Meet up with the Yaps... Countdown... about 1 month to go!!

Well, we spent the National Day holiday morning by meeting up with the Yaps at Vivocity. Thought we'd meet up one more time before the 2nd child comes. It was nice to spend the quiet morning at Pacific Coffee having our breakfast and then letting Sammie and Jamie run around and look at the boats, snowman (?!),

cable cars out in the open sea.... Just look at Jamie's funny expressions here!!! The kids can carry on a nice conversation now and it is really fast to see them grow up to this stage.

Jon Jon has also grown quite a bit and he is looking more and more handsome as each day goes by... :) such a cute boy, isn't he?

We then brought the kiddos to Toys R Us which is every kids' fave hangout joint... and they enjoyed themselves silly once again...

NDP Celebration with friends

Well, we spent National Day slightly different this year. Not that we are super patriotic citizens but it was a good time to unwind and for the kids to have fun and watch the parade. We met up with Carlsen's colleagues from Commonwealth and the kids really had a ball of a time... Sam loved playing with Arinah, Aeowyn and Jessica... :) here are just some shots of them having fun taking photos...

Here is the 8:22 Kodak moment... :) kids were so guai and they complied with what the adults wanted them to do... :) heee... maybe can send in for next year's NDP photo competition...

Sam the amazing architect

Heh heh... yet another post from me within the span of the last 2 days... :) sorry... but thought I'd better make good use of this opportunity that I have now.

Well, the other day Sam wanted to play with her Lego set. Bought the small bricks type as I thought it to be more worthwhile rather than the Duplo ones. She had trouble fixing the bricks in the past and used to get me to build stuff for her. Then last week, she surprised us with her very first new structure! Although she did not have enough strength to press the brick fully in, she amazed us for she could finally do it and not only that, she taught us adults how to play with Lego in a new way - that we could make the leaning tower of Pisa! Take a look at the alpha version...

Well, here was the final product of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (Sam's version).... She even has that 'magician wave the hand' look.... haha....

Sam's first Dance routine (When You Wish Upon A Star)

Sam hasn't been going to school for weeks and well, she decided to have indoor music and dance lessons with her Paps one day... :) well, after some practice and rehearsing, here is Sam's first ever dance routine that she came up with!! (with some suggestions from the sidelines :) She loves listening to songs especially from the electronic keyboard.
It's amazing... reminds me when I went through the Gymnastics module during my PE training days under Mrs Leong. Sam did the things which we learnt then (symmetry, asymmetry, stop, tall, crouch into shape...)



Sam is growing up real fast as she is able to carry out conversations more, cook up her own stories, recall things that she did the other day (although she keeps saying yesterday), break into song or dance... :) really enjoying the days of being a dad... especially when we sleep together at night for when I get into bed there she is lying next to me... so cute and adorable... just wanna squeeze and hold her close... (though she would probably want her mummy more...ahhahah)

Tribute to MJ by Sam??

Alot has been said about MJ since he passed away. Well, one thing is for certain, death is the worst penalty that man has faced since the beginning of time. Was watching his early videos the other day when he was with the Jackson 5 (even before I was born), and it was brilliant seeing that little boy burst with energy. Well, Sam somehow reminded me of Michael too one day when she started to sing one of his songs...well, just the famous 1 liner.... (Try to make it out..)

Stuck at home

Well, I was down with flu like symptoms on tuesday and went to see a doctor near my home. Got home quaratined till sunday... sigh.... on one hand it is great to be able to just rest and spend time at home. But on the other hand, I got to wear the face mask whenever family is around so that i don't spread it to them... really hope i don't as Jan and Sam fall in the high risk categories. Please pray for the bug to go away. Well, I'm missing out on my school external validation as well... gosh.. keep missing these 'certification' interviews... feel paiseh to not be there and have my colleagues shoulder it more....

well, on the nice side is that I can catch up on my movies, games and bible reading and prayer (which I desperately need to do more of!!).....

And of course, update the blog as mentioned in my earlier entry...heheh

Celebrating Grandpa's birthday

I know this is really belated but because I am at home these few days, I thought I could update the blog especially for those faithful few who follow it... especially my sis and emma who are in HCM.... Hi Jie!!! Hi Emmamamama!! :)

Well, for Gong Gong's birthday, Uncle Chris and I decided to bring our parents out for dinner. We went for a halal buffet at Sakura (Kent Ridge). Mum and Dad liked it so much, they went there again the following week!! Value for money they say. Well, we had a jolly good time eating away despite the rain that came. Sam was really happy and did the birthday card with Mummy again... :) nice photo and prints pasted on a photo album page. Although during the dinner, I met my school students and got a disturbing call about one of my students in trouble, it was an enjoyable evening. Here is our final group photo as we left...

