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!

K teaches me a lesson, and our new morning routine

From January to May 2016, our family endured very early hours with K (truly, everyone at home is involved in one way or other) as she caught the school bus to school. She woke up at 5.15am and after 5 months, we did get into a decent routine.
However, several factors made me decide to switch things because while the routine worked, it wasn't truly the best. Sleep (& in turn a less cranky child) still seemed a priority, so I made the decision to take matters into my own time (literally) and for the past few weeks since school started this 3rd term, I have been sending K to school on my own, via public transport.


So now, here's our routine:
By 6am: K wakes up and starts her morning by changing into her uniform/ breakfast
By 6.15am: I am awake and start stumbling about the house. I'll wash up and change and pack my things and start nagging her to keep chewing her breakfast and remind her of the time
6.35-6.45am: we leave home.
We take a short and brisk stroll from our home to the train station.
10-12 minutes later: we reach the MRT station
Approx 20 minutes later: we reach Stevens MRT station & trot a short road across the road (2 small road crossings with a gazillion cars)
By 7.15am: we reach school - say our goodbyes and off she goes


This new routine has added two bouts of goodness, both of the same quantity:
1) additional 45 minutes of sleep compared to previous routine (from 5.15am to 6am)
2) additional 45 minutes of time together with my princess (our commute from home to school)


While there are mornings where I need to nag more (K is a talented slowpoke), we have whines about loose teeth that hinders chewing, a girl who doesn't pack her bag properly & the list goes on... I think this new routine is working out pretty well. Weather is a big factor and it's typically pretty good weather, but it was pissing rain yesterday morning but thankfully the husband sent her; and today it was drizzling but we made it fine with an umbrella.


So that's our regular routine, and there are some implications which is my morning work-out time (which I am still experimenting now); and time with J (which I try to increase at night time) but truly, all is pretty good. Let's keep going and see how this continues!
So this morning was one of those slower than regular slowpoke kinda days (some days are better, some are worse) - and I was quite irritated. I'll nag her, urge her, even nudge her lightly to get her mooooooving. It did not help that it was drizzling and the train was slightly delayed, heightening my stress that we may be late for school!
We did make it on time, albeit a little later than 7.15am. On the short stroll to school, she had to take an umbrella - I watched this girl, unfrazzled by my incessant nagging, disregarding all care in the world as she twirled her umbrella, did light steps into puddles and hum a tune I couldn't make out.


In that moment, I smiled. My heart did a little blip as I watched her, and marvelled at her innocence. Yes, my girl can be whiney, she can be sluggish, but she is also the sweetest, good-natured, easy-going child.
This morning, she taught me a lesson of being yourself, and being happy because life is more than schedules. I love that I had this insight to her, and of how I ought to learn a lesson from her to take a chill pill.

Random pics I have snapped of her - she's always this smiley! :)

Thank you baby K for teaching me to just live a little. I love you baby!

Warrior

Two nights ago, the husband asked me, "what did your sister give you?"
It took me a moment to figure out what he was asking about, and I mumbled back, "a bracelet."


Thinking back of it, I didn't feel like that justified what the gift was, and I wondered why I was so hesitant to share more. Perhaps a part of me is still trying to bury the truth, and pain of this rut I am trudging through. It shouldn't be the case. I should be proud of my achievements so far - that despite what I was feeling (tired and slightly beaten, just wanting to snuggle up under my blankets and just lie there dormant with no care of the world, to screw all responsibilities and needs) - life still goes on. I wake up daily to look after the little people who rely on me to get on with their daily lives, to have meals with the people who mean the world to me, to celebrate in joys and not just dwell on myself... each day still goes by as if there was nothing wrong at all - that takes every ounce of strength and while I still stumble, I think there is a lot to be said that things just keep moving. I am seeking for love and support from the people around me - whether or not they know what their responses mean to me, I actively seek it and I think that is credit to me.
So, my more accurate response to what my sister gave me, was this - hope.

Simple and meaningful messages

When I received the gift, I was touched. My heart was beating and I felt so amused that my sister had thought of me, yet not at all. Amused because just before I got the gift, I figured out that random 'ninja delivery' was from her. She has gifted me as part of her gifting exercise before, but I didn't think that I'd be a recipient this time (to be honest, I was just not thinking). So just before I collected the gift, she was way more excited than me. She had received the notification that the parcel had been delivered and urged me to look for it. It took me a while to receive it because there are fixed timings for parcel pick-up in the office.

