SAM @ 8Q

I saw in the papers that SAM @ 8Q has new exhibits. This is the 3rd time that we visited the kids friendly museum. The kids were excited and do remember snippets of their last 2 visits.

The current theme is – Imaginarium: Over the Ocean, Under the Sea. I find some of the exhibits very aesthetically appealing as compared to previous years’ work. The ground floor exhibit is a big ocean, with school of fishes and jelly fishes hanging from the ceiling. Corals littered the different parts of the exhibits. Everything is made of wool and felt. Very nicely done. However, the kids were more excited about playing catching in the exhibits. Zzzz..

On the 2nd floor, we caught short movie clips, which is similar to previous years’ concept but different theme. We also made origami of ocean creatures. It was actually quite tough and Lil Isaac lost it bcos he couldn't fold the fishes independently and he was upset for the rest of the exhibits.

One of the 3rd floor exhibits is a sea of plastic. It was awakening imagining the amount of plastic material that we use and dirtied our home. Lollipop enjoyed the exhibit very much given that many plastics were hanging at her eye level.

The last one that we visited was the best in the kids’ eyes. We were in this big, white (originally) room with a big helium-filled and lighted up ball laced with charcoal. As the ball rolls and floats, charcoal marks were left on the white walls and ceilings. I have no idea what was the art trying to depict but the kids had a great time pushing and running away from the ball, getting their palms dirty.

Lil Isaac was the best. He fell and got charcoal marks all over his arms and legs. He even came out of the exhibit with a literally black face.

This exhibit did lift up his mood and we went for a second round. The kids had so much fun.

It was a good experience but I would love to have more hands-on exhibits to entertain the kids so that the parents could stay longer and appreciate more.

Mummy Lim

Belt Up!

There was no TKD lesson last week due to the PH. The grading test result usually comes out 2 weeks after the test. Saturday was the 2nd week and Lil Isaac was excited. He was very confident that he would pass the grading test bcos he said that he is very good with the pattern.

We went for class on Saturday and saw the rolls of new belts by the wall. Exciting! The parents were allowed in the center to take pictures of the belt changing ceremony.

Of course Lil Isaac passed his grading test. He was so sure about it.

He got his belt from the new master. Korean as well but not as handsome leh. Where is Master David? Lol.

Lil Isaac is now green belt! The next grading test will involve sparring! Wah, sound serious but I am sure the real thing will look very different. Hehe. Imagine 6 YO sparring.

We have paid an extra $150 for 5 compulsory sparring lesson. The 1st one will start next Friday. In addition, we spent another $165 for sparring equipment. There is the arm guard, shin guard, groin guard and mouth guard. Sound serious isn't it?! And expensive too. All Adidas de! Dun play play. By the way, the mini size guards all look very cute; so cute that I wonder how serious sparring classes would be.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 47

Lil Shauna was out of action for 2 weeks. I didn't book last week's lesson bcos I didn't want to pay extras (due to the PH). Coincidentally, she was sick for the entire week and couldn't do much. Heng ah!

We are finally back on ice. Her fever was gone and her cough is much better but she still complain about being tired yday morning. I am sure it will take a while for her to be back on top form.

I didn't dare push her during practice. She was complaining about headache one moment, leg pain another then chest pain and don't know where other pain next. I did ask her to try her best for class. Expensive leh.

I didn't expect her to push too hard for class. Midway, Teacher Raymond asked her to stop for water break bcos she was coughing so much. I was excited for a while, thinking that she had opened her golden mouth to ask for permission. Chey.

Teacher Raymond said that her jumps had improved but she still needed alot of speed in her skating. Nobody (including Lil Shauna) knows if she has no strength or shy or scare or tired. We will just have to try harder when she's physically fit. The school holiday is here! Maybe we can visit the rink more often for practice. But I am a busy mum leh. Lol.

At the end of the lesson, she said "goodbye" to Teacher Raymond, finally loud enough for him to hear! Teacher Raymond even jokingly thank her. So funny.

We are skipping off ice again this week, the 3rd week in a row. She thinks that she is still too tired for it. I agree. Look at her yday. Did you see the dark rings? Poor girl.

