Fixing the puzzles

Keira... Mummy's so proud of you! You amazed papa and mama this Sat! :D

We went for breakfast on Sat morning at JP, and popped into 24-hr NTUC. There was a section with huge Sales signboard for books and that caught my attention. I had intended to pick some stories for myself... so I can story-tell them to Keira. I saw puzzles for 3yo onwards and Keira immediately selected the "design" she was keen on. Well, she picked the one with food... kept shouting "pizza, pizza" .... haha... no doubt about that! Paid for that plus couple of books.

One afternoon, K papa told me Keira fixed all the 4 puzzles by herself... to my astonishment. Not that I doubted her capability... but I've never bought puzzle and have never seen her fixing one... not to mention 4 at one go. So, I was curious .... perhaps she experienced this in childcare...(?)

So, I brought out the box of puzzles ... and told Keira to fix them for mummy .... and I was impressed to see how she went about fixing them....

K papa said - perhaps... she's shown keen interest in this particular set of puzzles because they'r food ...


Keira started with the dougnut puzzle... followed by pizza. While she was working on the cake then....


Working on the pieces ... finding the right match.... was confident she could work it out herself ... and told me "shh... don't .... I can do it..."

Completed the cake ... and she was certainly proud with her achievement too ....

A day of tension

I am writing this a day after the "day of tension". It was a horrid May 6 in my company. A day where my inbox shrinked by 90% or maybe 99%. Some may think "hey lady, your load is off"... but hey... no, it was a day of tension as you see or hear people being laid off.

Jan layoff didn't create as huge a tension as this round. Why?

1) Jan layoff, I heard, had some kind of build-up to it. So, I believe most people affected would have been pre-empted
2) This layoff, I heard, was a absolute hush hush. No build-up, no pre-empt, no talks, no expectation. People were told to go because their role will be or are irrelevant.

Yesterday, I was shocked, then sad... followed by speechless. Why?

Point 2 above - role irrelevance caused some great performers in our company to be laid off. It's no longer about who under-performed, but it's all about how relevant is this role to the company. Shocked to hear people I respected and think what great personnel they are and what great asset they are to the company... have been told to go... in a matter of few days.... Sad because it's such a sensitive issue that even if I hear about who (I know) have been affected, I can't go over and say a few words of encouragement because I have to be sensitive.... Speechless because I am disheartened by the whole event and wonder what people have sacrificed in family for work, are no longer a factor of consideration.

Today, May 7 .... and I heard... the layoff news continues to break to people today....

I hardly write in my blog about my company... this time, I just need an avenue to release this tension

Chasing motor on walker

Enjoy this video clip - Keisha was chasing Keira's shopping cart on her walker. While Keira took her time to enjoy her ribena before whizzing off...

Pumpkin Bun

I posted this picture not to show off Keira, but the ultimate pumpkin-looking pumpkin bun! Did you see that? Very cute right? An interesting one to entice your little one to eat it! We frequent this shop quite often on weekends. Besides IMM, this is the other place we go for morning breakfast. We used to buy Corn Bun for Keira, until I noticed this pumpkin-looking bun in the steamer about a month ago. The best thing is, it doesn't taste too sweet for the lil one.

And.. that's 2 thumbs up from Keira.. haha

Guilty mama

I am very guilty, even after >24 hrs! I still couldn't get over it.

I was the cause of Keisha tumbling down our master bed yesterday morning. Very weekday morning is like a mad rush for me, waking up 6:10am quietly and keeping fingers crossed that Keira is still sleeping... so I have time to brush my teeth, wash my face, put on make up, prepare her school bag and finally change. Most times, I cannot get pass prepare school bag without her screaming from her room for me. So what happened yesterday morning?

