Lilac Petals

Luke's Oyster Bar and Chop House

2012-02-16T10:00:00.000+08:00

D and I love celebrating anniversaries.

It is a great excuse for us to head out and try new bistros and restaurantss. Eating, being one of our biggest of loves. =p

So to avoid the googily eyed peeps with big bunches of flowers, we opted for dinner on the eve of Valentine's.

He left it up to me, as usual. And so I booked us a table at Luke's Oyster Bar and Chop House.

Located at the corner of Gemmill Street, it has been the talk of the town amongst the foodies blogs. So I thought we HAVE to try it out. The husband, being the lovely person he is, obliged.

And what a brilliant choice it was.

We loved everything that was served. The term 'modern american' is used to define the food served here. I wasn't sure what to expect but my palate was just going wow every time a plate was placed in front of me.

For starters, we opted for half a dozen of oysters. We picked three kinds out of six offered, I think. And they came sitting pretty on a bed of ice with a toothpick indicating the breed that we chose. They were fresh and very luscious. D and I slurped those babies up prety quickly.

Along with that was the pork belly and watermelon sticks. OMG! D lurved it so much, he ate the 2 outta the 3 and didnt even asked if I wanted the last stick before gulping it down. =) The pork belly was grilled with a teriyaki - styled dressing with sesame seeds and its juxtaposition with the light taste of watermelon makes it so mouthwatering.

For our mains, we ordered the black pepper coated tenderloin and crab cakes. The steak was grilled to perfection with a charred exterior and stilll pink in the middle, retaining the medium rare goodness. It was so good, I finished it before touching my crab cakes

The crab cakes had stunning reviews online. It was chockful of crab meat and its accompanying mustard sauce was just so creamy and tarty, complementing the mouthfuls of lightness of the crab meat.

For sides, we had the lobster mac and cheese and the rosti.

We adore Mac and cheese. And this came with half a lobster on top with a sprinking of cracked crackers. It was soooo yummy. D loved the rosti which had cream cheese in the middle. It was just thoughtful little surprises that D really liked.

We each got a dessert to close the night off. He opted for the chocolate brownie, which was just chocked full of chocolate goodness. It even had pops of marshmellows that just melts in your mouth. My favourite part was the peanut butter ice cream which was just drool worthy. It was very addictive.

I chose the key lime pie. A deconstructed pie with the key lime filling at the bottom and digestive biscuit crumbs in the middle, topped with sweet cream. It was tardy and sweet at the same time. Superbly yummy.

The husband was very happy with the meal. We sat and talked, people watched and just lapped up the good food. The service was attentive and brisk. We liked that. It's what separate a good restaurant from the rest of the pack

Great times. I think we will be back again. This time round, with our bunch of friends.

Luke's Oyster Bar and Chop House
20 Gemmill Lane
Singapore
Tel: +65 6221 4468

Happy Valentine's

2012-02-15T22:57:00.002+08:00

It is our tenth Valentine's Day.

Can you imagine?

Thankfully, through busy work and kids rearing, our love story continues in dates and laughter. He still whispers silly random stuff into my ears and make me burst out in silly giggles.

As time goes by, I am grateful for the little things in life that I am blessed with.

Whilst there were no big bunches of flowers or cards filled with heartfilled words. He took the time to get off early from work so that we can go for a dinner date on the eve of VDay.

It is the little actions that makes my heart flutter.

And I got a lil bling too! =) He does spoil me so.

Happy Valentine's, everyone!!

Bordeaux - A Back Post

2012-02-12T22:51:00.001+08:00

D and I are planning our annual getaway and this time round I think we are headed towards the land of bufala and ancient ruins.

So I was looking back our trip to Spain last year and realised that I had stopped at the vineyards in Bordeaux.

It was a day trip to the south of France and we lapped up the gorgeous scenery and wines of the St Emilion region.

Whilst there, we visited the old monastry town and did the vineyards tour. It was *hick* a fantastic day. Lovely weather. Delicious wines. French cuisine We had quite a bit of fun that day.

Now... take me back there right now!!

St Emilion Town

Wine Tour @ Chateau Soutard

Happy husband with his loot

Hanging out at the old monastry town

Zucchini Pancakes

2012-02-12T09:00:00.000+08:00

These zucchini pancakes are a gem. They are very similar to the corn fritters but it's centered around zucchini. It's chocked full of veges and the kids lapped them up so I guess it's a win win situation for everyone. =)

Here's the recipe for the ladies asking for them.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

3 Zucchini, medium sized
1 Potato, peeled
Salt
2 large eggs (The original recipe asked for 1 egg, but it was not enough to coat the mixture)
1 tablespoon of chopped parsley
1 teaspoon of grated lemon zest
Freshly ground pepper
Breadcrumbs

Steps

Grate the zucchini and potato using the biggest holes in your grater. Salt generously. Leave it in the colander to drain for at least 30 minutes. (I just squeezed the grated zucchinis with my hands in batches.) The pancakes hold together better if you drain out as much moisture as possble.
In a bowl, beat the egg, parsley, and lemon zest. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
Combine the zucchini and potato mixture with the egg mixture. Stir well.
Add breadcrumbs to make the texture firmer.
Heat up a frying pan. Add a tablespoon of oil and then put in the butter. (It tastes better cooked in butter.)
Drop tablespoons of batter into the pan. Flatten them out as much as possible so that they will be crispier.
Serve as they come out. And I serve them with mayonaise mixed with lemon juice. =)

All Vegged Out

2012-02-11T19:25:00.002+08:00

One of my favourite things to do is to peruse cookbooks in my free time.

I was at the library the other day and picked up the Food52 Cook Book. It consists of recipes from a whole horde of food bloggers and what a treat it was to flip through the pages of the book.

I'd picked out a few recipes and gave them a shot last night during dinner. And it turned out quite delicious. I loved two out of the three recipes and my kids slurped up dinner so I guess it must be yummy.

My favourite was the minestrone soup. The soup was just so full of flavours and it has all the vegetables in there that the kids actually ate. The kids and the husband loved the zucchini pancakes. It was gobbled up in minutes.

Here's what we had on the table last night! Recipes to follow.

Zucchini Pancakes

Minestrone with Parmasean and Pesto

Daddy's Carbonara

Friends @ FFT

2012-02-07T12:00:00.000+08:00

Met up with James before he went back to MEL at Food for Thought. And had a good catchup with him, a few friends and cuddled the cutest baby ever, Lil C. He's such a smiley lil chubs. CUTE!!!

Our kids abandoned us for a playdate so we had to trot over to meet the peeps ourselves. Ha! Never thought this day would come. Lil K even went, 'Bye Mummy.'

I guess we have little teenagers in the house already. =)

A Break

2012-02-06T23:11:00.002+08:00

What I was not looking forward to when K started Primary 1 was the fact that I couldn't plan holidays during the off peak season. (which I really enjoy.)

So, this time round, I got my act together and booked tickets early enough for the impending school holidays.

We decided that ten weeks of early mornings warranted a beach holiday so I've booked us all on a flight out to our favourite island, Bali. Kayden was so excited that he was punching his fist in the air with joy when I told him the tickets were booked.

Can't wait to see the beach. Sip some martinis. And just chill at the villa. Bliss.

Six Weeks. Counting down.

Beach at Ku De Ta

The corner shop

When K was just a lil bub

CNY Day 2 - Kampung Days

2012-02-06T00:11:00.002+08:00

Day two sees us taking a road trip up to a kampung 30 minutes near Melaka Town.

The husband's paternal side of the family lives there and we visit twice or thrice a year. CNY is a good time for the kids to play with fire crackers and the husband's really keen for them to experience that kind of celebration in their childhood.

The traffic was just horrid both directions but thankfully we made it out in one piece, albeit late for bed time.

One of the highlights for us is always the big old house. It's something you can't really find in SG anymore so it's a visual treat for both the kids and us whenever we visit. The tiles. The traditional kitchen with the wooden cabinets. You can't get these anymore these days.

CNY Day 1

2012-01-31T00:13:00.001+08:00

Can you tell we love CNY around here. =)

We had plenty of visitations to do on day 1. Thankfully, it was only my side as the husband's maternal side of the family was away and the paternal side was in Malaysia.

First up in the morning, we got the kids dressed and they presented oranges to us as we bless them with well wishes for the coming year. It seemed like such a silly tradition but we thought it would be nice for the kids to go through the motions to experience CNY the olden ways.

Kayden starts first.

Mei Mei did last. (No pics of Jake cos he was crying)

I spent the eve dolling up the house with lots of flowers. Thank goodness for the husband who didn't mind a visit to the busy nursery. We hauled back heaps of flowers for the apartment.

Visiting usually starts at my uncle's place. (Now that grandma is not around.) It's the once a year thing where we meet with my cousins and see how fast the nieces and nephews have grown. It's a good catch up. And we watch bad TV every single year.

Then due to a miscomm, we had to take a train to my auntie's place whilst D went to send his mother to the airport. I was not pleased but the kids had plenty of fun training it to our destination.

The cousins and we caught up over lunch. It's always a feast over at the Tan side. There's food to last the entire 15 days of new year. It was delicious as always and we managed to take a complete family pic!!

All of us.

That was that for Day 1. It's off to the Kampung the next day.

Has it been that long?

2012-01-29T11:38:00.001+08:00

Last night, in the midst of the sheer madness that is called CNY visitations, I managed to sneak out for a gathering with my ex secondary schoolmates.

Stepping into the restaurant, and seeing all the familiar faces, it's amazing how none of those peeps have changed much.

It was a short catchup where we had quick updates on what happened in the last 15 years since we left school.

Some of us are married. Some are single. Some are working for govt agencies. Some have started their own businesses. Some are teaching! Oh my!!

We enquired on some missing peeps who just disappeared into thin air after all these years and laughed over stories of the past and how my old teacher is now a counsellor in my son's school.

Life has come full circle.

And I am thankful to have met all these peeps in my schooling days.

团圆饭

2012-01-27T08:48:00.001+08:00

The lunar new year is always a hoot in my household.

Since I was young, celebrating CNY has always been a fun and massive event. My aunts would always decorate the big old house with pots of flowers and festive decor. Then everyone would get dressed up in their new year finery for the first day or 初一, as we call it.

It has somehow tamed a lil since that time but yet I still like to keep the traditions alive.

First up, was the reunion dinner at my parents. Dad cooked up a storm. We had steamboat, prawns, leeks and a giant pot of cheng tng boiled by mum. It's the fun of stirring the yusheng and sitting around the table just talking about nothing.

We stuffed our faces silly with food before the kids went out to play with sparklers.

Then it was time to go home to pack hong baos for the following day!!

The New Schedule

2012-01-17T22:34:00.000+08:00

So 2012 has been quite a year of changes for me and for us.

With the kids divided into two separate schools and enrichment classes rescheduled, I have been trying to get used to the new routine.

Here's our new schedule for the this year.

0615 - 0630 - Alarm clock rings. I snooze it for a while before getting up at 630am.

0630 - Kayden wakes up and shower whilst I put together breakfast for him.

0640 - He is changed and sits down to eat. Having lil regard for time, it does take some cajoling for him to finish his food quickly. D & I wash up.

0650 - He puts his food away and have his vitamins. Then he preps for school. It's supplement time for us too.

0655-0705 - We try to leave home at this point. It's the optimal time to beat the traffic in school.

0710 - 0720 - K reaches school and we walk him to the gate.

0720 - 0900 - D and I will either go out for brekkie or we will head home to zzzz. Sometimes he will go to the gym after whilst I catch up on some sleep. Then he leaves for work.

0900-0915 - I leave for the primary school as I am volunteering for canteen duties.

0930 - 1030 - I'm at the school catching up with mummy friends whilst helping the Pri 1 kids with their recess time.

1030 - I leave for home. My helper gets the kids ready for kinder. And we play a lil when I get home.

1120 - My second school run. It's time to send the kids to kinder.

1140 - Reach school and drop kids off. K is used to the drop off procedure now. We walk to her class. I put her things and then I tell her that she is a brave lil gal and Mummy will pick her up after. Then I'll hand her over to her chinese teacher whom she likes. Plus, it helps that Jake is in the same school. She doesn't cry when I leave these days.

1150 - Me time. I would usually head to town to shop or walk around. Or run my errands.

1300 - I would leave for K's school to pick him up.

1330 - He is released and we dashed to the car to avoid the carpark jam. It is massively slow when you
get caught in it.

1355 - We will either have lunch or I will drop K home and then proceed to fetch the other two kids.

1435 -1510 - School pick up round ii.

1520 - The two younger kids get home and have lunch. Kate would normally take a nap till about 5ish.

1600 - K has classes on some days so I'll drop him off for his class and wait for him. It's play time for the other two kiddos.

1800 - We get home. I prep dinner. Jake would do a bit of work at this point. Sometimes I catch a quick nap cause I am quite exhausted by this time.

1930 - Dinner time! (When my mum babysits, she does dinner and I head out to gym or pole). Then kids go and shower.

2000 - D gets home. Have dinner. We catch up on each other's day. He spends time with the kids. Sometimes he does home work with them if I didn't follow through earlier on in the day.

2115 - 2130 - Kids wash up and go to bed. D would tuck the boys in and I would tuck the lil one in. We read bedtime stories separately.

2200 - D comes out of the boys room. We catch up. Watch some TV or go online.

2230 - Bed time. Simply because it's a 630 wake up call again the following day.

Closing off the Year as 5

2012-01-15T14:00:00.000+08:00

The lovely KC from Tinydot Photography took some pictures for us at the end of last year.

It was our first shoot with lil K. Prior to this we had two shoots with the boys. It is a great way commemorate the different stages in our lives.

(Also, it was because K kept dissing the photoshoot that we did with her brothers in Melbourne. She would shut the DVD player off after watching it and walk away! Ha!!)