Mummy Lim

One Less, One More

When ah yee visited during CNY, she commented about how busy our kids are. Yes, they have CEO’s schedule. This is especially so for Lil Shauna, who juggles school and enrichment classes and goes to student care on afternoons when she has no extra classes. Despite shifting some of their classes to the weekdays, our weekends are still packed with classes. Yes, I am a tiger mum. Of course Lil Shauna complains; not so much for the extra classes but the student care. I am quite sure she would love to come home and face the TV after school and Popo would allow all of that so long as nobody fusses.

It is clear that student care will stay. I love how all her homework are done on days that she attends the student care. Lil Isaac would of course follow jiejie’s footstep and do exactly the same when he goes to P1 next year.

I do know how taxing it is for the little girl, who is always very self-driven. After plenty of contemplation, we have finally decided to drop her Chinese classes. I loved how these classes helped the kids built up their foundation. I didn't have to and have no time to worry about Lil Shauna’s tests since she started primary school. Then, she comes home with good results and I accrued all these to her strong foundation. I felt jittery to drop her Chinese classes, it is actually her weakest subject but I believe that it is a subject that can be compensated using hard work. So now, I am the tuition teacher and I have intended to head to popular to buy Chinese assessment books for her to work on during the school holidays. If all that failed, then to turn to tuition teacher, who can come to our house and cut down Lil Shauna’s travelling time.

Lil Shauna is definitely pleased with one class off her plate. She is even happier when I said that she can skip student care on Wednesday even though she has no more Chinese class and can come home to… rest (?). Not exactly, we are going to start swimming classes on next Wednesday. Muahahaha. Wait, hear me out. I am not training the kids to be competitive swimmers. I just needed them to be safe, especially the fearless tiger who jumps into any pool even when he can barely swim with his doggy style. I thought he almost drown in the Centris pool the last time he swam and was about to jump into the pool fully clothe to save him. No, he wasn't drowning but simply playing a fool but my aging heart cannot take this kind of joke.
Lil Shauna swimming strokes are funny. Once I think that they are capable of surviving in the water, we will stop the class. Busy kids.

By the way, we bought a new float from taobao. It is super cool.

It is so big that it had squashed Daddy Lim and it is trying to eat the kids. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Prawning

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon with Daddy Lim. Lil Shauna was skipping off ice training. With her persistent cough, there is no way that she could work out. We were trying to decide what to do while driving home from church. Just then, we passed by Jurong Bird Park and Daddy Lim asked impromptu if anyone wanted to go prawning. The little hands immediately went up.

The kids were going to watch Xmen with Daddy Lim in the afternoon too. We managed to find a perfect movie slot in the late afternoon and headed to the prawning place beside JBP after lunch. This is our 1st prawning experience. I heard that it isn’t that easy and takes skill to prawn. I didn't have high hopes for the kids.

The prawning place was crowded and we found ourselves an almost empty slot. Being noob, we have no idea if there are unspoken rules such as how far away to sit from the other patrons. We happily and noisily placed ourselves there. It wasn't cheap to prawn. It cost $18 per hour for 1 rod. For every 2 paid hours, the 3rd is free. We don't have 3 hours to spare and I don't think the kids can sit still and prawn for 3 hours.

Daddy Lim fixed up the bait and walked away while the kids and I positioned ourselves; they sat facing the pond while I sat behind them. Then we waited. Lil Isaac had the 1st go. In a short while, I saw the float half-submerged and I told Lil Isaac that he probably caught something. He didn't feel a single thing but pull as he was told. That was when he felt the tug. Soon, we had a prawn at the end of the line! He swung the prawn out of the pond and all of us avoided the poor wriggling creature, in the process knocking down chairs. We were definitely a scene with the chairs knocked down, mummy holding on to the pole but not sure what to do and Lil Isaac yelling crazily for Pappy. Lol. The poor prawn was wriggling so badly, will it die out of water? Should I smash it with my foot? No way am I going to touch that prawn with my hand! A very helpful lady saw our distress and came over to help us unhook the prawn and place it in the net. She was so skilled; she held the entire prawn in her hand and took the hook out. She looked like she was born to do so. Lol. I was totally in awe.

Lil Shauna went next and got the 2nd prawn soon after too. This time, Daddy Lim was back to do the man’s job. He must go learn from the lady lah. Don't scare, don’t scare, just grab the prawn lah. Come, I clap for you. Hehe. Since we caught the 1st 2 prawns fairly quickly, my hopes were raised. Maybe we can go home with one big net of prawns!?! Then again, who is going to kill the prawns and cook them? Popo won’t do the killing and don't even look at me.

