Getting active!

Thinking back, I used to be a physically active girl. I was a school representative for tennis, an instructor for Outdoor Adventure Club, went for multiple camps and sea sports expedition. After I graduated, I continued with jogging, tennis and badminton.

Till I gotten pregnant with my first child, all these activities ceased as we were busy with the child and busier along with secondborn. Though I have been tempted to get my kids involved in getting active together, I have never really sprung into action. Been wondering if it was due to too much workload (either busy working over weekends at events, or rushing work at home or just to catch up on my sleep) or simply pure laziness. It could be due to both or the latter.

Anyway I am glad that I have decided to start the ball rolling by signing up for Cold Storage Run for kids. I hope that this will be a good start for the family to get active together.

Last Thursday, I reached home early as my hubs was around my office and he turned over to pick me up. Hence I decided to utilise my trial package at Amore Fitness since Seletar Mall is just a stone away from my place. Being inactive for so long, it felt great with the workout. I went for Step Basic, recommended for beginners as I have to confess that I have not been exercising for donkey years. I started out feeling clumsy as my limbs seems un-coordinated. But 15 minutes into the workout, I felt good as my body got into the rhythm.

After the workout, I realised that we were able to utilise the gym facilities so I went onto the threadmill as there are still some time before I had to fetch my girl from her art class. It really felt great to be sweating it out! I felt more recharged after the 1.5hours session in Amore Fitness.

Now that I have started my workout regime, I hope I can keep to visiting the studio and gym at least once a week. And I really ought to train for the upcoming run with my kids.

Cheers to getting active & healthy once more! 

Field Trip for the boy

As a mummy, I want to be very much involved in my kids' everyday life. Eversince they started attending school, I will always try to be present for their field trips, excursions and parent-teaching meeting session. I need to know how are my kids doing, if they enjoyed the activities planned by the school, if the programmes are beneficial and safe for my babies and more. I just have to know that everything is well and if not, how can I get involved to make things right.

Yesterday, my boy had a short field trip to the nearby NTUC as the teachers want to teach the kids grocery shopping. As they are still very young, parents / guardians are encouraged to join so I enrolled myself LOL.

The adults gathered at 3pm outside the school and waited for everyone to be present before we set off to our destination.

Spot my lil boy who is ready for the outing

Along the short walk to the supermarket, he told me that he must hold my hand during shopping (because his teachers told him so). And I wonder why he never listen to me despite me telling him countless times to hold our hands or follow us when we are out yet he follows his teacher's instructions.

When we reached the entrance, the teacher gave the kids the task of finding strawberries, banana and wholemeal bread so that they can have their tea break back in school.

The enthusiastic kids passing the teacher the strawberries

But their attention span were too short. My boy has started to get distracted

The cheeky boy went to grab everything he see

Last stop. He found the wholemeal bread. Well-done!

After the teacher taught them that they have to pay for their purchases, we walked back to the school to prepare for their tea break.

Well, I didn't expect that the parents / guardians will be invited to prepare the tea break together with our kids. Appreciate another bonding moment with my boy.

He insisted that I have to follow him into the school as he was afraid that I will go off without him

Mother & child moment captured while waiting for the tea break

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare the Strawberry Banana Bread

And so, we started with cutting the banana. Loving his smile!

Next, he prepared the strawberries

And spread the yogurt on the bread

Place the strawberries on the bread

And place the sliced banana on another slice of bread

He took one mouthful and exclaimed "Banana not nice!" The teachers and parents turned to us. I can only smiled and asked my boy "Oh! You don't like the banana?" Awkward moment!

Nonetheless, he removed the banana and continue to enjoy the bread

Thereafter, he went to take his bag happily while waiting for me to fill up the evaluation form and bring him home

It was a simple yet interesting activity and I really appreciate the effort put in by the teachers. At least I know that my boy do understand instructions like "holding hands during shopping" but he just chose not to behave while with us. And I always welcome activities that allow me to bond with my kids. I was happy to see my cheeky boy smiling throughout the trip and during the preparation of the tea break. Deep within me, I know he is happy to see me there being with him and to spend that moment together.

I saw some kids without their parents / guardians and they looked lost / sad. I felt bad for them as they must be wondering where are their parents when they saw other parents with their class mates. That is why I always make it a point to be present whenever I can as it makes a difference to my children and for me too!

Jayven turns 3!

My lil cheeky monkey turns 3 in early April!
Gosh! I cannot believe how fast my 2 babies are growing. As they grow older, I am finding it more challenging to keep up with them, especially the hyper energized boy.

