I Cried At My Sons' Graduation

Today is a very busy day, as Gavin and I have to rush from Bryan's Mindchamps Graduation at Toa Payoh to Joel's Graduation Concert at Ghim Moh.

Every child was asked to stand out in front of the class to read what they wrote in their Thank-You to their parents. Being the sentimental Bryan, he couldn't control his emotions and started to cry. I asked him why he cried. He replied that he was very touched by what his friends had written and when it was finally his turn, he felt his emotions all welled up. Mummy also shed tears of joy and am very proud of him.

This is what he wrote on the card.

Heart-shape card of thanks.

Dear Mum and Dad, You are special because you help me pay for the things I want. Next time, I will help you pay for the things you want. I will never be selfish again. Mum and Dad, I love you because you care for me. mum and Dad, I will never lose you. Love, Bryan.

Leave-shape card of wishes

Bryan Tan: 1) I wish that my parents will spend time with me more often. 2) I wish they will be together in a happy life.

He simply loves the red cap.

Bryan with Teacher Johanna

Chef Joel performing a dance of "STOMP" with pots and pans.

By the way, he used to call himself a "cooker" when he was young, before changing it to "chef". I can't help but share with you his other "ER" jokes, which often had me in stitches. A straw is called a "sucker". A hanging hook is called a "hooker".

Supposedly, he was to be a farmer, but somehow I thought he looked more like a swordsman.

Guy smiley is so happy that we were there to catch his performance at his school concert. Although, he is not graduating till he's in K2 next year, however seeing him grown at a tremendous pace and is now able to perform 2 dances for me, makes me wanna tear again. I can't imagine when he graduates next year, I'll probably have to wear my sunnies and bring more tissues.

As you can see, it's always Joel bullying Bryan.

Lady-killer swordsman! Mr Baey in the making?

Among his "boy" friends (so called)

Joel with form teacher, Teacher Zai

A very tired swordsman. A pre-Chinese New Year shot? Yeah, I didn't notice that both of them were so red until I downloaded the pictures.

It's All Worth It!

Finally, I managed to hold my peace and waited till the end of 2 years to renew my mobile contract and most importantly to change my mobile phone to a SAMSUNG OMNIA. The annual Singtel Roadshow (around this time of the year) promises good bargains and freebies. So I left my kids and hubby at my mum's place, as I was mentally and physically prepared to queue for more than 3 hours just to get a new phone. However, the noticeboard there announced a minimum waiting time of at least 5 hours, which I thought it's crazy, as the dailies each day reported on the economic downturn. BUT, the crowd at the roadshow seems unfazed and I queued for more than an hour just to get a Q number! And another 2 hours hanging around the BookFest which was held concurrently at the same venue, before Singtel paged for me to return to collect and pay for my new handset, which took another 15 mins. By then, I was too tired and hungry to queue again to trade off my Dopod.

I thought I would just end my day with dinner with my parents and family for dinner at Viet Cong along Bras Basah Road. However, my parents decided to walk to Suntec for some shopping for winter clothing for their winter trip to Korea at the end of the year. Seriously, I'm not sure where did I get the energy to walk back to Suntec again.

Immediately, upon reaching Suntec, I drag my family and headed back to the Singtel Roadshow again to trade off my old phone in the mass trade-off exercise. Indeed, I got a better trade-off rate of S$100 instead of $60, which I just checked with a Singtel shop the night before. I was extremely pleased. Then, I decided to stop by the redemption counter to exchange my receipt for a mug shot of my family, as a souvenir. The guy over the desk told us that he's participating our picture in the lucky draw to win a TV. Yet again, we spent another 1.5 hours there. I was so damned tired but very pleased with my new handphone, the higher trade-off value for my old phone and a souvenir mug shot. I didn't think much, but just wanted to head home to wash up and plonked on my sofa and watch my weekly dose of "Mobile Love Story"... Bliss.

