There are just some things that only Daddies do, like play Chicken Invaders (nat scoffs when I ask her if mummy can play), catch a butterfly (he really is quite an expert), teach them to fly a kite (mine never lifts off the ground, keeps nose-diving), go down the water slides at the theme park (ok, so I am a scaredy cat), do the airplane with them (comprises some acrobatic moves that includes balancing them on your feet, it never fails to get them squealing). Of course, there is so much more, and the kids know it. You just have to look at how excited they get when gary comes home from work and everyone stops what they are doing to rush out to the front door to give daddy a big hug.


Happy Father's Day!

Monday, 14 June 2010

For those dear friends who are feeling blue, here's my little rapper girl nat, with an old 80's song, to cheer you up and chase away those Monday blues. It sure perked me up :)

Sunday, 13 June 2010

The week-long intensive tennis camp for nat ended on Friday. Both of us enjoyed it and what made it even nicer was that Gary managed to take Friday morning off to attend the last day of the camp with her. I had been sending him pics on the iphone all week, but even he agrees that it is different being there with her.

It's been a good holiday programme, nat definitely has ball sense and enjoys the game. I've picked up some coaching tips and games to play on the courts. We will definitely be playing tennis more often and will probably sign her up for another holiday programme in December. I am so proud of my little girl, she has focused well during the lesson and can hit a mean backstroke. While sitting by the sidelines watching her, I reminisced on the times when my mum taught me tennis, at a young age too. Doesn't seem like that long ago in my mind, but it's actually been more than 2 decades.

In the weekend, we went to the zoo and caught Dora and Diego on stage. Along the way, nat also got herself a little butterfly tatoo, which she was positively mesmerised with. The zoo was totally crowded, I couldn't believe the long queue of cars still incoming as we made our way out. It was a super hot and humid day and we were wiped just after an hour or so at the zoo. Check out didi's cool star wars storm trooper shirt, courtesy of daddy the star wars fan (You do realise that our kids are named after actors/actresses/characters in the show. Hmm ... does Yoda have a nice ring to it or Anakin, maybe? I personally like Leia)

Oh yes, while shopping at the mall yesterday, we chanced upon a Barbie fashion show thingey and stood around watching heavily made-up Barbie look-alike kids dancing on stage. That took like all of 3 minutes, before I got bored and herded the brood back to the car. When we got home, nat told me in all seriousness ,that she wanted to be Barbie and even showed me a few nifty moves that she had learnt from watching the dancers on stage. Then she went on to sing "I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world ..." Oh man, she's too young to be into this. So, instead of encouraging her fascination with Barbie, I distracted her with a baseball bat and ball instead. Phew ... she took the bait!

Tuesday, 8 June 2010

Since Monday, baby girl and I have been spending the mornings on the tennis courts at a week-long tennis camp for tots. Not too many tots in the class, so nat has almost exclusive attention most of the time. I'm really glad to see her enjoying herself during class and pleased that she loves the game as much as me. Every morning, she will ask if she is going for baby tennis and when I tell her we are, she gets very excited.

I don't think I have the time to bring her for regular lessons when school starts, but I thought it was a great idea to join the camp during the June and December holidays. The coach is great and she gets along really well with him. I sit in during the class and give her encouragement. Whenever she hits a nice shot, she will look at me for support. This little miss is really a bundle of energy, just looking at her running and jumping all over the tennis courts makes me tired. Check out the cool forehand, backhand and volley.

It's been exhausting for me though, having to go to work in the afternoon, while nat sleeps off the morning excitement. But just seeing the smile on her face makes everything worth it.

Sunday, 6 June 2010

Today's post is mainly devoted to nat and didi's fave preschool band in the world - The Wiggles. When I first saw how happy the kids were when they were watching and dancing along with the very first Wiggles DVD I bought, I told myself that I would bring them to the concert if it ever came to Singapore. And to Singapore they came. On Saturday, we found ourselves at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, together with an army of other fervent 2-5 year old fans. It was a very different kind of concert, so interactive, so full of energy that even the parents felt like getting up to dance as well. Kids were not confined to their seats but allowed to roam towards the aisles to dance and jive.

When the characters first came out, I could actually hear nat screaming in excitement (listen out for her screams in the video), it was quite funny. Although we paid an arm and a leg to get front row seat tickets to the concert, no regrets.

