12 Years!

This week, we celebrated our 12th year wedding anniversary. 12 Years? WOW. We've come a long way and Alhamdulillah, I couldnt be happier.

We've gone through so much in this 12 years. So many ups and down but we made it. 

My kids got us flowers (guess who paid for it?) and we painted a big painting for my husband for his new  office. No fancy celebrations but I honestly dont need anything more. 

Like any other couples, we go through a lot together. Marriage is hard work. No one is perfect and there's no such thing as a perfect couple but we try to be the best for each other. 

May Allah bless our marriage and give us strength to continue showering each other with love till Jannah. 

10th Birthday

Yesterday my daughter celebrated her 10th Birthday. Wow. What a huge milestone it is for both her and me. I've been a mum for 10 years. I can't believe it.

She loves birthdays, this girl. She is always the one who will remember everyone's birthdays and will insist on celebrating every time. I love that about her. Kind of reminds me of myself as a kid because it is exactly how I was when it comes to birthdays.

She had an awesome birthday this year. Every year, she would request for a specific theme cake. We remember milestones based on these themed cakes every year.

1st Birthday: Mickey Mouse
2nd Birthday: Sesame Street
3rd Birthday: Gymboree
4th Birthday: Pocoyo
5th Birthday: Rapunzel
6th Birthday: Frozen
7th Birthday: Beauty & The Beast
8th Birthday: Unicorn
9th Birthday: Roblox
10th Birthday: TikTok

This year she wanted a TikTok themed cake. Upon doing some research on ideas for the cake, she decided she wanted her cat to be on the cake too. Balloons as decorations and marble skin to wrap the cake. What an idea!!! Our cake lady got a bit confused at one point. The outcome was amazing and I got the perfect reaction from her when she saw the cake. That made me smile!

We got some flowers too for her just for fun. She doesn't need flowers and balloons but I just thought it would be nice. Her grandma got flowers delivered to the house for her too.

This year, her birthday fell on Monday. We had a celebration with the cousins and family on Saturday before her birthday and that was a lot of fun too. She had a cake cutting session with the cousins and then another celebration on her actual birthday. How blessed is she?

Since it was a Monday, online classes were going on as usual. Some of her teachers made it special by getting friends to sing Happy Birthday during their zoom classes. She made sure everyone knew her birthday was coming days before her birthday and when they sang for her, it made her day a little bit. But the highlight of her birthday was when I surprised with someone so special. Her best friend came over to the house after online class ended and weeped with tears of joy.

She hasnt seen her best friend since end of February and missing her so much. They chat every now and then via zoom but of course it isn't the same. I told her I have a surprise for her and it was the last thing she expected. I was so grateful to her parents for allowing her to come over to surprise my little girl. It was truly the best surprise ever.

When they saw each other, all social distancing rules went down the drain. They hugged each other and cried buckets! Bless them. They spent the next 5 hours doing all sorts of activities together which includes jumping in the pool with their normal clothes on, disco dancing, musical chair, tiktok, releasing the helium balloons, balloon fight, watched movie and they laughed non stop.

She thank me for making her birthday special. But truth is, I should be the one saying thanks. Without her, I wouldn't be the mum I am today.

I thank God for blessing me with this most special gift. I couldn't ask for a better daughter. She's funny, she makes me laugh. She's cute, my heart flutters. She's the most caring person in the house. She always checks if I'm ok. She's always giving me hugs and kisses. The one who hugs me when I cry and always has my back. I love her and I can't imagine life without her. She's the perfect daughter.

Happy Birthday sweetheart.
Mummy is so proud of you. I love you with all my heart. I pray for Allah to always protect you and guide you on the right path always.

Happy 10th to us!

How are you?

I have lost count. I don't even know what day it is today or how far we've gone since the first lockdown.

How are you doing?

For me, I have good days and I have bad days. Good days are when my kids can fully manage their online classes independently. I can have a good lie in and when I get food delivered instead of cooking them myself. Some days are long. That's when the kids are bored out of their minds and I have nothing to offer them. I have days when I don't allow them to be on their devices and find something productive to do. That is a tough one because sometimes, they just don't want to do anything too.

I fear for my children's wellbeing the most. I fear that being at home without having face to face interactions with friends and the outside world might have some kind of negative effect on them. I don't know if things are going to get better but I am hopeful. There must be light at the end of this tunnel, somehow. If we keep walking, surely we will reach somewhere, right?

As much as I want to stay positive and keep myself motivated, I am only human. I have bad days too and some days, I just feel restless. What always helps is when I think of the less fortunate. People with 10 kids in the kampung with nothing to eat. No electronics to keep their kids busy and entertained. No formal education too as they obviously don't have online learning. I feel for them. Automatically I feel guilty for complaining.

I love staying home. That's not difficult for me to do. It is the lack of interactions with other people that is hard. Texting or calling doesn't do it for me. I miss hanging out with my family and friends.
I miss seeing my kids play with their friends. They miss their friends too.

Come August, we will be exploring a new school. Something we've been really excited about. But with this Covid-19 pandemic still happening, we might not be able to even go to school until it is really safe for them.

A lot is happening around us all around the world. I don't know if this is a sign but never in a million years I would have predicted that life in 2020 will be like this. What we can do is keep walking. Keep praying for this to be over. Take care of our own little family and hope for the best.

Tell me how you are and what you are doing during this pandemic. Would love to hear from you.

Take care peeps!

Malaysia #StayAtHome

Few months ago (December 2019), there was a high number of unknown pneumonia detected in Wuhan, China. The numbers were so high that it got the world, in particular in China concerned. At that time, the world weren't too concerned just yet, especially here in Malaysia. Life went on as usual and everyone was traveling all over the world as if nothing happened. Fast forward 3 months later, Malaysia recorded 1030 confirmed cases of this new disease called the Covid-19 and 3 deaths (as of 20/3/2020) and the numbers are rising. 

On the 18th March, the Malaysia government decided on a Restricted Movement Order until 31st March 2020. Suddenly, it all seems to be so surreal. Is this really happening?

To all Malaysians, please stay at home. It might not sound serious to some but this is serious. It is sad to see that some aren't taking this seriously but we are all in this together. We need to help the government especially MOH to put a stop to pandemic.

Update 1: As of today 4 April 2020, Malaysia has recorded a total of 3333 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and a whopping 53 number of deaths. The government has also extended the restriction movement order until 14 April 2020. I suspect it will be extended longer as we are expecting a peak in the middle of April. Let us join hands and do our part in fighting this war against Covid-19.

Update 2: As of today 12 April 2020, Malaysia has recorded a total of 4683 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 76 number of deaths. The government has again extended the restriction movement from 15 April 2020 until 28 April 2020.

Update 3: As of today 25 April 2020, Malaysia has again extended the RMO until 12 May 2020. 5691 confirmed cases with 3363 of them has recovered. The number of deaths is now 96.

May Allah bless us all.