Injection Day

Here's a blog entry written by Big Bee about her injection day in school last Tuesday! She was very nervous about it but emerged strong and courageous :)

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It was my injection day. I nearly had consternation the night before. We went down to the Art and Craft room to get our injection. Two of my friends cried but I did not cry.

Bubble Bath

Last week, Hubby took 2 days to look after the Bees as my mom's leg was not well. Here was his idea of a usual bath time for them. He puffed up an inflatable pool raft, fluffed it up with lots of bubble foam and immersed the 2 girls with lots of bath toys inside for an hour-and-a-half long bubble bath!

Having a whale of a time!

Swim Party

Charlie's Angels (from left): Big Bee, Val & Little Bee. Chloe was changing into her swimsuit in the bathroom!

Last Friday, my cousins and I organised a swim party for our kids, also fellow cousins, together with our Mums, who had lots of fun catching up on gossip over good food.


The 3 happy grannies with Little Bee

Poor Little Bee had a runny nose so was prevented from going into the pool. Big Bee had lots of solo practice swimming in the pool with Chloe watching her every move and attempting to swim about, making poor Irene so tired, clutching onto her in the water! Fio was busy trying to encourage Val to get into the pool, but little Val was more interested to sit by the pool, looking pretty in her gorgeous swimsuit!


Paddling and splashing!

Chloe and Big Bee are swim pals!

After lunch, the kids meddled with toys and indulged in a group craft activity, doodling and drawing harmoniously together. It was amazing how all 4 of them can play so peacefully and amicably together! We plan to let them hang out together more often, just like how our moms used to let us cousins play together ever so often years back.

Group tuition, anyone?

Busy busy...

Homemade Toys

Last week, Hubby and me took turns and stayed home to look after the Bees because my mum was on "medical leave" as she had hurt her leg.

As it was also the March holidays, I decided to channel the restless energies of the girls to something constructive. So, I laid out some craft materials and we created homemade soft toy snakes out of my old socks, newspapers (as stuffing), stickers and construction paper!

The Bees busy stuffing their snakes up with newspaper!

It was really fun to create something out of nothing and the Bees, especially Big Bee, was thrilled. She did everything on her own, applying creativity to her snake by proactively making a forked tongue on her own initiative. Little Bee was distracted at times, and needed my help, especially in drawing the snake's eyes, but she enjoyed sticking the stickers on the snake and even created a bandage patch on her snake, after which she told me the snake was "pain pain"!

Little Bee's red snake called "Nake" with its pink bandage and Big Bee's sandy coloured snake with its forked tongue called "Sparkly"

The sense of achievement experienced by the Bees after completion was a sight to behold. Throughout the entire day, they were holding on to their new soft toys, bringing them out, hugging the little snakes on bed. Big Bee named her snake "Sparkly" and Little Bee just called hers "Nake" (she could not pronounce the "s" yet!).

Holding on to their new soft toys with glee and delight!

Inspired by us, Hubby set forth to create another set of homemade toys the following day! When they met me after work, I was greeted by each of them holding a pair of musical rice maracas made from plastic cups, rice, scotchtape and stickers! They were happily shaking these maracas and creating the most mellifluous samba beat ever!

One set of maracas

Quality Time

My little one was down with a nasty flu over the weekend, so I stayed home with her while Hubby and Big Bee went out for all her enrichment classes and grandparents' home.

This was a wonderful opportunity for me to spend solo quality time with Little Bee, who was so deprived of it, compared to Big Bee. It was akin to those idyllic days of quiet, private time with Big Bee before Little Bee's arrival. One-to-one playing, uninterrupted learning, intimate chatting, no fighting, no arguments, no distractions! Fabulous.

With 2 kids, it is so difficult to spend lengthy moments alone with one child. So I count my blessings to be able to indulge in some personal time with Little Bee. I am sure Hubby is grateful for the private time spent with Big Bee too. This is one of the guidelines I read in a parenting book: to ensure that each kid gets to spend quality solo time with each parent regularly.

Just to relate a random conversation at the doctor's:

Doctor: Here's a sweet for you, Little Bee.

Mummy: What must you say, Little Bee?

Little Bee (smiling): Thank you ... (long pause, serious pondering expression, staring at the doctor)....MAN!

Mummy (embarrassed): You can say "Thank you, doctor" too!

Little Bee (revelation on her face, smiled again): Thank you, ah-tor!

She had also started learning from Big Bee colloquial expressions like "Oh, man!!!" whenever she could not get her way.

And sometimes, when I see the little one chitter chatting with the talkative big one, a warmth just emanates in my heart, marvelling at how dependent they are on each other's daily company :)

Of Zoos And Plays

I had never felt so excited about the brief March holidays since my JC days. The one-week break descended upon us with a much anticipated downpour of torrential activities after a long drought of weekday routines. Which was why last weekend, which was the start of this wonderful reprieve, was such a whirlwind of hectic activities.

