MY TWO PRECIOUS BOYS !

The title says it all, ya!

They are both oh so precious to me ... but I'm sometimes ... their harshest critic, & at times ... push them the hardest.

Why do we do that?

Why are we the worst critics, of the ones we love most?

I guess its because we want only the best for them, nothing less! I am far more guilty of that, than most people would like to admit. I know I have to be strong ... & let them make their own mistakes, some-times. I know that its better to be loving & supportive than be destructive verbally but most times, its hard for me.

"Hold thy tongue ... & let love show you the way."

SHORT UPDATE

I know, I know .... I haven't been updating here for sooooo long that I wasn't even sure of my own password & stuff ... Duh! Ok, ok ... since I AM blogging now, (guess) I kinda figured it out somehow ... haha! The mind's getting ol-der & it doesn't (seem) to get younger!

We've been S-I-C-K!!! Yep, not sick of life (oh yes! that does happens some times) but very very sick, medically. The whole family has taken turns falling sick ... especially my poor baby, Ryan (he was hospitalised!). We are almost over the bend & it looks like life is slowly picking up! I really hope we can stay healthy .... at least for a long long while. Its been DAMN exhausting, tiring & most of all draining! I can't tell you what day it was ... coz everyday, its all a blur. Days come & go ... & truth be told, I don't really remember April whizzing by ... but I guess it did huh ... coz its now the merry month of May ... double haha!

I will try to get into the groove of things very soon, people. Give me time huh? Meanwhile, stay cool (in this bl**dy hot weather) & stay sane ya!!!

A MOVIE PASS GIFT

My lovable niece, Ayra had her birthday earlier in the month (have lots of pics from the birthday party but will post later). Yep, she turned a grand old age of seven ... hehe! As per our usual family tradition, we let the kids give gifts for whoever's birthday it is, in our big family & its no different this time. Instead of buying another "oh-so-lame" gift for Miss Ayra, I thought it would be a swell idea to give her a movie pass instead, as a gift from her cousin, Ryan (besides what do you buy a girl, who has everything? Oh BTW, we also gave her 2 pink OP T-shirts). We offered to bring her to a movie of her choice & of course we will join her during the show. My dad decided to join us too. So the five of us had a movie date on Thursday.

Luckily, Hubby had the idea of buying the movie tickets the night before coz when we arrived on Thursday, an hour or so before the movie ... it was jammed packed! I guess since we don't really go to the movies these days, I was slightly overwhelmed by the school-holidays crowd. I guess as my kid is pretty young, I wasn't used to the idea of bringing my kid out during the school holidays. With Ryan, we have the luxury to bring him out almost anytime & because playgroup is just two hours a day, we still had plenty of room to maneuver our routine.

What did we end up watching? Errm .... "Alice in Wonderland". Well, I can tell you that ... it wouldn't have been my 1st choice ... Hubby tried to recommend (rather unsuccessfully) "The Green Zone" (which my Dad supported too) but I was thinking of "How To Train Your Dragon" ... but we had to respect the birthday girl's choice - Wonderland, it is! We chose the two adjoined couple (or lover's) seats in the back row, as I presume that the kids would want to huddle together. Errm ... they did, only for the first ten minutes of the show. By then my kid, wanted to squeeze with us ... oh well, more room for my niece & my dad, I guess.

Ryan did surprisingly well this time .... w-e-l-l, for a three year old. He did not grab onto me like a frightened koala bear (unlike the first 2 movies we went to). He didn't keep pestering me to "go outside" or saying that its dark or "scary", infact other that wanting to change positions - sitting on me, sitting on Hubby, sitting in between us, etc. he did pretty ok. He did not talk very loudly, nor did he kick or shout, neither were there temper tantrums or arguments with his cousin. The 2 kids did disagree on the small white blanket that I brought along (just in case it got cold) which it did - they were both pulling at the blanket & no one wanted to give in. In the end, I removed Ryan & let Ayra have the blankie. I didn't want any meltdowns during the movie. I gave Ryan the Thomas the train jacket (a hand-me-down from my friend, Lisa) to cover his bare feet (yep, he insisted on removing his sandals earlier).

