tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318383742012-01-29T23:50:01.950+08:00This blog was initially set up as a memory keepsake for Kieona and Kierra's growing up years, as well as to share the experiences we have as parents. As the years pass us by, it has now evolved into a family blog. We're still keeping the memories of Kieona and Kierra's growing up years intact, except to expand it to records of our family life. So read on....Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.comBlogger1601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-64795880238174745042010-11-30T09:23:00.001+08:002010-11-30T09:23:39.366+08:00<p><a href='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPRSFL-hnfI/AAAAAAAAACA/82rMoH47c8E/2010-11-30-09-13-08-020.jpg'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPRSFL-hnfI/AAAAAAAAACA/82rMoH47c8E/s400/2010-11-30-09-13-08-020.jpg' /></a></p><p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPRSFzxF6xI/AAAAAAAAACE/-Hmh7IvXTyc/2010-11-30-09-14-46-911.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPRSFzxF6xI/AAAAAAAAACE/-Hmh7IvXTyc/s400/2010-11-30-09-14-46-911.jpg' /></a></p><p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPRSGUIzelI/AAAAAAAAACI/dvw5UdO5AVs/2010-11-30-09-21-14-075.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPRSGUIzelI/AAAAAAAAACI/dvw5UdO5AVs/s400/2010-11-30-09-21-14-075.jpg' /></a></p>Just went to the dentist to help Kieona take out her 1st milk tooth that have become shaky recently. <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-6479588023817474504?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tian Shekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877359661278921766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-45495517926762970952010-11-29T13:12:00.001+08:002010-11-29T13:12:08.510+08:00<p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPM2FJNR46I/AAAAAAAAAB0/SU4tjdN_JjU/2010-11-29-12-33-42-488.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPM2FJNR46I/AAAAAAAAAB0/SU4tjdN_JjU/s400/2010-11-29-12-33-42-488.jpg' /></a></p><p><a href='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPM2GyAPEcI/AAAAAAAAAB4/fUhZqm5B_Hg/2010-11-29-12-15-18-331.jpg'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPM2GyAPEcI/AAAAAAAAAB4/fUhZqm5B_Hg/s400/2010-11-29-12-15-18-331.jpg' /></a></p><p><a href='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPM2InVw73I/AAAAAAAAAB8/KWe_ZHRNC5A/2010-11-29-12-14-56-627.jpg'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TPM2InVw73I/AAAAAAAAAB8/KWe_ZHRNC5A/s400/2010-11-29-12-14-56-627.jpg' /></a></p>Girls having their portfolio shoot at Impact.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-4549551792676297095?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tian Shekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877359661278921766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-63393998352896617842010-11-23T12:53:00.001+08:002010-11-23T12:53:20.227+08:00<p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TOtIrpHTImI/AAAAAAAAABs/5fFB8ZXtnp4/2010-11-23-12-09-08-240.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TOtIrpHTImI/AAAAAAAAABs/5fFB8ZXtnp4/s400/2010-11-23-12-09-08-240.jpg' /></a></p><p><a href='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TOtIu_XneZI/AAAAAAAAABw/OJjjt5VMW3Q/2010-11-23-12-07-58-403.jpg'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TOtIu_XneZI/AAAAAAAAABw/OJjjt5VMW3Q/s400/2010-11-23-12-07-58-403.jpg' /></a></p>While the girls were waiting, Kieona was fascinating her friend with a princess dressup game on mummy's phone.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-6339399835289661784?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tian Shekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877359661278921766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-13682866430219762332010-10-22T19:16:00.001+08:002010-10-22T19:16:00.470+08:00<p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TMFybnHBOHI/AAAAAAAAABo/B6IQJ0vBDvU/2010-10-22-18-57-50-436.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TMFybnHBOHI/AAAAAAAAABo/B6IQJ0vBDvU/s400/2010-10-22-18-57-50-436.jpg' /></a></p>It's friday & it's the girl's gym day. After gym, if we are at the shop, I will bring them over for a few hours. They always enjoy their time around.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-1368286643021976233?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tian Shekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877359661278921766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-58336415734797953802010-10-10T17:17:00.001+08:002010-10-10T17:17:38.878+08:00<p><a href='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TLGEiPXqA4I/AAAAAAAAABc/4dbky77gXJo/2010-10-10-17-14-41-647.jpg'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TLGEiPXqA4I/AAAAAAAAABc/4dbky77gXJo/s400/2010-10-10-17-14-41-647.jpg' /></a></p>More napping photo...<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5833641573479795380?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tian Shekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877359661278921766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-27931820480274571462010-10-10T16:54:00.001+08:002010-10-10T16:54:05.327+08:00<p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TLF_KKwft7I/AAAAAAAAABU/0wjBNsckuas/2010-10-10-16-46-56-260.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TLF_KKwft7I/AAAAAAAAABU/0wjBNsckuas/s400/2010-10-10-16-46-56-260.jpg' /></a></p>Kieona's taking a short nap on the sofa in the shop. Sunday is a long day for the girls starting with 9am music class for Kierra followed by chinese classes.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2793182048027457146?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tian Shekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877359661278921766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-83793938297304098012010-10-10T16:20:00.001+08:002010-10-10T16:20:40.419+08:00<p><a href='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TLF3TUVwf7I/AAAAAAAAABM/V5QZvFZfUFE/2010-10-10-16-16-02-043.jpg'><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TLF3TUVwf7I/AAAAAAAAABM/V5QZvFZfUFE/s400/2010-10-10-16-16-02-043.jpg' /></a></p>The girls just arrive @ the shop after their chinese classes at Toa Payoh. Mommy bought some yummy donuts from Donut Factory that just opened at Square 2. They each ate one & a half donuts. Yum!<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8379393829730409801?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tian Shekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877359661278921766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-78760699190461009212010-10-10T13:54:00.001+08:002010-10-10T13:54:50.993+08:00<p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TLFVKWemN6I/AAAAAAAAABI/2OFB5v7aA3g/2010-10-09_15-57-18_295.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OVcEtoPqLTo/TLFVKWemN6I/AAAAAAAAABI/2OFB5v7aA3g/s400/2010-10-09_15-57-18_295.jpg' /></a></p>Yesterday we spent over an hour blading in the void deck. Kieona is quite ok now moving around by herself while Kierra is also quickly getting the hang of it. Point of note is that the new blades we got from Novena Sq makes learning easier for the kids.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7876069919046100921?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tian Shekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877359661278921766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-24630257981914668472009-06-08T16:22:00.002+08:002009-06-08T16:28:07.761+08:00Kierra just had her chickenpox vaccination. It isn't compulsory, but Kieona had taken it and we had put it off for the longest time so we let her go for her vaccination last Wednesday. Mommy picked both girls up without the helper and went along and did everything just as if there wasn't a helper around. It was a very short trip and pleasant one at that.<br /><br />The lady doctor Dr Cheah wasn't around, so Dr Chuah did it for Kierra. Mommy actually asked that Dr Chuah keep out of the way of her legs, since she cried and kicked during the last jab. Guess what? She giggled through it. She just went "ouch, ouch!" and then it was over in a flash. She smiled and told me how brave she was.... and at the end of the day, she was rewarded with an ice-cream treat for making things so easy for everyone.<br /><br />Kieona said, "Mei Mei is so brave, like Jie Jie. Never cry right?" Hmm.... :)<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2463025798191466847?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-54711012289645424662009-06-07T20:05:00.004+08:002009-06-07T20:13:36.988+08:00We just had these portfolio pictures delivered. It was taken end of May. Like the flowers &amp; hand crocheted hat? Check out with Baby Slings &amp; Carriers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut16_fFDI/AAAAAAAABGU/6tkTauwKDiQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC_0025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut16_fFDI/AAAAAAAABGU/6tkTauwKDiQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC_0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344556524685431858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut1yXy3qI/AAAAAAAABGM/J5828BftbqI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC_0018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut1yXy3qI/AAAAAAAABGM/J5828BftbqI/s200/%28resized%29DSC_0018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344556522371473058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut1nFO4PI/AAAAAAAABGE/y3RCP6BadNw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC_0016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut1nFO4PI/AAAAAAAABGE/y3RCP6BadNw/s200/%28resized%29DSC_0016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344556519340826866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut1tnMrGI/AAAAAAAABF8/yVt4zUMu2lM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC_0009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut1tnMrGI/AAAAAAAABF8/yVt4zUMu2lM/s200/%28resized%29DSC_0009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344556521093901410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut1XpSw9I/AAAAAAAABF0/Pjum9wJbIYY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC_0007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siut1XpSw9I/AAAAAAAABF0/Pjum9wJbIYY/s200/%28resized%29DSC_0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344556515197109202" border="0" /></a><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5471101228964542466?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-56375311314184034942009-06-07T19:38:00.004+08:002009-06-07T19:58:50.812+08:00We decided to go to Marina Barrage since both Kieona and Kierra didn't have any Chinese class that Sunday. It was a spur of the moment outing so we didn't really find out a lot about the place before going and were therefore not very well-prepared. Such trips are fun, just because there are a lot of unplanned events that unfold.<br /><br />Originally Kieona suggested going to Sentosa but since Daddy and Mommy dilly dallied, it was already getting late in the morning and the skies were not fantastic so we ended up telling her we'll go to the Marina Barrage instead. Well, at least there'll be shelter if it rained.<br /><br />It turned out to be a big sunny day but the girls still had water fun at the water play area. Since we didn't expect that, we brought no towels nor change of clothes. Daddy looked at me when I allowed them to get in for some water fun. Well, it's just one of those times that Mommy thought we can sometimes relax and just let kids be kids.<br /><br />Kieona &amp; Kierra did have fun, and we had more fun looking at their outfits after their water play. View more photos at <span>http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=86576&amp;id=704853732&amp;l=44cacbf7ea</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq142NqeI/AAAAAAAABFc/4O9sX0ITVHw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC03092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq142NqeI/AAAAAAAABFc/4O9sX0ITVHw/s200/%28resized%29DSC03092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344553225574787554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The barrage</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq1tRcDSI/AAAAAAAABFU/ynKy-G2TdLM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC03013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq1tRcDSI/AAAAAAAABFU/ynKy-G2TdLM/s200/%28resized%29DSC03013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344553222467751202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Listening attentively to the guide</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq1bq2tSI/AAAAAAAABFM/QrlupBxdG9Q/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC03031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq1bq2tSI/AAAAAAAABFM/QrlupBxdG9Q/s200/%28resized%29DSC03031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344553217742517538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">What a nice display</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq2OLXweI/AAAAAAAABFs/vzLh9VXEJ_s/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC03150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq2OLXweI/AAAAAAAABFs/vzLh9VXEJ_s/s200/%28resized%29DSC03150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344553231300674018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Girls having impromptu water fun</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq1yHx5MI/AAAAAAAABFk/6fB6Nss4KtE/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC03174.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/Siuq1yHx5MI/AAAAAAAABFk/6fB6Nss4KtE/s200/%28resized%29DSC03174.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344553223769416898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Stopping the water from gushing out</span><br /></span></div><br /><span></span><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5637531131418403494?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-78394227994553192202009-06-07T17:59:00.004+08:002009-06-07T18:24:02.704+08:00The girls were supposed to be the flower girls at Uncle Damian's wedding on 25 April. We were all pretty excited and woke up early that day. Mommy dolled the girls up early in the morning and had painted their nails the night before.<br /><br />We got there punctually but alas, we were the only ones there. It was quite frantic and Daddy &amp; Mommy ended up having to liaise quite a bit with the other helpers since it was a huge confusion and there was not one person who had a good overview. The church didn't allow the aircon turned on and Daddy had to keep asking them to, since it really was so hot we kept perspiring. Thank goodness the guy who headed the team of carpark ushers was also there and was able to manage the carpark side quite well, so Daddy just had to oversee the church side.<br /><br />Mommy tried to get all three flower girls ready and everything was managed without too much hassle. The church wedding went fine, except that my dear Kieona suddenly got too overwhelmed and there was some hiccups during the march-in.<br /><br />The reception turned out to be quite a long wait for the guests though, and Daddy really had to see to quite a lot of things and Mommy tried to talk to the relatives, who were getting a little frustrated with waiting in the heat. Mommy was just a little shocked that in the end I had to coordinate with the staff on the tea ceremony. Thank goodness though everything went pretty much alright and we did try our best to fill whatever loopholes there were to fill. Good thing too that the guest list wasn't overwhelming. Ahh, in the end we were just glad that it was all over and Uncle Damian was happily married.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqPaufqI/AAAAAAAABEk/QHGQR5FeGOM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02860.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqPaufqI/AAAAAAAABEk/QHGQR5FeGOM/s200/%28resized%29DSC02860.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344526637196017314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona looking lovely</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqU6W2JI/AAAAAAAABEs/t1ekLhjyDWg/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02882.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqU6W2JI/AAAAAAAABEs/t1ekLhjyDWg/s200/%28resized%29DSC02882.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344526638670862482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Pinning on the garland</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqWwzChI/AAAAAAAABE0/VVujR96O9L0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02950.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqWwzChI/AAAAAAAABE0/VVujR96O9L0/s200/%28resized%29DSC02950.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344526639167638034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Waiting for the march in</span><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqmZV5dI/AAAAAAAABFE/cWUM-ptPUng/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02958.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqmZV5dI/AAAAAAAABFE/cWUM-ptPUng/s200/%28resized%29DSC02958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344526643364226514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona &amp; Kierra with Ah Gong, Gu Gu &amp; Mommy</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqlxqQpI/AAAAAAAABE8/SiPowrq9bMQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02992.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuSqlxqQpI/AAAAAAAABE8/SiPowrq9bMQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC02992.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344526643197788818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Our happy family</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7839422799455319220?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-37744651695703312122009-06-07T17:41:00.002+08:002009-06-07T17:49:00.179+08:00Kieona has upgraded to the Beginners class at gym, so now she does more drills and it looks hectic. She loves the new challenges though. Although many of the drills are still new to her, she does try very hard. She even has a buddy in her gym class called Barbara, who's probably a year or two older and was always looking out for her.<br /><br />Mommy was initially worried Kierra couldn't cope without Jie Jie in class, but she turned out fine except during the first few classes where she insisted on joining Kieona's class.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuLikjMg2I/AAAAAAAABEc/E7j-UG6FaQs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02719.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuLikjMg2I/AAAAAAAABEc/E7j-UG6FaQs/s200/%28resized%29DSC02719.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344518808848335714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona waiting for the coach's attention</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuLieH0RSI/AAAAAAAABEU/g1iV02_LBX0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02687.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuLieH0RSI/AAAAAAAABEU/g1iV02_LBX0/s200/%28resized%29DSC02687.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344518807122887970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra walking backwards in a straight line</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuLiPxQqLI/AAAAAAAABEM/ATT7JWS7t3U/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02628.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuLiPxQqLI/AAAAAAAABEM/ATT7JWS7t3U/s200/%28resized%29DSC02628.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344518803270183090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Doing the handstand</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuLiCP9S8I/AAAAAAAABEE/4RWo9H0KORU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02619.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuLiCP9S8I/AAAAAAAABEE/4RWo9H0KORU/s200/%28resized%29DSC02619.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344518799640841154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Table stand, her favorite at the moment</span><br /></span></div><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3774465169570331212?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-50964912123266675182009-06-07T17:24:00.002+08:002009-06-07T17:41:27.293+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuKknR795I/AAAAAAAABD8/aZuYjgsfKZg/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02615.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuKknR795I/AAAAAAAABD8/aZuYjgsfKZg/s200/%28resized%29DSC02615.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344517744429365138" border="0" /></a>This huge dragonfly came by and stuck around our home for two days in April. We wondered why it came in, but it did stay for two days and was getting weaker. Mommy got Bibik to chase it out, since there probably wasn't food for it to survive. But it was huge, about 15-20cm long. I am not kidding. The kids were fascinated though, but Bibik warned that the large dragonflies may bite, so we pretty much left it alone until the kids were out and we chased it out when we could still see it around the house.<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5096491212326667518?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-20480411375340947962009-06-07T17:15:00.003+08:002009-06-07T17:24:01.466+08:00Cannot believe that Mommy turned 33yrs old about two months ago. It was a day off for myself and we did go out for dinner with Wai Gong, Wai Po and Yee Yee's family. So I had 3 kids celebrating my birthday with me. What more could I have asked for?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuGsW9_D2I/AAAAAAAABD0/ehkhi02smsw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuGsW9_D2I/AAAAAAAABD0/ehkhi02smsw/s200/%28resized%29DSC02600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344513479443156834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Us with Wai Gong &amp; Wai Po - Daddy was taking the picture</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuGsVWbP5I/AAAAAAAABDs/f1vhgpiS2nk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02573.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuGsVWbP5I/AAAAAAAABDs/f1vhgpiS2nk/s200/%28resized%29DSC02573.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344513479008796562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">All eager to eat the cake</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuGsIjK4iI/AAAAAAAABDk/exVswYVRpac/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02549.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuGsIjK4iI/AAAAAAAABDk/exVswYVRpac/s200/%28resized%29DSC02549.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344513475572589090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The cake, close-up</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuGrwZd7-I/AAAAAAAABDc/P2QctQQTNCk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02544.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SiuGrwZd7-I/AAAAAAAABDc/P2QctQQTNCk/s200/%28resized%29DSC02544.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344513469089443810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Everyone in the rare get-together</span><br /></span></div><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2048041137534094796?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-32618556577759613012009-05-18T18:11:00.003+08:002009-05-18T18:21:14.890+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShE1kbVHrPI/AAAAAAAABDM/hDBDDFtCKj4/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02519.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShE1kbVHrPI/AAAAAAAABDM/hDBDDFtCKj4/s200/%28resized%29DSC02519.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337105933338651890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Getting ready to play on the piano for the first time</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShE1kcgI60I/AAAAAAAABDE/r4eX9nn3W0c/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02509.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShE1kcgI60I/AAAAAAAABDE/r4eX9nn3W0c/s200/%28resized%29DSC02509.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337105933653306178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Too eager to start the percussion performance</span></span><br /></div>28 March marks a big Saturday for Kieona as she makes her appearance in her Yamaha JMC course mini class concert. There are basically two concerts for them each year, after the completion of each book, so that the kids can showcase their skills to their parents. It is a way I suppose Yamaha keeps the kids' parents involved. It was hard work usually for the parent who attends the classes with their children as well, since it also means a lot of coaching at home after each lesson. So this is also a great day for Mommy to feel proud in putting in that many nights to practise each song together with Kieona.<br /><br />This time round instead of the electone, Kieona chose and was allowed to play the piano. It was a great feat for her, as she wasn't able to get the chance to play the piano during the first concert since her fingers were not really strong enough. I guess that was a big deal to her. I know it will be if I were in her shoes. So, good work Kieona! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShE1klSDbBI/AAAAAAAABDU/khYsA1aSxfQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02528.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShE1klSDbBI/AAAAAAAABDU/khYsA1aSxfQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC02528.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337105936010144786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Mrs Jen, Kieona &amp; Kierra (Kierra a little gloomy as she wanted stickers too - which she got eventually)</span><br /></span><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"></div><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3261855657775961301?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-45491372173922110622009-05-18T17:49:00.009+08:002009-05-18T18:10:53.299+08:00March 22 was one of those days that the children were free from any lessons. It was a break from Chinese Speech and Drama classes at Hokkien Huay Kuan so Mommy took a much needed weekend break to bond with the girls. It was a hard time deciding where to go, since almost every time they will want to go to Sentosa. Hmm, I guess they're really beach girls but Mommy decided that sometimes there are more places to see and more things to do than just going to the usual Palawan Beach.<br /><br />So we decided on the Jacobs Ballas Children's Garden. We've heard some good raves and wanted to find out how child-friendly the place was, apart from taking some pictures with the new Pikkolo baby carriers and testing it out for longer periods of time.<br /><br />My, it really was an eye-opener. It was not too big and everything was in sample size (meaning to say there is no big field of any particular plants) and the kids can move around quite comfortably. There were also some sort of play areas for the kids, combining nature with play, allowing them to enjoy it without knowing that they are actually learning. Brilliant.<br /><br />The only imperfection was that it rained the day before and the grounds were a little soggy, but it didn't stop us from having much fun.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyhhOBoiI/AAAAAAAABCM/xe5HDv8cBiU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02423.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyhhOBoiI/AAAAAAAABCM/xe5HDv8cBiU/s200/%28resized%29DSC02423.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102584845017634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Having fun learning about photosynthesis</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyQc4zOsI/AAAAAAAABB0/bvTQk55lMbE/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02390.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyQc4zOsI/AAAAAAAABB0/bvTQk55lMbE/s200/%28resized%29DSC02390.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102291624475330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The long slide...</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyQFxzasI/AAAAAAAABBs/uplMfboI9bs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02384.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyQFxzasI/AAAAAAAABBs/uplMfboI9bs/s200/%28resized%29DSC02384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102285421112002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Relaxing... where's the tea?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyQKZ5u_I/AAAAAAAABBk/shwNA_kx8mo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02371.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyQKZ5u_I/AAAAAAAABBk/shwNA_kx8mo/s200/%28resized%29DSC02371.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102286663039986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Some purple beans....</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyP-tQXeI/AAAAAAAABBc/PiV2fMz-XqI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02350.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyP-tQXeI/AAAAAAAABBc/PiV2fMz-XqI/s200/%28resized%29DSC02350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102283522989538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Don't they look like butterflies?</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyP7u9WfI/AAAAAAAABBU/H7o6wwfpmqs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02340.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEyP7u9WfI/AAAAAAAABBU/H7o6wwfpmqs/s200/%28resized%29DSC02340.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102282724825586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Simply fascinated</span><br /></span></div>After the playing and the learning, the girls decided they were hungry. I suppose they were not but they can never resist smelling some french fries and nuggets and walking away without having any. So we did make a pitch-stop at the small eatery just at the entrance of the Jacobs Ballas Children's Garden. It was a snack to help them recharge so that we could go on and enjoy parts of the Botanic Gardens which was just beside where we were.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEy3HsZjhI/AAAAAAAABC0/J23GDGNBT2U/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02436.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEy3HsZjhI/AAAAAAAABC0/J23GDGNBT2U/s200/%28resized%29DSC02436.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102955950214674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Deliciously sinful snack</span><br /></span></div>The Botanic Gardens turned out to be an even more interesting place since they were able to chase some pigeons and see for the first times in their lives, tadpoles! Overall, a wonderful trip and Kieona did enjoy enough to ask that we visit it again sometime soon.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEysYfhwkI/AAAAAAAABCs/XFBBBKafD4s/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02469.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEysYfhwkI/AAAAAAAABCs/XFBBBKafD4s/s200/%28resized%29DSC02469.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102771481068098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Chasing the pigeons</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEysA59XAI/AAAAAAAABCk/bVh67gOzO68/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02451.