Big, fat Chocolate Chip Cookies.

It's 15th Ramadhan and my daughters were so excited to make some cookies this morning. Every year, Chocolate Chip cookies will be on the list as they love chocolate. I just helped them a bit and let them did the rest.

The cookies might not last until raya but they don't mind about it. They just love making cookies and having fun while making them. This tradition of making cookies is part of my childhood tradition too. When we were small, my late mum used to teach us making raya at least 5 to 6 types of cookies. Those cookies would be distributed among our poor relatives and neighbours. Helping her in the kitchen was one of the unforgettable bonding time between us.

I'm teaching my daughters to make cookies now as a reminiscent of my childhood memory.  I miss those moments and it's also make me appreciate my late mum more. She taught me a lot and I want to create a lot of sweet memories with my daughters too. Hopefully they'll remember our sweet memories and treasure the bonding between them too.

These are their big, fat chocolate chip cookies.

A quick visit to see baby Muhammad.

Salam,

Have you ever made any decision to go somewhere without a proper planning? What happened then? Was your journey a smooth one?

Two days ago, we decided to go to Balok, Pahang to visit my brother and his wife who just delivered a newborn baby boy. We decided to go there only at 10 a.m. and by 11, we went out. I didn't pack that much since we it was only a day trip. Normally we would stay for few days there but this time we didn't want to bother my brother that much. We had our lunch in the rest stop area at Temerloh before we arrived at our destination by 3 p.m.

My brother and his wife were so happy to see us even though they both looked so tired. Their elder daughter was also happy to see her cousins even though she was a bit shy at first. My brother went out to buy some food like fried bananas for us even after I told him not to.

Here are some photos of us at his in-laws house:

Husna was so excited and there were many times she tried to touch the newborn baby. She made so much noise. Luckily the baby was not disturbed by Husna's noise. The baby is her second cousin who is born in the same year. By next year, I bet they are going to run around need to be carefully watched.

Fathini and Hafizah were busy playing with Hana (the elder sister for the baby). Hana was the boss when Fathini and Hafizah took turn to push her on her rider.

By 5.30  after my daughters took a bath, we had to leave the house and went back to KJ. Fathini and Hafizah wanted to stay but we told them that we would spend the night some other time. Before we left, I took a photo with baby Muhammad. (supposedly the baby will have another name after Muhammad but my brother didn't want to reveal yet). I secretly prayed that one day I will have a baby boy too when I held my nephew.

Kisah Kasut Raya Tok Abah VS Cucunya. (BM entry)

Salam,

Kisah Tok Abah:

Sewaktu kecil, Tok Abah bukannya orang senang, Jadi bila suatu hari Tok Abah dapat peluang membeli kasut raya idaman, Tok Abah gembira sangat. Siang malam di cuba kasut tu dan dia tak sabar-sabar nak beraya dengan kasut baru. Apabila tiba hari raya, hujan turun dengan selebat-lebatnya. Impian Tok Abah seakan lebur untuk keluar ke masjid dengan kasut baru. Bila Tok Abah menjenguk keluar, lopak-lopak air sudah penuh di halaman rumah. Oleh kerana tidak mahu berganjak dari keputusannya untuk mencuba kasut baru, Tok Abah tetap keluar rumah dengan kasut baru. Tetapi Tok Abah tidak memakai kasut tersebut. Dia menjinjing kasut baru ke masjid kerana tidak mahu kasut baru kotor. Tok Abah sanggup berkaki ayam ke masjid.


Kisah Cucunya:

Bukan setiap kali raya cucu Tok Abah akan dapat membeli kasut raya. Hanya jika dia tidak ada kasut yang elok untuk dipakai barulah ibunya akan membelikan kasut baru. Tahun ini, ibunya merasa kasihan melihatkan si anak tiada kasut yang masih muat untuk dipakai. Jadi, si ibu mengajak si anak membeli kasut baru di kedai kasut BATA. Walaupun hanya kasut biasa dan bukannya berjenama, si anak tetap gembira. Siang malam kasut baru seperti dibelai. Dia seakan tidak sabar untuk beraya dengan kasut baru. Dia berharap apabila raya nanti, dia tidak akan mengalami nasib yang sama seperti Tok Abahnya.

