Irfan Anaqi’s Cukur Rambut

“Cukur Rambut” is a malay traditional way of rite of passage for babies. Depending on the parent’s budget, the ceremony could be simple (in house) or very grand where they would go all out with decorations and stage just for the baby.

A group of men will carry out a “Marhaban” where they recite prayers throughout the ceremony for the baby even as the trimming of the hair commences.

13 March 2011 was the date for Irfan’s ceremony which was held at my BIL’s parent’s house in Woodlands.

Irfan in his traditional outfit, “jubah” and “kopiah” as the ceremony had officially started. All is missing was prayer beads. =P

With his mommy who finds Irfan so cute in photos that she kept hogging and giggling at the camera and showing off to everyone. Hehehe

I love it that they look so complete in this picture.

And then time for Irfan’s first haircut. Irfan was doing great throughout, he didn’t cry or squirmed. He just gripped his grandfather’s shirt, looked around and listened to the thunderous but melodic prayers booming for him.

Snip-snip and he is done while the “Marhaban” continues.

Door gift for guests and bowl of water with Irfan’s hair trimmings.

After 3 hours, the ceremony ended and it’s time for guests to eat. Initially I thought, it would end there and then but turned out there were MANY late comers but Fizah told me is was normal. They just came to see the baby, not the actual event. =/

We spent the entire day there, exhausted especially mom but I think it was a nice and humble ceremony.

Post Note: Almost EVERYONE could not figure out that my sis is Irfan’s mother or Abg Awil’s wife. I don’t know it is a good thing or not. I mean, how does Abg Awil’s wife suppose to look like? Perhaps she should’ve worn a name tag or something. Tee hee!

   

Gaming Vs Vanity

Whenever Jhon wants to go to a gaming shop, I will always dread it. There were times I tell him that I don’t want to enter the shop and wait outside. It is not because I am not interested in video games, it was because the fact that I am crazy about them.

I am a fanatic gamer.

I don’t play hardcore games like World of Warcraft or Diablo but more light hearted action games like Dynasty Warriors etc.

The hardcore part is not the game but more to my self control. When I like a game, I will play it for hours. Many years back, I can play from 9am to 5am the next day, taking breaks just to eat and go to the toilet.

Not only that, I will play every character until it is at its maximum level and play the entire game countless of times again. I will dream and hear sounds of the game when I am not playing and when I talk to my school mates, I talk about the characters of the game.

I was young with high tolerance of body resistance and obviously don’t have much of a social life.

But those years has stopped since I grew older. Why?

Vanity

One thing, my body cannot keep up with the late nights because I am getting dark eye rings and eye bags. I hate it and as I got older, I was more self conscious about my looks. I had to control myself or stop.

The thing is, I can’t control myself. It was like an addiction so I had to refrain myself or play games that don’t require high commitment and vanity wins.

Until I bought this for my Wii a few weeks ago:

Guitar Hero BAND SET

 Inclusive of Game, drum set, guitar and microphone. *bouncing off the walls*

It was just because I was accompanying Jhon researching for price of a driving controller for his Grand Turismo and have been going in and out of shops so I kind of got my eyes on it.

Yes, the fanatical playing has begun. I had played until my arms and upper tights hurt from constant playing of the drums, I even played the pedals when I sprained both of my ankles, I had started dreaming the wonderful red, yellow, blue, green, orange circles going down the screen.

The only reasons that I managed to “control” myself it was because I have boyfriend who is very hands on so we are always out for dates, the gaming TV is off limits when there is a must-watch soccer match and the fact that I have work the next weekday.

At this point it’s more of a tie.

No doubt I when I get to play, I play like a maniac but at least on other days, I still get my beauty sleep. I hope this lasts because once in a while, I still struggle controlling my gamer side.

   

Snow City

After so many years, I managed to go to Snow City at Jurong. Perhaps it is the acceptance of the fact that there is a high probability that I will never get to travel to a country where there is snow.

So "snow bedek pun jadi ah"

[Fake snow will do]

Thanks to Outlet.com.sg, I managed to get 40% off for the tickets and since we applied leave so that Jhon can renew his Philippine passport at the Philippine Embassy, we decided to go to Snowcity right after that.

The day really started shitty because when we reached there, the counter for renewal was closed and we found out that only 150 applicants are allowed everyday. -_-

Thankfully we had other plans so after breakfast and a quick detour in town, we headed to Jurong.

I was so excited okay? The kid in me came out again.

