Today Pit's K1 year went to the zoo and parents/caregivers were invited so at least 17 participated. I was very grateful to be able to attend. This works out for me because I was invited but also because Amy could be home to greet Frunty at 2pm. Daddy was busy with press conferences and reporters all day (and night) so could not help me out. So I am grateful for many reasons. We did have a fun time and I enjoyed being with Pit, of course, and seeing the show, "The Rainforest Fights Back." We saw the first polar bear in the world to be born in the tropics. Pretty incredible. He seemed to be pretty happy, swimming around in his semi-cool pool with palm trees behind him. And his mom pool-side. Never even imagined that that could occur in nature.
Today got me thinking about how our life is different here and if it has improved compared to Brussels. I never minded the weather over there in Brussels...cool and rainy all year was fine with me. But healthwise, I suppose it is better to get the Vitamin D. Daddy and I are both involved in the kids' schools and this is a huge bonus. Daddy does floorball with Frunty at TPS and I help out at the library once a week and with "EduFun" and Reading programmes and the pool. At Chant D'Oiseau, we were lucky to see inside Frunty's classroom once. And it was frowned upon when I went to the pool to see him swim.
In Brussels, Daddy travelled a great deal and I was often alone with the kids. Here, Papa has not travelled at all yet and I have a full-time, live-in helper. So we have time to breathe. What is still missing here in Singapore is really close family and friends. I have that in Toronto and Brussels and miss it. In Singapore, we have 5 bathrooms, in Brussels only 1. Sure makes hosting guests a lot more comfortable. I miss the French quite a bit. One might think that life is easier here because it is all in English. Well, not exactly. Come over and hear for yourselves.
Well, anyway, some recent researchers concluded that the grass is not actually ever greener on the other side. I have lived in enough countries by now to realize for myself that it is six of one and a half dozen of another, as my mom often says. In each place, I am grateful though for what is good. Heck, if a polar bear can make it here, so can I!!
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Friday, 23 April 2010
Cooling Down
How to cool down on a super, hot afternoon? Go into Papa's air-conditioned office to do homework. That's nice. Or visit a museum or movie theatre where you need to bring warmies. Today we chose the movie option and took the boys to see, Earth. A bit long but very thought- provoking. The kids talked to Papa about it later when we met him for dinner at Chevron House. You guessed it, pumpkin soup night! Amy came too and maybe enjoyed a break from cooking dinner. She spent the morning trying different cookie recipes which use stevia. Bless her! We have a fun weekend planned which you'll hear about later!
p.s. another fun idea to cool down of course is the pool which has been, unfortunately, closed for the last two weeks for maintenance. Don't want to get into details but the whole situation stinks!
(sorry, bad pun!)
p.s. another fun idea to cool down of course is the pool which has been, unfortunately, closed for the last two weeks for maintenance. Don't want to get into details but the whole situation stinks!
(sorry, bad pun!)
Monday, 19 April 2010
Volcanoes
We are all following the volcano situation daily here in Singapore as people are stuck at Changi airport as well. I know that a great many people are inconvenienced. It is not a fun topic for them. For us though, it has been an interesting topic of conversation as the boys learn more and more about what volcanoes can do. Frunty's reading is coming along really well so I give him little tidbits of information from the newspaper about Iceland. Pit explains to us how volcanoes erupt. Can you picture their big, brown eyes opened wide as they tell us passionately about volcanoes? Even before our trip to Santorini, that Greek island I chose to include so my kids could hike up a volcano, they loved them. We just saw the IMAX movie, Forces of Nature, before this occured so it is even more interesting for us.
Again, I know it is no fun for those stuck right now at the airports around the globe. I wonder though, environmentally speaking, how our planet feels about this hiatus. All the best to all of you traveling, especially our friends, the Hills, who are stuck in Spain!
Again, I know it is no fun for those stuck right now at the airports around the globe. I wonder though, environmentally speaking, how our planet feels about this hiatus. All the best to all of you traveling, especially our friends, the Hills, who are stuck in Spain!
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Church and Naan
We have been invited several times to Uncle Andy's church so today we went. Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church. http://www.pspc.org.sg/ It was a really nice service. The music was excellent. The reverend's wife, Connie, came and talked to us. She and her husband are from Pennsylvania. We were also warmly welcomed by the congregation and had a yummy snack afterwards. The kids want to go back soon. The three of us then proceeded to Little India to get watches like Matthew and Daniel's and have lunch at our favourite place perhaps in all of Singapore, Sitara. Wonderful service especially from Anjoom and delicious food.
On the downside, this weekend was a bit hard. On Friday night, I let the kids try several items with wheat in them at Aunt Daphne's. The next day, Frunty was scratching and uncomfortable all day. Pit is now on the couch in a lot of discomfort. He is scratching and crying. I allowed him to try a very creamy dessert at Sitara's. I can see that we still have food intolerance issues and allergic reactions. I gave Pit some antihistamine but now must tend to him an Epsom Salt cool bath followed by a massage. I have been so careful but once in awhile, was hoping to reintroduce. Obviously not yet.
It's funny that someone close told me to "find another doctor" when I told about our food elimination diet. Since we started this diet, we have been physically well with no annoying skin discomfort/diarrhea etc. If one has not had a similar disease, one does not know how important it is to try an elimination diet for relief. Yes, it is hard to maintain but I am going to keep going so I don't have to see my kids suffer.
On the downside, this weekend was a bit hard. On Friday night, I let the kids try several items with wheat in them at Aunt Daphne's. The next day, Frunty was scratching and uncomfortable all day. Pit is now on the couch in a lot of discomfort. He is scratching and crying. I allowed him to try a very creamy dessert at Sitara's. I can see that we still have food intolerance issues and allergic reactions. I gave Pit some antihistamine but now must tend to him an Epsom Salt cool bath followed by a massage. I have been so careful but once in awhile, was hoping to reintroduce. Obviously not yet.
