The Nafa Young Talents Concert

Urged by Nafa, to give the children an idea of how Nafa students perform, we bought tickets to their Young Talents Concert today.

Renee's rather excited about it and at 5pm, she told papa to hurry get dressed, lolz.

After a quick dinner at Marina Square, we arrived at Nafa's Lee Foundation Theatre right on the dot at 7:30pm and as the concert has not begun yet, we were allowed a quick run to the toilet, heee.

Indeed, their students play/perform really well and this add on stress on my part!

In the middle of the concert, Renee asked if Shalynn jie jie(her idol/inspiration now, since the time she's read about her in the newspaper) would be playing. Looking at the wrong page of the leaflet(pianists, for the day before), I told her no and she was disappointed.  However, after the 1st hour break, I noticed the girl's name and told happy Renee that she'd get to watch her play afterall.

At the end of the concert, Renee even met Shalynn jie jie in person when we were leaving and happily shaked jiejie's hand, hahaha(does it symbolised fate? lolz). A pity, I should have asked for them to take a photo together...

The minute we got home, Renee quickly went in search of something... Asked her what she was looking for but she just couldn't name it. Then finally, she said she's looking for the newspaper cut-out on the article about Shalynn's achievement(ABRSM grade 8 at age 10, Nafa's top violinist and top in NY pri in Sci & Bilingual language.  Actually Nafa even hv students graded diploma lvl at such young age.... Very impressive, I hope my girl will really learn something from them) and began to read it, again...haha.. This is dunno the no. what-th time she's reading the article already, hahaha.

It seems like some 'known' people were also present at this concert as Papa has spotted a Minister(supporting his daughter we assumed) and local TV artiste, Zoe Tay(supporting another performer).

Orientation at Nafa

I had woken up early this morning, due to hunger. Renee had followed suit when I came out of the room to make breakfast, why? She's excited about the bbq/swim tonight, lol.

After our breakfast and tv programme, I urged Renee to join me for a nap but she wouldn't...

A quick lunch at home and we rushed over to Nafa for the orientation. We were early today and the prep-class students were still having their internal examinations when we arrived. When the principal presented, she again, stressed to parents(of new and existing students) that Nafa's lessons are not to be taken casually and we're not to compare them to the 'outside commercial schools) - they strived for excellency(stress...). However, we as parents are not to be overly kiasu...(errrm, with such a speech, wouldn't most be? hahaha) and we're not to engage any 'outside' teacher as 'extra help' as it'd confuse the child with different methods of teachings/curriculum.

Besides stating the obvious - their standard of expectations and requirements of their students, from the other pointers the principal has raised, it appeared that it is indeed pretty stressful to learn there, so I'm bearing in mind to monitor the situation(afterall, with the arrival of the baby, I'm not sure how much time I could devote to coaching Renee at home, plus I'd be expected to continue sit-in the practical classes).

It was when they started to segregate the piano and violin students that I realised that there were more pianists than violinists and most of the students joining Renee at Gr 1 are existing students promoted from their prep-classes. New intakes are very few, I think there are only 3 new students, including Renee, for the grade 1 level. We had to stay back for the theory class prep-talk(which starts only from grade 1) and when we went to join the other violinists at another level to arrange for our class schedule, things became abit confusing. Due to the space/room constraint as there are several internal and the ABRSM examinations going-on on the same day, we were made to change room a couple of times and lastly, joining the que(which was unnecessary at all for grade 1 or abv students) for nothing... Fortunately, 1 of the teachers came out of the room to hush the crowd and when familiarity striked the moment she caught sight of Renee & I, told us that we need not join the que at all, alamak! Then she gave me her name card so that I could contact her in private to arrange for our class schedule, phew... The que was actually for the new preparatory class students - the teachers were helping the young children to measure/gauge which size of a violin to acquire.

