Gracie Turns 9 in KK

In was almost five years ago when the families of our three children came back for a grand family reunion and holidays (Read here). Taking advantage of their presence, we also organized a larger family reunion including families of my siblings in KK for afternoon tea on 10 July 2022. Unfortunately, Paul & Junshi could not arrive in time to join this larger family gathering. Their flight only touched down at 7.30pm that night.  The very next morning, we were on our way to Kundasang for a family homestay adventure.

At the afternoon tea, we had a pre-birthday celebration for Gracie who would turn nine the next day. This was the second birthday celebration she had in Sabah. The first was in 2015 when she turned two (Read here). Another rare opportunity for us as grandparents to celebrate her birthday was in Perth in 2016 when she turned three (Read here). 

We are so pleased to see her growing up over the past nine years - growing up to be a passionate, adorable youngster who is determined to maximize her potential in whatever she does. I just love to listen to her telling me of her neat writing incident in class. One of her classmates said to her, "Gracie, why is your handwriting so "n...e....a....t"!". I bet her classmate must have been too embarrassed to see his own handwriting after seeing Grace's!

All smiled when they were showered with ang-pow from suk-po (grand-aunti)!

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Early in the morning of 11 July, there was another surprise for her. She woke up to see a "roof" of balloons especially prepared and hung up by her mom and aunti. She was surprised and truly delighted of the gesture!

That evening, Gracie had another birthday celebration in the homestay in Kundasang immediately after the barbeque.

This year, she must have felt truly special when she had three occasions to celebrate her 9th birthday. Just before flying to Sabah, she had a birthday celebration with her good friends and brother back home in WA.

With her cousins Livvie and Maddie and brother Nathan.

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Early in the morning, the family was scheduled to fly back to Australia, she came to me and passed me an origami which she called the swan. "I made this for you and popo. I hid it under my pillow and was worried you would discover it. Fortunately, it's not discovered!" She said to me with a candid smile followed by a passionate hug!

Whenever we have breakfast at the outdoor table, we remember this dear granddaughter and her fast growing up fabulous brother as we look at this origami!