Sunday, 28 August 2011

Isaac turns 4 on August 6th 2011

Isaac birthday 6th August fell on a Saturday this year, so we celebrated on 5th August, a Friday. We did a simple one, just a Thomas cake and party hats. But thankfully, at this age, that's enough to make them happy.
Above, Isaac and Neha. And Alycia and Macy :) This is also the first year that Isaac would have his brother and sister celebrate his birthday with him in school.
We managed to get Asher to sit with Isaac for the photo, but not Shawna. Being their first week in school, Shawna was still rather sticky to us, when we're around in school.
The kids lapped up the entire cake! Most of the girls had seconds, and so did some of the boys. Isaac was so slow in eating (as he usually does, says Teacher Lina) that he did not eat fast enough for seconds - coz everyone else ate up the extra cake before Isaac said he wanted another piece! :p
We decided not to give a goodie bag this year - the hassle of putting together a bag was a headache. Perhaps I had too many "prerequisites/qualifiers" - I refused to give candy nor silly toys, so that kinda ruled out a lot of stuff. hahaha... Apparently, we weren't the only parents who found that a hassle - this year, most of the parents gave other stuff. One parent just ordered a Macs Happy Meal for each kid - so each kid had the Happy Meal toy. Another parent just gave a Pooh & Friends ornament thingy - different kids had a different character (Isaac's was Tigger!). For us, we managed to find this kit, that can be used to make window decals kinda stuff. Unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to test it out though. The idea behind this was great, we thought. But the paint's kinda overly water, and not thick enough. As such, the decal thingy's really thin, and it was hard to do a nice design in the first place coz the paint was too runny.

But the kids loved it - well, at least, Becca, Isabelle, Natalie and Isaac loved it. (Yeah, we got extra sets to give them to the girls too). They liked doing the craft work. Pity the quality of the set wasn't better - yes, another made-in-china product. Ah well, now we know we better test stuff out in advance! :) But hope the rest of Isaac's classmates had fun with the kit! :)

Friday, 26 August 2011

The twins start childcare!

Pictures taken on 2nd August 2011 - Asher & Shawna @ four days to 19 months. Isaac @ four days to 4 years old! :)
Given Isaac's positive experience in childcare, my original intention was to send the twins into childcare soon after they hit 18th months. However, 3 kids in an above average childcare is no small strain on the pocket, even after Government subsidy of $300 per kid - in fact, the childcare charges $1,000 per kid per month, so 3 kids is a minimum of S$2,100 total, after subsidy, but before extra lessons (like Isaac's Science lesson and Music lesson). Anywayz, seriously no joke - so hubbs thought of waiting till end of this year before sending them in. However, turns out that we had to send them in earlier... So, it came to be that, on 1st August 2011, the twins started childcare. They are 5 days shy of being 19 months old.
It's the school policy that for new students, the parent can spend the first three half days with them, but thereafter, they want you to leave the kids there. On the 1st day, hubbs had to work, so I had our helper come with us. So I didn't take pix, thinking I had another 2 days to do it. On the 2nd day, hubbs insisted that we leave them with the teachers while we went out for morning coffee at the cafe. And on the 3rd day - hubbs told me to go to work! *sob*sob* Yes, I'm trying to explain why I have so few pix of their first three days in school!!! hummphh!
Generally, the twins are coping well. I think it helps a lot that Isaac is around. It seems that Isaac would often pop by the twins' classroom to check on the kids. And Shawna would also ask for him pretty often. Shawna is very happy with the food, and tends to finish her meals. She would even feed herself. On the other hand, Asher doesn't seem to be taking to the food well, and tends to rely on his powder milk for main sustenance.

Hubbs is usually the one who drives them to school, and picks them up from school. He says that Shawna would usually be the one who instinctively know that he's about to leave, and she would hang on to him crying. Asher, for the most part would be happily wandering off to play already. Our guess is that Shawna, being a little more 'developed' than Asher, is more aware of what is happening, and hence is more sensitive. However, hubbs says that lately, Asher has learnt as well, and occasionally cries when he leaves. However, as of now, the end of their first month, they seem to be settling very well.
And here is Kor Kor Isaac and his N2 Flying Fish friends! Look how much they've grown since the time Isaac joined the childcare in March 2010. Isaac enjoys having his brother and sister at school with him, and he's been taking pretty good care of them.
In fact, I have noticed, that since the twins started childcare, the three kids seem to be closer. They'd play together more now than before. And their favourite form of playing together is to fall on each other and "tackle" each other. They also love to hug and kiss each other. I mean, don't get me wrong, they still fight and snatch and all that, but I do find that they're also more loving to each other. Look at this picture below taken on the evening of 4th August after school one night - Asher was just lying on Isaac and they were both watching tv, waiting for their dinner to be ready. So sweet, right!? :)
Let's hope Isaac keeps up being a good Kor Kor! :)

Thursday, 25 August 2011

Now, let's do 2011!