After getting all the images from him, I played around with the different layouts and got a few collages that I love.

I was very pleased with the results.

ELEVEN

2012-01-15T09:36:00.001+08:00

The gorgeous Z from Little Projects tagged me in on a meme that is too cute to miss.

If you haven't visited her blog, what are you waiting for? Zhing lives in Tokyo now with her gorgeous hubby, D, and the most adorable lil pup called Musashi. She's probably the most creative friend I've ever known. I'm always envious of the crafts she's pulled off. It makes me wish I had more of a creative bone in me... =)

So here goes!

:: the tagged rules are as follows: 1. post these rules. 2. you must post 11 random things yourself. 3. answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post. 4. create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer. 5. go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them. 6. no stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this.

I'm a creature of habit. I can eat the same thing and the same routine over and over until I get really sick of it. =)
The only thing I'm allergic to in this life is crab. It really sucks cause there's goes all the chilli and pepper crabs that every one indulges in but I'm always on the sidelines. =(
I've always thought I would be that crazy career woman but, alas, life had other plans and in a spectacular way too.
D and I celebrate all our anniversaries every year. Dating and Wedding. It's a good excuse for us to try out new restaurants.
My parenting belief is husband before kids. We love each other first so that we can pass that on to the kids. So date nights are a must for us. We go out at least once a week.
I love shopping on my own these days. It's my therapy. And now that I have the luxury to shop during off peak times. Man! It turns me off the saturday crowds
I secretly think my husband is the hardest working person that I've ever known. Seriously! It took me a long time to get used to that.
I would love to take photography a lil bit more seriously this year. Maybe a class or two?
Golf is another thing I wanna pick up.
I used to like being alone but now my girlfriends are everything to me!!
Three kids is it for me. I know cos I don't feel that lingering awww feeling after I carry a newborn these days. =)

Tea or Coffee?

Coffee. It is the one thing I crave when I wake up in the morning. A good cuppa latte gets my day going.

I collect...

source

I'm such a girl I love my shoes and my bags, although lately the latter is taking precedence over the former. Now that my babies are grown and we no longer need a diaper bag, I'm free to take any bag I'd like out. =)

Favorite City

I have a few but probably Paris. It was our first European destination. There is a sense of je ne sais quoi in the air. The architecture that hides centuries of history in them. The shopping! Gosh I need a trip back this year.

Spring or Fall

Source

At this point, spring cos the colors are so pretty and I love playing dressup with the sundresses.

Bloom of Choice

Source

Peonies have my heart. They make me very happy whenever I see them.

Style Icon

Source

Urhmm... It's probably Victoria Beckham. I cannot imagine how much time she spends looking that immaculate. Especially with four kids and a business to run! Won't it be fun to spend a day in her closet? Plus, her eye candy of a husband doesn't hurt either.

Perfume

Source

L'eau D'issey. It is my signature scent. I hoard a whole lot of other perfumes but this is the one I go to every time.

Linen

Egyptian cotton please!! The higher the threadcount the better.

I'm lusting after...

Source

A trip to Italy this year... with a road trip to the picturesque Amalfi Coast. That would be my dream in 2012.

Most Prized Possession

It has gotta be these three lil tykes that transcend through any material thing that I can ever have. (even though it's the hardest job on earth) And the husband that just walks along with my through the journey called life.

Boy Crush

Source

Can I have two? Ryan Reynold's with his serious boyish charn & hawt hawt bod (ooh the Proposal) and Ryan Gosling... Hello Mr Drive and Crazy Sexy Love!

On Weekend...

Weekends are always about the kids and their activities, coffee with friends, date nights, dinner meet ups and of course, farmers market. =)

Yuletide Joy 2011

2012-01-15T00:09:00.000+08:00

Well I supposed I should write about Christmas before January is over.

It was one filled with family and friends. And, of course, a whole lot of presents for my kiddos. (Yep... none for me and D under that tree.)

We spent the eve with both sides of the extended family and come Christmas morning... it was a mad flurry of wrapping paper all over the apartment. These kids are very blessed.

We didn't forget the less fortunate this year and bought some electrical appliances and groceries for the Boys Brigade Charity run. It always reminds us to count our blessings for all that we have and in that we hope the kids would learn to give in all situations as they grow.

Under the Jones Christmas tree.

We threw a small Christmas party for our family and close friends this year. The apartment was filled with lots of food and people. It was tough to even find a place to sit that we had to shush the lil kids to the boys room to play.

Lil K truly enjoyed herself this Christmas. She's made a new friend during our Christmas party at home and thankfully was feeling well enough to play, despite her bout of stomach flu.

And just like that it is now January with Christmas being just a lil memory till the next one. =)

Bircher

2012-01-08T09:15:00.001+08:00

One of my favorite breakfasts is a good Bircher muesli.

Left to soak overnight with granny smith apples and juice (sometimes yoghurt), it is a mushy concoction of healthy goodness.

It is pretty common to find it on the menu in Melbourne but hardly so in SG.

The only place I know that serves a really generous and yummy version of it is the Plain.

Mmm... D and I often have to share one. :))

What's your favourite breakfast??

The end of the week

2012-01-07T17:11:00.002+08:00

Wake Up Sleepy head!!

OMG I have never been more thankful that it is Saturday.

We got up at 8 this morning and, already, it feels like it's such a treat.

The most brutal part of the new routine is waking up at 630am daily. We wash up, prep brekkie, wake the boy up, he gets ready and have some food before we leave the house at seven. For this week, both D and I sent the boy to school everyday.

Thankfully, we are still relatively 'young' to get used to the new wake up call. Still, an arvo nap is required to charge our batteries.

And, of course, the much needed coffee after dropping him off. (Especially when the husband had two late nights in a roll.)

I hope it gets easier as the year goes by. Here's hoping!

Kate starts School.

2012-01-07T16:58:00.001+08:00

We're going to the school school school...

So on the first day of school, after we sent Kayden off to his new school, it was round 2 with lil miss K.

At twenty six months, my heart ached to send her off to school. However, I knew that she would be ok in the hands of the teachers that I've known so well for the last few years. Plus, she's a bright cheeky kid so I knew she would adapt.

Dressed in her new uniform and her adorable owl-motifed bag, we headed off to school.

Day 1
The husband, my sister and I were there on the first day. The lil one was all enthusiastic about exploring her classroom. She was quite restless and didn't wanna sit down for story time or singing songs. It was a big adjustment to her system as she's used to taking a nap at this hour.

Can I get some service around here, please?

Thankfully, she was happy mingling with the other kids and even sat down to eat her lunch. She must be famished cause she had 2.5 servings. Haha!

Overall, it was a good day. She loved having her Yiyi around to lounge around with and to be at her every whim and want.

Day 2
We were told that only one parent could accompany the kid.

It was a good start of the the day. After showing her where to place her belongings, the chinese teacher scooped her up and ushered her to the morning assembly area. And she d i d n o t cry. Amazing!

So I stepped back after observing this and left her in the care of her teachers. She did look around for me when she's moving from place to place but didn't cry when she didn't catch a sight of me. (Although at one point, she was going to the toilets and saw me, she wanted to dash towards me but got distracted by her teacher.)

It was smiles and happy jiggles when I picked her up. So, overall, a great day for the lil one.

Day 3
We askedd her in the morning if she wanted to go to school. And she said No. I guess she knew that this was going to be a permanent arrangement and wasn't too happy about it.

Nonetheless, she was happy for my helper to dress her up and get her ready for school.

Once we got to school, she made a beeline for the indoor playground. I just let her be whilst I put away her belongings. After a lil while, I came to get her and brought her over to her teacher.

This time round, she wailed. And was clinging onto me for dear life.

Sigh.

I passed her over to her teacher quickly. I knew that if I lingered, I would've sent her a mixed message that Mummy would be around for the school period. So I went to hide behind a cupboard whilst seeing how long it took for her to settle down in the arms of her teacher.

Two minutes later, she stopped and was ok to be sitting on her own.

I didn't stay on that day. When she was picked up, she was happy as a lark so I guess it's really all about the point of separation.

Day 4
It was Jake's turn to start school. Which was great comfort to the lil fella.

She was a lil reluctant to go to school this morning. And she cried again when I passed her over but stopped after two minutes again.

When I picked her up, Jake was holding onto her bag whilst she was jumping all around. And that was the end of the first week of school.

A Week of Firsts.

2012-01-06T09:08:00.001+08:00

We are Day 4 in the first school week of the year.

It has been sheer madness trying to get three people out of the door before 7 every morning. (I'll tell you more about our 630 wake up calls later but there is little joy in waking up before daybreak. =().

So it has been pretty epic because we have not one but TWO kiddos stating new schools this week. It has been such an emotional roller coaster and week of adaptability for all of us.

And here's how it goes.

Kayden - Day 1.

It was easy rousing him up for his first day in his big boy school. The excitement has been building up for a while and he was keen to get his engines going. So after jumping up immediately to shower, he scoffed down his brekkie and put on his shoes to leave.

When we got to the school, we were met with a ton of parents with their SLRs and digicams capturing every moment of their kids' first day in school. So after a quick kiss, he was off to join his classmates.

Parents get to hang around the school for three days and then the boys are on their own.

However, as I volunteered as a parent shepherd for canteen duties, I get to be around for the first month. Poor kiddo thought I was kidding when I told him so.

His food loot for Day 1

So what did he get for his recess break? A burger, a cuppa milo and one ice cream. Not bad for three bucks, huh?

We left right after and I got D to do the school pick up this week. (which he was late for the first day cause the kids were released half an hour earlier but we didn't know.)

Day 2
There was a drag in the waking up process. Poor thing couldn't get up. But after a shower, he was feeling much better. We dropped him off and didn't linger around this time round. Other than the recess duty, he was faring quite ok on his own.

Meal choice of the day - A hot dog and a drink.

Day 3
It was CCA day. So parents were invited to see what the school had to offer. They are pretty big on CCAs and strongly encourage even their Pri Ones to try and participate in at least one.

The boy asked if we could drop him off but with the ton of books in his bag, we said that we would walk him in instead. It was H E A V Y.

D and I scurried off for some much needed caffeine fix before returning to school. It was a flurry of activity there. The boys had so many options to explore in their CCAs. We walked around and had a chat with a few teachers about their respective sports before I left for canteen duty.

So far, we are liking the school. The boys look happy and are pretty polite. There are plenty of sports for them to be engaged in and we are glad that we chose it.

The boy was a little late in coming to the canteen and after buying a drink, he said he had no more $? Only when I told him he had two more $$ and he could go buy a plate of spaghetti, that he realised his blurness.

He later said that he likes a couple of CCAs and would like to join them so I've signed him up for a few and see which one he would get into. (Cause they normally only get into one)

Next up, lil Miss K.

Twenty Eleven

2012-01-02T01:32:00.000+08:00

Isn't it a little crazy that year by year, time seems to just go a tad quicker as we get older.

2011 has been a great year for me.

There was nothing extraordinary about it. In fact, most parts of it are just happy peaceful times.

I turned 30 this year. It was incredible. We celebrated it onboard a yacht with my family and friends. The husband, who spoils me silly still, took me to Spain for a birthday treat. It was amazing. We had the best time eating and drinking our way through the country. Spending plenty of time catching up on us time. One of the best moments of 2011.

It is also the third year that we have been back in the motherland. And probably the first that I have truly settled back in. It is finally home and I've made my peace with the decision to be based back here. (which I'm sure my poor suffering husband is really thankful for. I've stopped chewing his ears off about the move.)

My entire universe revolves around my kids. It's also the first time in their lives that we placed a lot of emphasis of their education. I'd made sure that I got the oldest kid prepped up for the academic expectations of primary school.

In fact, it was during this year where we experienced the stress and nervousness of Primary one registration. Armed with a whole load of research and advice from friends, we very fortunately got our boy into the school of our choice.

My kids have also grown so much this year. I guess the boys are definitely not babies anymore. They are independent, funny and at times pretty rebellious. With the husband being really busy in his career, I've been left to hold the fort for many hours this year. Which means the schooling, chauffeuring, violing practising, feeding are pretty much in my portfolio. Thankfully, I have help from my family and the husband tries his hardest to spend time with the boys.

The baby of the family has brought such joy to us this year. She dances to Hi 5. Sings Hokkien Christian songs. Loves reading her bed time stories. Talks in full sentences now. And just giving us a run for our money in general. We love her so!

There were quite a few weddings that we attended this year. All of our closest friends got hitched! The latest being two of our bestest friends who had such a beautiful wedding.

Now that the kids are older, the husband and I have recovered a fair bit of our couple time. We go for weekly date nights when my parents babysit. It was our ninth year of being together and still we laugh and hold hands when it's just us two. He, who has been rather busy this year, still listens to my rants and tries to sneak in as many movies with me as possible. I adore him so.

I've also decided that in 2011, I was going to focus on myself a little. I went to gym once or twice a week. Did pilates once a week. And had pole classes twice a week. All these exercises made me such a happy lady with all the endorphins generated. It was very gratifying to just breathe and do something for myself without worrying about three little people's needs. So I plan to continue that in 2012.

I also got to develop a few new friendships from different areas in my life. And I'm so happy that I have a different galfriend to call or whatsapp for my different needs. In my earlier life, I'd always thought that I would be ok on my own. But now, my gals are everything to me.

I am very blessed, indeed.

2011 was fantastic.

This new year would be special. All of our babies would be in school. It would be a beautiful new chapter. And there is much to look forward to.

Happy New Year!!

My Incredible 2011 in Pictures

2012-01-01T23:24:00.000+08:00

Flab to Fab

2011-12-30T12:16:00.000+08:00

Before and After

I started pole classes nine months after Kate was born.

