The boys first Pets - Wild Guppies!!!

The boys had a blast last weekend as they spent nearly 4 hours doing Long Kang Fishing at ORTO with Lucas and Lewis. They caught so many guppies that there was severe overcrowding in the little fish tank that they were given. We spent $14 for each of them but it was super worth the value as they had so much fun that if they are given another 4 hours, I think they will just continue to catch as many fish as possible. We adults will surely get backache or neck strain after 1 hour of bending and running around. The kids are really amazingly energetic.

I got to quickly buy fish pump and food and find a bigger container at home to house their new pets. I just don't want to buy a fish tank as I really have no idea how many days these fish will survive.

At point of writing this, less than half the fish are left and amazingly about 8-9 baby fish were spawn during the period. I ended up I have to reserve one of the pump for a nursery to grow these baby fish and the other pump for the entire school of fish, which again caused severe overcrowding.

The boys were excited every morning and they will sit at the balcony to stare at the fish for long period after school. They feel sad to see dead fish everyday but will keep looking out if there are more babies coming. They learnt about nature and I can see they do value lives and have some love for these little creatures. 

Lucas and Lewis fish were already dead in their tortoises' tummies. Heard Lewis didn't even bothered about the fish while Lucas was really angry that they were thrown into the tortoise pond. I think my boys will be emotionally affected if their fish are to end up dead like their friend's. At least I managed to impart some positive values to them about loving, caring and being responsible towards lives of these little guppies.

Will see how long more before the last guppy die. Perhaps it will be time they go back for fishing again which they love.

Okay some throwback to early Mid July when we sent Gabrielle to Australia for her University Studies. Time really flies that she is now already going University when I was still seeing her as a baby and toddler like my boys today. Still can't see how long it takes to see them enter University. They made a card for Gabrielle and purchased a Pikachu at Pokemon Centre at Jewel.

Well. Hope Pikachu will be well taken care of in Australia and they the boys will maintain good relationship when Belle returns. The boys will be quite big by the time she is back in Singapore for good after University.

How a bit of update on their development. The boys are now 7 and a half years old. Josiah is 124cm tall and 25kg heavy and Joshua is 113cm tall and 20.9kg heavy. Joshua had been identified below the normal percentile for height and was referred to the Health Promotion Board for a routine check in November. Still struggling with his inability to hold his bladder into the night and we are still tolerating the urine pants and bedsheet everyday. Felin does not want me to wake him up for nightly wee as she was concerned about poor sleep quality that might be affecting his growth.

As for school work, they aren't the hardworking type. Need a lot of pushing or they will just waste their time away. I felt that their student care time was already wasted and when they reach home do nothing again, its more time wasted. Will need review if to continue with this student care arrangement. It does not help that Felin and I were struggling with our own work commitment that we were left lessor time to monitor their work or to send them around for enrichment classes.

Alright. Till here for now and glad I managed to set aside time to write this blog today. 

When will they ever be serious enough to learn something by themselves?

This is the question that I always ask myself how to make them be more motivated to learn something without us instructing them? I'm probably guilty in comparing them with other children of their age that I'd observed. Example I always see young kids playing the piano, practicing their abacus, showing off their Art pieces, horning their soccer, badminton skills, able to write stories in English and Mandarin, etc... and wonder when can I ever see that they learn a skill or seriously learning a skills or knowledge?

What I hope to see in them is their perseverance in learning and seeing them in seriously learning mode. They are currently attending Swimming, Badminton classes for months and Chinese Classes for years but they always complain having to learn Chinese and they don't seems serious when they are in their sports classes. I also don't see the type of seriousness when they are doing their homework or when I'm teaching them. Everything to them is just play and leisure. 

It will bring me joy if I can see them in serious learning mode rather than the usual bickering, lamenting and whining mode.

Well, I know they are just primary 1 but I just can't stop having some aspirations about them. We are still in a challenging stage to always see them fight for the slightly issues everyday and yielding for attention by doing the silliest things to each other, etc... Sometimes wondered if I should be more strict or being more disciplined with their time, etc...

Okay, just to update some recent photos where we went Sembawang Hot Spring, Stella Restaurant at East Coast to celebrate me and Felin's anniversary as well as a photo of our usual Saturday Badminton Class...

Happy Mother's Day 2022

Happy Mother's Day to Mummy of Joshua and Josiah.

Boys, do you know that all these years, Mummy sacrificed her sleep, freedom and even all the nicest food for both of you to ensure you always get the best.

Joshua, do you know that you need to hold her hands to sleep daily, we have to wake you up to toliet in the middle of the night and changing the bedsheet when you pee on the mattress, if we are slow by that few minutes. These little physical needs are drain our energy quite a lot when we need to work early next morning.

