Embedding ourselves into the church community was one of the major adjustments we had to make as we continued our efforts to resettle back home in Malaysia. It wasn't difficult, since we'd been in Bandar Sunway Gospel Centre for a while (much longer for Agnes than Kevin) before we left. The very wonderful people in church made it all the more a pleasure to return. We had so much support from South Perth Uniting Church while in Perth, and it's no different back here. Jacynth enjoys her newfound friends and the myriad of activities organized, including carolling practice...
There's also a nice little crèche to go to when the kids need a little quiet time... or are making too much noise!
Not long after we returned from our travels around Malaysia, we were given a warm welcome home by fellow church members... who have become one of our main sources of parenting advice, since they've all been there and done that!
Sunday's School is now one of the highlights of Jacynth's week! And the older girls would now bring her upstairs for classes while daddy and mummy enjoy their morning tea after the service...
... not before she has a snack of her own too... Here, she was having rambutan for the first time.
There was one attempt to get back into a sporting routine, when we played badminton with Kevin's brother and sister-in-law... but it never took off, unfortunately, and we've never been back since.
It was a good workout, nevertheless, and an opportunity for a nice family photo!
One major decision we had to make was whether to make use of the free vaccination services provided by the government for Jaydon, or go to a private clinic, which would set us back by a few hundred ringgit each time. Of course, government clinics here have quite a bad reputation for being overcrowded and having incompetent staff. We went with the former; since we simply couldn't afford a private clinic! The contradictory statements given by different nurses regarding what vaccinations were given and what some of these vaccinations were for didn't help to allay our fears at all! But truth be told, it wasn't all that bad, and we've gone back each time for Jaydon's vaccinations. In stark contrast to Australian clinics, there is no briefing of the risks involved prior to the vaccinations.
Just like in Perth, the kids get free health checks too... the only difference being the much longer queues here!
One of the things we missed while we were in Perth... Bubba Gump Shrimp Co and the like...
Jacynth loving the fish in the pet shop
Agnes started freezing food to manage daily routines with the kids on top of laundry and other cleaning...
But we also very often tapau (better known as 'takeaways' in Perth) food such as nasi lemak which is very common for breakfast!
It was time to catch up with many old friends, and for Jacynth and Jaydon to meet new ones!
Jacynth here savouring her passionfruit, from Chris and Jane's very own plant!
The deluge of weddings never stopped, as if to make up for all the ones we missed while in Perth! This time, it was Kevin's cousin Joel, a pastor getting married to another pastor whom he met in seminary!
We were privileged to have our first set of visitors from Perth, Tom (Kevin's former colleague) and Louisa! We brought them to KLCC for a short walkabout and dinner...
Sometimes, it's nice just to be able to hang out at home with the kids...
Of course, it didn't last long... as we head back up North to Penang for Joel's wedding dinner. This time, Kevin's parents' home was ready. Jacynth could now drink her milk while enjoying the spectacular view from the 29th floor!
She could also play with her daddy's old toys, which are now more than 20 years old!
With a playground and swimming pool just downstairs, it's now one of her favourite destinations!
Kevin's aunt and uncle were here too for the wedding dinner...
One of Agnes' most daring feats... going shopping at The Big Bad Wolf (a book fair) with Jacynth and Jaydon (who was barely four months then, which was perfect as he slept through most of the trip) while Kevin was at work! This trip was made possible thanks to our uni friends Yuet Pei and Samuel, who offered to bring Agnes and the kids there.
It was December, and as Christmas approached, it was time to take out the Christmas tree from the store room...
We had early Christmas presents from Wilson and Janet... a baby monitor for Agnes which has turned out to be very useful, and a new mobile phone for Kevin!
Jacynth and Jaydon received a special present all the way from Perth too, thanks to Judy and Perry!
Pat brought Agnes and the kids out for shopping...
and Preeta visited again, which was great... Agnes needed all the help and company while Kevin was away at work!
More friends to catch up with during Christmas, as we attended Yew Leong and Ban's Christmas party... Jacynth was tasked to help with the gift exchange!
The plan was to celebrate Christmas in Singapore with Agnes' family... and this would be our last major trip before the semester began at Kevin's university, which would signal the beginning of lectures... he was of course busy preparing for them during the entire trip. On the way to Singapore, we dropped by Melaka for chicken rice balls...
The cousins meet again...
and had fun dancing together,
grooming...
...and Jacynth even got a chance to join Kate during her ballet class.
shopping in Orchard while Kevin toiled away at home
meeting Kevin's god-parents, who are also Singaporeans
water fun in Sentosa Island's Port of Lost Wonder
the various attempts to take photographs of the cousins
By the time Christmas was over, we had been back for two months and life was still as hectic as ever! But we can't deny that it has been great fun!
I was reading, and reading... and then it was Christmas! Quite a fair bit of blogging to catch up with huh? ;)
ReplyDeletehahahaha yah... title also says recalling 2nd month home ma.. ;)
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