1st Day of School and Work

Lil Shauna started school on Monday while Zaky got an extra day off. 

We had been practicing tying braids only to have somebody pointed out that I had been trying Dutch braids for Lil Shauna and it has to be French braids for her school. Huh? Braids also go by country?!!? I thought "French" braid is simple a name for braids. Apparently I have to twist on top and not below and I had been tying Dutch braids for Lil Shauna for as long as I had been doing it.

Can you tell which side is which country's braids?

Lil Shauna had been anxious about 1st day of school. Whatever "I want to make new friends" was replaced by "I am an extreme introvert and cannot make new friends". Ok lor, win already lor. At least she found a WG schoolmate who lives in the next door condo and have arranged to go to school together on their 1st day. 

Bcos school is now further and she has to take public transport, she had arranged to meet her friend at the MRT at 6.20am. Bcos she hasn't learnt how to tie braids, yours truly was awoken at 6am to do so. Yes, I was very much half awake. 

Not bad lah, at least they look like some kind of braids. The young lady left the house soon after and then her friend was late. Zzzzz. Chey. Could have slept a while more. 

White uniform, white shoes. Confirm get dirty easily. 

Along with the big jiejie, many of the little ones were also starting school. 

Monday also marked the new year work day for us. Daddy Lim went through a turbulence year and has started a new career journey on Monday. For the past 10 months, he had been my WFH companion and it suddenly dawned on me that with him going back physically in the office and the kids in school, WFH will be very quiet and lonely. 

Lil Shauna was back from school at about 2pm and was starving bcos there were too many people queuing for food and she decided that she was not hungry. Ended up, she gobbled down lunch back home while relating the wonderful tales of her 1st day in school. She met her ice skating friend R and took the train together towards home.

I am so glad that she enjoyed school and the earlier anxieties dissipated. She funnily talked about a sea of white students and how everybody looked the same in the same uniform and hairstyle. Haha. Of course she lamented about how her school shoes have blackened after a single wear. 

Zaky joined jiejie on Tuesday to head back to school. We just got his hair trimmed over the weekend.

Bcos Daddy Lim now have to be at the workplace super early, the boy also have to wake up earlier and leave the house earlier. He says that he reaches the school by 6.30am but have the other kids who take the school bus to accompany him. 

With the big and small boys also gone, it was indeed a quiet WFH day. All of them were at work/ school the entire day; Lil Shauna had some orientation while Zaky went to the student care. I better get used to that. 

Ever since we shifted, Zaky had never tried taking the public transport home on his own. He used to have jiejie and simply followed blindly. So the 1st day of school also become his orientation to go home via public transport. I met him at the interchange, fed him and ran a couple of errands at JP. We took a break for him to climb around at the playground and I have to constantly remind him not to split his pants. Hoho. 

With that, the 1st school day was also successfully completed for Zaky. Everybody survived. Yay!

While everybody is away at work/ school, I found my companion. Hi Cookie!

Mummy Lim

Squeezing in Last Bits of Fun

The school holiday is coming to an end and we have been trying to squeeze in as much fun as possible. Like any other holidays, the kids thought that it is too short. I beg to differ; maybe bcos there was no overseas holiday and I see them so much while WFH, I thought that the holiday is too long. Haha. 

We had been doing so much activities in the last 2 weeks. On Christmas Eve, we visited the Doraemon display at the museum with the Fs. 

Only Zaky was left in the pictures bcos jiejie was happily taking pictures with the Fs. 

On Christmas Day, we had hotpot at my brother's place. Yummy!

On Boxing day, we dated C & T for the Amazing Castle followed by the Soul movie. The Amazing Castle is interesting according to the kids. I think it is somewhat like the Running Man in Seoul. Anyway, while the kids run around in the Amazing Castle, I was happily drinking Bubble Tea with Auntie S. 

Daddy Lim had a "day's off" and joined us for dinner at Suntec. 

The kids, who happily squeezed into the kiddy ride. Luckily nobody got stuck. 

On 30th Dec, Boo invited the girls for a sleepover. The kids had a blast at Playnation before meeting up with AN and ER.

The "meeting" was short lived before the girls took a grab to Boo's place. 

长大了, so independent le. 

The boys were not invited and had been whining about how unfair life is. Lol. The girls definitely had a blast.

The boys also not bad lah, there was good food.

Then we headed to an Escape Room. I didn't think that the Escape Room was well set up bcos we couldn't solve the puzzle and had to keep asking for clues. Haha. In fact, I think I solved none. Hohoho. I was the liability. 

