Happy Ox Year 2009!

This year's new year was a double joy for the family. The first day of CNY (26th Jan) coincides with papa's birthday.

The Yuen clan gathered at our house for the first time on the 1st day of CNY. We had a small makan time together, enjoyed each other's company and even managed to catch a glimpse of the lion dance next door.

Bought some new plants for the house - Lucky bamboo


Another type of bamboo

Ryan and Jaden, with their first angpow from Yeh Yeh

Papa with Ryan and Yeh-yeh with Samantha in the garden, watching our neighbour's lion dance and fire crackers.

Too many trees. Can you spot the lion on stilts? :p

Jaden with mah-mah

We had an unexpected guest - little Max. The children were thrilled to play with Max, albeit a little while, as Lex has returned home to see his wife.

Pretty Samantha in her cheongsam

Jaden's good friend/cousin - Ethan

The Yuens enjoying a simple meal

The 2 cakes, one from me and another from Yeh Yeh

Papa with the boys and Sam

Ryan happily drew this piece for papa at night. Above the word 'Happy', he drew the family -papa, mama and Ryan, and Jaden below the word (due to space constraint). There's heart shape and balloons everywhere and a number '8' on the paper. Papa was ecstatic to find number 8 = 'fatt' in chinese....haha.... Why 8? I really don't know :p

Happy Chinese New Year to all!!!!!

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Brotherly Love

This is one of the moments which I managed to catch on camera. Jaden wanted to go to the toilet one morning but needed help with his PJ. Ryan quickly ran to his brother's rescue before another accident happens....ooooooo

JMC Concert

Ryan had his first JMC concert on the 9th January 2009 after completing his first book. Each book takes about 6 months and the entire JMC course takes 2 years.

Ryan has come a long way, from not knowing any keys to being able to play a simple piece with both hands. He has also learned solfege singing, lyric singing, ensemble (singing, rhythm and keyboard), music appreciation, rhythm training and workbook (reading/writing).

During the concert, those skills were tested and each student was required to play on the keyboard a piece which they have selected.

1. Group Presentation : Whale Sneezes

2. Solo : See You Tomorrow

3. Group rhythm : Pa-Pa-Pa Parade

Jaden also came for the concert and pretended to play on the keyboard :)

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The kids current favourite playmate at home :)

A New Friend

A new friend came to stay with us on 1 January 2009. His name is Lexus, Lex for short. My friend, Kaw May has been persuading me to take the dog, but somehow, since I'm so scared of dogs, I've agreed to adopt Lex for a month. He's a beautiful, or rather handsome golden retriever, very playful indeed and loves attention. And most importantly, the boys love him. Ryan has been asking for a dog since zillion years ago and this is the best I could fulfil his dream, even though he does not know, yet, that I intend to return him to the owner after a month. He told us on the first day 'I wish the dog could stay with us one thousand million years'. In his little interpretation, it means forever......

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On Sunday, a day before the school term begins, we brought the kids for a haircut. Yes, little Jaden is going to school now with big brother Ryan. Unlike koko, lil' boy loves to go to school and looks forward to school these past 2 mornings :)

Below a pic of cheeky boy with his new haircut.

Ho Ho Ho and a Happy New Year!

Today is already the last day of Year 2008. How time flies.......

Since coming back from our Korea trip, I've been busy preparing for my final CIA paper - not the US Central Intelligence Agency exam but the boring Certified Internal Auditor paper - and the effort will help me to score in my KPI. And most people in my company would not want to miss out in the bonus distribution this year as it had been a fruitful year indeed. God has definitely been good to the company :)

MIL has painstakingly decorated the Christmas tree in the house. A big thank you to her!

And while the presents are being put under the tree, the boys could not resist but opened at least half the presents before Christmas day.



Hubby had a big Christmas present that arrived from the States but even that the boys think that it's their present and had overtaken the huge golf net as theirs :)

A very Happy New Year to all!!!

Day 10 : Seoul - Malaysia

Finally, it was the last day of our trip. We packed our bags early in the morning, had breakfast and then went sightseeing again :) Of course, we have to maximise our trip while we were there!

We went to Wolmido via ferry and experienced feeding seagulls on board. Below pic is our trusted bus that accompanied us throughout the trip. The small bus is just nice to fit the 13 of us + bus driver and tour guide (even though the seats behind are really bumpy and can be a tad uncomfortable)



Ryan and Siew Ginn koko


Jaden at the wholesale supermarket


The children at the airport playground.

Day 9 : Shopping and Seoul Tower

Nearing the end of the trip, the boys have mixed reactions. The younger one was missing home and so he lamented 'I want to go home' while the elder boy loves fun, fun & fun and so 'I miss Korea' - probably influenced by Siew Ginn koko, even though we have not returned home yet.

The morning of Day 9 was spent shopping at Myeong-dong Fashion Street, after which we visited Seoul Tower.

Built on a 262 meter peak in Namsan Park, the tower reaches to 480 meters above sea level. When the weather is good, the observation tower allows you to view the entire city and surrounding areas.

The cable car ride to the tower


Bear X'mas tree?


There is a dedicated area for couples to put their locks together - to signify their relationship. You're not supposed to throw your key away! :p


Back in the hotel room, the boys love to dance in their thermal wear. Ryan nicknamed himself the White Man.

After dinner, we proceeded with Kangnam River Cruise, a cruise along the Han River.

This is Jaden, with his new toy.

A video of the boys dancing :)

Day 8 : Everland

The 8th day of the tour was the day the kids really looked forward to. It was a full day of fun at the theme park! Everland, located in Yongin, is a big theme park (arguably the 4th most famous in the world, but we really doubt it) which includes a zoo, snow sled and botanical garden.

The weather was pretty cold that day and we only went on some kiddy rides. In my opinion, the best attraction there would be the Safari World, which houses many animals, including lion, tiger and a white tiger, bear, elephant, giraffe, zebra, etc....





Safari World tour via a bus

Day 7 : DMZ Tour / MBC Drama Filming Studio

We started our Day 7 tour by visiting the Ginseng Outlet. Korean ginseng is well-known throughout the world and I was particularly interested as it claimed to help with sinus too. Papa J has sinus so now, he's taking two tablets a day. We also bought ginseng powder form for kids, hopefully to improve their overall health.

Later, we proceeded with our DMZ tour. The Demilitarized Zone tour offers a real vivid eye-opening experience of the Korean War and a dramatic sense of tragedy of the separated family members between the two Koreas from the division of the peninsula.

Security is tight around the area and photographs are not permitted in many places. We visited the Dora Observatory, Freedom Bridge, Dorasan Station and the 3rd Tunnel. The 3rd Tunnel was discovered in October 1978. It runs through bedrock at a depth of about 73 meter below ground. Capable of moving a full division per hour plus their weapons, it is evidently designed for a surprise attack on Seoul.

Dorasan Station - the last station stop before North Korea


It was snowing during our visit to the observatory and the kids were thrilled to see real snow for the first time!


After lunch, we proceeded to MBC Drama Filming Studio in Yangju Theme Park, which was the shooting site for the famous 'Jewel in the Palace' (Daejanggeum).

The lil' Daejanggeum in action in the kitchen