PB had been using his old model phone for like 5 yrs now, the phone still works.. but the face plate, well, lets just say.. it doesn’t wanna come on when it should.. and the battery don’t last too, too long either. His old model was a Samsung .. but like any responsible adult.. one don’t just go out and buy stuff .. when you want to.. or feel a need for change. Well, unless of course you are rich lah.. muahahha!! which we are not… although some may think otherwise.. but really we are NOT..! Anyhow, he was looking to change his old model and was looking at the many cell phones they have at Rogers (local phone shop here).

And since we know the manager of the store.. and he recommended this new Nokia model .. and it really didn’t cost PB a lot of money .. just a contract of 3 yrs which is the norm here.. but we figured there is no harm.. because we’ve always had this # even before i came to Canada. So how do i feel about his new cellphone..?? it’s a cellphone .. muahahhaha!! these days.. beside my laptop.. the rest .. well, you can say .. i only use them when absolutely necessary.

I’ve often wonder how some parents would allow their young kids to roam the streets on their own. I’ve often wonder .. what these kids are gonna grow up to be. I’ve also often wonder if putting chloe in this school is the right decision but having said that.. we really had no choice.. because it’s zone accordingly, there are no free directories, like in other parts of Canada.. where you can send your kids to a private school if you can afford it.

As a parent, I sometimes wonder - how does these kids survive ..?? how do these parents do it..?? Very often, i hear of parents going out for the nite.. and having a party.. with just about anyone coming to their homes. Yes, I’ll have to admit .. i’m not that popular .. neither is PB. We have very little friends.. and we like it this way. Why..?? mostly, it’s because we are very busy.. and secondly, the investing on the time can be very stressful at times.

As parents, we want our kids to be in the “good crowd” .. but is there a “good” crowd..?? Even the doctor’s kids can bully another doctor’s kid in high school - according to reliable sources. So how do one protect your kids..?? you can’t be with them 24hrs a day.. they have to go to school right..?? Something came to our attention last week about Chloe and one of her school mate - lets just said.. kids can be evil too. As parents, creating awareness is very important. As parents, it’s utmost important to listen to your kids and spend time daily to chat with him or her. It is very important to be there for him or her.. when they need you.

I’m glad that i’m spending more time with Chloe these days.. else i may not have found out what happened of late at school. Of course, as a parent, i do not wish this upon anyone.. therefore, I’m telling all parents out there.. that there are some kids who comes from “different” type of family, therefore, it’s important for you to be vigilant, it’s important that as parents.. we have to open our eyes and ears.. and gently bring across awareness. Working and gaming is important.. but nothing is more important then your kids, should anything happened to your kids.. and you could have prevented it.. by spending less time at work.. and gaming, you would lived to regret it. So dads .. who are into gaming.. spend more time with your kids.. and less them on the computer or console systems.. and moms.. less facebook.. and more time with your kids too. Don’t lived to regret it.. because they are only this age once.

Halloween 2009 was certainly different.. and *slap forehead* .. why i didn’t think of doing Halloween with my daughter.. i don’t even understand it. Every year since Chloe had been doing Halloween, it was her daddy who would drive them around.. and her babysitter would bring her trick a’ treating. But you see .. when we brought her for her rounds this year.. i wouldn’t wanna missed it ever again. The glee.. the smile.. and the joy in her face was priceless. Making money is important.. but spending special moments like these are more important.. because she isn’t gonna be 5.5 for very long.. it only comes once. So even though we were trying to buy a walk in bath by making a few extra bucks online - this is a lot more important.

She now runs up the door .. while PB and I stand back .. and watch her go .. “trick a treat!! ” and then she would say.. ” thank you !” “Happy Halloween!” Too cute to watch.. and so proud of her.

Another door and another house - i don’t think she was really interested in the candies.. i think she had so much fun .. just knocking on doors.. and saying .. “trick a treat!” .. hahahha!!

We went by to Uncle Jerry’s .. and then to Tubby’s .. and Dominic’s but he wasn’t home.. so we went across to Sarah’s .. and had fun there for a bit.

Some of the houses were decorated really good.. and the people were friendly .. and welcome the kids with open arms. You can see that not all that went trick a treating.. were kids.. some were adults as well.

