Goodbye Ah Yee and Athena

Yes, it had been 3 weeks. Yes, I cant believe how fast time has passed. It was time for Ah Yee and Athena to head home after squeezing with us cosily for 3 weeks.

The family went for one last dinner. Ah yee had been craving for crabs and crabs it shall be.

Family pictures time.

More pictures.

While ah yee feasted, I had the honor to ergo Athena for her overdue nap.

Then we all sent ah yee and Athena to the airport. We heard that were some Harry Porter activities at T3.

Changi made me post these pic on fb before the kids could partake in the activities.

The activities were quite silly actually. Lol.

By the time we were done running around for the pictures and the activities, it was time to send ah yee and Athena off.

We had to recreate this picture with the latest addition.

With the final family pictures, we bid ah yee and Athena goodbye.

Suddenly, I felt an immerse sadness - ah yee and Athena were really going home and it would be many more months before we will see them again. Poor ah yee had to ergo Athena and lug the hundreds of barang; flying alone with a baby is no joke.

Ah yee said that Athena didnt go to sleep till late. She must be enjoying the sights of Changi Airport.

While I was sad with their departure, I was glad to have my own bed back. Lol. We also took Felicia for the night in lieu of ah yee. The kids (including Zaky) played late into the night and slept on their own. I was dead tired from the 70km ride. Lol. Zaky said that he fell asleep probably bcos he was way too tired and he didnt crawl to our bed in the night. Thumbs up. 

The next morning, I woke up to a quiet and very clean house. Popo must had worked very hard to clean up. The baby floor mat was gone, as well as their barangs that were placed in the living room bcos the bedroom was way too tiny. Suddenly, the living room looked huge. 

I could still see hints of the baby - the leftover baby lotion on the TV console. 

Athena's little white hanky left to dry on the chair. 

Her onesies that were still drying and to be handed down. 

Awwww... I missed them already. I texted ah yee, hoping the Athena was well behaved on the flight and summoning the courage to ask if the 3 weeks had been comfortable. 

I have to admit that the 3 weeks havent been easy. To being with, Athena is indeed not the easiest baby and sleeps really poorly. Coupled with separation anxiety, teething and a bout of diarrhoea, some days and nights had been really tough, largely on ah yee, who is still her main caregiver. I had also belittled the fustration that we would experience from the dirupted set routine. Still, I had hoped that ah yee and Athena had enjoyed themselves. We had helped in ways that we could. 

Daddy Lim must be sad with their departure too bcos in the short span of time, he had been Athena's favorite uncle. She always reserved her big smiles for him. It had been a long time since I saw him played so gently and patiently with a baby. 

Ah yee reported her safe arrival in France later in the day and Athena had been really kind to ah yee on the flight back. Lol. It will take her many days to adjust back to the European time. Meanwhile, I am quite sure she is enjoying the cold weather. 

Till we meet the next time. By then, Athena should be walking. Daddy Lim will have to work hard to earn his "favorite uncle" title again.

Mummy Lim

After a Long Break + First 70km!

It had been 3 weeks since I last cycled bcos of the Batam trip and largely the rain. I got so freaking sick and tired of the treadmill and the step machine in the gym. Zzzzzzz.

Finally, we were back on the bikes on Saturday morning. The weather was beautiful. I put on the new jerseys that Daddy Lim bought for me online. It was skin tight. I can never understand how cyclists can feel comfortable in those tight fitting attire especially when the sweat starts pouring. Yikes! The only good are those pockets at the back of the jerseys that come in so handy. Even ah yee thinks that she could do with those extra pockets when managing the baby. Idea..

Cyclists usually zip their jerseys all the way up to the neck. I feel like I cannot breath already. Lol.

It was the usual route of about 35km to Labrador Park and back but it felt so good to be riding again with the WWF family.

We had bfast breaks at the prata shops enroute home; the same one during our very 1st ride with the WWF.

These are the times where we bond and build relationships. Well, the good food is always a bonus. It was also during bfast that we urged the gang to soon organise a Round Island (RI) trip but worried about our inability to complete having only done max 52km on our roadies. Decisions were immediately made: 70km in prep of RI the next morning. Onz! I love how spontaneous they are.

