Why oh why did I pack the weekend so?

:: My long weekend started with lunch at 7atenine with Dada on Thursday…at the end of round 1, we were stuffed and all ready for desserts. Haha. We like to think, its quality over quantity here.

:: Finally watched Shopaholic movie with larling, after Good Friday service. It’s really been a long while since I caught any movie at the cinema. We were at J8, so there wasn’t any strong urge to shop after. Haha. Went home to katsu curry dinner made by tehpeng.

:: Tehparents came over with special delivery of durians (YUMS!) after dinner and I was able to serve them some of the 箩卜糕 I was preparing for the picnic the next morning with the blogbabes. Fresh off the steamer! So glad they like it.

:: It was a bright and early start with a picnic at Cluny Park with the blogbabes. We were clearly first-timers. Firstly, a majority of us were lost. Honestly, if I weren’t the first person to arrive and became the “marker”, I would have gotten lost too! Secondly, we laid out our picnic mats under the sun, with no shade. But it was the best spot, near to the lake! There was another group which very intelligently laid theirs beneath a tree, with shade. We managed about half an hour enjoying the yummy spread before the sun got too much for us and we all retreated to the pavilion, which I had “choped” when I arrived. Except for Nat who kept tugging at me to bring him out to the sun again. I obliged but when he tugged at me again, Uncle Merv very kindly brought him out.

Can’t believe my boy is a 阳光男孩！We all unanimously agreed that our next outing will be indoors! Haha.

:: As if the picnic didn’t tire Nat out, we rushed out of the house after a quick lunch (and a power nap for this mummy) for a trial session at Kid’s loft. It’s Nat’s first class! And ours too. Haha!

I was really more excited (and somehow nervous) about the class than Nat, who was really none the wiser. When I confirmed the session with Lavina, I started to prime Nat for it with “Baby, do you want to go to class? Have fun with friends and teacher?” He will always shake his head. As if to say, he doesn’t need to go to a class to have fun, he’s having enough fun with daddy & mummy (and grandparents and mei-mei) what.

Besides the one time he fussed when we had to clear away his cheerios before he could finish them as the class was moving onto another activity, he was a brave boy throughout, despite his lack of active participation in the activities. As I was with him throughout, I could sense his “fear” as he was overwhelmed by everything – the teacher, the other students, the new environment, the activities, the instructions, etc. Honestly, I was too – I realised I had to singalong too, when I saw other mummies being so enthusiastic and encouraging their babies along. If you know me well enough, you will know that is so un-me.

There was craft time and when teacher Lavina said the children will cut up pieces of paper, I was shocked – what do you mean? Scissors? Seriously?! Hahah…I think the parents (us included) ended up helping out. Hence marked our first “help-my-son-do-his-homework” thingy. Heh.

More of our thoughts post-class at tehpeng’s.

Meanwhile, this mummy is going to do some “remedial” activites at home to prepare Nat for his next class. Can anyone sense I have the potential to become psychomama? Heehee.

:: After Easter service, tehpeng surprisingly agreed to a jaunt to town, when I brought up that I needed to get those organic biscuits for Nat. Again, it’s for Nat, else we would have just gone home for wanton mee lunch. Haha. So we met up with Dada for lunch at Sushi Tei before stocking up at Vitakids and some art&craft materials for Nat.

:: We ended the weekend with dinner at Mitzi (where else?) with my parents.

Phew, that was quite an eventful weekend for yveon&Nat. No wonder Nat konked off right after his bath after we returned from dinner.

Ahhh, the weekend has been about food and friends.

It started early, with dinner & some drinks with shutterbug & ej at Blue Basil on Thursday night, which was a cozy place in the heart of town.

And to really kick in the weekend, we had a yummy homecooked 私房菜 dinner by Chef Ron with mr&mrs silver_crv and Edgar. It ended with some wii-fun for us(and I totally cannot make it!) where we unknowingly  became the entertainment for the night. Haha.

The highlight was celebrating Jon&Michelle’s union on Saturday, starting with the church solemnisation and the black-red-themed cosy affair of a dinner. She was gorgeous in her wedding gown, kebaya and evening gown while Jon was smooth and dashing in his suit.

Love and laughter were really in the air and our table was as usual, chatting about everything under the sun (from travels to babyschools to dating days) as good food was being served.