When I did get it, I was smiling to myself, with a slight bounce in my step. As I held the parcel in my hand, and made my way from the mail room to my desk, my heart started feeling all fluttery. The idea of receiving a gift from my beloved sister, for no reason at all, started to strike me. I thought of all the times I had struggled in the past months, I thought of me confiding in her of all that I felt... it all started to hit me at once and I knew that I needed to share the moment with her.
I found a quiet room, and I rang her. I was incoherent, practically. I had her on the phone, as I opened the gift, sobbling... and as I read the words on the packaging, I broke down. The words of encouragement and support was so appropriate and struck bulls-eye; it meant so much to me that those words, seemingly so innocuous to another, meant the world to me at this moment.


Warrior - is about having the quiet courage to say at the end of the day, "I will try again tomorrow."
The gift was such a thoughtful one, and one that truly meant so much to me at this moment in time. I am blessed, I have plenty to be thankful for, and I hold on to this belief that you have in me that I can do this.


Thank you.

The big day... is nearly here

I don't think I have said it here before... so let me make the announcement - MY LITTLE SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED!


She has launched her project #project3007 many, many months ago since their lovely proposal, and it is with certainty that the big day is truly approaching.


Last Saturday, was the "bethrothal day"; in the olden days, that's the formal day where the groom and bride exchange dowries and pleasantries. Fast-forward to today, where it is not as rigid and formal as the olden times, but it is still a significant moment where both families meet and well, do the basic form of exchanges.

Gifts galore and double happiness!

Happy Foo parents, happy Foo bride, happy Yeap groom, happy Yeap family (Mom & Brother)

It was quite a simple affair, one where the parents and sister and new husband-to-be prepared in bite-sizes, so it wasn't harassed or fussed. I totally liked how the couple opted for the traditional options (once in a lifetime yo) for the very Chinese feel of it all. Oh, and did I mention that I ate non-stop for 4 hours because there was just so much food at my mom's home? Ah, we are so abundantly blessed with contributions from the mother (she laboured and cooked many dishes) and our aunts (a few chipped in potluck style) and everyone was so, super stuffed.


I am not sure that it's truly sunk in that my sister is getting married. I mean, I know it, but I think it's really going to hit me - at some point.


It's such a happy occasion and I am so glad that I am part of it all - just talking to her to know what she's planning etc, it's a happy, happy time for her and our family.


Another 2 more weeks (a bit less) before the actual day! Woot!

Day 8: The flight back from Perth to Singapore

The alarm went off at 0245. I was bleary-eyed and felt that I had barely slept... sometime between snoozing, I knew that the husband came back and he finished the bottle of red that we had left. I like how we both shared a same bottle of wine... individually on our own. Haha.

So the husband and I got up first, and spent the next half hour ensuring that we have packed everything properly and made our way to the vehicle. Our car had served us well the whole week, and managed to house everything quite comfortably, truly a good investment.

The kids knew that it would be late/early start for them as we already prepped them so the night before, so they were both ready to rock and roll. We left the hotel and checked out as per our planned timing of 330am, and got to the airport by 430am. The roads were quiet, and the air was crisp - sad how once we had begun to get used to and enjoy the cold, we had to leave.

We went earlier because we wanted to clear returning the vehicle properly, and just well, not miss our flight. After checking in and settling the car return, we parked ourselves at a café for some food and coffee (for me).

My half-awake princess

After eating, and before going through the dates, I suggested that we head outside - to enjoy the weather one last time.

0530am, Perth International Airport

After that last burst of cool winds, we went in. The kids had some time to play in a tiny children's corner, while the husband and I continued to stone. It was pretty tiring... the flight took off on time, as scheduled at 6am and here's a last pic of us on-board the flight.

 



Seahs coming home

The children were suitably perky by this time and asked to play with the video games, as well as watch TV. K stayed awake pretty much the whole journey and was independently playing with the controls 80% by herself. I managed to find one movie I liked enough to finish watching. K also stayed up for breakfast... and J did too until he fell asleep with a half-eaten sausage on a fork in his hand. The husband drank himself to a suitable state and K did doze off for an hour or so after breakfast. I think I snoozed collectively for 60minutes throughout the entire flight.

