Counting down to our driving holiday!

Hubby and I like driving holiday since pre-marriage days.

We joined Wheels for Fun in those days when it organised with Singtel. We drove to JB and Desaru and enjoyed them very much.

This time WFF is coming again with Komoco (Hyundai car distributor) to Trengganu from 1-3 June, staying at Awana Kijal Resort. I managed to persuade hubby to join as he was not so keen since this will be our first driving holiday with the kids. We roped in my second sis and have since registered.

I am so excited and hubby said we probably need to get a portable DVD player to keep the boys occupied. The boys may even get to release turtles and see fireflies (first time for me too) when there.

I can already imagine myself almost like a hysterical mom being sandwiched between 2 hyperactive boys while hubby drives and sis navigates.

Incidentally, eldest brother and family will also do a similar driving holiday to the same place but with Nissan, for all Nissan car owners next Saturday.

Shall update!

Mom to Angels blogging in Guangzhou

Crazy pre-GSS buys

Since Tuesday there have been a few pre-GSS sale from various department stores - Robinsons, Tangs and Isetan, which I went during lunchtime.

It was chaotic as I was racing against time in 3 days!

Highlights of my purchases:

1. Adidas black polo for hubby
2. Crocs Prima shoes in cotton candy for moi
2. Beverly Feldman Summmer Time clogs in natural for moi
3. Tomy car & cement mixer for the boys
4. Tomy rescue cars/trucks in carry box for Raeyen
5. Remote control sports car for Kieran
6. MAC blusher in well dressed
7. MAC angled brush 266
8. Fox denim coat for Kieran

Phantom of the Opera

Watched the musical on Thursday evening at 8pm with sis, niece and niece's friend at The Esplanade.

Our view was unobstructed and it was grand - the curtains, props and costumes. But I find the lady playing Christine was not so attractive nor appealing. But her voice, WOW!

The sound system was great as we can feel the Phantom presence in different corners of the theatre. The only shortfall is the mild dramatic effect on the fall of the chandelier ... it was almost in slow motion as it fell. It didn't give the WOW impact and we were expecting some sparks after the drop. However, the river scene was amazing... they must have used loads of dry ice to create the "river flow".

Overall a great show, it ended at 10.35pm.

By the time I got home, my boys were already sound asleep.

I'm Tired

Kieran's school work and Raeyen's cries are making me crazy. What am I to do to make them as angelic as possible? Or what have I not done right as a parent?

Kieran gets angry easily, Raeyen wants his way and screams all the time. Kieran is restless, Raeyen is full of energy.

They fight, Kieran doesn't give in, Raeyen throws toy at him. Kieran is possessive, Raeyen is persistent.

They whine, Kieran wants Mommy to do things for him while others can do just fine, even though Mommy may be occupied; Raeyen wants Mommy when Kieran goes near her.

Rushing home from work every day, despite more workload. Worrying about Kieran's academic development and character building, and Raeyen's well-being.

Kieran told me a horrific incident that Siti (helper) brought Raeyen when fetching him from childcare, and he saw Raeyen riding the swing car on the service road.

Siti is ultra-sensitive, little telling sends her tears down. She cried during 2 occasions in less than a month, for reason she refused to tell, only mentioned "I thought I did things wrong" upon probing. We miss Yani (ex-helper). Siti makes me worry more but she's already the third helper since Yani left.

Working day lunchtime is the only time I feel liberated - retail therapy becomes my quick-fix to daily home stress and the stress to achieve a work-life balance.

What's the best option?

Stay at home to mind the boys? I wish BUT impossible!

"Families" reunited

Sunday, 13 May, Mother's Day was a happy day as we finally met up with our good old friends, the Yoong family since last Christmas.

Kieran was excited that he's going to see Megan and Megan had a sleepless night due to our "reunion". Life has been hectic for Megan's mommy and her daddy was recuperating. We decided to meet at Ikea Tampines for various reasons:

1. The Yoongs have not been there
2. It's kids-friendly, Kieran & Megan could have 1-hour free play
3. The parents could catch up

Megan has grown taller and the 2 kids were just happy to meet each other again. When their queue numbers were called, they gave their brightest smile! I told Kieran to take care of Megan since it's her first visit.

The adults + Raeyen went to the cafe for late lunch.

