Happily Married..

Being married..

Almost 12 years now..*hopefully getting stronger each and everytime..*

and had been going out with him since 6 years before

Baby steps..if you're looking it from my parents', most of my aunts' and uncles', or my parents in law's point of view..

My respect for all of them..

Have been learning a lot from them..

Still am..

I can't say that I'm not the optimisstic type..

I just think myself as the realistic type..

I don't buy the princess who mets the prince and live happily ever after stuff..

That's kids' dream..

where everything has to have a happy ending..

In real life? You have to work for it..

It needs effort to get happiness..

and, it doesn't always ends happy..

But that's the art of it..

It's impossible to be happy all the time..

It won't be a special feeling anymore then..

Me, myself feel the happiest..after all the ups and downs, all the bumpy paths, rain, wether its a drizzle or storm, that I've got to get through..and it comes to a stop..

doesn't matter if the result is bad or good..

as long as you know that you have done your best,

that you have done everything that you can possibly do..

so, you don't look back in regrets..

that's what matters the most..

That's true happiness..

If it ended well, Thank God..

If it doesn't, Maybe it's not the end yet..continue trying, don't give up..

Just stay in God's path and believe in It..

You've been experiencing that all your life, haven't you?..

Well, don't you expect it to change to a different way when you get married..

Your spouse is one of the first new important aspect in your married life

So, he will also brings all the colors in your life now..bright and not so bright ones..

Not to mention, all the we-thought-small-stuffs that comes along with the fact that you're being married..

I know mine for 7 years, before we got married..

Of course, having to know him for 7 years in advance has it benefits..

For me, it definitely gives a whole lot information about him..attitudes, behaviour, habits..

I had never planned to change those..

as I said it before, it's just information..

IMHO, people can't change, they just compromise, they adapt, they tolerate..

and the older they get, with more experience in their life, they'll get wiser..

and hopefully they're able to compromise more, they're more adaptable, more tolerable..

but never change..

so, the moment I decided that he's the one that I'm going to spend my whole life with..

that's the moment I was willing to accept him, all the good and especially all the bad..

But still, everytime I thought I know everything about him *come on..7 years!!*,

he'll 'surprise' me.. in good ways..and not so good ones

Up until now..

OK.. So, hmm..actually what do you get from being married?

For me.. You'll get someone you can rely on, depend on..

You'll get someone you can share your thoughts to, someone who stands by you, someone who trusts you..

You'll get someone who loves you..

Even though sometime, he doesn't show it..

but you know, just by being there.. being responsible.. spending his whole life with you

and eventually..

You'll get your children..

they're the jewels in your life..

the ones responsible for you not falling apart in life..

the essence of your life..

You'll do everthing for them..

You're estatic when they're happy..

You're devastated when they're sad..

the best thing that ever happened in your life..

the reason that you're here..

So, don't sweat on the small unhappy parts..

concentrate on all the happy stuff..no matter how small it is..

Be greatfull, thankfull for all the simplest joy in life..

You'll live to be the happiest person in life..

A Proud Mom..

Last Sunday, is one of those days that I was really proud of my boys..

My husband always says, that my kids inherit my balance..

which is not a good thing.. Despite of sucking in all that involves balancing..

the simplest thing, that I get embarassed the most is.. my ability in riding a bicycle..

When I was younger, the age when you really wanted and started to learn how to ride a 2 wheeled bike, I wasn't that eager to do it..

I lean on my helping wheels, until it bent..

and when it was already bent, I stopped riding it..

Up until, it were my sisters' time to learn.. I was already in high school *OMG..*

My fear of falling from the bike had gone long time ago..

My embarassement out of doing something stupid

while I was learning doesn't matter at all..

So, those were all out of the way..

But still, that doesn't mean my balance became better..

I ended up, wobbly and couldn't ride slowly..*because it's easier to keep your balance when you're speeding..hihihi*..

and mainly, I couldn't make a turn..*What a disgrace..ck..ck..ck..hahaha*

Well, I thought..I didn't need to ride a bike anyway..

Until it's time my first son's time to learn how to ride a bike..

OK, Ayah..it's your responsibility to teach him!

But, you know dads..their time for the kids is not as much as mommies'..

So, my first kid learned it late as well..

Eventually, in the second grade, he's able to ride it, though he had his bike since he was in the first grade..

But, he's more into his skateboard..

so, I rarely see him ride his bike..

The same thing happened to my second son..

It also took him a year, to have the guts to ride his..

