What we've been doing...

We got our fleet of bikes ready and have been biking around the neighbourhood and on park connectors.

Funny how Transformers were the "in-thing" when I was a kid and now it is again!  Josh here as Optimus Prime.

At the airport, there's this big ball thing that opens up every half hour and dispenses sweets and some balls.  If you get a pink ball, you get to redeem a prize. There's even an open category for grown-ups and some grown-ups (we were told) appear every half hour to play the game - too free.

Finishing line at the kids' dash component of SC marathon.  Josh had diarrhoea that morning and elected for mother-power.

Anna made it through the 750m.  Then complained it was too warm.

Ben-Ben - with modesty intact.

Josh and I - having more and more better moments.  He can be really sweet when not throwing tantrums.

Papa's first week home

Anna's art class project

Ben at 14 months

Our pitstop during our first full family cycling expedition that lasted 45 minutes and involved crossing a major traffic junction haha.  Ben was on the baby seat behind Cindy but both Anna and Josh cycled on their own.

Ben @ 14 months

Ben has started to fight with Josh for things.  He will scream for the things he wants, if not he will snatch it from Josh.  But Josh will not let him have his way.  SO, they end up 'fighting' and we have to separate them.

This pic is so cute!  Taken when he tried to run towards me at the airport.

T3 this Christmas

We were at the airport, as usual, this morning for breakfast.  Wanted to show the kids the giant musical ball departure hall.  It will 'sing' every half hourly.  They kids were amazed and enjoyed the music!

Josh showing off his 'car-car' watch.  He wore it for the rest of the day.

Sesame Street

We went to watch Sesame Street show yesterday at Compass Point.  It was rather good and all 3 kids enjoyed the singing and dancing thoroughly.  We were suppose to go again today but somehow had to run a few errands like going to the library to return the DVDs and visiting baby Tim.

Anna's P1 Orientation on 21 Nov

Anna was seated according to her class and waiting for the rest of the classmates to arrive.  She is first on the class list since her name starts with an 'A'.  There is also another Anna in the same class.  I was with Josh but he kind of missed Anna and has asked for her.

Anna was fascinated by the Eco-garden just outside the classroom.  They had fun exploring the area and she insisted that I take a pic of her under the 'secret garden'.

Ben @ 13 months

Ben started calling Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa since our Sept trip to Perth.  He can asked for a ball and balloon too.  Recently, he has started calling Nai-Nai and sometimes I think Anna.

Ben has kind of started walking more independently recently.  He is quite an explorer - he likes checking out the storeroom and the dustbin.  He ventured upstairs, taking steps like an adult.  He has started throwing rubbish into the bin.  He likes balls, balloons, yo-yo (those with lights and sound), dinosaurs and most importantly he likes sucking his left thumb.  He enjoys porridge very much but he likes roti-prata.  A meal is never complete with fruits.  At the moment, he likes longan and grapes.

Primary 1 Booklist

Just collected the Primary One books for Anna.  She was so excited when looking through the box of textbooks, workbooks, activity books etc.

Butter Cake

On the last day of school, one of my students baked me the 'best butter cake' (so he claimed).  It was indeed good and moist.  It was supposedly a family recipe that is passed down from his grandmother. 

Going home

Yep, the most hated part - sorting things out before moving away haha.

Josh will be turning 3 end of next month

Josh wants a Ben Ten birthday party.  He also wants Transformers and Power Rangers in the party.  Not sure how I will incorporate/integrate these themes togther.  He loves this Power Ranger t-shirt.  He will wear it whenever it is not in the wash.

I miss running along the beach

As I was running this afternoon, I was reminded of my runs along Cottesloe the last few months prior to us returning to Singapore last year.  Somehow the distance seems less daunting along the beautiful coast.  It is also less humid and cooling.  I can almost run 'forever' in that kind of environment!

This pic was taken during our Sept trip to Perth and we were walking along Cottesloe beach.  It was very low tide and we had fun observing and examining the different species of flora and fauna that live in the intertidal zone.  I had a good 'teaching' session with Anna and Josh, which brought back memories of NUS days.

How attached is Josh to Anna?

Josh has the habit of running to Anna for comfort when he is in trouble or when he gets a scolding from me.  Somehow, when Anna cuddles him, he will calm down and think straight (?).  This was taken in WMC when Anna was waiting to go on stage to sing on Children's Day and Josh was missing her so badly that I had to bring him to go look for her.

