Singapore kite day 2012

 

For the first time, we got to spend kite day with that many friends. The last three years were either spent by ourselves or with just another friend. We arranged to walk to the site together and this is only half of our group. The rest met up with us there. It was quite a challenge walking there with that many kids but it sure was fun.

Daddy trying to fly the kite and as usual would blame the lousy kite for not being good enough to fly. I caught up with eileen on the other patch of green with her family. We settled for dinner together with her family and lavina and the boys. I enjoyed such bonding with the neighbours and especially those that had moved on to being good friends. Looking forward to the next kite day in 2013.

Singapore kite day 2010

Singapore kite day 2009

Yu sheng with my grandma

On 人日, we bought 鱼生 to my grandma place to celebrate with her. We also bought a lot of raw salmon to add into the dish. It was awesome. Grandma was very happy too.

Reunion dinner at mum's place

This year, my brother and family could not join us as they had migrated to canada and will not be back for CNY. For convenience, mum decided to have steamboat. Beef, prawns and lots of vegetables. Amazing. It's always nice to gather around a hot dinner with families. I'll want to continue this tradition with my girls and their future kids. It's a good tradition and I'm already talking them into the importance of kinship and family bonds. Hopefully, whatever the future will behold for them, the value of family togetherness will never fade into the convenience of technology. I pray we will not ever have to celebrate reunion dinner in future via skype or facetime. That will be too sad.

 Reunion dinner at my mum's place in 2011

 Reunion dinner at our home in 2010

Reunion dinner with the in laws

 

Our reunion dinner with dave's extended family (maternal side) at Kim place seafood. 12 adults, 4 kids, 2 tables. Drama. The drama bit was not unexpected. On account of dave's grandma and the food, I managed to enjoy my dinner. It was quite a nice spread anyway.

 Reunion dinner at my mum's place in 2011

 Reunion dinner at our home in 2010

Birthday boys ~ Deron and Kenan

One saturday, we attended two birthday parties. Deron's six birthday and Kenan's second. Sharon decided to hold the party at fuss-free macdonalds this year. It was indeed fuss-free and catered for. Games, food, party hats and cake were all taken care of. However it's not the kind of party I'll go for. I like to host. I like to feel like a part of the celebration. I like to sit around with family and friends and catch up with each others stories and events that we missed. I don't like to simply throw the kids at the party and leave the venue till time to pick up. The kids had much fun and the girls ate and drank to their hearts content (yes, without the need to ask for permission!). They were very happy indeed. It's a successful party no doubt. Perhaps it's just the kind of party for some people, it's just not my kind of party. Party is a celebration and a celebration must be participated, not with just the kids but the adults as well.

Next we rushed off to another party at a function room. There you see families and friends gathering together to catch up with one another. There was more warmth and familiarity around. Not that I know them all. In fact I only knew the host and her family but I could feel the kinship when grandmas offers drinks to my girls and aunties playing bubbles with the kids. Everyone in the room is somewhat related to someone and it feels nice. For someone like me, kinship and bonds are important when people get together.

Here comes 2012

 

On the last day of 2011, I had a nice crab meal at punggol marina country club with my family, a very relaxing warm bubble bath at home, a touching moment in church with the angel God sent into my life, a durian picnic with sparkling fruit juice and an awesome display of fireworks! And I'm very happy to be surrounded (besides the bubble bath) by people I love and care enough to want to start the new year with. 

Goodbye 2011. It's been a great year filled with God's blessings and grace. 

As always, I want to give thanks to God for everything that happened in 2011. 

Thankful for the good and grateful that the bad was not too bad for us to manage.

Together with God, I'm ready for what 2012 shall bring.

Checking out the boats at punggol marina.

Having a durian picnic with sparkling fruit juice at the open field in SK. We chose this venue out of three nearby celebration venue this year because of the flying lantern event. We wrote our wishes for 2012 on huge pink lanterns and they flew them just before midnight. At least it's something different this year.

But one thing remains the same. I got to celebrate the start of another good year with the friend I want to spend every year with. I pray that this could be our tradition, to spend every start of a new year together. Remembering the happy times we shared and learn from the many mistakes we made and cheering the continuous strong bond we carry forward into the future. There's nothing in the world that I want but love and friendship. And I have them all. Happy 2012!

