First teenager in the house!

And that's Kai :)

So fast, so big.

He caught up with me in height about March/April - can't be too sure coz he was either slouching or over extending his back 🤦‍♀️ But certainly some time between April and June, he became taller than me. We shall see whether he catches up with Papa this year or next...

Despite growing 20cm in two years, he put on only 6kg. So he's super slim now. I'm very envious of his 小蛮腰 haha!

Birthday celebrations were supposed to start with Macs breakfast but it was raining so I went to pack you tiao (four!) since I had to buy vegetables for our porridge lunch anyway.

Sito bought 12 doughnuts after lunch and I stacked six onto a plate - that's Kai's birthday "cake" since he doesn't like the usual cake. The kids had two doughnuts each - sugar high! Sito and I had one each and the kids took the remaining four the next morning for breakfast. Gone in under 24H :p

Cake but no cake - or no cake but cake?

This year, his birthday fell on a Saturday. It wasn't our usual fortnightly library Saturday but we went to the library anyway before heading to Swensen's, yes, our fave again, for dinner. His kid membership tied to Papa's expired upon his birthday so we signed him up for his own so he could get a firehouse birthday sundae. 

Ice cream is a must!

Thing is the membership uses Telegram, which is a 17+ app so we had to lift the age restriction on his phone to download and use it. When we put back the age restriction, the app disappeared. Looks like we'll do this once a year :p

The next day, we went to Asia Grand at Fairmont for lunch with the grands. Kids had noodles, Peking duck rolls and xlb; they don't eat dim sum much. The adults unfortunately overate dim sum *.* Had to pack quite a bit.

And back at the grands', we ate more! Kids had their usual snacks with TV and adults had coffee/tea. But there's also ice cream for everyone - again, a non-cake "cake".

Candle was supported by blu-tack!

And that wasn't it. Coz the following week was HBL week for Kai due to the sec 4s having "O" and "N" levels orals and listening comprehension. Extended birthday weekend woohoo!

But he had a lot of work, especially on Monday. He had more time to read Harry Potter on other days

Reading before the rest of us woke

Big boy thing? From not wanting to read all these years to reading Harry Potter every day for the past few weeks. He's now at the seventh book. He finished the series last week. Usually, he plays chess on the iPad and came in to nua with us a bit before bedtime. While he was reading the series, he read after his last match - he cannot start a new game after 9pm.

Or is it a Harry Potter thing? :p If so, how to get him hooked on new books?? We shall see...

On Wednesday, we went to Macs for lunch, in a way making up for the missed Macs breakfast on his birthday. He ate two meals minus one drink!

Teen trying to hide from my camera..

Big big boy at playground after Macs

Wanted to bring him out for brunch on Friday but Sito and I were very hungry after our dental appointments (made before the HBL was confirmed) so we ate at Tanglin Halt hawker centre and packed beehoon for him. He had CCA that afternoon and was away until evening. Just like that, HBL week was over! So was his extended birthday weekend!

It's amazing that our firstborn is now a teen. It's bewildering that this 1.7m tall 13yo boy is still coming to our bed almost every night to talk about chess, to nua, to do random things like pluck our leg hairs...!

Naughty boy trying to pluck my leg hairs!

Grow up, boy. But not too fast. Actually, grow up la. But slow down, pleeeease...

Parents are conflictec, sighs...

NE Show

I just realised I didn't mention anything about Kai's NE Show in 2023. Probably busy with his birthday and moving. In fact, I didn't write anything the month we moved!

He has now forgotten much of it but he said he kind of enjoyed it. I know for sure he enjoyed his supper at Macs downstairs after Papa fetched him back!

On his way to NE Show on 15 Jul 2023

Back then, the P5s wore their red level tees for camp and NE Show. But this year, Yang's batch has no level tee and wore the corporate tee instead.

Posing with one clapper - the other one didn't make it home

I was too sleepy last night and didn't take a picture of him coming home with a mobile fan on his neck and a sausage in his mouth/hand - so cute. And way too energetic for 11 pm!

Yes, he got home very late. The school expected 9.30 pm and Sito set off only at 9 pm but the kids didn't get on the bus at Padang until 9.45 pm! Heard from Yang they waited an hour to get on their bus *.*

On the other hand, I saw from Kai's class parents chat that they got back to school about 9.45 pm. But the chat wasn't so active then so it could have been later - Sito said Kai's bus was the last to reach.

