The lil’ dude and his family…

So we were all in town for Raya this year. Irwan’s parents left for Kuantan on eve of Raya so it was just us and my parents for Raya. On Saturday, I went over to my parents’ in the evening to help my mom cook as my parents invited their friends over for makan-makan on the first day and so did Irwan and I. My mom made nasi tomato, rendang ayam, kurma ayam, ketupat, roti jala, kuah kacang and errr I think a few more that I have forgotten. We’re big on my mom’s cooking so all of us (Irwan and my younger adik included) helped her in the kitchen. Irfan was either 1) busy watching cartoon with my dad or 2) bugging everyone in the kitchen. :P

By the time we were done helping my mom cook, it was close to 11pm (and she had started cooking from 5.30 in the morning!!!) and the boys went upstairs to play wii while I helped to arrange the kuih raya. We left way past midnight and I was so ready to just sleep for the entire week!

I managed to get some shots of Irfan in his baju melayu, sampin and songkok before we left for my parents’ but he really wouldn’t sit still! Ah well, at least I got some pictures. :)

My parents’ friends arrived first and had their makan-makan session while the sky looked a tad gloomy. I was a bit worried in case it’d pour Garfields and Odies as our friends were arriving around 2 plus. The Koks and the Huans arrived first and a couple of minutes later the Chans arrived and I thought that I’d finally get a chance to have lunch (and breakfast!) with them. But unfortunately, more of my parents’ friends arrived so of course must let the guests makan dulu, right? :P

Anyway, didn’t get a chance to take pictures or anything like that as I was busy going up and down replenishing food etc etc for the guests but I think Irfan had the most fun!

The Gontiers arrived just as Aaron and family, Shannon and family, Danny and Kathey were on their way out. My parents’ friends were still continuously pouring in lah. I tak larat mau entertain already so I left them to mingle with the others. I finally had a moment to breathe and sit down to look at Alia and Johan’s wedding photos in Champagne. We couldn’t make the trip as it was held during Ramadhan and I don’t think I larat to travel up and down the whole of France while fasting. Heh.

I had my makan-makan session with the newlyweds and my Nani and the rest of the family from my dad’s side. Irfan was busy playing with Johan and he didn’t seem to mind so that left Alia and me some time to catch up. :)

The day ended around 8 p.m and the house was back to its normal self, except for Irfan who was still jumping up and down in his baju melayu and sampin. I fed him some nasi tomato and beef for dinner and showered him and gave him 8 oz of milk and he slept almost immediately.

Irwan, my brother and I played a game of Monopoly on wii after we have freshened up and around midnight Irwan said that he was hungry and was craving for some indomee. So after ending the game, we all went to Damansara Uptown for supper. I finally got my kerang rebus and we were eating noodles like there was no tomorrow while Irfan was still asleep on Irwan’s lap. By the time we sent my brother home and reached Andalucia, it was already past 2 a.m.  Penat betul!

We went for a friend’s open house on the second day of Raya for lunch and Irfan was having fun with the abangs and kakaks there and didn’t even notice that Irwan and I weren’t next to him. He basically mingled with the older kids and entertained himself and only after everyone started going home that he felt alone again. He came to us and said “Jom balik!”. Yes, sir! Heh.

We had a BBQ session with the Chans and the Koks at Andalucia that evening and I let the kids play with the remaining bunga api we had. Irfan was having fun with his bicycle and it was on that night that he finally got the right way of cycling! Yay! And again, the night ended way past midnight. Haha! Basically by this time, Irfan’s bedtime schedule was all screwed up! Takpe, Raya setahun sekali. :P

We visited the in-laws on the third day of Raya and had lunch with them. Spent most of the day at SS3 and Irfan and his grandma went out to visit a friend who came over from Jakarta. We left SS3 in the evening to get ready as we had a (simpler) makan-makan session at my parents’ with the in-laws and a few of my parents’ friends. My mom made prawn noodles that night and it was yummylicious! Yes yes, I should get all the recipes already and start practicing like s.o.o.n! :P

That was basically how the first three days of Raya went for us. Irwan and I both started working on the fourth day and we’re looking forward to more ketupats and lemangs in the weeks to come. Heh.

Maaf zahir dan batin. :)

Below are photos taken after my brother’s graduation together with his girlfriend’s family. It’s been a while since the pictures were taken but I’ve been awfully busy! Pft.

So to those who are driving back to their hometown or going for a holiday - please drive safe. And to those of you who are like me and tak balik kampung - enjoy the jam-free road!! Wheeee… :)

Irfan had his 3-week break early August but I sent him for  the “Summer Programme” for one week and the week after that he was with me as my parents were abroad. Life with Irfan is getting a bit simpler on one hand, but on the other hand, it’s getting a tad complicated. As he is very much independent these days, he tends to have his own mind and ways regarding certain things. Clothes that I’ve laid out for him for the past 3 years plus or so may not be as “happening” as he wants them to be. So he’d spend an additional 10 minutes staring at his clothes and choosing what he wants to wear. Nevermind that sometimes he looks like a clown. :P Weekday mornings prove to be even crazier than before because on top of choosing what he wants to wear, he chooses what he wants to eat as well and it just drives me nuts at times because it delays our schedule even more!

His diet is also starting to change. Things that he used to like, he just doesn’t want them anymore these days. However, rice is still his main staple. He tends to eat lesser during dinner and although it used to worry (and stress!) me, I just let him eat whatever he wants. Don’t get me wrong - he still eats. Just that it’s not that big of a portion like how it used to be. But he still eats plenty during lunch. Probably because he works hard in school? Heh.

Speaking of his school, as of last week he has been promoted to the upper class with the older boys and girls. And so far, he has been ok in that class but he tells me that he misses his teacher from his previous class as he was very attached to her. And ever since being in the class with the older kids, he told his teacher that he doesn’t want to drink milk in school anymore as he’s a big boy now and will only drink his milk at home. Malu ka? Hahahahaha!

His latest craze is the iPod touch where he learns how to spell simple words and writes ABC and 123 on the screen but I was told by Dr. Sharmila (his paed at Prince Court) that when it comes to these things, one should always go back to basics. Well, he gets his basics from school (he holds the pencil real well anyway) so he gets to use all the techy stuff with uslah. At least it keeps him still while we’re out dining and such. :)

Got him his flu jab last Saturday as we’ll be in Europe in December and with the H1N1 and everything else around, I didn’t want to take any chances. He needs to get the second jab next month and I think we’ll get ours too. A family friend of the inlaws who was in Frankfurt got the H1N1 and slipped into a coma for 39 days and passed on. Sigh. Quite scary, innit? Hopefully we’ll be okay then. Dahlah winter. Ish! One can only pray and doa. InsyaAllah.

p/s: No pictures of Irfan as I haven’t touched my camera in more than a month! Eeeeep!