It's five in the morning. Can't or rather don't feel like sleeping yet. I have been up since 9am yesterday and I need to be up at the same time later to go check out a playgroup for Kate. Rainy weather's great for sleeping and the rain hasn't relent since the skies opened up the day before. Sigh.


I have been in a foul mood since yesterday and recently it feels that every little thing drives me nuts. Ok, correction then. More like recently than just yesterday. Please just let me get better already before I do worse.


I don't have problems or needs. Not now, and not really anyway. But suddenly engulfed by intense emotions lately. And I feel like my life thus far is a freaking waste of my time. Emo eh.

Nostalgic

Feeling bit nostalgic tonight. Should go to sleep...but just don't want to.


Desmond is coming home on thursday, after spending a good five months in Ireland. Gosh! Europe is soooo beautiful! Exactly how I pictured it to be in my mind. (As though I was there like that. Haha) I was looking through his pictures. It's really beautiful... And I am so glad that he loved it there and enjoyed himself tremendously. Instead of just being an inquisitive tourist there for a few days, he got to slowly explore the place. My biggest dream ever. To live life elsewhere for at least a year or more. Which I believe, will come true some day. =)


I was thinking...he must be having such mixed feelings about coming home. Sure, he must miss us and his friends and the familiarity of home and the food here. But the incredible friendships that were forged overseas, the beauty of NOT living in a bustling city, the well-behaved dogs being walked by their well-behaved owners (quoting Des), the little intimate village and its people, the beautiful weather, the leisure pace of life and the picturesque beauty of the place must be sooo hard to leave. I know I would find it hard. So really, if God-willing, I hope he gets to go back some day.


Is Singapore so bad? Actually not. I love that it's safe here. But it's just too densely populated and I hate the humidity here. I guess it's the typical "Grass greener..." thing. Des says europeans love the weather in asia, thinks its exotic here and the city life. *Groan* I hate city life. Everyone's rushing here and there, and we are all brusque. Blah. But...that's the price we pay for modernisation and globalisation. But I digress, my point is; I would love to visit Europe. One fine day.


Kate's been stringing sentences, and it's really amazing to hear her talk. The only thing is she has a really stubborn spirit. Sigh. These few days, she's been really driving me up the wall. But, within a split second, she will do something that will either; 1- Make me laugh. 2- Warm my heart. Children. They've got all of us wrapped round their little finger.

January baby!

Bit late...since it's mid-month or-lay-dee. But nevertheless...



http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com/blog/


I know it seems I stopped scrapping. No! I didn't. But seriously lack of inspiration and new photos to work with. *Sulk* I did a layout earlier but kinda ruin it while playing with my distress inks. So not gonna post it til I get it fixed. *SIGH*

Christmas last year...

Um...Yea. I know. I really need to stop sitting on things! Lol. So this post is like 2 weeks late. Blah.


Last year was a real busy Christmas. I thought I had time to personalized gifts and cards and in the end I didn't. I didn't even really had time to get presents too, and all of them were gotten last minute. Sigh. I need to manage my time better. We spent Christmas eve at my parents' place, with my friends, and my mom's church friends too. Hubs was working though. I um...forgot to take pictures. Haha! Daddy and mommy worked from morning til evening for the party and dad even went to work after the party. We were all sooo busy preparing and I didn't have time to wrap the few gifts that I had bought for family. Haha. Terrible right?? For my friends, I gave them cookies! Home baked cookies and home made tags. Rather broke last month; bad time AND money management. =)


Silly me never took much pics at the party but here are some of the children.










Funnily, this year, I hardly have photos with my family! I have some from the visit to the botanical gardens early december but I'll post them in the next post or the one after. K, I'll try. Haha! Many photos with my in-laws though, which really, pictures with them is a rarity so this is good. =)


We celebrated my mom-in-law's birthday slightly earlier and here are pics! Went to "Bosses" at Vivo. Nice ambiance, lots of black (I likey) and not very expensive though it looks like an expensive place! And the food is nice too.





















Ok. We couldn't get a bigger cake, thus the little one. And what annoyed me was that hubs brought the box to the table. Sighhh. Wanted to surprise my mil, so I thought he would bring it to the counter at the front when he came in. But he didn't. So I took it to a waiter. Then when we signalled for the cake to be served, the waitress came over two or three times to ask me different questions about it; So serve the cake now? Light the candle? Need plate? Or something like that. Sigh. So the surprise wasn't such a surprise in the end.  -_-













And for Christmas day, we met my in-laws to go for a nice dinner at the Esplanade. Just thought of spending it with them as it's my mother-in-law's birthday, and we seldom celebrate or go out on her birthday itself! This year since hubs could make it in time for dinner, we met them and went out. I was so relieved when the train down to town was not very packed, contrary to what I thought. Kate loves buses and trains! She's always bugging me to take bus when I wait for a cab. Haha. I used to be paranoid about taking public transport with her (other than cabs) but I've gotten over it. Kate's really well-behaved on them so I'm blessed that way. She only kicks up a fuss when maybe hubs is with me and we don't get a seat together. If so, she will bug me saying that she wants her daddy and vice versa when daddy carries her. Oh! There was once when we took the bus down to Jurong point and she suddenly wanted milk but I didn't pack any for her since she just ate her lunch. Boy! She screamed and cried so hard everybody stared. I was really embarrassed but coolly tried to comfort her. All the while trying to convince myself; "They will get over it, they will get over it!" "They" referring to the people who were staring of course. I didn't get off the bus since it was only four stops. But it felt sooo long. Haha!


