Tua Gu Gong's Birthday (29 March)

Daddy's relatives on the maternal side usually have gatherings that are related to Tua Gu Gong. Almost every year, our family will try to make ourselves available on three dates - CNY Day 1, 7th Day of CNY (Ren Ri), Tua Gu Gong's birthday (in March) .

Kieona and Mommy - aren't we fabulous?

The usual venue for Tua Gu Gong's birthday is at Asia Grand Restaurant. Food is authentic Chinese, simple but really delicious and exquisite. The usually fussy Mommy and Kieona when it comes to gastronomic tastes are always pleased with every dish they serve there. They used to be housed at Asia Hotel (which we are not fans of because of the parking space) but this year, it has moved to Odean Towers and has a larger compound. The area is more spacious and comfortable. The food, just as great.

Look at the big "Shou Tao"

Since both Kieona and Kierra are at the age where they are more independent and do not need Mommy around all the time, our family had a great time polishing up the dishes and enjoying the company of the relatives whom we may have missed over Chinese New Year. Needless to say, the girls had so much fun that we ended up being the last to leave the restaurant that night.

Tua Gu Gong and Tua Kim Po looking at the birthday cake

Kierra, posing with the lobsters...

Erm Kieona, are you dancing?

Kierra saying cheese with Dee Kim Po

Visiting at Ruth and Eunice House (20 March)

It's a wonder how some kids get along right away or don't. With young kids like Kieona and Kierra, it does seem that they do not always remember the names of the friends whom they have visited or for that matter, played with. It is therefore rather cute when Mommy notices her two darlings using Ruth's and Eunice's names every once in a while and saying that they haven't met them for a while. For the record, Ruth and Eunice are the daughters of Uncle Eddy and Auntie Woan Jen. They stay in a little town called Ang Mo Kio, just like us. They happen to be Daddy's Uni schoolmates, but now they are our family friends.

We go by to visit every once in a while and it is really nice that Kieona and Kierra enjoy Ruth and Eunice company and vice versa. Afterall, Kieona is a year younger than Ruth and the same age as Eunice. Auntie Woan Jen and Mommy just find it rather interesting that Ruth will always play with Kieona and Eunice always plays with Kierra. Perhaps it's the birth order....

The girls (ahem, and mommies) chatting and drawing

Horse or Donkey? (8 March)

After the morning spent painting, the girls still felt very upbeat. Mommy was wondering how to keep the girls occupied when Daddy came back in the early afternoon. He had left early from his seminar as the guests had last minute change of plans. There, there.... we can visit the zoo and at the same time renew our membership! How glad Mommy was, since she didn't have to figure out what to do with the girls.

Although we've been to the Singapore Zoo a couple of times already (in fact pretty often last year), we were still rather amazed to spot some animals which we have failed to take notice of previously. This time round, we were a little confused over whether the photo below is that of a horse or a donkey. How do we tell?

What is that? Mommy, Kieona & Kierra wondered

Is it a horse?

Or a Donkey?

Well, can you tell the difference? We were stumped. But what are the keepers for right? We had to ask the question. Ahh, the difference is in its tail. This is actually a mini-horse!

Kieona, amused with the elephants' performance

Kierra, in a daze....

Drawing Fun! 8 March 2008

Mommy's got to admit it. With our very hectic lifestyle, we find it difficult to squeeze in time for Kieona and Kierra to just do their painting (which they really love). Well, we bought some new paint aprons (is that what you call them?) some time back and Mommy just had to use them. Since it happened that we didn't have many programs that Saturday when Daddy was out for his company's seminar, Mommy whipped out those paints and paper. Kieona and Kierra was off for some fun, and some destruction around the living room area!

Little artists hard at work

Kieona swam on her own 7th March 2008

Daddy was able to take some time out of work and attend Kieona and Kierra's swimming lessons on a Friday. Daddy and Mommy secretly took these photographs of the girls at their swimming lesson with Unce Saw as we were advised not to be present since the girls tend to learn better without us around. We were so pleased when we saw Kieona's progress.

