The Race has Started

Primary One registration started in early July. Phase 1 is for those whose siblings are still in the school. Phase 2A (1), for those whose parents are alumni just ended and the results will be concluded tomorrow. This is the standing of WGPS as at today.

There are 240 vacancies this year and my heart dropped when I saw that 103 places were taken up in Phase 1. Luckily, there were no takers for phase 2A(1). I guessed not many parents would want to pay to join as alumni for neighbourhood  schools. Phase 2A(2) for kids whose parents are old boys/ girls for sibling who previously studies in the school should start soon. We, who served as Parental Volunteers and completed 40 hours will register on 21 or 22 July. I hope no balloting will be required. We will know at the end of phase 2A(2). If there aren't many who register, we should be very safe. Afterall, the school only took in 15 volunteers last year.

I also don't know if it is a right choice to send the kids to WGPS but since we have done the 40 hours, let's just do it.

Mummy Lim

Exercise, Exercise

I am still on my weekly zumba lessons. The instructor is really good and makes lessons very enjoyable. I just had a good workout earlier this evening.

Daddy Lim and the kids picked me up after my lesson. Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna decided to go jog at the statdium in preparation of their race. Lil Isaac and I tagged along. Lil Isaac and I did 2 rounds - we were all surprised that Lil Isaac could run so well. In fact, he could go more but mummy wanted to stop and lured him away from the tracks with soft drinks. Hoho.

Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna completed their 4 rounds. Yeah! We all had a good workout today. Daddy Lim needs to do more. He had his bicycle tyres all pumped up since a few days back and his bicycle is still waiting for him to bring it out for a ride. Yawns.

The kids are fine, they had plenty of exercise and activities throughout the week.  The parents need to move their butt a little bit more and lose that few kgs.  Jia you!

Mummy Lim

Daddy Lim's Company Event

It was Daddy Lim's company informal yet official gathering. The venue - a company bungalow tucked in Pasir Ris. We didn't join Daddy Lim last year but decided to do so this year.

I know most of his colleagues, having worked in the company for 9 years. It does feel like home ground to a large extent. It feels really nice to see so many familiar faces.

We had thought of letting the kids swim in the pool. The pool was "clean" but many different kinds of insects decided to take a dip too and never made it out alive. The kids ended up playing fishing dead insects out of the pool game. They also had fun exploring the big house. There were plenty of food.  I think they ordered enuff to feed hundreds but there were like less than 100 of us. Durians go by 2 big basket full, chicken and ducks, Tim sum, pizzas, Indian rojak, Shepard pies and the list goes on.

Towards the end of the gathering, they had quizzes and were giving out prizes and Lil Shauna said that she really wanted a prize but I duno the answers to any of the questions. Eventually, one of Daddy Lim's colleagues who won 2 prizes decided to give those to the kids and they were so thrilled.

Lil Shauna was pleased even when told that the prizes were likely to be biscuits or chocolates. Lil Isaac insisted that his was a car and was disappointed when he ripped open the wrapper to find biscuits. Lol. But the biscuits were put to good use on the way back - Lil Isaac was too obsessed with playing and didn't eat much.

Mummy Lim

NDP 2014

My brother is in the news!
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/funpack-for-ndp-2014/1229864.html

He could get us NDP tickets too if we wanted to go and watch the parade. I don't think I have ever watch a NDP live. In past many years, I didn't even catch it on the TV. It should be nice though to watch it live. But the thought of squeezing with the crowd before and especially "after" the parade gives me cold sweat.

We have until National Day to decide. Go, don't go, go, don't go.

Mummy Lim

Herbal Dye Day

I had to do parental volunteer duties on Wednesday and took half day leave - I desperately needed to color my hair. The last time I coloured my hair was after CNY and that was like 5 months back. I must have looked horrible but I just couldn't find time to go to the salon. Whenever I took leave, there were more important/ urgent things to do, like a holiday. Hoho. 

I was prepared to sit in the salon for hours and got all ready. And I did sit for more than 3 hours.

The session started with the consultant telling me how much dandruff I have and how serious the condition can be if left untreated. I was trying to look solemn but silently thinking that dandruff had been with me for like years! Sales pitch!

They started dyeing my hair 1st. That was when I realised that I haven't had a trim for a long time. I can't even remember when I last cut my hair. It was herbal dye and the cream that they used included herbal duno what. By the time they were done, there was a pile of what looked like dung sitting on my head and oh boy it was heavy.

