Another School Celebration

The same week Isabelle had Halloween celebration in her morning pre-school, Bao Bei (her afternoon mandarin class school) organised a Children's Day cum Deepavali celebration at the centre. Parents were also asked to bring some snacks/light food to the centre for the kids to celebrate. Again, scratching my head to think of something healthy yet relevant, I made these pastries for the children.

Made out of puff pastry, I used cookie cutter to make shapes of little children, heart and flowers. Baked them, placed it onto satay sticks, and made it into a little garden. For the base, I used a mixture of soy, green and red beans. Verdict: Taste so-so, as it was rather bland. Outlook: you be the judge... :)

Er Tong Jie Kuai Le - Happy Children's Day

Another tray for Happy Deepavali

Little children, hearts and flowers made out of puff pastry.

Made 3 trays, enough for 40 little ones

The sisters getting ready to go Bao Bei. I've also enrolled Mei Mei since last month.
She enjoys it and is learning very quickly too!

Happy Deepavali Everyone!

Halloween 2013

This is the first time ever I have done something for Halloween!

I or we have never celebrated Halloween. Ever. I mean, what is it about anyways? All I know is that it is celebrated (usually in ang moh countries) every year in October (don't even know which date until I googled it), and the people celebrating it would get dressed in all kinds of costumes - usually in the creepy characters such as vampires, witches, skeletons, the pumpkin, etc.

So why do I have to do something this year? Well, simply because Isabelle's school had a day dedicated to it. Kids were to be dressed in a costume of their preference and parents were to bring some goodies for the kids to celebrate. Gosh, kids these days really have so much fun in school. I don't recall having much celebration when I was going to kindy. In fact, I think I wore only the school uniform to kindy every single day. These days, there would be all sorts of celebration and the children are required to dress according to the celebration - from Chinese New Year, to Valentine's Day, to Teacher's Day, to Merdeka and Malaysia Day, to Hari Raya... and the list goes on and on.

Honestly, I didn't expect parents to really dress up their kids. Boy was I wrong the moment I stepped into school. With Isabelle, I made her wear her favourite white dress and put on a hair band. Very "cin cai" I even forgot to snap her picture. Hehe. You can see some pictures below (I didn't snap much pics, these were shared by the teachers).

They've also had a lot of activities planned out for the children - story telling, colouring contest, Halloween mask making and baking the gingerbread man. Isn't gingerbread man associated with Christmas instead? Hmm.... As for the snacks which we had to prepare, I made these creepy crawlies very last minute. Prepared some of the ingredients the night before and put them together in the morning itself. 

Creepy Crawly Crackers

Eyes made out of swiss cheese and raisins, used Ritz crackers for the body,
topped with nutella spread and used Pretz sticks for the legs

All 20 cramped in a box

The packaging which I made to keep the creepy crawly crackers

Morning assembly at school

Isabelle standing amongst her school mates

Isabelle and her classmates

I thought this little one was really cute, dressed as Wonderwoman

Children from the other classes

Angels & Fairies

This 2 also very cute!

The gingerbread man Isabelle made in school. Looks very much like those people she draws. Haha!

Maybe I'll do a better job next year :P

Random Art

Here are some random drawings, colouring and painting by the girls. Isabelle's been drawing family members and some of them are really funny!

First attempt of Ma Ma & Pa Pa without hair

Isabelle's version of her family. Seen in picture, Pa Pa, Ma Ma, Isabelle, Mei Mei & Po Po
At least all members get hair now :)

This is Ma Ma

Another version of the clan. Pa Pa is always the loooooong & skinny one. Haha!

I've been trying to make Isabelle read but she just refuses to each time I bring out the phonics.
So I got this idea from a friend - since she liked drawing, get her to read out what she needs to draw. Build her interest in wanting to read through drawing

I was in school the other day when I saw her work being featured in the school's wall

On some noisy & uncontrollable Sunday mornings, I will make them sit and do some art

Isabelle still loves colouring

Mei Mei is also getting better at colouring. Well, at least there's more control and she stops scribbling :)

Isabelle's 4th Birthday

So, after a whole month of birthdays in September, then came my baby girl's birthday! Well, not so baby anymore now...

Isabelle turned 4 on 9th October. This year, I decided to have her birthday celebrated in school given this would be her first time plus since I have some time now to make goodies for her friends. Isabelle has grown from loving "Baby TV" to Mickey Mouse and now to princesses! Right after Mei Mei's birthday which was way back in April, she kept on reminding me that she wanted a princess cake for her birthday. Honestly, I don't remember anything about princesses when I was 4 years old. But for this girl, she would go all out for any kind of princesses. So yes, we got her a princess cake - 2 in fact! It was coincidental that Ting got her another one. So the jelly princess cake which Po po bought was brought to school whilst the other was left to celebrate at home. And then, there were the party packs for her friends. Every month, Isabelle would bring home party packs from her friends' birthday and it would be filled with lollies, chocolates and all other sort of unhealthy snacks. I'm sorry to say but these usually end up in the bin or given to the helper. So, I've decided to come up with something good and healthy. At first, it was just suppose to be some organic tomatoes and raisins. But somehow, I must admit, I've lost control on a buying and making spree. Hehehehe....

Kids waiting anxiously at the mat area while we setup the birthday cake.
Yes, I brought Mei Mei to join in the fun! Po po tagged along as well :)

The Princess Cake - Made out of jelly

Kids oohing & aahhing when they saw the cake

A lovely smile from the birthday girl (something she hardly does for the camera!)

Group picture - there are 20 students altogether in Isabelle's class. 13 boys and only 7 girls!
Thanking my stars she didn't tell me she wanted a Ben 10 birthday cake instead :P

Kids these days are really good at posing :)

Isabelle, Ma ma & Mei Mei

Isabelle & Po po

Isabelle & Mei Mei with the class teacher

Back on the home front. The Princess Cake - thanks to Ting

A family shot

4 candles means 4 years old

Not impressed with the princess cake anymore =.=|
Just like the father, the birthday girl was under the weather. Probably all worn out after a long day too.

Party packs work in progress

It's fun to be 4!
Indeed it is...

There were lots of cutting & pasting

Some of the goodies in the pack: activity books,

Princess puzzle, hair band, hair clips and a couple of pull back cars for girls

Ben 10 puzzles and pull back cars for boys

Home made chocolate chip almond cookies

Packed them

All set!

One happy kid :)

Lai Yee bought me some very special organic tomatoes all the way from Cameron Highlands.
These are really fine tomatoes and I was told, it was a special "breed". Indeed they are succulent sweet & crunchy

Was afraid they would eat it before washing

All set to go into the bag

Finally, a little something for Isabelle's teacher - hot chocolate & coffee mix

20 packs all set to go!!

Happy Birthday, Isabelle!! *hugs & kisses*