Daddy's 36th birthday.

It's july once again and this time we celebrated daddy's 36th birthday at mama's new house. She decided to cook us dinner and included a sweet dessert specially for the birthday boy. He likes it very much because he has a sweet tooth. We had planned to decorate a cake for daddy at the icing room this year but he came home before we left for the mall and made us change our plans. He announced that all he wanted was either a home-made cheese cake, which he had for his 33rd birthday or a cake with lots of fruits on top, just like last year. Since it was almost impossible to whip up a solid cheese cake in such short notice, we ended up getting a fruity cake from a confectionery in redhill.

He was also hoping I had been successful with my cream cake project but since the flop on his 34th birthday, I was not too motivated to try again. Maybe one day I will get my act together for another go at the cream cake project.

This year has been smooth going for dave and I would like to take this opportunity to thank and praise our Lord for His continuous blessings on dave and our family.

He has blessed dave with good health and that's really not something to take for granted because I've grown to comprehend how health is the key to everything else.

He has blessed dave with a good heart and I have learn so much from his constant giving and empathy for others. I have also learn to accept and appreciate his graciousness.

He has blessed dave with a good attitude and it is his attitude towards responsibility and work that allows us to live rather comfortably today.

He has also blessed dave with hope and charity and it is this part of him that I love so much. My husband is always supportive of my desire to "pass-it-on" and he is also agreeable to my new found cause. As long as we are able, we will continue to look for new "mission". Oh... how I love this man with a big heart.

Issy's 1st visit to the dentist

Remember isabelle's chipped tooth? We finally decided to do something about it. The last time we paid the private dentist $25 to look at her tooth and had nothing done. This time we wanted something done. Eileen managed to get us an appointment at the school dental clinic within two weeks (it's usually like months to the next available date). Anyway this time, the dentist got her teeth polished (at least!) which made me wonder now why the dentist at the private clinic did not even do so.

Isabelle was amazingly brave during the entire visit, though she started to fidget near the end of the session. She did struggle a little before the session was over and I was being totally helpless when it comes to soothing a child in discomfort. Eileen did provide some comfort to isabelle while I was trying to calm my own nerves. I could vaguely hear her voice around me. I'm bad in hospitals, polyclinics and sometimes even the clinics. I never liked the smell, it makes me sick. I would literally go weak in the knees and whatever joints that holds me together and in the worst case scenario, I would feel faint. That probably is my biggest weakness as a mother. I would totally freak out when I see blood on my children. Thankfully most of the occasion when that did happen, my mum was with me.

Grandma's playground?

There is a playground near grandma's new place and the girls named it "mama's playground". Reason, they only get to go there when we visit grandma. It is quite a big playground, sand not mat and plenty for the girls to do. It's a little aged and rather dirty I would say but that's not stopping the girls from climbing, sliding and messing around.

So during the last visit, I took the girls to the playground again. Armed with a book, I was relaxing my evening away while the girls play. It was noisy but I had my music with me. It was a nice evening, not too warm actually. Best part is, after all that play and relaxation, dinner can be found in grandma's place.

Little durian queen

Allow me to introduce our little durian queen. This little girl has been bugging daddy for durians the entire week. When the durians came, she was the first on the floor. Daddy just opened them up for her and she just sat there enjoying herself, feasting, licking her fingers and hands even and totally cleaning out the flesh from the seed. She really likes her durians!

Grandma's new nest

Grandma had a little celebration on sunday 27 June at her new nest. We got her a self designed cake from the icing room. The girls like to do this so for almost every cake-worthy event, we will be here decorating cakes. They did it for grandma's 60th birthday and the very first time on mummy's 37th birthday. Joelle already requested for her birthday cake to be self decorated from the icing room and I agreed. Daddy's birthday is on sat 24 jul and we will be doing one for him. AND I'm sure mine too.

SAM @ 8Q

As eileen got some tickets for the singapore arts museum, we brought the children there for an insight. Well, I'm kind of glad we managed to visit the place and caught a couple of animations for kids. Thanks eileen! It brought me back to the old school days. Back in school (temasek polytechnic), we did clay-mation and animation, both 2D and 3D and it was really fun. Taxing though but immensely fun. I totally miss school days and I miss the friend who spent days and nights working on the projects with me. Wendy, if you do read this, I miss you heaps, man.

Anyway, I realised that I did not expose my girls to the arts that I love. Museums and art houses were places I used to visit with my friends back then. Now, this is probably the first time my girls step into a museum and they were more interested in the activities than the exhibits. They did not appreciate the art part of this musem visit. I feel so guilty and sad that I was too engrossed in daily busyness and forgot to simply enjoy a painting, a scrupture, a work of art or a short animation with my girls. But then again, they are only three and six. It's probably not too late to start cultivating a sense of art appreciation in them. Sometimes I do miss the old me.



It is definitely a challenge to put four kids in front of the camera for a nice group photo. But somehow we would manage to get one out of them. It's through something called persistence. Even the kids can't beat that! We'll just nag and nag at them till they give in and give us their best smile at the same time. =P

Hello God.