The remaining time passed very quickly and it gets harder and harder to get the prawns. We felt the tug many times but the prawns got away. There must be some conspiracy; the 1st few prawns must have intentionally taken the hook to make us greedy and want more and pay more to prawn longer.

But we have self-control. By the end of the hour, we were all hot and sweaty. The sun started working hard midway and we were prawning in the sun. The kids got restless too when we hardly got any prawn. By the end of the hour, Lil Isaac was happily playing game on the phone, who cares about what prawns?

Our result? Five prawns! Hehe. When people go home with big nets. And we gave it to the same lady who helped us with the 1st prawn.

Well, at least it was a good (and hot) experience. Maybe the next time we could date other people to prawn together.

Mummy Lim

Lancing, Lancing

Standard Operating Procedures
: Every few months, the backside gets itchy and somebody will jio for party. The last was Auntie SL in January. This time, it was me. I had a great time at Pump Room during D&D and was eager for more.

I used to lament why parties don't start until midnight nowadays. It is like the young kids need to take a little nap before they head to the clubs. However, I realised that the timing suits me well; there is still plenty of time after I tucked the kids to bed.

We met up at 11pm. The crowd at Pump Room is generally older. That is probably why it was decently crowded when we arrived, bcos the old people skipped the nap rule. Lol.

Another SOP, must take pictures.

The Pump Room is not the best club that I had been to; they could definitely work on their sound system. Some parts of the club gets lousy sound. Nevertheless, I heart the crowd. It is not only bcos the crowd is more mature and I blended in easily, it is about how the more mature people dance. We are often less conscious of how other people looked at us and out to really dance and have fun. There are probably many like us who can club only once in a couple pf months. As a result, it was so fun to people watch in Pump Room. Everyone is dancing to their own style and happily. Weeeee!

The only down side is that when matured people dance happily, we need more space. We found the dance floor so crowded and moved to the sitting area midway. A young person would disagree with us. A dance floor Pump Room's size could squeeze in double the amount of young people. Why? Bcos young people don't dance, they simply jumped up and down on the dance floor. I call that synchronise jumping. Serious!

We didn't stay too late and left at 2am. Mature people also mean that they have to sneak back before the kids wake up and the desperate need to steal as much sleep as possible bcos we need to wake up early the next morming, as if we didnt go to bed late the night before and function normally. Yawn.

Was it good? It was better than the last time we went to Zouk for sure. I didn't find it fantastically fun. Was it bcos they had band and band is not my thing? I don't know but I still enjoyed myself nevertheless.

The next day, we decided to meet my bro family who had a free night stay at the Genting hotel in JE. I think I didnt look that dead despite the kids waking me up at 8am.

The kids enjoyed swimming in the fish tank pool though they didn't last very long. Lil Shauna was still coughing madly and Lil Isaac was upset that mummy insisted on his float bcos bad mummy was way too tired to swim.

So, a late night partying away and Daddy Lim on full day duty didn't kill me. Lalalalala. Power!

Mummy Lim

Goodbye Nono

Do you know why Lil Isaac’s favorite soft toy pal is named “nono”? Bcos we had a family dog and he was also “nono”. In the kids’ eyes, all dogs are “nono”; they are used interchangeably.

We had the real nono since he was a pup. I could still remember the day that he was brought home. Truth be told, I was very upset then bcos I was excluded in the trip to choose him and even threw a tantrum that he was a Maltese. I was just making things difficult, like the typical middle child. However, he was so sweet and irresistible. He came, looking like a furry ball and I could hold him in my palm!

He grew up active and playful, never really behaving like how Maltese should. He was always game for fetch or tug of war. I could still remember how excited he always was to go for walks and always insisting to lead the walk, tugging me along. I could never tell who was walking who.

I wasn't as emotionally attached to nono as my SIL or sister. After we had our own place, nono continued to live with my brother’s family. I especially neglected him when the kids came along. I do see him on occasions that I visited my brother’s family but seldom paused long enough to shower him with attention. As he grew older, he moved slower but never failed to want the affection that we showered. The kids loved him too. However, he couldn't keep up with the kids and avoided the kids when possible.

When ah yee visited during CNY, she mentioned that nono lost weight and was skinny. We all knew that he was old at 13 YO. However, he never looked his age. Last week, Popo mentioned that nono seemed sick; he didn't want to move around much. He didn't even bother when Popo was cutting apples; he used to excitedly circle around her feet to remind her of his share.

