Lunar New Year Eve - the evening

Dinner was at the BIL's home. We have been doing this for a few years and it works. The new thing this year, is that the brother had moved and the family was at his home. His home is not too far from the BIL's and after our dinner, we made a pit-stop to the brother's.
The first thing that greeted us was this amazingly big ong lai! (Ong lai in hokkien literally means prosperity come). Of course, we had to take a picture with it!

ONG LAI LAI LAI!

We finished the night with some adult game play with the adults, and it was nice to kick-start with the family with both sets of family. We made it home just past midnight, to welcome the new year of the rooster in our own home.


HUAT AH!

Lunar New Year Eve

Today, the husband was off work and I had time before work; so we joined the girl in her school celebrations, and bringing the boy along too. The household was up and noisy at 6am - I had a reveal of how it may be like in 2 years, when the boy starts Primary School.

We all left the home and headed to school. It's the first time we are joining the school celebrations, and I was quite happy to be there. It felt surreal and familiar to be standing in the courtyard, singing the school song, saying the national pledge and singing the school song.

Once an SC girl, always an SC girl!

Waiting for the performances to begin

First up, lion dance performance! It was such a stunning performance and I was enthralled. What a lovely start to this LNY holidays.

I was so impressed!

Rooster mascot appearance

After the lovely dance performance, everyone adjourned to the hall for part 2 of the celebrations.

Dance by the girls, and an invited guest to perform the 'mask-changing' dance

I did not stay for the whole performance.

I have some lovely reflections from this morning:

1. I was so happy to be in school with the children and husband...

2. I felt pretty emotional singing the school song in the court yard (gosh, it's been too long!)

3. I am so proud that my daughter is an SCGS girl.

4. I am thankful that the school holds such celebratory sessions for the girls, to expose them to different culture and happenings outside of what textbooks offer.

5. It is such a lovely and appropriate start to our Lunar New Year celebrations, on this Eve

I am looking forward to the long weekend of play and time with family and friends.

GONG XI FA CAI!

Progress

I can still go straighter, will keep practising!

200 runs

A friend started on a running journey early January. She tagged it #target200runs and seems to be on a mission to well, run 200 runs. I should clarify with her if there is a minimum distance to cover, or other conditions; but so far, several friends have joined in this fitness journey. I run anyway, and I figure there is no harm joining in. All I need to do is include the same #hashtag and number my runs as I accomplish them. I have been slacking in the running department, and this was the right motivation to get me started.

My first run in this #target200runs

So while I did some short runs (2.4km) early Jan, they were just warm-up types with no motivation to do more, this was just the right trigger to get me going. I still do my workouts, I still have my yoga stretches, I replaced some cardio with combat classes but running has taken a back-seat. 
So now, this is a boost for me to run when I feel lazy, and I simply number my runs as I accomplish them.

#target200runs (Current count: 2)

Growing

One of her front tooth is growing!

Jiggle like a jelly and our night routine

Part of the school routine kick-off is homework, spelling and Chinese spelling. I feel a need to highlight Chinese spelling as a separate item because it does take a ton of effort to accomplish that.


So anyway, last evening, the girl and I revised her spelling and one of the phrases was 'jiggle like a jelly'. It's pretty known that the sister does a mean jellyfish dance/jiggle and we were talking conversationally amidst the spelling and look what the girl wrote:

Number 7.

That cracked us up for a bit... and as much as I hate to be the naggy (boring) Mom who does work with them always, I think it's just a necessary phase of life.

Ting xie

Seeing the sister on her nightly routine of work in the evenings has set the boy off too. I roped him in to do some work with the primary intent of having him do sit down as he is always running or bouncing off the walls (playing). Turns out, I have discovered the innate drive in this boy who wants to do well. He asks for spelling (basic words from his reading classes) and I am very proud of his abilities!

Life.

Just for the record, here is a snapshot of our usual evenings:


Between 6-7pm: I will reach home
7pm: Dinner (the husband will join in if he finishes work early enough)
7.45pm: Shower


8pm: Work - there is always something to do.
Papers to sign, homework the girl couldn't do on her own (still training her to have the initiative to do what she can in the afternoon), spelling or ting xie to revise. The boy will join in on some days to do some writing (he practises ABCs and in the last 2 weeks I began giving him spelling to reinforce what he learns in class). Some days, we revise Chinese words on flashcards from Chinese enrichment class.


