Home Camping

This just revives our childhood memories huh? :)...

Artwork Display

It's been quite a while since she's been dabbling with paintwork at home, :)

My fav pc. She'd actually ran out of ideas of what to do with it when I told her to do something 'under the sea' 'cos she was tooo tired from the lack of sleep that day. So I told her to just paint the whole piece with blue paint and then paste the stickers and foam sea creatures on it and voila!

Copy Writer?

Renee did this long time ago - she's 'copied' the contents from a 'Cheers' receipt, hahaha

Last Day of Preschool

Finally, it's been a month since we've handed in our notice of withdrawal to Kinderland Serangoon.

Mixed feelings for both myself and Renee on the withdrawal. I wouldn't mind to let her continue 'wasting time' at school, as she could have some playtime with her friends but the need to review her learning routine appears to be more important especially when she came home requesting to learn how to read even after a good 1/2 year at K1. Anyway, how many of us still contact our friends from our Kindergarten year(s)?...

When papa suggested pulling her out of the Kindy(since she's not learning much academically there) and before I could check her opinion on this, she asked me to change school for her! This apparently showed that she has no objection to the withdrawal. One of her reasons could be due to the withdrawal of most of her newly found close friends(due to the fees hike to ~S$1,300 - not worth it esp when some teachers are heard speaking 'leh, la, lor' & calling out to the students 'hello, this & that' in an aunty way... Her teacher couldn't even pronouce her name! and even refused to correct herself when I've told ne to try and explain the correct pronounciation, just once, in order not to aggitate her...) at the beginning of the current term, I think she kinda felt lonely...

Actually, I've asked the school many times since she's joined them at Pre-N, if they'd consider changing the morning session to a later time, say 9am and though they replied that they've considered that before but there has been no decision to change at all even though this branch only runs on 2 sessions. 8am, to me(I've also checked with few other mommy friends and they all agreed) is too early for preschoolers and although I'm not one who's against waking up early to send the kid to school in the morning, but if a 5yo has to sleep by 8-8:30pm, wake up at 7am, rushed through a cup of milk and bread to get to school on time and still has to attend enrichment classes outside school, then we feel, that it's really time for the parents to review...

Upon much considerations, we embarked on this decision which we hope works best for our darling girl as it would give her more free time to play/relax at home.

Meantime, the only enrichment classes I've signed her up so far in replacement of her Kindy learning are 'Phonics & Reading', 'Speech & Drama' and 'Maths'. Berries is still unable to give us a slot at the moment and I think we have, up til the end of this year before I have to seriously consider letting her join other chinese language school.

National Day - Mommy's Birthday!

I had half expected hubby to bring Renee out for breakfast and to perhaps get me a cake but no, I woke up to the voice of Renee asking papa to also make breakfast for mommy(heating up the leftover pizzas), but when I got outta room, there's none for me... So much for being the birthday queen, lolz... However, if this was not done in the morning, it's done in the afternoon, when he brought her out to get lunch(no, I didn't feel like cooking even Renee's - so I put back the fish I've taken out to thaw, heee).

As usual, Renee's the one who's most excited about my birthday but this year, due to my being busy trying to schedule her enrichment classes, I had forgotten about it and by the time I remembered and tried to book a hotel/restaurant, they're all fully booked, :( - Well, good also, save $ on the hotel stay, hahaha. But Renee's of cos disappointed 'cos she simply loves hotel stays, lolz, so we let her chose the restaurant for our dinner which I later regret, 'cos she chose Tony Roma's! Oh my, having accomodated her wishes so many times before, I'm now already rather sick of their food!, haiz...

They had both tried to look for a gift at Compass pt, where they bought the cake, but knowing that I've certain preference of stuffs, hubby daren't make his final purchase even though I've already known what he'd wanted to get me. So, in the end, we went in search of it before heading to the restuarant but before I could decide on which one, Renee fussed and complained that she's hungry - ya, she just couldn't wait to eat her favourite food.

After dinner, hubby wanted me to get the sunglasses first but I thought we should head over to watch the fireworks 'cos I've not made my decision yet and do not wish to hurry over it due to the need to rush over.

Walking out of the mall, outside some restaurants, we had thought to stay there for a view but some diners there had acted as if they had bought over the whole of the view there just because they're dining there(not an expensive restaurant hor) and that put us off and we decided to move to somewhere else. Good thing for us, we got a much better view because of that!

