Creative art 01 : Telescopes

Last night, Faith kept saying she wants to do some "dip dip dab dab" art craft. We do not understand and asked her what is that. After listened to her explanation, I then explained to her that we don't use container of glue for art craft and only school uses brush in glue container.

This morning I thought maybe she will enjoy something close to what she wants to do. I prepared three toilet paper rolls and some colored paper.

Guess what she made...

She made three telescopes during lunch today and said one for her, one for Kate and one for Megan. They are her NAFA classmates.

After she finished, she put in balacony and dried. I didn't get any photo as I was focusing too much on getting her ready for school.

She enjoyed herself.. with me at the background screaming at her to eat faster and don't walk around.

Surprise birthday present from Brighton classmate

Madness rush twice a day

Twice a day....
1. From the time Faith wake up till she is fully dressed for Brighton school in the morning.
2. When she got home from Brighton and finish her lunch and dress her up to NAFA in the afternoon.

Luckily this is only for a month. I am sure my blood pressure is no longer low as before.

Driving me really crazy when she walks around during lunch and dilly dally when there is already short of time. Only when I show my anger face and she will buck up and do thing with haste. I just don't understand why she has to wait till people get angry and will listen. Are all the kids these days behave in this way?

I don't want to lose my cool anymore and I want to ON TIME from now on. I get very irritated when I know I going to be late.

Revised schedule for my little one:
1. Wake up at 07:45AM SHARP for passing urine and then drink milk.
2. Be ready by 08:15AM and leave home.

3. Lunch is to be completed by 12:30 PM.
4. Brush teeth - Pass urine - Get dressed. And leave home at 12:45 PM.

New rule for her:
1. Wake up and leave home on time.
2. NO WALKING or CLIMBING when having lunch.
3. Brush teeth and wear socks and shoes herself.

Wish me all the best for 7 more days.

How to make hard boiled egg?

I  used to boil the egg for 20 mins or so when we were in Bahamas. Eversince I start cooking at home, I wonder do I really need so long to boil a small egg? So did some quick research online and the next morning I tried this new method I learnt.

Instructions:
1. Put the raw egg in a pot.
2. Fill the pot with water till the water is (approx.) 3 cm above the egg.
3. Put the pot on the stove and turn on the fire. (medium fire will do)
4. When the water is boiling, leave it boiling for 1 min.
5. Turn off the fire after a min. and put the pot aside for another 20 mins.
6. After 20 mins or so (longer than that is fine), pour the warm water away and transfer the egg to a small bowl and fill with room temperater water. Some people said this is to prevent the egg white turning chewy. To me, it seem to be easier to peel off the egg shell.
7. The egg is ready to be peeled and served.

This way it could save me 19 mins of gas and do not need to worry that I forgot to turn off the fire.

Faith's daily porridge lunch

Today I revised Faith's daily porridge's ingredients. I removed potato and baby sweet corn and change red cargo rice to brown rice. Reasons of changing:
- is to reduce the porridge portion so she could take finish up the egg white (currently, she only takes the egg yolk and the egg white will be thrown away)
- she could take a fruit before meal and not wasting her porridge

Faith is a small eater. And a picky eater. We can't (we tried many ways) make her eat more each meal and her current schedule doesn't allow her to take more small meal. What we could only do is increase the nutrients in her three meals. Lunch is the most important to her since she don't take much for breakfast and dinner. I am still trying to train her to take more in breakfast time.

Ingredients:

- 1/2 dried scallop

- ard. 10 wolfberries

- 1 scoop of brown rice (i am using the milk powder scoop from formula milk tin)

- a small piece of carrot

- a piece of pumpkin / sweet potato

- a small piece of cod fish

- a small branch of broccoli

- 3 mini tomato

Instructions:

- Put brown rice, carrot and pumpkin / sweet potato into slow cooker.

- Add hot water till all ingredients covered. Let it slow cook for 2 hours.

- Add in rest of ingredients. Let it slow cook for another 30 minutes.

Sorry that I used "piece" instead of exact weight as I don't have food weight scale. I will update this post again with a snapshot of the ingredients.

At the end of our princess's birthday

Our lovely sweetheart said this to me and then to her dad..
"Thank you for my birthday celebration. Thank you for my birthday. Thank you for everything."

