Tips on Self Service Laundry (Coin Slot)

Having to follow my husband outstation almost every week this month plus the rainy season now makes me go to the self service Laundrette. Since it was my first time there, it was a bit tricky to make sure that your laundry is clean without wasting your money..

Here's what I learnt so far..

Things to remember:

1. Bring your own coin
(of course they provide the service, but then, since it's self-service, sometimes the staff is not around).

2. Make sure you know the coins that the machine accepts.
The one in Bangi uses only RM0.20 and RM 0.50 only.

3. Bring your own detergent (or you have to buy).

4. A laundry basket is helpful.
I put my laundry in a plastic, so I had to buy because if you put the clean laundry in a plastic bag, it will get crumpled.

5. Sort your laundry before hand.
There are two types of washing machine there, one is front load (8-9 kg) and the other is top load (5-6kg). The first time I went there, the girl told me that everything fits the front load and I didn't believe her. It was true. And everything dries up within 40 minutes in the dryer.

The second trip I washed everything in my own washing machine at home, and put everything in the dryer (to save 30 minutes of washing). But I had to run the machine again. Then I realised that my machine is not as powerful as the ones in the laundrette.

The third trip was different. I sorted all the towels and jeans together. So it was easier to dry.

BUDGET SAVING TIP: Split the laundry using the same dryer!
I was told by the girl there, you can start your dryer with all the daily clothing (not very thick ones) then after about 15-20 minutes, add the thick ones.. by the time you add the thick ones.. the ones in the dryer is almost dry.. If you put everything together.. you have to run another cycle (which costs you another RM2.50 and 40 minutes!)

BUDGET SAVING TIP: Add extra time before the dryer stops!

Find out whetner you can add time. I just knew that you can open your dryer anytime to check whether your cloths are dry, then add coins to run the dryer so that your cloths will be completely dry.

If you are washing a comforter, open the dryer every 10 minutes and take it out. Put back your comforter in the machine. If you don't do that.. your comforter might be a bit damp.

Happy Laundering!

Tips on Self Service Laundry (Coin Slot)

Adab-adab Menziarahi Jenazah

Assalamualaikum...

Selalunya kita menziarahi jenazah tetapi kadang-kadang kita tak tahu apa yang perlu dilakukan...

Apabila Menerima Berita Kematian

1. Sunat untuk kita membaca "innaalillaahi wa innaa ilaihi ro ji'uun"..

2. Sabar dan tenang.. cuba untuk tidak meratapi pemergian simati..Redha dengan ketentuan Allah. Ingatlah semua yang ada di dunia ini adalah hak milik Allah dan Allah berhak untuk mengambil kembali bila-bila masa sahaja.

Sebelum bertolak

1. pastikan kita tahu jenazah nak dihantar ke mana. Kadang-kadang jenazah akan dihantar ke rumah ibu bapa. Jika kematian melibatkan laporan polis (kemalangan), selalunya jenazah akan dilepaskan agak lambat kerana menunggu post mortem.

Bagi yang meninggal di hospital, jenazah selalunya sudah siap dimandikan dan dikafan, jadi selalunya tiba lebih awal.

2. Ambil sembahyang siap2 dari rumah terutama sekali bagi wanita kerana apabila jenazah tiba, semuanya berlaku dengan pantas. Bawa stokin dan pastikan kita memakai sarung lengan untuk menutup aurat. Mungkin kita tidak ada masa untuk memakai telekung.

3. Bawa yassin / tahlil kalau2 kita terpaksa membaca di luar.

4. Ambil inisiatif untuk membaca tentang solat jenazah.. pahala bagi yang mengerjakan solat jenazah memanglah besar. Tambahan pula, itu adalah tanda perhormatan kita yang terakhir buat simati.

Setibanya di rumah simati

1. Pastikan handphone di "silent mode".

2. Bacalah yassin kepada simati. Seelok-eloknya bacalah beramai-beramai secara berjemaah. Jika tiada siapa yang mengetuai, bacalah dengan perlahan.

3. Bacalah Al-Fatihah dan sedekahkan pada simati.

4. Berdoalah sebanyak-banyaknya agar dosa simati diampunkan Allah dan diletakkan di sisi para solihin. Kita tidak mungkin akan sentiasa berdoa kerana naluri manusia akan lupa. Ambillah peluang untuk berdoa sehabis-habis ketika menziarahi jenazah.

5. Tenangkan ahli keluarga. Ingatkan mereka bahawa ini semua ujian dari Allah dan doakan agar mereka diberi kekuatan untuk menghadapinya.