Our 2011 new year celebration

Our 2010 new year happenings

Thank God for christmas and friends.

Christmas with friends is one of the best thing in life. Especially with good friends. 

Lavina, I knew from back in 2008, is a mother of two boys who attended play school with isabelle in kiddy ABC. For two years, we would send our kids to school, say "hi" and "bye" and repeat again when we meet to fetch them home. It was only in the last two years that we contacted more, said more, met more and shared more. It wasn't easy at first. She was working weird hours and I was working even weirder hours. We had common habits and I believe that contributed to our development. Moreover we are pretty laid back and casual in our management of the children. In another word, we're flexible.

Irene, similarly, I knew her from kiddy ABC days and Liana, from the regular playground meets. These ladies are really helpful and caring and what I call great neighbours. Although nothing can be compared to the kampong styled communal living back in the past, these ladies made up for it all. They are so willing and able to help you watch the kids, feed them and entertain them when you need some time off. At times, I know I wouldn't get most of my project work done if not for them. But the most important thing is they cared for me. It's not uncommon for me to need help, with me often being under the weather and all. They brought me food, peak-me-ups, lovely texts and even brought my girls back from classes when I can't. These ladies are just two of the fine neighbours I have. There are many of them I would one day pay tribute to. 

Thank you ladies and the men that supported our circle of trust and friendships.

Thank you God for christmas and friends.

Our christmas 2011

This year, we decided to do christmas MY way and I called subway for their catering menu and happily got their party platter with a selection of beef, ham and tuna. I was not the only one delighted. The younger generation plus my mum, were all delighted with the different food this year. Ok, I did not really prepare any of my christmas "specialty" this year because I was rather tied up the period before. Anyway I got otah and nasi lemak and sharon got satay for me. I totally like the food selection this year though. Anyway, I love christmas and everything that comes with it.

Our christmas tree was themed "all-in-one" this year. This good old tree had been with our family since I was a teenager. It was passed down from my mum to me. It had served us very well year after year. However I know that this might be its last year or two with us as its branches are falling off in succession. Hopefully it can celebrate its last year with us in our "would-be-dearly-miss" punggol resort. 2012 would be the last christmas we celebrate in our first marital home before we move out of this beautiful estate with the wonderful neighbours we've grown to love and care for. Thinking about saddens me really.

Punggol resort is the place where dave and I started our lives together. It is the place we love, and talked, and fought, and struggled, cried, laughed, danced, sang, snuggled, and everything a couple did. Punggol resort is also the place we shared our lives with two precious daughters. We had so much memories together as a family of two, then three and finally four in this blessed place we fondly called HOME. It would be so dearly missed, this safe haven and all the memories created within these walls that protected us and sheltered us for 10 years. Not forgetting the lovely neighbours and wonderful friendships that was formed and beautified here. Gosh! I'm tearing now... Not that I won't be seeing them after I moved. In fact I'm sure that even if I wanted to hide, some of them would fiercely hunt me down and remind me of the immerse blessings their friendships had brought into my life. They are the rainbows in my sky. They are my blessings indeed.

So during this beautiful season of love and friendship, I want to express my deepest and most sincere appreciation to those friends who had painted my sky red and yellow, orange, green, blue and violet. I love the colours of the rainbow in my sky. 

I love the rainbow and I love you guys! I thank God everyday for friends and love. I thank God also for blessing me with a heart full of love and I know that I'm so blessed.

Thank you my friends. Thank you my God.

Merry christmas to one and all!

Our christmas in 2010

Winter crossover 2011

As usual, every year we have the "get our fingers powdered and roll in the balls" event with the family. Well at least the children likes doing it and the adults like eating it.

winter solstice 2009

Our very own winter solstice 

Isabelle's year end party in school

 

My little girl is graduating from K1 and as usual, there is a year end party for that. I got to see most of her friends and talk to some of their mummies. Next year will be so different for us because ryan will be off to primary one and vereen will be attending another pre-school near her house. Anyway, this is life. People come and go. But I'm thankful that we had that wonderful experience of sharing this pre-school journey with each other.

Surprising I'm missing our car-pool routines especially with eileen. I'm missing the lunches, the shopping and the chats after fetching the children. I'm missing it so much. Well, I guess I should not be upset that it's over but thankful that it happened. And we did have so much fun. So much.