Your First Movie at the Cinema, 19-Jul-08

Dear Gabriel,

Mummy and Papa brought you to watch ‘Batman: The Dark Knight’ at GSC Gurney Plaza. You were very excited. Papa bought 2 tickets for mummy and papa. You didn’t need a ticket as you were still small. Papa also bought popcorn and 100 Plus softdrink. The cinema was like a big TV. When we entered, they were showing the advertisements. You waited until the show started before you ate the popcorn and sipped the drink. The movie was quite violent with lots of fighting and shooting scenes. The sound was also very loud! The Joker and friends are the bad people. Batman and the police want to stop his evil tricks. There is also Harvey Dent the DA who later became the evil Two-Face Harvey – one side of his face got burnt – very ugly! Batman got a special car and motorbike to chase the bad people. When there was a scary part, you would cover your eyes with your hands. You went to the toilet 3 times during the movie. Some part of the movie was boring and you didn’t understand. The movie was also quite long – 2½ hours. You were a very good boy in the cinema. Next time mummy and papa plan to take you to watch Madagascar 2!

Love,
Papa

Games that we played 27-Jul-08

Dear Gabriel,

We played make believe at night. You put the pillows and blankets on the mattress and said it was your boat and the floor was the sea. There in the sea was a big shark. First you played fisherman and papa was the big shark. The fisherman took a gun (bolster) and killed the big shark and brought it up on the boat. Then he chopped the big shark to pieces and put in a pot to make soup, adding potatoes and tomatoes. Then we switched roles. You played the big shark, papa played the fisherman. After the fisherman put the shark meat into the pot, the big shark asked “where is my tail?”. Then the fisherman took the tail (small pillow) and stitched it bak for the big shark. Then something happened to the soup – there is no fire. What shall we do now? Then you called out “Oh Toodles!”. What can we use to fix the fire? Is it a screwdriver? Is it a tank of cooking gas? Is it a pail of water? Or the Mystery Mousketool? Then you chose gas. That’s right! If you have ears, say cheers! You enjoyed the game and you kept on saying “Again!”. Then papa said, “OK, it’s time to say goodbye.”, and sang Barney’s ‘I Love You’ song. Then you started to cry with tears rolling down your cheeks. Papa then quickly changed the mood and sang Barney’s theme song and asked you to follow the train. You smiled and laughed again.

Love,
Papa

1st Letter from Mummy

Hi Gabriel!

This is mummy first diary to you. Since you were born, I hardly have any free time to do some write up. Now you are 2 years 8 months old and you are more understanding now. I hope it is not too late to leave some good memories for you. After you grow up, we hope to leave some childhood memories for you. Like mummy, I couldn’t really recall my childhood life before kindergarden (6 years old)

Most of the time, you are a good boy. You always listen to mummy’s teaching. After I told you one time of the teaching, you will remember it. For example: I told you story this morning as usual when you sit on your potty. The story is about the Gulliver in Liliput land. You saw the soldiers in the book holding the sword, you told me “ I cannot watch the fighting one!” J Then I told you” Yes, mummy told you cannot watch the fighting movie but story book is ok.” You are in doubt.”

For example: One night you pulled down mummy’s clothes from the hanger. When I scolded you, you said ”IS PAPA”. I told you “You have to be honest. When you made mistake, you shouldn’t said is other people” You cried and still insist is papa mistake. I showed you the moral book ‘yi yi’ bought for you….And the next day, you kept telling me few times, “IS ME, cannot said IS PAPA” J

Gabriel, you are so cute and pure!

