135: snapshots of our big day — part 1

126: to be single digit again

Last weekend was spent around adorable little kids, and as always, I find myself much too busy playing and laughing away than actually snapping. One of the nieces just turned three, and we celebrated it over at the sister’s place, amidst chocolatey homemade cake, melting Dora fondant toppers, over-sized gifts, Dora-themed party paraphernalia, and some Dora cookies and strawberry muffins I made and brought over.

I’ve always marveled at the amount of effort parents put in for their lil ones’ birthday parties. And secretly wondered how my future kids’ birthday celebrations would be like. Oh, to be three again!

110: this is … the mister’s birthday!

The mister’s birthday fell conveniently amidst the long CNY holiday weekend, so we found ourselves having a somewhat impromptu 3-day celebration! I’m so glad that everything went beautifully along with the theme of the party, i.e. Growing Up (although some fell prey to my shortcomings — you’ll see it later), and most importantly, the birthday boy was excited and happy (I’d pay money for that huge grin every year)!

Happy twenty7, mista!

Possibly our favouritest card game yet; the vintage Happy Family! It’s hilarious how the game rules keep changing to make it <quote>”kalau nak gila”<unquote> (Malay for “if you want it crazy”), and it ended as a game of bluff.

Brought him to Game Haven as a surprise (the first for us both), where he rocked the guitar, while I rocked as the afro black dude. Word.

I attempted (keyword: attempted) to make him a flipbook. Definitely far from what I had envisioned. But hey, I’m not the artist between us two!

The one that got THE grin and laugh of the year (I get one every birthday). Not pictured, the Batpod to add to his Batmobile collection. No big grins for that one, coz he picked it out

The birthday cake for the one who only eats brownies and cookies.

103: this is my 211109 … #2

Way overdue, but yes, I got engaged about a month ago, and I could not have been more thrilled and relieved that the very first step has been taken. While I’d love to say that everything played out exactly the way they were planned, looking back, nothing could’ve actually prepared me for the real day. Like I said to the photographer, months of preparation and anxiety all boiled down to a momentous ten to fifteen minutes, tops.

I believe the bulk of the day was spent waiting. At least for myself, that is. In the midst of everything, I found solace hunched in a corner of my room, on the floor, buffing my nails, while the slowly-growing crowd hustles past the door, fretting over the buffet spread, last minute decoration and arrangement of gift trays, and the mandatory mingling.

I had expected myself to be repeating my favourite ‘I am not nervous, I am excited’ mantra throughout the day, but I was surprisingly calm, much thanks to the fact that things always seem to sink in s-l-o-w-l-y for me. And slow it sure was, only feeling the nerves kick in when the mister’s photographer stepped into the room, signifying the much awaited ascent of the ladies from the mister’s side up the stairs.

After several blinding flashes, plenty of smiles and the swift exchange of gift trays, there seemed to be a collective sigh of relief, with the concomitant increase in chatter and laughter wafting from downstairs. All was well, and just like that, I was officially his fiancee.