Alvin Pre-Birthday Celebration

Issac and I were discussing the other day to have a pre-birthday celebration lunch for Daddy.

Due to Daddy’s actual birthday is going to be on a Tuesday and a working day, thus there is nothing much we can prepare for him.

We decided to make it on a Sunday, as like what we did for the Father’s Day dinner.

This time around, we decided to have a soup and a spaghetti too.

We concluded the final menu is Tomato Soup and Shrimp Scampi Asparagus with Linguini.

Tomato Soup is just nice. No over cook like last time the mushroom soup. Just the taste may be not so creamy, as it is different from mushroom soup.

The Shrimp Scampi Asparagus with Linguini was a bit tasteless. Fortunately, Daddy came to the rescue, and added in some seasoning, and it taste better.

Even though this time the meals we prepared is not as good compared to the last time Father’s Day Celebration meals, still Daddy is very happy and appreciate our love and thoughts for him!

“Bee” a Great Babysitter !

Serving Others # 5 ~ Entertain young children with songs or games you have learned or made yourself. Show that you know how to care for and protect a young child.

The first thing that was got into my mind was like:

Am I going to prepare and do this lesson successfully with these 2 kiddos?

Would they know how to care for the younger children?

I thought that I would have a ‘hard time’ to get their attentions, but both of Issac and Annabelle proved me wrong!

I had no idea they would be so into this lessons and want to take preparing for babysitting so seriously!

So you can imagine how excited I was when I came across THIS little kit at Wendy's Activities.

So cute and full of great ideas...and, did I mention it was already done and put together!

All I had to do was print.  Love it when other people do the work for me!

I made each kid a folder using thick yellow colour paper with one of each of the hand outs.

The only files I printed in colour were the Labels for the Folders and the Labels for the Games (which I printed on full-sheeted sticker paper). And, the hand-outs too.

For our activity, we all sat in a circle, and I gave each kid a set of the yellow colour folder together with hand-outs, which they can assemble by themselves.

We went through the Babysitting Tips and Safety First hand-outs together. Both Issac and Annabelle took turns reading each bullet point, and we discussed each one.

I then showed them the "Important Information for Sitters" hand-outs, and told them they could make copies and take them to each babysitting assignment they had.

The next were the more ‘Fun Games To Play’!

Included in the list of songs and activities that they could do with the children were a couple of simple games that ready for them to compile and place in their bags.

All the materials I just got it from around the house.

Then, we spent the rest of the activity assembling the four games I had prepared.

They cut out their labels and assembled all of the items for their kits.

1.  Blowing Cotton Balls

Give each child a cotton ball. Designate a finish line. Have the children get behind the finish line on their hands and knees and blow their cotton ball across the floor. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins.

Use a piece of string (about 12″-18″ long) as a finish line.  We just cut the yarns that in my craft supplies. The cotton balls just from my dressing table.

You could even set up an obstacle course using toys or household items that you must flick your cotton ball through to get to the finish line.

2. Sink or Float ? Game

Fill up a medium-sized bowl with water. Choose household items (waterproof!) and have the children predict if it will sink or float in the water. Then try it out to see who is right.

The babysitter and children could also use items found in the house as long as they are careful that nothing will be ruined with water.

Then you can even predict how quickly different items will sink by holding a “Sink Off” between items, narrowing it down to the fastest sinker!

3.  Sock Guessing Game

This activity didn’t require any items other than what is found at a home.  Use a sock (can even be your own!) and hide an object in it.

We were using Daddy’s old socks which only left 1 piece after the laundry.

Have the child touch and feel the shape of the object and try to guess what it is without looking.

After they guess the object, let the child choose the next object to place in the sock for you or the other children to guess!

4.  Ribbon Matching Game

Find 3 or 4 matching coloured pairs of ribbon. Mix up the ribbons and give them to a child. Have the child find the matching pairs.

Our house do not have any ribbons, thus I saw the kids old baby socks, then I just got an idea to replace the ribbons with the colourful baby socks!

It turns out just nice as the socks were cute and colourful!

Each of Issac and Annabelle took about five minutes to put together and were simple but fun things that make a babysitter great!

5.  Colouring Book and Colour Crayons or Pencils

At last, we just added into the Babysitter Kit the colouring books and crayons that the kids got from the A&W Beary Meals. Just nice for the young children!

After which, I briefly touched on the remaining hand-outs - Things to add to your kit, Primary Songs, and fun Games. That may be can be added in the Babysitter Kit such as first aid kit, etc.

This activity was meant to teach about babysitting and get things started with a babysitting kit. It was not meant to be comprehensive.

