Life with my Angels

Sew Handy

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:46:00 +0000

I finally decided not to ask for a sewing machine. That is after 爸爸 finally agreed to buy one for me. :P I wouldn't have the time to use it so I rather not buy it to collect dust and waste space at the same time. :P

I still find time to sew, especially when I'm stress. And I find it really handy to bring my sewing stuff with me to 妹妹's Chinese enrichment school. It's a great way to pass time (2 hours!). So far I have completed 2 bags, one each on her last 2 lessons, while waiting for her to finish class.

Maybe I might ask for a sewing machine one day again but for the moment, I'm happy with the old fashion way of hand sewing.

Flowery Blossom

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:42:00 +0000

Sharing some of the pictures on the flower blooms I mentioned yesterday. Trees on both sides of the road with full blooms.

妹妹's favourite tree with the most flowers in darker pink.

Flowers covered grass which 哥哥 said looked like snow from far.

Seeing Double

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:29:00 +0000

Every year around March, the trees along the road from my place all the way to 妹妹's kindergarten will bloom. The trees will be covered in white, pink or dark pink flowers. When there's a gust of wind, the flowers will fall, like it is snowing.

This year the flowers bloomed earlier. The kids and I have been enjoying our daily walks to and fro school with flowers and leaves occasionally falling down from above us and the flowers covered grass.

妹妹 had been trying to catch falling flowers and leaves since the beginning of the week. She had not been lucky but she had lots of fun.

Then this evening, as we walked to fetch 哥哥 from school, we saw rainbow. Not one but two! And it was 2 full semi-circle rainbows!

It had been raining since afternoon and had just begin to stop. 妹妹 was very excited as this was the first time she saw a real rainbow. And how lucky she was to be able to see two instead of the usual one.

The parents in school we all bring out their handphones and busy taking pictures of the rainbows.

When she saw 哥哥, she can't stop telling him to look up in the sky. 哥哥 was excited too as it was his first time seeing a semi-circle rainbow and it seems big and very close. So close that he asked if we could go to the rainbow's end to see if there is some treasure.

When we reached home, we realised we actually had a better view of the rainbows from our bedroom windows. They looked even bigger and closer. The kids didn't have their dinner till the rainbows started to fade. 妹妹 wasn't very happy about it and kept asking what happened to 'her' rainbows. :)

Ps. The kids are not the only one excited over the rainbows. I was very excited too! I haven't seen a rainbow for ages and it's my first time seeing a double semi-circle rainbow too!

Lunar New Year Gatherings

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:23:00 +0000

恭喜发财 everyone!

It's our once a year family portrait time. :P Better still, a in-law family portrait. My younger brother-in-law came back from his overseas job and my elder brother-in-law and his family returned back to Singapore from his overseas posting. Finally, everyone is present for Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner after so many years.

This made me think when we will be able to take a complete family portrait with my parents with my brother no longer on talking terms with the family. Haiz. We have not seen my brother for years and my parents only get to see their grandchildren once a year. *shake head*

On a happier note, everyone was happy to see my younger brother-in-law whom have not return home for 1 year? There were lots of food (not by me - Thank God!) and the happiest of all were the kids. No, not the ang pows. They were so happy playing together, turning my younger brother-in-law's room into a camp site, fun fair, playground, etc.

妹妹 refused to let her 姐姐 (cousin) go home and kept asking for her when we reached home.

They came over to our place on Thursday for another gathering, before my younger brother-in-law return back to work and again the kids had fun playing together again. This time, 妹妹 cried non-stop when 姐姐 had to go home. She even cried in her sleep. :P

I'm glad the kids can get well together even though they hardly meet. Bet they can't wait for the next family gathering.

Our Annual Family Portrait

Tai Tai Faced

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:47:00 +0000

This is the XX time someone commented that I look like someone who doesn't know how to cook. These people find me weird going to the market. But they are never rude, just surprised that I cook for the family.

However, this particular 'Auntie' I met saw a hairtie I made for 妹妹 and asked, 真的吗？你做的？不要骗啦。买的是吗？你会做？做一个来看看啦。 I'm not sure if I should take it as a compliment or not. I might not be very good at it but I don't see a need to lie about something not made by myself.

