Uncle Kim Siong's Birthday

As in previous years, we celebrated Uncle Kim Siong's birthday together on New Year's Eve. This year was a smaller group of only our 2 families, but we had a great time at the Otori Japanese Restaurant. We liked this place, as they offer a good variety for their a la carte buffet dinner at a very reasonable price with kids eating free. We believe if they knew how much our kids are eating, they would consider themselves losing out. Just see how much Gwendolyn ate that night: more than 1 bowl of udon, more than 1 bowl of edamane peas, at least 4 sticks of yakitori and a vanilla ice-cream! The daddies were busy catching up, whilst both mummies were busy taking care of both kids! See how much the kids enjoyed themselves:

Just when we're about to cut the cake, both Lyn Lyn and Frederick got all excited and both wanted to cut! We all sang happy birthday and Lyn Lyn blew the candle with Uncle KS...the funny thing was: Lyn Lyn was actually the one who blew off the candle...sigh...not the first time...she just loves to blow candles! After that, all 3 of them cut the cake together and all were happy after that! How funny...

Snow City

There is literally no winter in Singapore, even though the temperature can reduce to around 22-23 degree celsius at night...to give Gwendolyn a sense of winter (not that she hasn't been back to HK during winter time, but there's no snow in HK), Papa and Mama brought her to Snow City at Jurong East, which is just about 10 minutes away from home! Together were Uncle Don, Auntie Lena, Summer Mei Mei, Uncle Victor and Auntie Tonya. Before heading there, Papa and Mama bought her a new pair of gloves, so that her delicate hand will not get snow bitten!

We all waited for our designated time slot at 3:45pm, all dressed in the winter jackets and boots provided and ready to step into the snow chamber. To our disappointment, it was very small and crowded. There was only a small kids slide area and a major slope for "sledging". All of us queued for more than 15 minutes, just to reach the top of the slope and slide down within 2 seconds, in the cold temperature of -5.6 degree celsius! Gwendolyn was all ready to sit on the "floaty" to slide down, but in the end, she didn't like it, because when our legs contact with the "snow" whilst sliding down, the "snow" flew towards our face and she finds it MESSY! After the "slide" she said : I don't like snow going into my face. I don't like it and I scared! We went in for that short slide and left the chamber after that!

We can't bring our own camera into the chamber...so we bought this pic taken by them!

Lyn Lyn is not ready for snow yet!

For more information, please visit this website: - http://www.snowcity.com.sg/

To our amazement, there were caucasians in the snow chamber! Wouldn't it be no fun for them, as they should have experienced real snow in their home country? Or maybe, they're actually Singaporeans who haven't seen real snow before???!!!

Oh yes, before Snow City, we went into the lobby of the Singapore Science Centre to wander around, whilst waiting for Uncle Don and Auntie Lena. This is Lyn Lyn's first exposure to ScIeNcE! She was fascinated by the 2 apparatus on: (1) the exertion of pressure in the lungs, relating to how divers dive; and (2) effects to 2 slightly inflated balloons when pressure is exerted and released in a vaccum flask...

Comments added on 29 January 2007: Not sure whether Lyn Lyn is phobic from the experience in the Snow City, whenever she sees the picture taken inside, she'll remove it from the frame and said: I don't like the snow. I don't want to go again...Poor gal...

X'mas Presents

After all the parties, what did Gwendolyn got for this Christmas? Let's see :

Before

After

Lyn Lyn enjoys tearing away all the wrapping papers!

Thank you all the Aunties and Uncles for the lovely presents! I know Lyn Lyn will enjoy them a lot! Guess which one is her favourite? Mama thinks it's blue Steve...

Christmas Day

Papa and Mama invited their friends from Papa's previous company for a Christmas lunch on 25 December. They are : Uncle Kim Siong, Auntie Adele and Frederick Di Di, Uncle Thomas (a.k.a. Uncle Choo Choo Train) and Auntie Carolyn, Uncle Chee Leong, Auntie Belle and Baby Ashlynne, Uncle Adrian, Auntie Vivian and Emma Jie Jie! After yesterday's turkey, Mama thought that it isn't worthwhile to prepare 2 turkeys on 2 consecutive days and end up preparing salad + chicken wings, and then ordered takeaway sushi, also udon for the kids and preggy mums!

