William's love affair with Tonka cars

William and Victoria was introduced to Tonka cars last Christmas when they got these as presents from Ma Ma Yeh Yeh, Yee Sok & Yee Sam and Daddy Mummy. Between the two of them, they have a fire station and a fleet of 16 cars!

William has been playing with them every morning, every afternoon, and every night. Lately he's got so obsessed with them that he holds two cars, one on each hand, almost whereever he goes - whether to the car or to the dining table or up to bed or when changing diaper. I put these cars inside a clothe bag that has a string around it, and this boy can actually carry this bag over his arm when he wants to bring the whole fleet along!

Last night he slept with two of his cars. I tried to sneak them away in the dark but he protested... oops, looks like he's not deep in sleep yet!

Just this afternoon, he insisted on bringing the whole set of cars and the fire station to the car when we went out to pick Victoria from school.

Even if his beloved sister takes one or two of his cars, he can get very possessive! And that means, the two kids can end up fighting over the same thing. Even when there are 16 cars, they have to pick the same one!

Part of the fleet of cars and the fire station

William can be all absorbed with his Tonka toys

He lined up all his cars above our bed headboard

Last night he slept with each hand holding a car.

Christmas Dinner 2009

This is of course a belated post. I've been too caught up with the year end, new year and first day of school.

I wrote only about Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day lunch and now for the final part, Christmas Day dinner.

Many years ago, my side of the family used to celebrate our christmases separately and for whatever reasons, we've been gathering quite a fair bit during the past Christmases I think. This is especially so if and when my grandfather, (Vic and Will's tai gong) comes down from Ipoh.

So last Christmas, there were close to two dozen of us, cousins, uncles, aunts, maids, greatgrands and tai gong. We took two tables in Pantai Seafood, and the kids had a fun time looking at all the fishes and sea animal still alive in the aquariums, waiting to be the chosen one and end up on the lucky diners' table. William was so engrossed and so excited over this that he hardly sat still, and spent most of his time, with Grace and Victoria near the aquariums. No pictures of the food becoz I was such a glutton I dug right in... lol, kidding! We had a handful keeping William down on his seat, feeding him and since my dad was snapping pictures, I decided to forego the food pictures.

Swinngggggg

William and cousin Grace - they look like little couples... so sweeettt!!

Victoria says...

Dancing Eyes

When I told her to go to sleep in the afternoon, she assures me that she's not tired. As usual, she will come up with all sorts of excuses and negotiates her way out. That afternoon, she told me, "Look, mummy. I'm not tired. My mouth is still smiling and my eyes are dancing. You see? (Pulling the sides of her eyes upwards) Even when I close my eyes, they are dancing!"

Beat The Ball Out

William dropped some balls under the sofa and I suggested to Vic that she could try to them out herself by using a long stick... like the rotan. Happily she went to take the rotan and when holding the rotan, she said, "Come out ball! I'm gonna beat the ball out!"

Flash cards

Yesterday I played this game (which I sometimes do) with William. It's about placing 5-6 flashcards in front of him, naming them as I do, and when I'm done with all the six, I ask him randomly to point out the cards as I call them.

Normally he doesn't last throughout the whole set of flashcards (I think there are close to 30 cards) but he was great yesterday.

William successfully pointed out all the cards, knowing the names to the animals with total ease. I'm so proud of you, boy boy!

These are some of the animal cards that he pointed out:

Tiger, lion, otter, ladybug, spider, cat, dog, caterpillar, frog, parrot, bird, giraffe, elephant, bee, turtle, rabbit, dolphin, bear, squirrel, cow, mouse, horse, dragonfly, butterfly, duck, monkey, fox.

First day back in school Jan 2010

Today is very much anticipated. I have been rather anxious since a week ago, wondering if Vic can wake up early and arrive school in time (they are strict, I tell ya) and if Vic will be emotional on her first day/week.

So last week we started training her to sleep early. Skip her afternoon nap, but take early dinner then clean up by 830pm and sleep by 9pm. The latest she slept was 10pm which I think is a great improvement from her old 1130pm knock off time. I think she's pretty matured now, understanding the importance to sleep early and requirements of her new school.

Today she woke with no problems at 730am. It's great that the first two weeks of her school she can wear her own "kai kai" clothes, so naturally she chose her favourite pair of jeans and a blue blouse. Daddy and her left the house at the targeted time, 815am.

828am I received an sms from hubby that they've arrived school.