So, conclusion, I got a '太太' face. Don't have to lift a finger to do anything. *I wish also!* Hence, don't know how to do anything. Hmm ... Must ask 爸爸 to get a domestic helper or make myself look like one. :P

Hooked on Sewing

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:04:00 +0000

I feel so much stressed now with the kids in different session. I'm rushing like a mad woman everyday. No more 'snaking' time for me now. But at least I have some peace and quite at home. And I get to spend some time with 哥哥 in the morning and 妹妹 in the afternoon. No more shouting for me now. :) And during the evening, they both spend time together fighting again. LOL

Sometimes when I want to take a break from the housework at night, I do a little sewing. Stuff that I can finish sewing in minutes kind. No more bags. :( 妹妹 is very happy because lots of stuff are for her. ;)

A Good Fright

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:38:00 +0000

Recently, my neighbour's grandson, who happened to go to the same school as 妹妹, got rejected just after a week of school. It seems that the boy cannot blend in with anyone in school. He would walk all over the class, talk when the teacher is talking (sounds familiar) and even empty the teacher's stationary on the floor. When the assistant teacher tried to carry him, he would struggle and beat the teacher.

The principal called up the parents and suggested they accompany him for a day to have a look as they are not able to have him in the class. The grandma went to school with him for a day and she too couldn't get him to sit or listen in class. He was like a totally different boy in school and the grandma had no choice but to inform the boy's parents to withdraw him from school.

The other day, when 哥哥 and me walk past my neighbour's house after we returned from our breakfast, the grandma told me about the whole incident. When we got home, 哥哥 was very quiet and I asked if he was afraid that he will be like 弟弟? He just told me that he will try very hard to behave in school.

I do not wish to frighten him but if this is going to help him change for the better, I don't mind being labelled a bad mum for this once. At least, he can be saved from all the punishments in school for bad behaviours.

Complain King

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:34:00 +0000

Just as I expected!

Yes, 哥哥 did it again. His teacher complained that he walks around the class, talks (louder than she does) and doesn't want to listen. *Faint* And this was just only 3 days of school. Sigh!

What to do? Have to being naggy again and keep reminding him to behave lor.

New Year New Schools

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Both 哥哥 and 妹妹 started in their new schools this year. The kids didn't seem to be excited. Maybe for 妹妹 over her uniform because in her previous pre-nursery school, she wore shorts and t-shirt. This time she will be wearing a dress. *Miss Vainy* .

Parents were allowed to stay in school to check on their kids for 妹妹's school. I didn't have to worry for her as she is very familiar with the school. She looked a bit bored though at first. It was better after the teachers brought out the building bricks and puzzles. When she finished school, she kept telling me she drew a lot of pictures. *patches of colours all over the papers :P*

She was very excited when she was released from school and was bidding her friend goodbyes. I think she is going to adapt very well in her new school. :)

I was more worried for 哥哥 because I know he has a concentration problem and need constant reminder to sit down. I don't think the teachers in primary school will have the patience to do that. Then I'm worry about him not eating during recess, knowing he is a picky eater. We already went to the school twice last year and her rejected the food there. But I didn't plan to let him bring lunch to school for the first week as the school had assigned a P5 student as a buddy for all P1. I thought it will be a good time to let him try buying food as there is someone there to help him.

We were allowed to go to the school during recess time to check on our kids. But we were only allow to stay outside the canteen to look. Can you imagine looking for you child in a canteen with 600+ students?!

School canteen, taken by 妹妹

爸爸 and 妹妹 went with me during recess time and while we were squeezing our way to get a good spot to look for 哥哥 and then searching high and low for him, he was there sitting on a bench, looking at us, munching his food. When we finally notice that he was just in front of us, he told us, oh ya, I saw you looking and looking. I was here. *faint* Looking how relaxed he was during recess, I was less worried. I think his buddy helped him a lot. 哥哥 even said his buddy stopped him from buying certain food as he said it was too expensive. :)

Now waiting for the honeymoon period to be over and see how it goes. :P

哥哥 and his 哥哥buddy, a Korean lookalike. ;)

Sew in Love with Bags

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Happy New Year to you! Wishing you health, wealth and happiness all year round.