The ride on Sunday morning started at 6am so that we can try to escape the sun. We rode to Labrador, u-turn and on the way back, turn to head towards Tuas beloved LP1.

We were clocking 30km when we reached Tuas and I started urging the group to stop for bfast. We all cycled on an empty stomach and the break will definitely do us good.

Daddy Lim, being so familar with Tuas offered to bring us to a kopitiam enroute. However, we seemed to cycle on and on and it was fustrating when I was yearning for the stop break that never seem to come. Roarrrr...

Finally! Bfast tasted so good after the 30km ride. It was a much needed break.

We all had renewed energy for LP1, including my cateye, that decided to reset itself and I couldnt tell how many kms were done or left. Zzzz.

LP1! LP1!

The sun started shinning hard at this point, adding on to the difficulty. I was probably more tired from the sun and the heat than the actual peddling. We were afterall riding at a very comfortable pace with multiple stops at traffic lights or to wait for regroup. It was a fine balance between hoping that the ride ends soon and hoping that it would go on so that Daddy Lim and I could reach our 1st 70km. I was constantly asking how many kms we had clocked with the reset cateye. Zzzzz.

The last part of the journey was tortourous bcos the sun was merciless, the water has ran out and so has the will spirit. Finally home and clocking our 1st 70km!! Woohoo!!

Happy! Happy! Happy!
The WWF gang was so encouraging, telling us that we could definitely do a RI soon. Yeah! RI! The only thing that we lack now is time to do the RI. Haha.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 145: New Skates!

Before I blog about the lesson, I wanted to record about Lil Shauna's 1st solo outing to the ice skating rink with 2 of her classmates, who are also her recess kakis. She had been telling me about the outing but I was worried that her friends would play her out. I had imagined her standing gong gong outside Mac, waiting hours for her friends. It was only the day before when I heard her calling her friends to make meet up arrangement that I felt more sure.

The plan was for Lil Shauna to take the MRT alone to Jcube and redeem the season pass that we had pre-purchased. Ended up, Ah yee sent her to Jcube as she was heading out too. Lil Shauna did meet her friends alright but ended up paying for the entry bcos she didnt know how to redeem the season pass. Zzzzz. Luckily I gave her enough pocket money for the outing. Lil Shauna said that the date turned out well. She had Mac lunch with her friends and Popo picked her up for phonics when she was done. Yeah! Another first!

Lesson this week was very much jumping. Her jumps are very much back on track since her knee injury. After like forever (really forever), Coach Raymond is finally teaching her new stuff! This is a waltz jump and she has to land with a back spin. This is the prelude to an axle jump! An axle jump is one with 1.5 revolution in the air. She still has a long way to go bcos she hasnt even landed an axle on land much less doing so on ice.

Her new skates have finally arrived! Freaking $520. I was contemplating changing to Edea that has softer boots and easier to break in but kept to Jackson bcos the Edea boots and blades that had to come separately for her level cost over $1k. The more complicated the jumps, the harder the boots need to be for protection and Edea's sofeness became a disadvantage. I arent money printing machine. Coach Raymond advised that she could stick to Jackson Freestyle, which is what she is currently using and I jumped at the lower price.

We were told that this was the improved version of the Freestyle. We got a size bigger for Lil Shauna, knowing that her feet would grew some more. I could even wear her new pair! I know who will inherit this pair when she outgrows.

Unveiling the new skates.

Got shiny, shiny at the back of the skates wor!

Lil Shauna got to try the new skates after class. She wasnt the most enthusiastic bcos the breaking in period is no fun. It was months of pain and blisters and tons of trial and error to counter the pain for her current pair bcos the boots were so hard.

As it was a size too big, we had to add on another insole and lace it really tightly. Surprisingly, there wasnt much pain after 15 mins. Must the the new boots' improvements. Her only feedback was that there was too much space in the skates. Haha.

We went back to the ice on Sunday with her new skates and we brought along the old skates for standby but she didnt need her old skates at all. The new skates were comfortable enough with the extra gel pads that we stuck on her feet to counter the possible abrasions.

She was on the ice for a good hour in her new skates. Other than her request to lace them even tighter, she didnt at all complain of pain. Bingo. After the hour, she was able to do her spins and some of the jumps decently. Yay!