Kieona paddling with the help of a board
Kieona - the sexy darling
Grumpy Kierra wanted to finish up as soon as she spotted Mommy

Kieona's 4th Birthday

Kieona's birthday cake at Wai Gong's house
Kieona and Ah Gong's birthday cake

Kieona sure is one lucky girl. Apart from the mega-huge birthday cake she had in school (a whopping 3kg chocolate cake with triple chocolate), she had two other birthday cakes - one which she said was a must at Wai Gong's house and another at Ah Gong's house as Ah Gong and Kieona share the same birthday. We've got pictures of the two smaller cakes and it's unfortunate we didn't manage to get any on the cake Kieona chose for her own celebration in school.

Dinner at Imperial Herbal, Vivocity! (16 Feb)

Us, refusing to go home...

It's a shame Eugene and family couldn't join us. Although we missed out on Ian's full birthday celebration, we were glad we get to eat at the famous Imperial Herbal Restaurant. Although Mommy mentioned that the food there is pricey, we all thought it was good value for money. The portions were big and the ingredients were fresh. Mommy is seldom impressed, but this was one place she likes. Although it had been a long day, Kieona and Kierra just refused to go home. Look at their cheeky faces!

Ian's 2nd Birthday (16 Feb)

Guess who's that? It's got to be Ian.

Proud mommies with their kiddos...

These stairs are such fun!

Little Ian, Auntie Elsie's son is two. We were all invited for the birthday party. We went early as there was to be Wai Gong's birthday celebration over dinner that night. Thanks to dear Mommy who forgot that it was supposed to be a birthday celebration cum dinner at Ian's grandparents house, so went ahead to book Wai Gong and Wai Po for dinner. Such a pity. Kieona and Kierra really had the most fun in the large area.

Dad Dad and us - lovely picture!

All we want for Valentine's....

Lovely bouquet of wildflowers....

Isn't this bouquet sweet? We were heading home after Kieona's gymnastic class and Auntie Joanna popped out to present Mommy this bouquet. It's Valentine's Day - and Daddy had surprised Mommy with the beautiful bouquet. Kieona and Kierra couldn't help smelling and touching the flowers. Kieona says Daddy will buy for her, next time. Mommy said her darling will, in time to come.

Happy Birthday 57th Wai Gong! (11 Feb)

Wai Gong was one happy birthday boy. Yee Yee was tasked to buy a birthday cake for Wai Gong and it was meant to be a surprise when he comes to our house to pick up Yee Yee and Eugene. Happy 57th Birthday, Wai Gong!

Wai Gong's birthday cake in our favourite chocolate flavour!Grandparents & grandchildren...

Chinese New Year 2008

Wow, wow, time has passed so fast again. Mommy overlooked posting Kieona's and Kierra's blog entries for over 5 months already! Time to do some work, Mommy!

Pre-CNY Reunion Dinner at home
Prepping up for CNY
Kieona Tikus from Skool House...
CNY 1st visit
Kieona & Kierra with Xiao Yee Poh
San Yee Poh, San Yee Zang Gong reliving memories
Dee Gu Kong with us
Wai Poh giving out angpow

Chinese New Year this year had been very, very exciting for the girls. This is the first year we changed our visiting plans, as some of Mommy's cousins on the paternal side requested we go later so they get to see us. As such, we went to Tua Gu Gong's (Daddy's uncle) house before noon and were able to catch the annual Lion and Dragon Dances. Both Kieona and Kierra were so absorbed and totally enjoyed the shows. Other places we visited included Gu Kong's (Mommy's uncles) house in the late morning and Zhor Mah Mah's house (our third stop and last stop where we also see cousin Rae-Ann/ Uncle Alvin and Auntie Gyn's daughter celebrate her first CNY).

Kierra the little imp before the lion dance

The Lion Dance....
Is that how dragons look?
Everyone, look at the camera!
We are hip!

Day 2, we again went visiting. This time was to Wai Gong and Wai Po's house in Ang Mo Kio, then Tua Yee Poh's house in Bukit Batok (where Ryan Di Di is still so nimble) and San Yee Poh's house (last stop). It was yet another day of catching up with the relatives, whom we saw so little of otherwise.