9pm: Head to the room
We have a mix of activities - read some books, play UNO, play minion game, chit-chat or play. It depends on what the children prefer and the amount of time we actually are in the room (there is some variance - some days we go in earlier, some days later)


10pm: Bedtime
I do prefer if this was 9.30pm, because there is still some time before they actually knock out. It's a trying process to get them to sleep and I have been trying to bring their bedtime earlier - since day 1! I shall not give up, and I firmly believe that the earlier they go to bed, the more rested they are. Afterall, the wake-up time is fixed and the only time we can manipulate is this bedtime.


It's nearly the end of January and our routine is pretty accomplished. It will be a bit messed up with Lunar New Year (holidays!) coming up, but that will be a break we all welcome.

Playing with guns

The boy revived his love for guns and was on a shooting rampage this weekend. He brought along 3 of his NERF guns everywhere he went and it was pretty adorable (while annoying).


I joined him for some moments and managed to distract/occupy him for some moments as he tried to play the game I set up. It was hilarious watching him trying his best... but not being very good.

Face of concentration

Elmo, the unfortunate target

This marks the week before Lunar New Year!

Exercise time with my little buddy

Yesterday was one of those days where I started work the moment I hit it - pre-8am. This means that by 4.30pm, I was pretty out of fuel... it also means that I did not get my dose of endorphin in the morning and I was mentally carving out possibilities in my head on what I could do to get myself into a sweat, between child pick-up duty... thankfully the stars aligned and I managed to reach home early.


I wasn't 100% sure of what I was wanting to do... mix my contemplation of a run with the boy's earnest demand request to go blading (utmost enthusiasm since he picked it up!), I decided (on a whim!) that we should go out together! I arranged for the helper to do child pick-up duty and opted to use the time to be with the boy instead. I am so happy it all worked out!


So, since my plan was to run my usual route, I figured that the boy can go along with me. Truth is, if I had really thought more about it, I may have been put off to do it. However, given that I was desperate for some activity, and I had told the boy before that we could do this run-and-blade thingy, we did it and I am so glad we did!


I did not manage to run properly, as the boy still needed guidance on bumps (we never ever notice how bumpy the roads are until on wheels. Any slight bump is magnified and as a bystander, I am also worried for him), and we were also needing to pause to cross roads and get through bumps and slight incline/decline of curbs... I think I walked more than ran the entire distance, but still, it was awesome!

At about the 2km mark, he sat down on the ground abruptly. Haha!

I explained to the boy that whatever distance we covered had to be doubled back so I asked him several times if he was ready to turn-around. He was one determined soul and kept rejecting to U-turn. He insisted that he wanted to see where I normally run. 'Where is the end, Mommy? I want to see the end!'


Good thing I brought his water bottle with me, as he was guzzling it along the way. I must say, his determination and skill impressed me! I lent a helping hand (literally - ha!) on bumps going up/down the curb, especially at traffic crossings, and while I jogged and walked more than I ran, there were some bursts (of his energy) and suitable space (straight paths) which did allow me to run at a fair pace.

Mid-way rest-point

The boy took off his helmet immediately, and that is when I notice that the straps on his helmet was sitting on his ear. (Note to husband: please help adjust it for him so he is no longer in discomfort!) He also said that he was really tired, but I told him that he did really well and I am sooo proud of him!


The way back seemed quicker and even J commented 'why so fast?' (despite him commenting many times 'I am tired'). I told him that he was given the chance to turnaround many times but since he chose to go on, he has to continue to get back too. In all, our 6km took 1 hour - an admirable time given our stops and it being the first time he was blading for such a long distance. Did I mention how proud I am?

I am so happy that I discovered this bonding time with the child, and I know that I can now plan such pockets of activity for each child. I cannot cope with both kids together (maybe not for the first few times as I cannot imagine handling both on the roads) - yet, but I know that when they become even better than they currently are, we can do so; or even head to a big park where we will have ample space to blade safely (no roads to cross).


I cannot wait to try this with my girl too! What a lovely discovery and run-and-blade-bonding time with the children. Woot!