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEysA59XAI/AAAAAAAABCk/bVh67gOzO68/s200/%28resized%29DSC02451.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337102765149477890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">One having fun, the other getting lazy</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEzJ5jBhKI/AAAAAAAABC8/zgYPE4H507c/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02488.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEzJ5jBhKI/AAAAAAAABC8/zgYPE4H507c/s200/%28resized%29DSC02488.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337103278570308770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Can you spot the tiny tadpoles?</span><br /></span><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"></div><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-4549137217392211062?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-70052965247696913742009-05-18T17:33:00.005+08:002009-05-18T17:47:43.755+08:0013 March was a school holiday so we all ended up booking for a dental appointment a month ago to have the kids' teeth checked. We knew from Kieona's dental conditions that fillings will be one of the treatments she will have to go through this time round again. Kierra's teeth are in excellent condition and no further work was required. It was Eugene's first visit to the dentist and it appeared that it was a pleasant one for him as well. I must say the School Dental Clinic is pretty good. And we all didn't mind the price, which costs like less than S$10 per child per visit should it just be for cleaning and check-up. Definitely worth the extra trouble going so far and planning so far ahead of the visit.<br /><br />As usual, a trip to the School Dental Clinic will entail some form of entertainment for the kids with a visit to the Health Promotion Board exhibition area. Since it wasn't exactly costly, it is always a good place to visit to refresh their memories and allow them to role-play at the dental area. Well, it was a good chance for them to use the interactive games to decide which types of food diets are considered healthy. If you have picky eaters like mine, I think it does help a little. Kieona is beginning to tell me at home that vegetables are healthy. The funny thing is that she also totally stops eating any kind of skins. Well.... it's not easy for me since I've got to deal with "yucks, I don't want skins" all the time but I guess it's a healthier option, so I let her be. The downside? She gives Kierra all the chicken skins and Kierra gladly gobbles them up. Argh...<br /><br />We did have a pretty wild hour after the dental visit and Eugene seems pleased he was able to gather with us for play. Check those kids out! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEt4P7DttI/AAAAAAAABBM/v6H47cXpOLw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02332.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEt4P7DttI/AAAAAAAABBM/v6H47cXpOLw/s200/%28resized%29DSC02332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097477780911826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Daddy is a champion!!!</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEt4KHa0bI/AAAAAAAABBE/hDNxRooiPyE/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02322.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEt4KHa0bI/AAAAAAAABBE/hDNxRooiPyE/s200/%28resized%29DSC02322.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097476222144946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The entire gang, minus the photographer, who is Daddy....</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEt3_SxN3I/AAAAAAAABA8/EyepW-qTG98/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02313.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEt3_SxN3I/AAAAAAAABA8/EyepW-qTG98/s200/%28resized%29DSC02313.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097473316960114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Pie Pie with the studious look</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtkIh_hgI/AAAAAAAABA0/xFaMswW6xQY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02312.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtkIh_hgI/AAAAAAAABA0/xFaMswW6xQY/s200/%28resized%29DSC02312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097132199347714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Terminator???</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtkHvop2I/AAAAAAAABAs/0ZCapSnW1wc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02311.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtkHvop2I/AAAAAAAABAs/0ZCapSnW1wc/s200/%28resized%29DSC02311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097131988133730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">In the dental chair</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtkJ2Hn-I/AAAAAAAABAk/oNvAL9DUtHc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02305.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtkJ2Hn-I/AAAAAAAABAk/oNvAL9DUtHc/s200/%28resized%29DSC02305.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097132552200162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Check out those fillings</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtj43cB8I/AAAAAAAABAc/1IFVrVQNYIo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtj43cB8I/AAAAAAAABAc/1IFVrVQNYIo/s200/%28resized%29DSC02298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097127994329026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona taking care of Eugene</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtjt7vEMI/AAAAAAAABAU/qdajGwalvlY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEtjt7vEMI/AAAAAAAABAU/qdajGwalvlY/s200/%28resized%29DSC02297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337097125059563714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra wondering where to go</span><br /></span><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"></div><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7005296524769691374?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-38576770374201002612009-05-18T16:25:00.002+08:002009-05-18T16:30:16.807+08:00This happened a couple of weeks ago. As Kierra grows, she asks many funny questions and has her logical deductions, but some are simply hilarious. I can't remember all, since we've been busy over the weeks and I'm racking my old brains, but this was pretty much a classic and I still laugh each time I recall it.<br /><br />We were watching the movie Twilight which is a really popular tween movie. Although we're not exactly big fans of it, we were curious enough to rent the DVD. There was a scene where the male lead kissed the female lead on the neck and Kierra went, "Hey, why you kiss the neck? The neck got no lips what!"<br /><br />Ahh.... kids who have watched too much kissing scenes. :))<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3857677037420100261?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-51212753532002067452009-03-03T12:26:00.004+08:002009-05-18T17:32:23.631+08:00Time really flies and it does seem like just yesterday we found out that I was pregnant with our first little baby. Many months of being with the kids at home as a SAHM, now up and running with my business, which took off from being a home-based online one to a full-fledged babywearing specialist shop with online presence and a retail boutique. And still enjoying each an every precious moment I have with my kids. Now there are two!!!! And Kieona is 5 years old!<br /><br />Little big princess has requested to not celebrate her birthday with her friends in school, so she got her wish granted. Mommy thought that was a wierd request, but we respected her wishes anyway. Perhaps she didn't feel it was necessary. Perhaps she just wanted more time with me (and she probably thought that having a celebration in school will take away the celebration at home or time away from me?).<br /><br />Sunday, 1st March 2009 was the exact day of her fifth birthday. We didn't exactly have any celebrations with a bang, since there was their usual Sunday Chinese Speech &amp; Drama class at Hokkien Huay Kuan in Toa Payoh. It wasn't my intention or will it seem any wiser for us to skip it, since they both really enjoy their classes very much. So that pretty much burnt up our morning and early afternoon. We had sushi at IRAS building though, but it does seem strange that Kieona didn't eat a lot. After that we let her choose a toy of her choice at Toys R'Us in United Square and she decided on a pretend play set which consists of a pair of girly heels. She's been at it everyday since. :)<br /><br />Nap time and the rest of the afternoon would have been off, but a series of events prevented that from happening. Eugene &amp; family came by to give Kieona an ang pow for her birthday and they stayed for a little while. Eugene was so happy and refused to go home after. We missed him, and the feeling is mutual.... but I guess as the Chinese saying goes, "Tian1 Xia4 Wu2 Bu4 San4 De4 Yan4 Xi2". Perhaps we could have sleepovers when the kids are a little bigger.<br /><br />The girls had an hour to rest so I did all I could to keep the sleep area comfortable and quiet. They didn't sleep, although Kierra did seem extremely tired earlier on. Then the skies poured, as if to deter us from heading out for dinner. But there wasn't much of a choice, since Kieona's birthday was the same as Ah Gong's birthday. We had to drag ourselves out and tried to skip in the rain, finding fun at the downpour. Dinner at Bottle Tree Park wasn't exactly fantastic, since the standard seem to have dropped by leaps and bounds. Then again, it was just a family dinner so I guess the food quality wasn't the most important ingredient. Ah Gong's side of the family came from Malaysia too. I suppose he should be happy.<br /><br />Uncle Tien Jie's family bought a Mango birthday cake which oops, melted. There was a electrical trip-up at home and the cake wasn't frozen the way it was intended to, but it still tasted pretty good anyway. Anyone looking for good Mango cakes, try out the one from Emicakes, pretty good even by Mommy's standards.<br /><br />Kieona told me that was Ah Gong's birthday cake and I asked if she wanted one for herself. She said she didn't want to share. I supposed that is something quite expected. I wouldn't like it either as a child. Even Kierra's reaction was (just this morning), "Mommy, Ah Gong cake all melted. Why Jie Jie don't have birthday cake?". Then Kieona asked me at the breakfast table, "Mommy, can you buy a cake for me and we celeberate at home?" I asked if she wanted to invite any other persons not at our home. She said no and she wanted just us.<br /><br />Kieona is all grown up. The little girl who is always so strong in her opinions has now decided that she can choose to live her life the way she wants and she is now expecting her decisions to be expected and carried out the way she wants it. And she articulates that clearly. My little girl is now one year older and I hope, wiser. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEqhjtwYhI/AAAAAAAAA_8/5TpJJxSMmo4/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02065.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEqhjtwYhI/AAAAAAAAA_8/5TpJJxSMmo4/s200/%28resized%29DSC02065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337093789421953554" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Kieona &amp; Kierra posing with the cake Kieona chose</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEqh6jyJ0I/AAAAAAAABAE/kDJDWK0PGcY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEqh6jyJ0I/AAAAAAAABAE/kDJDWK0PGcY/s200/%28resized%29DSC02078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337093795554142018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The cake.....</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEqh5R3A9I/AAAAAAAABAM/e2sSSAq6xe4/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC02097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/ShEqh5R3A9I/AAAAAAAABAM/e2sSSAq6xe4/s200/%28resized%29DSC02097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337093795210527698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The cake-cutting...</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5121275353200206745?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-17285268470562619042009-02-20T12:42:00.002+08:002009-02-20T12:53:39.572+08:00Kierra took out a piece of paper which she had left in the car and asked me if it is Mommy's car. Mommy was driving then and just muttered that they must have stuffed a junk piece of paper in my car and didn't think more about what she was trying to say. She flipped open the piece of A4 paper at the same time when I stopped at the traffic lights.<br /><br />I saw the Baby Slings &amp; Carriers logo, and immediately knew what she was trying to tell me. She was talking about our car decal. "Mommy, this is your one right? This is the same picture as your car." Smiling, I explained that it was the our business logo and it represents the love a mother has for her baby, as she cradles and holds the baby close to her (as in babywearing). The baby naturally is contented close to the mother's chest. Baby feels comforted and is sleeping soundly because she is confident that Mommy will constantly surround her with love. Kierra went, "yes, baby love Mommy and Mommy love baby, right Mommy?"<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZ42hMBk8FI/AAAAAAAAA_g/QQTT3jl0lCQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01806.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZ42hMBk8FI/AAAAAAAAA_g/QQTT3jl0lCQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC01806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304737354880446546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Our car - driver's side</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZ42hNyN9kI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/06tDxatXmBw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01805.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZ42hNyN9kI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/06tDxatXmBw/s200/%28resized%29DSC01805.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304737355352897090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Our car - passengers' side</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-1728526847056261904?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-81664504541570886972009-02-16T10:41:00.002+08:002009-02-16T10:44:40.293+08:00We returned home last week after a day at the shop and was greeted by the usual, "Mommy, this drawing is for you," from both Kieona and Kierra. Usually Kierra's drawing will be some scribbling but this time she showed me a cat. Mommy thought it was drawn by Kieona as Kieona is very good at drawing characters. Kierra told me she drew it and I asked Kieona, just to be sure. And she said Kierra did draw the cat below:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjS58z1kEI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Q-m7fDNK3ZM/s1600-h/kierra_first_cat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 165px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjS58z1kEI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Q-m7fDNK3ZM/s200/kierra_first_cat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303220454246682690" border="0" /></a>My Kierra has grown up! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8166450454157088697?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-46509170388808753662009-02-16T09:44:00.006+08:002009-02-16T10:34:40.613+08:00Chinese New Year this year came and went quickly, since we were all busy from getting back after the Korea trip and then minding the business. We didn't have the luxury of shopping for new clothes or new shoes, so our family made do with new dresses for the girls that Mommy took a couple of minutes out to visit this small little shop at Thomson Plaza (where our shop is as well) to quickly grab a dress each for Kieona and Kierra. Since I couldn't find any reasonable priced, nice shoes for them from the mall, they had to make do with the old boots they have. Even Daddy and Mommy had limited new clothes, all bought as last resorts just to keep up the tradition of having something new for CNY. This Chinese New Year is indeed a simple, cost-effective affair. (ok, apart from the ang-pows that we had to give out.)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN5L62QqI/AAAAAAAAA-A/EFMFqf7IeAs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01736.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN5L62QqI/AAAAAAAAA-A/EFMFqf7IeAs/s200/%28resized%29DSC01736.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303214943564612258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Preparing for CNY with painted nails for the girls</span></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN5vEJR8I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/sQKnP7c5oiw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01762.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN5vEJR8I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/sQKnP7c5oiw/s200/%28resized%29DSC01762.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303214952998848450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra's nails</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN5QoHjdI/AAAAAAAAA-I/vjOMpXXGSxY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01748.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN5QoHjdI/AAAAAAAAA-I/vjOMpXXGSxY/s200/%28resized%29DSC01748.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303214944828231122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona's nails</span><br /></span></div>Reunion dinner with Daddy's side of the family was a week earlier at a coffeeshop near our place. We had decide to book a table with the zichar store since we had to consider distance and factor in the time Mommy needed to rush to from work.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjNOVPPiMI/AAAAAAAAA94/5aoqZ3QTdSk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01705.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjNOVPPiMI/AAAAAAAAA94/5aoqZ3QTdSk/s200/%28resized%29DSC01705.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303214207331698882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kids playing in our house after reunion dinner with Daddy's side of the family</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjNOSUYVxI/AAAAAAAAA9w/TI2Fcn1451E/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01685.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjNOSUYVxI/AAAAAAAAA9w/TI2Fcn1451E/s200/%28resized%29DSC01685.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303214206547941138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kierra being the center of attention</span></span><br /></div><br />Reunion dinner with Mommy's side of the family happened on the eve of CNY, and it's the usual steamboat at Gu Gongs' place. It wasn't exactly eventful and probably the most exciting event was meeting Pie's new domestic helper. Oops, she has two missing front teeth, which Mommy thought looked a little odd.<br /><br />All in, it was the usual visiting. This year since Mommy only had two days off for the CNY break (yes, closing the shop will mean great financial strains), we limited our CNY visiting to just the usual relatives' houses. My, it was really a strain visiting and we were glad for the times we could stay at home. Afterall, it was the longest break we had in a long time as a family, and we simply lazed around, watched dvds and eating Mommy's simple homecooked dishes. Yes, finally Kieona got her wish for Mommy to cook her a meal..... :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN55ZMQrI/AAAAAAAAA-g/fpICuZfnsTY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01779.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN55ZMQrI/AAAAAAAAA-g/fpICuZfnsTY/s200/%28resized%29DSC01779.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303214955771478706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">WaiPo with Kieona, Kierra &amp; Eugene at Gu Gong's house</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPJYiQrAI/AAAAAAAAA-o/-3QzY-2DAwo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01798.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPJYiQrAI/AAAAAAAAA-o/-3QzY-2DAwo/s200/%28resized%29DSC01798.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303216321340681218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Family Portrait?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN5kWtppI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/6i22wyXN-Lg/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01766.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjN5kWtppI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/6i22wyXN-Lg/s200/%28resized%29DSC01766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303214950123939474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">With Wai Po again</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPLr-YAXI/AAAAAAAAA_I/mYtAY-AdSmA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01898.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPLr-YAXI/AAAAAAAAA_I/mYtAY-AdSmA/s200/%28resized%29DSC01898.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303216360918614386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Zhor Zhor, Stella Kor Po, Mikayla &amp; us</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPKp-LbcI/AAAAAAAAA_A/1URIzWYHTFU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01881.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPKp-LbcI/AAAAAAAAA_A/1URIzWYHTFU/s200/%28resized%29DSC01881.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303216343201050050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Wai Po, Auntie Gina, Mikayla &amp; Rae Ann</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPKNXCRGI/AAAAAAAAA-4/Iul7T-GGDBw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01857.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPKNXCRGI/AAAAAAAAA-4/Iul7T-GGDBw/s200/%28resized%29DSC01857.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303216335520679010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Feasting....</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPJuph9II/AAAAAAAAA-w/b5U7JRspVRY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01835.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SZjPJuph9II/AAAAAAAAA-w/b5U7JRspVRY/s200/%28resized%29DSC01835.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303216327276754050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">First time Mikayla asks Mommy to carry...</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-4650917038880875366?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-5670886686128791422009-02-06T17:06:00.005+08:002009-02-06T17:26:35.130+08:00<div style="text-align: left;">Last year end was a busy time for the family. Apart from starting Mommy's first Babywearing retail outlet at Thomson Plaza on Dec 1 2008, we also went on a whirlwind tour of activities including going for the usual family Christmas celebrations at Stella Kor Poh's house and attended Uncle Dominic's wedding before leaving for Korea the very next night.<br /><br /></div>The girls had a wonderful time in Winter Korea. They saw snow, played with snow at the ski resort, trekked up Mt Sorak and so on. Kierra was hibernating most of the time, since it was very cold and we had very little sleep due to the rather packed schedule. We did however enjoyed ourselves a lot. The only event that marred the trip was Ah Gong's fall at Mt Sorak. He slipped on the ice and fractured his arm. The good thing was that the doctor who tended to him was quite good and he could continue on our trip.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_mYxGSTI/AAAAAAAAA9o/5xKUTd9mhE0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC04288.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_mYxGSTI/AAAAAAAAA9o/5xKUTd9mhE0/s200/%28resized%29DSC04288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299610421480016178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kieona &amp; Kierra playing with the snow at Oak Valley</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_mGM0JUI/AAAAAAAAA9g/-8DRKjbidEw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC01233.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_mGM0JUI/AAAAAAAAA9g/-8DRKjbidEw/s200/%28resized%29DSC01233.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299610416495994178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona &amp; Mommy enjoying our hot potato soup</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_mJIXdqI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/PL-kj0wI8d8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC00922.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_mJIXdqI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/PL-kj0wI8d8/s200/%28resized%29DSC00922.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299610417282643618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">This breathtaking view was taken at Nami Island, if you are familiar with "Winter Sonata"</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_mN-XcMI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/L3RJVeQSpj8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC00601.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_mN-XcMI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/L3RJVeQSpj8/s200/%28resized%29DSC00601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299610418582876354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Playing in the snow</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_l9ROjMI/AAAAAAAAA9I/1X1yOM2qPxM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC00566.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SYv_l9ROjMI/AAAAAAAAA9I/1X1yOM2qPxM/s200/%28resized%29DSC00566.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299610414098582722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The whole family, dressed in Hanbok</span></span><br /></div><br />More pictures can be found at:<br /><span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64038&amp;l=d3fe3&amp;id=704853732">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64038&amp;l=d3fe3&amp;id=704853732</a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64040&amp;l=b9e13&amp;id=704853732"><span>http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64040&amp;l=b9e13&amp;id=704853732</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64042&amp;l=f708e&amp;id=704853732"><span>http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64042&amp;l=f708e&amp;id=704853732</span></a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-567088668612879142?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-50371244100427767312009-01-19T14:02:00.004+08:002009-01-19T16:07:56.212+08:00I find much joy in parenting my children and in the process re-finding humans' most innate abilities. Oftentimes as we grow up, we start to lose our focus and our persistence in our goals in life.<br /><br />A particular episode over the weekend made me re-focus my efforts at building up our business and strengthened my beliefs in helping other parents find ways to wear their babies in more sustainable ways.<br /><br />Kieona was having her music lesson on Saturday at Yamaha in Thomson Plaza and as usual, I sat in with her. She is starting to play the V7 chord and 1st chord (which means 3 fingers on her left hand depressing 3 different keys on the lower keyboard). Now this may not look very difficult for an adult, but depressing 3 keys for a child who is 4 years old is a big deal to them, as their psychomotor skills are being stretched to the maximum (not counting the fact that they also have shorter fingers).<br /><br />For Kieona, she has particularly short fingers and being such a lady, I was really afraid that she may complain of pains of the disability of stretching her fingers so wide. Her teacher told me that it may hurt for Kieona (as her fingers are particularly short) and it's ok and she could just try. Try she did and this time it was on her own. I have been encouraging her to keep trying before and I was proud that she declared she doesn't need help. I saw with my very own eyes that she tried very hard and stretched it way beyond. My heart hurt a little seeing her tiny bent fifth finger stretched so wide that it looked like it was giving way. But I held back and just asked her very calmly if it was ok and if it hurt any. She declared that she could do it and that it didn't hurt one bit. It thrilled me to bits just hearing that. She didn't complain and just did what she could to learn the new chords. I was proud.<br /><br />Now, this entry isn't about boasting how great my daughter is in her keyboard skills, but the attitude she has towards learning and new things. She knew that I will help her anyway, but she has willed herself to think that she can do anything despite her shortcomings. In fact in more ways than one, we have discovered that Kieona is one such great child who never fails to persist in what she believes in. All in her tiny life, she possesses in her such great willpower and persistence in getting at what she believes in. That kind of doggedness is helping her break many, many barriers in learning new skills. I am simply amazed by how much she has overcome in the past few months alone, and how that persistence has helped her overcome her shortcomings (eg. the short fingers).<br /><br />I hope that she will continue to have this single-mindedness and fighting spirit in her as she grows up, as this is what has been helping her get whatever she wants.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5037124410042776731?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-73021609605160300432008-12-26T18:14:00.003+08:002008-12-26T18:51:41.725+08:00Wai Gong recently spoke about having kids and how much effort &amp; sacrifice parents have to go through bringing them up. Mommy is surprised that he said if he lived his life over, he probably will not want to have kids.<br /><br />Two years ago in 2006 when our family was going through a family crisis, I may have felt the same way - that kids were a burden and I wouldn't want to have them if I could live my life again. But now nearing end of 2008 and with two girls who are absolutely a joy to be with most times, I feel different.<br /><br />Wai Gong's words did make me think real hard about life with kids and the various perspectives. It is without doubt that having children will take a lifetime of responsibility, a toil on finances and a whole load of sacrifices but I finally understand that it's all worth it. So what if these days I can only buy an occasional pair of 3 inches heels and one that costs more than $200? So what if I have to miss the weekend wine and dine at expensive restaurants? So what if we have had to miss just flying off to a new exotic location every once in a while?<br /><br />For the past five years or more, I had made a choice to give up a promising career and lots of material wants and freedom. Although it was tough coming to terms with having to count the dollars initially and losing my freedom of not having an hour for leisure or lunch, I still felt happy each time my children hug me and tell me they love me. I wanted kids and I wanted to be there for them and to inculcate in them what's right and wrong. And simply be there for them when they need me. It was just fortunate that Daddy was with me on this and we managed to make our family work out so far.