Nope! Isaac doesn't wear specs! He's just trying them on coz I was at the opticians getting my glasses done. pix dated 18th July 2010! More than a year ago! :) I can't help it! I just must have pix with every blog post, if possible!!!
Right!!! Now with 2010 completed, we can start on 2011! Before you start to groan, thinking that this is The Forever Back-Posting Blog - fret not! I have decided to go about this concurrently - meaning, I'd start posting CURRENT news (hurrah!!!) starting with the beginning of August 2011, interspersed with backposts starting from January 2011.

Have I confused you already?! kekeke... Never mind, just come back often to catch up on The Tan Family Chronicles - that's what's important :) Yes, that's right! So, even before you go downstairs on 27th August 2011 to cast your very secret vote on who you want to vote in as your President of Sunny Island Singapore - you should come here to this blog to check it out for your dose of nonsense from Mrs Tan-Tan (yours truly!!!).

Now, as you can see, I'm in quite a mooood... so! Let me regale you with a shitty story! A nice one, I promise!

You see, Isaac having just turned 4 on August 6th 2011, has (since a few months ago) begun his "Why?!" phase in earnest. Why this? Why that? Why? everything! He asks questions about anything and everything. Thankfully, I'm one which has all along been in the habit of explaining things to him since he was born, so I am quite well... used to answering his questions. Though, recently, it gets a little tiring.

Anyway... so one of the more interesting conversations went like that one day a couple weeks ago...

Isaac: "Mummy, (he said in a very serious voice) why does food we eat become motion?"
Me: (*blink*blink*) "Erm... riiiighht... why does food become motion?"
Isaac:" Yes. Why?"
Me:"Okay, you see, when you eat food, the good parts of the food are nutrients. They help you grow your hair, your nails, make you grow taller... But the not-so-good parts of the food, become motion. That's why."
Isaac:"Oh.... like junk food?"
Me:"That's right! Junk food has very little nutrients in them, so a large part of junk food becomes motion. That's why you should not eat too much junk food. You should eat good healthy food with lots of nutrients."
Isaac:"Oh..." (pause) "Mummy, what is nutrients?"
Me:" Erm, nutrients is the good part of food lor. Like Vitamin C!"
Isaac:"Oh! And Vitamin A and Vitamin B?"
Me:"Yes, that's right! Vitamins are good!!!"

The first time he asked, it was about 2 weeks ago. Since then, about every 3 or 4 days or so, he'd ask me why food becomes motion, again :) But he does seem to understand, sort of. He just likes to hear me explain it.

Sunday, 21 August 2011

2010 is done!!! yay!!!

Congratulate me!!! I'm done with 2010's posts! It only took me more than half a year, but it's done! Daph says my blog is the "Backpost Blog" but what can I say, it wouldn't be true Chronicles, if I don't chronicle EVERYTHING! hahahaha...

Trawled my phone pix to find these two below! Taken on 31st December 2010 - Asher & Shawna were bothered by the flash from my phone camera, hence the squinting. But I thought they look cute anyway :)

Enjoy the back posts - links below!!!
December 2010 back posts!

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

November 2010 backposts

Here's the last of the November 2010 backposts! Woohooo!!! Just December and I'm done with 2010!!! Then can blog2print 2010 already!!! yay!!!
Enjoy!!! :)

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Pang!!!

The congratulations are way overdue! My sister-in-law (hubbs' sister) got married last year on 20th November 2010 - just did this backpost on that. The pix below, stolen off her facebook, are pix of their honeymoon in Greece mid-December 2010.
Welcome to the family, Ashley!!! :)

Sunday, 14 August 2011

Cheese Snatching with Isaac

This is Cheese Snatching by HABA. I'd gotten it sometime back, and didn't manage to break it out until recently. I had read about it off a fellow BoardgameGeek (Mark Jackson's website http://akapastorguy.blogspot.com/) and so I wanted to try it out. Mark's tried many of HABA's games, and often, his opinions are mirrored by mine, so I was keen to try this game since he'd given it a positive review.
pix taken on 13th August 2011
Isaac @ 4 years

It was a neat little push-your-luck game which had dice-rolling and one picking up cheese slices - you decide when to stop, which you should, before the cat catches your mouse. Simple, a nice one for the kids :) risk management, counting. My only complaint is that you didn't really have to think much so play the game - but that's just me, I like "thinking games" but I know of lotsa people who like games which you didn't have to think too much.

