Sights at home

Was going through the phone in my pics (not as many lately), and found these from last Saturday.

 

For dinner, I was starving and the husband put on his chef hat - hooray!

 

An excited little girl peeking

One of our key staples - we had two different types of beef, some prawns and pasta.
I was pretty beefed out by the end of eating half the cow on our dining table.

Then later that evening, this little boy was punished and he was
peeking longingly at what was going on in the room.
I like the coincidental pose of both the children in a day!

Cheering Papa on

Last weekend, the haze miraculously cleared and the air was actually breathable for 1.5 days. This clean-air-window period coincided with the husband's work event - a track and field compeition where he was involved in up to 3 events.

 

He went, he tried, and he got a medal for it. The family went, and supported him with our love and presence. I went to watch him run the second day alone and I think even though I did not hear it from him, our support means something to him. I also feel very proud of him everytime he participates in any form of activity at all - competitive or not - as I think that lending support to your partner is one of those things that can be taken for granted easily.

 

It's easy for a couple to drift apart, just because they are both individually busy with things on their own plate. Sometimes, we divide and conquer and while this means that we each spend quality time with one child, it does not mean that the whole family or both adults are together. Over time, it can be easy to just trudge along and forget to be with each other.

 

Over time, I have learnt what makes me happy and happier, and I think this is what makes us, us. I hope that the children value the time invested in the foundation of our family as it's precious time spent building memories, be it that we're on holiday, on our daily routine.

 

Love

Monday's fruity fuel

 

Breakfast at the desk: soaked oats in coconut water with
chia seeds (they really photograph awful) topped with
 blueberries, strawberries and honeydew. Yum.

Sunday's sweet treat

Love

 

Not just the charcoal waffles (don't quite get the charcoal waffles. Prob stick with the regular butter types next time) or the novel sea salt gula melaka scoop. Just the fact that the husband and I had this pocket of time to ourselves. And that he surprised me by suggesting we go out on our own with no prompting from me! 

Makes going to work in a few hours more bearable because there's so much love #sundate 

Hanging at home

So, we've been having a haze situation for a week+ now and I am trying not to think about the jacked up electrical bills the next time I receive it. It's a necessity though, to close off the windows because the haze creeps in and everyone is affected to some degree - scratchy throats, watery eyes, sneezy/leaky noses. One side effect (not all bad) is that we are cooped in. The kids get to watch a lot of TV (so do the adults), and we spend a lot of time annoying each other (in good and bad ways) in the little confines of our home.

 

It was a mid-day afternoon and dip in the energy levels and the girl and I were engaged in some girly activity. She wanted to play with jigsaw puzzles, and so we did.

 

Sorting out the puzzle pieces

 

The boy was quiet and so I went into the room for a peek.

 

While I knew he was going to nap, what surprised me was him reading on his own.
How awesome is that.

I headed back out to the girl, not wanting to disturb the boy (whom I expect will doze off in due time) and was greeted by this sight.

Making herself comfortable, just because.

 

I have observed the children hop or skip or twirl around just because they are children and are less inhibited and this was one of those where it was a delight watching her just be.

 

On another occasion, it was late in the afternoon and the children were watching TV. I pulled up a chair and cuddled up with a book. Moments later, this little girl pulls a chair near me and says "Mommy, I want to sit with you". Then the boy climbs on me and plonks himself down.

 

The result - a living room with three people huddeled up in 1.5 chairs
(1 regular sized chair, 1 mini chair = 1.5) 

Keeping fingers crossed that the haze will be better quickly as it does impact our lives not in a great way.

Though I am thankful that I have these moments where they make me laugh and my heart burst with love. I'm so blessed to have them in my life. 

 

One of those !

... When you start drinking at 5.30pm and it's now 1.24am. 

... When you cook maggi mee for yourself when the husband is too drunk to oblige your request to eat bak chor mee. 

... When you cannot remember the last time you wanted to eat maggi mee as it's so bad for you 

It's one of those!

Untying the knots and offering chocolate

Two weeks back, I got into a stroppy mood. It got seeded over a small-ish tiff with the husband, and a bunch of annoyance, then escalated internally into a three-day monologue. During these three days, I was quieter, going about with the usual life but not functioning at 100% because my emotions were awry and I'm definitely one who operates optimally when I'm emotionally balanced, better when I am emotionally happy and worse-off when emotionally down. Can you tell I'm quite the emotional creature?

