17 September, Kate turns 8

17 September. This date is very special, because it is the day that I birthed my first baby. Eight years ago on this date. OMG. Eight. Years. Already.


So... we usually always celebrate it with K, like her party last year, in 2015, her epic Elsa-themed birthday party when she turned 5, 4, 3 (we still have that bear), her special narnee-turned-up-at-her-party party, and her special 1.


This year, we downsized the party because we already informed her that Japan was part of her birthday treat; but we still planned small stuff for her special day. It lasted a whole weekend as we did small stuff with her from Friday through to Sunday (actual day).


Coincidentally, she had no school the Friday before her birthday so I brought her along with me to work.

Getting coffee with my lovely

This meant that she wasn't cooped up at home, I got to spend extra time with her; she managed some work and had some play time making new friends with other children who happened to be in the office on this non-school day too.

She requested for dinner at Haidilao, so I made arrangements for us to eat there on this Friday evening. While the children were not very interested in the food, the girl had her wish obliged with the crew singing her a birthday song loudly.

The Seahs celebrate K turning 8

Keeping in line with tradition of eating with the family, we decided to keep it simple and let her have whatever she wanted. No surprise she opted for junk food. It was a nice effort everyone made to turn up on this Saturday; and it was made special because (1) I scored some party hats - hah (2) we all indulged in eating fast food voluntarily (shudder) (3) everyone rocked up.

For posterity's sake, let it be known that it was the first time I tried the nasi lemak burger which is the current craze at McD.  

No birthday is complete without cake

On the actual day of K's birthday (Sunday), she spent most of the day with the grandparents. It happened to be moving day and it was pretty hectic. I barely saw her all day as she was playing/whatever with my mom, and one special moment worth mentioning was when Mom brought both kids over to our home unannounced. It was a surprise to see them amidst the busy day and the kids had a chance to take a walk-through (they ran) the mostly-vacant house. It was void of any furniture and it was quite a difference from how we lived in it.


It was only in the evening, finally, that our family was altogether over dinner; and a highlight was us bringing out a birthday cake for her. I am quite particular like that; that a birthday must be celebrated with cake.

Birthday cake for the birthday girl

While it was only our family at dinner, I made it a point to invite Godpa (on holiday in Amsterdam on this day) and the siblings (the sister + her busband were at Formula 1) to join in the birthday song and it warmed my heart to have people loving her from near and afar; bothering to sing those simple but meaningful celebratory words to this little girl that they have all watched grow up. As both my phones were used for facetime, I did not manage to capture the special moment, but my heart is full remembering that moment.


What a journey these 8 years have been; clicking the past 7 birthday celebrations definitely made me feel so blessed that I had enjoyed such precious years with this child.


Dear baby Kate, no matter how old you are, you will always be my baby. It can be challenging growing up, I know - for both you and me; but let's remember that we are both learning and growing each day and I will always love you no matter what.


I know it's not always fun for you, but let's remember that it's all to equip you with skills on this long road called life. You have definitely grown to become a witty, sometimes snarky girl; you have an infectious laughter and your arms and legs are so lanky I'm surprised you don't trip over yourself more. You have a beautiful button nose that I truly adore and your teeth are so big, I cannot wait to watch you grow into them. You are sweet and sensitive and you can be mature and so understanding that it breaks my heart at how soft you are inside.


Let's continue holding hands no matter how old you get, I hope you will always tell me silly stories no matter what age you are.


I love you baby girl.


Love forever, Mommy

1 Sept (day 1): Sapporo - Fish market, Hokkaido Shrine, Curry for lunch, Shopping and Dinner

We had a plan for today!


Actually, we pretty much had a plan every day - full credit to the sister and her busband. They were so amazing in their suggestions, planning everything from accommodation, to transport and pick-up points and including things we wanted to eat/see/buy... the whole trip was a breeze because of them so thank you dear sister and your busband. - lots of loveeeeeeee; I hope we played our part by being as obliging and agreeable as possible :)


So, back to our plan. It was to stuff our faces with fresh fish. Mmmmmmmm.
When on holiday, do things that we do not normally do! After a quick stop to 7-11 (steps away from our hotel lobby) to grab a make-shift coffee, we headed off. Destination was the Sapporo Central Wholesale Fish Market (Jyogai Iciban), a 15-minute drive from our hotel. We had 2 vehicles, so we agreed to meet there.


