New adventures; 家

12 October is - in the words of my kids - the birthday of our new home #2.

The huat crew

My adorable children

This marks a new journey of our lives where we build a new home for us. OMG so exciting!

Growth and change

Nothing beats the reality of how time has passed, than looking at children. Here is a comparison shot of the three Seah-blings.

2013 vs 2017

I remember the top picture very clearly. It was a National Day weekend where we celebrated birthdays in the family and it was our first visit to Pasar Bella, when it was quite newly opened. That explains the red togs and how adorable do they look!


The bottom picture was taken 2 weekends ago, also in August (same birthday month!) and because I'd just been prompted of this FB memory, I suggested the children re-enact the pic and so they did.


Seeing them grow is truly most gratifying, and yet another reminder to self that time passes so quickly and I must treasure the moments with them.


Oh children, Mommy does love you to the moon and back. I really do.

Yoga progress - mini yogi series

Just after I posted my recent yoga progress post, this little yogi surprised everyone (herself included) and did this new backbend!

Bending backwards my little flexi yogi

She was so thrilled to have done it and to see her face light up was amazing. I felt so proud and happy for her!

Bye bye, Hi-5

I was browsing on IG the other day and hi5world popped up. It struck me that I no longer have a need to follow them because my kids have grown out of hi5.

Unfollow.

Wow. When did it happen?


I think it did so slowly, but surely. I brought them to the shows (live) - both paid and unpaid, and it was so adorable while it lasted. I loved watching the kids sing-along, dance (though it was more like mini hops when they were toddlers) and even I got to know the hi5 team and their songs. I truly think that it was one of those shows that the kids grew up watching. I loved how creative the hi5 costumes are, and it was performance-based (by real people) versus cartoon; which was also another 'win' in my opinion.


Oh, hi5 took centrestage in our home for many years, when the girl (and I) first knew of it - she was probably, 2? - till last year when I felt that both the girl and boy have outgrown it. They have stopped watching hi5 on TV, I did not see the need to purchase tickets to live shows. These days, them 2 prefer watching live cartoon and even tween-type shows (dramas by teen actors).


Thank you hi5 for the years of entertainment and education to the children. I had fun too. Oh, what a ride it had been.

Letters to & from my firstborn

We started this book, where we'll write to each other. It's special because right now, the firstborn can pretty much write sentences and express herself, compared to the boy who's still at the cusp of learning to read.


I love this book of us, and wish we'd have more heart to do more; but some is better than none, I say!


In the latest entry from last week, this little girl was feeling particularly challenged due to a bad hair day. Oh, the woes a 7+yo goes through due to hair pains. -super rolls eye- but hey. Worries one feels is still a worry and I should not judge (but it's so harrrrd esp when we are late for school/something and the whining is incessant about hair?!)

Temper management

So, in this entry, she expresses her pains of her hair and her frustrations, as well as how she better managed it because she went to take a shower. There is also a tiny part about how annoying her little brother is. Ha!


Learning journey on temper management is so important and little wins are so super, duper important!


I am so proud of her!

This exasperates and amuses me simultaneously

What does? My child does. So, K is the sweetest girl. She is a princess (fussy), and also very sweet and loving. However, her attitude is generally very bochap. She isn't flustered over most stuff, she is not time-sensitive and that's part of the reason why I struggled with her when primary school started. It took her a while to adjust to the routine of school, and I needed to remind myself that she was only a child and needed time to calibrate.


This year, she's gotten off to a good start and I am so proud of her achievements. She has been getting 100% for all her school's weekly spelling since January! This is such a big difference when she struggled to cope last year; and I'll say it again, I am so proud of my girl.


I am not a tiger mom, but there is a 'but' here.


K still isn't bothered by things like filing, or keeping things neat. And that's why, this picture is a perfect encapsulation of the situation with her right now.

10/10 - full marks! - on a totally crumpled and (this takes the cake)
torn paper. There is a 'see me' the teacher wrote, as the teacher
wanted to know why the paper was in .. such a state. Ha!

