On this day - 26 Jan 2011 & CNY prep

Then ---> In 2011 : I could find the time to bake. These bottles (plus another half bottle not shown in this picture) took me one full day of work. Working from 9am to 2.30pm. Picked che-che. 2nd shift - from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

Then, I had KZ working for me. If I'm not wrong, I tasked her to help me pick lil' one up from kindy so I didn't have to leave house halfway. I didn't have to cook or do any housework which takes up alot of my time now. 

Che-che used to like this. But she doesn't seem to like it the last 5 years or so. I didn't bake for this year's CNY. My family don't really eat alot of CNY goodies, we often end up discarding them & have rotten oranges (even when we hardly buy a box, we only have like 6-8 oranges for standby at home) after 6-7 days.  

CNY PREPARATION

Anyway, as the year progresses, CNY is more like a day for my girls to do their school/ tuition homeworks. This year feels "lighter" though (last year was hell with both PSLE and O'level kid), one Sec 1 blur sotong still discovering the new subjects while I look from afar, and the highly neglected older kid since I can't do any academic stuffs with her.    

CNY plants

I didn't bother to buy any new plants since I kill them faster than them sprouting new babies.

CNY spring-cleaning

As with previous years, I don't specifically spring-clean my house just for CNY coz I clean my house all the time. However, this is like the only time hubby would help to bring down the heavy curtains to be cleaned. 

CNY goodies

Just buy! There's no need to save $$ on fried crab sticks this year. I told her I wasn't going to waste my time doing this. The girls dropped by Kim Choo on their own, she bought 2 big bottles of keropok which she finished even before lil' doggie wriggles its way out for Miss Piggy, filial her bought 1 bottle of chiku and 虾米 fried mini springroll for me. I've always liked Julie's chocolate rolls, still thinking if I should get a small tin for myself.   

Mini makeover

Che-che asked for a new colour for her room. And the smartest thing this lazy mother did was to taichi the job back to her. We went Ikea on a school day and she chose her new study table, chair and side table from Ikea. Went back home, she fixed everything herself. Not bad for a 16 yr-old
Painting : Even though I claimed that I wasn't going to help her with anything, I ended up helping her paint the corners, all she needed to do was to roll the paint over the walls. Sounds easy right? But I must admit it's no easy task. Painting nails and brushing eggwash on pineapple tarts are so much easier. The end result is a room half-heartedly painted BUT she likes it this way, says it creates some artistic look. I was further reassured what she meant by artistic when I realized we have missed out painting one whitened wall.  Haha! This is my girl. My 16 yr-old girl. Honestly, I think she did a good job coz other kids at this time would choose not to laze around, she chose to do a mini-makeover to her room. 
Mom did ask me why the rush to paint the room. That's because we needed to drill 2 sticks onto the wall to hold the racks and I told her we need to paint the walls first before it's up not after. 
This new room will be ready for her new milestone - her tertiary education life.         

On This Day ...

5th Jan 2013

Mom with her impromptu birthday cake

@ Novotel Clarke Quay

** Mom's birthday is on 6th. We are always available to meet up for a meal. However this year , for the first time, we have to do a rain check. As che-che is required to be back in school for CCA Fair for half a day and after that I have to bring her to polytechnics' Open House. (She still has no idea what direction she wants to partake.) That will take us some time. 

5th Jan 2013

After a month break in Dec, put the girls back. After much consideration, put them on private with coach. Hopefully che-che gains confidence in water. Been too long already.....

5th Jan 2013

School Week 0 report :
Lil' one did exceptionally well in school. She looked forward to school, only blur didn't know where to go once reach school on 2nd n 3rd day. The PVs n Prefects were there to help. (In this school, parents were only allowed to stay for half hour on 1st day. Couldn't wander to class, absolutely no way to see them. And came to pick up in canteen end of day. 2nd n 3rd day, PVs tell parents to "leave in our hands". New parents n girls were great. No ugly fight between PVs n parents at all. Pick up at respective gates end of day.) 

She finally got to know the name of 'the girl with a Minnie Mouse pencil case'. 

Buddy system starts next week. Good luck to her buddy!! Eat slow; talk too much.