My kids, including Lucas, thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Throughout the concert, nat was right at the front, either staring in awe at her favourite Wiggles character or dancing the night away. You can see for yourselves, from the videos, she is that little dynamo bopping up and down. Didi lucas is a bit young to roam, but he too had fun bouncing on our legs. He was so fascinated with all the lights and sounds, he kept repeating the word Wiggles. It's interesting how 4 grown men can get preschoolers so excited, sometimes I wonder if it's the energetic songs, the multi-colours or just their funny personality.

Of course, being the crazed fans they are, my kids we went home with plenty of Wiggles paraphernalia.

The next day, the dynamic duo woke up, refreshed and ready to take on the world. So off we went to the Marina Barrage to fly kites. Weather was ok, although it got a bit hot towards the afternoon.


One of the greatest joys in life is to see the siblings enjoying themselves together and having fun. Haven't been feeling too happy recently and it is scenes like these that lifts up your spirits.

That night, nat was still obsessed with The Wiggles, so she entertained us with the groovy dance moves she learnt.

Thursday, 3 June 2010

It's been a relatively nice week. I managed to steal some time away to have a quick lunch with gary near his office earlier in the week. The lunchtime crowd in the CBD is amazing, the hustle and bustle, the noise, the long queues everywhere you look. Frankly, I am glad I don't have to brave through that every day, it would surely give me a perpetual headache.

Yesterday, gary also managed to take half a day off and bring our brood to the Singapore Art Museum. There is a Children's play area known as the Art Garden. I love it, it's so nice and creative and cheery. Note that this one's not free though. Basically, you explore the four different levels, which have varying themes.

First level is meant for small kids, as there is a height restriction. It's got some bunny theme and the kids are free to hop around the artificial grass and throw the green beanbags around. Little Miss busied herself building a castle.

At the second level, she did some colouring and craft. There was a big jiejie sitting beside her who did the colouring very nicely. Nat just scrawled and made a mess before attempting to cut up her art work into shreds.

Level 3, one of my favourites, for its sheer creativity. It is called the Enchanted Jungle or something like that. Some talented artist must have spent a long time drawing the murals in this room. There are all kinds of animals, hidden in the jungle, just waiting to be uncovered. Monkeys, tapirs, tigers, birds. panda bears ... and in line with the Singapore theme ... the Merlion. Here is nat, attempting to climb up the tree, we had to grab her before she actually did. There is also a table at the corner for kids to colour butterflies and when completed, you can even hang your butterfly in the Enchanted Forest. Didi, who was sleeping through the first 2 levels, woke up just in time, to colour his very own butterfly, and he was mighty proud of it.

Level 4, another favourite, truly a digital wonderland for kids. The firefly garden above is designed to be interactive. When you attempt to catch the butterflies, they fly just out of reach. The waterfall splashes to make beautiful patterns when you sit in its path. Stand perfectly still in the garden and a tree will sprout out from the area you are standing. It's truly amazing! Nat is also at an age when she adores big jiejies. She was following a little girl all around the room and quite willingly did everything the jiejie asked. Didi stood in awe at the firefly garden but got distracted by a nearby exhibit, the flower garden. As you walk through the garden, the flowers disappear but reappear as you walk away from the spot, forming a trail behind you.

We spent about 2 hrs at the museum, after which we had a nice cool drink at the cafe before returning home. What a fun but exhausting day. We all slept early and everyone, including didi lucas slept through the night. Gary still thinks I chiong too much and longs for his "nice and relaxing" off-day. Haha, dream on, baby!

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

This is the first week of the school hols. I'm planning to bring the kids to interesting attractions or places at least once a week. Today, we went to the zoo. Although we have been to the zoo so many times, it amazes me how we always find something new to marvel at. The star attraction for the kids was the giraffe feeding session. Both were so thrilled to feed carrots to the tall, graceful animals with their long curling tongue.

When we got back to my mum's place, they were still a bundle of energy, so we hung out in the garden, playing kiddy tennis and golf. I love it that my mum has a big garden for the kids to run around in, it's so therapeutic just sitting there watching them, whacking the ball around the garden, checking out the nearby drain, spraying water from the hose or even snooping around the crevices looking for creepy crawlies.