With hugs and kisses when she said this.

Feeling really happy that she appreciates what we have done for her.

Time to take actions!! With one step at a time.

I am pretty much a procastinator. I have a lot of ideas and hope and dreams but didn't take much actions to realize them. Mainly just fear of failure and rejection. Lately, I couldn't sleep well. Pretty worried of my future and time is ticking and not waiting for anyone. I don't want my life to be an empty book with nothing to share when I am old. I got to take actions!! One step at a time and the spirit high up.

(1) I am going to note down my passions/ hobbies/ things that I spend most time on. This way, I could deliberate them and focus on one or two. Doing too many things might cause one feel exhausted and give up easily. That is what happened to me!  Very often, I have spent much time on chores and trivial things. Yes, I still have to work on chores but I will consistently think of way to speed up the process. If it is still taking much of my time, then we will look into getting a part-time helper.

(2) I will start looking for full-time permanent job at the same time. I need to support my expense and earn my keep and broaden my circle of friends and keep my mind alert and stay tune. Wish me good luck on this!

Take actions ... one step at a time.  Don't get too stress up and stay cool and happy....

Lose my cool few times today..

Maybe is me. Maybe Faith is unwell and tired and not co-operative and been unreasonable for many times. I lost my cool and shouted at her. Felt guilt and sorry after saw her doze off on sofa. She might be very very tired.

Sorry, darling. Mummy shouldn't shout at you. I'm sorry.

Faith's Birthday Parties Preparation

Faith is going to be 4! January is always a busy month for me. But this year is better than last year. We are going to hold two small celebration in her morning and afternoon schools. No big party with our friends and relatives. We will have another small celebration with her grand-parents. All is going to happen on this Friday. Daddy E suggested a hotel stay on Saturday night. I am sure Faith will love it.

Since celebrations this year are a lot simple, yet there are few things to settle:

1. Find out no. of kids and teachers in her class. And let the school aware of the celebrations.

2. Birthday cake or cupcakes
Last year we ordered from Trish from www.cupcakes-momma.net and this year we hope we get from her again. But I am still checking on her tight schedule. I should have plan earlier. Anyway, just hope she is able to take my orders.

3. Birthday gift pack
I have ordered. This year, I ordered from a friend instead of preparing the gift packs myself. Save a lot of time.

4. Plates / Forks / Napkins
Likely, I will go and find some barbie and disney princess napkins. Wonder where could I get them...

5. Activities for the actual day
She got enrichment class in the morning. After that, we will go hotel stay. Maybe we could go singkids (her favorite play place but I doubt we are going since she is having slight running nose now). We could take Singapore Flyer since she always say she wants to take. And take her out to choose her b'day gift. She already said she wants a doll house. Let see whether we could find one. Rest of day we could just relax in hotel. Daddy E will choose and book the hotel.

Hope she loves our plans for her and truly enjoys her special day.

Faith's weekday lunch

Today onwards, I take over Faith's lunch preparation and feeding her duty from my mil. To ease my morning cooking, I prepare what I can the night before. This way I only need 15-20 mins in the morning to put the ingredient in the slow cooker which will on for 4 hours at high temperature. See the picture of preparation box. Preparation just takes 5-10 mins.

Sore throat.. Sore throat.. Go away

Don't know why all the sudden I have sore throat. Maybe I got the virus from my girl who is having running nose now. :(

First home-cooked food in Singapore new home

Two days ago, the hubby got a new rice cooker from Tefal's warehouse sale. He then asked me to get a small pack of rice to test out the new cooker. Both of us are excited to see there are so many functions and can't wait to try out. Hmm.. We wonder how it can make cake. I love it's size and cool look. It fits nicely to the limited space in our mini-kitchen.

See our new chic rice cooker and first home-cooked porridge which is made using the new cooker.

First Saturday of the year

We changed Faith's ICRP class from Sunday 12pm to Saturday 9am. This way, her lunch schedule will not be messed up and easier for us to find parking lot. Downside is all of us can't sleep late although it is weekend.

Some minor confusions at the centre this morning in regards to her class teacher but it was resolved after all of us realized she was in the wrong class.

After her lesson, we went to another centre that teaches Chinese. We are happy with the centre. Even the receptionist speaks good Chinese. They are not pushy and encourage us to go back and think about it while they reserve a seat for our girl. We will be back next Sunday and sign up.