It was just a couple of days ago..*lol*

he's so motivated, because the twins has already able to ride a bike..

Luckily..the twins love to ride their 4 wheels bike since they're in playgroup..

A year later, the helping wheels are all bent..and didn't function.

and by that time, the youngest of them has been able to ride 2 wheeled..*YEAY!!*

the other one is still struggling with 1 bent helping wheel..but he's almost there..

So, well done with the kids..

They just have to smooth it up..

Well, my hubby has been in the biking mood for quite sometime now..

He rides together with his cousin every Saturday..

And they've been pushing me to come along..

No Way!!

And then, my brother in law had this brilliant idea to have his daughter's birthday party at Tony Jack's Thamrin on last Sunday..

But to get there, we had to ride our bikes from Senayan..

because Sunday, in Sudirman is car free day..

Perfect plan..

It's all set up..

with all the uniform t-shirt and buggies for the babies..everything..

Well, not a chance I'm joining that!!

I'm just going to meet them up there..by Trans Jakarta..

The kids were so anxious..

I was worried first, because of my doubt on their ability riding a bike.

and then..their mood along that long way..

to add that condition, we're 10 minutes late.. everyone had started before..

But, nothing's going to put my ass on a bike..

So, I walked behind them..

My husband up front..4 kids..and me, walking..

although, almost on 2/3 way the twins and Raihan lost hope..

and we ended up calling my mother in law's driver to pick us up..

But on the way back from Tony Jack's..

They got really excited, because they're able to start together with the others..

I offered them to ride the Trans Jakarta with me..

but they didn't want to..

They all rode their bike..

Only Tama, lost hope and rode on the back seat of his granny's..

The others, arrived safely..even Rizqi was one of the first to arrived..

For Raihan and Dika, they arrived the latest..

But everyone was very proud of them all..

Great Job Kids!! Proud of You All!!

For me..Off course!! Trans Jakarta..

Don't Worry??

Mommies worry..
That’s what we do best!!..lol..

We worry about everything, everytime, everywhere..
Some of us, shows it more often..
And the others, try not to show it as much..
Actually, I’m being forced to be the not to show it as much type..
You know..boys!!..Well, my boys.. with their pride as BOYS!!

We worry ever since they’re still in our womb..
Until forever..no limit..
*Hmm.. that explains all the wrinkles and grey hairs I’ve got..
And to think my kids are 10, 7, and 4s..
But yet..I’ve been worried for them all their life*

When I hadn’t got any children of my own..
It’s annoying, sometimes, when my mom worried..
But, ever since I’ve got my first child..
And she still does worries about us..
My sympathy especially goes for my mom..love you mom!!
and for all the mommies everywhere..


When I was pregnant..
Each and every 3 times of them..lol!
I try hard not to worry..
As the elderly says..that’s not good for the baby..
But, most of the time, I just can’t help it..
Even simple, small, ridiculous stuffs make me worry..
Most of them, are usually caused by my own thought..
“Oh..it’s so heavy..I wish, this will go away now..”
“Ah..how I wish I could sleep with my back up..”
“I didn’t plan this pregnancy..and now I’m pregnant with twins..”
And hundreds others complains..
But every time I was thinking those thought..
Astaghfirrullahalaziim…
Sorry baby, I love you baby..didn’t mean to think that..
And then, usually I call my obgyn or go directly there..
Lol..just to make sure they’re OK
And before I could reach my obgyn..
I’d go back and forth to the toilet..
Checking for any bleeding or anything..
Due to what I had just thought..
And pray..Sorry God!!..
The guilty feeling is indescribable..
The regret is overwhelming..

When they’re still reddish newborn babies..
Those were also nerve-wrecking moments..
If they sleep for a short period of time..
I worry..is he Ok
If they sleep for a longer period of time..
I also worry..isn’t he supposed to wake up now..
Is he warm enough..Is he freezing..
Did he drink enough..did he drink too much
Oh no, he can’t burp..
And hundreds and millions more nerve-wrecking moments..

When they’re going through all their first-time moments..
Their first step..
*Isn’t he supposed to walk by now..
Maybe there’s something wrong with his feet*
Their first word..
*Isn’t he old enough to say understandable words..
Maybe there’s something wrong with his tongue? *
Their first trip to the doctors..
*What if, he catch a disease from other patient..*
Their first trip to the mall..
*What if, he catch a disease from other people at the mall..*

Up until..
Their first day at kindergarten..
Their first day at playgroup..
Their first day at 1st grade..
Their first day at 2nd grade..
…..
Hahahahaha..
Practically it’s every year for every 4 children..
Is it ok to leave them..
What if they need me..
What if they left something home..
Are they going to be ok in their new school, new class, new teachers, new friends..
Endless..

