Sunday, September 28, 2008

4+4 is 8

He must be enjoying the Addition Strip Board in school so much these days and learning from it. Throughout the day, he will recite sums like "4+4 is 8, 2+4 is 6, 8+2 is 10 etc" to himself as he goes about his playing and drawing. Monkey Maths must have helped too. 

Typical of Montessori pre-school education, the children do not bring back as many worksheets/written materials as those in other schools. It doesn't mean that they aren't learning, but just that (1) a lot of Montessori classroom learning is done with the special Montessori materials and may not be easily translated onto paper; and (2) their learning is not restricted to just paperwork and kids are learning through creative ways instead of just completing worksheets. 

According to the Montessori's curriculum, a typical child may only begin to learn to write at 4 as their motor skills as well as language and cognitive development may not be ready before that. Hence they don't get any worksheets till then. However, there are children on accelerated programme if the teachers deem them to be more advanced. This means their learning path is personalised and more advanced children will be exposed to materials/content that is planned for older kids. The pros of that are (1) they don't waste time waiting for others to catch up; (2) their interest is always piqued as they are constantly exposed to new materials/content; (3) they learn more in the same time. In a non-Montessori classroom, this simply isn't likely.

Many 4y.o. kids in his school still aren't bringing home any worksheets whereas M started writing in school when he was barely past 3. So every week we get a thin pile in his Friday folder. Of course this helps to assure us of his progress and gives us a glimpse of what he has learnt in school. And it is also at times when he surprises me by repeating what he has learnt in school in the comfort of home, that I get a positive assurance of our choice of his pre-school education. Especially now that I am selecting one for Chipsy. 

Bento #14 - Triple decker bus bento

Marcus asked for a triple decker bus bento this week, so that was what he got! 



Right: Triple decker bus carrot with nori as wheels and door on a bed of sushi rice, a prawn/chicken steamed siew mai, endamame and a cheese cube. 

Left: A large homemade sweet potato and tuna vegetable croquette (see here for recipe), cut into 2 halves and 2 organic cheese Mouse shaped biscuits. 

He told me later that he ate the carrot first and loved the sweet potato croquette. But why aren't the wheels of the bus round? Haha! I cut that by hand and just couldn't cut a good circle! It was a rather big and filling lunch as I used the 800ml Lock n Lock box, but he ate all up except for a bite of the siew mai. 

The bento is a bit too brown for my liking since the croquette took up so much space. But I am really pleased with the bus.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

First Art Class and the Octopus

I can't stop smiling today to see how much M enjoys his very first art class. 

Since my post about this topic few weeks ago, I have been scouting around for a while for an art school/class for him. He has never been to any art classes before, so there is really no comparison. I just spoke to some parents and also the co-ordinators of the various places I found and checked out their websites on the focus and approach before deciding on this one. 

What appeal to me are the small class size (only 5 kids to a teacher) which allows for very personalised attention, small age range of between 4 and 6, proximity from our residence and only an hour long. I am reluctant to send him to anything longer at least for now. 

I have always been hesitant to send him to classes unless I deem they are absolutely beneficial and unique. Like I mentioned in my previous posts before, the content, delivery and quality of most classes aren't great and there are times when I think that I am a much better teacher. But there are areas which I rather outsource, like art and music. Though E is a very competent guitar player and most likely able to teach the boys, he simply doesn't have the time. At least for now, we don't have to worry about that since M shows absolutely no interest in playing any instrument though he tells us he really loves listening to classical music. 

So today, I can't be more pleased when he happily sat down in class after the teacher made her introduction. I was initially prepared for some sort of coaxing, but none required! So I left for a coffee break and came back an hour later to find him smiling brightly. It is apparent that he had fun as he proudly showed me his masterpiece. 



He is keen to return to the class next week so I will be signing him up for the term. Already, I can't wait to add to the current growing art collection of my budding artist. 

