The Normal Week Begins

Finally, 3 weeks into Jan, my thoughts and priorities are slowly being sorted out. My struggles and weaknesses and natural tendencies which constantly distract me from my main purposes in life are perpetually filtered to the surface as I seek for His direction in my life. I am thankful for that....because knowing what my struggles are, would bring me closer to realizing the purposes that God wants to fulfill in my life. This week, I am glad that even in the midst of understanding God's purpose in my life, much things of 2010 have fallen into place. 

Mon - Rest day with Family. We managed to run some errands, buy a new bird for the garden and go off the our hairdresser to have Sarah's and my hair trimmed for the festive season. 

Tues, Thurs - Yes, School of Tots has resumed.  I foresee that it will be an exciting year. We are embarking on a simple curriculum and I like it because it includes things which I want to introduce Sarah and Samuel too. In particular, memorizing scripture, discovery and exploration of the world through simple science and more art and craft. We had good time of concentration with the tots as they blew at paint through straws, played their flashlights, messed around with splotches of finger paint and tried their hand at Oobleck, a non-newtonian fluid, popularized by Dr Suess [made up of 2 parts cornflour and 1 part water]. Oobleck was totally fascinating to me because to make it was easy peasy but to explore it, was intriguing. I think Sarah and Samuel would have gone on for a long time playing oobleck if they had a choice. Beautiful object lessons to direct our attention to the creation of God in light and matter. Read http://chiaochyi.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/school-of-tots-resumes/ for more on our school:) 

Wed Morning - Started my special learning time with Sarah and Samuel. For this month, we are looking at Apples as a catapult from "How to Make Apple Pie and See the World." To kick start our Apple series, they painted their own apple trees. The trees were later wrapped with plastic wrap and attached with some lovely apple pegs picked up from Daiso, the amazing $2 shop. Samuel particularly enjoys counting the apples on the tree. To help them recognize the letter 'a', we had a simple time of stamping 'a's all over a clean piece of paper. 

Wed Afternoon - It was an impromptu birthday lunch for dear Hannah. 3 little tots and 2 mommies and a helper made an interestingly peaceful and enjoyable lunch date at Earl Swensen's. To my little niece who is quite a master at enunciation, blessed 26th month birthday:)

can't you just hear Samuel calling, "Hannahhhh"

Wed Evening - Daddy Daniel finally set up some second hand shelves which I bought from Prints, the branch which closed down at City Link sometime early last year. And thus, Sarah and Samuel's little Curiosity & Catapult Corner was set up, much to mommy's delight. 

Thurs - Kids go off to Agong and Ama's house while Mommy does her things. Meet up with Rach for belated 21st, bought groceries, exercise and did my reading.

Fri - Seletar Fun for the kids. Apart from the distance, I love this place - so nice and quiet and there is so much to do there for the tots. 

Sat - Our weekly Sat family breakfast has now found a comfortable spot at YMCA, just a few floors below Sarah's Ballet Studio. Eating a simple breakfast spread, listening to the piped in Christian music and eating with other tourist is a nice way to spend the morning. We were joined by the children's grand godpa that morning. 

Ballet Lessons Again

Mommy has just stepped into the Museum [which was 3 min walk away from YMCA] when a call came. It was Miss Teo, Sarah's ballet teacher. "Hello, is this Sarah's mommy?" I think you better come right now cos Sarah is screaming her head off." I think Mommy kinda turned into Superwoman and sprinted right across the street, flew over the steps, skidded right into the lobby and went up the lift. When I entered Studio 9, little Sarah was quietly sitting by the big mirrors. The minute she saw me, she walked right to me and stuck herself to my left thigh. Some little girls came and stretched out their tiny hands to welcome Sarah back to the fold. [They are so sweet:)] So for the rest of the lessons, Sarah and Mommy danced along together...galloped and hopped. It was fun for mommy too. And the little girls were so nice to welcome the new huge adult into their class. Sarah did finally pry herself away from Mommy when she heard Miss Teo offer candies to obedient ballerinas. After that, she was happily back in the fold, strutting her stuff.

Mother's Relief: Honestly, knowing that I am not paying an arm and foot for each lesson has helped me much in accepting her participation or in this incident, her non- participation. But it's great, cos, this gives me a good excuse for staying around each lesson and watching my little daughter enjoy her ballet class. Only a crowbar can pry me away now...hahah

Sarah goes for Ballet Classes

Our precocious Sarah has been bugging mommy since 2009 to bring her to ballet classes after she saw pictures of ballerinas, and watched little girls in a ballet class. Our Sarah is physically very dexterous and adventurous. She started playing with slides when she was 1 year old, climbed structures when she was a year and a half and could do interesting flips with her body. Well, before mommy decided to look around for a class, she had to do an assignment. Mommy was commissioned by Daddy to research on the origins and history of Ballet. That little research yielded some interesting finds - from ballet being a sort of pantomime, to it being an art performed by the aristocrats in the past,  to ballerinas dancing with full wigs and costumes of their era to modern ballet formalized into a discipline. Mommy hopes that Sarah gets to learn how to channel her ever-bursting energy into controlled forms of discipline, but mostly, for her to enjoy playing and learning in a formalized setting with other girls.

Sarah and mommy thoroughly enjoyed the 1st lesson. There was show and tell at the beginning of the lesson, there was a simple routine of leg raises and hand movement and there was lots of imaginative play along with classical music pipping in the background, What mommy enjoyed was the jolly, kind hearted teacher who loves the little girls ; who speaks kindly to them and allows for the occasional sheep to wander in her pastures and daydreams.

Mother's Confession: It is really so special and exciting to see your little baby grow up and be able to listen and follow instructions. I now totally understand the anxious mothers who loiter around the kindergarten classroom windows on the 1st day of school, peering and giggling at every action their child does, much to the irritation of the teacher. Haha...not to mention, taking pictures like a paparazzi.