I had mixed feelings when received the letter from St Hilda's in November. Just days before their concert.
I know I was the one who asked for the bailout but why am I feeling so attached? I hate partings and I must admit this is a good and clean school. A place where mei-mei enjoyed herself (she had days too when she'll complain she didn't want to go to school when she sees her che-che in home clothes), she's learnt alot in this school. Perhaps due to Montessori method, she's exposed to the many cultures and having to "travel to many different countries" without packing her bag.
When I look back her photos, I noted the date. She was in school on 29th Dec 2008. Just 3 days in school, one day break on New Year's Day, then officially school term starts.
I remember my concerns having 2 kids adjusting to new school the same year 2009, so I needed a few days of adjustment for mei-mei. Yes, she did cry... all kids cry. That was her first day in school and I'm just so glad the whole family went out in force to support her (haha! I think that's why she cried more)
1st day in MMI - 29th Dec 2008
Fast forward 2 years & 2 days later - on 30th Dec 2010 - my girl set her foot in school for the last time as a student. We know we will be back. Not as a student but as a guest.
What to gift the teachers who made an impact in her life? What to gift the children? I didn't have time to DIY anything so commissioned a friend, a scrap-booker (who's son is in the same Shichida class as mei-mei) to help me. She charged me reasonable fees. And most importantly I didn't have to lift my finger in doing that which is time-consuming so that I could concentrate on other things.
Today, as I brought her to school. Mei-mei told me "mummy, I dowan to go to another school. I want to stay in MMI." My girl is big enough to tell me what she wants but sorry baby, mummy's too selfish to think about myself. I'm exhausted; really exhausted having to bring you to school everyday even on school holidays. Not that we live close to school, it's the distance. (Now, we must pray for property price to drop) But I don't get the best of both worlds. I have to make sacrifices. For one, I can't go back home daily as school starts at 8.30am and ends at 11.30am. What to do with the in between time? How many things can I do outside? Then I really have to stay additional hours in the night trying to finish my things? Can't even sneak a quick facial! Argh!
Ordered a cake from Temptations, and for the second time - I've never tasted the cake!! I ordered a 1.5kg thinking it will be more than sufficient. Nope! We were left with a slice, the kids asked for more.
Girl eating off the flower
Giving out her gifts to the kids.
For her good friend, Clarabelle
For her friend Patrick, who's in K2
For the teachers. Hugs hugz.... thanks Teachers for enduring with my lil' noisy girl
And how can we ever forget these 2 great ladies who also played a part in keeping the school clean and feeding the children.
Big thanks to Teacher Mei, the boss of the school, who is so friendly and nice to us.
We give thanks to God for giving us the chance to meet wonderful people.
We lugged our heavy bags to Korea this year-end. Too late in our departure date, as compared to our normal standard, but on the bright side. We get to spend Christmas in Korea. I had hoped for snow, so that my girls will get to spend their first White Christmas. It was an unforgettable experience for them.
We had to start our holiday with a terrible delay. Flight was suppose to depart at close to 11pm. Tourguide called us at home to inform that flight would be delayed for one hour. When we reached the airport, we were further delayed to 1+. Then came the shocker. Flight delayed to 3+am. OMG! If we had known, we'd rather stay at home and let the kids rest in their comfortable beds. We were really exhausted, trying to get the kids to rest in the lounging area. Knowing that our loved ones are comfortable in their bed; lights dimmed... we @#$% under our breathe. We had to struggle with 2 kids who simply refused to sleep and kept complaining "so bright, I cannot sleep." Feeling paiseh, we left the area as there were many others resting. Seems like other flights were also delayed??
It is indeed tiring for all, crew and passengers alike. We went to the holding room late, and saw many blankies around. Hidden below are treasures that snores. Snacks and drinks were served. I look at my 2 girls who were still so energetic, I need to spike their drink with alcohol to knock them out. Or perhaps it should be the other way huh?
Finally, the plane took off. Woah! I slept like a baby. Landing - one girl in the same tour group was in severe pain. Cried.. apparently her mother said she always had that. But OMG! you should see her face. So poor thing. She asked if my girls had this problem. I said no, never had it. Wah lau eh! Jinx! Aricia turned to me and told me "mummy, my ear is very painful." Eh? When did she have this problem? But my brave mature girl endured and simply ask "mummy, can you give me a sweet?" Actually so proud of my girls... maybe one day can try to travel in business class with them. Will scream in cabin or not? Will make us feel paiseh or not? Haha! That day will never come unless we strike 4D.
At Incheon Airport, all of us changed into thick clothings. Macam stacking up all their sweaters onto them .. the luggage...nope - was still heavy. Ah.... my lil' girl looks a little pui-pui now. The kids were happy and relieved with that cold air blowing in their face. Ha! At that moment I told myself - wait a few more days & see if you're happy or miserable.
They made new friends with this pair of sisters, the younger girl is the same age as che-che and the older girl is 13. 4 girls, together they look like LOL
The girls enjoyed their company. Suddenly we had 3 girls bundled up together in 2 seats.
