Tantrum

Face crumpling

Getting angsty

Bawl

Cracks me up seeing this *snigger

Five years

2007: It all began this fateful dive trip, where I was awarded with the most elaborate, touching and once-in-a-lifetime proposal.

24 March 2008, 5 years ago

December 2008, honeymoon to Hokkaido. This was the most memorable and yummiest meal we ate ever.

2009: blessed with our first child, Kate Seah

2012: blessed with our second child, Jake Seah

TGIF

The husband made some new friends on his recent solo adventure travel to Hanoi. And he's opened our home to these new friends who are in Singapore for one night. Interesting, innit?

And just some happy pics to start of this lovely Friday. Bring on the weekend already!

Sleeping princess

Cheeky prince

Bangkok - my birthday treat

Day one: Flying to Bangkok and shopping

The day started very early for the husband and I, as we had a 9am flight to catch. We were lucky though, that we had our very own TigerConnect Chauffeur Service (thanks to the boyfriend!) and we made it to the airport in good time. We had time for a simple breakfast before setting off.

Upon arrival, we took the train and reached the hotel at MBK Shopping Center in record time. It was cheap and efficient, though we encountered several flights of stairs where the husband had to lug the luggage up. So lucky that I have my own personal muscleman porter.

We headed straight out to Platinum Mall, which came highly recommended. The husband and I shopped efficiently, with us going our separate ways and meeting up at specific timings. This worked well for us both as we could do our own thing in our own time, no pressure.

My reapings from day one were a ton of accessories. I bought plenty of earrings, bracelets, necklaces. I was taken aback by the sheer amount of shops and decided not to pressure myself to buy all at once. So truly, I was pleased with my restraint. We headed back to the hotel after shopping (we took a tuktuk) and the husband hit the gym, while I went to do my nails. It was still early after all that so we headed out in search for supper. We chanced upon a boxing match and that's where I ended the day tasting the best fried pork from some random stall and soothed my aching feet with a foot/shoulder/neck massage by the roadside.

Our hotel was located at the National Stadium BTS (their version of the public transport train) and we chanced upon an International Muay Thai Championship taking place. 

Day two: Gym, shopping

I woke up comfortably at 9am and hit the gym! Totally made me happy. My workout was simple - warm up for 20mins followed by weights. I was aided by a helpful personal trainer who helped to break my arms - ok, fine, so they didn't break but they sure ached a lot for 3 whole day. The hotel that we stayed at - Pathumwan Princess Hotel - boasted the best gym in Bangkok and I must concede that it was indeed spacious and impressive.

Happy that I hit the gym and happy that I used the facilities (& so did the husband).

 After my happy workout (cos the workout made me happy), the husband and I headed out to grab lunch. We checked out Terminal 21 where the husband happily discovered some fantastic buys so that I actually spent time brewing a cuppa while the husband shopped away!

Coffee break at Terminal 21

It was at this point in time that we planned to head to Chatuchak, but felt that we ought to draw some cash so that we would be able to shop more comfortably. And so began our saga - we headed to one, two, a total of four-five ATM machines in the mall and each time, the machine spat both our cards out without the cash. It exasperated us totally and we were at a loss. After some checks, we learnt that all local banks had stopped allowing overseas withdrawal of cash without prior request. After spending about an hour of our time muddling over this, we made the decision to go ahead to Chatuchak with whatever cash we had with us, while shelving the call that we need to make back to Singapore to activate the ATM card withdrawal. 

On the way to Chatuchak, we were held back by this lorry crossing the road. It stopped traffic across 8 lanes in two directions.

Despite having been to Bangkok twice before (many years ago), this was my first time at Chatuchak. It's huge! It's hot! It's crowded! And I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The husband and I spent 2 hours shopping and I was one happy girl dizzy with excitement & adrenaline when we met up 2.5hours later.

Dinner - the husband & his favourite noodle soup

Happy me - abuzz from shopping

We lugged our loot back to the hotel where the husband hit the gym. I spent the time relaxing, going through my buys. 

 

Chillaxing - wine, internet, music. Bliss.

The husband and I hit the streets again after his workout and we explored the streets of Siam Square which was just opposite our hotel. We then ended the day with a full body massage which ended (again) at midnight. Shiok.

Day 3: Chatuchak & in search of a Japanese restaurant

I started the day by going to the gym again - hoorah! After which, we set off for lunch, after which we were set to take on Chatuchak again, round two!

Now. The husband and I travelled to Bangkok 6 years ago and we chanced upon a Japanese restaurant then. 6 years later, the husband was still very keen to go back again because he remembered it to be the bomb. So off we went in search of this restaurant.

I have to go look for the pic, but we both remember taking a same picture at this same spot 6 years ago, with MBK in the background. Now if I can only locate that picture.... (this was taken enroute to Siam Discovery Centre).

