Badminton @ the HP Club

Gwendolyn went for a badminton session with Papa and Mama on Sunday to stretch her limbs. It seems that she enjoys racket games...Uncle Don booked the badminton court at the HP Clubhouse from 10am to 12 noon! Lyn Lyn just managed to wake up to catch some exercise. Initially, she was excited about meeting Summer again for some fun. But when she got to know that Summer is unable to make it, she was a little disappointed. In the end, she decided that she can take on the adults single-handedly...here we go!

Warming up

Trying to hit the shuttlecock

Aiming - Coaching by Uncle Victor

Strength training - Coaching by Auntie Tonya

Take a rest, have a drink

Balancing - Passing the shuttlecocks from Auntie Tonya to Auntie Eunice

Playing Hi-5 the baby way

Not forgetting her Spot and Steve!

Drying hair after her shower

Dora Balloon

Finally found a Dora balloon and Gwendolyn loved it!

Choo Choo Train and Swing Swing Swing

During Christmas, IMM offered free choo choo train ride on level 2, right outside the food court, for kids. But kids less than 3 years old must be accompanied by parents, who has to pay S$3 per ride. So Mama accompanied Gwendolyn to try out the "indoor choo choo train". In fact, the choo choo train was going at very high speed within the shopping complex! Mama find it a little dangerous for the kids sitting in the train and passerbys around the shopping area!

After the exciting train ride, we proceed to the playground at level 2, which is meant to be for the older kids (Lyn Lyn saw it during the train ride!). Then there is this hanging slide thing that she's set her eyes on for quite some time, that is not for age, but she was eager to try. Since the playground is not as crowded as the normal days, she played it with Papa's help...she loved it!

Don't eat my ice-cream, okay?

What's so special about Gwendolyn eating ice-cream? Aren't everyone sick of seeing her eating ice-cream already? What's so special this time is that after paying for the ice-cream and she needed to keep the change in her pocket, she entrusted Mama with her cup of ice-cream, pointing 1 finger at Mama and said : Don't eat my ice-cream, okay?! Both Papa and Mama were in SHOCK.....

Dora's house

Papa and Mama's bought Dora's Talking House for Gwendolyn as her X'mas present. It enables her to appreciate more on what's in a house and the related Spanish terms used by Dora's family (fyi: Dora speaks both English and Spanish!). However, Mama haven't read the information on the box entirely and only noticed that the box contains only : Dora, Mami, Popi and a sofa! There is no other furniture, except for those wall-mounted talking items. As such, she's still unable to play and utilise the house fully.

Dora's empty "talking" playhouse

As such, we now need to slowly build up the furniture for this new house. The suggested items are shown below. Please note that even GRANDMA (Abuela) is an "item" to "decorate" Dora's house!!! Papa and Mama have since then bought a dining set for the family to at least sit down together for a meal! If anyone happen to see these items, please let Mama know, because they are quite difficult to find too!

The possible place to find these items? Toys R Us..........................????? HELP..............

Spot and Steve collection

So many......All 7 must be together all the times...You see that single blue Steve? Bao Bei Gu Gu bought her a blue Steve for X'mas present without knowing that there was a blue Spot (which Gwendolyn has seen before!)...when Lyn Lyn accidentally discovered blue Steve hiding behind the X'mas tree, she went to Mama excitedly and screamed! How come? Why is there a blue Steve? Where is blue Spot??? Mama just thought of telling her that Mama need to ask Auntie Nelly for help and source for a blue Spot, just in case she becomes all teary one day...

Changi Beach Park

2 January 2007 is a public holiday in Singapore, so Papa and Mama continued to bring Gwendolyn for some outdoor fun! We thought that the Changi Beach Park would be a good place for her to play some sand and experience pitching and sitting in a tent, like Spot and his friends in one of the episodes, we set off for lunch at Changi Village for some nasi lemak before heading for the beach.

Beach-ready: Sunglasses, sleeveless T, beach shorts and slippers!

