Lady In The Water

Jaimie had her dips in the pool two times this weekend, on both the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday. Yeah, it's one of those rare weekends where we didn't hop into the car and drive down to town/ a shopping mall/ Changi Airport/ Botanic Gardens etc, and just decided to have stay-at-home afternoons instead.

It was just before the Saturday session that we realised that Jae's inflatable swim vest was lost. Either we had placed it in one super obscure corner in the house that we simply couldn't locate it, or we had left it at the swimming pool during our previous trip there a couple weeks ago.

Without her swim vest, Jae couldn't swim (float, actually) independently. She isn't very good with the swim board (hers takes the form of a chick/duck that looks like the Piyo Piyo character) yet. Unlike the case with the vest, which she'd grown very comfortable with, Jae lacks confidence in handling the swim board. She'd still always demand that we support parts of her (e.g. arms, legs, torso) even when she's clinging on to the swim board with both hands. Also, Jae has yet to develop enough confidence to (voluntarily) submerge her head underwater. She's able to blow bubbles with her mouth just underwater but that's about it. Wonder how those swimming coaches teach timid kids on overcoming their fear of water...

HL, HL and LOL

许多情侣或夫妻之间或多或少都有讲一些废话的。

比如我和老公。我们曾经最讨厌回答的问题，就是“等一下要吃什么？”所以，我们常常都抢着“先发制人”问对方，然后轻松等答案。但是，聪明如我想到了一个废话答案，把烫手山芋抛还给他，就是：“好料。”

于是，我们之间有了“好料”和对比好料的“坏料”这两个常用词。发简讯的时候，为了节省时间，我们也用"HL"来做代号。如：“my colleague treatd me 2 HL dur9 lnch.we hd buffet.”“I m eat9 oats as bf. it's HL.”

今天，老公说因为我最近左痛右痛的很可怜，就要请我吃"HL"。我选择了我最喜欢的香港茶餐厅街头小吃。

结果，我吃的是LOL。这是今天启用的代号：left-over 料.

因为我们两老都在keep fit，所以我们都尽量不要像以前一样“两个人叫三盘”，而改成“三个人叫两盘半”。这两盘半，一盘是老公的，一盘是我和媛媛合着吃的。另外半盘多数是一个小菜，大家一起吃的。每次吃饭都是老公happy地吃，我喂媛媛吃或让她自己吃，看她吃剩多少我才吃。今天，我们在街头茶餐厅，老公叫一个炒面，我叫一个蛋滑河粉，小菜是炸鸡翅。媛媛把所有的河粉和虾吃光光，剩下的是一些蔬菜，粟米心，萝卜和花枝给我。我可怜兮兮地把残羹剩“菜”倒进嘴巴里，半饱又饿不死的。本来是吃HL，结果变成吃LOL。

做这种垃圾桶，我在心理上是有点矛盾的。其实我们可以多点一盘的。可是多点一盘，我们又回到“两人叫三盘”的分量了。我的减肥计划就要倒退了。吃LOL，又觉得很委屈，干嘛要这样对不起自己？可是我又不喜欢浪费食物，不愿意点一盘却只吃半盘。

只好看开一点，告诉自己这是"LOL减肥计划"咯！

On The Issue Of Plastic Bags and Discrimination

I witnessed 2 different incidents regarding plastic bags in supermarkets. One was in NTUC and the other one was in Shop and Save.

A lady in her fifties who did not look like she was a highly educated individual and a Philippino asked for more plastic bags in the 2 respective supermarkets. The cashiers were unhappy that their customers took more plastic bags than they were given and began to be rude to them. Both customers, coincidentally, asked the cashiers the amt they had to pay for their groceries and both cashiers gave the same rude response: "$XXX LOR!" The cashier in the Shop and Save even went to the extend of removing the entire pile of plastic bags hung at the hooks where she could conveniently put the groceries in the bags and placed them near the cash register instead. However, when they turned to the next customer (ie, me), they put on a very professional smile as if nothing ugly had happened 2 seconds ago.

