Jake turns 4! - a 4-part celebration

Jake's birthday celebration spread over not one, not two, but three days. It happened by chance.

 

After announcing every morning (since Monday last week) that "today is a normal day", this little boy was thrilled when Friday finally came. He knew it was "my birthday!" and was ready to celebrate!

 

Birthday celebration part 1 - celebrations at school and the trampoline park

Because this was in school, we did it on a school-day. We got him dressed - in his 4yo t-shirt (thanks favourite yiyi) and sent him to school. In the car, he was literally bouncing up and down with excitement. At drop off, he proclaimed, "I'll see you later Mommy! You go take the cake right?" and headed off happily. He also announced to anyone he saw while walking to class "today is my birthday!" The husband and I proceeded to have yummy noodles for breakfast (burp) and picked his cake up before heading back to school for the mini celebration. 

 

SUPERHEROS

 

There was another birthday in his class the same day, so there were two kids dressed in their party clothes (because they are special).

Little children.

After singing a birthday song and distributing the cake then eating it, we brought Jake out from school. He'd requested to go to the trampoline park, and we obliged.

Walking to play

 

I'd arranged for some friends to join us and it was quite a sweaty, bouncy hour spent as 4 of us bounced away. It was fun and I was so sweaty and I think I twanged my back from the vigorous activity =_=

The boys and I

My adorable 4 year-old

After the trampoline park, we all headed to have Japanese for lunch. The afternoon was spent napping. Then we headed out for dinner at the club.

Birthday celebration part 2 - J's actual birthday - no classes and movie night
I had cancelled his class for that day, so that he could play all day. So that morning, we all headed out to accompany K for her class. (He used to come out with us to the mall always, until he started chinese class. Though his class is in the afternoon, I stopped bringing him out with me in the day so that he can clock a nap and feel recharged before class in the afternoon. Otherwise, he gets cranky and I don't think he'd learn well in class.)

So, this day, since it was his birthday, he got to come out and we spent the morning  having breakfast, and playing. I also bought him a toy he picked for himself - a fooseball table.

 

After lunch, we headed home for a nap. And for dinner, birthday boy got what he wanted - Maccas.

Birthday dinner request fulfilled

A bonus affair happened, when a friend bought him a surprise gift! (Surprise to him, and to us too *insert gasp face)

GASP

 

Mini professionals

Being his actual birthday, he had to have a cake.

4

 

Making a wish



Poooofftt

Cutting cake is serious business

Family

Movie night - Toy Story 2

The children were tired and we didn't finish the movie, but it was still a nice and easy day spent altogether. Sometimes, simple celebrations are best.

 

Birthday celebrations part 3 - the bowling party

My day was rudely started by someone poking my eyes (thankfully they were closed. Because I WAS SLEEPING). Did I mention that it was 6.30am?!

 

"Mommy, what time the bowling open?" - honestly, in my hazy state, I had thought it was K's face, but of course once my brain registered the question, I knew it was the excited boy.

 

Playing with his new toy

I spent the morning fulfilling errands, and unfortunately discovered that J was running a temperature. That really bummed us out, but after some meds and a nap, he seemed fine. We went ahead with our plans, though we were late (ugh, again).

SWAT - that's his birthday gift

Little friends

 

Happy birthday, baby boy

The afternoon was well-spent hanging with close friends and family, eating and bowling. I did not bowl, but the husband was apparently a hustler and won the match among my siblings and their plus-ones. It was a nice way to spend the weekend together!

Family - the closest group of people who truly matter

Through this series of preparations, I realise that no matter how 'low maintenance' a Mother I am, I still do try. And while the preparations are not difficult, every bit of help makes it easier. I'm thankful for family - who just turn up with no questions asked, who spoil my children because they care. I'm thankful for friends who just help because they can, and turn up to join in the fun. I'm thankful for my children, who drive me to be a better person. I'm thankful for my husband because no matter how elusive he is, he is still there. I'm thankful that the people who matter most are around, because sometimes, the other stuff like expectations, or work, or whatever, are part of life, but not all of it.