Anyway, Yang enjoyed the NE Show :) He showed us his temporary tattoos on his hands last night (and I showed him mine from back in 2006 this morning!) and excitedly took out what remained in his fun pack this morning - he finished up all the snacks and even the NEWater. 

His dinner was super early, in school before they left for Padang, so he was hungry during the show and after. Sito had wanted to get him some nuggets but we went to the pasar malam at Bishan with his brothers earlier and so got him two Taiwan sausages instead. Um, all processed food so eat something less frequently eaten? :p

While in Bishan, Kai was wondering what Yang would have for dinner. He said he had McGriddles in 2023. Turned out Yang had a burger, some "waffle-shaped hashbrowns" and a cake he didn't like, but didn't know what it was from *.*

Anyway, Yang woke quite early this morning at 7.40 am. Still looking energetic. Hope he can sleep more tonight...

Kai's first kitchen session for FCE

I remember that boys started doing home economics since at least YQ's time, i.e. 5y younger than me, coz he brought back some unrecognisable food thingies...

Now it's no longer "home econs" but "food and consumer education" (FCE). I bet no more sewing!!! Sewing was a nightmare back then - I broke Mother's sewing machine more than once, oops... But I ended up top in home econs in Sec 2 💁🏻

Anyway, I saw friends posting their son's culinary adventures in school so I was looking forward to Kai's turn. But when he came home yesterday and pulled out a plastic bag containing some soggy thing out of his pocket, I was honestly quite appalled...

It was supposed to be a burrito but condensation and time (and the plastic bag in his pocket) did nasty things to the presentation... Smells quite good though... Chef Kai begged not to eat it. I claimed a weak stomach - true ok! But Sito gamely tried it and finished it all!

Egg, lettuce, tomato and mushroom with some chilli mayo sauce

The best thing about this? Kai asked me whether I had reheated it to 60degrees 👍  Happy to know he's learnt about food safety!

I must remember to give him his FCE kit and a lunchbox for his next kitchen session! Looking forward to trying his food!

Excursion to JB

Two of us took a little excursion to JB on Wednesday :) Not Legoland, just the malls near the checkpoint.

After Sito did a recce, we brought the kids there twice - once from BP, once from HV. This time, we left the kids in school :p Yu wasn't pleased when he heard about it haha!

After our last trip which saw us waiting ages for the 950 bus from Woodlands, we decided to take the MRT to BP to take one of two buses available there. And it was super fast - according to SimplyGo, we took the MRT at 8.14 am, walked and waited for 10min, boarded 170 at 8.52 am and reached JB checkpoint at 9.37 am. 

Clearing immigrations was a breeze. But most autogates at SG side are for QR code only; I didn't have it so had to use one of the limited number of gates for passport. I immediately downloaded the app for return trip. Over at JB side, we used our passports at autogates too - hope the kids can use them too!

We reached Komtar JBCC before it even opened... Nvm, Macs there was open so we had breakfast while I WhatsApp-ed for a pedicure appointment for 10.15 am. 

Sito went to Popular while I had my toes done. When I was done some 30min later, I found a massage place right next door so Sito came over. And he told me he had explored the mall and I had gone to the wrong place - my appointment was for another nail parlour 🤦‍♀️  The names were too similar! No wonder it was slightly cheaper than online...

Anyway, the massage was very good, gosh... I realised it's the same chain as the one we used to go to in City Square, which is now undergoing renovations.

Lunch at Tony Roma's!

It's not in the picture but of course we had the onion loaf! We skipped the ribs though - not sure about beef ribs...

Then it was time for shopping - a puzzle book at Popular, and some snacks for us and the kids. 

We hopped over to City Square to grab some Ming Ang stuff - so yummy! We bought 10 char siew shao bao, five milk pies, one wife biscuit and one chicken pie, and finished everything yesterday :p Nope, the kids didn't want any.

The journey back was less smooth though. SimplyGo - yes, I like this app - says we started the 4-min bus ride from JB at 2.32 pm, but waited until 3.19 pm for 950 to Woodlands bus interchange! We saw many 160 and 170 buses coming and going. Veteran auntie next to us said usually no more than 15 min. So we were unlucky... Next time, just take the other buses to change at other MRT stations.

But still ok for the kids. Kai got home while we were on the train but the brothers reached home just before us. We reached HV in time for Paradise tea time discount but missed our milk man. So this week, we bought milk from the supermarket instead of having it delivered - 8kg!!!