It's funny that someone close told me to "find another doctor" when I told about our food elimination diet. Since we started this diet, we have been physically well with no annoying skin discomfort/diarrhea etc. If one has not had a similar disease, one does not know how important it is to try an elimination diet for relief. Yes, it is hard to maintain but I am going to keep going so I don't have to see my kids suffer.
Friday, 16 April 2010
Friendship Day and Chinese Cooking
Yesterday I went to Frunty's school for Friendship Day with a Canadian flag and our M is For Maple book. Next thing you know, Frunty is on stage holding the flag while I use a microphone to talk to kids during recess about our home and native land. Other kids did traditional dances from India, Singapore, and Korea. The second time I had to preform, I could not find Frunty who, as it turns out, had returned to class so I asked Song One from Korea to hold my flag and talked about how we are from different lands but are friends!
Afterschool, Amy, the kids and I took a taxi to Aunt Daphne's to learn some Chinese cooking together. Daddy and Uncle Andy, who work together, joined us at dinner time to eat what we had prepared. It was fun to see how to make all these dishes that I have seen at restaurants for years. We will, in our own style of eating, modify the recipes to suit our needs. The kids said their favourite part of the meal was the sauces which of course, were high in sugar! Still working on that...an on-going challenge to reduce sugar! A fun day as usual in sunny Singapore!
Afterschool, Amy, the kids and I took a taxi to Aunt Daphne's to learn some Chinese cooking together. Daddy and Uncle Andy, who work together, joined us at dinner time to eat what we had prepared. It was fun to see how to make all these dishes that I have seen at restaurants for years. We will, in our own style of eating, modify the recipes to suit our needs. The kids said their favourite part of the meal was the sauces which of course, were high in sugar! Still working on that...an on-going challenge to reduce sugar! A fun day as usual in sunny Singapore!
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Busy Sport Day: Floorball with Papa and Karate
Today was busy and we got lots of exercise. So off to bed in a minute we go. Just to fill you in, Frunty started floorball today with Papa as assistant coach. Like swimming though, too many wild kids in a small area so it was a bit exhausting. Of course, the kids have a great time and that is one of the points. Afterwards, Papa took Pit home and Frunty and I proceeded to Tampines Mall to get sports sandals, "just like Matthew and Daniel's"! We had a Japanese dinner together in a resto as the rain pounded down. Another huge, equatorial rain storm! Frunty ordered his kid meal in a JAL mini-airplane. Fun!
We picked up our tickets afterwards for the Kuching Express...more on our upcoming adventure to Borneo later. We met Hillman, our friend from China, at the MRT and took a bus to his Karate class. It takes place in a shelter outside. The sensei, Jason, was excellent and Frunty found that he already knows two boys from his school! We are definitely joining again after a long hiatus. Frunty has his orange belt. Soon I'll be able to take Pit along as well. Unfortunately, the class goes a bit late so Pit is still too young. Came home and found him sleeping peacefully. I did not even mention that I was at Frunty's school in the morning, to help out in the library. Never a dull moment when you join the PSG! Luckily!
We picked up our tickets afterwards for the Kuching Express...more on our upcoming adventure to Borneo later. We met Hillman, our friend from China, at the MRT and took a bus to his Karate class. It takes place in a shelter outside. The sensei, Jason, was excellent and Frunty found that he already knows two boys from his school! We are definitely joining again after a long hiatus. Frunty has his orange belt. Soon I'll be able to take Pit along as well. Unfortunately, the class goes a bit late so Pit is still too young. Came home and found him sleeping peacefully. I did not even mention that I was at Frunty's school in the morning, to help out in the library. Never a dull moment when you join the PSG! Luckily!
Monday, 12 April 2010
Sweet Potato Waffles
I picked Pit up from school today and we went to Niwa Sushi at the Tampines MRT before taking the free shuttle bus to the Giant by the IKEA. Why? To purchase our first ever waffle maker! When we got home, Frunty had finished his homework with Amy and was ready for a swim. Then we made waffles together. It was so much fun. We modified the recipe and made the most delicious waffles I think I have ever had. Frunty hugged me so hard and was so grateful. He said these waffles were better than the ones at school...that he wasn't supposed to be eating!!!
Frunty and Pit's Sweet Potato Waffles
3/4 sweet potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed
1 1/2 teaspoons coconut milk
1 teaspoon Orgran Egg Replacement mixed with 2 tbsp water
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1. Preheat waffle iron and brush with coconut oil when ready.
2. Combine all ingredients, mix until smooth.
3. Enjoy!
Ours were light and crispy and just awesome. We did not add sugar...they were naturally sweet. Tomorrow morning the kids have requested waffles and our homemade granola with fresh tropical fruits and a glass of calcium-fortified rice milk. Honestly, we are not missing gluten/soya/dairy/egg at all. The more recipes we modify, the more fun we are having. And none of us is scratching. Who could ask for anything more? Actually, one more waffle, please!
Frunty and Pit's Sweet Potato Waffles
3/4 sweet potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed
1 1/2 teaspoons coconut milk
1 teaspoon Orgran Egg Replacement mixed with 2 tbsp water
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1. Preheat waffle iron and brush with coconut oil when ready.
2. Combine all ingredients, mix until smooth.
3. Enjoy!
Ours were light and crispy and just awesome. We did not add sugar...they were naturally sweet. Tomorrow morning the kids have requested waffles and our homemade granola with fresh tropical fruits and a glass of calcium-fortified rice milk. Honestly, we are not missing gluten/soya/dairy/egg at all. The more recipes we modify, the more fun we are having. And none of us is scratching. Who could ask for anything more? Actually, one more waffle, please!