Routine - version Jan 2017

It is week 3 of 2017 and our lives are slowly, and surely getting back into routine for the new year. It's been pretty fine re-starting the school year with K, and this year, the tricky one has been the boy. He's switched schools and is still adjusting to the new environment. He's not suffering, but he has been expressing his woes and as much as it is upsetting to watch him unsettled, it is also annoying to have to contend to his whines. I know, it's only been a week+, and I cannot wait for him to get into it. It will take a while more, and I believe once he becomes closer to his friends and enjoys playing, he will be fine. The biggest hurdle, to me, is the fact that this boy loves being home. He loves his own space, he loves the room and carpet, he loves the autonomy and needing to conform to the school's schedule is not exciting for him. I truly hope he settles in - and well - soon.


So, just for the record, here is our routine now.


6am: K wakes up, she gets changed and has breakfast the helper prepares. She usually eats some bread and milo, or cake or pancake or something.


6.10-6.20am: the husband and I wake up and start pottering around the house, getting ready to leave for work. The helper packs our breakfast (bread and fruits for him, fruit & yoghurt or bread for me; or I prepare my own oats).


6.40-6.45am: we leave the house and the husband drops K and I at the MRT station. Once, we left home at 6.50am and she was borderline late for school.


6.50-7.15am: K and I take the train to go to school. The trains are usually not crowded at this time, and we have space to stand comfortably. We usually chit chat about nothing; or if we're not talking, she will observe her surroundings and daydream while I read my book; or we revise spelling verbally...


7.20am: we say goodbye at the station and I stand, watching and waving goodbye to her as she heads towards school. I head back into the station and take the train to work.


7.35-7.45am: I arrive at my station and take the short stroll to my workplace.
I rather enjoy this short stroll - the weather is usually cool, the sun is just about peeking out and I see the same sights and smell the same smells daily. It's a mix of workers loading/unloading stocks, people having breakfast, I smell foods being prepared and there is a clitter-clatter noise of shops as they start to open up. The traffic is flowing, but not heavy and there is a sense of clockwork as life picks up, but not peaking with crazy traffic and noise as yet. It's a nice, quiet build-up for the morning.


About 7.45am: Workout time.
I always prefer to exercise in the morning, as it helps my body and mind to awaken properly. This has been the case for years, and it also allows me to allocate this time for myself before the day unravels. With the change in our routine, I embarked on a new plan last year. It's worked out pretty well, once I got used to it and I also had to get innovative at picking the type of exercise that my body wants - a good mix between yoga, running and HIIT. The change this year, is that I got a membership at the gym in the next building to my office, so now, I have an additional option of heading there to work-out if I desire. I still mix working out in the building, just because it's more convenient.




There are some days where I am busier and opt to start work at this early hour. It's very quiet and I park things which require quiet-thinking to this session.


8.30am: Workout done - shower/change/prep for work.
9am: Breakfast/work starts, usually with me logging to read through emails... and my day kicks off.


I usually end my day between 530-630pm and I head home. I have additional duties of picking up one child on Tues/Wed post enrichment class, before going home for dinner. Then starts our usual evening routine of (1) reminding K of her homework to be done (2) reminding both kids to clear/pack their bags (3) pushing them to start washing up (4) targeting to have them in their bedroom by 9pm (5) hope that they fall asleep ASAP so no one is a cranky child the next day.


The end.

The husband turns 37

After the celebration with the family, the husband was all geared for a busy, busy week ahead (he had alerted me of the schedule). There was even a possibility that he'd be working through his birthday. Regardless, I was hopeful that we would see him, at least on the day... but thankfully, it worked out way better than feared.
On the eve of his birthday, I allotted precious sleep-time for the kids to draw a card for him.

Hard at work

Watching them concentrate on writing their personal messages to the husband brought so much love and joy to me (the aftermath of chasing them to bed did quench the love instantly; but I shan't let the psycho-mom in me rear its head in this beautiful post)... and it is worth mentioning that a year ago, J could barely write yet but this year, he is adept at the alphabet and while he doesn't know how to spell, he can mimic/ craft letters that you spell for him. K, has also been promoted to the official big sister who can spell for him, rather than relying on the adults. It's so heartening to observe their growth and developments!