At that time, I was rather interested in adding variety to my workout routine. The classes looked fun and challenging so I went for a trial class. After that, the rest, they say, is history.

I found that my upper body got toner as the weeks went by. I knew my arms were stronger as I could do the more complicated tricks. By and by, the waistline started going slimmer. It was a a great way to lose weight... even though it was hardly the intention in the first place.

It has been over a year since then and recently the studio requested for some before and after shots for a project. I rummaged through my picture folders and found an old picture of when I first started.

It was quite an eye opener how much fuller I was back then. Something that I didn't even notice until yesterday.

I am definitely happier at how I look now. I'm definitely not the skinniest gal out there but hey! after three kids... this is a good place to be at. Plus, its helps that it was quite a fun journey getting here. =)

Kate's Kinder Orientation

2011-12-30T00:24:00.001+08:00

Kate has her kinder orientation today.

I can't believe that it's finally here because all this while, she's always been my little sidekick in sending her brothers to school. But now, the time has come for my little gal to leave my side and be a big girl now.

Because the boys have been in the school for the last three years, the teachers were all asking which class the little Miss would be in.

Needless to say, Lil K is very familiar with the school surroundings so we didn't have to worry about her being scared.

In fact, she knows where all the playgrounds are and made a beeline for them.

It was mainly administrative today. However, it was a good opportunity for the kids to get to know the classrooms they would be in, as well as, the teachers that would be looking after them.

Kate was just busy sieving through the toys in the classroom. Then she went on to doodle on the whiteboard. The assertive gal was so territorial about her whiteboard that she went 'No' to anyone who came close.

Drawing an 'apple' according to her.

She also had some water play at the little playground behind, which she enjoys tremendously. My water baby.

What does the cup do, Mama?

Admittedly, I am a little worried about how she will cope being on her own because she has always been very adamant about me being around for her classes. But I know she will be ok once she gets used to her new routine. I just gotta be firm and let go so that she can enjoy school.

Well... we will know in just a couple of days.

A Night of Wedding Fun

2011-12-29T23:46:00.000+08:00

After the solemnization at Cookyn Inc, we went home to take a short nap before prepping for the evening.

As we were not needed to help at the reception, it gave us a lot more time to go get our hair done.

Held at the ginormous grand ballroom at Marina Bay Sands, we had such a fun night eating and dancing away with our newlyweds. I guess weddings are always more fun when you have been there right at the beginning. =)

Here are pics of the night.

My parents came along!!

Love this picture of us four.

Groomsmen... eerrr.... secret agents!

Isn't the Tan Yoong cheongsam amazingly beautiful?!

A lil Hiatus

2011-12-29T23:37:00.003+08:00

Wow! It has been a while, hasn't it?

I hope you had a lovely christmas because we did, although it was kinda bittersweet because we spent it with the bestest friends and family but yet were all sick.

We were all down with all kinds of bug that it's not funny. First, it started off as signs of the flu which erupted into a full blown stomach flu for Kate. The poor thing was just vomiting e v e r y t h i n g out of her system. It was just painful to watch. When she stopped eating for four days, my heart literally broke and I was just trying to coax into eating anything that was possible. Even junk.

Thank goodness, things got better after I brought her to the PD and Dr L reassured me that the little one was on the mend. When she stuffed four slices of apple and two piece of pandan cake down her lil mouth yesterday, I jumped for joy. My lil eater is back!!

Eating a muffin today!

So, here you go parents, never take for granted the mundane things our kids do.

I'm so thankful that she's eating again that I'm already planning how to get the 1.3 kilos weight loss back into my little gal!

Twas a Beautiful Day to Get Married

2011-12-20T16:31:00.001+08:00

Saying their vows

It was one of those special days that you wake up to.

One where two of you very very good friends were about to begin the rest of their lives as one.

And you know that your friendship means everything when you tear up upon seeing her in a white gown.

It was her dream come true.

I had one just like that on Saturday.

We'd arrived at her home at the break of dawn. The gals had gathered to plot our gatecrashing games with the boys. It was a game of revelry with the brothers in a fierce and fun session that had us laughing in tears. (I need to show you a video of the Haka!) Seriously, those brothers gave a really good fight with the ang pow $$. Grrr...

Then it was off to Cookyn Inc, after all the formalities were done.

Amanda and her team did such a good job with the place. Everything was beautiful. The food was, as always, splendid and generous.

Sweets Galore by ET Artisan.

Lil K was serving as a flower girl. So she had her pretty little white dress on. I was pretty afraid that she wouldn't walk down the aisle but fortunately the lil one obliged. It helped that she had Lauren to hold hands with.

Auntie D and her lil flower girl

About to walk down the aisle

You know that it's been a wedding a long time coming when the father of the bride teared when he went to veil her and when my gf Ros teared up as they exchanged vows. It was just incredible how far along we've all come as friends. Ever since Melbourne, we have been through all of our ups and downs together. It's truly like frenmily now.

It was chow time after. And where else but Cookyn Inc has the best spread in town? Merv had this pork roulade that was out of this world and the bride commisioned ET Artisans to serve up a full dessert spread. It was yumz!

Job Well Done!!

With the beautiful Auntie Pat.

Bridesmaids Rock!

A Quick Update

2011-12-18T23:21:00.002+08:00

Hope you guys had a fantastic weekend.

My good friends got married yesterday in one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever attended. The husband and I both teared at some point cause we have been there through their ups and downs.

However, after a really early start and finish to the day, I am physically too exhausted to write an entire post so keep watching this space. I will update soon! xx

Another Round of Hi 5.

2011-12-16T00:27:00.000+08:00

So... after the Hi 5 concert last week, the boys made me sign up for another event called Hi T with Hi 5.

I have to say that it was one of the rare moments where we (cause I consulted the husband on it) indulged in their whims. I didn't know what to expect but after reading a review by Delphine, it did look pretty fun for the kids.

So, yesterday, we were off to Milenia Walk to see the cast up close and personal, with a buffet on the side for the kids.

It wasn't a great start. The microphones were not working and one of the cast members, Lauren, was sick. So really, it was Hi 4, instead of 5. Ha!

But the remaining four guys were just great. They sang acapella. Played games with the kiddos. Danced to a couple of their songs. The guys were exceptionally great with the kids. Lots of warmth and smiles for the kids with funny antics to make them laugh.

Right after, the kids got to mingle around with the Hi 5 Cast. Taking pictures and getting autographs. They got cuddles and individual pictures which really made their day.

It was great! My boys has plenty of fun. Little K was initially pretty apprehensive about taking pictures but she did warm up in the end. Thankfully!

Lil K loved Casey. She kept going up to her to say Hi.

Was really surprised she let Tim cuddled her. But he's a great bloke.

Jake and I got roped into the picture because K didn't dare to take one on her own.

With the lovely Stevie who was really great with kids.

Big cuddles with Fely.

Pole Performance Week

2011-12-15T22:47:00.004+08:00

After a year and bit into pole dancing, I have to say that I am still <3ing the sport.

It is a bit of every thing. Strength training, cardio and dance.

But, mostly, it is really about us gals having a great time. It is a tight knit community of ladies there and I've made some really good friends here.

It's performance week this week. And my ever supportive husband is always there to check out the routines (plus a bit more!).

Can't wait till class starts again next year.

Oh and if you are interested, the studio is hosting an Amateur Night at St James Power house tomorrow. Drop by if you wanna see some exciting pole dances!

Hi 5!

2011-12-09T01:38:00.000+08:00

Lil K has been mad about Hi 5 lately.

She can sing and dance to all of their tunes on DVDs. Someone has been memorizing all the dance moves.

So when D mentioned that they were in town for a bit, we'd managed to make a date that we would take the kids down to Milenia Walk to catch the show. And meet Lil S for the first time!

We were there early because we were in town prior. By then, there was a snaking queue that went all the way to Cadele. And it was 3pm.

The show starts at 4!!

Anyhoo, the first 60 families in the queue gets a photo pass. I was pretty certain that we were not gonna get one. But we did! We were the 54th in line. Who knew??

Before we knew it, the show started. K couldn't believe that her DVD personas came to life. In fact, I think she found it a little surreal to see the entire Hi 5 cast up on stage.

It was a fun show. Full of songs that the kids recognize, sang and danced along. The lil one was dancing along for the first few songs and then she kinda got a lil restless (cause she got woken up from her nap when we went to get our seats) and kept wanting to go home. In fact, at one point, she was using my phone to watch youtube videos of Hi 5. But, thankfully, that lasted for a short while.

We got our picture taken after the show, which the kids were really excited about. K kept trying to get on stage to say Hi to the guys. But when the moment came, I had to sneak into the photo cause she didn't want anyone else to carry her.

Hi Five!

If you wanna catch Hi 5 in action, they will be at Milenia Walk everyday till the eleventh of December at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm.

An Old Fashioned Arvo

2011-12-06T00:30:00.000+08:00

In this digital age where it is common for kids to be attached to devices, I'm glad my tykes took a break from pounding my IPad to playing with some good old fashioned toys.

This was an arvo where I'd switched the teevee off, (as I do when they watch it for more than 30 minutes)... I went abouts doing my stuff around the house and when I came back out to the living room, there they were.

Lil K was playing with her fishing rod, pretending to catch a fish.

'Fish!' she would exclaimed!

The boys, on the other hand, created their own carnival games. They took out their nerf guns and started shooting toy soldiers.

What can I say? I was most pleased!

Staycation at MBS

2011-12-05T00:30:00.000+08:00

We took a lil break with a staycation last weekend.

The entire family went along and we pretty much lingered around the hotel for most of the two days that we've spent there.

Up on the 57th floor, it was quite the view. The infinity pool was quite inviting. We caught up over plenty of coffee and tea whilst the kids were busy swimming up a storm. I loved that we were all together at the same spot and there was no real hurry to rush off to another appointment.

Hanging out with her favourite JieJie K.

The kids were very excited to have a stayover, as you can imagine. The noise level was through the roof and we had to tell them to tone it down a lil. Lest we get thrown out. =)

The breakfast spread is worth a mention because there was just so much variety.

Morning faces.

Kids at brekkie.

I'd also managed to sneak in some me time and went to check out the Shoppes at the Sands. Bought a lil treat for myself at YSL. The arty ring was calling out to me for a very long time. And alas I had to succumb. =)

The Gruffalo Comes to Life

2011-12-02T10:16:00.001+08:00

Like most kids, my children are big fans of Julie Donaldson's book, "The Gruffalo".

So when I chanced upon a play staged by Tall Story at Forum the Shopping Mall, I knew I had to bring them along to watch it.

It was most amusing to see the book come to life.

My kids were captivated by how the story was told. It was largely a musical with three actors pulling off the roles of the animals. What I loved was how the different creatures had a certain persona attached to them ala the maracas shaking snake.

It was funny and terribly witty.

My kids definitely enjoyed it (All three were very enamoured that they sat right through the entire play) and I thought it was an excellent production that we would normally pay good money for (but was kindly brought to us by a mall).

They are showing twice a day on weekdays at 1pm and 5 pm. And three times on the weekend at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. =) Get there half an hour before show time to get a seating ticket.

Go catch it!

The Princess

2011-11-30T16:30:00.001+08:00

Now if you know me, you will know that I'm not a mother who calls her lil gal a princess.

She plays like how her brothers do. Trains and lego are common. Peppered with dolls, baby trolleys and stuffed toys.

Yet, somehow she's been referring to herself as Princess lately. She points to the picture in the alphabet book and then at herself and sighs "princess"

"Who's the princess?" I would ask.

She would say, "me"

It does leave her dear mother a lil puzzled.

Perhaps, it's the purchase of this gorgeous flower girl dress that sparked that thought off.

K's First Violin Concert.

2011-11-29T14:08:00.001+08:00

I have had quite a wicked weekend. It was filled with my favorite people as well as some of my favorite activities making me feel like it was Thanksgiving weekend in a very nice way.

To kick things off, my boy had his first ever violin concert.

He has been prepping for it for weeks. We have been going for rehearsals weekly and I'm glad that all that hard work paid off. (especially when he's the one who asked me to sign him up.)

All decked out in his spiffy new suit, we were off to the concert hall at Alliance Francais.

He was playing as part of an ensemble and had incredible fun on stage with his friends. I was very excited to see him dancing and playing his violin with his bunch of friends. The funny fella was also trying to keep a lil boy focused when he was standing next to him. He did look like such a mini grown up though.

I was just very proud that he just went and did it. He was very chilled before the concert. Had no signs of fear or stage fright. Now I wish he would take on the world with this attitude as he goes along.

Part of the ensemble

Getting ready

What he was working for.

His music school mates.

End of an Era

2011-11-17T22:37:00.001+08:00

Tomorrow will be pretty special in my firstborn's life.

It is the last day of kinder for him and after this, he will be starting his primary school journey.

This school has been pretty special. It is his first 'official' school.

I remember when we were in Australia when we chose this school. It was recommended by a girlfriend whose niece was in there. When we moved back to SG, I was really glad that we chose this school because it had such an open campus in an old school building.

Along the way, I'd grown to know that teachers and realized the enormous love they have for their charges. Every teacher that taught my kids have always been really supportive and positive. The kids get greeted very warmly every morning. And the concern shown whenever they fall ill or need help is always present.

I guess a good indication is that the kids love going to school. In fact, between staying at home and the former, they would definitely choose school.

My only beef is that I wish the the curriculum is stronger but my husband seems to think that it's the environment and pastoral care that is more important at this stage of their lives.

So, tonight I went out to town to buy some thank you gifts for the teachers.

I'm hoping that the boy would remember the love and teachings that he's been shown in the last three years as he moves onto the next phase of life.