** And she's P6 this year!! How time flies!

5th Jan 2012

Shichida starts at 3pm now. Good news is I don't hv to wait under hot sun for Che-Che outside school. That means ... once a week suntanning. Bad news is I hv to rush back home fast to let them eat n shower b4 abacus class.

** Before, Shichida class starts at 2+pm, so have to pick her up at the gate and go off and reach Toa Payoh just in time. Che-che would always wait for me outside on the seats,doing her school homework and sometimes (she gets exhausted) falls asleep on the seats. There are helpers out there waiting and they would help me look out for her. That time, we still have KZ, so she would quickly shower lil' one; feeds her dinner while I zoned out on the sofa. Taking that short half hour nap is better than nothing. Then I'll send her for her abacus class.
  

5th Jan 2011

Mei-Mei n the oversized bag. Maybe I can put her inside the bag? She came out of room looking funny, like with board hanging on her neck. Then she walk n fell. Ah doh! I complaint to the Principal (joking of course) n he said she's too special; only girl this small size.

** This is my angmoh girl, refuses to speak Chinese then. And you know what? Chinese is her forte now. 

5th Jan 2011

I've labelled her books with her class on it. Still have the files to label. *yawns*. N they haven't inform the girls which Chinese class they're going to? May have to print again tmrw.

Athena told me she likes having someone in her class now, but she misses her BFFEAEAE.

** This is what I hate. And they're still practicing this. I mean...... what's the problem of letting us know before the year ends the girls' class? Every year, I gotta wait until a week or so before I can start typing out the Chinese textbooks and workbooks. And now with banding for Math, is another headache

On This Day ...

One of the feature in FB I like is "On This Day" where FB prompts you on what happened years ago. It certainly reminds me - the forgetful person - of things my girls' did; of things I encountered and was swearing at. I should make an effort to jot this down here in my blog.

So....... On THIS DAY

8th Nov 2015

She attended a friend's party at a Dance Studio. She had so much fun. And while waiting and in between chatting with parents, sometimes I fiddle with my phone. So, I sat there and was reading ON THIS DAY - which happens to be a 2014 entry and I had a good laugh over it.

Then while the parents gathered to watch the activities the kids were doing, one father came up to me "Hi! So where's the Otah girl?" Oh my! No wonder I found him familiar but just can't recall whose father is that. 

8th Nov 2014

I wrote :

The lil one....................

The bd girl mom brought Delifrance snack and gave the kids, my girl asked for chicken wings. Mom burst out laughing and commented "one girl asked for chicken wings." I thought it was funny, walked out of the kitchen then realized it was my girl who asked for it earlier on. *embarrassing*

Then after all the experiments, makan again. BD girl mom took otah to heat up and girl daringly asked if she had non-spicy ones. While waiting for the otah, she asked her "how come your house dustbin is so small?" (she was pointing to the chute) "You know my house one is very big and can step step." *too inquisitive*

After some time she ran off to play, otah ready. Mom shouted out "can you please call that otah girl to come?" and laughed. After that, girl walked in/out of the kitchen. Everyone asked her how many she ate. So funny! The last one she commented loudly "I eat 6 already. I am so FULL!!"

Sigh............that's my not shy girl..... 

8th Nov 2012 @ 9.44pm

Che-che wanted to do HMT next year, told her teacher and when she came back with the form she told me. But I decided to opt her out. She was rather disappointed and insisted.

Told her my reason, wouldn't want her to stay back additional day to make her days packed. But if she gets to do Maths Olympiad again then I'll let her go. She did seem a little happy after that.

COmments : Susanna : Hah! At least she is motivated to want to do HMT... I wouldn't dare dream for my girl to attempt. Her normal chinese seems bad already.

My reply : Her chinese results also like sequel to Battlestar Galatica. Up down up down. Yah! guess should be thankful she's motivated lor!

8th Nov 2012 @ 11.24am

Oh my! The girls have alot of toys. I've clearned once before, today cleared only 2 cabinets in their room. Rushed like crazy to pack them up n now zooming to mom's place. Found some new toys. Ehh..... still have places to clear. Toys - alot! Clothes - alot! Stationeries - alot! Space in house - limited.

After that would be clearing their clothes, my bakewares. Tons of things to do but bot enough time. I want to do my own things!! Sigh.........