When it comes to school, actually, it’s daily routine worries..
Are they going to eat their meal..
Can they do their exam..
Will they get in trouble with their friends..
Is the teacher going to be upset with them..
Are they going to be ok on the field trip..
Is the field trip bus safe..
Countless..

But to top all the worries I’ve been through, are..
When they’re sick…
We worry that much when they’re healthy..
Just imagine, how worry we are when they’re sick..
From a simple fall cut..
Bleeding head..
Bleeding nose..
Rash..
To
Fevers..
Bad flues..coughs
Diarrhea..
Light typhoid..
Oh My God..just thinking back to when I was worried at those moments..overwhelms me..

And..the greatest things that Mommies do are..
Always being strong..
Always being there for our kids..
Loving them..Unconditionally..

Love you boys..

Can You Spot The Differences..

The first thing, that people ask when they know that you have twins is..
What are their differences?

For me,
they're both very different..
Physically, their attitude, their character, their behavior,..
everything..
They're two very different persons..
They just happened to share the same exact birthday and womb..hahaha..

OK,
These are what people say..
Raihan's, my second son, version:
Tama's the cool one, Dika's the funny one
*yea right rai..very informative!!..hihihi*

My mom's version:
Dika's the one with the nose facing the audience..
*neneeeek...what does that supposed to mean..*

Dika's version:
I'm the one with the chicken pox scar under my left eye..
*very small one di...and it will go away...*

Tama's version:
I'm the one without any front teeth..
*you'll get new teeth eventually tam...*

My version:
Dika's the round-faced one
Tama's the oval-faced one..
*round..oval..what's the difference..huahahaha*

So,
can you tell,
Which one's Who?

The Twins' Stories..again!!

As a parent of 4..
I'm still amaze, how children pick things up very fast..
Everywhere..
School, teachers, parents, friends,..
and the wonder of them all..TV!!

I thought I'll be already getting used to it
when it comes to the twins..
as my last kids..
Well..nope..still amazes me..

My twins went to a bilingual Kindergarten
One day, when they were around 3..
I was checking on their ability to count..
I pointed to a picture of 5 monkeys..
And I asked them
"How many monkeys are there?"
And I counted out loud..
"Satu..Dua..Tiga..Empat..Lima"
"So..how many..?"
They looked puzzled, so I helped them by saying "Li.."
and was hoping they'll say "..ma"
But they didn't..

So, I thought..
Hmm..maybe that were too many..
Probably, I should start with a smaller number..
3..
I did the same process again..
Still they looked confused..

O..o.. I thought..
This is bad..
Aren't they supposed to learn this at school..
So, I was using this poster of numbers with animals representing them..
Still thinking..hmm, where should I start?..

And suddenly,
The next minute..
Almost together, they said..
"Ooo..this is Tiga..
I thought it was Three.."
Explaining among them,
"And this one is Lima..not Five"
Hehehe..silly me!!

The twins, like most kids their age..
love commercial..
They'll recite the things in the commercials..
again..and again..
There was this shampoo commercial, with a celebrity introducing them self
They loved this one..
"My name si Nicole.."
I corrected them and said "My name is Nicole"
Expertly they said..
"Aaah..Ibu salaah.."
"Ibu ga tau siiih..Itu bahasa Inggris!!"
Hihihi..thanks for the information kids..

Every night,
The twins always choose a book for me to read it to them
for their bedtime story..
One night,
When they were choosing a book..
One of them said, holding up a book..
"Buu..yang ini ya?"
But in a hurry, they added..
"Tapi bahasa Inggris lho bu..Ibu bisa gaa?"
Hahaha..I'll try my best kids!!

My Boys Opinions on Malin Kundang

OK..
I bet all of you know the classic story of Malin Kundang, right?
Especially.. all the mommies
Definitely.. all the padangnese mommies
...hahahaha..
It's a sure weapon
against children who doesn't listen to their mommies...hahaha..
at least..at first I thought it was..

This is the story..
Well, this is how I tell the story to my kids..
So, once upon a time..
Somewhere in a small village in West Sumatra..
Lived this boy named Malin Kundang
He lived with his dear mom..
They were very poor..
Although they don't live in luxury,
They had always have each other..
They loved each other very much..

