Last day of 2012...

It has been a really fruitful 2012 for me. I left my job in BHP Billiton managing a team of six to managing a household.

We came to Stavanger Norway in February this year with four luggages. We settled in our new place in Sola.

Zac had many firsts this year. First time in school, first friends, toilet training, etc.

Zac started school in May 2012 in Miss Joe's class. His new friends were Aisha, Aurora, Henry, Kristian, Gilliam, Dylan, Hulia, just to name a few. He then went on to Miss Jen's class. His friends were Viet, Ishan, Erick, Carlijne, Pearl, Arnav, just to name a few too. He fully mastered toilet training in less than 2 weeks transitioning from diapers to undies. He drank from a cup, experienced his first snowfall, went down the toboggan himself, played with sparklers, painted, all his firsts. He also stopped using the milk bottle this year. It's been a year of developments for Zac. Learning lyrics for new songs like never give up, heartstrings korean song, etc etc. he has really progressed from a little toddler to a little boy now.

Bro got married this year to Elaine too. So we were back for the wedding. Stayed on and caught up with many people this time. Bought a house for dad and mum. It's really exciting.

Dad and mum came to Norway for 1.5 months too. Went fishing, and mostly stated home played games and watched drama serials.

We took a trip to London with dad and mum and did heaps there. Enjoyed our travels there and this would be another memory ill cherish forever.

Dave, Zac and I went on adventures to Oslo, Kristiansand, Amsterdam, Fogn and Alicante. Didn't do enough travels I reckon, but it has been good. We have been blessed greatly.

Dave and I also sat for our driving test and got our lifetime driving licenses. Nerve wrecking taking a test after driving for so many years.

Unfortunately this year the baby dust did not trickle on us. So hoping that it will happen next year.

All in all it has been a great 2012. I'm looking forward to another year of excitement, happiness, joy, laughter and everything positive in 2013!

Pictures of Zac ushering the new year with sparklers.

Alicante, Spain in December 2012

A trip to sunny Alicante was really a treat away from snowy Stavanger.

We went to the Santa Barbara Castle, Postiguet Beach, Saint Nicholas Cathedral and Guadalest.

Guadalest is beautiful! The castle has lots of history from the 1500s. Probably missed a lot of the story behind the building due to everything being Spanish. But all in all it was awesome!

Enjoyed the views from the Santa Barbara Castle too. The climb up was pretty tiring and scary, but the view looking down to the beach and the town if Alicante is fabulous!

The cathedral looks pretty plain from the outside, but the inside is awesome. You can smell 'historic' scent of the ancient building as soon as you walk in. As it is a place of worship, I decided to respect it and not take any pictures.

Postiguet beach is beautiful. Managed to dip our feet into the Mediterranean Sea. It was a bit too cold to swim though. We were the only ones near the water.

Shopping was cool. I would say way way way better than Stavanger. Bought a few tops and pants. Eating was also a highlight for me. The paella, oh so good! Tapas were good too. Managed to sneak in KFC which I can't find in Stavanger and also Macdonalds.

Would I go again? I probably would after all other destinations have been exhausted.

Third Birthday

We celebrated Zac's third birthday on Anne's birthday this year. 11.11.12.

Arnav, Erick and Vanessa came along with their parents, Rajna, Akash, Gabriella, Gareth, Joyce and Chevy.

Zac was happy initially until his toys were moved, board cleaned out and etc. Maybe he was also grumpy because we woke him up from his afternoon nap. But overall I'm sure he had loads of fun. The joy when he saw Erick is priceless! Both jumping up and down. Zac finally pulled Erick into the house. When Arnav arrived, he was jumping outside the house waiting to get in. I'm sure he had fun too. Vanessa was very well behaved and gentle. Happy that they came to celebrate Zac's 3rd birthday with him in this foreign land - Norway.

I'm glad to have organized his birthday party this year. A resolution I have is to organise a party for him every year until he becomes a teenager or until he requests not to have one with his friends.

I love my little champ to bits!

Zac is turning 3

Time really flies...my little darling is turning 3 soon. He's fast becoming a little man.

He holds a conversation really well now and also passes cheeky comments that brighten up my day. I'm already missing him being a little dependent boy as he is so independent now.

He is still giving Dave and I heaps of kisses, classifying them as big, small, pokpok and woodpecker kisses. I hope this will not end for a very long time.

I love my boy to bits!

Pic - Zac taking an afternoon nap

Zac's first dental appointment - 5/11/2012

Zac went for his first dental appointment yesterday. The dentist said his teeth are good and he's got 20 in total.

He didn't want to sit on the chair himself, so I had to sit on the chair and he sat on me. After the checkup, he got to choose a toy from the box. What did he choose? The mirror equipment that dentists use! Does he want to be a dentist I asked. He said no. He wants to be an engineer.

Clinic again...

I'm at the clinic again. After the blood test the other day, my left arm got bruised really bad. Sleeping at night is painful for me. Worse when it's cold.

Hopefully it's not some infection. It's been about a week now.

Dave and Zac are here with me. Zacs playing Lego with daddy and I'm here blogging.

Hopefully nothing and my arm gets well soon...

First play date

Today's the first day after daylight savings ended.