The Six Year old Writer

2011-11-15T10:05:00.001+08:00

A couple of months back, Kayden was struggling with reading and writing in English.

It was, by and large, Mummy's fault because I was putting more focus on math.

So, in an act of desperation, we sent him for phonics. :) Hoping that it would kickstart him with the reading process.

The teachers at the Zoophonics school that we chose were marvelously brilliant. I kid you, not!

They had him reading simple words in 4 lessons.

The program is pretty fun! They always come out smiling at the end of class. The kids do stick with the same teacher as they progress. And you get a good feedback from them after each class about how they are trekking.

In fact, all three kiddos are now attending the same center. :)

And I have to say, he's improved so much that I'm very proud of him.

Here's a sample of what he wrote lately. (I'd initially thought the teacher helped much but she said it's really his thoughts and phrasing.)

Such insightful words from the six year old.

Jake's Sports Day

2011-11-14T09:00:00.000+08:00

Jakeyboo had his first ever sports day on Saturday.

The lil fella was so excited that even a sudden downpour that day didn't dampen his spirits.

The school had organized the event for the kids in nursery and kinder 1. It was meant to let the children have fun and educate them about healthy living and sportsmanship.

There was already a crowd of parents at the venue when we arrived. Everyone was just armed with a digital camera or phone.

After singing a few songs to warm up, the kids got ready for their events. There were all sorts of relay games that the teachers came up for the little kiddos. And they were all so fun. In fact, everybody went home a winner that day cause the school wanted the kids to just have an enjoyable experience with their fellow classmates.

Us overzealous parents were rooting the kids on with lots of cheers and yays! I think poor Jake would've been embarrassed by his enthusiatic parents who were just cheering him on as loud as we can. =p Oh well, this is just the first one, kiddo.

In fact, D and I were very surprised at how agile Jake was. He was as quick as lightning when he was going through the race. And I can imagine D's brain going... This kid has so much sports potential!

Jake had such a blast. When we picked him up, he was busy chatting with this friends and couldn't stop smiling.

And that is one of the reasons why we love having our kids in this school.

Wicked November

2011-11-14T00:40:00.001+08:00

November is shaping up to be such a fantastic month.

A few of our old friends from Melbourne are dropping by for a visit and we'd always love catching up with all these lovely peeps from the past. Our time in Oz has been blessed with good friends that will stay with us for life.

M was back from Sydney for work and weddings. It's been a couple of months since B and her left for Sydney and we'd missed our weekend dinner dates since.

This time round, we managed to catch up for drink or two. Catching up on the little bits and pieces of our daily lives. Just like old times. Can't wait to see what life has in store for them.

And tonight, we had dinner with R & L, who's back from Melbourne for a visit. Man! It was incredible just finding out how life has been since we left three years back. So much as changed and yet most things are still the same. It was wonderful seeing them.

B comes back next week and we will do a big catch up with everyone. It will be massive. =)

A's Birthday

2011-11-14T00:28:00.001+08:00

A celebrated her 'turning of a decade' birthday last Friday.

We were invited to her fiance's place to celebrate with some of her favourite things.

An old friend from school days, we've come such a long way from our teh xi days. Looking back, we were such carefree peeps who loved nothing more than sitting at the canteen chitchatting.

It was a good party with some of her good friends. Filled with champagne and conversations, it was lovely getting to know some new peeps whom we will see at her wedding next year. =) Great fun!

Little Designers

2011-11-13T11:18:00.001+08:00

I'd thought I will write about the art classes the boys are taking, as I've been getting emails about them.

I was looking for the boys to have a creativity outlet and since they like mucking around with paints and all... art classes seemed like a good option.

So a friend recommended a studio that does art lessons at home. A teacher will come to your house and conduct lessons once a week.

They kindly offered a free trial class which the boys enjoyed thoroughly.

Every week, teacher S will guide the kids on drawing techniques, color blending and mixing. They will get to sketch and draw a painting followed up with coloring and painting.

The end results are usually pretty incredible. Plus, the kids generally have a great time in their lessons.

A few weeks on, they've started to pull out the drawing block sheets and drawing all kinds of inspiration on. So that to me shows that they must be enjoying their art lessons!

If you are interested, you can contact Vanessa at 9380 7079 or visit her studio at www.littledesigners.sg

Nine

2011-11-09T09:00:00.000+08:00

It has been nine years since we'd started going out.

And now that we've done the dating, marriage, pregnancy and kids part... it's kinda nice to slow down and enjoy some couple time.

We've been really fortunate to travel once or twice a year sans kids to get reacquainted and see the world. And, of course, in the scheme of little things like movie dates, drinks, and dinners. It's always the little things that count, ain't it?

Most of all, it's been such a ride living life with a partner who knows your heart so well. And gives you the freedom to do what your heart desires. It's really like a good vintage... gets better with age. I have the privilege to live with a man who is so.

Happy Anniversary, Hun!

Primary One Journey: Orientation

2011-11-09T00:32:00.001+08:00

My baby's all grown up.

Last Friday was orientation day for the boy.

Other than prepping him with the idea that he's going to a brand new school next year, this is the next step in the process for him to get acquainted with the idea that it's going to be an all boys school.

Lucky for him, he has his cousin with him through this journey. However, both kids would be in different classes as well as sports houses.

On that rainy arvo, we trotted up to school and he got dropped off at the music room to meet his new classmates. He was a little apprehensive about being left behind so I assured him that I would pick him up after the orientation session is over.

I think it's pretty daunting for a six year old to leave the cushy comforts of kinder and move onto the big school campus where they are the youngest in the food chain. I guess we gotta keep him excited and encouraged about moving to the 'big boys' school.

Meanwhile, us parents were asked to attend an introductory session at the auditorium.

Whilst the boy was going through some icebreakers to get to know his new classmates and brought on a journey around the school, we watched the corporate video as well as one on the history of the school. The Principal gave us an overview on life as an ACS boy.

And so, here's I've learnt a few things about the primary school journey here in SG.

Parental involvement is very much encouraged. - The school has very strong hints about parental volunteering. We were constantly reminded during the talk about it. I'm planning to sign up for some activities to help out as well as to get to know the school. (Plus, the husband is going, 'You're so free, dear. Why don't you sign up for something?" Hmmm... I wonder what gave him the idea.
CCAs especially sports are a great way for the boys to destress. - I really like this point. I think all kids should play sports. It's a great way to build their character as well as to learn team work. Needless to say, D has already asked the boy which sports CCA he would like to join.

Don't confuse the kid - As in, do not disagree with what the teachers say. I understand this and I agree that kids should be taught to listen to the teachers. Apparently, there have been cases in the kids have conflicting views on the same issue due to what the parents convey and thus this is a reminder to myself that I would keep in line with the values of the school.
Primary one is all about settling in. - Interestingly, the Principal didn't stress about the grades. She expressed that it is more important for the kids to settle in and be comfortable with the new system. Grades will come later, she's mentioned. And don't compare results. Wise words.
Lastly, bring cash to the orientation. - The school would normally organize for the uniform vendors as well as the school bookshop to sell their wares that day. So to avoid the queue, I'd pre bought the uniforms a week before at the retailer. On orientation day, cash is the only form of payment so make sure you bring enough to buy what you need.

There was much to take in that day. Overall, we were glad the school was what we thought it would be. The boy looked pleased when we picked him up. He kept telling us about the different amenties around the school compound. So hopefully, he will grow to love being in primary school.

Next up, shopping for a school bag.

Of Art and Soccer

2011-11-02T00:29:00.001+08:00

Having three kids makes me quite a busy mum.

I spend most part of my day doing the chauffeuring, feeding and studying gig. =)

Sounds easy but it's pretty exhausting. Especially when each activity take twice as long to complete because I have to ensure that three kids comply.

So the only time I get a break is when the kids are either resting or doing an activity that doesn't involve my participation.

I wanted the kids to have a bit of fun doing activities that don't involve studying or practising.

So I've signed them up for soccer classes (Kayden) and art lessons (both boys).

The art lessons have been such a thrill for them because they get to mess around with paint and crayons. They have a really lovely teacher who's incredibly patient with them and allows them to express their creativity.

Guess who drew what?

As for me, I love (x3) seeing their completed art pieces. I collect them all, after they are dried and file them away. Once in a while, I'll take them out to see. It makes me smile whenever I do it. =)

As for soccer, I think my son sums it up best.

He said to me this arvo, after practice. "Mummy, you know I love soccer and art lessons!"

Spot the boy.

And with that, I think it's safe to say that it's money well spent.

Open Door Policy

2011-11-01T10:07:00.003+08:00

We ODP'ed on Wednesday last week. =)

After reading all the stunning reviews online, we had no choice to but to make a reservation to taste the food ourselves. And thank goodness, we lived to tell that it's all good. Like really good!

Nestled at a corner shophouse opposite 40 Hands in Tiong Bahru, Open Door Policy exudes the vibe of a modern casual bistro. The metal framed glass door was such a remniscence of the eateries in Melbourne. It exudes a lofty vibe that offers spacious seating and comfortable conversations for the diners.

Between the friends and us, we'd ordered like almost a third of the menu and most of the food were pretty spot on for a wet evening.

The entrees and mains offered on the menu are really simple comfort food. It's intensely concentrated on the core ingredients with lovely subtle sides. Perfect for a rainy day.

Deep fried foccacia sticks with olive oil

Watercress Soup with poached egg

Pork belly with Quinoa and parsnip puree

Chocolate and pistachio Souffle

Haloumi Salad with white anchovy

My personal favorites were the haloumi salad and the chocolate pistachio souffle. Oh my! I thought I was in dessert heaven when they served it. The lime panacotta on the other hand was such a light texture with the coconut sago as an accompaniment. In fact, both desserts were so good... we'd ordered a third to call it a night.

As the bistro is a partnership with 40 Hands, the after dinner coffee was, for once, decent. I had the iced coffee that came along with hazelnut syrup. Yum.

All in all, we had a pleasant dinner. Great grub and good conversations. <3

No, Mei Mei!

2011-10-29T00:19:00.001+08:00

My two younger kids have a love and hate relationship.

Some days, they would run after each other and giggle till they run out of breath.

The other times, they would get on each other's nerves and go smacking each other silly. No kidding!

It drives me crazy when they fight.

So, one day, the little one made her brother mad again.

But, instead of retaliating, he ran off to his room and drew this, before sticking it on his bedroom door.

I was all curious and so I casually asked, "What's that, Jake?"

In all seriousness, he said, "This is a note to tell Mei mei not to come into my room!"

And just like that, Lil K has just got her first eviction notice.

Halloween, anyone?

2011-10-26T07:41:00.000+08:00

Guess who made it in time for Halloween down at Walt Disney world?

The entire Disneyland was converted into a major spookfest when we returned that evening.

There were plenty of hollow pumpkin heads around. Creepy shadows and images were flashing on the buildings, with the Headless Horseman roaming around Main Street. Cool!

Our favourite part of the night was the Halloween Parade. Oh my! How could you resist the opening float of Jack Skellington from 'The Nightmare before Christmas'? It was a little odd that he spoke Cantonese but hey! it looked spectacular.

'The Nightmare before Christmas'

Say Hi to Minnie, Daisy, Pluto and Chip

Captain Hook

Guess who had the best seat in the house?

The parade had the kids fixated. It was almost like watching what the insides of the Telly bursting out in real life.

You should've seen their faces. =) It makes the entire trip worthwhile.

Growing up and Moving on.

2011-10-25T00:18:00.001+08:00

Shake it!

Dear Kayden,

It has been an epic few days for you, sweetheart.

First up, you performed in your very first concert last Saturday. Alongside all of your bestest friends, you danced up a storm to the beats of 'Shake it up, Baby.' And boy! can you twist, my son?

Mummy is very embarrassed to post up the video because I was just laughing through my smiles through the entire performance.

I really loved the ending when you twirled your dance partner and she finished off sitting on your lap. Aren't you a little casanova-ish when you were doing that?

First grad cert. =)

You know, I never thought much about you graduating kinder and moving onto the next phase of your (school)life. But when you were strolling across the stage to collect your graduation cert, I cannot help but feel that overwhelming sense of pride that you have finished the first phase of your education.

Daddy always say that you are like a mini me. Your persona and your fiestiness definitely came from my genes. I guess that is why you and I rub each other off the wrong way all the time. Dad and you, however, makes the best buddies. You do everything together and you love spending time with him. The day he left for a work trip, I found you eating lunch with our family portrait in front of you. It made me smile.

I am so much like your quality controller. I make sure you eat well, send you to your classes, thatyou spend time studying and playing your violin. Most of the time, I'm so hard on you, especially with your manners and work ethic. Guess I am not much fun but, I guess, between Dad and I , we gotta balance the whole equation out.

Nonetheless, you still come up and say that you love me and give me the wettest kisses when you say 'goodnight' or when you leave for your classes.

You have grown so much this year. You are taller now. You love reading. You speak with such logic and sensibility that sometimes you end up correcting my mistakes. You understand when we explain why you can't do certain things.

One thing that really stood out this year was when we were in Disneyland and despite us going in and out of the numerous toy stores, you and your siblings have never demanded to buy a toy. I was really enlightened because all this while, Daddy and I have always enforced that you only get a reward if you behave and listen. It was actually Daddy who suggested that the two of you find a toy to buy. Even so, you repeatedly came up to him and asked if it was expensive.

Sounds silly, but it's something that showed that we are raising you correctly.

We went to your primary school today to settle some paperwork. It's such an efficient school. We are so pleased that you got in. The campus looks amazing. Hopefully, you will settle in well and enjoy the array of sports that they offer. I know Daddy would love for you to embrace your sports.

It suddenly seems so real that you are moving on.

Mummy cannot be any prouder than what I am now. I love you so much.

Slow down a lil, won't you?