This was our view when we'd parked our car. Turns out, we had parked at different places (2 roads away), but we managed to meet up anyhow.

Wholesale market

While waiting for the other car, we headed into the wholesale market and ventured within. There were stores of raw food, selling fish, vegetable and other stores selling cooked food. We walked the grid about 3 times trying to locate an entrance we can find the rest. This was one of the beauties I saw...

Hole-in-wall-sushi-bar

We ended up not eating in this place anyway, but before we headed out to the main food street, the mother scored a palmful (yes, a lot of balls in her palm) of ikuru.

Ikuru sampling!

Ikuru 0, family 1

The weather was beautiful, and so we had to take a picture, just because we are happy!

Happiness



Breakfast

After walking along the streets (trying not to stop to sample every thing we saw), we ended up at this mart that sold fresh food on the first level, and served as a restaurant on the second. What we saw on the menu made us very happy, and it was even better when the food arrived.

Yum bowl

It's not easy travelling with kids, especially when they are as active and loud as mine. However, I found a way to occupy this active boy - drawing. He loves to draw and if you gave him a task, he was quite happy and willing to accomplish the brief. It made me so happy to watch him concentrate in his task. I am also very proud of his drawing - he expresses details in his own way and it always makes me smile.

Keeping him entertained

Fresh-supermarket-browsing

Nearly edible

Above was a snapshot tease only of all that we saw at the mart; it was very refreshing to fill our tummies and then continue shopping with no specific aim in mind. Ahh, the joys of being on holiday with no serious agenda. Woot! After eating, we made our way to the next stop.

Cool winds, cloudy skies, family = love

We headed to the Hokkaido Shrine, about a half hour's drive away. While we are very greedy, we decided that we should try to do something different in between the main job of eating, and so we did. The shrine was quite lovely, and it was nice to just walk about, just because.



Entrance to shrine

We chanced upon a wedding

After a short tour within the shrine, we decided to venture the external compound. There was an abundance of trees, fresh air and space, so we just walked.

WHEE!

The children saw a sign that said "zoo" so we obliged and headed where the arrow pointed. We never found any zoo (sighting a squirrel did not qualify); instead, finding a lovely spot where the parents took a tian mimi shot...

Love goals

The men found food like bees to honey...

What an adorable yellow food truck

Ice cream!

And the kids found a playground where they very happily got all sweaty and active on!

Happy place

Ice-cream cone and whipped cream crepe

We spent some time there just resting in the lovely weather and eating our sweet fare. Then finally, as it got a bit warmer, we decided to head off. Lunch was a short walk away and we took a while to get there... because, well, there was hopscotch to jump on, pictures to take and things to see and time to will away... ahhhh, lovely.

Photo credit: K

Photo credit: J

One more at the main entrance to the shrine.
In blossom season, the whole stretch behind us would be full of lovelies...

Hello!

As soon as we made some progress in walking, we found another reason to stop. There was a little space where I could get a proper coffee... and the rest found entertainment in the form of a little mart.

Quaint little cafe

With a photogenic exterior

It took us longer than expected, but we did make it to Soup Curry Okushiba Shoten Okushiba Chan.

An unassuming shop-front in the middle of a housing estate

There was a queue, a pretty long one, so we found entertainment.

While the kids amused themselves this way...

The husband and I trekked back to the mart and
bought entertainment-liquids for the adults.

Cosy interior

Our private room!

Lunch was different forms of curry in soup form. It isn't like anything I'd tasted before, so very interesting. Between all of us, we tried seafood/pork/chicken/tempura; soba, as well as different levels of spicy curry. It was a lovely and novel lunch. We were all stuffed after this lunch and it was quite a relief to trot back to the vehicle.


But, full is only what we think we are, until we decide we need to try something else. And here is where I reveal the super-hero talent that my family has - we have bottomless stomachs. Just as we were bursting from lunch, the sister says we have to try this rice-cake; so we did.

