Just can't get enough of the four of us together ...

These moments totally refresh me….

These are a few of our favorite things ...

Spent a long weekend doing our fave things together as a family. So nice:)

Chilling on a Sat Afternoon together

Sarah’s fave pizza store 

Sammy’s arcade games

Sammy wearing his fave shirt at one of our fave seafood restaurants [Kampung style]

Indulging in some delicacies from the sea

Heading for our impromptu breaks

Tokyu Hands

Tokyu hands was our little science centre when we lived in Tokyo for a month. After our library sessions in the foreign section of Kinokuniya at Takashimaya Square, we would never fail to pop by Tokyu Hands. Sarah and Sammy just loved it. 

Couldn't resist picking something up while browsing in Westgate today. I found these files that resemble X Ray films way too cool. One each for the kiddos to file their special work.

A5 slip-in plastic folders.

For my little best friend daughter

A Little After-School-Treat for my chocolate crazy daughter

Running….

Shape Run 2014

SAFRA Run 2014

Clocked my 10 K runs for the year. To sum it up, couldn’t wait for it to be over when I was running. And when it was over, I can’t wait to go for the next one. Hahaha

Special Moments

The Magic Trick

This is a Norman Rockwell Moment for me. Love this:) 

Here’s a Coke to you Henry

I had such a cool brother-in-law and I didn’t know it….but here’s to you Henry! A Coke toast to Heaven from earth…

God...

God is not irrational,

He only works in ways 

we humans don’t understand

But some of His ways 

are so very very tough 

Latest Update: Phase 2C

Samuel doesn’t have a place and so we are school-less after Phase 2C. Thank you all who love Sammy …now mommy must do some reading up. 

George Lakoff and a 6 year old

Bantering with my faithful companion after dropping Sarah off at school.

Me: Ok, so we are going to swing by the library and if we need to, we will hang around till our next appointment. 

Sammy: Mommy, why do you use monkey terms?

Me: huh?

Sammy: You said “swing by” and “hang around”. They sound ..so …so monkey.

Me: huh? Oh….those are expressions. Hahaha...Come to think of it, you are right. These are monkey terms. 

I was quickly brought back in time to my days in Uni where we grew white hairs over Halliday and Chomsky. Maybe it would be different if I did it again.

 But George Lakoff and his theory of metaphors was what I based my honors thesis on. That was real and practical. That we use metaphors everyday - sometimes unconsciously. 

So here I was using perhaps a playground metaphor in describing my movements or in Sammy's terms - monkey words. And he detected it. 

Me: Stop clowning around. Where do you think that metaphor is taken from?

Sammy: The circus! 

That’s my linguistic professor in the making -very acutely aware of the nuances of language and its play. Well, his dream job is to be a Language Professor - inspired by the Professor from Leapfrog Letter Factory hahaha. Fancy that.

Phase 2C

Sammy is registered for Phase 2C because we had no affiliation, no free labor offered by mommy or daddy, no religious connection and well you get the point. 

Officer: Which kindergarten did your son attend?

Me: He didn’t attend any. 

Officer: Oh…then can he catch up?

My eyes widen and what I really wanted to blurt out….

Me: He is well beyond any of his peers. He is a very ferocious reader and counts Narnia by CS Lewis as one of his favorite books. He enjoys reading and can spend two hours reading and giggling to himself. Yes, he loves reading because he understands what he reads.

As for Chinese, I am surprised. For the lack of things I do with him, he is able to recognize words which he has been introduced quite quickly.

He knows his grammar and even the names of the parts of speech from conjunctions, to pronouns, to adjectives etc. And as for his spelling, his automacity allows him to spell metamorphosis without assistance. 

He is great in his Math and completes Maths tests as time fillers because mommy doesn’t really know what to do with him during his free time. Money, time and times tables, he has learnt it all. 

What he really enjoys is Science - from experiments to cells, to learning about invertebrate  - cnidarians and mollusks. But more, he seems to like chemistry - to see what effects and provoke a reaction.

