Interesting that babysis got into ACJC, like me and actually, every other cousin in the family.

And even more interesting that she joined Dance as ECA. I laughed (or grimaced!) that I was from the pioneer batch. The days when Dance was definitely not as happening an ECA as it is now, it seems.

Back then, we only performed during school concerts (like CNY, Teachers Day when half the school usually ‘pontanged” and the other half were forced to sit through it…huhhuhhuh). I think we had a Dance concert of sorts, and it was themed L’Passion or something like this, according to my fuzzy memories. I remembered those days of leotards and tees, practicing weekday and Saturday mornings in the then spanking new dance studio when the swimming complex was opened. Full length mirror for us, instead of practicing in the hall.

Well, I definitely can’t do a (almost) split or those backward bend anymore!

Flashback to today, the dance team seemed to be really popular. For one thing, there are definitely more guys! HAH!

Anyway, on Friday, it was the dance concert and the whole family trooped down in support, on its opening night. My dad was joking that he’s got to be the oldest parent around. As for me, it was really flashback being back in school…

It was nat’s first dance concert too and though I was hoping he would do something embarrassing like call out “YI YI!” loudly when he spotted babysis, he did nothing of that sort. He didn’t fidget either. He paid rapt attention and was really enthralled and entertained by the movement on stage.

We all had a bit of a problem trying to spot babysis – they all look alike – tall & slim with makeup on…it takes a mother, aka my mum, to recognise your own daughter. Haha.

I bought a bouquet and had wanted nat to go on-stage to present to babysis. Alas, no such chance.

I love one-pot dish. And for some reason, I didn’t realise I was a fan of fishhead claypot, till greentea mum made it and I realised I do like it, in fact.

Only homemade ones though. Hah.

I bought some frozen red snapper fillets, so I tried making it yesterday,with some slight variations using this recipe. Namely, sans claypot. Hah.

Instead of Chinese mushrooms, I used enoki mushrooms. I didn’t put in any tofu, and I added pumpkin and cauliflower. I also used chicken stock.

It tasted yummy, if I may say so myself. Of course not the same standard as what greentea mum made.

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Unfortunately, Nat didn’t quite like it. So, I supposed it’s a failed dish…

Today for lunch, I made alphabet pasta to go with the leftovers and it was a hit with him!

We started the long weekend with a walk at the Woodlands waterfront with tehfamily.

Mummy and son were well equipped for the hot weather. Still, it was too much for us all.

What’s there to see? In tehpeng’s words : Johor. Haha.

We then headed off to greentea’s place for the manyue lunch, in celebration of our 表niece.It was a feast, tablefull of all our favourite foods. Seriously, greentea mum will always cook our favourites.

Greentea’s place is also known to us as yakult haven. The fridge is always surely stocked with them. I let Nat have one whole bottle to himself.

A good way to start the long weekend, with family and food.

Nat loves fish and fishballs. And this is one thing he always asks from my mum – po po, fish ball.

Which my mum will try to oblige. And no factory-made fishball for her grandson. Actually, my mum has always been a believer of everything and anything non-processed, as far as possible for us.  Since young, I’ve been ’spoilt’ by fishcake made by the fresh 西刀鱼肉 bought from Chinatown. And for this reason, fishballs or fishcake from stalls outside seldom satisfy my tastebud.

And so, I was really happy when tehdad brought us to Ah Koong fishball restaurant when we headed across the straits for a weekend to celebrate tehmum’s birthday. The place touts 西刀鱼肉 fishball made without preservatives.

Well, the fishballs aside, the noodles were yummy too! And the fishcake was so good, we had 3 plates of them!

This will be my must-eat, if we go across again. Tehpeng says it’s rather near and we can zip in for brekkie during the weekend if we want. Without the causeway jam, maybe…

As we sat around the table and told my dad of his grandson bedtime tactics and us having to count to 100 and back (which tehpeng had to do that last night, although we thought Nat was all tired out from an evening of play and fun catching the Chingay floats with silver_crv & family), he recounted that I was good – I was asleep by the time he counted to 20.

