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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Teacher's Day Gratefulness Potluck Party

Grace's school is having a party today, to celebrate Teacher's Day. This is to teach the kids to serve and show gratefulness to their teachers. Well, the dress code today is occupational wear. This was really a challenge for us, as we don't normally buy clothes that Grace can't wear everyday.

Anyway, in our recent Teacher-Parent dialogue, we came to know that this little girl of mine, wants to become a nurse (we always thought it was doctor). And so, I thought of dressing her as a nurse today. But again, too short notice, where to get the clothes? Well, I just dressed her in her plain white dress with a D.I.Y nurse hat. The hat is made out of white cardstock, top up with a red fun foam cross. Here's the little Missy....



Earlier, I made a post on ideas for the potluck. My elder sister did gave me some ideas on no-bake cookies. But, I'm really and idiot when it comes to making food. I tried one Peanut Butter Crispy Squares recipe but found it to be too sugary and may melt in this hot weather. Even with such simple recipe and steps, I only got it on my 2nd try. First, I burned the chocolate chips instead of melting it. Second, I had no idea that marshmallow become very sticky when melted, thus ending up with a too sticky (to the point of not use able) mixture. Hehehhee.....laugh all you want.

Then I found a recipe to make Crispy Rice Pops from the Family Fun Cooking with Kids book. And so I combine crafting with making food. The result? I love it, Grace love it! And I believe the kids at school will love it. We call it, "Crispy Lollipop". Here's some of the photos of the lollipop in the making.









Monday, May 24, 2010

A relaxing weekend

***warning, photo overload

With my tummy getting really big and the grand entrance of the little one soooo near (well, 7 more weeks or less to go), we really can't travel far, but all of us, especially Grace needed a getaway, so we ended up with a hotel stay at Flamingo by the Beach during the weekend. Grace was the happiest, while daddy was the most tired person. Why?

Grace had not been to a beach (for beach fun) before (she'd had some seaside experience during her fishing trips when she was very young but not the beach) and so she was all excited to go. Last weekend (the one before our getaway) we bought her beach toys (with bucket, spades, etc) and told her that we're going to the hotel and beach. Wow! She was indeed very excited. She keep on making her countdown everyday (.....a good way to teach her deduction).

Well, her daddy wanted to let her have a preview of the beach and so, on last Sunday (again, before our beach vacation), we went to a seafood restaurant by the beach for dinner, while letting Grace the chance to play at the beach. And....she was like this when on the way....


Then, seeing that the beach is so short (very near to the sea) and seeing this.....

she gets upset, cried and wanted to escape the beach.


After which, she told us, she don't want to play sand (@ the beach) when we go for our hotel stay, all she wants is swimming.

The day came, and she told her teachers and friends that she's going to the hotel. We went for lunch with a little girl whom is not interested at all in eating but going to the hotel. Then all she uttered in the car was, "Are we there yet? Is this the hotel? Where is the hotel?".......

Once there, she was greeted by the nice pool and marvellous beach, and all she can think off is "PLAY" and "SWIM".


But it was still too sunny, so forced her to take a nap. However, the nap was not very long, interrupted by a call from don't know who! And, she was again, asking to go for a swim. Still too sunny, so daddy and Grace went down to have a look. Once back, "Mummy, please help me change. I'm going swimming". Here's the happy girl...swimming. She had her swim again the next morning, right after breakfast and in the evening too.






After the swimming session, we managed to persuade her to the beach, let's see her progress......

Daddy had to carry her, she was too concerned on the sand getting into her slippers.
Then she had to sit on her personal chair....

Daddy, trying to convince her that it's ok to sit on the sand....


Bingo....she now sits on the sand.

But, daddy had to be very near her.



Next step, getting to the water....see how she's trying to get away...



Still trying to get away....




Still....wanted to run away....

The next day, she refused to go near the water. All she did was play sand.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Still crafting.....

Well, I just can't stop crafting. Whenever I'm at my craft desk, my hands need to work on something crafty, be it designing certificates, name tags and scripture booklet for the coming Children Camp at church, or making cards for Grace's teachers or altering a plain wooden frame.