It has been a while since the kids has a vacation hence we decided to book a staycation in Festive Hotel in RWS. We have not stayed in this hotel before but heard of the family deluxe room so we trusted that the kids will love it.

Finally the day has arrived and the kids were so excited to check in

Just as expected, the lil ones loved the loft bed and has climbed up and down multiple times. In order to distract them, we decided to explore RWS instead of staying in the room (it was drizzling thus we had to change our plans from outdoors to indoors)

As long as we stayed in the room, the kids kept themselves busy with the ladder

We had plans for the Skyline Luge but the weather was uncooperative hence we went to Trick Eye Museum instead. It was interesting and we had fun with many poses. Even the lil ones were enjoying themselves at the beginning but started to be whiny towards the end when they were exhausted.

This is so cute! And his height just fit in nicely LOL

See how well the girls can pose. It seems like they were really riding on the horse

Optical illusion. My girl looks bigger than me

And now I look gigantic

Father and son team

This is so funny!

I love how the kids are enjoying themselves

Tired and hungry, he was restless

The girl can really pose LOL

I wonder what was the boy looking for

It was a pretty small museum and we were out in no time. Furthermore, the kids were getting restless hence we went in search for drinks and snacks.

Then, the 2 girls chanced upon MegaBounce and wanted to go for it. Janelle has been eyeing this for very long and finally she has gotten the chance.

Happy girl!

See how high she bounced!

We ended the day with packed dinner back to the hotel room to relax and laze. Till it was time for bed, my kids decide that they did not want to sleep on the loft bed. Instead both of them came to squeeze on the bed with us. Bummer! I thought they will love the loft bed and shared the bed together, giving us a bigger space to sleep for at least 2 nights. But that did not come true.

The next morning was blessed with good weather. It was pretty sunny but well, better sunny than raining. So we gotten the kids ready for the Skyline Luge.

Hello! Easter Holidays

I always love to see my kids run with excitement

Going on the Sky Ride. Erm, my girl was terrified but she managed to force a smile here

Aww, don't they look cute with the helmets?

We went on the Skyline Luge 3 times as there was a package price. Wanted to bring the kids to POLW thereafter but it rained. We were hopeful that it would be a passing rain but yet it became heavy downpour. The kids were very upset and I really hate to see them disappointed especially when it was my boy's actual birthday. However, there was nothing we could do except to let them play in the room and subsequently in the bath tub.

 Olaf cake for his birthday as per his request. See how fascinated he was with the cake!

2 + 2 = LOVE! Happy 3rd birthday my baby boy!

Finally! After 5 hours of rain, we brought the kids to the swimming pool despite the drizzle at 6pm. Soon after, the lil ones were starving so we got them ready and brought them to the cafe downstairs for dinner. And the exhausted birthday boy fell asleep upon the 3rd feeding. Hahaha! Well, it was an early night for him. But I knew he have enjoyed himself and that's all that matters.

Finally! Splashing time

It was time to check out the next day and my kids couldn't bear to leave the place. My firstborn cried upon packing up all the way till we check out and to the car park. She has requested that she would like to come back for staycation again during her birthday so I guess a promise has been made.

A good break from the busy schedule. Quality time spent with the family. Definitely a worthwhile staycation.

Happy birthday my cheeky boy! Daddy, mummy and jie jie love you forever. May you grow up a healthy boy and stay safe always!

Family First

It has been a loonnngggg while since I last wrote.
Yesterday was my last day at my workplace after a year of madness rush and never-ending work.

I have came to the decision of leaving as there was many incidents of neglecting the kids (and my hubs), guilt-pricking moments of yelling or shoving them away (while rushing my work from home) and hearing my kids saying that 'Mummy, you have no time for me?'

Simply too much to bear the negativity when I am trying to balance between work and family. I cannot bear the thought of placing my family as second priority and for my kids to grow up with the memories of how mummy did not have time for them. How about flexi-work arrangement with my company? Nope. They do not practice such arrangement. Alas! I can only choose to give up my job.

It has been a year of endless work and I could hardly take a good break or breather. Now I am looking forward to having a self-rewarding pampering short break before I embark on my new challenge. Yes, I am not stopping work. But I am getting out of the retail industry.

Cheers to my pursuit in striking a balance between work and family!
I love my family and I love working too. Definitely there must be some ways that we can juggle both well.

And yes! I am finally back to my blog which have been neglected for a while too.
Will be back with more memories :)