Red Tag!!

Recently Aunty Marzie tagged me with my very first tag!! It was a nice and simple one...
And it was about RED!!!
I don't have many red dresses...
but plenty of red toys!

I hope they count!!

I tag anyone who likes red!!

Happy Birthday Little One!!

Boy oh boy!! What a weekend it's been!! And I'm not referring to the elections that just passed by with some major surprises...no, it was my daughters 3rd Birthday!! Yes, she turned 3 on Saturday. I was so tired and also caught up withthe elections that I didn't get a chance to post until late last night but experienced some problems uploading the pictures. So had to wait until today.

On Saturday, after casting our votes, we took her out for a nice lunch...errr well it was nice for us but not for her because she refused to eat...fortunately she enjoyed the desert which was scrummy!!!

At night we had a little dinner and cake cutting for her too!

Sorry the pictures are all from cellphones because we couldn't find the camera charger!! DOH

All in all it was a good weekend...I enjoyed cooking for the party this time because it was a small crowd of around 25. The food turned out great and I was happy that folks enjoyed eating. Had loads of food too, the menu was Briyani Rice with almonds and fried onions, fresh vegetable pickles, beef cutlets, prawn sambal, soy sauce chicken, vegetable kurma, prawn tempura, grilled pork tenderloin, huge papadams and Chinese mixed vegetables. I particularly liked the prawn sambal which was extra spicy and really tasty even if I do say so myself!! LOL

The party ended around 1 a.m. and my little one stayed up until then too forgetting any notions of sleep. She was playing football with her cousins would you believe. LOL I myself stayed up till 5 a.m. watching the polls results trickle in. On Sunday I was exhausted and just lazed around mostly and checked out the news channels. Like I said before, boy what a weekend!!

Finally...

PHEW!!! It's sure been a while since I last posted something, hasn't it? Bet most of you think I've given up blogging for good so something. NOT! It's just that I'm getting back into the groove of school life!!

Yes. Turning your mind off for over 20 years does take it's toll! LOL I'm only glad that I managed to finish a couple of my assignments in time. It was no easy task because they were back to back and required a lot of research and reading. On Sunday, we actually we spent the entire day from 7 am to 5 .30 pm in a study group. I am not kidding.

On top of that my other best buddy Sean, had a little crisis last week too. His wife's water bag ruptured on Wednesday and she was admitted to the hospital. It caused a few anxious moments and they couldn't wait for the baby to come out through a normal delivery so they had to have a C-section. The "little nipper" as Sean likes to call him was born to this world on Thursday at 3.44 pm. After the baby was born he called me and didn't say a word but cried and I was so touched I wish I could have been with him at that moment because there is so much emotion running through your veins and when the long wait is finally over you just need to let it all out. Wifey and me rushed there after work though and were the only ones there because their families had not arrived. We got a sneak peek at the handsome little guy...

Wifey and I was going back and forth to the hospital to see the little guy, who looks nothing like his old man, LOL. Seriously Sean and his wifey were pretty worried throughout the ordeal and we just wanted to give them a little support. After all the visits to the hospital we'd go back and study till late too. Our batteries were on overdrive but we knew they needed a hand besides it's not everyday a person becomes a First Time Dad!!! We did want to be there on Sunday too when they were discharged but just couldn't make it because of the study group, would you believe.

It's also our little one's third birthday this Saturday!! Woo Hoo!! We haven't even had a chance to get her a present yet and I haven't got a clue what to get either. Anybody got any ideas?

We're just throwing her a little dinner and inviting some family and friends. I'm cooking LOL I actually wanted to do a real party for her but with classes and all I just couldn't plan it properly. Oh oh I haven't ordered the cake yet!!

Okay I better hit the sack!! Got work tomorrow and study group meets too again for next weeks assignment!! DOH!!

A little story...

This is a little story I got today in an email and I thought that this would be a nice item to share with everyone. Unfortunately the author is unknown or else I'd give him proper acknowledgement for his writing because this is certainly no attempt at plagiarism. It goes like this...