 

So anyhow, during those days, I allowed myself to mull over the matter(s) and I must say that it was quite a draining and refreshing process. Draining because thinking is always difficult, especially when it's matters of the heart where I am training myself to use my brain versus heart; and refreshing because along the way, the need to rationalise with myself and derive a good outcome in preparation of when I was going to speak with the husband, made me have several 'eureka' moments where I felt proud of myself with little discoveries.

 

Two things I learnt:

 

1) Thinking alone is not all bad

By nature, I'm quite a reactive type of person and more often than not, I laugh/cry/get angry before I am fully aware of a situation. I've learnt that sometimes, time is needed to wallow, to ferment the information, to process it on your own in varied ways before it can come back out in a good-enough form. While it felt uncomfortable being so measured and paced in my thought process (gah, I just wanted to scream/cry naaaaoooooo) I do admit that it has its merits.

 

2) I have learnt to find ways to better communicate with the husband

After knowing him for 15 years, dating him for 11, married for 8 - I have learnt a lot from this man. Most of it has been pretty good; where I try to gain positive influence from him and also apply certain matters to my own life and approaches that drive better results.

I know that keeping a marriage healthy is hard work and I pride myself on being a key driver in maintaining equilibrium in our relationship. The husband does play a co-operative role and in order for us to understand each other, I need to reach out to him in a way that he is receptive of; and I do think this is a success point.

In this instanace, specifically; after doing a whole lot of internalisation and processing of thoughts, I found a way to reach him and have him on my side. The knots I had on my emotional being were untied and it felt good.

 

Offering chocolate - I'll leave that as an inside joke between him and I than elaborating; but it's fact that we both love chocolates and I think despite how different we are in terms of our personalities, we also have a lot of common likes and interests. I guess while we are opposites to each other, we are also complementary - and that is what makes us work. That baseline chemistry, and hard work.

 

The picture below was taken in Korea about 1+year ago last June.  I'm putting it here because I remember that the husband and I had a tiny quibble here at this attraction spot, and he was quite the grumpy monster. While it felt un-great, I made myself go ahead to have fun with the kids and here's proof that everything will pass and will be well again. The result is that we have nice pictures; the learning is that thankfully I did not wallow and allow myself to be consumed by the quarrel at that moment and truly, how can we ever forget that we ought to always give thanks for these two adorable little monkeys?

 

Being silly

 

These are a few of my favourite things

The sister tagged me to fill this list of favourites for fun. It's coffee-time now on a mid-day and no better time to take some time out to do it, right here, right now. 

Favourite coffee: Latte. in my new routine, I take coffee twice a day at work. For my morning wake-me-up, it's a green Nespresso Espresso Forte, and post-lunch, it's a brown Lungo Leggero.  

Favourite alcoholic drink: beer. White lager preferred.

Favourite normal/hawker drink (cold): None. I seldom drink soda or sweetened water and I usually bring my own water.

Favourite hawker drink (hot): Coffee, or tea, teh-si, or teh harlia (preferably from an Indian stall)

Favourite tea: Green or peppermint. Not a staple though.

Favourite eggs: Sunny side up with runny yolk.

Favourite processed meat (sausages/bacon/ham): Sausages

Favourite brunch food: Big breakfast, egg hollandaise; usually the savoury options. If there is an option to share, then I'll opt for pancakes.

Favourite dessert: Anything chocolate. Or chendol. 

Favourite ice cream flavour: Chocolate. Salted caramel.

Favourite pasta: I'm not very into pasta, it's too carb-heavy for me but I prefer oil-based options (aglio olio) or squid-ink when well-prepared is very tasty and I also like angel-hair pasta.

Generally, I'm quite an adventurous (or easy) person where food is concerned. I will eat practically anything and everything as I'm greedy like that. I used to hate raisins and pineapple but slowly, I've learnt to tolerate them. I will be mindful about consuming overly-exotic food (cannot imagine eating balut - that Filipino bird egg dish *horror) but I think maybe one day I will try fried worms (crispy like fries, right?). No pet animals (dog meat no no) and I do refrain from sharks' fin 90% of the time.

Otherwise, I love to eat!

Sundate brunch

On this slightly out-of-the-norm Sunday, where instead of waking up to work out I laid in; where instead of sleeping in the husband woke up - we both got dressed and went out. And the result was one that was very comfortable, surprising and pleasant, fulfilling and I felt very loved.

 

Chanced upon a cafe called Whisk in Tiong Bahru

And discovered this sweet pastry called bostock.

Hope you had a nice Sunday too!

