Chinatown Field Trip

I have not really thought of it that way....but since I am homeschooling, this WILL BE the field trip for the term. A visit to Chinatown right in the midst of the Chinese New Year celebrations!

The hub of all activity during New Year of course, is Chinatown. Sense the excitement in the air in this historic quarter weeks before the New Year, as enterprising merchants lineTerengganu Street and Pagoda Street with their colourful stalls.

Get your traditional New Year cookies, like love letters, here. Or buy pussy willow, red-paper decorations or baskets of mandarins for good luck. If you're married and want to join in an age-old tradition, get some hong bao -- small red envelopes -- to give to those who are young and single. Don't forget to slip in some dollar notes in the Hong bao before you give it away..."

An intro to Chinese New Year in Singapore

This hustle and heat did not slow down the crowd but just look at the architecture!

"Gong Xi Fa Cai! Singapore's a great place to celebrate the Chinese New Year. During this celebration amidst fun and festivities, cymbals clashing and lions dancing, the island ushers in the New Year under the PIG Chinese zodiac sign
(this is my year! and yes, I love being a PIG!)

Homeschooling kids!

Lots to see and touch!

Food, sweets, savouries, sticky cakes etc

Back into "Growing Kids!"

The New Year came with exciting plans and direction for us. Alex will see himself travelling quite a bit for work and we've launched on our family ministry of sharing the "good news" re parenting.

NO! We are not welcoming (growing!) more children (I wish!) into our family! Just learning to be better ones to the existing lot.

We are into our 2nd week (...and this is our 3rd time attending the classes, just to show how much we NEED it!) and I plan to write a little about each week.

Week 1: Raising a Moral Child
This was again an eye opener reminding Alex and myself how slack we have been in building our own moral warehouses before we can instill any morals into our kids. This course emphasised that as Christians our standards are SET on God's standards and there's not much "grey" areas when it comes to character and virtues etc. I still struggle. It's is so much easier saying "because mommy says so" to the constant habitual "whys??" instead of stepping back and giving a thought as to the "lesson and moral reason" behind the discipline. STILL, I am absolutely passionate with these principles and have...started a battle plan against the monkeys in my life.

Week 2: First things First
COUCH time! Again, nothing is worth doing unless as parents, we realise how important our husband-wife relationship is. Hooray for such enlightenment. Many people already know this, many in the perspective of couplehood but many DO NOT realise that the KIDS have to be shown and reminded. I will have two weeks on sitting by my sofa while I write a little letter in front of my kids to Alex....or we can just video chat! Meanwhile, I am sitting at home, waiting for Alex to arrive in London, feeling quite miserable and missing him terribly.

... hang on, Alex is away! I am back blogging!?!...

...and the FOOD!

We had glorious wine in beautiful dinner ware!











We had Roast Turkey with the works!








We made baby rum pudding (thanks to Colin B!)








Alex presented his traditional Trifle (well loved)








I marbled my cheesecake!

How can I not talk about food over Christmas? With the CHINESE new year season looming, I am yet to discover a whole new set of tradition and indulgences!

Backdate News!

Man! I have been slack! How did I let time slip by so much! There's a few projects in the stove waiting to be cooked and I have not even started them. Here are some catch up pics of our December 2007.

We tried our hand in playing with "bubble" snow.

The decorations for Christmas!

"City Street lights, even spot lights,..."

TANGS' gems and jewels for Christmas!

We have NOW spent Christmas in Singapore!

A Window to Heaven

"Monday 15th January 2007"

Just an ordinary day, going through it's ordinary demands of life with 2 little girls at home. We went to our swimming lessons and attempted to do some school work with little struggle. As plain as it may seem, yesterday was the day that (I am sure), Heavens rocked with music and celebration. I could just imagine the flashy lights, the spendid orchestrated (classical of course!) music, the singing and even the boogey-ing!

Just as we finished the end of the day, read all the books, said all our prayers and I was headed out the girls' bedroom door, Letitia called out in a small voice. "Mom, I have something to tell you!". I turned and thought, right another chat but this will be the last one.

"Mommy, I would like to ask Jesus into my heart!"

The rest was history! Alex and myself saw this little window of tenderness in Letitia as she openly told us she's ready. We tried as much as we could to explain to this 5-6yo the meaning of Salvation and prayed with her. When we finished, she wiped her eyes and told us that she's so happy that the tears came out. Letitia even woke up this morning sayng that she's tired as she was so happy she struggled to sleep last night (though exhausted).

This is the start of our TRUE spiritual journey as parents. We were so excited that we JUST had to blog this. Letitia had just opened a little WINDOW of her heart to GOD. Pray for us! Our prayer is that one day the DOOR will be opened in good timing. Pray that GOD will show us and give us the wisdom to guide her in this journey. Pray that we hold her close and precious to our hearts as GOD intented~ a gift to us.

Letitia's journey in life and to eternity has started. It is always certain that the road will be bumpy, sidetracked, hilly and often torturous. Our prayer is to be there as much as we can. Praise GOD! Let's celebrate Jesus!

p/s Hi dear friends, so sorry for not blogging for such a while. The whirlwind family time came and went. Now trying to get our family life, and schooling in order. Please continue to pray for me. A HUGE task requiring a lot of GOD and a lot of me too! My theme for the next 6mos is "One step of the time & enjoy the girls!".

Sentosa Trip 2007

Still a highlight to every trip....dangling 100 meters above sea level

Proof that we are IN Singapore!

Very detailed tile/terrazzo snakes

Bird's eye View

Sentosa Butterfly Park

This will be our 2-3rd time to Sentosa and I think, our 2nd time to the Butterfly park. My girls loved that little "Insect refuge" and admittedly, it's a pleasure to go there...

Images of Sentosa 2007

Cable Car ride from Singapore Harbourfront

Butterfly Park, Sentosa

Beetle Furnitures

Merlion-"Rooaarr!"