Override my preference

A: Mama, where is your javelin?
M: It’s over here, what are you going to do Alfie?
A: I am going to change your Javelin colour
M: why?
A: I don’t like black, I like green
M: You don’t like black, why?
A: Because black is not nice, green is nice
M: ???

A quarrel with 3 years old boy

Alfie: Mama, can I have your “dompet”?
Mama: No Alfie, you cannot have my dompet
I grabbed the purse from Alfie’s hand
A: why?
M: Because it belongs to me
A (with upset tone): Mama, don’t do that, I don’t like this
M (angry): You don’t like what?
A: I don’t like this, I am going outside
M: Listen you cannot have my dompet
A: OK, I am going to buy one

Colorful Alwyn

Alfie and the Blue Gene

Happy 1st Birthday Alwyn!

Happy birthday, Dear Alwyn. Papa, Mama, and your brother Alfie are very grateful to have you with us for one year now. And no doubt, for many, many years to come.

As what happened to Alfie , now you've got four big teeth. You're still struggling to walk by yourself, but that's okay. Don't be too quick to run, 'cause you can't even walk properly yet. Remember when you fell? Yes, that's what you get if you're impatient.

But thank you for bringing yet another cheerful factor in the house. Yes, the house is now too small for us (when Papa told Mama to prepare a space for Aline -- that's the name for your future baby sister in Papa's imagination -- Mama looked at Papa as if he were crazy). But don't you worry. Alfie has been so kind to let you occupy Papa and Mama's bed. He has his own kingdom in the living room, just by the tv set.

Alwyn, sorry that some of your toys are actually Alfie's. Even some of your clothes were used by your brother some time ago. That's what people call the curse of the second child. You get used stuff. Of course not all of them are old. That Dinosaur t-shirt is new, so is the little submarine toy (that makes your brother envious). But, as we also keep telling your brother, share. You can borrow Alfie's toys, but you should also let him play with yours.

Once again, happy birthday.

Alfie's 3rd Birthday

Alfie was very happy and proud with his Ben10 cake.

His friends couldn't help to touch it :)

Happy birthday Alfie, may you always be a good and happy kid.

Alfie and Alwyn

Dynamic Duo

alwyn 8-month

10.5kg

Tangerang's ATV

"Ma, we're there already, stop the becak"
"Ugh, I'm trying... Can't stop it"
"What? Hit the brake, Ma! Hit the brake!"
"Huh? This thing's got a brake? Where's the damn brake?"
"Oh, Mama, you're a lousy driver..."

Advising disservice

"Papa, what's that? What are you doing?"
"Err, Papa is reading a ... friend's book"
"But, Papa, why are you writing and drawing on it? You're ruining it, Papa... I thought you didn't like me doing that to your book?"
"Ugh, this is different, Son. Papa is trying to help this guy. He's Papa's student"
"But, Papa, stop putting notes on his book! You're rude!"

Bagged

"Alfie, what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to put myself inside Papa's luggage"
"Why? It's way too small to contain you!"
"So buy him a bigger luggage, Mama. I want to go with him"
"Ssshh, here's a better solution, Son. Tell Papa not to go too frequently..."

Happy birthday, Mama

"Happy birthday, Mama"
"Oh, thanks, Alfie. That's very nice of you. Any gift for Mama?"
"Ah that, Mama. Sorry, Alfie doesn't have a job yet. Can't buy you stuff. How about a kiss, Ma? Here you go"

***

"By the way, Mama... How come Papa isn't here? It's your birthday!"
"Papa is at work abroad, Alfie. It's alright. He has sent Mama his wishes... "
"He'd better have, Mama... And ugh, is he getting me and Alwyn gifts?"
"You? It's Mama's birthday, not yours or Alwyn's, right?"
"I know, but I'm the kid here, no? ... "
"Er, OK, let's text Papa then..."

Fishing @ market

"Let's go, Alfie. It's our turn to do grocery this time. Mama stays home with Alwyn"
"What are we buying, Papa?"
"Hm, mainly fish, I guess? Mama said you need to eat lots of fish"
"Hey look, Papa. That fish is sleeping on ice. Ain't it cold?"

idol.jpg

"Papa, Mama, why do you guys love this American Idol thing so much?"
"Why, Alfie? You have problem with that?"
"No, I'm just curious. I thought those guys just learn to sing, you said? Why don't you just watch your music DVD and all?"
"Hehe, this is not just about singing, Alfie. We love the thrill, we even enjoy the bad singing. On top of all we love seeing how families and friends can be very supportive to their champ -- no matter how bad he or she sings..."
"Ah, that's complicated"
"Yes, but you will understand someday..."

good morning

"Papa, what time is it?"
"Seven thirty"
"Ah, are we going to Merlion?"
"Later in the afternoon. Now Papa has a meeting"
"Ah poor you. Then I'll go around with Mama. You enjoy your meeting, Papa"

Alfie @ Changi

Alrite, Mama. You said Singapore is cool. This is empty! Where are people?

Alfie's GM

No worries Bro, I'll give you some...

Alwyn's GM

Where's my noodle, Mbak?

