Genting

We are leaving for Genting tomorrow night and will be back on Tuesday. "Excited" is too mild to describe how I feel. This is the first trip this year since our Korea trip and I have waited so long for this. Ooorrhh.. I really do miss Korea.

It is not Genting that I am looking forward to, but the thought that I will be away from routine, from work and from things that are hanging in the air. In addition, I will be with my family, spending good times with Daddy Lim and the kids. I think the kids will have a good time, we will all have a good time.

The bags are packed. It is the first time that we are taking the coach to and back from Genting. Things will work out fine, we will have great fun. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Crossroad

Things are a little more firmed now. It is something that I had been thinking about for the past few months and I have finally made up my mind after speaking to Daddy Lim. I am at the cross road once again. This feeling of certainty yet uncertainty brings along anxiety but also excitement.

I don't know how things will develop, but believe that God will watch over me. He has blessed me with much and will continue to do so. Seriously, I have no idea what I want and I don't know how things will develop. I only know that I want to reach the end of this tunnel and then explore the other tunnels after this.

Things aren't as easy as I thought they would be after I started exploring. This sense of uncertainty is intimidating and scared me into wanting to retreat. But, it is probably a matter of time. The thoughts have been getting stronger and stronger and more and more frequent. Something will probably soon trigger again. Let's see how long I will last.

Things will work out somehow. Life is about choices. Yeah!

Mummy Lim

Swimming Lessons

Lil isaac has joined jiejie in the swimming class. Their swimming classes are on every Saturday noon after Lil Shauna and Felicia's Chinese class. I bet all other parents aren't as crazy as us to let their kids take swimming lesson under the midday sun. Thus, their class consists only of Fione, Felicia, Lil Shauna and Lil Isaac. Haha.

Previously, Lil Isaac waddled in the baby pool while the jiejies have their lesson. Popo often had to intervene when Lil Isaac tried to pull dangerous stunts like jumping into the deep pool or yanked out his float. Popo still have to stand around now to hawk Lil Isaac during his swimming class. However, he actually takes instruction and is pretty obedient during the class. Popo can relax one corner, using only eye power to ensure that he is safe.

I saw him on Saturday taking his lesson and bought him a new pair of googles. He was thrilled to have his new pair just like the jiejies. But i think his head and ears are a little too big for the goggles to fit nicely. Like all kids who don googles for the 1st time, his eyes can barely open and he does look a little funny. Still, he seems to enjoy himself and was proud to be a big boy now. He can blow bubbles too! Our zaky is growing up! Too fast, too fast!

Mummy Lim

Lego Fun

Our Lego collection has grown! As the kids grow older, toys get more limited. Lego and playdohs are good choices for them to grow up with, they are pretty ever-green.

Lego has the new "friends" series, which are actually mini Lego pieces sets. Each set comes with instructions on how to construct. Lil Shauna is pretty good at that. She still need help with the instructions but was able to piece up the pieces. The water shed for the horse was put together by her. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

CNY 2013

**Super overdue post**

Our CNY holiday was well spent.

We went visitation on Chu Yi. Ever since my paternal grandma passed on and my dad several years back, CNY visitation has become a much simpler affair. We spent about an hour at my eldest uncle’s place. We aren’t close to our extended family and didn’t even get to see some of the uncles and cousins. Then it was to my maternal grandma’s place where we spent another hour. Ah yee is in far, far away Paris. Visitation gets a little bit more boring without her companion.

However, the kids were happy to be dressed up in CNY clothes.

The 5 of them very much self entertained with the toys that we brought. And of course, they very much enjoyed the buffet-style self-service array of cookies and sweets and chocolates and CNY goodies. They couldn’t stop munching and the hosts were all so encouraging, even to mummy. CNY does great harm to mummy’s body – fat! Hohoho. Then, we spent the rest of the day at MIL’s place. Daddy Lim and I very much enjoyed another round of steamboat. I like steamboat. I am missing steamboat already. Lol.