Happy in the queue

One rice cake for 8, pls!

This is what food coma looks like

At this point, we had missed the opportunity to visit the beer brewery as we had originally planned. Instead, we decided to head straight to the park after, and off we drove.

Afternoon snooze.

It took us nearly an hour, but sadly, it was a futile trip. Turns out, the park was closed by the time we reached there and we were not able to venture in the park. I was looking forward to it actually, just sitting in nature and frolicking in the fields; but that was not to be.


Undaunted, we moved straight on to the next plan in the agenda - shopping.
It was the Mitsui Outlet and after about 2 hours there, most of us managed to get something. It wasn't as cheap or as amazing as we'd have preferred, but it was fine. We then made plans to head for dinner and the adventurous husband, who was intent on having the best possible, searched for food options; and after nearly getting lost, all was well as we figured out the way to the restaurant and park our vehicles and not get lost. Hooray!


By this time, the temperature has dropped and it was pretty cold (bbrrrr) so our dinner choice was perfect. Shabu shabu FTW!

Waiting for our table

Lovebirds

Sight for sore eyes

We spent ages at dinner, a good 3 hours, I think. It was a buffet where we had free-flow of meat and drinks and I was so stuffed from dinner. I think I managed only 2 beers? But I had like, 3 cows and 2 sheep and 4 little piglets. It was a very full dinner!
We bade farewell to the kind and attentive restaurant manager at closing (we were the last ones to leave) and it was a hearty exchange of goodbyes and namecards as the men bonded (ah, whisky forms friendships). 
We were hit by the cold winds as we stepped out from the building and it was a refreshing walk back to our hotel. We even found energy to step into a multi-purpose shop where we bought some random stuff, before continuing our journey. Again, we contemplated heading out for another drink, but that plan failed as the kids clung to us like velcro; so we stayed in and did another round of in-room entertainment.


We had a picture taken with some big clock/tower telling us the time as we walked back to the hotel.. but I need to find that pic.
Edit: I found the pic on the sister's blog! It's the last pic of this post; here.


What a lovely day, and it was only our first full day in Hokkaido. WHEE!


Read about our flight to Japan, here.

22 September

Today, I sent my daughter to school. She was in cheery spirits and it made me happy to observe her. I love her button nose. 

Today, I went for a run with the husband. The sun was hot and it was breezy, there were park-goers and while it wasn't the best run I had (such low energy -ugh-), I felt so thankful to be able to move (albeit like a sloth) and be outdoors. 

Today, I kissed my son goodbye while he was sleeping and I love him so. He is such a rascal. 

Today,  we handover the keys of our first matrimonial home.

We moved in when I was heavily pregnant with baby #2 and we had such naïve expectations of managing a young toddler and a new house - all by ourselves. 

We welcomed our son and this was the only home he ever knew. The husband and I owned this place and enjoyed the quiet space we had. Never really quiet cos he watches TV so loudly, and come to think of it, we never truly owned the master bedroom as it was forever invaded by the children. 

The house was ours, as we understood it's nooks and corners; we messed it up and made it our home. 

Today, we handover the keys of our first matrimonial home.

Craft project I did years ago...

J and his Spiderman phase as he plastered his drawing all over the house

Our view.

31 August, Flying to Japan

I was so excited that this day had come. It felt like we had been talking about it / planning for ages, and when this day rolled along... OMG! HAPPINESS!


The day (Thurs) felt like a really long one. Why? Because we still had to go through the whole day like a regular person; when I actually did not feel normal at all! I just wanted to jump through hoops and sing out loud and tell everyone "I am goin on a horrrrrrr-leeeeee-daaaaaeeeee".
Whoopdeedoo!


But adulting, I did and accomplished a full day of work (groans) then finally, finally, finished packing for the kids and me and had dinner. Then we all washed up and got ready to leave. It felt sooo good.

Leaving for the airport at 9pm, in the cab.

We arrived and met our parents, then split up. The dad babysat them at the playground, while the husband, Mother and I headed to the lounge. We had simple food and some beers (more for uh, those not inside. ssshhhh) then all regrouped. Headed for the gates:

WHEE!

Group pic before embarking!

