Thursday, 27 January 2011
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Fort Canning
Nonna and Nonno arrived on Friday from BKK and we have been having a fun time catching up with them. On Sunday the six of us took the MRT to City Hall and enjoyed an excellent church service at the Good Shepherd. It is the oldest, Catholic church in Singapore and the choir was incredible. Afterwards, we had a big burger lunch at the Handburger followed by a visit to Fort Canning. We all really liked the Big Battle Box which included tunnels and wax soldiers discussing battle plans etc.
Before heading home, we went to the Long Bar at Raffles. It is always fun for the kids to be permitted to throw the peanut shells all over the floor...I mean, gently drop. Nonna and Nonna ordered a Singapore Sling. The last time they were in Singapore was 50 years ago. Well done for coming back!! I would like to take them to the Intercontinental for an Oriental Fling...a cocktail I much prefer but alas, I digress.
Today we leave for Borneo. We will fly to KK and then onto Tawau where we will take a boat to the world-class diving area called Sipadan. I really hope the weather conditions are good for scuba/snorkeling and that the coral is still healthy. We have not had very good snorkel experiences in Thailand and Vietnam lately so hopefully we will not be disappointed!
Stay tuned for updates about Sipadan...
Before heading home, we went to the Long Bar at Raffles. It is always fun for the kids to be permitted to throw the peanut shells all over the floor...I mean, gently drop. Nonna and Nonna ordered a Singapore Sling. The last time they were in Singapore was 50 years ago. Well done for coming back!! I would like to take them to the Intercontinental for an Oriental Fling...a cocktail I much prefer but alas, I digress.
Today we leave for Borneo. We will fly to KK and then onto Tawau where we will take a boat to the world-class diving area called Sipadan. I really hope the weather conditions are good for scuba/snorkeling and that the coral is still healthy. We have not had very good snorkel experiences in Thailand and Vietnam lately so hopefully we will not be disappointed!
Stay tuned for updates about Sipadan...
Monday, 17 January 2011
Home Improvements
With Papa's parents on their way, our family decided to make some changes to our home to make it more comfortable. Papa feels bad that everything was not ready for Gramma and Grampa but I am sure they understood how busy the end of the year was and how we enjoyed spending time researching Vietnam instead of painting walls.
So in short, Papa's office has become a guest room, Frunty's space ship room has become a family office, and Pit's dinosaur room has become a tv room. Our master bedroom has become the "dorm" room with beds for 4 people and our basement has become another guest room as Amy has moved out! Happy 2011. Our home is now a lot more user friendly with rooms based on function and quite eco-friendly. On super hot nights, we can all sleep in one room with the aircon on instead of cooling several rooms.
I guess this is not the most exciting topic but it reminds me of the changes. I became sad when Pit's orange and green walls got painted over. He told me today he wants the new colours to be dark brown and orange. Well, we'll see about that! I thought both boys were very generous to let their rooms be converted. Our home now sleeps 15 quite comfortably and with 5 bathrooms, we are hoping to host our entire family here one Christmas! (wishful thinking?!)
We are looking forward to Nonna and Nonno's visit as they arrive this Friday. Shortly after their departure, Aunt Vanessa and Uncle Paul arrive and the day after they leave, Scot, Ninon and Kyle from Toronto arrive. Hopefully everyone will enjoy our home and pool/steam room/exercise facilities as much as we do! As they say on RyanAir when you arrive in Ireland, "you're very, very welcome!"
So in short, Papa's office has become a guest room, Frunty's space ship room has become a family office, and Pit's dinosaur room has become a tv room. Our master bedroom has become the "dorm" room with beds for 4 people and our basement has become another guest room as Amy has moved out! Happy 2011. Our home is now a lot more user friendly with rooms based on function and quite eco-friendly. On super hot nights, we can all sleep in one room with the aircon on instead of cooling several rooms.
I guess this is not the most exciting topic but it reminds me of the changes. I became sad when Pit's orange and green walls got painted over. He told me today he wants the new colours to be dark brown and orange. Well, we'll see about that! I thought both boys were very generous to let their rooms be converted. Our home now sleeps 15 quite comfortably and with 5 bathrooms, we are hoping to host our entire family here one Christmas! (wishful thinking?!)
We are looking forward to Nonna and Nonno's visit as they arrive this Friday. Shortly after their departure, Aunt Vanessa and Uncle Paul arrive and the day after they leave, Scot, Ninon and Kyle from Toronto arrive. Hopefully everyone will enjoy our home and pool/steam room/exercise facilities as much as we do! As they say on RyanAir when you arrive in Ireland, "you're very, very welcome!"
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Reading Time!
We really enjoy the night time routine which ends with story time. I know it is a special time for many families at the end of a busy day. Our time together is even more special now as both boys read a story to us. Or two, or three. Tonight Pit wanted to read all of his story books from the Hooked On Phonics Kindergarten series. So we heard about a rat on rats and wondered if cats can have caps and saw Jan and Stan who ran, ran, ran. We giggled too when Pit sometimes made some funny mistakes. I am really proud at how he loves to read.