On the whole, the trip was good. And this time round mummy (me) did fuss over my food! Well, I'm still doing that diet thingy where I avoid pork (red meat)I've been craving for rice dumplings!! And Korean food uses alot of pork. So I ended up eating some ikan bilis which I've brought along for them. Pathetic! The girls? Actually not so bad as what I had expected as compared to the China trips. They both love seaweed. Mei-mei not as fussy as che-che this trip, she ate the condiments (ikan bilis - she calls them); sea kelps; drank the soup without fussing; ate some pork. Was hoping to plump her up this trip but she ended up losing the fats by jumping around too much.
We went skiing, ehh.... it was me and che-che but she needed help from daddy and was so frightened. ?!?!?! Gave up barely 10 mins later. Chey! I tried and I fell. I tried the method which the tour-guide aka ski instructor taught us to get up. I couldn't!! Too fat? Too cumbersome? Got up after removing skiis and putting them back again. Tried skiing again. It's fun, I wish I can continue but they were bored. Real bored! MIL didn't ski and was freezing in the cold; hubby was taking care of the 2 girls who were filling up Aricia's sled with snow. I had a bruise on my leg which took days to recover. But well, you need to fall to learn how to ski. - that's what I told chec-che but she's not brave enough.
We went Jeju. And weather over there was -16. Brrrr..brrr... Nice place would love to go back there again, maybe for our 15th Anniversary? Can travel without the girls? I've always wanted to go Easter Island, seeing those carvings in Jeju kindda reminded me about Easter Island. Perhaps this is the cheaper alternative. Then on 24th, it started snowing. Woah! We went horse-riding. The girls chickened out. And since the girls are not with me, I asked the guy to let the horse gallop twice. I swear my heart was about to drop out, coz' stupid man. I told him light gallop he whacked the backside and the horse went so fast. Wah lau eh.... if I had any dentures or wearing wig, it would have dropped off somewhere!! Went for ATV ride, che-che sat with me. Fun experience!
25th - Christmas. Not as white as what I had expected. But God heard my prayers and it snowed before we left Jeju. Nevertheless that White Christmas experience is for my girls not me.
Tour took us to Everland and Lotte World. Which we didn't cover much, so we need to make another trip again - this time on our own. I don't like joining tour but it does save me time to plan trip and do all the logistics by myself while trying hard to juggle in my daily "work".
We left for home on 27th Dec. Sigh... daily grind is about to start soon. And it saddens me the more I think of it. Time being, I shall think and look forward to our next holiday.
Complain! Complain!
Hubby always like to complain me over-packing; bringing too much rubbish etc..Ha! I had the last laugh! My kids are kept warm and cozy. And didn't he complain about me bringing my thermal flask? So? He did ask me for some hot water. HUH!
As usual the kiasu, kiasi me brought along herbal packs so made some for the kids to drink; made some for me & hubby to drink. Very well- taken care of. And he say I bring medicine like bringing whole house over. No choice, the worst thing is to fall sick when you're holidaying and you have no medication at all. Good thing we didn't need anything from "my pharmacy" except mei-mei suddenly ran a fever when we arrived in SEL. So for the next 2 days I made sure she was nursed back to health.
I don't mind winter but I HATE TO TRAVEL IN WINTER WITH KIDS!!
Aricia would miss the Christmas Eve party in school, as such I decided to bring in the children's goodie packs few days earlier. (sigh.. we tend to miss out something every year. If it's not the concert; it's the Xmas party)
Che-che was with me the whole day, we went over to mei-mei's school around 11am.
Bought a logcake. I dunno why teacher briefed kids "Aricia's mummy bought a cake because she is leaving" Not really! We're coming back after our trip
Then what to sing? Cake = songs. It can't be a Happy Birthday song to Aricia so I suggested to sing a Happy Birthday song to Jesus
which we had some kids deviating the song to Happy Birthday to Alden. Huh? It was good fun
With her N2 teachers
Giving out goodie packs
Simple celebration. With that, it's going to be a countdown. Another 2 more days in school after our holidays and then it's goodbye to MMI
I went to TM with a heavy heart. Very contradicting huh? While I yearn for lesser time to chauffeur the kids around; I know I yearn for a chance to talk to some friends. I've known this gentle wonderful lady, J, through the years and here's to many more years of friendship!
Finally! After 6 wonderful years in Yamaha. It's time to say goodbye to wonderful memories; wonderful friends and a teacher who literally saw them grow. Just as we did!
Athena and her good friend from Childcare. She's like one of the two friends we kept in contact after leaving the centre. We'll have lesser chance to meet then.
Booked tickets to Universal Studios for the kids. However Iggy couldn't join us and I had a spare ticket. Made a last minute call to J's mummy the day before to check if J would be free. Phew! If not, it would have been $$ flown away!
Went over to pick mom and J (she stays close to mom) in the morning and off we go. Che-che was more excited than mei-mei who knows nothing about Universal Studios.
Photos for the day :
A $5 meal and $5 gift voucher are given for each ticket holder. May not seem alot, but it did come to a good use when I have $25 worth of meal and gift vouchers.
At the entrance
Ahh! Woody Woodpecker
The girls were really excited over Madagascar. Kept singing "we like to move it, move it.."
No prize for guessing which is che-che's fav character. She's the one who started the dance at home and then we had 2 wild kids at home
Aricia was brave enough to sit through the 4D show, refusing to let me put my hand across her to prevent her from falling off the seat (che-che and her friend chickened out and missed it) but ......she was afraid of these mascots. sigh...