As per my kid's usual antics, he brushed the jacket away, soon after & didn't missed covering his feet at all. Sigh ... sometimes I wonder why he gets into petty disagreements with Ayra ... is it coz he only wants things done H-I-S way? Sometimes I feel he's just being a normal (well adjusted but mischievous) kid. Sometimes I think he's just being bratty & refuse to share. Sometimes I think he's just testing my very-limited patience. Sometimes I think he's just being himself. Sometimes I think ... I should just let it go ... & let Ryan be a kid & figure things out for himself. Yes, my kid has major "ownership issues" - in other words ... Ryan can be a tad stingy, ok ok ... he can be bl**dy stingy (most of the times). It can be rather embarrassing & sometimes it makes me want to hide my face but I do try (very hard) to teach my kid that he has to share & be more accommodating, especially to loved ones, family & friends. I am sad to report that Ryan can be ultra possessive with his stuff & very rarely likes to share anything. Is it a single child syndrome? Is it my fault? Is it just his nature? Sigh ... I'm still working on it. I hope everyone around him ... can understand that Ryan means no malice or ill-will, its just who he is right now ... but I hope to change that in the near future.

Overall. the movie was a success. I guess its in Ryan's blood to enjoy movies (eventually) as both his parents are real movie freaks. What was surprising was that the popcorn and drinks ended up being more expensive than the ticket price! A single movie ticket on a weekday, paid by Nets was $6.00/per person. The popcorn combo of a large popcorn & two drinks were $7.80 (I had to add 30 cents to change one of the drinks to an Ice Lemon Tea). I tried to get a cheaper alternative of just the popcorn but the guy at the counter told me that a large popcorn would cost me $7.00 & adding 80 cents will get me 2 medium drinks. I think that its a no-brainer, I took the combo. Hubby was upset with me for spending so much on the popcorn combo ... duh! I told him "I did the best I could" ... to be thrifty but sometimes its just not possible! Luckily the tickets were relatively cheap so it kinda offset the "luxury" of the popcorn. Ironically, everyone enjoyed the popcorn ... including the thrifty Hubby. Oh well you win some, you lose some!

I hope my sweet Ayra enjoyed herself!

A LITTLE RESPECT PLEASE!

Let me ask you ... is it so wrong to ask for a little respect? Well I guess it is ... for some people! Although, I am no angel, although I am just as imperfect, as the next person standing next to me, although I am so-far-off, from being the best Mummy, wife, daughter, sister(-in-law), aunt, friend or neighbour ... I know ... I try my darnest in almost anything I do in life. So why is it so hard ... to ask for some bloody R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Arrgh! I'm not one to go into details or wash ALL my dirty-linen in public, NO ... I have too much pride for that! But its getting increasingly more difficult to grit my worn-down teeth ... or bear with it! Am I supposed to bear with the humiliation ... just so I can make peace with the world or those around me? Am I supposed to just "fake-a-smile" & pretend that I am having the time of my life ... when in my heart ... I feel so utterly humiliated? Am I supposed to swallow my "extremely-limited" pride & hold my (acid) tongue, in public??!

Is it so damn hard to ask for a little respect?

Am I not worth it ????

Am I not worthy .... at all ???!

There's no point in elaborating or explaining. I guess I will get over this ... like I do, with so many things in my ever-pathetic life (do I even have any other choice?) ... but its been try-ing & so damn HARD!

Hard on my pride ...

Hard on my self-worth ...

Hard on my confidence ...

Hard for my soul.

I'm just venting .... really .... I neeeeeed to! Or else ... other worst things might come out of my potty mouth. No one wants to hear the kind of words that I'm really capable of .... when I'm pissed off! So I usually try to bite my tongue & bear with it. Coz when I can't bear it any longer, the do-er with definitely face my wrath ... & usually, it ain't a pretty picture!

Sheesh! I think ... I'm feeling a bit better now ... just a little ok?!

