An accidental picture

After J is done with his tantrums, he left tearmarks on the bedsheet.

It brought a smile to his face when he saw the picture he had "painted".

Cautious vs Carefree

幼儿园 Superstar

Another of K’s cousins is turning 21 and it is celebrated in a karaoke again.

J gamely went up the stage when it was his turn. He took the stage like a real professional and starts to sing along to the theme song from a Taiwanese soap opera that runs every weekend nights. But if you listen closely, he only knows 3 words to the Hokkien lyrics. The rest is being sung by his grandaunt. M, the backup dancer, had stage fright halfway thru and started crying. Thus he has to be removed from the stage. Undeterred, K continues to amuse the crowds.

When the song ended, he left the stage and walked towards me with this smug look on his face! My shy little boy has shed his shyness and is now a superstar in our family.

We had the intention to drop by for a short while as the boys are still nursing their cold. However, after his debut performance, J refuses to leave and was enjoying applauding the other singers after their song.

A walk in the park

There is a new feature in our neighborhood. It is a path that linked a few parks in the vicinity so that it forms a jogging and cycling path. Along the way, there are stations with some exercise equipments. It is quite a nice walk in the evening.

When I am free or in need for some fresh air (not much since the path is built beside the road and MRT tracks), I would take the boys for a walk.

J loves it as he gets to try out the exercise equipments. He would look at the demonstration pictures beside the equipments and tries to mimic it. However, the equipment are adult size and does not fit him but he still tries. I don’t stop him as it is good to get him interested in exercising as long as he does not get hurt.

Needless to say, gutsy M loves it just as much as he gets to run around. And I mean RUN. He would run so fast that I have to run after him too. J would get exasperated with M and tries to hold his hand. J would also give him a good scolding for running away (but not out of my sight). (Once I took the boys to the supermarket and when we got home, J complained immediately to his dad and said "This boy ahh, anyhow run. I so worried that he will run away ahh.")

I took the 2 brothers for a walk today and J was teaching M about the things they see along the way. J would point out the cat to M and tell him that there are caterpillars on the leaves. He would tell M to touch the leaves and there is nothing to be afraid of. J would also point out the colors of the flowers. While all these are happening, I would take a step back so that it gives J the opportunity to play the big brother role.

I took some beautiful pictures of the boys with the setting sun framing the background. Unfortunately I don’t have my digital camera with me thus the resolution taken from the mobile phone is not so good. However, in my heart, this is another Kodak moment that I will cherish forever.

Seeing seeing double double?

At times, I wonder if I had given birth to twins. They look so alike. But M's scream will bring me back to reality and reminds me that they are totally opposite when it comes to their characters. No wonder they say looks are deceiving. That phase sure takes on a whole new meaning in this household.

He ain't afraid of no ghost!

I just had this conversation with J.

J: Mum, I tell you something.
Mum: What, son?
J: I am afraid.
Mum: Afraid of what?
J: Afraid of ghost.
Mum: There is no such thing as ghost.
J: Will you protect me, mum?
Mum: Of course I will!
J: You have a cane to beat the ghost?
Mum: Err....yes.
J: Will Jesus protect me?
Mum: Yes, He will.
J: He has a cane to beat the ghost too?
Mum: ????

1. I don't know where/when he learn the word "ghost" as it is not an acceptable word in this family.
2. The cane does have an impact on him! It is the ghostbuster's weapon!
3. Is he afraid of ghost? Nah...I don't think so.

Look like Daddy or not?

That is the question J asked me when he return from the barber; whether he looks like his daddy or not.

With the intense heat during this period of the year, J is constantly drench in sweat. Unable to tolerate it any more, I told K to take him to the barber to have his hair cut short.

I love his new hairstyle. Way better than his previous "mushroom head"!

Gutsy little fella

As a prelude to Father’s Day dinner with my parents, I took the boys to the playground.

Once we reach the playground, I was surprised to see how agile M is. At only 14 months, he is able to climb up the stairs and could even go down the slide by himself. He saw another boy playing with some balls and when the boy’s grandpa offered it to him, he went up to take the ball; totally unafraid of the stranger.

He sure is one gutsy fella!

Monsters vs Aliens

I promised J that I would take him to the movie to watch “Monsters vs Aliens”. This is not the 1st time he is going to the movies so he knows what to expect.

We decide that we will watch the 3D movie at AMK Hub. As he took a long time to get ready, we are unable to take the MRT as he has requested.

