22 Months!

Three great reasons to celebrate today!

One: Tito AR got a job already!
A Training Executive position
ain't bad for a Singapore newbie.

Two: Ashrie turned 22 months today!
Our little beauty and brains.

And three:
This strawberry shortcake from
Four Leaves was so good!
Oh you gotta taste it!

McDonald's Happy Meal

Who would not like a McDonald’s Happy Meal? Your choice of Burger or McNuggets, french fries, drink, and not to forget a toy! A free toy, which, most of the time, you bought the Happy Meal because of the freebie. Sometimes useless (excuse the term) and sometimes worth buying. Lately, since we have a toddler at home, we have collected quite a good number of free toys. Here are two sets of the best toys Ashrie had so far.

Sanrio Stamps/Key Chain

Doraemon Toys

I’m pretty sure this collection (and my family’s visit to McDonald’s) has a long way to go…

Ashrie's Busy Sunday (Part 2)

I told you she was busy.

And just before dinner, while her mom was cooking chicken porridge with vegetables, she made an artwork, a painting/stamp art using the vegetable stump which was a food scrap from her mom's cooking. I must say she did a good job! Here's the proof:

 

Her Obra Maestra!

Ashrie's Busy Sunday (Part 1)

At the Restaurant

It has been a very busy Sunday for all of us especially for our daughter Ashrie.

Her day started with the usual morning routine, and then she dressed up for church. She wore a black ZARA dress funked up with a rhinestone-studded bib necklace from her uncle, AR. And ZARA boots, as well. At church, she attended Sunday School. After attending the church service, we headed for the nearby mall for lunch.

Then at the same mall, right after we had a sumptuous Japanese lunch, we went to the Yishun Community Library. (Indeed she loves books but this was Ashrie's first visit to the library. Previously we just visited bookshops for her to browse/read books simply because in stores, other readers will not care so much on how noisy or talkative she is, unlike with libraries.)

As expected, she had a great time reading new books in the library's wide collection of children and baby books, browsing at colorful pictures and mentioning familiar objects. She also enjoyed walking barefooted on the library's carpeted floors, sitting on the floor with other children, (mostly older than her) and trying the various modern reading seats of the premises. Here are some of her photos at the library:

Upon reaching home, while MyGirls were changing to comfortable home clothes, Ashrie asked her mom to help her wear mommy's clothes. Finding it amusing, I took photos of her wearing her mom's blouse (it became a dress for her, the back of which was secured by clothes pins). To complete the look she also wore mom's flats. Here are the shots:

The day is not over yet and she has done one more activity before dinner. Quite a busy kid right? Stay tuned for my next post...

Aboard the Singapore Flyer

February 13, 2011. It’s the day before Valentines’ Day and it’s a Sunday! After attending Love Revolution, a Valentine-themed service of our home church here in Singapore (which I blogged last time), and having a quick lunch with friends, we went straight home. But before changing into leisure clothes, we did a small family picture-taking session. My brother who is staying with us took these shots:

After that we took the long bus ride to Marina for our Singapore Flyer “flight”. Yes, they call it a flight, it’s a flyer remember?

Reaching there, we walked straight to the boarding gate. We need not join the long queue for tickets because I did an online reservation several days before the event so we had three e-tickets printed already, one ticket each - for me, my wife Jane and my brother AR. Our daughter Ashrie is still under the age of three so she flew with us free-of-charge.

The experience is pretty much like boarding a plane. We handed over the tickets for the attendant to scan, and then we proceeded to have our bags scanned at the security check area, (mobile phones and cameras are likewise placed on a separate tray). We also passed through the detector door frame (if that’s the way to call it).

At the Departure Area

Departure is short walk along a dim passageway with feature walls on both sides. The paseo is just enough distance to prepare you for the 30-minute journey or should I say revolution. I cannot remember whether the wheel did a full stop for us to board. Passengers where led to the capsules each with a 28-person capacity. Actually these air-conditioned capsules are like 28 planets rotating on its axis while revolving around a central point. As expected, the higher we went, the better the views became. When our capsule reached the highest point, we beheld the spectacular 360-degree panorama of the city.

Going down was still as smooth as the way it went up. But there was this sudden drop of adrenalin, which probably is true and same with other passengers.

A souvenir shop welcomes all passengers not long after they alight from the capsule. There’s no other way but to pass through this shop but of course it’s not compulsory to buy anything before you can exit.

