Phoebe's Birthday Party

There were days that I really fear gatherings such as birthdays. Sophie would definitely get too excited and start misbehaving prior to the occasion. Then after the event, she would fall sick. Sometimes, I wish she could join playgroups and outings like other normal kids do. Today she was being difficult again and we had to show her we meant business. She thought we would never stop her from attending Phoebe's birthday and we just gave empty threats. Well, she had to be taught a lesson. I deliberately told Papa to delay bringing her to the party so that she would entertain the possibility that she might actually be grounded. Phoebe's birthday party was held at our function room so I could just take Alfee with me while she stayed with Papa.

I like to think it worked because by the time I saw her again at the function room, she was a lot calmer and tamed. Fortunately, Auntie Cindy bought the kids a mini writing board. That kept the kids busy and occupied while the other guests arrived. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised that Alfee was also very engrossed with drawing as well. 

As for me, I was just glad to be chatting away without wondering if the party went well. After all, the party host today was Auntie Annie. I'm sure she would do a great job running her Oreo Cheesecake workshop as the party programme.

What's a party without balloons? Alfee was delighted to have balloons to play with. He basically didn't really get into the party grove but he's happily running around. I can't wait for him to be old enough to join the rest.

I think storytime is always Sophie's favourite. She loves to be brought away from reality and enter the realms of great imagination, fantasy and magic. Sometimes, I wish she could remain so innocent but can she stay so different from the rest of her peers? She's always in her own world and she talks to all her toys as if they are real. 

I left Sophie alone to do the cheesecake because I knew she preferred it that way. I only intervened when she insisted on partnering Xiao Ci (who's Clare's partner). I had to say Faith was alone and need a partner before Sophie was willing to let Xiao Ci go. I suppose I ought to be happy because she didn't want Faith to be sad (although the truth was Faith wasn't looking for a partner). 

Cheesecake making was tough work apparently. Sophie was having a hard time crushing the biscuits and mixing the cheese and butter. When I noticed her shift in focus, I quickly stepped in to get her involved again.

The end product was kept in the fridge to harden before it could be brought home for consumption. However, Auntie Annie also made one large cheesecake cum birthday cake for Phoebe. That was great because all of us got a taste of it. The birthday cake probably tasted a lot sweeter because of her love for the birthday girl!

Sophie likes cheese, so it didn't surprise me at all when she wolfed down the cheese part of the cake and left behind the biscuit bit. She also took a couple of the gummies on the cake. And I simply adore Auntie Annie for her cooking and baking skills.

As expected, the tired and cranky Sophie fell and hurt herself at play. She was wailing and it was quite possible that the pain was bad. But knowing her, I was able to distract her and soon she was back playing with her friends.

I think I finally understood how freeplay among children of different age group can trigger creativity and social learning. The kids were at one point left alone and they started gathering and organizing themselves for their own games. I wasn't close enough to see or listen to how they play but they were pretty structured and everyone was involved. However, they also got carried away and began their routined chasing and tagging around the function room. Thus, I had to intervened and got them to do some bodily alphabets and animals. 

Auntie Jessy and her girls came up to our place after the party. They were looking forward to visiting our newly renovated place and Sophie was equally eager to show them around (especially her room). Sometimes I think Sophie really need more company than I could ever provide for her. She was evidently ecstatic! They played all the girly (and not so girly) toys and games,  they drew and watched TV, just simple activities and enjoying the company of one another.

YE's work (Sophie duplicated the last figure on the left)

Sophie's work

I'm really surprised that Sophie could copy Yun Er's drawing of the little girl so well. She might have my genes after all! I'm not so good with drawing from imagination or memory but I can copy very well.   

I didn't realised Papa had taken these pictures until he printed them out for the girls. We were both very tickled by these heartwarming shots. I always worry that Sophie will have difficulty making friends but she seems to have managed that pretty well despite everything. 

Anyway, these girls are so wonderfully photogenic because of their authentic expressions and poses. They came naturally together and their smiles so innocent. Papa are quite dead against 'over acting' or 'over posing' because he likes the innocence and candid nature of kids. I think kids should look like kids and these girls look like their age. I love these picture!