Daddy's old pri school pal is now a dad too!! :)

Congrats to Zhenkuan and Suling as your little newborn baby boy is now officially part of your family!! :) We visited them last week when we got wind of the baby's delivery. Really a cute little boy with round face...esp his red round cheeks... really glad to see another old primary school pal become a dad as well... :) time does fly by huh? Can't imagine when we were in HPPS that we could become daddies one day.... isn't the little one cute?? :)

June Holiday Excursions

During the June Holidays, we didn't get to travel overseas due to the H1N1 scare... too bad as we wanted to get away before the next little one popped. But no worries, as we came up with creative ideas to spend our time in little Singapore going to places of interest as if we were touring the country... :)

We decided to go to Singapore Discovery Centre one day and brought Sammie on a really 'brainwashing' experience walking through the exhibits. Sigh... but we had fun taking photos on the fake helicopter used in WWII and watching 'Dolphins and Whales" in 3D (explains the geeky googles). Sam really looked forward to it... but when the movie started, she started crying out for Mammieeeeee..... the whale is coming at me (or something like that).... She finally gave up and fell asleep in mummy's safe and secure arms.... I too kinda fell asleep with her as it was so nice and soothing to hear the ocean... :)

*Notice that Daddy is doing most of the posting now as Janice is quite tired out at work esp with the little one getting heavier... :) But not to worry, Janice will be back once she starts on her 'holiday'...

June Holiday Excursions Part II

We also went out with other parents with kiddos so that Sam could have some nice playtime with her friends. We met up with Amy and Elijah and we headed over to the National Museum hoping to catch some exhibits for children (which was free). Unfortunately we went there a bit too late.

They had taken down most of the exhibits and only 2 'interactive' ones were left. Nonetheless, this did not affect the kids as they still had much fun chasing and playing with each other. It's nice to be young and so carefree... :)

Butterfly Kisses

Hi,
as promised, here are the lyrics to the song...



Butterfly Kisses
There's two things I know for sure:
She was sent here from heaven and she's
daddy's little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes and
I thank god for all the joy in my life
Oh, but most of all
For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer;
sticking little white flowers all up in her
hair; "Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
In all that I've done wrong I know I must
have done something right to deserve a hug
every morning and butterfly kisses at night.
Sweet 16 today
She's looking like her mama a little more everyday
One part woman, the other part girl.
To perfume and make-up from ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world.
But I remember
Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer; sticking
little white flowers all up in her hair.
"You know how much I love you, Daddy, But if you
don't mind I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time."
With all that I've done wrong I must have done
something right to deserve her love every morning
and butterfly kisses at night.
All the precious time
Like the wind, the years go by.
Precious butterfly.
Spread your wings and fly.
She'll change her name today.
She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.
Standing in the bride-room just staring at her.
She asked me what I'm thinking and I said "I'm not
sure-I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."
She leaned over...gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there,
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
"Walk me down the aisle, Daddy-it's just about time."
"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don't cry!"
Oh, with all that I've done wrong I must have
done something right.
To deserve your love every morning and butterfly
kisses-I couldn't ask God for more, man this is what love is.
I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember
every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses.

Blog entry by Carlie :)

Hiyo,

this is the first blog entry on my part...heheh.... thought since i am stuck at home recovering from dengue/"dunno what chiku virus" possibly, i might as well make some good use of my time to write on the blog... not that i am that free... still got loads of work to do... but brain too fried to think at times by the drowsiness and all...

well, it has been a real joy seeing Sammie grow... and boy has she grown this past 2 1/2 years.... and i'm glad that God has blessed us with a little girl who is rather good natured, willing to listen (though sometimes she tests me more than she does with Janice), and simply adorable at many a times. Really can bring a tear to me eyes really. And now I can appreciate that song by Bob Carlisle all the more, "Butterfly Kisses".... (see lyrics in next entry!)... and if i hear it, i will surely tear...

Anyway, yes i am appreciating the life of being a husband and father. Tough really at many a times... physically, emotionally, spiritually... but wanna thank God that once again He never fails to give me strength each day for each day's worth and for giving me Janice as my wife. Really a great partner who has given up much by staying home to look after the kids and the house... :) "THANKS JAN!" Boy am i looking forward to the 2nd one... haha.. and i am not being corny by saying that it is going to be a boy...:) but gonna appreciate the many little moments before that next one grows up and looking back, those 2 years pass so fast... so my advice to parents or parents-to-be, please please spend time with your kids. Once it passes, there is no turning back. That too is a strong reminder for myself as sometimes i get too absorbed with my work.

About my work, I also like to thank God for blessing me that i could actually enjoy most of my work... as a teacher, it has been great 'working' with the kids... especially my form class... though they are NT students, they are just as important as anyone... for they too are made in the image of God... just like you and me. And it has been great trying to give them that 2nd, 3rd, 4th... chances for them to succeed and see that they too are of worth.

Lastly, dun wanna bore u with my words...so here are some nice candid photos...

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(just joking)