Dinner at Melben..

This gal is amazing..We had dinner late as Melben Seafood restaurant is forever bz & crowded..Dinner came at almost 7.45pm..

Before this she just quietly whispered she's hungry to the yi zhang, and they got a cake for her..
Then when dinner came, she would eat from her own bowl by herself quietly only to complained if some food are hot..

As for the koko, faint...He did not take nap (actually both did not take nap, but Kaylen just hv better stamina)...and finally fall asleep in car..and when he woke up again at restaurant he was throwing tantrums refused to eat by himself, use hand to point..if you didnt see his hand..he will be throwing more tanthrums..

Alone with both kids..record >24hr..& Bad luck counting!

I hardly have to take care of both alone, most time I had daddy with me..the longest before this was 8hr..when he were call back to office.

For the pass few wks I had been bringing Jared alone back to Sembawang after his violin lesson..It was such a breeze taking care of him, and we get to do quite a bit of messy stuff like cookie baking, muffin baking etc..But I did felt guilty towards Kaylen, cos weekday I'm already so bz with guarding Jared's daily works...then weekend I still don't have time for her..So this week, I decided to bring both home..

Which turned out to be big mistake..hehe.

She didn't cry when we bid goodbye to Waipo..though previously she kept saying she pa4 pa4 to go back sembawang..then when we got on the train, I tried to put both sit on 1 seat..then Jared had to bounced his butt and bounce Kaylen off the seat..and she cried!! hehe..So the lady beside Jared, decided to let me & kaylen take her seat instead..So we finally managed to get to Sembawang, and we went to NTUC for some shopping..they were alrite occasionally running around, but was manageable.

But I got greedy when shopping, bought quite a bit of stuff..and by that time Kaylen was tired, and she demanded to be carry...it was such a struggle to get home...

The next thing happened when we got home, was our fridge is spoilt!!!!.. I wanted to clear the stuff in fridge, but she was crying for my attention..Finally managed to settle her with baby einstein..

Then it was me, bz trying to see what should I do with the yogurt, fish, chicken and fruits that need fridge storage..Should we just go back to Whampoa? or tompang the stuff at JJ's house...
I decided to let both kids finish the yogurt..and think again..Heng we had a small fridge from buying furniture last time..so I opened it up for the 1st time after 8 yrs??? OMG..and thankfully its working, so I didnt have the finish 2 piece of fish in 1 day...hehe..

Managed to prepare 3 course dinner for both, double boil kampong chic soup, fry french beans, and steam fish..Of cos dinner was messy event..Kaylen spilled some rice on the floor..while I had to remain cool..Luckily they were very cooperative when my mop come out..both will clean up their toys..

and I always had a mop w pail ready to settle any unwanted mess immediately..hehe

Then at night, when trying to put them to sleep around 9pm..Jared complain kaylen very noisy..luckily jared slept very early ..then Kaylen cried a bit as she was too tired..finally also knock off at 10am..

Then it was time for me to catch up w daddy..and still manage to watch part of movie i downloaded.

Thought my bad luck would go away with the end of the day..arrgggh...Jared had to pee on my bed at 2am plus...Last wk he had stomach flu and he whack 3x on my bed, and i just changed the bedsheet..this wk had to change again!

The next day, Jared woke up very early..and he spilled his milk on floor...and i flared up...making him eat by the dining table..

When Kaylen woke up, her diaper leaked..cos too full..made her take breakfast w underwear...hehe..something very interesting, when i took out that underwear, she said.bu4 shi4 mei4mei4 de lah...shi4 koko de lah (doesnt belonged to her, its jareds)..

After that I still managed bring them down for a walk and collect mails...

when back, i prepared lunch..Lunch was chicken soup again!..roast potato fries, and steam fish..
They love the roasted potato fries...add some oil, salt+potato slices and convect at 230C.

Jared asked to watch our wedding CD..kaylen love it so much...she watch non stop from 1pm to 4pm...in between I wanted to make both take their noon nap..Kaylen was crying for watch wedding CD..jared complained she too noisy...then I was so angry with both..hehe..

Finally still let kaylen continue to watch as that quietened her down..
And at 4pm+ kaylen&jared pooed..and at this time i already gave up the idea of making them sleep..so I bath them and changed them for going out clothes..

They played hard after bath, running around the house...till my parents reached at 5pm+ to pick us for dinner..

And I was down with backache...hah..

I thk it will take more courage next round to bring both back on my own..haiz...

Kaylen with her hairdo..

Done by me of cos..heh

Ooops room messy..

The story about twinkle twinkle little star

This is the first song Jared being thought when he started playing violin on Oct 09.

He was first taught to memorise the notes then picicato..so instead of singing twinkle, he would everyday sing DDAABBA etc....But progress was way too slow. He could not play with string..till Prof Thanh gave up..and decided to teach him something more simple..like the 4 string basic.( short , short, long long etc, no more songs to learn) Prof Thanh even shake his head and said another kid at 3 yr old started later than Jared already progressed to next song, Happy birthday within 2mths of learning..and Jared still so slow...

That time,the only reason we continued the violin lesson was coz I already paid for 3 mth advance school fees ..else I would have stop immediately...

So he never get to play twinkle to Prof Thanh..and we hardly practise at hm, occasionally he will try to play it but it sounded really bad...

And 1 fine day..23Jun, 8 mths after he learnt violin..3 days after taking rest for his and my turn of stomach flu..today he picked up the violin again..and offered to play most of the songs he has learnt..and all of them are with minimal mistake including doremifa, baba blacksheep, what you doing, and little einstein..Amazing!

All these while he has been playing badly, he would pull the bow on 2 string and make the music very bad for our ears...heh.

Starting last wk, he could play much better while looking at score sheet..ie Play while looking without pausing and read, and think whats next score, and pull till fingerboard
He can read and pull straight, non stop, no thinking ......really well...That's so amazing too...I mean w/o daddy leh, its my effort!..hehe..

When daddy around, he pull babablacksheep..aiyo until I don't know what song, pull 1 stop 5s to think and read...

This is him playing twinkle..he has forgoten how to play GGFFEED (got to ask daddy over computer, cos I've absolutely no idea how to press the string,..But I lent him my sharp ears, and fingers to point on notes occasionally...heh)...with 1 mistake in between..Kaylen keep kacau, asking me to shoot her instead..heh.

I hope this good performance will continues...



p/s He did a very bad thing on last weekend's ensemble..he refused to play during lesson, so just rest position throughout..and I almost had to dig a hole to hide my head, cos he was standing right in front and while ppl play, he looked stupid..haiz..After that he did feel guilty and offer to play to me when we reached home..and I wonder when he will be able to play during ensemble.

Update on Jared 4yr 6 mth

Interesting Conversation
Me: Come, come and talk to daddy(refer to teleconference), see what toys daddy got for you?
Daddy:
aiya, daddy 不会买的啦,你有太多玩具了
(that tone sound exactly like an adult or a 15 yr teenager who don't get excited anymore with parents...) hah

Violin

This is part 2 ..more mistake heh! and slower too!

He playing little einstein..slower than other kids in ensemble, most likely wouldn't be able to catch up during lesson..but he did showed some improvement...after all he's the 2nd youngest in class..There's 1 more gal who's 4yr old..

Reading
Peter & Jane
completed 5A, going to start 6A soon
and I've just placed my order for 7a,7b, 8a,8b, 9a,9b

p/s when I just collected P&J level 5 & 6..I was amazed by how many words in a page..and wonders when ever Jared can reach these pages..and hey, this is just the best books for kids to build up their confidence. Then again when it come to other books, there maybe a lot of new words(since P&J reused most words)...but his phobia of reading is now totally overcome!

a typical page of 5a

Abacus

for sums less than 9, he can do 60sums in 5mins...max 200sums per day thats about 9worksheet

He just learnt the more than 10 sums yesterday..

Kaylen @ 21 mth

78cm, 10.2kg @ 21mth

Singing
OMG..she could sing
gua boon tien, gua boon tien
gam beh nah mai zuo $4%#
The ai4 taiwan drama series song, about 2lines..
You know we hardly watch it, and since its showing on weekends only..and a lot of time I can only watch 15mins, then the channel will auto change to channel5 for the more interesting english movie..yet she could sing this song..
Even though she can't really talk much as compared to jared at the same time..but her learning of songs is power..a few repetitions she could sing it already..
Sometimes she would go crazy by singing twinkle twinkle very loud when we shopping..and has got to shut her mouth! hehe..
actually jared also know gua boon tien song, but he usually very shy to sing hehe..

Talking
A lot more improved..she's talking most of the time

Iphone
*headache*
apparently she love my iphone more than korkor
She would rank sack my office bag for iphone everytime I got hm.
For Jared, he would't realise he need to use the phone till I mentioned or accidently take out. But Kaylen would aim for my bag each time I'm home..She just find it so interesting to press and press.

Motorskill




V. v good..climbing up and down all the time..
and latest stunt, she could ride Jared's BMX bicycle already!!
Though not able to make the pedal round and round, but she could move around with it already..at only 21mth!!!
Jared can start riding probaly after 2yr old, but we finally bought him in Aug08 2.5yr old after we got back from US

Reading or recognising cards
Still jia lat and don't recognise no. or alphabet or colours yet.
But can read partial xiao3 bi4 hu3 story, ren2 zi1 chu1 but she usually very soft when r

Trip to Kukup, Johor Part 1

It's my dad's nan2 de2 off day on weekend. So we decided to make a trip to JB.
I brought Jared back to Sembawang to stay overnight after his violin lesson..and the next day they came to pick us up at Sembawang.

Kukup is about 80+km from JB town...it was such a long ride under the big hot sun..
When arrived, we asked for a boat trip..and they brought us to the fishing farm...and that's the only fishing farm we visited...there was a guy there to show us the fish, jelly fish..he2 tun2...

I don't know what he2 tun2 name in english..Jared said is blow fish..and daddy agreed..heh..
After that we drop by at jiu mu's house..and my dad house in jb.


a lot of travelling..but not fulfiling to the soul...cos not much shopping..only bought same pineapple, banana, ikan bilis and keropok..

Oh yeah, disaster in the car...Kaylen vomitted all over my mum...and luckily she brought along my set of clothing..else she got nothing to wear..hehe..

Getting on to boat

Taken by Jared

The kelong

The jellyfish

Trip to Kukup Johor, Part 2

Thats the he2 tun2...jared asked for closer look but don't dare to touch it..


Close up of jellyfish

On the boat again

Taken by jared again

At dad's house playground...Kaylen was so daring to swing in that unprotected swing..Jared run far far already..he was scared..

And Happy 21mth to you gal..

All about me..the mummy's slimming journey

Heh, this post is all about me..hehe
This was me 13 Mar10, my dad's birthday 2 wks before I starts slimming..HUGE!

~8wks later...though have not reach my targeted weight cos we just had to many celebration leh..like Phuket 2kg gain, birthdays and the karus before dear left..faint..

Trying out the dresses..the last I wore this was when Jared 18mth we attended daddy's col German's ROM at chinese garden..then was like 3yrs ago!..

I told june i hope to look better when I attend HH's wedding..and here's me..quite happy with the result lah..But still a lot more to go..sianz..

Today 5June 10 at waraku 10 wks after sliming..not much result for the past 1 mth..Haiz



The next target is to give daddy surprise when he back in Sept..hehe.

Today is the day...

Dear daddy wake up around 3am to get ready to leave..

as for me I was dreaming.and the dream was so clearly..I brought Kaylen to US, but without visa *faint*..causing us run up and down to convince ppl to let her get the visa..heh.

and then I was already sian about everyday half to take bus to work..and to make things worst just before I left house, it started to rain sooo heavily...But instead of sad, i feel funny lah..
and another good news for the day..Finally book my first PV job with pei chun..1.30 to 6pm 6July..aiyo only 4.5hr ..We need to clock 60hrs lor.

My aim is to clock 30hr before daddy take over in sept. Then I can safely find a job elsewhere..also hopefully I wont use up so much leave so that we can still plan for a NY and SLC trip in Sept.

1 more day..

Tomorrow is the last day I could enjoy having chauffeur to work everyday..

Waking up only at 7am and bz with my own stuff and get ready to bring Jared for his school bus at 7.20am

But after that, for everyday in the next 3mths I need to wake up at 6.15am for 966 at 6.45am..haiz

Hopefully I can lose more weight since need to walk 10mins to the bus stop every morning..hehe.

Really sianz

I didn't know how the last time I managed to survive through 8mth (with 2 mth holiday in US though) life like that..and carrying a big tummy..and the Mas Selamat has made my life even more difficult. Traffic jam all the way, causing comp bus cannot reach on time..and I need to walk from office to Marsiling MRT..etc etc

Hopefully time will pass faster this time round..

The worst thing is the kids have not even clear all the clothes from the purchase 2 yrs ago..and now daddy got to shop more..faint

I'm the only 1 who has clear all the clothes from US..except 1aerospotale yellow t shirt, which is now still too small..hehe..

Can't believe daddy bought the few clothes for me, including tommy brown t shirt, abercombie blue t shirt, and many more aerospotale t shirt..and I only managed to lose some weight to fit into them since last mth..The clothes was bought 2yrs ago!!!!..hehe..

Now sianz cos still no plan to visit US yet..if there's a date set, I think I'll pretty look forward..but not now..heh

Honeycomb cake

[considered a success, since there's tunnel ..which I got so surprise!]

Recipe from Jo Deli&Bakery

INGREDIENTS:
Makes one 8" round cake


210g sugar
240g water
80g butter
6 eggs
160g condensed milk (no condensed milk at hm, replaced with evaporated milk)
180g all-purpose flour
2½ tsp baking soda

METHOD:
Caramelize sugar over low heat in a saucepan until it is golden brown. Stir at all times.
Add water to the caramel. Be careful as the hot caramel will splash when water is added. Continue to heat until syrup is homogeneous. Remove from heat.
Melt butter in hot syrup. Let syrup cool down completely.
Preheat oven at 180 degC. In a mixing bowl, lightly beat eggs with a hand whisk. Add condensed milk and mix well.
Sift flour and baking soda into another mixing bowl. Pour (4) into flour and mix well.
Add cooled syrup into batter. Pour batter into a greased 8" x 3"(H) round cake pan. Leave batter aside for 5 minutes to enable baking soda to react prior to baking.
Bake cake with bottom heat only for 1 hour or until skewer inserted to centre of cake comes out clean.
Leave cake in pan for 5-10 minutes before turning it onto a wire rack. Let cool before cutting.


NOTES:
For members or visitors who have seen and tried the previous version of honeycomb cake, you, including myself, might encounter problem of not getting 'tunnels', although there seemed to be no problem getting larges holes in the cake. So here it is, a foolproof honeycomb cake recipe. This recipe has lesser water, higher baking soda and higher egg contents compared to the previous version.
This cake is called 'Bolu Sarang Semut' in Indonesia while it is called Honeycomb Cake in Malaysia. The correct texture of this cake should be chewy or bouncy, and resemble tunnels extend from the base to about 2/3 the height of the cake (see close shot above).
Cake batter should be runny.
Please adjust baking time according to the characteristic of your oven.

Overall cake turned out not bad, even though I got scared by the lumpy texture after I mix everything..The smart me just let the mixture go thru the sieve again..heh..But next time must try with condensed milk, cos cake turned out not as sweet..