Daddy Lim had to work on Chu Er and he worked late. T.T
I was so glad to see the sun smiling at me after the long rain day on Chu Yi and decided that we would venture out. It is way too miserable to have to stay at home on Chu Er. Sentosa sounded like a fantastic idea to get some sun. We put the kids in the strollers and made our way to Sentosa via MRT. The kids were made to promise to stay in their stroller before we left the house. We usually do not go out with 2 strollers but decided to. Lil Isaac was very cooperative, probably bcos he saw Lil Shauna obediently stayed in her stroller. It was a fantastic choice bcos Sentosa was very crowded. The monorail was jam packed and we took the Broadway and walked to Sentosa instead. The walk was very pleasant, unlike how it was many years ago. The Broadway was totally sheltered and travelator was available almost the entire way. It was cloudy and cool, a fantastic start to a fun day.

Sentosa was full of foreigners, generally the PRCs, Indians and Bangladeshis. I mean, where else can they go? Sentosa is largely free if they stay on the beach. We had wanted to go to the Palawan Beach but realized that some flower display thingy was going on and we had to pay $5 per adult to enter Palawan Beach. There were too many foreigners for comfort and we ended up at the Port of the Lost World instead, which is another fantastic choice. The Port wasn’t crowded and the kids had a wonderful time alternating between the waterplay and the sand.

Auntie wasn’t allowed in the waterplay as she wasn’t properly attired. So I took the opportunity to rest while Auntie watched over them during the sand play. I did have some trouble handling 2 kids initially, didi was scared to do some of the slides that jiejie wanted to do. Jiejie had to give in to didi and stuck to some boring waterplay. However, we got passed that quickly and didi was enjoying slides shortly. Lil Shauna even went to the ”foam party”. Lol.

I was very worried that the sky wouldn’t hold. There were dark clouds hovering over Sentosa but God was good. There was light drizzle on and off, which kept the weather cool. We all had fun and left at 5pm, after more than 4 hours of fun.

We went to Ms Teo’s house on Chu San, in far faraway Tampines. Going back to the East brought back many fond memories and I was pointing out to Lil Shauna where mummy used to study and live. Ms Teo’s place was fantastically nice and cosy, very cottagish, unlike the modernize decoration that we would find in a typical Singaporean’s home. There were great finger food.

The kids had fun playing in one of the rooms and also at the water playground. We didn’t have full force yday but the crowd was just nice.

We left in the evening and headed for dinner at T3 before heading for home. Luckily there was no tantrum on the long car ride. But we already threatened the kids that whoever threw tantrum in the car will be left behind. Lol.

It was an eventful CNY. We are meeting the girls again this Saturday. Yeah!

Mummy Lim

Parental Voluntary (PV)

The time has come. The application for PV for kids born in 2008 has opened. Daddy Lim and I have been discussing which school to sign up with. Rulang, the super popular primary school is totally out of our reach. We eventually decided on either West Grove (WG) or Frontier (FP).

WG is one of the more established and popular school in JW. I am keen to enroll Lil Shauna with the school. FP opens 2 years ago and Daddy Lim likes new school and new facilities. Moreover, FP is within walking distance from our home. We couldn't come to a conclusion and decided to applied for PV for both school.

After procrastinating for the longest time, we finally submitted the PV firm to WG. The closing date for FP is a little later and we are still sitting on it. Lazy mummy.

Shortly after we submitted the form to WG, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a SMS from the school for a meeting in late March. I managed to speak to the teacher in charge, who happens to be leaving for another school. He was overseeing the PV scheme for the last few years and is helping and handing over to his colleague.

It was good to know that we are shortlisted for PV and the teacher shared that shortlisted parents are seriously being considered. WG is only taking 15 PV this year. They also took in 15 last year, 30 the year before and 40 one more year back. Every year, all students whose parents PVed got in, thus he thinks that the it will be the same for us, emphasizing that the number of PV slots are decided after considering the number of students entering the school at different phases. He thinks that he has made a pretty accurate estimation and there shouldn't be "casualty".

They have shortlisted 14 parents (including us) so far but the application is only closing on 29 Mar 13. They couldnt tell for sure if more parents will be shortlisted. Regardless, we are honored.

