Currently, Nat’s favourite bedtime activity went from storytelling about Cars or Toy Story to stories “about me”.

So we have been re-living our trips to Hk & Bali, and fun activities such as NDP parade staycation and recently, we added the YOG men’s diving prelims to the story bank.

We enjoyed ourselves at the Diving prelims. We cheered for the Singapore diver. Even Nat went “Go Singapore!”

And of course, the funniest thing was when he shouted out: He’s wearing red underwear!  (the red speedos worn by one of the divers….)

I’m not a sports-person but when the YOG rolled around, I found myself watching the news highlights on YOG News Channel every night and was really impressed by the youths’ determination and their sporting efforts. Which really deserved to be commended and supported.

Even Nat was rather enthralled and he will go “Watch Olympics!” when we switch channels.

Ask him about this favourite sports & he will say : Boxing and that kicking one.

He meant taekwondo. Erh…ok.

As usual, by the time we thought of getting the tickets to some of the games, the tickets were kinda sold out. Thanks to DC family who gave us their diving tickets as they were double-booked for another event, we had the chance to be at an Olympics games.Which is quite an experience, don’t you think?

I was telling Nat, at bedtime just now while telling the Oylmpics story , that the (Youth)Olympics happens every four years. And that he will be 7 years old at the next one and it won’t be held in Singapore and we can only watch the games on TV…

For the closing ceremony, we timed our drive home back from my mum’s, took a longer detour and was rewarded with the fireworks bursting out in front of us overhead over the Sheares Bridge. Traffic was crawling, but we didn’t mind.

Now, if you ask Nat about the Olympics games, he will tell you “No more Olympics!”

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 gets all excited and curious whenever an ambulance, police car or fire engine  is in sight.

So, when I happened to walk past the Central Fire Station and noticed the sign ‘Open House, Sat, 9 am to 11 am” I thought it would make an exciting trip for Nat. I realised every fire station is open to public every Sat morning. And so, it was a date with Edgar and Noah (and parents) last Saturday.

We arrived almost on the dot and there was already a long Q of parents and their boys.

It was really like a tour – we had a friendly SCDF officer showing us around, presenting the (very heavy) tools they use and demo-ing their work for us. And letting us explore the insides of their vehicles.

Quite educational but of course, all words were lost on the boys. They wanna see action!

And action they had. They had a go at the hose!

The ladder went up up up. And the men came down down down the pole. It was infotainment in front of our eyes.

And we had more than we bargained for, when there was a real fire call (video uploaded by silver_crv) and all the men and engines had to be deployed. I was really worried we were in their way, but the men were certainly very pro and we witnessed what goes on behind the big-firestation-door-before-it-opens.

Sadly, this also meant there’s nothing (left) to see but surely, this being our first time, it won’t be our last.

I have to admit. I’ve never flown a kite, nor went kite-flying. So, when I knew that shutterbug was getting really good at it, I had to arrange an outing.

On Good Friday evening, we, together with ms clover, silver_crv & family as well as DCboy & family, convened at Marina Barrage. And it seemed like like half of Singapore had the same idea as us. Not that many open spaces, I guess.

We managed to find a spot for us all and set up shop. I rolled out the mat and all the ladies in the house sat down to enjoy the breeze while the men get to work trying to get the kites flying. Nat and Edgar had a good time with frisbee-throwing while DCboy was kinda content eating his dinner and taking in everything.

When the kite was up, I had to get my hands on it!

So, here’s me flying the kite. Or rather, holding onto the flying kite. Heehee.

Nat took a break from frisbee-tossing to point at the kite….

Soon after, we had to quickly pack up as it was getting dark (late as well as threatening weather). And we all trooped to GardenSlug for a hearty meal and chats.

It was good fun. We should do it again!

It was a last minute decision to bring Nat along for our farewell dinner for Ps Su & family. Ah well, after working from home the whole entire day and having pockets of time with him in between, I can’t bear to leave my boy behind at home!

So, we took the feeder bus to the train station and went on a train ride to Novena. It was a fun journey ! 

I think this is the first time I’ve brought him out alone on public transport (I know, I’m spoilt or rather, lazy to brave the crowds with a todd in tow). Now that he’s older and much less barang to bring out, it’s so much easier.

He was visibly enthralled by the whole experience. So suakoo hoh!

And I enjoyed it too, I was talking to him and showing him things throughout. Ok, I did take some pics at the bus stop while waiting and twittered la. Can’t help it, have to share leh.

Some weeks back, tehpeng told me – let’s go out for dinner next Thursday.I happily keyed into my iphone cal – dinner with tehpeng. The day came and the dinner date didn’t happen. I showed tehpeng my calendar entry…

Tehpeng:: we have dinner everyday what.

It’s just not the same yah.

So last night, I made it happen & it was impromptu. It was a chain of events…

The weekend started with cycling at ECP which Nat enjoyed thoroughly. Again, I’m surprised at myself cos I think this is the 2nd time I went cycling with tehpeng. I really am not an outdoors person. Anyway, I figured it’s a good place for breathing in fresh (not!) air and taking in the sea view and spending some fun time with Nat.

Well, I came home with a massive headache (almost wanting to bash my head against the wall kind) and had to take a lie-down. Tehpeng knew I must be really unwell as I didn’t even check on Nat’s lunch and wanted to forego my own lunch! I couldn’t make it for Nat’s class (tehpeng very sweetly brought Nat alone) and had to skip Cookyn with Mervyn’s launch party. I woke in time for dinner. A whole afternoon of sleep. Glorious!

The next day I rested more (being socially responsible!) and by Sunday evening, I was much better and we headed out to Pierce for an evening walk with our 2 boys. Honestly, we were running out of ideas to entertain Nat at home. Haha. By the time we turned out into the main road, Nat was flat out. Not surprising given that he didn’t nap at all since waking up!

With Nat out for the night that early and us needing dinner, I prompted tehpeng for a date-night despite me feeling tired with huge inertia to drive out. And that’s how we ended at Le Bistrot, which we both like and tehpeng was happy to know (and see) that berms and slippers are part of the dress code. Hah!

We ate, we chatted (more than just about our son), we drank, we laughed. It was a good night out. We walked out of the restaurant hand-in-hand (so rare since one of us is usually carrying or holding onto Nat). He said something which made me tear (I totally blame it on the wine. Heehee) and it was a good round up of our dinner date.

We walked to our car and saw the parking fine. What? No free parking on Sunday at the Stadium?

Still, we took it in our stride and went on home to give more goodnight kisses to our sleeping son.

Such steal-away times are precious. We might muse about how much of our own-time is sacrificed (or almost non-existent) but it’s so much more fun with Nat now. Plus, we wouldn’t have appreciated our time together alone this much.

Till the next date-night!

It was an impromptu decision. Last night, I was intending to just head to the library, drop off the books (due yesterday), borrow books, get some groceries and head home.

All these after dinner at tehparents. Who to know tehpeng suggested adding a Circle Line ride to the list.

I love spontaneity and I’m glad even with Nat in tow, we have no qualms doing so.

Even if Nat was wearing singlet and shorts (this mummy wonders if he will be cold & that these are wear-at-home clothes, not go-out clothes…haha!) and we have no diapers and not even our EZ-link cards with us.

We enjoyed the (joy)ride. I took the Circle Line just earlier to get home for the first time but it was more fun to share the experience with tehpeng and Nat.

How far we’ve come since the days of MRT’s first ride in 1987. I remembered my first MRT joyride. Do you?