Favourite Hobby?

Supposed to be meeting Renee's friend again today but I didn't feel like going down town again, especially when the meet-up time's in the morning... Luckily Renee hadn't been too disappointed for not being able to meet up with her friend again and I told her that I'll try to change her S&D class to that of the same as her friend's since her friend would be attending maths classes at the same centre...(now on waitlist on the change of time slot)

Kids these days are learning so much faster than us.  Renee's been playing with Papa's Iphone lately and she can even 'control' the features on my mobile better than me!  She's always liked to listen to the songs in my MP4 and not wanting her to fiddle with the player, I've only shown her how to move to the next song and I've never let her use it on her own.  Last night, I decided to let her have 'full control' of it and taught her how to switch it on and this morning, she's already discovered and using the features on my MP4, some of which I don't even know about, goodness...

Ok ok, back to the main topic, heee, after the usual pre-natal check-up at my gynae's yesterday, we took a cab('cos papa had thought it's gonna be a long wait, so he'd left us there to do some work), not back to home but to Hougang Mall - 'cos our dear girl didn't want to go home yet and I hadn't got my umbrella with me and thus, we couldn't cross over to Paragon/T.S.C(and it's hard to get a cab home from these 2 locations later at night).

Since we were there, we went to the shop where she'd left her pretty hairband behind 1-2 weeks ago but as expected, they didn't have it...   Then, at her request, we headed to the Popular bookstore 'cos she wanted to do some 'reading' at the children's section.  Although I've warned her that she's not supposed to do that as it's not a library but she wanted to try her luck, hahaha.  Indeed, after 2-3 books, we were told that no sitting on the floor to read is allowed but she still wanted to carry on reading the books, hahaha.  However, after another couple more books, she began fidgeting and even resorted to half squatting on the floor, hahaha.  I told her to get up 'cos it doesn't really matter how she lowered herself, they simply don't allow reading as it's a bookstore, not a library, hahaha.  In the end, I urged her again, to go try reading those Enid Blyton's books since she's reading those young readers' very fast(too short).  Finally, she agreed to try and after the 1st page, she said she likes it!  Aiyoh, if she'd listened to me earlier, she would have gotten the Enid Blyton's titles instead of those she's put on her X'mas list(which she finished reading all the 5 in-a-set within less than 1/2 hour!) and could have enjoyed longer reading now...

I had earlier requested her cousin Wayne gor gor to keep those Enid Blytons' books we've all gotten for him in the past(think I've told pc to keep too) and so, I didn't want to waste getting them for Renee yesterday but today, they confirmed that they've already given those books away...  Nevermind, I just have to try and get a few first, hopefully these couple of days(not too many as we'd be moving real soon) for her reading pleassure, :)

A Family X'mas Gathering

This year, we decided to have a small one at Li's and with past experience, our food preparation was alot lesser than previous years but yet, we still have some to tapao back, hahaha.

Unwrapping her gifts.  Though not as much as in quantity this year,

but they're all what she wanted, so it's quality over quantity.

The gifts unwrapped

Actually, now that I'm looking at the above pic, then I remembered!  Renee's actually wanted a bigger sized 'FurReal' doggy - one which we've saw earlier at a departmental store and which she could 'take to walks' but we've both forgotten about it.  She didn't even recall I think, when she spotted the miniature set and had added it to her list, lolz.  If only I had remembered about the doggy when Papa asked me what she had wanted... Nevermind, she could make do with the miniature set for now, :D.

Toy House!

Renee used to want to have a toyhouse(although very strongly though) after playing with her cousin's, but each time, after I've explained to her about it being 'jor deng'(taking up space) especially when she's got a kitchen set and so many toys, she seemed to drop the idea.  I had thought that she no longer wanted it, especially when she hadn't really displayed her keen-ness when we saw the sets at Compass Point last week.  She didn't even show that she wanted one when we were there with Li a few days ago, looking at the items in her X'mas gifts list.

This morning, as promised, we took her to breakfast at Mc's and whilst we were wrapping up her small 'gifts of appreciation'(which Renee's paid abt S$25 for) back home, Papa suddenly asked me what was it that Renee had wanted(probably 'cos he overheard ne talking about getting him a x'mas gift, :D) but I couldn't really recall any since most of what she wanted will be 'taken care of' by her aunts and cousins.

Out of ideas, I asked her directly and she replied that she couldn't think of any as well but shortly, she mentioned the beads set I've suggested to her earlier.  Then, when I said that it might be very abit troublesome to pack the beads up when we move and there's a smaller set by Barbie, she asked for my mobile to show Papa the pics I've taken, lolz.

Having gone out so early this morning, we were all very tired and so I took a nap after all the wrapping work's done.  Then, after lunch, Papa took a short nap and I took another, geez, hahaha.  Thereafter, we headed out again to get my item for the gift exchange.  Surprisingly, the mall hadn't seemed as crowded as last year.  Maybe it's because we were there rather late, around 4:30pm and it being situated around the neighbourhood, most might have gone back home for dinner/gatherings(many cars were exiting the carpark when we arrived).  That was however good for us as it meant that we need not have to squeeze with a big crowd, :).

