Slightly late Greetings!

Ho ho ho Merry X’mas to all my cyber blogging mummies out there…..thou a little late but better late than never I always say…..

Anyway, the kids been waiting for this very day to arrive so they can rip their pressents apart……

We got RayAnne this huge dollhouse which she simply adores, we also got her a DORA V-tech learning labtop…..it’s so much fun!!!

Not forgetting….the beach party set from Auntie Mandy…..

As for Rayner….

We got him his Bakugans….

Some Ben 10 toys (not loading photo because photo was too badly taken) and also a little Ben 10 slide projector which Auntie Mandy bought him.  He wuld spend hours in his room admiring at the slides after projecting it on the wall.

*shouting loudly* Thank You Auntie Mandy and we love you!

Everyone got pressents except dear old mummy but am glad everyone’s happy.  David was very happy with his Initial D model car and have been spending hours each night trying to modifiy the car with the given accessories…..it’s such joy seeing my loved ones enjoying the stuff I bought!

Ok now!

Christmas Day, we bought the kids Prawn Fishing at Jurong Hill.

Here’s us just starting to put bait on the hook and lowering our rod into the pond…..

 

Then there is the waiting part….pretty boring

But it’s long before Rayner caught is very 1st prawn…….he was escalated and kept jumping up and down and was really proud of himself…..

Look at our catch……went home happily with a bag full of live prawns….

We didn’t BBQ the prawns there but bought them home and grill them on our own grill pan and had them for dinner that very night….

The kids enjoy eating the prawns they caught themselves and kept asking when we can go again….it’s was a pretty fun and interesting experience for both the kids and us.  Interesting way to spend our Christmas Day!

The next time I blog should be about Rayner’s 1st day of school and just talking about it, I am getting butterflies already…….crossing my fingers and wish me luck….I need lots of them now!!!

Many Parts Post

Part 1 – Daddy returning in time to celebrate X’mas with us

Part 2 – Tong Zhi

Part 3 – The Mishap

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Part 1

Daddy was due to return from his business trip only Sunday evening but it turns out he was able to change his air-ticket and come and on Saturday instead of Sunday.  We did our usual small and simple Christmas celebrations with my parents over the weekend.  With lots of food and gifts for all the kids.

*sorry, silly me forgotten to bring my camera so no photos of food but I didn’t manage to snap some at home.

RayAnne’s very cute cupcake set toy….

Some transformer toy for Rayner

And gingerbread cookies for all the children.

Part 2

Tong Zhi

This year, we decided to make our own Tang Yuan.  The kids will get their hands at making their own Tang Yuan and also try to explain to them the meaning of making and eating Tang Yuan……

The father and son making a mess…..

And finally, our finished product….not too bad….

And the kids enjoying the Tang Yuan they made themselves….

Part 3

Finally, THE MISHAP…..you must be wondering what mishap?!?!?!

Let the picture speak for itself……

Signz…..Rayner had a bicycle accident, he was going too fast down a small slope and lost his balance because he wanted to turn around to see where we were.  Bangz……he fell to the ground.  Luckily it wasn’t too serious, but he did scratch his face pretty badly.  There was blood all over the place and good thing I wasn’t the type who would freak out and faint at the sight of blood.  Luckily after a while, he overcame his fear and starting ridding again in his bloody t-shirt…..haiz….that’s my son!  And here’s wishing every one a happy mishap free Christmas…..

Movie Day – Bolt

I am crossing my fingers hard that today will be a rainless day because it rained on Monday and Tuesday.  Why?  Because the childcare centre has arranged to bring the kids to Lot 1 Shopping Centre to catch the movie “Bolt”

And the kids were absolutely excited and hyped up about it.  This morning, the first thing they said when they opened their eyes wasn’t “Good Morning Mummy” but “hooray, today we are going to the cinema to watch Bolt”. 

The conversation we had this morning before leaving the house.

Rayner: Why so many bags Mummy?

Me: Today you are going for the movie so you have to bring along your sweater and raincoat in your bag.  After the movie, you have to go back to school to shower, eat and nap so we still have to bring along your usual bag and leave it in school.

Rayner: so heavy….whinning…

Me: stop complaining, your sister isn’t complaining and your primary school bag is going to be many times heavier than this ok!

Rayer: lol!

Today during lunch, am going to try to do some Christmas shopping.  I have already gotten a DORA labtop for RayAnne and I think she’s going to love it.  I also got another Ice Cream parlour Playdough set for RayAnne.  The kids simply adores playdough, even until today.

