Soon-to-be teenage boy

My boy is turning into a teenager soon, hopefully a not so rebellious one. He is growing up fast, maybe not as fast in terms of height. Looking forward to the day when I "look up" to him.

He is very happy with his school and new found friends, happier when he gets into shooting.. Mummy is not so happy about his academics results though... but I believe I will see improvements soon..

Now he has a lot of funny acts like this.. don't know to laugh or angry... Now he has his own thinking, no longer the boy who will go "ok mum, yes mummy"  The hugs and kisses getting lesser, more arguments and debates... Son no matter how old you are, you are forever my baby boy in my heart.

Feb is a great month

 After CNY, a birthday bash and a birthday wish of going to a dog cafe, life for her changed!! My cheerful girl is back, probably she had adapted to the new school life. And she is all ready to accept more challenges, her time management is improving though a lot of nagging is still required, her confidence is coming back. In fact she is the one giving us positive thinking about the journey now.

Sorry.. your wish of owning a dog will not be granted...

The whole family is on the same journey with her..  Evan was helping her to google for the origins of words... Mummy is always at the dining table with her doing work, Daddy has to answer her chim questions... Like what the teachers told them, GEP students need very supportive parents...

Doing her 1st project on environmental/social issue, she chose Global Warming... Lots of research to be done, Google is now her BFF or rather OUR BFF. Dateline is 1 week away, a lot more to be done for this little perfectionist...

2017 is a new start

2017 is a new start for both kids, both of them "graduated" from MBS together. Evan went to secondary school and Claudia was selected for GEP and changed to Tao Nan School.

We were excited when she received the big brown envelope but was half hearted about switching school. She said "This is a big decision that I can't handle, please decide for me" but deep in her heart, she was all ready to move. I guess for a 9 yr old child, it was a morale booster to be told that she is the top 1% of the cohort. We went with the flow and took up the challenge.

TNS was not our choice as the impression we had of the school is always kiasu and demanding. Well... we didn't really have a choice since the appeal to change was unsuccessful. She cried the day she received the posting.....

January was a tough month.... new school, new environment, new friends makes her all stressed up. Mummy had a bad experience with the teacher. The amount of homework she has, the high expectation of the teachers didnt help at all, she was weeping all the time. From the girl who loves lots of CCA to a girl who only wants the easiest CCA. And her passion for dance almost died cos she can't take the stress from school. From a child who aced her studies to one who was told she failed Eng and CL compo, she broke down. Confidence level fell to the lowest point...

Then we wondered if we had made a right choice, Daddy was thinking of possibility to transfer her back to MBS. But it was not an option for her, she is not giving up.

Back to my blog

This blog was long lost and forgotten by me. By chance, my kids found it online while trying to Google their names!!!

We started reading it together and it really feels great to go through their growing up years. Time really flies..... Evan is graduating from primary school soon, taking his 1st major exam now. From the little mischievous loving boy, his favourite past time is to make Mummy angry at least once a day.....

Claudia is growing up fast, always engaging in a debate with us...

Maybe time to restart my blog, let's see....

My Sleeping Beauty

Sleep is of utmost importance to Claudia. I remembered having a hard time putting Evan to bed in the past, be it afternoon nap or night. But it is super duper easy for Claudia, she can even fall asleep while watching tv, this is something that has never happen to Evan!!

As she grows, I no longer make it a must for her to take afternoon nap... But on days when she skips it, she will voluntarily go to bed on her own at 7+ with her milk alone... Her longest record of sleep is 430pm to 830am the next day!!! 

Yes I managed to convince her to cut her hair short!!! She used to be very protective of her hair, she does not allow anyone to cut her hair except the fringe.... But now she enjoys having short hair....

I missed blogging about her 4th birthday, I am so sorry.... She is outgrowing the terrible 3 stage, becoming more reasonable and manageable now... She can write her alphabets, numbers and chinese name without help now...

She is very close to Evan who pampers her more than Mummy... He loves, he protects, he shares, he looks after her very much.... 

I love to see them walk hand in hand!!!

Bye bye tooth

One of Evan's adult tooth had erupted a few weeks ago... but his milk tooth refused to make way!! Mummy is very worried that his adult teeth will not have enough space to grow...

Finally the milk tooth started to shake but the problem is it is not the correct tooth!!! I wanted him to wait for it to drop naturally but my impatient boy insisted to go to school dentist for extraction. I guess it was painless as he came home excitedly with the milk tooth in bag...