I arrived her kindy with the maid and William slightly later and we stayed until her class finished at 1030am. Throughout this time, Vic was on her own in her class, never cried, never called for me, and I proudly say she looked so calm and at peace with her new environment. I briefly went over to her to show her who her new teacher is and a little reminder that if she needs to go to the little girls, then better tell teacher quick.

Play time

Using the Fungate syllabus, the classrooms are open concept

Little train going to the toilet

This week the school have only the new students in, and for the first three days, we parents are allowed to stay with our kids. The kids play together, sing some songs and do some actions with the teachers, line up like a train to go to the toilets, snack together and finally group together with all the other classes (like an assembly) for group songs.

William has his apple snack

Children's art work displayed on the walls

School library

Art & Craft room

Computer room

I asked Vic what she thinks of her new school on the way home. This cool girl only said, it's OK. When daddy asked, she said, "Yea it's good." No amount of probing can get her to comment more, but well it's just the first day.

I hope she make new friends she can be close with, enjoy her lessons and grow in this new environment.

Walking to the car after school

Bra!!!

My William doesn't say much. He doesn't talk a lot of English... YET and he prefers to babble babble. But he sure as heaven can understand us, even if you think he doesn't.

This boy is so close to me. My little darling. Sometimes he sees me change and I thought no harm teaching him the word B.R.A when I get in or out of one. Today he saw me change and gave me an odd stare.

Then he does but he does best - serious look, then loud yell.

"BBBRRAAAAA!!"

Ok Ok. Call Mummy dun wan, but say bra... hhmm...

Orientation at Victoria's new kindy

Next year... oppss, I mean this year, like in a couple of days' time Victoria will be attending her new kindy. We enrolled her here hoping that this will adjust her to the bigger group, and more homework and orderliness in preparation for her Primary One (very likely a nearby chinese school).

Today's orientation was only for the parents, I was told, and so Vic stayed home with Daddy and William. We started at 915am with a group of 100 parents and teachers, I think. The first hour or so, we were informed of the goverment's mandatory 4 hour class and we were given the opportunity to voice our thoughts, and pen down feedbacks on what we feel should be the new (or maintain) school starting time. Currently it was 830am-1145am, but the principal later told us that the school would like to propose 8am-12pm. Oh dear, that I strongly feel is waaaay too early for the poor little pre-school kids. Imagine they have to wake at 7am, and for those who follow private cars or stay further away, they may have to wake at 630am, beat through the traffic jam just to arrive school in time, otherwise they school will lock the gates and not let the child in.

In the second hour, the new principal briefed us through all their rules and regulations, consequences and examples. To be honest, I rather read them than sit through all these, as the air conditioning was at full blast and I felt a little like being in a detention or military camp! What upset me also was their charging of every little thing although they claimed not to be profit making. For example, we are already paying a higher-than-normal school fee for Victoria, additional fees for art & craft, computer and something else. Then we are told that if the child loses a book, he/she will have to pay for the replacement... well, yea, that's pretty expected, but at DOUBLE the price, as a punishment! Wooo, wow! And besides that, they also charge us for extra security card for the car, and if we lose the fee envelope, we get charged too. As I sit there, I am quite numb from the coldness and from hearing all the fees and rules on top of the fact we have to quickly train Victoria to wake at 7am.

The school have a great after-school enrichment programme, which comprise of electives such as mandarin, computer, gardening, music, art & craft, domestic science and stuff. Though I am impressed from the video that I saw and think Vic will definitely benefit and enjoy this enrichment programme, I shudder to think of the fatigue the poor child may feel (and how I will miss her the whole day). I asked for flexibility on a few days instead of the full 5-days programme. The answer was negative. Sigh.

So after the 2 hour grilling in the cold room, we proceeded like zombies to the kindy block where we pick up the 11 books, 1 CD and 1 handbook on rules (we were told to count them to make sure we have the complete set) and then met with her new teacher albeit only for a while. I informed her that Vic normally gets runny nose like morning sinus and appealed that they don't send her home thinking she has the flu. Oh yea, one thing the school is very strict is that any sick child will be sent home, and any child with serious illness like chicken pox, HFMD, will need to get a clearance letter from the doctor before rejoining the school, and all kids will need to bring their own bottle of sanitizer which will they will enforce the kids to use before mealtime.

All in all, I think Vic will be in good hands. But me being me, I am a sentimental person and I do miss her old teachers (who are now like friends), their more relaxed environment and everything else. In her new school, parents are discouraged to park to ensure smooth traffic, so I won't get to see her teachers or classmates like how I used to the past 2 years.

Year 2010... moving on... adapting...