Hot stuff

The Kindy organised an excursion to the SengKang Fire Station for all the kids last Thursday. Kieran was very excited and kept asking every day since last Monday, "Mommy, am I going to the Fire Station tomorrow?"

I was on leave that day and picked him up from Kindy. It was a nice surprise as each kid received a red plastic firefighter helmet and a light-up keychain at dismissal.

When in the car, I asked how did the visit go and he rattled on from seeing how the firefighters put out fire, slid down the pole upon emergency call, the display of different vehicles, to where the firefighters sleep. He enjoyed the trip tremendously!

Back to serious reading

I must admit that Bergdorf Blondes is like a "dumb blonde" read not that it is a "no-brainer" book but it shows how shallow the "French capital" Hiltons can be just because they are ultra loaded. However, the ending is quite hilarious and more interesting than the first half of the book. If those high-life princesses really live the way as depicted in the book, then I'll take a break from Plum Sykes.

So there I was at San Bookshop at lunchtime today returning BB and picked up a good old Jodi Picoult's book - Perfect Match. Here's the synopsis:

What happens when you do all the right things for all the wrong reasons? As an assistant district attorney in York County, Maine, Nina Frost prosecutes the sort of crimes that tear families apart. She helps clients navigate their way through a nightmare – even though the legal system is not always the faultless compass they want and need it to be. She learns that the easiest way to cross this devastating minefield time and time again is to offer compassion, battle fiercely for justice, and keep her emotional distance.

But when Nina and her husband Caleb discover that their five-year-old son Nathaniel has been sexually abused, that distance is impossible to maintain. The world Nina inhabits now seems different from the one she lived in yesterday; the lines between family and professional life are erased; and answers to questions she thought she knew are no longer easy to find. Overcome by anger and desperate for vengeance, Nina ignites a battle that may cause her to lose the very thing she's fighting for.

Blabbering Babe

Raeyen's vocab is increasing day-by-day.

Yesterday as he was playing some trucks, Kieran wanted to take one from him.

He snatched it back from Kieran and blurted, "Ik's mine, mine, all mine!" We burst out laughing, not only because his pronounciation was funny but he could blurt the whole sentence that Kieran used to say, who in turn learned from "Stingy", a character from the kiddy TV program Lazy Town on Nick Jr.

In the evening, as we were driving along, Raeyen spotted a car and went "car", a truck zoomed past and out came "chuck" but when a bus came, it's "butts, butts".

Nowadays, he would point just about anything and ask "what dis?". When Kieran comes into the room to disturb him at bedtime, he would point at the door and command "go outside".

Springtime cheer

Though Singapore is either hot, dry or wet, I still like the feeling of Springtime for it bursts with floral appeal!

Browsing through Anthropologie website, I can't help relishing these gorgeous dresses:

It's Friday again...

Finished "Life Swap" by Jane Green, returned and rented "Bergdorf Blondes" by Plum Sykes. I read from a local women's magazine that a particular socialite who travels with her limited edition vintage Samsonite luggage reads P Sykes' books and it's chi-chi and all. I am curious and thought why not give it a try?

Reading "Life Swap" makes me wonder if I would swap life with a single career girl and see what I missed or if that pasture is indeed greener. My answer is simply "NO" as I'm happy with a loving hubby and 2 delicious boys. It's great being a working mother (and a yummy one). Though this responsibility sometimes seems a burden, without it seems strange and I probably would feel lost. Boy, am I fickle-minded or what?

TGIF, let's not think too much. Life is beautiful (for I just bought a top from Zara) - yes, I am quite incorrigible when it comes to shopping. I can't wait to bring the kids to Borders this weekend!

Below is an excerpt from a review:
BERGDORF BLONDES is a great read with one laugh after another. You'll feel like one of the girls as you join in the adventures of Moi and company. However, I warn you to be careful before you dive headfirst into this novel lest you hit your head on the bottom of the pool of New York society. We're definitely in shallow waters here.

Growing up

The Principal-Parents Meet at Kieran's kindergarten yesterday was great. His principal shared with us that Kieran demonstrated leadership qualities and has a close buddy in school, Eliot who attends childcare with him after kindy.

Kieran voices his opinions and rights openly and thinks a step forward before most kids do.

We were happy to hear that our first born has indeed grown up. At the same time, I can't help worrying for him... his school work, how will he cope in his studies in future, etc. As he is attending 2 schools, he has so far, 3 sets of spelling (one of which is Chinese) between Tuesday and Thursday. On every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening, I will coach him in the coming spelling, besides homework from both schools in Maths, English and Chinese. He is only going 5 years old but already quite overloaded with school work.

