March Holiday Week (17/03/2014 - 21/03/2014)

Monday

We started the day with Ancient Egyptian History (super bite size). We learnt about the Nile Delta and the Egyptian King with the white crown who defeated the one with the red crown and ruled the whole of Egypt. I think Sophie will forever remember that because she didn't get to make the white crown. To her, winning is everything and she was reluctant to let Alfee have the white crown although she preferred the colour red.  

I don't really know if making the crowns help them remember the historical aspect of it. But I guess they had fun making the crowns and they are very aware of the cobra on the crowns. That should be enough for now.

Tuesday

I think I started feeling a little unwell today. My throat was sore and I was very tired. However, the kids need some outlet so we made plans with Auntie Adeline to watch a movie at Cathay (AMK Hub). I though Lego seems benign but it wasn't as good as I had hoped. Certain parts were a little to dry for the kids and the action scenes were too loud for my timid kids. However, the experience was still good. It was Alfee's first movie. Also our first experience at Mos Burger for lunch. The kids were happily chomping fish burgers and nuggets and washing the food down with peach tea.  

After lunch, we went home. I felt a little apologetic about cutting the date short but I was really feeling very tired and we all slept most of the afternoon away. Sophie woke up much sooner if she had slept at all. Nowadays she reads too much when she's suppose to be sleeping. When I managed to gather enough energy, we took out the air dry clay and started on our next Egyptian project. The clay wasn't easy to mould and she couldn't do much with it. Well, I just have to get her to paint then.

Wednesday

We went on a field trip to River Safari with Auntie Marjorie and her 3 charming sons. It nearly didn't happen with so many obstacles hindering our plans. For one, Sophie was being such a pain from the moment she woke up. She refused to cooperate and insisted her way until I threatened to cancel the trip. Then the meltdown came and she was hopelessly out of control. In the end, I became overwhelmed with rage as well. It took us at least 2 hours to reset everything. Then it started to rain. Fortunately most parts of the River Safari is sheltered. 

And of course, Marjorie's 2 sons and Alfee are not tall enough to take the boat ride. So we had to take turns to ride with her elder son and Sophie.  I always admire mums who can manage their kids in a calm and patient manner. With Marjorie, I could feel her 'zen-ness' and I learnt to relax a little as well.

I'm so glad our kids can get along so well. Frankly, I am not sure how others regard my kids. They are overwhelmingly sociable and they can be very intimidating. With Marjorie's boys, my kids seem to be more at ease.  I feel more calm as well, I dun worry too much about my kids misbehaving as they somehow understand what to do. 

Although Marjorie offered to send us back, I chose to take a cab. I knew the kids super tired. They fell instantly asleep on the way home. Peace has been restored.

I made Alfee a notebook last night and he used it to draw some images he can recall from the trip. I must say he's really more spontaneous now than he has better fine motor skills.

boat ride (that he didn't get to go)

view from the bridge (through the wire mash)

beaver

Papa & Alfee in the clouds (beatles inspired)

Just clouds

As far as our HS is concerned, this has been a short week for us. Technically we should break for the holidays but I didn't think we should slack off totally. Yet it's always hard not to let the kids have some enrichment activities during the official school holidays. 

Papa On Leave

Papa first picked up piano for Sophie but he soon fell in love with the instrument and now he does it for himself. In fact, he's much better than Sophie now. We never really understood why Sophie is so difficult when she's at the piano. Her teacher says she learns very quickly… if she wants to. The problem is she doesn't want to… too often. Her teacher has declared her the most difficult student she has ever taught. Yet Papa never gives up on her and he always gets her to play despite all the meltdowns and whatever.  For that, I admire his persistence. Sophie has probably got it from him in the form of stubbornness. 

 

We skipped breakfast and went to the Botanical Gardens for breakfast there instead. I was particularly happy to have a decent breakfast finally. The kids seemed to have better appetite as well.  

   

As usual, we just let the kids run around and ride their skate scooters. We stopped outside the Orchid Gardens to watch a group of line dancers. This was when Alfee gave me a head butt and a black eye. Of course it was an accident, but it still hurt really badly. I was blinded for a second and tears instantly rolled down my eye.  

  

 

We later found a relatively new place called the Frangipani Gardens. They placed many swings under some gorgeous frangipani trees and the kids loved it. I would love to do some picnicking there some day.

   

On our way back, I saw the Cannonball Tree. Unfortunately the kids were too far away for me to highlight it to them. I thought it would be great to add this to Sophie's science journal.

We had some seafood lunch at the Turf City. I was tired but the kids were still energetic. Papa promised them SEA Aquarium since I was a little sick and couldn't go to the Adventure Cove. 

It was very crowded at the SEA Aquarium. I thought it was rather late for us to reach there around 3 plus since it closes at 7 pm. However, it was about just right. 

We went to the touch pool and Sophie had her fill touching all the sea creatures there. She always impressed the guides there with her knowledge of sea creatures. While we were sitting there and wondering what we were looking at, a guide came over and started sharing with us whatever he knows about those sea creatures. Sophie was very enthusiastic and asked him many questions. 

We left around 6pm and had dinner at Crystal Jade before leaving for home. I was really tired but I was also glad the kids had a lot of fun today.