#project3007 - my baby sister gets hitched!

This day has been in planning for yonks, since their lovely and touching proposal in the air. I observed (and helped, some) as the family buzzed with busy-ness and excitement, with things big and small, as they all worked towards the goal of #project3007.


Come actual day, the kids were so excited they got up when the skies were still dark. I cracked my lids open and the time read 6am. *groans I distracted them with TV and breakfast, and we all got a move on an hour later.


At 8am, we made it to the house and I was so happy and excited to see my little sister all dolled up! She looked amazing, like a pretty princess and the house was filled with happiness as aunts and uncles huddled in the home to eat, chat and make merry.


My 3 favourite moments of the morning:


1) Witnessing my sister break down in tears while reading a card written to her by B.
The sister loves gifting (and receiving) and I am not at all surprised when they decided to create this exchange between them on this special day of theirs. To hear the loving words crafted by B was very touching and shows a side of him that I seldom see (he's usually goofy).
2) Witnessing my parents and sister break down in tears during veiling.

Touching moment between them 3

I know my parents felt mixed feelings on this happy occasion, yet wistful that their baby of the family has grown up. Very poignant and as a parent today, I truly get the bond and feelings more. I know my parents feel very proud of their beautiful baby girl and am over the moon for this happy reunion.
3) Witnessing how much fun the groom and his groomsmen had while gate-crashing.
To say that they were having a party specially organised just for them is an understatement. Gotta love their sporting attitudes and spirits! Well done, boys!

FAMILY!
(Hadn't realised it until today that we were all colour-co-ordinated! Totally unplanned #telepathic)

After an enjoyable gate-crashing session, we proceeded to the groom's house, then back to mom's house again for our tea ceremony. No pics were taken during this time, I hope there are nice pics captured by the professional camera.
After lunch, there was some time and I sent the kids home to nap while I prepared to head to the dinner venue earlier for some hair & make-up pampering. During this time, I was trying to concoct my speech.

About this speech - the sister had told me some time ago that I was a segment in their programme. I loved that I was - very honoured - but for some reason, I could not seem to craft it properly. I blame work and plenty of distractions, but I operate on feelings and without being in the right mood, everything that I drafted seemed crap! I was getting annoyed, slightly panicky. The sister and I even had a conversation about this, where she jokingly said, 'is ok, you can do it on the day.'
Well, what do you know? I did end up doing that. It's all the things that made it possible, such as the details of the beautiful night - from the tiny details at dinner venue, the beautiful people at the wedding...

Amazing effort to create labels for guests

Lovely march-in of the father of the bride, with the bride

Siblings! - without the couple

Seahs

Hiao-ing by myself

After snapping pics and observing a touching solemnisation ceremony, I was definitely in the right mood. The random paragraphs I crafted over the past weeks that didn't do it for me, started to fall in place. I wrote new lines, edited existing ones, shifted the sequence of my thoughts... and finally, finally had something I was happy with. While rehearsing, the sister crashed into the room. Ok, HER room.

I love you baby girl

It was a chance meeting meant to be, because it turned out to be the only picture I had with the sister that night, in that little changing area. I left to let her rest and get pretty, while I found another corner to continue practising my speech. I'm happy to say that the result was great! I was happy sharing my love of the couple with everyone present, and I was so proud to be the big sister.

Some pics from the rest of the night:

Handsome page boy

Pretty flower girl

Pic of us, the original 3

Proud papa and grandma

The brother and the sis-in-law

J, sharing his love

2nd march in - look at the lovely gown!

More lovingly crafted details - the kids are on the programme! Almost famous.

The evening was fun-filled, light-hearted, slightly muggy but otherwise great weather. The food was tasty, the guests were appropriately rowdy... all in all, it was a fun and happy night. Nothing could be more fitting for this lovely couple, and I am so pleased and proud of how they managed to work out their issues through their courtship and arrived at this milestone. It's the start of a beautiful journey ahead as a unit of two and I know it'd be an amazing journey ahead!

Congratulations you two! Lots of love...

