Our Knight Turns 5!

Our Knight has turned 5! I always can't bring myself to believe years just passed by so quickly. Every year, we make it a point to celebrate the kids' birthday, be it a major or an intimate family celebration. To me, it's important to make the child feel loved, especially by parents. Probably, my parents used to celebrate my birthdays annually during my childhood, so I decided to make this a 'tradition'.


This year, Jovan had his school's party celebration as usual. It was his first time celebrating with newly-made friends in his new school. There were only 8 in his class and FINALLY, he told me has wants the party theme to be changed to 'CARS 2', after being a loyal BEN-10 supporter for the past 3 years. So, I hurriedly went in search for all the CARS 2 related party favours and decors, all at my favourite party store at Compass Point.

28 Feb 2013 - School Party



Dear and I took leave for our Knight's school's birthday celebration. He was so energetic that morning, knowing it was his privileged day as he need not wear uniform! As I sent him to school, he shouted loudly " Mummy, see u later with my cake!" Haha, even the teacher burst out into laughter.It was a simple birthday celebration at school. All of Jovan's classmates looked at the teacher getting the cake ready in great anticipation.



Jovan knew he was the 'king' at that moment and was so cooperative as he served his little classmates, teachers and principal the cake. The kids loved the cake that most asked for second helping!



After which, we brought Jovan to Swensons and he ordered his favourite 'Pirates' Meal'! Seeing his radiant smiles really made me feel blissful - 有子万事足：）



Guess what? The second half of the 'programme' was something we had never expected. Dear sprained his ankle few days ago due to over exertion in his favourite basketball game. As usual, he did not think much of it, ignored it till the condition worsened. So, on the 28th Feb, our dear boy's birthday, after enjoying MacDelivery in the comfort of our own place,  I sent dear to Tan Tock Seng hospital A&E as the pain in his ankle is getting unbearable and the swell was so big that it really looked like PIG TROTTERS! So we spent 3 hours + there, waiting and waiting.....In the end, dear ended up in a bandaged ankle ( luckily not in cast...)

2 Mar 2013 - Home Party




As usual, we had a home party where we invited all our family members as well as our close pals, Junwei's family and Baoling, to join in the fun. This year, to make it special, mum even invited some of our close relatives, who wanted a peek into our new shelter too. So it's double celebration! Thus, we ordered a formal buffet and sis even brought along an Australian friend who was on an exchange programme and she was such an amiable lady. What amazed me was that, she definitely didn't look like a mum of 5 kids!

The guests arrived soon and everyone was busy engaging in private conversations, catching up with relatives etc. Dear was also busy, busy 'limping ' around with his bandanged ankle and everyone teased him for over-estimating his own abilities. He still refused to face the fact that he's already past mid 30s, haha..... As for the kids, they had fun in the kids' room, busy with all the toys and their self created games. It was indeed a night filled with laughter and joy.






The climax came during the cake-cutting time. Everyone was stunned by the cake's decor and 2 tiered different flavoured Cars 2 cake from Pine Garden. We had these great exclusive memories captured through the shots with our guests.






Jovan was really excited and elated that evening. He was actually exhausted, but he actually bothered to wait till I was done with the mopping of floor and shower. Then he asked me if he could open his presents. It was already 12.15a.m then! So he excitedly unravelled all his mysteries. Guess what? Most are Cars 2 Presents ranging from stationery sets,  remote controller set etc. It was only after the unwrapping then he agreed to turn in for the night.



Jovan has matured much since last year and his linguistic and motor skills have taken him to the next higher level. Dear and I witnessed Jovan's positive development and really feel consoled with his progress.

Dearest Jovan, we wish u in forever bliss and good health always. 

Happy 5th Birthday, the baby forever in Daddy and Mummy's eyes!

5 In A Row!

Jovin was elated last week over her mini achievement. She flaunted her Spelling Award card in front of me and said only those who scored 5 full marks consecutively were awarded the card. I could see the glow on my darling princess's face. Good job, my dear Jovin!

Gongxi Facai!

Yeh, It's Chinese New Year! It has always been my favourite festival despite having to burn a big pocket amounting to 4 digits yearly , but as mum says, it's always a blessing to be able to give angpow :) Last year, we did not really celebrate as dear's paternal grandmother passed away, thus we were 'barred' from certain  house visits. This year, we are 'freed'! So, we resumed our yearly visiting schedule catching up with great pals and relatives.



Ever since little 'J's were born, I made it a point to do a recording of how they receive the angpows from us. It's really heart-warming and of course hilarious to see their video footages when they were so much younger. In one of the clips, Jovan was barely 1 year old, still moving around in walker and he actually placed the mandarin oranges into his mouth before passing to us haha... This year, I took took the video clips of them. Now they are so well-versed in the new year well wishes. Jovin's favourite phrase this year "龙马精神、大吉大利". As for Jovan, he managed to say "新年快乐"too. Dear and I realised our little 'J's have really grown up!





This year, we went to the usual places for visiting and had lots of fun doing annual catching-up with the uncles and aunties. Our little 'J's reveled in joy running around and playing card games with their cousins. The smiles on their faces are self-explanatory....




Thus far, we have had several groups of friends to our place this CNY. We were busy shuffling between visiting and rushing back to our place to entertain our guests. Most groups had kids who were almost of the same age groups as our little 'J's, so our place transformed into a child-care centre, haha.





However, we the adults had a great time mingling while the kids fussed themselves with the wide array of toys which our abode supply. Our friends even commented our place should be made the annual CNY meet-up point since our place is huge enough to accommodate both young and old. Most importantly, the adults could enjoy in peace hehe...

We really had a joyous and fun Chinese New Year this year despite the aftermath of cleaning up which dear and I totally dread. Argh... But we simply love hosting our dear friends. 

Happy Chinese New Year, HUAT ah everyone!

迎接水蛇大哥！

光阴似箭，我至今仍无法相信今年已是蛇年。还记得上一轮。。。（哦，透露了本小姐的年龄，嘻嘻。。）我一向不迷信，但今年从年头已开始，就到处听到许多有关今年运程的种种预测。本命年，提醒我要处处提防小人。妈妈比我还紧张，知道我忙于工作，已为我打点一切，代我到庙里祭拜太岁，为我祈求平安，希望我在蛇年里诸事顺利。妈妈还是伟大！

今年的大扫除，除了断续打点一些大小事务，直至除夕前一天，我才有空进行真正的大扫除-洗尘、抹地、抹风扇、擦柜子等。今年的房子面积较大，做起来犹如需花费我九牛二虎之力，差点儿连腰都闪到了。你一定在想，老公呢？等到他下班回来，我早就做完了！但那晚，我还兴致勃勃，与老公一起带孩子搭地铁、巴士直到“忠邦”夜市，凑凑热闹，感染新年的气氛。但一路人多拥挤不堪，巴士的次数不知怎的，等了好久才来一辆，结果到了“忠邦”，已是晚上十一时！哥哥一家已等了我们许久，所以我们先解决“咕噜噜”的肚子，然后再去“挤”！

人潮的确连绵不绝，我买了夺两罐糕点添货（嘻嘻，家里的“资源”已短缺，因为糕点已入了我们的肚子里），我们沿街逛了几间店，买了一些装饰。最后，我们决定“舒服”地搭乘徳士回家，不到20分钟，就到家并很快进入梦乡了！



除夕日那天，我们反而没那么忙碌。直到晚上，才浩浩荡荡地到家婆家享用第一轮的火锅团年饭。桌上的美味佳肴，令人垂涎三尺。当然，少不了两个宝贝爱吃的‘ANGRY BIRDS'形状鱼饼、带子和麦片虾。家婆的焖鲍鱼也是她的拿手好菜之一。



后来，我们再到妈咪的家享用第二轮的团年饭。本以为姐姐一家在新山过夜，岂料，他们竟赶回来与我们团聚。大伙儿围在火锅旁，围炉原来就是这个意思。大人小孩器具一块儿，乐融融的情景，令我回味无穷。这才是“幸福”。



之后，我们入往年般，一家大小偕同到寺庙里祭拜，祈求平安安康。从小到大，我们三兄妹总是跟随父母到寺里祭拜。大伙儿总爱“偷拿”糖果，往嘴里塞。如今，这习惯已久。但取而代之的则是我们的两个宝贝和外甥。乐琳乐文也似模似样地，跪拜在地上叩头，虔诚地祭拜。他们的模样真的好可爱。乐得妈咪笑得合不拢嘴，哈哈！







最后，我们每年总忘不了吃上一碗“平安”面线，祈求全家人在新的一年，平安度过。回到家里，已是午夜时分了，但两个小宝贝似乎没有任何睡意，拖至一点多钟才入睡，哈哈，也许他们要为我们俩守岁！我呢？则选择努力地进行批改工作。大年除夕，有着学生们的作文陪我入眠，别有一番滋味哦！

水蛇终于降临人间了！隔天开始忙碌的拜年行程。祝愿大家也和我们一样，蛇年行大运！

Annual Reunion Dinner!

Every year without fail, apart from our own families' reunion dinner, one of us naturally takes the lead to organise the JC CLDDS reunion dinner. It used to be only us, the true AJcians, slowly the group evolved bigger as our partners and now our next generation joins in!



This year, the reunion dinner happens to be small as the rest couldn't make it. Nonetheless, we held an unique cosy reunion buffet at Yuling's condo's function room. It was a joint effort by Yuling, Tingting & myself as we felt that it's getting tougher and more inconvenient to 'drag' the 'old' and 'young' out haha... So we scrambled to settle the function room booking and liased actively through emails and smses on the attendance and the menu confirmation. Finally, all settled and done by 3 mummies!



On that day, despite the small turnout, we finished the food! There was ample room for kids to run about and all relaxed comfortably while enjoying the buffet dinner. Food was good, and the photo turnout actually looked as though we had private dining in a restaurant, haha!

We adults chatted while kids organised their own games. It was fun seeing the similar age groups enjoying themselves tremendously too. Jovin had a wonderful time with Justin too and we even teased both of them hehe...



However, I guess Uncle Andy couldn't really bear the screams and shouts within the enclosed room, so some adults moved on and brought the kids to the playground while the rest of us continued to mingle in the room as peace finally prevailed then!

It was a small but cosy gathering. It's a blessing that our friendship still stays strong after so many years. Hope that the friendship ties will last till our next generation through more gatherings down the years....