My verdict: Good thing my daughter was admitted free-of-charge because I think she didn’t enjoy the flight as much as we do, probably because there’s nothing much for her to do in the capsule aside from looking at the views. For grownups like us, it’s a pleasant experience, an unforgettable one, even though where quite used to seeing the sceneries since we are residents here.

Ashrie observing the passengers
on the boarding platform

The Capsules

Me&MyGirls aboard the SG Flyer

Fear of heights? What's that?

It will be highly recommended for foreigners to try the wheel and enjoy the sights. A night time ride would probably be more scenic.

Would we ride again?

Well, not in the near future, and maybe we might try a night ride! But if it is for free, count me in!

Love Revolution

It’s love month and Evangel Family Church, our home church here in Singapore celebrated it with the theme LOVE REVOLUTION. While The Kingdom Kids (our church’s Children’s Ministry) also had their own sweet time on that sweet day with SWEET LOVE. Our senior pastor gave a powerful message based on the parable of The Good Samaritan last Sunday, and church members (well most of them) donned their best “touch-of-orange” clothes.

To end on a sweet note, the church gave away Mark & Spencer chocolates to all the attendees. How sweet!

Happy Hearts Day y'all!

Cooking It Up With Ashrie!

Parents and experts call it in many different ways: dramatic play, pretend play, imaginative play, role playing. And even in the Barney theme song, pretend play is mentioned. (♫ like how to play pretend, ABC’s and 123’s and how to be a friend! ♪♫ Remember?) We cannot underestimate the benefits of pretend play with our kids. It is a vital part of growing up and in learning. We ourselves have lots of fond memories of playing pretend in our childhood don’t we? Well, I do.

According to www.best-child-toys.com, research proves that children who engage in pretend play have a more advanced intellectual development, and not only that pretend play has other benefits as listed below:

Social and Language Skills: Kids practice sharing, taking turns, and negotiating skills. New vocabs are also practiced especially those pertinent to the role play.

Creativity and Imagination: During imaginative play, kids can be anyone and can do anything – they can have superpowers, be in other places, and even do the impossible like flying!

Emotional Strength: Kids will be able to understand and manage certain feelings by re-enacting episodes.

Discipline (and Patience): In play, children practice rules. She can be a disciplinarian who tells off her teddy for making a mess and refuse to clean it. Having been a disciplinarian herself, she will be encouraged to discipline herself.

In the photos below Ashrie is pretending to be her mommy whipping up food for dinner perhaps. With her apron on, for me she’s the cutest chef of all!

 

Sauteing something...

Scaling a fish...

Brilliantly carrying a pot by its handle
while making sure the lid is on its place.

Thanks for reading and Bon Apetit!

With excerpts from www. best-child-toys.com.

It's Jane's Birthday!

How do I begin to tell you how honoured I am

To have you in my life?
I'll start by saying it was a dream come true
The day you became my wife.

You're my best friend in the good times
And my rock in times of sorrow.
You're the reason for sweet yesterdays
And my promise for tomorrow.

I never thought I could feel this loved
Until the day you entered my life.
You are indeed a good wife and mother
Ashrie and I will never ask for another!


Happy Birthday Mahal!

With excerpts from http://www.verses4cards.co.uk/

Singapore Botanic Garden

It’s vacation time and this year we opt to take a sabbath on going out of the country for the CNY holidays. Instead, (since my brother is here) we just stayed at home, stroll along Orchard Road, visit the neighbourhood parks and did some nature trek at the beautiful Singapore Botanic Garden.

Walking bare-footed on the grass...

My brother AR, Jane, Ashrie and Me

Me and My Girl!



Water Fountains never fail to fascinate her...

It was short, (you will never get enough of holidays especially if you spend it with your loved ones) but indeed a necessary break for all of us. So, TGIH! That's "Thank God It's a Holiday!"

CNY Crafts

It's Chinese New Year! But even if we are not Chinese, there are still reasons to celebrate because we are having the longest holiday season here in Singapore. And to celebrate CNY, aside from enjoying the "no-office-work period" for me, we did some oriental-inspired lanterns using some common items we have at home.

With this let Me&MyGirls greet you 新年快樂 Xin Nian Kuai Le! 恭喜发财Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy New Year / May Everyone Prosper!

(Correct me if my Chinese characters and/or translations are wrong.)