I'm actually behind schedule in my crafting. What? A schedule? You must be wondering what schedule...Actually, there's 2 mini albums that had been in my mind for some time now, but I just couldn't find the time to start on it. One is for Grace, on her schooling, and another one for the soon to pop out little girl. Sigh, when can I start on these 2? Will I be able to complete at least one before the grand entrance of little 2nd one? I doubt.......will be busy on the Children Camp in June and by the time the camp ends, it's almost time to welcome my 2nd precious gift from God.

Enough of ramblings.....here's the crafty stuff....

First up, altered wooden frames for cousin Fern and sister Sherril.




Next up is Grace's deckled hearts. This is superb....having deckled effect with the use of a normal scissors.....hehhee..(don't tell her I make fun of her...). Four boxes of handmade cards for her teachers. I made the cards (see below), the blue box and tied the ribbon. Grace made the gift toppers. (fyi...Grace is in the process of making a DIY gift for her form teacher, will share it when she completed it).






Lastly, a card with gifts for my god-daughter, Joan. On the exterior, there's a magnet and the interior, cash.



Saturday, May 15, 2010

Second pregnancy....

I thought, it would be good to have a post on my second pregnancy, and so here it is.

Well, I'm blessed to have minimal morning sickness in both of my pregnancy. However, this time, I seems to have more indigestion as compared to the time when I was pregnant with Grace. As such, I don't eat too much. I tried to increase the frequency of eating and reduce the quantity taken each time. It helps a little with the indigestion. Thus, maybe due to this fact and the fact that I cook my own lunch (the last time, I was working and all the time I was eating bought food), my tummy seems to be smaller this time and lesser water retention. I can still fit into the shoes that I bought earlier in my pregnancy. (Last pregnancy, I changed quite a few pairs of shoes!)

Well, the baby (at this moment) seems to be smaller too. In our last doctor's visit, 3 days ago, she is just about 1.53kg and our doctor did mention that she's a little small, but it's still early. Grace was 3.93kg at birth!

Anyway, here's a peep of the little girl in my tummy and the exterior of the tummy as of last week.




Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Gratefulness Porcupine Cake

Yesterday, Grace came back with a little packet containing a "self-decorated" cake for her lovely (ahem) parents.

According to her teacher, the kids were given hands-on opportunity to decorate the cake (to look like a porcupine) and then have it presented to their parents.

Here's Grace's creation, and off course, Grace had to eat the "porcupine's sharp (err...in this case, colourful and sweet) spine" and the mommy gets to share the cake with daddy.




Besides, last week, they were given instructions to (1) give their mommy a good round of massage and (2) serve mommy water. And Grace did both. I'm so blessed!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mother's day special...

A surprise from my precious Grace and her super daddy.....




(p/s: it should be Grace presenting me with the flowers, but here it looks like I'm the one presenting it to her)....

Anyway, Thank You both darlings!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Mother's day resolution

I was at one of the shopping complex tonight, and while I was in the washroom, waiting for my turn to use the loo, I overheard this conversation.

It's a conversation between 2 teenage girls (I think they are about 14 or 15). I've no intention to eavesdrop on their conversation, but they were standing too near to me.

Girl A: I hate my mom. She'd always affect my mood (obviously from good to bad; and this really call for my attention - what did the mother do?)
Girl B: Ya know, whenever I go back late at night, once I open the door, she will be there nagging me. I won't bother her. I will go straight up to my bedroom.
Girl A: If I ever do that to her (mom), she will surely teach me a lesson.
Girl B: Lock you room door la!

Wow! Nowadays, teenagers have no respect at all to their parents! Do they realize how much sacrifice their parents, especially their mom made for them?

But, when I cooled down, and begin to think about it, the parents themselves have to pay a big portion of the responsibility for what happened to their sons/ daughters today. Many times, all we do is providing them with material stuff, and do we really care for their hearts? Maybe we want, but sometimes, we just missed it!

It also hit me. Will my daughters have the same conversation in the future? Will them go astray too?

And thus, I made a note to myself, and this will be my resolution.

"I MUST do all I can to shepherd their hearts. Guide them in the right path. Tackle their heart, instead of aiming for temporary correction of the exterior. Teach them the words of God. Teach them to fear the Lord. Submit them in the hands of the Lord."

"Lord, help me be a better parent."