Yang Yang turns four!

My little Yang Yang turns four today! :)

I reviewed his baby photos the other day with him. He smiled when I told him the cute baby was his baby self :)

Celebrations started last Saturday. It was a simple one. We gave him his shield and mace from Legoland after his nap. Then we went to... Macs!! We didn't have a cake like last year coz, Macs :p But he shared an ice cream sundae with Kai.

Pleased with his present

His burger and milo

On Sunday, Mum and Dad and Ah Yee came over after nap time to celebrate his birthday. He wanted a Star Wars cake so I got that for school but on Sunday, I surprised him with Olaf from Frozen!

Love having Bengawan Solo across the road :p

First birthday celebration at our new home!

Time for presents!

Poor Yu was afraid of the dinosaur! But he's fine now. Kai also likes Yang's presents, especially the gun. He's still not too pleased that his younger brother's birthday comes before his! But I think he's slowly getting it - that he's still the older one.

Dinner was at JCube - must go for his fave dumplings! And he had five dumplings on top of his noodles - good job, my boy!

Sharing a dessert

But turned out Yang didn't like it!

He loves to smile! :)))

Apparently, he smiles like me - issit??

Close-up!

Yu wants to pose too! :)

And today, I took leave to hang out with him. I managed to get corporate pass for the zoo so we packed a backpack full of stuff and left on an adventure!

But Yang looks like he's going partying!

Dance, dance, baby!

Quite beng beng :p

We live very near to the zoo now! Just take 171 for five stops and changed to 927 for three more! We got to the zoo at 8.29 am and were the first ones in, woohoo!

"Coconut trees above my head!"

Yang chose to be brave like the white tiger

Mama chose to be silly :p

PS: He chose his top and my dress this morning.

Our first surprise

Other surprises include the black monkeys to the right of the pelicans, a turtle in the lake which dived and disappeared giant walking tortoises, a huge crocodile in water and the heavy rain!!

We got to the elephants in time to catch them bathe but it started pouring madly! The feeding was cancelled :( and then we went from one place to another with my trusty old brolly. We stayed a long time with two crocodiles and a video coz the rain got really heavy.

Mama: Oh dear, it's raining hard...
Yang: HEAVILY!

And he made me repeat a sentence after him, word by word, about rain falling heavily *.*

I'm just so glad he took it in his stride. I was quite sian about the rain but seeing him still so upbeat, I felt better. After all, it was his day - it's enough that he's happy.

My happy boy refused to put on a sad face!

He wanted to go home after a while since it was raining. He said we shouldn't come to the zoo coz it was raining. But he was keen to watch a show. So we decided to brave the rain. He didn't ask but I offered to carry him as we left the crocodile enclosure. And I was glad I did coz by the time we got to the amphitheatre, my dress was so wet up to just above my knees that I could wring water out of it! Yang would have been drenched! Luckily, only his jeans got damp.

Baby, this isn't smiling...

But it's ok, let's make funny faces!

His expression during the show

Sea lion! Reminded me of his 2016 croup which gave him a barking cough like a seal/sea lion

Cannot forget how I used to waste film trying to catch pictures of two sea lions touching balls with their snouts - they always turned out blur! So much easier with smart phones now..

With that, we saw ourselves out, passing by the white tigers on our way out, which made for a nice ending after starting with the photo with the white tiger cartoon. No more "let's find other animals!" for a while!

Surprised that his loot from the zoo wasn't a candy dispenser after all!

"I feed you candy because you are like an animal..." *.*

His kiddy meal - which he hardly finished

Yang was quite tired. We napped together in his bed until 3 pm when we were due for a celebration in school! I had to avoid being seen by Yu :p

His order - Star Wars cake. Had to get it delivered for $18 though - not available across the road...

Stuck to me as usual...

Toying with my dress while I was busy

Asked him to serve cake to his friends but he ate the second slice when his friends distracted me!