Others we have dabbled are lives of artists and ancient history. And most recently, we have signed up for an online programming course. 

He has travelled to at least 10 countries and understood how different cultures merge and coexist. While aware of the differences, he doesn’t discriminate and has learnt to negotiate in the playgrounds of these countries with much success.

So yes, I think he can definitely catch up ….and perhaps teach his teacher a thing or two.

But of course, what I did really give was a muted response because I figured they are not really interested in the progress of my child.

Me: He was home schooled. 

There is a high chance that my dear son would be displaced after phase 2C. But if so, then so. 

The Simplest birthday but one of the Nicest

I had no idea why I didn't plan a party for Sammy this year...but today was a beautiful celebration with just the family. One of the warmest we had in a while. Many thanks to his beloved auntie Chiao Chyi and his grandma for helping rescue the day. And the family who love this little boy and didn't mind anything. 

Six years ago, there was joy of a different kind, perhaps more of a relief that Samny was safely delivered out of the womb and mommy was perhaps finally done with her 3rd surgery in 6 months. 

Much to be thankful for .....

Blessed birthday Sammy

Note at the breakfast table ...

To my gutsy, gritty, giggle-till-you-drop boy...

You have really grown. Really. And the many ways I love you -

I love your plethora of questions. Why is English called English? Who invented Chinese? Why is my skin this color? Why do people enslave others [after reading Tea for Tosh]? 

I love to browse through the little note book of yours and admire your inventions and machines. 

I love that we go Science Centre almost once a week or at least you pester me incessantly to bring you. 

I love your grit. Your refusal to accept things as it appears. Your insistence to probe. Your relentless effort to solve problems that come your way. 

I love that you encounter each situation squarely without the burdens of the past and cares for tomorrow. I secretly wish I can be like you. 

I love that you never sit and do your Math quietly - but I am sure your teacher will tear her hair out. Your whistling and singing and shaking of your rear end is almost a manifestation of the cogs that are working in your mind. 

I love that you can spend a good two hours reading and chuckle to yourself at the national libraries. 

I love that you love mommy and daddy and jie jie and the rest of the family so dearly. 

I love that you always call me “billy” and I call you “silly”.

I love that without fail, you would always have your favorite cheesy omelette for breakfast.

I love that you are my companion after I drop jie jie off at school

I love that we always say “cheese” when we spot the traffic police uncle up on the bridge. 

I love that you are pretty much as slapstick as me.

I love that you love your jie jie so much even though she squirms and avoid you like a plague when you yell her name at  the top of your voice every time you see her walk through the school gates.

I love that you would massage mommy’s aching muscles after a long day of driving.

I love that your propensity for life is to the max. Your intensity, your cackling, your love for family….so full for such a tiny one. 

I love that you are our Samuel - the miracle that God gave us in the midst of crisis and uncertainty.

I love that you are growing up each year as any child would …and more.

Blessed birthday dear boy, we love you lots lots lots.

Mommy will miss you when you go off to school next year. Hmmm…maybe we will not after all:)

For the First Time in Forever

I do not have a birthday plan for dearest sammy boy….and he turns 6 this Tues. 

Good Friends

I think my daughter is blessed to have good friends. Friends to support her, friends who put up with her tantrums, friends to play with her and occasionally, friends to fight with her. 

I think good friends are so important to a person...so I hope Sarah and Samuel will grow up and build strong lasting friendships, the kind that will last a lifetime and more.

Family Friends

School Friends

It has been almost 6 years

As Samuel’s birthday draws near, I am reminded again of 2008 and each new year and life thereafter. The past is so precious because I felt my life rewritten, the present is so precious because I have a chance to continue to write on the pages of my life. 

As I sang this song three weeks ago, I felt that this was the song of my heart...

My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness [Stuart Townend]

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who bore my pain;

Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace

And gave me life again.

Who crushed my curse of sinfulness,

And clothed me with His light,

And wrote His law of righteousness

With power upon my heart.

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who walks beside;

Who floods my weaknesses with strength

And causes fears to fly;

Whose every promise is enough

For every step I take,

Sustaining me with arms of love

And crowning me with grace.