We headed back to the optical shop and although we've both kinda settled on a pair of Gucci's(same as the one hubby's bought me many yrs ago) but as I also like another by Emporio Armani, I decided to take the latter due to its price. I don't really wear sunglasses very often, only recently when I felt that I should really start to protect my eyes esp. whilst driving and so, I don't see the need to get such an expensive pair. Although the G's(e one I like cost almost S$500) on 30% discount, the EA's on 20+5% and the final price is still quite abit of difference and so, I told hubby that we should just get the latter since the style of sunglasses changes rather frequently according to trend.

Renee had not wanted to go home(hong sim) but the reminder that I've yet to cut my cake got her all excited about going home, lolz. She played the happy birthday song with the violin and papa made her sing it thereafter, :).

When I've learnt that they'v got this cake from the 'Icing Room', I was like 'oh no, their cakes don't taste good...' but luckily, their Tiramisu one doesn't taste that bad...

why wouldn't a pair of 'normal' sunglasses do? well, the level/degree of protection is different, thus, to avoid paying a high price for inferior quality, it is important that one gets these 'branded' ones from renowned shops too

This is the 2nd round, and influenced by the crowd, you can hear nene 'wow, wow, wow' with the rest, lolz

A Lazy Sunday

We would normally go out on Sundays and we're usually happy that we need not rush back home right after dinner when it's a non-schooling day the next day. However, not feeling up to an outing today, I told papa when he's back from his golf game that we should just stay home since we'd most likely be dining out tomorrow(plus papa needs to go for a dinner appointment later).

Took the opportunity to rest at home and although Renee protested abit, she had her fair share of joy by watching another of the new Disney Princesses VCDs and to her further delight, we ordered pizza delivery for our dinner, :) - just like one of those nights in the past when papa was away travelling, cozy... :D.

Then, after Renee's gone to bed, fireworks began, what a pity, she didn't get to watch...

Many Doting Aunts

Renee had been bugging us to bring her over to gugu's place since early afternoon and even requested papa to take her there first so that she could have a longer time playing with cousin XuanLe, lolz.

We were the first to arrive and the moment XL saw us, she called out Renee's name and not wasting any precious seconds, the 2 girls began to play, lolz.

Soon, friends and Bro Chuan also arrived with their families and whilst the kids played together, the adults just chatted.

Renee's given another gift today, a new set of OshKosh B'gosh clothings from her gugu today. Last weekend, her doting aunts had also given her a Barbie's handbag and a backpack + pouches set, how lucky, :)...

Dinners

As promised to Renee, we went to Sushi Tei for a light dinner before we headed home for a short rest before the dinner.

By the time we got to the temple, the dinner has started. Tonight's dishes weren't as good as last week's, due to different budget(probably from the auctions).

Renee was already feeling quite sad when she learnt that her cousin XuanLe meimei won't be there and so, she was really disappointed when even her MinMin and MinNi jie jies weren't there too, but since we've been invited to her gugu's home tomorrow, she took to playing with her uncles(papa's brothers, cousins) instead, lolz.

Another Missed Performance

Again, there'd been no notice given to the parents regarding this National Day performance at school and so, equipped with my camera in the car on standby, I asked Renee to check the time of assembly, with 1 of the assistants taking her temperature. She was not given a reply... So, I approached her class teacher, whom told me to check with the office.

I was told that the 'performance' would only start at 9am but if we drive, we'd have to take our vehicles to somewhere else(papa later told me that I shouldn't have listened to them). Aiyoh! So, I told Renee that I couldn't stay as I wasn't allowed to park there and she was very sad. Actually, I was also hoping to capture her in the patriotic red top(plus I've never let her join this event by wearing the red top as it's not her colour) since this is very likely going to be her last participation in such school events. Plus, our last minute preparation of reciting the pledge and singing the national anthem went very well last night and she can recite most part of pledge already. Finally, I placated her with the prospect of a light dinner at Sushi Tei after her arts class this evening, before we head to another of the temple's auction dinners and she felt better(she was upset when we didn't go last night there after her diagnostic test with Enopi).

I was held up abit chatting with 2 of the other mommies and by the time we left the school, it was around 8:25am and close to 8:45am by the time I got home. I felt uneasy and thought that perhaps I should have just stayed back afterall. Had contemplated of going back to the school, but given the limited time, I supposed I may not make it back to the school on time(if they really start at 9am) plus there might be a jam by the time I get there(or even forbidden to park at all when I get there) and so, feeling abit goggy and super hungry, I did not...

