Welcome 2009!!

Another year has passed and 2009 has arrived! Many times we all take life for granted, thinking that we have lotsa time and do not do things wif a decisive mindset. Busy wif family & commitments we all have and losing focus on what's important in life. I hope that as I grow a year older, may the Lord enlarge my tent and increase my capacity to serve Him and the community. I pray that I will continue to shower this family wif a hearf of unconditional love, care, patience & understanding. Let the mercy of God be upon me!

Little Mermaid DIY Kit

So Cute!!

As I was browsing through for Jamie's and Jeremy's most recent photos so that I can do up their school's portfolio cover, I chanced upon this lil boy's baby photo.. so different from now and yes he sure has a cute look!

Boxing Day Surprise

This is our biggest family christmas present that CQ has bought for us so far. Dunno what made him wanting to get this as I forsee the kids and myself playing less come 2009. Nevertheless it's nice of him to willing to get it for everyone. Thanks papa!

Another New IQ Game

Jamie is busy figuring out how to put back the blocks. We both simply love to crack our brain wif such nerve racking brain teaser games!

Christmas Log Cake

A very good fren of mine visited us today wif this little surprise. We had a wonderful time of bonding while the husbands were busying talking about their cameras.

Merry Christmas!

We hosted a party at our new house today HOWEVER, we all had forgotten to take any snapshots ! So no photos memory to lament over since its our first party at this new place.

Walkman Phone

While many of our Christmas surprises are still under the Christmas tree, I've received my early Christmas present from CQ last night! I am very glad that despite me losing 3 HPs consecutively in a year plus, he is still willing to get a new HP this Christmas season. Thank you papa!

Certificate

Jamie received this certificate from the trainer at the end of the entire course. The trainer din leave a good impression for herself as she was late for 20mins on the 1st day and subsequent days, she was late for 5-8 mins! Not forgetting that she need to setup the overhead protector too. I spoke to her on 2nd day, wanting to find out what Jamie was taught and was shocked that she doesn't speak well wif occasional singlish in all. Nevertheless, Jamie did learnt something out from it. At least she is more conscious of her poisture, how to sit, walk & pose like a girl.

Christmas Party / Last Day of School

Today is Jeremy last day of school till it re-opens next year January, 5th. I've prepared 5 sets of Santa Claus shower gel gift for all his 5 teachers as an act of appreciation. Indeed Jeremy has shown improvements since he started school early this year. I pray that he will continue to learn effectively at home and in his new school next year.

Children Modelling & Etiquette Workshops

Jamie will be attending 3 days workshop (1.5hr each day) starting from today onwards. Although I have been reminding her about her poisture when she sits, walks and dance during her ballet lessons, I dun seem to see a breakthrough in her effort to do it. Hope she will be able to make conscious effort to maintain good poisture at the end of the workshops.

DancePointe Magical Wonders @ Victoria Theatre

The day has finally arrived! I'm so glad that Jamie had done her best and she had definitely enjoyed performing wif her group of "Mermaids" yesterday ! Her group did 2 shows, 3:30pm Matinee & 7:30pm Gala night show. We arrived 9am+ yesterday and came home almost 11pm. No wonder she was so tired and slept through the night till 1pm today!

Little Mermaid & Merman ??

This is Jamie's Wednesday performance costume. Look at Jeremy! Sooooo cheeky "merman" !!

Got back Jamie's year end K1 report card from her chinese teacher from Story Island this afternoon. I am very glad that she has made conscious effort in improving herself & there's nothing more I can ask from her at this moment. As a little reward, I took out a newly bought series of chinese story books I've bought from a good fren and gave it to her. Wah! We both love the books! Guess this is one of the ways I can help her to continue to grow to love reading so as to increase her vocabulary and hence converse better in Mandarin.

Thomas the Train

Hey! That's the train I love !!

Rush Hour IQ Game

I love to play wif this ! So fun yet can be frustrating though. And Jamie now starts to get the hang out of it and begins to enjoy playing wif it too. As I was surfing the net about this product, I realised that there's so many benefits of playing such IQ games!