I was pretty tired, actually. I was brain-fried from all the work; and I went for a 13km run in the morning, so by this time (midnight) .... zzzz.... not everyone felt tired though, obviously...

Enjoying his supper snack and TV

Twinning (the ill-fitting earphones crack me up)

I had little interest to watch anything (too fuzzy-brained) and dozed off at some point. Like this little one:

Poor girl felt motion sickness, luckily she managed to snooze.

After 7 hours, we made it to Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan! After disembarking, we headed to wash up after a rough night (red eye flights... argh) and everyone was pretty zombified. But, we had a plan (thanks to the sister's busband!) and stuck to it. We were greeted by our driver who led us to the Haneda Airport.

Early morning in Tokyo

In the van

I crashed on this van ride, totally needed the whole hour's nap. I truly had zero recollection of anything on this van ride... except that my water bottle leaked and I wet my stuff. Thankfully, it was only water.


Upon arrival at Haneda, we were ready to eat and the husband picked a ramen restaurant literally steps away from where we stood. Our first proper meal in Japan - ramen. After filling our tummies, we had time to kill before our flight to Sapporo. We headed to check in our luggage and could move around freely. So, what did we do? EAT!


We zoomed in on the eating hall and sampled everything we could see. HAHA. The kids had soft-serve and I was just happy to snack. The sister decided on something cheesy that she eyed for buying back. After we'd walked around a bit, we found a coffee place to liven up my sleepy soul. Nothing more comforting (and boring) than Starbucks. We sat there until time was up and we then headed through the gates.


At this very early point, the daughter made an observation. "Why do we go into every supermarket?" - looks to my sister. HAHA.


While waiting for the flight, we had some (more) food, snacks and the sister bought beers. Yum.

Supermarket sushi that tasted pretty good

Biru!

It was a short hour+ flight from Haneda to Sapporo and when we all arrived, I'm pretty sure we felt relief. It has been a loooong travel and it felt good to finally touch ground properly again. After collecting our luggage, we walked to the rental zone and got on a shuttle bus that brought us to the car yard.

Men doing the manly thing

We got the vehicle, figured out the GPS (him, not me) and we were on our way to the hotel!

We are in Hokkaido!

The car ride was about an hour, during which the children snoozed. They must be tired as it was already late afternoon by then, and sunset (approx. 6pm). I even got drool on my sleeve, compliments of the boy. We arrived to the hotel by darkfall and decided to head straight out for a meal.


We strolled towards the food street that the B researched and along the way, before we found our destination, we made a pitstop.

Tako ball from a van

The husband picked a spot for dinner and we were all happy to sit down to end the day. It felt pretty cold on this first night but we still decided to sit al fresco because sitting inside meant inhaling second-hand smoke.

First dinner in Hokkaido

Dinner was a mix of cooked and raw food, yakitori grill sticks and beer. After dinner, we strolled along the streets and stopped at the kit-kat shop, the giant pharmacy, and the sister introduced me to this evil-in-a-good-way-soft-serve called Cremia.

Mmmm.

Cremia girls

At this point, right after this pic was taken, we discovered that we had lost the husband and her busband. They had snuck off to a bar (just to the right of this pic actually) for a whisky. We saw them and their one drink was really just one drink and we all headed back to the hotel. We talked about going out for another drink and we saw a little shop that had this crazy long Q and thought to have that... but the kids got clingy and we decided to bring them back to the hotel to settle them in first.


Turns out I was pretty drained by this point and after washing them up, I wanted to wash up too. It had been too long since my last shower 24 hours ago; and oh boy was it a good decision to stay in. Of course, I'm sure we missed out some walking around time in the cold, but it truly felt so good to be clean again.


Instead, we had a mini picnic - the first of many (every) night in the sister's room. We played cards, chit-chatted, drank and ate. The mother (not pictured) actually rocked up in the hotel kimono because the sister said so. HAHA - ok, it's mean but it was so cute she took it so seriously. Love!

This was the only time we had this "damn smooth" beer. It was so good but
we never found it again :(

That ended our travel from Singapore to Tokyo to Sapporo... and a very eventful 24 hours++ for the family.
Our holiday had begun!