Of course, we took a few shots for the Internet.

Saw this at Imp’s and thought :: why not? Shuffling is my way as I like not knowing what song is next.

a. Put your iTunes on “shuffle”.

b. For each question, skip to the next song to get your answer. You must use the title of that song as your answer, no matter how silly it may sound.

1. What would you say if someone were to say, “Is this o.k.?”
Safe in a crazy world – Corrine May

2. What do you like in a guy / girl?
Jesus Lover of my soul – United Live

3. How do you feel today?
Welcome in this place – Hillsong

4. What is your life’s purpose?
We wait – Don Moen

5. What is your motto?
Center – Charlie Hall

6. What do your friends think of you?
如此这般想你 – 张智霖

7. What do you think of your parents?
Stronger than – Hillsong

8. What do you often think about?
What the Lord has done in me – Hillsong

9. What is 2 + 2?
You are near – Hillsong

10. What do you think of your best friend?
Sing of your great love – Hillsong

11. What do you think of the person you like?
I believe there is more – Don Moen
(HAHAH!)

12. What is your life story?
Free to dance – Don Moen

13. What do you want to be when you grow up?
God is the strength of my hope – Don Moen

14. What comes to mind when you see the person you like?
City of angels – Corrine May

15. What do your parents think of you?
I’ll say yes – Don Moen

16. What will you dance to at your wedding?
Leaving – Corrine May
(TOO FUNNY!)

17. What will they play at your funeral?
One desire – Hillsong

18. What is your hobby / interest?
Painter of the skies – Don Moen

19. What do you think of your friends?
Fade Away – Olivia Ong
(NO NO NO!)

20. What is the worst that could happen?
One Man went to mow – Old Macdonald

21. How will you die?
The kingdom of God – Paul Baloche

22. What is the one thing you regret most?
Awesome is the Lord most high – Chris Tomlin
(More likely not knowing Him earlier!)

23. What makes you laugh?
I offer my life – Don Moen

24. What makes you cry?
I will love – Hillsong

25. Will you ever get married?
You are here – Hlllsong

26. What scares you the most?
Sweet memories – Olivia Ong

27. Does anyone like you?
Salvation is here – Hillsong

28. If you could go back in time, what would you change?
Did you feel the mountains tremble? – Hillsong

29. What hurts right now?
Jesus paid it all – Kristian Stanfill

30. What will you post this as?
Have your way – Don Moen

I suppose now you know I have mostly praise songs, jazztunes, vintage Canto ballads & Nat’s Old Macdonald in my playlist.

Not tagging anyone so just shuffle if you want to!

The weekend started with a wonderful tea spread at pf’s on Saturday. As what Pat said, it sure can beat any hotel high-tea spread! And it was definitely nice sipping tea from pf’s impressive collection of teacups.

With 13 adults and 5 babies, one can just imagine the “chaos theory” at work around the table.

The 2 young ones (Elliot & Noah) took a nap, giving their mummies some free-time to eat and carry other babies. Haha.

Nat joined us at the table, for as long as his patience can endure and till he got bored of my bag of toys/books…

…bride-to-be Mich entertained him for a while…it was educational, he now knows where the flowers are in PF’s kitchen…

We manage to gather everyone for a pic…before the lo-hei.

Thank you all. Amazing how our lives wouldn’t have crossed paths, if not for this thing called blogging.

I was tagged both via blogs and facebook to do this 25 (or is it 26?) random things about oneself meme.

The rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.

It took me awhile to get down to it…so here goes….

1. I started this meme at 11.06am.

2. The lion dance for my office just started. The lions will come to your desk if you place a pair of mandarin oranges with a red packet. The lion will do the “peel-orange-and-form-the-财-character” for you. I ran away before the lions came round to my area.

3. I forgot to wear my ring today. It feels strange.

4. I’m sitting on a Herman Miller  chair but hunching over the laptop negates whatever ergo-benefits the chair is supposed to give me.

5. I just embarked on The One Year Chronological Bible. I hope reading the bible consistently everyday this  way will give me new perspectives and draw me closer to His word and wisdom.

6. My online access to facebook, webmails and some social networking sites have been banned at work. I can still blog, and read some blogs. I felt cut-off for a while. Now, I’m quite used to it.

