A good 2 days of rest.

Just read gf's blog and found out their kids are down with fever. Reyes had just recovered from fever few days back and I"m reckoning its due to teething, same like moonlight's gal.

Reyes is very grouchy from his afternoon nap and I"m thinking he might be having a tummyache. Poor boy, I dont know how else I can help to relieve his pain, other than rubbing oil on this tummy.

Since Monday, we've been out almost everyday after sending rie to school. Hoo hoo. Monday I went down to the post office to collect my registered mail (bought clothings online again) Tuesday I went down to Bishan Junction 8 to collect the cheese meltz chicken pie that I ordered online. It was nice and yummy, but then there was a strand of hair in the pre pan fried one that eeks me off leh.

Today, I went down to tanjong pagar to collect this tau huay made in Taiwan, purely from egg. It's going at $10 per tub and my neighbour said her friend can bring in at less than $6 nia. But then she like say say nia and I thought just try 1 tub and see how lah, right?

Am not going to post any pic of it, dont want to provide free advertising. But my fren said chomp chomp sells this dessert too, so you may lke to go there and try.

Tomorrow's maundy thursday and there is no school for rie. Friday's good friday, so it's a long long weekend for us...

I miss babies..

All of a sudden, I seem to have forgotten how reyes was like as a baby or even rie! I cant remember how small and tiny and fragile they were when they were a baby. Memories failing?

But I can sure remember the hell I went through my confinement when I had rie. But confinement during reyes birth was a breeze. Hb was so sarcastic one night when he said : I didnt know you like kids so much. Tad????

They are cute when they are young. But when they are horrible, out of control, I can bang the wall. I've started to introduce the "CANE." and reyes knows what the cane is for and knows how to pronounce it. I'm surprised day by day of new words that he picks up. Today, he sprouted the word : "and learn" while singing the wiggle and learn show about 4 silly mens.

Of course my cane is fake one lah, it's the balloon stick. But then horror hb came home one day last week with a real cane okay. I got so mad, I bent it and threw it into the plastic bag of rubbish. I hate canes. I remember throwing canes after canes when my mum or dad buys them home last time. So mum resorted to using hangers. Pain of course lah. Hb doesnt know my history of canes, and I really hate canes as much and I swore to myself that I will not have a cane lying in my house. Thats why I was very affected when hb came home with a cane.

To think when I told SIL about it on Sunday, I was expecting her being the only woman other than MIL to side me. But she in fact said good what. And I said it was so thick okay and she said didnt you know the thinner it is, the painful it is? and went on talking about rotah (is that what you call when prisoners get cane in jail?)

WTH lor. Somehow I wish I have a married-with-kids SIL so that she can probably relate to what a mother experiences or having a sister that I can talk to. Sometimes talking to her, which is my only consolation, ends up fruitless or worst, useless. But I have no one to turn to, to complain abt my hb and someone to talk some sense into his frozen brain lor. Sigh sigh sigh.

These days, I think rie is so terrified of me scolding her that she will say to me : mama, you dont scold me. when she does nothing wrong. On other days, when I raise my voice at her or tug her too hard, she will question me back : mama, why you shout at me? Tsk tsk.

I was sneaking outside the room last night, eavesdropping at the kids in the room. I'm so happy that both of them are able to communicate with each other. and it's so funny when rie has to keep repeating herself to reyes until he answers. I will sure miss their growing up.......

Parents woe...

Oh well, hb said he was up at 4am and couldnt get back to sleep.

He couldnt decide if we should send reyes to school next year or not. Registration is open mid April and we have to decide to throw in $50 to secure a place at rie's kindergarten.

I'm half hearted too, coz he will be so young as compared to those born in Jan. To those who said kids born early of the year are wasting parents money for "rearing" them, because they will only attend school the following year, I say BULL SHIT.

Look at the kids who are born later part of the year and especially those end of the year. What happens to them when they start school being the youngest, being the smallest? Sigh.

I see the youngest kid in rie's class, always crying even after 2 weeks and seem to hard to adapt to school. Plus, what if the child is still not toilet train, have to wear diapers, then? How often is the teacher gonna change diapers or even have the time to change diapers for the child? I really pity. That is why, I'm also half hearted if I should send reyes to school or not.

If I do, then I will have a much easier time, more free time on my own when the 2 are in sch. But then, will he be able to cope? And that's why I'm trying hard to toilet train him, but it's not easy. If he were to attend school next year, I want to be sure that he is toilet trained. Pressure pressure.

A new camera please...

Okay, I thought. From clothings, I went to xiao bags. Then xiao to clothings again. Then xiao about bags again. And now...I think I want a slim camera that I can bring out to take great shots.

But then, I want the effect of a DSLR. Can I have it in one world? I hate missing out great days when I forget to bring or I cant persuade myself to carry out that bulky Canon S3. It takes up alot of space in my bag together with the kids clothings and pampers and their drinks.

So I'm thinking, maybe just get a slim working camera? I like the latest advert on this canon camera that has a wink self timer and fish eye effect one leh. Wondering how much is it. But I'm quite tight, so probably have to make do with just hb's mobile camera.

Sell sell selling..

Selling away another AE top at $25 with free postage. Anyone?

It's another week...

Okay, and so, we were found at Expo on Sat. Wah, so many of the items were already sold! All the mens athens were all gone! regret regret why i didnt get for hb when I was there.

And also the light up fire engine jibbit, also all sold out liao. Sob sob. I should have gotten 2 instead, coz now rie wants it and refuse to let reyes have it back. So to make up, I bought extra jibbits of other designs for them.

Hb also bought a croc slipper at just $20. Cheap.

There was a L'oreal sale going on, and it's so disappointing lor! I think alot of items were also snapped up liao, tts why hardly any much left.

So that was a Sat well spent.

Then come sunday. To think for the past 1 year, my routine for sunday is always so standard. To wake up at 730am, get out of the house at 820am to Shichida. So it was a little weird when I was found with more time that morning. It was nice being able to sleep later than 730am too.