On the birthday, we all woke up to wish the husband Happy Birthday! The day continued pretty much routine, with us going to school and whatnots... but instead of working late, the husband had said he was able to have dinner together - hooray! I briefed the helper to cook a symbolic dinner of mee sua (akin to longevity) and had planned to pick up a cake on the way home, after picking the boy from class. A bonus occurred when the husband turned up to pick us instead and we all made it home by 730pm; and were all able to sit down together to have a simple dinner together... it was pretty normal, like any other day, but I think what makes it special is the effort that was put in to make it happen; we cannot and should not take anything for granted.


After a dinner where all our tummies are filled, we proceeded to the cake. Again, with the girl being nearly-8, she can help with the setting up already. As we grow, the young ones do too.

Cake IC

Photo credit: K

Love... in our family home

Of course I cannot let this gem go unpublished

Cutting the cake

He insisted on cutting it himself

After cake, we set time for family time and we played a set of Minion Game.

Simple pleasures

Not an extraordinary day, and probably very similar to any other school night - with the exception of cake; or maybe just the singing as we do have cake sometimes - but I am so thankful that we are family and that we are all healthy and with one another.


I was cracking my head very hard for the photo caption that I posted on FB, as it seemed so pfft to thank the husband for being so lovely, for being him, for being the great Papa he is, for loving me... and what struck me was that we had known each other for 22 years (yes, since we were 15), the husband and I were together to celebrate his birthday for 12 - and to be able to grow old with him is such an amazing experience and with each birthday, we have more to be thankful for as we watch our younglings become more independent and little beings on their own.


I end this post with all my love to this special man who is my husband, whom we 3 love with all our hearts to planets and back.

Many, many people wish him well too!

Happy birthday, dear husband. Here's wishing you a fantastic year ahead, with you achieving all the goals you set, may you be healthy and continue being fit to accomplish the trails and oceans you set to conquer, may we stay loving and best friends and keep enjoying each other's company alongside good food, and may you continue to be the amazing Dad you are to our babies who truly idolise you in a way that is only unique to you.

Mornings with this big girl

The year truly feels real when there are 6am wake-up calls to start the day.
It's even more real when the all-familiar strains hit home - homework, packing, routine (oh the amount of nagging), scheduling (I have a master excel - yes, excel to document and lay down the timings and routines per day!) and situations that arise (bad traffic = K was late on day 1, oops; tantrums when a child is tired from lack of sleep; lying about use of pocket money - oh boy...)
I wish to stay positive though, so here's listing the great stuff:

1. It's so much easier to get onto a routine that pre-existed.
Even though there was a break, the fact that we had done it before made going back a lot easier. K's pretty much on auto-pilot which is such a relief!

2. K and I have a nice time together in the mornings.
True, we have grumpy moments (did I mention the nagging already?!) but through my personal experience of being able to go to work with my mother, I learn that just being able to see each other and spend time together amidst our long work-days is such a blessing.

3. K shares funny tales.
Sometimes, I get a glimpse of what goes on in her little head - such moments are rare, because the time we have together is mostly used for mundane but necessary things like homework, eating, routine... being idle on the way with her allows for a small window of nothingness, which actually is so much more than that.

4. K and I get to hold hands.
This may sound pretty small and silly, but I love holding hands with the children. To feel their little hand in mine, to be able to reach out and give a cuddle, to have them reach out to hold mine - it's so simple, yet loving.

5. Being a less needy parent/ grooming a more independent child.
When we first started on this routine, I walked every single step alongside K. I'd drop her off at the last possible spot before psycho loving parents are disallowed to stalk walk with their child. At K's request, we started to say our goodbye's a little further from school and so in Q4 last year, we said goodbye outside the school compound. This year, the girl requested for an even further goodbye spot and I agreed. I spy on her until she goes out of sight and (to my utmost exasperation),  she still doesn't always turn around to wave goodbye! Haha!

My big baby

After I send her off, I head to do my own thing. Am trying to get back to the work-out regime, and hopefully will get my engines running smoothly in no time.
Hello, 2017!

Our first birthday celebration of the year - for the husband!

As always, the husband's first in line to celebrate his birthday and this year, he requested to have hotpot. It was a unique experience for most of us who had not eaten there before (namely, the children, the parents and I - that's quite a lot of us!).


I was prepared to be blown away by the service and 'extras' (ice-cream, manicure service, extra snacks like popcorn, children's play corner with babysitting services...) and it did not fail to impress. The food was pretty fresh and at the end of the meal, we even received a small discount as one of our seats was the unfortunate space of dripping air-con condensation water.


