Lantern Making

Mummy signed up Alicia & Brandon for the lantern making at Century Square on Saturday - FOC. Alicia was very keen and tried her best at it. Brandon, however, was very lazy. He kept waiting for the jie-jie to help him out. At the end of the activity, they received a goodie-bag and a certificate of participation. I'd love to sign them up for more of such activities... Anyone keen to have a group activity during the school hols??

F1 - Singapore Grand Prix

We got complimentary tickets to the F1 night race on Sunday, from small-yi. Went for a short walk at Marina Square and had our dinner at Azabu Sabo. The walk to Turn 1 Grandstand was so far away...but the view was great, much better than last year's Bay Grandstand! Best of all, Lewis Hamilton won the race!!!

We snapped photos with the Ferrari at Marina's event square.

Daddy, with the Uniquely Singapore flag pole, at the end of the race.

Holding hands

We brought Alicia & Brandon for breakfast on Sunday morning - Caden was at 99's place cos we had planned to watch the F1 race. Daddy drove to Serangoon Gardens Market's car park and Alicia was quick to say, "Daddy, I dun wan to eat here. I wan to eat pancakes!" Yup, it's MacDonald's hotcakes she was referring to. So, Daddy listened to his darling daughter, of course!

Daddy had to go to the banks to run errands and Mummy told them to follow me and walk around. They ran to Daddy and held his hands tight, insisting on following him. I said, "Well, since no one wants to hold Mummy's hand, I'll jus help Daddy carry his bag." After I took over Daddy's hand-carry, Brandon said, "Nobody wants to hold Mummy's hand... only the bag wants to hold your hand." Daddy bursts out laughing and I was abit upset... : (

Cough again

Yes, Caden is coughing again. Brought him to see Dr Ong on Friday and he said he's wheezing and started him on the neb, prescribing Atrovent & Ventolin instead of Berodual. Sigh... This boy was so active while waiting. He talked to the staff at the clinic and played hide-n-seek with them. Mummy even got him to practise how Dr Ong would check on him. No Problem, I thought. However, the moment he stepped in Dr Ong's room, he moved a step backwards and cried out loudly. Cried & cried non-stop and struggled when Dr Ong was checking on him. He was so quick to say goodbye... Mus have been the 2 jabs 2 weeks ago which scared him off.

Thought he was better and din need to go for a review today. Who knows, his cough worsened this morning. 99 & I brought him to see Uncle Ong again. And again, he cried badly when he saw Dr Ong. He's better, but still needs to be nebbed for another 3 days. Dunno why but he kept whining and jus want Mummy me today. Also struggled when taking medicine. Mummy's so tired le... Mummy got scolding from 99 at the end of the day - jam-break at 1 of the junctions, forgot to bring wet tissue cos Caden poo-ed at the clinic, forgot to bring CDA ATM, etc... what happened to me?

He dug out from 99's kitchen cabinet this thing and put on his head - a helmet, he calls it, trying to imitate a soldier he met at TMC today. So funny..

Like gor-gor, Like di-di

Caden has been picking up the way Brandon speaks. For the past weeks, he will follow whatever gor-gor says or does. He'll snatch toys from him, and if he loses, he'll say, "Can you give it to me or not?" If he sees that gor-gor wants to come and snatch things from him, he'll quickly say, "I take first."

I was lost for words when I heard this from him in the afternoon. He climbed up the sofa and onto the window grill. I told him that Daddy would beat his backside. He came down and said to me, "I dun friend u already..." and walked off. Wah!!! Cannot take it leh. How was I supposed to react? I chased after him and wanted to beat his backside and he ran all over the house and even under the table...

Then, brought him to Bishan Public Library. This library has a better variety in terms of kids' books. Caden was so excited. From the moment we walked into the library, to waiting for the lift and inside the lift, he kept talking and talking. It was quite crowded in the lift and a lady said to me before she went out at Level 3 - "He's got very good vocabulary." I asked Daddy if I should take it as a compliment and be happy or was she trying to tell me my kid was talkative and noisy? He said jus take it as a compliment. Okay.... I'm happy.

