Chicken Pox

Sophie caught the chicken pox last weekend from god-knows-where. Faced with the unthinkable prospect of taking a week off work each, we immediately activated the grandparents. Nai Nai and Yeye drove down from KL in record time (3.5 hours) and promptly whisked Sophie off our arms and back to KL.

It's a good thing that she's getting it so young. I remember being stuck at home for a week when I was twelve, and then crying when I was sent home from school for another week because the spots were still visible. Guess it is still less embarrasing than being sent home from work as YL did when he got it at a ripe old age of 25,....as a doctor.

Interestingly, instead of becoming the pariah that I expected, her germs are very much in demand by other parents wanting their own kids to catch it. Anyways YL confirmed that 4 of his friends' kids caught the pox even after their vaccination, so I suppose getting it au naturale is the still the best.

Sophie, spread the good things around...

Madagascar 2

We took our second attempt to bring Sophie to the cinema last weekend when the Nanyang MBA Alumni Association organised a Family Day at the Movies to catch Madagascar 2. She did much better this time, although I think the popcorn has a lot to do with it.

Enjoying a magic show before the movie

Enjoying popcorn during the movie

Introducing Joshua

YL said he looks exactly like his mom Su En. He is certainly has a mischeivous streak in him...

House Owners

Finally! Let's celebrate the shackles around our neck for the next 15 years!

Joy in my heart, tears in my eyes

"Ah Mun!!!! Go and switch on the lights!" [or insert any other mundane household chore]

I will miss being able to do that. My little sister got married over the weekend and will be moving a good 5.5-hour flight away to Perth.

Even though I am not living in KL myself, it was wonderful to be able to just go back and voila! she's there. Now we have to plan months in advance so that we can meet up. Call me selfish, but she's just such a fixture at home. And no one will feel that more acutely than Mom. But that's another drama for another time.

In any case, the big day came and everything went perfectly, from the games to the banquet to the photos to the people. I was beaming with so much pride and joy, and was enjoying everything so much, I forgot to take pictures with the bride and groom, and with our family. I am still kicking myself two days later.

We all know that Keon is a wonderful man (albeit with bad hair) who will give her the happiness she deserves. We all know that she has joined a warm and fun-loving extended family who have already taken her in as their own daughter years ago. We know she is going places and meeting new people, and growing more confident with her place in the world. But to us, she will always be our gap-toothed, pig-tailed baby sister. And we will sorely miss her laughter, her sense of humour, her stories, and her running our little errands...

Now I have to nurse my bloated red eyes, raw nose, and headache...

Another Zoo Outing

Waiting for Gambir the elephant to finish painting her masterpiece

"The kangaroo is tired, Mamma!"

Sophie came home one day from school looking absolutely dejected. When we asked her what was wrong, she said it's because she could not to go to the zoo. So being the guillible and dutiful parents we were, we promptly penciled in a zoo trip on the following Sunday morning.

The Runner

Sophie the runner

We took part in a cancer charity run last weekend at the beach in East Coast. Having dragged ourselves out of bed at 6am on Sunday, we staggered to the venue with droopy eyes and protesting bodies to join hoardes of toned, lithe, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed runners who will complete the 10km run without breaking sweat. We wisely stuck to the 4km trot.

Sophie sat stoned in her stroller while YL & I huffed and puffed and pushed for more than an hour. I have now denegerated from an agile high-spirited Andes veteran to a HDB-dwelling, whining, panting aunty. My transformation is complete.

Anyways...

Sophie did get into the spirit of the event by volunteering to run (even though as part of a game to catch Mamma or Baba). She probably ran a total of 500m, which is not too shabby at all for a 3 year-old.