Weekend Biking cum Picnic Adventure

For two weekends in a row our family went biking to Pasir Ris park in the late afternoon. We brought with us some snacks, our picnic mat and tent, dropped by Popeye's for take out dinner and cycled our way to the park.

Advent Calendar of Activities 2014

'Tis the time of the year when shopping malls compete for the coveted title of the most beautifully decorated, when streets glimmer with Christmas lights at night, when you can see some homes liven up with the Christmas spirit. It's the season when we put up  and decorate our Christmas tree with a different theme every year and hang our parol (Christmas lantern) and set up a timer so that everyday at around 7 at night our home is filled with colorful lights coming from our tree and our parol. Then we play Christmas carols, old and new, and sing along to the lively tunes as we count the days to Christmas.

Gardens by the Bay Children's Playground

More than a month of school holidays sometimes makes it challenging to think of activities for kids (specially when you have a primary and a teenager to please). That's more than 30 days of daily activities or 10 if you want to do it every other day or so.  One way to keep the stress of planning at a minimum is to coordinate your schedule with mommy friends who have kids with the same age group as your kids. That makes planning more manageable for you and your kids will have a group of friends to spend the holidays with. You, mommy, will be able to sneak in some girl time, too. 

Advent Booklet 2014

Last week marked the beginning of Advent when we prepare, through prayers and contemplation, for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. As mentioned in my earlier blog, we had a very blessed first week of Advent as we were chosen to participate in the Offertory during mass. A week before that, our parish church has already started giving out advent booklets (which I collect annually). This year's theme is "Bearers of the Good News".

A Meaningful Start to the Advent Season

Today marks the beginning of Advent, that special time when we all pray as we prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This year's theme is "Bearers of the Good News" which calls for us to follow Mary in bringing the Good News closer to those who are in need - friends how may be losing hope, people who may feel unloved or those who are experiencing low self-esteem.

Today, a Sunday, is also the day when our family usually goes for mass. What made today more special than other Sundays though was that we (hubby and I) were chosen to be the couple to participate in the Offertory. I had a feeling something good was going to happen during mass the moment one of the church ushers glanced in our direction before the mass started. After a few minutes, one of the Filipino ushers approached us and asked us if we were a couple. We nodded. She asked if we were baptized and we said yes. She asked us if we would agree to bring the offerings to the altar. We looked at each other and we said yes. Of course, we said yes. 

Ira's First Holy Communion

* here's another very much delayed blog

 

A First Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. I believe it because you have said it and I’m ready to give my life to maintain this truth. Amen. 

* http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/communion-prayers.html

Ira received his First Holy Communion on 08 September 2013 at St Anne's Church. An important tradition for Catholic families like us and Ira's third sacrament to receive (after his baptism and first reconciliation).

Ira's First Reconciliation

Confession is an act of honesty and courage - an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.  

-- Pope John Paul 2

Catechists have prepared primary 2 students the whole year for what can be deemed as the culmination of their second year of primary catechism. Ira was among the cohort of primary 2 catechism students at St Anne's Church who went for their First Reconciliation or Penance.

Sentimental Seventeen

“We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck. But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness.”

- Ellen Goodman

"Love doesn't mean anything if you're not willing to make a commitment."

- Nicholas Sparks

There is no better way for me to describe how our roller coaster relationship had survived almost two decades (November 8) than with the quotes above. It all started with the word "commitment".

Secondary 3 subject combinations (2014)

This year we faced another milestone in Kelvin's education. At the end of his Secondary 2 year we had to choose his subject combinations for Secondary 3. This decision would mainly depend on his academic performance for the whole year and on his interest in certain subject combinations. This would also help determine what possible path he could take after his secondary education so it was such a big decision to make.

An emotional birthday surprise

*Photo courtesy of Alvin Valera

"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves." - Edna Buchanan

Every year since 2007 I celebrate my birthday with two wonderful friends, Karen and Beth, over dinner and we end up chatting the night away. I've met them in an online forum in 2006 and we've been close friends since then. They are my soul sisters and we share stories about parenting, mothering and coping with living in Singapore. This year though, it was quite tough to pick a date that was convenient for all of us. Recently, Beth has been busy with her business travels, I have been swamped with parent volunteer events, and Karen was the one trying in vain to book a date for my birthday gathering. 

Partying at 37

A birthday is a time for fun and celebrations. I don't usually have a big one but a simple lunch or dinner with the family and dinner out with close friends will do. This year though, when I was swamped with several school events, had children's parties to attend to, and free schedules not in sync with those of my friends, I thought I'd be turning 37 at a low. Boy, how wrong was I....