One would have thought that the school would be most concerned about the children's well-being and understand that the parent(s)' involvement in such of their performances, be it on a small or large scale, would be most beneficial to the kids(well, tt's why they're requesting parental involvement in regular projects right?) but apparently, as per 1 of the mommies, they obviously didn't even want us to stay and watch by not informing(not the first time already anyway, esp. since this year)...

Well, well, I shall not let these incidents affect us too much now that we've pulled her out from the school. I just hope her withdrawal from the school will not have an impact on the photos she's be taking at the school next Friday(that wld make use even gladder that we've withdrawn, lolz), :P.

Talent?

Renee was pretending to play the piano on her papa's arm whilst he was taking a nap on the sofa this morning and then she ran to the kitchen and told me :

Renee : "mommy, today I played the keyboard! and teacher Dorie said that I'm talented and asked if I'm learning to play the piano"

Mommy : "so what did you tell her?"

Renee : "I just said no" then teacher Dorie told Mrs Ong the same thing and asked if I'm learning piano. Mrs Ong told her ya, I'm learning violin"

Mommy : "........"

Skipped, Skipped Lessons

Skipped school again yesterday 'cos we had came home late on Sunday evening and hubby needed to go his brother's place super early the next day.

When we got to the school this morning, Renee's host teacher Mrs Ong, approached me and told me that she'd thought Renee had stopped school already and the office told her otherwise - ya, told her that Renee's last day with the school will be on the 20th.

When hubby brought Renee to pick me up after my facial treatment, she excitedly showed me a piece of paper with the Singapore Pledge(in Eng and Ch)/Song - in preparation for their recital this coming Friday I assume but Renee wasn't exactly keen to memorise them after awhile, lolz...

Renee had her violin lesson skipped again last Saturday as the teacher was down with fever(the other wk she had to stay back at the school) and I should have listened to my inner-thoughts and cancelled today's instead of rushing back(could have got hubby to pick me up later). I had not really wanted today's lesson but I thought, it might be another skipped lesson this Saturday, so might as well just try and adhered but when she still hasn't appeared after 2pm, the alloted time given by her, I've text-ed and called the teacher but failed to get her. So I tried her home number, also no response, then she finally replied and apologised for missing me out when she messaged about her catching the chicken-pox and unable to take on lessons for 2 weeks. If only she had let me know earlier...

Whilst waiting for Ms Mok, I'd asked Renee to play her violin and for obliging, I gave her the privilege to watch 1 of the 6 disney VCDs I've just got from the mall, heee.

More 'Writing'

Almost forgot about this(which she did a month ago), un-corrected :

Corrected after my explanation

What I liked about this work's that, like always, she used her 'creative' imaginations - to 'twist' the letters to what she needed(like 'y' in my, she used L, overturned and slanted it; V overturned to look like a 'n'; Q to represent 'G'; C overturned to look like an 'U'; 3 overturned to look like 'M') 'cos these magnetic alpahets only come 1 pc each and to form a sentence like this, one would need duplicates.

Sleeping More or Less?

Since Renee's begun her morning school, I've been hving not enough sleep(everyday, just about 5hrs+) for a while now, and I always try to recoup by sleeping abit more during the weekends. Now that I've read this article, I think it's time I re-think such sleeping styles.

Seven hours the magic number for sleep: study

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – People who sleep more or fewer than seven hours a day, including naps, are increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, a study published Sunday shows.

Sleeping fewer than five hours a day, including naps, more than doubles the risk of being diagnosed with angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke, the study conducted by researchers at West Virginia University's (WVU) faculty of medicine and published in the journal "Sleep" says.

And sleeping more than seven hours also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, it says.

Study participants who said they slept nine hours or longer a day were one-and-a-half times more likely than seven-hour sleepers to develop cardiovascular disease, the study found.

The most at-risk group was adults under 60 years of age who slept five hours or fewer a night. They increased their risk of developing cardiovascular disease more than threefold compared to people who sleep seven hours.

Women who skimped on sleep, getting five hours or fewer a day, including naps, were more than two-and-a-half times as likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

Short sleep duration was associated with angina, while both sleeping too little and sleeping too much were associated with heart attack and stroke, the study says.

More of the article here...