Hmm .... what was the last thing you did in 2008? I was sewing this bag which I had unpicked 5 times! I saw a similar one from a magazine and found it looked rather sweet. I told myself I had to try to make it. I did some sketching and went ahead to do it. That explains the 5 amendments. ;P

I'm not sure if the draw-string part was attached to the bag. What I did was I sew a separate drawing string pouch. Handle is recycled (again) from some old bag I had. I had this funny habit of removing zippers, handles and those magnet buttons (or whatever you call them) from bags I intend to throw away. I guess they do come in handy. :)

I'm thinking of making a small bag next, for 妹妹 to go with her Chinese New Year outfit. Hopefully, I can make it in time.

It will be a busy year for me. School starts tomorrow for both of them, with 妹妹 in the morning session and 哥哥 in the afternoon. *pant* Hopefully, I will be able to manage my time well. And hopefully, they will be able to cope and adapt to the new school environment fast.

Thirty-Seven

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:01:00 +0000

Who is this? ;) No prize for the making the correct guess. :P

By the way, Happy Birthday to me! Yap! It's my 37th Birthday today! ^_^

I don't think I had a good year - Health-wise (My nose has been bleeding so often I'm seriously considering having the blood vessels cauterized and I've been coughing for more than a month liao. Haiz!) and especially with the kids.

I had a tough time with the kids. They were causing lots of troubles in school. Nothing much to said when they are at home too. Haiz! So the more problems I have, the more frequent my nose bleeds. Serious! 气到暴血管. in my case, the blood vessels in my nose. Haha ... Hopefully, when school starts and the 2 of them in different session, I will be able to concentrate of each of them more. And hopefully, things will change for the better.

So, my birthday wishes this year, as usual, are for everyone to be healthy (哥哥 has been falling sick every other month and me with the bloody nose), 爸爸's work to be smoother (he had a bad year too) and the kids to be more obedient and sensible.

365 days to make my wishes come true. ;)

Bag for school

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:53:00 +0000

I have just completed another hand-stitched bag. And the moment 妹妹 saw it, she asked if she can have it. :P

I had planned to make a bag for 妹妹 as she needs to bring extra set of clothes when she goes to school next year. So, it's hers even she didn't ask for it. After all it's made using her old dresses.

I think she won't mind having the bag as her Christmas present. It's like a messenger bag for her. (She is already carrying the bag everywhere she goes.) Killing 2 birds with 1 stone. :P

I was hoping she doesn't like it so I could use it. :P

Toy Machine

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:50:00 +0000

I found some spots on 哥哥's body on Friday night and thought he was allergic to something (cos it happened before) and fed him some medicine.

The next day, the spots became bigger and I thought I better bring him to the doctor before we go to 公公's house. The doctor confirmed it was chickenpox and even warn me that most likely 妹妹 might get it. ^_^" I have to keep a close watch for spots on 妹妹 2 weeks later.

And since we are going to be stuck at home for 2 weeks, 爸爸 bought us a toy to let us pass time. It's something all the 3 of us enjoy but of course this is much easier than the real thing. Thank you 爸爸, for being so thoughtful.

Lucky for me, 哥哥 enjoy playing with it and 妹妹 simply enjoys putting in the coin, cheering and collecting the prizes. ^_^" So no fighting. *phew*

If you like it too, you can get it from the (new) Jurong Point at About $40. Not sure of the exact location though but the shop is at the new extension. And it doesn't comes with the prizes and candies. We add those ourselves.

He bought me a nice bag too! Awww ... thank you 爸爸.

Sweet 爸爸 said he is going to take leave before the school starts and take over the kids so I can go shopping at the (new) Jurong Point. He said it's huge and my favourites Ding Tai Fung, Bakerzin and Haagen Dazs is there too. Wah, it's like my end-year bonus. I'll be waiting. ;)

Fishing time!

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:38:00 +0000

One of the kids' favourite past time during this school holidays is playing with water. I think both miss water-play which they had in school once a week.