Counting down to Christmas 2014

our rainbow themed Christmas tree and our "parol" (Christmas lantern)

Every year we gear up for Christmas a few months earlier. Yes, it's usually by September that I start thinking of the year's color combinations and prepping up the ornaments. This year however, we were a few months behind. It was only in November that our Christmas tree made it to the living room. A week after, the tree ornaments were hung. A week after that, my husband chose this new spot for our "parol".

Puppet Making

Two weeks ago, Ira's class was given a homework - to make a puppet of their choice. He actually forgot to tell me about it and if it weren't for another parent (co-parent volunteer), who's son is in the same class as Ira, he would have gone to school with no puppet to pass to his form teacher.

Counting my Blessings

Oftentimes I find myself caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, my days filling up with "I should haves" and "why didn't Is", complaining about things I couldn't do or couldn't have instead of appreciating what I have and what I can do. The constant thoughts of what must be done and the endless to-do lists flood my ever over-thinking (analyzing and reanalyzing) mind. I fail to remember that I am just human and I need time to sit down, relax and let go once in a while (or should I say often?). And simply just be thankful.

A simple act of kindness

For several years now my sons have been taking bus 88 to school. I usually bring them to the bus stop and send them off with hugs and kisses. 

Most of the times we are early at the bus stop, but there are times when the bus timing app messes up and we get there just in time or when the bus is just about to close its doors. One of those days Ira and I saw the bus coming as we were walking to the bus stop. We knew we wouldn't make it to the bus if we didn't run so I asked Ira to go ahead while I run behind him, carrying his heavy bag. Almost all of the ones waiting for the bus have already boarded except for this middle aged man who seemed to have been waiting for us to reach the bus. He gestured to the driver to wait as he saw Ira running. He even let Ira get into the bus before getting on board himself. Panting, I passed Ira his bag and thanked the man for waiting for us. He answered with a nod and silent smile.

Be an ActiveSG member

One of the activities I planned for the boys this September schools holidays was a trip to the Sengkang Swimming Complex. It has been quite a while since we last visited and the boys were so excited when I told them we were going swimming. I also wanted to register them to be ActiveSG members. I fellow parent volunteer shared about ActiveSG membership some time ago. I already signed up for it but we needed to go to the swimming complex office to register the boys personally.

In line with the government's on-going campaign of living better through sports, ActiveSG was launched in April 2014. There are several programmes and activities for all ages with the goal of increasing sports participation in the community. There are even programmes for parents and children to have more bonding time. New facilities (in selected locations) like gym by the pool, alfresco setting by the pool, BBQ by the pool, mobile charging station and free wi-fi have also been set up.  

Our Children are listening: Nine Messages they need to hear from you by Jim Taylor PhD

In my pursuit to becoming a better parent, I found yet another interesting and helpful parenting book - "Your Children are Listening: Nine Messages They Need to Hear from You" - by Jim Taylor, Phd. I've read the book and had my notes for quite sometime, but the draft remained a draft (revision after revision, trying to keep it short but informative enough) until now. .

The book basically talks about how parents can clearly communicate messages to parents and how parenting skills can be developed in conveying these messages. The author enumerated nine messages that our children needed to hear from us. I think, as parents, we all know that COMMUNICATION is indeed a very important part of the parent-child relationship (so with other relationships). His book not only suggests HOW we should communicate but WHAT we should communicate to our children. I learned new techniques on how to communicate with my children better (although I have to say learning is one thing, applying what I've learned is another).

Reading is my refuge

When we moved to a 3rm HDB rental flat in 2002, I was so thankful that we chose one that was within walking distance to necessities - hawker, bus stop, train station, church, grocery, and, most importantly, the library. It was a place I frequently visited with my then 2-year-old son. The possibilities of exploration were boundless.

We borrowed children's books for me to read to Kelvin. Sometimes I even let him "choose" the books he found interesting - usually illustrated ones, mostly related to automobiles. He loved to pretend reading books, I think it also helped him read at an early age. Every night, he would ask me to read of the small children's books my aunt gave him - all 10 or so of them!

Smiggle - seeing RED

If you're someone like me who likes (from time to time) to buy matching colored school supplies for your kids (or yourself) then Smiggle may be the shop to go to. They have a wide range of stationery - pencils, sharpeners, erasers, pens, high lighters, colored pencils, notebooks, different types of pencil cases, lunch boxes, bags and more! And in different colors, too!

