I always like experimenting with cooking, but due to the lack of time, I virtually had no opportunity to indulge in this little whim of mine. To clarify, I am no gourmet chef like some of my friends who can whip up dishes and bake like professionals. I do NOT know how to bake, and when I do cook, I need to peer over a recipe right down to every word.
Which was why in the week that I turned SAHM, I was very happy with the liberty of time to tinker around with cooking dinner!
And I am quite happy to declare that hubby was very impressed with the below menus! I know these are common fare for many moms, but hey, I didn't even know how to fry an egg till 7 years ago!
Monday
Stewed chicken with assorted mushrooms
Long beans with sliced carrots
Corn soup with carrots and pork ribs
Tuesday
Curry chicken
Stir-fried caixin with shiitake mushrooms
Wednesday
Chicken stir-fried with bittergourd in black bean sauce
Stir-fried caixin with sliced carrots
Yang shen bu qi Chinese herbal soup
Thursday
Spare ribs in BBQ sauce
Stir-fried caixin
Mushroom and potato soup
Friday
Rendang chicken
Stir-fried kailan with shiitake mushroom
Corn soup with carrots and pork
Gyoza
Monday, June 23, 2008
Plenty of Bonding
This weekend had been really busy but truly enjoyable:
1) Hiking around the trails of Southern Ridges and traipsing across the majestic and lofty Henderson Waves. Big Bee loves the meandering bridge and ran around, whereas Little Bee fancies those little slopey seats along the side of the bridge (she thinks they are mini slides!). She can manouevre away from us just to walk back to those seats amidst rambling crowds! Such courage indeed!
2) Bonding with hubby's friends on a balmy Saturday night of succulent BBQ food. Conversation topics had evolved from fashion tips when we were undergrads to wedding proposals and preparations in our early 20s to our children now!
3) Taking our first family Ferris Wheel ride at Downtown East, with wide-eyed wonder from the 2 Bees.
4) Watching a movie (Kungfu Panda) as a family - Big Bee's 3rd movie experience and Little Bee's FIRST movie! She entered the dark cinema patting her little chest, indicating she was frightened, but Big Bee, hubby and me soon soothed her down with our over-exaggerated comments and laughter! It helped a lot with Big Bee there, munching popcorn and staring fixatedly at the screen. Of course, giving scraps of popcorn and biscuits to foodie Little Bee made a world of difference!
5) Having fantastic family bonding time with the 2 Bees' grandparents - lunch at hubby's parents' place and dinner at my place with my parents, brother and girlfriend. We had a blast looking through my brother's photos from their recent trip and the girls were jesting with their jiu-jiu in full glee.
1) Hiking around the trails of Southern Ridges and traipsing across the majestic and lofty Henderson Waves. Big Bee loves the meandering bridge and ran around, whereas Little Bee fancies those little slopey seats along the side of the bridge (she thinks they are mini slides!). She can manouevre away from us just to walk back to those seats amidst rambling crowds! Such courage indeed!
2) Bonding with hubby's friends on a balmy Saturday night of succulent BBQ food. Conversation topics had evolved from fashion tips when we were undergrads to wedding proposals and preparations in our early 20s to our children now!
3) Taking our first family Ferris Wheel ride at Downtown East, with wide-eyed wonder from the 2 Bees.
4) Watching a movie (Kungfu Panda) as a family - Big Bee's 3rd movie experience and Little Bee's FIRST movie! She entered the dark cinema patting her little chest, indicating she was frightened, but Big Bee, hubby and me soon soothed her down with our over-exaggerated comments and laughter! It helped a lot with Big Bee there, munching popcorn and staring fixatedly at the screen. Of course, giving scraps of popcorn and biscuits to foodie Little Bee made a world of difference!
5) Having fantastic family bonding time with the 2 Bees' grandparents - lunch at hubby's parents' place and dinner at my place with my parents, brother and girlfriend. We had a blast looking through my brother's photos from their recent trip and the girls were jesting with their jiu-jiu in full glee.
Friday, June 20, 2008
On A Lazy Thursday Workday...
On a typical lazy Thursday workday, a FTWM took leave yet again to elude herself that she is actually part of the workforce. So, happily, she invited her friend YM and Sophie to her place and they had a really great time chilling out!
Yes, that's me. And if you think I am deluding myself from going to work, yes, that was exactly what I was thinking!
YM had lunch (together with Sophie), and the 3 girls had a wonderful time playing with toys, generally focusing on dolls and cooking toys. Oh, such girliness! Sophie and Little Bee are like twin sisters, according to Big Bee, who was busy snapping photos of the two of them - same height, same size. Little Bee was very fascinated by Sophie, probably because she usually played with big kids and now she was feeling amazed she has someone her age to play with!
YM and I had a great time yakking away. When they left at 1.30pm, Little Bee bawled in great distress when she saw her little friend entering a cab to be driven off into the distance. After they left, she insisted on walking the long long path outside my estate, chasing them futilely for a distance. She wailed again when I finally shattered her dream of finding her little friend by packing her in a struggling, kicking bundle back into my estate.
I wanted to make FULL use of my precious leave, so we did more socialising after dinner by going to PF's house, much to the elation of Big Bee (to be fair to her as well, since her little sister has her friend visit her earlier in the day!).
At PF's house, the adults drank this wonderfully tangy Chardonnay that PF and Andrew brought from their recent trip to Australia and chomped on delightfully scrumptious macadamia nuts, while the 3 big kids, Eugene, Claire and Big Bee, hung out in the highest of spirits and energy levels in their study room - right in front of a PC, playing games! Yes, their priorities had changed. No more playing with toys or chasing each other round the house. Sigh. But still lots of laughter and silly giggling from them. Little Bee kept following them around, wanted to be included but not comprehending why they were so fascinated by an immobile piece of boring junk! However, being the food connoisseur that she is, she perched nicely on my lap when we munched on chips and nuts, helping herself to some of these sinful goodies!
We left their place in high spirits (pun intended) - red, happy, slightly drunk...with the kiddos high as well...from sleepiness.
I wish everyday can be this fun!!
Yes, that's me. And if you think I am deluding myself from going to work, yes, that was exactly what I was thinking!
YM had lunch (together with Sophie), and the 3 girls had a wonderful time playing with toys, generally focusing on dolls and cooking toys. Oh, such girliness! Sophie and Little Bee are like twin sisters, according to Big Bee, who was busy snapping photos of the two of them - same height, same size. Little Bee was very fascinated by Sophie, probably because she usually played with big kids and now she was feeling amazed she has someone her age to play with!
YM and I had a great time yakking away. When they left at 1.30pm, Little Bee bawled in great distress when she saw her little friend entering a cab to be driven off into the distance. After they left, she insisted on walking the long long path outside my estate, chasing them futilely for a distance. She wailed again when I finally shattered her dream of finding her little friend by packing her in a struggling, kicking bundle back into my estate.
I wanted to make FULL use of my precious leave, so we did more socialising after dinner by going to PF's house, much to the elation of Big Bee (to be fair to her as well, since her little sister has her friend visit her earlier in the day!).
At PF's house, the adults drank this wonderfully tangy Chardonnay that PF and Andrew brought from their recent trip to Australia and chomped on delightfully scrumptious macadamia nuts, while the 3 big kids, Eugene, Claire and Big Bee, hung out in the highest of spirits and energy levels in their study room - right in front of a PC, playing games! Yes, their priorities had changed. No more playing with toys or chasing each other round the house. Sigh. But still lots of laughter and silly giggling from them. Little Bee kept following them around, wanted to be included but not comprehending why they were so fascinated by an immobile piece of boring junk! However, being the food connoisseur that she is, she perched nicely on my lap when we munched on chips and nuts, helping herself to some of these sinful goodies!
We left their place in high spirits (pun intended) - red, happy, slightly drunk...with the kiddos high as well...from sleepiness.
I wish everyday can be this fun!!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Grill Galore!
This evening, bored hubby and me decided to spice up our usual Saturday night routine by having a BBQ in our balcony with the kiddos! A little celebration of sorts...to rejoice about nothing other than the blessing in our lives with us and the kiddos.
This is the first time we would be using our outdoor grill set that we had purchased more than a month back. Hubby was the chef tonight, and the menu was impressive indeed! We had hamburgers with thick slabs of beef patties (eww..what happened to my objective of turning vegetarian!!), prime ribs (with honey and steak sauce, yummy!!), old English sausages (sweet and juicy!) as well as corn on the cob and baked potatoes (which we are keeping till tomorrow to eat as we were all SO FULL!). We even prepared salad with Japanese dressing, but uh-huh, there was absolutely no more space in our tummies at the end of our dinner.
All thanks to Hubby the chef, we had a wonderful grilled dinner. Big Bee gobbled down the hamburger with relish, declaring proudly that this was her first time eating beef, and she thought it was sweeter and yummier than pork. Poor Little Bee kept looking expectantly at Hubby when he fed Big Bee and me with morsels of delicious barbequed food, but nope, I am not ready to start her off on sinful eating yet!
Hubby was really busy, starting the grill, busy grilling the different food and then cleaning up the grill! And tomorrow's Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day, Papa :) And thanks for a memorable and delectable dinner - we loved it!
This is the first time we would be using our outdoor grill set that we had purchased more than a month back. Hubby was the chef tonight, and the menu was impressive indeed! We had hamburgers with thick slabs of beef patties (eww..what happened to my objective of turning vegetarian!!), prime ribs (with honey and steak sauce, yummy!!), old English sausages (sweet and juicy!) as well as corn on the cob and baked potatoes (which we are keeping till tomorrow to eat as we were all SO FULL!). We even prepared salad with Japanese dressing, but uh-huh, there was absolutely no more space in our tummies at the end of our dinner.
All thanks to Hubby the chef, we had a wonderful grilled dinner. Big Bee gobbled down the hamburger with relish, declaring proudly that this was her first time eating beef, and she thought it was sweeter and yummier than pork. Poor Little Bee kept looking expectantly at Hubby when he fed Big Bee and me with morsels of delicious barbequed food, but nope, I am not ready to start her off on sinful eating yet!
Hubby was really busy, starting the grill, busy grilling the different food and then cleaning up the grill! And tomorrow's Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day, Papa :) And thanks for a memorable and delectable dinner - we loved it!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Playdates
Being a SAHM means plenty of time to let my kids play with other kids during the unfettered weekday hours. This week, it was fun going on 2 playdates - one with cousin Fiona on Tuesday, and the other with LP yesterday. Unbelievably, both dates were in Jacob Ballas Children's Garden!
Tuesday
We had a great time strolling around the gardens with Cousin Fio and 8-month-old Baby Val. What was heartwarming was how Big Bee and Little Bee held hands together and wandered buoyantly through the labyrinth, with Big Bee gamely shouting words of encouragement to Little Bee who was ecstatic to be caught in a maze!
Lunch was at my place where the kids chilled out playing with baby toys. Baby Val was really cute and feisty, and she was soooo sticky to Fiona. This is Fiona's first time out all alone with Baby Val and I think she was very steady. Good job, Fio!
Thursday
LP and I decided to drench the kids in some water play in the morning. The sun was radiant, the sky was a striking shade of clear blue and a light breeze was caressing our faces. Perfect weather for the popular water play at Jacob Ballas.
It was Little Bee's first time and she seemed hesitant, cautious, somewhat fearful of the jets of water that could appear and disappear all of a sudden. Very unlike her usual bold nature. However, she warmed up considerably and with me in tow, managed to have a glorious, happy shower with the other 3 shrieking kids soon after!
Lunch was at my place again, with Big Bee and WW running through the house like 2 roadrunners! Hectic but fun!
LP and I went for coffee at Guthrie House and chilled out with good coffee while the kids played catch outside the cafe. No crowds around, only leisurely mothers looking happy and relaxed.
What splendid fun indeed!
Tuesday
We had a great time strolling around the gardens with Cousin Fio and 8-month-old Baby Val. What was heartwarming was how Big Bee and Little Bee held hands together and wandered buoyantly through the labyrinth, with Big Bee gamely shouting words of encouragement to Little Bee who was ecstatic to be caught in a maze!
Lunch was at my place where the kids chilled out playing with baby toys. Baby Val was really cute and feisty, and she was soooo sticky to Fiona. This is Fiona's first time out all alone with Baby Val and I think she was very steady. Good job, Fio!
Thursday
LP and I decided to drench the kids in some water play in the morning. The sun was radiant, the sky was a striking shade of clear blue and a light breeze was caressing our faces. Perfect weather for the popular water play at Jacob Ballas.
It was Little Bee's first time and she seemed hesitant, cautious, somewhat fearful of the jets of water that could appear and disappear all of a sudden. Very unlike her usual bold nature. However, she warmed up considerably and with me in tow, managed to have a glorious, happy shower with the other 3 shrieking kids soon after!
Lunch was at my place again, with Big Bee and WW running through the house like 2 roadrunners! Hectic but fun!
LP and I went for coffee at Guthrie House and chilled out with good coffee while the kids played catch outside the cafe. No crowds around, only leisurely mothers looking happy and relaxed.
What splendid fun indeed!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Three Magnificent Hornbills
Spotted on a languid evening stroll around my estate were three spectacular hornbills, literally a stone's throw outside my balcony! Big Bee had the rare privilege of creeping up to one majestic, motionless hornbill standing on a low parapet, viewing it in full glorious detail before it flew off, spreading its giant wings wide. It looked so....expansive!
Big Bee, Little Bee and me stayed in the courtyard, fascinated by one hornbill and trying to spot if there were more of them. Indeed, we spotted three! Swooping up the trees for pecks at the fruits, perching on railings enjoying the final receding sunrays of the approaching gloaming.
I wonder where these gorgeous hornbills come from. They are most definitely welcome here.
Big Bee, Little Bee and me stayed in the courtyard, fascinated by one hornbill and trying to spot if there were more of them. Indeed, we spotted three! Swooping up the trees for pecks at the fruits, perching on railings enjoying the final receding sunrays of the approaching gloaming.
I wonder where these gorgeous hornbills come from. They are most definitely welcome here.
Monday, June 9, 2008
A Week Of Homely Bliss
My mom is on holiday in China this week, which means that I will be a stay-at-home mom for this whole week! Yippee!
5 things I love about being at home with the kids all day long:
1) Waking up the same time as them, loitering with the two girls over a slow, relaxing and leisurely breakfast, giggling at each other's silly actions or jokes.
2) Having the luxury of time to engage in a table session of Playdoh (Little Bee's first time touching the squishy squashy dough!), while Big Bee and I kept trying to stop gluttony Little Bee from eating the deliciously colourful Playdoh-constructed food, much to her displeasure with us.
3) Shopping for groceries and food with the kiddos on a Monday supermarket, where I can finally amble across the aisles, and take my sweet time selecting produce, rather than squeezing with the hectic weekend crowds!
4) Taking a slow stroll with Big Bee around my estate while Little Bee napped in the late afternoon, immersing in the pure golden sunshine of impending dusk, relishing the gorgeous light and assimilating the clear blue skies into my being, eventually feeling revitalised, rejuvenated, recharged.
5) Having the hubby come home to savour my rare bouts in the kitchen, praising my culinary skills and then helping to put the kids to bed so that I can finally have the me-time to enjoy an unhurried, relaxing shower.
Such are the little joys of today...
5 things I love about being at home with the kids all day long:
1) Waking up the same time as them, loitering with the two girls over a slow, relaxing and leisurely breakfast, giggling at each other's silly actions or jokes.
2) Having the luxury of time to engage in a table session of Playdoh (Little Bee's first time touching the squishy squashy dough!), while Big Bee and I kept trying to stop gluttony Little Bee from eating the deliciously colourful Playdoh-constructed food, much to her displeasure with us.
3) Shopping for groceries and food with the kiddos on a Monday supermarket, where I can finally amble across the aisles, and take my sweet time selecting produce, rather than squeezing with the hectic weekend crowds!
4) Taking a slow stroll with Big Bee around my estate while Little Bee napped in the late afternoon, immersing in the pure golden sunshine of impending dusk, relishing the gorgeous light and assimilating the clear blue skies into my being, eventually feeling revitalised, rejuvenated, recharged.
5) Having the hubby come home to savour my rare bouts in the kitchen, praising my culinary skills and then helping to put the kids to bed so that I can finally have the me-time to enjoy an unhurried, relaxing shower.
Such are the little joys of today...
The Tooth Fairy Is Nigh
This evening, after dinner (and dessert of a sweet strawberry donut) for Big Bee, she suddenly exclaimed "Mummy, one of my teeth is coming out!"
I bolted out of my seat immediately and went to inspect her tooth. True enough, her lower right centre tooth was wobbling ever so slightly! We gazed at each other in wonder - Big Bee's expression of surprise was tinged with worry and uncertain fear, mine with pride and happiness.
For this is a milestone indeed! The first milk tooth to be discarded and delivered to the lengendary and elusive tooth fairy! This marks a certain maturity in Big Bee, and I scrutinized Big Bee's troubled face with a roller-coaster concoction of emotions: pride, bittersweetness, joy, happiness, worry (about whether I need to physically pluck out stubbornly wobbly teeth, ewww!).
My first baby girl has stepped up another notch in her journey to independence. One part of me rejoices at the speed of her growing up. Another more melancholic part worries at the aspect of her leaving the shelter and comfort of my protection, growing up to live her own life and dreams.
I bolted out of my seat immediately and went to inspect her tooth. True enough, her lower right centre tooth was wobbling ever so slightly! We gazed at each other in wonder - Big Bee's expression of surprise was tinged with worry and uncertain fear, mine with pride and happiness.
For this is a milestone indeed! The first milk tooth to be discarded and delivered to the lengendary and elusive tooth fairy! This marks a certain maturity in Big Bee, and I scrutinized Big Bee's troubled face with a roller-coaster concoction of emotions: pride, bittersweetness, joy, happiness, worry (about whether I need to physically pluck out stubbornly wobbly teeth, ewww!).
My first baby girl has stepped up another notch in her journey to independence. One part of me rejoices at the speed of her growing up. Another more melancholic part worries at the aspect of her leaving the shelter and comfort of my protection, growing up to live her own life and dreams.
Sex And The City
Last Thursday evening, I took some time off to watch the "Sex And The City" movie with 2 of my best single girlfriends. The movie evoked vessels of laughter, tricklings of tears and scoops of bittersweet emotions. For the movie is about love, friendship and happily-ever-after...universal themes of what all of us seek in life.
I am thankful for my many best friends (the single, the married, the in-between!) who had accompanied me through life's many splendours and the occasional periods of darkness. For their listening ears. Their shoulders to cry on. For our shared laughter. Common woes. And ultimately for understanding each other, standing by one another.
Without my best girlfriends, my life would be bleaker and harder to manage.
I am thankful for my many best friends (the single, the married, the in-between!) who had accompanied me through life's many splendours and the occasional periods of darkness. For their listening ears. Their shoulders to cry on. For our shared laughter. Common woes. And ultimately for understanding each other, standing by one another.
Without my best girlfriends, my life would be bleaker and harder to manage.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
"Making Telephone Porridge"
In Cantonese, "making telephone porridge" is synonymous with someone hogging the phone, making a large number of phone calls, and talking on the phone for ages.
And that's what Big Bee had been busy with. Brewing telephone porridge on a daily basis.
Her latest thrill with her friends in school is to exchange phone numbers with each other and call each other in the mornings or the evenings! The glow on her face when the phone rings and the caller ID reflects her friends' numbers is priceless. In fact, she is a CEO of sorts, screening calls to pick up. Whenever the caller ID shows up other numbers that are not her friends', she will refuse to pick up the calls adamantly. Luckily, Mummy's number is still in her "in" list - but I wonder when I will be bummed out (I suspect it will be soon!)
She has calls day in and out. And their conversations are so cute - they will discuss about what they are doing right then (children live immensely in the present, which is a perfect example of how we all should be living our lives), what their parents are doing, what TV shows they are watching. I even caught her gossiping about a party she attended and things that other friends say! Oh my. Is this the start of adolescent independence?
And that's what Big Bee had been busy with. Brewing telephone porridge on a daily basis.
Her latest thrill with her friends in school is to exchange phone numbers with each other and call each other in the mornings or the evenings! The glow on her face when the phone rings and the caller ID reflects her friends' numbers is priceless. In fact, she is a CEO of sorts, screening calls to pick up. Whenever the caller ID shows up other numbers that are not her friends', she will refuse to pick up the calls adamantly. Luckily, Mummy's number is still in her "in" list - but I wonder when I will be bummed out (I suspect it will be soon!)
She has calls day in and out. And their conversations are so cute - they will discuss about what they are doing right then (children live immensely in the present, which is a perfect example of how we all should be living our lives), what their parents are doing, what TV shows they are watching. I even caught her gossiping about a party she attended and things that other friends say! Oh my. Is this the start of adolescent independence?
Food Connoisseur
Little Bee is fast becoming a ravenous food connoisseur. She is in love with food!
Yesterday at lunchtime, she screamed the moment she saw me bringing out her steaming porridge of fish and broccoli. She struggled and yelled in desperation as I was putting her bib on. And kept lunging her toddlership towards the dining table, her little face full of anxiety and angst, obviously beleaguered by the fear that the bowl of porridge will suddenly grow a pair of legs and strut off the dining table! I had to use all my mighty strength to prevent her from dashing right to the steaming hot porridge!
She finally calmed down with her first mouthful of porridge - pure bliss on her face, as if she is slurping on a rich creamy dollop of chocolate ice-cream. Pure bliss followed by immediate impatience when she swallowed that spoonful of porridge in 2 seconds to see slowcoach Mummy still frantically blowing on that spoonful of hot porridge! She tugged on my arm forcefully, and gabbled some gibberish in a really angry tone, as if I was going to eat up her precious food! Whew. This struggle went on for at least 6-8 mouthfuls with her sitting vigilantly by my side, eyeing her spoonful of porridge with a hawk's eye...before she gave a satisfied, Cheshire Cat grin and started pottering about in her usual mien. I guess her voracious hunger was comfortably gratified!
Her favourite word is now "mum mum" (note: "mum mum" for eating, and definitely NOT for "Mummy"). Right after her meal, if she sees us eating, she will stop whatever she is playing with, and trot to us with her infamous uttering of "mum mum" followed by frenzied finger pointing and distraught screeching at our food! And this action is ubiquitous - every time she sees us eating, irregardless of how full she is.
I read that fat genes start brewing in our bodies from young. And Mummy here has got fat genes before. So....I am keeping my fingers crossed that Little Bee can still maintain her current svelte and petite figure despite her voracious appetite!
Yesterday at lunchtime, she screamed the moment she saw me bringing out her steaming porridge of fish and broccoli. She struggled and yelled in desperation as I was putting her bib on. And kept lunging her toddlership towards the dining table, her little face full of anxiety and angst, obviously beleaguered by the fear that the bowl of porridge will suddenly grow a pair of legs and strut off the dining table! I had to use all my mighty strength to prevent her from dashing right to the steaming hot porridge!
She finally calmed down with her first mouthful of porridge - pure bliss on her face, as if she is slurping on a rich creamy dollop of chocolate ice-cream. Pure bliss followed by immediate impatience when she swallowed that spoonful of porridge in 2 seconds to see slowcoach Mummy still frantically blowing on that spoonful of hot porridge! She tugged on my arm forcefully, and gabbled some gibberish in a really angry tone, as if I was going to eat up her precious food! Whew. This struggle went on for at least 6-8 mouthfuls with her sitting vigilantly by my side, eyeing her spoonful of porridge with a hawk's eye...before she gave a satisfied, Cheshire Cat grin and started pottering about in her usual mien. I guess her voracious hunger was comfortably gratified!
Her favourite word is now "mum mum" (note: "mum mum" for eating, and definitely NOT for "Mummy"). Right after her meal, if she sees us eating, she will stop whatever she is playing with, and trot to us with her infamous uttering of "mum mum" followed by frenzied finger pointing and distraught screeching at our food! And this action is ubiquitous - every time she sees us eating, irregardless of how full she is.
I read that fat genes start brewing in our bodies from young. And Mummy here has got fat genes before. So....I am keeping my fingers crossed that Little Bee can still maintain her current svelte and petite figure despite her voracious appetite!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Her First Love...
Big Bee had officially started her first BGR (boy-girl relationship). Yes. At a tender age of 6.
She came back from school last week and told me her boy classmate K told her she is his girlfriend, and that he will marry her and she will be his wife next month. Since when did these kids start to know how to draw the line between buddies and BGR!?
And when she attended K's birthday party today, he gallantly gave her a gigantic bouquet of practically all the balloons in the party. I am serious. That balloon bouquet was huge - at least 30 or more balloons. I thought she was going to float up into the air when I saw her dragging that enormous bouquet around!
Hubby and I also saw him fighting off her contenders when they tried getting their hands on the gargantuan bunch of balloons. What a knight in shining armour!
When I asked Big Bee after the party whether she likes K, she coyly and shyly shrugged her shoulders and giggled out "I don't know". How cute!
Kids sure grow up fast these days...
She came back from school last week and told me her boy classmate K told her she is his girlfriend, and that he will marry her and she will be his wife next month. Since when did these kids start to know how to draw the line between buddies and BGR!?
And when she attended K's birthday party today, he gallantly gave her a gigantic bouquet of practically all the balloons in the party. I am serious. That balloon bouquet was huge - at least 30 or more balloons. I thought she was going to float up into the air when I saw her dragging that enormous bouquet around!
Hubby and I also saw him fighting off her contenders when they tried getting their hands on the gargantuan bunch of balloons. What a knight in shining armour!
When I asked Big Bee after the party whether she likes K, she coyly and shyly shrugged her shoulders and giggled out "I don't know". How cute!
Kids sure grow up fast these days...
Party Queen In The Making
We went to Big Bee's friend's birthday party this afternoon and had a great time there. This is some sort of a debutante ball for Little Bee since her evolution into a toddler. Oh my god. She had proved my sneaky suspicions correct. She will be the next party queen in the making!
Never had I seen one minuscule toddler waddling in the midst of so many strapping 6-year-old big kids, grinning away, enjoying their company and interacting briefly with different big kids depending on where she walked to.
She was a very enthusiastic participant when the party organiser entertained his crowd of big kids - sitting down together with all jie jie's big friends, not caring if her good ol' parents were anywhere near her, just wanting to have fun with jie jie and her friends, and getting highly excitable when the party programme started.
Her favourite party companions were the many big green and black balloons strewn all over the living room, and she would hobble around on her tiny legs picking up a couple balloons and offering them generously, with wide-eyed pleasure, to all the adults surrounding her, bringing smiles to the adults' faces with her cheeky beams. Not needing Mummy or Papa at all. Such gregarious nature.
Get ready, world. Brace yourself for the next party queen.
Never had I seen one minuscule toddler waddling in the midst of so many strapping 6-year-old big kids, grinning away, enjoying their company and interacting briefly with different big kids depending on where she walked to.
She was a very enthusiastic participant when the party organiser entertained his crowd of big kids - sitting down together with all jie jie's big friends, not caring if her good ol' parents were anywhere near her, just wanting to have fun with jie jie and her friends, and getting highly excitable when the party programme started.
Her favourite party companions were the many big green and black balloons strewn all over the living room, and she would hobble around on her tiny legs picking up a couple balloons and offering them generously, with wide-eyed pleasure, to all the adults surrounding her, bringing smiles to the adults' faces with her cheeky beams. Not needing Mummy or Papa at all. Such gregarious nature.
Get ready, world. Brace yourself for the next party queen.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Goodbye, Pebbles
Big Bee's first pet hamster, Pebbles, passed on this morning - just 45 days after we bought Galaxy and Pebbles (the 2 female hamsters for Big Bee's 6th birthday).
We are still at a loss as to what happened to Pebbles. Just yesterday, we bought the second mobile ball house where the hamsters can stay inside and "roll" about as they scampered in the ball house. I remembered Hubby telling us that Pebbles kept shivering. So, I wondered if poor Pebbles died of fear? Their poor little hamsty hearts could be just too weak for the shock (or thrill) of rolling all around the house in a fast-moving, dynamic ball?
Poor Pebbles. I wish you rest in peace wherever you are.
Big Bee was the first to discover Pebbles' death. Her morning routine upon waking up usually comprises of lounging on the bed with us, then she will troop with me or by herself to the kitchen and check on the hamsters to snoop on what they are doing in their cage. This morning, I was lazy to walk with her to the kitchen, wishing to loiter longer on my warm bed, so she went alone. Minutes later, she walked back into the bedroom with a worried frown on her pretty little face, telling me "Mummy, Pebbles looked like she is dead. She is just lying facing up in the bathing container, not moving."
Skeptical, I told Big Bee that Pebbles could be in deep sleep since the mornings are usually their snooze time. I walked with her to the kitchen.
True enough, Pebbles looked strange and distant...lying on her back, face-up, with a slight grimace on her furry rodent face. Big Bee bravely extended her finger into the cage to shake Pebbles but there was no movement. Only stillness. Oh my god. I was horrified. So soon, this little life ends without fanfare.
Once we confirmed that Pebbles is truly dead, Big Bee expressed her feelings saying she was very angry and why Pebbles had to die so quickly. Hubby assured her that no matter how long Pebbles lived, the most important thing is that Pebbles had lived a happy life. Big Bee seemed consoled by this fact.
In the afternoon, I called her to ask how she was feeling. She said she felt sad instead of angry, which is a good and natural transition. I told her I was also feeling sad...letting her know it is very normal to express our emotions out loud.
Goodbye, Pebbles. You will always be remembered.
We are still at a loss as to what happened to Pebbles. Just yesterday, we bought the second mobile ball house where the hamsters can stay inside and "roll" about as they scampered in the ball house. I remembered Hubby telling us that Pebbles kept shivering. So, I wondered if poor Pebbles died of fear? Their poor little hamsty hearts could be just too weak for the shock (or thrill) of rolling all around the house in a fast-moving, dynamic ball?
Poor Pebbles. I wish you rest in peace wherever you are.
Big Bee was the first to discover Pebbles' death. Her morning routine upon waking up usually comprises of lounging on the bed with us, then she will troop with me or by herself to the kitchen and check on the hamsters to snoop on what they are doing in their cage. This morning, I was lazy to walk with her to the kitchen, wishing to loiter longer on my warm bed, so she went alone. Minutes later, she walked back into the bedroom with a worried frown on her pretty little face, telling me "Mummy, Pebbles looked like she is dead. She is just lying facing up in the bathing container, not moving."
Skeptical, I told Big Bee that Pebbles could be in deep sleep since the mornings are usually their snooze time. I walked with her to the kitchen.
True enough, Pebbles looked strange and distant...lying on her back, face-up, with a slight grimace on her furry rodent face. Big Bee bravely extended her finger into the cage to shake Pebbles but there was no movement. Only stillness. Oh my god. I was horrified. So soon, this little life ends without fanfare.
Once we confirmed that Pebbles is truly dead, Big Bee expressed her feelings saying she was very angry and why Pebbles had to die so quickly. Hubby assured her that no matter how long Pebbles lived, the most important thing is that Pebbles had lived a happy life. Big Bee seemed consoled by this fact.
In the afternoon, I called her to ask how she was feeling. She said she felt sad instead of angry, which is a good and natural transition. I told her I was also feeling sad...letting her know it is very normal to express our emotions out loud.
Goodbye, Pebbles. You will always be remembered.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Our First Art Piece(s)
For the first time last Monday, hubby and I went shopping for art gallery paintings to spruce up our new home! We went to this obscure and quaint boutique art gallery at Lavender called Moni Gallery. Hubby discovered it online over the weekend, and we were aptly impressed by their abstract/modern art pieces, hence decided to hop by their gallery.
There were 2 storeys of art pieces - all wonderful in each of their ways. Hubby and I just roamed our eyes over the different art pieces, allowing them to beckon to us...eventually, we agreed on 2 paintings that we can relate most intimately with - Motivation and Generation, by 2 Australian painters. As there is a substantial sale going on (whoever heard of art gallery sales!), we managed to purchase each painting for about $1,500, including mounting on a stunning black silk screen.
We were beside ourselves with excitement and elation - our very first art paintings at home!
And last night, we put up the Generation painting above our living room settee...after much hard work from Hubby who spent a good hour drilling in the screw to hang up the painting! It looks so cosy and at home, filling our home with elegance and warmth :)
There were 2 storeys of art pieces - all wonderful in each of their ways. Hubby and I just roamed our eyes over the different art pieces, allowing them to beckon to us...eventually, we agreed on 2 paintings that we can relate most intimately with - Motivation and Generation, by 2 Australian painters. As there is a substantial sale going on (whoever heard of art gallery sales!), we managed to purchase each painting for about $1,500, including mounting on a stunning black silk screen.
We were beside ourselves with excitement and elation - our very first art paintings at home!
And last night, we put up the Generation painting above our living room settee...after much hard work from Hubby who spent a good hour drilling in the screw to hang up the painting! It looks so cosy and at home, filling our home with elegance and warmth :)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Picnic!
