'Crying' Practice

Since the time we've agreed for Renee to go for her ABRSM exam, it has recently been quite texing for both of us on the practices - especially the excercises in preparation for the exam.

A few times, she had cried for not being able to do them, especially when they got 'harder' and the minute she cries, I got aggitated, haiz. Today, with her papa home, she took the opportunity to 'manja' even more and cried when we embarked onto another 'tougher' exercise, arrrggghhh. Now I know why so many music schools are not willing to take in students younger than 6/7 yrs old for violin lessons, haiz. It's really very tiring at times like this and quite often, especially lately, I've thought of giving it up - not letting her learn the instrument, but she said she wants to...

I'm not aiming for her to score distinction, I only hope she could at least pass the exam...

Mood Spoiler

Earlier this month, I was just re-confirming with hubby, the timing for Renee's school next year and a few days ago, he told me to hold on to the payment(that led me to call the school up to check on the payment) as he might need me at the office again. Oh man! I was thinking "Oh no, not again..." to myself the minute he mentioned it to me but I calmed myself down and asked him about his plans. It was a sound plan but much as I'd love to render my support to him, I'd hope more, not to disrupt Renee's learning especially from next year onwards. I shared my thoughts with him on this and agree-ing with me, this is now put to 'rest' or on his 'shoulders' and today, after PX's left, I brought Renee to the school to make our payment for her K1's first term fees - S$1, 446.55(ex man...).

With the schooling matter settled, we went to look for some x'mas gifts which turned out to be quite fruitful and mood was just beginning to build up when just now, hubby revealed something to me that brought my X'mas mood down, haiz...

Artwork(Drawing) Display

School Fees

Having not received any payment notice from Kinderland Preschool(Serangoon), I phoned them up this morning and when I finally got to speak to the administrator, I was greeted by surprise that I'm to pay re-enrolment fee + a deposit of S$535. Due to some parents pulling out of the school without notice, this shall be the new ruling for students joining from 1 Dec, 2009 but Renee's not a new student! Yes, perhaps she had pulled out from the preschool but she was still on the Kinderland system when she went to the childcare centre! I was abit furious 'cos this has also been acknowledged by the preschool principal earlier. In any case, the administrator told me that she'd speak to the principal and get her to get back to me by next week as the latter's on leave this week.

I thought for a while and unwilling to wait so long(wld be busy next wk onwards also), just in case they've changed to being inflexible and remembering that I do have the principal's mobile no. in my list, I called her up(not wanting to be 'rude', I tried calling the administor to tell her so but couldn't get her) so I could get this matter sorted out before the X'mas week. The minute I spoke with her, she recognised and remembered, told me that Renee's case is exceptional and since we've informed her before the dateline, we're to pay as per normal - yeah man, else, it would be soooo unfair for just us having to pay those when Renee's never pulled out of Kinderland's system at all, plus they're fully aware of all these 'changes'.

From next year, there is now an extra fee of S$277.50 to the first term fees of S$1,166 and this is the loyalty fees to IBM(I duno what it stands for) for the WTR programme - apparently, it's a writing or reading programme.... Preschool's education is sooo ex, and we still have to send her to enrichment outside the preschool even, aiyoh, why has it become soooo stressful for the kid(not forgetting the parents's pocket, hahaha) to catch up these days!

A Pre-X'mas Gift Exchange

As my friend, Vicky would be joining her hubby this weekend, we have to arrange yesterday for our X'mas meetup + gift exchange.

Vicky has earlier suggested buying food over to my place as Renee's been inviting her over to play with her but I know her, she's the 'dine-out' kinda person, lol. On the other hand, I was feeling tired and lazy to go downtown, plus hubby wasn't very keen in staying home to look after Renee, I was even more reluctant. In any case, I asked hubby to come back early and shift the car seat over and I took Renee downtown.

It was however good that I've brought Renee out 'cos not long after we've reached Orchard road(wah, jam packed the carpark and I was early, before 5pm!), hubby text to inform me that his client has just arrived and that he'd be having dinner with him...

Before we went out, Renee asked to put on mascara which of cos, wasn NOT allowed, but however, I did allow a little curling of her eyelashes and she was elated, hahaha, jialat man...

We walked from Paragon, to C.K. Tangs, to Ion, then Wisma Atria, Takashimaya before heading back. It was already 9pm when we left the place and Renee has enjoyed herself with the company of my friend and trying new flavours of pop-corn and ice-cream, hahaha.

To try out the new coffee machine Vicky's got, we proceeded back to Vicky's place(where renee chatted with Vic's mom whilst I go check the machine out, :D) for coffee and it was really good, and what makes it better was its low maintenance cleaning process! Ooh, one could have a nice cup of 'starbucks/coffee bean' coffee at only a fraction of the price and at the comfort of home, why not..., but, not now for us, :D.