Luckily he is still as gregarious as ever!

Real help finally came

Fingers & toes crossed...

...Hubby & I took leave to attend Kieran's Principal-Parents Meet on Wednesday in the morning and swapped maids in the afternoon.

Siti's performance is so much better than the previous 2 and we finally feel more relieved. She is alert and has initiative. She asks when in doubt. She has been mindful of the kids which pleases us the most. Her command of English is acceptable and we can hold simple conversation and she understands instructions clearly.

The kids are receptive to her and last night, Kieran asked Siti suddenly, "Kak-kak, why are you so short and small?" We all laughed as she stands at 1.46m and weighs only 40kg.

Barnyard, etc

Kieran is in a phase where repeated DVD viewing is a great pleasure. Lately he is obsessed with the movie Barnyard, previously it was Cars.

Here's a photo of him and Raeyen playing farm taken on 19 March 2007:

Yesterday, we went through some movie trailers and he likes Spiderman 3 best. But we are still unsure if he could stay throughout the whole movie in a cinema. Then I realised advanced booking for Spiderman 3 has started, boy are we kiasu!

Speaking of Spiderman, Jamus gave Kieran a Spiderman toy which he got since the first instalment of Spiderman in the movies. Judging the way Raeyen plays it, it probably will not last too long.

Kieran has come to an age where fantasy movies are becoming attractive to him. We'll see if you could bring him to catch Spidey 3!

Maid issue

We stayed at home practically the whole day today except for Kieran's music class at 1pm. And then hubby and I went to the maid agency to interview a transfer maid, whom we eventually confirmed to employ, replacing Triana.

Her name is Tursiti (Siti for short) and was transferred as current employer's family situation does not require a maid. Her employer actually spoke with me yesterday and said that Siti has been responsible and good when minding her 5-year old daughter. She also said she would also like Siti to find a good employer. The telecon has certainly made me felt more assured.

We hope this time works well for us as it will be the 3rd maid since Yani left.

Little Builders

Today is yet another hot, sunny day!

While watching the boys at play, Raeyen pointed at the Construction box to me, indicating that he would like to play. I took it down and opened. He was so pleased to see the helmets, tools inside and both boys helped themselves right away.

As I found them playing builders amusing, I quickly caught them on film:



Raeyen has always been very fascinated when I have a videocam or camera on hand, he would try all his might to have a grip. Above video has of course ended with a cry from him, sob...sob.

Borders

Brought the kids to Borders this afternoon by MRT coz driving to Orchard Road doesn't make sense. Raeyen fell asleep in the train and we thought it's a great opportunity to grab some lunch. So we headed to Big O at Wheelock Place and met my sis there. Gobbled a seafood platter and sinful dessert (tsk...tsk... Big O is now offering 1-for-1 cake & ice-cream combo) before heading to Borders.

Got 2 books for Kieran:
1) Charlie and Lola - My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out (just to prepare Kieran when his time comes)
2) Thomas and the Snowplow

As our cable doesn't broadcast Charlie and Lola series, we knew about them when we borrowed a book at the library and Kieran and I thought it was a hilarious book and we love Lola! Lola is the same age as Kieran, ie 4 going 5.

The kids' section at Borders was a chaos, books were shrewn everywhere, civic-unminded people didn't bother to place the books where they belong after browsing. And, it was pretty stuffy there.

Nevertheless, it was a fun day for all of us, especially the kids as they like to ride on the MRT.

And of course, Kieran's bedtime story was none other than his 2 new books.

Movie sneakout

Hubby & I watched midnight movie last night at GV Tampines Mall, it was 300.

I had no idea what the movie was about... 300 BC, 300 what?

Oh, it was about the Spartans fighting against the Persians with only 300 warriors. It was gruelsome with some ugly humongous animals and creatures. Not to my taste but well, a good sneakout from the routine.

We hit right into slumberland when we got home, zzzzzz

What's Good Friday?

Photo from How Stuff Works

We sent Kieran to school on Thursday and I asked him if he knew why there would be a holiday the next day.

Me: Kieran, tomorrow is a holiday so you don't have to go to school. Tomorrow is the day where Jesus Christ was ... (I was still thinking how to explain)
Kieran: Is the day when Jesus Christ was um.... onto the cross!
Me: You meant nailed onto the cross?
Kieran: Yes!
Me: Exactly, how did you know?
Kieran: My teacher told me, she said the bad army caught him and beat him very hard.