Guess what? Almost a week later, Singtel called me to inform me that I have won a SONY TV in their "Best Smile Contest". Of course lah, I'm happy with my purchase that day what! But I think one of the main reason is having my whole family join in the picture to fill up the blue background, that's why the picture looks better...hehe!

Other than the lucky jackpot at Genting Highlands this year, which I played for fun during my last hour before heading back to Singapore, so far this is my biggest prize that I have ever win in my life. Seriously, I do hope to win a TV, as the TV at home is a bulky CRT TV, which we had for almost 8-9 years, and I think it's still very reliable that it can last us for another good 5 years.

I'm so happy with my SAMSUNG OMNIA and 32" SONY BRAVIA. It's all worth the queue!

I Saw a Rainbow Today!

God sets His rainbow in the sky
to remind us that
His promises never fail and
that His love never ends.

Bread & Butter, Bacon & Eggs

I tell you it's really tough explaining to kids about what we do at work. Below are his drawings of our jobs based on his understanding of what I tried explaining to him. At that moment, I wish I held a noble job, such as being a teacher or policewoman, and it is easier to explain to them too!

I think my own dad too faced the same problem (like me) explaining to the young me then about what he did for a living. I remembered checking with my dad frequently about what to fill up under the section on father's occupation on the form, and as to how I should portray him in my composition about 'my family'.

In my primary school, dad told me he was a policeman, and of course, I'm not stupid lah, as I have not seen mum washed and dried his uniform.

It was until in secondary school that I finally knew what he does. When he finally revealed that he's a  co-partner of an electroplating company, my sisters and I did not believe him at first, as he cried wolves too many times. It was only when he showed us his name card, that we try to believe him and even tried our luck to cajole him to buy us Reebok track shoes. Perhaps, that is one of the reasons why he hid it from us ... hehe

Oh man! I looked like a rabbit with floppy ears. Geez, if you don't know me, you could have thought I was an air stewardess or travel agent, based on his drawings .... hehe

It was only when Aly asked if the 2 other people standing in the background are Sharon and her, that we suddenly realized that it's not only Joel, but the majority of the kids are very observant. And I remembered often that he is able to draw for me the things he sees during his outing trips.

Erh, this picture seems like Daddy is selling eggs rather than machinery. And ah boy only gave his dad a few strands of hair - so poor thing.

I'm simply amused at the way Joel first draws the toes before adding the bubble shoes. And I also tried correcting him to draw the legs below the skirt or pants, rather than within the clothes. Perhaps, he really got X-ray eyes.

I love asking the kids to draw for me, as it is often funny and it reveals something about them too.

Curtains & Blinds

Have been so busy lately that I haven't had the time to visit my hairstylist since July. The fringe is getting longer and I hate having to constantly sweep my fringe as if my hands are not busy enough with typing *sigh*! That's why I have been keeping it long for the longest time till I cut it off this year. Having hair in the eyes is so uncomfortable. I wonder how can Paul Twohill from Singapore Idol managed to stay so cool.

I find it difficult to make eye contact with people with long fringe in a conversation. It's not sexy nor mysterious, but rather "pek chek". I wonder if I was talking to a ghost or a piece of wall. I really wondered if the person really understood what I'm talking about, as both the ears are being covered and the eyes were slightly revealed through the curtains-like strands of hair.

It's one of those days when our highly stressed brains decide to go bonkers again at around the 4 pm tea break. After lamenting so much about our own hair and other people's hair, we decided to solve the issue of "curtains".

That's me above, with the traditional tied-back CURTAINS with ribbon on each side. And below is Aly doing a rendition on how to draw the BLINDS. See whether if you can remember this particular type of Venetian blinds of the 1970s. One needs to twist the plastic knob at the end of the stick to the panels to tip the horizontal slats open.

Sorry babe, I know you gonna kill me for putting this clip on my blog, however, I only promised that I'll not post it on YouTube only ... hehe

And I could not help laughing when I viewed this clip of yours again. You are very cartoon siah! Muahahaha!