My little sayang

Some days, I just wish to lay down and be hugged. And to know that I'm her choice of comfort, brings so much responsibility and warmth and love, it's nearly impossible to put into words properly. I love you with all my heart, sweetheart. 

Kate's book of "Community Helpers"

As Kate progresses in school at the grand, mature age of 4.5 years, she chances upon big words like (from the sister) "decorated" and they have activities the likes of "show and tell" at school. My little girl is so confident and chatty, she has no issues with it at all. In fact, she loves school and doing her work and I cannot describe the pride I feel for her. 

This term, she's been tasked to do a show-and-tell piece on "community helpers". Parents are allowed to help and with the guidance she's already received from school, she came up with all the content on her own. I guided her with spelling and some sentences only. 

Cover page - Community Helpers (by) Kate Seah

Policeman. Teacher.

Cleaner. Postman.

Cook. Nurse.

Fire-fighter.

Sunshine, balloons and a big space

Simple ingredients for a happy, sunny Sunday. The kids knocked out for a good nap afterwards and while we were all pretty sticky and sweaty from the heat, it felt good. 

Little Tyler, Big sister K and Buddy J

Loving the happy, solid colours of my loves in the pic

Spending time with favourite yiyi

First, you melt the butter and knock in an egg.

Then you mix the dough. 

Then you scoop them out into little blobs onto the baking tray

Put it into the oven and wait (in this case) 13-15 minutes

Cookies are done!

Next, you cool them (with a mini fan, as demonstrated) to expedite the cooling down so you can transfer them to a serving plate.

It was nice, spending time with the sister, as always. She made the effort to block our time this evening and I'm glad we hung out. While I call the "first" step above "first", I lied. The honest first step was us going to the supermarket to buy pre-mixed cookie dough. It's cheat but we wanted to do the exercise for the kids anyway so it totally met our brief! I think that it's not right to claim that we baked the cookies if we really just bought the cookie mix. But if the kids are involved, then anything goes. There aren't "rules" anymore. Hah!

Thanks for the time, together, favourite yiyi. And this is why you're our #favouriteyiyi.

Crossing 200

The first run on record for me was  on 14 January 2014. In 29 runs, since then, I have crossed the 200km mark. Have kept to my resolution of running at least once a week, am happy with this. The month of May coming up will be a pretty rough one for me, with work already known to avalanche. I hope I'll keep at this. I have my half-Sundown taking place 31 May and I wish to tackle it well. 

Pretty cupcakes by my firstborn

Title: Handmade Pastries
Lesson objective: In this new term, the children are exploring the food theme which allows them to use modelling clay to create their own cupcakes, tarts and other variety of pastries for the first project. In the subsequent projects, they will learn to create an illustration based on the "Stone Soup" story and a poster on different types of ice-cream and sweet treats. 

In this second term of school, Kate started art class. She requested to join this new curriculum because she heard of her friends taking the class. So when we received the slip of classes for signing up last term, I discussed this with her and she told me she wanted to do it. And so we signed her up. 

It's only been 3 weeks and during this time, she told me what she did in class. 

"Mommy, we make cupcake you know? But only the bottom."

"Mommy, tomorrow we will decorate the cupcake."

"Mommy, I do rainbow you know! It's very nice."

"Mommy, I made cupcake but cannot eat. It's bluff only."

Kate's masterpiece. Her favourites are the rainbow cupcake (bottom right) and the colourful green/yellow/red cupcake (bottom left).

I love her enthusiasm at wanting to take on art class, of how she shares what she does with me, and finally how proud she is when she brings her work home.

My little girl's growing up so quickly! I'm so proud of her.

De-cluttering

I have been in de-clutter mode lately, it seems. I turned my storeroom about and made it a lot more bearable (in my opinion) last Friday, when I had time on a Public Holiday. And due to circumstances at work, I was forced to pack and shift. 

After more than a week of not being in my regular seat, I came back to it and started to tidy up properly. 