But the big idea is getting them started on the right foot with information and resources to be successful gives them confidence and helps them become the responsible babysitter or young child taker.

We couldn’t cover everything in one hour but multiple activities throughout the year would be a great way to build up their kits and their excitement for babysitting.

For example, I think that the next thing that needs to be added is a first aid kit with a lesson from a nurse or health professional on basic first aid skills.

We also thought that other activities we hold could include something that could be added to their babysitting kit.  Perhaps the whole activity isn’t focused on babysitting but they could make something that could become a part of their babysitting kit.

“Mummy, I love this lesson. It is fun!” Annabelle said.

I was asking both of them, “So, do you know how to take care of the Nursery or young children now?”

“Yes Mummy!”

Overall, they were happy and learned a lot and had a lot of fun!

Mecaje Academy School Camp 20-22 Jul 2017

Mecaje Academy organized a 3 days 2 nights school camp and the school encourage all students to participate. The fees is RM200.00 inclusive of transportation, accommodation and meals per student.

Both Issac and Annabelle were so excited when the notice of this school camp had been given early last month. Both were so anxious and want to go.

Alvin was thinking of it is time for both to participate and gone out from the home, and let them joined this school camp. Both of them were happily packed their own backpack.

They were bringing their sports attire including sport shoes, a few casual attire including slippers, toiletries, mosquito repellent, some medication such as Panadol and water tumbler.

Alvin and I fetched both of Issac and Annabelle went to school on Thursday. We were having breakfast with them. They would leave the school by then.

The venue of the school camp is at Canaan Valley Homestay @ Serendah, Selangor. After the briefing at Mecaje, they departed to their destination.

There were many programs and activities had been planned and in line for this 3 days 2 nights: team building, sports competition, treasure hunt, hiking, farm visiting, talks by the principal and teachers, and the most exciting barbeque and campfire!

The thing most surprised to both Alvin and me is that, Issac learned how to ride a bicycle and he was helping in the kitchen too!

Both Alvin and I were driving to Serendah to fetch the children after we have done our cleaning duty at church today. It was almost 1 and 1/2 drive and the students checked-out and leave the homestay when we arrived there.

Mr. Heng invited us to have a tour and look around the Canaan Valley Homestay. It is situated in the middle of a oil palm plantation, and the construction works still going on to build more facilities for the visitors.

The owner of the Canaan Valley Homestay, Mr. Ngoi is actually friend of Mr. Heng. He bought the plantation long time ago, and started to build this place little by little.

It is indeed a healthy and comfortable environment that close to the nature, and it is a great venue to organize group activities, team building, camps, vacations and private functions as well.

We headed to Ulu Yam for our lunch together with the students and teachers. There were total 3 tables of us, and all the children were hungry enough and finished up the food that served quickly!

The last destination before the day is the World of Phalaenopsis. The World of Phalaenopsis was built on a 6-acre agricultural land located at Ulu Yam. The farm open for public visit.

The centre assist and educate visitors about the orchid plant, and they hope visitors would gain better insight of the horticultures and appreciate the impacts of nature in enhancing human lifestyles.

There are so many types of beautiful of orchids here! I took quite a bit of photos of the flowers here!

 

 

 

We been here for sometime before we went home separately with Mr. Heng and all other teachers and students. Alvin drove us back home, it was quite a bit tired journey as it is a Saturday afternoon.

Issac and Annabelle are so happy about this school camp. They said they would want to join next year school camp again if have the opportunity again!

Prayer Sandwich

Learning and Living the Gospel #5 ~ Give an opening and a closing prayer in family home evening or at Primary. Share your feelings about how prayer protects us and helps us to stay close to Heavenly Father and the Savior.

For this activity, the children were learning about the prayer.

We had actually learned a little bit about prayer during we had our lesson on Joseph Smith’s First Vision.

We learned about how Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayer, just like what Joseph Smith’s prayer.

This lesson we talked about the Lord’s Prayer. I saw this message on February issue of Friends Magazine early this year, so I decided to teach or share this important lesson of how Jesus Christ teach us to pray.

I know it is the Lord’s hand that made me saw this message from the First Presidency, President Henry B. Erying. At the point of time I was preparing the lesson, He inspired me to come across the article.

When Jesus Christ lived on earth, His disciples noticed that He prayed often to His Heavenly Father. They asked Him to teach them how to pray. The prayer He gave is sometimes called the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus Prayed:

We don’t often use these exact words when we pray. But the words of this prayer are a perfect example of what we should ask Heavenly Father for.

After which, I give them the Prayer Sandwich which I found it in the previous Friend Magazine too, teach the kids what to say when they pray.