Believe it or not, within the first 10 minutes of our search, we found the place! It was still in exactly the same spot but it was super crowded! I think we must have walked in at opening hour then (6 years ago!) cos it was lunch time when we got there and it was a very, very, long wait. After some idle waiting, the husband and I made the calculated decision to abandon lunch plan and head to Chatuchak instead. So we switched  plans and headed to Chatuchak where we had a simple lunch followed by the whole afternoon of shopping. It was soo hot and I felt giddy (from adrenaline & heat) and I swear I got lost at one point in time. I ended up in some random corner of the market with pets. And plenty of odd ornaments. So I slowly walked all about again and accomplished plenty of shopping before the husband and I met up. Just for the record, the husband was late in reaching our designated meeting place and freaked me out for half an hour. It was funny (only in hindsight) that when I laid eyes on the husband, he was carrying a door. Yup, he had gone to purchase a swing-door for our house. Haha!

We headed back to the restaurant to grab a number, and headed back to the hotel to wash off the entire's day worth of grime from Chatuchak. I missed the opportunity to do a caricature, just for the record (because of the husband being late). After washing up, and me regaining my composure having thought that I'd truly gotten lost and abandoned, the husband and I had a thoroughly full dinner where we gorged ourselves silly on Japanese food. 

After-dinner plans were simple. We were due to fly back early the next day so we headed back to the hotel and packed. (The sister and the boyfriend must receive credit mention for estimating the correct weight that we'd require because our entire check-in luggage was exactly 35kg.) Then we finished our bottle of wine and watched (part of) a movie. 

Day 4: Going home

 

We reached the airport with just enough time to bubble wrap our furniture, check in and head to the gates with no time for anything, except for a slight bicker with some PRC who totally cut our Q while clearing the customs. How rude.

The trip was finished off by a pleasant surprise with Kate welcoming us back at Changi Airport! It was truly funny cos while waiting for our luggages at the belt, I was eyeing this cute little girl and thinking to myself "oh I'm going to see my baby soon!" and only when we walked closer to the doors did the husband and I both realise simultaneously "Hey that's Kate Seah!" Hahaha Thanks to the sister who provided the father with our flight details, who took the effort to bring Kate out on a train ride all the way to receive us.

Totally enjoyed the getaway with the husband. Much love.

Dear husband, thank you for gifting me this holiday on my birthday. It has been an awesome time that we've been married to each other all these years.
Love, me.

Birthday

I'm counting my blessings this 33rd birthday. I'm thankful for my healthy, beautiful kids who bring me so much joy. They are blessings and I'm thankful for the lessons they teach me daily. 

My beautiful family

The husband promised me a birthday cake every year and it's been 9 years that he's kept his promise to me. I delight not-so-secretly at this tradition of ours. Every year, I look forward to him spoiling me on this day even though I know it'd happen; but then again, one can never be too sure. So again, I count my blessings and am thankful for this man who loves me and whom I love with all my heart. 

To the sister: thank you, for everything. I cannot express my thanks and love enough. Here's to more silliness, laughter and fun times always. 

And just for kicks, here's how my birthday went last year - my first with a newborn and in confinement. Pics here.

Birthday - part 3

The husband gifted me a holiday to Bangkok #onholiday #luckyme

Birthday - part 2

My second birthday cake - it was Thursday, my last working day before my birthday and I was taken by surprise when my colleagues rounded up singing "Happy Birthday"! 

Rookies

My mom calls me.

Mom: Any plans for next week? Kate is on school holidays, is she?
Me: *silence*
...
Me: really?

I make a quick call to the school and discover *gasp* it is indeed school holidays for a week next week!

I send a message to the husband about this and his response, an accurate reflection of my shock & disbelief, "Whaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A sudden discovery, rookie parents at this thing called school & its time-tabling - quite laughable really, considering the scale of tasks and responsibilities the husband and I both handle at work.

Epic fail.

Birthday - part 1

Soursop #hiphopmom birthday cake. This was after we all goosed ourselves silly by the best steamboat ever, lovingly prepared by Mom #momsbest

& my first birthday present from the sister & the boyfriend #blessed

Mondays are more bearable

When you have sweethearts waving you goodbye like this (ok, so this was a shot I snapped of Jake waving goodbye to the husband, but it's still relevant cos I got to bask in his cuteness for half hour after that)

Friday

No pictures for today, didn't mange to do so before I left for work. But I just wanted to say that the husband is back from his solo adventure trip and the family is together again.

Love

Thursday morning

It looks like they are at a rave, or something exciting like that. In actual fact, Kate had said "this is gym class" so both of them were just being active on the bed.
At this moment when the pic was taken, Jake was on a mission to reach the curtains/window, & Kate had just stood up from the prone position; not sure why she looked like she was rocking away. Regardless, this morning was a lot more fun than usual because the children had both finished their breakfast and were playing in the room before I left home. 

Wednesday morning

Little girl sweet in slumber

Tuesday morning

Breakfast at home.
The husband commented that the kids are forever eating (not true, I say. Just happens that their eating is untimely captured on film) and Jake looks like he's being caught red-handed eating. #insensitivefather

Monday morning

#workingmotherwoes

Flashback

Just because I felt like it.
Re-visiting some past pics - this was taken when we were on our honeymoon in December 2008.