The wait was painful with the heavy pile. After at least an hour, the consultant checked on me and I was hopeful for the pile to be washed away. But bcos I dyed my hair black previously, the herbal dye couldn't get into the lower part of my hair (that had been dyed black previously) and the consultant coated another layer and I had to wait another painful 30 mins. My scalp felt uncomfortable. I felt as if I had a thick coat of whatever sticking to my scalp and I so wanted to scratch. To top it off, my but was aching from all the sitting.

Finally, I get to wash off the pile and I couldn't be more please. The rest of the hour was some treatment to my poor scalp.

The result?

And I was looking so grumpy bcos I was rushing to my zumba class. It was pretty dumb to waste my whole head of nicely washed and blown dried hair.

The colour still didn't set in for the lower part of my hair. Maybe you can't really tell from the picture but the top is still reddish and the bottom very much black.

The consultant did offer to re-adjust for me for free but I don't fancy the idea of another chemical treatment and another 1.5hr sit. Even though herbal dye is supposed to contain less chemical, there still is. My head needed a rest. My hair smelled really nice on the 1st day. But like the previous dyes, the smell on the 2nd/ 3rd day smells like - the stale cigarette smell that lingered on the hair after wash after clubbing. That was when smoking was still allowed in club. 

I need a haircut.

Mummy Lim

Auntie L's Big Day

It was Auntie L’s big day yday and the kids were helping to be her flower girl and page boy. The tasks sounded so easy – to walk in ahead of the couple for ROM and the actual lunch. Easy, right? But there were so many preparations to be done. 

Before her big day, we were on a lookout for Lil Isaac’s rental tuxedo, Lil Shauna’s dress and shoes. Luckily, it didn't cost us a limb to find those but entailed some last minute shopping for Lil Shauna’s shoes. 

Then, there was this mad rush to the hotel yday morning bcos mummy overslept. For some reasons, I couldn't hear the alarm at all. Then we had to lug this big bag to the hotel – the kids changed into the proper clothes at the hotel to minimize risk of dirtying themselves before their big task. Upon arriving at the hotel, it was another mad rush to dress the kids and had them ready on time. While mummy was hurrying, rushing and had her blood pressure increased by a notch, the kids were totally relaxed and taking turns to play the ipad.  

We had a last minute rehearsal. I had to repeat 10x to the monkey for him to walk properly, not to knock into jiejie, not to dance, squirm, jump, whatever – JUST WALK STRAIGHT. The kids got to throw flower petals during their walk-in and were very excited. Then I had to tell Lil Isaac not to snatch the flower basket/ petals from jiejie. I was so worried that the kids would ruin the wedding but everything turned out fine. Auntie L had a very interesting and comical solemiser but he was also painfully long-winded (to me) when I have a very active kid couldn't sit still for long. We eventual escaped the room so that Auntie L can continue with her marriage smoothly. Haha.

Then, it was a short rest before the next big walk-in. We get to rest in her bridal suite. With permission, the kids get to run around in her room and jump on her big hotel bed, which is supposed to be auspicious for the newlywed couple. Lil Shauna took a pic in the big bathtub too.

We headed down to be welcomed by very nice set-up. There was a very nicely done up candy bar and we all helped ourselves to the cakes and candies. Yummy.

We had more rehearsals and the kids get to use the bubble gun this time. Despite being tired and grouchy, they perked immediately. Lil Isaac who refused the camera the whole morning even agreed to pose for pictures at the lure of permission to play with the gun. 

The kids were supposed to walk down the hall with the little Twin Stars.

Then it was another stressful time for mummy. I again repeated myself another 10x on things that they had and not to do. Fortunately, the walk turned out fine as well. They were a little stunted when the door opened and they saw the crowd but started walking and do their stuff after getting over the initial shock. I was happier than everybody else that our quests were completed. I felt so tired, as if my kids were the ones getting married. Lol.

The kids changed out and were comfortable. They had little breakfast and worked up an appetite after the long morning and ate quite a lot, even Lil Isaac. Lil Isaac was also kept well-entertained by the ipad and my ex-boss, who sat next to him and chatted a lot with him. I was so grateful for that. I was mentally exhausted by then and was occupied with feeding the boy and helping jiejie to feed herself. I saw quite some ex-colleagues but couldn't catch up much as I was constantly busied with the kids.

Towards the end of the lunch, the kids were restless and we went out of the hall to run around and played bubble gun. 

Daddy Lim called shortly and we left the lunch to join up with him. We then met Auntie H in town and went to their place for dinner. The little boy totally knocked out. Considering how tired I was, it must have been exhausting for the kids.

Overall, it was a nice experience. I was secretly proud of my kids and it is definitely an once in a life time experience for the kids. I must ask Auntie L for the video clip of them walking in. Hehe. 

Energizer Night Race

Maybe bcos we had too much good food in Penang and we all needed to lose that extra kgs, Daddy Lim wanted to join this.

Don't get too excited. He is only looking at the 1.5km Parent and Child Obstacle Race. Hehe. Luckily for me, the child needs to be at least 6 yo. Lil Isaac cannot join and it also means that I need not join.  Hahaha.

Daddy Lim asked Lil Shauna and she was game. He was about to sign up when I suggested that maybe they should try doing some running 1st. It wouldnt look too pretty to have to drop out of the race midway. And so they did train.

This was them doing some serious warmup. It is so rare to see the princess in T-shirt, shorts and running shoes.

They completed 1.5km - 3 rounds at the park near nainai's place and they survived. Lil Shauna complained that her whole 2 legs were in pain after the run. Lol. They walked some way but at least they completed the run and are alive!

While they ran, Lil Isaac was happily playing at the playground. Hehe.

They made me feel like exercising too. Hmm, feel only. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Penang Day 5

It was our last day in Penang. We woke up a little later than usual and headed for bfast and then to the mall for our coffee fix. I managed to grab my one and only buy in Penang for RM9.

Good buy, right? I also like how I look skinny in this picture. Right angle to take picture. Haha. While I spend rm9, Lil Shauna bought a rm60 pair of shoes from H&M. Lil Isaac bought a rm40 pair of swimming shorts from the same shop. Win already. Lol.

We checked out after that and headed to the kids' club. We had decided to head to the airport from the kids' club. There is showering facilities at the kids' club and we could freshen up before heading to the hotel - or at least that was the plan.

Unfortunately, the kids weren't well-behaved and fought continuously in the car until I had to yell at the little boy. He also got punished and was not allowed to go to the kids' club. He was bawling when Uncle C drove Daddy Lim and the boy to Hard Rock after we alighted at the kids' club. He didn't take the punishment that hard. Daddy Lim said that he stopped shortly after arriving at Hard Rock and they came to join us not too long after as well.  The cheeky boy was all smiles when he joined us. Chey.

We had lunch and departed for the airport. This time, I sat with the girls while Daddy Lim took the boy.

The girls were so easy. Lil Isaac wasn't that tough too. He fell asleep shortly after the plane took off. Haha.

When we were back in Singapore, I was so glad for air con and clean toilets. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Penang Day 4

Auntie A and family were departing in the night. We of course started the day with a delicious spread. Then we headed to the famous old streets with wall painting. There were many other tourists despite the heat. It was very, very hot.

Along the way, we visited some quirky shops, like this one. 

And there were of course plenty of pictures taking. 

We saw many tourists riding bicycles and I was tempted to do so but it was too dangerous considering that we had so many kids. We continued on our foot in search of the famous paintings. 

By 1pm, we were sweating buckets and I was urging the rest to stop for lunch. I needed the shade and wonder if people get heat stroke while looking at the wall painting or would I be the 1st to do so.

We decided to end the tour after lunch and took the trishaw to collect our car. The trishaw was tiny and could hardly fit Daddy Lim and my butt.  We couldnt move after we managed to squeeze into the seat. The old uncle worked so hard to peddle and sent us back. We had to gave him extra tips. While on the trishaw, Lil Isaac was so pleased and kept repeating that we didn't have to walk back. Lol.

We went back to the comfort of our car and took a "car ferry" across the sea (??). We all enjoyed the experience. Along the way, we saw so many jelly fishes in the sea. Lil Shauna said that she counted 130 of them!

We went back to the hotel thereafter. Lil Isaac took a nap while the rest went for dinner. I finally had some quiet time to myself. The kids hadn't been the most well-behaved during the trips and there were so much bickering. 

We went for some late night shopping at the mall in the night - Daddy Lim needed a new shirt and we ended our day with nice ice cream.

Mummy Lim

Penang Day 3+

Hoho, I actually forgotten that we went to the Butterfly Park after the jungle hike! Obviously, that was memory that I didn't want to keep. Lol.

So, how was it? I have totally no idea. I opted to wait outside the park. I didn't think that my poor heart could take the extra stress. But the kids said that it was good.

So, what was I doing while the rest visited the park?

Yummy, what else is there better to do to cool down? It would have been perfect if the waiting area is air con. But I at least had a shelter, a seat and a ceiling fan. Psss.. don't tell the kids that I had an ice cream without them!

Mummy Lim