I'm also thankful at the lessons I learn through this little boy who is so thankful - his sheer joy at receiving gifts he fancies, his sheer elation at being able to spend time with us because we took him out from school, his happiness in being able to play bowling because he loves it so, his innocence and pride at being the centre of everyone's attention and being able to celebrate his birthday in all the joy and glory from the eyes of a four-year-old.

It was a great weekend. Happy birthday, baby Jake. Mommy loves you to the moon and back.

PS: Part 4 of his extended birthday celebrations continues this week, when we bring him on a holiday! More on that, soon! *glee

Party preparations - Jake's turning 4

I don't have grand plans of a major party to celebrate Jake's birthday, but the basic is that we do a mini celebration at school, and bring him out for the day. Because we are doing this mini school celebration, I have basic preparations I need to do.

 

The first thing I did was to bring him to a cake shop to pick his cake design. He's been talking about different themes he fancied for weeks, so I figured it's best he places the order himself as he's so fickle! When we eventually got to the shop, I let him make the final decisions - after much discussions (he wanted many many). His final choices - a superhero cake for his school party, and a car cake for his family party.

 

Based on that choice, I planned to make a super simple goodie pack for his friends. First, I purchased the items that would go into the party pack - I picked everything that the boy will fancy.

 

1. A mini snakes and ladders game

2. A mini parachute man

3. A mini sticky "spiderman"

4. Candy x 1 type

5. Chocolates x 2 types

6. Biscuit x 1 type

 

I then dug out the final batch of a brown paper bag from the sister - she had a seemingly unlimitless supply of them (I'm not kidding. We used the bags for J's party 2 years ago too. Thanks the sister for your amazing super-handy bags!) - and decorated them. For decoration, I located an image that's in-line with the chosen cake.

 

 

Thank you Google images

 

 

Then, I planned how best to involve the children; I do believe in getting them involved with such tasks that they are totally capable of helping. I decided to break the tasks over two days - in anticipation of them being distracted, and the reality that we only have very little time each evening before I start to chase them to bed anyway.

 

So on the first night, after I printed the pictures, I sought their help to cut. On the second night, we finished the bags! Rather efficient!

 

Cutting the pictures out - this took place 2 nights ago.

Writing his name

 

I stuck the images that K and J both helped to cut out (one more jaggardy than the other), and requested for J to write his name on the packs. I thought of asking him to write his classmate's names so they will have customised bags... but let's say I opted for the easier option of having him accomplish something accurately and presentable. I could have opted to print nice tags, but I thought it's way nicer to have him actively be involved.

 

 

Our factory line. From right, the MIL helped to open up the (slightly fragile) bag

 

After the bags were prepared, our line went like this

First, the MIL helped to open up the fragile (it's paper, after all) bag. She takes the toys out from their tags (both activities may tear the packaging so the kids didn't go near that).

Next, J places the 3 toys into the bag.

Third, K drops in the good items. She was thrilled to have the line up and running and enjoyed it much (I'm so busy! Don't mess up my candy!, she thrilled).

 

All done!

  

I shut the factory line after, and shooed them off to bed. I then spent time on my own, in peace and quiet, to quality check the contents, to ensure that they are all equal. Then, I sealed the bags.

Final product!

 

It's simple only, but I felt so proud of it; because it was a joint effort by all of us and I'm so happy that the kids were excited to be part of the process.

 

Spot the typo

I'm so happy that we had fun doing this too, and I know that birthdays will always be special to me and I will celebrate them with my children always! Till tomorrow, when we bring all these to his class!

PS: the typo is seen in the top right of the picture - JAAKE - oops

A fun office tour to Facebook

I am privileged to have visited my office neighbour, Facebook some weeks ago. I chanced upon a lunch invite and I was glad it happened! It made TGIF even better and sweet. We started off with lunch - not just any lunch, but a sumptuous buffet lunch spread across 4 different cuisines. I opted out from the Vietnamese, but took dishes assorted from Western, Local and Indian. Despite being full, we managed to find space for coffee and desserts, naturally. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner - all complimentary - and there are six chefs who were hired from top hotels in Singapore to helm the kitchenette - amazing!

 

My overfloweth lunch bowl and desserts (there's a tiny LIKE on top of that cake)

 

The cafe is located on the 33rd level, with an amazing view of the Marina area. It was well-lit, the cafeteria was buzzing with energy and it felt super!

