Future Gamer

Lil Isaac was eyeing the keyboard and wanted to sit on the chair. Daddy Lim obliged. He started banging on the keyboard and playing with the mouse and Daddy Lim ran excitedly to grab his iPhone. He exclaimed, "the future gamer"! and snapped a few shots.

Then Daddy Lim decided that gamer make no good $$ and proceeded to ask his son to learn how to make computer games instead. Battlefield 7 ok? To which, Lil Isaac obdeiently nodded his head. Boys' talk.

Mummy Lim

Blog Layout

I have finally changed the blog layout. That is bcos Daddy Lim has fallen asleep and I have the computer all to myself. I have been blogging so much from my iPhone recently bcos it is so convenient, just that I can't do anything to the blog's layout.

I have changed the background. Yes, one of the standard templates but at least I bother to change. Give me some credits lah. See, it is so refreshing now. Lalalalala... I have updated Lil Shauna's Lilypie. I have removed the chatbox that had been plagued by duno-what-silly virus. No friends chat with me but some silly msgs kept popping up. Enuff! My precious friends can wats'app me instead. Hehe. I have also removed the other blog addresses, most of them are outdated. Tadah! I am so proud of myself.

Mummy Lim

Exercise

I went for an hour of netball practice on Friday. Yday, I brought the kids for half an hour of swimming. This morning, I went to the stadium to jog for 2km. I feel so healthy.

Digressing, JW is such a healthy estate. There were so many people jogging when I was there. There was also a big group doing aerobics and also big group practicing yoga. When I left the stadium, I saw another group doing qigong outside of the stadium.

I hope I will continue with my exercise regime, but I doubt so. I hate jogging. And somehow, I feel so much hungrier and ate so much more. Boo.

Mummy Lim

My Faithful Casio

I have a Casio watch. I think it is at least 10 years old. I remembered that I was in NUS when I bought it then and it was probably about $30+. It went into cold storage for a few years when I was crazy over big, funky, chunky watches. I think motherhood has made me practical. This watch returned as one of my favorites bcos it is so simple, no frills, easy and comfortable to wear.

Sadly, it's buckle has came loose and it is always dropping off. It has reached a point that it irks me so much and I decided that it has reaches it maximum capacity.

I was about to throw it away when I stopped and took a pix of it. Then, I realized that it has too much sentimental value to go into the bin. So, it has now retired to my cupboard.

I was thinking of replacing it with another good ole Casino to last me another 10 years. Inflation is definitely on the rise bcos I see a similar one at almost $50. Save $$, save $$. I have many other watches around.

Rest well, old pal.

Mummy Lim

A Brown Bear, a Moon and a Caterpillar

I brought Lil Shauna for her 2nd play, “A Brown Bear, a Moon and a Caterpillar” on Saturday. It was screened at Genexis at One North and we caught it together with Mummy SY, Booboo and their friends. I had high expectations for the play as we really enjoyed the “Three Little Pigs”, the first play that we caught which was very lively and energetic. It makes one really happy with all the singing and music. Sadly, this one is a little slow and a tad too arty farty.

There were 3 short stories, the first was about a hungry caterpillar that eventually transformed into a butterfly after chomping non-stop, a second about the things that the Brown Bear saw. The last was about a little girl who wanted the moon. The play was staged in total darkness and the equipments were illuminated under the UV lights. The visual impact was great but the storyline a little too boring.

I think I even dozed a little during the 2nd and 3rd story, waking up every now and then at Lil Shauna’s comment. I felt bad for actually dozing off. Then I realized that I wasn’t the only one doing so. Lol. It only goes to show how boring the play was. Nevertheless, Lil Shauna enjoyed the play. She loves stories and always listens attentively when someone reads to her.

She was still in a happy mood after the play and smiled and posed really nicely for photos.

After the play, the kids ran around in the opened space in One North. Somehow, I think they enjoyed the running around more than the play. Even so, we will go for more plays in the future. They are quite nice and I hope to bring Lil Isaac along soon.

Mummy Lim

All are too Tired

We had a very tiring Sunday.

It was really sunny and I decided to bring the kids swimming at the swimming complex next door. Unfortunately, the water was unexpectedly icy cold while the morning sun was scorching hot. It wasn’t a good combination. Lil Isaac didn’t last very long in the waters. He was shivering and I had to send him home while Lil Shauna stayed in the pool with auntie. I went back to take over auntie after Lil Isaac was safely in Popo’s arm. I then continue with Lil Shauna in the lazy pool. We went 5 rounds and I surrendered. Lil Shauna was still asking to go around more. Faint.

Then, I brought Lil Shauna to JP to run some errands while Lil Isaac took his nap at home. We went directly to her Phonics class from JP. By then, Lil Shauna was visibly tired and my eyes were so heavy. But she didn’t nap. I don’t know where the kids got their energy from. I was dead tired when we made our way to Nainai’s house after Lil Shauna’s phonics class and that was after I stole a power nap while waiting for Lil Shauna. I actually dozed off while trying to post a blog entry on my iphone. Lol. The kids were still bouncing at Nainai’s house.

At Nainai’s house, Lil Shauna practiced her roller blading. She wasn’t too willing but I made her do it. Lol. Then it was running around at the playground, watering of plants and the usual bathtub bathing (actually shallow pails). We tried doing her phonics homework but it led to some frustrations as she could not concentrate, probably bcos she was too tired. By 8.30pm, Lil Shauna asked to go home, something out of the unusual. She was far too tired. As expected, she knocked out soon after she stepped into the car and slept through the night.