This year Isabelle started attending sunday catechism. She may be too little to understand the bible or the parables but I feel she is ready to know God and the wonders of His deeds.

I remembered when I first work on the current post project, my system hang all the time. The program will not launch and if it did, the setting would change and the system would hang. I called my technician, I called a friend well verse in the software, I called practically anyone whom I think can help me. And just when I felt desperately in need of a miracle, I got one after deciding to take a break and get a breather in church. I prayed about the cranky system and next thing I knew, I got the program up and running. Seems like God is my greatest technician.

Anyway I made a promise to myself that each and every morning, I would thank God for allowing me to start another new day and to pray for a journey worthy of His grace. And if possible to end the day with an evening service to thank God for everything, both the good and not so good. Afterall He makes everything possible.

Youth day outing

We were in town last monday, 5 july to visit the arts museum. It was youth day so the kids were spared school. And since we were already in town, I found myself penning for the cool breeze and open space at the marina barrage. There we went with a promise to free the kids and let them run the field and terrorize the other visitors for all I care. My one and only main purpose was to breathe some breath of fresh air (after all the lock-in-the-aircon-office days) and definitely to just laze around and think nothing.

I did that alright. I gave them a mat, some packets of drinks and snacks (should have brought more though) to keep them in the "picnic area" for a while, while I enjoy the blue sky and white clouds. Wish there wasn't that many people so I could actually sprawl on the grass as well. Looking up into the sky from a sitting position ain't too comfortable. Looking up from a lying position would have made it perfect. Though I had the luxury of a friend's shoulders and back and lap and whatever I could lay my head upon, I still wish I had the space to sprawl straight out onto the grass. Ahhhhh.... that would have complete that day's experience.

The kids were soon listless and moved from grass to water. They would never forgive us if we were to have refused to let them into the water park. My friend said "how could you not let them get wet?" and so they did. They got thoroughly wet. They enjoyed themselves and we got to enjoy our own quiet time too. We managed to have a decent uninterrupted conversation (which was totally rare with any of the four kids around) and I felt surprisingly comfortable exploring this new friendship. It's been a long time since I had the courage to explore friendships. Well, I kind of like the feeling but I will still be cautious. I do not deserve any more of the pain I'd experience before.

Over the rainbow...

Some of you might know that I was holding the fort at the home front for about 20 days. I had to deal with the local projects we have undertaken as well as the post project that I was working on. On top of that, I had to take care of the house and the girls. Isabelle was down with stomach flu for as long as daddy was away. It was fever in the middle of the night and regular runs through the day. Her appetite was bad and many said she lost weight. I had to remind myself to hydrate her constantly. Her mood swings... almost drove me crazy!

I was also constantly challenged by the crew on most projects. I kept my cool and my peace most of the time (thank God) though I did on a few occasions lose my balance and composure to the pressure of threats. I am never one who conform or confine so it totally rid me off my shield when my stand was challenged. Though all issues were addressed and the projects ran on smoothly, it did somehow cast a bad experience on the crew's relationship with me. There will be cautions whenever I need to work with some crew again.

Anyway I had strong social support from my friends and my mum came over frequently to be entertained by the girls. I managed to carry out my duties as I should and I had the luxury to still talk with dave over the phone regularly. He provided me with much needed encouragement and solutions to issue from the crew front. I thank God for my husband, for trusting me entirely with his business. During this period, I must also thank God for my friend eileen, without whom I would not have smiled through the frustration and saw the rainbow afterward. She kept me rooted to my faith and her sincerity in our friendship unlocked perhaps one lock on my door to friendship. I am still not ready to be hurt again.

Dave asked me before he left what I would like from the states and I told him 'a bag'. He came back with my gift and more. He bought me not one but five bags. Five branded bags. Not imitation mind you, just discounted. Now I know where the US$800 went to! He bought a lighting equipment for himself, two caps, two pants and a tee shirt too. The girls got a huge box of beads! Thanks love, I know shopping is not your thing and I really appreciate your effort in getting us gifts whenever you travel. But now that you are back, I want you to stay till I complete my project. Hopefully your next trip would not have to be that long.

Thank you God for sailing me smoothly over the rainbow and for the people who filled that rainbow with colours. You know who you are. Thanks!

Happy birthday evan!

This year my cousin decided to celebrate evan's 2nd birthday at the chalet in downtown east. We were on time, though the food wasn't. We took that opportunity to visit the escape theme park which for the month of june offered free entrance and pay as you ride coupons. The girls took a ride on the train as they are not brave enough to want to do the other rides by themselves and mummy ain't going up with them.

Evan had a mickey mouse themed cake and the kids got a part of mickey each. I think a hand or a foot. I'm excited with the fact that there will be two more addition to the family soon. My cousin, veron and her husband simon are expecting their first child in oct this year. My brother and his wife keem are also expecting their first child in jan next year. Can't wait.

My little graduates

Found these pictures recently and decided to put it in my blog for memory keepsake. Photos were taken in 2009. This is the girls' first graduate shots. Joelle's taken in K2 while isabelle had hers early in PG. They are so lovely. I'd like to remember my little graduates like these.