He decided he didn't want to go for speech and drama. There is going to be a makeup class tomorrow so I let him come home to play. He ended up watching TV. I sat with him for a while and suddenly it was time to get his brothers home.

He was procrastinating about showering when we got back. So I brought him into the shower with me. I realised I haven't done that for a while. I used to do that often when I was pregnant with Yu - the boys would rub my big belly!

I was quite tired and wanted to just lie down with them and sleep but work beckoned... But I promised to sleep in his bed tonight so I'm going now!

Water babies

Kai and Yang finally started swimming lessons last Sunday!

I took some time looking for a coach. Friends recommended a few but they weren't available on Sunday mornings - we only wanted this time slot coz it replaced Chengzhu and we could go out on Saturday and Sunday afternoons :p When I found one with a slot, the guy who was corresponding with me seemed to be texting me during a lesson?!

Finally found their coach. He was very late the first lesson and I was damn pissed coz that meant we would be late for lunch and nap. But the kids seemed to get along ok with him and he seemed professional other than the lateness, which he assured was once off. So we stayed with him.

Listening intently to their coach

Yu also used his puddle jumper for the first time last Sunday. He looked so small in it!

And he insisted on the goggles - super cute!!

All of them are cute in googles la :)

As N was off last Sunday, I stayed dry to facilitate the showering and cleaning up before going to Mum's place. But today, we switched positions. Sito sat around watching Kai and Yang while I moved around with Yu. He was so funny. Sometimes, his legs went beyond and he happily let himself float a little. Sometimes, he slipped and leaned backwards into water, but he didn't like that.

My cute baby loves walking about in water and on the ground too!

His brothers did well today. They went down without their puddle jumpers today. Kai practised on his own board before the coach arrived - on time. He dared to lie backwards etc but needed some help to relax. Yang also did well - he dared to put his face into water to blow bubbles when he didn't dare to last time.

Yang couldn't lie back and relax though

Sito went to get lunch and cake by 11 am. I managed to get Yu to sit still at the spa pool while I called N to come down. He was so cute, just sitting there :) But poor baby cried when he was being brought up coz he still wanted to play :(

No worries, baby. Very soon, you'll join your brothers in swimming lessons!

Bah zang and its cousins

Went back to Mother's place to wrap bah zang last Saturday. I thought the last time I did this was when Kai was in my belly. Facebook reminded me this week that I last did this in 2015. No wonder still not too rusty... But I guess this skill is unlikely to disappear..

All ready for me!

I took two hours to finish up 1.5kg of glutinous rice. I heard we used to have 5kg of glutinous rice - no wonder the wrapping used to finish only past lunch time!

Waiting for its fellow bah zang to be cooked

Yummy!!

Bah zang's cousins :p

Mother made lots of five stones sets to sell at a flea market. I got one set free :p Tried to teach the kids this afternoon but failed spectacularly - I hardly held the stones in my hands!

Kai tried the bah zang that very afternoon and said he liked it! Yay!

I asked Mother for the recipe - well, I still don't know how to cook it - but as usual, there were only ingredients, no quantities *.* I hope to be able to make the whole thing myself one day, including cooking! :)

Drama babies

Sito commented that Kai and Yang were already very drama when we were first considering speech and drama class. We went ahead coz they weren't nearly drama enough in Mandarin :p

I would say Kai is the more drama of the two. Just can't pinpoint a specific incident though... How about the many times he lay on the floor at home or outside and just cried?!

Smiling boys!

I was telling Kai and Yang that we planned to bring them to Taiwan - that's my plan for a last ditch attempt to immerse Kai in a Chinese environment before primary school - but without N so they had to be good boys. Would they? Yes, they said! Good, coz you boys hadn’t been to Taiwan before, we wanted to bring you somewhere new.

mf: Oh wait a minute - Yang, you went to Taiwan when you were in mama’s tummy!
Yang, big eyes and big voice: But I didn’t see anything in your tummy! I want to see something!!

That was fast, baby! Ok you’ll see something soon!