I liked the soups, they were very tasty and it was as always, a robust, rowdy and fulfilling meal to be with the family as we all sat around to talk, laugh and make merry.

Look at how happy K is in the pic!

A very loud birthday song with a husband who tolerated the singing.
As much as the lighted sign-board is tacky, it did add some feel

Thanks to the sister for picking and arranging for cake

Family, 2017

All of us

Just like that, we rounded up the week to the first week of 2017. This year's affair is very different from last year's simpler gathering at home.


As always, am thankful for family time together; and I hope the husband enjoyed his first birthday celebration.

Being outdoors

Another activity that we did more of last December, was being in the outdoors. There is nothing more beautiful and relaxing than having good weather, food and company in nature - and that's exactly what we did on the last Friday of 2016.

Adventures of the outdoor kind

Being the tail end of 2016, I was also feeling reflective; and being by the seaside made me feel calm. I remember thinking about the year, reminiscing my teenage years of being at the park with the husband, listening to the shouts and voices of our next generation, and watching the skies grow pretty in pink then darkening - a true reminder that time and tide waits for no man, and it is up to us how we wish to seize the moment.
I was very thankful and at peace, opting to hang with the family instead of meeting my friends as was the old plan.

With my little man

As the skies grew dark, the children requested for a fire so that they could roast marshmallows. I will be honest to say that I did not help in any form at all...

Setting up a fire

But I did sit by it to enjoy the warmth that the fire spread, amidst the cool night air

Mersmerising

We did not stay the night (as the kids had done their overnight stay at Pulau Ubin already); instead we went to eat supper! The kids were pretty tired (it was 11pm) and as much as my inner schedule Nazi was screaming in protest, I also quelled their cries by trying to live in the moment, as it was truly still the holidays, after all.

Tummies filled, going home

It was a lovely time and I really hope the children enjoy these moments and memories that we are building... till the next holiday!

Bruised knees

My awkward knees with tiny brown bruises - because I did push ups. Ha!

Roller-blading at 4years, 10 months old

The father - the very doting and generous grandfather - signed the children up for blading lessons. K took them when she was on the cusp of 5 years old, and now that the boy is at the same age, he's doing the same!

First lesson

Learning how to fall

Look at that happy face

The lesson went well and the boy was very excited to announce that 'I CAN SKATE NOW!' He had a minor accident though, and hurt his chin and lip.

Abrasion on his chin.. no pics of the gross mountain of
ulcers he had on the inside of his mouth. Euw.

He's had 2 lessons, and the father also signed both the kids up for a refresher (private tutorial) and I am very proud to say that the children are pretty good!

Blading at East Coast Park

Now, I'm the only one in the family who does not know how to blade. I did think of taking lessons... and I didn't get around to it... and as time goes by, I am afraid to do so because I do not wish to get hurt. It's not crossed out from my list of to-dos though, so one day, maybe one day....


Until then, I'll continue being very proud of the children and jog alongside them if we hit the park together!

Coffee time

In a blink of an eye, December is over and we are now day 6 of the new year; and the end of week 1. I am back at work, the children are back to school and we are slowly gearing up for this new routine for 2017.




When it was still cold, relaxed and lazy in December, I spent one particular morning, enjoying my Christmas present from the husband. I spent an hour that particular morning by myself, with a book in hand, savouring the coffee, book and time to myself.

Simple pleasures

Thank you, my husband for this practical and tasty gift. I hope that we will have more time together this year, and I am more than happy to savour this gift together with you!

Hello 2017 - kicking off the year right

I was so grateful that the 1st of January, 2017 fell on a Sunday, giving us an additional day of rest before the real year kicks off. (Real is defined by the routines of work and school.)


We woke up leisurely (the husband and I had wanted to gym but that didn't happen)... and then picked the mother up for lunch (Dad was working). Lunch was a simple, affair of me satisfying my dimsum craving, but the highlight was that I was able to have a meal with my family, and Mother.


There are really so many distractions in life that we get caught up in them; but on this day, I wish to remember that I am fortunate to be able to afford to eat out and share this time with the family, that my mother is healthy and able to join us, that we have food in our tummies and are full - of love and food.

Happy 2017!

No better way to kick off the year - woot!