Monday, April 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Kitson!

Another year older,
Another year wiser.
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The contented birthday boy with his coconut drink!
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Hiroshi giving the secret recipie birthday cake a huge thumbs up!
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Thank you Sister Peggy & family for the Birthday Surprise and Treat!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Happy Birthday George!!

When I was dating Kitson,
I attended George's full month celebration in Ipoh!

And he's 7 today!!!

*staring hard at wrinkles and greying hair*
Time Flies!!!
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Monday, April 19, 2010

Hiroshi's Woes of Reading

We managed another page in the book!
*wipes away perspiration on forehead*

I wonder if this is the pitfall of our educational system?!?!?
Hiroshi is definitely not learning to read,
he is merely memorizing!!!!

Page 2 of A School Bully
Q-dees Building blocks graded reading programme
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Saturday, April 17, 2010

Sophia picking daddy up from the airport

After a long bus ride,
Sophia is excited to surprise daddy at the airport.....
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Hiroshi's World of Reality

Week 12 Homework
We're starting to get the hang
about writing 2 pages of homework every week...
Oh well... at least Hiroshi doesn't complain that much anymore!
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But, it seems that we now have new uphill challenges ahead:
the Q-dees Building Blocks Graded Reading Programme....

Hiroshi is expected to read a book!
Seriously speaking,
I cannot remember myself reading books at the age of 5!

The teacher's atrocious note on his book:
"Needs practice.....
Isaac really needs to put in effort in reading.
I am trying my best to motivate him.
Pls go through the book with him."

So honestly, if the teacher did try so hard to motivate him,
why can't he even read the 1st word on the book?!?!?!?!

*speechless*

Through bursting every single blood vessel in my system,
we managed to read ONE page in the book!
Darn... Many more pages to go!
But, we should learn to REJOICE at the current achievement
rather than concentrate at the huge mountain ahead!

1st page of A School Bully
Q-dees Building blocks graded reading programme
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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Simplicity of a Child's Life.....

I love simplicity of a child's life!
I love how an umbrella on a rainy day
instantly brightens up Hiroshi's gloomy day!!!
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Nasi Ulam

Nasi Ulam is Malay for "rice" (nasi)
with a whole variety of local greens.
These greens comprise vegetables, herbaceous plants,
edible wild plants, shoots, leaves, and stems.

Description
Also known as kampung salad,
Nasi Ulam is a signature dish of Peranankans as well as the Malays.
Nasi Ulam has been a popular dish
with the natives of the Malay Peninsula.
But like many dishes in South East Asia,
other cultures also have their version of the dish,
especially the Peranakans who adapted the dish
until it became an integral part of Straits cooking.
It is now known as "Queen" of all Peranakan rice.

-By Suchitthra Vasu

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Recipe adapted from Tracer (www.umami.typepad.com)
Ingredients:
(some quantities are vague,
because it can be guess-timated according to personal taste):
4 cups of rice, cooked
Salted fish, about 10 g, fried, then cooled and shredded finely
Dried shrimps, about 1 big handful, fried and cooled
1 tbsp belacan, toasted
2 tbsp kerisik (toasted grated coconut), dry-toasted in a wok
Herbs ( Finely sliced)
Handful shallots
1 serai (lemongrass), only the tender inner parts of the white end
1 bunga kantan (ginger flower)
3 stalks daun kesom (laksa leaves)
3 stalks basil leaves
3 stalks mint leaves
3-4 cekur leaves
6 kaduk leaves
1 turmeric leaf
1 kaffir lime leaf
1 cm fresh turmeric, finely chopped
pepper to taste
toasted almonds for garnish

I personally have a love hate relationship
with this amazing peranakan dish!
I swear the "finely slice herbs" in the recipe is a pain in the arse!
But whenever,
I shove a spoonful of Nasi Ulam into my mouth,
my stomach would immediately ease the pain in the arse
telling it that it's all worth it!
Arrgh!!!
*Complicated Human Anatomy*

Now the bad news....
Hiroshi loves Nasi Ulam too!!!!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Recipe for Successful Marriage.....