1. Improves I.Q., memory strength and ability in judgement.
2. A key in developing children’s IQ.
3. Strengthen the speed and ability in judgement for the young
4. Enhances personal memory
5. Helps prevent Alzheimer’s diease.

Rehearsal

Here, Jamie is having her 1st school wide ballet rehearsal from 7-10pm. Thank God I have volunteered myself so I can take care of her at the same time. Although its tiring, Jamie had enjoyed herself very much especially wif all her ballets kakis.

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

Today Jeremy finally turns 3!! And a friend passed me a corporate card for zoo visit FREE! So I decided to bring them out for an excursion. This time, no animals shows or visit to the Children's Playground except watching few animals feeding sessions instead. We took a slow stroll at our own pace, admiring the animals and guess what? It's the hippotamus that the kids enjoy best!! Why? What else? Madagascar lor!!

Up We Go!!!!

Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel. Standing at stunning 165m, the Flyer is the height of a 42-storey building – that’s some 30 metres taller than the famed London Eye. And so, this is Jeremy's 3rd birthday treat of the day after a sumptuous dinner at one of the restaurant located at the Flyer. Magnificent, awesome view !!

Madagascar II (Escape from Africa)

We went for a movie treat to GV Marina this afternoon as one of the birthday treats for Jeremy. It was a wonderful movie experience (comfy armchair w booster seats for the children!) wif a super hilarious engaging movie! Will surely get the DVD once its out!

Birthday Programmes Planned

Due to unforseen circumstances, we decided not to throw a party for Jeremy this year. It's gonna be a simple yet exciting for the children as well as the adults (I suppose so)! Tickets were bought week ago to catch Madagascar II at GV Marina @ 230pm when Jeremy is back from school at 12noon. After which, we will proceed to the Singapore Flyer for a nice dinner and will head to take a 1/2hr ride at the Flyer ! And lastly, we will blow the candles when we are back home.

Reciting the Lyrics

(click on pix)

Today Jamie had a full 2hours rehearsal before the actual performance in about 10days time. I was shocked when I read the lyrics....oh my! Its so challenging for a 5yo child! Not to mention memorising it..

1st Birthday Celebration in School

Today is Jeremy 1st birthday celebration at his school. I've put in alot of effort in it and hopefully will leave him some good memory since he will very unlikely to be able to celebrate in all his future schools since his birthday falls in December.

Christmas Tree

Tonight just b4 bedtime, we finally put up the Christmas tree BUT w/o the ornaments, hahaha!

Birthday Celebration In School

Today we will be celebrating Jeremy's birthday 4 days in advance at his school. He is so excited to see the blown up Thomas Train foil balloon, those goody bags and the train whistle! Probably will bring them to IMM to watch the Barney Live Show at either 1 or 4pm if they do not want to nap later.

Do-Do & Mi-Mi

This is Jamie's creativity work of her fav soft toy she brougth to the camp. Isn't it cute? At the end of the 3 days Santa Holiday Camp, 3 kids were awarded "Best Creativity" award and Jamie was one of them!! What a great surprise indeed!

Tweedle Wink Program

Jeremy is now on Tweedle Wink after he has outgrown the Wink to Learn program. He simply loves to watch flash cards, be it via TV, computer or I flash to him manually. So I continue till one day he doesn't want it anymore. Whereas Jamie doesn't really like it at her age now although I believe Tweedle Wink will benefit her as well. Shall let her watch it and see her reaction later.

Free Design Sandart (Backlog)

Gave her some sandart & Uhu stick and this is what she reproduced !

School Holiday Programmes @ Home???

I've been battling wif this issue if I should organise one next month? Reason for hesitating is becos I've been busy daily wif many things, big and small, errands and impromptu assignments. Wif the fact that I've to juggle both kids wif fun activities to occupy them when they are at home, I am also planning for outdoor activities & excursions as well as teaching them things that I would like them to learn.