I used filled up a big container with water and let they enjoy themselves. They love fishing for plastic fishes. Just like catching long kang fish at Qianhu. ;)

I didn't waste the water too. I got them to water the plants and wash the floor after playing. Killing 3 birds with 1 stones. :)

Recycled Bag

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:40:00 +0000

What can you do with 2 pieces of table mats that you no longer use? I turned them into a bag. ;) The handles were saved from an old bag (I think). I like how the folds of the table mats make 2 big pockets in front and the back. So basically, this a recycled bag. ;)

I just had to steal time in between 'breaks' to sew just to complete this. So it took a bit longer for me. It will be so much easier if it's done by machine, takes maybe only 5 minutes? *hint hint 爸爸, again*

Bye School

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:25:00 +0000

It was both 哥哥 and 妹妹 will be going to new schools next year. They both have parties in school on the last day of school.

I decided to baked some cookies for 妹妹's teachers to thank them for being such nice and patient teachers and I prepared cookies for her classmates too.

哥哥 did some bookmarks for his classmates and for his teachers, I helped him with the shells magnets.

Both of them were giving problems in school this year and like what their teachers said, hopefully they will change in their new schools. I'm keeping my fingers crossed too.

Pre-School Graduate Concert

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0000

哥哥's school graduation ceremony and concert was last Thursday. 爸爸 couldn't make it last minute as something really serious happened at work and he had to go back to his office. He was more disappointed than 哥哥 for not being to attend.

Me, being a kiasu mum and wife brought the camera stand along so I can tape his performance while I run after 妹妹. Yup, I can be a fortunate teller. I can foresee things that's going to happen and true enough I did had to stop 妹妹 from running all over the place. At least, this time round I was prepared and bought along some of her favourite food. So she was much better than last year.

This year's concert is much simplier compared to last year which was very colourful and lively but still we could see that the teachers and children had put in a lot of hard work in making the concert a success.

In our appreciation for the teachers' hard work, 哥哥 and I did some little craft for his teachers. I had bought a tub of plastic beads from Ikea a few months ago with the intention of making little gifts for his classmates as Xmas Presents. I'll have to think what to do for his teacher then. Any ideas, anyone?

Anyway, his teachers must be glad to be able to 'get rid' of this problematic boy (I get complains quite often. Haiz!) in another few more days time. :P

My Sweet Pea

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:47:00 +0000

Everytime I want to get the kids, especially 妹妹, to eat veggies, I had to resort to 'tricks'.

The other day, I sliced some sweet peas (like sticks) and add them to her favourite bean sprout. Of course, she was able to spot them and didn't want them but I told her they are nice and are like bean sprout; only the colour is different I told her. :P She ate them and like them. *phew*

I had to show her the 'original' other she might thought sweet peas looked like bean sprout! So after her dinner, I showed her the actually sweet peas and let her open up the pod to uncover the peas inside. She had so much fun with them and ask for a few more. And she is really good with choosing those that will have big and fat peas. ;)

Poor me had to cook and eat those after she had enough with them. :P At least, it's one more veggie that she will eat. :)

No more diaper!

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:20:00 +0000

Yeah! 妹妹 is diaper free!

It all started when she fell asleep last Saturday late evening. Not wanting to awake up in the middle of the night after having enough sleep, I woke her up an hour later.

When it's time to sleep, she refused to change into her pyjamas. To her wear pyjamas = wearing diaper. She wanted to wear her dress to bed and didn't want diaper as well. I hesitated at first as I did not have a mat to protect her mattress but let her be anyway. I bought her to the toilet just before I go to bed and the next morning she was still dry.

I told her I was very proud of her that she didn't wet her bed the next morning. All she said was no urinate on the bed. Go toilet urinate. :P

Last nigh, I asked her if it okay for her no to wear diaper. She didn't want at first but agreed after I kept praising her. :P This time, she called me in the middle of the night when she wanted to go the the toilet, twice. I was quite impressed with her. I think she was too tired to walk over to my room. (She sleep on her own in her room) She was so dreamy and when I carried her to the toilet. Her eyes were still closed and she was swaying when she sat on the toilet bowl. LOL I'm impressed with myself too cos I could hear her calling me too.

Now, I can save $7.50 a month for diaper liao. :P

Hello, Kitty!