And for the record, as I was working late that evening, I had to write down a list of questions for her in case I forgot by the next morning.

She brought nail polish to school?!

Ah, interesting daily anecdotes... my sweet little ladida girl.

Tic Tac Toe

I found the boy team in the room, heads together in deep conversation one evening last week. To my amusement, they were deep in discussion about strategy.
Where should you place your mark?
Where will your opponent place his?
How can you place your marks correctly after he places his so that you'll win?

Team strategy

Whoever knew that tic tac toe, the simple game that we learnt to play as children, can become so competitive and complex? The boy learnt it and has been eager to play it - as is the enthusiasm with novelty.


I was half amused, half horrified that a simple game has taken on such a serious spin. Of course, I was also the token 'opponent', to test if J has learnt the 'right' steps/skills to always win.


Ah, little perks of being able to turn everything into an education!

Achievement unlocked - the girl can cycle too!

After learning that her brother can cycle, this little girl had been grumpy, citing "it's not fair" that he got to try/master the skill and not her. The husband pulled his weight, squeezing in time to make this happen before he left for an overseas work stint and I am so proud of the girl.

Look at that beaming pride!

Whee!

So, while I wasn't there to witness her lesson, the husband gave me feedback that she did even better than the boy. Now, the boy picked up the skill within minutes, so to know that she did better truly blew my mind. Wow!


So thankful that the husband made time for this, and am so proud of my girl to have picked up this skill. Since then, she's been cycling and seems to be doing really well. The boy doesn't do so well on this taller bike, so we gotta find something more suitable for him to practise.


So proud of my little beings! -insert muscular emoji-

Achivement unlocked - J rides a 2-wheeler

It happened totally unplanned. The most thought that went into it was the husband's intent of wanting to teach the children to cycle on their bikes, minus the set of training wheels. It never happened because (1) their bike wheels went a bit kaput and the husband had to get a pump to mend the wheels (2) he was also looking for some tool to remove the training wheels.


On this Sunday morning, when the husband and I were planning to hit the gym when the kids were out, we spent it discovering this eureka moment instead!


It started because this naughty boy lost control of himself and ended up kicking his sister in the face - first thing in the morning! So, his treat of going out with the grandparents was removed, & he was stuck with us at home. We switched plans from the gym, to having bfast with him along.


Post-breakfast, we went to this playground nearby and there happened to be a boy with a bicycle there. The husband decided there and then to let him try - why not?



Lesson-in-progress

The kind boy who loaned us his bike

Going strong (10 minutes in)

Love his don't-give-up-I'm-trying-attitude

It happened really quickly. Within 15minutes, he seemed to be doing ok... and on this particular trial, the husband put him on the bike, held on, told J to "pedal!" and... stood beside me as the boy launched. I was a bunch of nerves! I couldn't believe the husband just let him go, I tried to hold the phone as steadily as I could (for some reason, I was trembling from excitement/anxiety?!) with one hand, while the other was covering my mouth. I know, it sounds so dramatic but I couldn't explain my thrill and I had to stop myself from squealing out - that'd freak him out and backfire the progress! It was so exciting.

His first time riding 2-wheels on his own!

Look at him!

It was amazing, his progress in such a short period of time, the husband's steady approach in training him, and ah-hem, I'll like to think I contributed by documenting this milestone. Ha!


He was on such a high after, exclaiming "I did it!" and I was so proud of him I told him so, and he parroted it back to me "Mommy, you feel proud of me right?"


Haha, so adorbs. Now, to get the girl on this too!

Progress

Mid-Feb: was trying to get my feet straighter

19 Feb

(L) 14 Feb; (R) 23 Feb

As with anything at all, practise makes perfect. Tracking my own progress is interesting, and there is no hard or fast rule against what you may achieve at the end of the day. The only constant is that if you do not try, there is no chance of improving. So always try!


This has been a relevant reminder not just to yoga, but to work and everything else.


Another goal I have is to do a pull-up unassisted. Despite having some muscles, I cannot do a pull-up. Boo. I have just begun working on that by using the assisted chin-up machine at the gym. Let's see how I progress!