Love,
Mum

Hong Kong Disneyland Part 1

2011-10-22T09:30:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong. Not a place I associate with kids.

So I was absolutely caught off guard when the boy suggested that he would like to go to HK Disneyland for a holiday. Seemingly, some of his friends have been and it is on the highly recommended places to visit.

So D and I had a discussion and we thought 'Why not?'

Plus, it would be a fab birthday treat for the boy since we were not throwing him a birthday party this year.

So off we went.

And it turned out to be pretty fun for all three kids. (Nothing beats Disneyland, I guess!)

We rested on the first day that we were there. So the kids can get all geared up for their trip to the happiest place on Earth.

On Board the Disney Express

And then Day Two, here we are...

Here we goooo, people!

I have to say that HK Disneyland is great for kids of this age range. The park is of a good size for them to explore with plenty of amenties everywhere for easy access and minimal queues. And event though we were there on both Friday and Saturday, the queue for rides and games were fast moving. I was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the staff working there. They had a good system to ensure no queue jumping.

Entering the happiest place on earth.

First up, we got to meet Mickey and Minnie. Lil K was so excited that she was seeing the characters in real life. A lil bit of trepidation and fear as she came upclose to them. It took some cajoling to get her to smile for the camera.

M&M All decked out in Halloween costumes

There are three areas for the kids to check out 1. AdventureLand 2. FantasyLand 3. TomorrowLand, Kayden loved TomorrowLand. That's where Buzz Lightyear hangs out. The games were really good fun too. That was where my kids wanted to hang out.

The boys kept dashing into the Space Cadet game which was really exciting. Shooting = Fun!

Look, Ma! I got the whole world in my hands.

We also got on the train that goes around the park. It's so old school. And it's a pretty quick ride so definitely go on that when you head there.

The kids were a lil tired so we headed back to the hotel to rest a lil.

Next up. Halloween...

TGIF

2011-10-21T17:00:00.000+08:00

I'm glad Friday is here.

With the hubs away on a business trip, I have been holding the fort down here at the Tan household.

My days without the man around is almost the same as with him here. Yet, it does get quiet in the evening as things are winding down and the kids are put to bed.

No matter. He will be back tomorrow. And then we have our boy's graduation concert to attend.

Here's a few things from my week that made me happy.

1. Leopardy Feet & Outremer City. 2. Hard work at Pole. 'scuse the old pair of shoes 3. Bantering Kids at Brekkie 4. New Bal Love (Loving the Rose Gold Hardware) 5. Rainy days. 6. All Ladylike

Have a chirpy weekend, peeps.

Sunday Times

2011-10-17T00:07:00.001+08:00

We had a brilliant Sunday.

Bright and early this morning, I woke the troops up and hurried them to wash up so that we could do a walk down at the Reservoir.

It has been such a long time since I last visited MacRitchie and though I drive past it often, it has never occured to me to stop by for a visit.

The six year old has been a lil sooky about trying out new activities lately so I thought this would be a good way to get him out of his comfort zone and, also, exercise a little.

I won't lie.

It was a hot and humid day. Seriously, what's with the heatwave, man?

He was mostly grouchy and very whingey as we trekked along.

But the complaints started to dwindle and we got deeper into the walk.

By the time we were done, we were famished. And it was off to brunch at Jules. Hmmm.....

After that, we went to run some errands before heading home to soak in the pool.

Sweet sweet way to cool down. Kids were extremely happy to splash around in the water.

They were spent by the time we were done so we left them home to play and rest a little whilst we went to the pub for the RWC's semis where the All Blacks were up against the Wallabies.

A few friends joined us and it was an excellent match. (well, much better played than the WalesVSFrance match).

Man! It felt like we were having a typical Melbourne weekend.

I miss this, actually. It's been a while since our weekends were this relaxed.

Lil K - First Class

2011-10-16T23:51:00.001+08:00

Now that things have quietened down on the social calendar for us, D and I took some time to bring the kiddos out for a bit of kiddy activities this weekend.

But first up, K started her first class down at Zoophonics.

Since the girl is starting school soon, I'd observed that she is a little cautious in new situations. It got me thinking that I should let her get used to a classroom environment so that she would not totally get scared when she starts preschool. Plus, it helps that she can interact with the other kids, as well. Cause Ms K is currently in the ME ME ME phase. (Doesn't that always happen to the youngest child?)

K is used to sending her brothers to classes and so she's not unfamiliar with the environment. However it took her a little while to warm up to the idea that this time round it's her who's going to class. D, who was meant to take her for the hour, didn't manage to get her to enter the classroom, so I took over after parking the car.

And I think, because I'm like her cornerstone, she was a more willing to try new activities as I spurred her on. She would take baby steps at first. Very gingerly. And then as she warmed up, she started to explore further and further away from me.

It helps that the activities are fun and very suitable for kids their age. She had time to dance, pop bubbles, story time, running through the phonetical sounds of the alphabet, an activity picking flowers around the room and a bit of arts and crafts.

Thank goodness, she had a good time cause I was half expecting that she might wanna leave after a short while. It's wonderful that we managed an entire class on her first try.

And here is what she did on Saturday morning.

Popping Bubbles

Picking her flowers, just like Red Riding Hood

Doing a lil bit of arts and craft.

Time with the girl

2011-10-13T13:22:00.001+08:00

It dawned upon me as K and I were hanging out at the Plain yesterday arvo, that she was going to start school in two months.

Seriously?

Last time I remembered she was just my lil bub that I carried around in one arm and now she's about to go to nursery.

I guess it's true what they say about the last kiddo. You tend to savor every last moment of their babyhood because you know that this is it.

K and I usually have our one on one time when the boys are in school. I would take her to run errands, do some shopping, meet up with my mummy friends and sometimes we will sneak a nice fancy lunch together.

She was like my constant lunch buddy.

I have big plans of what I'll do when she's in school (lots of workouts!)

But for now, I will be enjoying the little moments spent with this little cheeky gal.

Kayden Turns Six.

2011-10-11T10:23:00.000+08:00

The boy turned all of six a week ago.

(I know... I am terrible with all these updates)

From the time he was born, I'd always talked about how life would when I am thirty. I would be the mother of a son who is at the brink of going to primary school.

It's incredible to see it all happening now.

Six.

It's a brilliant age.

The boy is independent and a very sociable fella. He has a group of friends in school that he hangs out with and has an incredible way of making friends whereever he goes.

He is curious and asks a million questions a day about how things work or why certain situations happen. It does take a patient mind to listen and answer his questions accordingly.

And as far as music lessons are going, it looks like he's taking to the violin really well. So here's hoping that he will be able to have a good journey with his strings.

He's also the stubborn-est (is there such a word?) person I've ever known. You should see the verbal exchanges we have. Seriously, the boy cannot be broken when he sets his mind to do something. It's like watching an engineer concentrating on his mechanics. Drives me nuts sometimes.

He's still very much Daddy's boy. Loves to ask the husband to do everything with him but when it comes to reading, it's still very much Mummy's job. He's picked up so many words this year and is able to complete most books these days. =)

So what did we do on his birthday?

Well... he got to play soccer! And had such a blast with the sport. =) I have a feeling he would be a boy who likes his sports. Best thing about soccer? He got to run and run and run for an entire hour. And, still, it was barely a tinge of sweat for this boy.

And when the night came, we brought out some cupcakes for a lil birthday celebration.

Which was followed by a trip to Hong Kong's Disneyland.

More on that soon!

Lil K - 23 months on

2011-09-28T01:08:00.001+08:00

Dear K,

You turn 23 months today. Almost at the doorstep of turning two.

Mummy cannot believe that time has passed so quickly. You have grown so much in the last few months.

These days, you are no longer the little baby that needs to have me around all the time.

When we are home, you are happy to play by yourself. You will wander in and out of the bedrooms lugging your chosen toy along. You'll choose your DVD and then set it up in the DVD player, all by yourself. After which, you will put the old DVD back to its original casing. You love to sing and play pretend these days. And you love to read. Sometimes, you will plead with Mama to let you play with the IPad for a while.

These little steps are just little assertions of how independent you really are.

By far, my darling, you are way ahead of your brothers when they were your age. The way you act and speak does not reflect how old you are. It's really like seeing a mini me in action.

Sometimes you make me laugh the hardest when I am disciplining Korkor and you will either stand next to me or hide behind me and pretend to 'scold' him too. It is the most amusing but, of course, you will be told that this is not how you should be treating Korkors. And you will giggle and walk away.

You certainly act like both Daddy and me, both the good and the bad.

If only you know that you are only twenty three months, darling. There is still a whole wide world for you to explore.

You know, we are so glad that you love your food. There was a stage when I was away and you'd stop liking food and preferred milk. Well, I'm glad that we've sorted that out. You are such a happy little kid, willing to try most things we put in front of you. Sometimes, even the spicy ones. We'd think that you, out of three, are the most adventurous in food.

I was just telling Daddy that I let you get away with a lot of mischief because you are my last baby. And now that you are starting to understand the meaning of cause and effect, it's time that we start to teach you the right from the wrong.

It's really only a couple of months before you start school. And I'm worried that you will be really upset when I leave you behind. So I'm gonna enrol you in playschool for a bit to let you get used to the idea of school. Hopefully, you will adapt to it.

We brought you to Penang this month for Auntie T's wedding. And you were just the cutest little gal in a white dress. You were so well behaved on the plane ride to and fro. And we had so much fun traveling as a group. Grandpa loved having you as his companion for this trip. =)

It amazes me that you are growing so quickly and yet you are still little.
I love how cheeky you are and how you always bring a smile to the faces of people around you. I hope this would mean that you will always be the happy child that you are.

Happy 23 months, my little one.

Of Little Boys and Fast Cars

2011-09-27T23:29:00.002+08:00

The other day, my mother was casually asking J what he wanted to be when he grew up.

'A race car driver, Grandma', he said.

She, looking a little surprised said, 'No... you should try to be an accountant, or lawyer or doctor.'

Listening to that conversation made me snigger because I was thinking, 'Hey Ma! Being a race car driver is a smart choice and honestly so much less work for more money and fame.' LOL!

Anyway, I didn't add a word on their conversation but it did make me realise that the boy might like to see the F1 cars whiz by down at the Padang this weekend.

So, bright and early on Saturday morning, we went down to Raffles City Convention Center to buy tickets for D to bring the boys there. (whist they were in enrichment.)

After picking the kids up from their phonics class, we announced that we had a special treat for them if they behaved well that day.

(Which was really relative but still we had tickets so we all had to go, somehow.)

You should see the look on J's face when he saw the tickets. It was absolutely gold.

He had this sparkle in his eyes and a skip to his step. Too cute!

And can I say that I think Singapore did a brillant job in the organization of the F1 event.

There were ushers scattered at every junction of the route towards the track, helpers at the MRT stations to guide you towards the right station for the correct gate, minimal fuss at the entrance. We were pleased as punched to be in the event within minutes.

The boys had so much fun. It was humid though but my kids didn't care too much about that. They were just fixated on the cars that were just whizzing past.

We wandered around the grounds towards the Padang and they were really enticed with the merchandising stands as Daddy was checking them out. There was plenty of peeps around and the kind gentleman at the Hard Rock Cafe stand gave them a free cola (a rare treat!) when they were queueing up to buy some water.

One of the highlights of the evening was meeting Lightning McQueen. The boys were so stoked!

We left after the trials and by then they were a lil hot and knackered. But they had a blast. And were really well behaved that evening. D and I brought them out for dinner and then my folks came to pick them up.

We then returned back to the circuit with our friends to catch the qualifiers and, of course, Shaggy.

Great night out! =)

The Boy Photog

2011-09-24T00:54:00.002+08:00

It is Friday night.

The kids are sleeping.

The husband is out at the F1.

So here I am, sitting in front of my laptop blogging. (Such a rare moment of quiet!)

Being the procrastination queen that I am, I realise that I would be soon out of time for my six month window to passport expiry and I will be traveling in the next month or so.

So this morning, I got my act together and got myself looking decent to take my passport picture.

And since the husband wasn't at home, I got my boy to help me with the shot.

Armed with an SLR, he's managed to take a pretty good picture of me for the passport.

Along the way, he caught this too. I loved it.

Not bad for a 6 year old, yay?

T's Wedding

2011-09-22T00:57:00.000+08:00

The Tans in Penang.

Our purpose for the weekend in Penang was to attend a good friend's wedding.

T, an old friend from Melbourne was getting hitched.

We go a long way back. Back then, we were carefree peeps who loved nothing more than a party or two. We would do most things together in Melbourne. Going on road trips. Drinking it up at the Melbourne Cup. Those were the days. It's incredible thinking that time has passed so quickly.

Anyway, we brought the kiddos to the luncheon down @ the E&O Hotel. What a beautiful place it was. An old coloniel hotel, much like our Raffles Hotel, that exudes old school grandeur.

The food was delicious and we had such good company at the table. It was just lovely.

All dolled up for the evening

The next evening, we left the kiddos behind with my folks and headed up to the scenic Penang Hill for the dinner reception.

The setting at David Browns was just gorgeous. A white tent was set up for the wedding. Paper lanterns across the pond. A live band that worked the crowd. Plus, the weather was just cool and not humid.

I'll leave you with the pictures of the evening. <3

Isn't this beautiful?

Love this pic!

Having a good time in the company of friends.

A Weekend in Gurney Land

2011-09-20T19:56:00.000+08:00

Test tasting @ Gurney Drive.

Penang. Land of the Hae mee and Assam Laksa.

Both of which I adore. Funny that it is never in our travel plans.

All it took was a girlfriend to get married for us to explore this little town in the north of Malaysia.

