Debbie's New Toy

This is our birthday gift for Debbie. It's a little house and we bought additional 75 balls to fill it! It still looks a little empty; we intend to buy another 100 balls and perhaps a tunnel for her to crawl through...:)

Debbie's 1st Birthday - Pt 2

CG celebrated Debbie and Jezelle's birthday last night. Mervyn and Jenny bought them a very nice BARNEY cake!

Debbie seems to know that the attention is on her. She was so excited when we sang her the "Happy Birthday" song.

Look at the number of children we have in the CG!

CG bought her a "pull-and-walk" toy. This will come in handy when she starts to learn how to walk unsupported.

Thank you everyone for making it special for Debbie!

Debbie's 1st Birthday (10th July 2008)

The entire family was exhausted after the funeral. After a day of rest, we decided to go out for a nice dinner and celebrate Debbie's birthday at the same time.

Went to Globetrotters at United Square and I must say their food has improved a great deal since the last time we were there. Then we went to Starbucks for a mini-celebration. Couldn't buy a whole cake; we bought many different slices to share among us instead.

Happy Birthday Debbie! You bring so much joy into our lives...:)

Swimming Lesson 2

Lesson 2: Denise learnt to kick in water and how to balance in water with a float.

Loss Of A Good Man (1 July 2008)

My father went home with the Lord on 1 Jul 2008. I gave the Eulogy on Thursday and this was what I shared.

"My Pastor shared this on Father’s Day this year.

1) A good father has a respected position
2) A good father has a wonderful plan
3) A good father provides
4) A good father pardons
5) A good father protects
6) A good father reflects the character and goodness of our heavenly Father

I can’t help but remember my Dad when I heard this that day.

He was not just a good father; but a good husband, father-in-law, grandfather, brother and friend. He was a good man!

When a neighbor heard that he has passed away, she told my brother “Your Dad is a good man!”

One relative came and visited him in the hospital. She says “You can see the success of a man by the people that surrounds him during his last days.”

The entire family and many relatives and friends visited and accompanied him till his very last day. There wasn’t a moment he was alone as the children will take turns to overnight with him in the hospital. We didn’t want him to open his eyes and find none of us around.

Even relatives from Ipoh and KL traveled to Singapore just to visit him when he was in the hospital. A few even had to make new passports just to visit him for a day!

He was a good man!

Before he got very ill, he told us that after he gets better and discharge, he wants to start going to church and experience God.

Even though he never made it after that, I was glad that in the last 2 months, when he was still conscious, he got saved, baptized in the Holy Spirit (with the evident of speaking in tongues) and eventually water baptized. My dad experienced God. And he now continues that walk with Jesus in heaven.

We will miss him greatly. But our comfort comes from knowing that he has gone to a better place where there is no more need for hospital visits, medication and pain. My dad does not like to be restricted; he has gone to a better place where he gets a new body, is free and is now walking again!

Earth lost a great man; but heaven has become a better place because of him.

Thank you!"

Mel, my elder sister, shared hers on Friday in Mandarin and dedicated a song to him. My sister was intending to bring my Dad to karaoke and sing this song with him. (Get ready your tissue...)



And a BIG THANK YOU to all the relatives and friends that came and supported my family during this difficult period. Especially to Pastors and friends from City Harvest, you guys are a GEM!!! My sister commented that she experienced the real demonstration of what love is all about!

Anlene Orchardmile Run

At the inspiration of Iris and to instill healthy living in Denise, 7 of us signed up for Anlene Orchardmile Run last Sunday and I brought Denise with me.

Denise was very excited during the week. I had no difficulty waking her up and the moment I whispered "Denise, wake up for Anlene Run..." She woke up...:)

For a moment, the kids were the centre of attraction...:)

We walked from Dhoby Ghaut MRT to Orchard MRT; a total of 1 mile (1.6km) within 28mins. All who finished the race received a Finisher medal at the end point. I guess they had extras because the kids each received one too!

Denise - Swimming Lesson

Bought Denise a new swimming costume because she started her swimming lessons today at Arena Country Club. Talked to the boss and found out that if they find you fit for competition; they will recommend you to David Lim, his partner, (former Singapore National Swimmer) for competitive training. But well...that would be many years down the road...:p I told him that my intention is to cultivate water confidence in Denise so that at least she is not afraid of water...:)

Lesson 1 (Total of 5 students)

- Warm up exercise

- Brief them on pool rules

- Learn how to get in and out of pool

- Learn to breathe from nose

- Went underwater

- Learn to balance on the float

- Jump into the pool with the help of instructor

Dora The Explorer - The Pirate Adventure

A friend gave us 3 tickets for Dora The Explorer - The Pirate Adventure at Singapore Expo. I brought Denise, Debbie AND Nicole (one of my colleague's daughter who loves Dora)! Yup, I brought 3 kids to a kids' show all by myself.... What a "pirate" adventure for me!