At KP, Papa took Renee to the toys section whilst I go look for my stuffs but as I walked away, I heard him telling her something like "Or you want these? Think it's better than the beads set, less messy" and when I returned to where they were, I saw Papa choosing a set of ToyHouse and she's grinning with joy, lolz...

For her aunts

For her cousins

Her X'mas gift of ToyHouse

Another Meetup

As we might be busier next week, I decided to bring Renee to her maths school today and although Sharmaine has just returned from a short trip to Penang, she brought Shuen and Lyn down to meet us(also for let Shuen to go for the diagnostic test).  Shuen was signed up for the course right after the test and the teacher's explanation of the programme to Sharmaine and because of their current referral promo, we both got to pay 50% of the coming month's fee! :)

We went for donuts and shakes thereafter, thinking that the kids could entertain themselves while we catch up for that short while but they had felt restrictive at the cafe and we had to move on.  Not wanting to walk over to United Sq, we took the kids to watch the ice-skating performance which ended just on time for the daddies to come pick us, :).  However, with the sitting down for snacks and watching of the performance, the kiddos didn't get to play much and needless to say, Renee wasn't happy again, hahaha.  She cried, awww and Shuen has to hug her, hahaha.  Finally, aunty Sharmaine had to placate her by offering to come visit us once we've settled into our new home(if we really move to the mentioned location, which will be near to Shuen's kindy/pri sch) but after the nap on the way home, she woke up feeling grouchy again, haiz.

Back home, as she didn't get to have her favourite dinner, she was upset again.  It was then that I reprimanded her and the idea of of not being able to join in the family X'mas gathering as punishment should she continue with her nonsense behaviour finally calmed her down...

She's been going to bed and waking up late for the past 2 weeks and I hope this can be corrected by next week.  Meanwhile, I've promised to bring her out for an early breakfast tomorrow morning so that she could get her 'gifts of appreciation' and then, another trip down to the mall for me to find mine(I hvn't gotten the exchange gift!) later in the afternoon - another busy day tomorrow, heee.

New Wall Stickers

Seeing that the almost all of the carpark faclitiies near the Waterloo Street are full, we decided to park at the Iluma shopping mall, thinking that we could dine there later.  However, although we were new to this mall, there didn't seem much or anything interesting there, so we went over to Bugis instead.

Saw these wall stickers and as I'm not sure I'd be able to 'preserve' her current ones with proper 'storage' when we move, I thought getting this as spare would be a good idea.  Renee had aimed at 2 sets but unknown that it's re-usable(the salesgirl said it's not, haiz...), I only purchased only 1 set:

An Outing She Missed...

As Renee didn't get to fully enjoy her play-date yesterday and I needed to run some errands at Compass Point, I took her there this afternoon.

After the errands, we went over to BK for snacks and she looked so happy(like the time we both had gone to Bugis Junction & had our dinner ourselves whilst waiting for papa) that I couldn't help but asked her why.  She said that it's because she had missed such outings and was happy that we're doing it again, awwww...

When we passed by the Metro X'mas booth at the mall's lobby, there's this charity photo taking with 'Santa' and although it didn't seem like it's gonna be a very good shot, but for a good cause, I took her back to the station. 2 secondary school girls were tending to the booth and Renee even tried to play around with the jie jie whom tried to take her pic, hahaha.  Finally, she settled down and her pic's taken and framed :



An Old Play Date

As usual, it's the time of the year(school holidays) for a meet up with Shuen, Renee's ex GUG playmate.  Our plan was to meet up for the Sponge Bob show 1st and Renee's been looking forward to it but, she was disappointed when she saw that Shuen's friend had came along with her mom & sister as well.  Naturally, Shuen is closer to her classmate and thus, Renee felt kinda rejected although I told her it's a good idea to make new friends as well and the other girl seemed like a nice girl but she was still feeling upset.  Then suddenly, after our sit-down round of ice-cream, she began playing with them, lol.

Soon, it was time to go for Renee's class and Sharmaine suggested walking over with us as she's heard about the maths school and would also like to take a look.  However, midway, she met another group of friends at the ice-skating ring and stopped to chat.  As I didn't want Renee to start her class any later, I told her that we'd go up ourselves 1st.  In the end, without Renee, Shuen wanted to go back to United Square to watch the 'Diego' show with her friend, so Sharmaine text me that they'd try to arrange another meet up before the year ends.

Renee came out of the classroom, 10mins before her session ends and was disappointed again, that her friend had not come over, :).

This week's the maths school celebration week and the kids are given a goodie bag each.  Seeing new 'Winx Club' items in the showcase for the children's 'good job board' redemption, she went into the other room, searching for a 'Winx Club' goodie bag, lolz.  Unfortunately, the teachers were unable to get them, so she chose this, arghhh :

Her X'mas present from Shuen

Good Job Board Gift

Besides hving the 'progressing' test on Thursday, Renee also got to exchange her completed 'good job board' at her maths school.