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Preheat oven by taking a good hard look at yourself
with all your attributes and all your faults.
Then prepare yourself
by taking a realistic look at your mate.
Note what you really love about your partner
and be flexible and accepting of the other’s faults.
Understand that marriage is not always an easy road,
but if careful with each others feelings,
it can be a great success.

Make Marriage:
In a large bowl full of space where each individual can grow freely
and fully express themselves,
stir together
1-1/2 cups God’s Love ( do not substitute )
1-1/2 cups Kindness
1-1/2 cups Patience
In another bowl , whisk together
3 cups Respect
1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Understanding
1 teaspoon Generosity
1 teaspoon Forgiveness
1 teaspoon Sense of Humor
1 teaspoon Unselfishness
1 teaspoon Responsiblty
1 teaspoon Constructive Criticism
(This last ingredient is a leavening,
so administer carefully and in small amount
or the marriage could turn bitter.)
Stir together and pour into prepared heart.

Bake Marriage:
Bake marriage in the middle of a hot oven
full of life’s major hurdles for a time,
then reduce heat and bake longer
in life’s constant little irritations.
The marriage should rise above these problems
and form a wonderful union.
Note the glorious aroma.

Make Filling;
In a small bowl with a good mixer, blend together
1 cup Leadership
½ cup Gentleness

Fill Marriage:
With a Long knife of TRUST ,
cut the marriage into two distinct personalties.
On the bottom,
spread the Strong, but Gentle filling.
On the top, spread
1 cup wit and intelligence, spiced with humor
Place distinct personalities together,
one on top of the other.

Make Marriage Seal:
In a bowl, over simmering passion, melt together

½ cup JOY
1 Tablespoon Playfulness
Melt together, stirring in
3 Tablespoons Laughter
one moment at a time.
Place over a bowl of good times and bad times,
and stir until it flows freely.

Seal Marriage:
Pour this mixture over marriage,
spreading over the top and allowing
to drip over the sides to others.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sembawang Shopping Center; Splash Park

Spanning 15,000 square feet, the spraypark features interactive features
to provide entertainment and amusement for children.
The design concept is to bring an interesting element of interactivity and fun
into the playground, thus attracting patronage the shopping centre.
Departing from traditional playground equipment,
PLAYPOINT design a mix of splash play and dry play in the playground.

The different elevated grounds between the dry and wet zone,
creates a multi-layered playground that creates a more interesting landscaping.

The Splash Park uses whimsical "Aquatecture®" from WATERTOYS.
It features a host of ground sprays pads
and equipment that creates a fun and vibrant playscape.
The 3 embankment sides are used
as a transition between wet and dry play zones.
It allows children to easily slide from the wet playground
to the dry playground with relative ease.

The Dry area also uses the KOMPAN playground equipment.
With ELEMENTS playground catering for 2-5 years old ,
GALAXY for the 6-12 years old
and a covered fitness area for adults,
it provides good entertainment fun for the whole family.

-source from www.playpoint.com.sg

This is the same company that designed and built
Rainforest Kidzworld at Singapore Zoo!!!!


Water Play is available at
11am -2pm
OR
5pm-8pm

Free Shuttle Bus from Yishun and Sembawang Mrt Station
from 9.30am to 10pm daily

It's AWESOME!!!
The kids had so much fun
shuttling between the wet and dry play area!

Hiroshi with the HUGE water gun!
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Sophia looking too feminine
for the mean looking water gun.....
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Hiroshi who refused to get out of the Splash Park!
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Adeline with all-showered-up Sophia
(taken by Adeline's hubby; Wein
with Adeline's canon 550D)
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Dinner at Aston
Hiroshi saying: "I SEE YOU!!"
(Taken by Adeline with canon 550D)
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Cheeky Sophia
licking her mushroom soup mustache....
(taken by Adeline with canon 550D)
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Great outing!
We should this again and again and again and again....

