Treasure Hunt for Stories

AN had been testing my creativity.

It was play-acting serving and dining in a restaurant few days ago, and story telling and checking books in/out library on Friday night.

Last night AN asked me what it would be but we ended up sleeping earlier than usual because the kids were tired.

Today, I drew a map of daddy's room (that we have invaded in his absence. I've not had time to update that he's been away to Phoenix for the past week and back in 4 hours. Yeah!)

I hid 3 quotes from 3 stories. And "astrix-ed" where I hid them.

Each time AN found one, I'll read one of the 3 stories to see if she could match the quote to that story.

She already enjoys listening to stories and this made her more attentive than usual (at other times, she usually does her own analysis of the story out loud as I tell it). The searching for hints just spiced up her anticipation more.

My baby asked if we could do it again tomorrow.

Hehe.

I'm happy she enjoyed it.

Because I really have little ideas what we can do with a destructive little boy lurking in the background as we play, if our activities are not age-appropriate for him.

Today, AN engaged him in searching.

I'll do the treasure hunt game again. Probably, the next time round, we'll hunt for words to piece up to make a familiar sentence.

Like AN excitedly told me after the game: "I feel like Jake and the Neverland Pirates!"

Whatever makes her happy :)

Final Countdown: Day 9

He's on his way back, touching down on SQ11 at 0255hrs.

Finally.

And kids, some days are just not worth remembering.

I'm tired again. AN had a rough day yesterday, and ER had a rough night. I had a rough 24 hours shift from (only counting from midnight to midnight).

Head throbbing now but I will survive. My kids will grow up.

Countdown: 6 days

Sunday

MIL came over to help with the kids while I arranged to keep mum company and help find her a cheongsam.

Andy was around and he kept us company the whole day. In fact he fetched us to and from Thomson Plaza for AN's lesson. He also volunteered to take AN to school every morning till Mr Liow comes home.

Coincidentally, my dad was home on Sunday afternoon and he agreed to go with us shopping. Andy wants to get him a shirt too.

I can't remember the last time we went out as a family. It must be at least 20 years ago!

Mum got a gorgeous cheongsam which is in the process of being amended to her measurement now. Wasn't something she thought she would like. Dad didn't think much of it too. Was glad I insisted she try (it was a layer of cotton lace over the satin material inside).

When she did, the other dresses paled in comparison.

Dad got himself a shirt too. Shirts all look the same to me but he does look good in this one.

Am grateful for MIL's help. Won't have achieved this much with the kids (mainly the 2year old) around.

Monday

I got my hair coloured (after 9 months), finally. And a cheongsam too.

Wanted to get a short gown but realised that I probably won't ever wear it again. I can still wear a cheongsam for Chinese New Year, or to dinners (whichever type of dinner that requires me to dress up).

It's bright green. Like my evening gown 8 years ago was. Green is my colour. I love green eye shadows too. It's not my favourite colour but they somehow make me look nicer.

We're left with Mr Liow's outfit and the kids'.

And then my parents have one thing less to worry about after this. No more major celebrations to hold, till their grandchildren get married in at least 20 years.

Today

ER is having runny nose now.

The moment I sniffed the burnt odour in the air upon stepping out of the mall yesterday, I had a feeling ER's airway will start to protest.

And ER started sniffing last night.

He's not coughing yet. So it's not terrible news yet. I gave him his daily Flixotide as I normally do, and ventolin. Just in case he starts panting again. The inflammation happens faster than a rocket! I hope to prevent that from happening by obeying Dr Lee's instructions. Hehe.

Praying that little tiger's body is strong enough by now, to overcome this little provocation with extra help other than the 'tools' we already have.

Countdown Starts Now

Countdown: 9 days

Mr Liow just left for the airport. He'll reach Phoenix at 7 plus in the evening (Phoenix time), which is about 10am Singapore time. That's about 24 hours, shorter than the usual 30 odd hours. He'll arrive Singapore at 0200hrs on 15th October. Don't like the separation but it's only one week. It'll be over soon.

Desaru 16-18 June

The little boys!


All the kids, I think?


The Liows


My Girlfriends



Our Desaru Gang

Safely Arrived!

End of countdown. He's home! Yippee!

D-Day

Mr Liow should arrive Singapore at 249am on SQ11. One week went by and it wasn't too long.

Mum had been such great help. I complained about being told to do things as if I didn't know better. I really didn't know better. Now I'm back home sweet home and missing mum. Hehe.