It was already 4pm by the time we got back and thus, I had to quickly pack up some of Renee's stuffs and head down to my BIL's for the BBQ/gathering - something which Renee had been most looking forward to, lolz... However, she didn't get to enjoy the water play for as long as she'd expected/wanted 'cos it soon started to rain, hahaha. But after shower/dinner, she had great fun with her cousins, especially Yu jie jie and in order to prolong her joy, she was even willing to stay over for the night! Of cos we wouldn't let her, heee. It's also not a very good idea for kids to get used to 'sleep-over' at friends'(although this is her cousin's we're talking about).

Nevertheless, it had been a rather joyful day for Renee and although we had came home late and she had only gone to bed at 11pm, she had fell asleep instantly(when she's had naps in between the road trips), :).

Nafa Violin

Yes, Renee's been accepted to the Nafa's Gifted Young Violinists Course!

We've just received the letter of notification today and finally, my heart felt like it's dropped a stone, lolz.

Renee's gone for the audition on Sunday morning and just before her turn, she had butterflies in her tummy and needed to go to the toilet, lolz. We were given only about 3 weeks(from the registration) to prepare for the audition(in addition to the usual practices for the new pieces she's still learning with the current teacher) and thus, she wasn't as well prep-ed as the time she'd gone for her ABRSM exam, so we were quite anxious with the 'result', espcially when we've been forewarned that as they're not a leisure training school, their expectation would be much higher.

True enough, Renee's selected for their G1 although she's already done the grade 1 exam. However, it doesn't really matter to me which level she's going to start with them as long as they could draw out the best in her and give her the much needed performing platform/exposures. Theory lessons are also included as part of the programme(hope she could grasp the teachings...).

For 20 practical(45mins) and 20 theory(60mins, in group) lessons, we'd be required to pay the fees of >S$2000(just found out that their violin and cello courses are more expensive than their piano & chinese instrument courses), so I really hope that she'd be able to take the pressure and learn something there. In any case, we shall monitor the situation...

Oh dear, now I have to 'put' her back to Lorna's speech & drama class(as promised by her papa). Hopefully there's still vacancy!

Artwork Display

During one of those days when I needed to take a rest, she'd normally stay with me for a while and then move on to the other room to do her reading/writing/craftwork when I've fallen asleep. This is one I like(she actually coloured all the paper before cutting them into shape) :

Artwork Display(Nafa Arts - 2nd Semester)

2 weeks ago, Renee came home with her work for the 2nd semester of her arts lesson with Nafa and here're them :

*The Singing Tree(the green one)

*Under One Roof

*My Tree

YOG

(Ne chose to draw 'golfing' and I teased her "why would a girl wear a crown to golf?

She said "becos she's a princess...")

*If Dodo Come Alive(not sure what this was done on, ermmm, rice paper?... I dunno...heee)

My Lantern(the children brought this work back on same day for the mid-autumn festival celebration) but Renee's not satisfied with her 'creation', hahaha

*Giant Panda

*The Story : "Five Little Friends"

This is her 'monster', hahaha. She had wanted to do-up more 'legs' but later decided against it - lazy, lolz.

This is what the 'monster' has captured(folded in e monster's pocket')

*My Dream City(a 2-fold work on different type of materials)

Today's the last day and this is the art/craft work :

Christmas Ornament

Those artwork marked * are those of Renee's that were being put up together with the other children's, at the Nafa's Children's Day Art Fair. I only realised when I spotted these pasted at the back of her artworks - a pity I wasn't feeling well enough to stay with her at the school, so she didn't get to participate in the rest of the craft/art lessons specially extended on that day:

To view 1st trimester artworks : http://thetohfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/artwork-display.html.

Although the works can't be fantastically masterpiece-classified but the children were given the opportunity to do their work free-hand(not the 'copy what the teacher did on board' style, which I like) and I appreciate the fact that at times, a story would be narrated before the children began their work and that the children had a chance to work on different types of mediums/materials(they could use multiple mediums in just one single artwork), something which most kids are not given the opportunity to explore at home(speaking esp. for myself, hahaha). Most importantly, we can see that the children had enjoyed the lessons, :).