6. Ambillah iktibar.. ingatlah.. mungkin yang terkujur kaku itu kita kerana kita tidak tahu bila masa kita akan tiba.. Di kala itu, kita tidak mungkin dapat kembali untuk bertaubat kepadaNya.

7. Bantulah ahli keluarga menguruskan jenazah.

8. Solat jenazah.. kebiasaannya di sini, kebanyakan solah jenazah dilakukan sekali sahaja. Jika yang menziarahi ramai, tak salah untuk dilakukan solat jenazah berulang-ulang kali.

Perkara-perkara yang Tidak Sepatutnya Kita Lakukan

1. Bergelak ketawa apabila berjumpa rakan-rakan lama walau bagaimana gembira sekalipun hati kita.. Hormatilah ahli keluarga jenazah yang bersedih. Mereka tidak mungkin akan faham kenapa orang lain masih boleh tersenyum dan ketawa apabila mereka sedang berduka.

2. Jangan bercerita hal-hal dunia seperti jualan langsung, kerja-kerja kosong dan lain-lain (sorry but it does happen).

3. Jika perlu mengangkat telefon, keluarlah dari rumah.

4. Jangan sibuk bertanya pada keluarga simati bagaimana dia mati.

5. Jangan bercerita tentang keburukan jenazah. Ingatlah dosa kita dengan manusia hanya boleh diampunkan oleh orang itu sahaja.

3. Jangan merokok sambil bersuka-suka dengan rakan.

4. Jangan pula kita sibuk menceritakan masaalah kita seperti kesukaran sampai ke sana dan lain-lain. Apalah sangat jika dibandingkan dengan kedukaan keluarga simati.

Adab-adab Menziarahi Jenazah

Menziarahi Jenazah

Assalamualaikum..

I have just come back from a funeral.. a friend's father who died early in the morning surrounded by children at the hospital.. He had leukimia.

I was there.. to show all the support only to realise that she was surprisingly calm.. not because she was not sad.. but being the eldest.. she must have been used to putting a brave mask on her face..

Talking about death is not something pleasant. I used to feel akward at funerals, not knowing what to do.. i dont know whether to smile, hug or give space or simply be there doing nothing..

Once i went to a college friend's funeral.. the husband couldnt see anyone from our batch because it was just too painful.. so we stepped back and left him alone.

It's so sad, though, being at the funeral.. not because of the death but i just couldnt help noticing a few people who were there waiting..

i attended a few talk on funeral.. i remember clearly what the ustazah preached.. she said.. it's better not coming than coming and yet talk and talk about other things...

well, it's surprisingly true.. At first we were there to give our final respect.. but then.. while waiting.. we couldnt help saying hi to all the ones coming.. It's kinda rude but then it is like a reunion.. and i really think catching up during that time is just not appropriate.. especially when people exchange laughter catching up with each other stories..

I overheard some selling MLM and some even answer business call in the house..which is just a shame.. Some really forget how sad people are losing their loved ones and they can never understand why some people are still laughing..

Continue reading ya ! in my next post.. adab2 menziarahi jenazah.. coming soon..

Menziarahi Jenazah

This is what i learnt from my maid, Neng.

Neng, my maid of 4 years never believed me that i learnt a lot from her. Here are amongst the lesson i learnt from her.

1. Kids are funny

I remember during potty training and she was running to the bathroom with my son in her arms, they didnt make it, and she thought it was really funny. I would definitely be grumpy.

2. Be grateful with what u have

She comes from kampung and stays in a a house with bamboo wall when people can actually see her from outside. She works in the paddy field with her dad and has her shower in the river nearby. And yet, she's the happiest person alive.

3. Kids really have interesting stories to share

Everytime my kids come back to school, they will all go to her room and tell her a lot of stories. The odd thing is, she'll stop whatever she is doing and listens. She is interested in kids. Honestly, when our kids are telling us stories, there are times that we think that it's trivial.. but the truth is it may sound trivial to us but big to them.

4. Wake up early and rest early

Neng starts her day 5.00 every morning. After finishing her routine, she (to be continued)

This is what i learnt from my maid, Neng.

Sabar Menahan Marah Ya! Rasullullah Sayang Orang yang Menahan Marah!

Marah?

