Saturday, December 29, 2007

Boxing Day 2007 BBQ

On Boxing day, we had a wonderful BBQ at the condo with over 20 friends and had lots of fun.

The kids played chase and the adults indulged in burnt meat and chicken and way too much alcohol. Can't get any better! 

After the BBQ, we left our boys home with maid and joined a table full of friends by the pool at 930pm as we partook in more wine and merry making. It was indeed a memorable night and we should organise this more often in 2008.


Kyoko did a sexy pout!


Eva with her ever charming smile! 



Helper with N, Kana, M and Nelson. 


There were a lot more people but this pic was taken when the first group arrived and soon when the crowd showed up, I got too busy with them that I forgot about the camera! 

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Christmas 2007





It was only upon uploading these photos that I realised Nicholas and I wore the same colours on Xmas. Pure coincidence! Our Xmas tree lacked something and in the years to come, we will look back at these photos and tease E for making the same mistake (or out of sheer laziness) for 4 consecutive years! And there were no photos of Marcus, no family pics either! Tsk, tsk tsk..

Now on to the more exciting bit about presents.. 

As usual, I did my Christmas shopping too late. Considering how much stuff the kids have already, I decided to be even more thrifty and got only a Lego fire engine set and a school bus lunch bag for Marcus, 3 presents for E and despite my best efforts to look around for something suitable for Nicholas, I still couldn't find anything great. So I still owed my baby his Christmas pressie! Well, he has plenty of toys and books to share with Marcus anyway and too much clothes, so I want to spend that money on some superb experience!

And as usual again, E is very generous and I always get the best presents. This year, it is a Macbook (so sleek and sexy that I want to carry it around town like my new purse), a pink TOD's full leather bag (again so beautiful and sexy I want to carry it around town all the time), Heros DVDs and SK II products! Hmm... I know I have to live up to similar standards of gift giving this year once I start getting a fat pay check... for now, I like to believe that he gets so much joy simply in giving..

Christmas was rather quiet. We opened all the presents and went to relative's house for a gathering and that was that. Not that I want a busy, noisy holiday anyway. Overall, it was a pleasant family-only Christmas which went by peacefully. 

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Bali (Dec 07) pics



The kids had fun with Uncle Roberto.



Nicholas posing in his pram during one of our walks around the hotel. 


Marcus in one of his cheeky moods.


Nelson was entertaining little chipsy with all his antics which often had the baby giggling away in response. 


The older bro' performed his version of salsa and tap dancing in front of his attentive young audience. Give Marcus a stage and it doesn't take him long to wanna jump up and shake his bod away. 


Last evening walk around the scenic resort. 

Friday, December 14, 2007

When I grow up...

Something that Marcus says frequently these days is what he wants to/can do when he grows up. He likes to tell me that when he grows up, he can drive a garbage truck, police car, fire engine etc... whatever fancy vehicle he sees at that time. And sometimes when he wants to do something which I forbid, he will rationalise (perhaps an attempt to comfort himself?) that when he grows up, he can do it. He tells Nicholas the same too - that he is still small and when he grows up, he can play with Marcus' toys. 

Just looking through the photos of baby and toddler Marcus today makes me realise how much he has grown in the last few months. He is officially a small boy now and really behaves like one in every sense. 

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Santa Claus

E used to write to Father Christmas when he was little, giving details of the presents he wished Santa will bring him. So we find it an endearing tradition to follow for our boys. This being the first year that Marcus can really appreciate Christmas, E got him started writing to Father Xmas a few weeks ago. He wrote a beautiful letter which E pretty much dictated and helped with spelling, but the little boy did the writing. Pity he tore it all up into little bits and we lost it somehow before we could take a picture for remembrance.

Still, Marcus didn't let us or Father Xmas forget what he wishes for. He tells us everyday.

"Mama, Santa Claus will bring me (patting his own chest) a Lego garbage truck because I am a good boy" (nodding vigorously to make his point).

"Mama, can you tell Santa Claus I am a good boy, so he will bring me a Lego garbage truck for Christmas?"

"Mama, only good boys get presents for Christmas right? I want something from Toys R Us... um.. I want the Lego garbage truck. Oh! Oh! I also want Harvey (from Thomas & Friends)."

His list just gets longer and longer each day but he pretty much gets the idea that he has to be a good boy for Santa to bring him presents on Christmas and he knows that he needs to communicate to Santa by writing to him. Recently he started writing again to Santa "Dear Father Christmas....."

He really wants the Lego garbage truck, amongst other things.. Ever since he received his first set of Mega Bloks construction vehicle for age 3+ which he adored, E has bought him the Lego cement mixer and later the Lego Police car which we brought to Bali. Both for age 5 to 12. He was looking at the Lego brochure one day and told papa he wanted the cement mixer set. Later at Toys R Us, he insisted singlemindedly that was what he wanted, so how could papa resist! He really did well with the 2 sets. Plays with them everyday and now he can construct the police car from memory. Still needs some help with the cement mixer but he knows where all the parts belong.

I can't help but beam with pride when I see him fix up the parts and run to me proudly with the finished product.

Bali

First trip for Nicholas and sixth for Marcus who had also been to Bali once before. We stayed at the really gorgeous Le Meridien which simply took my breath away.

Overall, I must say the vacation could have been better if the kids, especially Marcus was more agreeable. He was nursing his cold and very homesick, so he wasn't his best self for part of the vacation. It would be an understatement to say that it was hard for us as parents since it was supposed to be a vacation, but really, we hardly relaxed. However, it should be expected too since we went with the kids without help. Perhaps we underestimated the amount of "work" there would be. Nicholas had lots of fun though, so that was nice.

It was also really nice that we travelled with two of Ed's colleagues, Leon and Roberto and their families, so the kids could play together and the adults had company.

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