4 Jan 2012, was the day my little boy has moved to a new page of life – to enter primary school, a big school and a big family. We have lots of feelings when we were preparing for your schooling. We are happy and excited for your new page of life. On the other hand, we are feeling a bit down as we realize you will grow up very fast, secondary, university, then work, marriage. We don’t know how long you will still be so attached to papa and mummy like now. However we will do our best to accompany you along the journey of life, as long as we can.

For the preparation of school, we took half day leave to go to one “old and famous” shop to buy your uniform. The shop name is Kimnovak. We bought 4 sets of uniform, 2 pairs of shoes and socks and 2 bottles of shoes white cream. We didn’t buy you a new bag but we took the old bag to repair. The bag has torn and couldn’t zip up. It only cost us RM8 for the repair. But due to this, papa car was scratched by another car when we were caught in a traffic jam in town. Papa was quite frustrated as the lady didn’t stop. But on the other hand, we were happy that we could settle one more thing for your school preparation.

Orientation Day

For the first 3 days, parents were allowed to go to the school. So mummy took half day leave for 2 days to accompany you to familiarize with the new environment. Before this, there was also a one day orientation. All 3 of us didn’t sleep well before the orientation day. Early in the morning you were very excited and told mummy that as mummy slept, you felt like you did not sleep. You were really excited to put on your new uniform, new shoes and comb a handsome hair. We had to arrive school at 8:00 am. As we always slept late normally (12:00 am),  so we have to make a change to sleep early (10:00+pm) in order that you have enough energy to attend the afternoon class. We have observed that you yawned many times during the orientation. It was quite hard for us to make this change. Mummy has to forget about the housework and sleep with you. Otherwise, I know you won’t sleep. Both of us took so long to sleep and remind each other not to talk anymore. You were really concerned you cannot be late to school. The reason is you have read the comics about that if you were late to school, the gates will be closed. Actually on the orientation day, nothing much happened. We expected to get new books but none were distributed. There were many excited parents who keep taking photos and videos of their loved ones. This caused traffic jam along the corridors. We feel relieved when you were able to follow teacher’s instructions and didn’t show any rejection of the school.

At the school hall on 1st day

On the first day of school, mummy only met you in the hall. You were sent by the driver from the day care. You arrived very early and were very obedient sitting in the hall for 1.5 hours. The hall was so crowded and full of students and parents. Then your teacher led you all to the classroom to start class. Initially mummy wanted to train you to buy food in canteen, but when I saw the crowd, I started to worry. We can’t even get a seat after buying the food. The recess time is only 20 minutes. So mummy decided to order food for you so that you can have a reserved place. Actually what made you most excited was to buy food by yourself. When mummy asked you if I would be ok if I didn’t accompany you, you answered, “The only problem is I have no money to buy food”. However on the first day mummy gave you a wallet and some coins, you lost it. You were very sad, for the whole night and showed me the moody face in school too. The aunty for the before school care found it. I guess you dropped it due to you kept on taking out the wallet to check.

Meal on 1st Day

After teacher distributed the new books, we bought you another small bag to reduce the load of your bag. You sat for a test and changed class after streaming. Your new classroom was on the first floor, so it was really difficult for you to pull the heavy bag up the stairs.

Mummy also had worries about your seating. As you always turned your head to one side when you watch TV, mummy tried to talk to teacher to let you sit at the center so as not to make your eyesight worsen. However I guess teacher will just ignore my request as there may have many parents to request “ good seating” for their child too. You really listen to mummy to grab a front and center seat when you go to class room every day. However I guess teacher will rearrange the seat again.

Mummy really have many worries when you go to standard one. In school is no more like kindy or day care where all children can have special care. But I guess I need to release and let go. It is time for you to grow and learn and to be independent.

