The rest of Friday

We headed to Gardens by the Bay. Reading up all about Tulipmania, I thought that the MIL will appreciate a walkabout to see the beauty of blooms. I tried inviting my Mom too but she couldn't take time off work, so off we went with the kids in tow.

In a lil patio full of hanging clogs. 

See the pretty red tulips behind? Those were the only ones we saw wholly open and they were truly pretty. See the mass of green behind? Those were all tulips too - but closed, so we missed seeing 80% of the tulips in bloom really. Bummer.  The people selling tickets were trained to forewarn everyone purchasing the tickets, but I still felt cheated because he had said "some tulips are open, the rest are green." Well, I truly beg to differ that this one out of the entire main flowerbed is "some". 

Pretty purple lavender (flanked by more colourful tulips though we only caught them green *pouts)

At the exit of the flower dome, there were many interactive screens that allowed people to play games. The themes were on being eco-friendly, not chopping down trees, being kind to nature that kinda thing and K had fun playing. This is her going about replanting trees she had earlier chopped off in a bid to rebuild nature.

With the disappointing un-bloom tulips, I felt very glad that I'd purchased tickets to the Cloud Forest. The bridges looked rather intimidating from the bottom and K was rather afraid to try it - "Mommy carry me!" she had insisted. I coaxed her to give it a try and held her hands tightly and once she was on the bridge, she realised that it was just like walking on normal ground and wasn't scary at all. So off she went on her own. I was very proud of her.

One group shot for the road

It was my first experience at Gardens by the Bay and it wasn't too bad really, though I say, for the xth time that I was truly disappointed with the unbloom flowers. Having to pay to go in wasn't that fun which made me even more.. ok fine, you know how I feel. But truly, for the kids to see something different, other than another shopping mall or supermarket, I was happy about. And to spend time to bring the MIL out on a walkabout was truly a major highlight for me. She helped look after K since birth and ever since we moved out into our own abode more than a year ago, I know the weekly visits isn't enough and it's apparent with the MIL doting on the kids so. I hope she enjoyed herself today and I hope to arrange for more occasions for ah ma and grandkids to interact. Hope the MIL enjoyed this Mothers' Day intention of mine.

It's been a great day so far

Morning run with the husband - distance wasn't too far but the uneven ground which I'm not used to knocked me out a little.

Lunch with my two favourite men. 

And a yummy coconut tart. 

My sweetheart, Kate

Yesterday, the very moment I stepped into the house, I was greeted by Kate and her usual "MOMMY!" but with a bonus - she handed me a card that she made in school. I know which bits she did and didn't, but it really made my heart melt. This girl is such a sweetheart (when she's not throwing a spat).

妈妈节快乐

I truly appreciate the card beyond words and I want to give thanks because I am the luckiest Mother in the world, with two charming kids. "That's a moon and a star. And that's a tree with more stars."

The sprinkles on top of this lovely treat was her telling me "Teacher said I must sing a song after I give this to you." Then she launched into this song specially on Moms and love - which she has been humming/singing for the past two weeks. It came with actions too! Love the innocence of a child and how good she is with following instructions (not from me *wry face).

Then this little girl who cannot contain secrets, says, "There's still another card and a flower too."

Am feeling the love this Mothers' Day (thank goodness for school & their curriculum!) and I am wistful yet proud of my big little girl.

A dedication to my Mom

My Mom has always played an important, if not the most important, role in my life. She was the disciplinarian, as well as the main caregiver. As I sit here, seeking inspiration to write about my Mother, I dig into the archives of my 33-year-old brain and one of the earliest memories I have is of her being my driver. I remember her always shuttling me about from one place to another – from school, to music class, to computer class, to art lesson, to the library, to swimming class… even as I type this, I'm aware of how fortunate I am. Especially now that I have children of my own, I truly understand the costs involved in raising a child and for me to be able to enjoy all the lessons that Mom enrolled me for before, I know that she really gave all that she could; and shuttling me around from points A to B to Z isn't exactly the most enjoyable task, especially when it is on top of her regular day-job (Mom's always been a FTWM) - I really understand that she did (more than) her best and I'm humbled. I am amazed (as always) by Mom's strength, sacrifices made and courage to raise her kids up and groomed us to the beings that my siblings and I are today. 

