Kiddy Food Prints

Today is Teachers' Day.

It's also a date that we have been looking forward to over the past weeks. For one, it is the week of the September school holidays so Angie doesn't have to go to work. Secondly, I am on leave today. Thirdly, we have a date with forum buddies to bring our kiddos to Vivocity for a gathering cum art session. Initiated by Joyce, this session involved having the kids make prints, with foodstuff.

Held at the 3rd-storey rooftop, the very colourful activity kept the kids occupied for an entire hour. After each of them have completed their respective masterpieces, we all adjourned for a nice lunch at Asian Kitchen. A short but enjoyable visit to the play court followed, and then it was time to say goodbye. Looking forward to the next gathering. Must remember to get an apron for Jaimie~!


We were the first to arrive. Didn't have to wait long, though. Joyce and Vivian showed up barely 5 minutes later.


The idea is to get the kids to make prints using these all-natural printing stamps.


The kids getting 'hands-on' with the vege cut-outs and water colours.


Ezra gets the prize for the neatest piece of art work.


"What? Ezra got the prize? Not me?"


"As long as get my soya bean drink, I don't really care who gets what prize."


"What do you mean I have "lady's fingers"?! Oh, you mean this piece of vege here?"


RR arrived only after the rest of the kids have completed their art pieces. She did have a good time with her friends at the playground, though.


Fun with food and colours.


Jae's work. She is inclined towards the abstract style.


Post-lunch fun time at the play court.

This is the way we brush our teeth

媛媛的语气助词

最近我迷上了做便当，看一下八月的文章，都是在讲便当！是时候记录一下媛媛的近况了。

媛媛这两个星期以来的口头禅，是使用“吧”为语气助词。

“媛媛，该睡觉了！”“不要吧！”“媛媛，我们走咯！”“不好吧！”“媛媛，是这个吗？”“不是吧！”

我们家里都没有人用“吧”为语气助词，看来，是托儿所的中国老师影响了媛媛的语言使用，吧！

在我们看来，这不是什么坏事。跟不同的人学习不同的语言与用词，自己的语言才会变得更加丰富。

语言，本来就是活的。活学活用，是内化语言的不二法门。向越多的人学习，自己就进步得越快。要学习一个语言，就必须不断地模仿，丰富了自己的容量之后才加以创造。至少我教作文时是采用这样的原则。

SAFRA Singapore Bay Run 2008

The 10km non-competitive run was for him and the 6km fun run was for her.

We took the MRT to Cityhall in the cool and breezy morning. The 10km run would start at 7.30am and the 6km run was to start at 8.30am. Clement told me to join in the 10km runners so that I do not have to wait for an hour for the run to begin and he need not wait for an hour for me. I was hesitant because I had never done 10km before and I felt a little shy to branch off to the 6km route while the others continue with the 10km route. In the end, I decided to play by the ear. I did not wear my number tag because I do not want to let everybody know I started the race early, lah. There we were, near the Esplanade, where the starting point was.

So many people took part in the race. For the 10km catagory, there were runners as old as my father and runners as young as 6-7 years old. There was also a middle-aged man pushing his wife on a wheelchair while he completed his 10km. So touching...

I felt good at the 6km mark. I ran on for another km. Still feeling good. And I went on. 8km. Not too bad, can go another km. 9km, 10km... YES!!! I COMPLETED 10KM IN 1hr 23mins!!!!!!!!!!! The time didn't matter to me. It was the completion of the race that was important! I did it! Clement reached the finishing line at a timing of 1hr 9mins. He was unhappy with his physical condition today.

We met up after the run.

A cold isotonic drink was much welcomed.
We said we'll have Carl's Junior as a treat after the run. So off we went to the outlet in Marina Sq after we collected our goodie bag. By the way, I had never seen a goodie bag with only ONE BOTTLE OF MINERAL WATER inside. I had to walk on the super muddy grass patch to queue up for the "goodie bag" when I could have taken unlimited supply of mineral water and 100 plus at the water point. *roll eyes*
We shared a Super Bacon meal, changed the fries to potato waffle and added on 2 more side dishes. YUMMY!!!!!!!!! The burgers from Carl's Juinior are the B-E-S-T!!!!! Clement couldn't wait to sink his teeth into the "Crispy and delicious" (as stated on the onion ring box) onion ring and waffle potatoes. Don't count the calories. Just enjoy!