WAHAHAHAH! 不亏是Little Snooze!

Actually, when tehpeng took over the countdown to sleep duty last night, I was out by the time he counted past 5. Wahahahaha.

My dad has always been the family’s courier-shopper of sorts, since he’s frequently overseas. So when he’s home-bound, there’s bound to be a flurry of emails to him (from me and babysis).

He was last in Paris in Dec and of course, we sent him a user-friendly version of our wishlist (complete with images and price range). And he really did shop for us. Nevermind, if what he bought was not in our wishlist. Hahaha.

So, our Paris loot is homebound next week. And apparently, my dad was having issues with packing my shoes, and my mum reminded him that I want the shoebox intact. Aka, the shoes got to come back with the box! Gotta love my folks for indulging my whims.

Of course, grandson nat gets special attention. He was asked what he wants and he told my dad over the phone :: “Buy Car”. And when my dad asked “what car?”, he goes “Chick!” (Which is the only name he can say, from the 3 cars).

That got my dad confused since I don’t think he’s watched Cars before (nvm, when he’s back next week, he will get to watch the movie!).

So my mum very helpfully told him this: “If you see a Green car, with eyes and number 86 on it, buy”.

Really wonder what my dad will bring home this time…

I look at my son and I continue to thank God for this wonderful gift who is so precious to us and has been growing and developing well. He’s definitely coming to be a little man of his own character (at this moment, it is still sweet and mild) and with his recent ‘gift of the gab’, he’s been amusing us and chatting us up non-stop with his one-word sentences. I really look forward to having more of such conversations with him in the coming year.

I look at tehpeng and I feel so blessed to be his partner, one who gives nothing short of his all to me, to this family and to our families and to God. He is truly my enabler. When I was really busy at work, he made sure I didn’t have to worry about anything household-related. He takes care of the stuff which I’m not good at (other than making sure yveonloft is as technically advanced as possible, that is). And for being such a participative and involved father as well as my grocery-run partner. He never fails to go along with me, even if I needed to go countless times in a week. And for indulging me and romancing me despite me being a groucho grumpy wife at times.

I look at my family and again, this is the bestest support one can ever get. Our parents have been really integral in me being able to have a peace of mind at work, helping to care (as well as lavish their love and not to mention, gifts) for Nat. I am also glad to see that babysis is also growing up and yet, still rooted to the family and I am indeed very proud of her (tehpeng did say she is almost like me, in some sense and yes, I do agree…..).

I look at friends and am glad we have forged closer ties, have come to support each other in everything (besides shopping decisions..haha) and now, watching our tots grow together.

I look at my work and feel that perhaps, I’ve found my ‘calling’, with this change in job. Work was intense and I was maxed out to the max and yet, I wasn’t complaining. I knew this is it. I am happy, as I’m learning. Indeed, the year ahead comes with greater responsibility but strangely, I look forward to ‘more work’! Hah, ask me again in 3 months’ time…

I look at my passport and other than 2 chops for the trips up north, it was dry. Yes, it was a dry-spell for the travel front but well, looking at my shopping, I guess this part did most of the ‘travelling’ (via online and proxy ). And yes, I did get what I proclaimed I would get in 2009. So did tehpeng, by the way. So definitely, I wish for more travelling next year.

I look at myself and I think, the year has indeed been quite good (while perhaps not extraordinarily exciting) and despite having slackened in my walk with Him, God continues to show me His favour and I can definitely see His hand in everything. My boss gifted me with a daily devotion so this would be a good start to revive my walk with Him.  

Looking at 2010, it may well be another year with not much excitement or big plans, but it is a year of my blessed life and I want to savour every moment. I want to be a better wife, a better mother, a better daughter/in law, a better sister, a better friend, a better colleague/co-worker and definitely a better person in 2010. And definitely to continue to be a blessing to others. And of course, God’s plan and will to guide me to lead 2010.

May 2010 be a blessed year for everyone!