Cebu, August 2016

It has been many years since I flew out of the country over National Day, having spent it locally celebrating our nation's birthday and bringing the children to catch the parade for several years. This year, we made an exception and did something different.
Why different?
1) We left the country instead of staying
2) We travelled with one child only, never before!
3) The husband signed up for and accomplished an amazing feat of completing his first ever Ironman 70.3 and we are so incredibly proud of him!

Us

Will write more about our week away soon!

Toothless

2nd tooth drop-out!

1000km

It was about 10 years ago, and while I don't remember the date or year clearly, I remember my first paid race was for 'Run for Hope' (or something to that extent) - while I don't remember the name of the run, I do remember the cause. It was a run to gather funds and to support cancer, and it was a 10-km race held at East Coast Park. I had signed up with some friends and the husband.


I hated it. I was gasping, I was out of breath, the husband was encouraging me, trying to be supportive and all I remember was snapping at him and willing him to shut up because I was so, super, duper grumpy! It's safe to declare that it was not a fit period of my life.


I believe I started running at the gym. I was a gym bunny at some points in my life (approximately 2002-2009) where I held membership at the original Planet Fitness) and I enjoyed the group classes tremendously and running was ok and conducted on the treadmill. I liked the control I had knowing the information of what I had accomplished - seeing the distance and time clearly on the machine validated my exercise. I never quite understood why some friends preferred to run 'in the outdoors'. Clocking time built my stamina and I beliee  I then remember another race, my first (& only) 12km race with the husband and his friends; it was a 2XU race and I did it just because I thought I was pretty ready to tackle this. I believe this run was after I had birthed K and before I was pregnant with J. I also remember that by this race, I was not grumpy, not as unfit and did pretty fine.


At some point after I delivered K and before I was pregnant again (2009-2011), I aborted paying for any fitness memberships because I just did not have the time, energy or commitment to stick it out at the gym as before. Instead, I opted to run. I believe I started because I was cheap (no need to pay to run in the open), and I was constrained by the time that I had (random bouts of free time when the child was taken care of/ asleep/ etc) plus I was vain. I was done with being 'pregnant/pregnant fat/post pregnant fat' and wanted to do something about it. So I did. I ran by the canal near my in-law's home where I used to stay with the husband.


Then pregnancy happened (round 2) and I was inactive again for about 1.5years, before I reverted to running for all the same reasons I did before. This time, my body was more accustomed to moving and I did runs with the husband (sometimes like this) and I also started jogging in the mornings with my son, the early riser. I remember using the 'map my run' application to monitor my progress.


I then switched over to use the Nike Running App because it was sleeker and I'm biased towards Nike. I started it in 2014, January and it has been a good run.

January 2014 - July 2016 - 1005km clocked

I was promoted to 'blue'!

The run on 1 July when I crossed the 1000km mark

To more runs, to an able and healthy body, to being happy (hello endorphins!), to being fit.

My cute potato

Getting a haircut

Look at that adorable face of serious concentration!

TGIF! A special 'hen and cock' party for the sister and the soon-to-be BIL

So, this idea was seeded months ago when I was talking to my friends. From idle chatter, it became reality when a bunch of people who love the sister and the soon-to-be BIL got together to celebrate a night of fun, friendship and love! Here's a whole bunch of pics (some poorly taken as a true reflection of how awesome things were!) to remember this amazing night. I had so much fun! And at the end of it, to receive thanks and watch the couple be surprised and have fun too, was truly super!

The hen and the cock (with muscles)

The original three

Boy team of the foofub clan

Serious hen clucking about her dares

Look at her, giggly with happiness :)

The game master

Surprise party - success!

Everyone

Siblings

The night ended with the sister and I slurring our way from RQ to AMK.

I love you so much little sister and am so glad that you had fun. It's the least we can do to be there with you on this special moment in your life.

Counting down to PROJECT3007!

My iron man in training

Next week, our family-minus-one is going away to Cebu. Hooray!
Why? Because the husband is going to race his first ever half-ironman. The boy and I are tagging along to lend support and catch some lovely family time together too.
Some weeks back, the husband did a triathlon and his timing was pretty good!

< 3 hours

Keep training safely, my love. Looking forward!