Well, not wanting to waste my Sunday, I persuaded hb to head out to Toyogo to get some containers, need to start packing up the kids clothings. Then off to my mum's place, wanting to trim rie's hair, but the lady was busy and so ended up at mum's place.

And.......yeah man, I trimmed off reyes hair! sob sob. Mum kept asking me can cut or not, and said : "Later instead of reyes cry, you are the one crying." Coz so sayang leh, cut off his hair. It's not easy for him to grow his hair out and to endure all sort of comments about his hair..sigh...

And he has a new look now. I can see hb also quite heartpain to trim reyes hair, coz he kept telling me " Eh, leave some lallangs infront leh." hahah. Will find time to take a pix of him and upload.

Rie was so funny and was making fun of reyes. Lucky reyes doesnt understand what she is saying. She said this while laughing heartily : "Didi, you look like the poky poky tau huay uncle, selling the white tau huay one."

That is..the tau huay uncle that we often patronize at Balestier, has this botak hair cut, short and spiky.So she poking fun of him lor! And why she said white tau huay,coz sometimes hb buys grass jelly and I think she thinks there are black and white tau huay. haha.

Rie didnt manage to get her hair trim and was whinning all the way. Tsk tsk. I cant bear to trim off her hair too, but she seem to enjoy the process of being pampered.

Crocs Sale at expo

so right after the wedding, we all came home shag and tired and head to bed at 130am. The kids were up the same time, so I send rie to school despite hb say to give her a rest.

coz I wanted to go and repair my big toe nail polish! It chipped while I was trying to get the bbchair for the kids yesterday.
***side track. I discovered that reyes can actually behave himself quite well while I did my pedicure! It's the first time. I did it yesterday after sending rie to school, secretly without hb's knowledge of course. it's only an hour I reckon, but the lady took her time and ended up with 1.5 hrs and pretty toe nails. Thank god there's the Okto so reyes watched for close to 45mins with me until he was bored and decided to explore around the place.

And then I wanted to go to the expo where crocs was having sale. Pls dont go if you are hoping for nice cartoon type of crocs for the kids. It's so disappointing at the kids section lor! But there are lots and lots of woman and men's crocs. I think I rather buy crocs off the forum and I've just paid $30 for a buzz lightyear crocs for reyes.

of course, me being me, I cant imagine walking away empty handed after coming so far, after having to hide my face in the bag on the mrt while reyes was wailing out so loudly, and still wailing as he refused to remove his shoes to let me try on for him for the sizes. So I took a green eletro, grabbed 3 jibbits and left the place. half satisfied.

Anyway, we are heading there again, coz hb want to check out his slippers, and there's the L'Oreal sale going on too, which I was hesistating to go, coz I didnt have enough time to repair my toe nail. Maybe will pop by later.

First wedding of the year

We attended the first wedding of the year - Hb's cousin's wedding.

I love weddings and watching the video montage makes me so wanna turn back the clock and plan my wedding all over again. It seems almost every bride will tear during the tea ceremony. Hb's cousin teared, so did her mum. I teared, Fann Wong teared too.

I can totally comprehend why that is the most touching moment when you serve tea to your parents and they start to rattle off good wishes and advices to you. Dad nearly teared, his voice was breaking but being THE MAN, he held back and smiled.

Aunt cried while watching the video montage too. Own daughter is getting married off all the way to the US leh, imagine! Sure cry what. I love the wedding, very small affair, cozy and lots of ample time to chat and relax too.

The groom's family didnt fly over, only the elder brother represent. And the groom whom I have never met before and neither has hb or mum, said he is quite dashing and I must agree too!

Surprisingly, we were placed seated at the VIP table. The last time we sat at the VIP table was during my cousin's wedding. It's very unexpected, coz we were not informed at all. heng I dressed up and instructed hb to wear long sleeve man. Phew. At least we were not too dressed down. Table had an empty seat, and that means extra serving of food!! I was so hungry man.

Seated at the VIP table pros and cons. The cons seem to override the pros! Haha and that is I hate being served, coz they serve miserable portion of food. At cousin's wedding, I told them we will self help to the food, so we ate all we can and finished the whole dish clean.

So that night, I very buay paisay, asked for more servings, pretending that my daughter want. The staffs were REALLY REALLY nice okay. Gave me extra servings of roasted chickens with crackers for R & R, mango desert, fried rice. Wish more for the sharkfins but bo liao lor. Hoo hoo. **Here's pic of reyes trying to get the peanuts...*Where we were seated at, so near to the stage...
And heng I brought along rie's DS, so she kept rather stuck to her seat sometime. at least I have time to eat. That reminds me, I only had 1 serving of the fish leh!!! And it was very nice. Argh.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this pic and the lighting....The roses of course I put there for show one lah. And the photographer that night was great. I think I'm so outdated liao. To think the photographer and videographers are now able to take shots of u and then immediately post it up as slide for all the guests to view and also print out on the spot for you too. So we were like snapping snapping photos away and got back prints as extras. I hate the group table photo, hate standing at the extreme end, it lengthens the photo and makes me look so fat. Argh.

He took some great shots of the kids too, shall ask for soft copy from cousin when he's done. I sure hope she is not too busy to send to me some.

Addictive shopping

Online shopping is SOOO addictive that I've lost track of what questions and enquiries I've posted on whatever thread!!!

And the not so good thing is, you hardly get to see physical money and you think you have more money to spend. gaspe, that's bad bad bad.

Okay, so tomorrow, I'm still thinking if I should just go and get that cotton on cardi or not/ Sigh....how how how.

AE top

Selling away this AE top, $25 brand new with postage thrown in..anyone?

Start of school...

Sigh..today God is good to me.

He had sunny day so that I didnt have to worry about sending rie to school. Thank you.

Rie pon tang school for 2 days, coz she had fever during the weekend and I thought it would be good if she is much fully recovered than go back to school. The 1 week break came in handy for the kids to recuperate as well. At least now reyes is much better.

And we discovered the reason for his fever! He was sprouting 2 lower teeth. That explains lah. And he finds it very weird to have additional teeth since he's already so used to having just 4 teeth for 17 mths.