<br /><br />Some people tell me that even if you had been there for the kids, some kids will still turn out bad. It's just fate. While I agree that being there for them may not always translate into them being wonderful persons in the future, I am just glad to be able to be a mother to my children, receiving and giving them hugs when they need. The rest, s they say are up to fate.<br /><br />Now with the retail shop and the long hours away from Kieona and Kierra, I realize now that it is not the kids who stop you from doing things but it is what motivates you to keep doing them. Without them, I wouldn't have had the mind to want to pay it forward by helping more parents bond with their children naturally and effortlessly. Without them as motivation, I will not bother to put in so much effort into building a sustainable business and to help other parents at the same time. Without them, I will not see any need to strive for a better life. Without them, my family is not complete. Without my family, then life is not worth striving hard for.<br /><br />Mommy finally understands why we are working so hard for. And it's great knowing that. Thank you Wai Gong for helping Mommy understand my primary source of energy. And for the last time I'll say, having kids is one decision I will never want to change if I have to live my life over.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7302160960516030043?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-25567113969455981532008-12-11T16:08:00.002+08:002008-12-11T16:30:55.465+08:00Wow! This is a proud Mommy posting. Since the shop opening more than a week ago, I haven't had much time to spare for the girls. Kieona was a little upset that I couldn't take them to their gymnastics lesson last Wednesday. Yesterday I made some time out for them by going with them for their class in the evening while Wai Gong watched the shop.<br /><br />It was the most fabulous gymnastics lesson that I watched them perform. As they were having some certification testing, I just told them before the lesson to show me what they wanted me to see. Show me they did. Both were able to execute a backwards roll on the rings. Kieona could do that and come down in a straight up position without losing her balance. Kierra could hold her backwards roll on the rings very well for a long period of time. That is just so fantastic - anyone watching them will have been amazed. Well, even I for one, cannot do that, let alone balance my body and come down without losing balance. In fact, they were the only ones in the entire class who could successfully attempt that move.<br /><br />It's a pity Mommy didn't have a videocam. It was a moment so good, yet the moment slipped without getting captured. It was fortunate though I made it to watch their routine. I hope I can get one more eureka moment like this and I hope I have my videocam ready the next time round.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2556711396945598153?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-12373108008042642262008-12-01T16:59:00.003+08:002008-12-01T18:28:45.538+08:00Gu Gu always tells Mommy that Kierra has a mind of her own. Although I never really quite figured out what is meant by that, Kierra does sometimes come up with strange analogies or forms her own conclusions about things.<br /><br />Take for example yesterday when I got them to brush their teeth and wash their faces before they head for bed. Kieona got to the toilet first to pass urine and was upset that she isn't first to get there. So she told me that she doesn't like Jie Jie. When I asked why, she said Jie Jie is ugly. I told her that it's a mean thing to say and it's not very nice to comment on how others look. And I added that I actually find Kieona rather pretty. Then she said, "Jie Jie face got mole. Mommy, you also. Daddy also. You all not pretty. Only I don't have mole on my face. So I very pretty."<br /><br />I nearly flipped over with laughter.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-1237310800804264226?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-55349985613388639072008-11-24T00:37:00.003+08:002008-11-24T00:49:50.546+08:00It's been a couple of months since the girls had their ears pierced. We thought their ears have healed properly and never knew that it can get infected after they've healed. Anyway, it started with Kierra. She started having pus in the pierced earhole. Mommy diligently started putting the lotion again but it didn't improve for more than a month. That was in October.<br /><br />Then Kieona's started acting up too. We brought them back to B'Dazzle - the place they had their ears pierced for a check and were told to continue applying the lotion. My, that didn't help although Mommy did it at least twice a day.<br /><br />I thought about it and even though they advised against taking out the earrings, we decided enough was enough. It was causing too much grief and pain in the kids. We looked around for those earrings that are made in a continuous loop. It was a humongous task, and only after scouring many goldsmith did we find one that is exactly what Mommy was looking for - like hers. They were pretty expensive, but even if it costs more I suspect we would have paid anyway.<br /><br />The big task began and the day we had the earrings changed was a day deep in pain for the girls. Removing the old earrings wasn't difficult, although it must hurt for Kierra too since the pus had her ear studs stuck fast to her skin. We used the maid's method of applying oil while putting on the new earrings. Both girls cried and Kierra was kicking furiously. Mommy managed to get Kieona's done, but with Kierra kicking and no one able to provide comfort I soon gave up. Thank goodness Daddy wasn't squirmish and persisted to put them on for her.<br /><br />My, such kicking and screaming but they finally went through. There was some blood shed but it's been two weeks now, and we believe it is finally healing.<br /><br />For people whose kids are having their ears pierced, one word of advice. You may want to get similar earrings like the ones we bought, as they allow the skin to breath since water can get logged and cause problems if the kids are wearing ear studs. I'll be posting some photos of the loop earrings when I get the chance.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5534998561338863907?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-78375928223780232462008-11-23T18:02:00.003+08:002008-11-23T18:12:12.661+08:00It was a pleasant surprise. Mommy craved for green bean soup soon after the other day we had green bean soup at Thomson Plaza. I actually felt that I was going to catch the kids' flu bug with so little sleep and so much running around but got better with that single bowl of green bean soup.<br /><br />Why not let the kids have them I thought, since I remembered my maternal grandma always saying that it is "cooling" in nature. The girls have been coughing so badly and I thought it couldn't get any worse. Plus, since I was craving it.....<br /><br />We just boiled some green beans (costs us like only S$0.80 only) in a pot of water with a few pandan leaves for taste, some mini sago pearls for fun and some rock sugar. Can't use normal sugar as I heard it's heaty. So anyway, I braced myself for some protests by the kids as the last time I tried, Kieona hated green beans and refused any. (Can't blame her since I'm really not a green beans fan too.)<br /><br />The sago helped a little and they both took some (without the beans as usual) and yesterday night, the cough seems to just disappear. Even Daddy felt the effects. He had been coughing badly (though not as bad in his sleep as the girls) and I didn't hear any resemblance of any coughs yesterday. They only coughed a little when they lay down and it wasn't incesant, like all the nights before. It remained so until morning when they woke up. Miracle, isn't it?<br /><br />Today, they polished up the green beans soup before their nap and again no cough when they lay down to nap and none in between either. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for their speedy recovery. Yay!!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7837592822378023246?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-31233191073625794572008-11-22T22:10:00.003+08:002008-11-22T22:33:47.290+08:00It's been a week since Kieona caught flu, and she's not getting any better. Kierra caught it too on Monday, a day later than Kieona with yo-yo fevers and incessant coughing throughout the day and night for both. We heard that meatpie was sick too - he was made to go home from school just 2 hours after he went there last Monday.<br /><br />Yee Yee called and told us Pie was in hospital this morning (his PD's clinic), and was waiting to do his blood test, mucous test, X-ray. He had diarrhoea and had wheezing sounds. Was told he got bronchitis soon after and other test results will only be out on Monday. Meanwhile he's got to be on the neubulizer for the next 3 days. Poor Pie. Must be tough.<br /><br />Our girls are really not doing much better. Today's visit to the GP found that Kieona has swollen lymph nodes and that's why the pain she complained in her neck area. It is not a suprise, since she had been coughing really hard the past few days. If anything, I thought it was getting worse. Dr Cheah said we have to monitor as it's spreading downwards and may lead to pneumonia - which seems to be getting very common for the young kids this season.<br /><br />Argh!!! I just hope it doesn't get any worse. Mommy already wakes at every drop of the pin in the night, and it's been a week without much proper sleep. What a bad time too... since our retail store will be opening in 2 weeks and we've been busy preparing.<br /><br />Their school mentioned in a health alert sent via email that a child caught HFMD. Don't know which is worse. Perhaps this flu was around to let the kids avoid any contact with that terrible virus. So are we lucky or not? I'm not sure.<br /><br />However, I must say that I have been more than a little disappointed that the health alerts given by the center hasn't really been too proactive. I wonder since we never quite heard a beep, if any notable virus has been going around amongst the kids. The only personal contact we had was when I called the school to inform them of how my kids were faring and to find out if there were certain symptoms in other sick kids so that I could stay on my toes. Alas, didn't get any information which makes me a wee bit disappointed. Nah, don't think I'll be updating in future since it seems this is not the norm.<br /><br />I had always felt that the more prudent way to deal with such "center epidemics" is to call and check with kids who have been away for 2 or more days to ask if there's anything wrong or if there are certain symptoms, so that the school could alert parents and we can take note if there is any serious virus spreading. While we have always kept our kids away to prevent any spreading of viruses to their schoolmates when they are ill, I wonder if others are doing the same, and am starting to lose my trust in that the school can enforce such behavior, or at least keep us informed of health situations, rather than keeping within MOH guidelines. Sigh!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3123319107362579457?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-57666297619485670852008-11-18T17:40:00.005+08:002008-11-18T19:15:18.319+08:00The weekend was a little heated, not by the weather but a conversation that we found ourselves in. It makes one wonder - does it help someone if you keep comparing and make yourself feel bad by pitting your weaknesses against others' strengths?<br /><br />Just on Sunday, a relative told us that a friend's grandchild who is Kieona's age could recite Chinese Tang poems. Naturally, Mommy went "Oh, isn't the child smart?" The person went on to discuss about teaching a young child languages and all, and that we "must" read and make Kieona recite the Chinese Tang poems so that she knows. Mommy wanted to just end the conversation as I didn't see it getting anywhere, but then this person brought it up to Daddy's attention and that's where it got a little out of hand.<br /><br />Because of the insistence, Daddy actually felt compelled to protect his children like all parents will. So he brought up the fact that Kieona was able to swim for short distances and get out of the water to breathe by herself. Then Mommy felt compelled to add that she is able to read some Chinese characters and play a simple tune on the electone. The person went, "Are you sure?" Then as Kieona and Kierra were scribbling in one corner and it was brought to his attention that Kieona can write her own name as well as Kierra's, he went "Really? Let me see.", took up the paper and went "where? Is it correct?".<br /><br />As Chinese, we talk about modesty but we felt it really need not go beyond putting down our own strengths just to let others look better. For example if we really have to compare, does the same child who can recite Chinese Tang poems swim? Can he play the electone or recognize the Chinese characters? We were then lectured that a young kid should not learn to write characters. While we do agree that languages start with listening and speaking, must we stop a child from writing if this is what she is interested in and learns best? It certainly didn't make a lot of sense to us. When all these didn't get through, it was implied that we have to teach our kids. I certainly don't think he is in the position to comment, since there really is no need for us to justify what and how we teach our kids. We recognize that all kids are different and all families different, so we have generally preferred to kept our mouths shut where the topic of how people bring up their kids is broached.<br /><br />Although the conversation was ended abruptly, the damage has already been done. Kieona actually went home and while I was trying out her electone pieces, she ran into the room and came out with her Chinese folder. She wanted to show me the Chinese poems she learnt in the Chinese class but she ended up sobbing, telling me "everything also I don't know". It broke my heart. I explained I love her for being her and furthermore she already knows a lot of things and we're really proud of her achievements. I thought nothing more of that, until she started sobbing again while having her teeth brushed that night. Then she told me that she is not good and cannot learn everything.<br /><br />Hearing that makes Mommy feel so lousy and heartbroken. I just hugged and kissed her, and tell her it all didn't matter. As long as she keeps trying, her achievements are the only yardsticks she should ever measure herself against. There is no point getting upset by comparing our weaknesses against someone else's strengths. We should be proud of our own achievements and be acknowledge that everyone has different strengths.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lessons learnt:</span><br />(1) Never pit your weaknesses against someone strengths. You will never feel good.<br />(2) Only give your comments if you can help someone, and save your comments if you have nothing positive to contribute. You may affect someone's (a young child) self-esteem.<br />(3) Never let what you hear affect you. Try to manage the noise.<br />(4) Believe in yourself. You are really better than you think.<br />(5) Love knows no boundaries. This episode makes Mommy more aware than we will love our children the way they are, even if they are not geniuses.<br />(6) All parents care for their children, but there is a difference between encouragement and recognizing their strengths, instead of focusing on their weaknesses.<br />(7) Never put a child down. Any side-effects may not be immediate, but it definitely hurts their self-esteems. This can have a long-lasting effect.<br />(8) It is ok to feel proud of your own child's acheivements (and you should always be proud of your child), but it is not ok to keep boasting. Imagine how it will be used as a yardstick for someone else's child and hurt that child's self-esteem.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5766629761948567085?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-12118802077487505212008-11-18T17:33:00.004+08:002008-11-18T17:36:56.102+08:00Not to be outdone, Kierra had asked for a modelling portfolio too. Give her a break though, this is her first exposure....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMZYuk3aI/AAAAAAAAA3o/SsnygOMtgP0/s1600-h/%28resized%29mei5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMZYuk3aI/AAAAAAAAA3o/SsnygOMtgP0/s200/%28resized%29mei5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269928881739324834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMZKveQ4I/AAAAAAAAA3g/1zBcP0xem3k/s1600-h/%28resized%29mei4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMZKveQ4I/AAAAAAAAA3g/1zBcP0xem3k/s200/%28resized%29mei4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269928877984990082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMZHhFV_I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/KJ40rTaojhQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29mei3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMZHhFV_I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/KJ40rTaojhQ/s200/%28resized%29mei3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269928877119330290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMZEA6wwI/AAAAAAAAA3I/RksvU3caGEQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29mei1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMZEA6wwI/AAAAAAAAA3I/RksvU3caGEQ/s200/%28resized%29mei1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269928876179112706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMjaiZe2I/AAAAAAAAA3w/ir4g-1M092I/s1600-h/%28resized%29mei6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKMjaiZe2I/AAAAAAAAA3w/ir4g-1M092I/s200/%28resized%29mei6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269929054023809890" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-1211880207748750521?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-88696598898700986142008-11-18T17:02:00.004+08:002008-11-18T17:39:17.885+08:00Our most recent photo-shoot in October 2008, after Kieona has completed her modelling course... enjoy...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKNJnp_TzI/AAAAAAAAA4A/wpT2suij0Gs/s1600-h/%28resized%29na5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKNJnp_TzI/AAAAAAAAA4A/wpT2suij0Gs/s200/%28resized%29na5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269929710380338994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZ9X0AaI/AAAAAAAAA3A/JW425fTRRK8/s1600-h/%28resized%29na6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZ9X0AaI/AAAAAAAAA3A/JW425fTRRK8/s200/%28resized%29na6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269927792064332194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZ-6QSOI/AAAAAAAAA24/ZPtI9SDAS7Y/s1600-h/%28resized%29na4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZ-6QSOI/AAAAAAAAA24/ZPtI9SDAS7Y/s200/%28resized%29na4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269927792477227234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZ5jKkpI/AAAAAAAAA2w/VTXanN07n4A/s1600-h/%28resized%29na3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZ5jKkpI/AAAAAAAAA2w/VTXanN07n4A/s200/%28resized%29na3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269927791038206610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZjrN6cI/AAAAAAAAA2o/AzOGnfgg-bA/s1600-h/%28resized%29na2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZjrN6cI/AAAAAAAAA2o/AzOGnfgg-bA/s200/%28resized%29na2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269927785166399938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZXWMZNI/AAAAAAAAA2g/K6GdfNXF58Y/s1600-h/%28resized%29na1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SSKLZXWMZNI/AAAAAAAAA2g/K6GdfNXF58Y/s200/%28resized%29na1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269927781856994514" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8869659889870098614?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-81200768239360959132008-10-31T12:12:00.003+08:002008-10-31T12:25:41.633+08:00Mommy's not a big fan of chalks, since I still shudder at having to do class duties cleaning the chalkboards during school days. Remember those dusting? These days schools are either shifting to whiteboards with markers or using projectors. Lucky kids.<br /><br />Well despite the near demise of the chalkboards, I have found some interesting ways to use the chalks for child's play. Afterall, they wash off so easily....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIDcAaGfI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/_KP6_Oy7hC4/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08814.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIDcAaGfI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/_KP6_Oy7hC4/s200/%28resized%29DSC08814.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263168707174734322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra practising her writing...</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIDTqVXJI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/EWGwDqibn_A/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08816.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIDTqVXJI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/EWGwDqibn_A/s200/%28resized%29DSC08816.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263168704934665362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra posing, as always</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIDGNOzII/AAAAAAAAA2I/DMwypYSFykY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08821.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIDGNOzII/AAAAAAAAA2I/DMwypYSFykY/s200/%28resized%29DSC08821.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263168701322939522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">A happy playdate shot</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIDLy-BwI/AAAAAAAAA2A/E3JIdrClK-M/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08807.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIDLy-BwI/AAAAAAAAA2A/E3JIdrClK-M/s200/%28resized%29DSC08807.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263168702823401218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Eugene enjoying the weekly playdate</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIC5DpnKI/AAAAAAAAA14/DPp-25MHkyY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08799.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQqIC5DpnKI/AAAAAAAAA14/DPp-25MHkyY/s200/%28resized%29DSC08799.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263168697793092770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Pie can draw too...</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8120076823936095913?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-73841517728478405402008-10-28T11:33:00.003+08:002008-10-28T11:51:36.359+08:00There was this very insightful article in the Straits Times on Saturday 25 October titled "Go Public When Banking Cord Blood" by this senior writer Andy Ho (whom Mommy adores for picking out interesting but overlooked topics and putting together logical discussions on them). It was something that Daddy and Mommy felt pretty strongly about since having done some research and speaking to Granduncle Steve (who gave us a lot of useful information). So Mommy ended up writing to the Straits Times forum about it. They contacted Mommy last night on the phone to verify my personal details, but didn't confirm if they will be publishing it. Then again, I thought I might as well share my thoughts here. The below was what I had submitted.<br /><br />**** start****<br />I fully applaud Mr Andy Ho's insightful review "Go Public When Banking Cord Blood" published in The Straits Times dated 25 October 2008. Back in 2004 when I had my first child, my interest was naturally piqued when there was so much fanfare about banking a baby's cord blood. Like all parents, who doesn't want the best for their children since it was marketed as the best kind of insurance you can give to your child?<br /><br />Fortunately, I did some research and discussed this option with my gynaecologist, who gave me very useful information on cord blood uses and its benefits and limitations. So did I bank my child's cord blood? No. The reason was simple. Like what Mr Andy Ho had mentioned, most of the conditions that cord blood stem cells may cure a baby of later in life would have been pre-existent in his or her cord blood. Plus back then, the fact that future uses of cord blood banking and the stem cells in there are still largely speculative doesn't warrant us spending so much money harvesting and storing it.<br /><br />Now, I am not saying that cord blood banking is useless. In fact, evidence has it that it has been useful in treating blood related disorders and certain cancers. Bearing in mind that, I am all for public cord blood banking and have been persuading people around me to do that.<br /><br />This is especially true for Asians. Why? I had learned from the Singapore Cord Blood Bank's (SCBB) website that overseas public cord blood banks do not have enough samples that match our (Asians) multi-ethnic profiles, which makes it even more compelling for us to donate our children's cord blood (if there are no complications at birth). I conclude that this meant cord blood from a largely Western pool will have a very different make-up from that of Asians.<br /><br />While I respect that cord blood banking - private or public is a personal choice, I fully support going the public cord blood banking way (save those who opt for delayed clamping way and there are no complications at birth). It was unfortunate that my children were all born before SCBB was active, but I for one will definitely donate my child's cord blood if I ever have another child. Afterall, why not offer the opportunity to help save someone's life?<br />***end***<br /><br />Ok, I still have something to add which I had forgotten about. I'm not suggesting that we donate cord blood to the public pool because we won't be able to use it anyway if there are faulty cells. In other words, I don't mean that we donate what is inferior to the public pool. What I merely meant was that as it is a public pool and it costs good money to store them, the public banks will be even more stringent about the quality, so anything that is deemed less than what is "perfect" in their guidelines will probably be dumped, rather than kept. As for private banks, the main motivation is profit so it is in its interests to store that inventory of cord blood for as long as it is profitable and mutually desired.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7384151772847840540?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-8018507527172964492008-10-27T22:20:00.005+08:002008-10-27T22:37:53.467+08:00It was a while since we had been to the Singapore Zoo. Mommy asked Daddy yesterday if we could go this morning since it was Deepavali and we didn't have anything lined up. Mommy wanted to use this opportunity to take some photographs for <a href="http://www.babyslingsandcarriers.com/">our website</a> as well.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQsWdrBfI/AAAAAAAAA1s/briDLGCRCk8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08476.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQsWdrBfI/AAAAAAAAA1s/briDLGCRCk8/s200/%28resized%29DSC08476.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261841200015148530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Our journey begins...</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQrn7CaDI/AAAAAAAAA1c/huaX5T5oz8k/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08503.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQrn7CaDI/AAAAAAAAA1c/huaX5T5oz8k/s200/%28resized%29DSC08503.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261841187521849394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Model gets cheeky</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQc9tg2pI/AAAAAAAAA1U/McfI21gtDk8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08504.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQc9tg2pI/AAAAAAAAA1U/McfI21gtDk8/s200/%28resized%29DSC08504.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261840935672666770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Making funny faces</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQccIUmhI/AAAAAAAAA1E/owfinUk_pt8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08672.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQccIUmhI/AAAAAAAAA1E/owfinUk_pt8/s200/%28resized%29DSC08672.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261840926658304530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra looking happy when we mentioned lunch</span><br /></span></div>We didn't wake up as early as Mommy wanted to (Mommy hates the big hot sun and getting roasted) but we went anyway. We got a couple of good shots which can be used for <a href="http://www.babyslingsandcarriers.com">our site</a> and had some fun family moments as we went along working. The funny thing was, instead of taking photographs of the animals and being so intrigued by them, we ended up being amazed by a spider right in the middle of the web, and a sound asleep dragonfly. Check those photos below.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQr1Dz8UI/AAAAAAAAA1k/UbBcCk1ATvo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08492.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQr1Dz8UI/AAAAAAAAA1k/UbBcCk1ATvo/s200/%28resized%29DSC08492.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261841191048311106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Sleeping dragonfly</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQcmiLZEI/AAAAAAAAA1M/DZEQBsJxoNI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08533.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQcmiLZEI/AAAAAAAAA1M/DZEQBsJxoNI/s200/%28resized%29DSC08533.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261840929451107394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The spider and its web</span></span><br /></div>One thing we did learn that was new about the animals kept at the zoo - the monkeys could "talk" very loudly. Oh, Mommy just forgot what those monkeys were called. They were black and quite near to the entrance. Let me see if Daddy can put the video we took up on Youtube. Kieona and Kierra ended up imitating them too. :))<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQcRoVtHI/AAAAAAAAA08/5iYs94u4K0U/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08659.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQcRoVtHI/AAAAAAAAA08/5iYs94u4K0U/s200/%28resized%29DSC08659.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261840923839804530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra looking glum as there's no food in sight yet</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQb-mLAUI/AAAAAAAAA00/auTqZUSeso8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08757.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXQb-mLAUI/AAAAAAAAA00/auTqZUSeso8/s200/%28resized%29DSC08757.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261840918730441026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona having a little fun with Daddy</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-801850752717296449?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-36089702020430123892008-10-27T22:01:00.004+08:002008-10-27T22:15:29.015+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK7Br3kvI/AAAAAAAAA0E/O4ZtKATVzwQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08433.