A LOVING KISS FOR MUMMY

As anyone would have noticed, I don't have a lot of pictures of myself on the blog. Why? Just don't like being photographed, that's all. So when gems like these turn up, I can't help putting them up here for others myself ... to see treasure.

A loving kiss from my angel, Ryan ... captured perfectly by Hubby!

Goes to show that even if we were waiting for our prata to be ready, we can get some touching  pics for memories.

Aww ... so sweet!

So blurry ... but still so loving & cute!

The (sometimes) photographer of the day.

ANNIVERSARY OF A DOZEN YEARS

Yep! You read that right! We celebrated our 12th year wedding anniversary in October, this year. Oh yes ... we've been married for more than 12 years but we have been together for more than 17 years. Seems sooo long doesn't it? It also makes me seem VERY old ... haha! Yeah, I I know I'm no spring chicken but the fact that I've been with my boyfriend (now Hubby) for nearly half of my lifetime ... makes me feel kinda old. And yet it also makes me feel loved, needed, wanted, appreciated ... well, kinda!

As per our usual style, no gifts, special outings nor dinner was in order. Nope, we celebrate it our own way ... spending it like any other day, rather cheaply (hehe). It was decided the eve before our anniversary that we were having a family gathering ... in public no less (I couldn't recall whose idea it was ... probably my mum's). Thus, there we were ... in the early morning of Sunday ... in front of the majestic Sultan Mosque. No, we weren't there to pray .... but to enjoy the yummylicious food, across this place of worship - at the legendary Zam Zam Restaurant. This time round, my brother & his family joined us for the meal. The lunch was especially delicious coz it was F.O.C (kindly paid for, by my generous mum). All in all, the meal cost slightly more than 50 bucks, which was quite a deal, as if fed 13 of us, hungry fellas.

Here's Ryan & Ayra. We managed to get corner seats on the upper level, which are Ryan's favourite coz he can view the road - with all the buses, cars, etc.

Ayra, hiding behind Ryan?
Not playing hide & seek anymore.

My mum, with her trusty mineral water bottle.

Ryan decides to squint his eyes, whilst Ayra gives me a smile!

My Dad, busy ... on his handphone. We were all sitting around waiting for my bro & family to arrive ... so I snapped some pics to while away the time ... hehe!

Ayra having a sip of her favourite drink (coincidentally, also mine) - Season's Ice Lemon Tea ... whilst Ryan looks on his grandparents, on the other side of the room.

Aah! They finally arrived ... so now we can eat, ya?

Everyone's waiting eagerly for the food to arrive - Mee Goreng, Beef Beryani (dunno why the beef was rather tough that day ... undercooked?), Chicken Murtabak, Plain Rice with some chosen dishes plus Egg Prata, drinks & not forgetting, their Power Teh Tarik.
 

Hubby took a photo of the three of us. Yes, I'm in the photo ... coz it seemed only natural to get at least some photos of myself on my 12th anniversary, ya? Oh by the way, isn't black slimming??? Yes, I definitely think so .... haha!

... and since black is rather slimming, why not take more photos of the rather photography-shy lady, all dressed in black ....?

We adjourned to Marina Square & stopped by the water feature (one of Ryan's fav).

Ryan : That's water, Nenek!

Nenek : Yah ... I know what water looks like lah!

The kids liked it there.

On the upper level, there's a mini indoor playground, where the kids had some fun. Here's Ayra coming down the slide.

Ryan takes on the slide too.

Ryan stops awhile ... for Mummy to take a pic.

Ayra having a fun time hanging down the pole.

Shauqi, my nephew ... going for it!

Weee!

In mid-air?

Ayra & my nephew, Sahmi ... sitting on a ride.

Of course Ryan had to have a ride too ... duh!

Ryan wanted to maneuver the ride by himself, nope ... he didn't need help from his Daddy.

Catch me if you can!

One last round!

Well, that was how we spent our 12th wedding anniversary. And eventhough it wasn't filled with gifts or expensive meals, it was spent with the people that we love & love us in return. It was fun!

Happy Anniversary to my darling Hubby, Steven! Thank you for the past 12 loving years. Though we have our ups & downs, eventhough life can be very trying at times, eventhough we have to face a million obstacles, eventhough we never have enough money to spend ... I treasure every moment with you! Now with our mischievous munchkin with us, we have to work even harder to create a better for future for our family. I love you, now & always!

ON THE HUNT FOR THE FLOSS OF CHICS

Lately Ryan has taken a liking to chicken floss buns, purchased at a small heartland bakery (called Champion Bread, which is Halal certified). Its pretty tasty & reasonably priced. So this budget-conscious Mummy was thinking of ways to be thrifty (whenever she can) & yet let her son "indulge" in his tasty favs.

So I came up with this idea of spreading mayo (thinly) on normal white bread & sprinkling a generous layer of chicken floss, before toasting them in the toaster oven. The trick is to lightly toast them though, to mimic the store-bought buns ... as I later found out, coz Ryan rejected my first try of the un-toasted chicken floss sandwich. Oh well, you live & learn!

The trick to all of this of course is to find Halal Chicken Floss in tiny Singapore. Well, its like finding a 4-carat diamond ring, on the sidewalk ... virtually unheard of! Months earlier, I read in a local magazine "HALAL" that a shop in Singapore selling all sorts of dendeng (barbequed meat) products, also stocks up on this elusive floss. So off we went searching for it. We went to an industrial estate in Woodlands to find their factory outlet ... duh! they moved! So we went to their shop in the early morning of a Sunday - damn! they weren't opened. Arrgh! it seemed like finding this chic floss was akin to winning a lucky draw - so bl**dy tough! Finally we managed to get the prized floss after dropping by the place in the early afternoon - well they better be opened (which they did). Coincidentally, the damn floss ain't cheap ... duh! why am I not surprised!