Well, I was pretty delighted that Keira was still sound asleep while I get all stuff done. At 630am, Keisha woke up and appeared from our room with papa. Keisha is just so sweet... really sweet. Everytime she comes out from the bedroom, she'll get excited and smile so sweetly to me that my heart melts instantly. I was ready to get changed but didn't want Keisha to make squeakly sound and waking Keira up. Hence, I carried her to our bedroom, left her on master bed, placed pillows and bolster around her.... and started browsing through my wardrobe pondering what to wear for the day. Keisha wanted to participate and I can see her enthusiam and eagerness to piece through the wardrobe doors. Just then, I thought... ok.. go to next room to pick up my fav jeans. Keisha should be fine, afterall, it's only a few sounds!

Zoomed.. off I popped over to the next room. Picked up my jeans and started browsing through racks of clothes again... for just a few minutes ... .then.... a loud BANG!!!

My heart frozed!

I ran over to the room and there Keisha laying face up (back on floor) and crying like the whole world crushed on her! My goodness... what have I done??????????

Not something I do not know.. I mean.. from Keira days, I learnt my lesson and sharing with others never to leave babies off out sight for even seconds! and here... me... DOING IT AGAIN!

2 times bitten... I better not leave my baby on bed without me in sight again!

Very sorry, Keisha.

Keira is driving me into a monster NAG! and she is a BIGGER MONSTER NAG than me!

Saw this blog title??
Read again... and repeat after me! ya.. R-E-P-E-A-T ...

Every day, I have the difficult task of (and struggling) trying to maintan a picture of cool calmness and practice mummy mantras. I am super bad at this - CALM DOWN!

Keira has grown quite substantially.. haha .. .what a way to put it! Every day, I find myself saying the same things to her, and she has learnt to memorize them but not really adopting them... sick? Oh, and I really get my "rest" (that means I don't have to repeat these to anyone) when I am at work.. thank goodness! So between the time from 6:30pm - 8pm, I turned into a super huge monster nag! ... Sicko nagging process of telling her to be careful not to drip around the house when eating fruits/drinking beverage; wash your hands b4/after food; be careful don't drop your rice/veg/meat etc; wear your shoes; don't run; shower now; drink milk; brush teeth... and the list goes on and on - same stuff I say everyday ... and it doesn't come automatically from her though she knows the order by heart now! So I was told to repeat and repeat to kids so they learn .. hmm.. when will I actually get to stop having to repeat before I turn into a real massive nag of all times???!!!????

Incidently.. I came to realise that kids NAG too.. and they do it sooooooooooooo well that they enjoy nagging more than we do! I don't know if my constant nagging of the same activities make Keira irritated... but her nagging irritates me BIG TIME!

Here's one scene....
To set the context for you here, I bought an ice cream in a cup for Keira before and it is a Milo-flavoured one, so it comes in Milo-branding and design. 2 days ago, while set to drive Keira home from mum's place in the evening, Keira started ranting... "mama, I want Milo"... when I ignored her... she continued with a raised voice and shrieks when I continue to ignore ... and she kept going on until I finally said... "ok..ok... go home, you will have it" ... happy with my response, she stopped her "pleas" ... and 1 second later... my nightmare of 15-20 mins began ...
Keira happily repeated "mama, I want Milo" ..... for the entire car ride home!!!!!! mind you... literally....
mama, i want milo; mama, i want milo; mama, i want milo.....................................................................................................................................................................................................

-> nothing I could do to STOP HER... until she finally had her MILO ice cream at home!

Keira in uniform

I had intended to capture a nice picture of Keira in her child-care uniform and ponytails but ended up with a funny expression from her!

We got only 2 sets of Cherie Hearts uniform for Keira, which means she'll wear them only 2 times a week ... :-). It's also a challenge to get her agreement to tie her hair and so this has been one of those days she gladly cooperate. The "thing" she was holding with both hands.. that's actually MY cereal! For some reason, she enjoys MY cereal.. it's with corn flavour and not very sweet, hence, I am fine giving her that.