Precious

17 September - Kate turns 6!

The morning rolls around and we all laze in bed. No one is rushing to work, and K gains an extra hour because I'd be sending her to school than my Dad. So we all have breakfast leisurely - eventually, after I rolled out of bed - and together with J, we send K to school. She chose to wear a pretty pink dress today, because she can. And she was terribly excited to go! I did a round of coffee-run with the boy who - also insisted on wearing his home clothes than the uniform - was a delight to spend time with.

 

Secretly, I then packed the goodie bags that I had planned for the birthday girl and her classmates.

 

Everyone say hooray!

After dropping the boy at school, the husband and I headed to run some errands. Being the boring old folks we are, we went to get an air purifier (haze season) and pick up the birthday cake. With some time to spare, and a slight hunger pang to fill, we wandered around... and the husband wanted some milkshake. And so we did this -

 

Some bonus couple-time, just him and I

 

TADAH! The waffles were good but the ice-cream flavour tested better
on a tasting spoon than as a whole scoop. But the whole experience was not too bad.

K and her little class in kindy 2

I feel slightly wistful that this is the last year she will spend with these friends. I've seen them all grow for the past 3 years, and I know most of them by name. It's nice to know that one of these girls are going to the same primary school as K, so this girl will probably be the oldest friend K will have next time!

All excited and shy being centre of attention

The cake she chose from the design to the taste
(chocolate with chocolate crunchy balls!)

Here's one of K and this group of girls who call themselves
"The Grandmother Club". Their namesake came about because
they are all (too) chatty and thus do their work (too) slowly!

One with her form teacher

And one of us :)

As per the tradition that we unwittingly created, we take them out from school for a day of treat! Six months ago, on the boy's birthday, we ended up jumping about for some active fun. Today, we planned a different kind of activity.

 

One of them (literally) running out of school

We intentionally kept from them what we were to do... and then they slowly made the discovery.

Movie time!

 

A barrage of questions followed "Inside out?! I know the characters you know! Can we buy popcorn? HOORAY!"

Heading for an afternoon show with a quiet (and extremely cold) theatre

The show was pretty cute, and both the husband and I endured through it pretty fine. It made me aware of my own emotions and a different perspective, one of a child's. The girl enjoyed it mostly though I think she still missed some parts of the show (in terms of comprehension) but she is a big girl and she enjoyed it. The boy, asked many questions and slept through the last half hour of the show as it coincided with his nap time.

After a quick drink break after the show, the girl requested to go to IKEA. Since it's her birthday, the husband obliged. And we went.

The kids got some play time in the playroom, the husband and I did a leisurely stroll on our own and secured a mirror; then we all had dinner at the cafe.

Everyone say "Chicken wings!"

 

Happy birthday sweetheart. I love this cheeky grin of yours - and
you will always be our little princess no matter how many birthdays
we will celebrate. I love you, my baby.

Reminiscing K

I have opted to not work tomorrow, to celebrate K's birthday. Besides being a treat for us as a family, it also translates into me having extended time on my own tonight.

So far, it has been pretty quiet and relaxing - and I think it's such a treat for me. Six years ago, at exactly this time, I have been in discomfort of false labour for three days. In about another 3 hours (2am), the husband and I would have arrived at the hospital and in real labour. 

It all still feels recent to me, and I recall each of K's birthday pretty clearly. Her cancelled-first birthday due to her contracting HDMD. Her spectacular Barney-themed party when she was two. Then a princess-themed one when she was three. We held a school party when she was four and have been doing so since. 

This year, to finish off her #kateturns6 (6), it will be the last time we celebrate it with her kindergarten classmates. 

I think part of the reason why I love birthday celebrations is because there is so much to be happy and thankful for. So with each event, I revel in the mix of it all and remind myself of all that is good. 

It is nice to have some peace and quiet to reminiscence my years of being a parent, and think back of K and how she has grown. 

Guilty pleasures - lotsa chips and some booze all for me!

Jake, the funny

So this happened yesterday night. I was eating dinner, belated so everyone else was buzzing around the living room. Conversation steered towards S, a boy who takes the same school bus as J. It started off with snacks that the two boys share, and how K misses out because she does not take the bus to school with them... and then...

 

J: S's hair is very circle.

...

 

Me: What? How is his hair circle? Like ... *turns my finger around the top of my head to show that his hair is circle?!

 

The husband: CURLY LA.

 

ROFL x 10000

 

Oh my funny little man

#kateturns6 - Hi5!

What a coincidence that the 5th installation of #kateturns6 was our treat of catching Hi5 live! So this happened on Sunday. We met our friends for a leisurely lunch, strolled around MBS for a bit and excitedly, headed to catch the kids' favourite performance group of all time!

 

 

How adorable do they look!

 

Carrying his own booster seat

Our crew of 5 catching Hi5 together!