TGIF!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

Camping for the first time - Pulau Ubin

The husband had ambitions of bringing the children camping. It was in the first half of the year that he bought a tent as he set his mind to do this with them. Now that the year is nearly at the end with him not needing to go to work, I was truly impressed when he said that he will do it.


The husband plotted the possible days the children can go... and the fateful day was picked - to be the Tuesday, 27th December. The weather in December is typically erratic and that was a possible show-stopper. After researching the weather, though, the husband made the decision on the night before that they will indeed go.


That morning, the daughter awoke - probably from excitement - very early; before I climbed out from bed (and I was the only one who had to because I had to work). The husband and the girl headed out to the supermarket to get their needs, and I did not even see them before I left for work. I kissed the sleeping boy and sent a text to the husband to say that I had to go already and requested for pictures.

Food and all their barang

I had a headache just looking at the things they had to pack, but I also appreciated that the children were in the best hands ever with the husband, and I was also thrilled at the night off from Mommy duty.

Look at how excited they are!

Boat-ing to Pulau Ubin

Arrival

Jelutong Campsite

Camp all set-up

At this point, they had rung me 2-3 times. Telling me they were leaving the home, they had arrived, and the last conversation of the day was them saying that they had arrived, set up their tent, it was drizzling and that they needed to pick wood for their campfire later. Besides the fact that 'there are many ants', they sounded in good spirits!

Picking wood

Probably one of the highlights, roasting marshmallows!

Caption of this pic when the husband sent it: Jake and his Godzilla

So the boy must have thought (probably insisted) that the blob in the pic was Godzilla! Love their over-active imagination, hilarious.


While I was out at dinner with my friends, the husband texted me that they had gone to sleep. It was so nice to know that they were experiencing something entirely new, love it!

Asleep - this was probably the highlight of the husband's night.

So, I didn't query how they answered nature's calls, but K did mention 'by the seaside'. HAHA! That really cracked me up; and it's good to know that they are hardy enough to, well, get on with it.


In the night, the rain came down hard - I was actually cold in my bed - but the husband texted that they were fine in the rain. So good to know, that they survived the one night.

Champions!

Waiting for the ferry back to SG

I tell my friends with pride, that the husband brought the children camping. We are firm believers in exposing them to an active lifestyle, and the husband is truly the best person to lead such activities.


The kids may not know it yet, but such experiences are truly amazing and I know that they have grown in their own ways from this, not to mention the special time they spent together with their father.


Thank you, husband for creating such lovely memories of the children. I am so proud of all 3 of you for enjoying this adventure!

A treat for K

Mommy's elf duties after the children go to sleep

It has been an eventful year for K, because Primary 1. It marks such a significant milestone for all of us, and after the enormous amount of stress I put myself through - logistics, routine, scheduling, tween attitudes, extra classes, tuition, feedback sessions, homework, school-bag packing, performances... the list is endless! - it is now time to enjoy the down-time because, school holidays. Everyone say HOORAY!


I decided to give K a treat for all the pains and lessons we have gone through together, also because she did perform pretty well. Her year end report book showed pretty decent grads and I cannot say how relieved and proud I am of her. While I try not to be too conscious of grades, it is the attitude that I hope she carries through for the best way forward.

Discovering her present the next morning

Tearing the gift open

Counting down to Christmas

It makes me so happy to see her appreciative of the gift. It is the first time I am exposing her to the idea of an advent calendar, and I must say I have mis-judged my girl. I had thought she will be too impatient to open up the boxes a day at a time, and that she will cave and open them all/more than one a day. So far, it's been a week and she has been patient. I must remind myself not to judge her so quickly! Each day, she opens up the mystery box and shows me what she got. It's also amazing watching her role play with the little characters with her brother.


Ahh, what lovely sights to behold.


Well done, my sweet child. You have been amazing, and despite our pains and trials for the year, you have emerged pretty unscathed, I think. Good luck to us next year and hopefully, it will be better. I know we can do it!