Primary 1 for Anna

Are you ready for P1?  I  have been asked the question several times.  It looks like many parents are anxious over it.  Well, I have already bought the school and PE uniform for fear of the long queue on Orientation day.  I have also order the books online since I cannot drop the form off at the bookshop.

School bag was purchased during the Expo Popular Sale (good price).  I guess what's left will be the school shoes, which I will only buy nearer the beginning of school term.

Am looking forward to the P1 Orientation this Saturday.  Anna will meet her new form teacher and classmates for next year!

It is done! (hopefully)

To be precise, it was a 4.5 year course (cos I had a half-year "discount").  My calculator says these past 4.5 towoonsai years took up 12.5% of my life.  That seems a lot of time to have spent pursuing happiness at work and really, it WAS alot. 

I look forward to going home to my lovely wife and children.  Really, it's been tough being away from them and it has been even harder for them.

The exams these past 2 days were really tough - I've studied just as hard in NUS before (where everyone studies that hard anyway) but these were the hardest exams I've taken.  That's why i say "hopefully".

Also looking forward to reviving the blog with Cin.

End of the 5 year Course

Today Frank sat for his last paper for the course.

GE Run 2009

On the 1 November, I completed my first ever 10 km run.  Well, I managed to complete it in 1hr 5min, putting myself at 1021 position out of 14 000 runners.  Also, breaking my target of 1hr 15min.  Am now training again for the next run - SC on the 6 Dec with Anna and Josh joining us for the Kids Dash.  Why us right?  I will be running with Josh and Frank will be with Anna.  How about Ben?

10+ months

It has been a good 10 months apart from Frank ie. no Papa.  A typical night after bathing the kids is letting them play a little while they finished up their milk. 

Then, it will be skype-time with Papa.  So near and yet so far.  We pulled through thus far.

18 more days to his return.

Ben turns ONE

We had a mini-celebration for Ben first birthday.  All the Gu-Mas cooked or prepared something and MIL cooked laksa for all.  I baked the cake, which was not cut till two days later 'cos Ben fell alseep during the celebration.

Ben loves the sand.  He can play at least a good hour before he looks for me.  The last time he was crawling all around and people stared at us.  He was dirty and messy and filled with drool.  What's more, he wanted biscuit in the midst of the play!

Dinner at GreyHound

This was when Ben first discovered the taste of a whole apple.  He loves it!  He finished almost one whole and dropped at least 2 others.

The girls and boy met up again.  It was a nice catch-up for them.

Fremantle

Our trip must always ends off with fish and chips somehow.  My parents love the chips and of course, the chilli mussels.  Here are some pics of the kids venturing off on their own at some sculptures opposite the restuarant.

Once again - Kings Park

Our trip will never be complete without visiting Kings Park.  What's more - its Spring Festival!

Even Ben enjoyed the day out in the sun, with a slight drizzle.  We would have love to stroll a bit longer if not for hungry kids and the need to go shopping at HarbourTown!

On our way back from the Farm-Stay

We stopped by Margaret River Chocolate Factory at Swan Valley for lunch followed by some wine tasting.

Our September Trip to Perth

It is simply wonderful looking at the pictures we took for our last trip.

We stayed at Orchard Glory Farm this time round.  My parents love the place.  It is beautiful and peaceful and our backyard is filled with juicy orange trees.  We all have a great time plucking and eating the fruits.

Frank at Down Under

Today marks an important day in our 'history' book.  Its Frank's First and Penultimate Exams Today at 2pm.  It is also less than 3 weeks to his return.  The kids, especially Anna, can't wait for him to come back home.  Josh is always saying, 'When Papa comes back, . . .', we will do this and that.  There are many things that the kids will like to do with him.

For one, we will be doing up the kids room -  'Move the kids out!' project.  However, I am uncertain about the success of the project 'cos it has been a good 11 months that the kids have been sleeping with me.  Even Ben has 'migrated' onto our bed.  But, as Frank put it, 'Its just a matter of time that the kids will have to move out.'

Hopefully, the idea of bunk bed will attract them to sleep on their own. 

Anna & Josh celebrating Teacher's Day

Today the kids and I made mooncakes for the childcare centre teachers.  They are the packed into cookies bags to be given tomorrow.

I baked 2 cakes.  One for my mentor and the other was requested by the kids to be given to the school teachers.

We had fun but at the end of the many things to be done, I was flat out!