Isn't it lovely? It's not very expensive yet it's compact and easy to maintain, very tempting(the mug like thing on the side is the milk frother)

my gift to vic(Renee insisted on putting the snowflake on top, lolz)

Fretting that she hasn't got any gift for aunty vicky, I told her that she could make her one of the snow-globe which she's made for her uncles last year

Hers to us, which are sitting under our tree :)

The March-In

Despite her little fever(wasn't high, thank goodness!), Renee had woken up super early yesterday! I heard her going to the toilet(she's been going to toilet in the wee/early hours since the day she wetted her bed, hahaha, which is good 'cos she super like to hold her urine) and thereafter, she lied on her bed unable to resume her sleep. I went to her, telling her it's still too early and tried to persuade her to go back to sleep and gave her a dose of paracetamol + flu medication which I guessed, had eventually helped her to go back to dreamland. I didn't wake her up til it was almost 11am when we quickly got everything ready to go over to my sis' for the tea ceremony. She was indeed excited and told me whilst she's getting changed that she likes 'snowie', :D.

When we finally got back at close to 2pm, I quickly fed her lunch and after drying her hair from the shower, told her to try get a nap so she could recover fully and be a pretty flowergirl(she still looked alittle bit tired). She took my words literally and really tried to nap beside her papa(yeah, he finally gave up going to the office as it'd be too rushing for just that 2 hours left). Sis came over with Jo at about 4:10pm for her makeup and hairdo and when they left at 4:50pm, Renee woke up and was upset that I didn't wake her up to meet them, hahaha.

Nevertheless, she recovered fast when I reminded her about the 'event' but lazed about(something I don't usually allowed her to, 'cos lazing on bed can be made habitual if not corrected) on our bed which I let her, just for today, :).

When we got to the restaurant, the bride and bridegroom both seemed to be busy at the reception regarding the seating arangement and so we didn't get to have a proper rehearsal. I was told that they will begin the dinner at 8:30pm, but at 8:25pm, no one came to inform us about getting ready and seeing that Renee's hair has gotten alittle messy, I began to work on it when suddenly, the march-in was announced! Good thing I was almost done by then and quickly rushed Renee to the door(with everyone looking 'cos we didn't know which way to go...).

Although we did have a briefing on the march in with the girls and the other flowergirl, Charlize's mom, but 'cos it wasn't a proper one, so during the march in, Charlize again, had walked too fast and forgotten to 'sprinkle' the flower petals, :). The flower baskets are kinda small(due to their small size, we chose the smaller one) to begin with and with the long 'path', Renee's was already empty when they got to near the stage. I had earlier tried to squeeze in as much petals as I could to her basket and had told her to 'throw' bit by bit(she even suggested to throw just 1 petal at a time) but I guess the petals just couldn't last the walk, lolz. Anyhow, the girls were already lovely, just by their appearances alone and that's quite enough I supposed, especially judging by the anticipated looks on the guests when the march-in was announced, :).

It was past 11pm when we got home and Renee had gone to bed only after 12am but hving woke up early at 9am, I guessed she must have also felt tired 'cos when I had gone for a short nap just now whilst she's taking her lunch, I woke up half an hour later to find her sleeping beside me, :).

The flowergirls(with the bridegroom)

Toasting Time

Her 'partner''s been sitting on a high chair, so she played the sister instead(no no, she wasn't the 3rd flowergirl, just wanna dress like 1), :D

Oops, here comes the bride again, 'stand still!', hahaha

Oh no, we just noticed earlier that Renee's running abit of a fever!

She's been waking up with stuffy nose for the past 2 days and have been urging her to drink more water but I think she must have caught a cold as it's been super windy the past few nights. Arrrggghhh, hopefully she'll be fine by tomorrow, else she'd be sooo devastated for not being the flowergirl...(just now she even tried to drink quite abit of water even though she's already quite full after her cup of milk and pandan bun, heee)

Hair Day

Last night, looking at Renee's hair, hubby suddenly said that it might look nicer with layers(that's what I thought too, but was thinking to wait til it's much longer) and since he also agreed so, I sent my h/stylist a text asking if she could go to the salon earlier for my hair trim today.

Whilst I was having my hair wash, she began to work on Renee's and then she suggested curling her hair. I had declined actually but later I relented... As anticipated, it didn't look cute on her but Renee had enjoyed it.

After I've signed off my cut from my package, they didn't ask for payment on Renee's hair cut and I thought, oh, how nice, free again? Anyway, hers was a very easy cut(in fact mine was too). However, about 1 1/2 hours after we've walked out of the salon, they called up and told me that they've forgotten to collect payment for Renee's cut! Good thing we were still at the mall.

Then, I told Renee that it had been a real waste for her hair to be curled 'cos there's no occasion to warrant a hairstyling for her at the salon today and they even charged S$5 for it! Although S$5 is not expensive for the job but I hadn't wanted it. Besides, the curls didn't even last despite the fact that they've applied mouse on her hair prior to the curling, it had almost straigthened off even when we returned to the salon. When I curled her hair myself, the curls had stayed longer without applying anything. The cut, 'cos it was done by my h/stylist whom's the director, was charged at S$21 and the overall cost for her hair treat today, after my package discount = S$22.50. It sure is expensive I would say, for a kid's cut, hahaha. Nvm, it had been a fun treat for Renee and at least now she knows that she can't take such services for granted, :D.

When we got back, my neighbour's mom came knocking on our door and wanted to give Renee a stuffed bear. Not wanting to waste another toy, I declined politely(she could give it to her grandchildren)...

Charity Act