Just for fun

In our house, a birthday must be celebrated with a cake or some cupcakes. What makes it more eventful is a party with a bunch of friends. With a party, the highlight is the set of games that come with it. For me, it is always a great pleasure to be in charge of this!

It has been a while since we last organised a birthday party. So since this year there are a number of Malay girls in the neighbourhood (I'm not racist but I don't even have enough time to socialise with my own homefolk!), I thought it was a good time for my Princess to have a small party. It was a simple do with just 4 families in the neighbourhood invited after school although only 3 were able to make it. If I had the budget and time, I'd so love to invite some other friends over but with such limits, I have to draw a line somewhere.

The theme was 'everything pinky and purpley' and even with restricted resources, we managed to get it sorted. The twins helped hang pink and purple balloons around the house before Princess woke up in the morning, and right after school, Abang Z helped with the decorations on the cuppies (and I've got to tell you he was quite a marvel at it!). The menu was obviously catered for the children - sausages on sticks, strawberry dadih, sirap bandung, melted cheese on tortillas, roti jala (her favourite!) and kuey teow goreng. Yeah, of course the children ate but what they were looking forward to were the games that came after!

Now, I should have warned you that since it was my Princess' party, we obviously had more girls at the party. And, what can I say about the girls vs boys thing? It so happens that 3 of the girls are in the same class as Abang Z. You know how children this age are about the opposite sex. One child calls the other beruk, and the other responds with a monyet, etc etc... You can therefore imagine the drama that came before the party of Oh, I'm not coming!

Nonetheless, as the games started, everyone began to warm-up to one another and the atmosphere became less tensed and hostile. As I was a little busy preparing in the kitchen in the morning, I didn't have time to prepare enough games for the children. Instead, I only managed to set out 4 games - passing the parcel, musical statues, M&Ms and scavenger hunt. Obviously, even though each child ended with at least 2 prizes in hand, the children cried for more games at the end of it!

By the end of the day, I hope that the party has brought the children and parents a little closer, while having a good time. After the party, Princess came up to me and declared, Mom, that was the best time I've had since Abah's gone! Thank you!

With that, I continue praying for good health, wealth (rezq) and Imaan for my only Princess - may Allah bless her and make her develop into a good Muslimah. Happy 9th birthday sweetie!

My Princess is 8!

My only daughter turned 8 yesterday (21st May). She's been a precious little one, who was definitely her little daddy's favourite. Being the only girl amongst the siblings, she now shares a bed with me.

Last night, I set myself on a baking mission - 33 cupcakes for Princess to bring to class and share with her friends and teachers. Last weekend I had made 3 dozens already, to be shared with friends at another friend's house. They're going to be heart-shaped cupcakes. I was also on another mission to bake her a birthday cake to be enjoyed with the family. I have not been feeling too well of late, but since it's my little girl's birthday, I have to bake. Cakes are a must on birthdays! This is what I managed to make - the older boys helped with the decoration as I was beginning to rush in the morning (celebration is often first thing in the morning).

Princess started to cover her head properly since about 2 months back. I had told her that if she decided to don the hijab, she'd have to do it properly - no short-sleeves, no changing minds: taking it off and putting it on whenever convenient, and most definitely - she's got to bring with her good mannerism that portrays the akhlak of a Muslimah. She was happy to do so. And I obliged although sometimes I am the one who tells her to forget it (I'll tell you why in a moment).

Being brought up with 3 boisterous boys as brothers, Princess is not a very lady-like person, mind you. Don't be surprised to see her wrestling with the boys or hitting the little one with all her might! Nonetheless, she's not a tomboy either (Alhamdulillah!). She loves everything girly but somehow doesn't really take a fancy playing dolls.

My Princess is probably one of those who will never find 24 hours enough in a day. She'd probably need 36. Reason? She wants to do sooooooo many things and can sometimes be sooooooo slow too! Imagine, she's the first to get up in the morning (because she insists so!) but being a princess I suppose, she nibbles on her breakfast until the 11th hour. That is surely enough to set her mommy's blood boiling!!! Which is perhaps why I often snap at her when we're already in the car, and she forgets her hijab and wants to get back in the house.

You see, I simply HATE waiting and HATE people who do things slowly. But with my little princess, I guess I've got a lot to learn. Not everyone is the same and for these people who need an extra 12 hours to get everything done (story to write, book to read, keyboard to play, stickers to stick, hair to brush and tie up, drawings to finish, roses to smell...), we've really got to try and accommodate. Well, her teacher seems to think she takes that extra effort to make sure that she gets everything perfectly done, so I guess it's not all that bad after all.

Although Princess actually asked me for something else for her birthday, we managed to negotiate for something less expensive. She's a darling little girl who is very competitive, sensitive and also shy. She doesn't have many Malaysian friends because since she's so shy, she gets very sensitive when others say they don't want to befriend her. I mean, she's not the type who would just mingle and fit in. I feel so sorry for her because when she wants to join in the older brothers with their friends, it's often a No-No either... Well, at least she always has Little D.

To my dearest Princess Ulfah Mysara,
my prayers are for you to become a successful Muslimah with honourable virtues. Your dad and I had chosen your name with hopes that your personality will be as such. And remember, dear, you will always be MY Sara...

PS: The effect of technology on our lives is just so annoying: feel almost crippled without my laptop!