7. I’m carrying the Hayden-Harnett for Target tote for the past week. I’m loving the huge-ness of it.

8. I’m reading “Friday Night Knitting Club” borrowed from the Bishan Library. I realised I’ve moved from chicklit to heartwarming (heart wrenching, at times) family/life novels.

9. I just realised there is Vpost UK!

10. I’m shifting cubicle next Friday and I need to start packing/throwing stuff I don’t want to move over.

11. I ordered from VS for the first time (I’ve bought from the physical store before). The package arrived with an extra PJ set I didn’t order!

12. I’m really grateful for my life at the moment. There might have been episodes which I wished I didn’t have to go through, but without them, I wouldn’t be who I am.

13. I didn’t take any piano/organ lessons when I was young. Now I am wishing I didn’t resist.

14. I am not a games-person. I totally cannot make it at Guitar Hero, even at easy level.

15. I seriously didn’t want to date a TCH boy when I was in my teenhood. And guess what, I married one! Even if we met back then when we were young, I don’t think we would have hit it off. God’s timing is the best.

16. I realised most of my family (including my uncle-era) have studied in AC at one point of their lives, myself included. Cousin J was pre-school all the way to JC!) And babysis just started at ACJC.

17. I used to be very conscious of my (lack of) height and skinny self. I’ve since grown to be confident of myself and how I look.

18. I am currently wanderlusting….

19. I don’t eat tofu and green peas and beans. And a lot of other things.

20. I wish I can be more inclined towards craftwork. My last effort to cross-stitch something for tehpeng ended up as an unfinished present. He’s still waiting for me to pick it up. Hah.

21. My afternoon snack choices are apple crumble from Opus Deli or chocolate cupcake from Toast. And I’m hungry for either one now.

22. I like flipping through recipe books and think about trying out the recipes. But I often give up at the thought of actually doing it. Haha. I should seriously make Saturday evenings as try-new-recipes dinner day.

23. I wish I can be more coordinated in my purchases – why do I often think nothing goes with anything in my wardrobe and I have no shoes/bags to go with what I’m wearing?

24. I am feeling quite sleepy now. And I wish I can lie down in bed and read a book.

Are you still with me here?

25. I really look forward to growing old with tehpeng and watching Nat grow. There are so many things to discover together!

It is now 3.25pm by the time I finished (I took a lunch break in between).

Not tagging anyone, but it really isn’t easy to type 25 random things. Try it for yourself!

My online world started with ICQ, then onto msn and now blogging (ok, there was also friendster and now, facebook).

Admittedly I started blogging just to know what babysis is doing with this this online diary thingy then and well, look where this blog has taken me. I’ve met alot of people and formed friendships which are unique in a sense, and goes beyond reading their blogs.

And you realise the impact of this online space when your dad was told by his new colleague (or was it an acquaintance) that she saw his grandson’s pics on the Net (I hope she meant his blog, or my blog, and not anywhere else..eeeps!).

Some have emailed me and shared their blogs with me (which might not be linked here).

So far, it’s been pleasant encounters. Thank God for that.

Apparently, the Monday that just passed was Delurking Day, where people come out and click comment & say hi.

This might be abit slow (since my online life was cut at work – no more access to social sites since mid Dec) but I want to know you out there who is reading about my shopping wants, my mothering muses of my son, my random bits, this ordinary life of mine.

So, just say hi (email or comment). Anything.

We’ve been invited to bw’s for dinner later and I just prepared babypasta for Nat (beef with carrots) using Annabel Karmel’s recipe.

I packed the food into his trusty tingkat which has enabled him to enjoy his meals out with us. I’ll only pack his food if I know we are able to feed him properly, in the comfort of a restaurant or someone’s place. Otherwise, it’s milk-on-the-go.

Much as I can’t wait for him to be able to eat what we eat outside, I want him to eat less salty/msg-laden/ (aka outside food) stuff.

And, there is so much joy and fun preparing his meal and planning his menu. I am always very inspired by littlegastronomy’s daily menu for pretty Arianne. The blog is my treasure trove of local-take recipes, aligned to our dietary habits. There’s even recipes suitable for adults too! The food all look so yummy!

Nothing like food to bond a family together huh. I suppose that’s why our mothers become such great cooks.