I feel xian to start the routine again of sending her to school under the hot sun. I need some time to get used to it. Cant imagine I suffer from Monday Blues too! muahahah. Rie is so looking foward to going back to school.

Now that I have time alone with reyes again, I didnt know where to head to today. So we popped by Kiddy palace and enjoyed the aircon. I was feeling tired and needed to rest, but how can I when I have to keep following him around. So at 2pm, I decided to head home. He was tired too, and was persuading me to let him nap. I wish I can nap too, but gotta go fetch rie in 4 mins time...sigh...

Tomorrow night we are attending a wedding at Traders' Hotel. hb's cousin. And the attendees are gonna be just us, the kids and his mum!!! I dont understand the whole family problem. They simply dislike happy occassions and refuse to attend even their own cousin's wedding. Perhaps coz they think they will never have a wedding of their own, so why should they attend others? Oh well.

I love attending weddings. But tomorrow's night gonna be difficult if I have to bring R & R along. Will update with pic!

Argh....

I'm in great pain for days. Must have caught it from reyes one lor. Xian half.

It's not sore throat that I've been assuming I'm suffering from. but ulcers!!!!! And it's at the back of my throat and mouth and it is soooo damn painful! That explains why reyes cant swallow his food and kept on crying each time he swallows his saliva.

It's so pain okay, and Ive been guggling salt water daily, but doesnt seem to help. I'm refusing to use the watermelon frost as the last resort, coz I cannot stand the taste of it. But then looks like I've no choice.

I wonder how those kids can tahan HFMD when they have ulcers in the mouth.

Purely advertising.

In case you havent know, I'm running another blogshop on selling ovulation test strips, pregnancy test strips and pregnancy test kits.

The latest shipment is here, so if you are keen, drop me an email at baby.dust@yahoo.com yeah.
Here's the website : BABY.DUST

I'm also looking for someone who is willing to help me come up with a logo and a tag to link my website. With that, I can provide a credit and link to your own website.

Anyone who is interested to link, let me know. I can provide a link back to your website too.

Counting counting...

I'm amazed and surprised that reyes can count from 1 to 5! I only started to notice when his pronounciation becomes clearer and it actually started in the bathroom. That's when I discovered he knows how to count.

I have a bucket of toys for the kids to play during bathtime. So now, they would take out each item and start to count. I think rie has been a very good sister and that's how reyes learnt and pick up things. excluding those bad things lah.

So 2 days back, I off the shower tap, and listened attentively to reyes counting the toys. To prove my ears again, I heard him counting again last night in the bedroom, counting the avent bottles. I have to prepare 4 bottles every night. 2 bottles of delrosa, 2 bottles of milk. 1 baby vicks rub, 1 chest rub. So he started to count the bottles + 1 baby vicks rub.

Just now, I told hb to watch and listen. So proud of him. I've gotta video it down someday.

>>I'm still having bad sore throat. It is thyroid ah???

The amazing thing about AF.

Just last week, the arrival of AF made 2 crazy woman happy.

And just as you are thinking what's AF? It's the "auntie flow" aka period.

It can make you happy, can make you worry, can make you sad.
>>I was happy because I've been waiting and waiting for her arrival since Nov 2009 okay.
So I was mad happy when it arrived last Wed at the most bad timing, at the hair salon lor.

>>It made my gf her day too when it arrived 2 days after mine. Hoo hoo. Both of us were just smsing and msning each other when's our AF is arriving and if it's not arriving yet. Haha, you know who you are.

>>Made me worried sick when it didnt arrive. Was I pregnant again??? Not again?
Tested countless pregnancy test strips. Result : All negative. Phew.
Tested ovulation test strips just to make sure that there's nothing wrong with me.
Result : Was positive early this month. Xiao liao lor, is it the 2 weeks wait? Kept finger crossed.

>>Made me sad in year 2007 when we were TTC. It was irregular and when I had good news, I lost the bb just days.
It can also make others sad when you are TTC and the last you wanna see is, your AF. To those, hang in there okay!

The last day...

Today is rie's last day at Shichida. Hb decided to withdraw her out due to the high expenses. I dont know if rie understands that she is no longer going to Shichida anymore. Now and then, she will ask me if we are going to Shichida on days when she doesnt have to.

I got lovely friend Diana Ling to bake cupcakes for the kids. And she came up with the idea to have it spelled "RIESIA" and a small gift which is meant for the teacher. I love how it turn out. So we took a class photo together last week.

And today, teacher brought along her camera and took a class photo together and an individual one with rie....When I was at the classroom door step and when I said to rie " Riesia, go hug teacher." I cant help feeling upset and a sense of reluctant to stop this. Sigh..But what to do. At least rie studied for a year. I wish we could have provided her more.

We headed to the library thereafter and rie had her own library card! And sua gu me, I didnt know now you can actually borrow 6 books. Or is it coz of the school holidays? I thought the limit was 4 books only? So anyway, if you borrow 6 books, you get a free bag from them too! Rie was so excited about scanning her card and borrowing the books. And I just realise there are DVD, VCDs that you can borrow too! Will try out someday.

I've also bought the Chipmunks, Part 2 for the kids. it's out now, at $15.90.

Day 3.

And so, Friday, hb was suppose to head back to work. but due to some office issues, he decided to throw leave and be a SAHDad.

And me? Happy me lor, another day of time off! Hoo hoo.

Was also glad that the kids woke up damn early today at 830am. Why? Coz R & R slept at 730pm the night before! What a record okay! Rie just konked out and slept throughout till next morning. So hb and myself had our own free time in the night.

So as usual, fed the kids, shower for them and pat them to bed, then secretly I sneaked out again. That day I headed to Expo for the babycare festival. Yearly, i would be seen heading there. I wish I would not need to head there next year man. i dread it to be held at Expo, so far.

I told myself, go in, get the stuffs and head for facial or 313. So I spent $10 on a tube bra, $77 on babysafe pillows, bolsters and a waterproof sheet.

I was actually undecided between facial or to 313, but well well, the beautician's out of town, so yes, it's shopping time! I wasted no time and headed to 313, popped in cotton on, tried on some shorts, and I love this long cardi, but its so thin and for the price $29.95, I think it's not worth. But then again, I love it leh. So still deciding if I should splurge or not leh. Been thinking about it since then.

