Her desires

Ash has plenty of desires. But, none includes academics. Ask her to do maths is like asking her to eat poison. It's a good thing we decided against Chinese school. It's the same with reading. Well, we don't really ask her to read. I tried but it didn't work. I would read to her when she couldn't read but I found her looking at pictures rather than wanting to familiarise herself with the words. I even thought that she was dyslexic at one stage. But, it turned out my fears were unfounded. So she couldn't read nor write (except her name) for the longest time. Plus, I think I was a lazy mom who didn't spend enough time reading to her and quickly accepted this doomed state of affairs.

Now that she's 6++, and is able to read quite adequately for a 6++ year old, I am relieved. I don't blame her really cos neither her dad nor I read plenty during our childhood. My dad was horrified that I couldn't read until I was...12? So, I don't expect my girls to be super smart at school. Definitely not in the genes.

In order to fuel her passion for life (no point emphasizing on things they have no interest or just simply lack the aptitude for), we allow her to pick up other skills. One of which is the flute. Why the flute? Frankly, I have no idea. She wants to learn it. I suggested the piano (the basic, right?), and she scoffed at the idea saying "the piano is so huge. I can't bring it anywhere. The flute is small...I can just put it in my pocket...see? easy peasy".

So...what I need to do now is to find a..flute teacher? Where? I was kind of hoping maybe the violin. But, no...it has to be a freaking flute! 

*throws hands up in the air* I give up!. 

Close of 2013

The year is coming to a close. Time truly flies. doesn't it? We had a wonderful Xmas despite not really celebrating it. The only reason why we even put a Xmas tree up is because of the kids. But, all in good spirit, hubby and I just went with it. We even had a Christmas dinner on the eve and forbade the kids from opening their pressies till Christmas morning hehhehe...Oh and Ash even made me make cookies for Santa. She wrote a note for Santa (I am too lazy to paste it here). So I had to make some, thanks largely to Betty Crocker (lazy mom alert!!). 

A friend wrote that 2014 will be a year dedicated to her kids and sick mom. That's awesome, wouldn't you agree? I, on the other hand, would like to dedicate 2014 to me and me alone. I figured I need to have that. I find that for the past 7 years, I have spent just with the kids. Even my conversations are about kids and all things related to kids. I was telling someone the other day that I actually prefer to hang out with working or semi working moms as opposed to SAHMs for some reason because I do find SAHMs a wee bit...exhausting and tiring, if you know what I mean. 

I am not entirely sure what I want to do next year. I turn 40 next year and I've mentioned that working might be an option since the girls will be older, thus alot more independent. Part-time work maybe? That was said casually a couple of years ago. I haven't broached the subject since. Now that the time is near and our plans have somewhat changed. So...I don't know. Maybe I'll just hang on a bit to this SAHM gig and see what happens in 2015.

In the meantime, I am sure to find something to do. I am resourceful after all and more importantly, I have resourceful friends whose mighty brains I can pick...heheheh :-D.

School is O.U.T

Finally...

School is out...O.U.T. I can finally relax, unwind and finish up my Christmas wrapping. Plus, I have done and given away most presents that I had set out to give. Granted, I actually wanted to give away more but...as time did not permit me, I didn't get as many presents this year. But, it was quite a bit of shopping, still.

I cannot believe it is almost the end of the year and 2014 is looming. It is the year where our full challenge awaits us. Pretty much all set and raring to go, despite the heart beating and mind racing. Like finding out you're pregnant and then having to deliver your baby. YOu know, it's the excitement yet nervousness all in one. "Will we make it?"..."Will we survive?"..."What on earth will we eat?"...so many unanswered questions...so many surprises.

We will not be going anywhere this Christmas. We have loads of packing and clearing up to do. And, since we will be staying put, I thought it will be a good time to get Ash proper swimming lessons. She knows how to float and thread water (slightly) but not proper swimming. A month long intensive course will be excellent this time, wouldn't it be? I might also throw in some music lessons. Guitar and  the violin? What do you reckon? 

We'll see how we go...

Nearly there...

We are..nearly there. The holidays are coming and we will be enjoying - for sure. At least I would be enjoying (and rejoicing). Jumping up and down like a crazed bunny.

The girls want to watch a movie at the cinema. We plan on taking them some time soon. hahahah...You can tell our enthusiasm and our excitement at the prospect of going to the cinema with our kids, can't you? We've only ever taken them once. That one time had both girls covering their ears. "Too loud mommy", they'd squeal. Well..can't help it lor. Cinemas are like that. Lets hope this time'll be different i.e they would watch the movie with their ears uncovered.

My neighbour of 10 years recently gave birth to their 3rd child. And recently, the family moved back home after a 2 months hiatus outstation. The sounds of an infant crying gave me serious chills down my spine. I get goosebumps and immediately, I begin to have flashes of my own girls crying when they were babies. I can still remember how they were back then. Ash was pretty good after the 3rd month. She slept through the night and all. Mini however, was a totally different child altogether. Not only did she have difficulty sleeping, she had to be carried everywhere. She didn't like the cot that much. She wanted to have the bird's-eye view of everything. Why ah? Not as though she knew what was going on or could tell me things those days. I literally sang hallelujah and praised the Lord Almighty when she began crawling. It was my stairway to heaven. When she could crawl, she didn't need me to carry her as much. That was sweetness to the stars. 

Fast forward many years later, I am beginning to miss those little toddler years. Mini is already 4.5 years and she's fast losing her baby soft skin, her stubby toes and fingers. I am enjoying them alot more now for sure especially with the things they say. Am fascinated with their thought process and sillyness all at the same time. But, yeah, kids do grow up mighty quickly. I am most thankful that I am able to witness their every burp, giggles and vomit. If given a second chance, I don't think I would do anything differently because I know, I have done the best that I most capably can to raise my kids. There's nothing that I would want to change and I'd most probably will do exactly what I've done (and have been doing) bringing up my girls. 

Of course, this is simply Phase 1 of my kids' lives. I still have the Phase 2 (pre-teen), Phase 3 (teen) and Phase 4 (young adult) to go through. I will cross that bridge when I come to it. But, in the meantime, I'd like to remember my kids now, and how happy they make me (despite the yelling and the screaming; the tears and the frustration). It is a lot of hard work and guess what? It is all worth it. Every bit of it. 

The COuntdown begins

Today is the 1st of December. And I am not even half way through with Christmas and birthday presents. I went shopping today for some but just didn't get everything I wanted to. I thought if I could somehow pick everything I need from just one store, life will be so perfect. That...is not to be.

I have got tons to do honestly. I have yet to put up the tree. My girls left some Christmas hangings with SIL and forgot to bring them home. NOw we are left with 40 year old vintage tree ornaments. Sadly, the tree also cannot be vintage cos the one my mom had yonks ago, died a natural fake tree death.

If I can find the time to do it next weekend I will. Next week is a killer for me. I have got 3 birthday celebrations! 3!, one luncheon, 2 dance practices and I will be pooped. All I want to do is curl up in my bed, pull the covers over my head and fall asleep. But I can't. Because tomorrow, I have a short holiday with a couple of Mini's friends and their family. Why? I don't know. It's not that we don't get along with the family; we do. I don't know. Maybe it's because I always feel like I can't settle things fast enough and there I am on the move again.

Hopefully, this chaos will end soon and we will have a brand new start come 2014. I am hopeful.