Back to real life ... huh?

HELLOOOOO .... EVERYONE !

Yes, its me! Nope, we did not fall off the face of the Earth & disappeared ... just busy with stuff, that's all. I have been a terrible blogger coz I know I have tonnes of stuff to blog & I still did not move my big butt ... & just do it. I don't know when I will be able to get myself up to date & I do feel kinda stressed about it ... haha, yes ... I know I'm anal like that, well that's just me.

A quick update!

Hubby's officially now a civilian. For those in the know, we are now officially stepping into a new phase of our life. One bad news though .... errm ... Hubby did not get his (last & final) pay ... yet! That just pissed me off, big time! I mean who works & don't get paid ... DUH! I mean if you were employed by a small-time company, then maybe ... but those who know who was Hubby's employer (our government, no less!) sees it fit to not give him his last pay check on his last day of work (they see fit to only pay him at the end of the month!!!) WTF!!! Our last paycheck was during the 2nd week of January (!!) & we've been gingerly hanging by a thread ever since ... we still are! I am totally pissed off & angry ... coz we were really caught off guard! You would think that one of the biggest employer in the country could at least get this simple thing right ... but I guess Hubby is just a small fry in their big organisation. Nobody cares about the "little men" - the rich & powerful only take care of each other! So while we hang on for dear life with what little money we have left, I am still fuming & bloody enraged! The pay better be in by the end of this month .... or someone's gonna get chopped big time! (it could be Hubby ... haha!).

Well, let's move on to (other much) nicer things ....

My dear Ryan's ... been going to school. There are good days & some not so good ones. He's been crying & refusing to stay in school, clutching on to me or his Daddy (for dear life). He's also missed nearly an entire week of school in February (being very sick) just before Chinese New Year (more about that in a separate entry). So as you can guess, after the loooong weekend ... he was not very happy that he had to (re)attend school. Tears & more tears ensued! Sigh ....

I've been cooking (a lot) these days. Its getting (much) better & I'm relieved to say that I'm coping with the new schedule. When Ryan is in school, I get more than a hour or so of "ME-Time". The house is oooh-so-quiet (you can hear a pin drop) & I can (get to) do some light reading, cook in peace, log on the Internet or just catch up on some daily chores. It seems (much) easier to do certain things, when there's no (rather annoying) 3 year old, breathing down your neck, bugging you every 30 seconds. Oh! don't get me wrong ... Ryan's the love of my life, but every-one needs a little time & space .... even from their loved ones. My (short) time & space comes ... when Ryan goes to playgroup, daily. I thank God ... for helping me keep my sanity & my wits .....

As we are stepping into a new phase of our lives, we have gone totally frugal (meaning : thrifty, cheap-skate) . We try to cut costs by eating more at home (for almost every meal), especially on weekdays. We are trying to cut corners wherever & whenever we can. Its been a tough & interesting journey but we're still learning & experimenting. I am glad to report that Hubby is a firm supporter of this "Frugal Drive". In fact, he comes out with equally (bizarre) cost-cutting measures that help us to trim our expenses, even more. He's also been good at giving me support & lending a helping hand ... in executing these measures. I am glad to report that Ryan has been a real trooper too. He doesn't seem to mind or even remotely care that we are spending a l-o-t of time at home (that's a huge relief!). In fact because we tend eat more at home, his appetite is getting much better! I hope that continues.

I have also been reading a lot on frugal blogs, to pick up any tips that I can possibly try out. I noticed that a lot of these blogs are based in the USA (by mums) & not many local/Asian ladies blog about being frugal (not that we are not frugal). So I guess although a lot of their tips are not really relevant here in sunny Singapore - winter & snow, heating & electricity, Goodwill, couponing, even their penchant of eating lots & lots of beans (?) .... there are still plenty that I can learn. So I'm hoping to learn more from there thrifty ladies - & be a thrifty one, myself.

