Sneaking in Ice Time

I had been enjoying the past 2 weekends with the new schedule. Additionally, ice skating for Zaky ended and we only have 1 ice skating class for Lil Shauna in August. We spent a lot of time at home. I like. Though I cannot say the same for the kids. Haha.

Before Teacher Raymond left for the competition, he reminded Lil Shauna to continue to practice even in his absence. We did or at least try. We headed down last Sunday and was on the ice for about an hour. Yday, Boo had a bday party to attend at the rink. We went after Maths class for some practice. Ok, it wasnt really much of a practice. The girl wasnt keen to work too hard and did some jumps and spins anyhow when I insisted her to do so. Zzzzz..

The rink was fairly empty yday. Then I found out that the ice surfacing machine was down and it was manual shovelling. No wonder Lil Shauna complained about the ice and many of the regulars were absent. We had intended to go down today to practice after Zaky's grading test but having 2nd thoughts now. Ok, I am lazy. Haha.

Boo and her schoolmate did join the kids in the ice eventually. The kids had fun making a huge ice ball.

We ended with dinner.

Happy kids.

Mummy Lim

To the Zoo

I knew that the Company had the Corporate Zoo Passes for a while but never bother to apply for it. Seriously, it is freaking hot and tiring to visit the zoo. Then National Day came and we decided to go to the zoo with the Chan, Liow and the other Lim family.

Daddy Lim had to work and we took a cab to meet the gang at 2pm, hoping that a later time would mean that the weather would have mercy on us. The little boy pretended to nap in the taxi ride. It would have been so peaceful if he really did. Lol.

We were slightly early and entered the park to put on all preventive measures – sun block and insect repellent. While I was working hard, the kids were happily catching pokemon. I was worried that they would be so distracted by Pokemon and missed the intent of visiting zoo. But it was unfounded. Soon, they were attracted to the monkeys scurrying from branches to branches.

We saw this one on a branch near us. See, it was so grumpy bcos Lil Isaac called it FAT!

We didn't get far before the rest of the gang arrived and we headed back to join them. A rare huggy picture from the siblings.

The kids were totally enjoying themselves for the next 2 to 3 hours looking at the animals. The mummies were so busy making sure that nobody got lost, ran over by trams or into the animal enclosure.

Our last stop was the kids’ heaven. Before they dashed for the water playground, they  were happily feeding the goats.

The remaining last 1 over hour was peacefulness for the adults. The kids were all (except for Lollipop who napped most of the time away) old enough to run around without supervision. The adults finally get to rest their tired legs and aching back.

We stayed until the water playground was about to close. None of the adults wanted to interrupt that peacefulness and the kids were too happy to be cooling off from the heat. We cleaned up the kids and headed to leave the park, passing by the trampoline station along the way.

Of course the kids have to have a go. There isn’t a better way to end off a zoo trip. Lil Shauna finally managed the back flip and once she got it, she couldn't stop. She flipped and flipped. So cute.

The very tiring and hot zoo trip ended off with dinner. Oh boy, I was so tired. Old already. My back!

Mummy Lim

Pizza Night

It was a happy family dinner. However, the kids were distracted and wanted to finish off with whatever was on their plate before they ran off to read or to the ipad. Zzzzz. When there is play and companion, there is no space for hunger.

Hunger will only come when we were all back home with bedtime looming right at the corner. Yes, both of them were hungry and they were especially hungry when they remembered that we had recently bought ingredients to make our own pizza. With Popo out duno where, it was the perfect opportunity to have Pizza Night!

They took turns to make their pizza bread.

Lil Shauna even stood watch outside the oven.

Their little tummies only had space for 1 piece of pizza bread each but the bread was gone very quickly. Satisfied little tummies = nice bedtime. Hehe.

I had wanted to use the oven more. Chocolate chip cookies sound really nice and easy to bake but have never found the chance to do so. Maybe tomorrow, a public holiday just sounded so right. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Pokemon Go!

I was alerted by the aunties that Pokemon Go is finally available in Singapore! Frankly, I was looking forward to it. There is too much hype about the app.

Zaky was super excited when I was trying to download the app. Lil Shauna couldn't really be bothered; she isn't much of a game person.

We managed to download right before they went for Maths class and Zaky caught the 1st pokemon in the Maths center. The kids were packed off the Maths class and I was meddling with the app, trying to see what the hype was all about. I caught 2 more pokemon.