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK7Br3kvI/AAAAAAAAA0E/O4ZtKATVzwQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC08433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261834855065817842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The huge crane - guess it's purpose?</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK7-Yst8I/AAAAAAAAA0M/vBozCyg4jzc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08434.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK7-Yst8I/AAAAAAAAA0M/vBozCyg4jzc/s200/%28resized%29DSC08434.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261834871359977410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">See how far it stretches?</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK70an87I/AAAAAAAAA0U/AVn3_mfDlDw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08437.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK70an87I/AAAAAAAAA0U/AVn3_mfDlDw/s200/%28resized%29DSC08437.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261834868683699122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The crane holds these metal chains which are then tied to the concrete slabs as they get sawn</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXLODM4ooI/AAAAAAAAA0c/zKl_zkzjY2o/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08440.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXLODM4ooI/AAAAAAAAA0c/zKl_zkzjY2o/s200/%28resized%29DSC08440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261835181890249346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Oh, so the crane prevents the slabs from falling off</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXLOUMzo_I/AAAAAAAAA0k/rAn-jNZg8rc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08446.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXLOUMzo_I/AAAAAAAAA0k/rAn-jNZg8rc/s200/%28resized%29DSC08446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261835186453324786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The empty space where the slab used to be</span><br /></span></div>It's been hell of a noise when they started sawing and hammering away the walls for the lift upgrading project at our block of flats. The noise although for pretty short periods of time, still gave Mommy a headache. What a relief that the kids are all in full day school now, so it didn't quite affect their naps. However the house got rather dusty and we're all displaying some symptoms of side effects like cough (Daddy) and sensitive nose (Kieona). The other unfortunate thing is that it has been such a difficult period to work from home.<br /><br />We're trying to look on the bright side of it all though - it means we can quickly get lifts almost at our doorstep!!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK6tTNw5I/AAAAAAAAAz0/ubsBgt5ajg8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08425.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK6tTNw5I/AAAAAAAAAz0/ubsBgt5ajg8/s200/%28resized%29DSC08425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261834849593705362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Making the concrete lift shaft</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXLOo8DYkI/AAAAAAAAA0s/pFwxTKOb6no/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08463.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXLOo8DYkI/AAAAAAAAA0s/pFwxTKOb6no/s200/%28resized%29DSC08463.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261835192020197954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The concrete shaft all completed for ground floor</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK7EfzgKI/AAAAAAAAAz8/tz8fl3mMyI0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08429.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXK7EfzgKI/AAAAAAAAAz8/tz8fl3mMyI0/s200/%28resized%29DSC08429.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261834855820525730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">What we see when we open our front door</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3608970202043012389?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-91022035032448754582008-10-27T21:45:00.005+08:002008-10-27T21:53:47.819+08:00When you stay home and are very hands-on with your kids, the sometimes rather unfortunate things is that we cannot afford all the time in the world to constantly be creative with their food. Many experts have recommended that food be presented in interesting ways so that kids love them and do not need further prompting to finish up.<br /><br />Not that we have much problems with our kids eating at home since they almost always prefer home-cooked food to outside takeaways or even restaurants. Then again Mommy was in the mood for presenting the food nicely, so we had this nice fried rice with chicken and a little bit of salad greens, all prepped in a short time of about 15 minutes (excluding the time the rice cooker took to cook the white rice). Well, I'm convinced they ate a lot faster than normal.<br /><br />Now the challenge will be keeping it up (which by the way we haven't).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXF92MGZLI/AAAAAAAAAzc/VYRMQHnU698/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08414.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXF92MGZLI/AAAAAAAAAzc/VYRMQHnU698/s200/%28resized%29DSC08414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261829405961249970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Wow, looks yummy....</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXGIGIKk6I/AAAAAAAAAzs/c3a7CSeWzyo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08419.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXGIGIKk6I/AAAAAAAAAzs/c3a7CSeWzyo/s200/%28resized%29DSC08419.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261829582038406050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra enjoying her salads</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXGFm3ezcI/AAAAAAAAAzk/CqEHgUtJuSA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08416.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXGFm3ezcI/AAAAAAAAAzk/CqEHgUtJuSA/s200/%28resized%29DSC08416.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261829539287190978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona just picking out the egg yolks that she doesn't fancy</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-9102203503244875458?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-56662506884428740462008-10-27T21:31:00.004+08:002008-10-27T21:44:42.333+08:00Dear Kierra has always been very late where teeth is concerned. Her first teeth sprouted at around 10 months and now at the grand old age of three, is sprouting her last set of molars. Wow, mighty late.<br /><br />The cons of it? Her slow eating - as she uses her front teeth for chewing and sometimes it can take a looong while..... apart from that, no major worry. The only consolation? I've been told that later bloomers (in the department of teeth sprouting) will mean that the child will start having decays later.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXFgnJ34jI/AAAAAAAAAzU/tGTOVj5o7DU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08771.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SQXFgnJ34jI/AAAAAAAAAzU/tGTOVj5o7DU/s200/%28resized%29DSC08771.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261828903709172274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra using her front teeth as usual</span><br /></span></div>Not sure if it's true. Kieona has been having a lot of cavities (she started sprouting at 6 months and finished by around 2 years old) and we've spent quite a lot on dentistry for her. Would not have mattered much to Mommy that much if she had not kept insisting on keeping her looks in pristine condition for any shot at modelling.<br /><br />What to do? No choice lah....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5666250688442874046?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-40925119549820778292008-10-19T18:55:00.002+08:002008-10-19T19:04:50.325+08:00Of late, Kieona has been asking for another baby in the house. She said our house should have three children. Of course, her requests has been much protested by Kierra and the way it was protested became a topic of teasing by Mommy.<br /><br />Just a week ago Kierra while sitting on the toilet seat doing her big business with Mommy waiting at her side, she said she doesn't want another baby. When asked why, she thought for a while and said, "If there is another baby then Mommy will carry baby and will not carry me anymore."<br /><br />Mommy told her that it was a silly thought and whether there is another baby in the future or not, Mommy shouldn't carry Kierra as Kierra has grown up and is getting too heavy for Mommy. However, Mommy can still carry Kierra and Kieona if they get really tired and needs Mommy to carry them while they nap. After a while Kierra exclaimed, "Mommy, you only have two hands. I don't want another baby!" A strange exclamation right? So Mommy asked what does having two hands got to do with babies?<br /><br />Kierra replied, "You have two hands, then one hand hold Jie Jie, and another hand hold baby, what about me?" I burst out laughing at this point, but the poor little girl had started pouting and immediately burst into tears.<br /><br />Ahh, kids... I'm sure I will one day look back on all these exchanges and be glad to have been able to spend most of their first few years with them.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-4092511954982077829?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-59613404658607886792008-10-17T16:44:00.004+08:002008-10-19T18:25:07.646+08:00Daddy got a very cool gadget for the camera that can help us use our regular camera under the water. Fantastic and that was how we were able to take photographs of the kids learning swimming and how they look underwater. Until you see it for yourselves, you will never understand the heartwarming feeling we felt when we see our girls, especially Kierra being so comfortable under water. Is she a mermaid?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhRHxVfzfI/AAAAAAAAAy8/TlhDsCkstjs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC04111.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhRHxVfzfI/AAAAAAAAAy8/TlhDsCkstjs/s200/%28resized%29DSC04111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258041758899490290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra &amp; Daddy </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhRHx3LgXI/AAAAAAAAAzE/iZMKHsIOKG0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC04136.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhRHx3LgXI/AAAAAAAAAzE/iZMKHsIOKG0/s200/%28resized%29DSC04136.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258041759040766322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra flying...</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhRIPPVhaI/AAAAAAAAAzM/Wl3yFzWk7x0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC04143.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhRIPPVhaI/AAAAAAAAAzM/Wl3yFzWk7x0/s200/%28resized%29DSC04143.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258041766926714274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kieona &amp; Daddy</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Check out <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44460&amp;l=f2e25&amp;id=704853732">this Facebook Album</a> for more of the swimming photos.<br /><br />After Mommy had posted this blog entry, some people had asked me if there was a special camera that we used for these shots. For the record - no. Actually the solution was pretty simple for us. We already have two Sony digital cameras and really didn't want to part with a few hundreds more for a under-water camera. Daddy did some research and found some Olympus ones that could do under-water shots, but at more than S$400, it was really quite pricey since we don't need another camera. Voila, we found <a href="http://www.gmmtechnoworld.com">this website</a> and bought this product called a DiCAPac Waterproof case for digital cameras. At around S$50, we had the problem solved and got all these fabulous shots with our lovely daughters.<br /><br />Just a small little note here though - it is just a recommendation and we (including our business <a href="http://www.babyslingsandcarriers.com">BabySlingsAndCarriers.com</a>) are in no way affiliated to this website. Do check with the website if you have specific questions.<br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5961340465860788679?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-70582987858414467922008-10-17T16:40:00.004+08:002008-10-17T16:44:14.965+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhP6DBAkSI/AAAAAAAAAyU/h_3PgWIKv0U/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08345.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhP6DBAkSI/AAAAAAAAAyU/h_3PgWIKv0U/s200/%28resized%29DSC08345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258040423615598882" border="0" /> </a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra's birthday cake (the home version)</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhP6Ie8FcI/AAAAAAAAAyc/PBhwwT8FJ68/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08379.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhP6Ie8FcI/AAAAAAAAAyc/PBhwwT8FJ68/s200/%28resized%29DSC08379.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258040425083311554" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">The lovely pair of sisters</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhP6drQIHI/AAAAAAAAAyk/KCACgM30tKI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08401.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhP6drQIHI/AAAAAAAAAyk/KCACgM30tKI/s200/%28resized%29DSC08401.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258040430772101234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Mommy helps to cut the cake</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhP6o-ZrjI/AAAAAAAAAys/9STV-KS9g80/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08409.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhP6o-ZrjI/AAAAAAAAAys/9STV-KS9g80/s200/%28resized%29DSC08409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258040433805209138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Let's dig in!</span><br /></span></div>Happy Birthday to You (x2)<br />Happy Birthday to Kierra<br />Happy Birthday to You......<br /><br />You're a big girl now, darling.....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7058298785841446792?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-60010964822920246992008-10-17T16:29:00.004+08:002008-10-21T21:41:39.877+08:00It was an exciting day when Kieona went to perform for her first music concert for her class in Yamaha. It was a mini-concert with just the parents and the kids who are attending Mrs Jen's class, but nevertheless an enjoyable one. Initially Mommy was worried about whether she may freeze as she's never been the best keyboardist in class. Then again as mothers all do, I encouraged her as much as I could, had her well-rested and practised with her more frequently nearer the date.<br /><br />Knowing her temperament, I had to dress her for her role and made sure she liked the clothes she wore and the way the hair was styled. Every little detail I could think of I did to maximise her potential. After that, I just told her to enjoy herself. (That's the only thing I can think of to tell her since I didn't want her to get stressed up. Even if it didn't go well, I will still be proud of her.)<br /><br />With Daddy, Kierra and Maria also attending, Mommy wanted Kieona to feel proud of her performance. Perform she did. In fact, everyone thought she was very lively and Mrs Jen was surprised at her performance. Good job, Kieona! Your hard work paid off! Just like your gym coach Janelle said to you before - if you keep doing, you can only get better.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhOffBnIjI/AAAAAAAAAx8/ITotvQFu_vk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08203.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhOffBnIjI/AAAAAAAAAx8/ITotvQFu_vk/s200/%28resized%29DSC08203.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258038867766223410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kids preparing for singing</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhOfonAK0I/AAAAAAAAAyE/fGndwMJj4Sc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08251.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhOfonAK0I/AAAAAAAAAyE/fGndwMJj4Sc/s200/%28resized%29DSC08251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258038870338972482" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Kieona concentrating</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhOf14dVPI/AAAAAAAAAyM/1Mu93CmIhrA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08255.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhOf14dVPI/AAAAAAAAAyM/1Mu93CmIhrA/s200/%28resized%29DSC08255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258038873901847794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kids singing the song "Whales' Sneezes"<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Check out Kieona's keyboard performance on Youtube.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ifZz97p1L7U&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ifZz97p1L7U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-6001096482292024699?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-53602551002648496902008-10-17T16:13:00.004+08:002008-10-17T16:28:09.052+08:00It's pretty sad letting Eugene go to a childcare. Even though it has been a real hassle having him in our house, it was still difficult for Mommy to let go. Afterall he's always been here since his mother gone back to work. Unfortunately, there's a lot more things that will be more difficult at home if he continues to stay on. As it is, Mommy already feels very guilty that her girls are not getting enough attention with Eugene around, so there is not much choice but to let go. Nothing is forever and I'm glad that we got to spend the last 15 months together.... we did enjoy a lot of one another's company in the last few days.... some pictures we took for keepsake....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLSbkGSXI/AAAAAAAAAxU/0R2X1sJlMvA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08178.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLSbkGSXI/AAAAAAAAAxU/0R2X1sJlMvA/s200/%28resized%29DSC08178.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258035344963946866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Tickling Kieona...</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLSuULKpI/AAAAAAAAAxc/BfPh5SGmq_8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08278.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLSuULKpI/AAAAAAAAAxc/BfPh5SGmq_8/s200/%28resized%29DSC08278.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258035349997431442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Riding bicycle</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLSk3D8bI/AAAAAAAAAxk/LzehysgS2es/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08288.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLSk3D8bI/AAAAAAAAAxk/LzehysgS2es/s200/%28resized%29DSC08288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258035347459404210" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Eugene riding pillion</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLS9BxH-I/AAAAAAAAAxs/UB2LO-yYopg/s1600-h/DSC08292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLS9BxH-I/AAAAAAAAAxs/UB2LO-yYopg/s200/DSC08292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258035353946759138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra's 3rd birthday present</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLTEmhUbI/AAAAAAAAAx0/lWK2wdD3znA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08295.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhLTEmhUbI/AAAAAAAAAx0/lWK2wdD3znA/s200/%28resized%29DSC08295.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258035355979960754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Eugene grabbing Jie Jie</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5360255100264849690?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-81997973365337104012008-10-17T16:03:00.002+08:002008-10-17T16:12:59.363+08:00Come meet Kieona &amp; Kierra's cousin Ryan. He's around Eugene's age and is the son of Baoling - Mommy's cousin (Wai Po's older sister's daughter). Sounds complicated. He's a lot more adventurous than Eugene when Ryan, his grandma &amp; Baoluan Yee Yee visited. A pity the girls weren't in. Pie got scared when Ryan got close.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhI0w88cvI/AAAAAAAAAxM/tCX18VTKExI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC08154.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhI0w88cvI/AAAAAAAAAxM/tCX18VTKExI/s200/%28resized%29DSC08154.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258032636285973234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Ryan &amp; Eugene on the sofa</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8199797336533710401?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-42386006597281938152008-10-17T14:48:00.008+08:002008-10-17T16:03:25.966+08:00Somewhere in mid-September before Eugene went to childcare, we all went for a extended family chalet at Aloha Loyang. It was the first time we ever decided to go together on the chalet and given the very attractive rates during off-peak and the subsidised rate Michelle Yee Yee can get as a civil servant, we all went ahead to have this well-deserved bonding event.<br /><br />The kids all had fun, especially at the pool and indoor (air-conditioned) children playground. The pool was fantastic as the water was always warm in the evening and it was just right outside our chalet! Kieona kept asking to go to the pool and the girls just didn't want to get back into the chalet once they all went into the playground. Well, on such hot and humid days, the air-conditioned playground was too much to miss. It's fortunate that this time of the year most of the kids in school are preparing for exams, so there really wasn't anyone in the playground except us, which was excellent given that our kids are all so young and probably will get pushed around if there were older kids.<br /><br />We had barbeque on day 2 in the evening. Boy! There was just too much food. Mommy the non-BBQer volunteered to prepare the salad greens instead as I so hate the smell of BBQ in my clothes and hair. Plus, (although it sounds so bimbo I still got to say it) the smoke will probably ruin my already bad skin!<br /><br />It was such an excellent idea to have this family gathering, we all though. Michelle Yee Yee said it'll be nice to have an annual one, which I kinda agree. With everyone so busy with their own schedules, it's tough getting together apart from the usual meals. Well, I'm sure the kids will be elated if they hear of another chalet coming up.<br /><br />As for us the parents, Daddy and I were plain thankful that we get to spend some time away from the children while they had their naps, and we had some time to hold hands and play lovey-dovey. Check out those photos!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhA1t2CgQI/AAAAAAAAAv8/coO55HIUaCw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07897.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhA1t2CgQI/AAAAAAAAAv8/coO55HIUaCw/s200/%28resized%29DSC07897.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258023856538550530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Hello Daddy!</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhBbizQ3xI/AAAAAAAAAwk/syB2i_gvoiA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07940.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhBbizQ3xI/AAAAAAAAAwk/syB2i_gvoiA/s200/%28resized%29DSC07940.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258024506409148178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Pie woke up but couldn't find anyone...</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhBbk6DdSI/AAAAAAAAAws/rWWiwmQHU-s/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07941.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhBbk6DdSI/AAAAAAAAAws/rWWiwmQHU-s/s200/%28resized%29DSC07941.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258024506974500130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">This is how we panggang, Maria</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhCMH47JrI/AAAAAAAAAxE/sPQlwKDL1i0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07981.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhCMH47JrI/AAAAAAAAAxE/sPQlwKDL1i0/s200/%28resized%29DSC07981.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258025340998723250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Wai Gong sure is busy with the two jewels</span></span><br /></div><br />For more photos, check out our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44459&amp;l=5df99&amp;id=704853732">Facebook album</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPhBcBXIB9I/AAAAAAAAAw8/xD6GwMaWVYk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07967.jpg"><br /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-4238600659728193815?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-31292439398429667722008-10-17T14:38:00.004+08:002008-10-17T14:47:24.036+08:00We've often hear of little children having nosebleeds either because their bodies are "heaty" or because the arteries in the nostrils are not mature yet. Well, we had a lot of nosebleeds problems for Kieona when she was younger and there was always so much blood. I was glad for a while that Kierra never seem to have that sort of problem. Unfortunately she did at the age of almost 3, her first nosebleed.<br /><br />The only consolation? It wasn't a lot compared to what we used to see come out of Kieona.<br /><br />So how do you treat nosebleed? Best way (I read and researched) to treat such nosebleeds is to hold the child upright (standing best). hold head downwards a little and press and hold gently on the bridge of the nose. The exact position is somewhere in between the eyes. Hold for 5-10 minutes and it will do the trick. What I didn't know back then - tilt head backwards and place ice on forehead. Doesn't work at all and I found out later that by doing that the child may either get choked, or the backflow of the blood actually causes sore throat problems in the next few days.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPg0fcqJgsI/AAAAAAAAAvc/Jdm4RsyI3Cc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07847.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPg0fcqJgsI/AAAAAAAAAvc/Jdm4RsyI3Cc/s200/%28resized%29DSC07847.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258010279828619970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra being tended to in the morning by Maria</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPg0fyVthTI/AAAAAAAAAvk/wg4mYHcd2Kg/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07850.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPg0fyVthTI/AAAAAAAAAvk/wg4mYHcd2Kg/s200/%28resized%29DSC07850.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258010285648479538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">That is blood, but it's really quite a non-issue to Mommy already</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPg0ga8PSaI/AAAAAAAAAvs/L9Hw7tA9lOw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07851.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPg0ga8PSaI/AAAAAAAAAvs/L9Hw7tA9lOw/s200/%28resized%29DSC07851.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258010296547494306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">It wasn't painful, but it's my virgin nosebleed you know</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3129243939842966772?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-26759654990098861172008-10-17T14:35:00.002+08:002008-10-17T14:38:12.737+08:00I know this sounds gross, but I had to do this for the record. Look at that huge piece of impacted ear wax I found in Kierra's ear. No wonder she's been digging with her fingers and couldn't hear me.....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPgyn3dO4fI/AAAAAAAAAvU/aX_lJsjKt3g/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07838.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPgyn3dO4fI/AAAAAAAAAvU/aX_lJsjKt3g/s200/%28resized%29DSC07838.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258008225437901298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kierra's impacted ear wax</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2675965499009886117?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-68776136045099777782008-10-17T14:33:00.002+08:002008-10-17T14:35:38.561+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPgx76bk9hI/AAAAAAAAAvE/_dkwa8uKe10/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07827.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPgx76bk9hI/AAAAAAAAAvE/_dkwa8uKe10/s200/%28resized%29DSC07827.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258007470322021906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kierra with her hair styled by sister dearest</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPgx7wcQ2ZI/AAAAAAAAAvM/wckPAhelDvo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07835.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SPgx7wcQ2ZI/AAAAAAAAAvM/wckPAhelDvo/s200/%28resized%29DSC07835.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258007467640543634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">How Kierra's hair turned out</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-6877613604509977778?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-17381900134023523392008-09-17T11:05:00.017+08:002008-09-17T15:02:12.612+08:00Having loads of stuff at home to clear and too little space to stack, Mommy was pleased when she saw that there was a banner advertising for flea market stall space somewhere near our estate. Daddy and Mommy immediately called the organizers (an RC at Yio Chu Kang) about the space and went that very same week on the first Friday it was open for public registration following the placement of the banner ad. We got a lot, although not ideal as most of the lots were taken up (as we found out) way before the banner went up.<br /><br />It was pretty fun, as it being the first time we held such a sale - Daddy and Mommy went there real early at around 7.30am to set up. As the saying goes, zao2 qi3 de2 niao3 er2 you3 cong2 chi1 (Early bird catches the worm). Before we got all set up, sales were already taking place furiously and as Wai Gong, Wai Po, Sanyi Po, Sanyizhang Gong, Yee Yee &amp; Yee Zhang got there, we were nearly half sold out. So their merchandise helped boost up our storefront. Daddy went home after helping with the set-up, so that he can bring the girls over after they have woken up and taken their breakfasts.<br /><br />It was pretty fun, as Kieona and Kierra had a chance to participate in manning the storefront. Although they didn't help much, I am happy for the little exposure they get and hopefully take away some lessons from there. They're still young, and it's difficult to expect much. Well, at least they learnt one thing - never bother Mommy when she is collecting money. :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpSvg2O9I/AAAAAAAAAuU/Oy8xRcAB884/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07784.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpSvg2O9I/AAAAAAAAAuU/Oy8xRcAB884/s200/%28resized%29DSC07784.