A Toast to Yours Truly!

It's no secret, I've turned another year older!

(Oh yes, one more year, though my looks may deny it... HAHAHAHA no, I joke!!! Oh my... ;))

So... here's looking to the future! 

This year's celebration... perhaps the most extended one in all my years! I've seen my fair share of birthdays, of course, and time has taken me from little family celebrations in my girlhood, to a memorable birthday in my twenties as a secretary with not one, not two, not three, but FOUR birthday cakes, and oh all the presents a girl could wish for! ... and now, year after year of great memories with my own family. And every year's another reason to celebrate life!

This year, my birthday celebrations (yeah, plural, because really every day's a party in this home!) have taken me to a rooftop in Medan, to a "secret" Chinese restaurant in our neighbourhood, and this weekend, to Cebu! And we can't wait for this weekend!

It all started at the beginning of July when Mel came back from a night shift at work, and we both hit the iPad, beady eyes peering at the screen and yeah anyone listening would think we'd won the lottery when we scored a good deal on flights/hotels! So my very first birthday treat... if you look at the picture up there... Was in Medan! That's just me and my boy Ben hitting the bar, for an early "birthday" afternoon drinks!

(It's a rule in this home that your birthday month is "your month" so birthday surprises last a month, not just the day itself! Oh yes, I'm the smartypants who started the rule, which means I get the whole of July to meself ;)

And on 24/7 - THE Day - my kiddos and their papa surely didn't disappoint!

I'm a 24/7 momma - twenty-four hours, seven days a week - and they sure know it! So of course celebrations should too be 24/7!

First thing in the morning, I'm enjoying coffee and chitchat with my girlio Melly and who else but Alfred comes bursting in through the front door, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL! GOOD LUCK! HAVE YOU FOUND IT?" 

Oh yes I had! He sure knows my favourite spots in the home! He'd cleverly hidden a surprise red packet in the midst of my shimmery blings! I took a little peek and oh yes, that made me smile!

In the afternoon, our scholar Mimi (she's going to start school at NUS soon) announced she'd be off to the mall for a little while, and she took Ben with her... Mel and I exchanged looks, of course we knew a surprise was in order!

And yes! The darlings were back with a sweet surprise!

 

And of course, the regular birthday fanfare ensued, birthday songs, impromptu recitals and duets... Oh just the regular birthday things... 

Alright, here's the part where I let you in on a little secret! My birthday celebration this year was ... A PYJAMA PARTY! I figured it was the best way since Mel would be off the night shift, the kids had school in the morning, and come on, everyone loves an excuse to lounge around in PJs all day! 

 

So pyjamas, coffee liquer on the rocks, birthday cake (a good lot of it, too!), music and stories... All's good to me!

Of course, we held the dress-up event the night before... which was of course, the "proper" thing to do ;) 

And there were longevity "peach" buns! Don't we love those! (We've got an inside joke about them, too...)

Here's to more merry, merry years ahead (as my good ol' little-big boy Nick would say), and more of those precious little jars of miracle creams (for the laugh crinkles, heehee)!

Thank you to everyone who wished me the best... my virtual, Internet hugs to one and all!

Toodles, friends!

Yol

 .................

P.S. A little tune, just for sharing :) 

 

Little Dutch Journey...

The Netherlands - a land i've never set foot in! But the girlies did last month, and this song is the cutest little ditty on the internet about a little Dutch girl! The girlies spent their time sitting around in giant clogs, chugging Heinekens (I've got to find that picture!) and counting bridges and canals...

 Oh, and they found a couple of tiny vehicles... did this girl find herself in Lilliput ? Hahaha :)

Lizards, lizards, always a charm. Kim would disagree!

In their neighbourhood... The sun set really late, all the better for a longer day!

Oh, and CHEESE. Need Mimi say more?

And setting two girls loose in one very liberal city (we all know what they're famous for...) ... was this a good idea? ;) Oh well, youth happens once and it should rightly be full of fun times!

Their momma~
Yol

If you want...

If you want to sing out, sing out!

And if you want to be free, be free!

There's a million things to be, kids, I always tell my brood of five... And truly there are a whole lot of things they could go on to be... Mimi - she's going to University soon! Who knows, she could be an economist? Or will she be a musician? Kimmy - a flautist? Hmm... seems the plan so far! Mel - seems quite comfy with her place in the world right now... who knows what plans she may have! Nicky - a tough journalist bringing us breaking news? On his way, methinks ;)' And oh my funny forever-young Benjiboy... he took a tumble yesterday at basketball with Nicky... I don't know what plans he's got, but I think he plans on sticking by my side and being my forever companion, on little neighbourhood walks or for afternoon tea!