One day,
Malin Kundang just can't stand it anymore..
He's tired of being poor..
He wanted to travel outside his village..
To see the world..
To be prosperous and rich..
Anything, out of his miserable poor life

So, he told his plan to his mom..
and ask for his mom's blessing..
His mom gave her blessings..
and pray that Malin
will find whatever he wanted
will always be safe on his journey
and will return back as a rich, prosperous man

So off Malin go..
Days, months, years gone by..
Malin's mom is getting older, tired, and often gets sick..
But her prayer still goes on and on..

Until one day,
Came a very big and luxurious ship
to that small, poor village
All the villagers huddled around the dock..
And to their surprise..
When the captain showed in front of them..
Standing high, young and handsome..
It was Malin Kundang..
the long lost boy who went for a long journey years and years ago..

Some of them, immediately ran to Malin's Mom's house..
Told the story in amazement to her..
and brought her to see it by herself..

When, finally she saw her son..
Her eyes were filled with happy tears..
Thank You, dear God !!
God has answered all her prayers..
And with all the strength in her that's left..
She ran towards him and hug her son..

But to her surprise,
Malin got really angry and shoved her away..
"How dare you, touch me with your dirty hand, old woman!"
Crying emotionally, she replied
"I'm your mom..don't you remember me?"
Malin looked away from her and say in disgust..
"I'm rich and handsome, you dirty, poor, old woman...
YOU ARE NOT MY MOM!!"
Between her tears, his Mom tried to convince Malin, again and again..
But Malin didn't want to listen..
He headed back to his ship
leaving her poor mom, begging on the ground
and sailed away..

She stood up, strugglingly
And said a prayer..
"Dear God, My own Son just did the biggest sin..
He rejected me as his mom,
insulted me,
and turned against me..
May he turn into STONE!!"

Suddenly, the winds start blowing harder..
a big storm was coming..
Malin's ship was in trouble..
Malin couldn't control it any longer..
and it crashed back right on the beach of his village..
and Malin was turned into STONE!!..
The End

Imagine telling that dramatic story..
With all the right intonation..
At night..
Before they go to bed..
Lights off..
Hahahahaha..

I told that story to My Oldest Son, Rizqi when he was 2
When he went to Air Manis Beach, the location of the so called Malin Kundang stone..
His immediate reaction was..
"His mom is not nice!! BAD MOM!!..turning her own son into stone!! She'll definitely go to hell!"

Hahahaha.., that wasn't the reaction I expected..
So, My Husband tried to tell it to my second son, Raihan..when he was about 4 years old..
My reason was..
maybe when I told Rizqi, he was too young..
maybe I didn't tell it the right way..
Raihan's reaction was..
First he froze, and mumbled "Poor Malin Kundang...Why did his mom do that?"

Hahahaha...wrong reaction again..
So, to this point..we realized that the story's not working..
They didn't get the moral of the story..at all!!

But, we just wanted to know the twins', Tama's and Dika's reaction..
It was just a couple of nights ago..
My Husband was in turn to put them to bed..
Their reaction were..
Running out of their room in horror..and scream
"Buuu, I want to sleep with you!!...Ayah is telling a scary story!!"
Hahahahaha...

Raihan's English

I started writing about my kids..
simply because,
there are just too many moments that are just too precious to be left undocumented

These are some of my favorites of Raihan's

Nowadays, Raihan is enjoying his English course a lot..
I can tell just by
the way he gets excited when it's the day to go to his course..
or,
the way he comes one and a half earlier than he supposed to..
but mostly,
by the way he tells stories about his lessons, friends, and teachers..

One night,
after he went to his course in the afternoon..
*by the way, I know that his teacher's got this British accent..^_^*
"Bu, how do you ask if want to know about someone's name?"
Suspiciously I answered,
"What's your name?"

Enthusiastically, he said
"WRONG!!"
With a winning smile, he said,
"That's not how you say it.."
Hmmm?...
"It's: Whot's your name.."
He said with his best effort of a British accent..
"Not: What's your name..It's O not A!!"
Hihihihi...

and more came along the way..like
"Bu, bahasa Inggrisnya kaca emang mirrah bu?"..(read: mirror..with your British accent..)
and..
"Write your name on the top of the peipah.."..(again, use your British accent reading: paper)

The closure was..
After watching this TV program on a British kids channel,
he went looking after me..
"Buuu, come on and watch Cbeebies!"
I went to see it, and didn't get what he wanted..
Quizzically, I looked at him..
"My English teacher talks like them.."
he explained, pointing to the TV
Hahahaha..