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246879705343605714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The idlers....</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpS-lzjJI/AAAAAAAAAuc/BCGpQLwEra8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07787.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpS-lzjJI/AAAAAAAAAuc/BCGpQLwEra8/s200/%28resized%29DSC07787.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246879709390933138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona learning about pricing</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpTN0G_pI/AAAAAAAAAuk/R70V-V3quZo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07792.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpTN0G_pI/AAAAAAAAAuk/R70V-V3quZo/s200/%28resized%29DSC07792.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246879713477459602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Our storefront - yes, Mommy is also clearing out the lingerie business</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpTdIGB7I/AAAAAAAAAus/kASQNUJx9YM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07805.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpTdIGB7I/AAAAAAAAAus/kASQNUJx9YM/s200/%28resized%29DSC07805.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246879717587814322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">So are you chatting or sourcing for business?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpTs1r0tI/AAAAAAAAAu0/b0lQ_xdDuKU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07810.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpTs1r0tI/AAAAAAAAAu0/b0lQ_xdDuKU/s200/%28resized%29DSC07810.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246879721805566674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Eugene, are you buying?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpbx0znDI/AAAAAAAAAu8/XIselRFQboU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07820.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCpbx0znDI/AAAAAAAAAu8/XIselRFQboU/s200/%28resized%29DSC07820.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246879860583013426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Mr Seng Han Thong, MP for Yio Chu Kang on his rounds</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-1738190013402352339?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-5225398713798369812008-09-17T11:05:00.012+08:002008-09-17T14:41:35.958+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCmEKrPZGI/AAAAAAAAAt8/bmadTA8C1oE/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07723.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCmEKrPZGI/AAAAAAAAAt8/bmadTA8C1oE/s200/%28resized%29DSC07723.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246876156402033762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">In case you are wondering, that's a Black Forest (with liquor to boot)</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCmEGF8AqI/AAAAAAAAAuE/fGnp_6g5BcU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07726.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCmEGF8AqI/AAAAAAAAAuE/fGnp_6g5BcU/s200/%28resized%29DSC07726.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246876155171832482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Happy Birthday To You.... </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCmEdnDtnI/AAAAAAAAAuM/zD-0r1v2Ix0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07744.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNCmEdnDtnI/AAAAAAAAAuM/zD-0r1v2Ix0/s200/%28resized%29DSC07744.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246876161484764786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">It's obvious Kierra is more interested in your cake, Dad</span><br /></span></div>Daddy is 36 years old already!!! It seems weird to Mommy that we are all getting older and older while our children are still so young. How I wish time can come to a standstill sometimes. We just don't know how Daddy feels going one year closer to 40yrs.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-522539871379836981?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-7469805454457912912008-09-17T11:05:00.007+08:002008-09-17T12:28:05.365+08:00In case some of you are unware, Mommy has a food blog where she shares her secret recipes. It was started because some friends who came over for the occasional meal always ask for some of the recipes. And this vain mother thought it such a waste not to share her successful experiments. :)<br /><br />See it at <a href="http://goodfoodparadise.blogspot.com/">http://goodfoodparadise.blogspot.com/</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-746980545445791291?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-24713366841787638202008-09-17T11:05:00.004+08:002008-09-17T11:25:50.206+08:00We bought a few boxes of the Magnum ice-cream that a door-to-door salesman was selling. He said it was mini - but it looked big to me. Must have been conned!<br /><br />Anyway, a few days later when Daddy wasn't in and Mommy was feeling a little peeved with the way things were working out at the website, Mommy declared a pampering time for us all and we had neat huge Magnum ice-creams! Well, it wasn't huge to me but to the girls they were. They've always only been allowed the mini Conettos because Mommy doesn't allow them too much junk food at home. The fact was that they asked for the same ice-cream as Mommy since whatever I gave them looked so small in comparison.<br /><br />Happy girls they were with their large ice-creams. Well, I suppose it's one thing asking for them and being able to finish them. They did in the end, but they sure took a long time. Perhaps they're still not big enough to handle adult size desserts. :) Check those enjoyable moments out!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNB2ujmvK5I/AAAAAAAAAtc/no8f0ViJrjg/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07578.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNB2ujmvK5I/AAAAAAAAAtc/no8f0ViJrjg/s200/%28resized%29DSC07578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246824108090403730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The girls with their adult size ice-creams</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNB2uxgOngI/AAAAAAAAAtk/d5Wdq2EpE-I/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07587.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SNB2uxgOngI/AAAAAAAAAtk/d5Wdq2EpE-I/s200/%28resized%29DSC07587.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246824111821200898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra, that's the stick dear!</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2471336684178763820?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-13529006249614395982008-09-11T15:46:00.004+08:002008-09-15T16:50:00.366+08:00While in the bath yesterday, Mommy suddenly felt philosophical about parenting. Perhaps because an auntie brought up the topic of child-rearing and how much effort it is. Apparently people around me have the idea that Kieona is going for modelling and other courses because her mother has the time to bring her there. That sets me thinking about the dynamics of parenting vis-a-vis our many other commitments. <div><br /></div><div>Unfortunate to say - I do not have all the time in the world. All parents are created equal, with just 24 hours a day and 7 days a week just like any other parent to spend on all their children (yes, be it 1 child or 5 children or more). We all have to make a living, and this applies to our family unit as well. There are times I feel really tired, and there are times I get upset and worried, but I never once thought that I should do less for my children. </div><div><br /></div><div>The reason for doing the things my children ask for (in terms of learning new courses or asking for new items) - as long as the requests are within reasonable means - is because I love my children. As long as all requests have an acceptable reason, we try to work it in. For all these wishes to be granted, I need to spend the time and effort. It is not easy but I try to juggle them - all for the sake of love for them.</div><div><br /></div><div>In my opinion there is no parent who is too busy for his/her children, just parents who care enough to make the difference for that one child. We seek to make this difference.<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-1352900624961439598?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-7146557872320823642008-09-11T15:44:00.002+08:002008-09-11T15:46:07.620+08:00Kieona told me yesterday that she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Now, where did she learn that from? Hmm....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-714655787232082364?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-89868128922252892892008-09-11T15:38:00.002+08:002008-09-11T15:40:55.497+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMjLdt615zI/AAAAAAAAAtU/hHJEgWIW3gg/s1600-h/(resized)DSC07589.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMjLdt615zI/AAAAAAAAAtU/hHJEgWIW3gg/s200/(resized)DSC07589.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244665477475985202" /></a>The girls made some cards for their teachers on Teachers' Day this year. Mommy provided the materials. Aren't they sweet? Kieona even made one for Ms Kas - Mommy wonders if the card reached her hands in the end. (Ms Kas was Kieona's teacher when she was two years old - but she has left the school.)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8986812892225289289?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-42547618187055485242008-09-11T15:28:00.003+08:002008-09-11T15:38:42.706+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMjKlkW6dVI/AAAAAAAAAtE/nFam0M4Pn0s/s1600-h/(resized)DSC07567.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMjKlkW6dVI/AAAAAAAAAtE/nFam0M4Pn0s/s200/(resized)DSC07567.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244664512836695378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Kierra with her princess loo</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">k</span></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMjKliTA2JI/AAAAAAAAAtM/7PIEJnPVPag/s1600-h/(resized)DSC07570.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMjKliTA2JI/AAAAAAAAAtM/7PIEJnPVPag/s200/(resized)DSC07570.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244664512283465874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Kieona says Mommy should wear her hair like thi</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">s</span></span></span><br /></div>I am not sure what my girls will want to be when they grow up. However, judging by what they've been doing - it could be in the creative line. Well, at least for Kieona. Apart from the usual drawing and colouring, or even modelling or gymnastics - she seems to like things of grace and beauty, activities that allow her to test her creative juices. These hairstyles were all created by Kieona dearest.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-4254761818705548524?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-64142500909847508042008-09-06T18:54:00.003+08:002008-09-06T19:00:03.681+08:00Mommy: Kieona, please take care not to step on your panties. You may get holes if you are so rough with them.<br /><br />Kieona: Mommy, my panties already has holes what.<br /><br />Mommy: Huh? How come? Show me.<br /><br />Kieona: If panties got no holes, then how I wear? <br /><br />:D the darnest things kids say!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-6414250090984750804?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-36473708146697097642008-09-02T22:39:00.004+08:002008-09-06T19:24:10.111+08:00Kieona took part in The Little Fashionista contest held by United Square and her auditions was held last Friday. She had requested to join and try it out when I brought up the contest to her. Since both girls are now in full day school, I had to send her for only half-day school that day and fetched her home for some dolling up before going for the competitions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjXXyN3NI/AAAAAAAAAr0/Lk2pufXyfGQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07604.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjXXyN3NI/AAAAAAAAAr0/Lk2pufXyfGQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC07604.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242862169385458898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Girls getting prepped....</span><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjXiGmTNI/AAAAAAAAAr8/tUTZorXDT7M/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07614.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjXiGmTNI/AAAAAAAAAr8/tUTZorXDT7M/s200/%28resized%29DSC07614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242862172155301074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Eugene watches on.....</span><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjXiqz8vI/AAAAAAAAAsE/0kzAK82V-cY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07618.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjXiqz8vI/AAAAAAAAAsE/0kzAK82V-cY/s200/%28resized%29DSC07618.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242862172307190514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Applying the bases....</span><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjX1znRhI/AAAAAAAAAsM/BZidwpnnGfQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07624.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjX1znRhI/AAAAAAAAAsM/BZidwpnnGfQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC07624.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242862177444382226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Getting Kierra's make-up done is serious business for her.... </span><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjYPPABxI/AAAAAAAAAsU/aiBGMDwzd6A/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07625.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJjYPPABxI/AAAAAAAAAsU/aiBGMDwzd6A/s200/%28resized%29DSC07625.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242862184270137106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The girls all ready to go.....</span><br /></span></div>Although it was a lot of waiting and the kids got tired, Kieona was persistent and tried to stay as cheerful as she could. A lot of the girl contestants were older than her (she's 4 yrs old and a lot are actually 6 or 7 yrs old) so I couldn't expect a lot. Most of the girls seem to be well-made up and their hair well done while I had opted for a natural look for Kieona. Apparently it didn't work well since one of the judging criteria was overall made-up look. Then again, we also met a lot of mothers who kept asking their daughters to pose like this and like that, which I thought was kinda funny. Aren't they supposed to relax and just enjoy themselves?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkxhZ3g4I/AAAAAAAAAsc/-uCFBwHUb24/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07643.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkxhZ3g4I/AAAAAAAAAsc/-uCFBwHUb24/s200/%28resized%29DSC07643.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242863718155912066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona, Kierra, Bibik &amp; Eugene waiting while Mommy queues</span><br /></span></div>We were made to queue for nearly an hour just to get a number. After which, Kieona was required to go into the waiting area in front of the stage with all the other kids. And they could only go in alone without their parents. I saw some kids crying, but Kieona said she's going to be fine when I asked her if she was going to be alright. My heart went aflutter watching her walk away and waiting for her turn. She sure is determined about the audition.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkx-n1imI/AAAAAAAAAsk/d-fVwzpkB5A/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07650.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkx-n1imI/AAAAAAAAAsk/d-fVwzpkB5A/s200/%28resized%29DSC07650.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242863725999131234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Finally, at the registration desk</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkxzB3A9I/AAAAAAAAAss/HyRUOZfDtxw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07671.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkxzB3A9I/AAAAAAAAAss/HyRUOZfDtxw/s200/%28resized%29DSC07671.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242863722887054290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Beautiful balloons at the event menu.... </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkyCuM8VI/AAAAAAAAAs0/gdA5G2-KE08/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07676.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkyCuM8VI/AAAAAAAAAs0/gdA5G2-KE08/s200/%28resized%29DSC07676.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242863727099572562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The stage - wow, looks pretty big and scary to Mommy</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkyA9MGoI/AAAAAAAAAs8/NYYRwUetdyk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07681.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SMJkyA9MGoI/AAAAAAAAAs8/NYYRwUetdyk/s200/%28resized%29DSC07681.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242863726625561218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kieona waiting on her own in the queue</span><br /></span></div>She waited for close to another hour before it was her turn to get on-stage. I guess she must have been really tired by then but she still went about her business. As with all inexperienced contest participants, she just strutted around without knowing much about at which spot she should pose or where she should look. However, she still tried to strike a pose everytime she was asked to, and smiled sweetly to answer questions about her name and age. Such a brave fellow at 4 years old!<br /><br />Even though we did not get into the finals, Mommy is pretty confident that Kieona has learnt much from this audition. It was the first time I watched her go up alone on stage and answering questions while smiling sweetly, without any preparations or any friends to go on stage with. This in itself is already a battle won in my heart.<br /><br />Check out her video which we had posted on youtube.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_WGxB-ddtss&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_WGxB-ddtss&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3647370814669709764?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-42411356269435371632008-09-02T22:05:00.003+08:002008-09-02T22:38:31.625+08:00Anyone who has known us for a while will know that my children are big fans of fireworks. Kieona watched her first fireworks at about two or three years old. Kierra at a younger age since our family always go for any outings together. After catching the fireworks on National Day, which wasn't fantastic, we wondered if there was any Singapore Fireworks Festival this year. There were something like four shows last year and it was fantastic. We only knew that they were holding it this year maybe a week or two before the event itself as there wasn't much PR blitz on it this year. Perhaps it's because it was a scaled down version (perhaps most fireworks show was centered on Beijing Olympics) and there were only two countries taking part, so there was very little publicity.<br /><br />France &amp; Korea participated on 22 August (Friday) and 23 August (Saturday) respecitively. We had wanted to go for both shows but Daddy could only make it on Saturday but Mommy wanted to bring the girls on Friday after swimming so that we could also catch the French team (which was great last year). Weather however, didn't permit and we had to cancel the trip as it poured and swimming was also cancelled. What a pity. The skies did clear up later but we were already home and preparing dinner, so we had to miss the French show. We did catch the Korean Team's show depite the slight drizzle. We had gone shopping at Marina early, as we had also wanted to take the opportunity to check out the girls' winter wear.<br /><br />Overall, the fireworks show was great, despite having to stand in the drizzle for a while. Check out some of the fireworks we caught.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1IoK8ywHI/AAAAAAAAArE/3USiCjxCKfc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07471.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1IoK8ywHI/AAAAAAAAArE/3USiCjxCKfc/s200/%28resized%29DSC07471.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241425396300431474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Relaxing at Starbucks before the show begins - it was sooo packed!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1IoPqUqRI/AAAAAAAAArM/Ni8S3lHZ-7I/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07488.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1IoPqUqRI/AAAAAAAAArM/Ni8S3lHZ-7I/s200/%28resized%29DSC07488.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241425397565139218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kieona, Kierra, Mommy &amp; Maria - Daddy was taking this picture so he wasn't in</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1IoP6lheI/AAAAAAAAArU/n_4LzSIm5WI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07508.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1IoP6lheI/AAAAAAAAArU/n_4LzSIm5WI/s200/%28resized%29DSC07508.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241425397633353186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Red Electric Showers?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1Iob6wsHI/AAAAAAAAArc/Y4CG2UDu8Zk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07557.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1Iob6wsHI/AAAAAAAAArc/Y4CG2UDu8Zk/s200/%28resized%29DSC07557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241425400855310450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Sparklers! How lovely!</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1IodIvZ-I/AAAAAAAAArk/3tdqz3aLMjw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07559.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1IodIvZ-I/AAAAAAAAArk/3tdqz3aLMjw/s200/%28resized%29DSC07559.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241425401182382050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Wow!!! Sea of red.....</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-4241135626943537163?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-23796259738239560252008-09-02T21:59:00.002+08:002008-09-02T22:03:59.924+08:00Muffins especially home-baked ones, have always been a hot favorite in our home. Kieona and Kierra absolutely love them, with the extra bits of cranberries and raisins and chocolate chips I sneak in. Now even little meatpie comes looking for them in my kitchen.... :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1G-rjAFkI/AAAAAAAAAqs/nROmVdy2oJk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07403.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1G-rjAFkI/AAAAAAAAAqs/nROmVdy2oJk/s200/%28resized%29DSC07403.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241423583984490050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">A muffin a day for the next three days....</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1G-uBE8PI/AAAAAAAAAq0/y5WVUTtklu0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07436.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1G-uBE8PI/AAAAAAAAAq0/y5WVUTtklu0/s200/%28resized%29DSC07436.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241423584647508210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona with the freshly-baked muffin</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1G-ixsQbI/AAAAAAAAAq8/9rDDI5Xk93c/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07448.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL1G-ixsQbI/AAAAAAAAAq8/9rDDI5Xk93c/s200/%28resized%29DSC07448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241423581630185906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Yummy, yummy... Kierra loves this</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2379625973823956025?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-33003890600711438112008-09-02T20:48:00.005+08:002008-09-02T21:59:26.561+08:00I'm sure at least half of the world watches the Olympics 2008 held in Beijing. Although Mommy has never been a huge Olympics fan, it was inevitable for me to want to catch some of the Olympics actions like the Table Tennis (which the Singapore Women's Team was piped to make it to the finals and get the first medal for Singapore in 48 years), the gymnastics competitions (including rhythmics) as I was interested to help the girls visualize the purpose of learning gymnastics.<br /><br />As a side note, please do not get me wrong. I have no intentions at all (nor Daddy for that matter) to push them to join an gymnastics competitions in future, but I'll like them to visualize what they can potentially accomplish if they were to want to aspire to go further in this sport.<br /><br />The gymnastics competitions were a real eye-opener. He Ke Xin, a Chinese gymnast who won gold in the uneven bars event wowed Kieona over so much that she still pulls the corners of her eyes upwards to imitate her. The costumes of the rhythmics gymnastics were so brightly coloured that Kieona kept talking about them. The rhythmics gymnasts poise and the manner they carried themselves amaze Kieona and Kierra so much that they tried to walk like them. It was fun to watch, as the girls expecially Kieona started to get motivated to press on a little harder and was willing to try more stunts during their weekly gymnastics lessons. Look at what they can do in the below pictures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0455WRtzI/AAAAAAAAAqM/UgRjdFZ4l14/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07349.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0455WRtzI/AAAAAAAAAqM/UgRjdFZ4l14/s200/%28resized%29DSC07349.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241408108627081010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona from the top view</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL046OEYDwI/AAAAAAAAAqU/eiMRpeJ97hU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07357.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL046OEYDwI/AAAAAAAAAqU/eiMRpeJ97hU/s200/%28resized%29DSC07357.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241408114189143810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Feet touches her head like a contortionist</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL046REOdZI/AAAAAAAAAqc/Woknegyt_Mo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07359.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL046REOdZI/AAAAAAAAAqc/Woknegyt_Mo/s200/%28resized%29DSC07359.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241408114993821074" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Kierra joins in</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL046iWpbZI/AAAAAAAAAqk/jekTOINzeaA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07384.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL046iWpbZI/AAAAAAAAAqk/jekTOINzeaA/s200/%28resized%29DSC07384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241408119634488722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Not quite there yet, but she tries hard till today</span><br /></span></div>While we were all pretty impressed about the gymnastics, we felt that the Table Tennis matches were nothing to shout about. In fact, both Daddy and I are less than proud of Singapore women's team winning the silver medal, simply for the fact that we thought there were more deserving parties. Why, you may ask? Since most of the Singaporeans are pretty proud about having won a medal after 48 years, why are we unimpressed?<br /><br />If anyone has been following the news, you will probably be able to suss out what Captain Li Jiawei and the coach said &amp; did before &amp; after the match. The coach mentioned that "we only have 10% chance ...(of beating the China team or winning - exact words in brackets not remembered)". Li Jiawei on the other hand, smiled after losing the game. There was an article in the Straits Times forum written by Lek Yew Chuan which echoes my feelings. He wrote the following (in grey) which I quote.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">"...I do not want my child to have a defeatist attitude, especially just before the final battle. It is one thing to be realistic but another to give up just before the fight (as head coach Liu Guodong and team captain Li Jiawei did before the final with China), and worse still smile while losing the fight (as Li did). ...... I do not want my child to feel Singapore takes care of only high-potential players and leaves the rest to fend for themselves (as happened to Gao Ning).......I hope my child will not resort to excuses to explain failures (as happened to Gao when the coach did not turn up).....I do not want my child to stop at second best and, worse still, announce proudly she will defend her position next time, instead of going one step further (as Liu did)."</span><br /><br />Having been an athlete before, I never had a coach who told me (not ever) that I did not have a chance at winning. (I was the second best runner in my races.) Never have I ever told myself that I can never win. During JC2, my friends from the Commerce Stream had formed a girls' relay team and even though our runners were not the strongest compared to the Arts Stream team, we never thought about giving up and just wanted to win the gold medal for our stream. Practise we did and ran we did. I was the last runner for the team and when the baton was passed to me, I just ran and ran without anything on my mind. We won the medal by a huge margin and my team-mates told me too that when they ran, they just ran with thoughts of winning the race and nothing else mattered. That kind of spirit is what I had been thrust with when I joined any sports. So the defeatist attitude I saw on national TV was not something that sat well with me.<br /><br />Well, even Daddy was pretty upset about this very unhealthy attitude. If Michael Phelps had even entertained any thoughts of what other people said and if he even for once doubted his own ability, perhaps he would not have been the celebrated miracle he is today - for winning that 8 gold medals within 17 days!<br /><br />So Kieona, Kierra, always believe in yourself and break out of convention. If it is something you believe in, there is nothing you cannot do. Remember The Secret.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3300389060071143811?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-86124490585152155832008-09-02T20:24:00.003+08:002008-09-02T20:46:51.032+08:0016 August 2008. That was the day BMSG held their World Breastfeeding Week Event. What has this got to do with our family - you'll wonder - to warrant them a mention here? Because that was the first time we had a business (<a href="http://www.BabySlingsAndCarriers.com">www.BabySlingsAndCarriers.com</a>) roadshow. Although the crowd wasn't fantastic, it was a great learning ground for us as a new business. There were things like the banner you see below in the first picture, as well as the brochures that had to be rushed, to consideration of the paper bags to be used, the manpower to allocate....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0wrn5RZiI/AAAAAAAAAps/kAfM2-IcesY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07225.