Pardon me for the long hiatus...comp was down for a period plus super busy with house shifting. From the time we had to vacate the house to the time our new place was ready, it was a good two months gap. During these two months, we put up at my parents' place and although it's a bit far for our usual activities, we are still thankful that there's no need to search for temporary lodgings and paid big rental for it.

Before I share more about my new place, I thought it's good to jot down the little interesting flashback during these times. My parents stay at Yew Tee while our activities centred around Clementi area. Hence, at times, we rather completed all activities before going back home as it can be quite a hassle with the 20-30mins drive. It dawned on me that we have already enjoyed so much convenience with the previous good location and it reminded me so much of "The city mouse and the country mouse".

Morning times
The whole ching gang will leave my parents' place by 645am. Seth, usually in his dreams, would be carried to the car to continue his beauty sleep during the journey to Gor Gor and Jie Jie's school. By the time we reach the kids' school, it will be around 710-715am. We would then proceed to have our breakfast. During that two months, it was a "challenge" thinking which coffee shop/ hawker to go. When we finally nicely settled down, Seth would then blur-ingly wake up knowing it's breakfast time.

In the past, our standard no-frill breakfast would be coffee and bread. For Seth, he would order from the "kitchen",  his fried egg or half boil egg or Cheese or Peanut Butter bread. During these two months, Seth has upped his morning appetite!  Like the usual Ah Pek in coffee shop, he will order the same items without fail - 2 eggs, 1 char siew bao and 1 glass of hot Milo.



IHe can even tell you which coffee shop in Clementi serves the best char siew bao! During these two months, we rotated between few coffee shops / hawkers in Clementi.  And, my breakie during these two months were very flavourful with Dim Sum, Bee Hoon, carrot cake...

Regulars @ Clementi Library
The kids' school and enrichment are centred around Clementi area. Hence, there were times when we rather spent time at Clementi Library waiting for one kid to finish his/ her class before the troupe goes back to Yew Tee. Monday was by far the most tiring day for us. Seth has enrichment at West Coast at 7pm while Shan ended her dance CCA at 6pm. While waiting for Seth to finish his lesson, Shan will cool herself at the Library doing her HW in her messy and sweaty school outfit. At times, I felt so sorry for her as by the time we reached back my parents' place, it would be well after 9pm. She would have to quickly shower and dry her hair before settled for the night. Thankfully, these episodes did not affect her studies and her CA results.

While Shan is having her ballet class on Sat/ Sun, Sky would also be in the library doing HW and reading as well.

Our bed
Thankfully, bedroom at my parent's place was huge enough to contain 5 of us! With two mattresses on the floor and a queen sized bed plus a couple of luggage, that was "home" for us that two months!

All glory to god, we are now happily settling well in the new place for a month already and house has now transformed to our home already. For the first few days in the new place, Seth was very upset and had withdrawal symptoms for his egg and char siew bao! People are really very adaptable creature. He's now back to Peanut Butter bread or egg for breakie!

side note
While hubby was doing unpacking during the initial days of shifting, he texted me, "Why on earth do you need 20 pairs of different length and patterns of shorts when you can live off one luggage for the past two months?!" LOL. Forgive him, he doesn't know the difference between shorts, berms, cullocks...

My little imp turns 8 today!!

Despite the busy exam week, we took time off to bring him for out for a good dinner and got him a new scooter wheel!! Allan swung by to pass pressie to Sky too and made him as happy as lark.



Pray that he will shine as bright as the sparking star and be a good testament!!!

Looking at different blog posts on baking and cooking always inspired me. Really admire those talented mummies who make time to cook and bake for the family. Some even spent time doing exquisite bento for their kids to bring to school. Sadly, my kids would not be one of those who can boast how well their mum cook. They could not crave and ask to have mum's signature dishes since I happily leave the kitchen to my helper. Thank God for my mum who will dominate the kitchen at times to guest cook for us.

However, to leave impression to the kids that I too, can also walk out from the kitchen,  I will do baking with them occasionally (usually only during school holidays) :D And they enjoyed every sessions cos they are the ones practically doing the preparation. Since holiday started, kids had been bugging for some baking and we decided to do it last Sunday evening.