When we arrived, it was noon in Singapore and we were greeted by the hot, humid weather instantly. It always feels special going to the airport, and returning to it - different feelings each time. After doing some duty free shopping, we were ready to head home.

Touchdown on homeground

We took a taxi home in the hot, hot afternoon and we spent the rest of the afternoon vegetating away. The husband, K and I headed out for lunch while the boy crashed to catch up on his sleep. There was no time difference, so I didn't feel jet lagged, but the late nights had taken a toll and it felt comfortable and refreshing to be home.


It's been an amazing week with the family, refreshing ties with our friends in a foreign land and just living in a home away from our own home.


My reflections of the holiday:

• The children are old enough to enjoy themselves and expressing what they want to do. After travelling on this many occasions, they are pretty good travellers, I must say.
• The children are very fortunate to be this exposed to travel, cultures and experiences. I'm glad that the husband is always so open and willing to bring them along.
• I ate non-stop. Besides that first night when I was starving, I more than made up for it by eating at every opportunity the rest of the trip!
• We drank heartily. Not necessarily in terms of the amount that we drank (ok, that too) but also more of the timings that we drank. We had drinks in the daytime, afternoon time, night time and pre-bed time. Ah, the makings of a holiday.
• Am so thankful for friends who housed us and made plans for us on the trip. That really made it so much easier for us to follow and just let things happen.
• Picnics are the best thing ever! Everyone enjoyed just being in the outdoors and revelling in the amazing weather.
• Did I enjoy myself? Yes I did. I wasn't sure initially, as the days passed and I had some work baggage... but over the days, the company and lack of brain activity made it possible to relax and detach myself from everything and just be with the family. Totally loved that.
• Favourite part of the holiday - all the outdoor moments we had - Heathcote Park, King's Park, Elizabeth Quay... being outdoors just felt amazing and refreshing!

And so this ends another lovely holiday with the family. Feeling blessed to have the opportunity to travel and build memories like these... and will park them to the memory bank for love, laugh and happiness.


Our whole holiday captures of day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6 and day 7.

The weekend

So July rolls along quite sneakily, and the highlight must be that there are 2 birthdays in our family (the brother and the father) plus the husband comes home after being away for work for 2.5 weeks. Hooray!

Just some pics to remember our weekend past, all impromptu activities that make our lives somewhat spontaneous. It's alright not to plan too much sometimes, and just let time roll along.

An impromptu evening at the playground and having dinner picnic style

Followed by a session at the library

The night ended pretty early with the kids going to sleep... and me being greedy and indulging in some wine, and plenty of snacks - burrrp. Set the alarm for pre-sunrise the next morning, to pick the husband up from the airport.

This little boy wanted to wake up to go pick Papa up.
Look at that just-awoken face

The morning rolled along with simple things like breakfast at the market, and the boy and I spent some quality time together just playing his new toy and being together.

Mama, look at me!

Pulling his golf cart 'Mommy, it's like real right?'

The rest of the day was spent just pigging out and being with the family. It doesn't have to be all fanfare always, it doesn't have to be fancy. Being at our 'Sunday best', just being around one another means so much more. It's not always that everyone has the time to get together, but the effort that we put in to try to do so means a lot. I'm so thankful that the siblings are around to help with the children, and to have the parents both healthy to hang with us all...


Little things in life mean the most usually and I have the best family everrrrr.

Perth: Day 7, A full day of being on our own shopping, at King's Park and an indulgent dinner

Boy team

Girl team

That's us, at our first stop of the morning - Gordon Street Garage - for brunch. The plan for today was to shop at Water Town (factory outlet) and I suggested this place because I'd been on a coffee stop at this same café with the sister some years back. It's so near to the shops that I thought it'd be convenient. Previously, I'd only had a takeaway coffee and my first experience at this café didn' disappoint.

Our breakfast spread

Devouring every morsel with zest

After filling our tummies, we did the short drive across the road. We then spent the next 3 hours at the mall spending some money. No pictures to show of the place, except for these two that the husband snapped while the boy team were together.