And this is what Rayner requested.  Bakugan……I had no idea what it was so I bought him along when I did my shopping and he chose what he wanted.  But I made him promise that he could only open his present to play only on Christmas Day when Daddy returns from his trip.  I still need to get another toy for Rayner and who would have guessed or expected that kids can be so specific when it comes to toys.

Rayner: Mummy, Meimei has 2 presents, can you get me another one.  I want a Ben 10 character, I want the Wildmutt….

Me: I cannot find wildmutt Rayner, think they are coming up with lots of new Ben 10 characters so they don’t sell the old characters anymore.

Rayner: ok then, you look for Jet Ray, if no Jet Ray then get the Humngosaur and if no Humungosaur then you get the Echo Echo….

Me: okok

Can you believe it? There is no way I could remember the names of the aliens so I had to write it down and it’s now sitting in my bag.

Apart from gifts for the kiddos, I also bought a Initial D car model for David.  I knew he has been wanting to get it for the longest time but never had the chance or time to get it so I decided to surprise him this Christmas.  I got it during his Vietnam trip and it is all wrapped up and waiting for him to come home.  I have to keep telling the kids not to tell him what I bought.  I hope they can keep it under wraps and don’t blurt out…..

I also intend to get some small gifts for my sister’s 2 boys, one 3 years old and the other turning 1 in January 2009. 

It’s a season to be shopping and doing my bid for the economy!!!

My little girl has a boyfriend in school.  This is what she told me this morning…

RayAnne: Today I will hold Long Teck’s hand and walk to Lot 1

Me: Oh……he is your boy friend?

RayAnne: *smiles* yes

Me: Is he your only boyfriend and you like him?

RayAnne: yes, he kiss me on my face the other day *still smiling away*

RayAnne: later we go watch movie, I will sit next to him

Me: oh….

I seriosuly didn’t know how or what to say but I can sense she does like this Long Teck boy…….

Complete the sentence tag…

Kenna tagged by Lovely Mummy Eileen

1. Life is full of laughter!!(esp when my rays are around)

2. I smile when I am happy.

3. I can’t sleep when I am HUNGRY!

4. I love the smell of flowers.

5. When I can’t sleep, I toss and turn in bed till I fall asleep.

6. I often dream about striking TOTO and no sharing, just me….wahahahah.

7. I get irritated when the kids throw tantrums.

8. I like the sound of raindrops.

9. People often call me xiao mei (only when the kids are not with me), when the kids are with me, I automatically becomes AUNTIE liao…..

10. I wish I could be sleeping at home with my babies!!

11. The best creation in the world is the internet!

12. 1st 3 words that comes to my mind: David, My Rays & Food

13. I’ve discovered that happiness is being healthy and spending time with your loved ones…

14. When I’m in love, the world seemed oh so beautiful!

15. A baby is born with the love and responsiblity of the parents.

16. Before I met my husband, I never had kopi in kopitiam!

17. A good marriage requires trust, love, understanding and communication.

18. I dislike sanitary bins in public washroom, they reek!

19. I say ‘I Love You’ to Hubby and my kids every night, before we turn in.

20. My favourite subject in school was Literature….oh romeo & juliet and who can forget animal farm and the mocking bird?!?!

Done…….I have completed my tag (sensing December is a pretty busy month for lots, I think I shall not pass this on liao)

So much to do, yet so little time

With just less than 3 weeks to year 2009, the year Rayner starts his primary education route.  I suddenly realised that there are still lots of unknown and undone.  Perhaps the anxiety is getting to me plus the fact that David is travelling very frequently the past 2 months isn’t helping with the stress factor.  I suddenly feel very alone.

As you all know me by now, you would also know I don’t usually impose on my side of the family for help very often because my parents are still working.  Thought they will not say NO to me but I don’t want to take advantage of them, they are old, aside working, I feel they needed their rest and space.  They have done they share of parenting raising me and my sister so it’s time they enjoy the retirement/old age (whatever you call it).

We don’t like to impose on David’s side of the family too unless absolute necessary.  Firstly, I don’t have a fantastic mother in law to daughter in law relationship because we simply don’t see eye to eye to anything.  Plus, she doesn’t really want to commit to taking of grandkids in her free time and I totally understand that.  She has no obligation to take care of them and I don’t see the reason to force her to since she is a full time housewife.  Thus the reason to start both the kids full day child care since they were 3 years and 2 years respectively.