Our 6th year

It is quite unbelievable that it has been 6 years since I wore my beautiful wedding dress. I couldn't post this on the day of our anniversary since we were away on holiday. The trip was planned as a celebration for our 6th wedding anniversary.



I am glad E made a website after our wedding to gather the memories for our big day. Now we can take a trip down memory lane so easily.

Daily routine with a 4y.o and 2y.o.

So many friends have asked me how I cope on a daily basis and what is our routine like, if we even have one. Well, here is the belated reply. :) 

7am - 8am : Hubby and I wake, usually by Chipsy. One starts getting ready, the other gets the kids ready. Hubby takes Marcus to school at 8am before he goes to office, unless he is away or has to leave early for work. 

8am - 11am: My time to hang out with Chipsy. We stay in to play, go playground, grocery shopping, run errands or just head out to wherever. Once a week, I also prepare a bento for Marcus by 11am. 

11am - 1pm: Fetch Marcus from school with Chipsy, head back to make lunch while kids play. We eat lunch together and some playing/bonding after. Then I get Chipsy (and sometimes Marcus too, depending how tired he feels) to nap. 

1pm - 3pm: I do bits of housework if both kids are napping. Or I play/chat/bond with Marcus if he is awake and get some light chores done concurrently. 

3pm - 5pm: Boys play together while I get some housework done. I usually do some chores and head back to play/interact with them for a while, before leaving them to play on their own again. Depending on the plan for our evening activities, I may bathe them or start preparing dinner at around 4-5pm.

5pm - 630pm: We head out to playground or stroll or just stay in for more play while I get dinner ready.

630pm - 830pm: Hubby returns. Family eats dinner and boys bond with daddy while I get bits and pieces done before boys' bedtime. If Marcus has no nap, he goes to bed at 7pm. 

830pm: Boys in bed. I get remaining work done and spend time with hubby or we get on with our own hobbies till our bedtime. 

This is a fairly typical weekday. Weekends are very different. 
  

Yet another busy week

Sometimes I can't believe how fast a week just fly by and it's weekend again. Right after we got back from the holiday on Monday afternoon, I have been just busy and super busy. 

The rest of Monday was spent tidying and unpacking, loads and more loads of laundry and getting the house ready for the next few days while hubby goes on business trip. 

Woke at 630am on Tuesday to get myself ready for the day and take Marcus to school with Chipsy in tow. E had to leave for early meeting that morning. It was non-stop for me till past 10pm when he got back from work dinner.

He left for KL on Wed 7am and only got back on Fri noon. So it was only me and my babies as we got on with our daily routine. The heavy rain on Wed and Fri kept us in for big part of the day, otherwise we would probably be out and about doing more stuff. In a way, it is easier for me, as the boys get to play at home while I catch up with household chores. Another busy, but fulfilling week. I never managed to complete all the items on my To Do list (but it is very typical for me as I am a Type A personality, which means I tend to include way too many items in my list in the first place). There just isn't enough time! 

Friday, September 26, 2008

His recent creations

Lots of drawings of triple decker buses. His invention and latest favourite like I mentioned in my earlier post.

If he isn't happy with parts of the drawings, he couldn't be bothered to add the wheels before moving on to draw another. So some of these vehicles have no wheels or are incomplete in some ways. But I still like them as they are unique in some ways upon closer examination.



I simply love the windows and doors of this triple decker bus above. It is supposed to be fairly long, hence also a bendy bus. So we've got a triple decker bendy bus! :)

More triple decker buses below. Each with unique features somewhere.





Above is a very funny drawing. A triple decker bus that can fly because it has wheels outside the top deck too. I can't understand how it works, but he is so convincing as he explains. I just didn't get it! Apparently, the wheels are magical and can prevent the bus from crashing.

A rather carefully drawn triple decker for me! I asked him to make it colourful so he added some blue but gave up shortly after. He definitely prefers drawing to colouring. 

