Weekend Getaway

Tomorrow my family and I are going up the mountains with other Muslims friends and families of ours. Can't wait to have some fun in the snow :D. We're going to Donner Lake in Truckee, CA. This is the cabin we going to stay for the weekend...will update more about the weekend getaway when I come back.

Here are some infos about Donner Lake : http://www.donner-lake.com/Dlhist1.htm

New Toy

Got Wii & Lego Star Wars game for my son for his birthday. Had to wait a week coz it was sold out everywhere. Really fun to play the games...now my arm & shoulder are sore.... :p. Need to get a 'Sport Resort & Fit' game next time.

Photoshoot

Last week, my friend invited my girl and I to her house for photoshoot. My friend is a pro photographer....I love her work. So, I brought my dslr with me too. It's kinda hard to capture this little girl's mood...hehe. Whenever my friend is not around...she'll pose what I ask her to do....when she's around...sometimes only she'll pose for her. By the time we wanted to go home only she started posing...yeah after 2 hrs we were there....hahaha. So, here are some pics that I took. Still learning the techniques, though ;).

7 years old

Feb 7, 2010 was my son's birthday. He turned 7 this year...time flies so fast. I can't believe he's already 7....felt like I just delivered him last nite. Dear Abang (that's what we call him), mommy, daddy and adik loves you very very much. Happy 7th Birthday, my darling! :)

Transformers cake

birthday boy

with his school friends

Bag

Here is my latest sewing project. It was my 1st attempt making this bag....so, it took me about 5 weeks to complete it. Hopefully my 2nd attempt will be easy and quick :D. Love this bag coz I can put everything inside....we (girls & moms) loves to carry all sort of things.... :p

Reminder To Parents

When you thought I wasn't looking........

By: A Child
Courtesy: Muslim Bhanji

A message every parent should read, because your children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

"When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night and I felt loved and safe.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

Earthquake

Last week on Jan 7 & 8, I felt an earthquake near my home. It happened at Calaveras fault line in Milpitas, CA...it's about 20 miles away from my home. The magnitude 4.1 quake (1st day) & 3.8 quake (2nd day). Although it wasn't strong but I can still feel the movement inside my house. Alhamdulillah there were no damage inside or near my place.

On Tuesday, Jan 12....a major earthquake struck southern Haiti, knocking down buildings and power lines and inflicting what its ambassador to the United States called a catastrophe for the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation. The magnitude 7.0 quake -- the most powerful to hit Haiti in a century -- struck shortly before 5 p.m. and was centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

A man looks for a body among hundreds of earthquake victims

a poor neighborhood shows the damage after an earthquake

Dress-up Time

My girl loves going to school....alhamdulillah :). She loves playing play-doh, painting, do crafts, playing outdoor and her favorite is playing dress-up. This is what she will do when she's there.

My girl and her friends loves playing dress-up at school. Today, I caught them being cowgirls... :D They were soooo cute in those outfits.

Ruqayya was calling her brother on the play phone :p and so her friend Elly....she was calling her mom...hehe

Oakland Zoo

Last weekend we took the kids to the Oakland Zoo. It was our 1st time to that zoo...usually we go to San Jose or San Francisco Zoo. It's a very nice zoo coz not too big and too small. The kids had a great time there....we love the petting farm. They also have some rides for the kids next to the zoo entrance. My boy and hubby went on the roller coaster while my lil girl and I went on the carousel. Had a lovely weekend with the family :)

Snow 121109-121309

It has been 3 years we didn't go up the mountains to play with snow. So, last Dec '09 we went to Camp Sierra in Fresno for our 1st snow season. We had a blast time there with other friends that joined us for the weekend. The 1st day, we didn't do any sledding coz we lost 1 of the snow chain on the tire...didn't know it came off till my hubby stopped the van to examined it. Then by the time we got a new chain....the road already slippery due to the icy road and we couldn't go to the sno-park area. It was snowing all day till the next morning. Luckily the 2nd day the weather was beautiful and we had a great time sledding at the campsite and then before we went back home we stopped at the sno-park to play again. Can't wait to go again next month....

my lil girl on a sled

putting on the snow chains

Hello 2010

Wow it has been sooo long I didn't update my blog. Been very very very busy lately. Hope I'm not too late to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Hope you all had a wonderful NY with your loved ones.

