TO THE FISH FARM WE WENT

P.S : I blogged about this here, earlier. So here's the long version, folks! Yes ... its full of photos, haha!
We have been to Qian Hu a couple of times before but I managed to get many nice pics, this time round. This time we remembered to drop by earlier, so we didn't have to rush. This was a last minute outing as we had earlier wanted to go to Ikea (to survey something) but cancelled it at the last minute.

What a coincidence, Ryan was wearing his "Fish" shirt on that day! It was easy to decide on the place because it was nearby plus the entry & parking was free. The fish food however was not ... haha! Oh well, you can't have everything free ... I guess!

At the entrance, the kids started getting excited about seeing the fishes.
My niece, Ayra ... starts to pose for me. Ryan ... he's busy looking at the kois.

Wow! So many fishes.

The two cousins, enjoying the view. They were getting very excited ... just looking at the kois in the special pond.

A quick pose!

Aaah! Now we have some food for the fishes.

Hubby, giving the kids a helping hand. Aiyah! the man in green, stood too close to my niece ... spoilt my photo!

Ayra, smiling for me.

Photo's a bit blur (blame my digicam!) ... but they still look cute ya?

Ayra : Nah! Fish ... I give you some more food.

Ok, one last burst of food for them. Let's move on to the other stations.

Well, here we are at the turtle pond. Hey ... where are all the turtles? (I realised that I didn't take any photos of the green turtles. Oh well, there's always next time. By the way, their pond was dirty & a bit disgusting though .... )

Hubby : Take some for the turtles, Ryan.

Ryan : Let me count the pellets ... one, two, three ...

Ryan, taking a handful from Daddy (lucky its just fish food pellets & not money huh .... haha!)

Hubby ... looking at something rather interesting?

Ryan's turn to look at something interesting, whilst Ayra keeps doing her thing.

Can you see Ryan's Fish T-shirt (from Osh Gosh - cheap, less than 10 bucks)? Its says "Genuine Fish" ... haha ... so funny & apt, rite?

By this time, we have bought 3 packs of fish food. I think a packet is a dollar (not cheap ok). I think they can easily make a "fortune" every weekend, if you see the crowds of kids there.

More please, Papa.

Hubby : This is how you throw the food!

Can you see in the foreground, a group of ladies sitting on the ground. Errrm, you won't catch me doing that! Besides I'm too busy snapping photos & I have to stand to get nice ones .... ok, excuses excuses. To tell you the truth, I find sitting on the floor in a public place too dirty for my comfort ... so there, sue me!

  Ayra, stays true to her peace sign ... whilst Ryan acts nonchalant (as usual).

Seems like Ayra was trying to get Ryan interested in the peace sign but my boy, ain't buying any of it! Can you see his bo-chap attitude? Complete with legs on the bench ... so ah beng rite?

Ayra still smiley ... but Ryan's getting really bored with all these photo-taking ... haha!

Ok one last pose kids! Ayra gives me a sweet pose & Ryan finally manages to smile ... aiyah, the ah beng pose is still there!

More feeding ... I think this is a new packet of food. Lucky fishes!

Look how tall my girl has grown!

Yes, I'm counting ... Papa!

Oops! I dropped some ... into the pond!

Yeah! I give the fishes some ...

I need more Papa ... I need more, can't you see!

Looking spacey, I see.

Them lucky fishes. Some are rather chubby ... & why not?

Hubby : My supply is running low, kids.

The two kids grabbing what few precious pellets are left.

Ayra, throwing some love to the kois. Doesn't she look pretty here?

Eh! I need more ....

Whilst the kids are busying themselves, Hubby was on the phone ....

Let's grab more, since he's not looking!

Ryan (must be) looking at his Daddy ... & giving a cheeky smile!

Ryan walking back for more fish food. Can you see in the foreground (the kid in orange), lying down on the ground, yep! he's catching the poor longkang fish ... commando style!

Well, its time to admire the tanks of fish.

Ayra giving the small (shorter) boy a lift.

Hi, Sucker Fish! Its just me, Ryan ... & Kakak Ayra!

