Moving... where to?

We've finally gotten the keys to our new house a couple weeks back. The plan was to start engaging contractors, spruce up the place and move there by end of the year. So we thought, until the recent few days, when suddenly there is a change of heart. Should we move to our other house instead when the tenant moves out in December? Now to weigh the pros and cons...

1. House #1
Pros:  It's in the same familiar neighbourhood as our current house. Security is good, environment is good. Best of all, we'll be living directly opposite my mom's, which means easy help :-)

Cons: Insufficient rooms especially with new baby coming on board. Pretty extensive renovation needs to be done and it doesn't help that the contractor we've shortlisted isn't very responsive, which means we may not get the house ready by December. Location wise, it's further from work and the centre of activities.

2. House #2
Pros: Bigger house, sufficient rooms, move in condition so no renovation necessary (minor works can be done in stages after we move in). More central location - closer to work and kids' school and activities.

Cons: Area is still gated and guarded, but security may not be as tight (not sure!). The biggest con of all is that the kids will miss having po-po around all day since we will no longer be in the same neighbourhood.

It seems like we'll be settling for House #2, mainly due to not wanting to deal with the hassle of renovation and of course the timing issue. How the tide has changed from just a few weeks ago. We haven't told the kids yet. They were really excited about moving closer to Po-Po's house. Oh well...    

Silly rhymes

Last night, instead of the usual bedtime story routine, H wanted to play school. Playing school is good fun too, since he's not been to school for close to 3 weeks already. So the first lesson we had was English, and what better way to learn language than indulging in some silly rhymes.

H: Mummy you be the teacher, I'll be the student
Me: Ok, let's see. Today we'll learn about rhymes
H: Yay!!!

I really liked this game we made up. Not only do you learn to recognise words that rhyme, you also learn new vocab, learn how to spell and be creative in your writing. Best of all, it is a great bonding process as we couldn't stop laughing and giggling.

Here are some of the rhymes we wrote.  All you need is a magna doodle board to write on and lots of silliness...   (bold texts written by me, non-bold texts written by H)

Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wish I had a car
How I wish I become a potato
so that I can be friends with a tomato

Incy wincy spider
drank a cup of cider
He went up a mountain
and fell into a fountain

Humpty dumpty sat on the wall
Humpty dumpty fell onto a ball
... <can't remember what came after>

We did a couple more rhymes too but I just can't remember them (my memory is failing me). Should have taken a snapshot of all the rhymes we wrote. I'm sure L will have a good laugh too when read to her. It was a pity she was already asleep last night when we played the game.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

Today's L's birthday and also the Mid-Autumn Festival. We won't be celebrating her birthday (again) but we'll be having some kids over for some lantern fun! These days, you really have to make an effort to bring the neighbourhood kids together. I remember how we used to roam freely around the neighbourhood and all play-dates and activities are self-initiated by the kids themselves.

Anyway, Happy Mid-Autumn / Lantern / Mooncake Festival to all. Here's a good YouTube video I found on the legend of Chang Er. Not sure how accurate the story is but I supposed it's good enough for kids :-)

Last Tweedlewink class for L

Next week will be L's last lesson at Tweedlewink. She loves going to Tweedlewink although daddy insisted that she's bored and has not been paying attention. "No need to go anymore lah, I can see she's bored already. Let her go to edudrama!"

I'm not sure if L is bored or daddy's bored... haha. I think it's more like daddy's bored since he's the one who's been assigned to take L to class every Sat morning. Oh well, nevermind. We'll find some other activities for L. She's been wanting to do ballet (not sure how she got the idea). Whenever I ask her what class would she like to go for, she'll immediately (without hesitation) say ballet. Daddy does not agree to L doing ballet - "what for" he says. He wants her to do edudrama just like what H did when he turned 3. The problem is the centre H went to does not now have any classes for 3 year olds. So how? What's wrong with ballet anyway? It's not like she'll be doing real ballet. For kids this young, it's more stories and play acting through simple dance steps so it's pretty similar to going to drama classes anyway.

I'm going to check out this ballet school I was recommended to later today irregardless... hehehe... L can go for a trial lesson and see if she really likes it. Maybe daddy can go along so he knows what baby ballet is all about.

school's out... what now?

I've officially withdrawn H from school after the fire incident in school. Yes, his school caught fire over the weekend. Luckily it happened at night and no one was hurt. Since the building is yet to be certified to be fit for operation by the fire department, the school has decided to move everyone to the Cheras campus. There's no way we're going to Cheras - too much of a logistical nightmare for us. So H is officially off school now. I hope we can get a refund on school fees for the remaining semester!

Now what am I going to do with H? He's been asking me about school.

H: Is there school tomorrow?
Me: Nope
H: Why?
Me: There was a fire in school and they have to fix the school first
H: Did it burn my classroom?
Me: Nope, not your classroom
H: Then I can go to school?
Me: Nope...
H: Why?

Yesterday after I've officially withdrawn H from school, I told him he won't be going to school for the rest of the year until he starts his new school next year. You would have thought that he would be happy to not have to go to school, but I think he was somewhat disappointed. He's actually grown to like school. Hopefully he likes his next school and the new friends he'd make just as much, if not more. But for now, I have to think of other activities to occupy him...

birthdays

Now that the kids are older, they are starting to understand what birthdays are. L's 3rd birthday is coming up soon and she knows exactly what she wants.

"I want a butterfly and garden and ballerina party with a pink and purple and red butterfly cake..."

Then when H said he wanted a funfair party for his 6th birthday next year (yes, he's already planning in advance), L said she also wanted a funfair party PLUS a Barney party.

Me: You can have that next year L
L: No, I want 3 parties - butterfly, barney and funfair!
Me: You can't have 3 parties, that is too many. You can only have 1
L: 3 is not many, 5 is many. I didn't say I want 5, I say I only want 3!

Gosh!!

Last night before going to bed...

H: I know what I'm going to get for mei mei's birthday
Me: Oh that's sweet dear, what are you going to get for mei mei?
H: A soldier set
Me: Are you sure? Mei mei is a girl, I don't think she likes soldier. Are you sure it's not for you?
H: Sometimes mei mei behaves like a boy what!!!