I didn't really get it. I have to admit that catching the pokemon give some satisfaction but dont get what the craze is all about. Maybe it is bcos I haven't figured out what to do with pokemon after catching them. I don't really fancy training and battling pokemon.

We met the 3Fs for dinner at IMM and the kids happily walked around IMM to find and catch Pokemon. We caught one at the restaurant and in Mac when we were enjoying deserts.

Back in Centris, we walked the 5th floor and caught another few pokemon. It was a plus being so near to JP and we managed to check a few pitstops without needing to be in JP itself.

I hope it is a faze that go away in a while. Every other person that I walked past yday was walking with their head down trying to catch Pokemon.  I hope the kids and me don't get addicted too. Lol.

Mummy Lim

Holiday All Planned

I love holidays. I know you know but I just needed to tell it once more. Hehe. I am now happy bcos the holidays for the rest of the year are planned out! Muahahaha.

We traveled almost quarterly bcos we so needed to get away from it all. We visited Port Dickson during CNY and went to Chiang Mai and Bangkok with the 3Fs in June. It was a great holiday and with great companion.

But I am greedy and the June holiday didn't keep me happy for long before my roving eyes started scanning where next.

We have some financial commitment coming up and decided to be financially prudent. I know, want to save money but also want to travel. Want to bite me, right?

Eventually, we decided on a road trip to Malaysia.  The travel expenses are drastically reduced when the plane is not involved. Petrol wouldn't cost us much and we only need to book hotel. We will be traveling all the way up to KL, then down to Sunway Lagoon and breaking the return trip with a night at Port Dickson. Sound like a great plan, right? I am so excited.

We would love to take advantage of the long school holiday and go for a such long holiday in December.  Best if it is somewhere with snow. However, snow also mean that it is far away and expensive. After some googling, we have settled for Hong Kong.

The destinations probably didn't sound too exciting. However, we have travelled decently extensive to realise that each country/ city has its share of things to do with kids if we look hard enough. The kids are also growing up and starting to appreciate sightseeing. I am still trying to influence the shopping aspect but for now, I am glad that at least they are starting to take sightseeing well. Hehe.

Holidays, here we come.

Mummy Lim

Movie Night

We had a Movie Night! We bought a DVD and watched the DVD completed with popcorn and cookies!

The kids were very excited. They thought it was a big thing bcos their parents made it sounded like a big thing. Lol. In actual fact, Daddy Lim had to work late and he was too tired to swim with the kids. Me? I was too lazy. Haha. We didn't have any program and to entice the kids to stay home and watch TV, we called it a movie night. This would cost us a fraction of cost as compared to going to the movies. Mummy so clever. I spent a lot of efforts hyping it up ok.

The kids opted for Famous Amos cookies and Garette popcorn. Have I told you that the popcorn just opened a branch in JP? Tell me how to be skinny while living in JP. Haiz.

We almost had to call off the event bcos the only DVD shop in JP closed down. Luckily, we found some DVD in Popular and made do with an old title. In fact, Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna caught the show 2 years old in the cinema.

We didn't really cared a lot about the popcorn or cookies after the nice dinner. Nevertheless, everyone was happy and huddled for the movie.

Movie Night works fabulously with the kids declaring that they could live with Movie Night every weekend. Haha. It all voiced down to attitude isn't it.

Movie night success!

Mummy Lim

To the Library

I dislike buying story books. Not only do they get set aside after being read once, they take up a lot of space. However, I do like the kids to read. Reading is great. Long before life got too busy, I do enjoyed a book or 2 too.

We tried to cultivate the reading habits in the kids since they were young and we didn't do too bad. Lil Shauna loves to read. She can easily read 2 or 3 easy books in a week. Zaky needed a lot more coaxing and preferred to be read to bcos it is too much hard work. Haha.

We go to the library every week and the kids get a few books each. The books would be returned the following week. It is fortunate that the library is right in JE, near to where the kids have their classes every Saturday.

Today was no different. We had intended to go to the library except that the water bottle leaked and the books got wet. Zzzz... The books had to be dried before they could be returned. I had to lug them home. Arrrgghhh.

I almost didn't want to go to the library but Lil Shauna need new books for silent reading. I am glad I did. This is picture perfect.

We had a little time before Maths class. The kids automatically picked up a book and started reading. So nice. I like the library.

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 53

The rink was crowded today, maybe bcos the learn-to-skate bunch had their test and most didn't stay on to practice; just like Zaky who spent more time snacking than on the ice. When the ice is empty, it makes a whole world of difference to Lil Shauna.