Upon arriving at AMK Hub via cab, it took us some effort to locate the cinema as it is our first time there. After locating it, we collected the tickets which I had booked online. Next we bought some popcorns and drink. When the hall number started flashing, J was very excited and at the entrance, we collected the 3D glasses. As it was adult-sized, I need to use a rubber-band to tie the ends of the glasses so that it fit nicely on J’s head.

We the show started, I noticed J sitting comfortably and munching away on the popcorns. I check on him a few times to make sure that he is enjoying the movie and he was too pre-occupied and just gave me a nod. After that I sit back and focus on the movie.

The 3D effects of the movie were very good and there was not a dull moment. This is the 1st time I am watching a 3D movie and I am totally amazed by how realistic the effects was.

After the movie, J finally got to take the MRT back and when we reach the station, we went to 7-Eleven to get his favorite snack.

It is a good day for both of us.

Big Breakfast

Underprivileged M has his first Macdonald’s experience. Although not the 1st time in a Macdonald’s restaurant but this is the 1st time he is awake.

As usual, when it comes to food, M gets excited. When we came back with our order, he can’t wait to get his hands on the food and keeps saying “mum mum, mum mum”. The scramble egg couldn’t cool down fast enough to meet his insistent demand. When it finally did, it disappears into his tummy in a few seconds!

I think he got impatient with us because he grabbed the fork to pierce the egg and fed himself. And he executed it perfectly. His self-feeding performance has won him enough credits for his next Big Breakfast.

As for J, well, he just takes his own sweet time to smell the coffee and enjoy the sausage.

Mega-watt smile

His smile says it all.

Open House

Today, we have many guests visiting us.

As it is the school holidays, J's cousins, C, D and E decides to visit us. I was more than glad to have them visit us and went to the supermarket to buy some snacks to fill their tummy after their swim.

Upon arrival, they checked out our temp home and couldn't wait to take a dip in the pool. With K in lead, all of them went to the pool for their afternoon swim while I prepare sotong ball and longan almond jelly for their snacks.

When M woke up from his nap, I took him down to join his cousins. When I arrived at the pool, they were all gathered at the jacuzzi pool. I left M with K and went back to work.

In the evening, they all return and dinner was ready for them. After dinner, they huddle in one of the rooms while I await the arrival of my other guests.

Van was in town so it was a good opportunity to have her come over for dinner. Naturally, that means it is another gathering of the VEMY sistahood - Van, Elanie, Yen Nee and yours truly. We also have the privilege of our little princess, A gracing our presence.

Dinner was a simple affair of home-cooked food - Winter melon soup, tomato prawn, black pepper prawn and a vegetable dish. Dessert was compliments of YN and E who made a batch of yummy cookies! It taste even better than Famous Amos! You know it is good when J ask for a second helping as he is not into sweet stuff.

When it was time for the cousins to go home, they decided that they want to stay for the night as they want to continue to swim the next day. J was thrilled by the decision as he was fussing himself over his cousins, wanting them to play with him and even wanted to take some pictures of them using my camera.

While the children (and teenagers) play in the bedroom, I continue my "adult entertainment" with my friends. As a WFHM, I don't have any colleagues to yak with. Thus it is always a welcomed change to have some adult conversations about what is going on in the outside world.

Time seems to pass by quickly when you are having fun. Soon it was A's bedtime and time to see our guests out.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, the kids was having fun and J was reluctant to go to bed despite being "chased" out by his cousins.

Oh boy! What a fun day.

Play date with J's cousins

G needed help with baby-sitting her kids as her ILs took the week off for vacation and she was unable to take time off from work. I was more than glad to help as J has always enjoyed playing with G's son, S. J and I waited at the lobby for their arrival and while waiting, J would ask “Are they here yet?” whenever a car pulls up on the porch.

After they arrived, the 2 cousins, S1 and S2 took a while to warm up as this is the 1st time they are spending the day with us.

Very soon, the 2 boys, S1 and J were having fun. S1 was very well-behaved while it was J who was naughty by snatching toys away from S1. I think there was a point when S1 had enough of J.

As for the little princess, S2, her “siren” will go off the minute she can’t find the helper and there was no chance for me to get close to her. Sigh. But she amazed me with her appetite! She was constantly snacking the whole morning. M has found his match and she wins hands down.

After lunch, all the children took a nap and in the early evening, K took them for a swim. After the swim, all 4 cousins was once again playing and soon, evening came and G and her hb came for dinner before fetching the kids home.

I survived the day as S1 and S2 was very well behaved and I think once you have crossed the threshold of having 2 boys, having 2 or more kids don’t make much difference. But that does not mean I will have more!