Then popped by F21 to find my shorts. Horror horror lor, it's sold out leh!!! And left only the blue colour ones, sooooo upset. It's just a week and it's all snapped up. SOOOO sad lor. Im glad I managed to grab a piece last Friday man. Should have grab the other design too. Maybe just buy online. Sigh. But to satisfy my shopping craving(I just cant see myself going home empty handed!), I bought 2 necklace. Love it.

So after that, hb called and 530pm, knock off liao, so have to guai guai head back TPY get dinner and head home. Was glad everything's fine at home today and hb didnt scream at me either. But rie was feverish and she caught the virus. Sigh...

And now it's my turn too, having terrible sore throat....slight fever too. I hope I will get better. More water please...

We decided to head out in the night to AMK hub to the NTUC, it's 24 hrs open right? Wah, shiok lor, the shops there all open till so late, like 10-1030pm, so different from TPY. and the NTUC is just huge huge huge. I wish TPY will have a shopping center like AMK hub too.

Day 2

So I was saying, hb had 2 days of MC and so on the 1st day I brought forward my haircut appointment and head out on Wed afternoon while the kids were sleeping.

So for day 2, we had to bring reyes to the doctor, coz he was still feeling feverish and was coughing through the night that we hardly had a good night rest. After that, hb brought me to the National Museum to see Quest for Immortality!!!

It was drizzling the whole day and also in the afternoon, so I was glad we were sheltered by the rain while in the museum. Its our 1st time there and it's such a lovely place to be at!

Despite being a weekday, it was crowded and the carpark was full. So we had to park at Park Mall and walk a distance. I was really excited about it and really wished I had came alone. I left my camera at home, so had to make do with hb's phone camera. Sigh...

Hb, R & R werent interested, as expected lah. Reyes had his nap while rie was making lots of noise and wanted to head home. Sigh. Given a choice, I would have love to join in the free tour too, but it was crowded. Nonetheless, I love the exhibits on display and the mummies.

Wish there was more, as I was expecting more items to be shown and displayed, slightly disappointed but still good.

go catch it if you can.

My off day!!!

It was an last minute decision.

Hubby was having bad sore throat last night and decided to head to the dr this morning. R & R are sick again STILL SICK.

And reyes started having fever in the middle of last night that he couldnt sleep. Was at 38 this morning. The Dr gave hb 2 days of MC to rest, so I decided to bring forward my off day to today.
Headed to the salon right after R & R fell asleep for their afternoon nap.

It was good being out along again!!! Smell the freedom in the air man. So shiok! While I was out, within an hour, calls came from hb liao. it's so xian at times lor, it's as if you are on leave from work and you receive calls from your boss, your colleagues, that kind of feeling, you know what I mean? Sigh...

Sometimes I wish he wouldnt call or sms. At least I would be thinking, no calls/sms means good news right? Means the kids are well at home right? haha.

Oh well, at least today it was quite fast and I spent only 4 hrs out. I'm still hoping to head to 313 to shop tomorrow and to the museum too, but looking at Reyes condition, I dont know if I can still do that. Sigh......

The school March Holiday

When rie started school, I thought I would be looking forward to the very first week of the school march holiday. But I am so wrong.

I seemed to have forgotten how it was like having rie at home before she started school. Last week, i had the taste of it for 2 days and was so glad it was over. Then 2 days of schooling and the March holiday begins.

it's only day 3 tomorrow, or rather today(Time check : 1.46am). And rie wakes up asking me everyday, yes EVERYDAY : "mama, will you bring me to school today? Didi not sick?"

The reason why she is asking me if didi is not sick or not, coz each time dad offers to fetch her to school, I have to come up with a white lie that reyes is not well and that he will puke in school and Mrs Lee, her teacher will be angry with him. So at least she will understand and not insist I follow her together with dad to school.

Otherwise, she is looking forward to school again with me bringing her together with reyes. So this morning, she asked me the same question and when I told her there is no school this week as it's the sch holiday, she kept asking me why and insisted I bring her to school. Sigh.

I'm a lazy mother who really dont want to crack my head how to pass time for the kids at home. They want to do painting, but then I hate the mess they make and I have to clean up the kitchen before hb gets home and scream. I thought of letting them play with water outside, but then I'm sure reyes will just over turn the whole pail and waste the water. Then?

Mum asked me to bring them to the library, which I would love to, but how to keep watch 2 kids? if both runs in different direction, who should I to chase after? And I dont want to appear like a mad woman screaming at the 2 kids in public either. So I rather stay at home.

Now...I dread the June holidays...sigh. And I thought I was looking so forward to waking up late and not rushing and giving my skin a break from the afternoon sun.

On a lighter note, this friday is my Off day!!!! I hope I will enjoy myself, but I'm sure hb will keep calling me non stop and asking me what time am I coming home. Planned a shopping trip to F21 at 313 in the morning at 1030am, then to trim my hair after lunch. If I can, would love to squeeze in a facial or a pedicure. Probably might do a pedicure, but then its been a long time since I did facial leh. Let's see how much time I have left by then.

I also wanna head to expo leh, there's the motherhood exhibition going on, wanna grab the babysafe pillows for reyes this time round. They changed their pillow version did I mentioN? Sigh...The lady said will find some firmer ones for me, but yet to get back.

Oh the other hand, am worried abt rie at home. Maybe will just call dad to ask if he can grab rie off to mum's workplace or not to save her from hb's hands.

Zoo

It was our 1st trip to the zoo with the 2 kids. Rie was really looking forward to it. All in all, I didnt really enjoy myself as much as the Jurong Bird Park trip leh. Maybe coz we didnt get to watch many of the shows and so I didnt get to sit down and rest and relax either. It was like purely 4 hrs of walking and babysitting non stop and I was really tired. It didnt help that the carpark was full and we had to park a good 15mins walk away from the main entrance. Really very very shag for my legs and arms. And as a result, I didnt have the mood to take much photos too. Took really really very little photos and so upset over it. Sigh. All didnt turn out very nice either.

