Zoo visit

We visited the Singapore Zoo again today. It was already very crowded when we reached, cos it was SP's Family Day. So we decided to jus leave early after a few stops.

First, we went for the giraffe feeding. Being old-timers, we know the procedure. Ended up no. 1 in queue.

After visiting a few exhibits, we zoomed in at KidzWorld. The kids made Daddy play with them today. Mummy also ended up getting wet while trying to take a photo for them waiting at the water bucket.

We left for Sushi Tei lunch at Serangoon Gardens.

Then, the kids went to play at the Chartwell Drive playground while Mummy packed dinner. They're so tired now, snoozing away...

Joand's calling

Caden and Joand exchanged their mummy's hand phone number, upon Joand's request. Since then, she's been calling him on my hp almost daily!

They'll talk and arrange amongst themselves when to go to each other's house. I've been ignoring their requests thus far.

She called again on Tuesday when Caden was having his Berries class. She spoke to me, and 'instructed' me to send  Caden to her house after his enrichment class. It was so cute talking to her.

On Friday, when I fetched Caden, she was very nice, asking him to share her umbrella. So loving! 😘

I wonder how long their relationship will last.

Alicia walked home alone

On Thursdays, Mummy will hv to send Caden for his phonics class at 2pm. Without a car means we'll hv to take bus there. This also means that I'll not be able to fetch Alicia and Brandon from school at 1.40pm. For the past weeks, the maid has been helping to fetch them.

This week, after dropping Caden off for his class, I received a call from home. Alicia said she walked home alone after school as she didn't see the maid and Brandon. It was raining and the pick up of kids was in a mess. Luckily the rain stopped, and she only needs to cross the traffic junction outside the school, and walking under the sheltered walkway all the way home.

I realised I had a missed call from the school, and quickly returned the call. Brandon had tried to call me from the general office, but he had left.

The maid had waited for the kids at the same place, outside the gate. As it was raining, a no. of parents went into the school to pick their kids up instead. Brandon didn't see the maid and went to the general office to call me. As I didn't pick up the call, he went out again to wait for aunty. He saw her but they cldn't find Alicia. Worried, Brandon went around searching for his jie jie at the canteen and her classroom. The maid called me and I informed her that Alicia has already reached home safely.

For this incident, I rewarded Brandon with $1, for being able to go into the general office to call mummy. He also went in search of jie jie.

I also rewarded Alicia with $1, for being able to make her way home safely, alone. However, I highlighted to her that she shld approach the general office to call me first.

Another lesson learnt.

Tan Family $

Talking about the Tan Family $... Here's how it came about.

Mummy gives the kids $20 every Monday. They can use the $ to buy a cup of cold drink for $1, 30 mins of iPad play time for $2, 15 mins of massage for $2, etc. In return, for each good deed done, or helping mummy out, or doing well for enrichment class, and scoring for spelling, they get to earn $1.

I hope to inculcate the importance of $, their knowledge in budgeting, controlling their expenditure, restricting their time spent on iPad, helping one another, etc.

Daddy came up with an incentive for them. Whoever can save up $50 will get to buy a toy of half the value.

So far, Brandon is the only one who's trying hard. He controls his spending and tries to help out to earn extra $. Caden on the other hand spends lavishly on iPad time. But, he can manage it well by timing his own expenditure to last for a week.

Let's see how this game can last and what it can teach them.

Mini-Tests

Alicia and Brandon had their mini-tests. I made them do assignments almost daily, one to two weeks prior their tests.

I'm not a mummy who insists on 100% for their tests although it'll b a bonus if they can. I'm glad they did fairly well for the tests. Alicia scored >90% for all 3 tests while Brandon scored >80%.

Well done, my children!

For this, Daddy rewarded Alicia with $10 and Brandon with $5 Tan Family $. Mummy rewarded them with iced Longan dessert. 😀

Mummy's Away for short trip

Mummy was away from home for 2D 1N. My friends treated me to a short trip at Montigo Resorts @ Batam to celebrate my upcoming 40th birthday.

It was a Sun - Mon trip. Daddy helped to look after the kids on Sunday, while the maid and Ah Ma helped out on Monday.

Few incidents regarding their meals happened on Monday, but overall, I guess they can still do without me. Heee... Time to plan for my next trip!

