Ash's acheivement

It started out with a simple goal...not allowing ourselves to use the fact that Ash is a year end baby as an excuse.

So, we will always set aside time to teach her academically. I started with flashcards then proceeded to reading, learning through play, lots and loys of reading. When she started K1, I tried to teach her what the school taught till now preparing for primary one.

People deemed us as academically driven parents but we are not as she has many activities on weekends which do not invovle academics.

We believe only in on thing, if she can then we should not let it to waste.

Since the school holidays has started and I need to keep her occupied, Ash has academic work to do and also fun activities lined up.

Gave her an English and Maths SA1 papers from a top girl school and we were totally blown off with what she produced.

The Mathematics Paper

The English Paper

Okay, we are really proud of her but yet again what we are not so sure she will do as well when she goes primary one next year. She is a very easily distracted gal and that is the one weakness that will cause her downfall.

Superpig's update

100kg

Another to try the Atkins Diet

Met up with Superpig's friends last weekend.
He told them about his current diet and why he decided to go ahead with it eventhough it can be rather challenging.
He explained to them what the diet is about and how he had gotten use to the "no carbo" diet.

Yesterday, he came home and told me that his friend,F (who is also on the big size catergory) has started on the diet too.
After hearing from Superpig and also his brother (whose friend mentioned it before), he decided to read up on it and gave it a go.

Hope both of them would be able to meet their goal of weight lost.

Children

My memory is actually quite good but I have a feeling that it is failing me nowadays.
I know I only have two kids in the house, an almost six year old and an eleven month old.
However, it seems like I also have a thirty-something kid.

Ash had to go to school for her P1 Prep Class and she was taking her time to finish up her milk.
Superpig was getting a bit impatient as she was going to be late for lesson.
As Ash was about to finish her milk, he stomped off to the toilet.
He insisted that he would need to clear his bowel.
I told him that Ash was ready to go already.
But he threw a tantrum and said that he had waited very long and now he needed to clear his bowel the second time. Since she was already late he can continue with his business.

Haiz...

Seems like there are three kids in the house rather than two.

My Three Kids

Superpig's update

Latest buzz from his diet...

101kg

that's after dinner but before the visit to the toilet

Keep dropping...

California baby's Calendula Cream

I am not their official advertiser and no... I am not paid to do this.
Anyway, when there is a good product why not share it with others.

If you all have noticed from the pictures I posted of Aver, she has been suffering from skin irritation for almost 5 months now.
Red ugly rash appeared on her right cheek and it started to get big and looked badly infected.
It was under control with steroid cream, Neoderm but kept coming back when the temperature goes up.
Then two months later, two small patches appeared on the other cheek.
After that, her arms and legs also started to sprout rashes here and there.
Other then the creams given by the doctor, we had to keep the temperature down with the air-conditioner turned on.
Temperature down, expenses up...

Then I finally got my hands on this California Baby's Calendula Cream.
Had been diligently putting it on her affected areas.
It has been a week and the rashes are improving.
So I have stopped the steroid creams for now.
The rashes are no longer that red and infected looking.
It look like they are about to heal.

On top of that, we smear her with lots of Dermaveen moisturiser and aloe vera gel to soothe the itch.

So if your child or yourself is suffering from eczema, why not try it out?

Dieting Update

Upon the last update of the diet, Superpig's weight went back to 103kg.
Why?
I'm not sure.

However, he did not give up at all.
He persisted on his "no carbo" diet.
I must say that he is determined to win this battle with his weight.

As a wife, I support him all the way.
He has done quite well and I can see that his big tummy has started to shrink.

So his weight now ....

102kg

Another project with hook

Here's another project that I completed awhile ago.
It was a pair of booties for a one month old baby.
She is my sister-in-law's brother-in-law's daughter... (confusing? Had been thinking for a long time how to phrase it.)



And isn't she a cute little one?

Mushroom Beary

Here is a bear that I crocheted yesterday.
There are the rest of his face to complete.
Why the name?
Cos he looked like a mushroom for most part of the day till I assembled his limbs.



And he guards over Aver when she naps.



Any comments?