When an hour was up, the kids were picked up. Megan said Kieran did look after her and both enjoyed each other's company. Megan asked if Kieran could go to her place for cycling. We promised to visit the weekend after.

I could still remember fondly the time when Kieran was 4 and 6 months old, sitting on Megan when she was in her mommy's tummy! We were celebrating Christmas and Valentine's Day then, before Megan was born in March.

Parents day out

Hubby and I went pak-tor today.

We had breakfast at a local kopitiam after sending Kieran to kindy. Headed home for some reading then headed to Vivocity. Shopped around, watched "Wild Hogs" - a hilarious, laugh-till-you-drop movie about 4 middle-aged men aka uncles on a roadtrip. The GV cinema has good seats and view is great!

We also had lunch at Tung Lok Signatures but were irritated by the over-zealous server who either stood too close to our table or fidgeted too much with our utensils, etc.... arghh!

Hopped into Tangs' ladies footwear but my fav pair of Beverly Feldman's natural multi rhinestone thong in size 37 was sold out and no reorder was possible. It was a letdown coz hubby wanted to buy for me as my Mother's Day gift.

Then hubby left for another appointment and I went to Mt E to visit Ivy as she delivered a chubby "piglet" yesterday.

Being a persistent shopper that I am, I went to Tang + Co at Taka to try my luck and was elated that they just reordered ever since its sell-out last Christmas! I'm happy as a bird! Muaaak, hubby dearest!

Flew to Mt E, went into Ivy's room and we chatted about her birth story. Her hubby and 2 boys wheeled baby Zayden in and ooh, he made my knees weak with his chubbiness (is there such a word?) at a whopping 3.895kg. Frankly, I am used to big babies and they are easier to handle. Ivy encouraged me to carry him though he was sound asleep. I couldn't help it coz I really love to cradle babies! We snapped some photos, chatted some more, more visitors came and I decided to go home to my boys.

We will visit Ivy and family with our boys one of the weekends.

Babies... they just make you go ga-ga!

Spidey Sunday

As promised, we took Kieran to catch Spiderman 3 after his Yamaha lesson.

It was his second movie after Cars as we were not sure if he would be ready. We got him a booster seat at Shaw Bugis Junction and caught the preview to Fantastic 4. He was well-behaved though he asked a few questions in between the movie, like "what's that?" when the fugitive evolved into the Sandman. We were glad that he could sit through the whole movie and we promised to bring him to more movies in future. Boy, was he happy!

Labour day out

Hubby thought it was a good idea to bring the kids for some sun after cooping up at home and lately the weather was all grey and duhh....

So, we drove to Bottle Tree Park, which I had practically no idea what to expect hence didn't even bother to bring a camera or viewcam.

I navigated while hubby drove and it was a breeze getting there via SLE, it's near Safra Yishun and next to AVA. While we were parking, we spotted 4 bottle trees, which was imported from Australia. The park is very big and many people were fishing and kids were doing "longkang" fishing, which I felt was a little cruel and unhygienic as people stood inside the shallow "pond" fishing! There is also a restaurant and playground.

Mommy trap

Read another article by Frances Ong in today's Today, page 28 titled "Let's Not Take Our Laptops To Bed".

I could see me in her article, occasionally bringing work home and working at night. Sometimes feeling "imbalanced" between work and family. The demands to perform well as an employee and mother. During my last performance appraisal, my boss asked if I would like to do "more" on marketing than communications (the former has a better prospect in our company = promotion opportunity = more travelling and longer working hours). I considered his proposal and chose to stay put for obvious reasons - Kieran is going into formal schooling soon and Raeyen is still in his toddlerhood.

The devil in me selfishly thought that I wouldn't choose to have kids if I could turn back the clock. If not for them, I probably would:
1) be a high-flyer, driving my dream car - Lexus RX300, buying whatever I fancy and holidaying in Europe and exotic places such as Maldives at least once a year!
2) still be 46kg with no strechmarks and could flaunt in my pink floral bikini from Tannlines.
3) be better off...

There is of course no turning back! Kieran and Raeyen will always be my angels who bring me laughter and tears, satisfaction and frustration, happiness and sadness, proud moments and embarrassments, etc. Having them complete me as a wife to my hubby for the love we have shared.