Make a Gingerbread House

Erin, my neighbour popped over and we made fake Gingerbread houses out of cardboard.


Mom traced the templates and cut out the cottage walls and roof. Get the templates from here

For the Gingerbread house construction frosting, you will need:


3 egg whites

1 pound icing sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cream of tartar


Mix all the ingredients and beat for 7-10mins at high speed until you get stiff peaks.



Mom didn't have brown cardboard, so we mix some coffee into 1/3 of the frosting to plaster the walls brown.

'Glue' all the walls together by squeezing the icing along the joints. See this page for instructions Step-by-step how to build gingerbread house walls.

TIP: Let the icing harden and the walls are firm before adding the roof.

Decorate with cereals, cookies, candy canes, smarties, etc. rule of thumb is anything edible.

Here's my finished gingerbread house
:

Visit to Good Samaritan Children's Home, Klang

Mom gathered my pre-loved toys and we took a trip to Klang to visit the Good Samaritan Children's Home. We were met by Mrs Ong who runs the orphanage together with her husband Pas. Ong. There are a total of 28 kids from age 1 to 17.

9 or them are under 6 years which my toys are suitable for. I saw a group primary age kids rehearsing a tambourine dance. The older teenagers work part time in a legal office for RM60 a month during the school holidays. Mrs Ong says some of them are orphans, some have parents or single mothers who don't care about them or the fathers have run off and the moms can't support them, some are brought in by the police, some are abandoned children. She needs between RM15-20K a month to support the kids and is solely dependant on public donations. Some months she has to call up friends to help and sometimes dig into her own savings.

I spent some time playing with the younger kids and even visited their bedrooms. 9 boys sleep in an average sized bedroom in double decker beds and on the floor while the girls' room are smaller housing 7 of them. In another even smaller room is Mrs Ong with the toddlers. Mom says I'm soooo lucky to have a small room of my own and I don't even use it. (still crashing into my parents' room)

I also saw many baskets of laundry upstairs. All along the wooden stairs rails were decorated with bits of red and green crepe paper giving the place a Christmassy feel. Mrs Ong said it was done by the kids. I distributed the Mandarins oranges we brought to all the kids.

All the kids were very well mannered and one of them, an Indian boy about 7 yrs old even asked me to come again when it was time to leave. He came to sit next to me on the swing.

Christmas Carollers at Aunty Doreen's

After dinner at Aunty Doreen's, the students Christmas Carollers came. They sang all my favorites - Away in a Manger, Frosty the Snowman, When a Child is Born and others. I sang Away in a Manger and O Christmas Tree to them. The carollers asked me to join them. no no no, when I'm older, maybe...

How to Build a Self-Designed Lego Train

I used parts of my Lego Holiday Train to build a lookalike of the Lionel Tinsel Town Express. Here's step-by-step how to build the bogey wheels:

Aunty Liza and Uncle Francis's Wedding Party

It was a Wedding Party with a difference! Held at Sunway Hotel's poolside, the theme was 'Riot of Colors' and most of the guests were dressed as such with the exception of Aunties Rebecca, Helen, Kathleen and Jennifer who were the 'Women in Black'. I had to change in the car as we came straight from attending the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra's Christmas Concert downtown KL where we had to dress 'appropriately'. We were early so I took a dip before the bride and groom marched in.

Aunty Liza's friends from Hong Kong and China besides US and Canada (Aunties Rebecca/Flisa) also attended the party and they will be off to Langkawi the following day to continue the celebrations.


Click above slideshow to view larger photos.

Christmas Train Rides in KL and PJ

Here's the dressed up Christmas 'Train' at Ikano Power Center - RM5 for a very short ride, just around the lobby area between Starbucks and Cold Storage.


Sunway's Christmas Train was better. At least it's on tracks. I got to drive it and it was cool to ring the bell! Mastercard holders get free rides or shoppers with RM100 spending or more.