My friends (YM and LP) and I organised a picnic gathering at Botanic Gardens last Saturday evening. We decided to go somewhere non-air con to escape the HFMD epidemic, and it is always wonderful to escape into the great outdoors when you have so many kids tagging along!
We met up at 5.30pm, and it was such a hot day! The heat from the sun was almost stifling and the air felt so heavy! However, as the clock ticked closer to 6pm, we could feel the tiniest caresses of a very gentle wind that gradually became a soft easy breeze. Whew!
The bigger kids (Big Bee and LP's 2 boys) were happily indulging in some bubble play plus ball games and chasing/running around. YM's girl and Little Bee were tottling here and there, enjoying the greenery and wide expanse of verdant space, waving sociably to adult strangers! It will be a while before they will learn to play with each other, no doubt.
As the gathering involved a picnic, we had 3 mats spread out on the grass ... and unhealthy Mac's for picnic! Haha, all of us were too lazy to really cook. Besides, Mac's is always a favourite amongst the big kids. The 2 little toddlers were fed porridge, and Little Bee seemed to enjoy her porridge alfresco-style!
We packed up at 6.45pm with lavender dusk closing in on us. It was so idyllic, slowly sauntering through the darkening twilight and looming shadows, heading towards the cool of the night...
We met up at 5.30pm, and it was such a hot day! The heat from the sun was almost stifling and the air felt so heavy! However, as the clock ticked closer to 6pm, we could feel the tiniest caresses of a very gentle wind that gradually became a soft easy breeze. Whew!
The bigger kids (Big Bee and LP's 2 boys) were happily indulging in some bubble play plus ball games and chasing/running around. YM's girl and Little Bee were tottling here and there, enjoying the greenery and wide expanse of verdant space, waving sociably to adult strangers! It will be a while before they will learn to play with each other, no doubt.
As the gathering involved a picnic, we had 3 mats spread out on the grass ... and unhealthy Mac's for picnic! Haha, all of us were too lazy to really cook. Besides, Mac's is always a favourite amongst the big kids. The 2 little toddlers were fed porridge, and Little Bee seemed to enjoy her porridge alfresco-style!
We packed up at 6.45pm with lavender dusk closing in on us. It was so idyllic, slowly sauntering through the darkening twilight and looming shadows, heading towards the cool of the night...
Friday, May 2, 2008
Chilling Out
Yesterday was the May Day holiday - another day for our little family to chill out and have fun. Due to the HFMD endemic plus Little Bee's cough, we avoided all places air-conditioned, and instead, decided on nearby Holland Village to hang out!
The weather's hot and humid - the sun was blazing down on earth, as if to imbue its last remaining rays further into our atmosphere. We could feel its angry gaze everywhere! Whew!
Hence, we selected a cool table under some shade outside Haagen Daz and indulged in ice cream galore - no doubt Big Bee's favourite food! She had a scoop of strawberry ice cream, whereas I could not resist a shot of rich chocolate ice cream. The yummiest snack went to Papa, with TWO amazing scoops of cookies and cream as well as vanilla ice cream complementing a fantabulous scoop of potent, thick, gooey and moist brownie that stunned my tastebuds to bits! Absolutely sinful but totally delicious.
Poor Little Bee had nothing to eat, of course, but she was gamely sitting down in one of those adult lounge chairs by herself and grinning away. She just loves going out - anywhere!
We strolled around the idyllic Holland V area, through the old but colourful shophouses and past many new trendy shops and restaurants. Hubby and I reminisced fondly about this place being the venue of our fateful first date and many wonderful dates thereafter. And now - we're bringing (literally) the fruits of our labour back here!
We meandered around till 5pm before going back home for rest and relax as well as dinner.
The weather's hot and humid - the sun was blazing down on earth, as if to imbue its last remaining rays further into our atmosphere. We could feel its angry gaze everywhere! Whew!
Hence, we selected a cool table under some shade outside Haagen Daz and indulged in ice cream galore - no doubt Big Bee's favourite food! She had a scoop of strawberry ice cream, whereas I could not resist a shot of rich chocolate ice cream. The yummiest snack went to Papa, with TWO amazing scoops of cookies and cream as well as vanilla ice cream complementing a fantabulous scoop of potent, thick, gooey and moist brownie that stunned my tastebuds to bits! Absolutely sinful but totally delicious.
Poor Little Bee had nothing to eat, of course, but she was gamely sitting down in one of those adult lounge chairs by herself and grinning away. She just loves going out - anywhere!
We strolled around the idyllic Holland V area, through the old but colourful shophouses and past many new trendy shops and restaurants. Hubby and I reminisced fondly about this place being the venue of our fateful first date and many wonderful dates thereafter. And now - we're bringing (literally) the fruits of our labour back here!
We meandered around till 5pm before going back home for rest and relax as well as dinner.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Birthday Girl
We decided to celebrate Big Bee's 6th birthday in school this year - due to her consistent request. It was a Wednesday, and at 3.30pm, I trooped down to school with her big birthday cake (in the shape of a pink pony!). To create the atmosphere of gay festivities, I engaged the party services of MacDonald's at only $7 per kid, complete with a host, party games and food! Very good deal.
I was slightly late, so MacDonald's was there, setting up the table etc. Before hubby could rush from his meeting, we were already cutting the cake. Big Bee looked ecstatic with all her 12 friends cheering her on and singing the birthday song for her. It is amazing to realise that she had swiftly grown to an age when it is beginning to matter a lot to her that her best friends are all around her during special occasions like this. 