After the Escape Room, dinner was also digested and we went for another bite. Die, it's the season to be eating, lalalala. 

Then it was a long MRT ride home with Zaky. 

Daddy Lim happily had another "day's off". 

Lil Shauna had a nice gathering with the girls. She said that they chatted until 4am but she couldn't remember what they talked about bcos she felt asleep at 1am, woke up at 2am and zombified until 4am. Haha. She only remembered that they were IG live streaming at 4am, which probably isn't very wise. It sounded like calling an ex-bf drunkenly. Lol.

She was well fed by Auntie H before I picked her after lunch. 

The boys are so jealous and had wanted to plan a boys' sleepover which unfortunately didn't take place. Next time lah. The kids said that it felt like AN and ER didn't even leave at all and it felt like y'day that they just met up.

Zaky had been nagging to go for trampoline. I had been wanting to bring them to Bounce only to realise that the tickets were like fully booked out. Finally, we headed to Katapult at ORTO for the last bit of fun before school starts. 

I am quite sure that they have enough fun le. Fully charged up for the new school year! Yay!

Mummy Lim

Discovering Morning Open Ice

With the covid-19 capacity restrictions, it is almost impossible to get slots for the kids to practice on ice unless they have lesson. Lil Shauna used to hit the ice 2 to 3 times a week but is now reduced to 1 or even none at all. It is bad, so bad. 

The date for her Elementary test had been set on 26 Jan 21. Her program has been firmed and while she can do most of the elements, she still struggles with her camel, sit, scratch combine spins and unfortunately, a critical component in passing the test. As the test date draws nearer, she had been whining and whining non-stop about how stress she is. I concluded that what she needed is simply more ice practice to gain confidence in the elements. 

A few weeks back, we attempted the impossible. We dragged the kids to the rink at 8ish in the morning to q, hoping to get a slot for the ice. Lil Shauna grumbled when I dragged her out of bed, asking me why she had to come along. Bcos the kids should work for the slots if they want to go on the ice; it is hard work and not just privileges dropping from the sky. 

We had bfast and I went to peek at the rink after the kids were settled at the table. At 8.15am, the q outside the rink was at about 10m long and this is when the registration starts only at 9.30am. Zzzzz. We didn't have a choice but to join the Q. Ended up, the slots for the entire day were fully taken up before we even reached the register. We had a very upset Lil Shauna, who then believe even more that she is doomed. Lol. 

It is not the end lah. I promised her that I would book her extra SISA ice to practice. The SISA ice online booking has resumed and the earliest sessions start 9 Jan. Then I remembered that she sometimes go on JCube morning full ice lesson with Coach Raymond and saw those on the Rink's calendar. Heng, I moved my butt to call the Rink and found out that those were open sessions also for advance skaters to walk in. While there isn't a real definition of "advance skaters", there would be plenty of skaters who would be jumping and spinning and amateurs are advised to stay away. 

Zaky had been wanting to skate with jiejie but no such luck bcos usually one of them would be taking lesson at one time. Why? The pocket says so. Thus, he was really excited to do the open ice with jiejie. I was pretty worried for I have seen how advance these skaters are and how crowded the ice could be. Nevertheless, we attempted, reporting to the Rink before 7am for the 7.15am session. Zaky was reminded times and again to stay out of the way of the advance skaters. 

I had to keep my eyes on Zaky the whole time. I saw jiejie teaching him a couple of drills before going off to do her practices. Zaky was fine generally until he tripped and fell. Then he was so grumpy and I took the opportunity to pick him off ice and send him off for bfast with Daddy Lim. Hoho. Lil Shauna handled the crowded ice much better though it irritates her much. 

The next open ice, we conveniently skipped Zaky. I think it is safer and more peaceful for everyone that way. The rink was again very crowded but I think some practice is better than no practice. 

This morning, we hit back the ice for the last open ice practice before school reopens. Oh yes, I was absolutely stone from the lack of sleep, having gone to bed at 3ish after the RI. It took a couple of nudges from Lil Shauna before I managed to crawl out of the bed. 

It was an absolute pleasant surprise to find an empty ice. Lil Shauna was so thrilled. Though the ice slowly filled up, it was still much emptier than the earlier 2 sessions. 

Despite skating for so many years, Lil Shauna hasn't made many skating friends and her practice sessions are usually quite lonely. For once, I had to thank IG and she had been following some same age skaters and started chatting with them on IG. These are K and E and they were competitors once. 