I knew the place was very small so I already warned Jhon to not expect too much like a theme park or something. I am just going there for the snow and 3 storey high slide.

And yup, it is small, it only consists of a snow chamber and big snowy slide at the side but as soon as I entered the place, I was estactic.

I can see my breath!!!

 I even made the corny joke and pretended that I am smoking. (obviously a non-smoker haha)

So we took several photos, I made believed that I built a snowman by adding snow on the plastic model and Jhon.

Pretended we have an igloo house.

Played with our pet polar bear.

I look so joyful but damn, the jacket makes me look chubby. haha

And went riding in a snowmobile.

This is my favourite picture, we look really good and happy!! Oh yeah, and look very rich. =P

Speaks in an English accent "Oh this is us in Aspen on our snowmobile"

Naturally, we went sliding and I was the only one at the entire place, laughing out loud and giggling as I went down while others showed their muted smiles. Boring ah! They made me look like a mad woman but I don't care because it was really that fun!

After I sled several more times, Jhon told me his ears and nose are getting too numb so we left the place for our free hot chocolate and collect our photos.

The place was small but we still had a wonderful time. All I can say is that just bring out the kid in you, enjoy the snow and company and you will have a blast.

   

Vampire Baby

Nom nom nom

Syihab biting on Irfan.

Syihab, who is my bro's 2nd son is super duper adorable can? I don't know if I think that way because I am his aunt but I really find him textbook cute! Plus, he smiles and laughs at anything and everything which makes everyone especially strangers love him more.

So currently his favorite thing to do besides grabbing everything thing in sight is "attack" and bite his elder brother, Shibly.

The other day my mom and sis allowed him to play with Irfan, my sis's son and naturally, he tried to bite with his gummy gums.

Suprisingly, Irfan didn't cry at all. Syihab was really "geram" so my mom placed Irfan on top of him. Eventually Syihab admitted defeat and cried. haha

So cuuuuuuuuteee!! *high pitched voice*

   

The Most Typical Face On The Planet

[credits to Yahoo! News]

National Geographic Magazine has released a video clip on the most typical face on the planet.

The video was very interesting and informative but I have to say, the results of the typical face is not at all surprising.

7 Billion: Are You Typical? — National Geographic Magazine @ Yahoo! Video

   

Stumbled Like A Giraffe On Ice

I bet I pretty much look like the giraffe in the picture. I sprained my right foot and failed while trying to stabilize myself with my left leg.

Struggling with left, right, left, right, left, right foot, ungracefully and at a semi-crowded coffee shop.

At least I didn’t fall down but I left the area with a hurt ankle and ego.

As soon as I reached home, I took a shower, applied ointment on my right ankle and strapped on my ankle support.

Unfortunately, the next day, my left ankle started to hurt too. Imagine trying to walk on 2 sprained ankles. Not fun at all.

On a better note, at least it is not swollen. I suppose it is just the nerves.

And no, I was not wearing heels. I am the kind of person who can sprain my ankle while barefooted.

Uhuh =(

   

Scrapbooking For A 3 Year Old Is Hard

One of my little nephews, Shibly who had started schooling at Al-Iman was assigned to contribute 2 pages for their class scrapbooking.

Their theme was activity with Reno Rabbit which is a stuffed doll.

It is just one of the activities he has to do and his parents were scratching their heads because 1) they are too busy with work to think 2) They couldn’t think of any ideas for the scrapbook.

That is where Jhon and I came in. After being complimented for being creative and crafty, we can’t help it but lend a hand. I am usually the one with the ideas and Jhon is the artist because he is obviously better at drawing than me.

My bro and kak yana has already printed out the photos of Shibly’s outing with Reno Rabbit and even bought high end scrapbooking materials. Hahaha Bro said he was just too tired and just grab and went.

After asking them background information on the assignment and asked for preferences on the artwork. Bro just said “Just don’t make it look sissy” and Kak Yana wanted the scrapbook to look fantastic because she saw the other kid’s work done by the parents has no effort in fact, one just printed out the whole thing.

With that, we came out with this.

5 people did this. Hahaha I made sure my bro and kak yana chipped in and we even made Shibly did something. It is after all, his project.

I was the consultant =p

Jhon was the “foreign talent” for drawing the carrots

Bro drafted the description, cutting and pasting the photographs

Kak Yana wrote the description

Shibly wrote his and Reno Rabbit’s name.

Okay lah hor? Shibly’s classmate had only 1 picture while he had 9 and everything was hand drawn and handwritten.

You have no idea the commotion created just for a simple scrapbook.