Wanted to let him join the storytelling session but they said he's too small and refused to let him in. Hmph! Who says young kids like him can't listen to stories? Asked me to go pay $2 and sign up for Fun For Tots session instead. Was happy initially but ended up disappointed cos it's a nite session.

Like real... he was walking about and taking so many books to read. Mummy borrowed some DVDs too.

We went over to J8 to walk walk while waiting for er-gu to pick us up. Haa... there were few stalls selling mooncakes, so we walked around to see-see-look-look. Caden sampled a few pieces and said they were good! We bought the Four Seasons Durian mooncake home (cos the Goodwood Park was sold out!). Alicia & Brandon loves mooncakes - we've eaten a few for the past few days... and Caden asked for more!

My Army Boy

Brandon loves army-related stuff. Be it army trucks driving past us, NS man walking, war-linked movies - he gets very excited or engrossed each time he sees them. Guess will jus let him join the army when he grows up...

Daddy bought him another set of army toys on Sunday.

After I got him ready for school in the morning, he quickly put them on for Daddy to see.

In the evening, Daddy helped him put on the full set. See - like a soldier? After a while, he jus removed them all cos it was too warm!

See the big boy? He kept playing with the traditional gun. Even Alicia & Caden also wants to join them.

Birthday Song for Ah Ma

The kids went on stage and sang the birthday song for Ah Ma on Saturday nite.

au Jardin

Wow, another birthday celebration... Daddy brought Mummy to Singapore Botanical Gardens' au Jardin by Les Amis for dinner after our facial & massage at Aramsa Spa at Bishan Park. It was expensive, but the service & ambience were great. We even joked about going to Yio Chu Kang for black pepper crab when the Alaskan Crab dish came out raw - see the round flat piece below the martini glass? It was a disappointment cos Mummy was expecting a crab with the "gong"!

Thank you, Daddy!!! And, of course, thanks to all who helped us look after our kids when we went part-tor-ing.

Mainland Fish Farm

Alicia wanted to go fishing, so we went to Mainland Fish Farm at Pasir Ris Farmway 1 after Monday's breakfast. Din expect the place to be full of kids. Small, but quite a nice place for the kids.

They were so happy to see the rooster "Cock-a-doodle-doo"! Caden is still saying it to my now. There were also ducks, in addition to the usual fish & prawns.

Long-kang fish catching - what the kids looked forward to. $4 for 1/2hr, exclusive of fish tank. Not so easy to catch... but we managed a few. When Brandon caught some algae/fish food instead of fish in his net, he almost cried. But when they caught a small fish in the net, they came running to me, "Mummy, I caught a fish!!!"

Even Caden wanted to be hands-on... When he refused to let go of the net, he kept flipping it till the water splashed on Alicia!

Ta-dah!!! The happiest moment - they insisted on holding the fish themselves. So how did we manage to get so many fish? A nice family gave most of them to us - they said they go there so frequently they dun bring home the fish anymore. It's jus for the fun.

Toastbox, again

Daddy and the rest went jogging at Bishan Park on Monday morning, while Mummy was still sleeping with the kids. They came back to pick us up to J8 for breakfast at Toastbox. Wow... Alicia & Brandon slurped down 1 half-boiled egg and asked for another. They have been eating 3/4 of the food that Mummy ordered these few days. But, why is Mummy still fat by jus eating the 1/4 portion??? Of course, we had kiddy rides before going home.

Happy Birthday, Mummy!

The kids started coughing, especially Caden. Mummy started nebbing him, and decided against bringing them for a birthday party of Aunty Diana's son in the evening. Daddy suggested having a birthday celebration with the family for Mummy on Sunday. So, we headed to Xin Wang Cafe for dinner. Alicia, who went in Er-gu's car, came with a bouquet of flowers & birthday cake as a surprise! Thanks, Denise & Shermaine for the flowers! Thanks, everyone for the lovely cake!

