More creations..



Camera he said



King's horse he said




And hubby asked me to buy another bag as his creation is limited by the number of blocks

Preparing for Nursery!

Brought him to Kinderland to purchase school uniform for Nursery yesterday.

Did some preparation, telling him the uniform changed coz he is a bigger boy now, he has wear proper uniform like some of the gor-gors in the school.

He agreed and happily tried on sizes.

We are really happy all his Pre-Nursery teachers would be teaching them again. They really like the teachers, that's really important for us.

Spongebob

He did this all by himself, while I had my nights out with fellow mommies last night.

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (Pond Gardens)

We have not been to Bishan Park since they reopened. Upon googling, I found that there are 2 sectors, ie River Plains and Pond Gardens.

River Plains is the usual park we went, near Mc'Donalds.

Pond Gardens is across Marymount Road, towards Upper Thomson Road. This is where the waterplay is. If you refer to the sketched map, you would find the Carpark, just next to the water play.

As IZ is on term break from sports class, and we promised to bring him to play with water since our Bali trip, we decided to give Pond Gardens a try.

If you noticed, kids could manoeuvre sluice gates to control water flow and probably learn the value of water as they are at it. But IZ, at 3 years old, not able to appreciate any more than there's water to get wet and have fun with.

It is just next to the carpark which is very convenient

Glimpse of the water playground from the carpark

I remember feeling disappointed by the slow streaming water.. :-/

He was very happy to stay in the hole with most water, and refused to get out of it until much persuasion later.

Really slow streaming water

We then walked further up past Cleaning Biotope to the playground.

We were surprised there weren't many kids at the playground. But it didn't take us long to understand why. This playground, if anything, is meant for bigger kids. It also didn't look as fun when it's empty, isn't it?

At 3yo, IZ needed help in almost everything he wanted to play, that included climbing up to slide. :-/

It was not difficult to ask him to call it a day, he said yes willingly.

Perhaps, one day, when he is a little grown up, and needs adventurous activities as these, we'll probably come again.

Last weekend, we...

At AMK Hub for bubbly, snowy Christmassy feeling

But he wanted to drive instead.. and knocked the hell out of me until the father took over the guidance.. seriously sweat like crazy when he was on the wheel!

Supermarketing thenafter, look at the boy, still driving happily

While he was playing cooking.. he suddenly said "look! clock!"

On the way to water play at Bishan-AMK Park.. listening to the Cinderella story..

Happy boy playing water

the deepest water you could find at the park.. we shall go to a pool next weekend!

As he didn't get the oohm to play in deep water, we simulated with our little bath tub..

And then it was block time! let the creativity flow!

My first ever creation!

And this too! Although it didn't look symmetrical

And his creation, grandfather's clock

I made new batch of DIY Playdough over the weekend too! More colours this time, he was so happY!

He made pizza!

My work!

And then he said he made a "snake"! and that the snake lives in a hole (see the small green patch?)

And we ended the weekend with yummylicious Magnum Mini!

And LOTS of reading in between, his favorite past time these days!

Music & Me

A brief summary on my past "musical" journey:

I don't remember when I started piano lessons when I was little, but I always felt I do not have what it takes. Not musically inclined.

But I love how a piano sound, very much. It made me feel at peace.

I started learning piano in a music centre. Still remember I had to go there for pratice before my parents bought me a piano. I'm not sure if I played really badly or the music centre really "eat money" as my mom called them, eventually my mom switched me to a private teacher who teaches from home, citing I was stagnant in a grade for a tad too long.

Switching me to private teacher, I jumped a grade. And I stopped learning when I was in Form 6 after I passed my Grade 6 practical with Merit. My teacher thought it was a waste but I thought STPM was much more important.

And so, I stopped learning piano there.. Although ocassionally I still play, playing a musical instrument is very therapeutic, happy, unhappy, sad.. etc..

But my musical journey didn't stop.

Few years into workforce, I signed up for guzheng class in community club here in Singapore. I couldn't catch up as I was too used to invidivual music lessons, I felt left out, couldn't catch up and gave up after a few lessons.

Why guzheng?

I have no absolute answer, except guzheng is the next instrument I love after piano.

Recent 2 years, I had the itch to take up music lessons again. There was no suitable guzheng lessons near my area, and we do not have the space to get a piano yet.

Finally, in Oct, I found a new guzheng class starting at the community club near our place, and so I registered. I've attended the 5th lesson on Saturday. Oh god, I finally realised teacher plays such an important role. This teacher teaches us from very basic, history of guzheng, the structure, playing with 1 finger, progressed to 2.. and now I can play simple notes.

Hmmm.. the musical talent didn't improve much, but I'm trying hard. I rented a guzheng as I know learning musical instrument without practising is as good as dumping water in the sea. But I dare not invest in a brand new one although hubby told me he would buy one for me. I really do not wish to get a white elephant.

The irony is, I'm practising everyday now, without the nagging of my mom. She used to nag at me everyday for not practising my piano.

I miss my piano... but I enjoy learning guzheng now too.

P/S: the best part of my practice, IZ would not disturb me when I told him I need to practise. He is very supportive too!

How did it feel?

Talking about his experience touching a snake in Bali.

I asked how he felt.

Me: so how did it feel when you touched the snake

(Was half expecting him to say cold? I'm not sure I've not touched any but my hubby said it felt cold?)

IZ: felt GREAT!

Both hubby and I were astonished.

Grandfather's Clock @ 3yo

Built this on his own!

Rainy days

End of the year is usually the rainy days. It has been raining (read pouring) so frequently, I kinda appreciate sunshine more this season.

Yesterday, I reached home from work, right before it started to pour again.

My helper told me luckily I was home, or IZ would be worried about my being.

Didn't understand what she meant, she explained that IZ would say "oh o, it's raining, and mommy is not home, she will get wet!"

Gosh.. That's such heartwarming to know, seriously.

Love him to bits for being such an angel most of the times.

Sidetrack: these days when he hugs is goodbye in the morning, he would say "enjoy your day, mommy!"

Meltz...

Names awareness @ 3yo

While I've always taught him to greet others by name (for those I know), he has never asked what our names are..

As in my hubby's and mine..

Last week, when he turned exactly 3 years old, while we were in Bali (post about the holiday at later date)..

He suddenly asked "daddy, what your name?" and "what mommy name?"

And we went in length about daddy's and mommy's name.. He even asked how to spell our names.

So now, he knows our names. He would go:

"Daddy's name is XXX!"

"Mommy's name is YYY!"