Above is a triple decker taxi. 

Another triple decker bus that is not rectangular shape.

One for grandpa. Full of intricate details.

Another of those special crash-proof triple decker bus with wheels outside top deck. 

Cute sun shining brightly on the cute bus! 

For a week, he was crazy about endorsing all his trucks with Eddie Stobart. An author of one of the truck books he borrowed from the library apparently. 


He drew the next 2 in school. 


A special container truck that carries unusual containers. 


Above is a vehicle carrier. Look at the details of the smaller cars.

Some days, he can spent 3 to 4 hours just drawing all these vehicles. On a productive day, he hands over at least 12 drawings for our keepsake. 

See here for what he drew a year ago and how his drawings have evolved over the past 12 months. 

He says...

While I was drying him after his bath yesterday, M looked at me tenderly in the eyes and told me gently and quietly, "Mama, you are my favourite girl!". Awww.. I melted in that moment of sweetness and I could tell he really meant it. 

Like how he will want to hold my face and kiss me a lot on my cheeks and lips and then tell me "Mama, I want to kiss you everyday because I love you everyday." Yet another saccharin sweet line he says very often. 

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Surprise in the bath

Like usual, Chipsy played in the bathtub today after I gave him a wash while I read my stuff in front of him. He usually plays with the assortment of bath toys we have or just keep busy pouring bath water out of the tub. I was inches away from him, engrossed in my reading when he said "Mummy, look!" 

I looked up and it took a second to register what I saw. It made me scream in horror! 

In one of his hands was a brown, banana shaped substance. I couldn't make out what he was holding at first, then he said "Mama, giant poo!" 

Argghhhh!!!  GIANT POO!!  

My baby was holding a giant poo in his hand, with a glee on his face. After I screamed, he panicked and started to frown, not sure what he had done. 

That poor baby. It wasn't funny at all at that time, but now, on hindsight, it is hilarious.  

Pure vanity...

In one of my favourite tops.



As I was going through my wardrobe recently, I realised just how much clothes I have. 

I didn't even have to iron for 2 months after I sent my maid away and still have enough "going-out" clothes to wear. It is a fact that I am always aware of, but sometimes I get reminded by the sheer quantity when I spend some time to browse my collections. Ahem! 

I probably have enough to last another 20 years even if I don't buy any more, assuming I stay in the same shape of course. 

Well, I am a girl, so I will always be attracted to pretty clothes and can't resist good bargains. 

Luckily, my hubby merely smiles when he sees my extensive wardrobe. So another shipment of pretty stuff is coming! Yippee!! Haha! 

There will be more of such photos in future. I decide I need to take record of all the pretty apparel I own and appreciate how I look in them while I still can. 


Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Bintan holiday 2008

We just got back from our Bintan trip last evening. It was a rather good holiday, despite E and I "working" all the time to keep the kids entertained and happy. I am glad my mum went with us this time, so the kids got to spend time with her and we had an extra pair of hands and eyes which can be so useful at times. 

For a change, we stayed at the Banyu Biru Villa of the Nirwana Gardens for 3 nights. There is plenty of space in the villa for the kids to walk around without stomping over each other which is great compared to the usual tiny amount of space offered by a hotel suite. However, the spiral stairway posed different problems. Luckily we had good weather on most days so a big part of the days were spent outdoors by the beach and the pools. The kids had tons of fun playing with sand and dipping in the pool that they both look like little brownies now.

Overall, it was quite an experiential trip for the kids this time. There were the 45 min ferry rides, coach rides and several golf buggy rides around the resort; dinner at a kelong; witnessing the release of new born turtles into the sea and close encounters with several monitor lizards around the resort. Of course, not to mention their play by the beach and pool for hours at a stretch, which in itself, was satisfying enough for the boys.


The boys were so well-behaved on the ferry ride to Bintan. Excited by the experience, they were chirpy and curious about their surroundings. On the way home, it was a different story. One just woke from nap, so was grouchy and the other was grumpy because he was tired and sleepy.