*I still find that Renee draws better on her own...heee

S&D Assessment

There will usually be a sharing session on the last day of each term but this term's presented today. Thereafter, we were given the assessment report on our child and this is Renee's :

The Note

One night, some weeks ago, I was rather upset with Renee's 'misbehaviour'(the boredom must have really gotten to her) and I refused to speak to her. Then immediately, I saw her walking quietly to the study room and instead of pouting in there, she came out shortly and handed me this note with a sad look in her eyes(which gave me a good chance to correct her spelling, lolz). Still feeling rather emotional at that time, I couldn't control my tears... She's a 'strong' girl who held high pride and probably fearful of being 'rejected' again, she had not wanted to apologise to me upfront but chose this way of relaying her sincerity instead and this was what had touched me at that moment - her sensibility to understand the need that I should be feeling happy during this period and most importantly, that she was wrong... Awww, how can one not love such a girl... :***)

Our Family

Thanks for the concern many had shown me during those times when I had felt 'uncomfortable'. For known reasons, I had been unable to reveal the actual reason why I had been feeling ill but apart from my family members, most whom are close to me had more or less made a correct guess and for the benefit of those who still do not know... Renee's going to have a sibling! :)

This pregnancy's detected very early(I even told hubby to buy another 'more known brand''s home test kit to test again, lolz) and the symptoms set in immediately and for the 1st week following my home-test, I had been resting and resting and although Renee had suspected that I'm hving a baby(she said "cos aunty Cindy was also like that the last time", hahaha), but, to prevent her from spilling the beans, we had to tell her that I was just feeling unwell, as much as we'd like to share the joy with her(since she's been longing for a sibling).  Not being told the truth, her patience soon began to wear thin... However, this wonderful secret cannot be contained for long from her and when we brought her along to the 2nd prenatal check-up at the gynae's, she couldn't stop grinning and clapped so loudly when she 1st heard the baby's heartbeat over the ultra-sound scanning machine, lolz. She was sooooo excited and kept saying "you're going to have a baby, you're going to have a baby...!" very loudly whilst we were waiting at the clinic's lobby, :D.

Thereafter, though we've instructed her not to leak out the secret when she's at grandma's, we were prepared that she wouldn't be able to contain her joy and true enough, the very next Saturday she was there, she revealed it to my sisters whom luckily, had already knew/guessed so, :).

The symptoms of this pregnancy are really much stronger and for the 1st 2 1/2months(after my pregnancy's confirmed), I had been literally resting on bed most of the time and what made it worse was that I was also feeling rather weepy, lolz and I tear-ed almost every night whilst watching Renee sleeping, feeling guilty for not being able to give more care/time to her, even though she has not made a single complaint at all...

The 1st thing I checked with my gynae was - if it's due to my age that I'm feeling so terrible but he re-assured me time and again that it's not and in fact, many younger women(in their early 20s) are the ones who felt such strong symptoms. He added that it is actually good news although the concerned mother-to-be would be 'suffering' as it meant that the pregnancy's strong(so, for those whom are also expecting and are experiencing the same, don't be alarmed, just take good care of yourself , try to rest/eat and take your pre-natal supplements).

Apart from the constant discomfort and vomitting, I only lost abit of weight on the 1st week and already, that got me worrying but once I was given the medication to help curb(not of tremendous help but it still did control abit) the vomitting, I had been able to gain weight steadily - although my weight prior to this pregnancy was already 'big' to begin with but I don't think this should be the main concern especially when we're pregnant and want the baby to grow healthily.