How about me losing weight?

Well, I did mention in the earlier post that I do not need to lose massive amount of weight but I still need to get some off me.

Ash's observation and comment about my body...

Ash said, "Mummy, your tummy... I can see your tummy."
I replied,"Yeah... I know."
Ash went on,"Mummy, don't you think youshould lose a little weight too? I can see your tummy coming out everytime."

Children can be so blunt...
but it sure make me wake up.

Update on Superpig

Today is the third day that Superpig is on the Atkins diet.

I must say that he sure have a whole lot of determination.

Although he looks a little grumpy but he should be able to get over it soon.

His energy level is low but he claims that he is alright.

He has been visiting the toilet more often then his usual morning and night visitation.

And he finally understood that he can eat as much as he want as long as he doesn't consume anything that has high carbohydrate.

So he went and bought 1.5 kg worth of Ba Kwa (barbecued pork slices)



He started out with his weight at 104kg (yes... he is that massive)

This morning he is at 102.5kg!

It has only been three days.



All the way... Superpig!

(I have intended to put up Superpig's fat picture up here but he refused to give me the rights...)

Superpig on Atkins Diet

We went to find out more about this Atkins diet thingy from Pam and her husband yesterday afternoon.

Basically, carbohydrate has to be eliminated from the diet and exercising must come in.
After the sharing session, Superpig seemed convinced and for myself... I will only go on partial diet since I am still nursing and I do not need to get rid of massive amount of weight.

We went for dinner and thinking that since Superpig will start the next day, he should enjoy lots of carb for the night. However, he surprised me by starting on the programme immediately...no rice and no finishing up Ash's kway teow...

Way to go Superpig....

But when we reached home, he mentioned that his tummy felt full but his arms were weak... withdrawal symptoms from no carb. Then a two hours later he was hungry and went in search of food. Tried as he might, there seems to be nothing he can eat. Suddenly, I felt kind of sad for him and almost wanted him to stop (talk about determination!)

Then I decided that I have to grant him the utmost support he can have. I steamed egg with minced meat (but I was over zealous... I steamed 3 eggs...) and he enjoyed it.

Today for breakfast, he took fried fish soup only... no rice, no noodles ... and we ate roti prata. ( I felt kind of bad eating that in front of him.) To make it worse, Ash offered him a piece of her prata... Superpig did a little exercise ... shook his head and said NO!

Way to go Superpig....

Ash's Primary One Orientation

Went to the eldest primary school for her Primary One Orientation.
Kind of cute to see her in the school with all the other little girls.
More interesting is that she is stepping on the same place that I stepped on when I was in Primary School.
Entering the school make me feel like I am a little primary schooler all over again.
Brings back quite a bit of memory ...
Other then the sense of nostalgia, there were more important things to do.
Filling in all the necessary forms, signing up for the bus transport, finding out more about the after school care that is ran by YMCA in the school itself, buying of books and so on.
Most importantly, we had to have enough money for all the purchases but... Superpig forgot to bring his cheque book! Thank goodness I bought along enough cash...

The breakdown of the expenses...

1) Paying for miscellaneous stuff of school - $60
2) School books - $145
3) School Bus - $220
4) School Uniforms -$90
5) School Shoes - $20
6) School bag - $70

Total $605

So... as we sweat it out trying to get all the things, Ash was in the class with the parent volunteers and big sisters. They also went to tour the school grounds and even had a recess (we caught her in time to give her a dollar to go enjoy herself).

Ash's concept on money

Ash went on an exercusion the day before with her school. They first went to a primary school to have firsthand experience of life as a primary schooler then they went off to Changi Airport Terminal 3.

When I went to fetch her from school, I wanted to peek into her coin pouch to see how much she had left.

Ash immediately said,"Mummy, there are many coins inside. You will be very rich!"
She brimmed from ear to ear.

I looked at her puzzled ...

Then it dawned on me... more coins = more money.

She was given 2 one-dollar coins and was left with seventy cents (made up of a twenty-cent coin, 4 ten-cent coins and 2 five-cent coins). So in her young mind, she went with two coins but came back with 7 coins... hence she has more.