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0wrn5RZiI/AAAAAAAAAps/kAfM2-IcesY/s200/%28resized%29DSC07225.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241399067330831906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Mommy met and old friend, Sanjay &amp; his family<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0wr9q3uXI/AAAAAAAAAp0/xpa1wITw9KA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07277.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0wr9q3uXI/AAAAAAAAAp0/xpa1wITw9KA/s200/%28resized%29DSC07277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241399073176009074" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, MP for MCYS<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0wr5BeFBI/AAAAAAAAAp8/gqHM3fWgHEQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0wr5BeFBI/AAAAAAAAAp8/gqHM3fWgHEQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC07286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241399071928620050" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Now what's the difference between this carrier and that?</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In case you are wondering if this entry was just about the event. Not really.... I thought this is a worthwhile entry to make as Kieona and Kierra did turn up for the event and saw for themselves how we go about our work, how we approach people to talk (explain our baby carriers), chatting with prospects (strangers) about our products, etc.<br /><br />The sole purpose of us wanting their involvement in these things is also to help them appreciate things deeper than what they will learn from classrooms or even in the park. Hopefully, this will help our children grow up knowing how there are different ways to earning your keeps and growing our money. I guess an old adage that comes to my mind right now is, "give a man a fish and he will live for a day, teach him how to fish and that will feed him for a life."<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0wry6VTtI/AAAAAAAAAqE/ai-3uBhZJGI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07343.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SL0wry6VTtI/AAAAAAAAAqE/ai-3uBhZJGI/s200/%28resized%29DSC07343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241399070288072402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Daddy demonstrating how to use the Patapum Toddler Carrier while Kieona naps</span></span><br /></div>Kieona, Kierra... I hope exposures like this will help you understand the dynamics of work, of making a living, of how you choose to make that living, and how talking to a complete stranger is really not at all that scary.<br /><br />Love,<br />Mommy<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8612449058515215583?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-79380862066541568112008-08-20T22:14:00.004+08:002008-08-21T09:57:21.095+08:00It was a hectic National Day weekend. Just when we were about the settle back into mundane everyday life, who should we expect to visit but a rather large praying mantis at our doorstep on Monday morning after National Day. It looked dead to Mommy and I carried and left it on a plant so that it will still be there when Kieona and Kierra came home from school. They had never seen a real praying mantis before. And Mommy was just glad for another chance to teach them about Mother Nature - right in our own garden!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And guess what? It actually moved. It took another day for it to be completely dead. According to our helper, any insects that do not have blood takes a long time to die. What a pity though - not sure if a vet could have saved it.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwn2lpJy9I/AAAAAAAAAkw/u3TOPSdMekk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07211.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwn2lpJy9I/AAAAAAAAAkw/u3TOPSdMekk/s200/%28resized%29DSC07211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236604285496183762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The dead praying mantis - now burried under Mommy's pandan plant in our garden</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7938086206654156811?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-75200735832542236002008-08-20T22:04:00.004+08:002008-08-21T09:56:31.982+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwlJ-U0YAI/AAAAAAAAAko/aTvKcdt3BJw/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC03644.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwlJ-U0YAI/AAAAAAAAAko/aTvKcdt3BJw/s200/%28resized%29DSC03644.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236601320004411394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">School celebration - are you nervous, Kieona?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwk2zMJK0I/AAAAAAAAAkY/uWhUT6c0G3I/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC03634.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwk2zMJK0I/AAAAAAAAAkY/uWhUT6c0G3I/s200/%28resized%29DSC03634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236600990597720898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kieona ordered this cake herself - she requested for full chocolate and edible figurines</span> </span></div>Had some of these shots the teachers at Skoolhouse took of Kieona's birthday party in school. We almost forgot about it as it was shot using one of our older digital still cameras. Well, it was still a Sony - so it will remain our property for a while.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7520073583254223600?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-75835690642184900972008-08-20T21:52:00.005+08:002008-08-20T22:04:09.915+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwjqlG7yVI/AAAAAAAAAkI/1IrlCCCszDA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06733.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwjqlG7yVI/AAAAAAAAAkI/1IrlCCCszDA/s200/%28resized%29DSC06733.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236599681147717970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Stella Kor Poh, Zhu Kor Poh, Zhor, Kieona &amp; Kierra</span><br /></span></div>When Daddy was away in Korea, Mommy sure had a busy time over that weekend, settling business matters as well as visiting. We visited Zhor Zhor too that Sunday. She's sort of bedridden most of the time, and is still recovering from the last stay at the hospital. The girls had a fair bit of fun "modelling", as well as helping Granduncle Steve and Dee Pek Gong cleaning out one of the rooms. Mommy is as usual a proud Mommy. Which Mommy wouldn't feel so when her kids volunteer to help out without prompting?<br /><br />Well, I like to think that being there for them these few years have paid off - in the way they volunteer to help, in their behavior (most of the time), in their confidence when speaking with adults, their empathy for others less fortunate, in their level of competence in finding solutions. The feeling is just fantastic!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwjqqfirxI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/LRIL4niebZ0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06735.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKwjqqfirxI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/LRIL4niebZ0/s200/%28resized%29DSC06735.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236599682593107730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">For vanity's sake</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7583569064218490097?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-2157942422323060422008-08-20T15:15:00.007+08:002008-08-20T15:44:08.386+08:00After a full day of fun on National Day, guess what? We're off for more stimulation at the Family Day organized by Daddy's company at Sentosa, Siloso Beach. It was supposed to start at 4pm, and we reached Vivocity early - at about 2pm as we haven't had lunch and intended to dine there before taking the skytrain to Siloso Beach. We ended up reaching Siloso Beach close to 4.30pm, but were still considered early so we went to take "The Luge" which was this kart-like thingy that you take downslope. It was akin to driving, and since it was free (paid by Walton already), we just went ahead to experience it with the girls. As they were both below 1.2m, we need to have 1 adult to ride with a child - which was just alright, since both Daddy and Mommy were around.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIWv8Xi8I/AAAAAAAAAiY/cEYJggM-_ds/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIWv8Xi8I/AAAAAAAAAiY/cEYJggM-_ds/s200/%28resized%29DSC07107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499284900678594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Guess where we are?</span></span><br /></div>Mommy thinks the girls found it fun, as they were for once in a "driver's" seat compared with just being a passenger in every other vehicle they've been in. Mommy however felt that it wasn't great - driving actually beats this. Well, I guess it's just a leisurely entertainment ride for families to chill out with. Did I mention that we actually took the skyride to reach the starting point for the Luge? Well, that was way more exciting. It was so, so high and Kieona and Kierra do look a tad afraid when we were climbing up the "hill". Check out our photos - highly recommended that you try this ride if you have not been on it before. Mommy's heart nearly dropped and I was really quite afraid....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIWikah6I/AAAAAAAAAig/teIWVRx69fE/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIWikah6I/AAAAAAAAAig/teIWVRx69fE/s200/%28resized%29DSC07110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499281310549922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The sky ride - photo taken from our carriage</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIW-o4efI/AAAAAAAAAio/iV1I__QOAjk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07112.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIW-o4efI/AAAAAAAAAio/iV1I__QOAjk/s200/%28resized%29DSC07112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499288845482482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona and Kierra wearing the oversized helmets before riding The Luge</span></span><br /></div>After we were done with that, it was back to the party venue. We had a fair bit of fun playing at the beach, but Mommy's one BIG GRIPE about that day was not having someplace to wash up. Oh come on, Palawan Beach has got all these nice shower facilities and since Siloso Beach was supposed to be more "upmarket", why was there no shower/ change area? What a disappointment, as we all had sand in our bikinis and Mommy had to wear her wet bikini under her bright yellow dress. We were able to wash up for the girls though at a washing point and got them changed into dry clothes in the open so that they wouldn't catch a cold. As Kierra fell asleep thereafter and Mommy carried her, she still got a little wet sleeping snugly in her Patapum Baby Carrier against Mommy's body.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIXB03gKI/AAAAAAAAAiw/70LOmOZieag/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07121.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIXB03gKI/AAAAAAAAAiw/70LOmOZieag/s200/%28resized%29DSC07121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499289701056674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kieona sipping Pineapple Juice</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIXEanRWI/AAAAAAAAAi4/Wa4PnYNfTFg/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07124.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvIXEanRWI/AAAAAAAAAi4/Wa4PnYNfTFg/s200/%28resized%29DSC07124.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499290396247394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kierra having fun in the sand</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI6iMYaII/AAAAAAAAAjA/jnWbyGpmdrg/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07129.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI6iMYaII/AAAAAAAAAjA/jnWbyGpmdrg/s200/%28resized%29DSC07129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499899685038210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Beach Babes</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI7LICNZI/AAAAAAAAAjI/0jjUfvs-JoA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07141.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI7LICNZI/AAAAAAAAAjI/0jjUfvs-JoA/s200/%28resized%29DSC07141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499910672659858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra crying - she couldn't find Jie Jie</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI7TeHjWI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/01q78MjpAjQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07144.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI7TeHjWI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/01q78MjpAjQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC07144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499912912768354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">One for the album</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI7dC6n_I/AAAAAAAAAjY/6qf9Tl4j4ts/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07163.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI7dC6n_I/AAAAAAAAAjY/6qf9Tl4j4ts/s200/%28resized%29DSC07163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499915483029490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Girls and the Bubble Machine</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI7ocR0QI/AAAAAAAAAjg/yyd2m4WaZAQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07170.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvI7ocR0QI/AAAAAAAAAjg/yyd2m4WaZAQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC07170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236499918542196994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona with her huge bubble</span><br /></span></div>Kieona turned out to have had the greatest fun, as she danced to the music and enjoyed one big plate of food while her sister napped. What a great way to spend the weekend! Boy, were we all tired when we got home....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvJUXU6v4I/AAAAAAAAAjo/gebU-B6uoFs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvJUXU6v4I/AAAAAAAAAjo/gebU-B6uoFs/s200/%28resized%29DSC07175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236500343444651906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Enjoying our dinner...</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvJUeFLPjI/AAAAAAAAAjw/DQm3J4Mb1uo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07177.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvJUeFLPjI/AAAAAAAAAjw/DQm3J4Mb1uo/s200/%28resized%29DSC07177.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236500345257672242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Auntie Muz, don't disturb</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvJUiuAmxI/AAAAAAAAAj4/FfHBlPIq-4c/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvJUiuAmxI/AAAAAAAAAj4/FfHBlPIq-4c/s200/%28resized%29DSC07198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236500346502683410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Beer and my Patapum Baby Carrier - don't you just love being mobile?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvJUuT9lQI/AAAAAAAAAkA/IxySV1MgM74/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07204.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvJUuT9lQI/AAAAAAAAAkA/IxySV1MgM74/s200/%28resized%29DSC07204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236500349614658818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">One parting shot...</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-215794242232306042?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-79004934499484407482008-08-20T15:12:00.002+08:002008-08-20T15:14:59.107+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvEJVLXD4I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/tD1dOyAcDuY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06668.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvEJVLXD4I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/tD1dOyAcDuY/s200/%28resized%29DSC06668.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236494656330993538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kieona feeding Kierra breakfast</span></span><br /></div>Need I say more? With kids like these, life is a wonder!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7900493449948440748?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-29503418110011950822008-08-20T14:33:00.005+08:002008-08-20T15:11:16.399+08:00National Day happened to fall on a Saturday this year, so all the enrichment classes Kieona is going to were halted. Mommy had envisioned it to be a very relaxing weekend. How wrong I was. It turned out to be one of the most stimulating weekends we've got for a while.<br /><br />On Saturday itself, we visited Uncle Hsiang Hui and Auntie Hwee Ming's home and met their baby, Ee Sheng who was already four months old. He was such a lovely young boy, with smiles for everyone. And boy, he looks really happy. What a joy! Kieona displayed her sisterly love for babies again - by going to talk to him and trying to "sayang" him. Kierra was her usual self - just playing around and trying to engage the two younger boys.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBuSdMbEI/AAAAAAAAAhA/9H5inrFofhc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06775.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBuSdMbEI/AAAAAAAAAhA/9H5inrFofhc/s200/%28resized%29DSC06775.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236491992720763970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Little Ee Sheng</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBuvMVy3I/AAAAAAAAAhI/Unuk3mHnpvU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06795.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBuvMVy3I/AAAAAAAAAhI/Unuk3mHnpvU/s200/%28resized%29DSC06795.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236492000434703218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Uncle Hsiang Hui and Ee Kiat</span><br /></span></div>We went home after lunch so that the girls could nap before we visit Auntie Wendy's house to see her newborn. Although Auntie Wendy was Daddy's cousin, we don't meet very often and even though Nathalie (Auntie Wendy's elder daughter) and Amanda (Auntie Audrey's daughter) were around the girls' age, they didn't really play. Perhaps they should be meeting a little more often. We only stayed a short while, as Mommy had arranged with Antoine's Mommy for a playdate cum fireworks watching party.<br /><br />As this was the first time we were meeting out of gym classes and it had been a while since we last met them, everyone was a little slow to warm up. But we soon did, as we had our dinner and chit-chat while the kids watched the Playhouse Disney channel. Of course, from time to time the Daddies and the kiddos were just happy to catch the aerial displays - fighter jets and helicopters and what not. When we were almost done with dinner, we were wondering if we still can make it to Marina Bay area to catch the fireworks. Uncle Oliver (Antoine's Daddy) suddenly said that we if we want to, we need to quickly get out of the house to catch the bus to his office. So all of us ran and ran to the bus-stop. It turned out that he had checked for the bus schedule and it was arriving in 7 mins when he checked. Poor Maria (who was carrying Kierra) almost did not make it. What a sight - the way we were all running with kids in tow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBunRZGqI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/ZgVbrjRbZmk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06883.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBunRZGqI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/ZgVbrjRbZmk/s200/%28resized%29DSC06883.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236491998308407970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">First explosion</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBuhZ2NEI/AAAAAAAAAhY/z_l6xKUiQHI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06887.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBuhZ2NEI/AAAAAAAAAhY/z_l6xKUiQHI/s200/%28resized%29DSC06887.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236491996733256770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Blue and Yellow - one of Mom's favourites</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBu2DdAeI/AAAAAAAAAhg/wK7SYE7RNqA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06890.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvBu2DdAeI/AAAAAAAAAhg/wK7SYE7RNqA/s200/%28resized%29DSC06890.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236492002276475362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Looks like CNY, doesn't it?</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCXJqnr1I/AAAAAAAAAhw/Gw780YQR7mU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06907.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCXJqnr1I/AAAAAAAAAhw/Gw780YQR7mU/s200/%28resized%29DSC06907.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236492694735794002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">It gets cloudy with smoke</span><br /></span></div>We ended up watching the fireworks from Uncle Oliver's office. It wasn't quite as fantastic - as the display was a short one. But it was overall still quite an experience to go together. The after-fireworks part must have been the kiddos highlight of the day. They held hands - Antoine, Kieona and Kierra - and ran ahead of us, played catching and climbed around. Of course, that also had us adults worried as they ran like crazy and it was quite difficult to rein them in. Then again, no harm done at all and the kids certainly enjoyed themselves as we made our way back to Antoine's house by foot.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCW7E6isI/AAAAAAAAAho/yu8C3ybj-j0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06933.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCW7E6isI/AAAAAAAAAho/yu8C3ybj-j0/s200/%28resized%29DSC06933.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236492690819549890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kierra, Kieona, Antoine looking cheeky</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCXM1zzCI/AAAAAAAAAh4/8oDnsbW5_jU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06958.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCXM1zzCI/AAAAAAAAAh4/8oDnsbW5_jU/s200/%28resized%29DSC06958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236492695588031522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">US &amp; O in OUB Building</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCXCXJuKI/AAAAAAAAAiA/YHSIRGlgd0E/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCXCXJuKI/AAAAAAAAAiA/YHSIRGlgd0E/s200/%28resized%29DSC07016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236492692775090338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Little kids enjoying night life</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCXWG7rAI/AAAAAAAAAiI/OWtHKPstXhE/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKvCXWG7rAI/AAAAAAAAAiI/OWtHKPstXhE/s200/%28resized%29DSC07021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236492698075769858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Happy children - fit for a commercial?</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2950341811001195082?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-89382637078173924372008-08-20T14:09:00.005+08:002008-08-20T14:38:27.582+08:00Daddy had said that the pupa would have become a butterfly before he comes back. Having done some research first on the Internet, Mommy doubted so. After all, Daddy left Singapore for Korea just one day after the caterpillar turned into a pupa and the metamorphosis process usually takes about two weeks. And Daddy will only be away for six days.<br /><br />True to literature, our little pet pupa was still a pupa when Daddy got home, and it remained so until the day after National Day. On Singapore's National Day morning, we found out that Tong Tong's butterfly had come out of its cocoon and was waiting to be strong enough to fly away. Mommy woke Kieona and Kierra up from their sleep as she was afraid they may not get to see the butterfly. It will then be such a pity. They were rather happy to see it, despite being still bleary-eyed. Since it was something new to them, they asked to have their breakfast alfresco along the corridor, so that they can watch the butterfly strengthening up its wings. Well, girls of leisure - they sure have the makings of people who know how to enjoy nature when the opportunity arises.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu7IoOutAI/AAAAAAAAAgo/KAcZoePPT6Q/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06752.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu7IoOutAI/AAAAAAAAAgo/KAcZoePPT6Q/s200/%28resized%29DSC06752.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236484748660880386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">How the butterfly looks like</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu7Ig_NzfI/AAAAAAAAAgw/KLwuPLvtVgo/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06745.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu7Ig_NzfI/AAAAAAAAAgw/KLwuPLvtVgo/s200/%28resized%29DSC06745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236484746716761586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Looking for the butterfly</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu7I5Eq_wI/AAAAAAAAAg4/Pap80_q8-IM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06754.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu7I5Eq_wI/AAAAAAAAAg4/Pap80_q8-IM/s200/%28resized%29DSC06754.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236484753182097154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Alfresco breakfast...</span></span><br /></div>Since Tong's caterpillar turned into a pupa one day before ours did, Mommy expected ours to turn into a butterfly the day after National Day. Although we came back home late on National Day as we had gone to watch the fireworks, Mommy woke the girls up once she found out at around 8am in the morning that our butterfly is now out of its cocoon and ready to fly. This time, the girls were really amazed, as they could go close to see the butterfly since it was enclosed in the hibernation box Mommy made. Kieona was a little bit upset as we had to release the butterfly. She had wanted to keep it but Mommy explained that it could die if we kept it, as it deserves to be free and to eat. She reluctantly agreed and learnt that in life, sometimes the best way to love something is to let it go. Sounds profound? Well, Mommy sneaked that in when explaining the reason about letting the butterfly go.<br /><br />What a great home lesson learnt!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5snT03rI/AAAAAAAAAgA/UHtf0d1a5o8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5snT03rI/AAAAAAAAAgA/UHtf0d1a5o8/s200/%28resized%29DSC07057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236483167865855666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Can you see the butterfly paterns forming?</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5spEst8I/AAAAAAAAAgI/kqvpmVh3q3A/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5spEst8I/AAAAAAAAAgI/kqvpmVh3q3A/s200/%28resized%29DSC07061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236483168339277762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The empty cocoon - the butterfly beside it... looks slimy</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5s51CfNI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/udk0xmBdEL0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07065.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5s51CfNI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/udk0xmBdEL0/s200/%28resized%29DSC07065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236483172836998354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Our butterfly, but now we have to let it go</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5tIcuPnI/AAAAAAAAAgY/FDgIv48dzM4/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5tIcuPnI/AAAAAAAAAgY/FDgIv48dzM4/s200/%28resized%29DSC07084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236483176761540210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona and Kierra, happy that the butterfly has finally come out of its cocoon</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5tQBxqhI/AAAAAAAAAgg/Ir2npBrZnkM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC07092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu5tQBxqhI/AAAAAAAAAgg/Ir2npBrZnkM/s200/%28resized%29DSC07092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236483178796001810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Isn't it amazing?<br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8938263707817392437?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-45436928159746033152008-08-20T13:54:00.004+08:002008-08-20T14:09:11.015+08:00As promised, here is the much awaited photos which Mommy has been procrastinating to put up. The caterpillar we had on our lime tree was getting fatter and one day after our neighbor's caterpillar turned into a pupa, ours did too. Noting that this batch of caterpillars seem to prefer hanging by a hard surface, away from the plant which was its home and food for the first two weeks of its life, Mommy fashioned a box to keep our very fat caterpillar.<br /><br />It turned into a pupa on 30th July, a day after Mommy put the caterpillar into the box. Kieona and Kierra both had gymnastics practice earlier and we noted that the caterpillar looks like it was turning into a pupa with its shortened and fatter state when we left the house at about 4pm that day. When we got home at around 6pm, it had already turned into a pupa. Daddy described the changing of state as an "explosion". How does the caterpillar covering turn into the pupa like stage? We had totally missed the process. Did it "explode" and just change within seconds or??? Then again, we're glad to be able to deduce that the skin actually came off to reveal its pupa covering state. Check out the photos if you got lost from my explanation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu0QRpvJwI/AAAAAAAAAfo/69HHDCTZ90g/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06611.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu0QRpvJwI/AAAAAAAAAfo/69HHDCTZ90g/s200/%28resized%29DSC06611.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236477183457699586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:78%;" >Caterpillar hanging on the mesh cloth before turning into pupa</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu0Qjrc0hI/AAAAAAAAAfw/r51cdWLw-as/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06683.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu0Qjrc0hI/AAAAAAAAAfw/r51cdWLw-as/s200/%28resized%29DSC06683.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236477188296725010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">It had turned into a pupa! Look at the original skin at the tail end!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu0WMODxzI/AAAAAAAAAf4/qzdh3CmZTow/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06614.