Tuesday 29 June 2021

Third round of HBL

First round last year, almost everything was on SLS. Kai didn't do some of work until I checked towards the end of the month *.* No time to check every day coz all three kids were home then.

Second round, they had assembly via Zoom and more Zoom lessons. I was on leave quite a bit and managed to check every day. By then, Kai was doing fine. Yang of course needed guidance.

This round, they followed their timetable so it's as if they're in school but Zoom all the way - which means they're mostly occupied 7.30 am to 1.30 pm, woohoo! But I still have to do IT:
  • Mama, there's music.... Yang turned on music even after I killed the app; he must be fiddling with my Mac during lessons!
  • Mama, I think I want the small one from yesterday... Yang's turn to get my big earphones on Tuesday but he decided against it after a few minutes
  • Mama, so boring, still in the waiting room... Kai's teacher had told him to do some SLS work on his own and he finished early
  • Mama, no battery - this deserves a para itself...
Kai's laptop cannot support Zoom so he had to use the iPad with laptop on standby for any SLS work. When it ran low on battery, I couldn't charge it coz he needed earphones so as not to disturb Yang and me - same hole *.* Lucky Sito's iPad was fully charged! For Yang, I had to string the charger from across the living room. I worry for their safety if they trip; I worry for my iPad if it gets pulled off the table!

HBL setup


Gave each of them a tray from the old Ikea toy shelf to place their materials for each day. Topped it with their timetable in a plastic sleeve, with Zoom details on the opposite side. So proud of myself haha!

The green box contained snacks for their recess and other small breaks - they have little bites in school but now they also had "eye" breaks. Or "i"? Makes sense either way!

After many weeks of waking up naturally (sun or Yu :p), I feel sad having to wake at 6.45 am now! We need that much time to get ready, especially Yang. End up, Yu also got up early. In fact, he was the first out of bed this morning - saw him peeing when I came out.

Next week will be 5.55 am! Sighs.... But better than HBL. Let school carry on!

Sunday 27 June 2021

Yang turns seven!

Happy birthday to my little sheep!

I said a sleepy happy birthday to him when he came to find me early this morning to show me his Pink Panther who lost his tail *.* He got it on his birthday last year so it kind of lasted one year :p Anyway, I stitched the tail back.

Celebrations started yesterday.

Somehow, Yang decided that he would have mixed cakes for his birthday. He had been eyeing the bear bear mousse cake from Chateraise for a while so we went down yesterday morning to choose the rest. And since he was turning seven, I got seven items - one cake each for everyone except Kai who doesn't eat cake (!) and two jellies.

Look at Yang's cute expression!


Two making faces and one maintaining the same pose :p


Yang made his wish while taking this photo!


Friday night, I told him to make to make a wish before he blew out the candles. I forgot to tell him to do that after the song :p

Anyway, he gave the bunny to Yu, the melon to Papa and the panda to me. Helper got a non-cartoon chocolate cake. Kai of course had a grape jelly. In the end, both Yang and Yu didn't like their cakes *.* And Yang also didn't like the strawberry jelly, which Yu happily took.

Then Yang tore his "delivery" apart


We started thinking about his present over a month ago but couldn't decide on anything. We're pretty bad gifters oops... So our kids are quite poor thing? Hoho! Then I chanced upon an interesting toy shop and found fun toys on its online shop. So I went there after TCM on Wednesday, and got Kai and even Yu's presents as well!

As Yang likes to receive deliveries at the door, I thought it might be fun to make his present look like a delivery. I wrapped everything in brown paper and stuck a piece of paper with his name and our address on it :p

When they were playing Nintendo on Saturday, I brought it discreetly to the door, then turned around and went, "Yang, there's a delivery for you!" He was so pleased! :) Now Kai and Yu also want their own deliveries - ok, in the works already!

It was a maze puzzle - the sunglasses were to protect against the laser, eh....


Very focused on where to place the mirrors...


He said he didn't ask for this present but he liked it :) His brothers also like to play this game. They took it out of the box to play this morning, after lunch and before dinner. Success! 

A second celebration today with the grands!


That was the third time the candles were lit!


Thinking about his wish...


Done!


Again, he didn't eat much of his cake. Neither did Yu. Why?! The adults enjoyed it very much :p Is it the cake or is it the toys distracting them??

He got his wish - a moving excavator!


Ah Yee even got aquarium stones for him to dig but the excavator ran out of battery amazingly fast. Dad recharged it and the battery ran out again. Yu and I must have spent more than twice the play time picking up the stones! Sito said maybe it's like our drone - only 10 min of play time *.*

Yu went for manual excavator instead


Yang put on his armour again - my little warrior!