Ice practices are definitely more enjoyable when there are companions. Though they spent a lot of time chit chatting, the girls being more advanced than Lil Shauna also taught her a tip or 2. Lil Shauna also didn't forgot her purpose on ice and practice the needful. 

Like I had expected, the practices absolutely helped to boost her confidence towards the upcoming test. She has 4 more lessons and a SISA ice practice session before the test. I think she will be fine. 

Mummy Lim

Last RI 2020

It had been a long while since we attempted a RI. The last one was in early October and we had to take a Grab home from ECP bcos of the rain. That unpleasant memory did zero to prompt another RI, plus the rainy season kills whatever motivation left. 

Finally, somebody jioed. It does sound like a nice way to end 2020 and start the new year. Tadah! Some of the group wanted to attempt a 150km ride, starting with LP1. We planned to roll at 5pm with those heading to LP1 starting at 3.30pm. Did Daddy Lim and I do LP1? Siao ah? Hoho. I have never cross 115km and I am not sure I wanted to torture myself that way. 

The weather wasn't too kind though and it started raining, then pouring, since the afternoon. It then turned into this intermittent drizzle. Ended up, we had to delay the start time twice. Just when we thought we can start, the drizzle would start. It was like the sky was teasing us. 

We finally rolled off at 7pm. The roads were wet but at least there was no rain. 

Fortunately, the sky decided to be nice to us for the rest of the RI and the roads dried up quickly as well. The weather was fantastic for the rest of the way. Woohoo!

What is the most enjoyable of an RI? The supper break. Hohoho. 

Sadly but truely, the lonely TMCR follows shortly. We had a strong rider and he was pulling us at 42kmh at one point but I had to drop off. Cannot lah, I thought I was going to vomit. Lol.

Daddy Lim's legs started cramping up after TMCR, which was still a long way home. Some of the guys went on to complete the RI with another LP1, clocking 200km!!! Us? We went home to sleep in our cosy bed. Hoho. 

With that, our 2020 ended with a blast. It was a little sad that we were hidden under the trees at midnight and couldn't catch any of the fireworks. We did see the flashes of the fireworks though and heard the bom, bom, bom. Haha. Happy New Year!

Mummy Lim

Secondary School Posting Results

The Secondary School Posting result was released this morning. It would be either through SMS or via the S1 portal. I had been gan cheong all these while, worrying that I actually didn't submit the choices properly on the S1 portal. I did attempt to check the portal but when I finally moved my butt to go to do so, the registration has closed. So did I submit or not??!! *Bite nails* 

The result was due for released at 9am. Due to the Covid-19, there would be no reporting to the Secondary School but to check the school's website on the next step after the posting results. I had planned to take leave to help Lil Shauna with school books and uniform purchases. 

MOE is really efficient this time. At 6.30am, I already received the SMS of Lil Shauna's posting. No surprises. Her 1st 2 choices COP are above her results but it was nice to have some hopes. She got into the 3rd choice as expected. We were just talking about it last night and she too had expected to enter the school. 

It wasn't until almost 8.30am that Sleeping Beauty finally stirred from her slumber and saw the results. Her phone had been buzzing the whole morning with who going to what school but she slept on. Lol. She found 2 other class/ school mates who are heading to the same school but it wasn't a big deal bcos she is looking forward to making new friends. It is actually so strange; our shy girl had been looking forward to making new friends at the new school for a long time. 

Lil Shauna had been telling me that all the girls with long hair in that school have to tie braids. I had thought that she was joking only to learn the truth today. Really??!! Why??!! My SIL said that they even teach the girls to tie braids during orientation. Good, bcos the only thing that Lil Shauna can manage now is pony tail and I don't think I will find it fun to struggle with hair tying at like 6am in the morning. 

Nevertheless, we strike while the iron is hot and learnt from youtube how to do dual french braid. My 1st attempt and I thought it is not too bad. 

It can be tighter and neater. Ok, I need more practice. But french braids are really lasting and she had her hair in those braids the whole day and they even outlasted her ice skating lesson in the evening. 好料!

We checked the Secondary School's website early in the morning and there was limited information. The books and uniform buying was scheduled for tomorrow. Contrary to what we should be doing during Covid-19, the school actually encourage parents and students to go to the school to buy books and uniform than online bcos delivery will take too long. Huh? So inefficient? We had to book a time slot to do so and the book list is not available. 

I had saved some leave, intending to do the needful but now that it is so last minute, I had to activate Daddy Lim instead. Without the booklist, we are also unable to ask for hand-me-downs textbooks. Why like that? Haiz. 

Never mind lah, I shall spend my leave relaxing instead. Hahaha. To the next wonderful journey!