I do appreciate these cashiers' effort to save the earth but I think they have done it at the expense of the reputation of their employers. There are a zillion ways to deal with the situation besides being rude. Also, I cannot help but to think that these 2 cashiers were actually discriminating against certain groups of people. If these 2 cashiers work in outlets whereby the customers were mostly expats or tai-tais, I bet they wouldn't even dare to raise their eyebrow at the customers who took a few more plastic bags, let alone raising their voices.

Those who don't give a damn about saving the earth won't care less about the number of plastic bags they throw away. Those who care will keep the extra plastic bags and recycle them. If I were the cashiers and the customers requested for more plastic bags, I would just let them have them.

In my opinion, these 2 cashiers have more important issues to deal with. (1) Discrimination (2) Customer service.

Then we'll talk about plastic bags.

感动的时刻

膝盖疼痛的问题已经很久了。脚踝肿了一个半星期了还是没消。今天，我买了三隆巴斯药布，把双脚贴得像一个老人一样。唉~~岁月是不留人的。

媛媛看见我的双脚贴上了药布，语气中无限关心地和我进行了下列的对话。

“妈妈，你的脚痛痛?”

“是的。”

“妈妈的脚受伤了？”

“妈妈的脚因为跑步受伤了。”

“妈妈踢到东西吗？”

“没有。”

“妈妈不要跑快快。妈妈小心。”

我抱紧孩子，内心满满的都是感动。

Vivo Playground Again!

We had such a good time during our last playdate at Vivocity that I suggested we do it every school holiday. This time, we had more kids joining in the fun!

It had been raining almost everyday for the past week and we were extremely happy to see the clear sky in the morning today!

Jaimie and I took the MRT (nobody gave up the seat for us, which is not surprising anymore) to Tiong Bahru and then we changed bus 65 to Harbourfront. Her majesty die die must have MacDonalds breakfast so we ate a happymeal and a $2 breakfast before meeting the rest at the playground.

First thing first, take attendance!! In alphabetical order:

CALEB!!! Haven't seen you since our very first meeting at Vi'lage! Still so handsome and cheery.

CHERRLYN!!! Still as beautiful and active as usual.

ELVINA!!! We haven't seen her since the first meeting too! Looking at how much the kids had grown reminds us of how fast time flies!

EUNICE!!! The most active girl in the group. Poor Viana was so tired running after her that she could barely talk during lunch.

EZRA!!! The next Armani model.

JAIMIE!!! *speechless*

RTR!!! The Diva in training.

ZHIYU!!! Welcome!!

Ezra's jie-jie!!! The caring and loving jie-jie who held the children's hands and gave up her seat on the see-saw for the little ones. Such a darling!

We mommies ended up doing more exericse than our kids.

Cherrlyn and Jaimie were not allowed to play in the water (again). Hence they could only look while the rest enjoyed themselves.

Nonetheless, they had fun singing songs together, conducted by Joyce.

Jaimie enjoyed herself very much in the playground with the company of her friends.

The sky turned very dark at 10.40am and we had to pack up and go for an early lunch at Marche. It began to pour heavily even before we reached the restaurant.

Jaimie didn't like the rosti I ordered for her. Since she had a late breakfast, I reckon that she could skip lunch. She made such a big fuss on the taxi when we were going home because she was extremely tired but I did not allow her to sleep in the cab. She knocked out almost immediately after she shower and milk.

Ladies, I am looking forward to another playdate with you all and so is Jaimie!

p/s: Do you know why girls like to go to the toilet together? Because their mommies trained them to do so since young!!

A Song That Melted My Heart

Jaimie started singing 《天下的妈妈都是一样的》 while we were on the road the other day. Tears just welled up my eyes when I heard my daughter singing the song, even though she may not know what is the meaning of the lyrics.

童言无忌

昨天到家婆家吃饭，席间媛媛喝水时弄湿了衣服，我的家婆便帮媛媛换衣服。

家婆开玩笑地说媛媛是“大鼻子”。媛媛不甘示弱，马上说：“大奶-奶！”

We're going to Fly!

I just booked our 4 days 3 nights holiday to KL and Sunway Lagoon with the same travel agency Astee travelled with last year.

