Taking the LRT with Kids

Posted on August 25, 2012July 28, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Taking the LRT with kids is actually a worthwhile activity for many reasons........ It was even extremely interesting for me as I got to view KL from an entirely different perspective. So many buildings I never knew existed. So many new developments happening in my own city. For.......click to learn what next.

Simple Pleasures for Kids

Posted on August 20, 2012July 28, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

T2 relishes in the simple pleasures for kids......like playing with grass. Who needs toys, right? Simple pleasures for kids, it's as simple as introducing them to the daun semalu, that shy plant that closes upon touch. Unfortunately, for a kid who appreciates the simple pleasures for kids, she.......click to learn what next.

Girls Playing Dress Up

Posted on April 3, 2012March 11, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Every girl loves dressing up. I certainly had my fair share of dress up sessions from when I was 7 (dressing up my brother, heh!) till I was 14 (dressing up and posing with friends). My girls have started too, and initially they dressed up that scary doll's.......click to learn what next.

Child Labour in KL

Posted on March 9, 2012February 19, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

I am just so destined not to have a maid. Ever since I started work, I have had a turnover of so many maids and lost money that I've lost counting. But the truth is, every time a maid leaves, we are all SO happy. We work together.......click to learn what next.

Superheroes Save the Day!

Posted on March 7, 2012February 19, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

T1 and T2 play together FABULOUSLY. Yes, of course they fight. But they also get along really, really well despite the big age gap. I think it's T1's incredible love for her sister and her natural love for younger children and empathy for people in general that makes.......click to learn what next.

Playing with Sand

Posted on March 1, 2012February 14, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

When T1 was much younger, she got the benefit of playing with LOTS of sand. Her school had a sand pit, I brought her to play groups at IBU which had a sand pit and some of her friend's homes had sand pits. Now with T2, the only.......click to learn what next.

The Queen of our Home

Posted on February 26, 2012February 26, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Who might that be then??? My smart alec daughter, T1, is a smart alec. If she had been raised in my time, she would have just gotten a big slap across her face for every single retort she makes and believe me, sometimes, I feel like doing the.......click to learn what next.

Publika with Kids

Posted on February 19, 2012February 19, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Thanks to Godpa Soorya, we were informed of this initiative by Publika every Sunday morning. Publika at Solaris Dutamas closes off their internal roads to vehicles so that families can cycle, run, scoot, roller-blade etc on safe roads from 7-10am. How awesome is that!!! We promised to meet.......click to learn what next.

T2 and her relationship with Eric Carle

Posted on February 4, 2012January 30, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

We have practically every single Eric Carle book except this one - Papa, please get the Moon for me. Firstly, ever since T2 came into being, I'd hardly spent any time with her reading because I was so busy juggling 2 kids without a maid and everything else........click to learn what next.

Making Kids Work

Posted on February 3, 2012January 30, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

I was brought up with maids and hardly lifted a finger to do any work. OK, make that no work at all. This has caused me to be extremely LAZY. However, my in-laws are extremely HARD-WORKING people and tend to their huge garden every single day. Their garden.......click to learn what next.

T1’s Lego Creations

Posted on January 29, 2012January 29, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

When we were in Kota Bharu, we visited the Thai border where smuggled goods are brought into Malaysia at very cheap prices and T2 saw TOYS!!! Since they were those cheap Made in China toys, I got them some rubbish toys to entertain them briefly. One of it.......click to learn what next.

Street Art

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

One of the really FUN things my girls did in Kota Bharu was floor graffiti! Street Art! They both LOVE doodling.......so Kong-Kong's vast concrete driveway became the perfect canvas for T1 to show off her fun as she knew we were expecting guests for CNY. She spent a.......click to learn what next.

Entertaining kids without toys

Posted on January 26, 2012January 26, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

Whenever we go back to Kota Bharu, it's R&R time for everyone. We don't bring any toys, no ipads, not even books as if anyone wanted to read, Amah's book case has tons of English classics from the Hubs childhood. So how do the kids entertain themselves everyday.......click to learn what next.

Entertaining Kids at eateries

Posted on January 4, 2012January 4, 2012 by Mamapumpkin

How many of you have kids who will sit still for at least 30 minutes whilst waiting for food to arrive whenever you eat out? If you do, what is your secret??!!! For us, it's either we talk to them (which we already do a whole damn lot!.......click to learn what next.

Riding the Carousel at Pavilion Mall

Posted on December 25, 2011December 22, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

A couple of weeks ago, we had our first Carousel ride at The Pavilion. And ever since then, we have been avoiding the Pavilion because the kids loved the ride so much that they want to go again and again. I keep reminding T1 that her father does.......click to learn what next.

