Welcome 2014

Welcome...welcome!!! 

San Neen Fai Lok!! Eh...It's not Chinese New Year yet. hehehe...But, CNY is not too far off this time around. Back to being busy busy busy...makan, shopping (or in my case..will be window shopping) and pai neen.

Going into the new year wasn't a very good one as news of people passing were just a bit too much. Especially those that were innocent kids who lost their lives so tragically and suddenly. And one where a dear friend's MIL who passed away 2 days ago. It was heartbreaking to hear her words and you could immediately tell that her MIL was a wonderful wonderful human being. Personally, I've met her a couple of times and don't know her MIL all too much. But, just listening to my friend talking about her and telling us the events leading to her demise was enough to conclude that her MIL has the purest of souls and the wonderest of hearts. I could feel my friend's pain and sadness despite her being 10,000 miles away from me. I truly felt so so sorry that she and her family (her husband especially) had to endure this. All I wish for is the soothing and healing powers of God to take this pain away and to restore the harmony that exist in their lives once more. Geez...why is it I cannot write so well when whatsapping her then???

Anyway, just wanted to get that out of the way...and off my chest! 

New year, new beginning. I used to be all gung-ho and have all kinds of new year's resolutions, goals, targets, yadda yadda. Not this year. I realised that, it is pointless setting any goals or resolutions of any kind because they just don't work. I'll be all enthusiastic in all of..maybe 7 days then, I will be a wreck again and I will realise ultimately that none of what I set out to achieve, will ever get achieved. So, I decided to stuff it for 2014. In fact, my New Year's resolution is....not to have a resolution? Does that make sense? I have decided to live for the moment, live according to the wind and let my hips sway to the music (whatever music that is). It is my 40-th year and I choose to let loose. 

The kids have grown up...plenty. I am so thankful for them. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for good friends and good neighbours. It isn't always you have neighbours to bring you food when you have nothing in your fridge or when you are just so freaking tired just standing in front of the stove. It isn't always that you have your neighbours rescuing your laundry when the sky pours. It isn't always you get neighbours looking out for your kids. I will miss that for sure. 

As always, new year means new beginning. And, new beginning can encompass anything under the sun. For me, I want to just give thanks to all I have and will embrace whatever comes my way. The ups and downs; the joys and the sorrows. I want to continue on this journey of the unknown, of the suspense. 

Have a Happy 2014! Cheers to great food, great company and most importantly, good health. Peace!  

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...