That fringe ... ya.. trimmed by me .. not that bad right? Keira has never gone to a proper hair salon for trim/cut. My mum has brought her to an auntie who lives near her block just b4 CNY and she cried her lungs out.... basically, she was carried by my mum while having her hair cut! So.. trimming her fringe has been an activity that I will execute, and I have to find the right time to do this, that means; when she is in good mood and a cooperative attitude and this doesn't come all the time.. so I have to capture the right moment through observation. Get it? ... sure all the mums out there can empathize.

My Collage

Here is a collage of pictures taken at V-Day Duck Tour and Keisha at home, using a cool product from my company, Microsoft AutoCollage 2008. Very simple tool to use, just need to select at least 7 fav pictures, put them into a folder and with one click using tool to create the pictures into a collage. No sharp cutting edges, it blends them pretty well. Can't select how I want it to appear but found that if I change their order in the folder, it results in a different blend. Pretty easy... I like it for being an easy to use tool to blend my pics into a collage.

In the pictures, you see me, Vincent, Keira (2.5 yrs) and Keisha (8 mths)

Drive to Genting Highlands

Destination: Genting Highlands, Malaysia

Travellers: Mama Jean, Papa Vincent, Keira, Keisha, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ivan, Aunt Jasmine and Cousin Karin

Date: Feb 21 - 23, 2009

Mode: Drive 800km in 2 7-seaters Honda Stream

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Day 1 -

Left our home at 730am or Bros' house for breakfast. We departed at 845am for Tuas Checkpoint. Got there pretty fast since we stay in the western part of Singapore. Kids dozed off soon after crossing Malaysia Customs. We had couple of stops for toilet breaks and lunch. By about 2pm, we were on our way up to Genting Highlands. Half way up the mountain, Keira needed to pass motion... gosh what a timing! There was not designated stop for her to pass motion.. so we had to find a wide shoulder to stop for Keira! ... Out of the blue, my mum told me... a very shocking information.... "I brought along a potty and it's in my bag" ...

WHAT??? a potty hidden in her bag for a trip to Genting??? haha...classic grandma!!! here's a great laugh for u!

We finally arrive and checked into hotel at about 5+pm. Took kids to shower, had dinner... and it was bed time for my kids by 8pm! haha ... that's the end of Day 1 for me... without doing anything else!

Day 2 -

Kiddos woke up by about 7pm. Nice cool night... Here's how they look in the morning.. ^_^

After breakfast, it was kiddo's time for FUN - Indoor theme park! Free for Keira who is below 90cm, of course free for Keisha too.

Keira on Merry Go Round!

Keira and Karin on car-ride. This one is really FUN - they took 5 times in total! They looked really cute in the car too.. haha

We on Ferris Wheel!

Day 3 -

Woke up 715am, packed up and had breakfast.

Departed from Genting Highlands at 1040am, and descended down the mountain.... cool nice air, cool nice temperature. My 2 darlings fell asleep within 10 mins!

We finally reached home at 530pm!!! Gosh, what a long trip!

Valentine's Day for the family

No more romantic getaway for 2,
No more quiet dinner for 2,
No more rest n relax aimless window shopping for 2,
No more...and no more....whatever....

Good news is ... we have additional 2 more to go with the original 2... ^_^. Our K n K joined us on V-day this year with something (I thought) was meaningful. Never have I ever in my wildest thoughts wished I was on a Duck Tour! Oh yes, the Fantastic 4 of us did it on V-day! Thought we didn't want to roam the streets aimlessly, dragging 2 darlings, hence, attempted to do something interesting for them, especially Keira.

Never did I expect Duck Tours to be so expensive! Adult per head costs like 30-40+ for an hour trip! My darlings K n K cost 2 per head, now that's cheap! As we were busy making payment, K papa noticed a slim poster stand with a promotion for 48 per couple on V-Day! To top that promo, it has a further $ cuts for every attempts to 1) hold hands, 2) hug, 3) kiss on cheeks, 4) get frenchy kiss. Of course the closer the level of intimacy, the more $ cut you get from the original 48! Well, we got a $8 off for doing the most intimate - ok, don't think too deep.. it's just getting a little french! haha!!!

Here's some pics for you.. sorry, no french pics.. haha!