Hiroshi's World Of Reality

Week 11 homework
We breezed through this week's homework,
since Hiroshi is an expert in alphabet tracing!!
*Big Wide Smile*

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Saturday, April 10, 2010

Happy 1st Month Baby Alphaeus!!!

We have another nephew joining our family,
Baby Alphaeus,
Son of Jack & Celest.

Baby Alphaeus & Myself
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*peace*
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This is what you get when your mum works for a awesome baker!
Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie
Love it, Love it, Love it!
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Getting Organized....

This is the state of my bag....
Ultimate Mess!
Not much of a problem
until you need to find that tiny bunch of key
when your balder is at the brim of exploding!
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Made with Love Bag Organizer
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Bag Organizer Rolled Up
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Bag Organizer in my Chiong Agnes B Bag
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Now I can change bags anytime I want to.
Even at the very last minute!
Just take out the bag organizer and swap bags!
Easy as A,B,C!
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Finally,
No more pants wetting!
No more missed calls!
*grin*

Friday, April 09, 2010

I am officially PUNK-ish!

I thought this was the BEST opportunity
to try something that I've always wanted to try,
but never had the guts to.....

I agreed
-
-
-
-
-
to be a hair model!

Talented Simon working magic on my hair....
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Brilliant Steven who painted my hair
in every spectrum of the rainbow colours!
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Ck, Hair Instructor aka Discipline Master
*giggle*
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Simon, Owner of Elle Salon & Elle Hair Academy
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All the pretty Models of the day!
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I'm Lovin' It!
PUNK PUNK
SUPER PUNK!!!
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Thursday, April 08, 2010

A Pleasant Surprise

Think this birdie must be lost during the migration.
He was all alone when we found him in a coffeeshop!!
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He even eats Tau Pok soaked in Bak Kut Teh!!!!

Monday, April 05, 2010

Hiroshi Learning Sight Words.....

The Dolch/Sight Word Lists were developed by Edward W. Dolch
who found that there are 220 most common words
that appear over and over again.
When students, especially those with Dyslexia
or language learning disabilities focus on the Dolch/Sight words,
confidence and reading ability improve.....

It hasn't been a really consistence effort,
I've gone on and off the programme!
This is our effort a lil after 2 months.....
Hiroshi still has a few more word to learn
before completing the pre-primer sight word list.....

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Circle Line Discovery

Managed to get on the circle line by chance

after Easter Sunday Church Service at Indoor Stadium.....


Auntie Ivy & Hiroshi
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Ivy & myself playing with
camera's smart smile detection function....
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Ivy experimenting if the camera would still take a picture
if she's not smiling......
Of course it would!! Coz I am Smiling *'u'*,
and now you look SILLY!!!!
Wahahahahahaha.....
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Fully convinced of the smile function, she decides to smile again!
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Sophia & Myself
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Ivy and the "starting to get complicated" train map of singapore.....
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And I mention the train ride was FREE!!!
wooohooo.....
My "Auntie" slogan: Cheap is good, But FREE lagi BEST!
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Circle line will officially open on the 18th of April 2010!!!
Praise Singapore for it's effective transportation system!!!

Hiroshi World of Reality

Week 10 Homework
Great news for Easter Holidays
Kind teachers stick to ONLY 2 pages of homework!!!

Hence, stress level is greatly reduced!
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I've also notice that Hiroshi has taken a keen interest in Chinese.
Each time he brings home his chinese little reader story books,
he is able to read it from START to END!!!

I'll like to thank 陈老师 for her patience & guidance.
Hiroshi started school at 17 months,
he could not even understand his own chinese name
when it was being called upon....
But today, he is recognizing chinese characters
and reading story books!!!!
Isn't that a vast improvement that calls for a celebration?!?!?!?

I am still waiting for the day
when we can have a proper conversation in mandarin!
But, till then....
I am proud of his current achievements!

Good job Son!