Day 3 was a Saturday, so all the merry-making went on. This time round we went to Auntie Zhen Zhen and Uncle Don's house at Nuovo for Daddy and Mommy's Archery gang gathering. It was fun as Kieona and Kierra had lots of friends around their ages. After that we went to Uncle Eugene's (Daddy's friend) house, where we met his brother, the famous singer JJ Lin, whom Kieona and Kierra took a photograph with. There, it was eat, eat and eat - like all the other venues we went.

Little child models, anyone?

Kieona, Kierra, Mommy and JJ?

Day 4 was Mommy's JC friends and teacher who came to our house. Pity though, as both Kieona and Kierra had been so tired out from the past three days of feasting, playing and visiting that they slept through the "party" at our own house.

Mommy and her friends. Where's Kierra?

All in, it had really been a pleasant Chinese New Year where everyone was pretty happy. Kieona and Kierra are also at the age where they have started to appreciate it and sure had a lot of fun collecting angpows as well.

Sabah Trip Jan 2008

Kierra on her first flight
Kieona looking pretty....
Kieona and Kierra at the "big house"
Little Ian
Mommy, Kierra and Auntie Elsie

After the flurry of activities around Christmas, we welcomed 2008 in a quiet way. Countdowns are out for our family at the moment as Daddy and Mommy are not very keen to bring Kieona and Kierra out so late as they are still too young to appreciate it. Truth be told, Daddy and Mommy are just plain lazy to squeeze with the crowd and get all sticky. Well, Mommy had a better excuse - we were leaving Singapore for a 6-day trip to Sabah, East Malaysia.

As this was the first trip (other than the cruise we took in 2006) together as a family by air, Mommy was in a flurry packing for the girls. Thank goodness Sabah's weather is the same as in Singapore only slightly less humid, which was good. The flight was rather easy, as Kierra slept most of the way. Kieona was easy to manage, as she was enjoying the food and just reading the magazine on board the plane. The plane was rather small, and the trip to Sabah was tougher as there wasn't a direct flight on the day we flew, and we had to stop over at Kuching and disembark before continuing the rest of the flight journey to Sabah. That took more than four hours.

The objective of the trip was to attend Auntie Gloria's wedding and visit Auntie Elsie. Auntie Gloria was Daddy's ex-colleague at Accenture and my, was their wedding elaborate. We all went to the church wedding as well in the morning, and both Kieona and Kierra fell asleep during the two hour ceremony. The wedding dinner was held at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru. We were told it was a nice place, but we opted to stay at Promenade Hotel as Shangri-La Tanjung Aru was not within walking distance from Kota Kinabalu town where all the shopping is. It was rather pretty when we went to the hotel for the dinner, but Daddy and Mommy said to leave early as Kierra was having her usual "poo-poo" problem so we didn't quite get to explore or enjoy the meal. You see, Kierra asks to go to the toilet every 5-10mins throughout our stay at KK, during almost every meal when she feels like passing motion. Kierra has not successfully managed the potty training part for passing motion yet when we left for KK.

Auntie Elsie, Uncle Nash and Ian have been very hospitable. They had just came back from their holiday in Hong Kong and Auntie Elsie was still nursing a cold when we met them for seafood dinner the night we arrived. The seafood where they brought us was very good, and there was also the Kadazan dance performance for the dinner crowd which wowed all the kids that they forgot about dinner. The second day we were there, Auntie Elsie took time out to show us around town, including one of their showrooms. It was interesting knowing how they live and work. It was pretty much like Singapore, except that the pace was much slower. We had the black colour pork noodle which was supposedly a local food. Boy, the portion was huge. We were told that Sabahans like their food black, and anything that is not black is tasteless to them. How strange!

Dinner that night was at a place called Little Italy. The pasta there was fantastic. We all loved it so much that Daddy said we'll be back for pasta if we go to KK again. Kieona polished off her portion of pasta and loved the freshly baked bread they served. and she ate them all by herself whereas she had to be fed for most meals while at KK. It was that good that even Kierra insisted on feeding herself part of the meal.