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:41:00 +0000

Remember I said 妹妹 'chuop' one of my crochet bags? I had wanted to modified it to fit her but I find that it looked too 'adult' and decided to make a brand new one for her instead. This time round I used felt to make a bag for her instead and with one of her favourite characters, Hello Kitty, on it. :) One of my favourites too. ;P

Since she is always trying to button her clothes on her own now, I thought she will prefer a button with tab instead of the usual zipper and velcro. And I was right. :)

I'm not sure how long the bag will last but at the moment she carries everywhere even to bed. :)

Bags, bags, bags ...

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:38:00 +0000

Lately I have been making bags when I have time. These are a few of what I have made. Some of the crochet pieces have already been recycled because I didn't quite like it in the end. :P

妹妹 has already 'chuop' the piece above with the pearl handles, right after I complete it. ^_^" I will have the find time to modify for her as it difficult for her to carry it. :P

I have just completed the one below last Friday and it's my current favourite. 爸爸 asked me if I intend to make a identical one for 妹妹. I told him I would, if him buys me a sewing machine because it's bored (for me) to hand stitch a duplicate. :P (No more hinting liao.) But it's still a 'anything but no sewing machine' from him. Darn!

I guess I won't be making this bag for 妹妹 BUT I have plans to make her something else. :) For the time being I'm back to felting. :)

* My 2 tone bag *

* Matching thingy for zipper *

Children's Day

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:30:00 +0000

This blog is turning into a photo blog soon! Yeah, more photos of the kids. These were taken during Children's Day. Both of them had celebrations in school that day and brought back big bags of gifts from friends and teachers. 哥哥's school even had a mini sport day on that day!

Since both of them finished school much early that day, I brought them out to IMM (their favourite place) to have lunch. I bought them little toys, titbits and stationery from Diaso (me cheapo :P) and they have a few of their favourite animal rides.

I guess with only me around, they are easily satisfied. ;)

* The kids enjoying the animal rides *

Old Friend

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:26:00 +0000

This is another very late post. :P

My best friend came to visit me on 30 August. (It's that long liao!) 2 other friends (ex-classmates) were supposed to come to but didn't make it in the end. Aww, I was a little disappointed but there's always a next time.

I had prepared a couple of little gifts for my friend. Ai ya, you know lah, people like me who don't work got no money to buy gifts. So mine are hand-made (from recycled stuff!) :P Yeah, I unpicked an old bag I did long ago which I no longer use, washed the thread (so it's not like badly permed hair LOL), dried it and reused it. If you recall this, they are from the same family. ;) I had some left over clothes pegs and suction cups from 哥哥's Teachers' Day's gift, so I did some Memo Clips too. I hope she finds them useful.

I had intended to cook lunch on that day but since there will only be 2 of us and the kids, I made BBQ wings using the same ingredients for this instead and we made chocolate chips cupcakes together which my friend brought home later. We ate and chat so much (cos we haven't meet formonths!). Luckily, the kids didn't give us much problems. They were either playing or watching the TV. We went to MOF in the evening and 爸爸 joined us after work.

I wish we were able to meet up more often. There is just too much to keep updated. I'm already looking forward to our next meeting!

* Coin purse and Suction Memo Clip for my dear friend *

Friend, if you are reading this, thanks for visiting me and the kids and your wonderful gift!. Thank you for still keeping in touch with me. It has been .... *counting* .... 20 years! since we've been friends. I want to let you know, I proud of you for what you have attained. It's not easy to be where you are now and I know how much effort and hardwork you had put in and the sacrifices you made. Good luck with your new career and I'm still hoping to hear more 'important good news' from you soon. You know what I'm referring too. ;)

Kids in September

noreply@blogger.com (JollyMum) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:11:00 +0000

I haven't been updating this blog for a looooong time. For the past few months, I have been very upset. Mainly with 哥哥. He has been giving my a lot of problems at home as well as in school.

I didn't want to remember all the bad things and hence I just blog about it. I glad things are getting back this week and I hope it stays this way.

These were taken in September. They didn't change much, did they?

Animals Attack ... again

noreply@blogger.com (WokkingMum) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:55:00 +0000

If you want to know how these are made, hop over here to have look. There is still time to made them for Teachers' Day!