Senang sangat nak marah tapi susah sangat nak tahan marah. Tapi bila kita marah, orang yang kita sayang kecil hati, sedih; menyesal pun tak guna. Kalau hati terlalu terguris, akan ambil masa beberapa tahun untuk mengubat hati sendiri. Tapi kalau nak tahan marah sebenarnya ambil masa beberapa saat sahaja. Memang kadang-kadang, kita terlalu marah sampai terlepas dan terkeluar suara, nada yang kuat yang boleh menyakiti hati.

Ibu dulu memang pemarah.. Tetapi ibu cuba sedaya upaya untuk hilangkan perasaan marah. Tapi memang ada masa ibu tak boleh tahan, dan selalunya ibu menangis kerana terlalu geram. Kata orang menangis tu perangai budak kecil tapi apa salahnya sekali sekala berperangai macam anak kecil asalkan dapat mengubati hati sendiri dan mengelakkan hati orang terguris. Bila kita tahan marah, banyak pahala yang kita dapat terutama sekali bila kita elak marah kerana Allah, bukan kerana takut hilang kawan atau kena denda.

Macam mana ya nak tahan marah kerana Allah? Senang sahaja.. Ingatlah di dunia ini kita mencari keredhaan Allah. Kita lakukan apa yang Allah sukad dan Allah sangat sayang pada orang yang menahan marah.

Ibu kongsi ya macam mana ibu cuba tahan marah. Naufal, Nurul, Haziq dan Irfan cuba ya!

1. Bila marah, diam. Jangan cakap apa-apa, takut nanti kita terus jerit.

2. Tarik nafas panjang. Fikir. Berbaloi tak untuk marah?

3. Ingat! Bila kita marah, syaitan berkejar-kejar ke telinga kita, hasut bagi kita lagi marah. Baca A'uzubillahi minassyaitonirrajim.. Bayangkan bertempiaranlah semua syaitan-syaitan kat telinga kita kerana takutkan Allah. Kita kan minta tolong Allah!

4. Cuba fikir.. betul ke kita sebenarnya marah atau kita terhasut dengan pujukan syaitan. Kan kita dah janji untuk menjadikan syaitan musuh kita nombor 1!Jadi jangan sekali-kali termasuk perangkap syaitan.

5. Bayangkan betapa sukanya syaitan, terguling-guling dia gelakkan kita bila kita tak berjaya mengawal marah. Bila ibu terbayang ini, ibu memang tak nak marah. Ibu tak nak bagi dia menang!

6. Kalau masih marah lagi, keluar dari tempat yang membuatkan kita marah atau jangan tengok orang yang kita marahkan. Insyaallah sejuklah tu..

7. Kadang-kadang kelakar sebenarnya bila tengok air tumpah, toys tergolek, adik conteng buku kalau kita tak marah.. tengok muka yang kecut gila sebab dah buat salah.

8. Kalau masih marah... ambillah air sembahyang, tak hilang marah lagi, sembahyang sunat... kalau masih marah lagi... doalah pada Allah! Biar disejukkan hati!

Good Luck ya sayang!


Ibu kongsi

Sabar Menahan Marah Ya! Rasullullah Sayang Orang yang Menahan Marah!

Cleaning up the toyroom

Today is playroom cleaning..

These are the things that we have to do.

1. Open up all windows to let air in
2. Sort the toys into
boy's stuff, girl's stuff, baby's stuff, soft toys, cars, figurines
3. throw all the broken toys
4. throw used paper, folded paper, small notes, short pencils
5. wipe corners, sweep the floor and carpet
6. Arrange the books
7. All set!

Cleaning up the toyroom

Maafkan Ibu, sayang...

Assalamualaikum anak-anak ibu..

Ibu doakan anak-anak ibu dapat menjawab peperiksaan dengan mudah.. Alhamdulillah.. semuanya sudah pun selesai sekarang ini.

Ibu minta maaf sebab kali ni, ibu tak dapat nak tolong bacakan buku dan tasmik. Ibu akur dengan kehendak Allah. Ibu demam.. memang tak suka baca sendiri kan tapi apa nak buat, badan ibu tak larat. Mungkin Allah nak anak-anak ibu belajar berdikari. Setiap yang berlaku pasti ada hikmahnya..

Jangan risau ya.. kalau rajin buat homework, dah baca buku, doa banyak-banyak, selalu hormat guru, dan akhir sekali tawakal, insyaallah Allah akan bantu.

Jalan yang Allah bagi ialah jalan yang terbaik buat kita kerana Allah lebih mengetahui apa yang terbaik buat kita..

Ibu juga ambil kesempatan untuk memohon maaf kerana ibu hilang sabar dan marah anak-anak ibu. Tiada niat di hati ibu untuk mengguris perasaan anak-anak ibu, tapi ibu tewas dengan kemarahan diri ibu sendiri.

