Monday, February 19, 2007

CNY: 2nd Day

Today is the 2nd day and we have more things to do: Visit Papa's cousin at Choa Chu Kang, Joel Di Di visiting us at Gwendolyn's home and all of us visiting Joel Di Di's grandparents at Bedok! Dinner was at home, as Mama said it's a very important "Start of the Year" dinner...and after that, we went to Auntie Suzie's house!!!

In the morning, Lyn Lyn was pounding around the snack area next to the TV, with all the Chinese New Year goodies. Her eyes were set on the crackers and nut nut. All morning, she was asking for them and quietly took them and opened by herself! She was so happy after being able to open them by herself!


We set off for Choa Chu Kang at around 10:45am and arrived at Uncle Anthony's place at around 11:10am. Uncle Anthony's daughter loves playing with Gwendolyn, but her younger brother, who's 7 months younger than Lyn Lyn was rather agressive. When Lyn Lyn approached his chair, he went a teary and screamed! He even hit Lyn Lyn and Lyn Lyn just sat down there and grinned...when Uncle Anthony removed the Di Di and took another the chair for him, he kept staring at Lyn Lyn, as if she would snatch away the chair from him anytime! Lyn Lyn couldn't care less, sat on the floor and played with the baby doll, feeding and bathing it. So sweet! Auntie brought some lunch and we all ate there before heading home to wait for Joel Di Di!

Joel Di Di dressed up in all red chinese costumes with a hat on his head. But the hat was very small. Lyn Lyn took away from him and tried it on herself...

Look at how cheeky she is when removing Joel Di Di's hat!


Joel was carried away with the toys in Lyn Lyn's room, especially the kitchen set. He kept "cooking" and "stirring". Bao Bei Gu Gu even thought of buying a kitchen set for him, but it's kind of weird, as he's a boy...hm...


After all the baby play, we all set off for Joel Di Di's grandparent's place! There, both kids were very excited, especially when it's a maisonette, with a staircase! Lyn Lyn kept asking Auntie Karen, Gu Cheung's youngest sister, to bring her up and down the staircase. Poor Karen...

Joel Di Di's grandma has homemade "lo hei" every year, her kids will take turns to help shred the veggies. As it was Gu Cheung's turn, Lyn Lyn observed how he did it and asked to help. At some point, she asked: Gu Cheung, are you making a mess? What an innocent but to-the-point question. Everyone wanted to ask this burning question, but no one dared to really ask! So funny...

On the way home, Lyn Lyn finally fell asleep in the car! She endured for the whole day...had her nap and still remembered she's supposed to go to Auntie Suzie's house when being awaken from her nap...she had a great time playing with all the kids at Auntie Suzie's house! What a fun 2nd day!

Sunday, February 18, 2007

CNY: 1st Day

Happy New Year! Gongxi Gongxi...Gwendolyn woke up early in the morning to prepare herself for Chinese New Year. For once, she's willing to wear a dress without much persuasion...why? When she saw the red flower attached on Mama's new clothing, she spotted it and asked for it to be attached to hers. In the end, Mama told her to wear the red dress together with the red flower, so that she'll be pretty pretty...she acknowledged and put on her clothings very quickly!

After talking to Gong Gong and Por Por on the phone, wishing them "Gongxi good health" and "Gongxi pretty pretty", we set off for grandma's house. Lyn Lyn was very enthusiastic about carrying the red bags with her oranges! Also, not forgetting about them wherever she goes!


After reaching grandma's place, we all had lunch and then Papa and me took a nice long nap, as it was raining outside and we don't have anywhere else to go. Before I napped, Mama told me that she'll bring me to play in the playground, but it was raining. So, we went to the playground at IMM again, as this is a covered playground, sheltered from the rain!


After playing there, we went to Mario's Pizza again to have our dinner. It's renovated with new decorations, tables and chairs. But the food is still as nice! Oh yeah, now, they have more pizza type with sausages and even a starter with jumbo sausages! Yum Yum...