Interesting Conversation with the kids

Kaylen's 1st complain @ 20mth 24day

Daddy & me were watching tv in living room.
She was with jared in bedroom playing with toys.
Suddenly we heard her crying aloud..but since we were so used to them playing and ended w some fighting & crying..we took no bother..hehe..
Then suddenly Kaylen walked out of room..telling us this

Kaylen: koko dui1 wo3 (instead of tui1 she sounded more like dui1, koko push me)


Me at kitchen, washing dishes
Me: Jared, daddy is going to america, are you sad?
Jared: yeh, I'm so happy!
Me: Why?
Jared: Then I can play no need to do work
when I told this to daddy, daddy asked him, yeah, so that you dun need to play violin, and can write anyhow, because mummy will say it's ok right?
hah.

That's what happening all the time.

daddy wanted him to write real good handwriting with all the small letter align to capital letter etc..but I'm fine if the words does resembles, and as long as I can read.
And the next few mths is gonna be really challenging on violin practice..cos I cant even hold the bow correctly, and cannot even play a thing..haiz. But the rest of the home practise, like writing, doing worksheets and reading..no problem for me.

Universal Studio Singapore, 28 May Vesak Day

Jared 's reading update

@4 yr 6mth

-> Completed 3b peter and jane
-> Read 1st 2 page of 6a
Words that he cant read: her (he read as here, afternoon, Pam)

Jared driving

Backdated post for 18 May

We saw this at united sq, and jared keep asking for it..so since daddy leaving for US soon..we decided to let him play, cos very costly $7 for 10mins..

At first daddy wanted to be the driver..but I ask him why not trust of our son..so he said ok...

Then we also let Kaylen on it...the car before that the younger sis fight with the older bro to handle the steering wheel..in the end she need to come down, and cried big time..We were worried how Kaylen will react in it too.

And it turned out Jared is not a bad driver, and Kaylen had the potential to be our miss congenality and bye bye to everyone smiling through out!..hehe..Wonderful experience..

Since then we hardly see the car rental at united sq anymore...

Kite day

The last weekend be4 daddy leave for his US trip..we had arranged lotsa of activities for weekend..1 of them is kite flying..we always noticed an area at Sengkang got so many ppl fly kites..then 1 fine day while going for dinner from Sembawang during 1 weekend..We noticed there is an area with so many ppl flying kites too! It was such a beautiful scene.

So we finally go..but the waraku kite cant be fixed cos 1 part gone..so we bought another kite on the spot...but finally did not mange to fly..wind wasnt strong that day..and the string keep got entangled up...

These pics were enhanced with photoshop for iphone..like the effects a lot and also the easiness of using the application.

This is Jared @ 4yr 6mth after learning violin for 7 mth...seriously learning probaly 4mth..the 1st 3mth he was running around in the small classroom, and no practise at all at home.
Still some mistake ..and I had to bargain an iphone session for the recording of this tune..heh. He had a great time driving racing car on iphone after that..
and we don't know what's the song name..
Still thumbs up for Prof Thanh & daddy for the patience...next 3mth will be difficult period for me..I got to coach him myself..*faint*
p/s if I had a chance, I probaly won't send him for music course at such young age..and probaly should have let him do piano instead.But nowadays when I asked, hey, since you don't like violin, why don't we stop the class? His reply, mummy, don't talk nonsense ok.

Kaylen is 20mth old!

Taken with iphone..and beautify with facefinish..looks so much like dslr quality!


Talking
She is talking so much more.
Can answer a normal conversation but all in mandarin.
Hardly heard her speaking in bb language anymore.

Singing
Singing many more songs
latest is little einstein cos koko like to sing it. heh

Notti gal
Bite koko
Hit koko or anyone when angry
Doodle on koko book..
(my heart aches when i found her doodle on P&J 3A book, jared has never doodle on any books before since young)
Simple love to tear away library books or koko story books...

Bad memory
Can remember any color yet.anything you asked her is Bai2 se4 (white color)..hehe.


Conversation
Me: I love you
Kaylen: Happy to you


Me:ni3 jiao4 shen2 mo4 ming2? (what's your name?)
Kaylen: Xiang2 yi4
*me shake shake my head*
Kaylen: Xiang2 ying3

We also heard her counting
twenty one, twenty two, twenty three....and so on..

That's cos koko like to count nos. like this too.