It feels weird, change. Liberating yet wistful. I think the first step is to physically throw things out; now I gotta work on the brain. Out with the rubbish, in with the priorities!

My birthday bouquet which I threw out, because it no longer has a space to sit in. I had to take a picture to remember its beauty and the love behind it. 

Sandwiches for everyone!

The simple act of piecing their own sandwich together, layering cheese, ham & tomato between bread.  Empowers them so much & it's too cute!

Happy birthday, Momm

We love you so much and I know we take you for granted so much of the time, but I really cannot begin to express my heartfelt love and gratitude at all the things you have done for us, & the "sorrys" I have to say when I broke your heart. I really love you mom, and I'm so glad that you're on holiday now having a ball of a time on your special day. 

No child was hurt...

... in the process of bringing this stack of mahjong paper home!

Kate's a very kind child and she's being taught well in school. She'll come about and wish to help out and I noticed this especially so in the past two weeks where I've had to be hands on with the chores at home. Everytime she sees me hanging up the laundry, she'll want to help put it up/fold the clothes or something. I allow her to help and am pleased because it's such an endearing, genuine act of wanting to help. And now that I think about it, she does seem to offer to help take bags of groceries when she's in a good mood. (Note to self: should remind her to "be good" when she throws her toys about/ does not drop her soiled clothes into the laundry basket)

This morning, she wanted to help carry this huge roll of paper. My plan of bringing the kids to the park was washed out by the rain so I decided that they can do painting instead. So off we went to get a huge wad of paper (this was 50 sheets of mahjong paper) and it was so amusing and heartening watching Kate help me with it. I especially love the shot of her doing the 马步 - too funny & cute!

Mothers are best

My helper comes home today. TODAY! TODAY! TODAY!

To say that I am thrilled, is understated. The husband and I have collectively been putting in too many hours and I felt disconnected, confused and overwhelmed with everything that is going on. The first week she was away, it was awful. The second week, was made a ton more bearable because of my mom. She so willingly came to stay over and looked after both kids with no compliants; to have her in our home just felt perfect.

It's the end of her 4-day stay at my home and right now, as I'm typing this, she's enroute to Europe on her two-week long vacation.

C, K & J bidding their grandmoms goodbye. There were tears (not mine, I was strong) but I know that the four of them will enjoy themselves!

Running sanity

16 April 2014. 0655-0733. Jake for (inactive) partner, very talkative though. Shoes, new and can be beaten up a lot more!

Electric Run

The run tickets were booked months ago. The partner-in-crime was my sister who - without hesitation - agreed to sign up with me because I asked her to. And that really set the time for us for this run. So on a cool, leisurely Saturday evening, the sister and I had our date.

Neon-coloured party people

Glamourous, as always

The kick-off... which took way too long. We were stuck there for about 35 minutes which really made it boring-snoring. 

Is red my colour?

Sister against a paddlepop

Purple rainbow bridge

One of the most beautiful parts of the walk (yes, walk. We did not run at all) where we were greeted by an enchanted forest! (ok, not forest but it sounds better that way)

Spy the umbrellas in the background? "It's raining men"

Nearly at the finish line, we took a scenic pic of us against the Gardens By the Bay. Or is that the Marina Barrage?

#mandatoryjumpshot with my favourite sister

Regardless of electric shocks that ruined part of the run (the enchanted forest died), the lack of buzz (alcohol deficiency), or the generally couldhavebeenbetter experience (with more friends, more pre-drinks), the whole experience was pretty awesome because my sister was with me and we had time to catch up and hang out. That was what made it good.

It was still quite exciting to be part of this inaugural international event really and it was nice time out from the busy schedule I had all last week.

Thanks for the best company, sister!

New kicks

Green or orange?

I updated my running shoes. It's been 3+ years since I got my last pair (a gift from the husband when my shoe crumbled) - I barely wore them after I discovered I was pregnant and stopped exercising, but definitely clocked the mileage when I started my regime in the past year+. It started to hurt my foot (only the left side) and I took the plunge to buy a new pair. Now, I just need to find time to use these!

