Superstar Virgo Cruise 18-20 Mar 2009

We have just come back from a short getaway on Superstar Virgo cruise to Malacca and KL. We didn't get off, just stayed onboard to eat, drink, relax, talk, listen to music, sleep, read, feel the ocean, hear the waves, gamble a bit, and spend time with family. It was a nice and short break. Away from the hustle and bustle of our daily routine, away from all those bothersome problems.


XIn Xin qiao pi gu.

Teng Teng and me.

Xin Xin and me.

One moment happy...

Another moment throwing tantrums... And this tantrum spree lasted for at least 20 min.... gosh.

One of the lovely sister-and-brother photos that I love.

My son and I.

My husband and son.

Teng Teng on the daytona.

Xin Xin on the daytona as well.

Papa and the kiddos. Pretty sight!

A lovely cloud hanging against a backdrop of sky blue.

My handsome boys.

Early in the morning at the balconyof our cabin.

Sunrise.

Coach Signature Stripe Floral Shoulder Bag - It's mine!

I seldom fancy bags from Coach but this is love at first sight!

(Picture from internet)



This is their signature jacquard fabric with fabric stripe detail, leather or metallic leather trim and the beautiful leather floral appliqué! There are 2 gorgeous chrysanthemum motifs in white and rich yellow gold appearing on the front of the bag, which are extremely pretty!

A shoulder bag in brass/khaki/gold, this beauty comes with a ziptop piece with cellphone/multifunction pockets, a ring to clip an accessory or keyfob plus an additional inside zip pocket and dogleash closure.


This is a 2008 limited edition which I believe is no longer on the shelves in Coach boutiques. I chanced upon it at a second hand designer bag store at Thomson Plaza, and boy it was really love at first sight. I wasn't sure if Coach really has this model - so I went back to google on it and yes, this is a real limited edition. Today I went back to buy it - at a nice price of $470. It would have cost at least double when it was first launched. The bag is really in very good condition and I couldn't miss this chance to own it!




(My very own!)

Aww, I simply love it!

Mish Mash of Events and Thoughts

Realised I have not blogged for some time.

Same old excuse - BUSY AT WORK. (roll eyes)

Been going through a lot of unpleasant things at work. The only thing making me go on is teaching my class. The rest of the things are all going wrong. Politically incorrect to swear and make open my grievances in cyberspace, so .... zip. If you read between the lines, you may get a few hints here and there.

On a happier note. Recently I picked up card-making again using scrapbooking techniques. So far made 4 cards, quite happy with myself. My art has not deteriorated despite a (gasp!) 5-year-gap from being a Subject Head Art and Craft.

I also hand-made a car made from cardboard for my daughter.

And, I have finally started my facebook. I know super late and behind times la, but better late than never mah! Found some old time frens on FB, so I'm really happy.

a good friend of mine has returned to Singapore after being away for 1 and a half years. That calls for celebration.

Tmr is the last day of IT Show. I'm planning to buy a new laptop for myself, and I'm quite excited about it!

Finally, the last and most looked forward event - The cruise this coming Wed! We booked the cabin with balcony - aw, the though of standing at the balcony facing the massive open-ness of the sea - I can't wait to cleanse my mind and soul. My kids, my hubby, my helper, and my MIL with my Bro-in-law's family will all go. So many people, should be fun.

Someone said this to me - sometimes in life, we meet irritating/stupid/bimbo/fake/unreasonable and all-the-lousy-adjectives-you-can-think-of people, and they cause us a lot of headache and heartache. Well, these people are purposely planted in our lives to make us learn, and they stay in our paths until we learn.

Wow. What a perspective. If you think this way, life is easier, although the pain still stays there.

Recently I have been unfairly treated - BIG TIME - but I have learnt to cope with my emotions and actions, and I will always be the winner because I will manage and be on top of things.

I've Been Thinking ... ...

I have a million things to do before Monday comes, but let me just put them down and blog this entry.

As I watch my 2 little ones growing up by the day, and watch my tummy growing (which means another littlest one is coming), I suddenly find myself standing at a big crossroad juntion.

Where do I go from here?

Pre-kids days were my heydays at work, where I could put in my 101% of energy and time on my career. I always pride myself for being a super career woman, and even after the first kid came, I refuse to shortchange the quality of work that I put in. I am a head of department, sitting at the executive committee, supervising 8 to 9 teachers, running programmes and making managerial decisions. Second kid came, I struggled a lot, but really thank goodness for my parents and a good helper, I still managed and remained sane.