Saturday
1) We started off Saturday morning with a trip to the zoo after a long 3-year hiatus since I was pregnant with Little Bee. Which means that this was Little Bee's first visit to the zoo. She was amazed by the plethora of animals, uttering the names of the animals after us, and Big Bee melted into the zoo's arms like a long-awaited homecoming.


Lovin' the boat ride!


Big Bee loved the horses in Kid's World, and Little Bee looked so at home on the pony!

They loved the new boat ride across the reservoir and spent too much time in Kid's World. We had a long lunch in their very crowded Ah Meng's Restaurant, and went home, tired, perspiring and with a pair of sleepy and grumpy kids.


Check out their sleepy eyes!

2) After a short afternoon nap for Little Bee, we set forth excitedly (more like me being the most enthusiastic of all!) to the Disney Princesses On Ice show.


The girls chose their own costumes, amidst a mind-boggling number of girls dolled up in different princess costumes!

We were entertained from 7 to 9pm, mouths gaping, spirits soaring and hearts stirring at the amazing skills of the ice skaters, who had to grapple with difficult manoeuvres and gorgeous expressions of Disney characters. All the fairy tales which we were so familiar with leapt out of the pages of well-thumbed Disney books.


Oblivious to everything but the stage...

By the second last act, Big Bee asked me worriedly: "Mummy, is the show ending soon?" I affirmed her sinking suspicion and she let out an audibly disappointed sigh. Little Bee was so fascinated that she sat mostly on her own seat for the whole 2 hours, eyes and mouth wide open! It must have been a remarkable spectacle for her little mind. We went home, fatigued but contented, right to the warm embraces of our welcoming beds.

Sunday
1) We started off Sunday morning with a wonderful breakfast in a French cafe that Hubby brought us as a surprise. To see rows upon rows of ambrosial confectionery was akin to stepping into breakfast heaven. To be immersed in a heavy cloak of mouthwatering smells of baking bread was pure divinity. We had a most wonderful breakfast in the quiet but cosy cafe, with the Bees chomping delightedly on doughnuts and croissants.


They sure made pastries look delectable!

2) We then proceeded to one of our country's oldest heirloom - Singapore River. We took a wonderful walk along the riverside, soaking in the relaxed Sunday atmosphere. The Bees were carefree and cheerful. After a short jaunt along the river bank, we stepped into Victoria Theatre to watch a play by a Canadian company - Alice In Wonderland.


Big Bee was rightfully skeptical of the play from the start whereas Little Bee was checking out what she would be in for.

It was rather disappointing and not very engaging, utilising multimedia and music to depict the bizarre adventures of Alice in Lewis Carroll's well-known book. As the book was an emblem of literary nonsense throughout history, the play somewhat reflected that too, to Big Bee's befuddled bewilderment. At the end of the play, she huffed and puffed and said: "I want to throw rotten tomatoes at them!" Harsh critic indeed. Little Bee, who sat quietly throughout the play, nodded happily when I asked her if she liked the play. She is definitely not as cynical as jie-jie yet!

What a fabulous start to the fantastic March holidays!

Hula Hoop Competition

Big Bee's school has all sorts of cute school-wide competitions. One of them was a hula hoop competition last Wednesday which she was placed at top 6 in the whole standard.

This is a page I stole from her diary (on days that I am lazy to blog!). She wrote it last Wednesday, right after the competition, hence the entry started with "today".

Enjoy reading :)

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Today was my Hula Hoop Competition. It was called Hulathon. I was very excited the past few days. There are four houses in my school - Olson, Jackson, Blackmore and Lee. There were many people in my class joining the Hulathon. We need to go down to the quadrangle five minutes earlier before recess. We were the first class to go to the quadrangle. My best friend Claire Khoo is a reserve so she is not joining. When the Hulathon started, all my friends were very excited! Many people were watching us. I was the top 6 of the game. When I did one hula hoop, I was very good. Some people in my class dropped their hoops when we were doing one hoop.

"I Want EAT!!!"

The Bees with Jiu Jiu and Jiu Mu...what a lovely portrait :)

Last Saturday evening, my family went to Club Chinois for my brother's wedding food tasting session. It was a wonderful time to bond with the brother, his wife and my parents. My brother invited his friend along, together with his wife and 2 year old son, Oliver.

Oliver and Little Bee - they do look somewhat alike, right?

The 3 kids went quite wild, running around, yakking so loudly and creating a general commotion. Thank goodness we were ensconced in a cosy room!

