Have you eaten your fruits today?

It's Fun Friday and this time, the theme is fruits - obviously! Check this out: Fruit costumes - it's where I got the idea for Peanut's costume.

RSAF Openhouse 2011

29 May 2011

We were among the tens of thousands who made it to this year's Air Force Openhouse. It's no mean feat, I assure you. We almost didn't make it as I contemplated to turn around and leave when on arrival at about 9.30 am, I had to drive on past car park after car park full with parked vehicles.

It's madness - I am almost certain that I would not have braved the crowds but for the 2 boys. We pressed on and managed to park at the last car park some 800metres away from the entrance of the grounds. We were amply rewarded - the boys spotted Samual and Matthew (Peanut's classmate) and so it became a party of 8!

The enthusiastic start at the entrance

Admiring a fighter jet whilst Q-ing for a photo opportunity


We q-ed for 15 minutes to get alongside the cockpit - we were told that the Q for a cockpit shot would take 3 hours!!

Samuel's dad was the only one who could name the different fighter jet models. For the rest of us, well, it didn't matter.

I know I know, this is the Apache (that's what the sign reads).

Urrr ... another fighter jet.

Look, mama, a gun.

Count on us to defend our countrymen?

All of us were totally enthralled by the show

The Chinook airlifting a truck. The boys' jaws dropped.

.. I have a feeling we will be here again this time next year ...

The Next Morning

We survived the long night ... sort of. It went like this:

7 pm - let's see, he should be having dinner at this time.

Time check - 8 pm, no phone call. Should be cleaning up after meal, changing into PJ, brushing teeth and preparing for bedtime.

8.15pm - Mr M asked if we should drive by the school and check. I said, "Don't be silly. He will be fine."

8.30pm - Still no phone call. I asked Mr M if we should take a stroll and checked if it's lights-out at the school. Mr M said, "Maynot be bedtime yet. The teacher mentioned that the schedule could slip as they may be back late from the excursion to the Underwater World."

8.45pm - It can't be 15 minutes, seemed like such a long time ...

9pm - All's quiet. Sweet Potato went to bed, did not miss his bro at all.

9.30pm - Guess, we are in the safe zone. He's probably sound asleep by now - with all the activities packed in the day. Grandpa called Wati on her handphone (we only found out the next day) secretly checking if the school called.

1 am - Not morning yet. If only I could sleep as blissfully as S.P.

3.30 am - Mr M has abandoned me.

Time check - 5.30 am
7.30am - Still not time for pick-up yet.

8.15 am - FINALLY. I was amongst the first parent to be at the school to receive a well rested chirpy Peanut who couldn't stop talking about his night at school, how his teachers took turns with his comfy blanket, how he had to share his blanky with a classmate and both were tucking at each end through the night. And on and on about the jellyfish, the entertaining acts of the sealion, the sting ray, his drawing. He declared triumphantly that he can now stay over at Ah B's (his uncle, my cousin) place. Gulp, maybe next time, I'd cope better?

My baby is all grown up and ready to conquer the world! Boo-hoo-hoo.

Tonight is the School Camp and I ...

This is a costume I created for Peanut for his camp in Dec last year. The theme was birds and each kid had to do a short introduction of himself in Mandarin.

The shapes were cut out from felt, glued onto the raincoat and feathers were added as the last touch.

Thankfully, most of the felt "feathers" stayed on through the evening ... and one year on.

Tonight is the School Camp (again) and I am feeling the jitters because ...

my darling is staying the night ... that is, if all goes as planned - his first stay over. Who knows, maybe I'll get a phone call from the teacher at 8 or 9pm (lights out according to the time table the school sent to us). Any bets? I wonder if I'll be able to sleep tonight or will I be staring at the empty bed next to mine? Or staying up waiting for the phone to ring, perhaps?