 

To work off our heavy lunch, we went for a walk around the office that spanned over 5 levels. We worked our way from level 26 down to level 22. A key central attraction is the centre stairwell thrown about with confetti, giving a delightful feel throughout the office floors. Incidentally, this installation is by an ex-colleague who is dabbling into the arts scene and I felt so proud seeing this installatio with my own eyes, after reading of it and seeing pictures of this stairwell.

 

Confetti strewn stairwell

SHIP happens - this is their mail room - love the cheeky sign!

 

Tech vending machine for staff

Amazing branding

Our afternoon turned upside down

Friday groovin'

Mahjong, anyone?

Beer on tap (no, we didn't have any)

 

An interactive touch-screen that displayed statistics and whats #trending

Friday fun crew



I had such a fun tour that took nearly 2 hours! My afternoon was thoroughly well-spent and the group of us were laughing away until our bellies ached. I appreciated the open culture that FB offered to its employees and visitors. Their benefits (free lunch!) are amazing and I'm so jealous! Having said that, however, I think that every job has its perks and I am thankful for my own job that's pretty amazing too. I'd love to visit it again and hang out, just for giggles #like

 

Carpe diem

From top to bottom: 6.54am, 6.58am, 7.05am

A bumpy day

The day started off as usual - the alarm went off at 5.08am and I woke up (reluctantly). It's only February and I think it's fair to say that our household is still... calibrating (though I'm not sure that one may EVER get accustomed to waking up comfortably at 5am?!)

 

As always, I walked sleep-walked mysteriously ambled to the bathroom, then the kitchen (I always need a cup of warm water) then to the girl's room to wake her up. Our routine is like this, where I rub her back... then massage her legs, rub her feet... then carry her up to sit in my lap until she is able to get up and she then walks sleep-walks finds her way out of the room.

 

The morning routine from 5.15am to 5.37am is 22 minutes of (a) breakfast (b) nagging (c) brushing teeth (d) changing of uniform (e) wearing of socks and shoes. And the reason why I'm being so specific about the time that we leave the house is one out of necessity. Initially, the bus was meant to arrive at 5.45am. It has since been shifted up (I'd say 'slightly' up but in the universe of 5am, every minute feels extremely exaggerated so no such thing as 'slightly'. Allow me to explain - imagine an extra minute of sleep at that (unearthly) hour... see how precious it is?!) by 5 minutes to 5.40am. However, anyone who says that Singaporeans are a tardy bunch should meet the species known as the school-transport-drivers. They are on the dot, scientific-league kind of punctual; mix that with the very low tolerance of waiting time (our strict instructions were "Will only wait for ONE MINUTE") - we don't ever want to be late... and so began our leaving the house by 3.37am (sometimes, we leave at 3.38am but it's always better to train ourselves to be that minute earlier!)

 

Anyhow, I digress. The point is, this morning, we make it to the bus on time and off the girl goes. Today is a regularly good day where we have some random conversation about nothing-at-all, and I wave her off happily as she dishes that signature grin as she tries not to appear like a baby as there are already fellow peers on the school bus. Once the bus goes, I am left on my own on the very quiet street and I can practically do a sit-up on the road as it is that quiet (but I don't) and I make my way home. Today was HIIT day and I accomplished that. I then had about 10minutes of some time with my son as we watched the sun rise, and it felt like such an awesome start.

 

Then I chanced upon my phone flashing. A vaguely familiar number ... calling me at 7am... ?!

It was the school. My dear girl had 'fallen and hit her eye and her nose bled' - I was told. I began to mildly panic. Thankfully, the husband was still home and we quickly decided to go pick her up together. I can only say, that it is true that this sort of scenario seems terribly familiar in a very nightmare-ish kind of way, where every parent who has received a call from the school can only hope that it is not as bad as they ever imagine (trust me, our imaginations are pretty high-level-out-of-this-world-type-of-standard)... let's just say that it was honestly unpleasant.

