Undivided Attention

Our weekend routines are like this.  Sat, 0930hrs, we drop En Xi off for phonics class and proceed to have breakfast with En Jun.  1030hrs, we pick En Xi up and send her to Art Class by 1100hrs.  We will then idle until 1215hrs to pick En Xi up for lunch together with En Jun.  Head back home for nap time, then probably go to 'Por Por' house for dinner.  Recently, we found a great spot at Lower Pierce Reservoir and thought that it'll be great to spend some undivided attention with En Jun.  To play with you at your own pace and liking, no compromises from you, just like how we treat En Xi when we only had her.  I think you like the attention and thought for awhile.  When was the last time, I did a father-daughter or father-son bonding time?  Or even a parent-daughter or parent-son bonding time?  It sure feels great to hang out as a family and learn to work together as a team, but everyone needs to be pampered once in awhile.  I think we need to plan the occasional bonding time with either one of you only sometime.

We still haven't got you shades.  Apologies for using Pink again.

If En Jun favorite pose is "Finger on the cheek", Mummy's favorite must be "Twist"!

En Jun trying hard to twist while holding onto the spade

I think you are better off with the "Finger on Cheek" pose

You must be thinking, "What a masterpiece..."

So, this is pretty much Saturdays.  Sundays?  We always keep Sundays for family time.  Last week, we did Botanical Gardens.  This week, we did water play at "Wild Wild Wet" in Pasir Ris.  As always, En Xi had the most fun, but you managed to get lost in the water park today and got us so worried.  You even had the cheek to say its my fault that I couldn't keep up and look out for you when you actually dashed away on your own after shouting at me, "I'm going to that side!" in 2 sec.  Anyway, all is well.  Today is still a fun day.

My very first time....

When you have 2 kids and don't employ a domestic helper, you spend most of your time with logistics, cleaning, washing, bathing, packing and administration.  It is very different when you have only 1 kid where parents can take turns to care and play with the kid, while the other handles the rest of the stuff.

About En Jun

Just a couple of days back, En Jun was asking to do some painting, which very naturally (given the messy nature of painting) I brushed you off with my standard line, "Maybe, we can do this another time."  Then, it struck me when I couldn't recall when you actually did your last painting at home.  Wait.... Actually, you haven't tried painting before.  Felt so bad for neglecting you again.  Your sister has pretty much experimented things early in her toddler years.  Fortunately, you are independent, a very quick learner and not a fussy chap (You had to don En Xi's Dora themed apron and sleeves).

En Jun with "Dora" themed apron and sleeves

The 'SOP' finger on the cheek camera pose

About En Xi

You did great in School for this month!  Full marks (5/5) for your Chinese Spelling TWICE!  Kudos to your hard work and Mummy's creative efforts to help you.  English spelling is coming up soon and your teacher actually changed the spelling list from 5 to 10 words!  We were shocked by the daunting task at hand and Mummy subsequently send an irritated, but cordial email to your teacher demanding to know how we can actually achieve all these without killing your interest in learning.  Somehow, (we think) your teacher actually 'wayang' and had you learn the word "Ambulance" and had you spell it in front of your classmates in class.  Then, had you spell it to us at home.  Ok, sure, wayang or not, we don't really know, but you are looking very much happy and confident; and that is what it really matters to us.

Your rewards lucky dip box

Full marks! (5/5) for Chinese Spelling

Scary stuff awaits

En Xi's 6th Birthday Party

January is always such a busy time for us.  After Christmas in Dec, we have to quickly change the decorations in the house to the Chinese New Year theme.  So much parties to attend and before we can even prepare for Chinese New Year.  There will be En Xi's birthday celebration.  This year's party was especially special to En Xi.  You have been asking for a McDonald's Birthday Party since Mid 2013 and finally its here.  I must say it was really great fun and all the kids had a whacky good time.

And let the craziness begin!

Princess and Super Heroes Themed

Shichida Gang (Xuan Ying, Azela & En Xi) Why is Glenn Hugging En Xi?

Glenn Ong at it again

A return hug from En Xi

Let's not forget your cousins, Charlene and Julian

And also Cousins, Shou Rei and Shou Cong

Most of your classmates turned up, Class K2B

En Jun had to put a party hat for me

Presents! Presents! and more Presents!

Another Mini Celebration on the actual day

Cheeky vs Dainty

2014 New Year's Resolution

Another year has passed and reviewing 2013 resolutions, I see that we had managed to achieve most of our targets except spending more time as a couple.  Taking breaks on the 4th of each month was tough to schedule and there is always guilt of leaving you guys with your grandparents and to a certain extent, guilty of loading Ah Ma all the time.  And you know how Ah Ma is, always so caring and compromising.  Anyway, this year's new year resolution remains the same for all of us, with the addition of me, getting fitter and practicing my magic often.

About En Xi.

You seem to have grown up suddenly.  You are such a tall girl now and is taking up more responsibilities as an elder sister to your brother.  Its funny how you can be so caring, nurturing and patient with En Jun.  Then, out of no where, start your whining about En Jun not sharing again.  I love the way you smile.  Always so dainty, shy and princess-y.  You continue to be very creative in your artwork and have an imagination that spans no boundary.  We hope you find where your interest lies in, and for now, we think you might like to attend SOTA in future.  K2 is such a demanding year and like most parents, I can't stand our education system.  There is so much spelling to do in K2 for both English and Chinese.  Pre-schoolers are expected to be able to form a sentence with 7 words.  How times has changed.  I used to read ABCs only in K2.  What really makes matters worst is that P1 teachers are not going to slow down and help kids who develop later.  Really can't understand why this mad rush to learn when its now time to play.  Not to worry at the moment.  We are both helping you with your spelling and getting external help for phonics.  Don't worry, we are not loading you with tons of enrichment classes.  Just an hour of phonics and your favorite arts and craft class on Sat mornings. We are still having fun most of the time as a family.  In fact, we just did a Sunday picnic and soccer at the Botanical Gardens.

About En Jun.

The naughtiness in you surfaced after the Taiwan trip and we guess it must be your cousins, Shou Rei and Shou Cong that have influenced you.  Mummy misses the adorable side of you, but you are still as cute and most of times, just plain silly and comical.  In fact, you and En Xi make a great pair!  School has been great for you.  You have acclimatised well to the environment.  The not so great part?  Your eating and constant harassment of girl classmates.  You are growing up so much like Shou Cong.  Your teacher in N1B, Elosia says that you are a strong will child.  I told her, she haven't met your sister yet.

En Jun's starting Pre-School

A brand new year marks the start of En Jun's Pre-School, full day child care at MindChamps, Toa Payoh together with En Xi.  En Jun had little trouble acclimatising to the new environment and was taken through his steps by her lovely sister, En Xi.