Mommy's birthday lunch

It's a tradition with us where we always gather as a family to eat together to celebrate special occasions - celebrations of the public holiday kinds and birthdays. The birthday celebrity gets to pick the meal option and it's always a fun affair filled with love because there's nothing better than being with family.

Today, we celebrate Mom's upcoming birthday. 

Family who eats together, stays together

Simple Chinese fare at the restaurant of her pick. Followed by desserts (our choice). It doesn't feel like a birthday if there's no song so it feels right that we sang a song and blew out a candle. 

Everyone's favourite person 

And this is what happiness looks. Chocolate & ice-cream FTW!

Friday night shenanigans

Ingredients for a good night - feet propped up with cake and hangers and most importantly, peace & quiet because the kids have all knocked out

2358: finally, I am showered and after scouting about the kitchen for something that catches my fancy, I spy the last slice of chocolate rice cake. That'd do to fill my tummy until something more substantial tomorrow. 

I'm waiting for the laundry to complete its run so that I can hang them up. I last did a small batch on Tuesday, or was it Monday? 

This week has been challenging. The key challenge is that we are helper less. It's day 6 and I am thankful that the week has passed. With the weekend, where I do not need to worry about logistics amidst my increasingly-heavy workload, I can breathe and try to enjoy time. Also, with another set of child care arrangements next week, it will also be easier - for everyone. 

Work is not going to let up. If anything, I foresee that May will be one of the toughest months yet where I will be one team member down. 

I clocked one of the latest nights in this office this week coming home past midnight and it's all very exciting, enriching but tiring too. I thought these unearthly hours were a thing of the past - I'm past 30 pls! - but maybe, not. 

I'm so proud of my kids that they are resilient enough to be flexible with the arrangements this past week. Jake had the worse end of the deal with being roused from his sleep and shuttled out of the house before 6am 3 out of 5 days; he has learnt separation anxiety where he wants his favourite person - his papa. Kate has been pretty angelic, and really. It's been pretty good considering. 

My saving grace was probably the run I clocked on Thursday before 7am. I was tired yet awake and I pushed myself to do it and I am so glad I did. It kept me sane and my body alive, more able to cope with all that each day brought on. 

Chocolate cake with feet propped up... Simple pleasures can be so easily taken for granted. Not for long though because the laundry cycle is now complete and I should move off this couch now to complete the chore. 

Friday night. 

Helper goes on home leave

Day 4, 0658: we all feel and look like that. We are so reliant on the helper that everything needs additional effort for sustenance. We can do it! 

Retail therapy

Once in a while, is fine, right?

Four minus one

Spy the family of Elmos

There are one, two, three Elmo's lined up in Kate's room. Tonight, just before we slept she pointed them out to me. 

Me: that's right, that's a family! But why are there only 3? We have 4 in our family! 

Is that Papa, you and Jake? Or me with you and Jake cos Papa is at work? 

Kate: hmm. That is Papa.. And.. You and me! 

Me: where's Jake? 

Kate: with Aunty Tess

Me: huh! 

Kate: (sensing my reaction) Jake is in your stomach and Aunty Tess is in Philippines! 

Same, but different

Kate @ 1 year 8mths old; Jake at 1 year 5 mths old. 

Here's the last same, but different comparison.

My baby little

It's been too long since I did an update on my kids properly. And it's time to do one pronto.

My little baby turned two about a month ago. He has truly surprised me with how he is developing - at birth, he was really a serious-looking baby. We all thought he is characteristically like his Dad. Then it all changed sometime last October, during/after our Japan trip. It was as if after this holiday, and being exposed to Disney and Japanese and air travel made something in his little brain click and he couldn't stop after!

