Xmas gatherings 2009

25th Dec:

Polymates gathering at my humble house. Not full attendance of our lambchop members, but the attendees nevertheless did made the gathering GREAT! Many chit chats about our past and finally a few precious photos taken to mark our 11+ years friendship!

Food: Sarpinos pizza, KFC, Cheesecake (self-baked by Ben (TGE's hubby)), wines (complimentry from Justin), soft drinks, chicken wings.

The poly gang that makes studying in SP more FUN than stress!
Quite a couple of others missing though from this picture
Another photo, this time with added members to the Lambchop community.
They are the little Lambchoppers and the wifey/boyfriend.
27th Dec:

Secondary mates gathering at my house again. Again not the full attendence but at least the most important VIP is here - Miss Peiyi! Havent seen her for 4 yrs I think! She went to US for a scholarship attachment training in 2006 and did not had chance to meet up with her even when she was back in Singapore 18months later. Glad that she finally did made an effort to attend this gathering. This gang of friendship started since 1994 until now. Gosh, 16 years of friendship!! Isnt that one of the most precious thing in the world?!

Food: Sarpinos pizza (again!), some side orders from sarpinos, Baileys (complimentry from VIP), soft drinks, cookies (self-baked by ME!)

The forever bickering gang!
2 promoted to mummies, 1 getting married soon (I think since already bought a house mah), 2 singles (Ganbatte!)
2 more missing in action who were also married. 1 still trying for kids, the other already had 2 kids! (1 girl 1 boy)
So who is my VIP? The one in center wearing black :)

PS: Not going to upload more photos because I am saving the time of resizing of photos for more blog updates!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

The bottom of our Christmas Tree is now filled with presents! Can you guess how many are there?

A total of 17 presents were under the tree and 8 of the presents belong to the 2 little princesses. How fortunate they are! 4 were from daddy and mummy. 2 from MIL and 2 from SIL. The rest were gifts we bought for friends' kids, our parents and the maid. 2 Christmas party will be held at our humble house on 25th and 27th. I'm all set for the Xmas parties!

Hohoho....This the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la!
Wishing everyone a very Jolly Christmas & A Wonderful New Year 2010!

One, Two, Three, Four...Hi-5!

My darlings were so addicted to Hi-5. They watched it everyday. Old cast, new cast, both also like. They can also dance to the songs following the actions by the new cast. Hi-5 is shown on channel 32 (Starhub Nickelodeon) Mon-Fri 8.30am-9am and also on channel 8 (Okto) 12.30pm-1pm. I recorded every single show and during wkends when we are at home, I will play it for them to watch. End up mummy and daddy also got addicted to Hi-5 and started to learn their songs and sing for the girls.

Personally I prefer the new cast because they look younger to me and more energetic. The girls are prettier and guys are more charming. But many people told me the old cast are better. Personal preference, I guess.

I got so excited when I got the brochure from Taka (I am a member) and inside wrote Hi-5 will be coming to Taka from 3-13 Dec. 3rd Dec 1pm was open only for Taka members. Wanted to take leave and bring the girls to watch on 3rd but Hui wanted to go on 4th instead because he wanted a long wkend. But end up 4th I had company team building and boss instructed us to attend that team building. So no choice we can only go on Sat, 5th.

We were planning to catch the 1pm time show but ended up reaching Taka at 2+pm. The next show was at 4pm. So around 3+pm, we went to queue for the show, but only to find a long queue and a board saying 'All seats are taken. Pls wait for the next session'. I wanted very much for the girls to take photo with Hi-5 and it is only possible for those who get a seat into the small area infront of the Taka stage.

So we loitered around Taka area for the next show which is at 7pm. This Kiasu mummy decided to chiong for the queue at 5.45pm! But seems I am not the only Kiasu one because I was actually not the first in queue! But luckily I am not that far behind too.

Happily playing and queueing to see the Hi-5 show
6.30pm, they started to let people in. And so....4 of us were happily sitting down waiting for Hi-5 to start!

They are the Hi-5!
We got a good seat!
Look at the crowd! Children had the priviledge to sit infront while the parents had to stand behind.
The show started!
Cheeky Chloe watching attentively
The new cast of Hi-5
Waving to the crowds
She is Fely
She is Lauren
She is Casey
He is Stevie
He is Tim, my yandao!
And together, they are Hi-5!
A precious photo. So jealous of Chloe coz she was carried by my yandao!
Must be wondering where is Elsie right? This girl was so tired due to lack of sleep whole day that she fell asleep in daddy's arm when we were queueing up for the photo taking session. No matter how I tried to wake her up, she just refused and push my hands away. So ended up only Chloe was the fortunate one.

.......