Last month in Brighton

Today I officially respond to Brighton that Faith will not continue Brighton next month. Feeling a tinge of upset because I like the school. But Faith and the hubby prefers NAFA Arts Kindergarten. It is a tough choice. Hope our final decision is good for our girl.

TGIF.

After a busy week, all of us got to rest a bit. Poor Faith is having sneezing nose and slight fever. This week is really tough for her and I am so proud of her. She did extremely well in adapting new environments (Brighton and NAFA) and friends and teachers although she feels tired due to lack of sleep and change if routine. I am feeling very tired too. Eyes couldn't open now. I can't fall sick. Coming week will be more crazy for me as I will got to take over Faith's lunch cooking & feeding from my MIL for 1-2 months. Meaning wake up earlier than the past week and more stuffs on my plate. Hopefully I could keep my sane and stay cool throughout this period.

This is what I got today to make her porridge. More fresh products to get from Supermarket and wet market.

Fostering a reader

Read an article on nurturing a reader and extract some points which I feel is useful.

1. Recite nursery rhymes.
2. Finger puppet play & action songs.
3. Read every day at a schedule time. If you have more than a child (esp. two years apart), spend time reading to them separately.

4. Read with enthusiasm.

5. Read with expression and use different voices for different characters.
6. Be patient when asked to read same book again and again. This shows their interest.
7. Surround them with reading material.
8. Encourage your child to read to you and don't pressure about what or when to read.
9. If a child makes a mistake when reading aloud, don't interrupt. If the mistake doesn't change the meaning, let it go.
10. Talk to him about what he is reading.

The article I mentioned is from naeyc release #98/19.

Unhappy.

My FIL tagged along to go and pick Faith from Brighton. Well. I expected this since my MIL has went to Brighton and NAFA the first time yesterday and I think he wanted to take a look also. When he got into the car and said he has ever been Faith's school, so I am sort of right on this. I am ok with this.

I was unhappy with his comment made at our house. I didn't comment much to avoid any argument. Since I could complain to no one, I voice my unhappiness here. He commented that we should start throwing things away to make the house less clutter. Our house is already tidy (really a lot neater than we first moved in). Well. I am the sole house keeper here so I am definitely not happy with this comment. What else to throw? So long we don't add in more stuffs, the space is good enough for three of us. At least I feel in this way. Not sure on the hubby.

Another incident happened. He wanted to go for a smoke and unlocked the backdoor but forgotten to lock it back. #%!@#!?? I then reminded him to lock back but he then said he was disturbed by rest of us when he is about to go out for a smoke. I keep silent and could only wish this doesn't happen again. The hubby then told him to smoke in balcony. I personally prefer he either take his smoke break at downstair. What kind of influence he had on our girl.

I really DON'T WANT him to move in to our house. Every time he asked Faith where could he sleep just makes me feel very uncomfortable. The hubby really got to stop this if he seeing this coming. Again I don't want to verbally comment too much now but if this really happen, I don't know what will I do. This definitely is the trigger point.

Second day of new routine.

Although Faith slept earlier last night but she still wake up later than yesterday. Tonight I got to make her sleep 30 mins earlier than last night. Hopefully this way she will wake up on time.

2012 routine plan to be followed.

Morning
7.50am Faith wake up and brush teeth
8.00am Faith takes breakfast & fruit
8.15am Faith goes toilet and changes uniform
8.25am Sends Faith to Brighton
8.40am Reaches Brighton

Afternoon
11.45am Picks Faith from Brighton
12.00pm Reaches home and Faith takes lunch
12.40pm Faith goes toilet and changes uniform
12.50pm Sends Faith to NAFA

Evening
5.00pm Picks Faith from NAFA
5.10pm Reaches home and takes fruit
5.20pm Shower time
5.40pm Buys dinner back
6.00pm Dinner time
7.00pm Home activities time & fruits
8.15pm Read storybook while Faith takes milk
8.40pm Light off

Tripped. Fell. Slided.