To Go Bags

This is my 1st sewing project. I made a lunch and medium bag. Fabrics by Amy Butler. They are very pretty. I love Amy Butler, Alexander Henry and Micheal Miller fabrics. I love making bags...will do other type of bags in future. My dream now is to put my handmade bags on Etsy one day....InsyaAllah.

My 2nd project is coming soon. Will post once it's done :).

Click here to view these pictures larger

Camp Mendocino

Last Friday, my family and I went camping with other Muslims from the center that we always go to for prayers. This was our 7th Annual Camping trip. This year we went to Camp Mendocino. It's north of San Francisco and it's about 3 1/2 hours drive from my house. It was such a lovely camp ground. Besides the camp ground, it has a railroad track. The trains goes from Willits - Northspur - Fort Bragg. There's also a river where you can swim and kayaking. They had a photo contest and I won 3rd place :). We really enjoyed the camp. Can't wait to go again in September.

Field Trip

Yesterday, my son's class and other kindergartners class went to Hidden Villa Farm for their field trip. I went with them too coz I was their chaperone. At that farm, they have veges, fruits and herbs garden. They also have animals such as chickens, cows, goats, sheep and pinky. It was a great educational trip and they had lots of fun playing, learning, tasting veges and petting those animals.

The farm is open to public and they have lots of programs for kids and adults. Can view more about the farm here : http://www.hiddenvilla.org

2's Class

Yesterday was Ruqayya's last day of 2's class for year 2008/2009. She really had fun and every week she look forward to attend the class. I still remember the 1st time she attended the class. She was very shy and didn't want to talk to her teacher and play with other kids. Now, she loves to play, talk and not shy anymore. Thank you Ms. Mina for making the class so interesting and fun. Ruqayya and I will definitely miss her and the class.

Art time

her fav time was playing dress up :D

They had fun playing with water

Ruqayya & Ms. Mina

Spring Program

Yesterday, at my son's school they had a Spring Program. The school is not big...so, they can't do all the shows on the same day. My son's class had to sing 10 songs and also they had to memorize some lines given to them by their teachers. Very impressed and proud of them coz they can sing all 10 songs and memorized their lines by heart. Thanks to their teachers for making it great! Well done Ms. Reuwsaat and Mrs. Moulden!!

Got tag!

This award was given to me by Aishah...thanks.

Now, I'm not sure who to tag. Don't want to tag anybody bolehkan Aishah? Just wanna have fun.

Then I had to find the 6th pic in the 6th pic folder...so, I got this. This is my elder son. His name is Ali Ridha. He was 2 yrs 4 months when the pic was taken. It's our 1st camping trip in the woods at Big Sur, National Park. We love outdoor activities.

It's here!

Ok, the other day I was telling that I might get the Brother CS-6000i. So, it arrived to me last week. The machine is very nice and can do embroideries too. So far...I love it. I already sewed 2 pillow cases. I have few projects in mind but will post it once they're finish :). BTW, this is a Mother's Day gift from hubby....thanks so much, B....love ya!

Happy Mother's Day

To all mums out there...I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day! Especially to my mum & my mother in-law....you guys are the best and love you all so much. I didn't do anything special on Mother's Day....hubby took us for dinner and nothing fancy...but I love it coz I celebrated it with family. I'm very proud to be a mother.

Happy Birthday, Mama!

Today is my mom's 61th birthday. Happy Birthday, mama and we love you so much! Semoga dipanjangkan umur, dimurahkan rezeki and may Allah bless you always. Miss her badly. It has been 9 years I didn't celebrate with her.... :'(( Wish I'm with her right now.