Archive for the ‘Just us’ Category

Since last year, our boys have been yearning to keep a puppy. We felt that they were not ready.

Since as young as 3 years old, we have exposed Brendan to close contact with little harmless, pet and wildlife animals (yeah…including koala bears, monkeys, ponies, hamsters, terrapins, puppies, rabbits and others). 

We can see how delighted he is whenever he rushes to embrace a pet. 

 Recently, when our boys came across several of my cousins keeping dogs as pets, they started pestering us again to buy them a puppy.

“We want a puppy! We want a puppy!”. Haiz…We hear this so often recently again.

Frankly, I would love to have a puppy at home too if our boys are old and responsible enough to really take care of them.

However, we have also seen many cases where some young owners simply want their pet dogs for moments of fun and others where their pet dogs are left to face an empty home most of the time.

Then I remember how our boys have little time to spend with their previous hamsters.

Brendan with “Pepper”:)

Dog keeping is a long-term RESPONSIBILITY and lots of training and care have to be devoted too.

So for now…we have to disappoint our boys and let them appreciate that if they were to keep a dog as a pet, it will need their attention and long term commitment. It is not just about how fun and adorable it is.

These days, Darren is really into paper crafting. 

With used paper, he cuts and pieces them into guns, animal shapes, caps, masks and many other designs.

With origami paper, he folds them into different designs either with guides from youtube videos, our paper craft reference books or simply experimenting his own designs.

He is also quite a pro now in  using different methods to make boxes with magazine papers.  Well, he has influenced me and Brendan too and every now and then, I am roped into experimenting a new origami design or paper craft with him. Even Papa Ed is not spared from Darren’s demo session to the family *haha*.

Despite the different types of papers that are lying around, I am happy that our boy is spending his time productively on creative activities than his usual gaming past time. To me, it is not the standard of handicrafts created but the creativity our boys exercise, his ability to follow through a visual and listening guide and also the development of his motor skill.

 Hee…our boy has made a number of these “stars” which he describes as his weapon of “darts”.

The truth is we have discovered a world of wonders of “what crafty designs” papers can create.  The next time before we dispose off our magazines and used papers at home, we know that they can be put to better use. 

So, we know about origami, paper cutting, paper patching and …….

One of the paper craft products that impress me  is this piece of work that I came across when visiting China last year. Interestingly, it is created by a 11-year old child. 

[This proves that nothing is impossible for a young one as long as he/she has the passion and determination to do it.]

Lobster

Then, there are the other creative products.   Just imagine the number of triangles that are folded and inserted, and the extent of planning to create the unique designs and colour coordination.

Peacock

In the backdrop, we can see the paper cutting which is a significant part of Chinese handicrafts. With a pair of scissors or engraving knife, ingenious patterns are cut out with perfection and precision.

Tiger. Look at those creative paper-cutting that are nicely framed up in the backdrop.

Err…We haven’t made out what this is.

I wish we could have such fine hands and creativity to create such beautiful handicrafts.

A long persistent chirping sound broke the silence on a peaceful Sunday morning.

So, all family members went on a “hunting” mission to trace the origin of the sound which apparently was coming from within the house.

As the chirping continued intermittently throughout the morning, mommy traced it to be coming from the toilet.

It is the same sound that we commonly hear when we frequent the nature - the sound created by a CRICKET.

Aha! So just when Papa Ed was using the toilet, the cricket hopped out of its hiding place and presented itself to him *haha*.

Then, there was much excitement as Papa Ed caught hold of the cricket and the boys were as enthusiastic as their Papa to ”host the cricket as a special guest”.

 We read that when cricket comes visiting our house, it is a Chinese belief that it means bringing GOOD LUCK *smile*.

Well, we certainly welcome all the Good Luck especially when it came visiting during the Lunar New Year season *haha*.

Now, the cricket is playing guest in our home and well-fed with water, carrot and vegetable. A few days later, another cricket visited and provided company to the first one.

[Yohoo! More good luck  *wink wink*. Actually,  the truth is we believe the persistent chirping of our first cricket was to attract its female companion *grin*.]

Our male cricket is still chirping to its delight.

When we were wondering how a small little cricket can create such a persistent loud shrill of sound, Bren did a little research and told us that the sound is created by only male cricket through action called “stridulation” when it raises its left forewing and rub it against the upper hind edge of the right forewing.

It is indeed a very good “live” science education for our boys.

True enough. Each time we sight the cricket raising its two wings, it is accompanied by the chirping again.

We feel like we are living in the nature reserve, already *smile*.