To tell you the truth, I have actually started a few other blogs in the past ... Yah! Don't laugh ok! I know ... I can't even keep up with one blog, why bother to create more! Well, I did it because I didn't want to write about those specific topics in this blog ... as "Three's-A-Company" is more of a family blog, more about our daily life .... not so much about my many interests. I am at a crossroad ... do I combine these blogs together? I guess one of the reason why I separated them is because when people go to my other blogs, they only read about those specific topic & not so much about my personal life (which I'm not that keen). I know ... isn't it so ironic? If you don't want people to know about your personal details ... then why bother to blog rite? Arrgh! I guess its a fine line of knowing certain details about a blogger that bothers me a little. Take for example my other blogs - I set up 1 blog for being frugal, 1 blog for Bentos & one blog for meals that I cook for my family. The frugal & Bento blog was created last year & hasn't been updated regularly. The new blog I created this year - on cooking home-cooked meals, was something I did up, so that I can get a better idea & keep a "visual-track" of what I cook for my family. I am no great cook & there are no recipes to show (for now) coz I am not confident that anyone wants any of my simple recipes ... haha! I cook & take pictures to "inspire" myself - & encourage my lazy ass to prepare a variety of dishes, create or learn some new & healthy recipes to feed my (rather fussy) family. Not only do the recipes have to be dead easy, they have to be frugal (cheap) & not spicy because I refuse to cook a separate dish just for my kid. Everyone eats the same stuff in this house .... I ain't the maid!

So that's it guys ... a rather long update on our current state of life. I'll try to get some pics up very soon. I guess first up - should be Ryan's 3rd birthday (waaaaay back in January). Ain't I a horrible Mummy ...?!!

Tell me if you guys are vaguely interested in reading up on the other blogs & I'll happily oblige. Meanwhile, take care & I'll see you in ..... real life! To-de-looooooo !!!!

S IT NEW YEAR'S EVE ... ALREADY?

Oh my God! Where did 2009 go? Has it been a year already? It really went by lightning fast! I can recall nearly a year ago, (when) we just celebrated Ryan's 2nd birthday ... & soon we will be celebrating his 3rd! Oh my gosh! I can't believe that my boy is turning three (very) soon. Ok, so he's still small-sized ... but he's been making great steps forward (more on his developments in an another entry).
As I look back on 2009, I feel rather tired ... & a tinge of sadness. It has been a very trying year for me (& my family) but I know I have a whole lot to be thankful for. Eventhough life has been pretty damn tough for us this year, we are still together, alive & kicking! We made it through (barely) ... but I am glad we are still here, stronger than ever! Although 2010, is expected to be (yet) another tough year for us, with Hubby changing jobs & money being tight ... I pray, that we will make it through. I hope God is looking out for us ... protecting us. I hope He senses our (urgent) needs & I hope He will shower us with His Grace & Blessings. I pray for my family's happiness & health, I pray for enough funds to feed, clothe, & shelter us. I pray for a better life ahead ...
I realised although December is nearly over, I still have a lot of back-log to clear & even more pictures to upload. I haven't even blogged about my birthday nor our short trip to KL. I am quite bogged down with stuff these days. With what ... you might ask? Errm, with stuff ... haha!

With hubby at home these past few weeks (he's clearing his annual leave), I have been busy feeding both him & my boy. I tell you ... cooking & cleaning up, 3 times a day (plus the usual mundane daily chores) .... is no joke! Just when you finish one meal, you have to start preparing the next meal. Of course, you also have to figure out the next day's menu. Also the grocery shopping that goes with all the cooking ... errm, hey its no fun at all! I wonder how some people do it?! I really thought it would be a total breeze for me (as I have definitely been cooking more these days) to prepare & cook everyday but I have to admit .... its been damn tiring! Not to mention the endless menu that I have to think up ... so that the family won't get bored eating the same old thing everyday. Trying to think up the various ways to make (boring) chicken wings extremely delicious is extremely ... taxing, to say the least! Trying to keep things simple (easy) & under budget is also a given, knowing that we have to tighten our belts pretty soon.
Arrgh! I pray that God will keep me sane, during these trying times ....