House with huge eyeballs were the one that was the best dressed. And the nice lady - the owner of the house was very nice and welcoming.

Oh.. and we had to go out and buy another halloween costume for her.. because the one grammie sent back .. still smelled of smoke.. the day before Halloween. Poor Chloe.. was devastated and inconsolable till we went out to buy her a new costume.

And what did PB do.. during Halloween..?? stealing someone’s kid.. muahahhahah!!! Pinky is her nickname and she is tubby’s kid.

Yes..! she does..! today .. we were home late .. because of the Halloween Parade.. so we came home.. i gave her some leftover oranges.. from her lunch even though she said she wanted grapes. So she finished her oranges.. and told me.. “I have been waiting for my grapes you know? ” In which i replied.. “do you still want grapes..?? since you already have some oranges?” In which she replied .. ” yes…! i’ve been waiting patiently you know..?? i’m practicing patience you know..?” muahahah! With a kid like that.. who needs any best wrinkle cream anymore right..?

The other day .. we went to her old school’s playground.. and she made me go from one playground to another. You see there are 3 playgrounds there… and having walked from the store.. and running up the hill with her - i was so outta shape. In which she said.. “there’s a bench there, mommy. .. i promised you can sit and rest there” .. muahhahaha!!

So she had been practicing chinese language.. and the other day.. her daddy was being bad.. according to her.. and she said to him.. ” Mo tak Kwai eh leh.. !!” muahahahah!!! She is too funny right..?

So i’ve slowed down on my writing recently - due to unforeseen circumstances - but that’s alright coz’ i can do more stuff with Chloe and look for pet beds for my best g/f from home. You see buying it back home is pretty ex and they probably don’t have the same stuff.. so i am buying them for her here.. and then bringing it home with me.. next year.. when i go home for a visit. Anyhow, i also have more time to do more catch up on my reading .. and plan for more activities for Chloe, so the unforeseen event turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I’ve always believed in making the best outta any situation .. and staying positive at all cost is my motto, afterall, Chloe is my only daughter.. and i need to do what is best for her.. and the rest are secondary right..?

So i read that the Vitamin D can do a lifetime of health benefits for our kids..?? Chloe is already taking a vitamin E supplement because she doesn’t take a lot of vegies. So what does Vitamin D do..?? and how much do they need to build strong bones and help prevent serious health problems in the future..?? It looks like the vitamin D can deliver a wide range of benefits. It is said that vitamin D plays a role in the prevention of seious chronic illnesses .. such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes.. and multiple scleriosis, cancer, heart disease and mental health problems like depression .. and schizophrenia. And since i have diabetes.. and rumor has it.. that it will run in the family.. i have no choice.. but to keep abreast on stuff like that right..?? So yes..! i’m heading out to the pharmacy .. and getting some for Chloe. But i’m gonna check with the pharmacist and see how much a kid can take.. becuase i read that one shouldn’t take more than 1,000IU of it a day - plus don’t forget to tell the pharmacist what you kid’s diet is already.. this will help determine how much your kid is able to take. Overdosing your kid with vitamin D is not advisable .. because it can make your kid feel nausea and long period of overdosing can lead to kidney stones and damage to the heart, lungs and blood vessels.

We were invited by the Zhu’s for their son’s one month celebration tonite. We left at 7.30pm from the store.. and already there were a few ppl there. The Zhu’s are very popular ppl eh.. and we are indeed blessed to have them as friends. Jasmine on the far left.. is another friend’s daughter - she is definitely getting prettier each time i see her. It’s too bad we don’t see her as often. And Jessica - of course is so sweet.

I was so excited .. i forgot all about taking pictures of the food and my diet pill reviews .. hahahha!! to engross talking with everyone.. and watching the 3 gals play.

There is Mrs Zhu - Yen - and a friend/customer.. and Mrs Zhu looking very radiant. I salute this woman.. because she worked in the restaurant till the day .. she had her baby .. and all thru’ her labour.. she didn’t make a noise. Very tough lady!

Regular customer - Mike and his wife turned friends were also in the party of course. This couple is very sporting.. and very, very kind.