Quite a nice excursion - enjoyed the pampering, eating and shopping :) The distance and time spent are like going to Jewel but at a fraction of the cost! Can't wait for RTS now :)

Yang turns 11 :)

After P1 when Yang's birthday fell on the day before the start of term 3, it had been during term time until this year - last Friday of term break with a weekend to go before the new term started. So he was very happy :)

And then, I thought we didn't do anything fun during the term break apart from our Legoland trip and was feeling a bit sad for the kids, especially Yang who had been working hard through the break. So we decided kind of last-minute, that we should go cycling!

Got the kids' assurance that they would try to learn. Coz no training wheels for Kai's size, and likely none for Yang's too. So when the weather looked good last Friday, we chop chop set off after breakfast!

The last time we went was two years ago when we were still at BP. So the journey this time was really easier - MRT to Haw Par Villa and changed to a bus which dropped us right at the cycling kiosk. Told JY about it at breakfast and they decided to come along too. 

Just two days ago, we met for dinner at Le Shrimp, and the six boys were running all over Star Vista. Later when I told Yu that Auntie JY said nightmare to have six sons, he gave me a nice retort - twice the cuteness! 💕  This round, the five boys - K1 doing holiday homework - were each busy with cycling so no nightmare :p

I demonstrated how to cycle and then Sito and I stood around to watch them try. It took an hour or so before Yang finally managed to do it! What perseverance, what an achievement! So happy for him! I think this was the best birthday present he could give himself :)

He already took received presents from the grands two weeks ago, and we also got him True Singapore Ghost Stories book 1. Do we count the Lego sword? Ah well...

Anyway, Yang soon cycled (slowly) into Kai who was stationary and sustained some bruises on his legs and an abrasion on his left forearm. Maybe due to that and the heat, he felt very tired.

Resting on the ground under a tree

Kai got it next, after we changed his mountain bike (is that what it's called??) to a city bike, and could eventually go further and more steadily than Yang. Yu couldn't do it and asked for training wheels. We didn't give in. Towards the the of our two hours, he managed to cycle a short distance - he can probably nail it next time!

Said bye bye to our friends and left for lunch at Clementi. These kids like ice cream so it was Swensen's! And this was the first time we had their student deals - very good as it's the same as their usual but cheaper!

Firehouse birthday sundae without whipped cream for Yang :)

After lunch activities included shopping and cutting hair for Yang and Yu - Kai cut his the Saturday before but his brothers refused then 🤷‍♀️ Lucky it was a weekday else it would be very crowded to cut just before a new school term!

Strawberry cake as requested :)

And yes, pyjamas party! Coz they showered and changed before dinner. They all wanted my spaghetti for dinner. I was very tired but it was an easy meal even though I had not defrosted any meat ahead of time - just use my fave IQF minced beef, yeah! I think I have perfected the laziest one-pot, three-ingredient spaghetti, four if you include tomato paste from a tube :p

Cake was a great dessert after dinner and before our usual Friday movie night. All in, a wonderful birthday for Yang, I hope :)

Another strawberry cake as requested!

Ahhh, didn't realised AhYee got blocked - she's the one who gets cakes usually, and these are amazing cakes!

Headed to Crystal Jade La Mian XLB for dinner. We haven't been there since we moved back to HV and it closed after June so we just made it! Kids had their usual kosong noodles and a tray of xlb each. But they were more interested in playing with the grands' phones 🤦‍♀️ 

And yesterday, Facebook reminded me of a photo of Yang and his bear bear from 11 years ago, when his bear bear was bigger than him! I had to ask Yang to recreate the scene :p

How my baby has grown!

In the past few months, Yang has become somewhat meatier. I think Kai put on some meat around this age too but look at his thin frame now... So, Yang, eat more!

But how the bear bear has shrunk, no thanks to my frequent washing since Yang decided to hug this to sleep some time this year! 11yo and still super cute, he would tuck bear bear into his PJs with its head sticking out and snuggling his neck. Too cute, I cannot....

Might as well add another photo from yesterday. Papa has been helping Yang meditate before bedtime for a number of days now, starting during term break? We want him to learn how to focus better. Last night, Yu decided to join them. I thought I heard Yu calling me and thought they were done. 

But I went in and saw this scene ❤️ 

Happy birthday to my sweetest middle child, Yang Yang! Hope you enjoyed your day, and benefit from these usually 1-1 meditation sessions with Papa :)