Christmas Gift Wrapping

Christmas is a season of gathering and giving. And its a season of "shopping" & wrapping for me. I wished the shopping is for my own luxury but I have been busy getting gifts for the little children that we are going to meet.

WF cannot imagine the amount of gifts I had just finished wrapping. He was like,"Wah!" The count is 18 at the moment and I haven't bought Zhi's present.

A friend asked me why am I so "kia-su" to start buying presents so early. Well, first, I prefer to buy early than rushing madly later. Second, buying early allows me to have more choice for selection. Third, a lot of our friends are going to be away during the Christmas week, so some of us are meeting early. I better get the gifts ready soon.

Now I'm suffering from backache: For sitting on the floor for too long while wrapping the gifts. I have also come to the conclusion that I may be good at other things but when it comes to gift wrappings, I score badly. So to all the little ones, please don't blame Auntie for such bad wrappings. The contents are actually quite nice, really.

Now back to my work... I have left it as it is since Wednesday and I have a dateline to meet!!

Christmas Cards

Dear Aunties & Uncles,

Mummy sends out quite a number of Christmas cards each year. This year, both mummy and I decided to make our own cards as it would be more meaningful and fun for me. Since I like pasting stickers and playing with Scotchtape, Papa thought I can put these skills into good use.

We got most of the card making materials from this beautiful shop call Laine's Papeterie and we have been making the cards, slowly, since early November. Here are some samples.

December is fast approaching and I would really really like all aunties & uncles to update Mummy of your postal addresses so I can post out the cards to you before Santa comes. Accordingly to Mummy, you can email, sms, post a comment on the blog or send the address via Facebook.

I look forward to dropping as many cards into the post box soon!

Love,
Yee Ning

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Last Friday, 21 Nov, we brought Ning to the Victoria Theatre to watch the play: The Very Hungry Caterpillar & other Eric Carle's Favourites. There are 3 plays in the 45mins: Little Cloud, The Mixed-up Chamelon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

I supposed many parents and children are familiar with the caterpillar story and not so much on the other two. So when the caterpillar finally appeared in the last show, all the kids were screaming with delight.

Ning enjoyed the show very much. Even though she actually vomitted TWICE before the show. Yes, first it was at Marche, Vivocity. Then inside the car while we're on our way to the theatre. Imagine WF who was supposed to meet us there had to scramble to some shops to get clothes for her to change.

In the end, he did find some clothes, but it was adult's small size. Funnily, the pair of women's knee length leggings fitted Ning well like a pair of pants. But the t-shirt was way too big that it kept falling off her shoulder.

The highlight of the show for us adults was after the performance. Because the show was done in black light, meaning, the theatre and stage is in darkness and the stage was lighted up with ultra violet light. The stage staff appeared at the end of the show for a Q&A. If the children had any questions about the show or how the chamelon or caterpilar moved, they gladly explained and showed us the stage tricks (see picture).



The good thing was Ning didn't vomit during the show. And she was back to her active self the moment she was in the theatre. Her question to the stage staff (which she didn't say it out loud) was: Can I watch it again?

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales

Beginning this year, Ning became pretty crazy about Disney's princesses. That also explains why she insisted on a Snow White birthday cake. I am not sure where she got the influence because neither me nor WF told her any stories about princesses like Cinderalla, Snow White and we didn't even get her anything that is princess related. But my good guess is from her school. Some kids are totally into princess theme and you can see from their school bags to their water bottles.

So now if you were to visit her room, you can find Snow White storybook, princess-themed bedsheets and colouring books.

This school holiday, the Indoor Stadium had a Disney Live! show on the three princess: Cinderalla, Snow White and Beauty & the Beast. And we went to watch the performance yesterday evening.

I cannot believe there were so many girls so crazy about princesses, even teenagers. But mostly, the audience consist of kids and parents.

Ning insisted she bring her Snow White book along and I can see she's totally into the show when it started. Looking intently at the performances.

What surprised me was when Snow White asked the audience should she eat the apple offered by the old hag, Ning shouted "yes" when all other kids were shouting "no". I asked her why "yes". She replied she wanted Snow White to die. Oh man... where did she get the idea from? Is she trying to be the evil queen who craves to be the "fairest of them all"? Hmmm....