Saturday, February 17, 2007

CNY: Reunion Lunch

This year, we had reunion lunch...as usual, we had steamboat and bbq at grandma's place! Before the lunch, Gwendolyn had some pictures with Joel Di Di. See how big she is, as compared to him, with only less than 1 year's gap apart.


Look at her cheeky face when touching Joel Di Di's face!
After lunch, Papa and Mama went to Suntec Carrefour to do some shopping to get some food items for the BBQ next Tuesday before we went back to grandma's place for dinner. After dinner, all of us went to the Marina Hong Bao event near the Padang. Obviously, the economy is good and the lanterns and displays are much nicer...see...


Lyn Lyn went round the play area and identified the bouncy castle as one amongst the rest that she wanted to play. Mama exchanged the token for her and off she went. Climbing all over the place, just like herself, a gal born in the year of the monkey! Mama was having trouble chasing after her front and back to take pictures for her.

That was not enough, she requested for a machine ride and because she's ScArEd (nowadays, she's very conscious about things that can / may scare her)...she asked for a ride which Mama can ride with her. We identified the helicopter, which in fact, is rather fast and violent...but as she insisted, might as well let her give it a go. See how things changed from her sitting side by side with Mama, to halfway, Mama has to carry her and keep her calm before the ride stops. In fact, the ride was very very long...good value for money and we're the only ones on the ride! What an irony! After the ride, we went home and that's the last thing we did before receiving the year of the GOLDEN PIG!

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Auntie Ya Ya's Birthday Bash

12 February was Auntie Ya Ya's birthday and Uncle Victor organised a BBQ cum buffet dinner at their place on 11 February 2007. Gwendolyn was so excited about birthday parties and she couldn't wait to go! Papa and Mama brought Lyn Lyn for some shopping at Takashimaya to get a new hat before setting off to the party, which starts officially at 6pm, but it wasn't convenient for us to go home before going over afterwards, we went straight from town. But when we arrived, no one was there and Lyn Lyn was kind of upset. She said: where are they? I miss them? Where? Where? Where? No choice, Papa gave them a call and got to know that they've gone out to buy some food. So Papa and Mama brought Lyn Lyn to walk around the condo to take a look! There we are at the playground...Lyn Lyn was so excited to see something for her to play...she ran straight there and get herself onto every single structure!



What is she doing? Gargling with the water she's just drank!

Finally, when the birthday gal is back, we all prepared for the BBQ...Lyn Lyn was really a happy helper, helping herself with the cordial drink, going back and forth and fetching drinks for Papa and Mama too! One thing that she's improved a lot, or maybe she's familiar with this group of aunties and uncles, her social skills have improved so much that she'll just entertain herself by approaching different people to start a conversation with them, whilst Papa and Mama can have a decent carefree meal...it was such a pleasure to have her around, asking her various "WHYs" to all the aunties and uncles, to let Papa and Mama to have a little rest from answering to all her peculiar "WHYs"!


Can't remember how many sausages Lyn Lyn ate this time

Having fun, connecting with all the aunties and uncles

Happy Birthday, Auntie Ya Ya!

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Singaporean's favourite past-time

Papa's finally able to cut Gwendolyn's hair this morning! When Mama wake up, she was surprised to see the new hair cut. Though it's not as short as Dora, but short enough to look a little different and neat!


After cutting Lyn Lyn's hair, we set off to the Clementi market to buy food from the wet market to prepare for Chinese New Year, as this is the last weekend before the actual new year! Papa and Mama were not surprised to see queues everywhere, be it cooked food centre or raw food stores...it was very difficult to decide which cooked food stall to buy our breakfast from, as even the least popular stores have a mini-Q tailing up...Lyn Lyn was fast to join in the fun, as Papa Q-ed for our food...


Friday, February 02, 2007

Basketball at Uncle Victor's

This is the first time Gwendolyn wears her new sports shoes to play basketball at Uncle Victor's place, whilst Papa and Mama prepares for tennis playing over there too.