However, once the dishes were served, Little Bee immediately stopped all fun and laughter and asked to sit in her "bebe chair". Once tucked into her chair, she devoted her entire attention to the sumptuous spread of food in front of her! And she already finished her dinner at home actually.

Poor little Oliver kept trying to attract Little Bee's attention by asking her to play. She ignored him, preferring to focus full attention on the yummy sea bass, crunchy crackers, springy spinach, amongst others.

I asked her, "Do you want to eat or play?" She gave me an indignant look as if reproaching me for even asking that sort of question, averted her eyes back to the plate full of food scraps in front of her, and exclaimed loudly and impatiently, "EAAAAATTTTT! I want EAT!!!" Thereafter totally ignoring me again.

Looking blissful facing a whole table of food. As always, she must have BOTH hands full with food.

It was only after the scrumptious 8-course dinner (she stayed happily in her seat until dessert was served) that she contentedly came down and play with Big Bee and Oliver!

Here are some photos with Jiu Jiu and my family during a Christmas high tea gathering where Little Bee sat throughout the 3-hour buffet, chomping up all the food.

With Po Po, Gong Gong and Jiu Jiu - but note where Little Bee was looking...

The Girls Are Dating...

...Papa!

Hubby received a family newsletter over Valentine's Day, highlighting social research which had indicated all future romantic relationships in a girl's life are influenced by the way she interacts with her father. If he treats her like she is valuable to him, she will likely see herself that way and may even refuse attention from a guy who doesn't treat her right. Read more about it here.

So, these days, special efforts had been made by Hubby to bring each of the girls out for short jaunts. Sometimes, he would bring one of them for single dates. Sometimes for double dates. They always came back happy and rejuvenated, having spent enough quality and private time together.

Last weekend, when I was working, Hubby brought the 2 Bees to Sentosa's Coaste restaurant on Siloso Beach for a mighty fine breakfast and a major frolic with the sun and sand.

The girls in the cool shade of a big umbrella that clever Papa got the waiter to rig up for their sandplay. So, Papa can feast in peace!

One of their rare displays of cordial teamwork...

Ta-da! A Hello Kitty castle (super girly!)

The girls are beach babies and were ecstatically playing under the sun for 2 hours followed by an hour of water immersion at the nearby fountain. They were both drenched, but loved Papa to bits after that!

Cooling off with an hour of waterplay!

All changed and clean...ready to head for home!

Papa's dates always seemed to revolve around sand, water and food! On previous occasions, these were some of the treats from Papa without Mummy around :)

Breakfast by the beach...

More construction work by the beach, this time at East Coast

Waterplay at home, in the shaded haven of our balcony

Warmest Of Welcomes

I had to work the entire weekend and Hubby was in charge of looking after the Bees. My mum helped out on Saturday, but yesterday, he was left to his own devices.

As I trudged home, fatigued and tired at 8pm last night, Hubby called my mobile phone and declared, "Hey, Big Bee just said she misses you very much, and asks you to come home immediately!" I told him I was already near the front door, and guess what? As I was walking towards our house, I saw a lean, lanky girl running towards me in the darkness....Big Bee! Apparently, she rushed out of the house to give me a warm welcome, a loud uttering of "MUMMYYYY!!!" and a big hug!

As we walked arm in arm towards our door, I saw one beaming, grinning face with a smile threatening to split her face in two...Little Bee! She screamed, squealed and jumped excitedly when she saw me...."MAMA!!! MAMA!!!" and gave me an equally big hug.

Thereafter, the girls both hovered around me, fussing over me as I was eating my dinner, with Big Bee showing me the photos of what the happy trio had done the entire day, and Little Bee running to and fro, making lots of noise, showing off little trinkets after trinkets. Hubby rolled his eyes, shook his head and lamented that they must be very bored with him! Aw, poor hubby :) I am sure they enjoyed his company, but probably looking for Mummy to put them to bed at this hour.

Still, this was a dazzling welcome from a whole tiring day at work. Simple pleasures like this really do light up our lives!

Midnight Supper

Last night, after we put the Bees to bed, Hubby and I went out to do some urgent grocery shopping - thank goodness for Cold Storage Holland Village which opens 24 hours! It was peaceful and therapeutic to be able to shop in the empty aisles, chatting quietly and ruminating over the products without any flustered crowds around. After shopping, we ambled towards Crystal Jade for a midnight supper, feasting on porridge and sweet desserts. Holland Village is amazing - it never sleeps!

With the packed weekday schedule these days, I count my lucky stars that Hubby and I can still have some couple time together, no matter how brief it is. I still find that it is fundamentally important to sneak in some solitary time between spouses, so that we can reconnect to ourselves without the boisterous kids around us.

And credit goes to my beloved Mum who stays with us 3 nights a week, so that we can leave the sleeping kids in her good hands.