Ibu dah pun baca A'uzubillaa banyak kali. Tapi rupanya ibu gagal. Maafkan ibu ya.. walau apa pun yang terjadi... ibu nak anak-anak ibu tahu yang ibu memang sayangkan anak-anak ibu. Seelok-eloknya, patuhilah undang-undang yang sedia ada di dalam rumah agar tidak ditegur beberapa kali. Bukan apa, sebagai manusia, kita selalu lupa tapi pada masa yang sama tidak suka ditegur banyak kali.

Jangan ambil mudah apa yang ditegur. Kadang-kadang, kita tak nampak bahaya menunggu peluang. Ingat lagi tak adik Haziq jatuh di tangga dan teruk berdarah di hidung. Masih ingat lagi dahi nurul dijahit doktor kerana terhantuk bucu meja. Masih ingat tak lagi, accident di KLIA?

Sedarlah sayang, semua undang-undang dibuat bukan kerana benci, tapi kerana sayang dan khuatir kalau-kalau tercedera kerana terlalu suka.

Akhir sekali... jangan main kat bilik air tau! Anak ibu dah belajar sains kan? Air sabun boleh mengurangkan geseran, bila tiada geseran, kan lebih senang jatuh! Sebab itulah ibu marah... Tapi sekarang ibu dah tak marah lagi...

Maafkan Ibu, sayang...

Tension?

Assalamualaikum anak-anak ibu,

Memang tensionkan hidup di dunia ni?

Memang banyak benda yang buat kita tension tapi sebenarnya yang buat kita rasa tension ialah diri kita sendiri.

Kita yang menentukan yang kita suka atau tidak. Kadang-kadang, main kat luar pun boleh tension, apa taknya, baru nak kayuh basikal, kena jaga adik. Duduk tengok tv pun tension juga, baru nak tengok, adik-adik merengek nak tukar channel.

Sebenarnya, kita kena tau apa yang buat kita tension? Kadang-kadang, kita penat dan tak cukup rehat, bila adik buat perangai mulalah kita salahkan adik. Kan lebih senang salahkan adik? Tak perlu susah-susah fikir apa yang buat kita runsing. Sebenarnya, kita bukan menyelesaikan masaalah kita tapi sebenarnya menambah masaalah sendiri. Dahlah hati sakit, bergaduh dengan adik-adik, kena marah lagi. Ibu pula akan marah orang yang lain, kerana selalunya ibu pun tak nampak apa yang berlaku. (Ibu minta maaf ya!)

Semalam ibu pun tension sebab haziq buat perangai. Ibu memang hilang sabar dan marah Haziq tapi rupa-rupanya baru ibu teringat, abah kerja outstation, Haziq rindu. Haziq tak cakap dengan ibu yang sebenarnya dia rindu dengan abah. Kalau ibu tahu, mesti ibu telefon abah untuk ubat rindu Haziq. Tapi tidak, ibu terus melenting. Tapi bila ibu teringat sebenarnya Haziq rindu abah, ibu pun terus pujuk. Bayangkan kalau ibu terus ambil rotan dan rotan, mesti Haziq sedih, dahlah abah tak ada, kena rotan pulak dengan ibu.

Sebenarnya semua orang pun stress dengan kehidupan masing-masing. Tiada orang yang tidak stress langsung dalam dunia ni.

Apa yang penting ialah cara kita menanangani stress. Kita boleh pilih cara kita sendiri untuk mengubat hati kita. Kita memang boleh pilih untuk marah dan menjerit-jerit, atau pun cari pasal dengan adik. Tapi kan lebih baik kalau kita selidik apa sebenarnya yang buat kita marah dan betulkan apa yang tak kena.

Kalau kita penat, ubatnya tidur, kalau kita marah atau sakit hati dengan kawan, kan lebih senang berterus terang. "Honesty is the best policy". Yang paling senang sekali ialah berterus terang. Gunakan "Saya"... "Saya sedihlah kalau awak ejek saya". Selesaikan apa yang terbuku di hati cepat-cepat supaya kita lebih tenang.

Otak kitalah yang mengawal diri kita. Kalau kita selalu marah, orang pun tak suka dengan kita. Tegurlah adik-beradik sebagaimana kita mahu ditegur. Tentunya kita tak suka orang jerit pada kita. Bayangkan kalau kita dimarah di hadapan kelas oleh guru, mesti malu dan sedih. Layanlah orang sebagaimana kita mahu orang melayani kita. Tak salah bersabar. Orang yang selalu stress dan marah-marah akan menyakiti hati orang yang disayangi. Bila sudah sejuk, kita akan menyesal tetapi menyesal apabila kita sudah menyakiti hati orang tak berguna.

