Kyle's Swim Tournaments
2 Sundays ago, he competed in his first ever Inter-club Swim Meet organised by Keppel Club. It was a hasty, last minute decision and there wasn't even time for any training except on the day before the competition. He went for the trial and was in even though he has never trained with the group. We decided that it would be good for exposure and confidence-building.
On the day of the competition, he was very reluctant and got cold feet at one point. He said that he did not want to participate and was 'stressed'. We were not pleased with his attitude which was filled with negativity. Throughout the whole wait and even when it was time to warm up, he was not serious and only thought of playing. I was not sure if it was done purposely to play down his nervousness but it sure did get on my nerves seeing this complacency in him. Needless to say he did not do well against the participants who were poised to win. He managed to clock 1 min for his 50m backstroke and 1.02 for his 50m butterfly. Still it was a good experience for him.
The following week was another competition organised by Sengkang West which I had completely forgotten. This time round, he had a chance to training on 3 occasions with his swimming buddy, Justin, before the event as it was September school holidays.
However, in the morning when he woke up, he complained of a headache and claimed that he wasn't feeling well. We suspected that it might be due to him catching a chill in the night or it could be that he played tennis in the rain the day before. We told him that if he was still feeling unwell when we reached, he will not compete. Miraculously when he reached there and saw his friends, his headache was gone and he even went for warm-ups happily and strutted around the whole place in only his trunks.
His events were backstroke 50m, butterfly 50m and freestyle 100m. He did a fantastic job during his 1st event and came in 3rd missing 2nd place by a mere 1 second as he swerved at one point and touched the rope. Nonetheless, it was an accomplishment for him as he was competing with boys 1-2 years older than him, bigger than him and taller than him! He was smiling from ear to ear when he went up to receive his medal. He was also most cooperative when I took his pictures, posing for me ever so happily ( a far cry from his normal self when he would refused to look into the camera!).
The 2nd event was the Butterfly 50m. He fared badly against the other boys whose strokes were powerful and super fast! For his last event 100m Freestyle, he came in 3rd in his race with 7 other boys. He forgot to do his tumble-turn at the end of 50m and actually paused for a while! I was so worried that he might have forgotten that it was a 100m race. I felt that it was a pity that quite a bit of time was wasted else he would probably do better. Overall best timing of the few races, he did not make it to top 3. But that didn't dampen his spirits as he had already clinched a Bronze and gained invaluable experience.
Oh and he did fall sick that night after the exciting morning event and an evening of pure fun and play with his cousins! He woke up the next morning with a throat infection.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
My sensitive girl
It was a Tuesday night and we had nothing on in the evening so I suggested going to Swensons for dinner. The only problem was that Kyle was having a bit of sore throat and I had warned him that he can only eat baked rice or pasta as he had a swim competition that weekend. As predicted he made a huge fuss about wanting to eat his chicken tenders.
My girl cheerfully opted to eat cream sauce pasta while the boy went on and on about how he loves the chicken tenders, how juicy it is and how his throat is ok. It got on our nerves and I conceded by saying that I will order one and he can only have 2 pieces. Then he went on about why Meryl can get to eat more and he can have only 2 pieces and that mummy is so unfair.
He just couldn't get it when I told him that Meryl wasn't even asking for chicken tenders and the sole reason why I even ordered it in the first place was because I couldn't bear to see him so disappointed. In the end I put my foot down and decided to ban him from it totally.
He didn't get to eat any except for a small bite that my hubby gave him. I kept 1 piece for Meryl. Instead of eating it, she gave it to her brother. I asked her why. This was her reply.
'I want to make Kor Kor happy.'
Then she whispered to me this, 'Mummy, I give it not because I don't like it. I actually love to eat it too but I think Kor Kor really wants to eat it so I give it to him to make him happy.'
I only wish my son can understand how thoughtful his sister is towards him and extend to her the same treatment.
My girl cheerfully opted to eat cream sauce pasta while the boy went on and on about how he loves the chicken tenders, how juicy it is and how his throat is ok. It got on our nerves and I conceded by saying that I will order one and he can only have 2 pieces. Then he went on about why Meryl can get to eat more and he can have only 2 pieces and that mummy is so unfair.
He just couldn't get it when I told him that Meryl wasn't even asking for chicken tenders and the sole reason why I even ordered it in the first place was because I couldn't bear to see him so disappointed. In the end I put my foot down and decided to ban him from it totally.
He didn't get to eat any except for a small bite that my hubby gave him. I kept 1 piece for Meryl. Instead of eating it, she gave it to her brother. I asked her why. This was her reply.
'I want to make Kor Kor happy.'
Then she whispered to me this, 'Mummy, I give it not because I don't like it. I actually love to eat it too but I think Kor Kor really wants to eat it so I give it to him to make him happy.'
I only wish my son can understand how thoughtful his sister is towards him and extend to her the same treatment.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Meryl's Birthday Bash
The planning started way before the actual event. My girl had without fail fail every other day to ask me how many more days is it to her birthday and this started to increase in its frequency right after the June holidays! She had great plans, which luckily she changed (helped by me) along the way!
She started out wanting to have an all girl's party. It wasn't enough for her just to give out invitation cards to her classmates but it MUST be delivered to their home address. I was hesitant and reluctant cos so much more to do on my side and I was already back to work. Then she wanted to have it at Fidgets where she attended some parties this year. We suggested Safra Jurong and she acceded. Then we started to plan who to invite and again she insisted on all girls only. I had to explain that their brothers will all come before she agreed to have boys.
One day, out of the blue she asked me, ' Mummy, do you prefer to stay at home or to go out?' I told her I prefer to stay home and then she replied with a sigh, ' Ok lor, I think I'll have my party at home.' I didn't even know where she was coming from but obviously the party was very much on her mind!