Before arriving at Uncle Victor's place, Papa and Mama brought Lyn Lyn for Bah Kut Teh at Sin Ming. However, Mama doesn't feel that the Bah Kut Teh is so nice, as it's not very tasty. Nonetheless, Lyn Lyn finished half a bowl of rice with pig's trotters.

After arriving at Uncle Victor's place, he dug out some toys for Summer and Lyn Lyn to play, whilst the rest of the adults get ready for some tennis game!

Both Summer and Lyn Lyn were trying their luck with some basketball playing...As both were trying to immitate Auntie Lena in aiming at the basketball net and passing the ball. At times, they'll try to fight for the ball, but can be quickly separated when Mama insisted.


Intensive coaching by Auntie Lena and Uncle Ian

Lyn Lyn: Aim higher!

Some bubble-play after the intense basketball game

The Legends @ Fort Canning

Mama had an offsite meeting on 2 Feb 2007, at The Legends @ Fort Canning Park. She had a fun day there and have asked Papa and Gwendolyn to join her at the nice location for dinner after the meeting. Mama went to pick Lyn Lyn up from school and brought her to the outdoor playground to have some fun! Just see how happy she is...some of the items on the playground are different from her usual playground activities, especially the rope, which is similar to absailing!


Amongst the few restaurants available, we went for the Nasi Lemak buffet, which is being featured as a Friday Theme Dinner. In addition to the 2 buffets ordered by Papa and Mama, Mama ordered the hotdog and fries from the kid's menu for Lyn Lyn. She wasn't very interested with her hotdog and fries, but kept asking for rice from Mama. But the rice was really nice and Lyn Lyn ate all of Mama's share!



Lyn Lyn is learning how to take the food from the buffet table

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The missing link?

Gwendolyn's Spot and Steve collection is complete now, with the recent addition of Blue Spot...(actually, completed quite some time, but Mama didn't have time to update...hehe...) Blue Steve is happy now!


Monday, January 29, 2007

Bottle Tree Park

Auntie Angela organised a "prawn fishing" trip on 25 January 2007, at the new Bottle Tree Park at Yishun. It's a new place, where there is a prawn pond for patrons to fish and then eat at the restaurant afterwards. Gwendolyn refused to take a nap in the afternoon, but strangely enough, Papa Mama didn't tell her that we're going to try something new that night. Anyways, as we were trying to locate this park and look for information from the internet, we could only find information about the Bottle Tree Village, which is further in from Yishun, all the way into Sembawang. Nevermind, we followed Auntie Angela's instructions and finally found our way there. Unfortunately, it was raining...the kids cannot play at the playground. But still, they proceeded with the "prawn-fishing".


Lyn Lyn was so excited. As usual, she kept saying : I do, I do...but she was not patient and keep moving the fishing rod around...no prawn came for her bait. However, when we see Uncle Barry, Auntie Christina and Yasuko Jie Jie managed to fish for a few, we started to get a little excited...finally, Papa managed to fish ONE prawn...and that's our 1 and only prawn for that night! Oh well, $14.50 to buy a prawn, together with the fun experience, it's worth it...


Me and my prawn

After the fishing, we went back to the restaurant for our dinner. As Lyn Lyn is very tired, she kept asking for white rice only, so that she can stuff herself and sleep immediately...she fell asleep even when she was still eating the rice...



For more information about the Bottle Tree Park / Village, please see: www.bottletree.com.sg

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Field Trip to the Vishnu Dairy Farm

Gwendolyn's school has organised the first school trip for this new academic year to the Vishnu Farm Pte Ltd, located at Lim Chu Kang, just further down from the Hay Dairies, which she went last year. Mama decided that she should give Lyn Lyn a little support in standing in front of the animals and took the day off to go with her. Lyn Lyn was very excited about Mama going to the field trip with her and same as her classmates. Vedant and Nicholas, who already know Mama from last year, together with Travis and Adrien, 2 new boys this year were extending their hospitality to Mama as well. When Lyn Lyn was seated with Travis at breakfast, Lyn Lyn passed Mama the yellow cereal, which she doesn't like. Travis in return, shared his cereal with Mama, after seeing Lyn Lyn doing so too!