Kasut raya cucu Tok Abah (a.k.a. Fathini)

p/s: Tok Abah tu sebenarnya abah saya dan cerita di atas adalah kisah benar abah saya semasa kecil. Saya kerap mendengar cerita tersebut dari abah saya apabila tiba raya. Cucu Tok Abah sudah tentulah anak sulung saya yang juga cucu sulung abah saya.

Naturally gifted in handling children.

Salam,

How many of you think that you are good or rather naturally gifted in handling children especially toddlers and young children? (I can see some hands. hehe)

Some people have this gift when they somehow know how to handle children even though it can get out of hands. Among my family members, my younger sister Yati and also my youngest sister are really good in handling children. I myself is not so good as sometimes I can lose my temper easily. My hubby is also good and I always turn to him whenever I think it's time for him to take over.

Last Friday, my youngest sister Amalin, came over and spent the weekends here. My daughters were so excites when they could play, learn and even sleep with their aunt. They were so attached to her and didn't even want me to hold their hands when we went out to a shopping mall. At night, they wanted to sleep with their aunt and asked her to read a bed time story. I was just happy to see the attachment as at least that night, my hubby and I had a honeymoon night just for us. hehe.

My question for today:
Among your family members, who are naturally gifted in handling children?

Amalin & my daughters

 Amalin & me.

(There's 16 years gap between us: Is it obvious?)

Salam New Hijriah- 1432H & Simple BBQ.

Salam,

I hope it's not too late to wish all Muslims Salam New Hijriah. I planned to write some entries yesterday and even the day before but there were too many things that I had to sort out first. So, today at least I have this short entry. This entry does not contain any information but I just want to share some beautiful moments we had yesterday.

Fathini and my MIL came out with a brilliant idea of having "a pool party" on Tuesday (yesterday). My husband loved the idea since he wanted to have a simple BBQ with his family members just like a-get-together-thing. So, he bought all the things we need like a small BBQ set, 2kg of chicken, frankfurters, some drinks, paper cups and plates, tissues, charcoals and buns. My older SIL and my BIL offered to bring some other finger food and salad.

01 Muharram 1432 H/ 07 December 2010

We started the BBQ party quite late since my FIL called a Rentokil guy to spray some chemicals around the house and do some fogging at 10 o'clock. Only by 12, we could started to prepare. My hubby took about 1 hour to set and light up the fire! (we were so used with BBQ set that comes with a gas cylinder in NZ). When my older SIL & her hubby arrived, they brought the main entertainment for kids which was the swimming pool (since Fathini asked her auntie to bring it for the kids).

By 2 o'clock the food was almost ready except for burger patties because my BIL, his wife & their son did not arrive yet. 20 minutes later, they came and our small BBQ party was on the full swings. The kids couldn't wait to get into the pool and the adults were starving. Our simple BBQ meal contained BBQ chicken (marinated by my hubby and younger SIL), BBQ frankfurters, BBQ burger patties, fries, fried meehoon, salad and jacket potato. The drinks that complimented the food were strawberry yoghurt drink, apple carbonated drink and blackcurrant juice. Our dessert was vanilla & strawberry ice cream in a bun. While the four cousins (the kids) were having fun in the pool, the adults devour the food. 

About half an hour later, the kids started to feel cold and hungry. So, they came out of the pool and started to ask for food. Hafizah was the last one to came out of the pool. She cheekily spent more time in there until I had to literally fish her out of the pool. My MIL prepared hot MILO for the kids to warm them up. They were all so cute when they were shivering. After the a cup of HOT MILO, the kids took a bath before they ate something. By 4 o'clock, we wrapped up the party and took a rest in the living room with other activities like story telling session between my MIL & her grandchildren and chatting for us. My FIL was the only one who were fast asleep while all his grandchildren were making a lot of noise.