Lil Shauna went over to the 1/3 early bcos the crew stopped her from jumping and spinning. Then, she was very much on her own.

We suspected that Teacher Raymond would work on her spins and we practiced beforehand. She is definitely getting better to the extent that she declared that spins are her favourite now when she used to hate spinning bcos they give her headache. See, confidence is key! Then she did her usual jumps and I thought she was on form today.

Teacher Raymond made her spin and spin so much. She almost achieved a different one foot step position, meanwhile just plenty of hard work. She was comical to watch and appeared to be having fun in class today.

At the end of the lesson, Teacher Raymond also commented that her spins had improved but her jumps aren't so good. What happened? I don't know?! Her jumps looked ok to me, it is probably the little details like tucking the arm, land upright etc that we need Teacher Raymond's eyes to catch and correct.

The girl was exhausted after class but didn't complain like how she sometimes would after a bad lesson. In August, we will have to do plenty of self practice since the whole gang would be out for competition. At least there is only 1 kid.

Mummy Lim

Core 2 and Passed

Today was the test. He passed but Teacher Sally said, "Isaac, you can do it but you need to slow down and do one thing at a time." Nailed it.

He did some of the strokes very nicely in fact, especially when he slows down.

As for me, I am just glad that he has passed and I can get him away from the ice. It had been a tiring 5 weeks. What was I thinking to sign the tiger up for ice skating lessons.

Just as when I thought my torture was over, he asked to continue with core 3. Zzzzz... let me think very hard about it. I would love to take lessons with him too. But the thought of having 2 kids on ice is just way too painful. Didn't he just said that he would like to concentrate on TKD?

Mummy Lim

Watches

Have you ever own watches that are inexpensive but never fail you year after year despite you wanting them to fail so that you have the excuse to buy a new one? I do. That casio watch probably cost $30 and it lasted me for at least 6 years. It didn't spoil; it ran out of battery and I took the excuse to not replace the battery and got myself a new watch. Hehe.

Do you then have expensive watches that you cannot help wonder why it spoils so quickly when it is so freaky expensive? I do as well… @$%$^%^&*&

Since young, I enjoyed wearing cheap and fashion statement watches (OK, I think they are fashion statement pieces). Before I started work with the current company, I decided that I need to upkeep some image and ask Daddy Lim to buy me a new watch. He got me a Titus watch that cost over $300. It was a simple watch. According to Maths, it should last me 60 years -10x the price of the casio and therefore 10x longer, right?

Wrong! It lasted less than 3 years. One fine day, I dropped it and the second hand came off. I continued wearing it since I don't need the second hand anyway until the second hand got stuck with the minute hand and the watch died on me. I was so pissed and refused to repair it. Go die….

Daddy Lim has an expensive Seiko watch. Ok, expensive in my perspective. I think it was over $500 but he of course thinks that it is worth it. He mentioned that it is an automatic watch; it will move when it senses movement and stops to conserve energy when there isn’t for a long while. I wonder how much battery it needs to conserve in order to recover the price of the watch. Never mind me. Haha. He went swimming in it many times and it was fine until one day. Water seeped in despite it being water resistant and water vapor was trapped in the watch, fogging the glass. It wasn't that bad but the imperfect watch was deemed not good enough for the man. Poor watch.

The watch was condemned until my watch spoilt and I needed a watch to tell time. The little bit of water vapor wasn't that bad. I could still tell time perfectly. I rescued it from condemnation and it took me a while to get used to the darn heavy watch. I was actually quite happy with it after I got used to the weight. I like big watches. I was even happier when the water vapor dries up. I was intending to wear the watch for a long time. But….

The automatic watch started stopping when I took off the watch in the night. It shouldn't unless a lack of movement for days (I supposed). It was irritating but I tolerated with the nonsense, adjusting the time every morning. I self-comforted least at least I have a “semi-automated” watch. Daddy Lim said that the water probably spoilt the mechanism. What kind of lousy mechanism that cannot withstand a little bit of water? Zzzzzz…

Then the tantrum became worse. It will stop as and when it like. What the… It was so freaking irritating that I no longer could trust the time that I was reading from the watch. It is time to part ways.

I am now considering if I should fish out one of the old watches that ran out of battery and sitting in the drawer or get a new watch. For the time being, I am wearing Lil Shauna’s pink, sparkly Smiggle watch that had been thrown out by her bcos of a little flaw. Cute right? I feel so young. Lol.

Mummy Limo