Takeaway sushi from Sakae Sushi

Salad, chicken wings and salmon sashimi

Lyn Lyn and Frederick Di Di are happily eating their udon!

After the sumptuous lunch, we have the highlights for today : Chocolate Fondue...Uncle Thomas and Auntie Carolyn bought this machine for quite a while and haven't used it ever since. As this is just the right occasion, they've brought it over and brought together with them some tasty fruits! Lyn Lyn was amazed at the Chocolate foudue machine and couldn't stop herself from dipping cherries into the chocolate...it was really the highlight of the day!

Another highlight was gift exchange, which is unformidable during Christmas time! Despite receiving gifts from all the adults by the kids, the adults prepared some interesting presents for each other as well...


During the party, there were some interesting incidents : when Emma Jie Jie was having her porridge, Lyn Lyn approached and asked for some...oh well, Emma Jie Jie kindly shared some with her and she was happily eating away. When it's time for Emma to play Lyn Lyn's toys, Lyn Lyn wouldn't want to share with this new friend. So what the adults need to do was to remind her that Emma Jie Jie had kindly shared her porridge, so in return, she needs to share her toys as well...the moral of the story? Lyn Lyn shouldn't just ask for food from anyone, coz the goodwill has to be paid back...haha!

Christmas Eve

Papa and Mama invited Grandma, Grandma brother's family and Bao Bei Gu Gu's family for a Christmas Eve lunch on 24 December. Mama prepared a big turkey since early in the morning, together with some potato salad and fried rice! At first, Gwendolyn wasn't very interested in the turkey, but just took her fried rice, as there was her favourite sausages. When everybody's left after the sumptuous dinner and Mama was keeping the remaining turkey meat, Lyn Lyn went into the kitchen and asked to try some. She loved it and kept asking for : MORE TURKEY MAMA...yum yum, it's nicccccccccee...

Baby Shower & 1st X'mas Gathering

This morning, Papa and Mama brought Lyn Lyn to attend baby Ashlynne's 1st month baby shower at Hotel Negara at Orchard. Baby Ashlynne was so small, but was able to open her eyes to look around already. Since Mama wasn't not all well, we didn't really go close to see baby Ashlynne and didn't take any pictures with her. Nevermind, you may see the picture at my X'mas party at home, when she came over for the party!

Pink Spot and Pink Steve went to the baby shower!

At night, Gwendolyn went for her first Christmas gathering at Suntec Sizzler Restaurant, to meet up with Papa's secondary school friends! The only one that Lyn Lyn can call out with no problem is Auntie Suzie...but she knows Ralston Gor Gor, Brenda Jie Jie, Shannon Jie Jie, Maximus Gor Gor, Dillon Di Di and Hermione Mei Mei...so many kids!

Lyn Lyn was so excited when she got to know that she can go to the salad bar and pick her own food. She was asking for broccoli and sweet corn! Yum Yum...after that, she shared Papa and Mama's Mixed Grill Platter...

After eating, it's gift exchange time! The adults gathered all the presents on the table to conduct a draw, whilst the kids were walking around, distributing their pre-assigned receiver! Brenda Jie Jie bought a set of princess books for Lyn Lyn...Thank You! Lyn Lyn loves books and recently, she's taken a keen interest in the princesses as well...

Arty Me and BBQ

Papa's polytechnic friends are coming to our place for BBQ today...Since Mama was busy preparing the food items and Gwendolyn is getting a little bored, Papa's been tasked to do some artwork with her. Lyn Lyn's been asking for her own pirate hat ever since watching the Dora's Pirate Adventure CD. So Papa Mama dug out the art and craft items bought some time ago for this arty session...Papa did all the cutting and Lyn Lyn did all the pasting...

Final products : Pirate Hat and an Apple Tree (or tadpole tree?)