So we went to the Esplanade to eat and then to TCC at City link for coffee. I'll let the pics speak for themselves.














So anyway boxing day was spent at east coast park! Which delighted Kate to no end! She has been talking about playing sand and beaches for awhile now, so we decided to bring her. Thank God it didn't rain and the weather was perfect for the beach that day! The first picture shows how delighted she was! We took a bus there and while walking over, we told her we were reaching the beach. And she started running and hopping and dancing. Haha!


















I told her to jump higher and try to get the kite. And here she is trying to get it.










So anyway, that was my Christmas last year. It was busy and crazy and fun. With kids around, never a dull moment!!


2010 was mostly stressful for us. Many reasons. But I'm very glad to say that since November or so, things have been looking up. And here are ten things that I'm grateful for!

1. That I have a beautiful family.
2. That everyone in my life is safe.
3. That no matter what, we always seem to have enough.
4. That I have people around who are supportive even though I always complain.
5. That there are true friends in my life who sticks around.
6. That I am given the privilege to be a stay-home mom.
7. That our families are well.
8. That I now have a hobby which relieves stress!
9. That I am able to do what I love.
10. And finally, to be alive and well, and to be blessed with so much.

I know I always complain. But deep down, I do know too, that I am blessed and all I have to do is stop and count my blessings. Even though I still have not gone back to church, I know that the Lord is looking out for me and my family and in that knowledge, I feel safe. I really ought to quit complaining and be grateful for what I have. =)

Playgroup search

I want to post my christmas pictures... But I wanna rant too. I'm searching for a playgroup for Kate. Many reasons. Number one; I may be getting a part time job. Number two; Someone said some things to me, which I agree partially on. Number three; I want Kate to be able to mix with other kids her age.


And during this search....I saw a lot of info but seriously can't digest much of it. Too many centres to choose from. And for some reason when looking at primary school registration (I know its still long), I suddenly am worried what if I can't get her into any primary school because all the places are taken!! I don't know why I will think that way but its just quite freaky. I saw this on MOE website for the primary one registration for year 2011. Its a lot to read (& rather boring) so feel free to skip the rest of the post if you want.



Phases of Primary One Registration Exercise


Category 11: Children who are Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents


Phase 1
For a child who has a sibling studying in a school of choice.
Registration: Tuesday 6th July 2010 and Wednesday 7th July 2010
All children registered under this phase will be given places in schools.






Phase 2A1
For a child whose parent is a former student of the school and who has joined the alumni association as a member not later than 30 Jun 2009; or whose parent is a member of the School Advisory/Management Committee.
Registration: Friday 9th July 2010
Announcement of Result: By Tuesday 13th July 2010






Phase 2A2


For a child whose parent or sibling has studied in the school of choice; or whose parent is a staff member of the school of choice.
Registration: Thursday 15th July 2010 and Friday 16th July 2010
Announcement of Result: By Tuesday 20th July 2010






Phase 2B2


For a child whose parent has joined the school as a parent volunteer not later than 1 July 2009 and has given at least 40 hours of voluntary service to the school by 30 June 2010; or whose parent is a member endorsed by the church/clan directly connected with the school; or whose parent is endorsed as an active community leader.
Registration: Thursday 22nd July 2010 and Friday 23rd July 2010
Announcement of Result: By Wednesday 28th July 2010




Phase 2C


For a child who is ineligible for or unsuccessful in earlier phases.
Registration: : Monday 2nd August 2010, Tuesday 3rd August 2010 and Wednesday 4th August 2010
Announcement of Result: By Friday 13th August 2010






Phase 2C Supplementary


For a child who is unsuccessful in gaining a place in a school of choice at Phase 2C.
Registration: Wednesday 18th August 2010
Announcement of Result: By Monday 23rd August 2010






Category 23: Children who are neither Singapore Citizens nor Singapore Permanent Residents


Phase 3
For a child who is neither a Singapore Citizen nor a Singapore Permanent Resident.
Registration and Announcement of Result: Monday 30th August 2010






Footnotes:


1.Should the number of applications exceed the number of vacancies in any phase, places will be balloted according to the following order of priority. From 2010, Singapore Citizens will be given two ballot slips for each child, while Singapore Permanent Residents will continue to get one ballot slip per child.




a.Children living within 1 km of the school of choice.
b.Children living between 1 km and 2 km of the school of choice.
c.Children living outside 2 km of the school of choice.




2.At the end of Phase 2A(2), 50% of the remaining places will be allocated for Phase 2B and the other 50% for Phase 2C registrants in a school. In the event that less than 50% of the allocated vacancies are taken up at Phase 2B, the remaining vacancies will be carried forward to Phase 2C. ↩


3.Children who are Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents and who have not registered at any of the earlier phases are also eligible to register at this phase. Registration in this phase will be done on a first-come-first-served basis.
 
 
See? Oh goodness! The woes of being a parent. Childcare also so many to choose from. Sigh. And so many things to consider; convenience, cost, teaching methods, nice and responsible teachers. Oh bother.