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 4: Working Really Hard

Lil Shauna was at her youth camp and therefore Zaky got to have his ice skating class. With 2 kids on ice skating, we needed to control a little to mitigate the impact on the pocket. 流汗... 

Zaky was in his running shoes for once and I made him jumped a little for warm up before hitting the ice. Then to quickly do the usual drills before his class at 1.15pm. There was so much whining and I had to raise my voice at him. Why they all the same? All like that? Aiyo! He was trying to do the waltz jumps that he had just learnt the week before. I reminded him that falling down is part and parcel. Soon after, he took a tumble right before class and he cried. Apparently the mental preparation didn't help. 

Fortunately, he was able to pick himself up and proceeded with his class. Coach Raymond then pointed out all the mistakes/ bad habits that I had earlier pointed out. Don't play, play. This tuition teacher 有练过的. In fact, it was like deja vu - the memories with Lil Shauna all flooded back, including the whining. Every kid must whine. Lol. I started wondering if it had been better if they had started ice skating at the same time and I could take the whining at one go. I decided that it wouldnt be better, I probably would have died at the double whining impact. Lol. 

Coach Raymond taught Zaky the footwork before embarking on the waltz jumps and he was excited to master the jump. He was very much fired up after class that he tried over and over and over again. I had to say that I am impressed at how hard he tried. At times, he was looking at how J was doing the waltz jumps and trying to mimick. 

He didn't get the jump eventually but he tried really hard and that is enough for me. He noted his own errors and tried to correct them. I like it when they think about what they are doing. 

With Zaky, he is older and is picking up faster. He is stronger too but he needed to learn how to control, which is difficult, given how clumsy he has always been. Let's see where the journey brings him. 

Mummy Li.

Only 1 Kid

Lil Shauna is busy the entire weekend with the youth camp and we are starting to learn how to spend the weekend with only 1 kid. After a lot of mental preparation, it wasn't too bad. 

Daddy Lim wanted to look for safety shoes at the Peninsula Plaza and we decided to bring Zaky to Suntec thereafter for "something" fun, even if we were without jiejie. He ended up spending $20 and had an hour's of fun at the arcade. 

Was he upset that jiejie was not available? Not at all. Lol. He was very pleased to be the only kid. He got to choose Subway for lunch, he got all the attention and totally enjoyed himself. Hoho. 

This morning, we brought Zaky cycling with an usual ka cyclist and his gf. I had thought that Lil Shauna would be busy from morning only to realise too late that she was available - we were loaning her bike to the gf. Lil Shauna wasn't upset. I think early morning cycling is too much hard work. Obviously sleeping in is an easier choice. 

It was an easy ride and Zaky didn't at all look like he missed jiejie. Hoho. 

On the other hand, Lil Shauna totally enjoyed herself at the youth camp, coming home and sharing excitedly with us. 

For sure this is only the beginning. I think I should start planning the stuff to do with Daddy Lim without the kids on weekend. 

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 220: Doing It

After working really hard on Friday and Saturday, I only wanted to 放空 on Sunday. Stoning sounded like a wonderful thing to do. I volunteered to be with Lil Shauna while she did her ice skating lesson so that I can stone at the level 4 spectator seats. That was exactly what I did. Hoho. Mission accomplished - the stoning part. 

While that was my sole focus, she surprised me with several combined camel, sit and scratch spins. Those are part of her elementary program and she seems to be finally getting it. Speaking of which, I had the honor of her doing her program and "chasing" after her music during the last SISA ice. She looked fine without the music, but once with music, she looked like she 慢半拍. Lol. She was also obviously struggling with the combine spins then, which is a crucial component in order to pass the elementary test. Ya, got test. 

It is getting almost impossible to get the kids slots to practice on ice unless they have classes. Coach says that people started queuing as early as 7am on weekends to get a slot. Huh?! I need my life and don't have the time to Q 2.5 hours on weekend just to get my kids into the rink lor. In the beginning, we were happy to enjoy the empty rink with the limited capacity but now it is a pain bcos I can't even get the kids in. I am secretly hoping that things will be better with Phase 3 and the capacity will be increased. I even comtemplated signing Zaky up for group figure skating classes so that he can have extra practices. The kids so need the practice time now. Crossing fingers for phase 3. 

While Lil Shauna was working hard on ice and then off ice, we packed Zaky to the Fs' place. We were meeting for dinner and the kids were going to sleepover. Yay! More stoning opportunities for me. 

The night turned out well. 

I had my overdue rest too. 

Mummy Lim