Recently, especially since the beginning of this year, I realised that my children are more grown up and hence they know how to cling onto me when I'm going to work, I suddenly feel very, very sad to leave them. There is this strong tug at my heart for me to stay at home, especially now that Estelle has started going to "school" (2 hour playgroup thing), I long to be able to send her to school hand in hand, and pick her up after school and chat with her on what she has learnt. These precious moments are lost when I go to work, and when I come back in the evening, she has forgotten everything that happened in school. (Children this age have no concept of time) Eston will be attending this playgroup next year, and Estelle will attend nursery, and again if I am at work, I would have lost a lot of the quality time that I could have with them.

I ask myself, what is important to me? A high flying career or my family? I think the answer is obvious. My priorities, at this point in time, are my children and my husband.

So, I think I shall work till my baby comes in July, and thereafter take no pay leave after my maternity leave to take care of my kids. They all need me, and guess what, I need them too. No matter what a super-career-woman I am, I'm still a mummy and I can put off my work till later. Right now I need to be with them, and I can put my talents to good use on my children's education. I also need time for myself - I need to read, paint, do beading, bake, swim, write, and do all sorts of my own girlie stuff, to make myself happy.

Sounds like a fantastic arrangement. I can't wait.

It's ESTROY, not ESTREA

So I'm wrong.

All along I had thought that it'd be a girl.

Until sometime last week, I stared at my tummy and thought to myself,

"Gosh, it's pointed leh! Just like when it had Eston inside."

I rushed to tell my hubby. He laughed and said, perhaps it's really a boy.

Gynae confirmed that it's a boy.

Actually, a boy is a pleasant surprise. I'm equally happy. (Just that I cannot pass down all the pretty dresses and hairclips and bags and shoes that Estelle has) The folks, especially my in-laws, are over the moon. My hubby's side has too many girls and too few boys.

Now we are busy cracking our brain for his chinese name. "Estroy" is more or less fixed la. :-)

Last night I looked at Xin Xin sleeping in her papa's arms and I told him, it's good that it's another boy, because I think no other girl can match up with Xin Xin. She's too outstanding.

Gosh. Just listen to this proud mummy.

Xin Xin Turns 3 !

Look at me, me, me
I'm 3, 3, 3
I'm as happy as can be, be, be
Can you tell
Can you see
I'm a very, very, very happy me!

Xin Xin is now as old as Baby Bop!

We threw a BBQ-&-Grill party right at home, and it was really wonderful!
The kids went crazy with the helium balloons that we specially ordered for Xin Xin.

Xin Xin chose this cake design herself.

It cost me $90. $40 per kg, x2 kg, and I added $10 of blueberry filling.

You can get it from Bengawan Solo.

It was pretty and yummy.

The boy was more eager to blow out the candles than the birthday girl. ;-)

Yeah! Whole happy family!

Xin Xin trying on one of her birthday presents, a CNY suit, and carrying the Minnie that I bought for her. Doesn't she look absolutely sweet, just like me?

After the party, the children bathed and continued with party part 2 - balloon party!

At Li Ting's Wedding 10 Jan 2009

Xin Xin is sitting on the left of the picture. On the right is Charlotte, Cynthia's daughter.


teng Teng with Papa looking handsome and adorable.

Chinese New Year

The whole Soo Family at reunion dinner.


See my daughter? She requested for eyeshadow ... ...

She's wearing a violet punjabi suit with chinese details.

He's wearing a navy chinese suit with an embroidered dragon.

My beautiful kids!

My Dad's 65th Birthday

We celebrated my dad's birthday at a Teochew restaurant. Dad and Mum looking happy here.




Grandparents with the children.

All blowing out the candles together.

All the boys ran off after the birthday song. Only Xin Xin stayed behind to cut the cake.

So this is where the boys were. All looking handsome and smiley!

Teng Teng with Grandma.

Our New Patio

After removing the grass and tiling the area, we have a new Alfresco Dining area.


We've kept the water feature, so we get to enjoy the water sound while we eat our meals or read the newspapers there.

A simple lunch outside. Nice and breezy!

My Birthday

My Birthday Pressie

My hubby bought me this LV bag and I simply love it!

MONOGRAM MINI LIN SPEEDY

Made in the iconic shape of the House, this Speedy comes in Monogram Mini Lin cotton and linen canvas and is both light and supple. Ideal for everyday essentials, it features a zipper closure.

Size: 11.8" x 8.3" x 6.7"

Monogram Mini Lin cotton and linen canvas, textile lining and grained calf leather trimmings

- Goldren brass pieces
- Zipper closure
- Inside patch pocket
- Hand held

Retail Price : $1180

For this Speedy, it is available only in this size (30).
If you buy the Monogram Canvas series, there are 4 sizes available (25, 30, 35, 40).