My baby little

A list of his favourite things:

• Favourite spot at home: Papa's room. Because our sleeping arrangement is one parent-per child, the boys sleep in the master bedroom and the girls in Kate's room. So to Jake, the room he sleeps in is "Papa's room". And I'm not sure what it is about the room but he loves the room. He likes to play there, lay on the carpet, read there... and he sleeps there too. I suspect it's the carpet? I don't know! 
• Favourite toys: bubbles. He likes boy toys like cars, balls... but bubbles must be his favourite thing. 
• Favourite sport: running is a big thing with him - not sure why but down that short corridor of ours at home, he will sprint. He's pretty quick and it's so cute to watch him just go for it with all his might. But I think he's already displaying signs of being a really good footballer. He can kick a ball hard and steadily; plus kick it after he knees it too! All sporty credit goes to his father's genes!
• Favourite thing: water - he loves to swim and play with water. He has no fear, and if he had his way, he will simply jump into every pool/ pond/ puddle he sees. 
• Favourite food: this is a tricky one because he does love his food. He is slightly fussier than Kate - he doesn't like certain food stuff - but still generally a very good eater. Actually, his favourite food is milk. He loves it and asks for it at mealtimes, after mealtimes, before bedtime... t
• Favourite person: this is a close fight between nainai and Papa. Not me, unfortunately. I try not to be too miffed about it (ha) but truly, I adore how they love each other. 
• Favourite character: his knowledge on characters has expanded greatly after our visit to Disneyland; but also because we expose him to television. He watches whatever his elder sister watches so his knowledge of Disney Junior includes Sofia. It's pretty funny and doesn't bother me.

My yiyi always says I have a 大头

He is very much more aware of things about him - because my dad sends Kate to school, he always wishes to tag along on the car rides and sometimes, yeye obliges. On days that he doesn't get to board, he gets very upset! I feel sorry for him because I know he feels left out and he doesn't care that his sister is going to school. 

One of those days he cried buckets because he didn't get to go in yeye's car. We distracted him with a bunch of gross ants - see those little dots on the tile?

He surprised me by posing with our little dancing men on walls and actually told me "Mommy, I want to take picture!"

On the flip-side, he's also becoming a little terror with his gained awareness. He bullies his sister, he throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way and he can be very loud and destructive when he is unhappy. I think a lot of it can be better managed if we give him his milk on time and if he goes to nap when he is tired - something that can definitely be worked on.

An old picture of Kate with her injury inflicted by Jake. In a more recent event, Jake bit Kate's back when they were fighting. It was a deep and painful bite.

Talking about things to work on - this boy needs to learn how to sleep through the night! He still wakes up once to thrice and though I'm not the one looking after him at night time, it does tire everyone out. Once he can sleep through the night, we can try to evaluate our sleeping arrangements at home. 

Sleep, baby, sleep. Sleep through the night baby, please!

Jake is growing up so quickly that I cannot believe that he is my secondborn. Where did my baby go?! It's all incredibly amazing and I love him to bits. 

My little baby in the big, big world

Jake says

We were reading a book about a bunny.

Jake: dabatu

Me: continues reading

Jake: daodatu

Me: continues reading 

Jake: daobaatuu

Me: ...... Thinking ......

Jake: dadatu

Me: oh! 小白兔！

Jake: diaodaatuuu!

The weekend last

Friday evening treats - we had italian for dinner. I miss our regular Friday nights out with the family. Not sure why we have been so busy!

Saturday morning at SCGS - reminiscing the secondary school days by eating our famous mee pok at this school event. 

K was busy with class so I brought the little boy along. I feel fuzzy seeing him eat mee pok, in the same canteen as I did many years ago!

We visited the (fake) High Street Fire Station. He was so delighted with this!

A group pic with some girls from the class of '96, with our babies.

Didn't manage a pic of my cousin and I, but we did get a pic of our offsprings in our school courtyard.

A last shot before we stepped out of school - that's Jake outside the NCC room. 

And the boy got a treat as we caught a bus. Then I treated us to yoghurt. Treasuring these little nuggets of time that I have alone with my boy.

We then headed off for an Elmo birthday party.

Then at night time, it was couple date with the besties. OMG it was such a good but awful night. No durian and alcohol together again please!

Sunday evening at ilight.