Yday morning, I saw a text that my brother sent the previous night. They had brought nono to the vet and he was very sick. The vet said that his blood platelet was very low and had referred him to the hospital. He was brought to the hospital yday’s afternoon. The vet again said that he was very sick. We could put him through a surgery but that would only prolong his life and probably pain.

It seemed to point towards putting him down. The vet mentioned that he could go home to spend some moments with family. My SIL who was with him in the hospital all the time said that he looked very tired and couldn't eat or drink, lying down restlessly. I had wanted to bring the kids to say goodbye. Unfortunately, later in the afternoon, my brother updated that his condition turned for the worse and he had made the decision to put him to sleep to reduce his suffering. Our lovely nono and friend for 13 years bid us goodbye.

I was fortunate to be able to catch ah yee to update her on the situation before nono was sent to a better place. I am quite sure it hurt her tremendously to receive the news, though we all know that it was a matter of time.

The kids aren’t too badly affected. Lil Shauna drew a picture when she heard the news. Lil Isaac took the news well and for a while thought that it was his beloved skinny nono that died and that did sent him into a shock.

Nono is in a better place, somewhere where there is no pain and plenty of love, where he can now again run with his friends playing fetch and chase. Where he could eat all the apples that he loved, walked all the parks and be the active nono that we all know.

Mummy Lim

Sick Ah!

Lil Shauna finally went back to school after a massive bout of what seems like common flu to me. The fever monster plagued her for 5 days. What started off as a mild fever on Saturday night escalated to a 40.1 degrees fever at one point but I was told that it was immediately after her nap. It made me doubts the reliability of the thermometer too.

We attempted to self-medicate and brought her to the doctor on Monday evening, just in case it wasn’t the normal cough and flu that my mummy instinct tells me. The doctor diagnosed as “upper respiratory infection”. Yes, a very chim word for cough and flu but cough and flu nevertheless.

Yday, she was definitely on the road of recovery and needed 3 doses of the fever medicine. The intervals between the fevers are getting longer; a tell-tale sign of recovery. In the last 5 days, she polished off 1.5 bottles of paracetamol. Her cough still sounded horrible. It started as dry cough and the poor girl kept coughing every 2 sec in attempts to sooth her itchy throat. The doctor did prescribe a powerful cough mixture that knocks her out in the night, giving her the much needed rest. This morning, the cough appears to turn into the wet cough. My mummy instinct says that it will take many more days for the cough to go away. I am the “family” doctor.

This morning, she woke up fever free after the last dosage of fever medicine at 12 mn. She looked ok and was back to her chirpy self. Taking no chance, I gave her fever, cough and running nose medicine before sending her to school. She has been away from school for too long; the potato couching is not doing her well. I told her that she can inform her teacher if she doesn't feel well and I will pick her up from school. An extension of the protective mummy instinct, I emailed the teacher too, asking her to be excused from PE and left my number, just in case. She could skip student care tomorrow too. I think the long hours will be too taxing. To that, she broke into a smile. Aiyo.

As expected, I received her call during lunch. She said that the headache was coming back and she measured a mild fever. I took a cab to school to pick her and send her home before coming back to the office. I think she is recovering. Hopefully, I don't have to spend $$ on cab tomorrow. Huat ah!

Mummy Lim

Happy Birthday (Party?)

I told Lil Shauna last year that she had used up her lifetime quota for bday parties. She can of course plan her own elaborated bday parties when she is (much) older but I am so done with bday parties. Lil Isaac has 2 quotas left. Then, I imagined a life without kiddish parties. Muahahaha.

I actually like planning bday parties, especially if $$ is not a concern, which unfortunately is bcos everything is so freaking expensive nowadays. DIY can of course help to cut cost but you know that I am a busy mummy. If anyone is planning for a money-no-problem party, I would be very happy to offer my service.

Maybe it is cheating, although I said that there will be NO more bday party, we still invited the SHSS gang and my brother’s family over for a get-together. It is also the 1st time that the SHSS gang gets to peep at our little home. I miss hosting gatherings.

Lil Shauna had a busy day with ice skating in the morning and we went to buy a last minute piñata. She was happy on the way home for more shopping to stuff up the piñata.

She had been complaining of headache since early morning and I gave her a dose of paracetamol, hoping to chase away the pain.