Josiah, do you know that we are always so worried about your frequent burst of temper and you avoiding learning things that you do not know. We need to be very patient with you because Daddy and Mummy does not want to give you a quick answer but encouraging you think. It is important to think.

Do both of you know that Mummy always give you all the fish and nutrient stuffs and left that little bit for herself when both of you still commented that they are not nice and refuses to eat? She will feel heartache, right?

Mummy's work is packed and busy but she ensures sufficient time must be spent nurturing both of you with quality learning and playing. She seems to nag more but she is trying to keep the strict timeline on what time you eat, play, do homework, bible stories and sleep, etc...

Today on Mother's Day, little Joshua insisted that he must make a card and get flowers for Mummy and Josiah suggested a cake. Mummy told them if they bought these, they won't have pocket money for the next 2 days and they returned with a resounding "Okay"! Seeing how happy everyone is, Daddy top up with a Peach wine to sweeten her day.

My day is full seeing how happy Felin is and grateful to see the kids understand about sacrificial giving for their mummy on this special day.

Thank you my dearest Sweetheart and Happy Mother's Day to you.

Back to Malaysia after 2 years and 2 months

We were finally back to Malaysia after a long 2 years 2 months of Covid-19 wait during the long Labour Day - Hari Raya Puasa holiday weekend. Traffic was smoother than I expect, which in the past will be terrible. The Covid situation is stabilizing for now and there are lesser restrictions in term of travelling. Good that we had got Covid last month and we in fact felt safer travelling out of the country for now, till the next Covid variant comes.

It was wonderful to see Felin's family again after so long especially the growth of Charlotte and Jayden whom is the first time we met since he was born. Jayden is really cute and he don't mind me carrying him the whole time and the boys played well with Charlotte even though she was so quiet. I noticed that My little Josiah is able to use his eyes to talk to her and they can easily laugh at each other. Think that's the secret ability of his. Think I'll not too worried he won't have a girlfriend next time. lol...

Throughout the 3 days that we stayed there, they don't feel jealous at all when Daddy spent more time with Jayden and they have shown capabilities in taking care of a younger boy. We even had an early Mother's Day celebration during the trip. They are also able to mingle well with their much older cousins and uncle/aunties. I'm really proud of the 2 boys for their good behavior all these times. 👍

Covid-19 finally caught up with us

Just to put a record of our Covid-19 experience here. It finally caught up with us despite we have been very careful over the years like never to put our hands on lift and escalator railings, cleaning every tables and chairs we sit, keep washing hands, etc...

The first case happened to Dad's on 23rd Mar (Wed) and Mum on 25th Mar. Ann felt unwell on 25th and officially diagnosed on 26th because she visited Mum's place on the 23rd itself. Luckily Mum's and Dad's symptoms were quite mild. That was a relief to me as I'm specially worried for Dad initially due to his medical conditions.

We immediate isolate Ann in her room but she has to assess the common toliet. Joshua kept forgetting our instruction not to use the toliet and probably got infected on the 27th Mar night. I was actually shocked to see a double line as I had never seen that before after so many tests over the past months and he was totally normal.

We decided not to send Josiah to School on the 28th and there's where the challenges arise. Both of them are super active despite being down with Covid and yet Ann is not around to help. Felin was super busy with her quarterly close. I was frustrated that I need to handle quite a fair bit of housework and planning to ensure the kids stay occupied throughout the day. Honestly, I really loses my patience over the week. Felin did a lot too like cooking and fair bit of housework too.

I quickly went borrow lots of books from Library and prepare coconut water, medicine over the period. I became the day time tutor for them once again while spending half baked time at work too.

Then on the 30th, Felin started feeling unwell and the rest of us got it on the 1st April. The first day is still okay but I started to have headache and stuffy nose on day 2. Then a fair bit of throat discomfort and cough on Day 3. I'm entering Day 4 while typing this and I'm having difficulty to sleep due to the blocked nose.

Despite the tiredness and discomfort, the boys are not sparing us with their relentless energies. I posted my complain on Facebook and was reprimanded by Felin as she don't like others to see the challenged part of us. Quite Typical of a Type 3 Enneagram character.  The boys are driving us crazy with their daily nonsenses to the point we wonder why we have them in our life? Just the 2 of us are better, isn't it?

Then on today, something happened with regards to Ann too and we are most likely going to see her leaving us within the next 2-3 months. I really don't know what lies ahead now without a helper and at times when I'm facing work challenges. I only know I need to accept this life challenges without a helper very soon. Felin will be promoted to a new role at work on 1st May which she is expected to be busier than before. 

Cloudy times ahead and I'm worried about my sales. Its either I improve my productivity, up my ability to do bigger cases or I will just risk getting lower sales production in months ahead.