The lovely family portrait - I love this pix!

Before I could make a wish, Brandon started blowing out the candles!!!

Happy 70th Birthday, Ah Ma!

We celebrated Ah Ma's 70th birthday on Sat nite. Wow... it was like a wedding dinner. The uncle, aunties & cousins were all there.

Photo-taking session before the dinner...

Alicia enjoyed herself so much with Sharlyn. At one stage, she refused to play with Renee as she was jealous that Sharlyn played with her!!! See my thorn in the roses, Brandon? It was more a girls' nite...

Some of the dishes... and Brandon with the soundmaker during cake cutting.

AMK Hub

Mummy needed to get some groceries. So, we brought Alicia & Brandon to AMK Hub for breakfast & lunch on Saturday. Caden was at 99's house cos Mummy had a nite out with my frens on Friday.

Aiyo... they loved the half-boiled eggs at Toastbox. They had one egg each, plus bread, coffee, etc.

While Daddy was doing some banking, Mummy brought them to a shop on Level 2. Hee... bought some art & craft items. Shall let them do one of these days. Then, it was kiddy rides time!

Seafood International

Er-gu gave us a lunch treat at Seafood International on Friday. Alicia & Brandon were in school, so we brought Caden along. The food was so-so only... but cheap lor. $23 for a-la-carte buffet.

Reading

When I was getting ready to shower for Caden this afternoon, he requested that I read the Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes for him. The book was left on the table as I read for the kids 2 nites ago.

This boy is totally different from Brandon. Gor-gor hardly touches books. Caden, whereas, loves reading, jus like his jie-jie. His favourite books now are "Talk about Animals" and "Counting 123". From a pile of 20-30 books, he can jus pick up the book he wants. This evening, when he couldn't find his Animals book, he held my hand and asked, "Mummy, can you find the Animal book?" So smart hor? He can now speak in full sentences.

I recorded these video few days ago. He simply refused to read for me when I wanted to record it.

Last jab

Caden had his last jab yesterday. Two jabs, in fact - 18th mth and MMR booster. I always said he's the 5%. And yes, indeed. He started running a fever - 40^ last evening. Was so lethargic that Mummy was so worried. Luckily it subsided after medication & kool pad. Woke up at 3.30am and asked for water. Mummy placed him on our bed and he kept tossing around and couldn't sleep. Gave him another dose of paracetemol and he soon fell asleep after kicking Daddy & Mummy. Luckily he's better now. Shall monitor him... I'm so glad the vaccinations are over.

Sunday Treats

We gave ourselves an Haagen Dazs ice-cream treat on Sunday. Yah.. like as if not enuf of them in Hong Kong. Caden, who doesn't like cold stuff, was also happily eating.

Then, when Daddy was playing with the new GPS toy, the kids wanted to play with the games too. When it was Brandon's turn playing, Caden jus rushed over and kept using his finger to point and point on the touch-screen.

Art Class - Selamat Hari Raya

Alicia's art class theme - Selamat Hari Raya. She was fast, already waiting for us when we picked her up. When asked what she drew, she doesn't know how to answer. O dear... Mummy needs to explain more cross-cultural or race events to her.

Serangoon Gardens Country Club Open House

We brought the kids to the Serangoon Gardens Country Club Open House on Sunday morning. Well, if we could transfer our Laguna membership to someone else, we would consider getting this membership. Quite a nice place with the indoor playground and play pool. The kids removed their shoes and played at the splash pool.

Air Force Museum

Daddy wanted to bring the kids to the Central Fire Station on Saturday morning. We got ready and hopped into the car. But, as it was already 9.40am, Mummy suggested going to the Air Force Museum instead. Saw this place when reading a friend's blog. Quickly searched thru the street directory and off we go!

"Mummy, Brandon would love this place!" shouted Alicia when we reached the museum. And yes, indeed he was. He's so excited over the displays and models. When we watched the silent video (cos of some technical glitch, there was so sound!), he was also paying very good attention to it.