Now I am waiting patiently for the correct one to shake!!

Serious Reading

Finally we decided to introduce Evan to some serious reading... This series of books used to be one of Daddy's favourite when he was young so he was excited to recommend it to Evan!!

Evan seems interested in the book and started reading it day and night... I hope he will persist and finish the book soon...

Talent

We were talking about talent in the car, Evan suddenly ask "Mummy what is your talent?"

I was stunned for a moment and had no answer!! Clever mum threw the question back to them, asked "you guess?"

Claudia shouted "I know I know! Mummy's talent is loving her kids!" haha is tat a talent?

Evan thought for sometime and said " Mummy's talent is cooking"

Its a great joke of the day for me and it makes my day knowing they appreciate my "talents" haha

Camp 15-17 Dec

I must be one of the garang mummy who is brave enough to enrol my 3yr 10mths old gal for the camp...But I feel safe with Evan, Dana and Faith looking after her. Furthermore Daddy was supportive of the idea too.... I seek the teacher in charge's approval before I enrolled her because she believed Claudia will be fine in camp...

I am glad I did the correct decision!!! Claudia enjoyed herself so did Evan, as usual....

This is my present from them on the last day!!!

Their 1st ride

on a trishaw!!!

That day we were having lunch at the market and kids were so interested with the trishaws... A very kind uncle gave them a free ride and they were super happy!! Thank you uncle!!

Is it them or me?

I always "complain" my kids are too active, can't sit still for a moment... Today I reflected on myself, maybe it's me who is too active?!?!? hahaha

4 weeks of school holidays had passed and I tried very hard to recall if we spent a whole day at home without going out at all.... NONE!!! I must at least bring them out for a meal or a walk or something!!! So the culprit should be mummy me right?? haha

Before the holidays, I bought DIY sand art and craft work, thinking we can do those when we are BORED at home.... but those are still left in the store room because we had no time for them!! Also, I thought I should spent some time revising with Evan to prepare him for P1....BUT then I decided he deserve a good break before he start school.... haha... it must take a active mummy to have 2 active kids right?

I believe there are lots of mummies out there who are just like me right??

Car Wash

I mean washing it on our own, not at petrol kiosk....This is an activity that is exclusive to mummy and kids only!!! Because when Daddy is washing the car, he is super serious about it so he do not like to have the kids around.... Grandparents do not like it too because the kids will get wet and dirty...

But for me, it is a fun and safe activity for them so why not? See my boy, so serious with the cleaning... haha

One day tour

Last tue, I brought the kids for a one day tour with SKCC... Suppose to be an educational tour to soy sauce factory, tofu factory, birdnest and Airforce Museum... but it turned out more like a shopping tour because we did not really get to visit the factories....

They did not enjoy the itenary so much but they enjoyed the company!!!

School holidays can be super busy and tiring for the mummies, thinking and deciding activities/programs to keep them occupied....

This is already the 3rd week so what have we been doing? Painting, swimming, shopping, free shows at malls, skating and many more....

I am surprised!!

We were doing some workbooks today and Claudia really impressed me!!! She did this on her own and I nearly dropped from my chair!!!

Maybe I always think she is too young so I have never put too much emphasis on her learning.... Furthermore, she will always pretend she don't know her alphabets and work with a cheeky smile.... I did not expect her to write her alphabets so well.... Great job!!

Skate Camp

This post is 2 weeks late.... My kids attended a 5 day skate camp in the 1st week of the school holidays at Bedok Reservoir Park...

Evan already know how to skate before that so this camp had greatly improved his skills and confidence.... As for Claudia, i was impressed with her progress, she can skate independently now, not as fast but good enough for my 3 yrs 10 mths gal...

I am proud/shy to say that I am the most "steady" mummy... On the 1st day, I settled them and I left them with the instructors... That is how independent my kids can be heehee.... but after the 1st day, Evan complained!!! He said I was the only mummy who left, the rest of the mummies were all seated there waiting for their kids :P

Evan had a little fan Shyanne following him around and cheering him!!! So cute!!!

This is the final result on the last day!! Well done kids!!!

Queue, Queue, Queue AGAIN

Why are we queuing again and again? What else but all the free kiddy shows in the malls? Strawberry shortcake, Barney, Hi-5, Dora and more to come!!! I really salute those parents who went 2 hours earlier to queue!!