So far, my boys have gotten their Smiggle items like pens, pencils, pencil cases and wallets, to name a few. Most of the items are reasonably priced, although I have to say some of their products are also costly. Their pencil cases are quite durable - my elder one has the black bubble hardtop pencil case and the younger one has the green puffer mesh pencil case.

MJS RHD Celebrations 2014 - the best by far

After months of preparation - from planning of menu (Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian food) to the conceptualization of decors, to putting the concept into creative works of art, and finally, to the actual day itself - we have recently concluded the Racial Harmony Day (RHD) celebrations cum food fair at Montfort Junior School (MJS). 

Joint effort of dedicated parent volunteers, teachers, and P4 boys made this year's RHD preparations and actual day a success. The school canteen was transformed by parent volunteers into Kampung Montfort decorated with traditional stuff like handmade kampong windows, old wash boards, batik clothes, nipa hut-like roofs, personal items of cultural significance and symbolism, as well as several artworks done by the boys. This brought the boys back into the kampung days their parents and grandparents have experienced and enjoyed. To add to the ambiance, there was a variety of traditional food items to choose from - chicken rice, huat kueh, ang ku kueh, curry puff, nonya kueh, satay, otah, kacang puteh, murukku, putu mayam, sugee cake, koh suih, chicken pie, and the block buster popcorn. There were also Hari Raya Feast boxes for our Muslim teachers and students to bring home.

Other activities like henna tattoo (done by very talented parent volunteers), digital art appreciation (by senior citizens in the community with P4 boys), trishaw rides and a photo booth (where boys got to dress up have their photos taken with a polaroid camera) added to the funfair.

Apart from the kampung experience, delectable food and a myriad of other activities throughout the week, what made the RHD celebrations a great experience to take part in was the friendship we cultivated in the process. Parents volunteers from different races and nationalities came together to do the preparations as well as the much-appreciated leg work during the event. And we all had fun in the process - it brought out the kids in us. Some of the new parent volunteers said they had a great experience and were eager to participate in more school events in the future. What better way to get more PVs involved than to let them have a taste of what it was like to "work" as a parent volunteer.We also got to team up with dedicated teachers and got to know them outside the classroom (they can be funny, too!).

We were all in agreement that this was the BEST RHD food fair ever and I'm so proud to be a part of the team that made this all possible - the group of parent volunteers, the teachers and the P4 boys who were given the chance this year to play an active role in the RHD celebrations.

It's going to be a big challenge to top this one off, but I'm sure the school committee and parent volunteers can think of something for next year :)

Here were some of the photos taken during the event... 

the team of Parent Volunteers

Montfortians in their traditional costumes

 me with parent volunteers in the Eurasian sugee cake stall

 happy to be in the chicken rice stall

 our kacang puteh parent volunteer invading the library to sell to the boys

 

 PVs in the Indian stall with Mrs Bala (teacher-in-charge) 

and Cynthia (PV creative director cum life of the party)

PV Pacino helping trishaw uncle to drive the boys around the foyer

 henna tattoo expert PV Razia 

the henna tattoo PVs 

my son Ira (right) with his buddy Ian,

at the library for the digital art exhibit 

where they helped senior citizens in the community to create digital art

for the past few weeks

the main wall of the kampung

 preparing the chicken rice before the stalls open

 PVs in the Indian stall selling kacang puteh, putu mayam and murukku

 getting the satay on display at the Malay stall

 our bubbly Cynthia being herself

 parent volunteers and P4 boys working hand in hand at this chicken rice stall

 

 took advantage of the time when my son and his friends were at the canteen

 

our couple parent volunteers

 caught my son again for another photo op

 parent volunteers at the huat kueh and ang ku kueh stalls

 MJPC chairman Patrick making sure the boys follow the entrance and exit rules

 Hari Raya Feast box PVs

 parent volunteers selling nonya kueh and curry puff

 parent volunteer tandem selling chicken pies at the Eurasian Stall

 boys enjoying good food

  

 photo op with our ticket seller before the crowd goes wild

 kacang puteh choices - sugar coated or salty peanuts?

 

 Ira and friend Marcus the day before the actual event

 

 

 

 

thanks to partners Cynthia (top) and Annie (bottom). It's been a pleasure working with these 2 wonderful ladies not only in this event, but several other events throughout the year. 

Cheers to all the PARENT VOLUNTEERS who have given their support, artistic talents, selling / marketing prowess, sweat, arms and legs into making each and every event a success. I'm so blessed to be in your company.

** photos courtesy of Andrew Teoh, Lynn Tessa Tay - thanks for capturing such wonderful photos - and myself