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SKu0WMODxzI/AAAAAAAAAf4/qzdh3CmZTow/s200/%28resized%29DSC06614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236477285078648626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Our neighbour's pupa, which had climbed onto the stand for Mommy's pot</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-4543692815974603315?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-90649857167160584802008-08-11T15:51:00.002+08:002008-08-11T16:34:00.856+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SJ_4z8BeWNI/AAAAAAAAAfY/LCo-dzi4pDY/s1600-h/%28resized%29daddyvogue_kr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SJ_4z8BeWNI/AAAAAAAAAfY/LCo-dzi4pDY/s200/%28resized%29daddyvogue_kr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233174863197133010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Daddy in Vogue Magazine!</span></span><br /></div>It's been an eventful weekend on Singapore's birthday. August 9 this year happens to fall on Saturday and since there was no enrichment lessons for Kieona this weekend, we thought it would have been a weekend of idling around the house, apart from catching the fireworks near Esplanade on Saturday.<br /><br />Daddy had just been on an incentive trip to Korea with some of the other managers at his office the week before. We didn't tag along because it was strictly for office bonding. He only came back on August 5, and we had a good six days of co-sleeping without him. The girls both enjoyed it very much and Mommy was pretty surprised though that they didn't cringe when Mommy announced Daddy's homecoming on Tuesday morning itself. Clearly, the girls both missed Daddy a lot, even though they didn't say it outright. Kieona and Kierra both on separate occassions asked about when he was coming back, despite us having a lot of fun when he wasn't around. Perhaps it was because of this that it made this past weekend an even more enjoyable one for the family.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SJ_4_XjQ2zI/AAAAAAAAAfg/3RmpFXCyJzA/s1600-h/%28resized%29daddy_dcj_kr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SJ_4_XjQ2zI/AAAAAAAAAfg/3RmpFXCyJzA/s200/%28resized%29daddy_dcj_kr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233175059565173554" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Is that Daddy?</span></span><br /></div>To add to the joy, we visited a lot of people on Saturday and attended an evening party on Sentosa on Sunday, and amongst all, the little pupa we had turned into a beautiful butterfly on Sunday morning! Stay tuned as I put up the entries one at a time... it's a laborious process sometimes, you know.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-9064985716716058480?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-16091495179787102022008-07-29T14:24:00.003+08:002008-07-29T14:30:45.076+08:00It has been a while since we had guests at home except for the usual family. We had Uncle Andrew and Auntie Ruth over for a visit on Sunday night and the girls love having Auntie Ruth around. Although they probably cannot remember they've met Auntie Ruth, both Kieona and Kierra were really confident about talking to Auntie Ruth and showing off whatever possessions they had, including the caterpillar. Mommy is just glad that my girls have grown up and are comfortable talking with other adults. Ahh, life's little sweet successes for bringing up children.....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SI64jncfS3I/AAAAAAAAAfE/dy-vWeJgIIA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06511.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SI64jncfS3I/AAAAAAAAAfE/dy-vWeJgIIA/s200/%28resized%29DSC06511.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228319139447130994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">This one's for the camera</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-1609149517978710202?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-32072732948535175692008-07-29T14:20:00.003+08:002008-07-29T14:24:48.333+08:00After seeing the osmeterium of the caterpillar, the kids in the family seem to want to imitate that. This is their version:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SI63RqWgRZI/AAAAAAAAAe0/AL3aKDY0zwU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06501.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SI63RqWgRZI/AAAAAAAAAe0/AL3aKDY0zwU/s200/%28resized%29DSC06501.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228317731478062482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">The Angry Caterpillar</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SI63R8l34TI/AAAAAAAAAe8/nd2mAc0duRQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06588.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SI63R8l34TI/AAAAAAAAAe8/nd2mAc0duRQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC06588.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228317736374362418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Or is it the Act Cute Caterpillar?</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3207273294853517569?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-50217423207383045952008-07-28T01:20:00.006+08:002008-07-28T01:27:48.609+08:00<div style="text-align: left;">Did you ever know that when a caterpillar gets frightened, it raises two red antennae-like thing on its head? Well, we definitely didn't know until Eugene went to touch one of the caterpillars. We took this photograph just yesterday, after Maria stroked it with a stick.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyu_MhKX2I/AAAAAAAAAes/-Da0vAb9fc4/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06486.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyu_MhKX2I/AAAAAAAAAes/-Da0vAb9fc4/s200/%28resized%29DSC06486.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227745668185612130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Look at the orangey-red antennae when it gets frightened</span></span><br /></div></div><br />We did a search on this and apparently it is common, just that it is something we didn't know before. For the record, it is called Osmeterium.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5021742320738304595?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-3016187576363809262008-07-28T01:13:00.002+08:002008-07-28T01:20:03.671+08:00Mommy is into growing edible plants but recently the garden looks a little dull with just the green colours. A trip to the nursery on Thursday yielded some floral additions to our otherwise pure green garden. There was a new shipment of plants and many of them were lovely. With our limited space, Mommy allowed the girls to choose only a flower plant each. We finally adopted a yellow rose plant and a red floral plant (we forgot to check with the nursery about the name of the plant). They certainly look beautiful now sitting in our garden.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIytyEVStII/AAAAAAAAAec/nDQLAQVPqgM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06422.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIytyEVStII/AAAAAAAAAec/nDQLAQVPqgM/s200/%28resized%29DSC06422.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744343138415746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona and Kierra with the new flowering plants</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIytyKA6HCI/AAAAAAAAAek/bpYFEXwdZuM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06425.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIytyKA6HCI/AAAAAAAAAek/bpYFEXwdZuM/s200/%28resized%29DSC06425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744344663530530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Oops, Kierra's crying because the plant pee-ed on her</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-301618757636380926?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-29907601387595337072008-07-28T00:42:00.006+08:002008-07-28T01:13:22.248+08:00Despite feeling tired and a little sick on Friday, we visited the Singapore Garden Festival at Suntec City. Kieona had skipped school that morning as she didn't feel very well, but we had to go in the afternoon since Kierra insisted on attending school at least for half the day.<br /><br />It was such a sight! The flowers were so beautiful and the landscaping was so well done. Mommy could only gasp in amazement. The girls were equally thrilled to see multitudes of flowers on display. We were particularly wowed by the display that had this underwater theme. Simply magical! Some of the plants used included tulips, apple trees, lavendar and different species of pitcher plants.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIypg4K7AwI/AAAAAAAAAc8/n-ho1DyNTXg/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06271.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIypg4K7AwI/AAAAAAAAAc8/n-ho1DyNTXg/s200/%28resized%29DSC06271.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227739649769407234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">All ready to feast our eyes</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyphHzszNI/AAAAAAAAAdE/UChop88lbMM/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06273.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyphHzszNI/AAAAAAAAAdE/UChop88lbMM/s200/%28resized%29DSC06273.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227739653966974162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">One of the mascots of the Singapore Garden Festival </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyq-4TpHWI/AAAAAAAAAeU/hAx8em6M24o/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06284.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyq-4TpHWI/AAAAAAAAAeU/hAx8em6M24o/s200/%28resized%29DSC06284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227741264713686370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona and Kierra looking at the flowers</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyphb3KjnI/AAAAAAAAAdM/C_z5zYz0Csw/s1600-h/DSC06286.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyphb3KjnI/AAAAAAAAAdM/C_z5zYz0Csw/s200/DSC06286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227739659350216306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Daddy and his precious girls</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyphopwNiI/AAAAAAAAAdU/AZtC5bR76yc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06295.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyphopwNiI/AAAAAAAAAdU/AZtC5bR76yc/s200/%28resized%29DSC06295.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227739662783624738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Clever use of colours to an otherwise solid display</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyphsNET8I/AAAAAAAAAdc/3qY8xPVocf8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06325.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyphsNET8I/AAAAAAAAAdc/3qY8xPVocf8/s200/%28resized%29DSC06325.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227739663737049026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Our favourite display - the underwater theme</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqKL9d3eI/AAAAAAAAAd0/9Hgy9xW3wrI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06353.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqKL9d3eI/AAAAAAAAAd0/9Hgy9xW3wrI/s200/%28resized%29DSC06353.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227740359456316898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Can you see Marilyn Monroe?</span><br /></span></div>After visiting the exhibits on level 6, we went to the Orchid show on level 4. The ambience wasn't as fantastic since white lights were used instead of the more calming warm lights used on level 6. Still, it was a pretty visual feast we had. There were so many varieties of orchids that it made Mommy a little giddy. There were the miniature orchids, the large ones, the clustered ones and so on.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqJ5hanNI/AAAAAAAAAds/sZnUSe2jRs4/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06373.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqJ5hanNI/AAAAAAAAAds/sZnUSe2jRs4/s200/%28resized%29DSC06373.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227740354506824914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The Miniature Orchids</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqKAWbFRI/AAAAAAAAAd8/tXfl0fqez88/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06385.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqKAWbFRI/AAAAAAAAAd8/tXfl0fqez88/s200/%28resized%29DSC06385.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227740356339766546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">What brilliant colours!</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqKcVw_UI/AAAAAAAAAeE/lndHiELB-7A/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06395.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqKcVw_UI/AAAAAAAAAeE/lndHiELB-7A/s200/%28resized%29DSC06395.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227740363853200706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Check out this orchid: each orchid looks like a ballerina close-up</span><br /></span></div><br />In the same event hall, we also get to see real dragon fruits plants and a variety of other vegetables that made all of us yearn for a little bit more space for our own gardens. There were also quite a few exhibitors and one of particular mention is Hua Hng Trading. Name sounds corny, but they specialize in exotic plants and they also sell the dragon fruit plant. Mommy is definitely going to check out where they are located within Singapore - because I spotted a peppercorn plant which I hope to add to my herbal garden collection.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqQbrW_7I/AAAAAAAAAeM/rdFvN9tFHss/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06421.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyqQbrW_7I/AAAAAAAAAeM/rdFvN9tFHss/s200/%28resized%29DSC06421.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227740466754551730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Dragon fruit plant - we spotted this in the Community In Bloom section</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2990760138759533707?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-19389656836755335292008-07-28T00:30:00.003+08:002008-07-28T00:41:22.690+08:00Now that the girls are starting full day school everyday in a week's time, Mommy wastes no time trying to show them things beyond the classroom. Recently we chanced upon a baby coconut on the ground on a grass patch near our house and so Mommy decided to let Kieona and Kierra explore more about coconuts. Since both girls are so eager to bring coconuts to school, we had to go around the estate looking for more of these baby coconuts that have fallen off the trees so that they each had coconuts to show to their friends.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyk51tikRI/AAAAAAAAAc0/zVftCtlZ4m8/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06242.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyk51tikRI/AAAAAAAAAc0/zVftCtlZ4m8/s200/%28resized%29DSC06242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227734581047890194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The baby coconuts we collected</span><br /></span></div>The next day, both girls went to school with two baby coconuts each. Guess what? They came back with three and Kierra started crying in the car and said that Kieona has taken her coconut. Kieona finally explained that she gave one of Kierra's coconut to Don. After some probing, Mommy found out that Kieona had given hers to Don and then conveniently took one of Kierra's, so that she still has two and Kierra is now left with one. Wow, how smart of this girl. In the end, Mommy had to tell Kieona that we cannot give away something that is not ours and that she may want to return the coconut to Kierra. Well, that was not all. She agreed, but insisted that we look for more coconuts for her.<br /><br />It's been a few days since, and I'm pretty glad that everyone seems to have forgotten about it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-1938965683675533529?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-61326688089070821422008-07-28T00:28:00.002+08:002008-07-28T00:30:03.162+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyiVmyOhHI/AAAAAAAAAcs/x-dvgAy26DQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyiVmyOhHI/AAAAAAAAAcs/x-dvgAy26DQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC06236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227731759542469746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Sleeping so soundly... will they be so close when they grow up?</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-6132668808907082142?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-80906860886195571382008-07-28T00:20:00.004+08:002008-07-28T00:23:36.542+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">It's great sometimes when children get to play with children. Kieona and Kierra love going out to the corridor and playing with Tong Tong, our neighbour. So does Eugene.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIygl5gERTI/AAAAAAAAAcc/udIWEf-KWB4/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06220.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIygl5gERTI/AAAAAAAAAcc/udIWEf-KWB4/s200/%28resized%29DSC06220.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227729840421225778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona, Kierra, Eugene and Tong Tong on their playdate</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIygmK2qGVI/AAAAAAAAAck/d4DHlQgfkCU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06228.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIygmK2qGVI/AAAAAAAAAck/d4DHlQgfkCU/s200/%28resized%29DSC06228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227729845079382354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Kieona looks like a natural....</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8090686088619557138?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-84909351430989265892008-07-28T00:11:00.005+08:002008-07-28T00:41:50.543+08:00We got inspired with Chelsea's pupa and Mommy decided to keep one of the caterpillars on our Kaffir Lime plant (although the rest had to be removed to prevent too much of the leaves being eaten up).<br /><br />We spotted the caterpillars early this week on Monday and it's been seven days since we spotted it. It was originally this black and white caterpillar that was so tiny and had hairs on its body and now on day 7 it looks green and slimy. Our next door neighbour has got two caterpillars on their plant which is growing tandomly with ours and we're enjoying this caterpillar growing up process every single day since Monday. Check them out below.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyfQE4V_xI/AAAAAAAAAb8/ukB_cOcRvB0/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06246.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyfQE4V_xI/AAAAAAAAAb8/ukB_cOcRvB0/s200/%28resized%29DSC06246.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227728366007090962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Our caterpillar on Day 3 from the time we spotted him</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyfQ-mpuiI/AAAAAAAAAcE/5aPaLhU3Pgk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06248.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyfQ-mpuiI/AAAAAAAAAcE/5aPaLhU3Pgk/s200/%28resized%29DSC06248.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227728381502143010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Tong Tong's caterpillar - the big one</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyfQyuV9DI/AAAAAAAAAcM/5rx0q99s0uc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06249.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyfQyuV9DI/AAAAAAAAAcM/5rx0q99s0uc/s200/%28resized%29DSC06249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227728378313176114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Tong Tong's caterpillar - the smaller one which is still black and white</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyfRKpgr-I/AAAAAAAAAcU/16d3V3EymuU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06255.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyfRKpgr-I/AAAAAAAAAcU/16d3V3EymuU/s200/%28resized%29DSC06255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227728384735358946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Hey look! An hour later, Tong Tong's caterpillar shed its skin and is now green!</span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8490935143098926589?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-83025908086610203772008-07-28T00:06:00.003+08:002008-07-28T00:25:03.622+08:00It has always been Daddy and Mommy's hope that Kieona and Kierra get to be flower girls at least once - just for the fun and the exposure. How happy we were when Uncle Damien announced that he will be getting married next year and asked for their involvement as flower girls.<br /><br />The girls do not quite yet understand what this is about yet, except that they had gotten their beautiful white long dress that Mommy never bought for them since there has been no occasion for wearing them. And they have been very happy about it since Uncle Damien and Auntie Liana bought them the dresses last weekend.<br /><br />Just this weekend, Kieona showed Auntie Ruth (who visited today with Uncle Andrew) her dress and told Auntie Ruth that it is for "The Wedding". How cute, the way kids put it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8302590808661020377?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-34973974509100864192008-07-27T23:50:00.003+08:002008-07-28T00:26:41.461+08:00We had a terrific time last Friday 18 July. Lucky thing Mommy remembered that there was a school holiday in July and had already made plans for Kieona and Kierra that day. What better way to spend that day than to have Kierra go for her first dental visit? Thanks to Auntie Ellen's suggestion, Mommy booked a dental appointment for both girls in early June at the School Dental Clinic located in SGH, Health and Promotion Board Building.<br /><br />As it was our first visit to there and we took public transport to expose the girls to the transport system, we got a little bit lost and unsure when we reached Outram MRT station. Thank goodness Mommy sms-ed Auntie Elizabeth, who called back and told us to walk there instead of waiting for the shuttle bus (which we were waiting for at least for half an hour but still have not boarded one). It was such a short walk Mommy felt stupid for waiting, as Eugene burst out crying when we stood in the queue for too long, and even when Maria walked a little faster to catch up with us. My, what a bother!<br /><br />After making a couple more detours, we finally got there 10 minutes late. Thankfully there wasn't a lot of people waiting to see the dentists. My, we were rather impressed when it was our turn. Although Kierra refused to have her teeth polished, she was brave enough not to cry and stayed still (so won't spoil - she said later) throughout the check-up. It was a good first start for Kierra, definitely.<br /><br />It was Kieona who behaved beyond Mommy's expectations though. Since it was our first visit there at the School Dental Clinic, Mommy had requested during registration to have the both Kieona and Kierra's teeth checked consecutively by the same dentist so that I can be there for them both during the checks. Since Maria was looking after Eugene, there wasn't a way Mommy could have both girls accompanied by an adult when we went in. Thank goodness although they couldn't have it done that way, Kieona and Kierra were placed in adjacent cubicles with different dentists. I asked Kieona if I could leave her and that I will be in the next cubicle with Kierra. She said yes without any hesitation. I was relieved! Best part? She was joking with the dentist all the way and the dentist found her one of the best 4 year old he had attended to, since she co-operated every step of the way and was such a joy to work with.<br /><br />My Kieona has grown up. And my Kierra has definitely become braver.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3497397450910086419?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-77907423980287802512008-07-27T23:11:00.004+08:002008-07-28T00:27:12.245+08:00It's a pity that we have to move out of the Thursday 1.30pm gymnastics class at <a href="http://www.primegym.com/">Prime Gym</a> in Toa Payoh as the girls are moving on to full day school. Kieona has been in the class for maybe more than half a year already and Mommy really enjoyed meeting the same parents and kids there. After Kierra joined the class in late May, the two girls quickly established a comfortable relationship with Yee May and Laila (their coaches).<br /><br />It is a good thing though that Yee May will still be coaching the class they switched to on Wednesdays in the late afternoon. Well, it was one of the best slots we can get bearing in mind their new school schedule. Mommy is just glad for now that after the first session in the new class, the girls seem comfortable enough and that there isn't very much disruption to their performance. In fact, both Daddy and Mommy thought that this new class was a lot more well-behaved and a lot more involved that the old class... could be the age of the kids.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyS_iXczZI/AAAAAAAAAbU/Rd6u1SYxk5E/s1600-h/DSC06045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyS_iXczZI/AAAAAAAAAbU/Rd6u1SYxk5E/s200/DSC06045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227714887724879250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kierra enjoying herself at the start of the class</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyTAy_TzOI/AAAAAAAAAbc/zlyq0ROPuaU/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyTAy_TzOI/AAAAAAAAAbc/zlyq0ROPuaU/s200/%28resized%29DSC06117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227714909366897890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">What are Kieona and Kierra doing?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyTBIReUCI/AAAAAAAAAbk/-AsaAbXChTA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyTBIReUCI/AAAAAAAAAbk/-AsaAbXChTA/s200/%28resized%29DSC06153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227714915080228898" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Kieona doing her flip</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyTBSbR-5I/AAAAAAAAAbs/zuFkwCX6XNs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06169.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyTBSbR-5I/AAAAAAAAAbs/zuFkwCX6XNs/s200/%28resized%29DSC06169.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227714917805718418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kierra strengthening her arm muscles</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyTBWhedDI/AAAAAAAAAb0/qgNknvbLwLI/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06185.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyTBWhedDI/AAAAAAAAAb0/qgNknvbLwLI/s200/%28resized%29DSC06185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227714918905443378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Our Coach - Laila</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7790742398028780251?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-26085618245077494882008-07-27T22:59:00.004+08:002008-07-28T00:28:11.805+08:00We made a trip to Auntie Elizabeth and Chelsea's house two weeks ago to return the books we had borrowed before we went to gym. Auntie Elizabeth showed the girls a pupa (which was turning into a butterfly) but the girls were apparently more interested in Chelsea's make-up set. Even Eugene was running away with Chelsea's lipstick rather than playing with the balls.<br /><br />Before we left, Auntie Elizabeth was so nice she gave Kieona and Kierra a box of Blo Pens. Well, they sure had fun, judging be the way they vigorously blew the ink out of the pens after their naps that afternoon. Just look at their creations.... thank you Auntie Elizabeth and Chelsea. Pity we missed Christian though.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyO0FuRIxI/AAAAAAAAAak/SjF_Eg5Q5rc/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyO0FuRIxI/AAAAAAAAAak/SjF_Eg5Q5rc/s200/%28resized%29DSC06198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227710293010883346" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Kieona &amp; Kierra, working hard at their masterpiece<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyO0TS1QPI/AAAAAAAAAas/TXDFLeaJqnY/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyO0TS1QPI/AAAAAAAAAas/TXDFLeaJqnY/s200/%28resized%29DSC06206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227710296653906162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">There you go... the masterpiece!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyO0WTXllI/AAAAAAAAAa0/p3o86rPiunA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06208.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyO0WTXllI/AAAAAAAAAa0/p3o86rPiunA/s200/%28resized%29DSC06208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227710297461462610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >Kieona's butterfly</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyO0hIewyI/AAAAAAAAAa8/haHN_pZozMs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyO0hIewyI/AAAAAAAAAa8/haHN_pZozMs/s200/%28resized%29DSC06201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227710300368585506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Poor Eugene was so sick he look stoned</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyP04KMiEI/AAAAAAAAAbM/gKBLfTr1IqE/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06193.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyP04KMiEI/AAAAAAAAAbM/gKBLfTr1IqE/s200/%28resized%29DSC06193.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227711406061422658" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >No wonder he didn't disturb Kieona &amp; Kierra</span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2608561824507749488?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-1498368905996503352008-07-27T22:53:00.004+08:002008-07-27T22:59:16.278+08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyME7U3JmI/AAAAAAAAAac/4a9gsJpjcbQ/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC06259.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SIyME7U3JmI/AAAAAAAAAac/4a9gsJpjcbQ/s200/%28resized%29DSC06259.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227707283742860898" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">The kids assessment books.....</span></span><br /></div><br />I definitely never imagined that I will be one of those parents who will end up buying such workbooks for my kids. But the truth be told, no matter how unhurried you are in your child's academic progress, there will come a time when you realize that your child is way behind his or her peers and you start to panic. So as you may all have guessed from the above picture, we have started putting together these study aids for Kieona and Kierra. Well, depends on how you look at it. It seems that Kieona is extremely interested in doing them, at least for now....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-149836890599650335?