Well, they can begin their prayers by saying, “Dear Heavenly Father,” and end them by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

What they say in the middle is our choices, just like choosing what goes in a sandwich. Choose the pieces they would like to in their sandwich. Write the things they would like to pray for next to them.

Then can say “I thank Thee” for blessings, talk about their worries, ask for blessings, or pray about questions.

Both of them started to write their prayers. I just laughed out loud when I saw Annabelle’s prayer! She loves the sandwich so much, that she wrote there:

“ Dear Heavenly Father, I thank thee that I can eat this sandwich for breakfast and bless it, so that I could be strong and healthy. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

I know it is not a good manner and appropriate to laugh at my daughter’s prayer, but I just cannot help it. But I do know Heavenly Father and Jesus must be smiling lovingly to this little girl of theirs.

Issac’s prayer really warmed my heart, “Dear Heavenly Father, I thank thee for this day that I have a good day because I have found two books today and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

It is just a simple and purely give thanks prayers that he managed to find two books for himself… I love this boy of mine.

Then, we discuss about how prayer protects and helps us stay close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Both of them wrote into the worksheet about what are the experiences they have on how prayers help them and protects them.

Annabelle shared and wrote about a time which she felt and knew that Jesus was protecting her while the shampoo got into her eyes during she was taking her bath. She prayed silently to Heavenly Father. After, she can feel that her eyes no more pain and she washed away the shampoo quickly.

Issac shared and wrote about how he prayed for the wisdom and knowledge before he took his exam. And, most of the time he can answer the questions,not scored 100% but at least he knows some of the unfamiliar topics.

I just wanted them to think when is the time, their prayers had been answered and helped to develop their own testimonies of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. So that, they would have the strong testimonies when they grow up.

I know that God the Father live. He hears and answers our prayers.

Dance Rehearsal

Here is the video taken by Mr. Heng on the students dance rehearsal for their year end concert performance!

Living the Word of Wisdom is My Choice

Learning & Living the Gospel #7 ~ Read D&C 89.Discuss how Heavenly Father blesses us when we faithfully live the Word of Wisdom. Help plan and conduct an activity to teach the Word of Wisdom to others.

We started our lesson by watch video embedded above about the Word of Wisdom. It is a video featured a man describes his commitment to follow God’s commandment to care for the body He has given us.

Later we talked about the story of Daniel in the Old Testament as an example of living the law of health.

The King of Babylon wanted to conduct an experiment on choice children of Israel to see what might happen if he nourished them for three years.

Daniel was able to abstain from the kings meat and wine and Daniel received wisdom and visions. He became a choice and beloved advisor to the king.

After which, we sat down and read Doctrine and Covenants 89 as a family. Each of us read a verse and identify those things we should and should not do to live the law of health.

We discussed the blessings as well. The Word of Wisdom is a law of physical and spiritual health. It is a natural law and will offer the same blessings to anyone who will follow it - Health, Wisdom, Strength and Protection.

In the end of the lesson, we kind of sharing ways we can improve living the Word of Wisdom.

Frankly, this is a good and kind of ‘reminder’ lesson to all of us about living the Word of Wisdom.

I love the man in the video saying, “The Lord wants us to take care of our bodies. There’s some things that we shouldn’t do, not drinking tea and coffee or alcohol and not smoking. But He’s also provided instruction for things that we should do, eating fruits and vegetables and grains and taking care of our bodies.”

Personal Thoughts:

I used to be a heavy coffee drinker. My records were 6 to 8 mugs a day. And Yes! it is a big mug and not a cup! I started this ‘coffee ritual’ since I was in the high school, burning mid night oils through the study time and exams.

I continued the ritual to my early working life being a designer, and most of the time preparing the proposal drawings, presentations to the clients. It had never stop and till one extend, I was drinking coffee just like water.

The most challenge things for me before became the member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was none other the Word of Wisdom. Friends and colleagues were so surprised that one day I would stop drinking coffee.

Whenever asked about why I don’t drink coffee or tea, I find it is a great opportunity to talk about my faith and the Word of Wisdom.

Most people like to focus on the restrictions mentioned in the Word of Wisdom. Specifically, not drinking coffee, tea, or alcohol, nor using tobacco products or other harmful drugs.

It is quite weird for them that none of their Christian friends can not drink or use these items. Instead, I share with them on the things which the Lord highlighted for us that we should do, such as partake the fruits and vegetables, grains and take care of our body.

Sometimes I would queried or wondered why the Lord asked us not to take or drink those items, but I know it is the wisdom in Him that asked us to do it.

I have been blessed to live the Word of Wisdom in faith and joyfully hope for the blessings promised as I live this mortal life.