Guess I need to spend some time on the concept of money.


Take a peek at her diary entry of her excursion here

My eldest has graduated!

Today is the graduation concert for her kindergarten. It is kind of early though as there is another two more weeks of school to before it marks the end of her preschool years.

Although Ash did not have a big part in the concert... she was simply a "passerby", she did a great job.

She was so serious before walking up to the stage. Her mortar board was about to drop but she kept herself steady and the board stayed on her head till she went off stage.

At the grand finale, where the all the pupils sang and danced, Ash put in her best and she performed very well.

Between Superpig and myself, we agreed that she is the best attitude "passerby".

I am proud of her. And I would say that she is one of those who behaved well too.

So today...

My eldest has GRADUATED!

Like mother, like daughter

In the car tonight, Aver was crying for milk. It was not possible to nurse her as I was sitting in the front while my mother and Ash were at the back with her.

Aver cried relentlessly and no matter how both of them tried to pacify her, she refused to be pacified.

Then Ash blurted out in desperation,"Stop! Give you milk in the afternoon, you don't want to drink that is your problem. Now you cry also no use."

That was a lightbulb moment... she sounded like me.

I would always tell Ash that if she chose not to do a certain thing and had to suffer the consequence that would be her problem.

So I really need to be more conscious of what comes out of my mouth as they get digested by these two intelligent brains.

"Huh? What were you saying, Mummy?"

The importance of water

The water pipes for our block of flats are to be changed and the water supply will be disrupted.
So we had to store some water in pails.
However, Superpig had the impression that the water supply would be back at 1 p.m. so he filled two pails of water.
The water supply is scheduled to be back at 5 pm instead.
By the ime we realised that it was already too late.
With just two pails of water to last for most of the day, I realised that I have to be very prudent in using water.
And then I realised the importance of water.

My firstborn has grown

Today, something important arrived in the mail - documents for Ash's primary one orientation.
Seeing them made me realised that Ash is no longer a "baby".

Then I observed her with her little sister.
She really has grown so much.
She has been a really good big sister helping me take care of Aver when there is a need to.
She has been a great sister too who patiently play Aver's game of dropping her toys from the highchair.
Aver drops them, Ash picks them up over and over again.
She has been a good help with the housework too.
She mops the three bedrooms thoroughly, even more thorough than myself.

My firstborn - my precious angel from God.

I must learn to be more patient and observe her goodness.

I LOVE YOU, ASH.

Conversation after dinner

Sometimes when I am in the mood the things that I say can be rather crazy and it cracks Superpig up.

Today, it's one of that crazy mood days so the following was what happened after dinner.

Ash was happily chanting away,"Oh Ah Pay Ah Som..." (a variation of Scissors, Paper, Stone game). She just went on and on. Since she was free, I asked her to clean the dining table, thinking that she would stop. However, she continued and it kind of getting stuck in my head. I could hear myself joining her in my head.

I said,"Please stop it. And don't even think of it in your head."

Superpig overheard it in the kitchen and started snickering away.

Then as I was giving Aver a bathe and Ash was still cleaning away at the dining table. That was not because the table was very dirty ...

I said,"Miss Tan, what is taking you so long?"

Ash replied,"I am still cleaning."

I retorted,"The table is transparent, no matter how hard and long you scrub it will not turn as white as snow."

Superpig snickered again.

When she finally came into the kitchen, Superpig asked,"So is the table as white as snow?"

Ash replied,"NO!"

"Why?" Superpig asked her again.

"How to become as white as snow? It is transparent." Ash replied.

Sometimes, Ash gets a little frustrated with me because of my craziness.

This was the "castle" that Ash built while cleaning the table.

Hence the long time needed.

Ashlyn's Mary Jane

I managed to complete one of the many projects I posted earlier.



Ashlyn's Mary Jane... she wears these to sleep at night to keep her feet warm. She is not a blanket lover and will always kick it away eventhough she is cold.



And there will be more to be made as Superpig thinks that it is cute and useful.
Please visit For Parents and Babies for details if you are interested in getting a pair.