Warriors are violent!!


The grands also got him two sets of puzzles, all from his random requests, but he hasn't got down to them yet. After the grands left, Yu said he was hungry so Sito went to buy dinner and Yang decided to go along coz it's his birthday, heh!

Yang got to choose dinner this weekend. Five of us can't dine out, sadly, so we still have to pack. It was wantan noodles yesterday (duck noodles for Kai :p) and udon today. After dinner, I brought out the Pocky that Yang chose yesterday when we went to buy cakes. Sweet ending to the day for them :) But that's not all! After showering, they got to watch Shaun the Sheep until 7 pm when they got their phone. They're watching YouTube Kids as I type now....

Sometimes I wonder what it will be like if I say "yes" to them all the time and let them have all the things they want all the time... They seem so happy :)

Saturday 26 June 2021

Yawn yawn

I haven't been sleeping well at night.

At first, I couldn't fall asleep. Or I would fall asleep and then keep waking up. It could be because Sito had been working late since he returned from Malaysia. Not the usual late - he works past 3 am at times. I must go in to check on him coz I'm the paranoid sort.

(I know, I didn't get to check on him while he was serving SHN but well, ignorance is bliss?!)

His hours were much better in the past week though, thankfully. But I also didn't sleep well coz we were playing 2048 until quite late, oops. I decided to delete the darn game last night when we ended past 1 am!!

Hope to sleep better from tonight :)

If we lie in bed in the day, it's to chit chat and look like the beautiful skies outside, not nap :)


What did we do during June holidays?

Like last year, it was sad coz we could hardly go places...

But with Kai having year end exams this year, I prepared lot of assessment papers for him, wahahaha! And poor Yang had to join in too. So when Kai complained, I told him to feel lucky he didn't have to do this since primary one!

Working on their timed assessment papers


Also made them rebuild old Lego sets like this that they dismantled ages ago


These two activities took maybe two or three hours each morning, with Yang slacking off during Lego time! On leave days, Kai and I spent more time on Lego. On working days, I could only let them play Nintendo.

We also went to the pool quite a bit in the first half of the month when it was less rainy. There are so many of us when social gatherings were limited to two so we pretty much stayed at home, going only to play scooter downstairs or play water.

I think Yang was lying on his float... 


Dug out this old hat which previous helper left behind :p


With Sito working at home nowadays, sometimes the kids went to find him... Usually that happened in the evenings when there was no Nintendo and I was showering :p

This was a staged photo for Sito to send to his office for some Fathers' Day thing :p


I took leave to wrap rice dumplings as usual but with Mother's surgery, we decided not to do it coz it was hard work washing leaves and cooking. But I went over anyway that Monday, 14 June - eat glutinous rice from the hawker centre! It was the same auntie from my kindy days, gosh... 

So yummy!


But I found Mother doing laundry - saving water from the machine rinse and putting clothes out to hang *.* I offered to help but she said she must exercise. Um, hello, I don't exercise. And look at my breakfast! :p

Buckets of water from the rinse!


On Wednesday, I was on leave again and this time, I brought Kai and Yang to Jurong Lake Gardens! They have been cooped up at home for so long! But it started drizzling just as we arrived so we waited it out at a pavilion. Thankfully, it wasn't a long wait. And the rain made the walk very nice and cooling!

Yang took this picture - tried to explain 独木成林 to them


This Kai had a lot of complaints on the way - wet ground, sticky shoes etc. Yang looked up more often and was more curious about things. But the highlight had to the playground.

Big see saw! Very fun but I was too heavy :p


This looks fun but Yang wanted out shortly


Flying fox! Kai found it easier to pull the thing back with Yang on it!


Found an insect on a flower next to the flying fox


On our way out, they decided to lie down on a hammock - and Yang insisted on the same hammock...

Yang gave Kai a swing!


Very relaxed...


Passed by this lovely flower with water droplets on our way out


We took the train back again. I was quite tired and was in a daze when we reached Jurong East where we were supposed to change. I didn't move but thankfully, Kai saw where we were and got us out of the train! Then he couldn't help asking me cheekily if I was going to daydream again when we got to CCK *.*

Yang's cute pose on our way home


They asked to use their pocket money savings on kiddy rides and they shared for the more expensive rides


That week, I also started them on typing. I first learnt typing in primary three so it's high time Kai learnt it too, especially when he uses the laptop more than I did at the same age, what with HBL and even the young zoologist badge online. He did some back in P1 but I found that website to be too crowded.

Might as well get Yang started too


On Thursday, Yu and I were chatting about recycling and he started saying that cardboard would go into yellow bin etc. When we got to the mall, he ran to this kiddy ride to show me what he meant.

There were really four coloured bins in the kiddy ride!


I had wanted to bring Kai and Yang to Mother's place on Monday to show them the whole process of wrapping rice dumplings. But ended up we cancelled the wrapping. And I also had to go to the bank to close an account so I didn't bring them. Then they wanted to see Mother's kidney stone. So ok, let's go on Friday!

Cookies and cream ice cream from AhYee


Yang had one or two bites and decided he didn't like it. Kai didn't want half-melted ice cream so I had it *.* And that was after I had two sweet potato balls with red bean paste that Mother made! So full I gave up having the 老伴豆花 I bought along the way.

Time to show them the stone and tell them to drink more water and not to hold pee!


Later I also asked Mother to show them her dentures - another lesson here: brush your teeth properly!!!! :p We left shortly to go pick Yu up. Wanted to find Yang's teacher but she had left already, oh well!

Yu got to play kiddy rides with his brothers who once again brought some coins along


It being June, Facebook reminded me of past trips to Legoland. Really miss those trips - fun for the whole family, crab and Korean BBQ and massage for the parents!! Showed Yu a photo of him in Legoland two years ago and he packed his bags, hoho!

跑路啦!


Spent Friday before going to Mother's place and Saturday after my vaccination to finish three toy hammocks for the boys. I've had enough of their toys lying all over their beds, and them spending time arranging their toys every night or throwing toys around. Plus the dust. So found a solution online. Just that instead of getting fabric for this, I repurpose bolster cases!

Yu's was the first to be ready


He was so pleased with it he let his monkey sleep there at night instead of with him


I also sorted out my old Montessori files and this is Yu practicising using scissors


The day after Fathers' Day, Yang decided to make a card for Papa :)


Cards on the wall :)


Psst: Check out Sito's new arm chair! The kids like it coz they can sit on it "like a boss", haha! Thankfully, we have only had to pull them off the chair a couple of times so far... 

Went through hanyu pinyin exercises and played a game with Yang


"I'm strong!"


On Friday, the last weekday of the school holidays, Yu was also home due to a scheduled centre closure. I promised a prata breakfast but we couldn't all eat at the hawker centre so must pack. When I woke at 7 am, I dragged myself out of bed to get prata. When I went to grab a mask, I found, to my surprise, Yu sitting on his bedroom floor playing quietly on his own!

He knows that room was meant for him so he kept "treasures" there. First, he used the drawers and cabinets in Sito's desk. Then I emptied them into a drawer so that Sito could have more space. Barely a week in, the toys were back to occupy his drawers! At least he has cabinet space...?

This Ga-Hock Roti Prata about two bus stops away was recommended by a colleague-neighbour-friend. The Chinese boss was very friendly and proudly told me he is one of only two with this onion sambal thingy in Singapore. Maybe next time if we get a chance to dine in there...

The skies were scary as I walked back and I had to walk very quickly (auntie cannot run!) to avoid getting caught in the rain!

They like the prata, yeah! :)


Yu must stuff his mouth to pose for this.... Anyway, Kai and Yu tried both the fish and the vege curry, and preferred the fish. Me too :p

Made these troublesome boys lie still to wait for me to change to go to the library


The one who lay still the longest was to get a prize! They kept asking, was it a big fat kiss? Kai even got up to find me to tell him he thought there was no prize. Yes, no prize for you coz you got up. Yu won coz Yang sat up. I gave him a burger....sticker! And he was happy :)

Reading jokes while I read to Yu


The plan was to go to the playground coz we didn't go out the whole day. I had thought of bringing them prawning. But not sure if they would like it. And it rained in the morning... But it rained while we were in the library so the playground was wet. 

We ended up playing downstairs


We are not done with this boat but it's looking very good already!


Kai calls himself the "fixer" while I'm the "finder" though I could only help on leave days. Guess our roles? :p From now on, we probably would have time for this on only weekends, until the next school holidays. Looking forward to the whole thing :)

This weekend is Yang's birthday weekend. Will write more about it later... Next week, they older two are having HBL. There were many messages from the school yesterday. I prepared some notes to remind myself what to do to prepare for this round of HBL. Have to get all of us ready coz I have to work!