Sand play while the sun was setting... 

Chipsy half-buried in the sand... 


Mum and I watched the kids play while enjoying the sunset.


The first time the boys witnessed the release of baby sea turtles back to the sea. They were so amused and watched intently as the babies made their way across the beach. 




We strolled along the beach everyday, looking for crabs and star fish. Sometimes barefoot, sometimes with their Crocs on. Sometimes they complained of sand between their toes, sometimes they tolerated the grains as they got mesmerized by their surroundings. 



Marcus ate so much during this trip. Here he was stuffing his face with some sausages. 


He asked for 2 digestive biscuits after a swim and bit into them at one go! 
Snacking on rice cakes before dinner... 

We tried to "shoot" daddy with jets of water. Look at the baby's expression!


Fooling around in the pool.



Chipsy flying with papa!


The boys relaxing after a swim.


Chipsy playing in the villa. 



Marcus couldn't leave home without his stationery to do his daily drawings. Here he was busy completing a triple decker bus but was upset later that he couldn't draw perfect circles for the wheels as he forgot to bring along the stencil. A coin solved the problem. 


The part I hated the most. We sighted quite a few monitor lizards around the pool and path to and fro our villa. The first one we saw literally jumped out of the rubbish bin as we walked past and scuttled real fast away. It sure looked like it was scared of us but it also that totally freaked me out. I probably jumped 3 feet which in turned startled my kids. They were more curious than scared but they didn't know what to fear. The worst was when one jumped into the pool when we were in the water and swam past Marcus. He was about 2 metres away from that reptile and again I jumped and got to him as fast as I could. He wasn't even scared until he saw my expression. The lizard just swam right across the pool towards the grass on the other side. There were more sightings after but I shan't go into details. Yikes!!



Without the lizards and dirty floors of the villa, this holiday would be pretty good. The food could be better though, as even a highly recommended high-end Japanese restaurant managed to disappoint. Oh well, we didn't go there for good food though it certainly would be a big bonus.

Mid Autumn Festival 2008

Ahem.. this is another belated post.



After missing the mid autumn festival celebration at the Chinese Garden for 2 years, we decided to take the boys this year for the experience. We didn't bother to get lanterns for the boys since from past years' experience, M wasn't that keen on holding one anyway. Besides, I only fancy the traditional ones that are made of paper and use candles instead of the "new generation" plastic and battery operated versions that play annoying music. Since the former is still a little too tricky for the boys to handle, I just didn't bother. They didn't care to have one anyway, despite seeing loads of children with brightly coloured lanterns. 

The exhibits didn't appeal to me at all, especially with the Hello Kitty theme. The kids aren't fans of Hello Kitty either so nothing at the festival captured their attention until we got to the fun fair section. 

Lucky M got to go on the bouncy castle and also tried on several rides and had so much fun. Unfortunately, poor Chipsy is too young to go on any of the car rides which he really wanted to. He just looked at his older brother enviously and cried his heart out for the whole hour. 




This is the first time M went on a ride all by himself. Here was the boy on the "balloon". 




I was a little worried and kept reminding him to sit down. There was no seat belt or any safety feature except for that little door. But he was so calm even when he was at the highest point. He just looked around and occasionally glanced at our direction. 

We didn't have any photos of M on the bumper car with papa, nor the roller coaster ride he went on his on, as I was busy holding on to Chipsy who was wailing non-stop. Must have been so awful for the baby since he couldn't understand that he is too young for any of those rides. 

Well, now that we know M is ready for Disneyland, we shall plan a trip to Tokyo Disneyland next year. There will be plenty of opportunities for the baby to ride to his heart's content then. It will be after all, a holiday that is mainly for the kids. I shall just enjoy making them happy and indulge in sashimi and bento gear shopping. Hah! 

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