Lil Isaac was tired too despite the 2 hours nap that he had. He didn’t roll and flip as violently as he usually would. I fell asleep soon after tucking the tiger in, I didn’t even have the energy to watch my Korea drama on the iPad.

Lil Shauna must be really tired bcos she went back to sleep after I woke her up at 6am this morning to pee. Usually, she would spend some time talking to us and may or may not go back to sleep. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Save Money

Lil Shauna hasn't been saving the coins ever since our last and first trip to the bank to deposit the coins that she had accumulated in her old piggy bank. We went on a weekday that I was on leave and was told that kids who wanted to deposit their coins should come on Sunday. The lady who served us was really nice. She ended up counting the coins bcos their coin sorting machine malfunction. I was so pai seh.

Her piggy bank then became a toy and it didn't last long. We didn't start saving since.

This morning, the kids were fighting to deposit coins over a spoilt piggy bank. That was when I decided that they should start saving.

We bought 2 really nice teddy bear coin banks and they are only $6.95 each. What's more, we can even draw on it.

This is Lil Shauna's "Love". Pretty nice an creative name if u ask me.

Mummy Lim

Money not Enough

It is interesting how lifestyle easily matches up to income. When Daddy Lim and I got hitched 6 years ago, our pay was much lower and we spent most of it. Savings only exist during bonus time. Now, 6 years later and with 2 kids in the picture, we are still at Square 1!!! Our lifestyle has somehow quietly crept alongside with the increase in pay cheque and we still end with almost nothing in our pockets at the end of each month. Hmmm… where did all the $$ go?

I do not think that we are spendthrift. Thinking back, I do not even see a significant change in lifestyle. We still visit food courts, there aren’t many branded stuff at home, we are still driving a decently humble car… Should we then be putting the blame on inflation? But I do realize that we do give lesser thoughts now when it comes to purchases, big and small alike. The kids at also at the receiving ends; we have subconsciously tried to soothe our feeling of guilt of not spending enough time with them via purchases. You will understand if you see the amount of toys at home or the amount of useless and unnecessary stuff that we buy for the kids bcos Lil Shauna says “pleasssseeeeee”. And it is not fair to didi if we only buy for jiejie.

We have some financial plan in the pipeline and have decided to tighten our belts. Unexpectedly, it is difficult. In comparison, I am the thriftier one at home and I already found the attempt tough. So it is probably worse for Daddy Lim. The urge to want to spend $$ is huge, amazingly tempting. Like yday, we were walking around JP after dinner while waiting for the kids. Daddy Lim was dying to spend $$ and I had to constantly stop him. Myself? I ended up buying a pair of shoes for my mum (hers spoilt liao), a cheap singlet for Lil Isaac, a swimming float for Lil Shauna and a swimming cap for Felicia (I promised her). I was actually glad to spend $$ even when they are necessities. Still, it doesn’t come with that instant gratification that comes with spending $$ on “wants”. I was surprised when I realized the different emotions tagged to spending $$. No wonder retail therapy works wonder.

So did I feel good after spending $$? This morning, while looking through the receipts, I was appalled at the amount that I had spent last evening over that small number of items and I am knocked back to reality. Well, that is until the next time that I am overtaken by the illogical urge to spend $$. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Stress

We attended the 2nd lessons for Yamaha Junior Class (YJC). I hope Lil Shauna enjoys the class as much as her previous Music Wonderland (MWL) bcos I find this one so much tougher and therefore, less enjoyable in my perspectives. The teacher expectations are much higher and there are more homework, practice and preparation to do. I am a typical kiasu Singaporean parent and gets stress when Lil Shauna lags behind in class or does not follow instructions. Arrghhhh, she’s only 4 and this is not even real school. Relax, breathe, enrichment class lah. I won’t die if she decides that music is not in her blood. Children who do not know how to play any music instrument still grow up anyhow. Breathe…

I am definitely enjoying less. I found myself constantly looking at the clock and willing it to move faster. There are so much homework and practice to be done after class. The homework is not tough but needs time and time is something that I do not have, at least not in excess especially when the little tiger has delayed his bedtime. This week, we are required to watch a few of the song pieces on the DVD and also learnt part of a song by heart. We tried watching the pieces in the car but Lil Isaac demanded noisily for Dora to be screened. And in order to teach Lil Shauna, who must learn too? Your truly has already mastered the required part but our princess is not even paying attention. So I kept singing the song aloud the entire evening. I sang it so many times until Daddy Lim learnt the words too. I hope Lil Shauna will learn through osmosis.

We have yet to buy the Electone and will be dragging it a little while more to make sure that Lil Shauna is really keen to continue learning. She still looks happy in class. I guessed the fact that it is a parent-child class helps and she is probably happy to get the attention, no need to fight with didi. I will press on until Lil Shauna tells me that she has enough and I hope that day doesn’t come.

Oh, we have not done her phonics homework for this coming Sunday class. -.o”

Mummy Lim

Finally! Pierced!

Lil Shauna had her ONE ear pierced some months ago. She backed out after one ear and had been smartly donning only one earring for the past months.

I have no issue with her having only one earring. However, I do look forward to buying pretty earrings for her and earrings come in pairs. So, I have been asking herself every now and then if she's ready.

Her answer has changed from "no" to "tomorrow" and "later". I supposed she is starting to slowly forget how painful it was. So, we patiently waited. Yday, after so much coaxing, she finally agreed and we wasted no time.

She finally got her other ear pierced. It was actually funny how she turned red after her ear was done and started sobbing when Daddy Lim carried her. There was no tears the 1st time lor.

So, she was all puppy eyed and clinging to Daddy Lim for the rest of the night. We probably have to tolerate her whines for another few days but yeah, we finally got the other ear pierced!

Mummy Lim