Apa-apapun, kita perlulah mendidik diri kita agar sabar. Ingat pada Allah kerana apabila kita sabar dan ingat yang kita sebenarnya diuji oleh Allah dan redha, kita mendapat kasih sayang Allah. Allah tahu hati dan perasaan kita. Allah berikan kita bermacam ujian untuk menjadikan kita orang yang lebih baik dan jika kita sentiasa mengingatiNya, kita akan hidup di bawah rahmahnya.

Sabar ya anak-anak ibu... Ibu pun masih lagi mencuba untuk sabar.... Semuanya kerana Allah...
Sayang korang! :p

Tension?

Favourite Cakes

Guys! Our favourite cake so far!

1. Oreo Cheese Cake
2. Moist Choc Cake
3. Carrot Cake with Cheese Topping
4. Orange Butter Cake
5. Marble Cheese Cake
6. Golden Cheese Cake
7. American Chocolate Cake
8. Coffee Cheese Cake
8. Date Cake


Future Cakes to be tested!

1. Lime cake
2. Lemon Drizzle Cake
3. Chocolate Mousse
4. Banana choc cake
5. Chocolate Walnut Cake

Favourite Cakes

Favourite Breakfast!

1. Chicken Sandwich
2. Tuna Sandwich
3. Roti John
4. Pancake with Royal Jelly Honey
5. Bread with Scrambled Egg with Tomato
6. Lasagna (Leftover from dinner he he)
7. Pizza
8. Carrot Cake still
9. Cheese Cake
10. Char Kuew Teow
11. Toast Bread with Butter
12. Buns
13. Roti Kaya Butter
14. Pisang Coklat
15. Chicken Breast (leftover) with Thai Chilli Sauce Straight from the Fridge

Favourite Breakfast!

Yummy Snack

Here are the things that you guys enjoy to eat after coming home from school!

1. Donut
2. Pretzel
3. Frankfurter bun
4. Carrot Cake
5. Chocolate Cupcakes
6. Orange Cupcakes
7. Keropok Sayur
8. Laksa @ Bangi
9. Serunding Mayo Bun
10. Puding Roti

Yummy Snack

Price increase! Help!

Just came back from my regular trip to the baking supplies store.. Can't believe the increase in the price. When i started selling sampret, Anchor butter costs me only RM3.30, I was shocked to see the price at RM5.00 compared to last week's price RM4.80.

Heard from Ah Meng, the price of cocoa powder will increase, as well as cream cheese. I remember, cream cheese used to be RM33.00 per 2kg. It increased to RM35.00, then RM38.00 and now it's RM42.50.

Still i'm glad to be able to bake my own cheese cake for my kids. 4 years ago, i was still indulging myself at Secret Recipe's or Angel, when i realized that it's gonna cost a fortune to buy a cake for RM70++ to cater my whole family. Seems that the price increase is killing me.

I find it really difficult to maintain my price. Selling chocolate cake has been a wonderful part time job. Of course, it started with baking for my kids, then for my friends and now for my neighbours, but then, i used to spend RM50 and get a lot of things but now...

I'm still wondering now whether to continue selling my cakes or not. Despite the encouragement from friends who insist that i should increase the cake price, i don't really know. What do you think?

Price increase! Help!

Lunch

1. Pajeri Nenas + Sambal Belacan + Telur Dadar

2. Sambal Tumis Udang Petai + Kubis Goreng + Kicap

3. Sup Ayam Kentang + Sambal Belacan + Kangkung Belacan

4. Kari Ikan + Sambal Belacan + Taugeh Kucai + Kicap + Telur Dadar

5. Masak Lemak Ikan Rebus (kobis) + Ikan Rebus Goreng + Sambal Kicap Bawang

6. Sambal Tumis Ikan Bilis + Telur Masak Kerbau + Kailan / Pak Choy Sos Tiram

7. Ayam / Daging Masak Kicap + Kailan Ikan Masin

8. Masak Lemak Ayam + Sambal Belacan + Ulam

9. Ikan Cencaru Goreng Stim + Air Asam + Kangkung Belacan

10. Tenggiri Masak Taucu (kubis/timun) + Sambal Belacan

11. Daging Kurma (kentang) + Kubis Goreng + Kicap + Sambal Belacan

Lunch

Housekeeping in Action

Believe it or not.. housekeeping is more exhausting than having 25 periods a week in school. Cleaning is one thing, to maintain is another thing... Here are things that i've learnt so far.