She's been aiming at the 'Barbie' stationary set for a while now but when she finally got to redeem it, she chose the notebook with the reflective 'Winnie Pooh & Friends'  'Disney Princesses' cover instead!  I was surprised and asked if she's really sure about it especially when she's already got so many notebooks at home(I've still got 2 new spare ones at home for her, one of which is also Winnie Pooh's) and she said yes.  So, I told her to take another look at the showcase and rethink her decision before she regrets it as she'd have to wait for the new 'good job board' to be completed.

After a brief hesitation and my prompting, she finally decided that she'd like to have the 'Barbie' set and fortunately, she's not damaged the plastic cover of the notebook when she'd first opened it up excitedly(it was still in perfect condition), so we exchanged it...

When I asked her later that evening why she's chosen the notebook when she's really wanted the stationary set, she replied "because I thought you won't like it..." Awwww.... she ar, really melts my heart(even more of daddy's, lolz.  hopefully she'd stay this sensible all the way, lolz).

To the New Mall

After her maths lesson, whilst waiting for papa to pick us up, I took Renee to Guardian at the other side of the mall to look for the item she'd wanted.  Along the way, when she caught sight of some performing ice-skaters at the ring(where we'd earlier seen children whom were allowed to enter with a certain amt of spending at the mall and 'snow' emitting from a machine above), she'd insisted on watching.  As I've failed to find the item at the pharmacy, I let her watched the skating performance and she was so engrossed that when it's time to go, she didn't want to...

Without any idea where we should head to for our dinner(not wanting to accede to Renee's request to go to Tony Roma's, lolz), papa suggested going to the newly opened mall - The Nex.

There're soooo many eateries and restaurants at this mall and yet they're nearly all filled up with customers.  Good thing we've gotten there earlier, phew...

Remembering the very 1st time I was introduced to Wendy's shrimp burger by Elsie(woah, that was like >20yrs ago?), I've always wanted to go try it again when I 1st learnt of the re-launching of its branches here but never had the chance to.  So, when I saw that there's a branch at Nex today, I was very happy..... til I saw the que!(whilst we were driving to the multi storey carpark nearby).  Geez, sooo long, haiz...  So, we ended up at Macdonald's which is also not too bad since my used-to-be favourite samurai burger is back! heee(even bought another 1 home for supper when we were gg back - hvnt eat it yet, hope wl be as nice).

When we've first arrived at the mall, Renee saw the Winnie Pooh & Friends' X'mas decoration outside and wanted me to take photos of her with it but papa said to do it after dinner as the lightings would look better when it's darker.  Fortunately, there hadn't been alot of people taking pics tonight so we managed to get a few nice shots of her with the decor, :).

As for her maths lessons, I was told last week that Renee would soon be tested again for the advancement to the next level but I didn't know that it's going to be today.  She passed it and is now into level 4...

The Prep Talk (abt her Fears)

Last night, before Renee's aunts, Elsie and Li left our home, aunty Li requested for Renee to play the violin.  As usual, she rejected but fearing that they'd be leaving right away, she finally relented.  She chose to play the Minuet II as she's just picked-up on how to sway a little to the tune like how the students of Nafa had done during the concert and she wanted to try it out(although she's only tried it once and had fumbled a little whilst she played but to me, it's 'well done' on the willing to try part).  Then, as Li likes the variation tune of the Long Long Ago(suzuki bk II) she's played some time ago, she requested for the piece but instead, Renee wanted to do 'The Two Grenadiers' which she's just learnt...  And because she didn't play the requested tune, aunty Li teased about going back if she doesn't play the piece and that really got to Renee.  Reminded by Elsie, we've indeed indicated to her that the next one would be the last but we've asked her to do yet another piece - so, in a way, it's our 'fault'(esp. knowing that she's so unwilling to play infront of people).  Obviously, she wasn't happy and started to fuss.  Papa was angry with this and began to chide her.

When her aunts had left and papa getting ready to bed, I decided to talk to her about this.  I've been telling her about the importance of being able to perform infront of others, especially when she wants to join the elite team of Nafa.  She had expressed understanding in this area when we decided to let her go for the audition but it seems like the actual fact of having to do it still hasn't quite really registered yet.  Perhaps, it's like what she said "I havn't started with Nafa yet" but knowing her, I think I need to prep her about it seriously.

Our 'talk' lasted more than an hour, til 12:10am!(with the last 20mins with her explaining her point of view in understanding the need, hahaha) and although it had appeared that she might be ready afterall but knowing her... I'm keeping an open mind about it.  I've 'warned' her that during our forth-coming family gatherings, there might be a good chance that her aunts/our friends might request that she play the violin again and she's not to throw away those opportunities(I classified them to her as chances to help eliminate her fear), just do whatever she could.  She agreed and said she'd try.  We'll see....

*guess what, she's enjoyed our 'talk' so much that she asked me to continue with it tomorrow, hahahahaha.