And then it was Frunty's turn. Frunty has become such an excellent reader. Remember that he had to switch gears quite quickly from French to English when we arrived in Singapore. It was stressful for him to do homework before we arrived while we were in camping in Provence and Corsica. He had a hard time sitting still long enough to read a sentence! He has really grown into a great reader now due to maturity and practise.
Last year, he started to get very lazy though with his pronunciation to the point where I could not understand what he was reading. He would mumble and was clearly influenced by Singlish. So we worked at remembering to read well and Frunty has improved a great deal. He read the book of prayers tonight and it was very nice. I like this book because it has prayers from many different religions and from all over the world.
Then it was my turn. I read the Beautiful Butterfly story from an inspiring book which encourages children to imagine different scenarios. This story was about "friendship". At the end of each story, there are several affirmations and Frunty and Pit like to repeat them. I am hoping that they fall asleep with cheerful and inspiring ideas in their minds.
Although I may be very tired at the end of the day, I am never too tired to hear my children read to me and I get a lot of joy when sharing stories with them. I don't always have the energy to make up stories like Grampa does. He has a special gift. But hopefully spending that time together, surrounded by lovely books, will be a lasting gift too.
And then it was Frunty's turn. Frunty has become such an excellent reader. Remember that he had to switch gears quite quickly from French to English when we arrived in Singapore. It was stressful for him to do homework before we arrived while we were in camping in Provence and Corsica. He had a hard time sitting still long enough to read a sentence! He has really grown into a great reader now due to maturity and practise.
Last year, he started to get very lazy though with his pronunciation to the point where I could not understand what he was reading. He would mumble and was clearly influenced by Singlish. So we worked at remembering to read well and Frunty has improved a great deal. He read the book of prayers tonight and it was very nice. I like this book because it has prayers from many different religions and from all over the world.
Then it was my turn. I read the Beautiful Butterfly story from an inspiring book which encourages children to imagine different scenarios. This story was about "friendship". At the end of each story, there are several affirmations and Frunty and Pit like to repeat them. I am hoping that they fall asleep with cheerful and inspiring ideas in their minds.
Although I may be very tired at the end of the day, I am never too tired to hear my children read to me and I get a lot of joy when sharing stories with them. I don't always have the energy to make up stories like Grampa does. He has a special gift. But hopefully spending that time together, surrounded by lovely books, will be a lasting gift too.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Pit's First Day of School
We started celebrating Pit's first day of school the night before so that Gramma and Grampa could join in too! We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Smokey's. Pit had a big, beef rib! Then on Thursday January 6, 2011. Pit started his second year of kindergarten. He is in K2 1Joy. His teacher is Mrs. Devi and Ruth, his friend from last year, is in his class again as well as one or two others. After class, we met up with his friends from K1 1Hope, Amelia and Kyros at the brand new playground. What a great surprise for his first day of school to have a beautiful, new playground in which to goof around with his friends! We are so proud of you, Pit, for going to kindergarten when you would rather stay home! We will still have lots of fun learning together at home and on our travels, Pit. Three hours a day at kindergarten will be fun too so have a great year, Pit!
Frunty's First Day of School!
On Tuesday, January 4, 2011. Frunty started Grade 3 which is called P3 over here. He is in the Love class after being promoted from P2 Faith for excellent achievement. Papa, Mama and Frunty took the MRT to school together. It was a lot of fun!We celebrated Frunty's first day by going bowling and having dinner at Brewerks afterwards. Frunty's first day was made extra special because Gramma and Grampa were here to have breakfast with him and pick him up from school. It was also memorable as Frunty received an important invitation to join the floorball team which will compete nationally. He was specially selected because of his excellent sportsmanship. We are so proud of you, Frunty! Have a great year!
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Bowling Queen
Gramma voted for the Botanical Gardens and Magma beer restaurant but was over ruled by the boys who wanted the Kallang Leisure center because of its bowling alley followed by Brewerks. But that did not stop the ensuing magic as Gramma became the Bowling Queen last night. After a dubious first game, Grampa showed Gramma how to throw the ball toward the triangles on the lane. After one explanation, Gramma was off and started to show amazing improvement. I am, in particular, very impressed by my mom.
Gramma and Grampa are on the plane now, ready for take-off. We all miss them already. We had an amazing holiday with them in Vietnam, back in Singapore for Christmas and then New Year's on Bintan with more adventures and highlights than I can ever hope to describe...it's midnight and Pit starts school tomorrow and for Frunty, it is his third day of P3 Love. More on that later. In the meantime, hope you sleep well, Bowling Queen! Have a great flight, Gramma and Grampa, and thanks so much for visiting. We had a ball!
Gramma and Grampa are on the plane now, ready for take-off. We all miss them already. We had an amazing holiday with them in Vietnam, back in Singapore for Christmas and then New Year's on Bintan with more adventures and highlights than I can ever hope to describe...it's midnight and Pit starts school tomorrow and for Frunty, it is his third day of P3 Love. More on that later. In the meantime, hope you sleep well, Bowling Queen! Have a great flight, Gramma and Grampa, and thanks so much for visiting. We had a ball!
