He ain't heavy, he's my brother

Our cycling trip in East Coast recently had been very heartwarming.

With only 3 bikes left to rent, Fazli couldn't get his own.
So Faris came to his rescue. He came down from his bike, literally carried Fazli onto the bike, and painstakingly pushed his little brother around.




But Fazli's contentment was shortlived.

He started throwing tantrums, and that spurred Faris to come to his rescue...again.

This time, we placed Fazli on the small 'passenger seat' so that Faris didn't have to give up his bike again.

Although that slowed his ride down, Faris didn't complain.
He even made sure that Fazli's grip around his waist was securely tight. And everytime he sensed Fazli's grip loosening, he would grab hold of his little brother's hands.

That's just so Faris. As the eldest, he's always naturally protective over his younger siblings.

On one occassion, Sufi wandered off on her own, and we realized it only after hearing Faris's shouts. When we found them, Faris was crying. He said he cried because he knew he had to lose us to go after Sufi. So, when asked why he went after Sufi if he was scared himself, Faris said he had to cos if he didn't, Sufi would be all alone, and she couldn't shout loud enough for help...

As parents, we are thankful to God.

"Faris, when you read this one day, I just want you to know that pak and mak are very proud of you"

Cuzzens Special Part II

Another group of people I would like to introduce in this blog are my cousins-in-law. I'm inordinately fond of them and they ARE a force to be reckoned with. More like brothers and sisters to Hazrin, their closeness is irrefutable.

Hazrin once told me that Azfar is like the younger brother he never had ( to bully around, that is, hehe). But seriously, he loves Azfar like a brother. But who doesn't love Azfar? Everybody loves Azfar........ He's our children's favourite uncle Bob! He's witty, funny, talented and above all, interestingly unique. All I can say is that if you haven't met him yet, then you probably won't know what you're missing!

And Nur, Azfar's big sis, is another personality you may want to get to know better. She's also utterly witty, funny and intelligent (I think their parents brought them up really well.....). She has good looks to her credit, but I sometimes wonder if she even knows it! Easy going and friendly by nature, I warmed up to her the very first time we met. And the kidz simply adore her. Sometimes I think Hazrin and I took advantage of her love for the kidz and subjected her to much of the kidz endless whims and fancies. But she still showers them with attention and gifts, all obstacles notwithstanding.
Of late, she's been following her Abg Hazrin's footsteps - she's rock climbing too.
But guyz, if you think she's cool, too bad cos she's taken lar.....

Hana of the ever popular Izadnhana blog is another cousin of Hazrin's. We used to be college mates. So when I found out he was Hazrin's cousin, I was pleasantly surprised. She's pretty, witty and popular. Maybe she needs no introduction. Seems like everyone knows her! With a celebrity look to boot, she's still brimming with style even after becoming a mummy herself. Imagine the powerful combination of trendiness and motherliness!
And married to this fashion goddess is Izad. He's one interesting guy cos he doesn't talk much, but is warm and friendly nevertheless. I mean, how may quiet people out there can get away with being warm and friendly? And I've heard he's also one superdad.

Ming is Hazrin's chinese cousin, and he's also one great guy. Our children love him (and kidz are the best judges of human character). Handsome, intelligent and a man of principle, he's nothing less than a fine gentlemen. But oblivious of his wholesome appeal, he is always so non self-indulgent. I want my kidz to emulate these good qualities.

These are juz some of my new found cousins. It would be an injustice not to introduce all the other cousins, but I think that will have to wait till the next subsequent posts.

At the end of the day, all I want to say is that when people get married, they also get married to their spouse's family. I'm glad I married a great family.......

Cheacher Slack Day

The usual suspects turned up for our operation - cheacher slack day.
We've been together since our first year at NIE, and we meet up once in a while to catch up on things.
So what do cheachers do when they meet? They complain, rant and rave to destress and keep themselves sane.....But then again, doesn't everyone else, for that matter?















Bride to be (Wak), Tongkat Ali, The Last Boy Scout (Saiful)

Happy Cheacher Day 2006

The twins are celebrating their first teachers' day this year. Having 2 teachers in a class is no joke. It's bad enough that we have to get two of everything for the boys, now we also need to get 2 of everything for their teachers.

