New Year Celebration

We had a bbq party near Aunty Fi's block this evening. Mummy had a hard time persuading Daddy to bring both of us. Luckily we behaved well and didn't make Daddy regret his decision. We had Danial and Yazmin, Austin and Cayley and Ian with us for the party.

However Dan and Yaz had to go back early for bedtime and Ian came late so Mummy didn't manage to catch them in her camera. We both had lots of fun playing with balloons and bubbles and also enjoying the sumptous food Mummy and Aunty Fi prepared. And not forgetting the fishballs Aunty Carmen brought for us. The adults had prawns, shisamo, scallops, beef steaks, sotongs & alot of other food for the bbq.

The daddies and mummies had as much fun cracking silly jokes, tuning a portable TV to watch Little Nyonya (though it failed), drinking champange, lighting up sparklers on trees & etc ...

Mummy hopes we'll be able to have more of these kind of gatherings even after we move. (anyway we'll still be nearby) But the headache part is we won't have Aunty Aida to "jagar" us and help wash the stuff after the tired bbq session.


Reyden: Daddy, I also want to learn how to set up a fire


Balloons and bubbles


Balloons ...


Austin: Let me blow some balloons for you all


Wah!! Look at the sumptous feast!!


Yummy donuts contributed by Aunty Caryn and Uncle Matthew


Tucking into the food


Sweetie Cayley


Uncle Philip "lighting" up the tree

School

Mummy's post:

This would be kind of a positive post considering that both of their crying period had shortened from few hours to 10-15mins today. I witnessed for myself how both had put up a "dramatic" show outside the school and when I was going off. The next moment I could see them playing happily as I peeped from the windows. So they are just putting up a show for me? Teachers had feedback that they are adjusting well, started to take naps in school too. Of cos I'm happy with these developments. Therefore had gotten them a school bag each for their "barang barang". Though these are too big for them but we need something big enough to hold all their towels, diapers, clothings, milk, milk powder, snacks & bottles.

I'll be looking forward to the day that they'll say "bye bye" to me with a smile.

Pig's Tail with Huai San

This is a yummy recipe that Mummy had gotten from the newspaper. The recipe is for improving of the digestive system and helps in appetite. Not that we need to improve our appetite but the 2 main ingredients, huai san and foxnuts are good tonics for the spleen and stomach as well. This is a soup for the whole family, adults or young children especially for those kids who has poor appetite.

However cos of the pig's tail, those with heaty constitution are not recommended to drink too much of this. Or alternatively can use pork ribs or fish head to replace. But do remember to get a fresh fish head.

Ingredients
1 pig’s tail, chopped
1 piece of fresh dioscorea yam (生淮山)
10 dried Chinese red dates
2 dried scallops, rinsed
20 lotus seeds　(莲子)
*10g of Foxnuts (茨实)
A handful of chinese barley
1 litre water

Seasoning
1/2 tsp salt to taste

Method
Rinse pig’s tail. Scald in a saucepan of boiling water for 1–2 minutes. Drain well and place all ingredients in a slow cooker and slow cook on high for 2½–3 hours. If cook over small fire, cook for 1.5-2 hours. Add huai san in the last half an hour for better taste texture.
Season to taste

Pictures of some of the ingredients in case it sounds "foreign" to some of you.

芡实 Gordon fruit, Foxnut


生淮山Huai San (fresh dioscorea yam)


Soup in making

Sweetness ...

Mummy also felt sweetness in her heart whenever we kiss or hug each other before sleep. She says this is the most rewarding thing for having us.

Reyes' haircut

Mummy brought us to Compasspoint Supercut today for Reyes' haircut. It cost us $23.50 which is $2.10 more than what we paid for Reyden's haircut the other time. All cos of the price increase for the festive season. Daniel went with us too. Aunty Fi was pretty stressed over his haircut cos he'll scream and shout everytime. And to our surprise, he sat quietly throughout the haircut, probably cos he had seen Reyes gotten her hair cut 1st.

Now Reyes looks sweet and neat with her new haircut, though abit silly looking with the short fringe but it should be just nice by CNY.