The 3Fs came early and the kids self-entertained with piñata stuffing. I kept asking if the piñata was too heavy. They assured me not while they excitedly stuff more goodies into the piñata. It was freaking heavy lor. Hmm… obviously the kids cannot be trusted when it comes to candies and chocolates.

We had invited the guests to come and enjoy the pool but there was a heavy downpour that lasted like the whole afternoon. Amazingly, the rain stopped exactly at the time that the guests started arriving! In the far, far background, did you see me doing guard duty? I had to make sure that the fearless tiger doesn't drown.

There was never a dull moment. The kids were happily running around in the spacious function rooms, to fish feeding. They threw so much bread into the pond that I wondered if we would end up harming the fishes.

It was hard to get the kids to sit down for dinner. Fun can apparently chase hunger away. Lil Shauna started complaining of feeling unwell at 6ish and measured a low-grade fever. She had medicine and managed to head back to the function rooms when the magician came. Yes, I said that it is not a bday party but we needed to entertain the kids, right? Hehe. 

I personally didn't find the magic show interesting but the kids gave fairly good feedback. Maybe Uncle C can step up the next time.

We had the cake cutting ceremony.

Followed by piñata.

It was so easy to break the piñata bcos it was so freaking heavy!

The kids gathered so much candies and goodies that I almost feel back for the parents. Almost only. Lol.

The girls visited our tiny little home. It is amazing how we managed to fit everybody. The kids swarmed into the kids’ room. In the process, Lil Shauna got upset bcos her lego creation was altered. I think it is a combination of exhaustion and feeling unwell. She needed time alone in the room and the guests left shortly.

Lil Shauna did perk up after the guests left on the promise of opening her presents. The little boy was already fast asleep. The gifts were all very thoughtful and age-appropriate. Thank you!

I still think it wasn't a bday party bcos there was no goody bags. Hohoho. Self convincing.

Mummy Lim

Grading Test - Green Belt

If you realised that there is an influx of posts, that is bcos I am sitting by the walkway in the German School, waiting for Lil Isaac to complete his grading test.

He is now green tip and for green belt, there is a 18-step pattern to memorise. I was very impressed that he learned all 18-step within 2 lessons bcos we struggled so much with a different 18-step pattern for his green tip grading test. It was so bad that he almost refused to go for his grading test and we had to take extra lessons plus self training at home. For your information, other than being an unlicensed ice skating remedial teacher, I am also an unlicensed TKD remedial teacher. Lol.

Lil Isaac is very proud of himself. After one particular lesson, he excitedly declared that Master David  (the very handsome one, hehe) said that he is ready for grading test. Yes, I am very proud too bcos I saw how much effort he puts in during classes. He always strive his very best, trying to kick higher, harder and correctly. Sometimes, I hope I could channel some of the energy that he had in TKD into his school work or to Lil Shauna in her ice skating. Haha.

This particular grading test coincides with the school anniversary celebration and they held it in the German School instead of the usual branch in Bukit Timah. There were only 2 time slots instead of 3, mostly to test yellow belt and above.

Lil Shauna willingly stayed at home as she wasn't feeling the best, trying to recover from yday's fever. It was a fantastic choice bcos there was madness at the school. I am not sure if this is the 1st time that a grading test was held in the German School. That were signages but not enough and we simply followed a q that snaked around the canteen. Lil Isaac was all ready. Aiyo, why so cute?!

He joined the many other kids in the school hall. I was amazed at the number of kids taking grading test. The center must earn big money. I reminded him that there would be a long wait in the hall. It must be bcos there were swarms of kids.

The grading test didn't start at 9am; the school is usually very punctual for their grading test. While I was sitting by the walkway and blogging, there was still long q around the canteen.

I am probably not the only parent that prefers to have the grading test on the Bukit Timah center. The school is not air-conditioned and we didn't get a chance to see what happened in the grading center; they would usually get up a screen. 

What I feared most is the dismissal. I cannot imagine the mess if the swarm of kids come out at the same time. Luckily, they had the decency to release the kids batch by batch via that small little stairways. Look at the protective parents waiting for their little ones. Did you spot Daddy Lim?

Is Lil Isaac confident to pass the grading test? He was before the test. During yday's last practice, he said that Teacher David said that he is 200% ready and also executed his pattern with the right strength.

There would be some programs after the grading test but I just want to get out of here. Zzzz...

Mummy Lim