A Cold Christmas

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We were in Hong Kong & Macau over Christmas this year.

We later learnt that it was the coldest Christmas Hong Kong experienced.

10-13 deg on Christmas day alone!

Nevertheless, we braved the weather and just soak in the atmosphere.

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The cold weather did not stop the boys

from enjoying themselves thoroughly.

Even the hotel room itself is a playground!

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Happy Twenty Twelve!

May 2012 brings you abundance of happiness, wealth & good health!

Before December ends...

.Can't believe its December already!
Its been a while, and I should be getting back on track
to revive this neglected little corner of cyberspace.
So much too update but so little time!
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Anyway, Nat just turned 4 on 4 Dec, and me, a year older...
There were so many chocolatey log cakes around on display
with Christmas around the corner.
So he insisted on this log cake.
Its has the least of the chocolate!
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They cried and hugged...

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We were at Genting Highlands briefly last week.

Clearly the theme park and most of the rides were too advanced

for my little ones.

So we thought that a car ride would be okay,

as they looked straightforward and easy,

although it seems like they are going a tad too fast.

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But the sign says for `above 78cm'.

So technically, both passed the requirement.

Nat and Gab thought they could handle the ride and kept bugging me for one,

although I was a little skeptical.

But, what the heck, let the boys take up the challenge.

Plus, its nice to have both sharing a car this time.

They hopped on and were ready to go!

We watched from outside the fence,

as they meddled with the steering, gear, seatbelts...

Before long, they set off automatically.

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There were a total of 5 rounds.

And it went like this...

Round 1:

Both looked stunned, trying to figure out simple things like why are they moving.

They were expressionless. Classic.

Round 2:

They realised nothing they can do to stop the car nor change its direction.

It just kept moving forward, uphill and downhill, round and round.

Round 3:

One of them started crying helplessly, followed by the other immediately.

Nat was seen holding the steering tightly with one hand,

and put his other arm around Gabriel tightly.

Round 4:

ditto

Round 5:

ditto

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From 3rd round onwards, we were busy telling them

`Its alright, don't cry, see you soon', from afar.

They were the only ones crying.

Read: ONLY

Sigh, my 2 spoilt kids.

Need to roughen them out more!

Like that also cry,

but its rather sweet of Nat to hold on to his bro the whole time,

like protecting and telling him that they are in this together,

me and my drama...

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Anyway, we retrieved them from the torture session,

consoled and commended them for being brave

and found from Nat that he cried first, then Gabriel followed,

so much for being a big brother.

We thought it was the other way round.

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They were `traumatised' after the ride.

So the days that followed,

I have used their `horrifying' experience to my benefit....

`Don't want to finish your dinner? Bring you to the car ride'

`Not going to nap? Remember the car ride?'

`Not bathing? Car ride?'

It works immediately, haha!

I know, I am evil:P

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NATHANIEL is 9 letters

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Before the start of the week long holiday for Nat,

Teacher Agnes pulled Daddy N aside on the last day of school,

and feedback that Nat has generally improved.

Next year, the kids are supposed to be able to write their own name,

But, Nat is far behind in this category.

So the week long holiday was meant for him, or rather us,

to help him 'Catch Up'.

Sigh.....I can see more of these coming...

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Some thoughts played in my mind immediately...

1st - should have a headstart training him in writing

2nd - should have pin him down for serious work instead of play

3rd - should have picked a shorter name for him.

Ah well, those are just excuses...

Anyway, we tried to encourage him to write his name, for the past few days.

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So the weekend short trip has suddenly become his study trip, sort of,

minus the mini car rides, ice cream treats, countless water play, etc.

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It was so hard for us to even get him to write his name once,

I think he wrote it 12 times only, still better than none....

The first attempt, we manage to coax him to write 2 lines,

more like tracing the dotted lines I prepared for him while he nap in the hotel room.

Stress-nya...

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Of course, he was a beginner, with no proper & formal training,

so his sequence of lines are a total mess.

Back to front, bottom to top, with extra lines some more.

I tried to organise him a bit, but ultimately,

so long as what he traced reads `NATHANIEL'

I think we are fine for now :P

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Out of the 12 lines he wrote, I think it took us 5 attempts,

in between the lines, he requested for rests and plays,

some of which I promised him a session in the pool, a new toy, and other incentives,

but the last 2 lines, he did it fast with no fuss

as he cannot tahan Gabriel playing with his new tow truck, haha...

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I guess the difficult part is that he cannot hold a pencil consistently

with sufficient strength,

so his lines are all crooked and soft.

But we will consistently help him to cope,

school starts tomorrow and we have not mastered the writing,

Aiyah, cannot be like magic lah this one...

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Good Friends

Like good friends, mum said.
Oh how I wished this happens most of the time!

Something else on the wall...

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This arrived in a parcel last weekend.

And I thought Daddy N was serious about

`no more toys for the boys' and the boys being `too pampered'.

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Apparently its a remote control car that not only drives on the floor

but on the wall as well.

It became an instant hit with the boys.

They were totally amazed.

Especially Nat, the wheel lover.

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Gab was a little scared as the car has a powerful suction

that allows it to be driven up the wall.

So, its like a mini vacuum cleaner,

and Gabriel does not really fancy one.

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This one here is exclusive.

It sits in the study room and allowed play only upon request and approval.

The rest of the wheels are accessible anytime from the common pool.

Now thats the difference :P

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Peeping TOM

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That would be me.

Plonked both boys into the bath tub and watched them play openly.

This time I have added a full bottle of bath foam from `Hilton'

And of course, the boys took turns to complain about the the sting in their eyes.

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Anyway, the foam were funny to them,

they scooped it up and puts them on each other's head

and not missing out the mouth of course.

They were licking the foam by the time I said `NOoooooo!'

Anyway, it was a weekly luxury for them,

and my weekly waste of water.....

If they are happy, i am happy:)

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