The place was so ulu. We were the only family there!!! Only saw another family when we were about to leave. It was a good decision to bring the kids there, after all, Daddy said.

The excited kids on the way to the museum.

In the indoor gallery - showing the Past & Present.

Caden was happily running about.

Alicia & Brandon kept wanting to "go inside" the displays. Too bad, it was a No no...

The 2nd floor gallery which features the air force.

Went to Burger King @ Tampines Mall in the afternoon.

Ah Ma's Birthday

Sep 11 - we celebrated Ah Ma's birthday on Friday. It's a pre-celebration cos we're throwing a small dinner for her this Saturday for her 70th birthday (lunar age).

A New Addition to the Family

Yes, we have a new addition to the family. Daddy got himself a 2nd wife - a new car. We upgraded from a car to an MPV or some may view it as a downgrade - from a Merz to a Toyota Picnic. Daddy loves the car plate no. - has his favourite number, x2 some more.

HK Trip - Post Mortem

Post mortem of the trip by Mummy me.

Choice of Hotel - it was rite to choose a 5-star hotel, instead of saving on hotel costs by staying in cheap hotels. The service was great, room was clean, and best of all, daily breakfast, afternoon tea, etc were included. Daddy could enjoy the champagne & wine for all that he wants, for free...

Shopping - Can't believe it... Mummy din really shop at all!!! For all nites, we jus stayed in the room - we din even go to Ladies' Market, etc for shopping. The Times Square, Elements, etc. which Mummy had planned beforehand were all - I dun feel like going, in the end. Instead, Mummy shopped for the kids' clothes & toys. Daddy was so afraid of Mummy going to the Miu Miu store @ One Peking, jus opposite the hotel, on the last day. I asked him, "You worried that I'll buy a HK$1000 item on my last day?" His reply squirming, "No, I'm scared you'll buy a S$1000 item for the shopping that u missed!!!"

Places to go - Disneyland is a must-go, especially if u have kids. Well, Ocean Park - can skip lor... We spent only about a quarter in Ocean Park compared to Disneyland - entrance fees, food, photos & merchandise. We decided not to go to The Peak cos it wouldn't mean anything to the kids.

Transport - we had initially planned to book a tour for the Disneyland and Ocean Park, i.e. get someone to pick us from hotel to park and vice versa. After doing my homework, decided against it. It's very convenient to get to those places - we saved more than a $100 jus by going on our own. MTR is also very convenient when going from shopping centres to another. Even the cab ride from the airport to the hotel costs us less than HK$300.

If given a chance, I'll bring the kids to Disneyland again. This time, with Caden, of course.

HK Trip - Home Sweet Home

Day 5 - The kids woke up at 9plus am!!! Mus have been a tiring trip for them cos they din take any afternoon naps on all days. We took a fast shower & headed for breakfast at the lounge again... followed by some last minute shopping near our hotel. Then it was back to the hotel for a good bath before heading to the airport. We had lunch at the Hang Heung restaurant and bought back the Wife's biscuits home. We jus had to make a trip to the Disney store, even when we only had 25mins left before boarding! Rush rush rush...

HK trip - Sunset

Day 4 - We went back to the hotel for a short rest after Snoopy's World, before heading to Harbour City, jus 2 mins walk from our hotel, for shopping. Caught the sunset from the harbour - so nice... We only shopped for a short while cos the kids were tired.

HK Trip - Snoopy's World

Day 4 - We took it slow today. Kids woke up at 9.15am and we headed to Sha Tin at New Territories by MTR for Snoopy's World! The New Town Plaza shopping mall is very very big. Dun know where & how to start. In the end, we only shopped at the basement.

Photo opportunities everywhere...

I was surprised they dared to slide down the long slide...

Alicia was hesitant when taking the boat ride. She asked me, "Mummy, this one has slide or not?" Haa... my girl, Mummy is more afraid that u lah!

Lunch at Azabu Sabo - dessert after dessert...