Towards the afternoon, it started raining heavily and in the end, we cannot proceed with the BBQ. Instead, Mama oven cooked most of the food items...

Enjoying her "BBQ" sweetcorn

Log cake with dry ice...Lyn Lyn was facsinated by the "bubbling" and "smoke"

Uncle Frankie & Aunty Lilian's Wedding

It's Uncle Frankie and Auntie Lilian's wedding today. Papa Mama are bringing Gwendolyn to attend the wedding dinner cum solemnisation. It's an interesting solemnisation, as this was done on stage before the dinner starts! The JP invited for the solemnisation was humourous and the whole ceremony was conducted in Mandarin...something different!

Getting all prepared for the wedding dinner with nothing to do whilst waiting for Mama

Both kids couldn't stop munching on the cocktail peanuts outside the ballroom until we're seated at the tables!

Look at Mama...couldn't sit still for a pic?!

Sharing Frederick Di Di's porridge : Lyn Lyn missed being a baby???

Eating by herself with her training chopsticks!


Lyn Lyn took for Auntie Adele and Frederick Di Di...not bad eh!

My first bowling game

Mama has a department outing to the Singapore Swimming Club on 14 December 2006. She brought Papa and Gwendolyn along, for dinner and bowling, since quite a number of her colleagues are bringing kids as well! Initially, Lyn Lyn was shy in front of all the aunties and uncles. However, when Mama told her about the bowling game and the other kids, she opened up!


She refused to have dinner, but insisted on playing "bowling pin" throughout dinner. She ordered a strawberry ice-cream but didn't finish it, as her heart was all set for the bowling than dinner!

Finally, when dinner is over and all everybody proceed to the bowling alley, she rushed to the balls excitedly! Mama got her the smallest pair of bowling shoes, which is the same as the other Gor Gor Jie Jies (minimum 4+ years old)! Even though it was slightly bigger for her, but she didn't mind.

Getting ready very seriously

Most enthusiastic : Lyn Lyn kept asking for her turn to play!

6lbs bowling ball? No problem for her to carry here and there!

Have a break...have some water

Final scores : G = Gwendolyn at the bottom! 72, better than some adults :)

HK Trip : 4 - 10 Dec 2006

Day 1 : Depart from Singapore Changi

Gwendolyn was thrilled to know that she's going to Hong Kong for holiday again! She loves sitting on the trolley and being pushed...when we check-in and deposit our luggage, she almost cried, as she didn't want the luggage to be out of her sight!

After checking in, we went through immigration checkpoint and head for our lunch. Where was lunch? Burger King, as Lyn Lyn wanted burger and fries...kids kids...you think she likes fries? She loves dipping ketchup on her fries even more!


Since it's approaching Christmas, Changi's been decorated with santa, reindeer, angels, etc...Lyn Lyn was running around the area and asking Mama to take pictures for her...

After a lot of running around, it's time to board the flight. On our way on the travelator, she kept asking Papa Mama to keep quiet and don't talk...but she kept saying "don't talk, don't talk", which is even more noisy!


To keep Lyn Lyn seated without moving around, Mama showed her the Entertainmet Guide and she spotted the Hi-5 show. She was watching attentively, sipping her apple juice and munching on her "nut nut". So comfortable...

After her entertainment and dinner, she slept in Mama's arms all the way until after we arrived in Hong Kong and seated in a cab...so nice being a kid!

Day 2 : Breakfast at McDonalds (Festival Walk) and Shopping at Causeway Bay and Dinner at Olympian City

After resting for the night, Por Por suggested for breakfast at McDonalds. With no objection from Lyn Lyn, we all headed to Festival Walk for breakfast! As usual, we ordered hotcake and sausage for Lyn Lyn...but the unusual was Lyn Lyn finished ONE cup of sweet corn and didn't eat much of the hotcake and sausage!

After breakfast, we went to Causeway Bay for lunch and shopping...Times Square's City Super, Sogo for all the Sanrio and Thomas stuff; Sesame Street clothings, etc...Mama can shop at Sogo for the whole day!