This post title tells exactly what happened to Faith in Brighton Montessori this morning. She was playing catching around small play slide and the accident happened. Left her many scratches on her left cheek, left elbow and both kneecaps. I was shocked to see at this state when I fetched her. But this does not stop her from going Arts School. She said she wants to go Arts School when we reached home for lunch. Luckily my MIL is here to help up in feeding her lunch and this gave me some breathe time. Hope no permanent scar from this small mishap.

First day at NAFA Arts Kindergarten

Today is Faith's first day in NAFA kindergarten. Faith is very excited and has been asking everyday since last Thursday orientation when she will going Arts School.

I am glad to accompany her to school since I wasn't allow to go in with her when she attended Brighton Montessori. Day 1 lesson is a short one. It is just 2 hours instead of the usual 4 hours. Afternoon students have their lesson from 11am to 1pm instead of 1pm to 5pm.

Although parents are allowed to go into classroom, but when lesson starts all parents are waited outside. We could peek through the flipping glass window and see what are the kids are doing. They did Chinese singing songs, snack time, outdoor play and coloring. I don't know what they did for English. Maybe I missed out this.

It is great to meet some Faith's classmates' parents and make friend instantly and we exchanged no. to keep in touch. Just that we wonder should we continue with NAFA. Few of us felt that the English teacher is not good enough and kinda of worry the influence she will give our kids. One mummy has complained and hope we could see some actions from the School on this matter very soon. As for us, we just given up to this Friday to get back Brighton whether to continue or not.

This month is going to be a crazy month for Faith and me. Many changes in our daily life. This month, I got to train her to :
1. sleep earlier and cut away afternoon nap.
2. And also take cereal or bread for breakfast since we don't have time to get noodles from coffeeshop.

Values? Be role model first.

I was reading some read-ups from Faith's new kindergarten and I came across this interesting article "Parents are powerful role models for children". (The article is written by Karen Stephens and it is extracted from ChildCare Information Exchange.)

Here is two short paragraphs I quoted from the article:

"Challenge yourself to identify the positive things you can role model for your kids- things like Happiness, Consideration, Self respect, Patience, Generosity , Self discipline, Diligence, Kindness, Bravery, Compassion. Role model feeding your body with wholesome and nourishing food, expanding your mind with enlightening reading, exercising for physical and mental health, speaking well about yourself and others, and enjoying life with friends and family."

"Children are sensitive and astute with an uncanny ability to distinguish between adults who only talk a good game and those who play the game by the rules they preach."

Many times we just give orders of "to do this" and "not to do that" and expect our kiddos to follow. Do we really role model the values we trying hard to teach? Hmm.. I gotta to be honest to myself and reflect on this.

January : Is a month of celebrations

January is really a month of celebrations for us. Some of most important people in our life celebrate their birthday in this month. And it is a New Year and for everyone to set new resolutions and have new hope. Happy January!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad's 72nd birthday. We had porridge lunch with my parents and bros and SIL and nephew and niece at The Oasis at Toa Payoh Central. Faith enjoyed herself by playing with her cousin. And myself had a good catch up with my elder brother. Feel that he changed a lot from the demanding da ge that I knew. Maybe is due to his business, ppl he met in his business and in his Church. He is definitely a good listener now.

He raised an interesting point: What would u like to see in your life book at the end of day? And this is his turning point of his life. I should ponder mine too.

Minus18c yogurt cake

Today is my MIL's birthday! The hubby chose this unique cake (strawberry flavor, medium sized) for her. Choices are limited. To avoid disappointment, go for pre-order if you know what u want. We wanted to get a medium sized mango cake but no more so we took a strawberry cake instead.

Since we could not get the mango cake and we really want to try one, we had a slice in the store. Both of us like it. It is light and not too creamy.

After dinner, we tasted strawberry too. I like mango more while the hubby prefer strawberry. Both of us agree that it is a nice cake to have, something special and not too heavy for our full stomach.

Happy birthday, MIL.

Lunch : Raman Play @ 112 Katong

Another success restaurant from Breadtalk, Ramen Play. They serve yummy and reasonable pricing ramen and rice. Try to avoid the usual mealtime unless u don't mind queuing.

These are what we ordered today for late lunch.
Butariki Ishinabe (stone pot rice) $12.80
Sanpou Ramen (ramen) $14.80
Kid's Meal (ramen & fries) $7.80

I put 2 scoops of chilli paste into my ramen and totally love my thick spicy soup base after that.