Day with Kae

Kaelyn's school was closed for a staff retreat today. So I made plans to leave Kerri at the in-laws' place while I bring Kae out for some bonding time.

I've actually planned to bring Kae out to meet Mama Jo and Claire for a play date, but alas, the 2 girls have different sleeping times which made our play date futile. Another day perhaps.

So in the end, I brought Kae out for lunch at Canele, and then while she slept in the stroller after lunch, i walked slowly to Marina Square from Raffles City and had a coffee break at Starbucks.

After she woke, we ventured for some playground time before going off to meet Auntie Jas and Ked to discuss Auntie Jas's wedding day.

Nothing much done today it seems, but there's always another school closure to look forward to. Heh. Bigger plans next time.

Jog - 3rd week

I've injured BOTH my ankles. After the run on thursday. So, I think I should wait till further notice. There goes the little stamina that I've built up.

My timing for the 3rd week:

Thursday - 3.6km in 25 minutes 52 seconds

Ballerina Kae

We went for Kae's 2nd Ballet Open Class.

As she is in a different class together with older girls, I didn't know what to expect to see during this open class. Majority of the girls seem to be 1 year older than her.

She was quite reserved and didn't do as the teacher asked her to initially. But quickly opened up and did all the steps she was supposed to do.

It's really a proud moment for us parents when we see how the kids have grown and how they are trying to find where their passion lies. Kae loves to dance. Maybe she will continue this route of becoming a true blue ballerina.

Here is a video of their ending exercise.

By the way, that was Kerri crying in the background.

Fuss free, fresh food

How I love Fish Mart Sakuraya. With their fuss free fresh sashimi. I just fall in love over and over again with their salmon and swordfish sashimi.

And not forgetting their black cod fish, ordered specially for my little piggy princess Kaelyn.

And this is her, just singing nonsense at the shop while waiting for the food to be served. Can you spot who the man sitting behind her is?

all Hell breaks loose

Kerri showed her class how she threw tantrums today.

She did her usual struggle, her usual whining, her usual shrieking. Yes, in full Kerri form. Hah. Every kid was staring at her. Yes, this is her, wanting to be calmed by the tamborine.

And she reverted to her cheery self when it was time to hit the water.

It was dress up day at JG. Yes even though Deepavali was over. But only the girls in the class dressed up. Erm, a tad. All boys, except one who donned on a Jap outfit, didn't though.

Happy belated Deepavali!

It's gonna Happen!

Akan datang finally! Though really short, but a 2 nights' break from being a mummy! Woohoo!

her very First Craft

Finally, Kerri managed to sit and did her very first craft work in class! I think it's because they used a pen like paint gadget today, which is not messy and dirty by her standard. Hah! Okay, I should buy the pens? But I heard they cost $50 for a pack of 5!

And she managed to sit quietly and devour her snack: brown rice crisps.

It's swim play week, but as the weather didn't look very promising, I opted to let her venture at the playground instead.

And as usual, her favorite time of the lesson, keyboard and bubble time.

and we are all mummies

I met my hall friends for lunch today at Marmalade Pantry Ion. It's my first time there!

I have been in regular contact with Joanne, but not Serene and Michelle. It's only recently that I keep bumping into them, at Barclays Open and at the shopping mall, that we've decided to meet for a overdue lunch.

And the thing is we are all mummies now! Well, except for Serene who's due 2nd Nov. Heehee.

It's a wonder how time flies. How we all are in the parenting phase of our lives. And our conversations all revolve around kids and babies and poop and milk and school.

Okay great, I forgot to take a photo of us. Well, there's always next time I'm sure!

*ps: Serene's Eliska came screaming to the world on 27th Oct 2011 at 204pm weighing 4.08kg! Congrats babe!

Jog - 2nd week

Okay, I am not losing weight as I've hoped, instead I'm gaining muscle mass! Argh.

My timings for the 2nd week:

Tuesday - 3.2km in 23 minutes 01 seconds

Sunday - 3.5km in 25 minutes 24 seconds

the Noodee Box by Lam's

Every since the food court at Marina Square reopened, we have been heading there for frequently for dinner other than at Raffles City. And we have been patronizing the Noodee Box by Lam's religiously.

So far we've only tried 2 of their 4 ramen, the Noodee Legend which is the original dry ramen noodee, and their Noodee Duck which is actually hickory smoked duck noodee.

I love their Noodee Duck. It doesn't taste very much like duck. It taste more like turkey to me. And it's the combination of their sauces, together with the dry noodle, duck meat and the ramen egg that won me over. Their ramen egg is of better standard than that served at some well known establishments in my opinion.

You can try their set menu too, which come with an additional Salmon Peel (crispy salmon fish skin topped with japanese 7 spice powder), a small Tonkotsu Fruit soup (tonkotsu japanese pork bones base fruit soup) which is too salty for my taste bud and their super refreshingly yummy That Green Drink (all natural fruits and vegetable juice).

*photos are taken from the Noodee Box by Lam's facebook page

Goodbye Feisty Princess

Feisty Princess Charmaine was called to heaven early this morning, after battling with neuroblastoma since year 2009.

I have been following her blog regularly since she was featured in the news back in 2009. Anyone with a heart would sympathize with the brave brave girl and her family. She was just a kid, aged 4 years old no less.