Being creative during the School Holidays WITHOUT TV

Posted on December 13, 2011December 11, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Our long time reliable baby sitter finally left us - the white DVD player filled with scratch marks, finger prints and stickers; and she couldn't have left at a worst time, just when the school holidays had begun! OUCH!!! So not only have we not had any BARNEY.......click to learn what next.

Lego for Charity at Bangsar Village

Posted on December 8, 2011December 6, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Every year, I participate in a special Christmas project but this year, I must admit, there is zilch. For the lack of time and I really don't have an excuse. Because I'm now working, I have been completely disorganised so when I saw that Lego were giving back,.......click to learn what next.

Tae Kwon Do Exam

Posted on December 6, 2011December 6, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

A few weekends ago, T1 was subject to her first TKD exam which merely promotes her from a white belt to a white belt with a yellow band. Not even a yellow belt. When I did TKD in my youth, with the same instructor, mind you, although now.......click to learn what next.

Home Made Puppet Show

Posted on December 2, 2011December 2, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

These school holidays, we decided not to enrol T1 in ANY holiday programmes because firstly, she didn't want to go to any. She said she's much happier staying at home and spending time with Mama (provided Mama takes the day off and spends time with her back) and.......click to learn what next.

Hiking at Bukit Hartamas / Apek Hill / Saga Hill

Posted on November 26, 2011November 24, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

One fine morning, we got conned into climbing this very high hill. I know it doesn't LOOK very high, but it sure FEELS it even to the professional climbers who get knee ache at every climb. This hill is located in Cheras near T1's school branch and is.......click to learn what next.

A cry for help?

Posted on November 24, 2011November 15, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

If you ever feel stressed out from kids and need a break, dump them with a trusted friend. Or brother....... It's so cool that he is their favourite uncle. Booyah!

Rock Climbing for Kids in KL

Posted on November 18, 2011November 15, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

I must admit. I tried this once and I completely failed. My BUM was way too heavy. And the wall is so frigging high!!! If you ever attempt this, DO NOT LOOK DOWN. Just keep pulling yourself up. And even when you reach the top, do not look.......click to learn what next.

Brain Games for Children

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

As a child, I loved brain games but those days, they didn't have what you see below. I remember doing a lot of those word puzzles where you had to read the situations, and then eliminate through logic and facts given in order to find the answers. Loved.......click to learn what next.

Playdate with Alice, the Bento Queen

Posted on October 5, 2011September 29, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Last year sometime, at very short notice, we invited the Bento Queen from Penang over to play. The kids had fun with playdoh and I didn't have fun cleaning up, but you just need to make some sacrifices every now and again. T1 was very anal about playdoh.......click to learn what next.

My crazy kids……

Posted on October 2, 2011September 28, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

We used to have this Danish designer cot that neither of the girls ever slept in but they did use it to PLAY. They'd play all sorts of nonsense in it and now that we've sold it off, I've had to improvise nooks and crannies for them to.......click to learn what next.

Ideas For Play – the restaurant owner

Posted on September 13, 2011September 13, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

More often than not, my kids are pretty independent. Not more than 5 times in my entire life have I heard T1 say she was bored, and when she did, I told her that only boring people get bored. If she had the capacity to get bored, it.......click to learn what next.

Interesting Drawing Games

Posted on July 30, 2011July 26, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Sometimes when T1 is bored, she will pull her Dad aside to play some drawing games. Oh, she just makes it up as she goes along........ See if you can figure out these drawings below??? I asked the Hubs and he couldn't even remember playing this with her!.......click to learn what next.

Lazy parenting is self-inflicted stress

Posted on June 25, 2011June 21, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

I am a lazy parent. I admit it. What is a lazy parent? Well, a lazy parent is one who is lazy. You can be lazy in correcting your child, you can be lazy in physically getting up to go get things and instead use your little assistants.......click to learn what next.

Picking Fresh Eggs

Posted on June 8, 2011June 4, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

We have, of course, never had the chance to do this in Malaysia, but in the farm that we stayed in in Australia, T1 got to pick some fresh out of the hens' bottoms eggs last September. Ack! I was so disappointed that her brand new New Balance.......click to learn what next.

Encouraging hairstyling in your child

Posted on March 27, 2011March 26, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

Two years ago, T1 was really into designing hairstyles, so we bought her that awful doll's head. I guess because she had long hair and Mommy had much more time then to play around with hair styles, perhaps she picked up on it and loved choosing her hair.......click to learn what next.