1 week later, we are back to Taka again. Why? Because of Elsie! Because this mummy finds it's unfair that Elsie did not had a chance to take photo with chiobus and yandaos. Because this mummy wanted to develop the photo out and frame it but it cannot be only Chloe have and Elsie don't have. Because..because..because...and brought us once again back to Taka. And this time, mummy is contented because of this...^_^


Actually wanted a photo of both E&C with Hi-5...but today Chloe was throwing a temper. Tim wanted to carry Chloe but she refused and hug on to me tightly. They asked me to join in to take the photo together but I rejected coz I didnt want to spoilt the photo...haha...So I told them it's okie as Chloe took 1 with them last week already. Today we came again because the sleeping beauty Elsie is awake! :)

Anyway, mission accomplished today! Happy happy...Luckily it's not Elsie who was the one throwing temper or it will be another wasted trip!

Sweet 18th Months

Finally they are into the 18th mths. A big celebration because they are half way mark to 3years old. And once they reach 3yrs old, they will attend few hours drop-off playgroup. Wonder how well they will adapt to the environment without parents around and surrounded by strangers.

Had a mini celebration with them at home. Instructed Hui to buy some slices of cake home. He had forgotten about the candle! So we used matchstick instead! So creative!

Marble cheesecake
The girls can't wait to get a bite of the cake!
There you go...Ahhmmmmmm....
The leftover. Look at all the pointed angles!
How did they managed to bite until like that?!

A fulfilling Saturday

Celebrated hui's brother 24th birthday at Waruku, East Coast for dinner. Since it was just beside Polliwogs, how can we give it a miss since we were already so near it. But before we went Polliwogs, we head down to Zoophonics at Upper Serangoon for their open house.

Remembered in my previous blog, I mention I am finding a school for the girls to attend when they turned 18mths. Have shortlisted the following:

1) Julia Gabriel
2) Zoophonics
3) Little Neuro Tree
4) Growing Up Gifted (GUG)
5) Mindchamps

Julia Gabriel was my first choice but the waiting list is horrible. No calls from them yet so I assume my queue is way far behind. Did some research online and some feedback from friends and shortlisted the above schools incase JG did not revert back to us by Jan 2010. After reading some reviews from forum, I went to zoophonics at Tampines to take a look and talk to the teacher there. Hui did not had quite a good impression of the school because of the location and the old looking classroom. Moreover the Zoophonics at Tampines branch is not that near to our house.

However, upon knowing the Upper Serangoon branch had opened, I called up the school and they sent me a brochure on the open house on 28th and 5th Dec. So I head down on 28th to take a look at the environment with the girls and Hui. After attending the 10mins short parent talk and talking to the various teacher there, Hui and I decided to signup for the weekly enrichment class. Registration fee were waived for signing up during the open house. So I saved $60 for 2 kids! E&C were also quite comfortable there walking from classroom to classroom and playing with anything that they were interested in. Elsie even started to interact with the teacher and the chinese teacher praise her for being a smart girl.

They will start attending school next year 9th Jan. Moreover it is only a 10min drive from our house..Woohoooo...
Depending on the progress, if the girls had show great improvement, I might let them continue and put Julia Gabriel on hold if they called me up.

So after visiting zoophonics@upper serangoon, we head off to Polliwogs. Again the girls had a fun time there execising their little body. Seems they are quite familiar with the environment now and able to climb up those steps and pass each obstacles easily.

They love the slides alot. So do the parents! :)
Aiming for the slide again at another area.
Trying to pass the ball out of the small hole.
They did succeeded in the end, all by themselves!
Elsie: Is mei mei in there??
Chloe: Yes, Jie Jie! I am here! Surrounded by the balls!

My first big big Xmas tree!

It's was my childhood wish to be able to own and decorate a big xmas tree since young. But my mum do not allow us to have a xmas tree at home because she said our house had an altar. And xmas is a day which is for the christian and catholic, not buddhist.

After I got married and move out, I had no chance to get a xmas tree too because I don't know if my parents-in-law will mind having a big tree in the house. Moreover they had an altar too. But I did had a small one bought from Hui's BIL and I put it in our room. However, the size was not what I had wanted. No fish, prawn also can lah...

Then later move to SIL house for a year, I did not get a xmas tree too...

And this year 2009, I finally fulfilled my dream! Hui and I are now a proud owner of a 210cm Christmas Tree! The process of setting up the tree and getting the ornaments to decorate the tree is fantastic!

Getting ready to assemble the tree
The manual guide
My man behind my tree!
Almost done, left the top part to fix
The almost ready tree. Need to spread out each branches to complete it.
Yeah, my naked Christmas tree is up!
Decoration is also up!
Standing as tall as my door!
And finally lightings to spice up the tree!

What is still missing??? Presents under the tree!!
Hui and I had come to an agreement that we each will source present for our girls. One kid 1 present. Then we will buy 1 cheap gift for each other. Probably budget $20. Both of us cannot know what gifts we buy for the girls and the other party. On the actual day, all gifts will then be reveal.

Also not forgetting our maid. We will combine to buy a gift for her. So before christmas, we will have 7 presents under the tree! Wohoo...I am getting excited already for Christmas! I am all ready for Christmas party!!

The blurrest and lousiest 9th year pator anni celebration!

~Tue, 8.30am~
Hubby: 12th nov is on Wed.
Wifey: No lah, it's on thurs.
Hubby: No lah, it is Wed lor.
Wifey: Oh ok.