至少还有你

最近工作忙

压力也大

虽然不至于焦头烂额

但有时还真的觉得有点喘不过气

所幸的是

我知道

在我忙了一天后

我还有你们

在那儿等我

回家

亲子面包 #2

星期天早上通常我们都会到小贩中心用早餐。这个星期天没有出门，因为老娘要争取时间改很多该死的作业。于是，我们就在家里解决早餐。上次做的亲子面包，媛媛吃得津津有味。这次我如法炮制，再做一个亲子面包来……呃……拉近亲子关系。

这是sunshine面包的香兰(pandan)口味的面包。虽然没有比杂谷的健康，但是胜在味道和色泽。这次做的是小白兔和小熊造型。用黑芝麻“点睛”，素培根(baco)装个樱桃小嘴。

这是老公的“爱心”早餐。

每次看到媛媛“哇！”的一声之后迫不及待地研究她的食物，我就感到十分快乐。

那些女孩教我的事 Part II

This is the first (of many more to come, I'm sure) chinese poem my girl has taught me. She learnt this from her CCC recently, and recited it to us for as many times as we needed to memorise the lines and be able to sing along with her.

I'm lovin' it!

红红太阳天空照
白白云儿满天飘
黄黄花儿开满园
绿绿草儿微微笑

(Btw, Part I is here)

What Do They Do At the Beach?

Story one...

Eunice: It's should be like this...

Jaimie: No no no. It should be like that!

Eunice: I told you it is like THIS lah!

Jaimie: Says who? Like THAT!!

Eunice: F-I-N-E. You do your own, I do mine.

Jaimie: Ok lor!!!!!!!!

Izzy: Can't they see I am the one doing it the right way?

Story two...

Vivian: Son, do you know that the harder you pry open this fruit, the higher the chance it will turn into gold?

Ezra: Never heard of such a thing, mom.

Vivian: Oh look what we've got! A chiku! Better than gold!

Ezra: ...

Story three...
Iden: Ah-ha! I can lift up a truck with one hand! Maybe I should take part in the weight-lifting in the Olympics!

Ilis: Wake up, gor-gor.

亲子面包

搬家的时候，我真的以为我不会踏进厨房半步。所以家里没有油，没有米，没有饭锅，没有酱，没有盐，没有糖……什么都没有。因为十年前刚成家的时候，天真地以为自己会浪漫地为老公下厨，所以买了一大堆厨房用具。结果勒？全都积了灰尘。趁搬家，把它们全都清理掉。

孩子成长的过程，我还是一个懒惰的妈妈。我用一个电子锅就搞定她的膳食。她能够吃外面的食物时，我就把电子锅收起来了。

结果，因为网友LZMommy的关系，我觉得为孩子做便当是非常愉快的一件事。于是，我又踏进了厨房，在厨房找到了快乐和满足。下厨，不再是一件差事而已。

昨天晚上，媛媛因为肚子不舒服，所以晚餐吃得少，晚上九点多时要求吃面包。如果是从前，我就会帮她涂一片面包之后就随便撕成小块给她就算了。昨天，我把面包切成了星状，媛媛快乐地把所有的面包吃下，还要求多一片。这次，我印出吉蒂猫的图案给她。她看到盘子上的吉蒂猫，“哇”了一声，赶快端正坐好，把一只一只的小猫咪往嘴里塞。

看到媛媛吃得那么开心，我也有很大的满足感。

今天早上，媛媛说她要吃“star”的面包。这次，我还给小星星加上了眼睛和嘴巴。媛媛又是一轮的快乐。同样是一片面包，大家的心情就完全不一样了！

Artist At Work

Jaimie was unwell since yesterday so we didn't bring her out today. To keep her occupied at home, we took out all the art materials we have at home and let her do some drawing.

Here's the little artist using magic pens to doodle.

She likes to do some stamping too.

Today she learns how to "roll" out the prints.

The magic painting book that needs only water for the colours to appear.

I bought the aqua doodle mat for her some time back but only brought it out to play today.

Happy National Day

Jaimie, Papa and Mama wishes Singapore a very happy 43rd birthday today!

Little Miss Polite...Not

For the past week, I'd been the one to usher Jae to bed after she's done with her pre-bedtime readings and/ or TV shows (more often than not, this'd be her Maisy VCDs). On most of these nights, mommy had been busy with either household chores or rushing some work-related matters. While I'm more than happy to have some one-to-one bonding time with my little girl, this sentiment is at times not reciprocated. Just two nights ago, we had the following exchange as she was settling down in her allocated position in the centre of our bed...