Time for exercise

Superpig and myself decided that we should visit the gym to help ourselves slim down. So we did that the day before.

My brother have moved into his new condo and it is not very far from our home. So we decided to go to the gym there are work out. Of course, in order for me to be able to exercise, I must engage the help of my mother. She looks after Aver and watches over Ash, who will be frolicking in the waddling pool.

The nice part of the gym is that it overlooks the pool and we can see them too.

First time on the treadmill after 7 years, it sure was not easy. I could only do a twenty minutes fast walk... It was fast walk in Superpig's view... he was walking at the same pace which I was jogging.

However, I am not giving up. I hope my mother will continue to help so that we can visit the gym on a regular basis.

Updating my project list - October

There are many projects at hand, some for my girls and some for the little shop.

1) Ash's quilt (yes, it is still waiting patiently but I am not putting it off anymore.)
2) Ash's mary janes (so that her feet was kept warm when she sleeps)
3) Ash's hooded poncho
4) Ash's princess gown for her upcoming birthday
5) Diaper cosies
6) Aver's mary janes

Let's hope that all these can be completed by end of October.

From my point of view

Just thought it would be fun to get pictures of what I see when I sit at the back of the car.

Precious Moments

Today was the Precious Moments event...I would not want to talk about the event as it is quite lousy compared to the previous years.

Reasons?

...crowd control = weak! There were so many people and so little space.

...queue system = none! There were about four different queues and no signs to show which one was which.

...sales assistants = clueless!

...buffet lunch = what lunch? The food was so limited that everyone simply stand by the buffet table to eat so that when the dish is out, they can be the first to the food. Not to mention that some no brianer spilled rice on Aver's pram without even apologising!

I think I was super unhappy because after queing for almost 3 hours to make our purchase, the figurine that we want was sold out!

So to make ourselves feel better we took pictures with the two mascots.

I sacked the cleaning lady

We are in need of watching our expenses so I had been thinking about terminating the cleaning company's service for quite awhile. However, Superpig had assured me that it was alright to continue and it would also ensure that I am not overtired. I am happy that he said that but I also do not want him to be stressed over the expenses.

Other than the above reason, the cleaning company really is not up to my standard. More like they did not fulfill what they had promised. There was supposed to be scheduled window cleaning, steaming of beds and so on but after so many months, nothing was said or done.

So I decided to end our relationship with the company and engage the lady personally. I must say that she clean the house well enough but there are areas that I am not happy with but still willing to tolerate. However, she asked for $280 for 4 hours of work per week... and I am shocked. Market rate is around $160 to $200 for 4 hours work with ironing.

Superpig decided to engage her at $260 for 5 hours work with ironing per week but I still think it is too steep. So I told him that I am only willing to pay $200 and since she is not willing then I have to say goodbye to her.

After saying goodbye, the housework is back on my shoulders. I am most willing to do them and will also draw up a schedule to do them too so as to be more disciplined. Then I rope in Ash too.

She is in-charge of mopping the three bedrooms.

Crochet Poncho

I am in a blogging spree... I don't really like to lump everything in one blog post so. I prefer to make little posts of the different thoughts.

Here is one on the crochet poncho I completed about two weeks ago. I found the pattern Crochetville and decided that it should be easy enough to follow.

I must say that it is quite easy but it was a challenge to keep count of the initial 96 stitches. Then I had to make sure that the chain was not twisted when I joined it together. I think I redid the beginning quite a number of times. However, I am quite happy that I redid it and the result was really good.

Yet again upon completion of the poncho, I realised that the chances of Aver using it in our little sunny island is quite slim. But who cares... I like it, I enjoyed the process of making it and I will take it out along with us in case she gets cold while shopping.

I realised that when she wears the poncho and the leg warmers together she looked like a caveman baby. Ha...

Noise...migraine...help!

After seven years living opposite nobody then recently the house was sold and in come the contractors.

Renovation started three days ago and it also marked the start of my migraine. I had already being trying very hard to live with the massive amount of noise pollution caused by renovation works in the houses opposite my block as they are slowly filling up. Now, I have to deal with the one that is right outside my doorstep.


