nevertheless, I was elated to meet all of you and the babies. Thank you for making my day!

TAI TAI LUNCH

Yesterday was such a FUN!!! I meet with the rest of bloggers for the first time. When I reached Cavana about 2.15 pm, Salina, Mummy Jam, Fiqkir and Kuntum were already there. They were busy arranging the tables. I was too shy to start a conversation, so I just smiled.

After a while, the rest of the gang arrived. There's Shimah, Ainn, Lyana, Zurynee and of course, Phantommomma, Yati and Bulan. Phantommomma brought along her tiny little Nadiyah and Firdaus. Nadiyah, Afiqah and Afrina became friends instantly.

Since this was my first time meeting them, I was rather quiet, I think. Maybe if I meet them again, I can be a little bubbly, I hope. Afiqah really got on my nerves yesterday. She was such a big bully to little Erynn (Ainn's girl). She persistently wanted to hold Erynn's hand. But I think Erynn was scared of her. She made a scene by lying on the floor at Metro and wailing out loud. I was so embarrassed and quickly carried Afiqah out. *Sigh*

Too bad I couldn't stay longer with the rest as I got to send Afrina to her "Ngaji" class in the evening. I really hope I could meet up with them again. A big thanks to Lyana for her efficiency in organizing this "get-together" lunch.

By the way, I brought my digicam along but did not shoot much photos. Too busy with the kids. Just a few here to share....


Affandy and Afiqah waiting for their foods


The "Instant Friends" - Nadiyah and Afiqah


The "Not So Instant" Friends - Firdaus and Affandy


The gorgeous boy, Firdaus!!!

As I'm writing this, I'm feeling very excited and nervous. Insya'Allah, later at 2.00 pm, I'll be meeting a group of mummies' bloggers at Causeway Point. This is organized by Lyana. I wonder how she do it to group about 14 mummies to meet up. She is so efficient!!!

For those who don't know me, I am a shy person by nature. But once you get to know me better, I can be bubbly and loving. Meeting these new friends without knowing them and wonder how they look like, really make me nervous. Butterflies churning in my stomach. I might know some of them through blogging.

Later this Sunday, a group of bloggers will gather at my house. This will also make me nervous even though I'm the host. I like the way they call me "Ummi", makes us more closer affectionately. They are just like my younger sisters which I never had. So girls (you know who you are)...ready for some fun this Sunday???

I entered my girls' room that day, I saw this pasted on Afrina's drawer....


So sweet..... It really makes my day!! I love you too, Afrina.

I went to the market this morning and found the price of eggs has gone down to $3.00 for 10. Since it has been more than two months we didn't get to eat eggs in this house, I bought it. I cooked Sambal Tumis Telur + Udang today.

I just need to eat more eggs today. So I made this....

Sardine Egg Toast

I was expecting a guest this afternoon but she could not make it. So it's all for us to finish it!!

Yesterday was hubby's last day of reservist. He brought home three sports shoes from his camp. Suprisingly, one is for me!


He said this is the smallest size that he could find. All these shoes are compliments from the Army. Not bad huh! These reservists men didn't do much (true right?) but yet they get all these freebies. I'm glad he brought home one for me as my old sports shoes kind of worn out. So..I'm ready to jog, anyone care to join me?

DRIVER LOVE

Affandy could not sit still in the back seat of our car with me. Cause...this is where he wanted to sit....


"Are you ready to go Ummi? Please fasten your seatbelt."


"Here we go....Errr..which gear ah?"


Not the time yet Affandy. LEARN FROM THE BOSS....

LUCKY ONE

How often can you be so lucky in winning a lucky draw? Well...its my turn to be lucky. Even though the prize won was not that interesting but better than nothing right? I won from my favourite magazine which I never miss reading it every month.


I participated in this contest in February, now then they announced the lucky winners.


This is what I won.....


The prize comprising of Iron and Vitamin C, Antioxidant and Women' Folic Acid. All these things can pass to hubby to finish it off, except the Folic Acid lah. Furthermore, he will the one to collect the prize on my behalf.