If I don't get the chance to meet everyone ... just wanted to wish ... one & all - Happy New Year! May 2010 bring better times ahead - lots of luck, love & health. Stay safe & treasure your loved ones!

A VERY FUN SWIM!

P. S : I did a short write-up here, the other time. So here's the long version of it, hehe! This post is very long & full of cute pics (taken in mid Oct 09). You've been warned, people!

Ryan loves to swim. Ok, he doesn't so much swims, but he waddles happily in the baby pool & he splashes water all around. Yep, that's Ryan's version of swimming. He's beginning to enjoy it more these days so we try to indulge him ... sometimes. He still hates water being splashed on his head or face but that's a small "issue" to him. If being slightly wet means, he gets to splash around like a fish-wannabe & he gets to have fun with his playmates around the pool, he very well takes it like a "small" man ... haha!

I had to repeat the two cute pics in the short post, as they were too cute, not to! Ain't these 2, cuties? Ok, I'm biased coz I am related to them ... but they are really very cute, ya?

My two little cuties, getting ready to jump into the pool.

All together now .... aawwww!!!

Ayra has her 1st (head) dip in the pool.

Look at my wonder girl, jumping with joy! I'm surprised that I got such an "active" shot, in mid-air no less. It's either I'm getting better at getting candid photos or I'm just fast with my fingers, haha!

A splashing good time!

Ryan no like being splashed ... but that doesn't stop his cousin from doing it, haha!

I want to go there, Papa!

More splashes, for little Ryan.

I splash too ... but no one gets wet. I wonder why?

He looks kinda cute here.

Hubby, contemplating about life ... whilst his boy stands around.

What a happy girl, she is! Ayra is always so full of life, I'm very thankful that she's a big part of our lives! What will we ever do, without her ....?

Dunno what the kids were doing but they both had the same hand movements ... haha!

I'm over here Kakak ... come & catch me!

Hubby, repositioning his boy's new goggles, which we bought not because Ryan puts his head underwater (nope, he'll never do that). Its coz I got the idea that since Ryan hates water in his eyes, a pair of goggle would help greatly. Yep! it did! He was as happy as peaches. As expected, at first he felt weird using it but later on he kept saying he wanted to wear his "specks" ... haha!

Ayra trying to hide behind tiny Ryan ... errm, its not working, my dear.

Look at my hand Papa.

Wait here Papa, while I go & check things out.

Ryan looking into the water ... whilst (in the corner) Hubby's legs enjoy a short tan.

Hey! I can see my hand.

My little pinky model, strikes a rather "sexy" pose.

More adjustments, as Ryan tends to get water in his goggles.

Here's Ayra asking me to snap pics of her, bobbing her head in & out of the water.

Ayra : Ryan, here's my lovely armpit ... you wanna show me yours too?

Ryan : Errm ... no thanks, Kakak.

Ayra striking another mode-ly pose. She comes up with the cutest of poses, it makes me wonder if she's made for the runway ... haha!

Look at me! I'm doing the wet hair look. Hey ... where's Ryan? You think he wants to join me too?

Ryan : Arrrgggghhhh! I'm the sea monster!

Ayra : Aiyah! You don't scare me, little one!

Come on everyone ... wave your legs in the air!

Some splashes!

Hubby chuckling at his son.

Another cute pic!

Ayra doing her peace sign on Ryan. Haha ... my boy no like!

OK, its time to rest a while.

Trying to look super cool ... (Notice the by-now wet, bulging diapers in his swim suit ... haha!)

Hubby must have ... just been splashed by Ayra & Ryan ... haha!

Look at my girl ... looking dainty, for the camera!

Errmmm .... where did everyone go???

Another sweet pose from my niece. She was the digicam's best model that day ... hehe!

Ayra : This is how you swim, Ryan.

Ayra : I need a short break!

Ryan : Ok lah! Hey ... whose board is this? Can I borrow it?

On the left, a young boy joins us ... for a splashing good time.

After a good splash, Hubby had to clean his glasses.

