Sunday, August 14, 2011

2 years*



today, 2 years ago we were all gathered around your bed in the hospital.  Crying the one minute, laughing the next when we thought of something you would have said.  2 years ago today, we could really not believe that you are not going to pull through this time.  2 years ago today, was the last time i could rub your feet, they were so cold, and i put some socks on because  that is what you would have wanted.  2 years ago today, we were standing in disbelief of where we were - in a hospital, saying goodbye to OUR mom.  2 years ago today, you were just waiting for dad to come. after he arrived, you left within minutes and i was thinking of one of your favorite gospel songs 'i see a new heaven come' (ek sien 'n nuwe hemel kom). that is how you left... on the wings of love.

"Nothing about the past losses I have experienced prepared me for the loss of my mother. Even knowing that she would die did not prepare me in the least.
A mother, after all,
is your entry into the world.
She is the shell in which you divide and become a life.
Waking up in a world without her
is like waking up in a world without sky: unimaginable."Meghan O'Rourke


2 years.

a million unsaid emotions, feelings and thoughts. the only one that really matter is the
'i love you mom'. xx

Sunday, August 7, 2011

it's the little things*

the past week was about the little things in our life...
eventhough we live in a different country, life is still normal. 
say for instance i want to go into the city, we have to get a taxi, 
take everything we might need with us, (therefor at this stage i'm only
using my iphone to take photographs), because it is small and easy :-) 
you have to get your timing right so that you are not stuck in traffic, because 
taxi ride will cost anything between RM10 and RM50 
(if you want to go to the zoo, stucked in traffic). 

and it is shtttt.... hot! and you are sweaty! and kellen 
does not want to walk... and he wants to go home, because he is hot 
(i'm allowed to say it - he is a child...heehee). 

so for us, this week has been about the little things*


playing, photographing, giggling in the taxi while stuck in traffic


ansgar joined us at the aquaria before we went to the
waterfall last weekend. here we are walking to 
suria mall through the park... was fabulous! 

shaving his beard. it is so thick. he has to shave every day.


you all know me as the home goddess of 'the river'! heehee! 
a person has to try to make it enjoyable... so give me a camera
and i'll love it! 


playing number games with kellen. 
willem - you and he fit like a glove. he makes his own rules 
in every game. 
we are teaching him now that there are rules and should he not 
follow the proper rules, there are no games to play :-) 


dipping rusks in his coffee. 
willem - again, you taught him this, and 
it was the first thing he asked for when we arrived here: 
tee en beskuit! 


making watermelon suckers for when lauren and bree 
came over to play and swim.... yum! 


trying out new dried fruit.  
while we were trying out prunes, the following conversation took place: 
me: 'those were ouma daphne's favorite'.
he: 'why is not her favorite anymore?' 
me: 'because she is not here, she died'.
he: 'i know. when i die, i will take a packet of dried prunes for her'. 
so happy with himself. 


we are an hour and a half's flight away from phuket, thailand. 
we are sooo close to beautiful islands... 
surfing the net and making notes of holiday destinastions! 
awesome! 


building roads with number cards... we are working very hard here! 


kellen doing his kumon all by himself 


baking cookies... 



eating out with daddy on a friday night. 


saturday night we had hamburgers for supper. when i 
placed kellen's plate in front of him, he screamed out: 
'awesomeness'. my heart fluttered! 


on sundays we don't pack away... we do nothing


we don't pick up towels (or rather i don't!) 
self-portrait


we play with sticky tape - because it is fun and beautiful colours! 


we read stories in bed


 we love. 
artwork by kellen xx

500 icons of malaysia*


a friend of marcel, Ansgar, has this amazing book (above). 
every sunday he takes us on 
a trip around kl to see something different. 
today he took us to ampang outlook point. 


of course, living in malaysia, you never say 'it is hot'. 
you just order the coldest and yummiest lemon juice, or
chocolate milkshake, or strawberry juice. 
kellen's favorite is watermelon juice. 




a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. 
absolutely! 


a mantra:  'i'm an adult. act like an adult'...with kellen i have to remind
myself continuously not to spoil my own great plans! :-) 




the view of kuala lumpur.... beautiful


colourful fruit


ansgar took us to an indochinese restaurant. 
we were waiting for people and shtttt.... (in a whisper!)
('i was really really very very hot!')


it felt like we were in a different country with candles
and statues everywhere. you could smell the incense they burned... 
the food was delicious! 


while we waited for our company, kellen 
went exploring...he was sooo excited


magical light


best part of the day? kellen falling asleep on my lap xx

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

every day things*

Don't be fooled by the normality of our lives. Photos sometimes gives it a boost...of the highlights, but we are normal, happy people. Have a look... 


the waterfall - had to go with the previous post... 


mondays - tea, washing & swimming... heehee 


bright pink watermelon - yum!!! 
let me explain 'normal'. Kellen threw one of his biggest 
tantrums this morning, because he was not allowed to cut 
the watermelon. phew.... breathing.... and cutting.... :-) 
watermelon is extremely cheap - R19 for a watermelon. 


food for my soul ? 
we went to borders bookshop. 
kellen and i sat on the floor and i read stories to him. 
magical moment. awesomness. 
something i've dreamed of all my life...reading to my child in a bookstore. 


bonus: latte in starbucks with kellen 
he had a doughnut. 


this was his stack of books he wanted. 
there were jazz music playing and he got up
and started dancing on the music - adorable! 


beautiful colours and fruit stall - happiness


he saw this fountain and told me 'let's go have a look mommy, 
i saw something beautiful'. 
he did not feel like smiling though. 


mmmm... a coffee shop i have to visit... 

i'm not. are you?


normal: a 4 year old boy whining to go swim. 
mommyyyyyyy!!! can i go swwwwwwiiiiimmmmm!!!!! 

serendah*

i've been struggling to download the photos from my cameras -s omething wrong with the card reader...and i'm not wasting time on trying and trying...sorry! here are some photos that i took with my most favorite these days - my iphone! LOVE!!! Enjoy! 


what do you do when stuck in the traffic in a cab? 
iphonography! 
kellen and i

red chair... 
i take photos during the drive...everything is so colourful 
and beautiful...mmm....getting magical ideas


kellen's 'smile!' face..heehee
we went to serandah this weekend with Ansgar, 
a german guy working with marcel...he loves to explore
the 'local' places and there you go... 


families sitting in the water, enjoying cooling off in the heat


oh! and foreigners! heehee 


the waterfall...it is beautiful! 


ok, i'm tired. 


mommy! look how strong i am! 


trying to climb up to the waterfall 


done. ready to go home. 


yummy, ice cold watermelon juice! yum!