Palawan Beach, Sentosa

We went to the beach with Aunty Lydia, Josh, Luanne, Aunty Alice and Asher last Wednesday.

The initial plan was to go to East Coast. But Aunty Lydia got there early, and found the beach really dirty. So she suggested that we go to Sentosa instead. It was a fantastic idea because the beach there was nice and quiet.

This time, we brought along Aaron's mini bulldozer and pit truck. He had so much fun playing with them.

It was Asher's first time on the beach. He liked playing with the sand, with a scoop or spade, but fussed when his little hand is covered with sand. So cute!

We chose a shady point to lay out our picnic. There was enough shade for the kids to play with the sand too. But they seemed to prefer to play in the sun instead. At one point, they started catching fish at the rocky end of the beach, and seemed to have a lot of fun doing it.

 Coincidentally, there was a "Storytelling Comes Alive!" event at Palawan Beach, where we were. The kids enjoyed the storytelling cum play very much, and Nadine was especially mesmerised by the pretty flower fairy. 

After that, we proceeded to Vivocity for lunch, and wrapped up the day with ice-cream. The mothers were actually thinking proper ice-cream joint ice-cream, but the kids insisted on McDonald's ice-cream! Such money-savers!

Nail colors

Nadine's school holiday treat - colorful nail polish.

She's been coloring her nails with markers, crayons, etc., trying so desperately to beautify her nails. I finally decided that it's no use telling her repeatedly that she's too young for nail polish. So told her that I'll paint her nails, with proper nail polish (that will not be washed off), but only during the school holidays.

She was totally ecstatic ... which then made me happy too. 

'Natural' popsicles

Bought these popsicle holders from Ikea last month, and Nadine and Bibi have been making yummilicious popsicles - durian, mango, grapes, banana and avocado. 'Natural' with real fruit, fresh milk and no added sugar. Nadine has fun making them, takes pride in serving them to the family, and it's healthy! Well, sort of. Can stop buying ice-cream and sugar-laden pops from the shop!

Aaron's smart remarks

Recently, Aaron's become more and more 'eloquent', and has been sprouting a lot of smart remarks. Here are a few:

In the car, on the way to school ...
N: Why's my water bottle so warm (wandering aloud)?
A: Because Bibi put warm water

Negotiating a 'deal' with him ...
Me: You must keep your promise ok?
A: I will keep my promise .... in my pocket *wide grin*

Negotiating again ...
Me: Pinky promise
A: I cannot pinky promise, because my fingers are hurt

Lying on Ma-Ma's bed ...
Me: You sleep here, where is Ma-Ma going to sleep?
A: Bibi will bring my mattress, and I put my pillow and blanket and I can sleep down (on the floor)

This little boy's brain is on overdrive! 

Nadine - Lost 1 front teeth

Nadine lost one of her front teeth last week. She's a bit conscious of it, so we keep telling her that she looks really cute "bo-gay". Now she seems ok with it.

She's losing teeth really fast and early. But they seem to be growing back pretty fast too.

Sibling conversation

The kids had this conversation in the car this morning, on the way to church:

Nadine: Aaron, when you're 4, you will go to Children Church

Aaron: Where's Children Church?

Nadine: It's where I go every Sunday. You send me there!

Aaron: Why do you go to Children Church?

Nadine: To worship God

Silence, and end of conversation, and I'm so pleased!

Semester 1 results for 2014

Aaron's Sem 1 report for his very first year in school

And Nadine's Term 2 report for K1

Story-telling by the kids

We had story time last Friday night. But instead of me reading stories to them, I decided to make them tell me stories!

Aaron's story is a typical boy story, with cars, trucks, good guy and bad guy. We think it's quite an achievement for a boy his age to be able to tell a coherent story like that! So proud of him!

Nadine's story was more drama. She was waving the little blanket at the start, and I'd wanted her to stop doing that coz I thought it was distracting. Then she told me the blanket's the "waves". And she began to tell her story. I thought it was going to be something that she'd make up. Was surprised that she was trying to tell her story of Jonah! Or what she could remember of it!

I've never told her the story of Jonah. So she must have learnt it in Children's Church. Well done to Children's Church for teaching her well, even though she didn't remember the key lesson that Jonah learnt. But that's enough for now.

Nadine's drawing of the family room

Nadine's 2D "panoramic" drawing of our family room.

I'm actually quite amazed that she managed to capture so many different aspects of the family room!

Aaron at play

In 2 more months, Aaron will turn 3.

He is extremely imaginative and creative, and a lot of fun to watch when he's at play. He'll make up all kinds of funny scenarios, and use different things as props, and when his toy cars are "talking" to each other, his voices them differently too! Too bad I haven't been able to video him in action.

Like his big sister, he is also a very confident little kid. Yesterday, at Toys R Us, he actually went up to a little girl who was playing a showcase tablet, and said to her, "afterwards can I have my turn?"  8-0