Week 4 - Thursday (Christmas Carolling Rehearsal Cum Pre-Christmas Party)

Auntie Pei Ee has organized a caroling session at Singapore Cheshire Home this coming Saturday and the kids need some rehearsals. Fortunately, our function room was available so everyone came over. We also let the kids have an early pre-Christmas party.

I was a little hesitant about letting the kids join in because it's too close to our holiday date. I can't afford to have them fall sick overseas. In the end, I decided to let them have a bit of fun. However, I also made them eat porridge, abstain from 'heaty' food and take a nap before joining them. Even though I had to be super fierce to 'force' them to nap, I know they really benefit from resting. I never buy the theory that they will automatically sleep if they are tired. 

In fact, I took Sophie to our regular PD for travel medication just this morning. I had a bit of a scare because my regular PD wasn't around. I was told to either see her partner in the clinic or go back in the afternoon. I worried that the other doctor would refuse me antibiotics but as in turned out, he was very accommodating. Call me 'kiasu', 'kiasi' or 'kns' but I don't want to be caught with two sick children with no medication. So, I ended up with a bag of expensive yet essential medication. After that, I went to the family clinic to get my eye checked. My left eye felt sore and itchy. I was given some eyedrops and zyrtec pills for my allergy.

Anyway, I sneaked out to set up the function room while the kids were sleeping but the kids soon woke up. It was as if they could telepathically hear their friends. We started off with food, but both my kids were more interested in play. They could not even finish their milk. And I was in too much pain from my ulcer to take anything.

The kids were only able to stay focus for a couple of familiar songs then they grew restless. My Alfee was the worse, running around and screaming. We managed to complete the rehearsal, fortunately. We also incorporated some simple moves. Sophie wasn't at all too keen to be singing and dancing. She probably didn't see the logic behind all that practising. Also, she got quite emotional when she thought no one would like to play with her. Honestly, I find that a little hard to manage. I pick up emotions very easily so she loads me. 

We also painted the nails with some washable nail polish Auntie Jessy bought from Kiddy Palace. The stickers didn't work very well though. Sophie was particularly upset about that. Again I had to manage her. Never heard anyone else complaining...

I bought two bags of beads and some stretchable threads from Art Friend last week for Sophie to make bracelets. When I knew the rest were coming for rehearsals, I knew I should prepare some simple stuff for the kids to do. Thus, I cut out some threads, counted 40 beads and bag them in a gift bag for each child. While the rest were busy doing, Sophie announced that she's hungry and took off to eat some pizzas. 

Towards the end of the day, the mummies decided to let the kids do the Christmas craft kit that I had bagged for their Christmas goody bag. Each child got a unique craft kit which was a little challenging to complete without adult help. By then, Auntie KK and Auntie Pei Ee had left. 

To our surprise, Auntie Huimien dropped by with her baby. Sophie was immediately attracted to the sweet baby and kept chatting up with Auntie Huimien. One thing positive about Sophie - she's always a very loving and attentive caregiver. She will always take cares of the younger ones. 

At the end of the day, Sophie sat at her piano and practice hard for 45 minutes. Papa is very serious about her daily practice and wants me to monitor her closely. Although he doesn't expect her to be a great musician, he wants her to persist and work hard at what she does. 

Near bedtime, I read Sophie Book 3 (The Pop Singer Wish) of her Lucky Stars Series. So far, we read 4 books (including Book 6) and collected 5 charms for her bracelets. She needs 2 more charms to complete the bracelets. Book 7 is the last book which does not have any charms attached to it. The main character in the story has to help people to earn all the 7 charms to become a lucky star. She would be able to grant wishes to anyone and anytime after that.

I hope we would finish this series this year, then we would start on other series. And hopefully, she would soon be independently reading with better comprehension.