Lyn Lyn kept asking for chicken wings

Lyn Lyn called the Changi Village Food Centre : The Sand Restaurant

When we've finally found the perfect place to pitch the tent, Lyn Lyn got into action to help Papa with laying out the base, straightening out the 2 main support sticks and finally raising the tent.

When the tent was up, Lyn Lyn happily jumped into the tent and trying to zip up the 2 entrances...when Mama finally sealed up the 2 sides, she was scared and was on the verge of crying...well, it's an interesting experience for her to go in and out of the tent...after the tent was up and everything was ready, she started unpacking her beach toys and ready to play sand...Mama changed her into her swimming costumes, so that she'll be more willing to get wet and will not asked to removed her clothings like what she did at Sentosa Island few months back...so shameful! Haha!

She was happily building her sand castles, when suddenly, she heard a loud noise from the sky...what has distracted her? She shouted : AEROPLANE...she stared at the sky and waved good-bye to the aeroplanes that were flying pass...

Mama was a little tired and went to lie in the hammock that Papa has just tied to the tree...with the gentle swing and breeze, Mama fell asleep...leaving Papa and Lyn Lyn trying to build sand castles again. In the end, Papa was successful in building the castle and Lyn Lyn jumped happily...how many did they build in the end? FIVE!

Whilst Mama was napping in one of the hammocks, Papa and Lyn Lyn was spending some good quality time in the other hammock. Lyn Lyn stood beside Mama and gently rock Mama in the other hammock, singing : rock-a-by baby...it was so sweet and funny!

After swinging in the hammock for a while, Papa and Lyn Lyn had a little chat with her, sitting on the camping stools that Mama got from Rally Art! It is a completely different outdoor experience for her! We should do this again next time!

Unfortunate and fortunate: When we were about to pack up and leave, it started to drizzle. Fortunately, we have a tent and we hide inside until the rain stopped. After that, Mama brought Lyn Lyn to the shower point to wash off the sand from her body and get her changed into normal clothings. Unfortunately, it started to rain towards the end of the shower...fortunately, Papa has finished packing and reached the shower area before it started to pour again...

For more information about the Changi Beach Park, please visit: - http://www.nparks.gov.sg/park8.asp

Squash and Tennis

Papa and Mama left Gwendolyn with Grandma on New Year's Eve and went for karaoke with Uncle Don, Auntie Lena, Uncle Victor and Auntie Tonya. Papa and Mama didn't pick Lyn Lyn up until afternoon on New Year's Day. After that, we went home for a short while, but later, we went to Uncle Victor's house for some racket ball games! When Lyn Lyn knew that we're heading to Uncle Victor's house to play with Summer, she was all excited. But as it was near her nap time, she almost fell asleep in the car. Both Papa and Mama kept her entertained and kept talking to her, so that she can endure the car journey to get into some action!

When the 2 kids reached the squash court, they were all excited...couldn't wait for the adults and just drag out the rackets from the holders! Both Papa and Uncle Don were trying to throw the balls to the kids and let them hit. But Lyn Lyn seemed to have the upper hand of being "stronger" and have more "ball sense". She was concentrating in touching the ball when the ball was going her direction.

When the adults were ready for squash, the kids moved to the tennis court to try out another type of action. This time, the rackets are so much bigger and heavier...Summer got tired much earlier than Lyn Lyn and resorted in running after the tennis balls instead. Lyn Lyn persevered with Uncle Don and kept asking Uncle Don to throw the ball to her, so that she can aim and hit! Actually, her aiming was quite good and she can hit the ball as it approaches her! Papa and Mama can think about sending her for tennis lessons!

After a round of running, both kids were tired and so, it's time for Uncle Don and Papa to play, whilst Mama was trying to keep the kids entertained, sitting down and watching both Papa play! How to keep them seated without running around? Mama has asked them to laugh out loud when either Papa missed the ball! In the end, both happily laughed throughout the game and we only have to leave the court when it started to rain...

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"