In any case, looks like this game is out of print. Thus, I'm glad I got hold of it when I did :)

I enjoyed the game quite a bit, actually, despite it being quite "non-thinking" in nature. I was also glad to note that Isaac did not make a fuss when he had to lose his cheeses when the cat caught up with his mouse. He was very calm about losing his cheeses, but thereafter, he kept a close eye on my turns - to make sure that I would lose MY cheeses when the cat catches up with my mouse! Hahaha! This is definitely good progress for Isaac has always been a very competitive boy, and quite a sore loser ;p

Backpost is about a game too! Viva Topo with Isaac! :) That's a much longer post - enjoy!!!

Thursday, 4 August 2011

Breastfeeding, Dr Seuss style!


I have decided that I shall not mourn my end of my breastfeeding journey... instead, I shall celebrate the fact that I have breastfed my kids for so long! I just came across this from an email Andrea sent me some time ago, and I love it, coz I love Dr Seuss! Enjoy this poem, obviously spoofed off Green Eggs and Ham!

Breastfeeding, Dr Seuss style!


Would you nurse him in a park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?

I would nurse her in the park.
I would nurse him in the dark.
I'd nurse with or without a boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.

Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk til dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her til she's full.

Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy's milk is the best start!

Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.
As for those who protest lactation,
I have a perfect explanation.
Mommy milk is tailor made
It's perfect food, you need no aid.
Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.

To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast's the perfect food.
I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would never be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk's the perfect food!

We make the right amount we need,
The perfect temp for every feed.
There's no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.

Those nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can't be beat.
I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I'll meet her needs, I'll always try.
It's not about what's good for you,
It's best for babies, through and through.

I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads, leave me be ma'am
I will nurse her, Mom I am.

Source: Unknown. (Let me know if you know who wrote this!)

Maybe I should write a poem too... titled Green Milk and Pam!!! kekeke...

Thursday, 28 July 2011

Nightly routine (plus backposts!)

hubbs posted this onto his facebook on 28th July 2011 - he was just done with his 'duty' that night - getting the twins to sleep! :) He'd bring the Asher & Shawna downstairs for a stroll in the stroller while I am upstairs with Isaac going through his night time routine, before bedtime.

Isaac's night routine after dinner is usually
1) play boardgame/s
2) drink chocolate milk (packet UHT)
3) brush teeth
4) read books
5) sleep

Lately though, we've been having problem playing boardgames - coz the twins wish to join in! I think it is good that they wanna join in - that they are showing interest. But then Isaac isn't as patient or as "forgiving"with them as we are, when the twin don't "play properly". I used to insist that we play at the dining table instead of on the floor, where the twins would "disturb" us. But since the twins got more mobile and are very good at climbing the dining chairs in order to join in our games... Isaac has been getting very frustrated. He'd be very pissed when his game is being disturbed and he'd either shout and scream at the twins or he'd end up crying "Somebody, take the babies away!!!" So... we haven't been playing as much as we'd like to lately.
But recently, when hubbs takes the babies down for their night time stroll, I managed to break out a quick game with Isaac before we start reading the books. Like on Tuesday night, we managed to play 5 rounds of Strong Stuff (aka Barenstark) before we went to the bedroom to read.

Reading. Isaac loves reading. Every night, we'd bargain how many books we should read. He'd want 5, I say 2, and then we'd settle on 3. Then after the 3 are read, he says he wants 2 more. And then 2 plus 3 books later, I realised we've read 8 books already... and I'm like "It's time to sleeeeeep!!!!" He'd smile and me and say "Okay Mummy :)". My Isaac is so sweet... when he isn't in a bad mood.

November 2010 backposts!

Monday, 25 July 2011

I passed The Milk Trial!

So this is it. I have come to the end of The Milk Trail. I have passed my Milk Trial. The end. Sigh. Yes, I'm actually kinda sad. I have mixed feelings about it really...

On one hand, I feel kinda relieved to have stopped breastfeeding coz... it's a kind of freedom. Freedom from having to wake up several times in the night to breastfeed. Freedom from worrying about whether I need to pump now, or later? or how to store milk? etc... Freedom from worry about whether I'd get blocked ducts, or mastitis or plugged ducts or sore nipples... Freedom to wear other tops during the weekend instead of my nursing tops all the time (Impossible to find Spiderman nursing tops!!!).