From a provider, Mom morphed to a disciplinarian as I grew up. When the smart-aleck-know-it-all-wannabe in me became more prominent, so did Mom and her iron fist. In retrospect, I know I deserved every bit of that hard-fistedness because oh boy, was I a trying teenager. I cringe thinking back of how truly incorrigible I was and I do feel awful putting Mom through the heartaches which I caused. Then as I hit my 20s, our relationship shifted again – and I daresay that it's been pretty much uphill since. My mom became my BFF and while I wouldn't go as far to say that I confided in her on everything, our relationship soared through communication as Mom played the friend-role. I went away to study for three years and during those years apart from Mom, did I also start to appreciate her more. I had to learn independence and it was then that I realised how much she does for me – from providing my meals to cleaning up after me *sheepish. In the past ten years of my life, I hope I had done Mom proud as I progressed in my career, finally giving her less heartache when I managed to find a man who would marry me. And in the past four years, I think my true understanding and appreciation of Mom was amplified a million times as I was promoted to a Mother myself. When I went through my pregnancy and was ill, she was there for me, sympathising and caring for me. I remember there were occasions where I felt so ill yet hungry (awful all-day sickness in the first trimester for both pregnancies) and she'd materialise with food that immediately made my mouth water that I could stomach. How on earth did she know what my body was able to tolerate? 

From a full-time Mom, Mom was also promoted to a full-time Mom-and-Grandmother – somehow, while keeping up with working full-time, looking after her household and three of us children and a son-in-law (and my sibling's partners), Mom also manages to project love and care to her grandchildren – nothing's stopping this superwoman! I do not exaggerate when I say that Mom showers us with unconditional love, with no complaints at all. In the past years, I begin to see a more vulnerable side of Mom as she went through several ailments that comes with, shall we say, regular wear and tear of our human body. It's sobering as I realise that mortality is reality and I wanna do more for my Mom, the pillar of my strength, the key influencer in my life. 

So as I finish this tribute to her, I say from the bottom of my heart, "You are all that I ask for, and you know me better than I do myself at times. I really can only try my best to do for my kids what you have done for me. Thank you for everything, I love you Mom."

Kate, Mom, Sis and I (with Jake)

World's best nainai

I'm glad that my kids bring joy to your life

I'm so thankful that you are so intertwined in my kids' lives

Inked

The kids obviously had a field day with markers today.

Kickstarting Monday

So last night (#dietplan), I was good & although dinner was way too filling & I still stuffed my face with grapes - that was it. Nothing more going into my mouth (truly, not eating junk - at night-time especially - really helps) for the night and I made up my mind to go for a morning run today. I was having really strange dreams (what exactly I don't recall) when my alarm went off & I started to snooze a little - am glad that I kicked off the blankets and got up. It helped when I heard Jakes baby mutters cos that really made me get up and say to him, "hello baby! Wanna go gaigai?"

So we tried a new route today and made it to the park. I couldn't resist snapping a pic of Jake amidst the 3D-hearts that were hung randomly about the place. I heart my baby - very apt.

My very chillax jogging partner

The morning was then spent watching the kids mucking around with each other before dashing off to work.

We invade the room when Kate awakens and this was them combing the doll's hair

Jake tries on his belated birthday gift from Aunty Tanny

:P

Happy Monday !

Sundays are meant for family

While the tabling arrangement leaves more to be desired, the food was fair, the service scored some points for effort; the company and intention of family-time was perfect. Today's somewhat-mothers-day-brunch at a new spot, Grub.