Waterplay at home

The past few weeks were hot, hot and HOT! Especially so during the weekend when we cosied at home without the air-con on. So one Sunday noon, hubby brought out the inflatable swimming pool for the gals to play. The last time they played with the pool, Ru was still a small baby and could not even sit unsupported. This time she was much bigger and the gals had such a good time playing with each other in the water that it took us much coaxing to get them out of the pool. More water play next time!

Book Week

Xi's school had a book week on the last week of April when the children were learning about books, how to take care of them, making book marks and even their own little booklets. The book week ended with a Book Parade on 30 April 2010, whereby the children are encouraged to go to school on that day, dressed in their favourite story book character and brought in the book as well. The school encouraged that the costumes be made with recyclable or readily available items found at home and work and avoid buying anything as creativity is the name of the game. The purpose was to encourage the children to save the environment by reducing, reusing and recycling. Getting creative and spending nothing will also instil in the children a strong and profound positive attitude to money where they learn to save and be discerning to buy what is truly and really necessary.

I was having a hard time thinking of what character to dress for Xi. What made it worst was I was extremely busy with my work that few weeks which ended up that I picked up the kids late every evening and reached home late and no time and energy to "create" a costume for her. Even up to the evening before the book parade, I was still scratching my head on the costume. Thank god I have my forever reliable and supportive aunty and the family! She brought out some nice recyclable paper and we thought of maybe can sew the paper to Xi's clothes! So she helped me to sew the paper to one of Xi's legging to make it a dress, and my cousin helped her to make a hat out from some cardboard. I also stitched a bracelet to her t-shirt and a necklace to her paper dress to create the sparkling effect. Carrying a small bag with a pair of wings on her shoulder and a Xmas wand, Xi was transformed to a little fairy.

Haircut

We couldn't remember when was the last time we brought Xi for haircut as she refused to cut her hair for the reason that short hair is for boys and she wanted to be like Princess Poppy who has long lovely hair. So day after day, her hair was to the extend that all of us could not bear. Worst was she did not like to tie up her hair and with the hot wearher, can imagine how messy and smelly the hair was. So 3 weeks ago, i told her that mummy is going to cut her hair, and so is Xixi. We were so proud of her when she sat still throughout the haircut and gave us a beaming smile when we all praised how nice she looks with her short hair. So now we are, mother and daughter, with short and neater hair. :)

During the haircut:


A happy Xi. She later told us no more long hair Xixi :):


Mother and daughter, happy with their shorter hair

她们的小天地

This is where the sisters love to play before their night time, a small space underneath the windows in their room. The sisters will put all the pillows at this small world of theirs to make it as comfy as possible and play inside. A few times Xi even insisted on sleeping inside with meimei and meimei seemed to agree as even when I switched off the light, they remained to be inside this small world of theirs. Have fun, girls!

My first mother's day gift

This is my first mother's day present, given by my very shy Xi last Friday, with a BIG hug, and a very soft voice "Mummy I love you so much. Happy Mother's day!" The paper flower was made by her in the school, with the aid of her teachers, of course. Nevertheless, my heart was filled with happiness when I received this present from my little gal who was brimming with pride.

The Girls at playground

Last Sunday afternoon, after came back from my parents' house in Pontian, I decided to brought the girls downstairs for a walk, since they refused to sleep after a short 1 hour nap in the car on the way back. Xi insisted to go to the newly built outdoor gym area for kids above 5. It was a surprise to see how daring my elder girl has become since I last brought her to playground many months back. She tried all the gym equipments with such determination and improved with each step. And Ru, she has finally learned to walk properly and longer by herself before 15 months and it was such a great pleasure to see my little darling wandering around by herself happily and dun have to worry she would fall and hurt herself since the area was "cushioned".

End of 1st term, begin of new term

Xi has started her 2nd term of Nursery 1. The followings are some of her artwork made during her 1st term:





She has her cries and woes during her 1st term. She would want us to carry her to her classroom, then hang on us tightly refuse to get down. When finally the teachers took over her from us, she would cry badly when we left. However, according to the teachers, she settled down fine shortly after we left and engaged in class activities happily. However, when hubby and I both had to travel for overseas trips, she will take school bus to school happily. Carry her school bag and shoes herself to her classroom and never cry. She has also made new friends and can tell us all her friends' names. She learns lots of songs and rhymes and loves to sing for us in the car, at home even at public places like shopping centre. We are delighted by the improvement in her spoken English. Her Mandarin teacher told me at the beginning Xi only speaks Mandarin in the class, but now she speaks to her even in English as well.

This term she adapts much better in the school. Will walk into her classroom by herself, hug us then say bye bye to us and start doing her artwork. We are happy that she loves everything about her school: Her friends, her teachers, her classroom, and above all her school uniforms!

Her first day before going to school. Look at her smile:


Engaging in school activities with her friends. Photos taken by her teacher: