When time is scarce

I was super busy the for the last few weeks.

Arranging new school transportation for the kids, because the previous one nak start berniaga pasar malam. Ha, padanla muka, hantar lagi kat sekolah jauh-jauh.

Mia continued her Taekwondo lessons at the centre, and ferrying her to and back to college in F1 manner is also leaving me out of breathe.... However, Grading will be this weekend.... so lega sikit la nanti.

Anastassia with her tuitions, yang paling tak larat Smart Reader Puteri and Zafry, cant complaint much as I was the one who insisted nak hantar to a good centre, although its far from our house.

I feel sorry for Anastassia, she has so much to do with so little time. Being a senior prefect, banyak tanggungjawab dia. She also insisted to go for her Taekwondo grading, homeworks are a loadful, she's also busy with tomorrow's Sports Day, which she is House Captain, kena training lumba lari, lepas tu kena buat persembahan Taekwondo. Next Monday, masuk debate competition, then she's also in Choral Speaking. Bowling pun next week....... (i plan to suggest to her to drop bowling this year)

Adoi, the first 2 months of the year is always like this.

I also feel sorry for Puteri, she insisted that she wants tuition. (hmmm...) dah dia nak blajar, layan ajela, lagipun tempat tuition tu somewhere belakang rumah. However, kesian jugak sebab dia kena forgo her afternoon naps....... But since she was the one yg eager for tuition, dia memang berkobar2la.

Zaryff pulak, having a great time at school. His teacher is not strict, so lepakla dia. Helena la yg pening kena monitor lebih, I've come across several homeworks not done..... mmm.

Remember I mentioned that I have a short term target for Mia and Anastassia? Well, Anastassia punya still on. But Mia punya, I just had to let it go. Tak logic pun since she's in boarding school. Actually I was hoping that she can join her Taekwondo Team for Japan this May.... but for her to do that, she has to train at the centre for 3 hours every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. And obviously that is not possible. I've accepted the fact that, masuk boarding school means she has to forgo Taekwondo at the centre, esp since even at college pun dia tak pilih Taekwondo as her Kelab Beruniform. (Taekwondo at centre and Taekwondo at college are under different Clubs)

Oh one more....... Puteri dah pakai specs!!!! Arghhh..... And Zaryff will follow suit in a few days time.......... Frust Helena...... huhu.....


Gotta go.....

Looking Forward for 2008

Finally, we are now in the year 2008. And I'm looking forward for a fantastic year!

The year started with the sending off of Mia back to asrama on 2 Jan. She moved to a new block, hence a new dorm..... a bigger one too.... Its a bit too big for my comfort but hey, I'm used to 3-to-a-room back in my MRSM days..... hehe..... but it looks like she's not complaining... Helped her mengelap her locker and bed..... and letak wrapping paper......

That night, I had a hard time sleeping, after 2 months with my firstborn, its quite hard to let go again..... and i started smsing with other moms yg anak masuk asrama and found out that I'm not the only one feeling sad and empty.....

mmm.... funny, I cant seem to recall what i did on Jan 3rd....

Anastassia, Puteri and Zaryff were excited to start school on Jan 4th. I sent them earlier than usual as Anastassia has prefects duties as early as 7am. Puteri who will now be in std 3 will be having new classmates as they started streaming.

I went to Zaryffs school to pay the school fees. School fees that I have to pay this year :

1 - Anastassia = around RM300
2 - Puteri = around RM90
3 - Zaryff = around RM230 (last yr was around RM350)

Anastassia's fees are high because of the kelas bimbingan fees. Zaryff's is because of his IT classes. This time round, Helena tak bayarpun duit insurance AIA tu.... i wonder I did the right thing...... Mia punya tak tau lagi.....

While paying the girls punya school fees, I made sure I went to see all the std 6 teachers, immaterial whether they teach Anastassia or not. Saja tanya khabar, considering all of them will do latih tubi with the std 6 students few months before UPSR. Some teachers memang dah tau, this year adik Mia will be in std 6, and it seems that Anastassia will be getting the same teachers as Mia 2 years ago.

I also went to see several std 3 teachers.... Puteri's class teacher said that she's looking forward to have Puteri in her class, after having had both Mia and Anastassia few years ago. "Nak tengok, Puteri ni perangai macam Mia or macam Anastassia" she said, smiling sweetly.


Free text books this year such a relief, and it was really a suprise to see Zaryff getting new books. Anastassia of coursela dapat new books because she was the pioneer batch for Maths and Science in English. However, kesian Puteri, the books that she got was quite old and some torn.... so I retrieved Anastassia's old books (same syllabus) from the cabinet and gave it to her. Jenuh jugak nak mencari buku2 lama tu.....

And sejuk hati Helena bila the first two days sekolah tu.... Anastasia came back from school, terus pergi tuition, and once back from tuition terus habiskan homework and buat mapping. I hope she will continue like this sampai bila-bila............ UPSR this year..... Helena harap ada kejayaan untuknya di akhir tahun nanti.....

Spending time with the kids

Taekwondo

This hols, day in day out its about taekwondo. Mia had to take the advantage of the hols to perfect her grading steps and to keep fit, as she plans to go for her grading next February. Nanti bila balik college, she would have problems going for training, so the most she can do is only to train on her own.

Since the training centre is a bit far from home, alang2 dah hantar Mia, I might as well hantar the 3 kids also, although not as often as Mia. Anastassia for the 1st time went for senior class, risau jugak because she wear specs..... and since senior class is a bit rough..... but suprise, suprise.... boleh tahan jugak budak ni.... not as good as Mia, but taklah lembik.... hehe.....

Puteri loves it so much with the increased trainings, but Zaryff would make a big deal out of it..... tapi yg herannya, bila dah kat centre, enjoy sakan pulak si Zaryff ni..... nasib baik dia kecik lagi, if not mesti dah kena tegur with the Sirs.....

Mia and Puteri waiting for food lepas taekwondo... masing-masing dah lapar.....

This picture is funny..... while Mia, Puteri and Zaryff were posing at the parking area, you can see Anastassia in the background, walking up the stairs nak masuk Condo.....

Chess

On Sundays, both Puteri and Zaryff would go for their chess class..... I have yet to meet up with the person who teaches them, maybe next week boleh la kut. But it seems that Zaryff is good at planning a good strategy, a skill that can be developed further, kira ada special bakatla kut. However, dia still kalah bila lawan Puteri..... hehe. The chinese teacher, who drives 50km weekly to give chess lessons is a master at chess it seems, selalu menang competitions. His passion in chess is visible, yela, he gives free lessons tau!!!

Puteri and Zaryff during the last Raya.

Last August - Zaryff won 1st Prize in the Pakaian Beragam Hari Kemerdekaan Competition

Dah lama ceta ni.... tak apa, kan.....

I got a last minute call from Zaryff's teacher, wanting Zaryff to enter the Pakaian Beragam Competition. "When would that be?" I asked the teacher. "Tomorow la, Puan" the teacher said. ALAMAK!!!!

But as to me, the first thing that came to my mind was, how this experience will build Zaryff's self confidence, I said ok ajela... And at 3:30pm duk panic memikirkan how to dress him up.

Zaryff most right, buat catwalk..... hehe, kelakar tengok abang2 prefects tahun 6 dok ajar before the event....

Sorry la gambar2nya tak elok. Zaryff standing in the centre selepas terima hadiah. The man behind him is the headmaster.


My boboy posing before going to school. Actually dia tengah tension sebab pergi sekolah tak pakai baju sekolah and kasut sekolah.... hehe. Hari tu mama dia bekalkan dia semangat, selain dari bekalkan roti dan air.... hehe....

Anastassia's School Trip to Penang

Last week was Anastassia's school trip to Penang.

They started their journey early Tuesday morning, and it got me worried as it was drizzling. Yela, naik bas untuk jalan jauh satu hal.... wet and slipepry roads is another thing. The wheather sort of put the kids in a solemn mood, and I didnt take any pictures because semua orang macam boring jer.....

But I was told that they became hyper the minute they boarded the bus..... hehe...

Actually std 5 students were supposed to go to Malacca. But Anastassia was one of the "privileged ten', a teacher said - 10 std 5 students, all prefects were chosen to join the std 6 girls for a 3-day trip to Penang.....

Anastassia is the second from the right, with her fellow classmates.

Anastassia enjoying the sea breeze with her friends.

The girls getting ready to hit the sack at Grand Continental Hotel in Penang.

Last day of school

Anastassia bidding farewell to a std 6 friend. Tengokla baju putih budak tu, habis kena coreng.... hehe

Anastassia together with some of her good buddies.....

"Anastassia....." I called her.

"You called me, Mama?" she asked.

"Have you done your tuition homework?" I asked, entering the study room.

"Ala, mama.... petang nanti la...." Anastassia merengek.

"La.... tak buat lagi ke..... " I sighed. "UPSR tahun depan tau..." I reminded her.

"Petang nanti, kita janji ok........ kita online ni....." Anastassia looking at me with those hopeful eyes of hers.

Mmm..... my Anastassia will always be the Anastassia that she is...... my hope is that she studies hard and give her all for her UPSR next year. I know she can...... its just whether she wants to or not. So far she has improved later in the year. And I have to make sure that she keeps that momentum.

Before penning off, just want to share here how much Anastassia has helped me at home, now that I'm maidless. She knows what to do, what is expected of her. Thanks kerana ringankan sikit beban mama. It means a lot to me to know that I can depend on you.....

Puteri's School Trip

Puteri had her school trip yesterday. For Pra-sekolah to std 3 students, after taking into account the concerns of parents, the school decided that their trip will be in the city only. (Originally, the trip was supposed to be to Malacca)

Yesterday was the trip for std 1's and std 2's only. The bus left the school compound at about 8:30am and we were supposed to fetch them at 3pm.

The minute we went in the school gate, a loud chanting was heard "Puteri!!!!", "Puteri!!!!", "Puteri!!!!" Apparently, Puteri's friends saw us and was jumping up and down calling her to come over. I can see Puteri blushing from all the attention. (yele, semua budak2 lain and mak2 budak dok toleh tengok Puteri)

They visited the Museum, a yogurt drink factory, among others....

Puteri standing at where she lines up everyday - 2D (2 Delima)

Puteri with her good friend.

Puteri, most left with her classmates.

She was one happy kid that day.................

Bersyukur sangat-sangat.................

Life has been treating me well lately. Syukur Alhamdulillah..........

Last Wednesday was the Hari Anugerah Cemerlang. Puteri was in the highlight and she was beaming ear to ear. (Mak dia pun sama la tu..... hehe) However, what came next was really a suprise. At the end of the ceremony, as usual, the school will anonounce Pelajar Cemerlang 2007 and other Cemerlang Kategories. Memang this is the highlight of the Ceremony la.....

It was a sweet suprise to know that Anastassia won the Anugerah Koko Cemerlang 2007 ..... I didnt even know that she was in the running!

Al in all, Puteri received 3 story books and 3 vouchers worth RM42. Boleh redeemla kat book store nanti. Anastassia pulak dapat certificate and a 12 inch trophy...... punyala besar trophy tu.... hehe (Mia pun ada dapat the same Anugerah and trophy but Mia got it masa std 6)

On Friday, there was another unexpected suprise. Remember in my last entry that I have a short term target for Anastassia? Well, she got called on Friday and its now 80% comfirmed that she's going to meet that target. Tapi ada lagi 20% to work on..... I hope she'll be able to make it.

UPSR results are already out. I was at the school to hear the annoucement. Results sekolah the girls sama macam last year. Although it is still good, we were a bit disappointed as our target of 105 was not met. Yang kelakarnya, last year when Mia received her results, I tak menangis pun, just air mata tu mengenang ajer. But this year, entah kenapa I cried. Sedih tengok girls yg menangis2 atas kejayaaan mereka... dan sedih tengok those yang hampa dan menangis teresak2 keraba sedih .... As usual the reporters were there too..... click sini, click sana.....

Sekolah Zaryff dropped this year to 48 students yg dapat 5A. I hope the school will do something about it to be ready for my Zaryff to take the exam..... hehe.....

I am so happy!!

Finally, exam results are out.

As expected Puteri got no 1 in class and in aliran. Her position in school for all 4 exams (March, May, Aug and Oct 2007), maintained at no 3, the same spot as in last yr. (She's quite dissapointed, and does not want to answer my calls) She is also the top malay student for std 2. Helena tau, dia frust because she aims no 1, tapi her Aug marks yg bawak total marks dia turun.

She's gonna get 3 awards this Wednesday, one for class, one for aliran and also best subject - BM. (bab ni pun dia marah sbb dia nak best subject for Science, tapi she got 88+100+100+99 for science, so yg 88 tu yg bawak turun tu)

Anastassia wont be getting any awards as predicted, but I'm very happy because after TURUN MENJUNAM in May, she's improving a lot. (Anastassia's results la yg paling critical among the 4 kids) Esp in the finals, which she got no 12. Tak apa I tell her, tahun depan ada lagi for her to put herself at the top 5 spot, macam dulu2.

Zaryff's result came out last week. Merosot from no 5 to no 9 in class, and aliran from no 8 to no 18. I lectured him for 2 mins (buat syarat), dia nangis (mengada) sbb tak pernah kene lecture, then mintak hadiah sebab science marks dia improved. Haha.

Mia punya response lagi best.

"Mama, you want to hear the good news first or the bad news first?"

mmm.... well.... no comments but siapla during the hols...... hehe

Mia spent the last 2 weeks of schooling singing for Farewells Gatherings (for 5th formers and year end activities) .... siap menang "Best Performance" pulak tu during School Concert last Friday. Tomorrow pulak ada cheerleading competition.

All in all, I'm happy, walaupun ada yg merosot, tapi to tell u the truth, Anastassia's improvements yg make me smile ......


This morning, I woke up with short-term targets for 2008. Takyah share dulu la.... I hope by April 2008, I can share the happy announcements for both Mia and Anastassia..... If they can achieve it, syukur.... if not, takde rezeki..... janji everyone has tried their best, esp me, in supporting them throughout. (ooo in case u're wondering, this is not academic related)

Helena is out! (ikut style Anastassia kat friendster dia.... :D)