Gor gor sat on this before, right? I'm as stylo too.


Done


Dan's turn for a haircut.


Mummy, don't I look sweet and neat now?


Reyden


What's there? Food?


Our friend, Daniel

Merry Xmas 2008 to all!!

We wish all uncles, aunties and friends a Merry Xmas! May all be blessed with good health and happiness. Thank you once again for all the mavellous pressies received, we love each and every of them a great deal.


Reyes the reindeer


Our personalised Xmas pressies from Aunty Fi and Aunty Sally. Thank you!!


Mummy's Xmas pressie for us
She got this Crayola Color Wonder Fingerpaints for us. It looks clear, but each one paints a different color. Fun for us & no mess for her.


Our artistic work. Mummy didn't have the chance to catch us doing it cos her hands were equally busy and messy.

Good things

Mummy's post:

Ok, I've decided to do some justice to the childcare in case people read about all the scary things and started putting off the idea of sending their kids to school.

They did learn quite alot of things in school for these 2 weeks. Reyes knows all her body parts in Mandarin. She can point to the right places when I asked her where's "眼睛，鼻子，嘴巴，头，舌头，颈，小手，小脚 & 耳朵." The teachers say that she had learnt these from the Mandarin nursery rhymes they sang everyday. She can even says "老师"　& both knows their chinese names when called. The funny thing is Reyes will sometimes mixed up her chinese name, "瑞诗" & "老师" cos it sounds similar. Another funny thing that the teachers commented about her is she's very protective of her brother. She'll help her brother to snatch back his water bottle if their peers took it.

Reyden though not as proficient in his Mandarin, is picking up things fast too. He could say "s-kool" & "cher" (teacher) now. The teachers had also commented that both their fine and gross motor skills are good and they are self-feeding themselves well. Both can finished a quarter cup of drink on their own without much spilling now.

I must say I'm pretty proud and happy with these 2 little "terrors"' developments. And of cos credits are given to the teachers, therefore I had bought a log cake for the teachers to show my appreciation to them. I know it's not easy to take care of these 2 for even half a day.

Short Trip to the zoo

Daddy brought us for a short zoo trip with the intention of cheering us up after our crying saga in school these 2 days. The weather was scotching hot and both of us were rather tired, therefore we only stayed there for a short while. Anyway we appreciated Daddy's efforts.

Oh ya, the Ben & Jerry has a new look. There are now 4 small cows instead of the 1 big cow, easier and safer for kids to climb up and take pictures with. And there's also a new Ah Meng Kopi at the entrance.


Ben & Jerry's new look


New Ah Meng Kopi


Daddy left alone to take pictures.


Mummy! The otter kissed me!!


I want to give it a kiss too ...


Daddy: See the polar bears swimming?


What's so interesting?


Cheetah!


Mummy, I'm tired ...


I can feed the giraffes from here?




Reyden: what's that animal over there?


Reyes: Let's check it out later. Take a pix 1st.


See the white tiger behind us?

2nd day of week 2

Mummy's post:

If you guys don't see my update regarding their school for sometime, it's probably good news. Therefore it's certainly nothing good with this post.

Reyden was fine, just like yesterday, cried for 10mins and settled down. Reyes is the worrying one. She cried till she vomitted this morning. I couldn't help it but stayed around and peeped from the windows for 1.5hrs and she actually cried for 1.5hrs!! Oh, it might be even longer cos she was still crying when I left.

This is a puzzling reaction cos Reyes had always been the more independent & daring one. She can go to friends' houses and roam around on her own, walk around in shopping centres without having to hold my hands, play & wander on her own at those play gyms, entertain herself at home & etc ... The 1st few days in school had also been enjoyable for her. I simply don't understand why her behaviour changed over a weekend. And even her behaviour at home took a change too. She won't let me go out of her sight, follows me to my shower & toilet trips & cries so badly when I go out without her.

Is this separation anxiety? I've spoken to her & gave her lots of assurance but none works. Many had told me that this is normal and it's a passing phase but somehow I'm still saddened to see my little chirpy gal get so upset & traumatised every morning.