As the day drew nearer, I decided to hold the party at the function room, complete with a bouncing castle and a play-tent filled with playdoh for the kids to play in. The theme was Hello Kitty. The whole party came with a Hello Kitty bouncing castle, wall decorations, and 2 stand alone pilars made of balloons. I had 2 dozens of helium balloons floating around in the function rooms and then sprayed 'Happy Birthday Meryl' using a X'masy foam on the glass doors. It was the most fuss free decorations I've ever had in years!!
The day came and we had a ball of our time. I think there were about more than 40 kids in total. The buffet was great and the kids had a special menu cooked by Jo. I was busy catching up with old friends and new. Best of all, I was happy that the cleaning up was so quick and simple and I get to stay at home at the end of it and play mahjong!!!
The planning started way before the actual event. My girl had without fail fail every other day to ask me how many more days is it to her birthday and this started to increase in its frequency right after the June holidays! She had great plans, which luckily she changed (helped by me) along the way!
She started out wanting to have an all girl's party. It wasn't enough for her just to give out invitation cards to her classmates but it MUST be delivered to their home address. I was hesitant and reluctant cos so much more to do on my side and I was already back to work. Then she wanted to have it at Fidgets where she attended some parties this year. We suggested Safra Jurong and she acceded. Then we started to plan who to invite and again she insisted on all girls only. I had to explain that their brothers will all come before she agreed to have boys.
One day, out of the blue she asked me, ' Mummy, do you prefer to stay at home or to go out?' I told her I prefer to stay home and then she replied with a sigh, ' Ok lor, I think I'll have my party at home.' I didn't even know where she was coming from but obviously the party was very much on her mind!
As the day drew nearer, I decided to hold the party at the function room, complete with a bouncing castle and a play-tent filled with playdoh for the kids to play in. The theme was Hello Kitty. The whole party came with a Hello Kitty bouncing castle, wall decorations, and 2 stand alone pilars made of balloons. I had 2 dozens of helium balloons floating around in the function rooms and then sprayed 'Happy Birthday Meryl' using a X'masy foam on the glass doors. It was the most fuss free decorations I've ever had in years!!
The day came and we had a ball of our time. I think there were about more than 40 kids in total. The buffet was great and the kids had a special menu cooked by Jo. I was busy catching up with old friends and new. Best of all, I was happy that the cleaning up was so quick and simple and I get to stay at home at the end of it and play mahjong!!!
Crazy Holiday 2011
I was overly ambitious this last holiday. I wanted to get the kids out of the house as much as possible and they did and so did I. I had forgotten to include the logistics and ended up each day with multiple trips ferrying them to and fro the different places and having short breaks in between. I ended up in school most of the mornings than I would like to have during holidays and sometimes ended up spending time playing with their baby cousin before fetching one of the kids from their classes. Below is a summary of what the program was like during the holidays, more or less, cos some I've already forgotten some!
Swimming for Kyle every morning from 9-11 at either Yio Chu Kang, Hougang or Toa Payoh stadium
Swimming for Meryl on Tuesdays
Meryl's 4 days Art Camp at NAFA end of November from 8.30-5.30 pm
Cartoon Drawing classes 3 days at Kallang CC
Meryl's jewellery making class at Kallang CC
Kyle's Tennis class on Saturdays at STTA
Aikido every Friday and Sunday
Badminton every Wednesday at AVCC
1 week Vietnam trip - Ho Chi Minh, Vung Tau
Meryl's birthday Party
Christmas Parties @ Mel's @Pansy
New's years countdown party@Pansy
On the whole it was a crazy 2 month, But on the bright side, my son put on 5kg as a result of his swim class and is sporting a lovely tan (ok, more like chow tar-burnt). and Meryl had a wonderful time at her art camp despite her getting cold feet on the first day. She ended up making friends with the big che che (sisters) that she insisted that I invite them for her birthday. Our Vietnam trip went off wonderfully well and the 2 kids not not suffer, contrary to what their daddy feared, any diarrhea but enjoyed the food and massages that they got there. In fact I was worried that they may have developed an addiction! The family photo shot that I planned also turned out beautiful despite my initial concerns and my hubby's grumblings and for a mere$400, complete with an album of 40 pictures and a big family potrait. The visits to the orphanages and old folk's home was also an experience i think the kids will not forget easily.
Swimming for Kyle every morning from 9-11 at either Yio Chu Kang, Hougang or Toa Payoh stadium
Swimming for Meryl on Tuesdays
Meryl's 4 days Art Camp at NAFA end of November from 8.30-5.30 pm
Cartoon Drawing classes 3 days at Kallang CC
Meryl's jewellery making class at Kallang CC
Kyle's Tennis class on Saturdays at STTA
Aikido every Friday and Sunday
Badminton every Wednesday at AVCC
1 week Vietnam trip - Ho Chi Minh, Vung Tau
Meryl's birthday Party
Christmas Parties @ Mel's @Pansy
New's years countdown party@Pansy
On the whole it was a crazy 2 month, But on the bright side, my son put on 5kg as a result of his swim class and is sporting a lovely tan (ok, more like chow tar-burnt). and Meryl had a wonderful time at her art camp despite her getting cold feet on the first day. She ended up making friends with the big che che (sisters) that she insisted that I invite them for her birthday. Our Vietnam trip went off wonderfully well and the 2 kids not not suffer, contrary to what their daddy feared, any diarrhea but enjoyed the food and massages that they got there. In fact I was worried that they may have developed an addiction! The family photo shot that I planned also turned out beautiful despite my initial concerns and my hubby's grumblings and for a mere$400, complete with an album of 40 pictures and a big family potrait. The visits to the orphanages and old folk's home was also an experience i think the kids will not forget easily.
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