Be warned. It was a sleepy weekend we had. We had little on the itinerary. Other than the two wedding events, we pretty much slept a lot, wandered around the shopping malls and ate a whole load of Penang Hawker food to last us for a very very long time. Bliss.

The secret to good hawker food is, firstly, to avoid the tourist crowd. We tried the famous Gurney Drive on our first evening and it was really just very average fare.

Feasting out at Jalan McAlister.

Thank goodness, my parents arrived the following day and saved us all from bad Penang food. They brought us to this stretch of street lined with mobile food carts called, Jalan McAlister (close to the Sunway Hotel) and man! the food was just incredible. We had hae mee (prawn noodles), Lor mee, char kway teow, chendol, porridge, fried tofu & chicken wings, desserts and that delicious A-Pom. It was quite a spread and we lost our waist lines that night to all that array of food.

Another find we discovered was the corner coffee store at Jalan Penang. (If you are traveling, just tell the taxi driver that you want to go to the famous chendol store at Penang Road.)

This small nook of a place has only a few choices. A knock out char kway teow that had us waiting for 30 minutes. A pretty decent rojak. I didn't fancy the assam laksa. The husband thinks the goreng pisang in the little roadside cart was delish. And I liked the chendol - which had scores and scores of people queueing for that little bowl of jello filled gula melaka coconut dessert. (I suspect it's because it had a Phua Chu Kang photo there for a reason.

Overall, it was a good trip to discover the authenticity of Penang food. Our verdict. It's all such an affordable steal. And our tummies agree wholeheartedly. =)

G & Y's Wedding

2011-09-14T00:28:00.001+08:00

About to take their vows.

If there is something the husband holds near to his heart, it is his bunch of good friends from school. The years that we've been together, I have seen how they go through the different phases in life together. (And this is just part of their journey.)

Over the weekend, one of the boys got married and we were there to celebrate his matrimony with his equally lovely bride.

Held in the gorgeous Suburbia in Sentosa, we had a great time catching up with friends. Thank goodness the weather held up cause the clouds were threatening to open up all evening.

Looking back at the photo montage, it's amazing how far these guys have come along, I mean, there was even a picture of Kayden only one week old in one of the pictures. How cool is that?

Most of all, it was an evening filled with love and anticipation of a new life. So to that we congratulate our friends with all the happiness and joy in the world!

Saying her I Do's

Catching up with old friends.

Can you believe these boys knew each other since they were twelve?

An Outdoor Bath

2011-09-09T14:55:00.000+08:00

It was sweltering hot that day.

After running around the compound playing with her cousins, the little one was all hot and sweaty. Sticky as a honey bee. We'd filled a tub full of cool water and she happily lapped up the bath at the driveway.

Carefree and fun.

Just like how how we used to spend our childhood days.

My sister commented that kids these days don't play as much outdoors as we used to as kiddos. Which is pretty true to a certain extent. These days, the boys play so much more in indoor playgrounds as compared to an open aired one. (So that us mummies can natter in an air conditioned environment.)

D and I used to bring them to the beach once in a while but this has stopped lately due to all the weekend festivities that we have to attend.

Perhaps once this wedding(s) season ends, we can resume that again. =)

Daddysitting

2011-09-08T11:56:00.001+08:00

Last night, after a good work out at pole class, I came home to a husband trying desperately to teach Chinese to his six year old and wrestling to put the two year old to bed... all at once.

He wasn't having much luck, obviously. Especially when the little one is determined to create some havoc by running in and out of the bed room.

(Thank goodness, Jake was entertaining himself!)

It was a funny sight to behold. Despite the slowly diminishing patience of the man.

Tag team.

How important it is in a marriage. (and the sanity of a SAHM)

Breakfast at Loysels.

Lil Miss Cheeky in a good mood. =)

I guess he should take comfort that at least he's got cute babies to deal with. =)

The Face Bag

2011-09-04T11:34:00.000+08:00

Psst... I have a little secret.
I think I have developed an obsession with the Celine Mini Luggage.
Isn't the red looking absolutely delicious?
Now to bring this baby out.:)))

Taking Time Out

2011-09-04T01:17:00.000+08:00

I love my husband.

And one of the reasons, I love him is the freedom that he gives me.

One of the things that defines us is that whilst we like to be together, we love doing things apart as well.

It sounds kinda odd but it works for us.

The last two days have been filled with lots of girly chatter for me and lots of boys catch up for him. I got to meet my gals (two different groups) for a good catchup over loads of food and tons of words.

It was great because I had a ridiculous week filled with end to end activities that left me totally emptied out every night. It was exhausting!

And so sitting down with them and just chitchatting about anything that is under the sun makes me feel rejuvenated and all smiley once again. Aren't girlfriends the best thing ever?

My husband, on the other hand, was busy with a buck's night. His good pal is getting married and the man has been out with his old high school buddies planning and ,hopefully, painting the town red.

He comes back with stories about the boys. He laughs and has this sparkle in his eyes, every time after meeting them. It's really like food for our souls. =)

And it makes my heart skip because whilst we are very much a sticky couple who does everything together... it is such a great reminder that we allow each other to have individual time with other people that we love too. =)

That, my friends, is my tip of the day for a healthy relationship.

Teachers' Day

2011-09-04T00:57:00.000+08:00

There is no question about how much I like the teachers in the boys' kindergarten.

Seeing them on a daily basis, I have developed such respect for the way they handle thirty kids with so much love and patience. It is incredible. (and kinda puts me to shame the times I have little patience for my kiddos)

So as a thank you note for being the wonderful educators that they are, I'd spent some time creating cards for the occasion.

The boys had so much fun watching it come together and they each wrote notes for their teachers.

You should see the skip in their step when they rushed into school with the cards in their hands... It totally made the effort all worthwhile.

Now... to recreate this for a home project. =)

A Step into Ballet

2011-08-31T00:31:00.003+08:00

She was the littlest in her class.
(And probably too young to be starting class, proper.)
But she's been twirling and dancing little circles at home.
So we went for a trial.
And when we got into the studio, she was just the tiniest lil tutu dancer.
My heart paused for a little.
I wanted to just walk away with her.
But stayed we did.
At first, she sat in the line with the other girls.
Then the childlike innocence came out
and
she ran across the room squeaking ,'Mummy!'
After a quick cuddle, she ran back to the line.
It made me laugh.
Throughout the class, she would listen to the teacher at times
and followed her own agenda at others.
It was fine by me.
When it was over, she smiled at the little sticker that was awarded.
and said, 'I like dance.'
So we might do a couple more trials.
As long as she enjoys it in her childlike way.
That's all mummy wants.

August Goodness

2011-08-30T21:42:00.000+08:00

I am always thankful for August.

It's my cue for the start of birthday season.

All of my babies had birth dates close to a family member. It is funny how close they were to being born on the same day as their aunt or grandmother, and so it makes it so easy to remember all the other birthdays too.

Jakey turned 5 last week. Having been relegated to sharing birthdays with his older brother, we'd decided to throw him a party this year.

A bunch of his friends and cousins came by to celebrate at Go Go Bambini. My lil fella was so thrilled being the birthday boy that he was grinning like a Cheshire cat all day.

Then, we celebrated Dad's birthday a week later (although his birthday was earlier than the boy's. =)

A milestone of measures. It was the turning of a decade.

Turns out the restaurant that we booked had only another table that night. So it was almost like private dining with generous servings to boot! I think we'd packed half of the food back home. Plus, the kids had heaps of space to run. Score!

Happy birthday to two of my favorite people in the whole wide world. =)

Helpers, or not?

2011-08-19T18:52:00.002+08:00

Eight months in.

Three maids in the house.

It certainly felt like we have had full time help for a really long time.

At this moment, we are back down to none.

Out of three helpers, only number 1 was awesome. The second one was sent back within three days because she could not speak nor understand English.

Number 3 was the clincher. A sneaky one who kept secrets behind our back and lied & lied & lied when she was caught red handed. I was intensely upset. You could've asked for more mobile phone usage and you should've known that smoking is a big no no.

It is not the acts that were done but more the scheming and lying that made me wanna scream my head off at her. In the end, I chose to send her back immediately. This is not someone I would like living in my house. No thank you.

Day 3 in without help. We are doing okay! I relish the privacy that we had, albeit a lil inconvenience with the babysitting arrangement and all. However, when you have family that helps out whenever they can, we will survive.

Till the next helper comes, I pray we find one with good attitude.

One-on-One

2011-08-09T21:03:00.005+08:00

Having three kids in our little nook means that, most of the time, attention is divided into three parts.

We spend most days doing things as a family.

Between the husband's work, the kids schooling and activities, plus my schedule, we rarely have a spot of personal time with each kid alone.

This morning, my parents hopped by. They were going to run some errands and offered to take the two younger ones out with them.

Which gave us a chance to have brunch with my ever active and loving firstborn. We headed to Artichoke for a bit of a bite cause that was what he wanted.

Sitting at the nook of the courtyard, we ate and talked and just relished in the quietness of having just one child. He absolutely loved it and basked in the 100% attention showered upon him by his parents.

It was great.

We should do this again. x3.

The Tokyo Bikes Launch

2011-08-08T20:50:00.005+08:00

Photo by Chan Min from "This is Albert" - www.albert.com.sg

There is a something about a Tokyo Bike.

It is simple. It is chic. And it gives a pretty darn smooth ride when you are out on the road.

When you head into their store down at Haji Lane, you will see a whole range of bikes with the most beautiful colors that will make your purchasing decision a whole lot harder. They all look so yummy!

I had such a hard time deciding.

In the end, I got a white classic bike, which is still massive <3 today.

Last week, D and I attended their official launch.

A bunch of riders were gathered at the store where we then did a short ride up to Mt Emily where the party was held at Wild Oats.

It was all very chilled, the waiting staff were ready with welcome drinks when we arrived. We had time to mingle and vote for the best bike name. We got to meet the founder too. There were, also, plenty of canapes for us to sink our hungry teeth too. And they were simply delish! We had a good time that evening.

Photo by Chan Min from "This is Albert" - www.albert.com.sg

When you plan to buy a Tokyo bike, you get to meet the lovely peeps at the store who offer you a trial ride, tell you come by and hang out, or just bring your bike in for a service. They are a great bunch! So hey! drop in to take a look and ask for either Jose or Barry. They will look after you and who knows? You might just like what you see. =)

Lil K @ 21 Months

2011-08-05T22:34:00.007+08:00

My little pumpkin pie is all of 21 months now. Just three months shy of turning two!

Brought her for a regular check up last week and the tyke is currently standing at 85cm and weighs 13.3kg, which puts her on 90th percentile.

SHE laughs a lot at this stage. Is very possessive of her mummy, especially when Daddy's around. Loves to sing all kinds of songs including the Bieber's Baby Baby. Gets into lil fist fights with her kor kors. Imitates everything her brothers do. Still adores her grandpa. Nuzzles her face into my neck when she wants to go to bed. Has already had a couple of terrible twos moments. Screams when she gets really mad. Dances the cutest moves to Elmo's songs. Is an old hand at working the ipad. Points to herself in pictures and say Mei Mei. Is totally fearless. And everything I ever dreamt of.

Sometimes my heart pulls a little at how fast she is growing. And I want to bottle her up and keep her by my side forever. =)

Can you tell how much I love you, my baby girl? xx

The Primary 1 Registration Experience

2011-08-05T10:47:00.006+08:00

Finally, we are done with the primary one registration for our boy.

When D and I first discussed the school options for the boys, we decided that we wanted to send them to a single sex school as their first formal school. We were quite keen on a well rounded education for them. Cause it is important to us that our kids would have an exposure to a myriad array of Co-cirriculum activities, especially sports. So that was what we set out to find.

After doing some research, and attending a few parenting volunteering introductory sessions with the principals - which we didn't pursue, we decided on one.

I spent the last few weeks monitoring the progress of the enrolment numbers and prayed that there would not be much changes to the data, as compared to the numbers of the previous years. Thankfully, things were pretty much constant.

Last week, bright and early on Wednesday morning, we headed off to the school with the boy in tow.

Upon arrival, we were presented with a queue number and some forms to fill. The first question was, "Do you live within 1 km?", which we were.

The boy, oblivious to everything that was going on, had his focus on the Ipad.

After submitting our forms and getting them checked, we were out of the door in 15 minutes, where we then brought the boy on a tour around the school.

He looked pleased and a little scared because the grounds are bigger than his current kindergarten. Plus, it's going to be a whole new ball game where he has to make new friends and start all over again.

Three days on, we learnt that we had to ballot for a place in the school, which will take place a week on. Our odds were not too bad. 75 for 63.

Still, I was internally freaking out because even though I had a Plan B but I was afraid we would have to ballot in that phase too, should this option not work out.

So this morning, the hubs and I were in an auditorium with a whole bunch of other people.

The Principal was announcing the names of the kids alphabetically when we walked in, and her staff were folding the ballot slips behind as she goes through the list. (Singaporeans get two slips, whilst PRs get one)

Soon, all the papers were in the square transparent box, which was subsequently given a quick toss.

8 parents got to pick 8 slips of papers each.

Soon, it was undergoing. You can start to slice through the tension in the air. Name after name was called out, and still the boy's name was not on the list!

I must admit that I was almost in major panic they went past the 40th mark. Then at no 49, the name of another 'Kaden' got called out! It was so close!

By this time, I was hovering on the notion that we have to consider Plan B.'Siao liao, siao liao', was running in my head!

However, 5 slots later, I heard a familiar name and, immediately and unconsciously, I let out a big gasp.

It felt like the week's tension has been lifted.

By the time, they got to the end, the last name that was called garnered a big sigh from that Mummy.

And then it was all over.

12 parents walked out without a place. One mother was crying. A few were talking to the principal to discuss options.

The husband and I stayed a little to double check and then we walked out thanking God that our boy (and subsequently now his little brother) is now set for his Primary school education.