Me: Come Jaimie, it's sleepy time. 来，爸爸陪你睡觉。

Jae: 媛媛要妈妈陪，不要爸爸陪! 爸爸 go to the sofa. Go!

Me: Jaimie, how could you ask 爸爸 to go off like that? That is very rude. You'd not be a good girl if you behave rudely. Do you know that?

Jae: Sorry, 爸爸. (*lowering her voice and in a gentle tone*) 爸爸, go to the sofa...pleeeeze?

Me: *faint*

We have to have them

I suggested to Clement that we would go shopping in the afternoon with an agenda in mind. I have to get my bento making tools today. I feel that I NEED to get them today. And so we landed at VivoCity.

These were the items I picked up from Daiso. I literally had to pull back my arm, which involuntarily reached for anything that was related to bento making and put them into the shopping basket. It was a fierce battle between the mind and the heart. Anyway, I haven't had a rice cooker yet so I guess these things will be stored away for the time being until I buy one.

Jaimie was happy looking at the sea...
playing at the playground (where she kept saying "ZiNi mei-mei, Cherrlyn mei-mei, Ezra gor-gor) ...

and lying on the sofa bed in Toys R Us...she feels that she has to have the sofa bed. And Daddy Genie granted her wish. Now we have a baby sofa bed at home.

How to get your parents to bring you for a swim.

Method A: Protest

1. Oppose all other suggestions your parents made. For eg, "Playground?"" NO!", "Shopping mall?"" NO!" "Library? NO!"
2. Do not leave any room for negotiation.
3. Wail if necessary.

Method B: Do a Tribal Dance with a Mask

1. Chant: "I want to go swimming" 10000 times in the most annoying way you can.
2. Dance around your parents with your mask and make sure your chanting is loud enough for them to notice.
   

Method C: Jedi Mind Trick

1. Put on your Jedi robe.
2. Go up to your parents and say it in a matter-of-fact manner: "You will bring me to the swimming pool. "
   

Your hard work will be rewarded.

In Preparation

There is a famous quote which I always use: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

So I must carefully plan the things I am going to buy so that I can make beautiful bentos like the ones LZMommy and Meekfreek made.

Step number 1, buy Bento boxes.

The Mickey Mouse bento box was a souvenior from my buddy HappyPig when she visited Hong Kong Disney last year. I bought the Keroppi bento box and the Hello Kitty bento box when I went to the hawker centre for lunch 1 hour ago. They cost only $4.50 each.

Step number 2: .....

Errrrmmmm.... enlighten me, please. What should I buy?

Indian Mama

This was my first time wearing an Indian sari!

I was one of the organising committee members for an event held in school last night and we had to dress in Indian costume. On Wendnesday, I went to Little India to try get myself an Indian coustume.

Initially I thought I could just pick one Punjabi suit easily off the rack. However, I think I didn't go to the right places to find one that was reasonable priced and looked nice. Well, it was just a costume to me and I was not willing to spend more than $50 on it. The $30-$40 range of the shops I went into had very poor worksmanship. The $100+ range exceeded my budget.

After spending an afternoon in the shops looking at the Punjabi suits, I gave up. I decided that I would just get myself a sari blouse and borrow a sari from my Indian colleague.

The Thai-silk sari my colleage lent me was beautiful. I looked graceful in it when I wasn't walking. Well, you see, the lady who helped me put on the sari tied it a little too long for my height. I kept stepping on the sari when I was walking. So I had to lift up the sari when I walked.

I should have bought some bangles and borrowed my mom's thick gold chain with the big coin pendant to complete the look.

With my colleague Ai Wei.

3 Zombies

The cold turkey is painful to Jaimie and it is torturing for Clement and myself.

Last night was the 5th night that Jaimie went to bed at night without her pacifier. It was the worst night so far and it was made worse when this week was an absolutely crazy week for both Clement and I at work. Plus, we already haven't been sleeping well for the past 4 nights.

Jaimie was very angry and upset in her sleep last night. She refused to listen to us and kicked a fuss out of everything. For more than 5 times last night, she leashed out her frustration through crying. Both Clement and I had an extremely long and hard day yesterday but we had to (or at least I had to) control ourselves for not screaming and shouting at the little one. For the past few nights, Jaimie would sleep ok after some midnight milk. The trick didn't work last night. Sigh~~!!
This morning, one zombie with super dark circles was driving the car, another zombie with a headache was yawning away in the front passenger seat and one grouchy zombie was strapped to the child seat.

Today is another long and hard day for us. I hope Jaimie will spare a thought for us and sleep better tonight...