We had a feast..! got lobsters too..!!!! and roasted pork ribs.. and vegies with mushrooms.. noodles.. rice.. chicken, duck .. and other things too. It was pretty good.. but i already had dinner.. so i took a lil’ of everything. The dinner ended at 10pm.. but chloe was very happy .. running around with the other children.. and thankful for good friends, good food .. and good company.

For those who are not aware of this, I get a lot of questions about migrating to Canada - because of my expat blogger status. And truth be told, I wished they had this .. or i had found this forum.. before migrating to Canada - because I had a lot of questions too. Plus migrating and uprooting is not like doing your garage flooring, it’s a huge decision .. and you want to make this life altering plan right?

For those who are planning to migrate to Canada, please note that Canada’s winter is wicked. Love may conquer a lot of things but the weather is really, really something you have to think about. Your health issues and which part of Canada will you be residing. If you think that Canada has a job just waiting for you - then you are in for a shock because for Asians like myself, you are fighting with the rest of Canada to get the job they want to. Now if you speak french - that is a different thing altogether of course.

And for those planning on visiting your girlfriend or boyfriend this holiday season and you are traveling alone, make sure you have prove that you have enough money for your trip.. and also your name cards from your office. Why..?? because if custom deemed that you might overstay or cannot afford your stay in Canada.. they might turn you away and send you home on the next plane. Good luck..!

The weather still isn’t that bad for us here .. right now.. but come January and February.. where we are hit worst during the winter months that’s when everyone in Canada wants to get outta the cold .. for some warmth and sun. Like any smart women, we try to get the best vacation deal for the entire family. And what better deals than the All inclusive family vacations.

Lovely beaches and gourmet food and all kinds of water sports - stress free time for yourself and your entire family. Choose to have candle-light dinners for 2 .. or go with the entire family for bbqs and grills. They have so much to offer.. sometimes, i wished we had more time on the island. Check it out yourself.

I’ve had a busy week, from Chloe being sick.. and recovering.. and then getting sick again.. and afterwhich, I had to help with a friend’s delivery. So welcome.. Baby X - because his parents haven’t named him yet. Baby was delivered on the 17th Sept 2009 @ 1951hrs. I was all the way with his parents.. when he was being delivered. So there is gonna be another classroom furniture for him.. when he is older.. just like his sister.

Seeing his mother go into labour.. for more than 24hrs.. and then had to have a C- section.. after trying so hard.. reminded me of my own birth story.. but mine wasn’t as traumatic as his mother. His mother, Yen was truly a super - trooper .. and didn’t make one sound.. all thru’ those contractions. But baby was delivered healthy.. and he is such a handsome looking boy. Baby and mom was discharged today.. and i had to do some pharmacy run for them.. and finally they are home. Thank God..!! for a safe delivery.

She slept good last nite.. and woke up good.. and we even snuggled a bit on my bed.. before we got up to go to Macdonalds for breakfast.. but half way thru’ her pancakes.. she came down with a fever. Strange and worrisome - yes.. PB was sick since Tuesday.. but he is pretty much over it.. but hacking a lot.. and he stayed away from Chloe as much as possible. So this sudden outbreak of high fever.. really .. have me all worried now.

So we headed up to the emergency .. since the family doctor isn’t working today.. and the kid didn’t wanna go onto the exam table at the emergency room. We cajoled .. we teased.. we did everything.. to help her onto the exam table. Finally, we managed to persuade her onto the table.. and the doc took a quite look at her.. and send us home with some tylenol. Would be nice if they made some specially for kids .. the exam table I mean .. with toys and gadgets on the sides eh.. Maybe, some day someone would .. one can always hope.

Shocking..?? Agree with me..?? or you really think you are not yelling much..?? But once in a while we are all guilty of being the yelling mom .. or even dad - and in my case .. it’s the yelling mom .. and the grouchy dad. But having said all that.. donch beat yourself up.. if you feel right now.. that you had been yelling too much - afterall, we are all human. Yelling feels momentarily self relieving until of course the guilt sets in and then what..?? did the house, you or your child and your spouse restore any calm ..?? Not really .. in fact, sometimes the guilt is so bad, moms like me. .we try and make up for the yelling and what does it teach your kid..?? No prizes for guessing like when i do weight loss supplements reviews. Your kid will continue to not listen and your frustration builds… and you yell again.. and you try and make up to your kid and your spouse. Vicious cycle eh..?? VERY..!!