Well... For now, Joshua going back to school tomorrow and Josiah going to stay home with us for another week till he crossed 7 days with negative results. Hopefully 1 boy is easier to manage than when Joshua is around and all of us will recover very soon. No more cough, tiredness and blocked/runny nose please!!!

The Season of Birthdays

 Its January again!!! The birthday season of my most important people which are my kids, Felin and my Mum.

Let me recap what we did for their birthdays this year.

On actual day, 12th January, we brought the kids for their favourite Sushi at Sushi Express and thereafter a Birthday song and cake cutting at my Parents place. At least a chance for grandparents to mingle with the boys. Then on the weekend on 15th Jan, we had organized a mini birthday party as per guest list from the boys. They are allowed to invite only 5 and they need to be selective.

Felin got to contact their parents to arrange the logistics as well as prepare the food, decoration, cakes, etc... I was merely ensuring all the items are in place by collecting on the actual day. Kudos to her for all the preparation despite her busy work schedule. (Boys, you better appreciate your mum's hardwork in future!!!)

The boys had lots of fun as they took the opportunities to showcase their toys, collectibles and watch "Ah Boys to Men" together while having their early dinner which consist of Pizza, Cream Puffs, Chicken wings, Yogurt, chocolate Coated strawberries, etc...

It was funny that Felin and I really like the girl that Joshua invited. She is so sweet and well mannered. Her name is Audrey but she is from a different school for now. Not bad, good taste by Joshua... 

7 years old now, handling their emotions are getting challenging. Both of them can get really stubborn and refuse to listen simple instructions nowadays. They often treat both of us like transparent when we talk to them and we need to keep reminding them to respond when we talk. 

Both of them wants everything to be completed immediately and will whine for immediate attention and can't wait a single second. Every moments seems that we need to handle some emotion issues between the 2 boys and need to seriously discipline either of them every other day. Its really tiring and sometimes I really admire those who do not need to go thru all these, especially those without children. Honestly, my work are affected by all these and my desire to be more involved with their schoolwork lately.

Shortly after the boys, we celebrated Felin's birthday next on 19th Jan at Artistiq Marina Mandarin and early celebration for Mum's birthday on 25th Jan. When I look at all these photos, can't help feeling how fat I am now. Am eating too much every night when I sleep late. Really need to change some of my habits...

As for Mum's birthday, we celebrated without the extension family because of the 5 pax rule in restaurants. Honest, I really enjoy the siblings times together. Look at how beautiful mum and Dad are smiling. Dad is getting really slow now and can't almost can't hear us. Need to shout at him before he can hear. But he can really eat well and generally still healthy and happy. I wonder if I'll be like him in future as I always see myself having much similarities with Dad.

Hopefully one day when Felin and I are old, the boys will celebrate birthdays with both of us with their families. Nowadays seeing so many young people prefer not to have fixed relationships and children anymore. Hopefully, they won't be like that in future. Lol...

New Journey in 2022

We finally crossed the new year and its time the boys embark on their Primary School Journey. Just an update of events over the last 10 days as a record...

28th Dec - Early hours at 4:00am, the boys woke up to prepare Phyllis's Wedding. They are tasked to open Nicholas's car door for their escort arrival around 4:45am. They were still arguing who shall open the door the night before until Josiah was chosen and Joshua to carry the oranges.
Glad that all went well and they were rewarded to play the Pokemon Gaole after our breakfast at MacDonalds. Good job, brothers!!!

30th Dec - Their last day in MYWorld. Took a photo for them with similar pose when they first entered the school nearly 5 years ago. Just see how much you guys had grown over the years and have to thank the school for taking care of them all these time and allowing us to work in peace everyday.

1st Jan 22 - First day of the year, we decided to go Cycling at East Coast Park. I have to put on record that its the first time the boys managed to ride a bicycle though a bit wobbly still. A bit beyond my expectation that they can master it as it took me like 16 years to learn cycling when I mastered it only in Secondary 4. Well done Boys!!!

4th Jan 22 - First day of School
We are allowed to accompany them during the first day and parents are given some sort of orientation. The boys are quite comfortable on their first day and seems to adapt well. Just to keep this as a record on this important journey. 

Got to be more serious with your learning from now onwards. I hope the motivation to learn have to come from your own in the future. Do not give up when you meet challenges and give your best for whatever that comes your way. 6 years in Elias Park Primary School will be a memorable journey for both of you...

First week of school for parents are not easy too. We were busy trying to make out what books and what food for them to bring to school, how much pocket money and how to encourage them to save up, etc... Even to extent which day wear PE T-Shirt and which day uniform, preparing their online learning system, etc... Quite hectic week indeed for me and Felin.