11.59pm, 1 min left to Wed....

Hubby went into kitchen and fiddle around the fridge.
A "surprise" pinegarden cakes to celebrate the 9th year pator anni! Wifey was touched, at least he did something to mark this event.

Wifey: Why no candles?
Hubby: I never take from the person. No need lah....

Two person finished up ALL the cakes by 12.30am! Initially wanted to leave one for the maid by they can't resist. FAT FAT FAT!

Different flavour cakes from Pinegarden

~Wed, 9.30am~
Wifey msg Hubby.......

Wifey to Hubby: Blur Sotong!!! Today is 11th lor! tmr then is 12th! So do I get another cake tonight?? Dun wan pinegarden anymore. This time with candles?
Hubby to wifey: No pinegarden then what you want?
Wifey to Hubby: Dun know. Eat pinegarden until VERY sian!
Hubby to Wifey: haha...see how lor. Maybe dun even have time go buy.

8+pm at own house....

Wifey open the bottom layer fridge....

Wifey: Why no cake???
Hubby: No money to buy liao lah...
Wifey :(

Both 9+pm in the room making the girls sleep.

Wifey: Dun care, you better stay awake until 12am. We order mcdonald nuggets and put candle into the nuggets!
Hubby: I just ate mcdonald for lunch!
Wifey :(

End up both fell asleep in the room.
Hubby managed to wake up close to midnight to feed milk. Wifey continue to sleep until 12.30am as she got woke up by the whinning from the girls.

Wifey was upset that this was how they celebrated their actual 9th year pator anni. Woke up, went to toilet and intended to go back sleep after brush the teeth. This time Hubby took out a box from the freezer!

Durain cake from emicakes
The time is AM, not PM! Eating durain cake at almost 1am! We are mad!
Look at both our tired face!
Shared 1 slice, rest put into fridge and off to bed
The daytime was spent as per normal with both working and having dinner at home. This is the blurrest and lousiet celebration the couple had for their pator anni. For the past few years, it was usually spent in a hotel room! If not, at least a sumptuous dinner! Hopefully the 10th Anni celebration will be a much better one than this!

Haircut

The girls hair grew in a weird manner. Both focusing on the center head only. Wonder why the daddy and mummy had so thick hair yet their next generation had so little hair.

Both their fringe is getting quite long and often irritates their eyes. Had been noticing that the girls had been rubbing their eyes very often because of the front hair. This mummy didnt want to cut those fringe herself because she was afraid that her lousy skills might accidentally hurt their eyes. And usually those fringe cut by non professional will end up either uneven or too even until it look TUT TUT!

So I decided to bring them to a professional to get their fringe cut. Luckily my mother knew this saloon branch manager quite well and my girls got to cut their little hair by that manager himself at a very good price. I will feel heartache if I bring them to Junior League just to cut the fringe and probably trim abit at other area for $20!

So off we went to Jean Yip for the hair cut on a Sunday morning. As expected, the girls cried when the guy brought out the scissor and comb. Elsie at first was holding on to her tears and just kept her head looking at the floor. Later when moved to Chloe, the whole saloon was her voice. Elsie upon seeing Chloe cried also started to feel uneasy. When I requested that Elsie fringe was still too long and to trim shorter, Elsie started to shout and teared too during the 2nd round of cutting. This evil mummy!

No photos to show coz it was badly taken...too blur as they keep moving!

It's been THREE years!

Another year again. Our 3rd year wedding anniversary. Because I had many important meetings on the actual day (15th Oct), so we took leave on the 14th instead. Brought the girls to MIL place and we went to Hougang central to buy ingredients.

These were what we bought
So now you should be able to guess what we are planning to do?


Yes, BAKING! Time to put my new oven into good use.

Ingredients for the Choc Chips muffin
I am in charge of baking the muffin
The flour with butter dough is ready!
Time to mix in the sugar, egg, chips, vanilla essence etc...
It's popping up!
The final product - Choc Chips Muffin!
The Recipes!
He is in charge of the cookie
It's baking......
The final product - Choc Chips cookie!
Our lunch!
Left the house at 4+pm and head to Great World City to watch 'The Ugly Truth'. Was deciding between this and 'Surrogates'. Had been so busy with work for the past weeks hence wanted to watch something relaxing and funny. So we choose the comedy show. I thought it would be a really funny show but I didnt laugh much throughout the 96mins. But the storyline is quite good although I didn't really agree with some of the things which Mike Chadway said in the show about men and women.

Didnt had time for a good dinner because by the time the show ends, it's almost 9pm and we had to go MIL place to pick up the girls back home. That's how we celebrated our 3rd year wedding anniversary.

A toast to our marriage and hopefully many more years to come.
The Gifts:
A card for me
And THIS for him! See the big contrast???!!!

Flashback:

1st year at Club Med Bintan

Along came E&C and then................

2nd year at Vivocity shopping, watch movie, eat dinner

3rd year at own house baking, watch movie, back home

4th year.....maybe both working and will not even bother to celebrate...:(