Even Yu can be drama. That day, when he hit me, I “cried”. And the kid copied my crying then laughed! That’s it, cannot bluff him anymore!

Pooping face gave way to smiling - priorities!

But this endearing boy told me he loved me at one day past 19 months! It was bedtime and I said, “I love you!” And he said the same to me :) Ok he may or may not understand but do I care? Haha! Melt already...

Update 23 Jun 2018

It struck me last week that Yu was 20 months when he said "I love you"! Gosh, I miscalculated his age *.*

Everything is... NINJAGO!

Sito and I took leave to go to Legoland on weekdays due to child care centre closure. And it was a great decision - smooth traffics at both checkpoints both ways and just about zero queue at the park so everything was awesome! Except that it was a very Ninjago trip really...

Wednesday, 30 May

The three bigger ones in front, chattering on the way

Yu was quiet

So sweet I must hold his hand!

For the first time, Yu was let loose at Legoland. We didn't bring the baby carrier this time coz we thought the stroller was enough. It was only at Legoland that I remembered that we brought it along with us previously! Ah well, too late...

"So much Lego..."

'Theeee..."

So cute they are of the same height!! "Theeee" stands for many things - this, that, there, three, sleep. Everything is "theeee" :)

Yang wanted to pose for the camera too :)

We took a short trip to Medini to grab breakfast for Sito before reaching the park just before opening time. They had standardised the opening time to 10 am, no more 9.30 am for premium card holders anymore :(

We went clockwise round the park. Finally, Yang was old enough to take more rides! And he took his very first roller coaster ride on the small dragon - he was so happy! :) Along the way, he kept asking to measure his height, though he still couldn't take some due to his age rather than his height.

But this fast growing boy had an accident at a playground - he pooped in his pants!! That was the second time this week; first time was at home. Had to throw the underwear away and let him wear his pants which had only a slight poop stain *.*

Yang became a super poser along the way haha!

Such a sweet smile!

The big brother, on the other hand, disdains posing...

Wooden pony rides for only kids - parents were happy! :p

Little Yu was such a poor thing though. Everywhere we went, he waited outside :( On the second day of our trip, I happened to turn back and saw him look at us going into the attraction with a forlorn face, and then turn to look at N behind him. I felt sad :( Think we should leave him at home the next time we go to Legoland when centre is not closed; at least he could play in school.

Might as well take a nap!

Kai eating burger - yummm! And he looks so small here!

Yang decided to eat the top bun first

Kai and Yang sharing an ice cream, rationed by Papa

Yu woke during lunch. Just nice. But he refused any meat. So this mama fed him such complex carbs as fries... And he ate a lot!

"But these are yummy!"

It started drizzling as we were finishing up lunch. So we quickly walked over to the nearest attraction, and ended up spending a long time there - yes, it's Ninjago!!

Four of us fitted in nicely!

After a few rounds, I decided to go find my baby. He ran everywhere! But he also gamely posed for photos with a big "cheeeeese"!

He wetted his pants during his nap :p

But still handsome :)

Eventually, he ventured into the queue area, which was empty

When he ran to the ride itself, we were told that he could go on the ride - woohoo! But when we left the boarding area, he got scared and climbed onto me and refused to let go! We heard warnings about children standing up previously. This time, we heard it three times coz of Yu!! And the next day, when I carried him to find my other boys in the same ride, he recognised it and reached his arms out for N immediately - "Take me away! Mama is taking me on the scary ride again!" :p I swear I wasn't going to do that!

Blissfully unaware of what's happening next!

Sito got onto the score board! Number 2!

Yu was very mesmerised by a ride while his brothers were in the playground opposite

So we got on!

"Papa!"

Still staring :p

Kai is old enough to ride on his own!

Time for the train ride!

Happy baby!

Just waiting for Yang to finish up his last ride

Yang decided to fill up a trolley at the shop... Noooo!

But we did buy toys for them - only to be opened on their birthdays which are coming soon! Then we went for an early dinner at KFC before checking in.

