LoHei

Our family folks continue to usher in the New Year simply by gathering again for one more dinner before the festival ends. So this year,we went to the Pine Valley's restaurant at the Laguna Country Club for our traditional 'LoHei'.

It was your first "LoHei" with the folks. Meals together with the spolit Valerie, Vanness terror and tyrant Marshy means no peace. It's a blend of wistfulness, innocence and noisy bantering.

Jolly banter aplenty. ANd there never seems to have enough time when you are having fun.



The doting grandparents.

Mama, let me order, ok?

Preparation work for the'LoHei'.

Seriously 'LoHei Ing'.

Look how focused you are with the pair of chopsticks.

This is cool! Another round?

This Lunar New Year, two thousand and ten

It's Spring. I love this feeling. NEW year, the goodies, the gatherings and how it means having the second chance to revisit the new year resolutions made but not kept barely a month ago. Chinese New Year now takes on a totally new face and meaning, with your presence in our lives.
After 36 years of celebrating the occasion in the same way, I am getting rather bored. I mean it's nice but I have lost the enthusiasm for it. But you made all the difference. This is your Second Lunar New Year. This time as a toddler who finds magic in everything. That gait around you when we were preparing to go visiting. The glow on your face when you played with her cousins. The excitement is all coming back. You made me love the celebration again.

And I love love love love love love you.

Having fun with cousins.

This is Marsh and her'niece'

Role playing.

Marsh and her Great Grandmother.

More cousins!

CNY's Eve- two thousand AND ten

Today seems kindda of candy-coated. Beyond lovely. It's Marshy's second time celebrating the Eve of the Lunar New Year. And we happened to be celebrating the occasion in our JG's class today.

Class was fun filled as usual. With the important little people in our lives dressed for the occasion. It was a lovely sight. Fun as it is but ironical when we tried too hard to preserve these chinese traditions in our childrens' lifes. Especially done in CLASSES.

Anyway, I think you had fun. Dancing and spinning in your new bling bling red dress and soaking in the lively atmosphere recreated painstakingly by the teachers.

Thank you . Thank you . For the wonderful times.

Then we rushed home for the traditional family galore for our reunion dinner with my family. The extra face at the table with us this second year round made reunion diner even more joyous!

We certainly had a delightful night of bantering and non stop gluttoning with the folks.

Dancing happily away!

Getting center staged.

Chinese New Year is fun!

My first Ang Pow this year.

Two chummy friends celebrating the occasion together.

Resting in a corner after the dances.

On our way to popo's house for Reunion dinner.

Is my menu for reunion dinner organic, dad?

Waiting for the count down!

CHRISTmastime

Merry Christmas, everyone! May you always be a happy marshmellow- just like me!

Gifts and more gifts.....

Happy Birthday, Cousin Val!

Be it Merry or Happy, this season hold both meaning and moments of joy. Whether we are recreating traditions or recreating new ones, have spent too much or have nothing to spend, what's clear and what's matter is taking the time to reflect. This is the time to ask ourselves: what do you believe, what are you open to and who do you love, but most importantly, how are you showing it? From taking time to be kind to yourself to the thoughtfulness you are showing to the people around you.

I reckon that Saint Father Claus will soon be a controversial character to you in some years time and its origins will also be in question. Yet, whatever you may believe or consider, both represent concepts we should all hold dear. While modern technology has dimmed the intended messages, allow this time of year to be what makes you happy and bring our family together. There's no right or wrong way to go about celebrating whichever holidays we choose. Each of our celebrations are what we make of them and special simply by being ours. My ideal holiday would integrate them all for they each have phenomenal purpose.

For the last nine years now, we had been celebrating Christmas with my family at Auntie Carol's because it is your cousin Val's birthday on Boxing Day. This year is no exception. My favourite niece is turning nine. I cannot believe this. How time flies. She was the first baby in the family and oh.... how I adored her.

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas, Valerie! I have been searching for an ideal gift for her and finally settled for a MakeItYourself Fairy kit (Cousin Val is into Fairies these days). I wish I can put some of the Christmas spirit in 12 jars and have her open a jar of it every month.

Anyway, Merry Christmas! May all of us have or find something worth commemorating this time of the year!

See Keri Splish! See Keri Splash!

Another Overdue post- 14 Dec 2009

I would love to bring you swimming everyday but it is just not happening. . So this is one of the days when we just pack up and go swimming!

Cant wait!

My sexy Babe!

All set with your entourage for a Splash at the pool.

Popo and Marsh!

I dont need swimming goggles, popo!

Wow! The water is cold!

The ever protective Popo testing the water.

Awesome! I can swim !

This is cool. So relaxing............

Ummmmm.... what is this mushroom above me ?

Gallop On!

24th Oct 2009 Saturday

Few weeks ago, I was reading this book titled- Gallop (By Rufus Butler Seder) to you. It is a very interesting read. What looks like a regular book will captivate you from page one. Flip the pages to see a technique called Scanimation in action- the images seem to move as though you were watching a video. You were fascinated by the horse galloping so I decided to bring you to see real ones. I recalled reading in Steph's blog about this place where you dine near the horses. So I brought you and popo to Riders's Cafe for breakfast today. I also think that the best lesson on ecology for you is to introduce you to different kinds of animals in this unusual way and environment. (other than going to the zoo)


Riders Cafe- located at the Bukit Timah Saddle Club. We really got to see horses at close proximity but we didnt manage to get good shots of them. They were trotting past us all the time. I wonder if you can associate these horses to the ones you read ?

Wow! It is so hot. I am keeping my shades on.

SO what 's for breakfast? PoPo, I order for you.

ummm.. yum yum. The pancakes are not too bad.

My Marsh and me.

My baby bookworm.

Pancakes with strawberries for Marsh.

And Rider's Breakfast for Popo and mummy!

Popo, I love you!

Hey, I found these bunnies along the road. I think they lost their way. Can we bring them back?

Popo, mummy and Marsh having a great morning together!