Story Island Christmas Holiday Camp

Jamie will be attending the camp starting today to Thurs, 27 Nov every morning 930am-130pm. Hope she will enjoy the 3 days wif her new frens. Most importantly, she will benefit from the camp. Am looking forward to see her group performance at the end of the camp.

Aqua Beads @ Home

She is so thrilled by this art & craft work I've prepared for her this morning. I told myself, sometimes its also good that we buy some off the racks handicraft kits and let our children enjoy at home, comfortably without stepping out of the house, wahahahaa!

Pre-Nursery School Photo

This is our boy.... just a year ago, he was just soooooo baby and now in a flash of light, he is soon going to graduate from pre-nursery in about 3 weeks time! I am so glad he has grown healthily, smart & adorable in his own ways.

e-Learning

It's been quite a while Jamie has not been revising her HYPY. Here you go, she has abt 15mins of elearning by her own. Big girl liao, can do most of the things by herself, including bathing ! Ya, she insisted she wants to bathe herself, tie hair (though super messy and untidy, whahahha!), choose her own clothing etc etc.

Little Boy @ Work

While Jamie was having her lunch SLOWLY, I grabbed the boy to our bedroom and did this activity wif him. After months of drilling his motor skills in a Montessori school and at home, Jeremy should be "on par" wif his peers by now. He is doing good, able to recognise colors, shapes, counting in bilingual, initial sound phonics & some right brain training at home.

Simple Artwork @ Home

While Jeremy's in school, I quickly opened up this box of art & craft handiworks for Jamie to get down busy wif it for the next 1/2hour before di-di comes home. No wonder, its stressful to see kids idling at home during school holiday. Every now and then, I will have to plan some works & activities to keep the kids occupy so as t0 to make full use of this school holiday.

No More Training Pants

I finally made a decision to stop letting Jeremy puts on disposable training pants at night the moment papa was out on business trip. And this boy indeed has been putting me on my biggest smile every morning. Yea! You did it, son!

Welcome home !

I din blog this as I dun want the "whole world" to know that our "pillar" is out of town on business trip since last Friday. Papa is finally back home wif us!! No more freedom?? Nah.. its more bonding wif us instead ya. Look at Jamie's expression when she saw the gift from papa? Hahaha.... those cars?? Ya for Jeremy. But will only give it to him batch by batch when he is well behave.

Impromptu Handicraft Workshop

I signed Jamie up on impulse. Since the CC is so near to our house now and its only $15 for 2hours of art & craft. After the lesson, I asked her how she felt? Surprisingly, she said she wanted to go again!! Btw, there's only 4 children. 2 are upper primary kid and 1 gal, same age as Jamie.

Bookfest

A fren jio-ed me so we went there this morning. No big crowd. Perhaps recession or its during office hours? Anyway, I dun hv the luxury to browse thru' everything wi the short 2hrs+ wif the kids ard me. But still, managed to grab some good lobangs :)

Free Drawing wif Oil Pastels

This shall be our new activity corner at our new place. Cool!

New IQ Game

I bought 2 brain teaser games last week for Jamie since its so cheap + nowadays Jamie loves to work around wif such IQ by herself. I am happy to see her going into another level of her learning curve. So sometimes, I will bring it along wif me when I bring her out alone.

This is it!!

Jamie's 2nd ballet stage performance is finally here! And this time, I heard that it'll be a grand show. Wahhhhh.....! I think I am much more nervous that Jamie, knowing that she is still an amateur ballet dancer and there's still so many stuff she has yet to do it right. Nevertheless, stressing her is not on top of my list. Exposure to performing arts is my ultimate goal for her, for now. Here's a glimpse of the programs highlights.

Kinderart Artworks

Jamie has been attending once weekly Kinderart enrichment programs after school since the start of term 3. These are her masterpieces she did from Term 3 & 4. I think she has put in alot of effort in it and it does reflects her hardworks in making each and every piece looks nice. Well done and we are so proud of you!

