Home alone again

Hubby flew off to the states this morning after just coming home last night from his KL trip. Sigh, I didn't even really have time to talk to him and he's gone again for another 2 weeks. December is supposed to be my favourite month of the year, for there is the rain, cool weather, as well as Christmas. But now I am feeling quite lonely at home without him. He'll be spending a good one week in Lexington on course before flying over to Shanghai and Beijing to meet some clients. His return trip hasn't been confirmed as he said it will all depends on how his work progress in China goes. I certainly hope he'll be back soon!

Join the Merlion Club!!

Ok the Merlion Club is not as glamourous as you think it is, and it's all messy and stinky - it's just another name for the Gastric Flu Club!!!

This is the year end phenomenon. Usually the kids will get it either in school or from the cousins. One after another, they'll be hit by the virus and then one by one started to throw up and get real sick and unable to eat for a few days. By the time the virus has gone one round, the harm has been done. Weight loss, tons of housework undone due to busy mummy taking care of the kids, bored kids at home unable to go out, appetite loss and I'm not sure what to feed them anymore as I've run out of ideas what to cook....finally mummy will succumb to tiredness and start to get real screamy due to lack of sleep and a bunch of easily irritated kids. So, that's the Merlion Club! Thankfully this phenomenon is nearly over in my household, and I am getting over the "Mummy is very tired ok?" syndrome. Now should be the "fattening the kids back up" period and then will be into the Christmas mood.

I've been thinking a lot about desserts and baking lately, not sure if it's the therapy I needed to recover from my 'self-pitying syndrome', which is a complement product from joining the Merlion Club. Most important of all, I think I miss chocolate, my source of happy food. I've been trying to slim down and cutting down on carbos and fattening foods. It takes a lot of determination and perseverance to really do that. The only good side effect from the Merlion Club is that I've probably lost some weight the past 2 weeks. Now I am thinking Nigella's Pear and Chocolate Mousse Cake and also McDonald's Chocolate Hot Fudge Sundae! URGH!! This is not not good to my diet plans! The worst is that I am even thinking of getting hold of a copy of Nigella's book "Nigella Express" so that I can get access to even more sinful recipes to try out! Someone please stop me!

Hao's graduation!

Hao has graduated from kindergarten! This is his graduation photo :P

Our Glorious Marina Barrage

Last sunday, being bored cooped up at home, my sister and I brought the kids to the new Marina Barrage for a little walk. Marina Barrage is our latest downtown icon and is the dam that runs across marina channel, creating Singapore's largest freshwater catchment reservoir. It was officially open on the previous weekend and we thought it would be a good place to bring the kids for a look.

Well, we anticipated crowds but didn't expect the crowds will be so big! Luckily we could still find parking spaces although it was some distance away from the barrage. It was bright and sunny and there was a lot of people in the water playground cooling themselves in the hot weather.

Min had grew a lot these days. Not only he has developed his own bubbly personality, his temper has also developed. Most times he is very happy, cheerful and bubbly, but at times when he's angry, he'll hit others and even reach out for nearby things and started throwing them around. Am a little worried that he's getting too aggressive for a one year old...

Ho Ho Ho...

It's already November and its feels like Christmas is just around the corner :) Of all the festive holidays, we just love Christmas more than any other holidays. Perhaps it's because Christmas falls in end December, the time when there's more rain and less sun and the weather is so cooling, or that the lightings and ambience everywhere is so nice and harmonious, or that it's just simply a time when you can receive many presents and also experience the joy of giving other presents. Just last sunday when we were in town to scout for Hao's schoolbag, we saw the first Christmas decorations and lightings being put up in Orchard Road. This year's decorations are of candies and sweets. Very simply but heartwarming at the same time. I can't wait to bring the kids to town once the light ups start next weekend!

There's a lot happening this month. Hubby is now in the cold climate of Beijing, and will be there till Saturday, afterwhich he'll be travelling to Shanghai for another week and then back in Singapore next Saturday 15th November. He'll be in town for a week before flying off to KL for another week for his management meeting and by the time he's back, it'll probably be December already. We are crossing fingers that he'll not need to travel this much in December, so he can spend time with the family during the Christmas season and also to take a good rest before the new year begins. He's been travelling so much that it's taking a toil on his health and it's really not good. Just before he flew off yesterday, he was starting fever and flu but still had to proceed with his travel plans as he couldn't delay his meetings. Poor him.

We have also received notices from Hao's school as well as Ee's school for next school year's orientation dates, booklists, as well as uniform sales date. Hao's orientation will be next Saturday (15 Nov when hubby is scheduled to be back), whereas Ee's orientation will be on the first day of school on 2nd January 2009. This month, we will be busy getting books and uniforms for the kids in preparation for school next year, and I will also be spending some time next month in December to get Hao started on his school stuff. Basically we just want him to know what to expect and what to do when in doubt. He had told us that he's quite worried about starting in a new school and he'll be missing his current teachers and school mates so I thought it was quite important to let him know what to expect. Hopefully the orientation next week will be a good starting point for him to know more about the school environment. As for Ee, I am just crossing fingers that he will be able to fit in the new school but being not new to the school, I am confident that he's in good hands.