Wrote her a sweet sms and I think it touched her. I NEVER sweet-talked my mum. Even complimenting her took some getting used to. I tried loosening up, letting go of whatever that had been holding me back, and wrote 我爱你 to her after appreciating her selflessness in my sms.

I'm glad she noticed my attempts to display my love by giving her little (negligible) surprises like buying her favorite cakes, becoming a sponsor (with a little contribution) when she has things she feels like buying etc.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums (especially my mama). Dads are important people too but mums ares a little more because they are not just sacrificial and selfless, they also know us well, sometimes even better than we know ourselves.

I used to be in denial whenever mum said: "I know you like this..." because I don't like to be this predictable. But I have to admit, mum is right and I'm not predictable. I'm just a child my mum loves enough to know me inside out.

Miss her and dad now.

And excitedly awaiting the man with whom I am spending the rest of my whole life who should reach home before 4am.

Countdown: 1 day

He's at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix now. Should reach Singapore at about 3am on SQ11.

We'll all shift home after dinner tomorrow.

Thinking about it makes me miss staying over already.

It's a challenge keeping silent over mum's comments but it's easy to see she said what she did out of concern, even if most contradict my practice. I should learn to stop correcting mum  -____-" Won't die if I just keep my mouth shut or just agree with her.

Home sweet home. This used to be my home too.

I love my parents.

AN told me once: "Mummy, I don't want to grow up. I want to sleep beside you and be your little baby forever."

That sums up how I feel now. Wish I'm still their little girl...

My Hunk

Mr Liow got himself a new hunky physique. I prefer his old body, so he'll have to shed those meaty packs before he comes back.

Countdown: 6 days

Mr Liow "tango-ed" (v-cam) with us at 11am (8pm in Phoenix. I'll never forget. Hehe). He reached the inn at Phoenix, FINALLY! Let's count....36 hrs, including transit and waiting.

36 hours! Didn't we all survive that number of hours 2 years ago? How did we do that? How did Baileys and Maen do that? And Maen had no water to drink because her bottle couldn't stop leaking and we realized too late.

(My) Strong babies. They do not have to go through that ever again.

Glad Mr Liow survived the flight. Each time he travels, I'll worry about his slip disc. He had been feeling a little sore at that affected site since the volleyball game some weeks back. Not terrible pain but it didn't feel normal.

How's it being away this far, for us? Lol! As if we are suffering. Was terribly bored yesterday, so AN and I got productive! We completed some worksheets she missed in school when she was on M.C. (her teacher returns us past month's work and a progress summary first Fri of each month). And we finished a few units in her Maths and English assessment books.

I gave her time to watch Mickey Mouse (classics from my old collection), and boredom set in after the show ended. She went ahead to practice writing her Chinese characters.

Lol!

That was yesterday.

She has school today, so time passed relatively fast.

I brought her to have her passport photo taken (Pei: the self-taken one didn't pass. Lol! Fringe covered brows, background not white, uneven lighting), did some grocery shopping and enjoyed each other's company without the cute little monkey.

Both are resting now. It'll be dinner, relax, and then good-night soon.

More to be done tomorrow: I'll have to open a CDA account for AN at the bank, go home to scan her photo and re-send it to ICA, get ER's diapers (Pampers is on sale at Cold Storage! $35.90 for 2 packs!)

On Wednesday, I'll probably make my way down to sign ER up for Ingenious. To my Finance Dept: I balanced the options and thought we'd try Igenius because subsequent signups are cheaper than MyGym. And it's on promo now. If no good, we can always switch, right? Or simply stop.

I know I'm fickle-minded but it's all for the kids!

Lol!

Will update you again if I have time or interesting things happen later.

Location : 121A Rivervale Dr,

Goodbye, dear dear

Mr Liow is at the airport now and we're at my parents' place. He'll be leaving for Phoenix tonight and will reach in 27 hours. :(

Much as my parents try to make our stay comfortable (aircon servicing done so we have clean, cool air to sleep in, new sheets, clean guest-mattress, toys etc), home is still where the heart is.

ER had been whining since we reached at 8pm because he missed his nap. AN missed hers too but she's better at managing her emotions than ER despite the several outbursts of unreasonable behaviours when she lost control. She's trying to keep her promise to obey.

ER is still not very settled and it's already 10.15pm. I think he has problems sleeping away from home. Our girl must have been desperately hungry because she finally agreed to ask my mum to make her milk after waiting for ER to fall asleep (which doesn't seem like it will happen soon because he just got up to say 'Hi!' to her. -_____-" )  Thank God for mum who got up to help.

AN has no lessons tomorrow. What shall we do?

Hmm...

Location : 122D Rivervale Dr,