With his new cap

With more attitude

It was about 3pm by this time, and after a pastry stopover to buy some tarts, off we went to King's Park. It was a beautiful, beautiful day and I think the next few hours that we spent at the park in the amazing weather was one of the highlights for me/us. The park was not crowded, with little groups of people scattered over the pastures. The sun made it just right for us to sit on the grass, while the cool winds kept us comfortable - perfect. We had no entertainment, except for pure nature (plus our tarts and water and beers).

Horsing around

Smiley tart face

Amazing weather, amazing spirits

Lying on the grass because, why not?

Jump!

Family at King's Park

More horsing around

Cute little ones

Pic credit: K

Pic credit: J - this totally cracks me up.

All tired out

By sunset, at about 6pm, the children were absolutely knocked out - as you can tell from that hilarious pic. I guess rolling around on grass and being active has that effect on you. We let them snooze for a bit while we decided upon dinner - it was our last in Perth and the husband had picked a burger place serving American food. On a last minute whim, however, we decided on a restaurant next door that serves Japanese Fusion food which was pretty tasty, but rather expensive. We have no pics from dinner at all but we did have a nice time. It was called The Bonsai. We were totally stuffed (again) at the end of our dinner course.. and the children requested to facetime with their little friends M and Z - they'd been apart only a day and were still missing the good company.

As we were on a very early flight the next morning, we headed straight back to the hotel after our meal. We spent the night packing and putting the children to bed as quickly as I could while the husband took this opportunity to visit the casino in the last few hours.

By midnight, the kids were asleep, the luggages were packed, and without waiting for the husband to return, I'd hit the sack. It was a lovely, lovely day and my heart (& tummy) were full.

The rest of our holidays here on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5 and day 6.

Life's little pleasures

I am meant to be on a diet after the unhealthy binges lately (the measurements don't lie dammit!) - but sometimes, it's so essential to have such moments to balance things out.

Berries with yoghurt and granola, in an orbs cup, no less. And a glass of red - it's 6.22pm and aptly happy hour, no? With a book in hand too to complete the mood for now. 

Bliss. Not too many days till the love of my life, the father of my children come home. Can't wait. 

While the kids went to the playground...

Random

The impromptu date with Hi5. The kids are still enjoying it, to some degree.
The novelty of dancing along with the songs is less enthusiastic though. They
are growing up and more conscious now.

The school snail mails a letter addressed to J. It is a card he made at school
for Papa, for Father's Day. He proudly poses with it, as Papa is not
around to receive it from him - yet.

Fresh oysters on a nice night out with friends, both big and little.

This boy takes a selfie to send to Papa.

Dropping K off at school. She is totally unshy about flashing her toothless grin.
Too cute.

Ball play on a random Saturday

The night they both decided to sleep on the bed and oust me off

A random night I pigged out all by myself - red
wine, chocolate, chips, cheese, crackers... burpp

A yummy, wholesome lunch with the people who
mean the world to me

Red shoes

Bad writing and careless mistakes in work that made me flare up

Peace

It has been a trying time for me. Anything that doesn't go well irks me, perhaps disproportionately so. While I try - and I can definitely try harder - to be the good Mother who takes everything in her stride, I have been extremely impatient and curt with the children. I get tired of their incessant whining. I am annoyed with their lousy attitudes and demands. I am sick of nagging them of things that they already know. K, especially, has been on the receiving end of the short stick. She's had punishments dished out to her for her bad habit of biting her fingers - I had a go at her daily for the past 3 days. She was yelled at for not being attentive or responsible for her school work/packing/matters. She has no sense of care or desire to do better in her writing, or work, or anything academically-related and I let her know it is unacceptable. I am being extra hard on them for the littlest of things - sitting to complete dinner and no leaving the table for no reason at all; listening to simple instructions and not gallivanting about.


Being this hard and fierce saps up a lot of energy from me, and I am tired. However, I also think that since I started being this strict mom, I need to continue so that the children know that I mean business. It is time for them to learn that I do mean business too.


On the flip side, I worry that they are hurt by me. I worry that what I am doing is not right. I worry that I get too mad. Last night was not great, as they still defied the rules by chatting after lights off (it was already 1030pm!) - and it was not pretty. I went to bed guilt-ridden at yelling at them... when really, all I want is to send them to dreamland feeling secure and loved.


Today, I will try again. I can be firm and strict without losing it. They can learn the lesson because it is a continuous journey to learn and improve, yes?


I can do this.