On the other hand... I will miss breastfeeding. Already, when Shawna weaned herself off, I was starting to feel a little sad. As Shawna drank more (longer sessions and more frequent) than Asher did, I didn't aspect that Shawna would be the one to stop drinking before Asher did. Neither did I expect her to wean herself off. Silly as it may sound, I felt kinda hurt when she decided to wean herself off. But that's just how my little girl is - she's one strong character who has a mind of her own.

So... why stop? Well... There's a school of thought that follows the theory that: the longer you breastfeed your child, the better it is for the child - nutritionally, and for the mother - against breast cancer etc, and good for mother-child bonding etc. I generally belong in this camp. So I would have been happy to go on breastfeeding for like FOREVER. Plus I really get a kick out of people going like "Wah!!! You so good ah! Still breastfeeding ah!!!" Makes me out to be a super mummy like. *hyuk*hyuk*hyuk* Oh and when one is lactating, you practically EXPEL calories, right?! What's not to like?! :)

Well... yes, all the inconveniences as previously mentioned. Plus there is the other school of thought that breastfeeding past the first year isn't really any much point (they claim the nutritional benefits have largely decreased by then). Also, the lack of a straight night's sleep for almost 4 years straight was starting to have a toll on me physically... And... I really wanted to start losing weight in earnest - you can't go on a diet or lose too much weight when you're breastfeeding - coz the toxins (that you produce while losing weight or whatever) would get into the milk, and we don't want the babies to drink milk with toxins in them (no matter how organic these toxins are... :p)

So, there was another agenda behind my recent trip to Europe - to wean Asher off the breast. Asher had recently (before my Europe trip) been enjoying suckling very much. He'd always enjoyed it, but since we came back from Australia, he's been having it good coz he can have both sides to drink from since Shawna didn't want any.

Ask any mother who's been breastfeeding for quite awhile and you know that it is particularly difficult to wean a child off the breast. Frankly, it's not only the child, but also the Mummy, I feel. I find it extremely difficult to refuse baring my chest (kekeke) to my children when they ask for milk... Breaks my heart to say no. So... I know, the only way to stop, the easiest way rather, was for me to go overseas - without Asher. Hence, this trip was designated The Trip to bring The Milk Trail to an end...

Thus, it is to be recorded, that I breastfed Isaac for more than 24 months, Shawna for 17 and a half months, and Asher for just over 18 months.

Sobz. I miss breastfeeding already!!!

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Paranoid Pam feels good to be home =) (plus backposts)

It's good to be home. It really is. I'd just returned to Singapore on Monday 18th July 2011. I was in Europe for a week - Prague and Bratislava - for work mostly. Generally, it was a good trip. I got to meet my bosses and my colleagues. And I got to see two nice European cities. Except, I really missed hubbs and the kidzes.I know it sounds sappy, but really, what's the good of seeing something beautiful when you don't have your loved ones around you to share them with?

In the beginning I keep having running conversations in my head, imagining what I'd be telling Isaac if he was around, to ya know, like "See, Isaac, look at that!" etc... or the comments I'd make to hubbs about the things I see. Very quickly, I wised up that they aren't around. Then I started composing my running commentary on pictures that I take that when I get to see them with hubbs once I get home... it was like I was making a point to remember stuff about Prague just so that I can go home and tell hubbs about them...

I guess I'd never really realised what a part of me hubbs has become, that only when he isn't around, that I feel less than half... absence makes the heart fonder huh :) But other than that... yes, the trip was good. Work-wise, all went smoothly. Colleagues are all generally nice and friendly, bosses all nice and understanding. Prague and Bratislava were both very beautiful.

All my prayers to bring me back to my family safe and sound were answered - I wasn't conned or robbed, wasn't raped or murdered, luggage didn't get lost, didn't drop my camera, didn't lose my keys/money/laptop/passport, plane didn't crash nor fail to land properly. I didn't even get lost, didn't miss my trains nor flights, and all the food I ate all tasted nice. See, you can SO tell I had a great trip! =)

But honestly, I did enjoy the trip to a certain extent. I'm the kind that seriously wouldn't mind going places alone - so being alone on this trip (yes with no other Singaporean colleagues or whatever) is completely fine with me. It is also physically a break for me to be away from taking care of the kids. It would be the first time in almost 4 years that I've had undisturbed sleep. It was also the first time I travelled Business Class - the 12 hours in the air flew past in a jiffy, slept great on the plane. Hahaha... yes, it seems that about the thing I enjoyed and relished the most, was probably the quality sleep I got! :) and in my sleep, I can dream of my kidzes and hubbs! hahahhaa...

The last of the October 2010 backposts...