Summer Iced Tea

2011-08-04T18:14:00.010+08:00

I was out having lunch with a girlfriend at a cafe when I had the most delicious glass of iced tea.

Perfect for this crazy warm spell that we are experiencing at the moment.

It got me intrigued and I headed off to the supermarket to buy some ingredients to recreate it.

And here's the recipe for my concoction of a refreshing summer iced tea.

Ingredients
1 can of lychees (chilled)
1 pitcher of iced earl gray tea, approximately 5 tea bags to 1.5 litres
A handful of mint leaves

To make the lychee ice cubes
1. Put small pieces of lychees and small tears of mint leaves into the ice cube tray.
2. Fill half of the ice cube tray with lychee syrup.
3. Top up the rest of the tray with water.
4. Freeze.

To put together the drink, all you have to do is.
1. Fill a glass with a mix of normal and the lychee ice.
2. Garnish with some mint leaves and lychees.
3. Pour 1/4 of the glass with lychee syrup
4. Pour in the iced tea, sweetened to your liking.

I'd reckon that it'd make a great drink for a garden party so this is going into my collection of recipes.

Enjoy!!

PS: I used Earl Gray because I loved the smell of bergamot, but feel free to use any other kind of tea, if you'd like.

Picturesque Bordeaux

2011-07-29T23:08:00.005+08:00

We took a lil French break whilst we were in San Sebastian.

Whilst driving up to San Sebastian from Bilbao, we realise that there were signs pointing to Bordeaux.

That was when we realised that the gorgeous San Sebastian is a two hour drive from the wine region of South of France.

Hiaks! What luck?

We had wanted to do a little bit of country traveling during our last trip to Paris but that was not to be. So this time round, we were quite determined to make our way there for a day trip.

So bright and early on a Sunday morning, we set off on our journey of vineyards. It didn't take us long to get to the border before we were in France. After driving past some famous beaches, we got to Bordeaux town in good time.

You will know when you hit Bordeaux. First thing you will see is a row of uniformed square buildings that just shows off its historical french architecture. I loved what I saw. The air felt different. The place has such a resort feeling that one feels at ease when as we drove through the town.

But the thing is, being Sunday, most of the stores were closed. =( Plus, we were there in the morning so it wasn't really the perfect time to visit.

First thing we did was get breakfast. After two weeks of pintxos, I was just glad to have a glass of OJ with a cuppa latte and omelette for brekkie. Nothing fancy. It was so simply prepared but yet we inhaled everything within minutes. =)

After hopping into the Tourist Office (which is really just about the only thing open. Okay... I'm sounding bitter now =p), where they arranged our wine tours, we went on a quick walkabouts around town.

And had the good fortune to run into a Sunday market.

There we had fresh oysters shucked to your order, served with a glass of white vino.

A store that sells paella. With more shellfish than rice. Isn't this a first? =)

Meandering through the market a little, we perused the stalls selling fresh produce, baked goods, flowers. I had to keep my fingers to myself because I was so tempted to buy something back to cook. It was so all so enticing. Can you tell that I love markets when I travel?

I grabbed a quick nutella crepe before we had to leave for the St Emilion region. So I guess our next post will be about vino, vino and more vinos. =)

A Day in My Future

2011-07-28T21:41:00.003+08:00

Have you ever thought about aging?

I haven't.

Yes I have thought about my retirement but it has not occured how I would behave and react with situations when I'm old.

Two Fridays ago, I had the opportunity to try it out.

I attended an event called, "A Day in my Future" organized by the Council for the Third Age. It is an initiative to get the young adults to be aware of the process of ageing and how we can work our way towards an active and healthy retirement.

Held in a gorgeous auditorium down at Shenton Way, we spent the evening participating in activities organised by the Tsao Foundation. And the best part was I met the lovely Delphine. What a pleasant start of the night!

First up, was a test of perception, we had a chance to express what we thought of old people. Then, we thought about adjectives to describe what we would like to be when we are old. Needless to say, it was a good contrast of mostly negatives vs a whole load of positives. Hiaks! Great one to realise how prejudiced we all are, huh?

Next up, was an opportunity to 'grow old'. Laid before us were an array of instruments to help us with our instant 'aging' process. Man! I must've laughed when I saw the props because I thought, there is no way these things can make us feel anything.

But once the bandages, leg straps, gloves, ear muffs and visors came on, I ain't no laughing at any old person who claims they're hard of hearing, or they struggle with long sightedness. It's like my world just changed for a slower version of me.

We had the chance to speak to several representatives from a few stat boards and it was pleasant to hear them share what they had plans for the future of our aging population.

I had a think about what I'd learnt that night. Whilst I am glad that I am leading a healthy diet and exercise regime (more on that later), I'd never thought about how age will slow down my daily activities. This puts everything in place.

At the end of the day, like all things in life, we are responsible for our mental well being, state of health and financial standing. So I'm gonna make sure that I'm in tip top condition for that.

A Day out at Sea

2011-07-26T21:30:00.000+08:00

The thing about growing older is birthdays don't seem to matter as much.

Don't get me wrong.

I still love a good dinner with the husband and small gatherings with friends. But I'm slowly and surely edging away from big celebrations and crazy parties.

Last Saturday, the galfriend and the husband conspired to book a yacht for the morning so that we can all head out to sea, as a little birthday treat. I knew of the plans prior, but still it's such a thrill to be spending some time onboard a boat with my favorite people.

The kids had a ball of a time. My little girl took to it like she had always been lounging in a yacht whilst the boys were lapping up all the packets of potato chips that the crew has laid out.

We got a chance to explore St John's Island for a bit but it was sooo hot that we retreated back to the boat for a BBQ prepared by the staff.

The girlfriend baked a gorgeous 3 tiered chocolated cake iced with marshmallow icing. It was so yummy that my baby was licking her fingers clean.

I have to say I left the yacht feeling happy like a lark. There was everything to love that morning. Great weather and great company.

Thank you for a wonderful birthday, guys!!

Thirty and Counting.

2011-07-25T10:20:00.003+08:00

I turn thirty today.

And I am thankful for the life that I had so far. It is more than anything I ever dreamt or hope for.

A husband who still spoils me silly and gives me all the time & space to do what my heart desires. Three great kids who give me a run for my money but still I adore them so. A group of close knit friends whom I know that I can rely on, whether it's rain, hail or storm. My family who always stand by me whenever I need them, especially when it comes to last minute babysitting.

I have learnt that you cannot plan life. You can only go with the flow and hang on for dear life.

So my only plan for my thirties is to keep healthy, happy and sane. (Well, as much as rearing three kids go.)

Looking forward to the next chapter.

San Sebastian Memories

2011-07-19T23:17:00.002+08:00

Two words.

San Sebastian.

A gorgeous beach town at the northern part of the Basque Country.

The town that has the highest density of Michelin starred restaurants per square ~~food~~foot.

And a vibe that it is a town that is perpetually on holiday.

I was almost afraid that I would be bored by this leg of our travel plans but San Sebastian has other plans for me. It is unbelievably picturesque with a laidback lifestyle to boot.

The beach was filled to the brim with teenagers either playing paddle ball or volleyball. The boardwalk had an exhibition on the history of surfing. Gotta love the smell of the sea filling up the airways.

It was a busy weekend. Down by the esplanade, all the al fresco tables were taken and the streets were filled with streams of people. We had to fight the throes of people walking through town.

So we sought refuge at the harbour.

But it turns out that it's just as packed. So we gave up and kinda just went back to the hotel to put our feet up for a bit. =)

Next up, food!

Left My Heart in Bilbao

2011-07-13T20:42:00.004+08:00

Bilbao had my heart the minute I stepped foot in it.

An old industrial city that is the capital of the Basque Country. It used to be a busy commercial port that went through a phase of industrialization and has now transformed into a cultural hub with arts and gastronomy as its focus.

There is something about Bilbao that captures your soul. The city is quaint and lovely.

I loved that the Nivea River runs through the city and people revolve part of their daily lives around it. Every day, we would walk pass it and see families bringing their children to play in the many playgrounds next to it. People will walk their dogs and we often spy rowers moving in warp speed moving past.

10 Things I heart about the town.

1. Walking Around the Richard Serra's exhibit in the Guggenheim

2.Eating Kebabs in the cold

3. Frank Gehry's Guggenheim

4. The beautiful Hisperia hotel

5. Sumo sushi is the bomb!

6. Old Town is historically beautiful

7. Spending time with the hubs at the fresh produce market

8. Pintxos - Soo much better than the ones in Madrid

9. People watching whilst waiting for our set lunch

10. This GORGEOUS giant floral puppy

I will be back, Bilbao! In a heartbeat! Till we meet again, Adios!

Segovia in Pictures

2011-07-12T21:55:00.002+08:00

I am a sucker for ancient structures.

So when I knew that we were going to Spain, the Aqueduct in Segovia was definitely in my must see list.

An ancient structure that was used to transport water from the Fuente Fría River to the town center. It stands at 28.5m. Truly when we stood in front of it, its magnificent aura overshadows the little buildings in the town.

Segovia is just a 30 minute train ride away from Madrid. A perfect location for a day trip.

The mansion where suckling pigs await

We took the time to have their famous suckling pig for lunch and then slowly trekked our way through the old town to see the Alcazar (pronounced as Alkatar).

Walking along the winding road to Alcazar

And there it was.

In all its glory

It used to be a royal castle which was then converted over to a state prison, then artillery school. Rumour has it that its design was a significant inspiration to Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle.

The View

An ancient Monastry sits in the midst
As we stood in front of the castle, which sits on a rock, you see the panaromic view of the countryside swooping under. And I love nothing more than staring at landscapes. A habit developed during road trips with the husband.

Great day out!

All in all, it was a glorious day. Sun was up though it was cold. The only thing I would change is to come earlier on in the day. We were there between 12 and 4pm so most of the stores were closed for siestas, which suck because we love popping our heads into little stores to see what's there.

Sunday Memories

2011-07-11T22:31:00.012+08:00

Spot the Iguana, guys.
Popped by the newly opened Antoinette but was booked out so we got takeway
Scoot scoot away, boys
Gal in the seat
Tussle over a leaf
Walkies with Daddy
My little miss

Dinner with friends

2011-07-06T10:03:00.004+08:00

Last night we met with some close friends for dinner at Artichoke.

The babies got a chance to catch up again and still they try their best to ignore the other one. I wonder why? But they are both taller and so much more like toddlers now than babies.

It was a good catchup with the usual chaos of entertaining the kids. These days, topics range from diamonds, weddings to houses. We were just happy to finally have some time see everyone together at the same place and time.

Spot the beast!

As usual, the husband over ordered and we had a HUUUUGGGGEEE lambgasm to share amongst 6 of us and we were stuffed to the max with the dips and desserts. =) I think we all ended up rolling out of the restaurant with our bellies full.

Smile!!

Madrid - Mercado San Miguel

2011-07-03T16:48:00.004+08:00

After a couple of days in Barcelona, we hopped, skipped and plane-d it to Madrid.

We were famished when we were done checking in, and armed with a map of the city together with some tips from the reception we went on a hunt for some food.

That was when we stumbled on upon this market that was just bustling with people.

Mercado San Miguel - A Foodie's Heaven
A glass house of gourmet delights, Mercado San Miguel, was something of a food haven for people looking for a food oasis in the midst of the city.

Loved the slick and clean interiors of this market
It had high celings lined with gorgeous brown beams with a spacious interiors of stalls lining in really neat sections with huge selections of food for anyone.

Croquettes of different flavors for your selection
There are stalls selling fresh oysters shucked to your order, and of course, because we were in Spain, fresh hand sliced jamon which you'll pay good money for. There are warm treats like croquettes and cooked tapas that you can order. Plenty to choose from.

D and I had such a treat walking through the aisles deciding what we wanted to eat. It was tough. In the end, we just decided on a bit of everything.

The menu for steaks

Delicious oily jamon iberico
I was really intrigued by the entire idea of a food market because, by and large, most markets that I have visited are produce markets with a food section. So this was, to me, a real pleasant find.

It was definitely one of my favourite moments in this trip!

Park Guell

2011-07-02T15:57:00.003+08:00

After sleeping the entire Saturday night away, we woke to a gorgeous Sunday morning that we spent at the Museo Picasso.

Right after some lunch we took the train to Park Guell, a UNESCO site, situated north of the city of Barcelona.

The main entrance of the Park
Park Guell was initially commisioned to be a private estate of houses but when it didn't work out, the state took over the land and converted it into a public park. It was meant to to provide a breather from the industrial fumes and a place for the locals to relax.

A life saver.
What we didn't expect was the hike up to the grounds of the compound in the hot weather. Thank God for escalators. It was a lifesaver for the very dehydrated tourists who wore inappropriate shoes. =)

Hello! Barcelona
However, once you get to the gates of the park, the panaromic view of the city is well worth the efforts spent.

What makes the park special is all the mosiac work in the seating area of the upper arena, that Gaudi comissioned, as well as the Grand Entrance. My favourite part is the stone viaducts. It was all that I wanted to see when I planned the trip.

We had a great time exploring the stone viaducts and just taking some time out of the city. It was very relaxing, despite the high volume of tourists in the area.

This is the upper arena, which is sadly filled with street vendors selling really random stuff. =(
The Center Viaducts
Roadway in the Park - It's modelled after the pine trees in the park
One of the Hansel & Gretel Houses
The interior of the worker house that Gaudi lived in

La Sagrada Familia

2011-06-27T08:50:00.002+08:00

The Passion Facade
So... one of the reasons we were in Barcelona was to see the gothic architecture of the infamous Catalan architect, Antonio Gaudi.

Now we are not particularly architecture buffs but we do like traveling to see the different forms of architecture around.