The new boots felt softer than the current pair, when this pair had been worn for over a year. The better cushioning is a plus. Comparing the new boots (top) vs the current.

Aesthetically, I actually like the current one better.

I like the gold hooks, writings and sole that looks like some kind of wood. The new pair is in silver.

And the sole looks like plastic.

Nevertheless, what is important is that the new pair serves her well. We have to lace it even tighter the next round bcos she said that her ankle hurts from the extra space.

Mummy Lim

Another Firsts

I had been toying with the idea of piecing jigsaw puzzles with the kids, particularly with Lil Shauna. I am not great with jigsaw but remembered vividly the 郭富城 jigsaw puzzle that I once did with ah yee but never complete bcos he was wearing this long sleeve red sweater in the picture and the jigsaw was just this endless sea of red. Lol. Ah yee didnt remember anything. Zzzzz. Now that I blog about it, I can still remember his side parting and side profile pose in that jigsaw puzzle. Lol. Like that, like that.

It took me a while to find the jigsaw puzzle. I wanted a 500 one for a start, figuring that it would be managable and one with a cute picture. There are so many on Eiffel tower and hot air balloon and duno what famous building. 

Finally, in a jigsaw specialised shop, I found the 500 pieces cute picture jigsaw puzzle. The selection was really limited for 500 pieces. There were some seriously cute Disney 1,000 or more pieces ones. The sales said that the 500 puzzle that I bought is fairly easy. Sounds good. Hohoho. 

The kids opened the puzzle while I was at work. Ah yee guided them to sort the pieces by color. In the same evening that I was home, the kids were exclaiming about how difficult the puzzle was and they didnt at all manage to piece anything. I offered to do it together with them but they obviously prefer to use their gadget. In that same night, after the kids turned in, I started slowly and painfully to further sort the pieces by color and to start the puzzle. I was pleasantly surprise at the quality of the pieces; it was some sort of plastic instead of those cardboard that we used to play with. I managed to find the piece with the copyright wording and it turned out to be a good start. From there, I found and slowly built the border. 

I dont know how long I spent on the puzzle but it must be some good time. My eyes were sore, so were my back and neck. This was what I finally achieved before I turned in for bed. 

There were so many more pieces to go. 

The kids were very impressed bcos they thought that it was mission impossible. 

It was many more nights later that we continued with the jigsaw puzzle and I can tell you that it is addictive. This time the kids joined in. Zaky found a few pieces but got bored shortly and bugged to go to bed. I sneaked out to continue after the kids slept and completed the border. 

Not only was I addicted; Lil Shauna was also hooked. Once the border was done, the progress was faster. The next time, we spent even more time putting the pieces together. Zaky cant be bother though.

As we progressed, it got easier and easier. The 4th time we were at the puzzle, even Daddy Lim joined us. We must looked like we were having fun. Bcos there were more eyes and hands, we made progress rapidly. 

Lil Shauna was really funny, at times using force to squeeze in pieces and yelling in fustration. The pieces are not identified, so forcing does help. However, it allows us to find the "piece" through trial and error sometimes. Towards the end, when she couldnt find "the piece", she would suggest that maybe we had missing pieces. Choy. I had to stop her from counting the empty slots and left over pieces bcos it would be so demoralising if there were indeed missing pieces. I was keeping my finger crossed. 

I had to stop bocs Zaky was bugging me to tuck him while Lil Shauna perseverance on alone. I came back to help her after Zaky had turned in. 

Finally! The last 2nd piece.

We had to do that "piece" the last bcos I had been looking for that piece for a long time. Lil Shauna had the honor to put in the last 2 pieces. See! No missing pieces lah. Phew. 

The immersed sense of achievement and joy was overwhelming. 

Yeah! We can finally go to bed!

I have not decided on what to do with the completed puzzle. Lil Shauna said that we should frame it but we dont have so much free space at home. I wanted to just keep it and then to destroy and rebuilt it again after some time. Did you hear the girl protesting? Lol. 

It had been a great time working on the puzzle, particularly with Lil Shauna. The sales was right that it wasnt that tough. It was really a joyous occasion when somebody found "that piece". We had planty of hi-5 moments, even with Zaky. 