Because we changed our minds about bringing Jaimie to Hong Kong this year, we made it up by bringing her on a REAL aeroplane to KL. At least we can fulfill our promise to her on the "flying on an aeroplane" part.

It's a very short trip and a very short flight. This will be the "warm up" trip for Jaimie before we bring her for longer holidays and on longer flights.

Wooo... I am so looking forward to mid of next month!

JAIMIE'S FIRST PROFESSIONAL HAIRCUT

I am sorry but I just had to use all caps for the post title because THIS IS THE POST I HAVE BEEN DYING TO WRITE FOR AGES!!!

Don't worry. It's not the infamous VU Haircut. =_= It IS a professional haircut at Junior League. After dinner at our favourite eating place, Qi Ji popiah at Shaw Towers, we walked over to Suntec City. When we passed by Junior League, Jaimie saw a little boy getting his hair cut without any fuss and the boy was watching Wheels on the Bus, one of Jaimie's favourite VCD. She stopped to watched both the boy and the VCD as the little girl now is currently very fond of looking at other younger kids and talking to them.

We took the chance and asked her if she wished to get her hair cut at Junior League. She shook her head but it was not as vigorous as the previous times we asked her whenever we walked past a hairdresser's shop. I told her she would get sweets and balloons after the haircut and that melted her immediately. SHE NODDED HER HEAD.

Without much hesitation, I quickly put her on the chair and she started to cry. Hmmm... she had tears in her eyes in the picture below but it couldn't show quite clearly.

The aunty hairdresser quickly doubled the number of sweets in the little basket she gave to Jaimie and the satisfied little girl grabbed on to the basket while watching Wheels on the Bus on the little TV screen, undistracted.

Aunty asked if I planned to keep her hair long. I said no and she suggested giving Jaimie a bob look. Whatever... just cut her hair lah. I am dying to take pictures. This is more important. :D

Jaimie was sitting quite still during the haircut and didn't fuss at all. I was so pleased.

And we were done!

This was Jaimie before the haircut.

This was her new look: She looked like Ah Boy with her hair tucked behind her ears.

We went to Gelare for ice creams after the haircut. Jaimie was happy with her prize-- an orange balloon and a Tweety Bird sticker. I didn't want her to take the sweets as I dislike Jaimie to eat sweets. Jaimie said she liked the haircut experience and she would visit them again. Hohohohoho~~ I was happy to hear that!
Sideview:
Front view:
I was given a coupon from Junior League that there would be a free haircut with every 8 coupons collected.

Let me see... Jaimie cut her hair once every 2.5 years. That means the free haircut will be... er... when she is 22.5 years old!!! GASP!

L-O-V-E

Jae turned 31 months 2 days ago. It wouldn't be for some time before she joins us in attendance of a Mayday concert.

She sure is primed to go for one right now, though. Just look at her level of enthusiasm - high-energy participation which puts many Mayday concert-goers to shame!

Jaimie's Mathematics and Logic

Me: Jaimie, you can only drink half a bottle of yakult. Because you will cough if you take too much cold drinks. You must share with Mommy, ok?

Jaimie: Nah. (Passed me the half full bottle of yakult)

Me: GOOOD GIRL!

Jaimie: (turning to Clement) Papa yakult! Drink half! Share with Jaimie!

到底谁应该尴尬？

之一：

在电梯里，有一个搬运工人没有穿鞋子走了进来。
媛媛：妈妈，为什么这个人没有穿鞋？
我：啊~这个~
搬运工人：（充耳不闻，头也不回）


之二：

在楼下的沙发，有一个妈妈带着一个头发稀少的婴儿。
媛媛：（走靠近，发现新大陆似的打量小baby）爸爸！这个baby botak 的！
老公：你不要讲人家啦！你以前也是botak的！


之三：

和一个陌生的男子共乘电梯。
媛媛：（走靠近男子，娇声娇气地）gor-gor，你要去哪里？
男子：（笑笑，没有回答）
媛媛：（提高声量）gor-gor，你要去哪里！
男子：噢，我要去开信箱~~


之四：

咖啡店。
媛媛看见隔壁桌有一个老伯在伸懒腰，然后把手湾起来枕在头后面。
媛媛模仿老伯的动作，但是因为手不够长，所以双手卡在头顶上。
媛媛：（看着老伯）喔喔喔！大公鸡！！
我连忙低头扒饭。

Family Day at Tanjong Beach

Last year, the Keppel Offshore & Marine Family Day was held at Siloso Beach, Sentosa. This year, they've decided to do it at Tanjong Beach instead. As before, we got tickets from FIL so we can bring the little girl to have some fun by the seaside.