When is this going to stop ...?

1st day of 2nd week at the childcare

Mummy's post:

There was a pleasant surprise today. I 'dumped' both of them again and left for office. However I tried talking to Reyden before I left. I told him I'm going for work and I'll be back to pick them right after their lunch. Surprisingly he said bye bye to me! Nevertheless, both still cried and screamed badly when I left.

I was expecting to see 2 teary kids when I returned to pick them at lunch time. The teacher saw me peeping at the windows, came over and spoke to me. She said: "Reyden had been very good, didn't cry after you left. Reyes was the one crying today." I paused for awhile before I jokingly asked the teacher: "You got their names right? You mean my son didn't cry and my gal cried?" It came unexpectedly cos I had thought Reyes would be able to fit in faster and better.

I had to go in and take a look for myself and true enough, Reyden was sitting by the table waiting for his lunch. He didn't cry or pounce onto me when he saw me. He waved to me instead. God knows the kind of overjoyed feeling I had!

Reyes was the one running over and held on to me tightly in a teary state. I guess it was probably I took it for granted that she'll be fine and I neglected her and didn't give enough assurance this morning. It's a promise that I'll talk to both of them every morning before I leave them in school.

Let's hope it'll get better each day.

Xmas party at Aunty Eileen's house

We had a little party at Aunty Eileen's place today. A big thank you to her for letting us go over and mess up her place.

We want to say thank you to Aunty Sally, Aunty Carol and Aunty Eileen for our Xmas pressies as well. This is the 1st year that Mummy didn't prepare Xmas gifts for everyone. She was too occupied with our house hunting and childcare saga.

However all aunties, uncles and friends are not forgotten, we'll keep you all in our prayers & well-wishes for this year's Xmas & the coming new year. Anyway Mummy promised she'll make up next year and we'll go shopping for Xmas presents with her so wait for our pressies next year, k?


RR with Aunty Elaine & her 3 boys in the background


Munching away ...


Balloon Play




Handsome didi


Activities for older boys

Gift Exchange Time!!



Pretty cake and cinnamom biscuit house


Mummies and babies

We've found a place!!

Yeah! We've finally found something we like after months of house hunting. Actually Mummy didn't really like the new place's location cos it isn't near the carpark or childcare centre. But Daddy loves it cos it's a 3mins walk to the foodcourt.

And the house is great for renovations cos everything has to go. No chances of being in a dilemma about what to hack or what not to hack. The other good thing is we are so near to Waipo's house that it can even be seen from our balcony.

Guess Mummy just had to give in to all these plus points & figure out a way to transport us to the carpark and childcare on rainy days. Daddy says anyway it doesn't rain everyday.

We are scheduled to move by end Mar or beginning Apr. Too bad that Aunty Aida isn't moving to the new place with us. She'll be going off on the 7th Feb 09. Mummy had promised to bring us to visit her in Hongkong next year if there's a chance. Hope the separation will be an easy one, not too much tears involved. Aunty Aida had been a great help for the last 2 yrs & we are both so close to her so it's natural that all of us will feel sad with her leaving.

Nevertheless, we wish her all the best with her new employer.

3rd, 4th & 5th day ...

Mummy's post:

I decided to lump the rest of the week in a single post cos they only went to school a day out of these 3 days. Wednesday was a disaster and I simply want to get it out of mind so no further elaboration on it.

Both were down with viral fever since Thursday morning & they surprisingly got well by Saturday morning. They knew that I'm not bringing them to the CC on Saturdays??
Anyway I'll pray hard for a better tomorrow.

2nd day ...

Mummy's post:
I did a very brave thing today. I dropped both in school and left for an important meeting. I didn't see any of them cry so not much heartache involved. However I went thru separation anxiety for the half day I didn't see them. I couldn't get my mind off them and even felt like crying whenever thoughts of them screaming and crying flashed past.

The good thing was both looked fine and happy when I picked them up after lunch. I thought I shall "reward" them for being good with a short outing at Compasspoint today.


Pose a pix for Mummy 1st





Bye, Gor gor!!