I told Daddy Lim that I wanted to buy another puzzle. This time, it will be a 1,000 pieces one. Hohoho. Daddy Lim suggested that we try our luck in Japan. Yeah! Japan!

I am so addicted.

Mummy Lim

Almost "Solo" Sleepover

Lil Shauna grabs every chance to sleepover at mu brother's place. If she could, she would have packed up and shift to their place to live with her beloved F2. She said that she would shift out to live with F2 when she is 17. Dont ask me where the money will come from.

Zaky had a couple of sleepovers many months back but always had Popo with him. Since my brother shifted, their new place is too cramp to accommodate so many people. Knowing that he had to be on his "own", he didnt pester much when jiejie go for sleepover. This works great bcos he is a handful to manage and while my brother will take Lil Shauna anytime, they have to think very hard to take him. Lol.

Zaky had started pestering to sleepover at my brother's place. Maybe he is now older and braver and thinks that he would do well sleeping over with just jiejie. He was upset when we rejected his last request, lamenting about being the only boy and outcast. Awwwww... I promised that we would make arrangement.

My brother and SIL had been really accommodating and agreed for the kids to sleepover on Sunday. The kids were so thrilled and had been discussing sleeping positions. Lol.  To help ease managing so many kids, we headed over only after dinner and stayed until late. We left after Zaky assured us that he really wanted to sleepover; we reminded him that he could call us to pick him up if things didnt turn out well. I think we were just as anxious during Lil Shauna's 1st sleepover.

The car ride home was unusually quiet. Once home, I requested for pictures. Haha. They obviously were having a great time.

While I said that I was worried, I still slept very well. Lol. I finally have my bed back, having to either sleep on the floor with Zaky or squeeze in the bed with the kids for the last 2 weeks while ah yee was here. It must be the bed.

Only when we were up the next morning that I saw that the kids were up and playing until 1am, even Zaky tahaned and resisted sleep.

Zaky probably was tired and tried to sleep (he said that he pretended).

And allowed the girls to "prank" him with washable markers.

Only in the morning that I read that his nose acted up at 11ish, probably from the tons of soft toys that the girls have in the room. My SIL suspected too and asked if he could have medicine but his mother was already happily in lala land. Haha. Upon reading the watsapp in the morning, I started imagining him sneezing so badly and stopped breathing in the night. Choy!

All were well bcos my SIL updated that the kids were all up before 8am despite the late night.

Then another round of play and more play.

The kids even went swimming in the afternoon although they have no swimming clothes. Lil Shauna made do with a loan from one of the older Fs. They improvised and gave Zaky this.

That was an old swimming top for one of the Fs, meant for 3 YO and jiejie's sleeping/ sports shorts. Well, so long as he is happy. I am pretty amazed that the 33kg boy could squeeze into the 3YO top; the seams looked like it was barely holding on. Lol. Zaky said that the swimming top could stretch like old socks!

We picked the kids only after work. With so mamy little human beings, we offered and helped to tabao dinner. The kids were still pleading to stay and play more after dinner. Zaky asked for anither night of sleepover, Lil Shauna said that she wanted to stay for a week! We bundled the kids up and headed home... my brother and sil needed the rest.

Zaky totally survived his 1st almost solo sleepover and absolutely loved it. Next week, we will have the girls over and I am sure, there will be plenty of sleepovers coming our way.

Yday morning, I found this in my wallet. So sweet, right?

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 144: Getting Back

Daddy Lim complained that the ice skating posts are boring. Yah, I get bored blogging about them sometimes especially when there is nothing exciting happening. It had indeed been a little of the "usual" recently given Lil Shauna's knee injury. Yawnz.... I even missed blogging about the last session.

Her injury seems to be getting better. I seldom hear her complain of knee pain on usual days and she is starting to jump again. Her knee does act up when she jumps but doesnt land properly.

We had a week's break as we were in Batam and are back on ice this week.

While Lil Shauna can now jump, it was spinning class this week. She wasnt the most enthusiastic about class but was quite on form. Her spins were done nicely.

It had been a few weeks since we are back on off ice class too.

The 1st week was tougher with her knee pain but she is definitely recovering. Look at her biotic knee. Hahaha.

By the way, her new skates will be delivered this week. It will be another long period of trial and error to break into the new skates.

Mummy Lim