HOW WAS YOUR NEW YEAR YESTERDAY? IS THERE ANY SPECIAL ACTIVITY THAT YOU DID? I REALIZE THAT OUR ACTIVITY MIGHT BE TOO WESTERNIZED BUT OUR MAIN AIM WAS TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY BONDING. SINCE IT WAS A NEW YEAR, WE HOPE TO BECOME A FAMILY THAT LOVES EACH OTHER IN ANY CONDITION. 

Here are some more photos that I snapped yesterday:

My MIL was in Jejak Rasul 16 Episode 8- TODAY!

Salam,
Since 1 Ramadhan, we've been watching Jejak Rasul 16 which has a very interesting approach this year. The theme of the program this year is about "Trilogi Suara Kebenaran" (if I translate it, I woud say- The Voices of Truth Trilogy). There'll be three main parts in Jejak Rasul (Prophets' Trails) this year; first is about Mothers Of Believers like Khadijah, Aisyah, Fatimah and etc , the second part is about wars during Prophet Muhammad and the last part is about Jews and Israel.

Today, in Episode 8, my MIL appeared as one of the spoke person who was responsible to share some stories about the GREAT WOMEN during Prophet Muhammad's era, My MIL was responsible of telling some stories about Nubbayyah who sacrificed everything in order to fight in the name of Islam. She was interviewed by Ezzah Aziz Fawzy when she was still working in University of Thoyyibbah in Madinah. We (her children and daughters' in-laws feel very proud ) to see her appeared on tv especially for this special program like "Jejak Rasul". The way she narrated the story abut Nusayybah has made me realized how she has actually try to emulate those GREAT WOMEN in Islamic History.

 It's a llittle bit blur.

BUT here is a photo from my own collection:

I really adore and respect my MIL since she started her career from the bottom i.e. she started as a nurse, then she did her Masters in Nursing in Australia when she already had 4 children and she had to take care 3 of them (including my hubby when he was 12 until 14) and she managed to finally get her Philosophical Doctorate Degree about 4 years ago. She doesn't mind taking care of her SIL (who is now staying with us since she has a serious diabetes problem) and she used to take care of her nieces and nephews who used to stay with her for certain periods of time. 

When I'm telling about my MIL, this doesn't mean that I forgot my own late mum. Of course she will always come first and she is still my NO. 1 idol too. I'm just glad that I have my late mum and my MIL who can really give good examples to me on how to be a GOOD MUSLIM.

Eid Mubarak (EidulAdha), Happy Birthday Sayang & Happy Anniversarry.

Today Muslims in most countries are celebrating Eidul Adha (10 Zulhijjah 1430H). While here in NZ, we are going to celebrate it tomorrow, Saturday 28th November 2009. Hopefully this will be the last Eidul Adha for us here. We miss our families and friends in Msia so much and  we know that they miss us too. It's hard to give to tell them when exactly we are going back for good since my hubby is trying his best to finish his thesis. What I normally tell them is "Insyaallah we'll be back by the end of April next year".

Tomorrow we'll be celebrating Eidul Adha, my hubby's birthday and our 6th anniverssary. We are going to Morrinsville which is about 45 minutes from Hamilton to attend the "sacrificing event"(my attempt of literally translating it. hehe) or it's actually the slaughtering event. I'm not sure when are we going to celebrate my hubby's birthday and our annoverssary, but I'll bake a cake for us later and maybe we can have the celebrations at night. My hubby is going to be 30 this year. baru 30 , aku dah nak masuk 32 thn depan huhu .

Last year's bday & anniverssary celebration

Maybe 6 years is just nothing for others but for us it meant a lot. We knew each other when we were 18/19 years old. We met through Taekwondo club in PPP/ITM and the first time we started talking to each other was when we were on the camping trip with Taekwondo club members to Pangkor Island. Basically we've known each other about 7 years before we got married. (well, we were engaged 11/2 year before got married). Like other relationship, it's not a smooth sailing relationships. There were heaps of ups and downs and we even broke up 2 times because of the disapproval from my parents. But we don't want to dwell on the things on the past. We are looking forward for the future and appreciate each other and of course our daughters. Alhamdulillah(Thank you ALLAH for what YOU have given us).