Weather was really good when we arrived at noon. The sun only peeked out around 3 plus when the kids were at the rainforest waterplay. I find that place full of surprises for us parents who are not willing to get wet! You are simply standing at one spot which you consider as "good" as there are no water splashing around. And the next minute, Splashed! You are drenched. So half the time, one half holding tight to reyes, the other time I'm constently looking out to see what surprises is around me. I nearly got wet many many times, but managed to siam.

Hubby wasnt as lucky, coz rie wanted to venture up to the top and hb had to follow and I think he must have thought it was safe under the shelter, but when the elephant tub pours, he got drenched from head to toe. At least he's not the only daddy who got drenched in his clothings. There was a "smart" & funny looking daddy who carried an umbrella and chased after his little girl!!! Haha, I thought it was such a sight lor.

I find the place quite dangerous for kids. The flooring was too rough for my liking and there wasnt a small shelter place for parents or kids to rest and change either. Reyes fell down and splashed into the water and was crying. He didnt really enjoy himself, coz I had to keep holding his hands to prevent him from falling and those older kids running about.

He was also getting tired and my eyes had to be on the watch for rie, on reyes, on our barangs, I was just tired. I then changed reyes up and he soon fell asleep while rie continued to play.

We also spotted Wong Lilin and her 2 kids. I didnt spot her actually, it was hb. I was looking at her son's stylo hairstyle and was telling hb let's cut reyes hair like that. And that's when he said, that's wong lilin's son lor.

All in all, I doubt I will head there again leh. But then with free zoo pass, why not right?

After we left, rie said to me " Mama, I didnt see gorilla and elephants."

Yeah man, I then realise we didnt even see the elephants. I think I wasnt as enthu to see the animals. It was so crowded, fully of people. So oh well, at least rie wont say that she has yet to been to the zoo.

I made the biggest mistake of my life!!!!

I had deleted all the photos in my memory card which I've yet to copied onto my laptop!! and it contained rie's 3rd birthday party photos which I've yet to uploaded!!!

I must kick myself in the ass, I'm so terribly upset now. Is there really no way to retrieve the photos back?????Can someone pls help me.

**updates**
I cried for so long, and scolded myself why on earth did I made that mistake.
Then when I regain my senses, i did a search on yahoo. There must be something to recover back deleted files on memory card and yes there is!

I quickly installed and launch. Then I read the fine lines while the program scan the card. It said I was using an evaluated version and I had to pay to save the files. And it costs me SGD59 for a downloaded version. That means IF my laptop should crash one day I cannot run this program anymore right? For a CD version, I gotta top up SGD22.

What's SGD59 for a desperate me at this hour? Read : 2.57am now.
The program proceeded to save the files after I received the registration key.
And voila!!! But then there are some photos which are distorted or only managed to retrieve it halfway. But as my ex says if you can recover 80%, it's good liao. And yes, I must agree with him, coz I've managed to retrieve those important photos in good condition especially rie's 3rd birthday party. Although the photo of the cake is one of the photo distorted and one of the smiling rie which I've updated in facebook is cut off. But nonetheless, I must be satisfied and yes I am! Better than nothing.

Time to heed his advice - get more memory card to standby. And thank god my card is not spoilt.

Birds and the Bees....

Last Sunday, during shichida's lesson, the kids were asked to remember 4 pictures and then to arrange them. They were given 5 pictures in all, so they had to know which ones did they see.

Namely : Skeleton, dracula, witch, wizard and a mummy.

And so after arranging, rie picked up the mummy and asked .

Rie : Mama, why the mummy has no mouth? I cannot see the mouth, only can see the eyes.

Me : Yeah, because the mummy is being wrapped up, so you cant see the mouth.

Rie : Yeah, I cannot see the mouth and the penis. See, no penis.

**At that moment, I didnt know where to hide my face!!! But of course must act calm and act as if it's nothing mah right?**

Me : *mild laugh* yeah, cannot see. (I avoid saying the P word)

Rie : *repeats even louder*See, no penis!

Me : How do you know it's a boy?
Rie : Same like a boy. Boy has penis. (I was praying hard she will not continue saying "girl has vagina, same like riesia)

And so it brought to the attention of 2 fathers, 2 mothers and 1 grandma and the teacher lor. Sigh.....

On better days, when she follows me to the toilet, and while I pee, she would watch and comment this and that. Sometimes I wish she can be quieter. On wicked days, she goes : "Eee..I can see mama's stomach..." and then attempts to slap. Grrr....Hear me roar!

I'm waiting for the day to come when reyes has to follow papa to the public toilet. For now, he tags along with me and all the aunties are so amused to see this little boy in the toilet. He loves rolling and rolling and pulling the tissue paper. Tsk tsk.

On a cuter note, I've started reyes on underpants few weeks back. So far so good.

He's been doing 2 good things :

1. He would pee ALREADY and then calls for you and say " shee shee". And when you tell him to stand still while you go and grab the towel, he really stands there very still not moving. Unlike rie who will start to splash the urine all over the place with her foot.

2. He can now pee on cue! I'm trying my best to bring him to the toilet to pee every 30mins. When he tries to pee, he will gek himself and if only few drops or hardly any pee, he goes " Done" which is so darn funny lor.

Otherwise, he will really pee a poo. So that saves me some washing of his underpants too.

Here's some pic for memory sake of him in the cute underpants. He's got the Bob the builder and 1 piece of thomas train. I thought there will be more cute underpants cartoon characters for boys, but hardly leh. He's very excited and amused when he wears the underpants and keeps pulling to see the cartoon and goes " bob" or "Truck". So I told him to stand infront of the huge mirror and admire for as long as he likes lor. Haha.

To throw or not to throw.

R&R have started raiding the kitchen cupboard now that they got tired of playing their own toys.

Reyes particularly love this cooking pot and enjoys making "music" by hitting the floor with the metal cover. And he pretends to scoop from the pot and drink and making a "splurge" sound or saying " Mmm.."

and I dont know why but they seem attracted to glass! Argh. Hb was ranting at me, when am I gonna clear all the glass milk bottle that I kept since rie's time in the cupboard. They were used to store my BM the last time, but I hardly used them during reyes's time.

