Eid 2006

So far, every Eid, hubby and I would cook the usual rendang, nasi impit, sayur lodeh, pulut kuning and some kind of neutral dish for the non Malays. This year, hubby was supposed to cook everything, but I ended up making everything due to my exasperation at a mission done at the very last minute. However, we didn't have pulut kuning due to the tedious nature of preparing it.

As for the kids, the night before, R and K stopped by to present them with Eid clothes. S and N each got a pair of Somali style top and bottom and hijab, and H got a white thawb each from Sr and K.

As we drove home after the prayer, the first snow of the year fell upon us.

"Rahmah," said a sister.

The whole day was well spent alhamdulillah. We entertained guests after the prayer all the way till Zuhr. Then we went to Chuck E Cheeses (which has not become our annual Eid activity for the kids). However, there were a lot of people there and the crowd this time was very rowdy. Rowdy children with helpless parents. I was very pissed off, but I was too exhausted to assert myself.

As we drove back home, H talked about the boy who rudely snatched the ball he was playing with.

"If people do that to you, don't do it back to them, ok?" said hubby.

H nodded.

N and I waited for ages for this one particular boy to finish using this photo station. His mother kept telling him to go but I think he snapped maybe 10-15 photos of himself while his poor mother yelled at him, to no avail. I left, disgusted.

As soon as we parked, the Malaysian guys were already waiting in the parking lot to attend our open house. We entertained guests all the way till almost midnight.

"Did you have fun today?" I asked the kids.

They nodded emphatically.

"What was your favorite part?" I asked.

"When the Somalians came," replied H.

"Why?" I prodded.

"Because Nm and Sp were funny," he said.

I was very elated that we had non Malays at our Eid open house this year, for the years before, we only had the Malaysians and Indonesians over because the others were busy celebrating Eid with their families. I feel so honored by their presence this year. The kids enjoyed it too.

Hubby's 'No Muslim left behind' policy is implemented this year, alhamdulillah. Eid is not exclusive to just Malaysians and that's how we love it.

Before we left for the Eid prayer, I asked hubby,

"When do we want to give the kids their gifts?"

After some discussion and deliberation, we decided it was best to give it to them before we left, because after the prayer we would be busy preparing the food for the coming guests. I had written a message in each book for each of them before putting them in the gift bags we had bought with the kids. They didn't know the gift bags were for them, but I somehow managed to ask S's opinion on what gift bags she would love. All the time she kept asking me,

"Why are you buying those? Abi would see them and say 'ughh'. He won't agree to buy them."

I couldn't help chuckling, but she was right, had it not been for them. Hubby does not spend his money frivolously. Everytime I would come up to him with stuff we do NOT need, he would wave them away.

Surprise! Eid Mubarak!



S's Eid Gift










N's Eid Gift









H's Eid Gift