You had your first tooth extraction on 24-Jul-11. Mummy was helping you to brush teeth in the morning and found that you had 2 loose teeth. One of the teeth already had a new tooth growing, while the other one just started to get loose. When mummy tried to shake your teeth, your gums bled and got her so worried. Mummy immediately called papa to make an appointment with the dentist. Papa made an appointment with We Care Dental at Sunway Tunas at 2:30pm. Before going to the dentist, we had lunch at Chikuma Japanese Restaurant. After lunch it was still early, so we went to Giant for a walk. At last, time for your tooth extraction. You were very brave and calm. The doctor tried to say some assuring words, but actually it was not necessary for you! Doctor applied some medicine on your gums, then he used a a pair of ‘yankers’ (like how Brother Bear described to Sister Bear from Berenstain Bears cartoon), grabbed your tooth and plucked it out. It was over in seconds. After the bleeding stopped you felt funny having a hole between your teeth. Mummy and papa were very proud of you for being able to control your fear.

Gabriel's First Tooth Extraction

This is the first Mother’s Day card from you. You don’t let mummy open the ribbon of the card till the day…How sweet is the card! Mummy loves it very much. Thank you!

Gabriel's drawing

You had a dream! At the age of 5, your ambition was to open a robotic shop.
One day you drew something on the white board to show me. You told mummy that your ambition was to open a robotic shop. You had visualized the robots that you want to sell in this drawing. You explained to mummy that first robot – tidyup (means help in housekeeping), then follow by “fridger” which can keep food inside this robot. You also name one robot the fighter, he was holding a sword and a gun. There was one robot, you drew it and then you erase it 80%, you said this robot can actually disappear whenever he wants…There are also other robot name locker, fighter and etc. Mummy saw there was one square with 8 dots. Mummy asked you what was it. You mentioned it was the control that control the 8 robots. You also wrote down the name of the shop – “Master Gabriel.com”. Haha. I guess it will be an online shop.

Mummy is happy to see that you have a special ambition. Whereas when mummy was small, the ambition was just to be a teacher. So mummy wish your dream may come true one day. Nothing is more important than to do what you are interested in and that makes you happy!!!

Love,
Mummy

This year was first time we didn’t celebrate your birthday at home. Because “mei mei” was born and we don’t have much time to prepare your birthday party. Papa had chosen KFC. Yiyi had given a big help in the party preparation. She had prepared everything, birthday cake (pikachu-as usual sponsored by popo), pre-prepared the balloons before you arrived. Really thanks yiyi.

You had also wearing glassess at your age of 5. Mummy was sad about that…All the while mummy also hope you won’t be like mummy and papa…

Photo with grandma and grandpa

Photo with gung gung, popo, kiu kiu, yiyi and Hanson

Cake cutting with counsins Julian and Justin

Actual day celebration in Victoria Station

Gabriel new spectacles

To a surprise, you agreed on all the conditions and tried your very best to meet all the requests. 1st, you started drink milk from the cup even at night. 2nd, you had started to be independent, getting all your dirty clothes out from your school bag when reach home and change your own clothes. 3rd. brush teeth by yourself. 4th this was the best- sleep by yourself. 5th- Do not wet the bed at night. There were few nights, you really got up and went to toilet to pass urine. That’s really surprised us…However when you wet the bed at night, we will minus 3 points! So with the minus and plus points, the total points didn’t really seem to have any progress in one month time….in the end, papa himself couldn’t wait to buy the Nintendo, he has given you some bonus points. Lastly 20 points were reached. You had got your Nintendo DS in July 2010.

We had a trip to Bali on the 24th-27th May 2010. You were very excited about the trip and calculated the days since one month ago. After a long wait, we finally landed on Bali island. We were welcome by a Bali driver and headed to our hotel in Kuta. After we checked in, we headed straight to Kuta beach. You were thrilled hitting by the strong big wave! Actually you really enjoyed running on the beach…especially in Krabi Island. You were exhausted after the beach run. Even mummy persuade you to swim in the swimming pool, you also rejected.

Then on the next day, we went to watch the Barung dance. We didn’t really enjoy the show. After that we were going to go see the Volcano in Kintamani. However you would like to go back to hotel for swimming. So we have some difficulties with you when reached the volcano because you were not in good mood. End up we ended our day tour earlier and let you swim in hotel. You were happy and enjoyed the swim.