I had to drive them there, feed them dinner, bring them to toilet, buy Dora products during the break..... I am amazed I survived the night....:p

Denise and Nicole loved the show. They received Dora light-stick as door gifts for Corporate Guests. Sing and dance to the music... I bought each of them a Dora doll. And when Nicole's mummy came and pick her up, she gave Denise a Dora stamp pack. Denise was so thrilled!

3 Birthdays In a Weekend

1) On May 17 (Sat), Denise attended classmate Caelyn's birthday celebration at MacDonald (Queentown Ridout Garden). Caelyn had a 3D Barbie birthday cake; do you notice how awkward the candles were placed?She had a pinata as well. As there were too many children, Denise did not have her turn to pull the string. However, she had a great time trying to bag as much goodies as possible!2) May 18 (Sun), another classmate Richa celebrated her birthday at GoGoBambini. I heard so much about that place but this would be our first time bringing Denise there. Huge indoor playground but it was rather cramp... Not much program but the kids went crazy during the hour of free play! Food was average and Richa had a nice strawberry cake.

3) May 19 (Mon-Vesak Day), Denise went back to GoGoBambini for Javier's birthday... Yes, GoGoBamini again...:p Same place, same food... But this time the free play was interrupted because 1 toddler urinated in the playground...:p And it turned out that it was one of Javier's guest...hahhaha.... We proceed with cake-cutting and then the kids continued their play after that... As for cake, Javier had a Winnie the Pooh Swensen Ice-cream cake...something different!

Tiring weekend... But to Denise it was probably the most fun!

Family Portrait

We took this Family Portrait in 2006 when Denise was 3. We super-imposed Debbie onto this photo.

This was taken in church on Mother's Day...:)

A Happy Family!

Denise and Mummy

Auntie Iris took this photo for us while we were queuing to have our Family Portrait taken. One of my favourites...:)

Baby Sign and Sing

Debbie had her 2nd round of mock class in CHEC; Baby Sign and Sing. She had a lot of fun playing with her reflection in the mirror. Do you know that clapping is part of babies' development?

She just learnt to clap and that came in useful for this class. Debbie had fun with the singing and shakers!

Debbie

This is for Debbie...:) Hahha....I'm having fun with Photoscape!

Denise

Did this montage using Photoscape!!! So fun, so many ways to display your photos...:)

See how Denise has grown...:)

Vivo Again!

Went to Vivo again... Yes, again! Anyway, Denise wanted to go into the water. Thinking that we brought extra clothes for her, we said yes! Guess what? We forgot to pack her shorts!

See the photo on the right? She ended up wearing Debbie's "skorts" (shorts cum skirt)! It turned out to be her "mini-skirt".

Teething

I was trying to take a picture of Debbie's tooth for the blog and ended up causing her to knock her head against her cot...:(

Well, I managed to snap a shot with her mouth wide open....crying of course...:p

This is for Gu Gu!

JX's sister bought this dress for Denise from States. Thanks Gu Gu!

Happy Mother's Day

Last month, JX came home with a bag of clothes from Dorothy Perkins for me; 3 tops and 2 bottims! I was pleasantly surprised and was not particularly expecting anything this Mother's Day.

Then on Thursday, JX surprised me with matching sandles for myself, Denise and even Debbie! That's not all...

On Friday, Denise came home with an Art & Craft. There were some drawings on it; a handbag, a sun, some animals... Hmm....maybe things that she would like to me to have??!

And she sang me 2 songs, I think she learnt from school!

JX left me another surprise before he left for CG with Denise! He designed a card and left it on the fridge! How sweet...

When JX and Denise came back from CG, he informed me that we were meeting Mervyn and Jenny for breakfast the following day. To cut the long story short, Mervyn was giving Jenny a SPA treat and JX wanted to give me a FINAL surprise by "sending" me for a treat too..:) Christal was in childcare and JX looked after Denise and Debbie at Mervyn's place. We went to The Aspara Garden Spa at One North. We both had a Body Scrub and Swedish Massage...

Hmm...I don't mind going back there again!

After that we had lunch with the Songs at "Dian Xiao Er", followed by ice-cream at Ben & Jerry's.

5th Mother's Day for me and this has been my best so far...:) Thanks to my dear hubby, Denise and Debbie!

Birthday Cakes

It's amazing the kind of cakes a kid will get for his/her birthdays these days. It's getting bigger and more elaborated!

Recently we attended a party where the kid had a 3D SpongeBob cake! Sorry, no pic because I forgot to bring my camera...

Wonder what Denise will ask for on her 5th birthday...

First "Day" in School

Debbie attended her first class in CHEC. It was a mock up class and children of the staff are invited to attend for FREE! These are her "first classmates".

The first theme is PAPER... The children are free to roam in the room, filled with everything made of paper!

Debbie was putting everything into her mouth!

Even the parents took part in the fun...:)

I am looking forward to the next 4 weeks of Baby Read, Sign and Sing!