Which brings us to the following pics. They were taken in the Malay Village in Geylang Serai (that's where the shop is located). We were going round & round (like sweating idiots) & it didn't help that it was the fasting month! We chanced upon these kerbaus (water buffaloes). I can't help but prop my son on them, for a photo op.

Look over there Mummy!

Mummy decides to pose with Ryan.

Daddy doesn't forget his "ever-popular" & trusty, peace sign.

Ryan : "Daddy, aren't you tired of holding up your peace sign, already?"

Time to get off!

The other side ... there were 4 water buffaloes in total (a pair on each side of the entrance)!

These were also taken in Geylang Serai, at the newly renovated market & hawker centre. As it was the fasting month, most of the makan stalls were not opened in the morning. As my niece, Ayra & my son, Ryan were not fasting (kids ... so lucky), they had to be fed ... some kind of food. The adults (both my parents, Hubby & me) looked on (rather wistfully) as the kids savoured a shared plate of local chicken rice. Hhmm .... a lot of the passer-bys looked at us ... like we were the ones eating (tssk! tssk!). Hey people! kids have to eat right? ... even if the adults were fasting, we still need to feed the hungry children ... DUH!!!

The 2 kids are (mostly) game to pose, whenever I asked them for a pic. Here they are, in front of an unopened shopfront. Haha, yep I am soooo "imaginative" when it comes to photo opportunities. Anywhere, is game for me! ... as long as I get cute & adorable photos, I don't really care when or where its taken. I really don't, I tell you! As (equally) evident below, these pics were taken in the middle of the newly constructed over-head bridge that connects the new market to the popular Joo Chiat Complex. I find the weirdest place to snap a pic ... yes, I can be so anal ... in that way! Double haha!

Ayra, giving Ryan a sisterly pat on the head (haha ... which also helps if Ryan's trying to run away before the picture's taken).

TO T3, WE WENT .....

Anyone who's a true blue Singaporean, will know what I mean when I say we went to T3. Yep, T3 (or Terminal 3) is our newest, grandest (so far) international airport in far flung Changi. I can't remember how many times we've been to the airport with Ryan though. But I'm sad to say that all the trips to Changi airport so far (for Ryan), are just stopovers or hangouts ... never a plane ride out. Well, what do you do when you are a family living on a (very) tight budget. The only place my son has been to, overseas ... is nearby JB (by car!) to buy cheap groceries. I really hope to change that very soon ... who knows, in the coming years we will be able to do that.

Meanwhile, our trips to admire our fantastic airport ... will suffice, for now.

P.S : This is a back-dated post (mid August 09)

Hubby asking his distracted son to look at his Mummy, so that we could get a nice shot. Haha ... no such luck ... sonny boy wasn't interested!

Ryan ... raring to go & see the aeroplanes.

Whilst at T3, we chance about a bouncy-castle sorta thing (it was huge & flat ... more like a inflatable football field, I guess). It was erected by the people in charge of the YOG (Youth Olympic Games). As usual, my boy can't resist anything that he can bounce on like crazy. Of course, Hubby had to accompany him as Ryan's too tiny (for most activities) & we were afraid that he'll get bullied by the other older (much larger) kids, who can be a bit rough sometimes. Well, what can you do ... when your son is small for his age ... over-protect him? We try not to ... but sometimes its the parent instinct kicking in!

Hubby trying to run away from Ryan ... so that his boy will catch him.

He fell down ... but he was smiling, no damage done!

Ryan was very happy indeed.

At the Departure Viewing Hall, its time for the aeroplanes.

The (small) eager beaver!

Propping himself, to get a better view.

A short pose for Mummy.

Ryan : " Where's the plane, Papa?"

Daddy : "I don't know ... where's the aeroplanes?"

Still so many unanswered questions ....

Wait awhile Mummy, I'm not finished just yet.

Over there Papa ... I can see more planes!

My boy looking very serious ... errm, maybe he's deep in thought?

My two boys ... they look alike yet ... they are not exactly the same. Haha ... not carbon copies ... like some kid-&-parent combo ... haha!

The few rare pics of Mummy & son, this time in the Sky Train (I think that's what they're called).

Hubby ... the lone ranger!

Ryan ... the lone ranger!

I don't know why my camera's a bit off these days. A lot of times it takes photos that turn out ok but these days the pics are very blurry. Maybe its time to service the (damn) thing! Shucks! If we service it, it'll cost us money (which we cannot spare at the moment). Even then, the cost of the servicing might be more than half the price of a new digicam, with much better features & higher mega pixels. Sigh! buying a new digicam is definitely out of the question now. So whats a Mummy on a budget to do ... I ask you? Well, for this Mummy, we just live with it (no choice!) ... hope & pray that the digicam does not die on me too soon. Meanwhile, please excuse the grainy & very blurry photos on the blog. I'm really trying my best ....

Ohh! by the way, the main reason we went to T3 this time, was because I had the GREAT idea to bring my son to see the Butterfly Park there (I read it on a local blog recently). What I didn't realise was that the Butterfly thingy was in the Departure Hall for passengers only ... duh! Ok ok, I know ... I should have known that it wasn't open to the public (area) but I sorta assumed that since it was on the blog that it was free-for-all. I guess the one thing in life is ... NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING!!! Lesson learnt people!