On the 3rd day, we decided to go some places that suit you, that was the bats and monkey forest. Mummy was really shocked when see the bats because they were so big! You have no hesitation and walked near the bats. You fed them soft drink and also you holded them and took photos. You are really daring! But you told mummy, they ate papaya, so is a fruit bats, they will not bite. What a good explanation! Then that day we visited Tanah Lot, which was the best scenary of all attraction that we went in Bali. You enjoyed watching the ducks while papa busy took photos. Papa asked you to walk near the duckling by walking like the ducks so that they won’t notice you…You really took efforts to walk like them:) Squat and walked, so cute! You told mummy you wanted to go back again to visit the ducks one day.

Gabriel first experience with Air Sia

Kuta beach - Big wave!!!

Gabriel: My new friend, is it cool ??

Gabriel: Please don't go away. I am your family member too.

We had started your music lesson sometime ago in one of the music centre which gave a very reasonable monthly fee. In addition, this music course didn’t require any starter fee. After one month lesson, you had lost interest in it and refused to go. The reason was they had appointed a young guy, I guess who didn’t know how to deal with young children to teach you…

Recently another music school has approaced us to bring you for a music trial class and the music lesson is called Little Mozart. After the 1st trial lesson, you had strong interest in it. The music lesson is very lively, singing, dancing and playing some simple music instruments. So we had let you continued the music lesson. After came back from the 2nd lesson at night, immediately you had requested to do the music homework. Then the next morning, when you woke up, you also immediately on the CD and hold your Beethoven bear and Mozart mouse to dance with the music. Very cute! Mummy and papa were very happy to see you enjoy the music.

Gabriel's music books & toys

Sunday, 11-Apr-2010. Mummy and Papa brought you to Botanical Gardens, Penang. Uncle Bart, Auntie Angie, Julian and Justin joined us too for some fun in the park. We played bubbles and ball. You brought your bubble gun. However the fun was shortlived. You were not willing to share your bubble gun with Julian. Then you threw a tantrum. This was one of the most challenging task for mummy and papa. We tried many ways to coax you to play with Julian. You remained like that until we had to leave. Then you broke down in tears. Then papa had an idea. Papa offered to treat you to ice-cream. Then you were willing to follow us back to the car. You were still crying in the car but stopped when we reached the ice-cream shop. Mummy and papa hope that one day you will be more willing to share.

Love,

Papa

Posted by Wordmobi

Gabriel, yesterday after dinner, you were drawing on the white board. To a surprise, you had written your complete full name in Mandarin on the board. We were very proud of you as two of the words of your name were not easy to write. I guess you had worked hard in school to learn up Mandarin and you were only exposed to Mandarin 3 months ago. Then papa said he is also not sure how to write your name …

However on the other hand, you were not so willing to do homework by yourself everyday. You need me to sit by your side and helped you to rub off the wrong words if there is any. You also request mummy to do some of the writing for you but when mummy told you, “No, teacher will scold.” Then you answered softly, “ Is secret…” Mummy feel so funny. One day, you also told mummy you knew that I sharpen the pencil for you after you sleep every day. Mummy is surprised how you know about that….That is part of the task that I need to do, pack your homework, check your writing & sharpen your pencils.

Mummy quite pity of you as of nowadays you had many homework everyday which occupied most of your time at night. By the time, you finished your homework, you would like to play but it will be almost time to sleep and mummy also feel so sleepy after guiding you to do the homework. So mummy will satisfy you to let you play for little while then will stop your activity in just short while. But sometime you yourself will also refuse to play and said after homework, just “pom “ (mean jump) on the bed & sleep ( without brush teeth..) I believe you are very tired too. I hope all your hard work will help you to improve and prepare for standard one in 2012…

Motor skill progress

You are able to cycle well and you feel more confident.
You are able to take off T-shirt by yourself
For eating, you still very dependent and want us to feed you. However you are eating by yourself in school.
Able to wear shoes at the correct side.

Gabriel is doing his homework