If we are indeed selected, we will probably put our kids in WG. This is afterall so much more established as compared to FP. I have managed to convince Daddy Lim. Hehe. Can you sense the kiasu-ness in me? Muahahaha.

Mummy Lim

Sigh!

Why do people sigh when they are feeling down? I just had a realization.

That is bcos the weight (of the issue) bears down on one, making breathing difficult, making one breathless. When one sighs, one takes a deep breath and goes "haiz". I supposed it helps with the breathing. Bcos that is how I felt.

Well, life goes on. Things will get better. Life is about choices, isn't it? What doesn't kill makes one stronger. I am keeping my eye to the intersection. Things will work out fine.

Mummy Lim

Poor Lil Shauna and Vomit Blood

No, Lil Shauna didn't vomit blood. I almost did while trying to teach her spelling. I think she was tired and couldn't concentrate. I wasn't the most patient mummy (I never am) after a long and hard day at work. Work is crazy after 3 days at a course. Emails are impossible to clear, in-tray threatens to topple. I had to bring work home after working late. So, you can imagine how patient I was.

I flared when she couldn't remember words that I taught her just yday. I had to threaten her with Mr Cane, which did little to help. She cried at the end and I gave up. There was no point forcing her. It wouldn't and didnt get us anywhere. Poor Lil Shauna.

There is just too little time. Arrgghhh.

Mummy Lim

Knocked Out

Lil Shauna woke up bright and early at 9am despite not sleeping from 2+am to 5m last night. Geeez, what is she made of?

Lil Isaac was "excited" about the whole episode too and was very "helpful", mainly getting into the way. He too knocked out at 5am and is still sleeping. Must be a very tired boy.

Mummy Lim

Time when I Missed Having a Maid

Lil Shauna vomited in the middle of the night. She threw a tantrum right before she slept and was sobbing so pitiful away, insisting that she wasn't at fault. I am not sure if that was why she vomited or she has gotten Daddy Lim's cough virus. I just hope that it is not a case of stomach flu. She's complaining that her tummy is painful now. Bleeehhhh.

There was a lot of vomit. There was vomit on her hair, the bolster and the bed. If we had a maid, I would have to just usher the kids to our room and continue sleeping, leaving the clean up to the maid. But we don't now and I am both the mother and the maid.

While showering Lil Shauna, Lil Isaac woke up, touched her puke and asked why was the bed wet. Yucks! I had to wake Daddy Lim up to help unwillingly with Lil Isaac. Then the kids were supposed to sleep with Daddy Lim while I cleaned up the mess. But, they didn't sleep.... Only Daddy Lim went back to sleep. -.o"

The mess was horrible in my opinion and I threw away the bloster with its cover and the bedsheet. Wipe way whatever that were splattered and put the other affected bedsheet, pillow cover, etc into the washing machine to wash and changed new bedsheet.Lil Isaac then started following me around the house while I carried on the errands. None of the kids slept. Popo woke up after hearing Lil Isaac talking non-stop and helped with the remaining errands.

We finally settled down back into the room on clean bedsheet after much struggling and the kids are still awake after the one over hour saga. Lil Isaac is talking and singing and monkeying while jiejie complaining that she can't sleep bcos her tummy is not feeling comfy.

She finally took my offer to put ruyi oil on her tummy. Just when I was applying, she vomited again!!! I don't know if it is considered as good fortune but there was only water this time. I supposed her system is cleared out and I asked Popo to help immediately. The damage and mess is much lesser. We shifted whatever that were stained to the living room to be handled tomorrow morning. New bedsheet again and trying again for the nth time to tuck the kids in.

It is almost 5am and Lil Isaac finally falls asleep. Jiejie is still tossing around. Poor girl. Is this a case of food poisoning? She had some Hokkaido cuttlefish that we bought this morning and it actually tasted sour. Now, I am wondering if it is spoilt or the flavoring. We all had some but her body is so much as smaller that ours. She just complained that she wanted to vomit again but didn't when I brought her to the toilet. I have standby plastic bag in the room. This is going to be a long night.

Mummy Lim