Gor Gor showing the ropes of sieving flour to bro

Thinking that he got more power with the gloves

Decided that the glove gets in the way when mixing the dough

Gor Gor doing the washing for me. Look how serious he is!

Jie Jie buttering the tray and putting the dough

Ta-dah, Nestum Cookies and Nestum Chocolate Chip Cookies

Just nice, Shan had to go back to school for dance practices these two days and she packed the cookies along as snack during break.

Shan got her first Distinction in ICAS and gee! I'm not even excited or as a matter of fact, I'm expressionless. The Distinction was for "Computer Skills" paper. I guess my reactions would be different if it was for English or Maths paper. Even so, she had only managed a "Credit" for her which she would indignantly reminds me that she's one of the 25% particpants across schools in Singapore to obtain this grade..

Obtained from UNSW

Actually, I had meant to let her take Science but by stroke of error, she ended up taking Computer Skills instead. 

Frankly, I was not sure if I had set too high of a standard on the kids. She told me that when she obtained her English ICAS cert, she was shocked to see only "Thank you for participating" and only to realised that she was been given her classmate's cert. She was only satisfied when she gotten her own cert and it stated "Credit". I guess this showed that she had a certain level of expectation on herself.

As for Sky, he recently got back a Math test paper with  a 36/40 score. I looked through the paper and I was disappointed. The paper was damm easy! And the best part, the 4 points he lost was due to carelessness. I should have told him "Good Job!"or "Well Done"! Instead, I nagged and chided at him for the 4 marks he lost. I really sounded like a horrible mum.

Later in the night, I took a step backward and thought if I should be a better parent. I should have smacked her with kisses or threw her up in the air or do whatever to make her feel good. Afterall, this is her first "Distinction" she gotten. I must really learn to be more encouraging and speak life into them. In short, I must learn to be a better mummy.

Sky loved sparring with Daddy on Chess even though out of 10 times they played, 10 times, he could not win.  I thank God that there was an opportunity for him to find his encouragment back. He came back from school telling me, he won a chess badge from his team competition. I though nothing of it. Only when I spoke to him over dinner, I realised that there were around 20 over students and only 3 or 4 students obtained the badge.He had emerged as one of the top 3 or 4th player. He even proudly told me he beaten his P4 classmates. Some kind of achievement huh! He's gushing over one classmate of his that beat him in seven steps and he's trying to learn the technique.


...and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary ~ Revelation 2:3:

Sky is in the last quarter of his P1 life now and thus far, he is enjoying his school life. Other than God and family members that were instrumental in our growth, friends are a necessity! Friends usually are the one that made an imprint in our growing years too.

I was intrigued when I noticed snippets of friendship notes in his bag from his buddies in school.  I asked Sky about it and apparently, they were exchanging friendship notes. I'm happy that he had forged great friendship and at this age, they were able to verbalise their feelings. May this friendship thrive and grow with them.

When the date for father-daughter trip was pinned, Sky was screaming "Unfair!". He was upset that he was left out of the equation. I had to crack my head and quickly whipped up something so that he won't feel unbalance.  Forest Adventure kept popping up as it was an activity that I knew this monkey of mine would surely enjoy and I don't really need to do much (*sheepish smile* talk about bonding huh). The only thing that set me back was that it was located at the East of Singapore and I wasn't confident of driving there. Ahaha - for those who know me, I am only familiar with the routes to the kids' school and certain enrichment classes only. Even as I made a booking (recommended since I wanted to make sure confirm confirm nothing would spoil the day), I felt unsure of driving there.

But for the sake of my monkey, I decided to venture ahead arming myself with the trusty GPS and some directional guidance from Daddy. Although he did not say it, I guess he would be more worried about the car than the driver. But thank God! The GPS did not let me down. Woohooo! and so I did not let my monkey down! This picture was in fact taken after the course. Ice cream treat for my young man who went through the challenge.


After settling the payment at the counter, Sky was led to the start of the course.

Dear Sky

You are seven now but with a frame of five. Thank god that you have grown taller but unfortunately, our efforts to fatten you up seemed to be fruitless. You are active and your motor skills are fantastic.You picked up cycling within a day, roller blading within hours, wave boarding within 2 nights and ice-skating within seconds (you said it was similar to roller blading and thus easy peasy). I guessed when come to play, nothing is too tough for you. I wonder how your small frame of body could take your big burst of energy.

