What we did this Christmas

We had a busy schedule this season with loads of food:

23 December

Went to hubby's army friend's place for an early Christmas party. We had curry chicken and the kids exchanged gifts. We headed to my brother's place to celebrate Eugene's 15th birthday-cum-Christmas dinner. We him a Borders gift card as we want him to hit the books like the old days.

24 December

Our tradition in spending Christmas Eve with the Yoongs stays. We celebrated at their place, had dinner, cake and gift exchange there. May had ordered food from Sakae Sushi days ago and went down to collect her order at 6pm but was shocked that people with 5pm orders were still there waiting for their food. It was chaotic as the restaurant could not fulfill many advanced orders and made many disappointed and angry. She gave up and packed some from Ajisen. The food was still good and the kids enjoyed their ramen, tempura prawns and company of each other. The parents watched the WIld Hogs DVD while the kids played. We ate our scrumptious triple-layered chocolate logcake from Pine Garden's Cakes and exchanged gifts.

25 December

Went to an old friend's place to celebrate her daughter's 2nd birthday-cum-Christmas party around Katong area. They had a nice spread of buffet and mini cakes from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. In the evening, we sent Kieran to the Yoongs for a sleepover.

26 December

It was a working day for us but Kieran's childcare centre was closed hence he stayed with the Yoongs, who welcomed him over with open arms. May brought the kids to the zoo and they had such great time. May even got them animal soft toys - Megan got a polar bear, Kieran's a lion and he even asked May to get one for Raeyen. It was so sweet of him to remember his little brother and Aunty May got our little one a cuddly cheetah. They even took some digital shots during pony rides and a group photo. So sweet and a BIG THANK YOU to May!!!

Photos will be posted soon.

The kids' Xmas collection

Time to record what the kids received this Xmas...

For a start, Kieran woke up on Xmas Day eagerly checking out what's in his Xmas stockings. Dug them out and realised Santa left him and Raeyen cuddly snoring animals - monkey for him and giraffe for Raeyen. BUT this time, Santa left Kieran a friendly note...

Kieran's collection includes the Yamaha keyboard we got earlier, shirt from Chateau de Sable, Zara sweater, Lego (not shown), books, Origami, stationery sets, Fox apparel, IQ toy, Hot Wheels set.

Raeyen got a set of Chateau de Sable, Mothercare and Fox apparel, books, truck (not shown), Giordano tee, Playskool trucks set.

Kids are the happiest but we mustn't forget those who are less fortunate. We intend to let Kieran buy gifts for needy children next year, afterall Christmas is about GIVING, isn't it?

Christmas = Binging Time

Christmas Eve

By tradition, we spend this day with the Yoongs.

This time we spent at their home, warming ourselves up with hot, yummy steamboat. It's kind of different as one would think steamboat is more apt for CNY. After dinner, we played "Open Season" on Yin's new Xbox 360 and it was hilarious. Then we ate the "Pure Addiction" log cake we got from Emicakes. Megan & Kieran were thrilled as they got to blow the candles after we sang "Merry Christmas" to the tune of "Happy Birthday". The finale was gift exchange. While the mommies coincidentally got lingerie, the daddies got book, apparel & cookies. The kids were the happiest with their new toys.

The kids & the log cake

Christmas Day

As with the same tradition, my side of the family celebrate Xmas & Eugene's (14th this year) birthday on this day @ eldest bro's place.

The past days have been grey & wet and today was exceptionally sunny. Hubby decided to bring the boys to East Coast Park for a run. While walking to our carpark, an idea sparked and I told hubby we could detour to Parkway Parade to get fresh sashimi from Fish Mart Sakuraya for this evening event. And so we got swordfish, octopus, saba, salmon for the sashimi plate. We also got some sausages (bratwurst, cheese knackers & nurenburger) for ourselves from Espirito Santo Gourmet & Butchery.

Raeyen fell asleep in the car on our way home. Hubby & I had the sausages for lunch.

Past 6, we lugged all the presents, sashimi, diaper bag (and Raeyen) to eldest bro's place.

Binged all the sinful preparations - potato salad, sushi, beehoon, pineapple fried rice, chicken wings/drumlets, vege, soft-baked choc cookies made by Jenric (I called them cakies) & Bengawan Solo kuehs.

Eugene cut his log/birthday cake & we binged again with cheese bak-gua.

We exchanged gifts & went home for a well-deserved snooze! Ka-boom!

Footnote:
Hubby & I were so happy as Raeyen finally blurted out "Mama" and "Papa"!

Boxing Day

Happy 14th Birthday, Eugene!

Woke up this morning in a daze as Mother Nature decided to give a downpour again, duhh...

All photos can be found @ My Flickr Album.

Last minute Xmas shopping

Had a whole day project meeting on Friday but managed to buy all the balanced presents during lunch, phew!

While on the way zooming to Marks & Spencer @ Raffles City, got some gifts from Guardian @ Citylink for the domestic helpers. Grabbed some cookies from M&S; returned to Suntec City... dashed to 3rd floor Chateau de Sable and got a shirt and matching shorts for Raeyen. Picked up my lunch from KFC and returned to office just in time!

Had Xmas dinner with my colleagues @ Raffles Hotel Bar & Billiard Room on Thursday. The main dishes at the buffet was so-so and all some of us could binge (to get the money's worth) were the lobsters & fleshy oysters. Entertainment by Claressa Monterio was great as she crooned the Xmas evergreens in her signature "oh-so-smooth" voice. I was so proud of her that I told my overseas colleagues & my German boss that "she is one of Singapore's finest jazz singers." I remember Claressa was performing @ The Fullerton 4 years ago when hubby & I went there to enjoy the sinful chocolate buffet while expecting Kieran. Hmm... the Valrhona chocolates... hmm...

My boss asked why was I carrying a huge bag (tsk tsk, it's a Marc Jacobs inspired bag). I explained it could store alot of stuff/junk/etc especially my book. Then he realised I am reading the "Shopaholic" book and teased I am one too. I said I am but a "shopaholic on a shoestring budget".

Kieran's first keyboard

Kieran learned his first do-re-mi & mi-re-do fingering sequence at Yamaha Junior Music Course last Sunday and I was pleasantly surprised (happy of course) that he could grasp & coordinate well from his thumbkin (do) - pointer (re) - tallman (mi) and backwards.

Feeling and reeling with motivation, I decided to get him a keyboard first (well, as an early Christmas present). We went to Tampines Mall after his music lesson today and headed to Yamaha. We bought the basic model PSR-E203 at an offer price of S$205 (usual S$250), a stand, and adapter was free.

Excitedly, we assembled it upon reaching home but realised one rubber cover of the stand was damaged, which I will call the branch tomorrow if we could get it changed at a convenient time. We played the keyboard and Raeyen was so excited about the new "toy" that he "pounded" on it rather hard (*heartache, ouch*).

Hopefully this little musical instrument will help Kieran develop a stronger interest in music as I promised to get him a piano when the time is right. He would boast and say, "Mommy, I can play the piano so well." I can't wait for him to become a real pianist some day!