Swim BBQ

To welcome my old playgroup friend Celine and Aunty Soo who came back from Sydney, Australia for the holidays, Mom organized a potluck BBQ. We played basketball, swam, learnt to use the skipping rope and fed mosquitoes, yuks. Pop n Aunty Sue Ann helped with the grilling, Mom played monkey with us at the pool while everyone else chatted and ate. Aunty Wai Han brought yummy satay and Aunty Sui's barbeque squid was BEST with her Thai seafood sauce, as voted by Aunty Juliana and Mom. Aunty Liz's rainbow trout was lovingly grilled to perfection and somehow 2 of them found their way to our kitchen that nite, hehehe.

Celine's got Aussie slang already after spending 1 year there. They will be leaving for Penang tomorrow and hopefully we'll get together again before they go back to Australia after Chinese New Year.

Click here to view or download photos.

2007 Hilton Trains

This year, I managed to witness the set-up. The layout and landscaping wasn't done by the same railroading professional as before. A competition was held amongst local colleges and the Taylor's College architecture students won the honor to put up the display at PJ Hilton. Instead of an overall Christmassy theme like the 2 years before which was more European, this time it's a mixture. From snowy mountains to a desert scene, from Pirates of the Carribean theme to local kampong scenes.

Was hoping that the Polar Express would be there as well but not to be :( I would've gladly loaned mine but it's HO scale while the Hilton trains are all G-scale models. Overall the layout appeared a bit messy and disjointed though but let's see how it looks after completion.

The trains will be on display at PJ Hilton lobby from 1st Dec 2007 till 7th Jan 2008. Here are some 'under construction' shots taken on 26th and 30th Nov:

Click to see bigger size photos.

Last year's layout - 2006 Hilton Trains

Birthday at Play n Learn, 1-Utama

This is the 2nd time I've had a birthday party at Play n Learn. Many of my King's Kids classmates and parents came including Aunty Sze Wei, my teacher.


That's me, Grand Aunty Doreen, Mom, Pop and Mama.



Or u can view or download full size photos at:
Linus's 5th Birthday Photos
Click 'Slideshow' to playback.

Vacation Bible Camp

Over 100 kids participated in the 3day Camp at SS2 Gospel and FRIM (Forest Reserve Institute Malaysia). They were split into 4 groups according to their ages - Simba(4-6), Tenpo ...what else?? Lots of games, craft, story telling in between teaching the kids about God. Exhausting but good fun.

A first time close-up for Pop n Mom observing me mingling with my King's Kids friends. Mom said "What happened to my baby...?"

Birthday at King's Kids

This is the last day of school so I'm having cake cutting earlier than my actual birthday on 26th. Although Mom n Pop couldn't attend, I had a wonderful time with my friends n teachers.


Jelly Cake from Madam Lee at Taman Desa 03-79804012.

King's Kids Concert Day!

Pop, Mom, Mama n Aunty Doreen came to my school's Concert. I was the Narrator and sang and dance with my friends. Pop was surprised I could sing in Chinese and Mom said she didn't knew I had 'rhythm'.

I'm crazy over Lego CT Workshop!

Too young, too little, fingers not strong enough ...... I was told by CT Workshop at Centerpoint when I was 3+ till now.

Finally, after the opening of CT Workshop in Bangsar Village, they let me join as there is a new program called the Apprentice Engineers' Workshop for kids Ages 4-6. The apprentice workshop uses Duplo while the Engineers' Workshop uses Lego Technics. Computer Literacy is part of the program as we need to follow the step by step instructions to collect the parts before fixing.

My Buggy turned 'Harvester'

Check it out at CT Workshop Bangsar Village

I got my Wizard's Pass on 2nd Nov. which is for unlimited visits during the school holidays so this will definitely be my favorite holiday hang out!

Dear Santa, my Wish for Christmas is....

Lego Factory Hobby Train!




Mom downloaded Lego Digital Designer for me and now I can get step by step designs for 30 trains and coaches.

Without Lego Factory I can't build the exact models but here's what I did with some parts from my Lego Holiday Train:

Sabah Steam Train - The Vulcan

This is the last and only steam train in Malaysia that is still in operation. The Vulcan, built in 1954 is a 2-6-2 British Vulcan steam locomotive. It is also one of the only functional wood-burners left in the world.

Mom planned this trip to Sabah hoping that I could get a ride on the Vulcan but it is currently under renovation. Fortunately we were given permission to visit the Tanjong Aru Station where the renovation works are being carried out and it was definitely the highlight of the Sabah trip.