"My things, dont touch" was my answer to him. Sigh. I cant bear to throw them. Maybe should give it away? But then I dont know if I will need to use them in future or not leh. (read : future = next year. Still in negotiation)

So there goes, the glass bottles are still safe in the cupboard for now.

A very funny shooting arrows of emails...

Have you guys watch " Just follow Law" by Jack Neo?

After watching it, I find it oh so true which I am currently still expecting a reply.

Let me share...

17th June 2009

I wrote an email to my area's town council to ask why would they build the shelter for the overhead bridge and then stop abruptly at no where in the middle of the bridge instead of continuing all the way to our block.

I've received immediate reply from the XX Town Council that they have received my email and have cc-ed the HDB and LTA on this. Wait for reply.

25th June 2009

Received reply from LTA that they need more time to look into this. Wait for reply again.

9th July 2009

LTA replied with this :

"You may wish to know that the Land Transport Authority generally provides continuous covered linkway between major transportation nodes, such as this case from a pedestrian overhead bridge and linking them to the nearby bus shelters. This is to encourage greater use of public transport. As for provision of covered linkway from a Housing and Development Board (HDB) to a transport facility, it is generally provided by Town Council. We will forward to them for their reply to you."

(Cc-ed email BACK to town countil & HDB)

Notice the word in bold green??? If it is provided by the town council, they would have acknowledge my email in the first place right? But instead, they cc-ed the HDB and LTA.

So? Wait again.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Still no replies, so on 14th Feb 2010, I wrote them an email requesting for an update.

Then....

After that last email which LTA replied, it was sent to the Housing Administration Department under HDB.

HDB then >>>>Shoots email to XX Town Council Again.

17th Feb 2010

Town Council replies back to HDB (Must be feeling very DL why everybody say is under them)

We regret to inform you that the piece of state land opposite XXXXX does not come under the purview of the Council. You may wish to liaise with Mr XXX of HDB Properties& Land Department, managing agent for SLA.

So now, the SLA is involved.

And finally...

10th March 2010

The managing agent for SLA, Mr XXX of HDB replies.

The State land opposite XXX is managed by HDB as agent for the Singapore Land Authority. You have suggested for covered linkways to be provided on the State land linking the bus stop to the HDB blocks. We have forwarded your suggestion to the XXX Constituency Office for its consideration under the Community Improvement Project framework.

And so...now is back to my area's constituency office as an improvement project.

So, I'm still waiting to see if those guys in the To and Cc will reply me or not.

I'm not making a big hoo haa here. But I'm just asking why cant they just extend the shelter, if those blocks opposite (which you can see in my photo), have shelters extended to their blocks, why cant they do the same for ours? Coz the land is a state land and doesnt come under town council? So town council dare not touch?

I'm hoping and really really wish they would listen to my cries for the shelter. I send the kids to school with my legs. And trust me, BELIEVE me, walking under the hot sun, even with hats for the kids, carrying an umbrella, you can still feel the heat as if penetrating through the umbrella in a oven during noon time. And even though it's just a 15mins walk to the shelter at the overhead bridge (thats considering rie's pace of walking and allowance given for stopping to look in the river, or looking at ants or people or birds), it's really hot hot hot.

And what happens when it rains? Come check me out. Thank god I've yet to experience any rainy days sending rie to school yet. Choy choy choy.

But I sure experienced rainy days when I wait for her at the busstop back from school. Pushing the huge pram with reyes in it, rie stands behind the pram on the standboard, me balancing an umbrella to shelter her while holding onto the handle, me hunching myself to shelter myself (which I sometimes give up and just drench myself in the rain, coz it feels so stupid hunching and hiding behind the brolly lor)

So PLSSSSSS provide me a shelter. And also pls mend the uneven broken tiles too...I see the town council doing up barrier free facilities at our block, I'm happy, coz it's slope for the pram and I dont have to lift the heavy pram up. But shelter pls pls pls..I'm sure everyone will thank yo for building a shelter for us. So that we can still get home despite rain or hot shine.

No school = hectic day for me...

Rie has 2 days of offs from school, because we, the parents decided not to let her join in the 1st excursion to watch a play about the cookie and the rat.

Can you imagine, it costs $25 per child, per adult? If it had been $25 for a adult + a child, I would have go with her. But it's $50 in all and hb said no, so there goes.

Now I'm thinking if I'm depriving her of such things, coz she came home on Monday and said " Mrs Lee say tomorrow no school. Go Holiday."

Then I asked why? And she said " Because I cannot go and see the mouse eat the cookie".

Sigh..Sometimes I wonder does she know what she is saying or not.

So anyway, I'm thankful today is the last day of the 2 days break before she is off to school tomorrow and then friday and it's the March school break. She's been asking to go to school, but I had to keep explaining to her there is no school for her these 2 days.

She is very bored at home, nothing to do, except watching Okto,catching up all her favourite shows and I'm so glad the Wiggle and Learn is back! I find the guys are so funny! And rie loves them.

**I dread walking into the kitchen right now to see what mess Rie is up to. She is doing some painting work in the kitchen on a box...I hope she didnt start to paint my cupboards!**

Oppsy, reyes is up from his nap, gotta go...

Exhibition

I told myself I must not miss this exhibition - Quest for Immortality - The world of Ancient Egypt.

I've always been fascinated abt Egypt and their Great Pyramid. It is definitely one of my Must visit list of country and I doubt I will have the chance to visit.

Now that the exhibition is coming to an end and I've yet to visit, I must now beg hb for time off.
I can actually head there in the afternoon with reyes, but then I doubt I would be able to enjoy the leisure walk look and see, some photo taking here and there with him around. Just look at what the 2 rascals were like during the Sun Yat Sen's museum.

There are so many to do things on my list.
....Hair cut - I hate my long fringe now, it's just getting in the way.
....To the Museum
....To Science center - I've missed the body world exhibition. I missed it years back and missed it again. Darn.

We'l be heading to the zoo this Sat, am really excited about it and yet worried how to cope and sure to be dead tired.....

Oh, did I also blog that ever since I've started to explore on my own with reyes during the 3 hrs when rie's at school, i've never looked back. Last week, we practially went out everyday! And today we stayed at home and I found myself looking at the clock every now and then, if it's time to fetch rie. Time is sooo hard to spend at home when reyes is not a TV addict like his sister. And he was really getting bored and tired and was sleepy and I cant let him nap. It was so difficult for both of us.

Okay, the part abt him not being a tv addict, I dont know why, but then he only likes to watch Madagascar The Movie and Alvin and the Chipmunks. The rest like Barney, Nemo, Toy Story, Wall-E, Mermaid, Robots and so on, you can just give it a miss. Leave it playing on the telly, but he will never sit still to watch.

He's terrified of watching madgasacar, but he still wants to watch. Each time we start to play, he would run to whereever we are, and watch it in between our legs if we are standing, or he would hide under the dining table at a corner, behind the little trolley and watch between the gaps until the " terrifying" parts of the movie is over and he would crept out.

He can dance to the song "I like to Move it move it" too! Haha, very funny.

I dont know if it's a good thing he's not a tv addict, but then with that said, I feel he doesnt seem to be exposed to lots of songs, nursery rhythms that rie would have known at his age. That's all thanks to watching Barney. Reyes favourite nursery rhythm is the Itsy Bitsy Spider and Hickery Dickery Dock.

Okay, so well, back to the afternoon break. So yeah now I'm trying to find some enrichment classes for him to attend that can fit into the time slot 12-2pm. I needa be home at 3pm to wait for rie. So far, I've gotten GUG that is well fitted, but the timing is 1-230pm. And is twice a week. It is too much for me? twice a week leh...

Then called up Little Neuro Tree this afternoon, was so happy when I saw their flyer had the 12-1pm slot, but the lady said currently dont have. She will check and get back to me. I sure hope they have.

Then, IF I would have taken up the LNT, then I doubt hb would agree to any other additional enrichment class. Finance is tight especially with rie's high sch fee. Term 2 sch fee is due for payment once the March term break ends. It's another $800. Sigh...

$$$.....there goes my wish...

Trip to Botanic Gardens...

It was a hot hot day for weeks!!! Hardly any rain and so off to the Botanic Gardens on Sunday. Had initially wanted to head to Sentosa, but we ditch the idea looking at the hot weather...

The kids were looking forward to water play and I think reyes will enjoy himself as compared to the last trip in Dec.

here's rie posing.. i need to get a pretty tankini for her. Any recommendation?
Her ariel's swim wear is getting too small for her...And the brother....

And in comparison of this photo, taken at the same place...Look how fast reyes has grown.... I'm utterly disappointed this time round with the phototaking. I have no idea what is wrong. I cant figure out whether is the shutter speed or the AV that is giving me low resolution pictures and I had to resort to using the Auto function, which is so lousy. So disappointed whenever there is a nice shot, but end up it's low reso and so pixelated...Sigh...help anyone?

As usual, no photos of me yet again. Upset.

Sick yet again...

Oh dear oh dear...how true people say. When your kids start school, there will hardly be a day when they are all well and kicking high up in the air.

Reyes was down with very bad cough and running nose again. In fact, both of them didnt really recover fully since last month and it's within a month that the virus attack again. So I had to camp out in the 2nd bedroom WITHOUT AIR CON!!!! with reyes. It was warm and stuffy, but it got better through the night. BUt I woke up with oily face leh, cannot tahan.

Reyes woke up early at 830am, and I was dead tired, coz I went to bed at around 230am only as he was waking up crying, coz he cant breathe thru his nose. The first thing he asked me was " Jie jie?" And he went out the door and wanted to go and look for rie, but I stopped him, coz I wanted rie to sleep in longer, otherwise she wont be able to endure the day at school.

I had to bring him to Aglow to get more medication to stock up. They allow you to repurchase just medication within a month. Cheap. And we walked around United square and I bumped into Huang Biren with her daughter and helper.She's expecting number 2, tummy quite big liao also, think due soon. She was speaking english to her daughter and many many people were looking at her. We were so close, and reyes wanted to play with her daughter, but he was having a runny nose lah, so I pulled him aside.

I took him to the foodcourt for makan. This is my 2nd time. When I enter the foodcourt, many thoughts come to my mind.

How to look for a seat? how to chop the seat? Then should I put reyes down first, get babychair or buy food first? What if I overturn the tray and then hot soup pour onto reyes how? What should I do? It's really scary at times when I think I'm alone with reyes and everything I have to do by myself.

So most important is, I am afraid of not able to get a seat. And I hate it when Im carrying a tray and looking around for seat, carrying reyes. And heng heng, the usual place we normally sit, bo lang. So I put the tray down, go find the babychair, put reyes in it, then settle down to feed him. Feeding him is a breeze, especially when he is hungry. He goes " mum mum". And despite having only 4 teeth (STILL), he chomps food fast.

I find that he is so much easier to care for as compared to rie. Less demanding I suppose and he wont create a din in public too. So anyway, after lunch, I took him round walk walk and he was very happy. I checked out GUG and am keen to sign him up. It's twice a week. I'm looking at once a week, and the lady said I would have to pay a weekend price for attending weekday course. So still considering.

Then I had craving for Udder ice cream. Spent $6.7o on double scoop....So ex lor. Coz of my overlook, I had Tira-miss u, which is the most expensive range of ice cream lor. $5.90 leh. Pengz..but how often do I get to indulge in such stuffs? Right?

Then off to pick rie back from school. It was hell today man. She came back crying non stop, kept saying her classmate pushed her down and she knocked her nosebridge and it was very painful. I was so worried and wanted to find out what exactly happen, tried calling the school, but no one answered. Sigh...I guess she's tired too.

Now that she just got up, she is back to her normal self, happy. But she keeps telling me " I dont want to go to school." Just when I thought I had managed to make her look forward to school after her birthday celebration, this accident happen..sigh.