Tuesday, 5 July 2011

We're back! (plus Oct 2010 backposts)

Hello!!! Sorry for disappearing for so long! Been busy, kids sick, plus we went traveling! Yes! We packed up all three kids and went off to Western Australia for about 10 days in mid June 2011. Below are the two mobile upload pix that hubbs and I uploaded to our facebook, before we boarded the flight.
Above: hubbs' pic. His description was:"3kids, 3 luggage, 1 stroller, 1 car seat n 2 adults. Perth, here we come! :)"

Below: my pic. My
description was:"Our bags are loaded, we're ready to go..."
Rest of the pix would be uploaded soon yeah. Though was quite an effort getting it up on facebook, but I think it would be nice to have them here as well...

It was a fantastic trip. Absolutely exhausting, sure. But great fun. Was totally fab coz it was a Cuzzies' trip! The adults were all cousins, and their respective kids! So, me & hubbs + 3 kids, plus my sister & hubby + 3 kids, plus my cousin, plus another cousin & wife + 3 kids = 7 adults & 9 kids!!! are we crazy, or what?! kekeke... Kids ages range from 8 years to 18 months... The kids had a blast! Playing together all day and night, here there and everywhere, they had loadsa fun!

Ever since we got back from Perth, Isaac still thinks about the trip a lot. He now knew the names of all the cousins and uncle and auntie he had in Australia... Ee Yew Hui, Uncle Joel, Auntie Andrea, Jarrod kor kor, Zachary kor kor and Caitlin - the names just rolled off his tongue.

We could tell he really loved it, and would love to go on a Cuzzies Trip again. The next morning after the day we came back to Singapore, I overheard him talking to Shawna after Shawna did something wrong... Isaac:" Shawna, you better behave yourself ah... if not, you cannot go Australia... EVER AGAIN!!!" hahaha... this was reminiscent of us telling him (before the trip):"Isaac! You must be a good boy. If you're not a good boy, then you don't go Australia ah..."

Then a couple days after that, early in the morning, the first thing he said when he woke up was:"Auntie Andrea, Jarrod, Zachary..."
Me: "Why Isaac? Did you dream of Auntie Andrea, Jarrod and Zachary?"
Isaac: " What is dream?"
Me: "Ermm... dream is when you see pictures of them in your sleep... Did you dream of them?"
Isaac: "Yes..."
Then he proceeded to tell me what Auntie Andrea was doing in his dream, but I couldn't make head or tail of it...

The next day, we woke up, lounging about in bed, talking and then he mentioned his cousins...
Me: "Do you know how many cousins do you have?"
Isaac: "Three! Rebecca, Isabelle and Natalie!"
Me: "Hahaha... yes, they're your cousins, but you have more! Still have Jarrod..."
Isaac: "Zachary and Caitlin!"
Me: "Yes, and Dylan and Daylin too! So how many do you have?"
So we counted them as Isaac said the names out...
Me: "Do you know who are MY cousins?"
Isaac nodded: "Ee Ee Yew Hui and Uncle Joel!!!"
Me: "That's right!!! Excellent!!!"
Isaac: "and Auntie Andrea!!!"
Me: "Hmmm... actually Auntie Andrea is... do you know who she is?"
Isaac: "She is Jarrod & Zachary's mummy!"
Me: "Yes, so she is actually Uncle Joel's wife... Just like Mummy is Papa's wife, and so Papa is Mummy's husband!"
Isaac: "And Uncle Joel is Auntie Andrea's husband!"
Me: "THAT'S RIGHT! Excellent!!!"

And then, a few days later, I was parking the car, and there was a man getting out of the car next to ours, and Isaac exclaimed: "Mummy! That uncle looks like Uncle Joel!!!" I turned and looked, and he was right! The man had the same built as Joel, similarly dark skin tone, short hair and a pair of Oakley sunglasses perched on top of his head - much like how Joel likes to wear his sunglasses. I was impressed :) he DID look like Joel!

Then last night, when we just got home, and we were at the door to our place, taking off our shoes, when Isaac suddenly said: "Mummy! This would be a GREAT place for us to play hide and seek when Jarrod & Zachary come!" This kinda took me by surprise and I managed to stammer out a "Yes, it would..." Thankfully Isaac didn't ask when they'd be coming... coz nobody knows when they'd be back... sighz! (Fodder for a separate, depressing blogpost...).

So anywayz, yes! as you can tell, Isaac had an absolute blast! Now, if I want him to behave, I'd just say... "Isaac, you better behave... or you'd never go Australia EVER AGAIN!!!" ;p

October 2010 backposts!

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