This size 30 cannot hold documents but it is quite handy and is roomy enough for essentials like big wallet, sunglasses, keys, diary, mobile phone, cosmetic pouch and a storybook. :-)

Christmas 2009

On Christmas morning, Xin and Teng were playing in the tent that we set up at the patio while Mummy quietly placed the presents at the Christmas Tree.





Here comes the surprise!



The children busy opening up their presents....




Xin with her Doll House....
Teng got a Thomas Train Set, by the way. Mummy forgot to take photo coz she was busy playing with the doll house with Xin....



Evening outing. We decided to take the bus for a change.




My darling Xin Xin forever posing in front of the camera.....


Teng Teng pulling Papa's hair...

Xin Xin at it again..... but she looks good!

13 July 2009

Make a guess, make a guess.

It's an auspicious date.

It's a Monday.

It's Term 3 Week 3. (Sorry ah, occupational hazard)

Some of you got it liao la.

Ya?

Come on.

Yes, that lady at the back, you put up your hand?

Can't hear you. Can you repeat that?

Yes!

You are right!

My baby number 3's arrival date!

:-)

Meet the Monster

After enduring the pain on the right side in my mouth for some time, living on panadol to relieve the pain, I‘ve decided to eradicate the problem once and for all.

So today, I got my wisdom tooth extracted. It is beyond repair because it has decayed so badly and what is left is probably 2/3 only.

长痛不如短痛。是不是？

I've always been very brave anyway.

So here's the monster. Brace yourself!

A Small Facelift at Home

The turf at our patio is not really looking good, in the sense that the grass doesn't seem to be growing well. I looked at it and thought hard, and then decided that it's probably time to do away with it.

So the plan is to remove all the soil and grass and tile the area so that we can place a small furniture set consisting of a table with probably 4 chairs. Cool right? I analysed the concept and grew to like it more and more. In this way, we kindda extend our living room to the outdoor, and we could use that place as a tea area or Alfresco dining. Laptop can be brought outside for a change of environment when we surf the net, since we have wireless connection at home. The children can do their favourite painting there. In addition, we will have an alternative place to host our friends, since our living room is not exactly very big. We'll still be keeping the water feature, but I told my hubby that his plants all ahve to go. I designated another place to grow all the plants and flowers, and we'll work along planting them in troughs and "standardized" looking pretty pots, and then we'll probably stack them on a plant shelf. Better than having this grass patch that is not growing well and really, the area cannot be "used" other than growing some plants which can't grow well due to attacks by creepy crawlies and the limited nutrients in the soil.

We've contacted our friendly ID and after making our choice of the type of tiles we wanted, the work will be done next week.

I can't wait!

When My Children Fall Sick... ...

You hear only 2 things.

M U M M Y ! ! ! ! ! ! !

and

WAAAAAA AAAAAAAA! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! (LOUD WAILING)

Had to send both my kiddos and my maid to my MIL'S last week coz I had to report for work from 8 to 5 and my hubby was in China. Last Monday, after only 1 day there, Boy fell sick that very night with running nose. Girl laosai early in the morning of Tue. I decided to take time off on Tue (must take time-off during school hols!) afternoon to fetch my kids back that afternoon. Anyway kids wanted to go home badly.

Gave Boy medicine and he got better. Wed I took leave to keep them home to rest properly. They were fine and well enough to go to the airport that evening to pick up their Papa. Kids were so happy. So was I.

Went back to work on Thu. Hubby and the kids all went to his mum's place again (he wanted). This time I think the virus got passed to Girl and by Friday her nose was dripping like a tap. This time I insisted that they all stay at home (I had to go to school - BOBIAN!) on Friday. I also made it a point to come home quickly. Had to get medicine for Girl and thankfully she recovered rather quickly. But she was really sticky to me for the whole of Friday and every little thing was "MUMMY!". She wouldn't even let me leave her side for a second.

On Saturday everyone was fine. We could even attend a wedding dinner on Sat evening. Just when you think that all is well, Sunday came and Boy developed fever. Gave him Paracetemol and then his fever went roller coaster. By Monday, his fever hit 39 degrees and I decided that we had better consult a doctor and see if he needs antibiotics. Luckily, Doctor assured us that he was fine and his fever was probably caused by a virus in his respiratory system (from his running nose earlier). Hence, no antibiotics was necessary.

Today he finally got better.

Throughout these 1 and a half weeks, I was busy and tired out looking after and caring for them. My maid was a big help with the taking care. For me, I was mentally very exhausted having to juggle all the deadlines at work and having to be torn between the 2 crying toddlers all the time.

Being a mum is not easy.

But then again, it is all worth it.