Birthday Dinner

After the kids lunch, I headed home. Then I realised that I didnt take a photo with my daughter at school!!! Sigh...so upset lor. So I made it up by taking photos outside our place when she came home....Not easy to do self timer and trying to get her to smile.

I found this pic so funny, coz of reyes. He was sitting behind us, taking a rest after climbing up and down the stairs countless times. He is covering his eyes to indicate photo taking, like holding up a camera and saying " Chi-Cha"

Love this shot...reminds me of photos that I used to have being taken by my dad at my old old home..I love playing along the corridor.Dinner was at City Square, this Italian restaurant that serves delicious pizza. I love their pizza and it's our 2nd time there....Heng the restaurant was quite empty, coz the kids were making a hell of noise...

A family shot. I hate using flash, but no choice, coz without flash, once the kids move, the picture becomes blur.

Love this shot too...It's sure going down into my memory book for rie.

I cant believe that she is all grown up now. I bet I will sure to tear on the day when she marries.

The pink dress that she is wearing, belongs to me! She has few dresses that are mine. All thanks to my mum for keeping the dresses. I must ensure that I will keep it so that my granddaughter will wear it too next time.

Birthday celebration at school...

I didnt head to bed until 3am last night. Tired...and this morning, rie woke up early, I think she knows it's her birthday, but the first thing she said to me was " I dont want to go to school." ........
Anyway, was glad that dad came to help me send rie to school. I have to resort to taking the public transport to school, as I didnt want rie thinking whenever dad comes fetch her, I will tag along. So poor reyes and myself had to walk to take the public transport to school.

At the school, whenever there is a birthday kid, it’s a special day for them. That’s because the birthday boy/ girl will head up to the stage, where there is
A mock birthday cake for them with real candles. And the whole school will sing the birthday song to him/her. Today, it is just riesia alone. I’m surprise that none of the other 200 odd kids, none share the same birthday as rie.

And so, there she went up the stage, humble me wanted to take photos from the back of the hall, but the teacher was so nice to usher me to the front. I was hoping someone can help me look after reyes, but then SIL was playing the piano. So I had to ergo reyes and attempt to take sharp shots of rie…
I think she doesn’t seem to know what’s going on, she was clutching her hands very tight and standing like a statue leh. I was so afraid she will have stage fright and then burst out crying, but heng she didn’t! And at the moment when the Chinese birthday song ended, as if she came back to life and automatically blow out the candles…hahahah, it was a very funny sight lor. I didn’t manage to take photos of her blowing the candles, coz she was SO fast!

So thereafter, I headed to TPY to collect the birthday cake which is my favourite cartoon character – Hello Kitty. I’m very very happy with the design, it looks much clearer as compared to Prima Deli and prettier too I feel. If you are looking for any cheap children’s birthday cakes, try Polar Cakes okay. They have many many designs to choose from, Thomas Train, Bob the builder, sesame street, little twin stars, hello kitty. But no Disney princesses and no mickey or Minnie hor. So well, I decided to grab some mini hotdog buns for the kids too. Was deciding between waffles or hotdog buns, then rie said she wanted the buns. I’m glad I bought it, coz the kids were really hungry and all finished the buns and cakes. Some even asked for 2nd round of cakes too!
I’m glad I brought along rie’s goodie bag and put it into her bag. Coz I know for sure when the teachers distribute the goodie bags and rie realise she doesn’t have one, she will kick a fuss over it. She was so excited and happy when I picked her up from the school bus. The moment she alighted, she said “ Mama, I have a present!”

So never underestimate such small surprises for kids, even though she has already seen the goodie bag at home for days and was pestering me to open it, she still feels very happy to “receive” it from school today.

Happy Birthday Riesia Darling!!!

Happy Birthday Riesia!!!Day 2 of celebration : Yummy strawberry shortcake design cake from Prima Deli. Its really very delicious and nice! Pity the picture though, once you insert the candle in, the picture will crack... Reyes just couldnt keep his hands and mouth off the cake, so BIL had to hold him back. The candle nearest to him was lit up many many countless times before we finally managed to finish singing the birthday song and then allowed rie to make a wish and blow the candles. That's because reyes kept on blowing the candle off lor! hahahah.

I've just finished packing the goodie bags for riesia to distribute to her classmate tomorrow. Still pending with me 5 hairclips that I've just made to be slot in tomorrow morning, hope I will not forget it. Rie's celebrating her actual birthday tomorrow at the school and she will also head up the stage where everyone will sing the birthday song for her. I sure hope she will not get stage fright or refuse to head up. It will be her last birthday celebration for this year, after 2 days of celebration at the grandparents place...

Today, rie received a goodie bag from her shichida classmate. The class of 5 boys and 1 girl have birthdays very close apart. The boy's birthday is on 4th March, rie's tomorrow and another on 2nd March. The other 2 - 31st Jan and last sunday.

Close up of the goodie bags...Pink hello kitty stationary set for the girls and Blue Thomas Train stationary set for the boys. IN addition, each kids are gonna receive a Mickey projector watch (thanks to blur's contact), 4 cutie pie mickey and minnie cookies and a sweet. The girls are receiving an extra goodie- a hello kitty hairclip that I specially made for them just now.

I think kids these days are so lucky and seem like a norm to be receiving goodie bags har? I dont recall receiving goodie bags or distributing goodie bags when I was young leh. But I sure do remember receiving lots of pressies..

These are the wonderful cookies that my dear friend Diana specially baked at the last min for riesia. It's so lovely that I cant bear to eat it. But R&R were very excited to eat the minnie and mickey ears....haha. I've already placed orders for her cupcakes! Cant wait to see them next Sat...

Tomorrow's a busy day for me. I've gotta tag along with dad to school with rie, snap some photos of rie on the stage, then head to TPY to collect the cake, get some bread and head back to school before their lunchtime. Sure dead tired by then.....

Will post up Day 1 celebration when Ive got the photos uploaded from mum's camera. The cake designs is nice, but the cake was disappointing for all, given the price that we paid for it. Even prima deli's cake tasted nicer than theirs.

Seeing blur enjoying her HK trip with her boys, I'm so envy. When will I be able to bring the kids out for a holiday soon....