When teacher fed me leaf...

Picked up the kids from school during lunch today. As i was helping Riyan to put on his shoes, i asked him what he had for his morning break. The school had this array of menu for morning break, ranging from simple biscuits to meat balls to macaroni soup. Anyway, Riyan replied, in his exact words in English: "I eat potato. And leaf." What leaf??!!! So i turned to the teacher and she explained it's spring onions. In Malay, it's called daun bawang, literally translated as onion leaf.

Riyan's currently 2+yrs. This mat salleh son of mine doesn't like to speak Malay. He only converse in English although we make enough effort to speak both languages at home. *sheeesshhhh...!* what have i done wrong? Give him instructions in Malay, he'll reply in English. Sometimes, he takes a while to form a proper English sentence although i believe he knows how to say it in Malay. His effort is really commendable although he needs improvement with his 'R' phonics. ahahahah... The words he loves to say in Malay are 'terperanjat', 'makan' and 'jangan'.

He's my mobile translator too. When we say "Riyan, mari makan." He'll say "Makan is eat." He'll translate all the verbs for us. Anyone wants a part time translator?

Uncle Earle

The kids didn't want to eat what was at home so we went to T3 for dinner. Chose Earle Swenson over Secret Recipe. Riyan knew what he wanted and he pointed the menu to remind me of his order to the waiter. ahahahah

On the way back, we stopped at Cocoa Tree to get the chocolates Riyan wanted. But Riyan didn't want to get into the shop. He refused. He lingered around the seats near the shop. [Cos before we went to Earle, we went into the same shop and this sales lady was smiling at him throughout his visit in the shop. Till he felt shy and hid behind Pa and quickly asked to get out of the shop and waited at the seats.]

So, before we went into the shop for the 2nd time, he said: "Let's seat here, Papa. Mama, you buy 1 chocolate for me." And he actually waited at the seats while me and Nurul made the purchase.

Swimming lesson

I thought of getting Nurul to resume her swimming lessons. Her last swimming stint lasted for only 8 months when she was 7 months till 1yr- plus until i got pregnant with Riyan. So resuming swimming lessons would do her good - basic surviving skills and more air into her lungs, heart, blood and finally brain.

Coincidentally, this fella by the name of Ron - a young chap - pasted his advert at my lift lobby. (hmmm... naughty, naughty... that's considered dirtying the lobby, ya know...) Anyway, I was the first to peel off one of his contact. It said: Swimming for all ages at $50 per month. FREE goggles and cap!

I paid close to $100 previously for her toddler swimming lessons. So i called this chap straight away. Swimming for both me and Nurul. Talk, talk, talk, blah, blah, blah...ok set! To meet him yesterday morning at 9am for Nurul's lessons.

Whoa.., forgot to ask him what he looked like and when i reached there couldn't find him and he didn't answer my calls - cos he was having lessons. So instead, I signed Nurul up with another coach. Same price but no FREE goggles. Had to pay $14 for the goggles... but it's no cheapo goggles ok, it's TYR. hahahahhaha. As for the kick board, i was supposed to pay $13 for it but i think Cik Yah must have boards at home. No need to buy! So Nurul's first lesson was good. Since she had basic understanding of water play and kicks, it was kinda easy-peasy for her...

She was a bit scared at first. Of the coach and not the water. But this coach, Coach Tan, spoke to her, made her feel comfortable, then pulled her into the water using the kick board. (Initially i wanted this other coach - Coach Fred, the friendlier looking one - but his class was full).

Nurul liked her first lesson. So can't wait for next Sat! Anyway, Coach Ron returned my call as i was leaving the pool. Told him I signed Nurul up with another coach since i can't find him *pai-seh*
"huh..? You signed up with somebody else, ah? why you never call me?" At this juncture i felt like whacking the back of his head. "If i hadn't called you, would you be returning my missed call?" "Oh ya, hor... sorry, sorry, was having lessons just now... pai-seh.. So how you want to join the adult class or not?"