1. If you don't start folding.. it's gonna start piling
the next thing you know, you'll run out of empty basket and you will start hearing questions like "Ibu, mana track bottom nurul?", "ibu, brief haziq dah nak kosong".

2. Folding clothes can be relaxing
take it as an art.. see how neat can you be or how high you can go without the clothes falling or better still, start practising thinking something else while doing it.. ha ha ha... i realize that i hate folding clothes while watching tv especially when i'm watching martha stewart. I just have to concentrate on all the detail. So, i'll do it when my kids are around. So i can do it while they watch tv.

3. It does not take long to clean the bathroom if you do it regularly
i tried using bicarb soda paste to clean between the tiles. It gives a very clean and fresh look. I don't clean the bathroom as often as my maid (my maid does it twice weekly) but cleaning it after the thorough scrub was easy. Just use a cloth to scrub the sink and the tiles and another piece of cloth for the toilet. Then i brush the toilet bowl as well as the floor. Wala!

4. A clean kitchen has a clean floor
I learn this from my neighbour next door. She makes sure that she cleans the kitchen immediately including the stove and the spill immediately. My auntie always cleans the utensils she uses while she is still cooking. The effect - you don't have everything piling up in the sink when you finish cooking. I used to put everything everywhere because when Neng was still around, she'd clean up everything. 4 years having a maid really spoilt me. He he he... Anyway, once the kitchen floor is clean, it gives a very good effect...

5. Assign your chores according to days
When i first quit my job, life was hell. The chores were unbelievable. Luckily my husband understands me well. I hated house chores a.k.a malas. But i gave myself a try and i watched a lot of helpful tv program; perfect housewife, scrubber, how clean is your house etc. Some of the tricks are from my sister (who claims that her house is not clean enough! ya right! Try harder kaklong! show off!)

Trust me.. housekeeping takes more than common sense. I know some will disagree totally but it can be learnt and made into habits.

I learnt through the hard way. I'm not perfect still. My house is still messy but i'm improving. So, Monday is laundry and guest room cleaning day, tuesday is school uniform washing day and folding yesterday's laundry, wednesday is dusting, mopping ground floor kitchen scrubbing and ironing day, thursday is playroom cleaning (so that the playroom is clean and tidy for the kids during the weekend, and mopping day (1st floor), friday is my free day!!! I love friday!!

But then, i'm still flexible with myself. There are times that i get bored and feel like window shopping or swimming. I'll just do it. i don't think anyone should get stressed over house chores. You have to be happy and able to manage your stress. Appreciate yourself and give some time for yourself. Train your kids to appreciate you and appreciate your kids for appreciating you. I love it when my kids come home and go waa and wooo seeing the room being cleaned or the floor being mopped or even small things like a polished table..

Housekeeping in Action

A week break is over

Can't believe that school break is over... I had a long break but it seems too short... Azly's being away from Sunday to Wednesday really tested us as a family. My back pain somehow is a blessing in disguise.. I felt helpless knowing that Azly was in Sarawak, Linda was in Bali, Kak Yana was in Terengganu. At least I have Suri on stand by. Telling my parents would definitely make them jumpy and panicky (Of course they could smell me.. what was i thinking? They were here to fetch me in no time)

However, what I fail to see was my sweet 4 kids eagerly waiting to help me...

Naufal was the earliest on duty, he would be the first to rub my back since i could not move as soon as i wake up, nurul helped preparing things to cook, haziq at least behaved like he was 2 years older than his age and irfan would help sorting his toys and stopped nursing for a while. It was perfect!

The house was not presentable but it was beautiful in my eyes. They washed and dried the laundry. They took turn taking care of me. Naufal was the chef, preparing omellette and burger for the rest of us. I couldnt help feeling bloated for having so many plain water served by them from time to time. I think it was more than the 8 glasses required each day.

While haziq and irfan were sleeping, nurul and naufal were busy piping butter cream into their cupcakes (that they made earlier). Haziq was more than pleased to eat the colourful cuppies. Even i could not resist their work of art.

My back still hurts but then, i gave me a wake up call. I still think that i can do a better job as a mom. Looking at them when i was lying down most of the time makes me wonder.. do i see them as individuals with different strength and ability with tonnes of potential waiting to be tapped or do i just see them as only children.

A week break is over