With Mel and Mimi on their one-month European adventure, the humble abode's been a little quieter, but phew, I just survived the usual morning rush! But as they say, TGIF!!! - Thank Goodness I'm Free! - at least for the next three hours before Ben wakes up and requests a pancake for breakfast... Of course I'm glad to provide!

Mother's Day's coming up, kiddos, lest this slips your pretty little minds <3

and a little update from the girlies' adventures:

 Mimi in Venice, by the grand canal...

 Mimi and a carousel by the beach, Brighton, England

 I couldn't believe this when I saw it -- the girls report this as their view from the Ponte Vechhio (correct me if I'm wrong girlies!) in Florence, Italy

Postcard perfect , I say, even if I am their mom~~~ hahahaha

 Mimi in Bath, England -- the Roman Baths which actually still really work! And they say the water's still hot and steamy --- then again, they were in 10 degree weather? Whoops, hard to keep up, they just keep on moving through these cities , I hardly ever know for sure where they are!

And of course, Mel in her element in a flea market (in a basement, I think, of one of the antique dealers in London... or this could be Brussels, ...)

They'll be due home soon so I'll be doing a lot of catching up!

Love from my window!
Yol

January Festivities

Around the house there's been lots of festive cheer -- no, of course it didn't end with Christmas and New Year's, that was just the beginning!

And every year's a whole new year of celebration... Life is, after all, a party when you've got seven birthdays, various anniversaries (wedding, graduation, jobs and founding of business...), awards (that sometimes take us by surprise!), and the little day-to-day joyful events (new paintings, surprise gifts, new poems and prose, a Distinction on an essay, new books, fresh flowers...) OH THE LIST GOES ON!

But to start of the year in the usual way... JANUARY! The month of newness! New milestones to be met, new clothes to be had, new shoes to be broken in, new pots of plants to tend to, new new new things all around!

And one nineteen-year-"new" (let's not call her old, shall we ;)) gal we all love has got to be Miss Mimsy herself -- AMELIA!

Aren't we all just so excited for this girlie's future! She's scored herself too-cool grades on her final exam that just blew me away! And everything's definitely coming up roses.

Fingers tightly crossed that 2012 will take her to new heights! (Well, not literally, because this one's a little petite ;) but you know what I mean! I meant success heehee...)

To Mimsy, who turns 19 on January 18... We're just getting started with the fun! Hang on to your bonnet, young lady, you're in for a ride! Happy birthday, girlie in the middle ;)

And just a little cute tune to wake up to... 'I Remember' by Indonesian band Mocca! And the girls and I recognise it from the soundtrack of one of our favourite Korean dramas!

I've got a lot to remember :) Like... waking those kiddos up for a fresh week at school... in just about 24 minutes!

And a new day begins!

Love and peonies!
Yol

P.S. Speaking of peonies -- the flower that is oriental art in every way -- I've got to get Kimmy to work her peony magic on some of my ornaments... That girl's so good at drawing and painting them!

Christmas past, Christmas present ;)

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." -- Edith Sitwell

Oh Edith Sitwell, in that quote alone she's just described my Christmas holiday! If you replace "winter" with "Christmas", there you have my Christmas!

This year we decided to do something different, and now that the kids are mostly not-so-much-kids, they're all great to travel with, and looking up the flight routes on the internet got me all excited -- how could I resist...

I'll let the pictures do the talking cos if I talk I may never stop!

Thank goodness for great travel companions -- the whole troop of 'em!



My presents to the girls this year -- matching rings made of Buffalo horn. It is believed that the power of the bull is found in its horn, and the wearer of anything made from the horn will inherit its power. Nail-polished fingers are crossed that this is true, because the New Year holds great things!

Phew, if there's one thing that we'd all agree on, it's how fast time flies! And boy has this year gone by all too quickly :)

Looking back...

It's been a good year in my books, an eventful year, and from now things can only get better going forward.

Say, did I mention that 23 December marked our 26th wedding anniversary? Well it did!

Here's a photograph!

And this is it, folks! Here's to 2012 ;)

Your resident magic mom
Yol

Letter to my eldest daughter on her 20th birthday

With Love to my daughter, Mel - 01 October 2011

On turning 20 ...

As you explore this big wide world of possibilities, remember to keep your eyes and ears wide open. Be kind always. Love freely. Take care of every creature. Tell the truth. Always do your best. Listen to the big people and the little people. Explore new paths and have fun. Remember that you are always loved and give thanks for all your blessings. Above all else, love and you will do wonderful things in this world!

Just me,

Omi

Just some little snapshots of the days leading up to and the day of your birthday and our garden party!

And Melly writes about turning 20 on her blog... here! (Clicky clicky!)