Waiting for the show to start

It was an hour and a half of non-stop song and dance. I think I've said this before, at their last show (and the previous ones too) that Hi5 is really an entertaining and fun cast to watch and dance along with. The storyline is simple and the energetic songs and dances really get the kids going! The kids were on their feet 80% of the time and even I got caught up with the interaction. It's just more fun that way!

The girls were superstars, dancing along every song and even heading up way upfront near the stage. They grooved to familiar tunes, and for the unfamiliar ones, they tried their best to mimic moves from the stage and I know they had a brilliant time. As for J, he was excited too and it's such a difference watching him this time versus the last. Where it was his first experience previously, and he was slightly apprehensive and amazed, this time round he was aware of what was to happen and gamely jumped about and participated actively too. Our dear little boy did have some accidents (he knocked his head a couple of times) and the showtime coincided with his nap so he was mildly cranky; though he did enjoy himself and as always, it brought me great joy to watch the kids have this much fun.

Also, it was Stevie Nicholson's last show and it was so touching to see the tribute they did for him; showcasing his years of contribution to the show. I really like Stevie and from the time that I first knew Hi5 through Kate's early years, he was one of the original cast (to me). Now that he's going to leave, there is no one from the 'original' anymore. Of course, the new cast is just as good and will grow on everyone again, but to me, I still feel a bit of sadness - also because I have met Stevie in person before and he is pretty cute! I'm sure he - as with the other ex-cast members) are moving on to new endeavours and developing himself so all the best to him.




Post-show K.O.

 

That Sunday evening, we also organised another family dinner for the paternal side of the family.

The Seahs

And here's one of us :)

It's been quite fun organising and fulfilling our princess' birthday one event after another; and I do hope the kids enjoy every activity. I know I always feel wistful with each birthday as it does mean that time is passing so quickly and as they grow older, so do I.

I still remember very clearly her birth and the days leading up to it; it's all good fun and I know my little girl is growing up pretty well, and - gasp - she's turning 6!

Monday night dinner

Again! The husband cooks. Yay

OK so maybe the cheese is a bit much and makes the pic looks a bit not great
but it tasted pretty good!
Left - bowl of salad with a ton of cheese (heh)
Right - the husband's new dish of Aglio Olio with pan-fried pork
(it was interesting. Tasted a bit like bak kwa).
And a ton of cheese. (heh heh)

A Bowling Saturdate #kateturns6 (4)

A regular Saturday out for class, made special with a
treat of her choice of food at a more atas location

 

Then while I had not planned for a proper party per se, perhaps the playdate at the bowling alley turned out to be a pretty awesome unplanned-planned party afterall!

 

Little friends

 

Gutter bowling is suitable for kids... and I alike (hah)

Gather a bunch of friends (big and small), throw in a cake and TADAH! It's a PARTY!

We had a great time eating and laughing and playing... and everyone was knackered by the end of the night. K also received some presents which I know she was very happy to have received.

Blessed is my child to have such game friends!

A series of birthday celebrations - #kateturns6 (3)

So last week, we had a lovely staycation as a kick-off to the super September celebrations for my little girl who is turning six. This weekend, we held a round of celebrations for her, one after another.

 

As per tradition, a family who eats together stays together. The husband had been to this chinese restaurant not too long ago and had thought the food so yummy, he opted for this choice venue to share the good food with the family. And so we went. The dinner was yummy, the highlight being roasted pork.

Mmmmmmm

The company - as always - was precious. And with every meal that we eat together, chat together and laugh together, I give thanks that we are all together to enjoy such precious moments.

 

My silly billies - gamely putting on party hats cos it's a partay!

The Seahs

All of us - LOL at all our faces!

 

Happy birthday my princess Kate

Most adorable man + #kateturns6 (2)

And I'm referring to my Dad!

While the husband and I got to vegetate all day on the hooray-voting-day, my parents brought the kids out to gaigai as part of K's birthday treat. 

The kids came back rendering tales of cable cars and parrots and exciting fun rides and the merlion... And while they both came back with beautifully taken souvenir pics with a handsome looking parrot, this pic that the Mom sent me takes the cake. 

Happy are the kids and happy are we parents. So blessed are we all. 

How cute are these two?!

Whipping up a quickie fix

So thankful for a husband who likes to dabble in the kitchen. He prepared this random mid-afternoon meal on voting day when it was too late and too lazy to go tapau food. It filled us both just fine until our sumptuous 8-course dinner that night.  Lucky me!

Angel hair pasta, cream-based with tofu (random find in fridge)
and egg with grated cheese