Here's Jayden, Tyler and I exploring the train yard:


You can read more about the Vulcan at the North Borneo Railway site





Sutera Harbour Resort and visit to the islands.

WARNING - RECALL For Thomas Trains made in China!!

THERE IS A RECALL FOR WOODEN THOMAS TOYS!!!!!
Announced today, RC2 wooden thomas toys, primarily red ones
Consumers Product Safety Commission press release,
read more....

Apparently, these wooden Thomas and Friends trains were painted with toxic lead paint and sold between January 2005 through June 2007.

So, buddies please check if yours is from China!!!

Children's Lazy Eye Check by Orthoptist in Kuala Lumpur

Sometime back (12.4.07), Mom took me for an eye check after a friend made a passing remark that I may have 'lazy eye' syndrome. This is probably the only place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia you can get to consult an Orthoptist, an expert in checking vision and eye alignment, and treats eye turns (squints) and other binocular vision anomalies - K. C. Chu Orthoptic



read more | digg story

How to Play like Her? And Him?

WoW! Mom showed me these video of fantastic kids playing the keyboard. Will I play like them one day??

Teddy Stallard Movie

Mom said this is a good movie to watch:

Teddy Stallard Movie

Please comment.

My Hamster Babies!

My hamsters Federick and Fiona had 4 babies early this morning! 3 of them brown and 1 was blackish. Haven't thought what names to give them. Any suggestions?







BTW, had to postpone my Book Sale cos down with fever. Hope to see some customers next week... :)

My 1st Book SALE!

Hi Buddies

Come and visit my store on Tuesday 8th, 7pm (after swimming class) where I will be selling my 'Pre-loved' books. Most are suitable for ages 0-3 years. Prices between 50sen and rm4.

Here are some in this photo:


Looking forward to doing business with you!

Linus

PS: Oh ya, forgot to mention that you should only bring 50sen coins or rm1 notes cos Mom hasn't taught me how to count BIGGER money yet.

King's Kids SPCA Field Trip

My pre-school organized a field trip to visit the Ampang SPCA. I brought a collar and some pet snacks.

No photos of the trip cos Mom didn't come along. Here are some of my new friends at K3, waiting for transport.

Qing Qing's Birthday

My golfing buddy, Qing Qing celebrated her 6th birthday party at Kidzsport 1-Utama. Here's the card Mom made for her:



Click to play this video:

Qing Qing's cake:

Pop's Birthday

2 cakes this year for Pop - one complimentary from Rennaisance and Aunty Doreen made mocha tart.


Mom simply taro Oxtail Stew with our new pressure cooker (Ichiban). It turned out alright and we had a yummy home dinner.


Lunch with Pop at Mediterranean Marche, Rennaisance Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Aunty Doreen

Dinner at Aunty Doreen's with cousins Melissa and Melanie from Ipoh.

Cycling with Mom

Pop got a new bike for Mom so that she can go cycling with me at our apartment park and the nearby Kelana Jaya Lake Park. It's big enough for Mom's big bum :)

Sushi Train in Klang!

OMG a Sushi Train in lazy Klang, Malaysia! Thanks Aunty Sue Ann for your recommendation and great directions.


The is a replica of the Diesel V52 901, among the most famous narrow gauge locomotives. It runs on G-scale tracks and pulled 11 flat-beds of sushi.

I was not told of this before Pop carried me into what has become my favorite restaurant in Malaysia!

You gotta go - the food is as good as the place. More photos....

No. 3 Jalan Istana, 43100 Klang, Selangor
Tel: 03-33736633



It's at AIA Building
Garden Business
Centre along the
main road leading
to the Klang palace.




















Ala carte sushi.

Cold Soba for me.

My mealtime pastime.

Tempura Udon Swim Lessons

Beginning 6th March, Erin, Jayden n I will have swimming lessons from Uncle Din every Tuesday at 5pm. After that we bathe and makan makan potluck at my home, then play and mess up my room.

Here are some pictures:







Mom said I used to swim very well when I was a baby but was put off by a 'swim lesson' by a professional when I was about 18 months old. Then Mom just let me muck around the pool till now.

Here a short video clip of Linus & Jayden lead around the pool by Uncle Din: