Overdue Gathering

A very dear uni mate reached out to me a while back and we met up. Our kids played well and we had a fantastic time catching up. We talked about future meet-ups and the next moment, she reached out to the usual uni gang and a date was pinned down.  We have to thank watsapp in times like this. This dear friend even offered a superb venue – an outdoor but sheltered pavilion kind complete with sink, electrical BBQ pit, microwave, oven and stove – on the 6th floor of one of the condos. This is what I called efficiency.

There were a lot of discussions over whom to bring what to the potluck style lunch. Delicious dishes were named and I offered to bring my all-time favorite – fruits. Haha. I didn't have many choices. First of all, I can’t cook and Daddy Lim would be working on that day. That day being Hari Raya would imply that it was maybe-impossible-to-get-a-cab and I may need to take a train down to far away AMK. So, no doubt that Popo can easily whipped up chicken curry and fried beehoon and you-name-it, it was too challenging for me to attempt to bring 2 kids, a stroller and the food (still intact) to the meeting venue. Well, at least I washed the fruits. Hohoho. Actually, I was kind of embarrassed at what I could contribute but the uni mates were all super nice. The amount of food presented were just nice o feed the crowd. Hopefully, by the next gathering, I would be able to drive confidently and contribute.

The gathering was very successful. We were awfully late bcos as expected, every single cab was hired and even taxi booking couldn't help. We had to resort to our plan B and I was actually quite shocked to see that many stops separating Pioneer and AMK. I couldn't be more thankful to find that the north-south line train was fairly empty and we had seats. The kids were also well-entertained with the toys that they brought along and eventually Youtube that can chase away all boredom.

 There were plenty of catch-up. My uni mates seemed to be all doing pretty well in their career and life. I also learnt about the updates of so and so who were not at the gathering. Almost all of us have kids now and the kids played together well. Unfortunately, eating wasn't part of my kids’ agenda and it was tough coaxing them to swallow food.

There was a waddling pool right next to the pavilion and my kids spent most of their time soaking themselves into prunes.

Well, at least that left me a lot of time to catch up and tackle the delicious food.

I was also very impressed with some of the really well-behaved kids. If my kids were like that, maybe I could have 10! Haha, joking lah. Daddy Lim, don't faint.

This is me with my brood of 6!

Thankfully Daddy Lim knocked off early enough to pick us up from the gathering. I cannot imagine having to take the train away to wherever. I think we will meet up again soon. J

Mummy Lim

To Send or Not to Send

I was sure that I wanted to enroll Lil Shauna into a BASC when she enters Primary One, all the time thinking that she would be in the morning session. I wavered on learning that she will still be in the pm session when she starts school next year.

After visiting the centers, I sort of re-convinced myself that Lil Shauna should start getting used to the idea early and should still go to the center despite being in the pm session. The center will help to instill some discipline in her. There will also be “teachers” – though I am not very convinced of their qualifications – around to help with her homework and also enrichment classes. Daddy Lim and I even started discussing on the transport arrangement and I have started to practice driving in anticipation of the need to take the car in the future.

However, during a casual chat with Auntie H, I started to waver again. Auntie H thinks that it is actually very tiring for a kid to be out 12 hours every school day. I couldn't agree more and that has always been the reason why we didn't send the kids to a childcare centers all these years. She also suggested that we could delay sending Lil Shauna to the center until she goes into morning session. Afterall, we have help at home. By then, she would also be one year older and could probably adapt better. 

I started a whole round of discussion with Daddy Lim again. The advantages of keeping her at home are:

1. She could sleep in later (having to wake up later) and we would have more time with her in the evening/ night and helped with school work;

2. She could spend more time at home and get to rest more;

3. She could take a school bus and that will not disrupt our current work travel arrangement for another year; and

4. Lil Isaac would have jiejie as his playmate in the am before school.

The disadvantages:

1. There would be plenty (and probably nothing much else) of TV watching every morning before school; 

2. We will have to do homework and spelling and whatever else with her after work since it is impossible for Popo to help (she doesn't help now and it wouldn't change in the future); and

3. We will still be very much reliant on Popo, which is something that I had been yearning to break out of.

I don't know which is better. It may be sad to have her spend 12 hours a day in school and BASC every school day but one year later (in P2), it would surely happen. When she is in the morning class I cannot imagine struggling over homework with her after work. By then, she would have been exhausted having woke up early and spent her entire afternoon playing or watching TV. She would need to go to bed early too. There is also never a too young age to start BASC. Didi would be in the morning class when he is in Primary one and he would go to BASC when he is in Primary one. Moreover, there are thousands of kids in Singapore who started childcare at a much younger age.

Thankfully, we still have some time to think about it.

Mummy Lim

Kids' Stop

We didn't have plans for Sunday pm after church. Daddy Lim was on duty and we didn't want to run too far away from the West. I have been eyeing this new kids’ set-up by Singapore Science Center – Kids’ Stop and thought that it would have been a perfect opportunity to visit.

I browsed through its’ website and thought that it had something to do with role play – somewhat like Babyboss. We dated my brother’s family and arrived at Kids’ Stop at about 2pm only to find that it was closed for cleaning and would re-open at 3pm for their 2nd sessions; there are 2 sessions per day and each session can hold about 300 kids. The kids burnt the hour of waiting by jumping and monkeying around. 

The visit was expensive. A kid’s ticket costs $23 and an adult one costs $13. We paid $30 to sign up a membership for each kid that gave us a complimentary kid and adult entry. The membership would give us discounted entry for subsequent visits. I was anticipating the visit, given that it was that expensive.

The staff engaged the kids to do a dance to the theme song right before the door opens. It was somewhat like Hi-5 style. Lil Isaac was standing right in front but refused to participant and folded his arms. Duh. However, he was humming the theme song thereafter. Lol.

The kids were bursting with excitement upon entering the center. The girls stayed together while Lil Isaac was interested in very different plays. I had to follow the monkey while Popo helped with jiejie. The activities were very different from what I envisioned them to be. There were some role-play and some costumes for the little ones to change into but I don't see many changing into them. I think that was bcos the kids were too excited running from stations to stations. The activities were mostly opened to everyone at the same time, depending on how hard the kids fight to get the equipment while the parents try to help to instill some order. Staff were only at the stations that required operation of more complicated equipment. The activities are all science theme and that was when I understood why it was part of Science Center.

This had to be Lil Isaac’s favorite.

Of the 2+ hours that we spent at the center, I probably spent 25% of the time watching balls get carried up using this pulley system thing and then dropping down the tunnel using pipe pieces that the kids built. Lil Isaac was so fascinated by the activity and he always come back after awhile. It didn't matter that he didn't get to operate the pulley or the balls didn't fall into the tunnels that he built. He was just happy moving the balls and tunnels around.

These were some others that he tried.

The main play center was pretty small given the big crowd. Then we found 2 other smaller connecting exhibition rooms. Lil Isaac started playing with the green beans. Popo said that Lil Shauna spent a long time at the green beans station.

There was a tiny stage with controlling systems and a cute photographing system.

We left the center about 5.30pm. By then, my legs and back were threatening to break from that 2+ hours of standing around. My verdict? I think the entry is way too expensive. The center is a little too crowded too. There was almost no sitting area for adults. The cafe is outside of the center and adults cannot watch over their kids over a nice cuppa. Maybe that is to make the adults enjoy the activities with their kids but it is indeed very agonizing to stand around for many hours. It would also have been better if the activities were more organized – for example, the human parts station (no photo) that we explored at one point was so messy. The organs were everywhere bcos so many kids played/ were playing at the same time. 

Would we go back again? I am not sure. The place bored me after a while but the kids seem to be keen to go again. Maybe it would be good to try to burn 2 hours on a weekend that we have no plans. The only plus point is that it is so near to home.

Mummy Lim

Something that We Already Know

We finally received the blue chit to inform us that we have gotten in WGPS.

Hmmm... tell me something that I don't know.

Now, it is which BASC to sign up with. By the way, we met one of Lil Shauna's morning class classmates while cycling on the downstairs park this evening. Unfortunately, Lil Shauna doesn't know her name (but she knows Shauna's!). Her mummy said that they are intending to register for WGPS too. I hope Lil Shauna will have future classmates from her current kindergarten. Cross fingers and toes.

Mummy Lim

Energizer Obstacle Race

Remember that Daddy Lim signed himself and his little girl up for the Energizer Obstacle Race (EOR)? They even trained a few times for the race. A week back, Daddy Lim prepared the jerseys and they were all excited.

The race took place yday and it was freaking hot. We parked at the zoo and took a bus to the venue.

The Chan family came and gave their support. Uncle C is gearing up to join with boo next year, given that the min age is 6 for the parent and child race but we spotted a boy who was in the race and he can't be 6. He looks like he barely learnt how to run properly.

The organiser also promised pretty of games for the kids. Lil Isaac has been promised the treasure hunt while jiejie races and he had been looking forward to it.

There was a lot of waiting. The participants were let off in batches. So we sat on the stage (for the camera) waiting for Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna to be flagged off.

We were all very excited when it was their turn.

We didn't know how long they would take but saw some parent and child teams coming back even before Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna raced off. Those must be the really good ones. We then went back to the tent, hoping to go for the treasure hunt only to realise that it starts at 6pm, which was a good hour away. They had rodeo and trampoline but required a minimum height of 1.2m. The disappointed kids ended up back in the tent, watching bigger kids race remote control cars instead. Unfortunately the bigger kids hoarded the remotes and the smaller kids can only watch... or helped to mend broken tracks.

Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna came back just when we were getting bored watching the cars go round and round the little track.

They looked great other than a dirty shoe. The obstacles weren't that hard and they didn't get themselves as dirty as we thought they would. We had even lugged a bagful of clothes and shoes thinking that they would need to change after the race. Blehhhhh. 

We had wanted to leave but Lil Isaac was fussing to go for the treasure hunt. The Chan family left and we waited for the hunt to start at where the q was supposed to start only to realise that it was a wrong place to wait - lousy signboard. By the time we joined the q, it was so long and it would have been night by the time it was our turn. We had to coax the children out of the q and headed back home.

Overall, the race was great (according to Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna). They definitely had plenty of fun. However, the venue was lousy and inaccessible. The waiting sux too. Most importantly, I think they over promised the activities for the kids. Nevertheless, it was a memorable 1st race for the father and daughter.

Mummy Lim

Peacefulness

I cannot resist taking this picture. The peacefulness before the day starts with the active kids.

When one is a mummy, they appreciate the strangest things in life.

Mummy Lim

The Tiger Mum is Talking

Ever since we started PV-ing at WGPS, I draw the conclusion that all neighborhood primary schools are about the same. Haiz. Since there isn’t a better choice, we sort of resigned to fate and enrolled Lil Shauna in the same school that we have committed 40 long hours. 

Since the Primary One registration started, I found myself green eyed and drooling at every other parent who told me that their kid is going into so and so school due to some kind of affiliation. I lament that I was enrolled into a neighborhood primary school that doesn't even exist now and wonders if history will repeat itself, i.e., I am bringing harm not only to my kids but to my grandkids as well. Oh no. After we registered Lil Shauna, I probably looked somewhat dejected, which triggered my mum to keep asking us on why we didn't try to enroll Lil Shauna in a better school. Duh!

This was made worse when we visit the BASCs on Tuesday. While walking to the centers, we see different groups of WGPS boys (different race, different cliques) gathering at the void decks doing or intending to do what seems to be cheeky usual boys stuff. I rolled eyes and told Daddy Lim that I could see Lil Isaac doing the exact same thing a few years down the road. I took comfort in the fact that I started the kids early on academic enrichment programs. 

My emotions took another plunge when my ex-SHSS vball coach posted videos on FB of the C girls’ games at the East Zone finals. They are so unbelievably good as compared to when I was a C girl. I was totally impressed and this triggered a discussion of Direct School Admission (DSA) using sports at the SHSS chat thread. They were discussing how some kids already have the sports foundation during their primary school days and the question of what sports to sign our kids up NOW popped. I feel cold sweat. WGPS doesn't have an impressive list of CCAs. Sob. T.T By the way, the C girls took home the East Zone championship. 3 cheers.

I started wondering if we haven’t done enuff for Lil Shauna. Maybe we should have shifted our house to be near a better primary school and did PV in that better primary school. Should we now change plan and try to do so for Lil Isaac? Then we could transfer Lil Shauna over if Lil Isaac manages to get it. And like usual, my nonsense starts again. 

The topic of what sports/ skills to sign the kids up is also recharged and I have been bugging Daddy Lim. After all these years of swimming lessons, I am pretty convinced that the kids are not exactly talented in the waters, just like music with Lil Shauna. We are taking a break from swimming lessons, which leaves our Saturday morning free for a while. I am again convinced that I want to sign Lil Shauna up for skating classes. I thought Tennis sounded really good for Lil Isaac and JW Safra runs kids programs when I check many months back. If Lil Shauna is keen, they can both go for it! Daddy Lim asked why not soccer or Tekwando for Lil Isaac. I have no preference actually but kept having this impression that good soccer training would usually take place in atas places like Turf club and traveling is a pain. As for Tekwando, I wouldn't be very pleased if Lil Isaac tries his moves on us.

So, it is back to the drawing board. I shall be making my calls today.

Mummy Lim

Mr Lizard

Mr Lizard shifted into our house some time back. I was nice to co-exist with Mr Lizard as he wasn't much of a nuisance; he was quiet, hid his presence well and lives peacefully in the kitchen. I am not a very anti-lizard to begin with. However, in recent months, he has crossed the line and this got me very angry. Tsk, tsk.

First, he developed bad toilet habits and started to poo poo at visible spots in the kitchen. This constantly reminded me of his presence. As if not enough, he now makes himself visible at the most inappropriate times and made sudden dashes in the kitchen, enough to make me jump. Bad! I started wondering if he walks over or even shares the food and water that we have in the kitchen. Maybe he swims in it! *gulp*

I have decided that he has to go and bought lizard traps from NTUC. Fortunately for him, his life is spared for now on Popo’s interception. Popo thinks that nobody kills lizard and it is too cruel to kill a lizard!!?? Then why would there be commercialize lizard traps? I also think that she needs to have a talk with Auntie J, who is terrified of those little creatures and is never merciful to them. Haha. Anyway, Mr Lizard can count his blessings for now. And a word of advice, pls behave and it is a no-no to invite your friends into our house or start a family. Thank you very much.

Mummy Lim   

July Gathering

It was the usual SHSS monthly gathering but the gathering took place at Ms Teo’s place, as it was her bday. Her place is in far, far away Tampines. Did you see my face turn green? It took us a long time to finally get there. Luckily for us, Daddy Lim managed to knock off early and could fetch us from church. Otherwise, the amount of Youtubes that the kids would watch on the train would probably burst my pathetic 2gb data plan.

The last time we visited Ms Teo’s place was during last year’s CNY (if my memory proves me right). Then, the kids were smaller and they couldn't run as fast. On Sunday, Ms Teo’s place suddenly seems so much smaller with bigger size kids trying to squeeze into corners during hide and seek and running from room to room. I was sure that the screams took up whatever empty spaces that were left. As Ms Teo’s house isn’t kids’ friendly, we were constantly worried that somebody would smash something. Luckily her house still looks very much intact at the end of the gathering. And though there were no toys, the kids were very innovative and turn chairs and pillows and whatever furniture into play things. Her furniture are really durable to sustain those rough play. No wonder we can only visit her place once in a long while. Lol.

There were plenty of food. The small people were too focused on play to feel hungry so the big people ended up happily tucking in and in and in. This is no good for my diet plan but it was too yummy to resist.  At certain point, we adjourned to the swimming pool for the kids to use up whatever energy they were left with – which was a lot! The kids needed the space to run and jump and yell. The adults happily eyed-power the kids and catch up while making sure that all the kids were well. After swimming, the kids were finally hungry. However, back at her house, before food could hit their mouths, they were off running and playing again. 

They did get to eat some cake though. Apparently, little people love candle blowing.

We left Ms Teo’s place in the early evening. It was a great gathering with good catch-up. 3 cheers to over 20 years of friendship! I was so full with food and was hoping to head home when the kids started yelling that they were hungry, now that the fun was over. What great timing. 

It was again another long drive back home after dinner, however, a quiet one. Lil Isaac was knocked out and slept all the way to this morning. Lil Shauna barely made it awake home. Sleep was easy not only for the kids but also for Mummy Lim. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

P1 Registration

Today is the day.
After 40 long laborious hours, we qualified for phase 2B. There are 4 registration slots over 2 days and we opted to register during the last slot. I have been monitoring the vacancy status everyday and at this point, I am very sure that we will get into WGPS without balloting. The school staff even called us up this early afternoon when they realised that we had not registered. Their school must be not very popular. Lol.

We visited 3 nearby before/ after school care (BASC). The intention was to enroll Lil Shauna into one. We will send her to school in the morning and pick her up from the BASC at the end of the day.

Happy Kids
This BASC is nearest to the school but very run down. It is located in a bomb shelter, in a basement. It is air condition and has 4 classrooms. There is a small dining area one level up and right next to shower cubicles and toilets.  The dinning, shower and toilet areas are bad. They aren't exactly dirty but not clean and feel very old.  I thought there was an awful smell too. I can already imagine Lil Shauna telling me how stinky the area is. This center is definitely our.

DStar
I remember reading quite good reviews about this BASC.  This is a few blocks away from the school and it is also located in the in the basement with air conditioning. The center is not very new. However, in comparison to Happy Kids, DStar is so much brighter, cleaner and cheerful. I also see a number of WGPS students enrolled in this BASC too. The shower/ toilet is also next to the dining area, though old but much, much cleaner and there is no awful smell. The administrator was helpful to suggest that we could enroll Lil Shauna in mid December to help her get used to the center before school starts in January. I thought that is a fantastic idea.

Peach Tree
This is located on the other side of the school and the kids have to cross a road to reach the center. It is the only center on the ground floor but not conditioned. However, it is bright and airy. It is the furthest from the school and smallest of the 3. There are only 2 classrooms but the shower and toilet area is the cleanest. The other drawback is that the center only opens from 7.15am though the administrator assured us that the cleaning auntie would normally be in the center by 7 am.

The timetable of the centers are more or less the same. I have no preference between the 2nd and 3rd centers. Daddy Lim prefers the 2nd one given that it starts at 7 am and it is nearer to the school. So I guess we more or less have made the choice.

While visiting the centers, we were told that WGPS would still be double sessions next year as their facilities would not be ready in time. This was confirmed by the school and it screwed up all our plans big time. I am still keen to send Lil Shauna to the center before school, which brings us to the next question of how to be in time for work after sending Lil Shauna to the center since it only opens at 7 am. One of the options is to hire the school bus to send get to the center. I am not sure if we would have this option and would only be able to find out at the end of the year after we linked up with the bus company. The other is for me to take the car in the future - I will drive to work after sending Daddy Lim to the yard and pick him up at the end of the day
 The thought of driving is so scary.  But I guess practice makes perfect and I have to start somewhere. Anyway, that has been my new year resolutions for many years.

Now, we just have to wait for the school to Send us the confirmation that we have been accepted into the school. Yeah!

Mummy Lim

New!

Lil Shauna's 4-wheeler bicycle is super lousy. It is hard to pedal and she has grown too big for her 14" bike. We have been thinking of teaching her to cycle but that means that we have to buy her a bigger bicycle and we needed somewhere spacious and as little crowd as possible. We dont want to kill somebody. Obviously, we didn't get down to finding both, until yday.

Yday, we dated the Chan family to Labrador Park. The park isn't crowded and it has long, straight path. So, we rushed off to grab a new bicycle before we met up with them.

Lil Shauna was very excited with her new ride. A while ago, she could actually balance a little while riding Felicia's bicycle in Centris. I already know that it wasn't too tough to teach the little girl and I was right. There was this point that she wanted to give up after crashing 2x. She eventually persevered on and it probably took us about 30 mins and mummy running up and down the paths quite a number of times. Soon, she was riding independently. Now, we have to teach her how to start riding on her own and negotiate bends and turns.

This was taken at our void deck. She must be so fast that Daddy Lim couldn't take a proper picture of her. Lol.

Lil Isaac damaged the scooter's brake yday. I was silently swearing that we have to get a new scoot when Daddy Lim reminded me that there are probably repair services available for micro scoot. And there is nothing the Internet can't help.

We brought the scoot to repair this afternoon.  The uncle carried a whole range of accessories and the kids ended up having made-over scoots. We burnt a hole in our pocket as well but the accessories are really quite irresistible.

We ended up poorer but very happy kids who couldn't wait to show off their scoots.

Mummy Lim

Simple Joys of Life

Seeing the smiles on the kids' face when they get to scoot before school.

And no tears but all smiles when they board the school bus. Love.

Mummy Lim

Festival of Biodiversity 2014

It was a not-much-program-planned Sunday. I had intended to throw the kids at Polliwogs, Vivo after church and was hoping that I wouldn't get dragged into too much play. I must be dreaming. Haha. 

We had our usual fast food breakfast and arrived in church to find that it was a combined service and there was no kids’ program. I don't remember the teachers talking about it. I should have checked the church website before we made our way to the church. We left without trying to squeeze in the overly packed service and headed to Vivo. I was half lamenting – if I have known that there was no kids’ service, we would have not left the house so early. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find the Festival of Biodiversity 2014 going on in Vivo. I think it is largely supported by National Parks and plenty of volunteers.

The kids started off with craft works. They made cute owl and jellyfish out of recycled styrofoam balls and then we went to explore the many interest exhibits. Did you see the purple and yellow balls on satay stick? They are Lil Isaac’s owl and chick respectively.

Each exhibit was well-manned by passionate volunteers who explained really clearly and nicely the wildlife in Singapore. Apparently, all the wildlife displayed are what could be found in Singapore either now or in the past. It was very educational and entertaining, even for me. There was plenty to see and participate and everything was free! Lil Shauna was attentively taking in the explanation but Lil Isaac appeared to stare in the blank most of the time. The kids even took pictures with the lions!

The kids also had some face and hand painting done. We make a small donation to one of the charitable organizations at the road show.

Then, there was also story telling. 

Then we went back to the craft session and made clay turtle and dragonfly this time.

The kids had a lot of fun and we spent almost 2 hours participating in the event. Thumbs up for National Parks in their effort to educate the public.

 Mummy Lim

Boys will be Boys

There was this article that I read on FB written by a mum with boys. She described how boys’ behave differently from girls and her descriptions were funny. At the end of the article, I was all smiles bcos the descriptions perfectly match that of Lil Isaac, though the author seems to exaggerate a little at times.  

I felt comforted to know that Lil Isaac is normal and not overly active. I mean, I do hear boys’ mummies complaining of how active their little ones are but never really seen them myself. Those behaviours that I observed durimg gatherings cant really count bcos the kids were having fun and so even the girls were running wild. And of course I have seen really attentive and well-behaved boys, who often caught my attention bcos they are so different from the little monkey that we have at home. So, I am also comforted that I am not the only mum going through crazy times (with many ssss) with my boy. He simply couldn't keep still. He not only has ants on his knees, he has them all over his body. No wonder I adore how he looks when he first falls asleep. Haha.

There were also times that I was worried that he wouldn't grow up “properly” having surrounded by his jiejie and cousins almost everyday. There are afterall mostly girl’s toys at Centris, but he definitely did fine. He is very much boys and is about jumping, tumbling, showing off his gungfu moves, cars, planes, guns, swords, fighting and super heroes even with all the girly stuff that surrounds him. It is interesting how all these are innate despite the environment. He does play girly stuff with the girls but would go tumbling and wrestling with the boy (read Joshua gorgor) when he has the chance.

Over the weekend, we found a rare Batman story book in the library and he couldn't get his hands off the book. He had been asking us to read and re-read and re-read the book. I got bored of reading the story but he is still excited to hear the same story over and over again.

Well, boys will be boys, even after like 40 years. Lol.

Mummy Lim

Passport Step 1

Lil Isaac needs to have his passport picture changed. He was a baby when he had his passport made and it does take a keen eye to see that the passport belongs to him. Two trips back, while exiting Singapore, the Immigration Officer suggested that we should change his picture. Since then, I have been worried that we may have to call off a holiday or couldn't come home bcos he couldn't pass the immigration. Luckily he responds to his name. Lol.

Our passports are all expiring either in 2015 or early 2016. Passports need to have a 6 months’ validity before one can travel. I have to physically collect my passport at ICA as I am changing to the new biometrics passport. Lil Isaac has to do so too as he is below 6 YO. Lil Shauna would be tagging along when we make our way to ICA. As such, we have all decided to change our passports at the same time.

I remembered that I did an online application the last time I applied for the kids’ passport. Then, ah yee was around and took super power pictures with her super power DSLR. I had intended to do the same and attempted to take the required passport pictures using an app downloaded into the phone. Apparently, it was a miserably failed attempt.

Firstly, we had to take the pictures at night and we had to rely on the ceiling light. So, we had uneven light cast on the faces. Then, there was shadow and the phone’s flashlight wasn't strong enough. Finally, we have to have really steady hands and the kids had to be very still in order for us to get really sharp pictures. I tried and Daddy Lim tried too and it was very much a heartache.

It was fairly easy with Lil Shauna and we got done with it after a few tries. It was super painful with the little boy who couldn't hold the required position for even 5 seconds and he just couldn't keep still! Eventually, we had a flaring Pappy and a crying boy and had to call it a day. We actually had some nice pictures but didn't make the cut.

The app also allowed selfie and I tried one on myself. I look super bloated with the angle suggested by the app.

We opted for Plan B, which is to have the pictures taken by professionals and it cost us $10 per pax. At the studio, we were told that we should be in sleeves and I had to have my pictures taken another day as my top was sleeveless. I ended up using one of those self service photo taking machines. These were the pictures taken. Do you see any similarities?

The kids were wearing the same T-shirt! Lil Shauna was in a sleeveless dress too. So we had to yank off the boy’s T-shirt and squeezed jiejie in it to have her pictures taken. Lol. She’s not that big and she didn't tear his T-shirt. It was just a little body hugging. Lol.

Well, I think the kids look better in the self-taken pictures, especially Lil Isaac, who was very much stunned stareing at the photographer. But at least he didn't dare to fidget too much and we completed the mission fairly quickly. Step 2 – complete and submit the application form.

Mummy Lim