Grandma and Grandpa’s Visit 28-Jul-08

Dear Gabriel,

In the morning we travelled to Bukit Mertajam to attend mass at St. Anne’s Church. On the way there, you were not very happy and you said that you didn’t want to go to church. Then we reminded you that Grandma and Grandpa was going too and that they want to see you. That changed your mind. Along the way, you saw a goods train. Then you said that you would like to take a train ride. We parked the car by the roadside and had to walk for about 5 minutes to get to the church as the police had blocked the road in front of the church. On the way, there were many stalls, like pasar malam. When we reached the church you were amazed by the sight of the big church. There was a fountain in the middle of the church compound. However, there was lots of rubbish on the ground – not a very nice sight. Papa explained to you that St. Anne is Mother Mary’s mummy, so St. Anne is Jesus’ grandma. But you said ‘No, not grandma!’. You thought that papa said St. Anne is your grandma. Papa will try to explain again when you understand family trees. After mass, mummy brought you to see some statues. You saw one of Jesus being nailed to the cross. Mummy was very worried when you touched the sweet corn seller’s hot pot. You cried very loud. Luckily there was a kind uncle who let you put your hands into the ice water. You enjoyed playing water at the fountain. Papa gave you a few coins to throw into the water.

In the evening, mummy suggested that we go down to the lake to play your bubble gun. You were not happy and wanted to go to Botanical Gardens. Then papa said ‘OK, we shall go to a new place to play bubble gun. There is a water fountain, slides, tunnels and swings at the park. The park is called Metropolitan.’ Then you became excited and can’t wait to go. Papa packed your bubble gun and bubble water in a bag for you to carry. When you played your bubble gun, many children came to see and catch the bubbles. You also climbed a ladder like a fireman and then went down the tunnel. You had great fun!

Love,
Papa

Grandma and Grandpa’s Visit 26-Jul-08

Dear Gabriel,

We went to Copthorn Hotel for porridge buffet lunch. You didn’t eat much porridge, maybe it was a bit early for your lunch. But you liked the jelly dessert. You ran around the dining area and hid behind the curtains. After lunch we went to play at the ball pit. You and Julian had fun inside! You were like swimming in the ball pit! After that Grandma brought you down to the beach to play for a while.

Later at night we went to Queensbay Mall for dinner at Old Town Kopitiam. There was a stall selling many cardboard puzzles – there were helicopters, warships, London Bridge and Eiffel Tower. Papa told you that they were not suitable for you as it will get broken easily. Papa will buy for you when you grow older so that you can make by yourself. At Borders bookshop you went to the reading corner – there were many books and some were badly torn. Papa told you that you have to take care of your books, not tear them up. Mummy bought an Elmo sticker book and Topsy and Tim Meet the Police story book for you.

Love,
Papa

Grandma and Grandpa Visit 25-Jul-08

Dear Gabriel,

Grandma and Grandpa came to Penang for the weekend to go for St. Anne’s Feast Day at Bukit Mertajam. Papa brought Grandma to fetch you from school to surprise you. You talked a lot with Grandma. Grandma and Grandpa bought toys for you and Julian. Your present was a singing bird – it will sing when you clap your hands or make some noise. Grandma bought a walking dinosaur for Julian. It could walk and roar – quite scary! We were going to meet Uncle Bart, Auntie Angie and Julian for dinner and you brought along the dinosaur to give to Julian. Julian likes the sound that the dinosaur makes and when you switch off the sound, Julian would complain ‘eeh!’.

Love,
Papa

Rhyme Recitation for N1 23-Jul-08

Dear Gabriel,

Yesterday your school had a Rhyme Recitation Competition. You sang ‘Incy Wincy Spider’. You practised very hard for the past few weeks. Your teachers guided you to introduce and sing the rhyme on stage. As a reward, teacher gave you chocolates and jelly. Mommy and Papa always ask you to practise at home. We felt that you improved a lot. In the beginning you were very soft. You spoke very fast, and missed many words. But after practise, you were able to speak slowly and clearly. Mommy and Papa also bought a microphone specially for you to practise. You didn’t like the microphone. Sometimes you didn’t want to practise at home. Sorry for giving you stress. You told Mommy and Papa that teacher gave you jelly and Brian got the trophy. We hope that you won’t be disappointed. We know that you have done your best and we are very proud of your achievement!

Here’s what you had to say for the competition:

Ladies and Gentlemen, today I’m going to recite and sing for you a very interesting rhyme. The title of the rhyme is ‘Incy Wincy Spider’.

Incy Wincy Spider went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout again

Thank you very much! (bow)

Love,
Papa