Bonding On Boxing Day

Boxing Day was a family affair for us, with the Bees spending much quality time with both sets of doting grandparents. Lunch was spent with Hubby’s parents in The Jewel Box’s Emperor Jade, with resplendent views of Sentosa and the expansive sea around it. We ordered a good mix of dimsum and staple dishes, and the food was highly palatable. More importantly, it was literally away from all the crowds, so we were able to have a good time chatting in peace. 

Big Bee loved the food so much that she ate loads! This girl is enjoying the stress-free holidays so much that she had been steadily gaining weight and developing a healthy rosy complexion. I shudder to think what the new school term will do to her appetite again. Little Bee loved the bright borderless interiors of the restaurant and the fact that she can roam around freely because not many tables were occupied. And the grandparents were very charmed by every little action of the Bees, as always.

In the late afternoon, we set forth to my brother's new house with my mother, Uncle Pat and Auntie Rose. We were awed by his lofty and airy apartment, and the Bees were thrilled to pure exhilaration when they saw their beloved jiu jiu and jiu ma! Hubby and I were able to relax a bit with my brother and sister-in-law helping to entertain the 2 boisterous kids! Meanwhile, I had a good time catching up with Uncle Pat and Auntie Rose who had just came back from an adventurous holiday in Israel - and they were both in their 60s! I hope Hubby and I can also travel to far-flung corners of the earth when we are old. 

Finally, we had dinner at Tampines' Ikea with my mother and shopped amongst the crowds before the kids turned in at 11.30pm! Gosh - their bedtimes are getting later and later! 

Of Good Food And Better Company

Christmas Day was overflowing with splendiferous food, fantastic company and remarkable gifts. We are thankful for our friends who organised the wonderful parties with an overwhelming selection of delightful Christmas foods so that we could just sit back and enjoy chatting with other friends, leaving our kids in the marvelous company of other children.

We were out of the house by 9.30am on Christmas morning, with the Bees chosen their Christmas dresses (these days, they dictate their wardrobe selections!) and we headed for LP’s house for a gathering with their family and PF’s. We were greeted with a mind-boggling selection of toys from her 2 boys, Weiwen and Weidong. The Bees, with Eugene and Claire, went quite rampant with all the toys but eventually settling for the very reliable Playstation again - with the exception of Little Bee and Weidong, who felt more at home with soft toys and Playdoh. Even Hubby was ambling around their house, peering and fiddling with interest at some of their toys!

The adults indulged in some really scrumptious food – a lavish fusion of East and West! Dimsum delights coupled with juicy turkey, ham and sausages! Good food always tastes better with excellent conversation, and 6 of us adults had the pure indulgence of sitting civilly around the dining table, munching on all the goodies while the kids entertained themselves. As our children grow older, this is one of the luxuries that we parents get – to watch them build up social networks from afar, while maintaining a thin, invisible line to them, casting our watchful eyes once in a while, but knowing that they will be fine.

We adjourned to Jasper’s house for a second session of luxuriant Christmas feasting with a stunning array of incredibly rich foods – succulent turkey,luscious beef, delectable sausages and plenty of heady wine and sweet desserts! We were absolutely stuffed by mid afternoon! The kids had a hey day playing with Amanda’s toys and ravishing an endless supply of party food and snacks, much to the Bees’ delight! (I usually deprive them of junk food). Once again, the mothers had a great time exchanging notes on parenting, which was such a far cry from our conversations of yore when we used to gossip about clubbing and the latest fashions!

We came back in high spirits, replete with abundant food in our stomachs and mirthful memories in our minds. The Bees spent an exciting evening opening up lots of presents under the Christmas tree.