Our room number

Kingdom theme room is much brighter than pirate and adventure

Sito and I left at about 8 pm after settling the children. Took a cab to Aeon to buy milk powder but before we did that, we made an appointment at Eminent across the road for foot massage yeah! But it was quite needless - weekdays are really quiet! I didn't like this guy - fingers too bony and painful! But I fell asleep on the second foot, zzzz... Dessert was Black Ball - our standard go-to :)

Thursday, 31 May

Breakfast time seemed easier this time. Kai and Yang could get food themselves! But of course, they got some really, really healthy food ah!

Yu had "healthy" cereals too!

The boys played in the lobby since it was still early for the park

Kai put his robot together on his own :)

Yu clapped to the mini bar menu while I sang happy birthday!!

Time for the water park!

Yu was a koala bear, even when we were going down the baby slide. It took quite a while for him to get off me to play with water. Good for him, bad for me!

But he was so happy :)

Yang found a hole in the crocodile :p

For the first time, I managed to go beyond the baby pool. Left Yu with N and went up a mid-height slide with the rest. When we came down, Yu was just sitting in N's arms so I sent them back to the hotel - think it's really better to just keep Yu at home next home..

Then I went with Kai to another slide for which Sito had to lug the heavy raft up! Sito said it was scarier. Kai said it was just more exciting so I asked him to protect me and he did - he held my hand going up :)

Knocked out after water play

Sito and I followed quite quickly, and Kai snuggled in as well so that was five of us in the big bed, napping :) I dozed off very quickly as usual but Sito caught a video of Kai snoring :p But Kai woke first and went to play on his own. Yang sat up, dug his nose and went back to nap for 30 more minutes :p When everyone woke, we went back to the park, yeah!

Kai could finally wear the head gear for the VR roller coaster!

Yang couldn't, so we waited at the empty queue. Then I went with Kai again :p It was fun! But it was also nauseating *.*

Back to Ninjago!

The hands got tired. Sito tried different ways to playing; I just stopped playing :p

Yu having some fun outside

The park closes at 6 pm! So we couldn't even have dinner there. We passed by the miniland on our way out and Yu had a jolly good time - the miniland suits his height!

Kai and Yu watching some moving figurines

Even though everyone got out of the park at the same time, the mall was still not very crowded. Guess it was still early for dinner. We thought we would get them noodles like for lunch but Yang wanted a burger. So it was back to KFC for us! Ya, so healthy haha!

Yang got his burger, but what's with the face?!

Left them with Sito as they devoured their fave treat while I settled Yu with N

Coz it was zi char night!!

RM220 at Tian Lai; big black pepper crab not shown. We had a jolly good time, yumm... And then coz we had a RM10 voucher for Aeon and our legs still hurt, we went to Aeon. Nothing to buy so we got Llao Llao and went straight for a foot massage, no appointment needed. Unfortunately, I got another with bony fingers...

Hub with our dessert

Friday, 1 June

So sad, our last day!

My Yang Yang carrying cereals with way too much milk

Hardboiled eggs are the only truly healthy thing at breakfast

Playing at the lobby again coz of the rain

"Theeeee!"

Yang was mesmerised by a bowling game on X Box

This boy loves soft toys like this ah pek!

Some boy came to fight Kai and broke his own creations :p

My baby enjoys things of his height :p

Yang had a couple of meltdowns somehow. Eventually, he went up with me coz I had to go to the toilet. So he missed the Lego man!

Sito and Kai with the Lego man

It kept raining so we never got to the park on our last day, so sad. Thinking next time we could go back later if it's not Sunday - coz traffic was so smooth either way, despite it being school holidays.

Yu dozed off within five minutes

Yang continued his meltdown - I don't want to go to new house. I want to go to new house at Legoland. I want a holiday. I want a holiday. I want a holiday.....! Gaaar!

And then he went down too

When he woke, he continued - I want a holiday! Yes, baby, so do I, so do I.... And we are starting to plan!