 

When I saw her, she was muted and seemed fine. There was no blood anywhere. I was also thankful that the husband was with me. One can always rely on a rock for support. The girl had tripped over her friend's foot, and fallen face-down and hit her head on a bench. I can begin to imagine the trauma of what if it had been another inch down and into her eye... but I shall not. I shall say that I am relieved that the girl has a grand baluku on her eyebrow and she may feel discomfort around her eye area for a while but she is not blind fine.

 

 

Picture that does not show properly the bump and bruise on her brow

 

It is now 2pm, and I am tired. The day has started off early, and it's been quite a roller-coaster ride for me, as a mother of a child who got called up by the school. I'm thankful, so so thankful that she is resting now, and she even managed to feel hungry.

 

Lunch

 

She's under observation today, so no more school for her... and I know she will be fine, this sturdy breed known as children. Besides the scare for her, I think I have also learnt much on a personal level.

 

1. Do not panic.

I don't think I did today, but I have allowed my imagination to do so.

 

2. I always wish the husband to be around when accidents occur

Who wouldn't like a rock to lean on when you feel all fretty and shaky and all that?

In the instance that he's not around, I will practise (1) and call him so that I may speak to him and get assurance through the phone in the form of radiation, I guess

 

3. Say thanks

Yes, an accident happened but it can always be worse so be thankful for what did happen (than what if was worse)

 

4. I am a mother and I want to be there for my children

I know this sounds like such an obvious statement, but I realise that when something's happened, I always, always want to BE THERE. Not over the phone, not see them then park them aside, but to be with them there and then and afterwards too. Is this a bad thing? Maybe, maybe not. I know that it matters to me because I always hope for the children to remember the assurance of a Mother. Do I need to moderate my level of reaction of being there? Maybe. But I guess this is part of the process where I learn and attune myself, too.

 

What. A. Day. 

 

The rest of the day was pretty normal, where everyone caught up on much-needed sleep and rest, then we had a regular evening of some revisions, dinner, bedtime stories and sleep. The end.

CNY celebrations at LEGO office

HUAT AH

 

On the 8th day of Lunar New Year, the office invited some adorable lions to dance in our office.

 

Picking 'qing'

 

Finale

 

Lucky numbers, anyone?

Honestly, the highlight was the food (surprise surprise). Feasting is so under-rated and it's so legitimate to indulge when it's celebratory! And also because yusheng is only an annual occurance, I truly enjoy it when it rolls around over Lunar New Year. The mixed fusion of flavours, the crunchy 'golden nuggets' in the form of crackers, the salmon/abalone/smoked duck (all different variants of the 'yu') - I love it! Especially so, when it looks like this:

#Ilovemyjob

You can't really see the scale from the picture, but that was formed across two tables and it was pretty huge! Am thankful that the company created this festive lunch session for us to have yet another reason to laugh, mingle and huat away!

A surprise guest for lunch

Cheeky

初二

After a late night, we crawled out of bed slowly and broke fast with an unconventionally un-chinese meal.

 

Prata, anyone?

We did a stopover to visit the husband's eldest auntie, and I am humbled by life and how it is a natural process to age. I only hope that I will be as healthy as possibly may be and I wish this to everyone too, because life is transient and we have much to be thankful for, much lest not taking our health or anything for granted.

 

We then headed to my second uncle's home.. but before that, I thought it'd be nice to take a family picture.

Umm, well, I guess the operative word is that we tried.

We spent the afternoon visiting two more families after, and in-between the adults (me) had a brief moment of respite while they took a very short nap.

 

Angels when sleeping

At Uncle B's home, the kids were suitably entertained while tormenting playing with his dogs. It was an adorable sight to see how inquisitive they were, because they have such limited interaction with pets. And while I do pity the dogs, I'm also thankful that they are so well-behaved and obliging to allow the children have some fun.

A heartwarming sight

We ended off the evening with a finale dinner at the husband's cousin's home. I stayed up after pushing the kids to go to bed, and continued feasting on goodies (pretty much what I had been doing since reunion dinner!) and it came to a point that I fell asleep while complaining to the husband that I had a bad tummyache...

Today marks the return of normalcy with K going back to school (yay) and me going back to work. The festivities will pepper our weekends with some gatherings already lined up... and I hope that we remember to be happy and continue indulging what we can while soaking in this festive period!