Bookcrave...

Finally, I finished reading the 2nd volume of the Shopaholic series - Shopaholic Abroad. My crave for the sequel etched in and I couldn't resist anymore. I went to San Bookshop to rent the 3rd volume - Shopaholic Ties the Knot - yes Becky is going to marry Luke, wow!

As usual, I read while I commute to/from work - bus/MRT or even while walking! I think I'm obsessed. The last time I was this obsessed was when I got hooked on The Da Vinci Code - which by the way, is better than the movie!

Got home & realised Kieran was home pretty early. Yani said the childcare centre driver, Thomas actually brought Kieran right to our doorstep today & yesterday coz he was earlier than usual. You see, when hubby/I couldn't rush home in time to pick Kieran from our service lane, Thomas would call Yani and she in turn bring Raeyen down. Thomas has been very nice, he would bring Kieran to our lift landing and wait for Yani & Raeyen. So I decided to give him a box of Marks & Spencer cookies as a thank you & Xmas gift.

After kids were asleep, I continued to wrap Xmas gifts, gosh... I still have some more gifts to buy!

Tomorrow there's department Xmas dinner (dread... lunch is better), hope I can go home early.

Parent-Teacher Meet

Kieran's kindergarten and childcare centre held PTM today which was a good coincidence as I could "kill 2 birds with 1 stone". Went to the kindergarten first at 10am alone as hubby was at work, and left the kids at home since having them around would have been chaotic.

I hopped over to the chidcare centre after 45 minutes and returned home with files of his work and photos.

I will scan his kindergarten class photo and his self-portrait and upload here when free.

I could summarise our discussions here as all 4 teachers (a pair of Chinese/English teachers each school) had almost the same observations. Kieran was said to have improved in terms of attention span, focus, work tidiness. They said he likes outdoors, music and movement, very "garang", inquisitive, not afraid to express and ask questions BUT doesn't know how to resolve problems with friends during play. He mostly resolved the problems by "physical expression" instead of talking it over. While his teachers are trying to guide him, I am at my wit's end how to help him overcome it. Apart from that, I am happy that he enjoys school better now and did his work well. His kindergarten English teacher, Miss Foong said Kieran would be able to do well in K1 next year.

His childcare English teacher said he danced very well in an Indian number for the concert and she put him in front due to this. The concert will be held on 25 Nov, and I will definitely capture his kiddie performance in our viewcam! I can't wait.

A crazy day

1 Sep is Teachers' Day & my eldest sis' birthday (so Happy Birthday and I Love You, Sis!!!) ... also a chaotic day for the family.

We sent Kieran to the childcare centre as the kindergarten is closed today. To our surprised, the centre's gate was locked. We called the centre but no one answered. I called his classmate's Mom & realised it's really closed today and she was informed by the centre twice but we received none :(

We were disappointed and drove home while brainstormed where to seek help.

The dilemma was I had a 10.30am meeting with my bosses and it's hard to get last minute help to mind the kids. It wouldn't have been so hard if my 3rd SIL, Connie was in town (she left for Perth with Jamus last night to visit my bro Joo). We eventually troubled my MIL to rush over and I left for work late.

When I reached the office at Suntec City, there was a fire drill. After the all-important drill (wonder if it was on purpose just before the huge IMF event, hence the 4-million smile project and sprucing up the city & all to impress the 16,000 delegates), we had our meeting and discussion, blah-blah till I left office at 8.15pm. By the time I reached home at SengKang, it was already 9pm and my smaller koala was already in his little dreamland. Kieran waited for me coz he wanna ma-ma to read his bedtime story (so sweet). While my dear hubby waited for me to have dinner together.

Hence I ended my crazy day with a sweet note by tucking Kieran in and typing this blog now.

As Kieran turned 4

Our home PC is sick & my work is enormous, hence this late posting.

On 21 Aug night, I was wrapping snacks with fancy serviettes as goodie bags for 16 kids at the childcare centre that Kieran goes.

Hubby & I lugged with a viewcam, digital cam, cake & goodie bags to the childcare centre at 3pm the next day. After our kiddo had done with the celebration, we took him out of the centre to spend time with him alone. We went to Junction 8 and had dinner at Café Cartel (our fav cafe) but left his fav Thomas the Engine drinking bottle.

As promised to Kieran, we had an intimate "Bob the Builder" theme celebration at our home with the family on Saturday evening. We cooked curry chicken (thanks to Prima Taste), fried rice, finger food & got some KFC stuff. Kieran's tiramisu birthday cake was made by me and I was glad that everyone liked it. We had Emicakes' durian puffs (thanks to Sar-Kim) & fruits as dessert. Again, the kids went home with goodie bags - this time I packed the snacks inside used paper bags (see photo below - the kids with their goodie bags and Ah-Gong). The finale was unwrapping his presents. He got a bike (Dad), a pair of blue Crocs shoes (Mom), Thomas the Engine airport set (Aunt Angeline), Fox clothes (Tua-Yi) & many red packets from the family. Kieran was brimming & played with his cousins on the airport set while Raeyen tried to "destroy" the completed set.

We still have many more birthday parties to organise and goodie bags to pack in the growing up years of our boys!

"It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm." Sam Levenson