Play-doh again...

My sister bought isabelle eight tubs of play-doh and they really enjoyed her gift. Of course joelle used them more creatively than issy who only knows how to roll and pinch and get her sister screaming! Here is one of joelle's work while the "destroyer" is having her afternoon nap.
  

Me and my play-doh

   

This is the christmas gift my sister got for isabelle. Eight tubs of brightly coloured play-doh. They are so pretty, really. I secretly pinch each one of them on the pretext of getting them out of their tubs. Kids today really have it good. I remembered playing with "stinky plastercine" when I was their age. Their play doh smells nice and looks good. That day, I made a beautiful cake with bright pink frosting, colourful icing and blue candles. I really had fun, maybe even more than the girls. Thanks Jacq!  

School updates.

Mon - Happily went to school.
Tues - Refuses to go into school. Cries so hard I almost rush in to take her home.
Wed - Cries and clings onto me when teacher tries to take her into school.
Thur - Cries but allows teacher to take her into school.
Fri - Cries but walks into school herself.
Weekend is worrisome for me as I know how it will ruin routine.
Mon - Cries when she sees the other children crying but allows teacher to take her into school.
Tues - Whines when the gate opens but walks into school willingly.
Wed - Walks into school when the gate opens. PRAISE THE LORD!
Thur - Miss school over runny nose and cough. Expected...
Fri - Miss school for her appointment at KKH.
I pray the weekend would not ruin the routine for her.

Picture of the month - dec 08

This is my personal favourite picture for the month of december in 2008. The man of the house bringing his two princesses for a dip in the newly opened public pool. Yes, the girls are in identical pink swimsuits. No, I did not buy them. Both are hand-me-downs actually. Usually they would wear their thermal swimsuit but that day they just wanted to do something different for the new experience. They were so excited about the new pool and had been raving about it since the day we drove by for a recce. It was almost a month before we finally found a sick-free day for all of us that coincides with daddy's off day. It was a nice sunny day (minus the occasional dark clouds floating by) and the pool wasn't too crowded (despite a weekend). However the water seemed to have been pumped out via an air-conditioned filter that made it so damn cold. It almost felt like the icy cold drink you get from the fridge. That cold. Anyway the girls had fun and we'll probably be back again. Hmmm... I could smell the rain already!

She ain't heavy...

she's my sister.
Joelle is actually very protective of her little sister. She is a commanding sister too. She commands isabelle to do things. That's why we are starting to hear isabelle commanding others to do things too. She ever told mary to "make my milk NOW" and her sister to "one, two, three, STOP". One day she told me "don't ever, ever touch my things" and my jaws almost touch the floor. Isabelle, unlike joelle is not empathetic yet. In fact joelle knows empathy at a rather tender age. She is able to understand and view situations from many angles other than hers alone. However most of the time she chooses to heed her own selfish opinions and face the disciplinarian (that's me) later. She's always convincing herself that mummy loves isabelle more. Joelle, oh joelle, mummy still loves you very much. Mummy has a heart huge enough to love both of you plus a big man! That aside I think she's dealing with it pretty well. I know it's not easy for a firstborn to accept the sudden appearance of another cute little thing who never fails to make people laugh and smile. But she's coping ok. At times I even witness some genuine concern for her younger sister. I bet she does love her. She's just doing what siblings do best... quibble.

Girl or boy?

Many people tried to convince me my younger child is a boy. Even on days she wore a pink dress! She does look like a boy sometimes (she's a replica of her daddy) but most of the time, I think she does look sweet and lovely like a pretty fairy angel (she likes to call herself that). Anyway here are two photos of my younger child. So girl or boy?

To school I go...

Hello 2009!

We welcome 2009 with the girls at nativity. We went before God with our upmost sincerity and humbly request that everyone enjoys good health and peace of mind this new year. Despite the odds we faced in the last quarter of 2008, we have no complains. We continuously thank God for our blessed lives and I (of the lot) appreciates all that I am given. Everything! Yes, especially my hardly-to-be-seen hubby, who works very hard for the family. I love this man for all that he's doing for us and I hope that by taking charge of the household matters and the girls, I could ease him of some worries. Oh... not forgetting handling crossroad's paperwork as well. That he should thank me indeed. I also appreciate joelle's maturity and isabelle's funniness. Joelle warms my heart and issy cheers me up. They are all that we're given and they are all that we need. The north and the south, the left and the right. They're poles apart but they complement each other. We love them very much and we pray that they would love each other as much. So enjoy the new year and for once, party like we did! No curfew!

Time with isabelle

One day mummy decided to take isabelle out by bus. When we reached the bus-stop, we missed the shutter bus to the mall so mummy decided to take the public bus instead. We took two buses only to be somewhere near the mall. We had to walk another 15 minutes (isabelle's speed) to reach the mall. I knew she was tired but I told her she had to walk as mummy was tired too and can't carry her. She made me proud by walking on. We made it to the mall alright. However we only had about 50 minutes to explore the mall before rushing to catch the shutter bus home for dinner. This time we made it on time and had a smooth and easy ride home. It was tiring indeed but it felt good spending time with isabelle alone. This daughter, I neglect quite a bit. But I am spending more time alone with her now. I love this baby too much.