So far, I think Strawberry Shortcake was the best show we watched so far... and we spent the shortest time in the queue-15 mins!!

All the kids were super excited when they saw the bubbles!!!

I almost fainted at United Square when I saw the queue!! We went ahead but the Barney show was not that entertaining for my kids, maybe they had outgrown that stage.... (1 show lesser for next June holidays... hahaha) And we did not manage to get a good spot

Last wed, we caught 2 shows in 1 afternoon with Daddy... Then Daddy realised how crazy and "wei da" Mummy is... haha  The Hi-5 show has a good arrangement, kids who were at the later part of the queue were allowed to go in but without the parents... so the following pictures was taken by Evan and a don't-know-who...

Next is Dora The Big Pinata.... The show supposed to start at 7pm and we were there at 6.45pm... I thought the queue must be super long but surprising it was alright... The best part is they only allow the kids to sit in the centre while parents stand at the side/back... That is a wonderful arrangement!!! Adults can really occupied a lot of space and deprived other kids of the chance...

The most disappointing one was Toy Story... it was only a Meet and Greet session, no performance....

New skills

Claudia is always so envious when she sees Evan skating around.... Mummy had signed Evan for a skate camp in Nov.... and seriously thinking of signing up for her too!!! Am I too adventurous? Afterall, she can't really ride a bike steadily yet....

The trainer who was so nice gave me a pair of skates for her to try out at home before I decide... Well she was clinging on to me and anything else for support but she seems to enjoy it... so I did sign her up!!!

Graduation Concert

Evan had his concert on 30 Oct... It was wonderful!!

My handsome boy!!!

Ang Ku Kweh!!

In order to get a good seat, kiasu Mummy actually went 1 hour earlier!!! hee hee... Claudia was waiting patiently for the concert to begin... My phone is such a good entertainment for her to pass time... haha

Will upload more photos when I receive the professionally taken photos from the school... Time to upgrade my camera!!!!

Evan turned 6!!

My baobei had turned 6!! Finally? or too fast?

As usual, we had a simple family celebration at my mum's place during his lunar birthday... He distributed the cake on his own, the 1st piece is for Claudia... Mummy was waiting for her share but the 2nd piece went to Ah Ma...

When I asked him why, he said he has to give out the cakes to the people he loved most first!!! Mmmm.... meaning Mummy ranked No 3?!?! Oh how sad am I... Luckily Daddy is not around, if not I am very sure I will rank No 4.... haha...

Daddy do not spend as much time with them but he just have that special place in Evan's heart...

On the actual day, he had a mini celebration in the school... Claudia had informed her teacher 1 day earlier that she is not attending school because she need to go for her brother's party... haha... what a smart gal..

Instead of ordering the normal cake, I decided to get cupcakes for him instead... Nice and yummy!!!

Mummy is Speechless

This is a post that I am very relunctant to write. But my heart hurts, why does my lovely Claudia have to suffer this kind of unfairly treatment time after time? She is such a lovable and innocent kid who does not deserve this...  especially from someone elderly who should be showering her with love

Scenario 1 (Just happened this evening)
When I walked into the restaurant, I saw Evan seated in between his grandparents while Claudia sat alone on the opposite side. Fine, the seats on her left and right are left for her parents but she gives me such a lonely feeling. Never mind, it's just my feelings.

While we were waiting for our food to be served, they brought Evan away to shop for his birthday present. When Claudia realised that her brother had "disappeaared", she cried for him. Why can't she tag along for the shopping? Why can't she wait till we are done? Come on, the shops are not closing yet! In the end, Mummy forgo her dinner and brought Claudia shopping while Daddy had his dinner alone.

Scenario 2 (1 month ago)
Evan had a new toy and a specific instruction not to share it with his sister. When she was caught playing with the toy, she was told to put it down because the toy is only for Evan and not for her!! Why? All because she spilled a drink!!

Scenario 3 (Years ago)
I can't remember how many times have she waved her hands at a crying Claudia, asking her to leave her alone. Adding a statement "You think I want you? I only want your Gor" followed by a hug and kiss planted on Evan.

" Do not bring her here, bring her to her Ah Ma's place. Just bring Evan over"  I heard this again and again, till Claudia stopped whining and crying so often then she is "allowed" to stay there with her brother.

Maybe she was just a 1-2 years old gal then but she can see, hear and feel. How can you blame her when she goes around telling people "N don't love me, she only wants Gor"... how can you blame her when she says she is happier when N is not around?