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-70192267313864244522008-07-06T14:52:00.004+08:002008-07-06T15:09:03.440+08:00If you have been reading about me talking about Kieona's modelling stunt, then you will know that we haven't signed up for her after her contract expired end of last year. Initially, it is because she was just under 4 yrs old and I didn't want to waste time and money doing the portfolio again without the opportunity for her to enrol in the catwalk course (for above 4yrs). Well, time passed so quickly and I decided to wait after after her 4 year old birthday since we are always either busy with Eugene and sometimes bringing the girls for their enrichments.<br /><br />As everyone close may have known by now as well, Kieona and Kierra has kept asking for modelling. Kieona more so since she had been exposed before. The lazy mommy said we got to settle in first into our busy schedule..... ahhh... what an excuse as we've taken half a year and everything is still constantly changing.<br /><br />Recently, some mother on one of the forums Mommy is subscribed to mentioned Impact's website and out of curiosity I went in to check, never once expecting to find Kieona's portfolio in there. As Daddy was hanging around, I just told him about how impressive looking the site was and that I never knew it existed actually. He asked if Kieona was in, and my reply was a curt, "How can it be lah? She's already stopped paying for the contract leh...". Since I was on their page of girl models Com cards, I clicked through some and surprise! There was a familiar picture we also had - it's Kieona! She looks realle lovely. Well, heck the schedules.... maybe we should just plan for a time to send both Kieona and Kierra down - to sign for modelling contracts again....<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.impactmodels.com/">http://www.impactmodels.com</a>, mouse over the tab "girl" at the top of the site, click on the category "4-12". Scroll down to Kieona Lee.<br /><br />Hurry, before it gets deleted before I manage to renew her contract.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7019226731386424452?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-77818236896679891632008-06-24T18:44:00.005+08:002008-06-24T19:00:42.209+08:00It was a beautiful Friday last week when the girls had their swimming lessons. Usually Mommy and Eugene will be at Kor Po's place since Mommy was advised to stay away when the kids are having their lessons. However Mommy has been staying beside the pool with Eugene for the past two weeks, since Kor Po was out taking care of Chor Chor (who had been hospitalized the previous week).<br /><br />The girls have certainly made good progress with their swimming skills. Well, they can't swim without any aids yet, but it was a far cry from when they started last year. They do seem to enjoy themselves a lot. Kierra was able to swim like a dolphin, diving in and then coming out of the water with the help of Uncle Saw's hand. Check them out below!<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDSkzDVmXI/AAAAAAAAAaI/sqoO-rZUPo0/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05875.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215399898116364658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDSkzDVmXI/AAAAAAAAAaI/sqoO-rZUPo0/s200/(resized)DSC05875.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Kieona swimming with her board</span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDSk0JJVrI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/3HLXZT-qT0U/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05912.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215399898409162418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDSk0JJVrI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/3HLXZT-qT0U/s200/(resized)DSC05912.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Kierra "sleeping" by the pool</span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRVy2WrBI/AAAAAAAAAZg/IPUJbLWn2Rg/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05718.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215398540852243474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRVy2WrBI/AAAAAAAAAZg/IPUJbLWn2Rg/s200/(resized)DSC05718.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Kierra dancing like a princess</span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRbt76pbI/AAAAAAAAAZo/AcUJa30rmw4/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05754.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215398642612610482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRbt76pbI/AAAAAAAAAZo/AcUJa30rmw4/s200/(resized)DSC05754.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Kieona twirling like a ballet dancer</span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRb1fFCRI/AAAAAAAAAZw/3kwKvkaZ8Vo/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05796.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215398644639140114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRb1fFCRI/AAAAAAAAAZw/3kwKvkaZ8Vo/s200/(resized)DSC05796.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Oops, Kierra drank some water</span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRbwfPsFI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/iaLHJ9TxZc8/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05846.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215398643297661010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRbwfPsFI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/iaLHJ9TxZc8/s200/(resized)DSC05846.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Kierra acrobat</span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRb_8jTfI/AAAAAAAAAaA/kTatjUFOP7g/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05851.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215398647447113202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDRb_8jTfI/AAAAAAAAAaA/kTatjUFOP7g/s200/(resized)DSC05851.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Kierra swimming like a dolphin</span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7781823689667989163?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-52306338068000463812008-06-24T18:42:00.003+08:002008-06-24T18:44:31.759+08:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDP5ia_OTI/AAAAAAAAAZY/1sbtvhRqDik/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05705.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215396955894528306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SGDP5ia_OTI/AAAAAAAAAZY/1sbtvhRqDik/s200/(resized)DSC05705.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;"> Kieona meow meow!<br /></span><div align="left">Kieona was one happy cat meowing last Friday. She left school like the picture below, as her class was doing a lesson about pets and it was cats in particular that week.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-5230633806800046381?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-20438669980940998152008-06-23T18:10:00.003+08:002008-06-23T18:52:02.576+08:00With the rising costs of basic commodities, Mommy is finding it a squeeze to use the same amounts of money to get quality food for the whole family. As it seems that food prices will still continue to remain high, Mommy has started looking out for viable alternatives that are not only easy on the pocket but also reduce the grocery shopping. (Yes, Mommy is very stretched with having to go on groceries-stocking trips every other day given the tonnes of work she has yet to complete.)<br /><br />One of the frequently bought items is fresh milk and chocolate fresh milk. The girls drink them like water and the Magnolia brand (the priciest of probably all fresh milk in Singapore) now costs $3.50 for a 1 liter pack, up from somewhere slightly more than $2.50 about a year ago. The 1 liter packs also mean that they finish quickly in our family, and results in tonnes of waste in terms of packaging. Naturally this was one of the areas Mommy was looking for more efficiencies without reducing the quality of what we consume.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, we found them in the Meiji brand of fresh milk! Previously we had always been shopping at NTUC when we bought any Meiji milk, so we never saw the chocolate flavoured one (Kieona doesn't take white milk) in anything near 1 liter. They came only in the small 830 ml size. When we found that they also come in 2 liter packaging for the chocolate milk in Teo Chuan Kee (a provision store near our place), we were certainly delighted. This is the second week we're consuming Meiji milk. Kieona, the fuss-pot, was extremely alright with their Cocoa flavoured milk. We're now consuming a total of 3 to 4 bottles a week.<br /><br />Check out the large packaging. And the plastic is also recycleable! Only downside of this Meiji milk? They always run out at the stores!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9_NuK6Z2I/AAAAAAAAAZM/Zs9zNgCtJ1A/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC05697.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9_NuK6Z2I/AAAAAAAAAZM/Zs9zNgCtJ1A/s200/%28resized%29DSC05697.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215026767227152226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The 2 liter Meiji Milk in Fresh Milk and Cocoa flavour</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2043866998094099815?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-63708073870358151002008-06-23T16:57:00.004+08:002008-06-23T17:08:14.160+08:00Mommy made some scones with a new recipe on Tuesday and both Kieona and Kierra loved them. They asked if they could make some to bring to school so that they could share with their friends. Mommy said alright and we quickly finished dinner on Wednesday, so that we could bake some ready for Thursday morning for their classmates.<br /><br />Since we had run out of raisins, Mommy improvised and used cheese and cranberries instead. The girls had much fun greasing the tins, stirring and mixing the dough, shaping the scones and laughing at each other. As we did not bake that much, Mommy reminded them that they could only have one each that night so that there will be enough to go around their class the next day. It was rather heartening to hear from the girls that they will not eat any at all that night, "so that there is enough for our friends". These words will make any mother proud.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9nRWHbbLI/AAAAAAAAAY8/Sq4C7xt0wCk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC05687.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9nRWHbbLI/AAAAAAAAAY8/Sq4C7xt0wCk/s200/%28resized%29DSC05687.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215000441210498226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">They shaped these, with some help from Mommy</span></span><br /></div>Mommy counted the scones and hoped there was enough to go around. It wouldn't be nice if any of the kids missed it. So that Thursday, they brought their scones to share with their classmates while out for a school outing at Animals Resort.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9nRYljjSI/AAAAAAAAAZE/cnshH6bc_ls/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC05690.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9nRYljjSI/AAAAAAAAAZE/cnshH6bc_ls/s200/%28resized%29DSC05690.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215000441873730850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Aren't the baked scones beautiful?</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-6370807387035815100?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-36004625443018088772008-06-23T16:40:00.004+08:002008-06-23T16:56:07.552+08:00Now that Mommy is slowly getting over the anxieties and shock of Kieona's nostril incident, I can put together the weeks happening in subsequent posts.<br /><br />Mommy has been looking around for shoes for Kierra to replace her favourite purple pair, as the soles have been worn off. Kierra said she liked Kieona's shoes and wanted to have the same design as what I had bought for her sister some time ago. As it was from Bubblegummers (a brand carried only by Bata here), Mommy has brought her to the Bata and Thomson Plaza (where Kieona bought hers) the Friday before to look for it. However, there were only the smaller sizes left and we couldn't get a pair for her. Since Kieona was staying in school on Tuesdays, I decided to take Kierra out to Ang Mo Kio Central to look for her shoes. There were two Bata shops there and Mommy hoped that at least one of them carried her size. Alas, they were all sold out! I explained to Kierra but she was visibly upset, saying why Jie-Jie has and she doesn't. She also said she just wanted the same one as Jie-Jie. My heart sank. I told Daddy that evening and requested he check out the large Bata store in Peninsula Plaza and see if he could get her size.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9kU_i1mlI/AAAAAAAAAYk/uq2sJDLueTE/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC05644.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9kU_i1mlI/AAAAAAAAAYk/uq2sJDLueTE/s200/%28resized%29DSC05644.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214997205336037970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Kierra, opening her surprise</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9kVClgMgI/AAAAAAAAAYs/f8EcIqUEWHs/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC05654.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9kVClgMgI/AAAAAAAAAYs/f8EcIqUEWHs/s200/%28resized%29DSC05654.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214997206152524290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">My shoes</span></span><br /></div>The next night (which was a Wednesday), he brought home the surprise. Kierra was naturally excited and happy with her shoes. Now she has the same flower shoes as Kieona.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9kXMUQS_I/AAAAAAAAAY0/SWNhnbYDyhk/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC05678.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9kXMUQS_I/AAAAAAAAAY0/SWNhnbYDyhk/s200/%28resized%29DSC05678.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214997243124272114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I love them!</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-3600462544301808877?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-9729936126501225632008-06-23T15:54:00.003+08:002008-06-23T16:36:15.824+08:00Last night was a terrible night Mommy had. I couldn't sleep a single wink even though I went to bed close to 2am. Every single time I closed my eyes, I had this vision of the white piece of thing emerging from Kieona's nostril. How can anyone not have nightmares when she thought that she had dug out her daughter's bone at the nostil or something deep within her nose?<br /><br />Early this morning, I decided it was best to have her examined by our GP since Heaven knows if there was any infection within that Mommy really have no clue how to find out. Mommy decided that school can wait and rushed down to the clinic after gulping down her breakfast to queue for a number. The helper was given instructions too to have the kids dressed up and ready for school so that I can come fetch them for the consultation, after I get the number since they were both not done with their breakfasts yet. We were first in the queue and thinking that Dr Cheah normally comes in at 9am (clinic opens at 8.30am), Mommy took her time to get the girls and reached the clinic within 20 minutes. Well, we were late as the queue number was already at 4, but we were glad we were able to consult the doctor as soon as patient number 4 came out.<br /><br />Dr Cheah was told what happened and Mommy also brought the offending object to show her how large it was. Kieona was thoroughly checked for any signs of infection. The result? Dr Cheah said although the area seems red, it does not seem like infection had set in and thinks that it will probably clear on its own. However, we were given a mild antibiotics to prevent any bacteria from forming. She also asked how Mommy got it out and whether I knew what it was before I pulled it out of her nostrils. I said I didn't, but had a shock when I saw it once it was out. She said lucky it was done pretty well, since there was little injury to the delicate nostril as well. What a relief! Mommy asked Dr Cheah to also highlight to Kieona the risks of putting things into her nostrils, since this has happened many times and no amount of talking to from Mommy seems to have worked. Each time it gets worse. Mommy really cannot imagine what could have happened if it had gone undetected for another few more days. We could really have lost Kieona as the doctor also said that if a foreign object is left in our body for too long, infection will set in and that can be fatal.<br /><br />If only I had known how at risk she was and how much I would lose sleep over this, I would have insisted Daddy to bring her to the hospital for checks last night.<br /><br />This incident is like a wake-up call to Mommy. I kept wondering to myself if this was my fault, and that there had been too much focus on Eugene and little time for the girls, especially Kieona (since she was the oldest and by far most sensible). I suppose I had overlooked the fact that she is still a very young child, and I wonder if the repeated attempts of stuffing things inside her nostrils was a way of her asking for my attention. Her learning in various areas seems to have also taken a beating, since I haven't been able to focus my energies on her with my busy schedule everyday and there was always a rush to cramp our time for playing and for revision.<br /><br />What should I do? Throughout the night I had been tossing and turning in bed. Whatever the outcome, the decision will be a tough one but I suppose there will never be a perfect solution.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-972993612650122563?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-81176837888751277862008-06-23T01:03:00.003+08:002008-06-23T01:10:34.858+08:00Mommy was roped in two weeks ago by Kieona's temporary teacher, Ms Izan to give her some pointers on starting a blog for the class so that Mommies and Daddies can become more involved in their learning and their progress. Ms Izan is very smart, and has gone on to set up the blog and Mommy is really excited, as this means that she can look forward to some picture fun about Kieona from the blog. If anyone is interested to see what Kieona and her classmates do in class, do click on the link called <a href="http://kidsinspringcity.blogspot.com/">Kieona's Class Blog</a>, which is always available, on the top right hand panel of this page.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8117683788875127786?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-23806200589597261592008-06-23T00:38:00.003+08:002008-06-23T15:54:29.190+08:00It has been a disappointing way to end the weekend. Mommy is still troubled close to 1am on this day as she is really disturbed by what she dug out from Kieona's right nostril.<br /><br />Since yesterday evening I noticed that Kieona had the sniffles, apart from the slight cough she had since early week. She was coughing a little more since Saturday around evening time as well, so Mommy didn't think very much about it, except that the cough may have gotten worse and now she's having a runny nose as well. Since she was busy with some work around bedtime, Mommy just told Daddy to feed Kieona some medicine for the runny nose as well before he went to bed. With the slight mucous at times while watching the television programme, Mommy didn't suspect anything wrong with Kieona at all.<br /><br />Sunday night before bedtime, Mommy decided to ask if Kieona needed her mucous in her nose to be sucked out by Daddy with the help of the nasal aspirator with the sucking device. It didn't seem like that was much mucous, so Mommy asked if she could check Kieona's nose for dirt (which always happen to be blocking her nostrils so that she has bad sniffles). When I checked with a torchlight, I thought I saw something white in her right nostril. Mommy asked Daddy to take a look at it and Daddy said it's got to be "pee-sai". I thought it was wierd but since it was pretty deeply entrenched in the inner nostril, Mommy asked Kieona to try blowing it out. She tried but it didn't come out. Then, Mommy said she'll try to dig instead. And guess what when Mommy looked in? It was something white and while digging it out, there was blood spewing out of her nostril. Mommy thought a bone had come off and didn't know what to expect. Instinct told me to still get it out no matter.<br /><br />When it was finally out, we saw what was in the picture below. Kieona must have stuck it inside her nostril and Mommy seriously didn't know where it came from, except that it must have been from some plastic pouches with zippers. Since I couldn't trace where she could have gotten it from, I woke the maid up and after some pondering, the maid said it could have been from yesterday at Nanyang Primary School. We had been there in the afternoon for a registration for P1 talk and the kids were at a child-minding session with Maria, where they were given colour pencils and pictures for colouring. This only meant one thing - that the zipper had been in her nostril since Saturday afternoon! My goodness! It was already there for more than 24 hours and it was a lucky thing we did get it out and the bleeding was not too shocking. Mommy shuddered at the thought if I did not have this instinct asking me to check.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9WSJl09zI/AAAAAAAAAYc/50y9gYggMMA/s1600-h/%28resized%29DSC05922.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SF9WSJl09zI/AAAAAAAAAYc/50y9gYggMMA/s200/%28resized%29DSC05922.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214981763330537266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">This was the zipper which we found in Kieona's right nostril</span></span><br /></div>Obviously she got a good scolding as this is not the first time she stuck something up in her nostril. She has put papers, tissue papers and some other small objects in her nose before and each time I had explained to her the dangers. Mommy really cannot figure out where she learnt this from and why she keeps doing it even after all the explanations. I am really at my wits end. Will this be the last time?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2380620058959726159?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-29295193733594702582008-06-18T16:31:00.009+08:002008-06-18T18:07:19.076+08:00<div align="left">Our family hardly celebrate Fathers' Day alone, since we've got two grandfathers to celebrate Fathers' Day with on that weekend. However since there was a term break for Kieona in her Chinese Speech and Drama classes at Hokkien Huay Guan, we decided that it was a great day to visit Palawan Beach at Sentosa.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">The girls have been asking about Sentosa a lot and increasingly so, since it must have been a couple of months since we last went. The weather that Sunday was fantastic - the winds were gentle and the sun was not too glaring. Kieona and Kierra couldn't wait and once we set up the mat, were heading to play with the sand with their tools. Mommy had to remind them to apply their sunblock first and to take off their dresses before playing at the beach. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213139153116925170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjKcHo3DPI/AAAAAAAAAX8/IuHwZXQrnGs/s200/(resized)DSC05435.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Applying sunblock</span><br /></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213139159607525218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjKcf0Vv2I/AAAAAAAAAYE/s4VFZunUfl4/s200/(resized)DSC05448.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Sand Ice-creams, anyone?<br /></span></p><div align="left">At first, Daddy and Mommy just lazed around as we watched them digging away at the sand with Bibik. Mommy joined in after a while and when the girls had enough fun playing mermaid and building sandcastles with Daddy, we headed for the sea and sat at the edge of the seabed where the waves sometimes rolled in. Kieona, Kierra, Daddy and Mommy had so much fun riding the waves that when it was time to clean up and have lunch, we were all a little reluctant to go. The only downside of the waves catching and riding? The sand that stayed in our bikinis and swimming trunks.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjKitzYEuI/AAAAAAAAAYU/SNq4z8ybJlU/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05528.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213139266440794850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjKitzYEuI/AAAAAAAAAYU/SNq4z8ybJlU/s200/(resized)DSC05528.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;"> "Little Mermaid"<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjKcbLkNvI/AAAAAAAAAYM/mglSh2eMNp0/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05610.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213139158362765042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjKcbLkNvI/AAAAAAAAAYM/mglSh2eMNp0/s200/(resized)DSC05610.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">"I've got you!"</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#666666;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">More photos available at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=29182&amp;id=704853732&amp;l=8c4da&amp;ref=share">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=29182&amp;id=704853732&amp;l=8c4da&amp;ref=share</a></span></em></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2929519373359470258?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-71339205279864938832008-06-18T16:22:00.003+08:002008-06-18T16:28:17.888+08:00<div align="left">Kieona and Kierra do make wonderful gifts with help from their teachers in school, when it comes to Fathers' and Mothers' Days. This Fathers' Day, Daddy was surprised with a photo easel made by Kieona and a star card made by Kierra. Before Daddy got home, it was quite comical when Kierra insisted she had made Mommy a card for Fathers' Day. Mommy asked if it was for Daddy instead, as Mommy is not a Father but a Mother. Mommy further explained the Kierra has already given Mommy a very beautiful gift on Mothers Day. But she still insisted, until she woke up from her nap and saw Daddy. Once she saw Kieona's gift for Daddy on his table, she wasted no time to bring Daddy to her bag to get his goodie.... the star card.</div><div align="center"> </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjG0r8ceRI/AAAAAAAAAW4/RUcMP0X77B8/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05408.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213135177133095186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjG0r8ceRI/AAAAAAAAAW4/RUcMP0X77B8/s200/(resized)DSC05408.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Proud Daddy with his gifts<br /></p></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjG0qkN4CI/AAAAAAAAAXA/sQz5MJrgLjI/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05410.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213135176763039778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjG0qkN4CI/AAAAAAAAAXA/sQz5MJrgLjI/s200/(resized)DSC05410.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">The photo easel and the star card</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-7133920527986493883?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-25594608857543173332008-06-18T16:14:00.003+08:002008-06-18T16:21:32.390+08:00Mommy can't explain why the girls are so into having their faces made-up. Although Mommy is not big on putting stuff on her face for practicality reasons, the girls have always been fascinated whenever Mommy applies cosmetics and will insist to be done up as well. After having been forced to take a nap after Isaac's full moon celebration, the girls woke up feeling fresh and ready to slap colours on their faces. Mommy obliged since there was still time to dress up for Uncle Don and Auntie Zhen's wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel. Enjoy their make-up moments....<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjFGJpxT1I/AAAAAAAAAWo/Y2zxAoXzq08/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05378.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213133278142353234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjFGJpxT1I/AAAAAAAAAWo/Y2zxAoXzq08/s200/(resized)DSC05378.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;"> Kieona pursing her lips to even out the lip colour</span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjFGJmuB2I/AAAAAAAAAWw/pl06KCPt6Hg/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05389.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213133278129555298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjFGJmuB2I/AAAAAAAAAWw/pl06KCPt6Hg/s200/(resized)DSC05389.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Kierra's bedraggled look while having her eyes done</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-2559460885754317333?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31838374.post-80656819188499809742008-06-18T16:05:00.003+08:002008-06-18T16:14:29.398+08:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjDNVXxXLI/AAAAAAAAAWg/KC7tWz-yJxs/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05369.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213131202523913394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjDNVXxXLI/AAAAAAAAAWg/KC7tWz-yJxs/s200/(resized)DSC05369.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">View of pool at The Eden, Tampines</span></div><div>It was a pity there was a heavy rain in the morning of baby Isaac's full-moon celebration. The girls were so looking forward to having a swim at The Eden, Uncle Winson and Auntie Peihan's house. Little Isaac was very cute and Ivan (his elder brother) was just as busy playing in a very well-mannered way everytime we met them. Although it was a short visit, Kieona and Kierra certainly enjoyed themselves at the lunch buffet spread. Kierra even went so far as to grab a red egg for herself, claiming it's hers even as Mommy had pick one up for her on the plate.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjDM5ENhqI/AAAAAAAAAWI/DxL7i3okhgc/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05332.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213131194925680290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjDM5ENhqI/AAAAAAAAAWI/DxL7i3okhgc/s200/(resized)DSC05332.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Uncle Winson, Auntie Peihan, Isaac</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjDNIHXH7I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/rM4tZQ2L2-k/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05346.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213131198965424050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjDNIHXH7I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/rM4tZQ2L2-k/s200/(resized)DSC05346.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;">Kierra having a cold drink, brr<br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjDNfx2N7I/AAAAAAAAAWY/c_NYgSV4CB8/s1600-h/(resized)DSC05363.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213131205317638066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TPVllDv_eQ/SFjDNfx2N7I/AAAAAAAAAWY/c_NYgSV4CB8/s200/(resized)DSC05363.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;color:#666666;"> Kieona's satisfied look after filling her tummy</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31838374-8065681918849980974?l=kieonakierra.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pearlinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169604989612957119noreply@blogger.com0