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who reigns above;

Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,

Whose every thought is love.

For every day I have on earth

Is given by the King.

So I will give my life, my all,

To love and follow Him.

A Family Trip Every Quarter

This was part of Daniel’s 2014 plan for the family - a family trip every quarter; in particular camping, hiking and nature explorations. The resolution did seem apparrently indulgent to make even before the new year rolled on, especially since Sarah just started school. But we soon came to realize how much we ‘regained' during these trips. These trips enabled Dan to take a momentary pause from his impossible juggling of many responsibilities - both work and non-work related. These trips were timely pitstops for us to reflect on our direction and focus. These trips chartered new grounds in our family’s explorations and discoveries. These trips created so many precious memories that we held onto as we each went about to fulfill our own roles and responsibilities. These trips kept us in constant wonderment at the world around us and gave us new and realtime information for interesting discussions and conversations. 

Balancing routine and normalcy with opportunities for explorations is the equation for us this season.

I will attempt to post a quick record - more so for Dan who is in Mongolia now. So Daddy, this is for you.

Trekking and Camping in Khao Yai National Park - Feb

Sarah and Samuel basking in the sun [note their leech socks...eww]

This was an affordable but fruitful trip. We spent two days trekking in Khao Yai National Park with our experienced guide who was quick to spot many wild life as well as fresh bear markings on the trees (gulp). I would highly recommend engaging guides from Bobby’s Guesthouse. We managed to spy a family of gibbons swinging from the trees, some beautiful birds, a porcupine lurking near our campsite and a couple of wild elephants. In one word, awesome! This, coupled with delicious Thai Food and a stay at Baan Souchada Resort and Spa makes a great way to spend our Chinese New Year. We are already toying with the idea of heading to Chiang Mai for more tropical rainforest exploration - the zip wire across canopy sounds fun:)

All set for Bat Cave

The awesome real bat show which lasted 30 mins as the bats flew out of the caves

A shot through the telescope

Kids love camping in the National Park.

Deers that lurk near the campsite waiting to nibble at human trash

Spot the elephant behind Dan

Revisiting Tokyo, Lake Kawaguchiko, Hakone, Yugawara and Izu Peninsula

Whenever we head to Tokyo, we pretty much revisit what we enjoyed doing when we were there for a month two years ago. We would walk down Shinjuku, pop into our favorite 100 Yen sushi bar [nowdays there are 80 Yen sushi bars], eat a MOS burger or two, read a couple of books at the foreign book section at the bookstore connected to Shinjuku station, play at Shinjuku Chuo Park, have a lunch at sizzler, stay at Keio Plaza....we are such nostalgic creatures. 

This trip, since Sarah was turning 7. I thought it was nice for her to wear the Kimono, just like how every 7 year old girl in Japan does in their rite of passage - Shichi-Go-San. Of course, I had no idea that this entire ritual is a huge industry in Japan and a costly one too. Thankfully, in my search, I stumbled onto Marunouchi Cafe Seek, a place set up for tourists to introduce them to the Japan culture as well as give them an opportunity to have photo moments in their kimonos - all for free. Very unfortunately, the place has closed since June, a pretty sad discovery considering how many tourists make their way there. 

Sammy with his oversize kimono.

Tokyo was nice....but it was only when we hopped into our rented car and drove away from the relentless buildings, did we feel that our holiday really begun. Till today, regardless of the many times I have seen Mount Fuji, I still exclaim profusely and  drop my jaw at its truly spectacular sight. I don’t think I will ever get tired of this sight. We walked through bird trails, we walked through gorges, we walked through famous highways, we walked to lighthouses...we walked and walked and walked. Of course, we returned home every day to soak our tired bodies in the onsen - a part of Japan that we have learnt to appreciate and indulge whenever we have the chance to. 

view from outside our room

Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields in Hakone

Shosenkyo Gorge

Maihama Bay

Beach along Izu Peninsula

Melbourne, Philip Island, Apollo Bay, Port Fairy - June [till the next update]