Double Decker Bus

We failed to take the double decker bus during our last bus ride in June. They have since been pestering me to bring them on one. So today, I decided to let them try taking Bus 133 to MBS to meet Daddy after his SCB Durian Party.

They enjoyed the experience and were amazed with it - we behaved like some mountain tortoise sitting right in front of the upper deck, at times, dodging when passing by trees with low branches. But they felt tired of the long journey.

I brought them to Coffee Bean Bistro for light snacks before Daddy joins us for dinner. Who knows, he was too full after the durian session and didn't want dinner. We cldn't find a suitable restaurant at MBS and ended up at TCC for pasta.

Took a slow walk at the promenade before going to the car park. By then, kids were all tired. They slept in the car and when we reached home, went to bed early after washing up.

Attending Enrichment Class

All my kids attend enrichment classes. Phonics, Abacus, Chinese tuition, Music and Swimming.

Brandon and Caden gave up Music. Alicia stopped cos the class was cancelled. She has been asking to attend piano lessons. I'm still trying to find a suitable time slot when all the kids' class timings are finalised.

Over the past year, I stopped Brandon's abacus class. The teacher said that he gets bored whenever they practise the questions. He'll only be interested for a short while when new things are taught. Most of the time, he'll not behave (sometimes even hiding under the table) and disturb others in class. He knows his work, but it'll just be a waste of $ to let him attend the class.

Alicia pulled out cos of her CCA in school. She was chosen to attend the Maths Olympiad lessons which falls on the same day as abacus.

Brandon also dropped out from Phonics/Creative Writing. I didn't want to push him to hard and make him dislike English, a subject which he loves. Teacher Arina feels that he shld be able to manage with some guidance.

As Brandon was very poor in his Mandarin, I signed him up for Berries class when he was in T4 of K2. He was ok with the lessons which made me very happy. I signed up Alicia and Caden too for 2013. However, Alicia gave up after Term 1 as she didn't like the class.

They are also attending Teacher Lee's Chinese tuition at home and Coach James' swim class on Sundays.

So, who attends the most lessons? Right - it's Caden! He enjoys going for class and is learning very well! Great!!!

Although I mentioned that Brandon is ok with attending Berries class, there are times when he'll throw tantrums. Just this Tuesday, he cried so badly and refused to go for class. I persuaded and bought him over with yoghurt treat and a toy. Yes... This boy needs carrots most of the time. I found out after class that he had Oral test! Luckily the teacher said he showed slight improvements. That made him very happy! Of cos, he didn't forget his yoghurt treat! Caden too wanted a cup on his own. And there they go - a cup each...

Like Father, Like Son

My boys never fail to go put put after a fulfilling meal. They r just like their father. :-)

This was taken at J8 toilet yesterday. Daddy sent me this photo. We had lunch at Swensen's and ABCD took turns to go release... :-(

Celebrating Er-Gu's Birthday

It is Er-Gu's birthday on Monday, 19 Aug. We celebrated for her at Soup Restaurant at NEX on Sunday.

Undecided on Er-Gu's birthday cake, mummy suggested letting the kids decorate one at Icing Room.

Alicia was very good at it. She could tell the 2 boys how to do it. Quite nicely done.

Alicia skipped swimming

Alicia skipped swimming class on Sunday. Mummy brought the boys there.

Shopping at Vivocity

We had to 拜拜公嬷 on Saturday afternoon. After that, we went to Vivocity for some shopping n dinner. Xiao gu, Da gu and Shermaine joined us too.

We had dinner at Kim Gary before going home.

Lego Sets

Da Yi had promised the kids new Lego sets for a while. Mummy has been refusing to let them buy anymore. But, they still got their way when we were out celebrating 99's birthday. No wonder they love her so much!

They were allowed to open last Friday, after completing homework n assignments.

Initially, we planned to open up a box only - Lego Chima. Halfway thru pack 1, Alicia can't wait to open up hers - Lego Friends... Brandon was very fast in fixing it up. He was very patient, guiding Caden along this time round. They took less than 2 hours to complete it.

I made Alicia stop at Pack 2 and brought them to exercise. We had to leave the basketball court early as the JC students had training. Went to the nearby playground instead. I'm trying... Trying to exercise at least once per week.