As for the adult lessons, Coach Ron (yes, still sticking to Ron) is waiting for a full class before he commences. If you're interested, let me know. Cos i want him to start the lessons soon.

My swimming champ. Her first time donning the swimming cap. Think i pulled it too low it made her eyes look droopy.

Small, but...

This post was meant for last month, the day we returned from Japan but i never got to post it.

We were heading towards Pasir Panjang and drove over Benjamin Shears bridge. Riyan was seated in between me and Nurul. Riyan saw the sea and said: "I see water. Over there." I nodded. But he kept repeating it many times and it irritated Nurul. So Nurul said in an irritated voice: "yeah, yeah, i know, Riyan. I can see that."

Riyan turned around and shouted in his cute, little voice: "I TALK TO MAMA!!". Whoa! Both me and Nurul terperanjat. Nurul - cos she wasn't expecting this kind of response - and me - cos i didn't realise he was expecting something to come out of my mouth on his sea comment.

*pai-seh* both of us kena marah! ahahahahahah

Losing precious enamel

Riyan is sick again. He is now having high fever since Sun. Think he spent too much time in the pool on Sat. I could feel that he was shivering then yet he refused to get out of the pool. Brought him to KK last evening. He's slightly better now. He vomited alot a couple of hours ago. *eeewwwwww!!!* very, very gross! Lucky i came to his aid first, so the vomit was just a little. My mum had to clean this huge pool of vomit after i took him to the toilet. Poor fella...! He lost quite a bit of weight.

Another thing about Riyan. He chipped his front tooth. heheheheheheheh. Looking back at the time it happened, it was so funny. But at that moment i felt faint. I was showering Riyan in the morning for school. Thing is, he never would want to keep still during bathtime. So, he turned around, and around, and around and *BAM!* his face hit the wall. I thought I heard a little porcelain cracked. Riyan cried for a while and pointed to his mouth. I lifted his lips and suddenly felt faint when i saw his chipped tooth.

But he was ok after a while. Shall post pics of his new smiley soon.

Dinner @ East Coast

Both Nurul and Riyan had never eaten at a hawker centre before. Not that we are putting on airs but both me and Pa thought we'd only bring them once they are able to learn to sit still at hawker seats and eat properly, well, at least for the main dishes.

So we detoured from the airport to East Coast last sat for dinner. Got there in time to catch the Chinook flying past the coast with the Singapore flag. But the closest i ever got to a Chinook was while we were in the car traveling on Benjamin Shears bridge and the Chinook flew past with the flag last National Day's rehearsal. Damn close up.

Anyway, the place was super packed with people. We got our seats fast but only that it was near the satay stall = hot. But that night was rather windy so it was not that bad. My kids were ecstatic as it was their first experience to a hawker centre; and a crowded one.

But they were well behaved. hmm... i would rate them 9/10. The lack of 1 point cos Nurul started playing or rather dipping her hand into the chicken rice soup towards the end of it!
Forgot to bring my camera so used the phone camera for the shots... not good shots arr...

Just cut his hair... jom makan satay!!!!



Feeling patriotic?





Their all time favourite food.




Yummy but expensive beef steak!


Satay babat!!!! My favourite!!

You can't read my mind?

Teacher Mike from Nurul's phonics class was rather upset with her last Sunday. Cos she just didn't want to write fast and she suddenly didn't want to continue reading the next paragraph. So he complained to me.

He said he won't force her if she didn't want to do anything. I know Nurul. She is not like that. Apart from losing her concentration when mischevious boys make silly jokes and monkeyed around, she does well in her class and listens to the teacher.

And the reason she gave me when i asked about her behaviour that day:

"I can't stand it. I really needed to pee. So i couldn't read or write anymore."

And it was true. Cos the time i fetched her, she was crossing her legs and couldn't sit still as she really needed the loo.