I asked my MIL's help to look after Afiqah for today as I need to send Affandy for his 15-months injection. MIL fetched Afiqah yesterday and she supposed to send back by today. It seems that she is not free to send today, so Afiqah will stay with her for another night. Miss her so much already!

I sent Affandy for his jab this morning at Woodlands Polyclinic. Normally I have hubby to accompany, but today, I was on my own. Dear hubby got to serve and defend his country for almost two weeks. "I'm proud of you hubby, you're my hero!" Miss him so much also!

Back to this morning, I took cabs to and fro. With a boy to carry and a stroller, how to take bus? Before the injection, Affandy could not keep still. He walked here and there, climbed up and down the chairs, he even messed up the nurse's table. But after the jab, there goes the super-active boy. He cried for a while and later doze off. The nurse said he would have fever between 5 days to 2 weeks time. Oh..oh. Affandy seldom got sick. But if he falls sick, he would be very grouchy and cranky. He would cling to me all day and night. And I couldn't do other things as he only wanted to have "memek". Being his ummi, he only wants mine. For those who do not know what "memek" is, do not ask me! Try to find out yourself.

The nurse also said that Affandy is a little bit light and underweight. She even asked me if I give him eat. Of course I did, how could I let my boy starved! She suggested that I supplement him with formula milk. Does this mean that my milk is not good enough for him? In fact, I did give him formula milk once in a while. But he would only bite the bottle's teat and poured out the milk. So, how else can I make him to have "normal" weight?

I've been very busy lately to update. In less than a month, Afrina will be having her final year exam. The one who is being paranoid and stress is me, I guess. I do not want to pressure her too much and sometimes I just can't help it. And she is just in K1! What would happen if she is in P1? Pressure....pressure.....

Last Saturday, me and the kids went out with my cousin, Linda and her mum. It was really fun. We had lunch at this restaurant called Cafe Viencia (I think so...). I could see in Linda's face that the food were not that yummy. I had to force myself to finish the whole plate of spaghetti. We were really disappointed with the food there even though the service was good. Well...it seemed that we were the only customer there.

We walked around Orchard Road and we were supposed to scout for our hubbies' birthday gifts. I have decided on one but Linda still looking. Too bad girl, I've got mine..ha ha ha!

Since we have been in Orchard Road since afternoon, everyone was getting tired. I called up my hubby and I asked him if he would like to pick us up. Of course, being such a darling and sweet hubby, he would definitely said yes. He he he...syioknye!

We send Linda and my aunt back, then we ate our dinner around the neighbourhood coffee shop. Driving back from the East to the North was such a long journey, for the kids. Even after parking our car, this little chubby girl was still in her sweet dreams. I managed to snap her picture and when I showed to her, she was unhappy! Maybe to her, the photo of hers is not presentable but to us, it would definitely make us smile. By the way, hubby got to carry her all the way from the car park to our house. Upon reaching home as usual, she woke up!

Look at her.....

Yesterday I had a long chat with my late cousin's wife. I could not control my tears upon hearing her soft voice. This was the voice of a lady who had just lost her husband due to cancer and left behind four small children. This was the voice of a lady who everyone taught was so strong but only Allah knows what's on her mind.

I wanted to call her for a long time since my cousin passed on, but I was not sure what to say and when was the right time. BabyHD said her sister-in-law would surely welcome any calls made me hesitate no more. I just got to do it and I did. She was so touched that I called and we just cried a while without saying anything. She told me she missed her husband badly. I told her please be strong and let him go. She is trying very hard to conceal her emotion as she did not want her children to see her cry. It hurts her when her children kept asking about their father and she told them to remember all the sweet memories with him and to pray for their father's soul. May Allah give her strength to carry on.....

Before we end our conversation, I told her that I really hope our silaturahim will never end even my late cousin has gone. That was what she hoping too. To her, seeing and talking to her husband's families and relatives was like....a cure for her pain. When she looked at us, she saw her late husband in us as we are his flesh and blood. I can feel that she is lonely even with the laughter of the kids filled the house. She needs someone to talk to and to give her moral support. I promise that I will be there for her if she ever need me.