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer, she had lost my heart to a lovely girl called Dew. I didn't love her anymore..I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Dew so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I did'nt have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a months time and she did'nt want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Dew about my wife s divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes
and said softly, don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest.. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realised she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me, .. she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, it was just like our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind... I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished. Then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realise that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote:

I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

The small details of our lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property , the money in the bank, blah..blah..blah. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you, but if you do, you just might save a marriage.

- Author unknown -

I actually received this story from a friend who is now divorced and that's what moved me to post it. We all know that not always do things go back to the way they began. Each person has their own reasons for doing something like this and each time the outcome can be different.

What do you think?

Wordless Wednessday

Daddy...

look at me...

All gone!!


Meanwhile at home I have to pore over all these books!!
THis is only for one of the subjects mind you!!

Happy Valentine's Day

My Valentine's

As most of you prepare to celebrate Valentine's Day in your own special ways I'd like to share this little story with you that I received from a friend today...

Why God created children

Whenever your children are/were out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was "DON'T!"

"Don't what?" Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.

"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve...we have forbidden fruit!!!!!"

"No Way!"

"Yes, way!"

"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God

"Why"

"Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied, wondering why he hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later, God saw his children having an apple break and He was ticked!

"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked.

"Uh huh," Adam replied.

"Then why did you?" said the Father.

"I don't know," said Eve.

"She started it!" Adam said

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"DID NOT!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.

2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own
children.

3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY: Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.

AND FINALLY: IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:

"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN" AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"

What do you think?

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Chinese New Year!

GONG XI FA CHAI!!

Wishing all my Chinese friends a Happy and Prosperous Year of the Rat!!

GongXi GongXi!!

Bruises, Bumps, Coughs and Colds!

What am I talking about? Well its my little girl again. She hasn't been well all of last week...firstly last Sunday night she developed a fever that kept us up at nights sponging her to keep her cool. Well it was more like having to give her cold showers becuase after a while she didn't want to be anywhere near the cold damp cloth we were using. Surprisingly, the fever went away by Wednesday night. We thought that we were out of the woods.

On thursday after work we let her play with her slide and was kinda happy to have her back. However, that night out of nowhere, she got a sore throat and cough. More sleepless nights for her and us because everytime she would get a bout of coughing, we'd wake up. We figured that it must have been why she had the fever. Anyway, it was a nasty cough so yesterday we took her to see her paeditrician and got a whole lot of medication. Things seemed to subside a little and we all enjoyed a nice long nap in the afternoon...well deserved under the circumstances.

Later my good buddy Sean came by with his wife for a little visit. It's his birthday today so we went out for a little pre-celebration dinner and took the little one with us...all wrapped up and cosy. We wanted to try the German bierhaus in the Curve but it was packed solid. Probably because Chinese new Year is almost here aand lotsa folks are oout shopping. So we headed to our favourite joint, Tony Roma's which is within walking distance. TR's was packed too and we were told that it might be a 30 minute wait. DOH...what do you expect on a Saturday night. However they did ask us if we wanted to sit outside where they have alfresco dining. It wasn't very popular last night because it was raining a little so we took a look and found that it was cozier outside not as stuffy as inside because of the crowd.

We were all so hungry after waiting that we ordered too much food. Moreover the portions were large and we struggled a little to finish but eventually did. Burp! Anyway after dinner we were in a joyouds mood and sang Chinese New Year songs all the way home! Well we only knew one song and kept singing the same song!! LOL Even Ellie chimed in...of course she wanted to sing "Jingle Bells"!!

Anyway after we got home we watched a little tv and drank coffee...and this is when I took my eye off Ellie for a second when I heard a loud thump and saw her on the floor. Initially she was quiet and then she started bawling her little eyes out. The bump formed quickly!! Gave us a little scare and while we put ice to keep the swelling down it was has to console her. Usually I'd jsut tell her get up and continue playing but this time I was a little concerned but I think she's okay now. You can see the bump below...it's subsided a lot from last night!

I really wished that I had put wooden floors like I had wanted to for a long time. The impact would have been so much less painful. Unfortunately everytime I start thinking about it I end up planning to change the look of the whole place. I really need to get some Home Decor ideas and actually did find a nice place that has Interior Design Ideas. This will be very helpful to me to make up my mind on the actual style I want. I'm tired of the old house look. I want some new ideas and maybe a new theme like the European Decors I saw. I usually get my stuff from a certain blue and yellow Swedish furniture store anyway. Hey the meatballs are great!!