Dave woke me up at 10am but I looked at my phone and said it was only 9am. So I slept on for half hour more. Realized that it was correct. :D

We came to Leo's Lekeland again today. Zac's first play date with Viet. It's funny watching them play together. They shared food too like a picnic. Down the slides together and cycling together. I'm sure Zac will sleep well tonight!

Dave's going offshore and I'm sad. All alone here. Sigh. But absence makes the heart grow fonder. Time will fly by really fast.

Snowing today

It's autumn but it has started snowing really hard.

This morning, after dropping Zac and Dave off, driving home myself, the song Autumn Leaves came to my mind. It was one of my music exam pieces. The leaves flying everywhere gave me a very nostalgic feeling.

Now looking out of the window, snowflakes are dropping from the sky...I'm sure next time when I see snowfall again, I'll reminisce the time I'm here in Norway.

Picture not that clear, but next time when I look back at this post, ill remember the feeling for sure when I see the picture.

Earlier today

Zac got up at 630am today and we are ready way ahead of time today.

He's watching his favorite Thomas sing along on YouTube. (Photo)

Life has been rather tiring lately. Perhaps it's due to the emptiness I feel when I'm home alone. It's pretty meaningless at the moment. The mad rush in the morning and then the deadness in the afternoon and then the rush in the evening. That's life I guess, but it's getting a little tiring for me.

Maybe it's just a phase I'm going through at the moment. Will I get through it? I think I can and I think I will.

Leo's Lekeland

Today is the last few days if the school holidays. We decided to bring Zac to the indoor playground.

This playground is huge. Even bigger than the one in Amsterdam. Check out the slide in the first pic.

Zacs having heaps of fun. I've just tag teamed Dave to bring him around. I already went on the slide with him for about 5 times.

Kids these days really have a lot of fun. They are very blessed and to a certain extent spoilt. Since when we had to pay to play at a playground? We played with things that are free. Hopscotch, rubber bands, erasers, five stones, plastistine, catching butterflies, etc.. That's why I said kids these days are to an extent spoilt. But spoilt or not, as parents, we always want the best for them and provide as best we can.

As long as we see the excitement in his face, we are happy too. Ill try to capture a shot of the little darling.

Hope it won't be too hard to leave today. :)

Haircut

Got a haircut today at Kvedt shopping center in Forus, Norway. It was pretty pricey for a normal haircut as such (680noks). It took me 1.5 hours to get my hair done.

After much discomfort on the chair, the outcome was not what I expected, but acceptable. I wanted something much shorter than this. Nevermind. Lesson learnt! Cut my hair whenever I'm back in Malaysia. Price and style guaranteed.

But, I can live with this. :)

Sketching...

Today is my first attempt in drawing Dave...but oh gosh...no where near looking like Dave. Instead looks more like the Korean actor Uhm Ki Joon...

Well, there's always a first time for everything. Hopefully the next will look more like Dave.

No sun...

Life in Norway is pretty much like that as per the photo. After the washer it's the dryer. Don't dream of hanging clothes out to dry. It will take forever!

It's been raining non stop since last night. I wonder what it'll be like in winter!

Looking forward to learning snowboarding though! For some reason! :)

Rainy day...

It's a rainy day today. Outside Dave's office waiting for him.

I'm in the mood to compose some songs today. Got a piece in my mind, but somehow when I play it, there's a loose connection somewhere. I hope I can find the connection tonight.

Zac is very good friends with Carlojne and everyday there's a saga between them. Kiss, hug, fight, snatch, cry, etc.. Unbelievable! Miss Jeanette says that there is something going on between those two. It's funny at the same time amazing that love, friendship, happiness, joy, sadness can be seen so clearly in merely two year olds.

Ahh, it's pelting down again. Feeling melancholic again...glad it's the weekend!

And there's Dave!

Home sweet home

Home is always best.

Only away for 5 days and the feeling when I stepped into the house is incredible! I'm a home person and often times feel home sick when I'm away.

Zac feels the same I guess. He's been smiling and active from the time we got home till now. He's definitely like mummy in this sense.

Dave's dived straight into his cycling on tv. I'm sure he's glad to be home too.

Dinner needs to be served soon but I'm feeling so lazy and tired.

Do I love travelling? Yes I do! But do I love to be home? Oh yeah! I do! Home's best!

Last day...

This is our last day in Amsterdam. Westcord Fashion Hotel is quite comfy to live in. The breakfast is pretty normal though. I've seen better.

Did I enjoy my holidays? I did. I'd love to come back again next time, but not so soon though...

Till we see you again Amsterdam...stay as you are...

Van Gogh Museum

Love it! Would love to come again when there's more time!

Stedelijk Restaurant...

My birthday lunch at the museum restaurant.

Picture is the view from where I'm seated.

Museums been great! Love the contemporary art works...next stop after lunch would be the Van Gogh museum...looking forward to that!

Marriott Amsterdam

Currently waiting for Dave in the hotel lobby.

It's my birthday today. It's been a very eventful year and I hope that the coming year would be even better.

We will be going to he river cruise which I'm looking forward to today. Hope it's good.

May all my wishes come true...

Tun Fun Amsterdam

Zac was jumping on the trampoline for ages! He must be super tired now...this is such a huge play center!

Hopefully we can come again sometime in the near future...coz Zac would love it when he's older...