Taking grandma on a field trip

Ever since my beloved grandpa passed on, I promised myself I have to spend more time with my grandma. Though I know my grandma's love for me could not be compared to my grandpa's, she is nevertheless my grandma and I love her as well.

I try to bring the girls over to keep her company on sundays but on 27 march 2011, we decided to bring her out on a field trip instead. I asked her where she would want to go and she said to bring her to places I would bring the girls. So after much thought, we decided to bring her to sentosa via the boardwalk. I assume she would be amazed by the developments in sentosa. So we brought her to see the casino and resort world. We took a slow stroll in but took the LRT back to vivo where we parked. She had a good time. So did we. Now where next?

Happy Birthday MaMa!

We celebrated my mum's 61st birthday at my place, as usual, and invited our immediate family over. My sister came but my brother... that can start another story altogether. Anyway, we manage to sing the birthday song, blow the candles and cut the cake. It's a chocolate cake from bangawan solo. Not fantastic if you ask me.

My mum loves my girls very much. She's able to do for them what she'll never do for me. I still thank God for that. Anyone who loves my girls deserves my love as well. When I'm ill, my mum would rush over from her place to my place within the hour just to be in time to fetch the children from school. She always fusses over their meals and health, I don't blame her. She was very naggy with me as a mother and I think she's starting to be a little naggy to joelle now. Perhaps my mum doesn't know how else to talk to us. And I don't blame her too. Sometimes I too do not know how to talk to my daughter. She's coming eight and learning a little rebellious remarks and attitude to complement. I do not like it but I have to talk to her instead of yelling down at her. Worst thing... she doesn't want to listen. She'll look at you in the eyes but you know she's not listening. At least not willingly.

But I know my girls love their grandma. They told me so. And that makes me just as happy.

MaMa's 60th birthday celebration here
MaMa's 59th birthday celebration here

Happy Birthday YeYe!

We celebrated YeYe's 74th birthday on 17 march 2011 with a dinner at Toa Payoh and back to my BIL's place to have durians and ice cream.

My FIL is obviously a very happy man to have his family fuss over him on his birthday. This picture is of the entire family, all 11 of us. In time, the children will grow up and we will grow old but the number will still stand at 11, my favourite number. =)

No matter how naggy I find him, I still believe my FIL is a good man. At least with my girls, he is a good grandfather. My FIL will find time to come over to our place to spend time with the girls. He would bring their favourite fruits every time. And he will observe them and tell me of their good points and strength.

It always touches me in some ways. Perhaps it's because I know they would not get that genuine treatment from my father. I do hope that when my father do come back, he'll be better able to handle relationships and find genuine concern for the family he once betrayed and almost abandoned. We have found forgiveness in our hearts and we will welcome him back, if he wishes.

So thank you YeYe for just being you, naggy and all. I appreciate your love for my girls and for them I want to say... you're a good grandpa!

YeYe's 72nd birthday celebration here.

Reward for term 1: Jacob Ballas Garden

Joelle did rather well for her term one assessment so as an encouragement, we decided to reward her for her hard work. She requested for japanese food and a trip to the jacob ballas children's garden. So here we are.


Isabelle is afraid of the suspension bridge! Goodness!


The girls like the tree house playground very much. To me it's a repetitive play. Up the tower, down the slide, up the tower, down the slide. But to them it's giggle giggle, scream scream. And that make them so happy.




I remembered specifically telling them not to get their clothes wet. First they display their obedience by only stretching out their legs to feel the cool water. Next thing I know, isabelle came up to me with a silly smile, totally wet. Yes, from head to toes. Fortunately I have spare clothes in the boot of my car. Children can never stay dry around a water play area. I should not have challenge that.

Our first visit to the garden can be read here.

Punggol promenade riverside walk

It's finally open! The punggol promenade riverside walk. It is a stretch of walkway along the river with access to the wetland via a bridge. We have been waiting for this walkway to open so we have a new place to go for evening walks or a leisure blade.

One sunday, we got some friends together and took a nice evening stroll along the walkway. It was very crowded. But the girls had a great time. It was a very nice evening walk with friends.

The pathway looks like wooden decks similar to those on Henderson wave, a place I actually like very much too. But you'll be surprise that they are actually cement! They used some kind of wooden mould to make these cement slabs. Very nice. I like it very much.

I figured...

that different people have different ways to show they care.

This is my favourite biscuits and one day I received them like this. Two packs of seven and a pack of four. It took me awhile to figure out the meaning of this weird packing. It actually meant two weeks and four days of reward for my endurance over that duration. Wow! Why did I need that long to figure that out. So unlike me this time.

Perhaps it's because this friend has always been to me, indifference. So I never would expect her to come up with something that sweet and personal. It is so comforting to know she cares enough to be bothered by such details. I would have expect her to give them to me as they were. And you know what's the icing on the cake? It came with a little note. A very short note but one that I have probably read over time and memorized.

I wish I could express my affection for this dear friend right here on this blog but I know being the person that she is, it'll be too blatant for her. Unlike the bold and fearless me, she's probably not very expose to the freedom of expression that I'm so famous for. So for her sake and understanding, I'll do this her way. I'll whisper into my clenched fist the words meant just for her, seal it with a kiss and place them over my heart. For you, my dear friend... ... and thank you.

Meeting Kenan

Brought the girls for a swim at a friend's place. I did not feel up to swimming that day so I just watched them from the deck chair and chat with my friend. She brought her son down for me to cuddle and kiss. =P I like that.

The girls had about 30mins of good water fun before it started to drizzle. I promised them another visit soon. Though a short 30mins, it tired them enough to jump into bed right after dinner. That made me very happy. Happy children makes a happy mummy.