I cried along with the mother whenever she blogs about any bad news. I rejoiced with her whenever they had positive results after any treatment she went through, thinking that there must be a god who would not let such a sweet young girl go through something so devilish at such a tender young age.

Charmaine, you have finally been released from your sufferings. Fly happily in heaven like a fairy and watch over your family.

the usual Thursday class

Since there's nothing much to update about Kerri on how she's been doing in class, I shall let the pictures do the talking this time round.

It's been 2 long months

Hello love, it's been 2 long months since I last ate you. How have you been?

You never fail to cheer me up when I am feeling down. Thank you for being there for me. See you real soon!

same O same O

Kerri is as stubborn as hell.

She is still the only child who would scream and kick whenever it's time for craft work. I seem like the evil mother who's trying to force her to do something she don't like. Erm, which is quite true in this case. Hah!

Today, she's shown a slight improvement; she managed to sit in front and listen every now and then during story time.

Anyway, other than the above, she is quite consistent in her behavior towards JG now.

She still walks to her favorite corner.

She loves the magic box, empty.

She loves water play time.

She would bite and chew the snack, and spit out everything in the end.

She is definitely a keyboard lover.

And her favorite bubbles.

Sick mummy

I spent the entire day at home today.

I am sick. Still. Since last Thursday. Sigh. Nowadays I take really long to recover from any sickness. Am I that unhealthy?

On a different note, I wonder if our short getaway plan for December will materialize. Somehow I have this feeling it wouldn't.

We will see.

Jog - 1st week

I've resolved to run at least twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Partly to lose some weight I hope, and to start a healthier lifestyle.

And so I did. I was surprised that it didn't seemed as difficult as in year 2006-7 when I picked up jogging again after since graduation? Maybe it's stored stamina I have from taking care of 2 young children.

I am going to blog my jogging "results" to motivate myself to keep up the regime and to improve my timing.

Nothing to boast about as I am starting slow, and steady I hope.

Tuesday - 2.4km in 15 minutes 22 seconds

Saturday - 3.2km in 23 minutes 30 seconds

Best Claypot Rice, for now

We went for dinner at Claypot Fun today.

I did not manage to take any pictures of the food I had today, but their claypot rice is really yummy!

The rice bits do not stick to one another, and they do not taste charred at all, unlike those served elsewhere.

So far I've tried their claypot rice with chicken mushroom, claypot rice with salted fish and steamed minced pork, frogs legs, salted and preserved egg congee. All are quite good.

Please do try them out if you are around the area. Claypot Fun can be found at Playground at Big Splash.

the Rebellious toddler

Kerri is getting to be more and more rebellious in class.

When the lesson is ongoing, she is the one to lead everyone to leave their seats and crawl/walk all over the place.

She is the one to snatch and play with the magic box when the item has been taken out of the box.

She is the only toddler who does not comply]during craft time and snack time; she runs all over the room instead.

She refuses to participate in sand play, and opts to carry around and play with the stools meant for the mummies to sit with their child during sand play.

The only time when she co-operates is during sing along time.

of Hermes and Chanel

I was out with a friend today, and we touched on the topic of bags.

Yes, bags are the loves of almost every woman's life. Don't ask me why. It's like it's been programmed into our DNA.

Anyway, she mentioned that she is looking to buy a Hermes Birkin/Kelly.

Yup. My girlfriends are all successful working/business females who have more or less carved a niche for themselves after working for 10 years or so. They are able to afford Hermes and Chanel bags, drive their own car, buy their own apartment, go for luxurious overseas trips without battling an eyelid.

While I am stuck at home, taking care of 2 kids, and have to wait for my hubs to give me money every month. I can't spend $ without thinking if I do have enough to pay for the next credit card bills.

And I always feel guilty about asking for a big item gift. So usually I just keep my wish list to myself. Unless of course I have extra bucks to spend (which I did this year and spent a bomb for my standard on a C bag, a C wallet and a pair of SF flats).

And you know what the scary thing is? Even if I stayed in my previous job, I would still not be able to spend $ without battling an eyelid. Because I would not have that kind of spending power with that kind of salary.

Yes yes money is not everything. But the fact is people use your job and salary as a gauge of your success in life.

Which means I am actually a failure.

Don't get me wrong. I am very proud of what my friends have achieved. They didn't have it easy too. But I am just feeling very beaten, even by what could have been if I didn't quit 5 years ago.

And I am very sorry my hubs has to bear the brunt of it all. If he has a wife who has the same earning power as him, he could have spent his money on things he would want to buy ages ago. He would be driving a bigger car and living in a bigger house than now. He would have more cash at hand for investment or for savings. Sometimes I wonder if he is disgruntled and thinks the same way too, when he sees his friends with wives who are all so capable.

Just another day with another negative feeling to vent.

Her True Colours

Kerri is starting to show her true colours at JG.

Like today, she kept walking around and exploring the classroom. That is her. She is simply restless. At home, she can't sit down for long to watch her favorite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and has to walk to and fro, and all around the house. This is her favorite place in class currently.

I am thankful for her change in attitude really. At least she don't cling on to me and take interest in her surroundings in school. She even smile at the teachers and can sit close to them without me by her side. Big improvement!

And she loves the playhouse in the playground. It's actually sand play this week, but sadly, she doesn't take very well to sand. But no worries, she still enjoys herself discovering the toys at the play area.

And her favorite part of the class is still sing a long time, with her favorite keyboard and bubbles!