Apart from getting together with Auntie Elsie's family and attending Auntie Gloria's wedding, we also went up to Mount Kinabalu (which was included in the tour package we booked). Wrong move. Well, we weren't really adventure people and the climb up to the hanging bridge was the worst as Daddy and Mommy climbed up steep slopes while carrying Kieona and Kierra in our reliable baby carriers. The climb was about 1 km up and down, and the slopes were slippery as it was wet, and we were wearing slippers! Argh... and Daddy sprained his ankle while coming down in his last step. Mommy really wondered how it would have been if she did not have her Patapum carrier when carrying the 15kg Kieona over 1km climbing the mountain and walking along the narrow hanging bridge.

The poring hot springs was alright and Daddy had to soak his feet a little longer as the minor sprain was hurting him already. Kieona and Kierra also soaked their tiny feet in the sulphuric water, and Kierra actually jumped into the pool thinking it was a swimming pool. My, of course she got very wet. Thank goodness Mommy had a pair of panties and pants for her so that she could get changed. We proceeded to the Kinabalu Pine Resorts which Auntie Elsie said was the best at Mt Kinabalu. Well, it wasn't fantastic as the food was so-so, the television had no programs and there wasn't a pool or anything. Worse still, the hot water wasn't on demand and there was no air-con. In the middle of the night, we heard some loud hissing noises and we thought something was about to explode. Daddy turned off the heater before the sound went off. It is like Auntie Elsie said, the resorts are like chalets. Although we were only supposed to leave the resort after lunch the next day, Daddy and Mommy requested to head back to Promenade Hotel early after breakfast. The only thing we enjoyed up to Mt Kinabalu was the small scale shopping we did where we got some bags, batik cloths and T-shirts, and Mommy got a good price for them.

Back at Promenade Hotel, we felt so lazy that we called room-service for dinner. The food wasn't great but it was the first time we had room service for dinner. Wow, refreshing idea from Daddy.

All in, the Sabah trip was just a small get-away for us and we did have a little fun along the way although it would have been better if Kierra didn't have her "poo-poo" problem. The direct flight back was easy as it was only 2 hours. Kierra slept throughout and missed her lunch again, but we were soon greeted by Grandpa, Eugene at Yee Yee at Singapore Changi Airport. Home sweet home....

Christmas 2007

Three beauties in the house playing Santa-Rina

This post has been rather late as our family had been very busy - Daddy & Mommy with work, the whole family with preparations for Christmas, the Sabah trip in January 2008 and attending the different parties.

2007 had been special, as we had the chance to attend a kids' party which was organized by Chloe and Cayden's mommy (http://www.chloeandcayden.blogspot.com/) at Nuono, apart from the annual family one at Grand-Uncle Steve and Grand-Aunt Stella at Thomson 800.

The kids' party was sort of a potluck event, and Mommy baked muffins for the party. There was beehoon, spaghetti, Christmas logcakes, sausages and the very cute mini gingerbread mans brought by the different families. We had the party at the poolside and the sun was very, very strong. Kieona and Kierra had a lot of fun playing with their friends, although they didn't eat a lot at the lunch as it was too warm in the outdoors. Then came Santa Claus - played by Chloe's Daddy, Uncle Ten and the kids all enjoyed receiving presents from the gifts exchange, as well as the candies and party favours prepared by Chloe's Mommy. Although the weather was so hot, we all had fun that afternoon.

Girls posing pretty at Grand-Aunt's house
Great-grandma looks on as Kieona, Kierra and Mikayla plays masak-masak
Mommy with little meatpie Eugene

On Christmas Day, Kieona woke up early and asked if she could open the Christmas presents. We did after washing up, and spent the next hour opening all the presents under the Christmas tree. There was pink boots, doctor's playset and Playdoh from Daddy and Mommy, pink princess schoolbags from Eugene's parents, Dominos from Grandpa and Grandma, pony dollhouse with lights from Gu Gu.

We all headed to Grand-Uncle Steve and Grand-Aunt Stella's house for the annual Christmas get-together close to noon, and were the first ones to reach there. We brought gifts for all the children and Kieona and Kierra got many presents as well there. Needless to say, they were both over-the-top and Mommy was surprised that Kieona remembers which package is for her and which belongs to Kierra. We all were famished by the time we started lunch and Kieona actually nearly fell asleep and off the chair during lunch! Amazing!

Christmas has been a time for receiving for the girls, and we could see the smiles on their faces as they went to bed that night.