Lyn Lyn is now addicted to console games! She was running around the floor, looking for the console machines!

After a long search, she's finally found a jacket that she's willing to wear!

After shopping, Papa Mama brought Lyn Lyn to visit Auntie Celia (Hello Kitty Auntie) and Uncle George. As Lyn Lyn hasn't eaten since breakfast, she was very very very hungry. Auntie Celia gave her a Hello Kitty biscuit and she was eating very quickly!

We waited for Uncle George to come back from work for dinner. They brought us all to Olympia City Beppu Restaurant for dinner. Surprisingly, this Beppu is a higher-end one and the food is not bad! Lyn Lyn had a photo with Auntie Celia and Uncle George outside the shopping centre in front of the giant christmas tree!

Day 3 : Fever and Vomit...

Not sure what happened to Lyn Lyn, maybe of the weather has worsened her airways, which are already narrower than the ordinary people. She developed a fever in the middle of the night and vomitted. Mostly phelgm, not food...so Papa Mama thought that it couldn't be food poisoning...after Lyn Lyn threw up for the 3rd time, Mama's decided to bring her to the nearest hospital : Baptist Hospital, to see doctor...by the time we leave for the hospital, it was something like 5am...

Since there is no A&E in the private hospital, we waited for the night duty doctor to come down to the clinic and he inspected Lyn Lyn on the bed, pressing on various parts of her tummy, asking her if it's painful. She seriously touched her right tummy to say : here~~here...but when the doctor touch the other parts of her tummy, she said YES as well. In the end, the doctor cannot decide whether she was telling the truth. When Mama tried asking her again, specifying which side of her tummy, she said : LEFT side!

After about an hour or so, we went home and continue with our sleep...zzzzzzzzzz...but even after Lyn Lyn woke up, she still didn't look well and very stoned...it was resting at home for the rest of the day!

Lyn Lyn showing Gong Gong how to play her new TV console game!

Initially, we're supposed to meet Mama's cousins for dinner. In the end, Auntie Annie came to see Lyn Lyn instead...

My slave : special request for Fu Fu to feed soup soup!

Day 4 : All well now

Even though Gong Gong is not well, Por Por brought Lyn Lyn to the balcony to see the fish fish...this time, not only seeing them, but feeding them as well...she couldn't stop feeding and kept asking for more! Luckily, the fishes didn't have stomache...

After feeding the fish fish, it's time to feed the humans! We all went to the Shatin Jockey Club for lunch, so that Lyn Lyn can play in the playroom, one of her favourite places...

Eating with her new training chopsticks

Carousel : Lyn Lyn knows that it needs 2 coins to operate

Addiction...she thought the "gun" game is to pump petrol...so funny! She even acted out how to pump petrol using the pink gun!

I like the ball ball place!

Day 5 : Happy Valley Jockey Club

Initially, Gong Gong Por Por wanted to bring Lyn Lyn to the other playroom at the Happy Valley Jockey Club. Unfortunately, it's under renovation. But a pleasant surprise was to see the bouncy castle and the outdoor playground, which no one was aware before!

Enjoying her popcorn after her busy play!

Dinner was with Por Por's family and Mama's 9th uncle has brought his dog along. Lyn Lyn had a close encounter with her. Since the puppy is only a puppy and is scared of strangers, when Lyn Lyn touched the doggy on the face, it got scared and became defensive. She opened her mouth and bit Lyn Lyn's little finger on the right! Lyn Lyn was in shock and after being stunned for 2 seconds, she started crying : Doggy bite me...doggy bite me...no one dares to mention about the doggy any more! What a scary experience for her!

Day 6 : Public Transport

Lyn Lyn's been asking for bus rides in Singapore, but we hardly take public transport with her. So this time round, we have a chance to bring her to go for a bus ride...

MTR ride...she's even tried purchasing for a ticket!

Day 7 : Back to Singapore

Everyone's exhausted after this week...we have an early flight to catch this time round and it concluded our HK trip...look at all the purchases from HK...