Back to create more memories...

It's been 3 years since the last post. A lot has been going on. All the growing, memory-building, joint adventures, and lots more...

Here are the random pictures...
Back to create more memories!

Cookin' Poppin' at JE

Guess I am missing cooking, and trying hard to find a chance to use the pretty Tupperware set given by John's students! And so... this was a day of home-cooked lunch party!

Besides the real food, the girls also got together to do some cooking appropriate at their level. Check out the pictures below!

Letter to Estella

Dear Estella,

Six months before you started primary one, I wrote an entry here to remind myself how I should balance everything to encourage and inspire you to be a keen learner. I was so afraid that the busy schedule and the MOE system will take the joy of learning out of you. To my relief, my worries were unfounded. You proved to be a keen reader, a totally responsible girl who takes charge of your own schoolwork, and such a joy to me.I enjoy fetching you every evening just so I can hear your 1st-hand account about what happened in your school. You are just so bubbly and chirpy each time you relate your school days. By now, I am also convinced you've read more books than I ever had from Primary 1-6 all put together. I am so glad you got this bookworm trait from daddy. Keep learning and growing. Keep asking questions. Keep trying. Keep reading, from various authors, sources, genres. Keep working on the Power Word you learn from DiscoveryLand weekly. You are such a blessing to me, and everyone around you.

Keep shining like a star for Jesus Christ.
Mommy loves you a lot a lot a lot!!! 

PS: This is a pic of you during the birthday party you had at home... :)

Weekend Party!!

This weekend was probably the longest weekend I'd spent with my mom and sis ever since I got married! It all started with having Ah Paw, Mama and E-Shyan visiting on my birthday night. Sat was lunch at BKK, and dinner was back at AMK. The girls were so elated to have guests bunking in over the weekend. A truly 3-generational  all-girls-party! Ah Paw even had the opportunity to enjoy a nice wedding dinner before joining in. The following morning was the most exciting bit. Everyone was well-rested (more or less), and had a really sumptuous breakfast... and this party stretched all the way to JE... with the most memorable car ride! Dinner was tabao-ed to JE, where the party continued! What a wonderful weekend!! While we were all counting down to daddy's return from US!

Lest I forget...

One more playmate!

Here's a warm princess welcome to Baby YX, the latest addition to the Quek side of family. The girls are super excited about this new playmate and they can't wait to have tea party with her. Meanwhile, the message to Baby YX is - "We want to play with you soon!"

Half a year more to Primary One!

Dear Starrie,


With half a year more to go, Mommy is in a mood of random rumblings, to set some reminders for herself about what to expect in your education...

• Learning is a lifelong journey. It's good to ask questions and be curious about daily life around us, how things work, who, what, when, where, why... as that's how we learn. :)
• While it's good to do things right the 1st time, it's also alright to take a few more attempts to make it right. It's the attitude of persevering, and not giving up at the 1st encounter of failure or hardship. God is patient with us, and that's why we should to.
• Don't forget to have fun! Afterall, nobody likes a boring life, right? Take time out to play, act, dance, imagine, create, make up a story, run in the park! 
• Talk about your feelings with us, how your day has gone, what adventures you'd had, how you felt about people/situations, anything God speaks to you, ... We want to hear from you.
• Pray about each decision to take. Yes, Mommy and Daddy will be praying with you, and we hope to model for you too. God hears all our prayers, and He loves us to tell Him about our plans, wishes, difficulties, emotions, anything and everything!
• Set your heart to the task that you are working on. Always give your best. Don't worry about the outcome. We love you as you are, not what you can/cannot do. Always remember this.

We want you to know that we are so proud of you. 

The Birthday Singers!

Alright, this is again a very belated post. It's to capture how much joy they bring along at each birthday celebration. Each birthday is getting more meaningful with their increased understanding. Which also means, as they are growing up so fast, we (the parents) are getting old...

Their songs, chuckles, hugs and kisses are just so priceless. :)

"Bring me along, Daddy!"

How they wished they could tag along Daddy's work trip!

Estella rides a bike

With more practices, she is gaining greater confidence in handling her 2-wheeler. Way to go, my darling!!

Day 18

Usual routine. Paused the walk due to haze. Read more into my hobby on the internet. Grocery shopping, general cleaning, packing of goodie packs for Thursday's party...1 more day!!! YEAH!!!

Day 17

Both snoozed till 8:30am... After I'd set up the breakfast and got everything ready, I peered into their room and witnessed a lovely sight. The 2 girls were snuggling up with each other, chuckling in a playful tone. Estella was actually tickling Eliana on her cheeks!


Some candid comments this morning:
Eliana: "What is that smell!?"
- referring to the lingering burning smell due to haze. Thanks to our neighbouring country...

Estella: "Mama, I want you to tie my hair half, not too much, so that it's long and thin"
- referring to her mid-way pony tail

Estella: "Mama, if you cut my long hair away, I will be very upset..."
- yes, she must have long hair!!!

Both darlings brought along their lanterns for the school's lantern parade. Seemed like Angry Bird lanterns were very popular with the kids this year!

Day 16

Hazy day today (sigh!). Short playground time in the morning at void deck. Cycling for Eliana, and kick-scootering for Estella. They had a great time at the slide. Cooked lunch and dinner. Estella's appetite for books grew! She was reading off so many books today, and even attempted the K2 book! Eliana is very, very fascinated with her giant sticker book! They were so busy doing artwork today... all because I couldn't 'hide'/keep away the paper plates in time. Eliana easily used up 15 today for her artwork. She was found happily snipping away... colouring, making noodles and even cooking them in the oven. In a cheeky mood, she told me she is 'auntie' today... happily serving food to the children in school! And of course, Estella and I had to 'eat the food' she served up!

