Kiddo Talk & Pic Aug 2023

Elixir Haul #13

 

阳阳's Airport

阳阳 is on airplane craze these days. He wants to be a fighter pilot so we've been telling him that he needs to take care of his eyes to be one. He dug out all of the planes from the toy stash and made an airport complete with a tower.

Work Travels: One And Half Week In Bangalore

Back in Bangalore again for another workshop. As with the other travels, the kids fell sick when I'm away from home. First it was 阳阳 who tested positive for Influenza A and then 萱萱 caught it after that. Poor Meimei had to manage this alone in Singapore.

On my trip, for some odd unknown reason all the good hotels in the area were fully booked for the first week. It was meant to be a 2 week workout but I refused to be there earlier because I insist to be there for 萱萱's piano recital. Plus I've spent 2 weeks going through the decks that SAP was going to present and it's largely just training slides which you can go through online.

Due to the lack of hotels, I had booked 3 nights at Four Points by Sheraton. After that on Sunday I move to Marriott Whitefield which is just 5 minutes walk to the GE campus. Obviously Four Points can't compare to Marriott but it's not all that bad. Jason was with me at the hotel and he was complained about the service and amenities. I shared my take that this is the quality of the hotels we stay in when we go to Cincinnati.

I caught something on the first day and had a coarse voice the entire trip. I wonder if it's the water or the food that triggered the reaction. Whatever it is, I struggled to talk in the workshops. Thankfully I made it through and left on Friday morning.

Love Letters: Buying Sensibly

Lunch At Dondonki Jewel Changi Airport

We usually pack our Dondonki sashimi and sushi sets to go. But the outlet at Jewel has an area for customers to sit down and have their meals. They also have a deli-ish area where they serve sushi sets that comes with soup and salad. So we were here today for lunch and I decided to splurged on a sushi set. It turned out pretty good with no frills which kept the price slightly lower than if we had the same in a restaurant. I'll definitely do this again for lunch.

Kiddo Talk & Pic July 2023

Why are you always on the phone? 

阳阳: "Daddy why are you always playing game on your phone?"

阳阳: "See, even walking also playing...."

I can't remember what I responded but its probably the wrong answer. 阳阳 is trying to help me be a better me, so I need to reflect and improve.

Have you seen my Ipad?

阳阳: "Where's my Ipad?"

Pokpok: "How I know where is your Ipad?"

阳阳: "Ah! Found it!"

Pokpok: "See ... how I know where is your Ipad, you are responsible for your Ipad"

阳阳: "I ask if you have SEEN my Ipad" *rolls eyes at papa and walks away

Pokpok: " ......." ... in a state of shock. 

Papa, Carry Please

Both kids like me to carry them, especially after snoozing in the car. I try to oblige as this is a finite experience. There will come a time where they grow up into teenagers and no longer want hugs nor kisses from papa and mama. So I try to cherish the moments when I'm still their go-to for comfort and carry.

萱萱's 8 now so I can only carry her probably for another 2 years max? I'll do it as long as the kids want it. This is the joys of having kids. 

Singapore Science Centre

It's been what ... 30 odd years since I last came here when I was still in primary school. 阳阳 had a learning journey trip here a few months ago and have been asking to come again. 

We spent the short morning at the main halls looking at the exhibits. The kids were restless after awhile so we quickly exit for lunch at Stellar kitchen. It was the only place that looked anything close to respectable for the kids. It was cheap though, the meal came up to $120. But no matter, we are out to have fun and I wouldn't skim on it.

After lunch we went to another paid section of the centre - KidsStop. This was where 阳阳's school brought them for their excursion. The moment he got in he dashed immediately to the mock cockpit to play plane captain. 萱萱 went for the supermarket and started "shopping" for groceries. 

We complete the trip with a short movie at the Omni Theatre. I've always remembered this as the highlight of my trip. The kids totally enjoyed it but both Meimei and I fell asleep during the show. We were beat from the late night so the darkness of the theatre really prompted us to snooze.

Both kids were tired too from the trip and slept all the way home. Overall a pretty good outing. I hope to bring them to more locations to broaden their view of the world.

Children's Art: Colourful Dinosaurs

Medley of dinosaurs. I think the colour paper helps to make the drawings pop.

Racial Harmony Day 2023

Always an excuse to wear fancy clothes to school. Obviously we can't get a new outfit every year so we picked out the shirts and dresses which they wear once a year for festive days. They are genuinely excited to wear the festive clothes.

Love Letters: Remember To Give MC

萱萱 read these early in the morning during breakfast and told me Mama have not passed her the MC. So easy when she can read now. Unfortunately I had to wake Meimei up as we couldn't find the MC.

萱萱 First Friend's Birthday Party

We were a little apprehensive when she told us she wants to go to a friend's birthday party. It's on a Friday afternoon after school so at least we won't need to take time out the weekend. Meimei had to write a note for 萱萱 to ask for details on the party, like which friends are going, which adults will be there, etc.

Eventually Meimei ended up staying there with her. And the feedback was "They are super happy" "If we had deprived her she would be devastated". I'm glad she had fun ... I guess we can expect more of such events. We just need to be smarter at managing her expectations and our own sensibilities on 'letting go with caution'.

Being A Dinosaur

Kids are at home and bored to tears. They found some art wires and 阳阳 decided to mimic the crown of a dinosaur. It didn't hold well on the strands of hair but I like his creativity. Plus its looks silly enough to get a few laughs so it's all good I guess.