Well, the pumpkin was missing in Cinderalla's show due to stage space which Ning keep asking it.

Other than that, the show does have its magical moments like how Beast changed into a prince. Or how Cinderalla changed into her beautiful dress etc. Good enough for Ning, I supposed.

Here are some pictures taken from the performance:

The Many Trips to the Zoo

The Malaysian worker killed by the white tigers in the zoo reminded me of our many trips there.

I supposed most Singapore parents would have visited the zoo at least once with their kids. Because it is such a "by default" place to have a family outing. Likewise, for us, we've brought the kids to the zoo a few times already. This year alone, we went there more than once.

For our zoo, I have good words for them. Generally, it is a very well-planned place. With ample facilities and child & handicapped friendly. The explanations provided at each zoo animal enclosure are also written in simple and easy to understand language. They even go the extra by teaching you how to differentiate certain species of look-a-like animals like the difference between a jaguar and leopard, alligator and crocodile. Want to know the difference? Visit the zoo!

If you are bringing kids, remember to bring their swimwear too. There is a fountain pool in the kids' zone where they can have water play while you savour your KFC.

Here are some of the photos I gathered from our past few trips:

There's a Flu Bug Flying Around

Since last week, both the kids are down with some serious flu. Especially Zhi who had high fever, bloated stomach, diarrhea, runny nose and cough full of phlegm. Between a span of 7 days, Zhi visited the PD three times. Because after each visit, he seemed to add on more illnesses like diarrhea then cough.

Of course, the virus spread to Ning and she got it minus the fever and diarrhea. And as of Sunday, to WF. Now I'm surrounded by flu-ish people in the house.

I just hope all these will go away in December. Since December is such a festive mood, being sick can be so dampening. And also, we will be bringing Ning for her annual holiday with us. This time to Taiwan. I hope she'll build up her immunity by then and the last thing I want is her falling sick on the eve of our departure or during the trip.

Meantime, everybody please take care of yourself and drink lots of fluids. Weather hasn't been very predictable lately.

Quantum of Solace - The Movie

Not that we are a fan of James Bond Movies. But since we got 2 free tickets for this show, why not.

And not that I want to write any review about this movie. But WF insisted I should write about it so that others will not be "con" to watch.

Our ratings for this movie: lousy. Or in a blunt way, WF's ratings: Waste of time.

If you think Casino Royale is bad, then Quantum of Solace is worse. In fact, this was one of the reviews written and we thought so too.

The movie's opening was rather messy and almost gave us a headache with the ropes swinging and glass shatterings. And the entire show only confirms Craig's nickname: Butcher Bond. In the previous Bond movie, he was rough, not as sleek and made several dumb mistakes. This movie, as M keep saying, he keeps killing everybody that crosses his path. His fights are too bloody and uncool.

The plot is weak and there are a few unnecessary scenes. It'll be good if you can remember what went on in Casino Royale because this movie is a continuation of that. Otherwise, you can get lost in the many characters mentioned or briefly appeared in the movie.

And where are the sleek gadgets Bond used to have like the Omega watch etc? We don't see much in this movie.

Oh... and according to WF, the Bond girl isn't pretty at all. Hmmm.... such a hard to please movie goer.

Halloween Party in Pebble Bay

It was Halloween yesterday and the management office organized the yearly party for the residents here. Lots of kids and adults were dressed up for the occasion and residents here decorated their front doors for this "scary" day. I'm surprised that the turn out was really really fantastic and people do make an effort to decorate their front doors.

The usual "trick or treat" got all the kids excited and they all rushed from household to household to get their goodies. Of course, one week before this date, residents signed up with the office to indicate if they're participating in this "trick or treat" event so the children would know which doors to knock.



It was Ning's & Zhi's first time to witness Halloween and Ning was really amused by the scary costume the kids wore. Sorry to say, both the kids didn't dress up and neither participated in this event. Mummy had no idea how and what to dress two young kids up anyway. But even without dressing up, the kids got their treats from kind souls too.