Day 15

Swimming + Mini party


Blessed 3rd birthday to Eliana!!!

Day 14

As usual... grocery shopping, picking up mini birthday cake, housework, lunch with Paw at TP, Spotlight shopping (again!!) at PS, packed and wrapped prezzies for girls, but got to hide away from them. Surprise mah... They got what they wanted. Will post the pics in the next entry.

Fetched girls early. Simple dinner with baked salmon. Started my hobby after they went to bed... Oh my, this hobby is addictive. Hmm.. makes me think a lot about my mom. Can't wait to show her my little artwork! : )

Day 13

Discovery of a new hobby! Thankfully, I managed to borrow the sewing machine from MIL. There's quite a bit of bonding there too, as she walked me through the equipment. There are so much free lessons on Youtube, books from the library. I can feel the excitement brewing. Suddenly, I felt the connection with my mom whom I'd spent much of childhood sitting next to her while she worked away on her sewing machine... Yes, I am going back to Spotlight again to shop! More focused the next time, I hope. *grin* I dream of the pretty things I can make out of the pretty fabrics, and the requests from both girls to make sisterly dresses for them, little cute pouches, cushion covers, toys, even clothes for their toys... It all started from wanting to make some small cafe curtains to block out my odd storage areas... I guess that's how hobbies/dreams grow. Let it grow, let it grow... (I just remembered how my mom always 'nag' at me for doing all the "有样没价" things last time...)

As for the girls, I fetched them early today since there is no outdoor time due to rain. Spent a good hour with Estella as she read 4-5 books to me. It was a bookworm day! Read 2 books to them at bedtime. Estella totally enjoyed both books. The first book is "Pretend", which featured the father and son playing pretend on couch, and imagining themselves out at sea fishing, meeting sharks, etc. We both role-played the book and it was absolutely hilarious. The Chinese book was good too. Estella was giggling away at the adventures/silly acts the owlet did, especially his DIY sunglasses made of 2 leaves!
During skype time with daddy, Starrie was getting restless that he couldn't fly out from the computer screen and be at home at once. Her new tagline was 'I want you to pat pat me to sleep!!!'...

Day 12

Usual morning routine. To tackle this perpetual late syndrome (PLS), I actually used the timer this morning. From the moment I said 'let's go', I discovered it took 10 whole minutes to pack them into the car, and another 20 minutes to drive, and 3 minutes to unload them and kiss them good bye at the school (after the mosquito repellent spray, 2 kisses & 1 hug). Total time clocked is 33 minutes!! Alright, I have always been very unrealistic, in denial perhaps, that it does take THAT LONG to boot them to school. :(

Ideas for time shavers?
- cut Estella's hair?
- insist that Estella needs not wear socks? / just wear sandals lah...
- always make sure we park the car at deck 1A or 1B (the higher we circle, the more time is needed)
- get them to pick and choose the extra items to bring to school the night before
(Alright, I've already pre-packed the school needs as much as possible the night before...)

So now, let's work backwards the timing, and try again. :)

Had a fruitful lunch gathering with the TT folks at CityLink, followed by HomeProject time at Spotlight. Oh boy, I was so fascinated by the selection of fabrics there! Thought I found a new hobby. I will make it back there again as I gather more new Home Projects.

Late night incident - Starrie vomited in the middle of her sleep. Thank God she is well this morning. :)

Day 11

Managed to run some errands like ordering a small cake for celebration part 1 of 3; started the CDA account for Starrie; grocery shopping - all after the morning walk. Settled a bit of work, Skyped with dearie.

Today's dinner is one of the simplest to prepare - hearty chicken soup with carrots/corn/celery/onion/winter melon, with brown rice. Absolutely no need to stand by the fire and watch, etc. I've even prepared extra for the next day. Tom's meal should be simple too. Good thing is the girls managed to finish their portion well. Post dinner snack was not too bad too - 2 bananas for #1, lotsa grapes for #2, topped with a single serving of chocolate ice-cream. :-)

Now, we are all waiting to skype with Daddy. #2 blurted out on the way to school this morning 'I miss Daddy...'. With that, #1 echoed on too... Sigh, of course, and there's me three!! And so, during skype, the girls kept yelling 'I wanna hug, I wanna hug...' The ultimate request came when Starrie asked Daddy to fly out from the computer and come home immediately! Wow, what imagination!!! Duh...


Yes, Day 11. 8 more days to go...

Interesting highlight of the day includes this conversation with my ex-vendor, who is currently 1 step ahead of me in starting out on her own. From the short 20 minutes of exchange, there's so much in common in terms of our faith, family goals, and career objectives. It's so encouraging to hear her obeying the Lord and now able to make more time for her 3 children, and also actively serving in her church. It's also wonderful to hear how the Lord provided for her exceedingly and abundantly. Thank God for your providence. I received my first cheque yesterday finally! Lord, I look to you...
"Take me, Mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand" :)

Day 10

Brekkie - sch / walk - MBC - lunch with dear fren JQ - Renergy - IMM - sch - dinner at BS

Day 9

Brekkie - Surprise Time!! - Playtime - DVD - lunch - nap - Reading time / Play time - dinner at mkt area - DVD: Up - zzz

Got them a present each. They love their own toys so much. Created a lot more loving share-time and playtime. :)