To beat the crowd, we headed straight for the event shortly after Jaimie got up from bed. Our strategy proved wise, since we found out upon reaching that parking spaces at Tanjong Beach carpark was quite limited indeed.

Besides the sand play, and getting a cute pink-and-purple flower balloon sculpture, there wasn't much for Jaimie to do, really. The merry-go-round and mini train ride they put up last year weren't available this time round. Those game stalls had super long queues, and weren't suitable for kids of Jaimie's age in any case. So, after tucking in the junk food (Old Chang Kee fish balls, chicken nuggets, KFC, ice cream, kachang puteh, pop corn etc.), we decided we've had enough intake of Vitamin D and headed for home shady home.

媛媛的月亮 (2)

昨晚....

我：媛媛，来小便。然后睡觉了。
媛：（哭闹着）不要！我不要小便啦！
我：哦，媛媛这样子不乖了。爸爸跟月亮说，叫她去找别的孩子，不找媛媛啰。
媛：噢噢噢，不要...sorry...
我：ok...（望着窗外）月亮啊，媛媛知道错了，她要听话了。你回来，好不好？嗯，嗯，好的。谢谢你！媛媛，爸爸跟月亮说好了。她说只要媛媛听话，她就会继续陪着媛媛。

媛媛睁大两颗眼睛直盯着我，稍皱着眉头，严肃的说道：

"爸爸，月亮没有嘴巴的。"

我一时感到错愕，不知该怎么回应，便随便丢了一句："诶...有啊，爸爸有听到月亮跟爸爸说的话啊..."

很显然的，这招并没奏效。 (是谁说三岁小孩容易骗的？)

"爸爸，月亮没有嘴巴的。没有嘴巴。"，媛媛穷追不舍，双手还比着“没有”的手势。

我又好气又好笑，只觉得完完全全，彻彻底底地被这小妮子打败了。

"好啦，好啦！你赢啦！" （有一点恼羞成怒）

"爸爸，月亮没有嘴巴的..."

妈妈，救命啊！！

[后记：我应该跟她说 "Hello Kitty 没有嘴巴，不过她也会说话。对吗？"]

We Didn't See Michael Myers

We were thrilled when we received Meekfreek's invitation to the Halloween party. This is the first time we celebrate Halloween and it was quite exciting for us. Clement even set the mood by watching the movie HALLOWEEN in the afternoon before we set off to Meekfreek's place. =_=

Meekfreek did a wonderful job decorating the house in Halloween theme. As usual, she was very good at organising parties and the decos are always very tastefully done.

Here are the children:

Jaimie in her angel wings. She had got a pitch fork too but her hands were quite full to carry the fork around.Here's Isabella, the pirate of the Carribbean.

That's Cherrlyn, another confused angel who cannot decide between a wand and a pitch fork, or a halo and devil's horns.

Vincent was the goblin.
Eunice was a 2-faced monster who was quite afraid of monsters.

These 2 little angels are Diana's girls, Isabel and Faith.

So you see, we have 1 pirate, 1 goblin, 1 monster and 4 angels!! The angels outnumbered the baddies!

There's a little music and movement session conducted by Jeff (who else!). Clement brought along Jaimie's $20 keyboard to join in the fun.

Yummy yummy yummy! That's only PART of the feast!

The basket of treats for the treat or trickers. We waited patiently after dinner for them to come. When we heard "trick or treats", we all rushed out to see the children who were all dressed up (and adults too!) asking for candies. Unfortunately, we didn't see anybody dressed up as Michael Myers.

It was such a fun party!