Strangely, the boys wanted to get for their teachers a necklace and a bag. Go figure! Somehow or another, Sham managed to psycho them into getting soap from Crabtree and Evelyn and a small wallet each for BOTH teachers.

The presents look so cute that Sham wishes she was a teacher, just for tomorrow and during the school holidays, then when term starts, she can go back to her own job.

Study Buddy part II

Told ya he's a loyal study buddy. Here's another one of those last minute 'die die must finish assignment' sessions.....Chico's there to make sure Hazrin doesn't fall asleep. But how to concentrate? Chico's too cute and distracting...

Last of the Finger Grabbers

I just realised that Fazli will be the last of the finger grabbers, much to Sham's relief. I can still remember how badly dependent he was on us, and how our fingers were always a source of comfort to him. Now he grabs it as and when he wants to, and even crisply says, 'Na nak!' when I offer him my finger. It won't be long till he is 'weaned' off this finger of mine. So I must enjoy it while it lasts... cos who knows when we'll get another finger grabber...

Cuzzens Special

A few days ago, I was surprisingly reconciled - thanx to Izadnhana's blog - to Lin, a long lost cousin whom I've always cherished. It was a very very wonderful experience , but more wonderful was the fact that she had grown up to be the woman I've always envisioned her to be - beautiful, articulate, intelligent, funny and so full of life.

So for the last 2 days, I had been busy blabbering to Hazrin about Lin, my other cousins, our childhood antics, and how his cousins are friends of my cousins and how my friends are cousins of his friends, and how his friends are friends of my friends.......you get the picture!

My enthusiasm was so unmistakably contagious that Hazrin got excited too, and suggested having a barbecue or a gathering of some sort.

So anyway, when we were young, we used to spend our school holidays together. Lin always had that quiet strength about her that made her very mature and composed, even by adults standards. Then there were Melati and Yaya who were the cheeky, crazy but mood enlightening ones, and then there was me, the wicked elder cousin who always subjected her younger cousins to her nonsensical ideas. Kak Yani, when she occassionally joined us - seeing that she lived so far away in woodlands - would most often than not, be the bullied one (So poor thing. She was probably just soft hearted, and not sensitive - as we thought her to be).
And the male cousins? Well, they were always the 'pengacau' and the spares.

The funny thing was that eventhough everyone was different, we made a great team cos we complemented one another. Hopefully, when we do gather again one day, we can still complement each other (although all of us have since grown up and gone our own separate ways) so that we can rekindle the spirit of, as Lin puts it, our good-old 'cousinship'

Study Buddy

Meet Chico, our 7th member of the family, and Hazrin's loyal study buddy.
He's so loyal a study buddy, he may just end up graduating with Honours too....Heheeh

Nak SKATEBOARD!!!!!

Skateboards are the twins' new craze now. They've been persistently bugging me to get them one each.
Problem is, they're a tad bit too small to pick up skateboarding just yet.
I've been relentlessly turning down their requests, but I wonder if my patience will last.

For one thing, I've been the only one refusing them......Cos everytime I needed Hazrin to back me up, all he could afford was a wicked grin.....
An avid skateboarder himself during his teenage years, he emphatized with the twins' interest. And that wicked grin was a testimony to his great desire to relive his younger days, and bond with his kidz in the way he knew best - Skateboarding!
He was seemingly flattered that the twinz have inherited his love for that sport, and was unadmittedly wishing that he could teach them (or show off, rather ) all the tricks of the trade, unperturbed by the fact that they may get hurt.

But then again, we've always brought our children up to be adventurous. Rock climbing, swimming, cycling, jungle trekking and other impromptu adventure outings have always occupied our weekends anyway, and getting hurt has been part and parcel of their growing up.

So maybe I should just let them have the boards..... Afterall, I know they will be in the hands of a professional.......

Sometimes I wonder why some creatures get to lay eggs, and mammals like us have to go through all those birthing woes. It would be neat to lay eggs......Then you wont have to worry about bursting water bags, contractions, endless pushings and breast engorgements.
All you have to do is wait for the egg to hatch.


And if hatching is a long time coming, daddy can always use his light saber......