Gong Xi Fa Chai 2560

Alfie asked for Angpao, he said: "Gong Xi Fa Chai, Angpao na lai"

Doctor Alwyn

"Alwyn, now you be the doctor, I the patient"
"Rararararararara...."
"No, you hold this thing and put it on my chest... You know, like Tante Dokter did to you..."
"Rararararararara..."
"Oh, what is so difficult, Alwyn? Hold it Doctor Alwyn, hold it!"
"Rararara... Rurururu?..."
"Oh you're hopeless... Mbak Tari, can you help him, please?"
"Alfie, be nice to your brother"

Econ of queuing

"Papa?"
"Yes?"
"Why are those motorists queuing?"
"They want to buy gasoline, Son"
"But why the long line?"
"Because there are more motorists and only fewer pumps"
"Why don't they just buy on street vendors? No queueing there"
"Because it's more expensive there"
"Oh, so price at station like this is too low?"
"Urg, yes. Maybe"

Alwyn 4.5 m

Alwyn, 4.5 months old, 8.5 kgs

Alfie's strict preference

"Alfie, what's your plan this weekend"
"You tell me, Papa. You're the one who drives"
"OK, pick one: golf or car?"
"Golf"
"Golf or swim?"
"Golf"
"Car or swim?"
"Ugh... Golf, Papa!"

Note: 'Golf' refers to that Putt-Putt minigolf at Senayan. You pay Rp 20,000 and you get one ball and a little stick. Then you can tell your kid to play as long as he or she likes. The trick is, avoid the last hole (that hole will take the ball back to the store, and you need to pay again to have another round). "Car" means the minicars in Timezone and the likes. "Swim" is, well, swimming.

Alfie and TV, cont'd

"Papa, come here"
"What's up, Son?"
"Look, fireworks and firecrackers everywhere... Wow, look at that!"
"Urgh, that's nothing like new year's party, Alfie. That's war. Those things exploding are bombs. They're dangerous. They kill people"
"What is ... war, Papa?"
"Ehm, something ... bad. It's when two groups of people fight each other..."
"Why do they fight, Papa? Barney and BJ and Baby Bop always say we are a happy family..."
"I don't know, Son... I don't know. But war is not good. Here. Let's stop the tv now OK? How about I read you that new dinosaurus book?"
"Let's just read the shinkansen book, Papa"
"OK"

Alfie and TV

"What are you watching, Fie?"
"Mr. Bean, Papa. This one is my favorite. He's playing golf"
"I thought you liked Barney"
"That too, Papa. But I'm a boy now. Let's save Barney for Alwyn, he's the baby"
"What else do you like?"
"Slam Dunk. It's a cool cartoon about basket ball, Papa"
"I see... So you're into sport, I guess?"
"I am, Papa. But music, too. You promise me piano, Papa"
"Urg, yes. We'll fix Mama's old piano. I hope you're OK with that. We can't buy a new one. Too expensive"
"That's OK, Papa. Now if you excuse me, I'm trying to watch tv here"
"Alritey, Boy. Make sure you stop right after this Mr. Bean; turn the TV off and go to bed. Deal?"
"Deal, Papa"

Embracing 2009

Friends and families, we are delighted to enter the new year of 2009. We wish you all the very best. May the upcoming year bring joy and happiness to you and your beloved.

As usual, a little reflection. The year 2008 has been wonderful. We did have one bad news early in the year, when Alfie was attacked by dengue fever and had to stay in the hospital for three days. Thanks God, he was recovered well, and actually after the hospital days, he has been picking up words and started to speak quite clearly. The best news of 2008 of course is Alwyn, the baby brother of Alfie. Alwyn was born in August 26, about a week after Alfie's second anniversary. As of now Alwyn is 8 kgs and 72 cms. So, after adjusting for time, he is a bit bigger than his brother. And boy, he cries louder too. Her nanny told us, though, that usually, the characters reverse when kids grow up; so expect a calmer Alwyn and a noisier Alfie, she went on.

A noisier Alfie? We're not sure. Because even now, he is already very, very active and talkative. His friends now has extended to Mr. Bean, McQueen from Cars, and Spiderman -- he still likes Barney, of course. He also loves to see people playing piano and golf -- and has tried both. This year, he had his first performance at school, singing and dancing that is.

Anna didn't do much traveling this year, due to pregnancy and Alwyn's birth. She only went to Bangalore for a week. Aco had some: London/Brighton, Paris, Bangkok (twice), Manila, and Amsterdam/Den Haag. In addition to that, he published four academic papers this year.

That's all, folks. Again, happy new year!

Let's go golfing

"Papa, how come you don't play golf?"
"Err, I don't know... Maybe it's not my thing..."
"What do you mean it's not your thing. This is like totally cool, Papa"
"Well... For one, it's expensive"
"But Nathan's papa said you could rent those things"
"I guess so... But it seems too tiring and time consuming"
"But you need exercise, Papa... Besides, you waste your non-working time for useless blogging... Go golfing, Papa"
"Ehm... Maybe it's not my thing, Son..."

Alfie and the snowmen

... But the snow ain't real, Papa...

Alfie's first performance

Happy new year everyone!

... And Alfie makes the headstart

Alwyn can't wait for the holiday season

Smoke gets in presentation

How often do you give a talk where at the same time is allowed to smoke? The last time I saw that happened was in a movie about Indonesian revolution. Today I find this ashtray sitting so nicely next to the microphone. Luckily the topic today has nothing to do with clean environment or climate change and all that...

Bumpy ride

"Hey, look, there's another hole!... Papa, why do we have so many holes on the street?"
"Because we're developing, Son. Holes are good sign"
"But why do they dig it again after they fix it, the street?"
"Ergh, because we're learning how to develop, Son. It's all trial and error..."

Mie ain't no food, Bu

"I think it's time now for Alfie to eat, Bu"

"Er, but he just ate mie. A bowl of noodle, all by himself"

"No, Bu, mie ain't no food, Bu... Alfie has to eat nasi, Bu. Now, that is food, rice..."