As I hvn't been able to send and pick Renee up from most of her classes(papa's the one who's been rushing here and there during this period), I have not taken up the long waited slot with Berries for her Chinese lessons, :( and we're now beginning to re-consider putting her back to a school next year(ne's requested to go to a childcare, oh man!) but that, for now, still can't be the 1st thing on my list as some of you had already known, we would be relocating, as to where, we've yet to finalise!(that's why I'm unable to work on this matter...), and in the meantime, I'll try to provide updates whenever I can... :)

A Night Away From Home

Yesterday, papa asked me last minute around noon if we'd like to go for a night stay at the Marina Bay Sands hotel. His client must have been rather sick of his free stays that he offered tonight's to papa. Well, since it's free and knowing that Renee's gonna be thrilled to the bits, I agreed immediately even though I havn't been feeling well.

However, not long later, I began to ponder if it's really gonna be worthwhile packing up for the night when we could only get to the room after Renee's S&D and Maths classes which will end at 6:30pm. Nevertheless, we decided to just go ahead with it...

At before 3pm, papa phoned and told me to bring Renee down to United Square on my own as he couldn't make it back home and he'll pick our 'luggage' up before picking us up in the evening.

Needless to say, Renee was overjoyed with the news! Then, she started telling me that she's feeling tired and would want to just go for her S&D class. Arhhh, I knew what she's up to! hahaha, she's so excited and wanted to skip her Maths class so that she could get to the hotel asap!(good thing we didn't skip as she was tested and passed to go up to the next level yesterday) :D

On our way to the maths class, I reminded Renee not to day-dream or kaypoh around(looking at her friends in the class) so that she could finish her work in class faster, if she wants to get to the hotel earlier. And she did! haha, including the school work and the tests she was given, she came out of the room at close to 6:25pm, haha. Unfortunately, papa's still stucked in Jurong with work and we had to walk around the mall - which didn't take long 'cos she was hungry and I had to stop at the foodcourt for her eat 1 of my pies, :).

Whilst dining at Tony Roma's, Renee even wanted to skip the rest of the meal(she will usually have some of the ribs and the baked potato) after her favourite french loaf starter as it was getting late and she was sooo afraid that she wouldn't have enough time to enjoy the room, :).

*I've forgotten to charge up the battery of my camera and thus, these were taken with papa's Iphone(not much though but the videos of Renee at the pool were a joy to look at - well, to us, lolz)

The hotel room we stayed in has a spectacular view. We had planned to go up to the skytower after watching the news but by then, it was closed! So we decided to wake up early today and went up there for a swim(well, papa & Renee, heee) after our breakfast.

This morning, with Renee's choice of breakfast, we took a cab over to Marina Sq but surprisingly at 7:50am, the Mcdonald's was still not opened! So left with no choice, we decided to just have our breakfast at 'Qi Ji', instead of wasting more time to look for another Mc outlet.

Back at the hotel, Renee couldn't wait to change into her swimsuit(she had wanted to wear the suit out actually, hahaha) and her 'fear of water' soon dissipated when Papa slowly drew her into the water at the adult pool. She had such great fun and even agreed for us to sign her up for swimming lessons, ha!

After >an hour at the pool, I was beginning to feel tired but with obvious reasons, Renee wouldn't hear of going back to the room and even urged me to go back on my own(when she hadn't allowed me to do so earlier). But as we weren't allowed a later than 12pm check-out(their usual is 11am), we headed back shortly after her last few 'laps'/rounds with papa - which she 'swam' back on her own(with the help of arm floats of cos and the wrong way of legs peddling haha but still, a good start :>).

With the lack of sleep and being tired from the 'swim', she immediately fell asleep in the car on our way home, but as the short nap wasn't enough and she didn't resume her sleep when we got home, she threw tanthrums during her '1st' violin lesson(we'd have to pay more for her lessons now as it'd have to be home lessons), after a break of about 2 months, haiz... However, despite hving not played the violin for a while now, she was still able to play rather smoothly, which was a relief to me, :).

Again, the teacher brought up the topic of the grading exams but unable to commit myself fully to the coaching of her in this area during this period, I told her that we'd like to take a break from the exams for the time-being.

Not long after her violin lesson, she was soon ferried to her arts class - oh boy, it's really been eventful for Renee! :).