I can only hope for the renovation work to be completed as soon as possible and my migraine to be gone along with the contractors.



Now I await the moving in of our neighbours.

The world of blogging

I was introduced to blogging by a friend who no longer visit my blog anymore. What's the reason? I don't know either. Think that our friendship just sort of frizzled out but that is another story for another time.

So... back to the world of blogging.

I like to read blogs written by many creative people and I am amazed by the quality of their writing and also the stuff that they do.

Here are some of the blogs that I read and hope to share with you why I read them.

1. riceandsoup
- The author is a friend from church and I like the way she writes.

2. Fluffy Flowers
- I like the little creatures that she make and they way she describes the things around her. It makes me want to get out of this crappy place. And since I cannot ... it spurs me on to create a pleasant living space.

3. Tiny Happy
- I chanced onto her blog when a mother from a forum sewed a shoulder bag based on a tutorial she put up in her blog. I like the items that she sew and really love the baby shoes. I also like her photos.

4. Cuisine Paradise
- A beautiful blog which show the love of a mother through her cooking. I learnt a few dishes from her blog and truly admire her ability to involve her son in many of her baking sessions. It was through her that made me try to bake with Ash too. Now I truly admire her strength as a single mum. My heart broke when I read her blog, finding out about the change in her life. It was like my own sister going through the trials of life. She may not remember me now but we had msn-ed each other years ago.



5. Angry Chicken
- I like her crafts, her ideas and her style of writing.


I noticed that these blogs that I read have very pretty photos and it make my blog pale in comparison. Reading about them also sort of make me think about my life ... its kind of boring.

So, first and foremost, I have to learn to take better photos and I would like to blame it on my camera and hoping for a new one. However, I do have a superb Canon 350D which I threw a big tantrum in order to have it. So there will be no new camera coming, no matter how big a tantrum I am going to throw.

Then, I need to brush up on my writing skills. To think that I was an English teacher ... shame on me.

And, there should be more activities with my family members other than shopping... which I have greatly reduced. However, the weather is too hot for anything except to seek refuge in air-conditioned places.

Lastly, I hope if anyone is reading, please leave comments so that I have the motivation to blog on. I hope to hear from people who read my blog (if there is any...) so that I can improve.

Clearing the house

One of the projects listed in the previous posts was to clear up the clutter around the house.

I finally embarked on it the night before.

I started with the study room and found a few nice things for the upcoming Christmas.

Now, I wonder why I had not given them earlier?

Why were they kept aside?

Then I found a few treasures too.

A book that belonged to my father... it teaches conversational Malay.

Maybe just one day, I may embark on learning our official language.

Then a Carebear Sticker book that belong to Superpig.

Oh... I so love them.

A few books that I truly liked when I was a little kid.

My primary school hymnal... I wonder whether Ash will have the same hymnal when she goes to Primary One next year.

Oh... and my two diaries which bring me lots of pain when I read it. Ouch... I was so naive and childish.

Some completed projects

Had been rather disciplined so far so managed to complete a few projects.
So I am rather proud of myself.

First up... more snowskin mooncakes. This time round I made mango snowskin in Hello Kitty shape.

Next, hair band... I crocheted this one for Aver but it was too long hence it now belong to Ash. Doesn't Ash look like a princess when wears it?


And ... more leg warmers. I was not satisfied with the first pair as they kept coming off Aver's legs. What good are leg warmers when they cannot stay on long enough on the legs to keep them warm?

So here you have my two princesses giving their sweetest smiles to say good bye.

My Melody Snowskin Mooncakes - 11 September 2007

I made my third batch of snowskin mooncakes.

This time I made green tea ones.


Gave a few to my brother's girlfriend and to my friend and left with four for Ash.

Superpig requested for more.

With his support, we went to buy more stuff for more mooncakes making.

Tonight will be another mooncake making night.



Do they look cute enough?

The recipe for snowskin mooncakes is here.

Time Flies

Time flies past very quickly and it kinds of scare me a little.
I thought I had just given birth not long ago and now Aver is already coming to 9 months.
I thought I just put Ash into childcare and in a few more months she will be in Primary 1.