So we all know yelling is not right. nor does it work.. and yes. .i know you can’t help yourself.. but you can and believe me.. when I say you can.. you can. Why..?? because i’m the classic yelling mom example. There are much quieter ways to make ourselves heard and like always, you have to give your kid more credit .. then you think they deserve in the hearing dept. And yes, they have selective hearing.. but they also do hear you - whether they act on it.. or not is entirely what makes them feel good about themselves too.

Honestly, tell me .. would you listen to your yelling mom or dad..?? I come from an era of yelling moms… and i told myself.. i never wanna be this way with my daughter. Why..?? because when i have a problem.. or encounter any unhappiness.. i know i can never go to my mom.. because all she does is yell at me. Do you want your kid to be this way..?? never come to you ..?? To be cont’d…

So we were headed to check out some AED, when we realized that the Seafest parade was on - so we were stuck and had to wait for the parade to be over with before we headed out again. As usual.. the Seafest Parade was .. lets just say.. “ahem” and i wouldn’t have missed it.. if we had headed out earlier.

The attempt made by the owners of the floats were excellent.. but i guess with so little resources.. and so little support.. and a lame mentioned on the papers.. wasn’t worth our while to even attempt to do anything for the parade at all. But if everyone thought the same way as us.. i guess our kids would never know any better.

Like i said.. you gotta give them credit.. when credit is due.. they do try. But you and I know .. that the parades back home are way, way gorgeous than these. Maybe, one day, I can bring Chloe back during National Day to watch the floats.

The kids were cute.. but they must be hot and tired by then. The weather wasn’t the best this summer.

Pity those in this kinda costume eh.

Of course, the red hat ladies..!!

And Boston Pizza!

So we are back from our vacation, a short one .. but that was all the time we could afford. We didn’t go very far.. but we did a lot .. more than we had for the last 5 yrs. With your own businesses and a child.. and years of ex-employees that had the “me first” attitude.. there was just no way to go anywheres. This year, we had Katelynn who double up as a part time employee at the store.. and looked after the store.. while we were gone. Yes, she followed instructions to the tee .. and we had no problems with her manning the store.. for she is trustworthy. On top of it.. we had our good friend, Gary come see look.. and help Kate when it was busy - during the days we were gone. Grateful for good friends.. and finally a good employee - we are going for another short break in August before the summer ends. So while PB bought some golf training aids for himself, he bought me this handmade necklace. Love it..!! and he insisted on paying for it.. so i’m happy.

Chloe went for her orientation yesterday at her new school. The one that she is starting in .. this fall. It is nearer to our home.. and this time round, she wouldn’t be in French immersion. We didn’t have much success in the other school .. and because of that… not only is Chloe having a kind of a phobia with the previous school .. we are having it too. But like PB said.. we are not subjecting the kid to anymore traumatic experiences… like the ones she had last year and no more looking for best diet pills either for me… muahahahah!!! We feel extremely sad that the first school that Chloe went to, turned out this way but on the other hand.. one cannot lived in the past forever.. and learn to move on.

The orientation went a lot easier this year for us .. then it did last year. The anxiety was there.. but not as bad as last year. Chloe took the orientation like a champ… and impressed her new teachers.. as well as her principal. The principal came up to shake our hands.. and introduce herself.. and said to us that Chloe was absolutely lovely and cute. But this year .. we are also taking a step backwards.. and I’m trying not to be too enthusiastic as i was last year.. with Chloe previous school in terms of fund raising and so forth.

We asked Chloe at the end of orientation if she wanted to go to her new school.. she said yes.. because she loves Mrs H. The school has a no touch policy.. but we approached Mrs H.. that it is ok by us.. if chloe needed some hugging or touching.. we have no problem with it at all. Mrs H. is like a grandmother .. and i have full trust in her. The hands off policy is good.. but in situation when the kid is this young.. i think we have to play by ear.. and go with what the kid needs. Last year.. at Chloe’s old school.. she was bawling her eyes out.. but they won’t even hold her hands.. to comfort her. Anyhow.. i’m pretty happy about what i’ve seen so far.. one can only hope for the best eh. Plus, Chloe wanted me to take pictures of her .. outside her school.. for her “Kai Mah” .. i’ll upload it later tonite.. i left it at home.. and didn’t bring my key.