Since the weather wasn't very good in the early morning, we all waited until the rain stops before setting off. Before that, Mama observed the kids in class, it was quite chaotic, where all the kids will be messing around with toys, some running, some playing together, whilst some played by themselves. However, when Ms Lay Cheng sang a "clean-up song", informing the kids that it's almost snack time, all got into robotic movement and start keeping the toys, before finally seated outside the washroom, waiting for their turn to go to the toilet and wash their hands. After that, they sat at the table, waiting for their snack. It was quite funny to see that! This morning, snack was sandwich and fruits, when Lyn Lyn requested that she doesn't want sandwich and only wanted apples...Mama noticed that the kids got into their routine quite well and can follow instructions accordingly.

After morning snack, all were ready to go! They all put on their shoes in the classroom, with their outdoor play hats and waterbottles, off we go!

Queueing up to board the bus

Vedant and Lyn Lyn were the first to board the smaller van and went straight to the back seats, forgetting about Mama totally. Throughout the journey, both were playing with each other, happily chatting away...Mama was busy taking pictures for them and both were laughing happily, until suddenly, Lyn Lyn spilled her water onto her pants and wet it. She suddenly turned from a happy smiley face into a worried face. She refused to smile and Mama was trying very hard to distract her. All she said was: I'm wet, can you please dry for me, despite Ms Wahila and Mama's efforts in telling her that it's only water and will dry up by itself.

All excited before the water-spill incident

Smile...didn't really smile when taking this picture with Ms Wahila (a.k.a. Ms Ila)

During the journey, Lyn Lyn was having some fun with Vedant...Top Left - hold the handle; Top right - stick out your tongue; Bottom Left - cover your face; Bottom right - tickle me...

Eventually, we've arrived at the Vishnu Dairy Farm at Lim Chu Kang. All the kids alighted and went into the barn to listen to a short briefing. Lyn Lyn dashed in front to see the cow and kept asking to feed the cow. It was so difficult to wait until the briefing was over and she was scared when being asked to milk the cow, she went near to the cow's head to feed it. She was so excited in feeding, whilst Mama was worried like mad, taking pictures for her and scared that she'll be hurt by the cow.

Acting patient - so that she can feed the cow later (or so she thinks?)

After the briefing, she rushed in front of the cow...scared Mama, as she was wearing a red hat...luckily, the speaker told us that cows can only see black and white...phew...

After feeding this cow, all the kids were being brought to the back barns to feed the calves. There were plenty of grass for the kids to feed and Lyn Lyn got all excited and kept feeding...but half way, she need to go to the toilet and Mama brought her out to pee. When she's done, where most kids were done with the feeding and ready to get back to school, she insisted that she needs to feed the cow for the last time. Mama brought her back in to feed for one last time before setting off to the bus again. When she board the bus, she couldn't see Vedant and she was all upset. Ms Lay Cheng and Mama told her that Vedant is sitting in front with someone else, she kept repeating to herself that she wanted to sit with Vedant. In the end, Mama asked her to sit with Nicholas instead...

Finally, everyone's back in school and it's lunch time. Mama bid farewell to Lyn Lyn before going off. It was really fun to see part of her school routine with eating, toileting and washing in the morning! The best part is to get closer to her classmates, so that we can have more common things to talk about at home!

The barn with all the calves!

All the kids were having their fair share of feeding with the calves!

P.S. There is no website for the Vishnu Dairy Farm, but there is a little information from onemotoring: http://www.onemotoring.com.sg/publish/onemotoring/en/motoring_buzz/features/animal_farm_part1.html


Watch Gwendolyn Grow

Watch Geraldine Grow