So in order to maintain a little control over time and life, I seriously need to have better time management and goal setting.

There are things to be completed and I am giving myself a strict dateline to do so.
I realised that I am so hooked up in the internet going through the many forums and blogs that time just fly by my face without me realising it.

Hence, I will be limiting my time on the internet reading blogs and forums to an hour a day. There will be no bargaining in this area.

Mondays - Cross stitching
Tuesday - Sewing
Wednesday - Scrapbooking
Thursday and Friday - I can choose any of the above to do or I can bake
Saturday and Sunday - Usually the day is so packed that I would not have any energy left for my crafts.

Now a few projects that I need to complete:
1. Snow skin mooncakes
2. Crochet leg warmers
3. Ash's quilt
4. Diaper bags

Okay, I have to be very strict with myself.

I so love butterflies

Whilst teaching in the previous school, I was handpicked to go for the annual Science Fair. In preparation of the fair, together with my colleague, we went to learn about butterflies. It was then that I fell in love with them.

So you will see more butterflies in the future.

Please leave a comment to let me know how you feel about them.

Another Sketch

Here's another sketch that I did.

Very simpler but it does lift my spirit up.

I have a fear for balloons. If one is to burst not too far away, I will scream in fear and continue to shake in fear. People around me are more horrified by my scream then the bursting of a balloon.

Whenever, a kind staff of Macdonalds come by smiling with a handful of balloons, coercing Ash to take one, you can see me violently shaking my head. She is accommodating enough not to take one most of the time but I cannot bear to see her downcast face all the time. Hence, I will reluctantly allow her to have one once in a blue moon. However, I will always reduce it to a pitiful pea size (okay...its bigger than a pea) so that it will not burst.

However, I cannot resist balloons that come in the shape of a heart. Somehow, I am drawn to them. My secret wish is to have many many heart shaped balloons and to let them go into the blue sky.

Maybe, it is to say...spread more love to people around us.

My Lousy Mood

I am glad that I am out of depression.
I am even grateful to a wonderful Superpig for his support and care.
I am truly thankful that God is watching over me everyday.

I still have my many down moods and that is why I am thankful that He is watching over.

Like today, I felt as if I am a failure.
I felt that I am a loser who is unable to achieve anything.
However, that is not true based on the projects I had accomplished so far.
But the mood just came.

So I had to distract myself.
Hence, I drew a picture on Photoshop.
It looks like a kiddy drawing but it did lift my spirit up a bit.

Weekend Fun Part 2 - HI-5 is in town

Went for the Hi-5 show last night with two princesses and Superpig.

For days, Ash had repeatedly talk about the show that she will be watching.
On Sunday itself, she kept reminding us that the show was at 7 pm.
After church, we went shopping around and she kept asking whether is it 7 pm.
She must be very excited over it.

She enjoyed herself there although she was too shy to jump around like the other kids.
She went home with a Hi-5 cushion. And the only reason why she got to have it was because Superpig has a fetish over cushions.


Aver also enjoyed herself during the show.
Before the show started, she went off to dreamy land but with 5 minutes into the show, she woke up.
That was her first time watching Hi-5...first time...she had not watched it on TV yet.
When they sang, she danced. (My poor aching arms...)

As for Superpig, he fell asleep in the second part of the show.
That was what he did the last year too.
So I think next time, I will not spend money on another ticket for him.
I highly recommend that he sits outside and take a nap while we girls go enjoy the show.
Oh... plus pay for all the things that we want to buy.

Weekend Fun - Snowskin Mooncakes

Due to my love for snowskin mooncakes and the prices for them are really sky high and considering the fact that I will also not bear to eat them hence will be thrown away, I decided to search for its recipe and do it myself.

I was not so eager at first but while surfing the web, I chanced upon a blog entry where she had Hello Kitty Snowskin Mooncakes and that motivated me.

Alas, the search for the Hello Kitty mooncake mould was not successful. However, on a forum a mother posted her version of the snowskin mooncake using cookie cutters...so now there is no turning back.

Now, you be the judge and tell me what you think of them. Please feel free to leave your comments so that I know someone is reading.