As Hubby adjusts Ryan's goggles, yet again ... our young friend strikes a conversation with the pretty Miss, in pink.

Ayra : Are you still taking our photos?

Errm ... is this the pangs of puppy love, we see? Two youngsters ... just sitting around ... acting rather shy ...

Our young friend ... looks rather adoringly at Ms Ayra (if I must say so).

Ryan, seems to be the "in-between-third-party" ... as the two youngins sat around.

Just having a small chat ... not that Ryan understands any of it.

Ayra : Let me catch you! (Side note : Ayra was always trying to hug & give Ryan kisses when her new friend tried to chat her up ... dunno why? Maybe she was feeling very conscious & felt weird ... that another boy was paying attention to her, someone that's not her cousins or her own set of friends, maybe).

See our young friend ... always (stealing) glances at my sweet niece? Aahh! Is this admiration ... or just an innocent look?

Ryan, having a splashing good time ... sitting on his Daddy!

More wild splashes!

Ayra ... going for a short swim. (She's not really swimming though ... her feet's touching the floor. And I thought she was really swimming ... haha!)

Doesn't my boy look contented, having his Papa as a cushion ... as he splashes merrily away!

Hey! Where did Papa go?

A last chat up, before we go.

After a quick clean up & shower, Ryan insisted on stopping by the small, deserted playground. Oh well, why not?

As my two kiddies swing away, the little boy on the other swing looks on wearily ... haha! We had to "spoil" his peace, as we joined in on the playground.

Now its Kakak's turn to swing!

All tired now ... waiting for the feeder service to arrive.

What a fun day!!!

I had to mention 2 things about this day though. First, about the young friend we made in the pool. I think it was quite obvious (to me anyway) that he kinda "liked" my niece. Must have found my adorable niece quite an attractive beauty (because she is!). I guess its been a long time since I've seen (openly) such innocent puppy "love" or crush. He was just trying to chat her up & it was all rather innocent. I don't think he even knew its a simple "crush". I guess even at a young age, its inevitable that you feel a liking or admiration for the opposite sex. I guess its all sweet & innocent ... just to see. I don't remember liking anyone when I was soo young but its pretty amusing to see innocent & sweet admiration from a person that holds no hidden agenda or motive. I even overheard him asking Ayra (among other things) ... "Do you come here every Saturday?" Awww .... if that's not puppy love ... than at least its just an invitation to be ... just friends, I guess. Well, for his info. no .... we don't come here every Saturday, just that Saturday ... hehe!

The other thing was .... how late we got home that night! We took the feeder service to IMM (for a simple dinner) coz we parked our car (on a per entry basis) & decided to leave the vehicle there. Since trying to find a parking space in IMM during makan time, was extremely irritating ... we thought it would be wise to leave our car at the club & take the feeder bus instead. NOT! The stupid feeder bus was supposed to make pick-ups at the same drop-off point, every roundabout but as we waited & waited & waited ... for more than 1 & a half stinking hour, I can tell you that the bus did not come! So there we were at 8 + at night, two adults & two kids, all tired & ready to go home ... waiting like stupid goons! Meanwhile other bus passengers (at the public bus stop) came & went .... I was getting really pissed off at having to stand for more than an hour, when I pestered Hubby to just take a cab or something. Finally, Hubby could tell that I was nearing boiling point & the kids were dead tired .... so he walked all the way to the club. Why am I not surprised, when Hubby finally arrived, he said that the feeder bus was parked leisurely at the bay of the club. Arrggh! I was beyond pissed! We wasted close to 2 bl**dy hours of our time, for nothing! Ok, blame us for believing people can be reliable & keep to the (feeder) schedule. Trust us to be so trusting & gullible! - there's no next time, I tell you! By the time we sent Ayra home & reached our own place, Ryan & his parents were damn exhausted!

It was a really fun day! Too bad it had to end on a rather sour note! But if you asked the kids ... it was a damn good day! Oh well! Lesson learnt .... never depend on a fedeer service. Just walk if you have to, ya!