I think we are doing quite well for now, both the kids are still in full day childcare  and Rayner going off to Primary 1 next year and they have turned out to be pretty obedient, respectful and well-behaved kids (at least that is what I like to believe), we are both working hard to maintain this family.  We try to give our kids whatever they want or desire, sometimes I feel that we could be making up for the lost time with material gain and that is one thing I am not too sure we are going the right path.

There are really times when I feel bad letting them spend 12 hours in school each day and I always wonder if it would have been a better choice for me to stop working and be a SAHM but then our finance would be tighter, we would have less savings and our pockets not as deep.  Lots of luxuries would be a big NO-NO.  And many a times, I seriously wonder if I could keep my sanity being a SAHM.  All the SAHMs, please enlighten me how you can be a SAHM and yet excel at it.  I really want to know.

Just last night, I was thinking and realised we haven’t gotten socks and shoes for Rayner and took out the Primary school kit to see if it is written anywhere if white trackshoes could be worn.  If the school allows and I can get all-white trackshoes, then that would save me the trouble of washing canvas school shoes……

Then I found this interesting page.

“  Things to bring within the 1st week of school

  * 1A & 1B English textbook

  * 1A Maths textbook and workbook

  * Social studies textbook and workbook

  * Health Education textbook and workbook

   * Music book, 1 three-lined exercise book, 3 jotter books, 3 single-lined exercise book and 1 Mother-tongue exercise book etc etc etc…….

All the above items will be kept classroom.  Please label all books with your child’s name and class.

I was so happy when I read the above, happy because his load of books to be carried to school would be much lesser since most of the books would be kept in school.  I am very worried that his already skinny body may not be able to take the load of all the books….heavy leh!

” Things to bring EVERYDAY, starting from the 1st day of school

  * 1A Maths and 1A MotherTongue textbooks and workbooks

  * School Diary

  * English Wordbank Book

I am equally happy that the school has advised us what to bring on the 1st day of school because I had no idea what to pack for his 1st day of school on the 2 January 2009.

Actually, I could have spared myself all the agony if I had found this primary 1 starter kit weeks ago.

I was still telling myself, die lar, also dunno what books to bring along for his day of school because we didn’t know what to bring.

I still haven gotten around to washing his t-shirt and shorts for opening of the school……seems like lots needed to be done.

Just barely 2 weeks to Christmas and I have not gotten my list of  TO GET and TO DO striked off yet……think it’s time for me to pull up my socks and get my engine moving……

Day 9

One more day to Daddy’s return.  This has been what the kids been ranting the whole morning.  I guess they miss their Daddy as much as I miss him.  This trip felt especially long althought it is not, but I am not sure why.

The kids has been on their best behaviour, perhaps they know that Daddy is away and it’s tiring on Mummy alone to take care of them and the house and at the same time working.  And they have taken to washing their own bowls after their meals. 

One day, I even caught them cleaning up the kitchen for me…..haiz….what else can I ask for?!?!?!

Let hope they continue to do that even after Daddy returns….

The Rays loves Daddy’s fish tank and every time he travels, the kids will help to feed the fish and add water into the sump tank to replace the evaporated water and they enjoy doing it very much.  Rayner has even entasked himself to fetch water for the plants every morning. 

I am kinda enjoying this very period…….you can’t get any better behaving and sensitive kids than this!

A little update on RayAnne.

These days, she enjoys drawing very much.  Everyday she comes home from school, when she is done taking her shower, she will get a piece of paper and start drawing.  In the past, she used to hate drawing and never bothers to even colour the pictures she draws but these days, it’s a totally different story, she loves to draw and colours them very nicely.

And after she is doing with her masterpieces….

This is what she does…..

She carefully sticks scotchtapes all around her masterpiece and proudly sticks them in the dining room wall.  And she takes pride doing it, she will quietly take the whole roll of scotchtape, sit there for a good 10 mins with the tape and a pair of sicssors, making sure all around the picture has tape to hold it to the wall.  After she is doing, she will happily run into the kitchen and get me out just to see what she has achieved.  I pretend to be very surprised at her achievement although all these while I have been peeking…….she’s happy, I am happy…..

That’s my princess girl….. (this photo too was taken by Rayner….)

And that’s my cheeky darling boy….

(pssss….this was a self taken shoot, I was busy preparing dinner last night and he was busy taking photos of everything and anything in the house, including himself, I was looking through the photos in the camera when they were off to bed last night and discovered a whole lot of interesting shoots)…..will showcase what he has taken another day……:)