Back to School

No! I’m not talking about the new school year where thousands of children moan and groan their way back to school. I’m talking about me. YES!! You read right! ME!! I am moaning and groaning my way back to school! (and buddy if you laugh I’m gonna smack you so hard your eyes are gonna be crossed for life LOL)

Talk about life changes when you have a child. First it was my signing up for the gym last year. I mean I never thought for a moment that I’d join a gym because I always thought it was a waste of time and money. Besides I hate to exercise…I’d rather play games like football and basketball. However, after years of trying unsuccessfully to lose weight by every possible way I took the one option I had never tried. Exercise under a trained professional. The results were good and I lost a lot of weight. This year I haven’t really picked up momentum yet! Still getting back into the routine for the new year and hope to get back on track. The reason I was so determined was just plain simple… I became a First Time Dad.

Now, I’m doing the thing I hated the most…Study!! Believe me I never liked studying when I was in school all those years ago and I still don’t. I don’t really mind those short-term training sessions that last for a week or two or less but a full blown course is something different. But here I am now taking my Masters in Business Administration. That’s right! Me and MBA student (LJ quit laughing…I will have to learn how to spell now LOL).

Trust me I’ve tried to find ways to wrangle out of this and to avoid taking the course but unfortunately I could not find an excuse good enough. I want to improve myself and to learn. (Is that me talking?) I’m partly doing this for myself and partly for my daughter so that I can set her a good example too. Believe me I’d never have even though of taking this if it weren’t for her.

Anyway, I managed to convince wifey too that it would be beneficial for her and also that it would be a great help to me to have a partner to push me to study otherwise I’d find all kinds of excuses not to do it! Of course, ultimately she’ll diverge to her field of expertise that is Marketing and I’ll be in my area of expertise which is Human Resources Management. Yesterday was our first day at school. Believe me it’s been almost 20 years since I last did this and boy did it feel strange!! Walking down the corridors and seeing people who were mostly younger than us mingle in the hallways. In a way it felt good.

Unfortunately, taking up this course is also going to eat away at the time we spend with our little one and it really does make us both feel bad. Although, classes will be only twice a week for about three hours only there will be assignments and coursework and other little things that will crop up. It’s going to go on for eighteen long months so you can imagine how much time we’ll be away.

In fact this morning, wifey was telling me that last night the little one was talking in her sleep and asking her ‘Yaya” (Filipino for nanny) where Mummy was...So this will undoubtedly be a challenge. Not to mention that we still have to go to the gym too…what was that old saying a Healthy Body means a Healthy Mind!

I know that I am taking a step in the right direction no matter what happens and just hope that I haven’t bit off more that I can chew!! Only time will tell!!

And the journey continues…

A lesson in History

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:

These are interesting...

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a "thresh hold."

Getting quite an education, aren't you?

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. `So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer."

And that's the truth...

Now, whoever said that History was boring

Educate someone...Share these facts with a friend.

A Christmas Thought!

Bet you thought that I didn't have any more Christmas stories to tell right!! LOL Well I have one more and I'll be brief. You see last Friday I happened to notice that there was a Pos Laju slip in my mailbox. I looked at it and saw that it was dated December 26 would you believe!!!

You see after Christmas, on Dec 26, we went away for a short holiday to nearby Port Dickson and apparently the Postie came by while we were out and left the note. We did get back on the 29th but didn't notice the slip until last Friday. We called the distribution center and they sid they'd deliver it to the office on Monday but Monday came and still no parcel...Tuesday came and it was the same so I decided to just pick it up myself on Wednesday after work (today) but the parcel finally came.

I took it home to be opened and saw that it was a gift for Ellie from none other than Emila!! Well see for yourself what she made for my little girl!! Thank you so very much Emila for the wonderfully thoughtful Christmas present! Ellie loves it!

Hmmm what is it? It's wrapped in a ribbon!!

Can I open it? Look at the nice card, mummy!

What is it? It's a bag...

Close up of the lovely hand made bag!! My young model!