I wish that your level of determination to these activities could apply to reading and studying. Your "taste" for books differs from Jie Jie. While she devours in fictional books, you go for non-fiction books such as Facts of Sharks, Encylopedia on Dinosaurs stuff or some scientific stuff. Yet, your love for books is not as deep. By far, I have not seen you automatically take a book to read at your own will! Thankfully, my nagging still works at your age. While I have to scream at your Sis to stop reading, I will have to scream at you to read. You are fine at playing masak with your 3yo brother.

Surprising, I have comments from your tutors and art teacher that you are smart. It seems unbelievable at times since you are so slack with your studies. You are gentle, soft spoken, afraid of insects and tolerant to your sibilings. Unlike your Sis who got a stubborn streak in her (you have it too but her dosage is stronger), you had a way with your pleading eyes to stop me from caning you and most of the times it works (shhhhh). Maybe I am afraid that you will have middle-child synrodrome and I should be more careful with you. But alas, I realised that you have a way with girls. Somehow, your P1 life is tainted with girls surrounding you at recess, I heard. Just by bringing you to school on a adhoc basis, it proved to be a daunting experience for me. You strutted in and shortly, your "friends" would be screaming your name, mostly in high pitched voices and you will wave at them in your mild manners.

You are a GEM and I knew that God has laid a path for you to walk. I prayed that God will use you mightly to be the salt and light of the world and you will always grow in his faith, hope and love.

With plenty of kisses
Mummy

Got to skip publishing other posts first and jot this before I forgot!

Episode 1
Today, I was on half day to celebrate Seth's birthday. Hence, we were able to send Sky to school for his CCA. As I needed to check some matters with the CCA teacher, I brought Sky into the court instead of just alighting him. From afar, several girls quickly rushed over to wave at him and called out to him, "Skyler! Skyler". Woah! Quite a sight! Didn't know that he got a mini fan club. No wonder Tess always tell me Sky seemed to have a lot of friends and always "hi" "Bye" to many classmates when she picked him up.

Episode 2
Me: How's yr Monitor role so far?
Sky: Good, because I'm not using the marker.
Me superbly confused: what does marker got to do with being a monitor?
Sky: Alicia (monitress) will be the one writing the names of those who are naughty on the white board.
Me started screaming: so u lose yr marker?? (He's the forgetful sort and I am not surprised if he lost any stuff)
Sky: No! I don't want to take out, let Alicia do the job.
Me: so you do nothing??
Sky: I will tell Alicia who's naughty but she will write the names on the white board. So she's the bad guy not me!

Me: *speechless*

They fought, they snatched, they told tales about each other, they labeled each other with nasty names. You want to know more about sibling rivalry, just hop by and you can easily see a demo.

Yet today when I randomly asked Sky to share 10 good things about his sister, the stuff that came out from our mouth sent a warm fuzzy feeling into us. These may seemed so small in our daily lives and yet he had a thankful heart and remembered such small details that could be easily be dismissed.

From his mouth
1. She let me take the front seat (early morning at 6.50am, they actually have the energy to quarrel who sit in front! Daddy had to dictate Mon, Wed, Fri - Shan and Tues, Thurs - Sky and the schedule rotates weekly)
2. She picks my dirty clothes in the morning and put in the laundry basket
3. She tell me secrets
4. She shared her sweets and goodies with me
5. She bought drinks in school and shared with me (me staring at Shan as I don't allow them to buy drinks during recess. Shan sheepishly quickly defended herself and said that was loooong ago)
6. She helps me carried my bag
7. She takes care of me during recess
8. She played "Spy" games with me (whatever that is)
9. She let me be the "Spy" (*continued scratched head*)
10. She helped me find my water bottle

Awwwww...so sweet.

Recess time. Sky looking very happy with his new-found friends. The school arranged pre-pack recess for the first 10 days, exposing them to the food from all the stalls.

Look at all the eager parents at the right hand side...all of us looked like in the "zoo" looking at exhibits.
After recess, the kids were led to the basketball court where the Principal personally shook every pupil's hand and handed a welcome bag to them.