The Happy Kids at the Happy Party

[photo credits: Darrell and CC]

The House is Warmed:)

Over the weekend, we had our housewarming and celebrated Sarah's birthday. I was really thankful and proud of our guests - who all were enthusiastic to take the long drive and made special provisions to join us in our happy party. The weather looked threatening at times and I was half expecting it to pour. But the weather held up beautifully. The traffic (in spite of a typical Singaporean fear of a long weekend) was a breeze entering and leaving our home. 

In my opinion, it really was a beautiful day...perhaps cos I felt that the hearts of everyone who came were joyful and more than willing. And truly, the joyful hearts make for joyous occasions. I thank God for family and friends who have come alongside of us and prayed for us and blessed us as we journey in our lives and in our new homes. 

* I will be busy compiling the photos from Darrell and Chiao Chyi and upload them up soon.

Getting back

The past month has been nothing short of busy. Clearing up our belongings in our old house, organizing a garage sale, meeting interesting people from Mexico, Norway, India etc during my garage sale, moving and more cleaning. In the midst of it, Daniel flew to London for his exams and my helper returned back to her country. I am glad that during that period, God kept our going ins and going outs safe and brought the family back together. There are a couple more eventful things coming up. But we are looking forward to a simple, holy and healthy life in our new home....

Our Sarah is Turning 4!

It's been a year and our princess is really excited to celebrate her birthday again - and this time in our new home. Sarah has been growing up very sweetly - she takes care of her sammy, her cousins Hannah and Belle and she takes care of mommy. There was one day that mommy had a bad headache from mulling over something too hard and the greatest comfort was to lay in bed and hold Sarah's hand. Daughter's are so precious - so are little boys hahaha. We really are thankful for our dear Sarah:)

In Gay Oblivion

One day last week, we headed down to Collyer Quay during lunchtime to settle some stuff. Crowds and buildings were boring to the kids until they saw people getting free frisbees. As part of the many advertising gimmicks, freebies are always handed out to the working crowds at Shenton Way. So right in the middle of the lunchtime crowd and busyness, Sarah and Samuel plays in gay oblivion, swinging their new found interest across the end of the grass patch to another. 

To date: Sammy has developed a mean swing and he throws the frisbee very well [he just needs to work on his accuracy]

Sarah is very Sad

As the day looms nearer for Daddy Daniel to leave to the UK to take his exams, Sarah is aware of the painful reality that her dearest Daddy would not be with her for a while [a short while]. Before she rested for the night, she drew 3 pictures,

Title Picture 1: Daddy and Sarah and the Castle of London

Title Picture 2: Super Daddy

Title Picture 3: Family on the road to our new house [4 + Auntie Rubi]

Did I also forget to mention that she half bawled her eyes out when she contemplated the thought of Daddy not being around? Looking at her cry, I felt like crying myself:(

Unexpected Visitors

My teaching pal, Sharon and her family braved the traffic and found her way to our new home, much to our delight. Here is an awesome pic that her hubby took of the kiddos enjoying their smoothie ice cream in the heat of the day.

Visitors

Ahgong, Ahma, Grandauntie Ahwah, Pohtin and Granduncle Hui

Sarah's best pal, Hannah

Cousins!

We have had a steady stream of visitors since we our place became liveable. The visitors have been very understanding, bearing with our incomplete house. First came Jie Jie Mabel, then Shu Shu Darrell, Kor Kor Wee Beng, Kor Kor Don Don, Uncle Jem, Grandpa and Grandma and Auntie CC and Shu Shu David and family. This weekend, Sarah was very happy. She has always been waiting for her Ahgong and Ahma to come. And finally, when she saw them walk through the door, she was very excited. As well as to see her grandaunties and granduncle. She did tell me once before she took her nap that she did not want everyone to come together. Hahah...She'd rather they come separately, so that she would have visitors everyday!! Hahah....And everytime, someone went home, she would be sad. Today, she was very quiet as she saw Auntie CC and Shu Shu David's car drive off our porch. But I was quietly proud of her as I observed her staring at the car and composing herself. I knew she was sad to see Hannah go off but she did not bawl. Sarah is learning about life everyday...and it gets tougher and tougher. 

Our Chalkboard Wall

This week, another area of our house is ready - the chalkboard wall that fronts our porch. I had some protesters [husband included] when I decided to ask our contractor to spray the front wall a stark black with chalkboard spray. I have always wanted a big chalkboard wall but would like it out of the house. And the wall was perfect - it officially turns our front porch to the kids outdoor art area - when they can do chalk, paint and play playdoh without me screaming at them for destroying our furniture:) It will still be challenging I foresee. Of course, it gives me a great opportunity for me to introduce house rules. This week was really a learning week for the kids as they learn to clean up after themselves - even pack their own beds. 

And the bonus - it makes a great backdrop for photo taking:)

A Full Day

Today we managed a full day with totnadoes Sarah and Samuel. When I mean full day, I mean no nap:) Sarah and Sammy [especially Sammy] are known for their 3 hr long naps. A typical day for them would start at about 9-9:30 every morning and end about 11:30 every night. 

Well, I must say it was a good full day made possible in our new home there are many things for them to do. They woke up about 9:30-10 today and the weather outside was just right:) As I sat down and ate my breakfast and tried to prepare some material for them to learn...it was amusing to see how Sarah pretended to be the teacher and was teaching Samuel how to trace lines on their book. So, I just stopped preparing and let them teach themselves. Haha...

Looking at the weather and the time, 11 am - it was perfect for our nature walk. But before we did, I decided to take out a present I bought for Sammy last year - a children's microscope. And get the kids interested in some detailed observation. Who better to show them how to use a microscope? Daddy Daniel! We fixed it up and let them view some samples which came with the toy. 

There goes the explorers! We didn't seem to get very far in the neighbourhood because the explorers were stopping every minute to check if the snail shell is empty, to catch sight of the fluttering butterfly, to run away from the trail of busy ants carrying a huge ant, to identify dog poo poo, and to play with the forget-me-nots....

After an hour, we headed home. As I prepared lunch, the kids played with the interactive Preschool Sesame Street CD rom which we borrowed from the library. After a soupy lunch, I was really thinking hard if I should let them forgo their nap and let them play on. Well, Sarah exclaimed, "Mommy, I am not sleepy. I have a lot of energy because I just ate a lot of food." 

So, they moved to the porch where they took out their playdoh toys and played and played. I sat there and read my own book and watched them play and play. By this time, about 3:30, the weather looked exceptionally fantastic for a mid afternoon. After getting them to pack up their mess, that's when we decided to head off to the club pool for a swim. No photos here as we were too busy playing and swimming. We spent another 2.5 hrs there before heading home. 

At home, they watched their favorite Dora DVD as I prepared a quick dinner. And by 8:30, I can tell that the totnadoes were loosing their steam. With the usual bedtime rituals, drinking milk, reading, brushing of teeth and a goodnight prayer, they are fast asleep at 9:30. 

*Yawn*...mommy needs some rest too.