After the cake cutting ceremony, games began. Kiasu Big Bee was elated that she won the pass the parcel game, although her team did not win a prize during the second teamwork game. Hubby arrived with packs of goodies for her friends (I bought miniature Guess Who? board games for her friends) as well as her favourite - her 2 new hamsters, Pebbles and Galaxy. They are our birthday gift to her, and I have never seen her soooo happy when we first bought them for her 2 nights before her birthday. She claimed she had been waiting a whole year for pets, and I am quite glad we are able to fulfill her dreams.
All her pals were amazed by the sight of the hamsters, everyone crowding around the hamsters and chatting about them. Big Bee was bursting with joy and happiness, so are we, the proud parents. Little Bee was at home with Mom as she was suffering from a bout of cough, so we wanted her to rest more.
The party ended in one hour after a chattery tea session with MacDonald's. I am so glad we had a simple yet meaningful birthday celebration to celebrate Big Bee's 6 years on this planet :)
All her pals were amazed by the sight of the hamsters, everyone crowding around the hamsters and chatting about them. Big Bee was bursting with joy and happiness, so are we, the proud parents. Little Bee was at home with Mom as she was suffering from a bout of cough, so we wanted her to rest more.
The party ended in one hour after a chattery tea session with MacDonald's. I am so glad we had a simple yet meaningful birthday celebration to celebrate Big Bee's 6 years on this planet :)
Settling In
The little ones moved into our new home on April 12. It had been 2 weeks since (which included both hubby and myself going on business trips each!) and everyone seemed to have settled down comfortably. Mum is happily shuttling between our and her home every other day (if I am in town, of course). Sometimes, she takes the public bus home and everytime she comes here in the morning, she will also take the public bus! She never fails to gush about about convenient it is to come to our place. According to her, it is only 45 minutes by bus ride!
Well, the little ones are now comfy and settled, although in the first 3 nights, Little Bee had much problems sleeping through the night. She would wake up wailing away. I guess she was still trying to adjust to a new bed (we got out her original white cot, instead of the playpen she was used to in my parents' home while we stayed there) and a new room.
Big Bee, being such a big and adventurous girl, settled down with much glee. She loves her double decked bed, and we tried our best to make everything as comfortable and welcoming for both of them, putting toys almost everywhere!
As for hubby and me, because of our 2 consecutive business trips, we did not have much private time to enjoy the house yet. Well, it is time to begin. Our own home. Our own chill out pad!
Well, the little ones are now comfy and settled, although in the first 3 nights, Little Bee had much problems sleeping through the night. She would wake up wailing away. I guess she was still trying to adjust to a new bed (we got out her original white cot, instead of the playpen she was used to in my parents' home while we stayed there) and a new room.
Big Bee, being such a big and adventurous girl, settled down with much glee. She loves her double decked bed, and we tried our best to make everything as comfortable and welcoming for both of them, putting toys almost everywhere!
As for hubby and me, because of our 2 consecutive business trips, we did not have much private time to enjoy the house yet. Well, it is time to begin. Our own home. Our own chill out pad!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Memories
We had been unpacking the house for 6 days now. It was a gruelling task, but fulfilling when we saw our 60 boxes reducing to a mere 10 boxes now. Hubby and I had cleared almost all our stuff, and are in the process of clearing the Bees' stuff (they had about 20 boxes on their own, can you imagine!)
As I cleared my stuff, I chanced upon so many things from the past, memories that bring a smile to my tired face - autographs from primary school mates, written pats-on-the-back from ex-teachers, letters and well-wishing cards from my clique's best friends, love letters from hubby and other ex-boyfriends. Memories like these define who we are - our personality, our outlook, our choices in life. It made me realise the speed of time, how precious life is - and that life is truly a linear journey. It doesn't meander, it doesn't wait for anyone along its path. Once we miss out the little enjoyments that life provides, we miss out these moments forever. Which is why it is so important for us to live in the moment, to focus in the right-here-and-now, rather than over-indulging in the past or worrying too much about the future.
Hubby and I also saw old photos of Big and Little Bee, and gazed with wonderment at how fast and how much they had grown. From blur babies unaware of their parents and surroundings to highly alert and sensitive beings with their own feelings, thoughts and personalities. It is just so important to cherish every single day of our children's lives, to relish in their current stage rather than wishing them to grow up soon. For time is cruel, it will quickly swallow up our youth, eating its way into our prime, making no excuses if we fail to grasp precious moments.
It's amazing how moving house can stir up these past memories, making me realise just how precious life is.
As I cleared my stuff, I chanced upon so many things from the past, memories that bring a smile to my tired face - autographs from primary school mates, written pats-on-the-back from ex-teachers, letters and well-wishing cards from my clique's best friends, love letters from hubby and other ex-boyfriends. Memories like these define who we are - our personality, our outlook, our choices in life. It made me realise the speed of time, how precious life is - and that life is truly a linear journey. It doesn't meander, it doesn't wait for anyone along its path. Once we miss out the little enjoyments that life provides, we miss out these moments forever. Which is why it is so important for us to live in the moment, to focus in the right-here-and-now, rather than over-indulging in the past or worrying too much about the future.
Hubby and I also saw old photos of Big and Little Bee, and gazed with wonderment at how fast and how much they had grown. From blur babies unaware of their parents and surroundings to highly alert and sensitive beings with their own feelings, thoughts and personalities. It is just so important to cherish every single day of our children's lives, to relish in their current stage rather than wishing them to grow up soon. For time is cruel, it will quickly swallow up our youth, eating its way into our prime, making no excuses if we fail to grasp precious moments.
It's amazing how moving house can stir up these past memories, making me realise just how precious life is.
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