First stop was the La Sagrada Familia. This was Gaudi's last project and the church has a combination of his gothic and modernism style.

We had to join a queue that went round the building when we got there but if you have time for just a few attractions, the La Sagrada Familia is definitely one to visit. Gaudi's genius is honestly for show over here.

And the building is not even completed. There are scaffolding around it and it is estimated that it will be completed around 2030. Guess it warrants a visit back to see how it is then.

This is definitely Gaudi's masterpiece. At the entrance, we got an audio guide to share (cheapos la, we!) and the thorough explanations helped us with the different backgrounds of the rooms that he had designed.

You will notice the gothic outlook of the church when you step out of the metro station but inside, it is all modern and slick. And this was all designed in 1883 but yet looks thoroughly current for its times.

We'd spent hours there before heading back to the hotel to conclude Day 1 in Barcelona. =)

La Sagrada Familia
The obligatory shot
The Entrance
Gaudi believed that there are no straight lines in nature so these columns were made to branch out like trees
The detailing on the ceiling
Us at the Grand Altar

Pounding the Streets of Barcelona

2011-06-26T09:07:00.003+08:00

Inside the church of Santa Maria del Mar
Barcelona is quite an interesting place to let your sense of direction down and just follow where the windy little street curves bring you. There have been times where we just let our guard down and just explore the nooks and corners of this town where we were met with little surprises.

I must admit that being on vacation encourages that because, being in mostly mom mode, it's really getting from point A to point B in the fastest way possible all the time. So this time round, we really just took our time to savour the sights.

Makes for a good time to relax with the husband and bask in 100% attention. Something that we definitely don't have when the kiddos are around. Love it. Great relationship tip, I must say.

One area we loved was the Born area. There are museums and tapas and shopping. Plus it's quite mediveal with the high city walls. Simply gorgeous. Go there when you are in Barcelona.

Store selling bags using recycled billboards
Loved the Graffiti near the Dali Museum in the Born area
Tapas joint near the Piccaso museo
Cava and Tapas makes a great arvo snack in this joint.
Hanging out at Born
Gelato

Why I'm Writing Less

2011-06-23T18:30:00.009+08:00

OMG I've finally had the time to sit and blog.

It's been two weeks since we came back from Spain and I've got tons of entries to load but my lil twentymonthold has decided that Mommy is her best playmate and we have been pretty much velcroed for the last few days.

But, really, I'm not complaining because she's as cute as a pumpkin pie now. And I adore her so.

Is this Ice Chocolate for me?

Snuggles for doggie

All exhausted after a play date

Eat Barcelona: Pinotxo Bar

2011-06-17T08:30:00.002+08:00

When you are at the La Bouqueria market, one stall will stand out in terms of its location and its crowd.

The orange signboarded Pinotxo Bar, situated right at the entrance of the market, serves freshly prepared 'homestyled' food to anyone that can grab one out of the fifteen coveted seats available. [which explains why there's always someone breathing down your neck when you eat. =)]

Cooking sausages on the grill
Friendly and pretty amazing in understanding tourist language, the cooks will recommend the dishes they have for the day, based on the produce they have, and you take your pick. [Cos it's a monday, there were no seafood choices for us. =(]

D happy to grab a seat, at last!
The food comes quick and piping hot. And it was delicious. We had a coffee to go along and, if you ask, they will give you a part of a baguette to soak up the sauces from your plate.

OMG the typical crowd. You can wait up to 30 minutes for a seat
And even though it's batshit busy, they will not rush you through your meal. Instead, you are welcome to a second coffee and, by the time you are through, most likely you are good to move on to the next item of your itinerary.

My best tip. Get there before 9am and also do your research on their menu online.

Great way to start the day. And here's what we had.

Grilled Sausage.
Croquettes. Deep fried potato balls with aa variety of creamy fillings
Beef Stew. Rich chewy texture and filled with beans and raisins. It was comfort food.
Tripes. It was peppery and tasty.

Barcelona: The First Morning

2011-06-15T21:33:00.003+08:00

The husband and I just returned from a fortnight in Spain.

The idea started when he asked what I would like for my 30th and I said, "Paris" but he suggested "Spain".

Tapas, Gaudi and Europe is always a good idea. So off we went.

We landed blurry eyed in Barcelona after a 16 hour flight, and after dropping the luggage off at the hotel. [After walking like 8 blocks to the hotel] It was food that we sought. And where better than the La Bouqueria market down at La Rambla.

The market was already bustling at 11am in the morning. The array of fresh produce is incredible. Plus the vendors take great pride in the stall's decor. We took some time wondering around the market and it was a little hard to resist buying stuff cause everything looked fresh and the spread was much more than what you see here in SG.

Mercato La Bouqueria

Jamon, anyone?

Fresh fruit juices

An array of eggs

All zonked out by the long flight

'olla from Spain

2011-06-03T15:33:00.001+08:00

Hello from Spain!

We've been traveling through the different cities in this part of Europe and it has been such a wonderful time spent exploring the region and seeing all the architecture and sights.

If there is one place to live in, it's Spain, I'd tell ya! The stores open at 10. Close at 2. Then it's a loooooong siesta!! (seriously NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING!!) is open. Not till 4 at least then it's work all the way till 9pm before you hit the streets for tapas and a glass of cava or beer! Incredible!

Needless to say, we are getting used to this and I think my husband is going to have a hard time going back to work when we get home!!

Anyhow, here's a preview of the pics I took on the iPhone. (my memory card reader is not working on the Mac. Gah!)

More when I get back!

The amazing Casa Batlo by Gaudi.

The gourmetlicious San Miguel market in Madrid.

Frank Gehry's Guggenheim museo in Bilbao.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Sun and Sand

2011-05-22T21:22:00.010+08:00

The sun finally came out of its hiding.

After months of rain, it has been scorching hot here in this sunny island for the last few days.

So we packed everyone into the car and set off for the beach.

Slapped on the sunblock and threw some beach toys for them to muck around the sand for a lazy Sunday arvo.

Very much like what we used to do so very often in the good old Melbourne summer.

All my kids wanted was to build a sandcastle and swim. =)

Hanging out with Miss Cheeky
It was the best family activity in such a long while. We have been so caught up with life that we haven't had time to indulge the kids for something as simple as this. And I'm glad we did today. We all had such a good time.

And when they were all packed up to head home, we had all three kids dozing off in the car. Best kinda day, I'd say.

Mom's Day

2011-05-08T23:25:00.005+08:00

Isn't it funny that all I wanted for mother's day was a family picture?

And so just like that, after brunch, we found a perfectly black wall across the road and gathered for a quick picture.

And voila!

I got what I wished for.

Thanks R for the awesome photo!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there!

18 Months of Bubba-liciousness.

2011-05-08T08:50:00.001+08:00

With the little bub at 18 months old, she has evolved into a fiesty chatty toddler. Her vocabulary is mostly one worded phrases but it has expanded into small sentences like "I want bread" or "I want milk" or "What's that?".

I will walk with you, Tor Tor. (how she pronouces KorKor.)

She loves nothing more than walking around the mall (sigh!) and poking her head into every little store that she sees. Plus, every evening she would point towards the door and ask to be brought out for a walk.

Briyani is yummy, Mom!

The wonderful thing about her little stance on being independence is her want to self feed.

It is a very messy affair with most of the food landing everywhere but her mouth.

But practice makes perfect and she has been pretty successful lately in this area and I'm mightily proud that she did it in such a short time. Even though, the actualy eating process is quite long, la.

It does drive the husband stircrazy to see the mess that she creates and he tries to feed her to quicken the process but she would not have any of it! The mouth shuts and she shakes her head vehemently against her father's wishes.

Imma gonna get Daddy to buy me pear crisps, even if you won't, Mommy!

O the subborness! (My mother says she takes after her mum in this aspect!)

There's was a short hospital stint earlier on in the month because she's developed a sympton called Bells Palsy.

It happened rather quickly. One night after her bath, I noticed that her smile was rather crooked and it got me quite worried. After confirming with the GP (who's D's uncle) that it is bells palsy, we went off to the A&E of KK which they immediately decided to ward her. (Note: KK's A&E is really understaffed and thus the amount of care given is not optimal)

Now that is where it got tricky. It was Friday evening and the general plan was to keep her in the cot for TWO DAYS. Which D was not in agreement to because he knew that she would scream the ward down in less than hour (which was what happened.)

Watching youtube whilst waiting for the consultants

So the registrar spoke to her senior and based on past experience, they knew that it would take time for the nerve to heal so K was released and we'd brought her home to zzz.

It's been three weeks now and it's much better so I'm hoping it will go back to normal soon. Gonna head back to the doc for a follow up next week.

And then we move on to feeding others. =p

Other than that, I think I may have bred a drama queen.

There have been days where she would just fling herself onto the ground and sob when things don't go her way. Sometimes she'll run in a different direction and cry whilst looking back to see if we are chasing after her. And it has been quite exhausting bringing her out on my own, since I've been helperless for the last fortnight.

Cuddles for Puppy

Terribles twos aside... this little one has every single person nailed under her pinky. (Especially her Daddy and her Grandpa!) She loves to do her walkabout and say bye to every person in sight. She loves babies and would point them out by saying "BA-BEH!" And she loves to terrorise every single living animal that she sees out there, especially cats. Quite funny, really.

Loving a lil gal

I can't believe she's growing up so quickly. It's so true what they say about the last kiddo... time always fly!

Iron Anniversarie

2011-05-06T21:47:00.001+08:00

The morning I was wedded to the man for six years, I woke up to a morning sight like this.

Breakfast with two of my biggest loves sharing a tender moment

Time is an amazing tool.

Whilst it feels like forever, it has also been such a blink of an eye.

I guess when you have been together for quite awhile (almost a decade with our dating days), it makes time pass a little bit quicker than usual. Plus, three kids does make everything go faster like clockwork.

So in the evening, we shelved our fancy dinner plans for a pole dancing competition which was wow wow wow! No regrets there.

Followed by this simple meal at Artichoke, where Chef Bjorn is always happy to accommodate our appetites and whip up amazing Moorish stuff for us. It was delish!

But it wouldn't be complete without a picture to see where we are six years down the road.

Happy Anniversary, Hubs! Love love you heaps!

Being Boy 5.5

2011-05-05T23:13:00.004+08:00

The boy turns all of six this year.

A far cry from the toddler that was barely speaking much when we first landed in SG 2.5 years back.

He is still very much a boys boy. Active. Very much awake from the morn till the time his head hits the pillow with nary a nap in sight. It's quite hard to keep him still for a minute.

These days, he's very much into his friends. He sings the songs they sing. He talks the way they do. It's funny how important friends are to him at this stage. I guess it's gonna weigh more as he gets older.

Needless to say, along with the need to be independent, he's also been quite defiant. It's part of the growing up process but it's quite a tough part to manage because he only tends to listen when I get mad. Headache headache.

But the saving grace is always at the end of the night when he gets tucked into bed, that he gives his mother a big hug and a tender kiss.

And just like that, he becomes my little boy, again. (Well, till the next morning!)

Pearl of the Orient

2011-04-21T22:12:00.001+08:00

When our highly anticipated trip to Tokyo was cancelled when Japan was hit with the tri disasters, D and I hopped onto a plane that led us to Hong Kong.

I must admit that I wasn't really looking forward to it because Japan has been on my mind for ages and it was truly disappointing when it didn't happen.

However, we did have a good time in Hong Kong.

The landscape has changed so much in the last seven years but we had such a good time just eating our way through the city and shopping, of course!

Getting to the city from the airport was easy peasy. If you travel in groups of two or more, you get a discount on the Airport Express. Buy your tickets and 24 minutes later, you are right in the heart of the city.

We stayed at this boutique hotel in Wellington Street, on Hong Kong Island. It was tiny but so accessible to all the hotspots of HK. LKF and Soho was 5 minutes away. We had eateries at our doorstep. Plus, there was shopping everywhere! IFC was a 10 minute walk away and Queens Street Central is 5 minutes away. It was perfect!

It was such a good break for us! I can't believe it's been that long since we've last been there but it's definitely on my shortlist for our next holiday!

Working Out and Moving

2011-04-14T10:13:00.004+08:00

Did something out of the norm today.

Got up at 630 and dashed off to the gym for an early morning workout.

By 8 in the morn, I was done with breakfast and a workout. Happy me, much!

It has been a crazy two weeks of packing and unpacking.

Thank goodness for movers from Helping Hands who did the entire moving. They literally came in and swept all the boxes off the ground and we did two loads in 4 hours. Epic fast, I'd say.

That morning, I was reminded that kindness begets kindness. We knew that being a morning job, the movers would probably have little to eat so we bought drinks and lunch for them. And, in return, they did an extra drop off for a fridge at my mum's and charged us only a quarter load for the second trip. It was a pleasant surprise when we saw the charges.

Anyway, I'm hoping to clear all the clutter by the end of the week and then it's back to home cooking. Eating out has been rather detrimental to the tummy. I'm feeling all the sodium so, hopefully, things will settle down soon and we can go back to normal life.

Till then, I need to find time to sit and write about Hong Kong.

K Goes Up and Down the Slide

2011-03-16T09:49:00.002+08:00

It's pretty clear to us that our baby is, well, no longer one.

At 16.5 months, she has enough tricks up her sleeve to amuse us daily.

She had a little playground adventure one evening last week.

First, she let go of my hand. Then she gingerly approached the steps and once she's successful in climbing up the steps by herself... she was off!

Straight to the edge of the slide and pushed her lil diapered bum down.

Here's the video! (Pardon my excitement!)

It was the most amusing thing to watch and I almost had tears in my eyes about how grown up she is. She's so cute that I wanna hold her and squish her. =)

Can you tell that I just adore her so!