The much dreaded yearly dental visit is here again. A year ago, about this time.. Chloe had her caps done in the hospital. They had to put her to sleep .. because she was so scared even to be sitting on the dentist chair. The same thing this year.. but it didn’t take as long this time.. since we did visit the dentist like a few months ago.. because a cap had fallen out.

She had some cleaning done.. and the dentist checked to see if that fallen cap was causing any trouble.. because they didn’t do anything about it the last time. But as you can see .. the dentist office quite the stylo-malo.. everything quite high tech .. for a small town like here. I bet he has a cell towers at home.. muahahhaha!!! In Canada .. dental care is taken care of by the government but only once a year, anything more.. you kinda have to pay on your own.. or get some kind of supplementary health care program.. like Blue Cross. So yes.. !! i bet Dr Leblanc is making lotsssss of money.. muahahahahha!!!

I am a mother for 5.5 yrs now. And I know being a mother is truly not easy but one that gives out unconditional love. Whatever I do, I do it for my kid first and I’m sure that alot of mommies out there are this way too. This generation of kids are the most blessed if I may say so.

I come from a generation where my mom thinks that boys are more important and that supporting me thru’ college was unnecessary. I don’t blame my mom for thinking and behaving this way .. because that was how she was brought up too. I grew up in a generation where my mom would search our entire house .. to find our diaries just to see what we were up too. I grew up in a generation where my mom said many harsh and vulgar words to me .. when i was growing up. I grew up with a mom who only wants to hear the good stuff and never the bad. And if anything went bad.. it had to be the “girls” fault. Many of you out there.. may have experience this kind of treatment .. because of our different culture . .and generation .. and our education background.

I grew up with a mom who thinks that the best thing a daughter can do is to marry someone rich, very young - so that she doesn’t need to take care of us anymore - not her problem anymore (her exact words). Do i hate my mom..?? nah.. ! But it sure taught me something.. that if i wanna have a kid.. than i must never treat her the way i was treated - as easy as buying a micro sd card. Pretty straight forward eh. I don’t hate my mom .. but please stop being stupid and stop asking me if my mom knows about my life in Canada nor had she made an attempt to contact me here or the other way around. Especially those who knows me .. and knows that I never talk about my family except this one in Canada (pb and chloe).

And to all good mommies out there.. Happy Mother’s Day.

I bought these rubber stamps for chloe to play with. But seriously, when i think of it.. i wonder if it is I .. ?? or it’s chloe’s fetish..??? hehehe!! truth be told.. i love hello kitty a lot .. but that was when i was a kid. At that time and age, I couldn’t afford to have stuff like Hello Kitty .. as my mum wasn’t one .. that would spend a lot of money on the gals (cultural thing). So whenever i see hello kitty stuff.. you know i’ll be buying for Chloe.. just because. The thing about giving your kid.. what you never had .. is true eh.

The lil’ brat started having the sniffles yesterday, and of course like any parent, we are on the red alert . .hoping she won’t get any temperature with her sniffles. The teacher in school was very encouraging and had said that with all the germs she is getting, she won’t have to fight it next fall, when she goes back to school. One can always hope eh..?? With Chloe sick so often .. since she started school, like any parents.. I don’t need to use weight loss pills to lose weight, worrying about her is enough to make me skip a meal or two.

I had PB’s tuxedo out for the hospital gala’s - a huge event here in our small town. As small business owners… and just about anyone living here, we feel that it is very important.. that we are involved in charitable work. But at the end of March.. yesterday ..we had snow on the ground.. !!!!!! *slap forehead* .. ! when is the warm coming..?? I promised myself to write this down.. so i know.. and wouldn’t hope too much for the sun.. and warm next year. The weather is crazy here.. one day warm.. and one day snow.. or raining. Suxs big time..!