Swimming Lessons

Jeremy has been quite whiny and acts like a baby almost every time he attends swimming lessons wif Jamie. I am a little concern about this weird behaviour especially when he attends nursery next year wif Jamie. I mean, he will just turn 3 and next month, boom!, he is in nursery!! Haha, 3yo kid?? Yes, he is forever a baby boy in our eyes and unknowingly, we have been calling him names like, cry baby, whiny boy. Now the biggest hurdle for him is , will he cry in his new school next year?? Well, I suppose this is always any mummy's worry for our children. If they can cope well in school, do they whin and cry in class, will they bully their friends, or even if they ever listen to their teacher ?? The list goes on............. **(final registration during Jeremy's orientation for next year nursery class)**

Fever Battle

I've been falling in and out of sick cheque lately and the weird thing is, I am not coughing like a whole lot of HE** or a sore inflammed throat that couldn't even swallow sips of water! So I am quite pissed off, lying motionless on bed, trying to recuperate as much as I can wif that little time I've alone w/o the kids. And just last night, I suddenly developed high fever and vomitted. Am alright again today but just wondering what kind of viral infection am I contracted wif???

10 am Tooth Fairy Play By SRT's The Little Company

This was an impulse decision. I got the tickets just 2 days ago at sistic counter. Din plan to watch this play as the picture itself doesn't looks appealing to me. Anyway since CQ will be out of town on biz trip and Jamie's school holiday started since Wednesday + good seatings (row 6 from stage), why not? Well, this is one of the best play I've ever enjoyed!! And Jamie too, she was sooo captivated by the entire setup, the props, the storyline (which I've to retell to her to ensure that she understood it entirely) and of course the actor and actresses! I would give full marks for the excellent show!

Meet The Teacher Session

Today has been a super duper busy day for me! Firstly, I got to meet the principal and Jeremy's form teacher for all the paper work to be done before he enters this school next year. Yes, he will be wif his Jie-Jie, finally!!! Times flies indeed. Then after settling this, I need to meet Jamie's form teacher and chinese teacher for assessment of her entire K1 course of study. Well, am I pleased ?? Praise the Lord!! She has done extremely well wif mostly excellent comments and less than 3, good comments. However, there's 1 thing which troubles me alot. That is, she sometimes does take her own sweet time in accomplishing work in class, especially during chinese lessons. Having said so, the chinese teacher commented that, though Jamie seems to be in "deep thoughts" , she can follow instructions and complete her work independently & accurately !! Haha, do you call this multi-tasking??? Hmm, I dunno if this is a compliment or what.

Christmas Celebration

These are the gifts I've prepared it at very last minute for Jamie to give to all her 32 classmates this morning. Nothing fantastic, just a notebook & mechanical pencil but what I hope to relay the message to these kids is that God sent His Son to die for us so that we will have eternal life. And for us to demonstrate this little acts of giving, may the Lord's blessing be upon each and every one of the children. Oh yes, I also prepared sandwiches for the class :)

Birthday Holiday???

Come 2nd Dec and Jeremy is turning 3!! I somehow dun hv enuff time to prep and plan. No idea what to do ley... but here's the preview of the bday cake that I might get for him to celebrate in his school.

IQ Game for 35Months ??

Jeremy came running to me with a face full of achievement ,said "mama I did this myself!!" I couldn't believe he actually can do it b4 turning 3!! After that, he said down quietly on my bed and did few more tries b4 gg to bed.

Natural Less Sugar & Fat Ice Cream

This boy has changed. He looks more boyish nowadays.

Garage Sales

I am clearing a handful of things brought back from old house last week. Still trying to clear off things here as its getting more and more clutter. See anything you like? Let me know ya. Email : sckiang@hotmail.com http://www.garagelelong.wordpress.com/

Painting at New House

Not a bad idea to do it outside our house, right ?

Deepavili Holiday

Kids did not take their afternoon nap today and I started wif lotsa programmes for them till both of them were too tired and they knocked out at 9pm sharp!! hahahaa.... and we went to the playground not once but twice! We played badminton, scooter, kicking the football and the kids were so happy whereas I was soooo worn out at the end of the day though I managed to catch my fav Amazing Race after the kids had gone to bed :D