And while we're talking about what happened today....this is what she drew...LOL it's supposed to be a face ...but it sure looks a lot like Barney!! hehehe

Time Flies

My little one when she was a chubby little baby!!

The other day I was looking at some pictures of my little one and it was then I realized that she was starting to grow up!! I remembered her first Christmas when we were so happy to see her glide...that's walking while assisted with furniture for those of you who are not familiar with the term! LOL Now she still doesn't walk...err...she runs LOL

This is the first time she stood on her own...

and this is now!

This is the first time next to the Christmas tree and

this is now!

I don't know what to say...except that my little baby is growing up and she's not even three!!!!

A Little Prayer…

Pictured are my daughters current favourites!

We’ve always been getting story books and nursery rhymes for the little one ever since she was born. Although she can’t read yet we’ve, well mostly wifey, has been reading a little to her each night at bed time to calm her down.

Initially, the little one, understandably, had no patience and would just flip through the books even as we were reading them. As time wore on, however, she became more and more interested in the stories. She’d ask questions about the characters and what they were doing over and over again. I guess it was her own way of confirming if that was what the characters were really doing LOL

Now, what really got me was yesterday as I was watching tv while wifey was putting her to bed the little one wanted to come out. Wifey said that the little one had something she wanted to tell me. So she brought out her children’s prayer book and started reading the prayers. I was amazed. Normally she’d just follow as we recited the stories or rhymes or prayers. This time she was reading it….Well I don’t know if she was really reading it (okay okay no way a twoi year old can read right!! ) or if she had just memorized it but either was good, isn't it!! And it was not just one prayer…she was turning the pages and reading/reciting several. Actually I don’t know how old children are before they can read or memorize but I felt a sense of pride in my little one’s achievement and am just plain happy that she did it!!

And the journey continues…

Happy New Year!

I'd like to wish each and everyone a Happy and Joyful New Year! I hope that 2008 will be filled with hope and peace and joy for you and your loved ones! CHEERS!!!

Twas the night before Christmas....

Okay okay it was the night before Christmas and we were supposed to go to church to remember the real reason why there is a Christmas to celebrate!! At first the little one was cranky from lack of sleep...then it started to rain and we were not sure if we'd actually make it to church. I really wanted to go that night because it was another tradition but having a two year old can sure change things.

In fact we were pretty beat from the previous night too. However, becaue we got invited to a couple of parties during our party we had to go get more gifts. So a quick dash to MidValley it was! We were supposed to jst get a few items but ended up doing some shopping for wifey...apart from the presents! By the time we finished it was close to four in the afternoon! Regardless we still wanted to go for the mass and was glad that the little ones mood cleared and we were able to go.

The mass was surprisingly quick as Christmas masses go (try saying that fast a few times LOL) and finished by 11 pm. So we rushed home to prepare supper. My brother and his family would usually come over to our place to exchange presents after supper and hot mugs of cocoa. Ad on que a little after 12 they came over...also present was a surprise visitor from the North Pole! Yup Santa had come over again (but he did look a little taller than the Santa who was over yesterday LOL) to drop off a little pressie for the little one! She was so happy to see Santa with her present but as usual was too shy to shake his hand!! I don't know where I was but missed the whole episode and was not able to get a picture of me with Santa! Ho Ho Ho

Anyway after Santa left we had our supper and cocoa and then proceeded to open our presents. The little one did want me to assemble the toy Santa had left her but it was getting late and she was getting tired. She didn't even make it through all her presents before she wanted to be hauled off to bed. Yes, she was that tired!!

In the morning the first thing I did was assemble her new toy. It took a little fixining but I managed to get it all done myself (proud father talking) We'll since Santa had left her such a nice toy the least I could do was assemble it, right! ? ho ho ho As I was about to finish the little one woke up and wanted to play with it immediately....in our haste we didn't take any pictures of he first slide down LOL

I only caught a quick picture just now throught the gate and manaed to get the rear of the slide!

Oh and I almost forgot I finally opened my little pressie from the Genie Princess and it was one of my best gifts!! Thanks GP!

Look what the postie did to the beautiful gold box my pressie came in, fortunately the contents were not harmed!