Ryan : Oooooh! What's that Mummy?
Mummy : Its a sting-ray, darling.

Too cute to eat rite? Besides, its too expensive lah! Better as a pet.

Ok, look at these strange creatures ... at first I thought they were mutated, but then there's a whole tank-full of them. So I guess its a species? Don't know the name though. Is this God's work? Or the work of people ... who wanna make money-business from odd looking fishes? Beats me!

Another look at those strange looking fishes. They look like they have bent-out-of-shape bodies. No they weren't wriggling or contorting themselves, they were shaped that way! I was pretty amazed & kept looking at them.

A lone ranger?

See how much they cost each? Not cheap huh? I guess you have to pay ... for being weird & different!

Another sting-ray.

This giant fake arowana fish was atop the entrance of the air-conditioned room that the real expensive arowanas were in. Yep, that's the luxury you get to taste, if you are born a arowana ... you get to stay in a special room that's fully air-conditioned, in tropical-warm Singapore.

From another angle.

At the exit, I made the kids pose awhile (yes, I do that sometimes. I know ... its evil isn't it). Ayra's always game for a photo, whilst my son ... is not! Oh well!

Ayra gives me a sweet pose, as usual Ryan cannot be bothered to look at the camera (so what's new?).

MY SON IS TURNING 3 ... NEXT MONTH!

Yes, in about a month's time, my little boy will be turning 3! Wow! How time flies! It was not long ago that I gave birth to that tiny bundle. Okay, so he was cut from my stomach ... but who wants to argue with me, on that!

Ryan, being Ryan ... was an unexpected Gift from God, as he was definitely unplanned. We waited for a child for the longest time ... so we definitely, did not see him coming. He came in our 9th year of marriage ... a long time for most married couples. Eventhough he was conceived naturally, Ryan did not want to come into this world without some "excitement" & fanfare - he was a "drama" prince, even when he was born. Not only did he gave me an emergency C-sect ... (no, no not blaming him ... just stating a fact ya!), he "wanted" to stay in hospital, for the next 11 days of his new life. Not being able to bring my baby back home with me (from my hospital stay) ... was one of the saddest thing in my life, then (guess I was having some post-natal blues). Most Mummies get to bring their baby home with them, when they leave ... nope, I wasn't one of them.

Today, almost 35 months have passed (that's nearly three years) ... yep, just one more month to go, before Ryan reaches a monumental, 3 years of age. As I look forward to having a mini celebration for Ryan (with my extended family), I am both happy & full of emotions ... when I look back on three years worth of memories ... all in photographs. When I look at them pictures, I am filled with much happiness ... for I am really thrilled that I managed to get a lot of Ryan's early growing up years, in print. I never regretted being the trigger-happy Mama coz how else am I gonna get gems of my little boy growing up.

Looking at the many photos, I can also see how both me & Hubby have grown to be parents, when for many years we had gotten used to just the two of us. Changing our lives & growing into better people (I hope), Ryan's birth & presence has turned us into better human beings. We are still learning, we are still trying, we are still experimenting ... & yet we have learnt so much & there is still much to learn!

I knew Hubby would make a wonderful Father ... & I was right! From the first day that his son was born, Steven has been a very hands-on Daddy. Sometimes he seems to revel in doing the most mundane thing for his boy. He enjoys changing his son (yep, he does poopy diapers too), giving Ryan a shower, washing the car (with sonny boy in tow) ... or even simple things like bringing his boy for a round-about trip on a bus ... just because! (Ryan just loves bus rides). I can see that he loves his son too .... very very much. I think we always tend to forget the Daddies in the rearing of the children. A lot of fathers think that being a good father is bringing home the (big) bacon. Nope, I beg to differ! Being a good father is spending precious quality time with your child ..... doing the most mundane thing. I can see that Hubby is becoming a better father each day. It touches my heart ... always!

Ryan has given me so much to be thankful for ... because of him, I was able to become a Mother. Although, we would have loved to have a second child with us, I guess God knew what's best for us, as a family. There are times that I wished for a playmate & sibling for my boy but there are times that I feel that we shouldn't tempt Fate. God has blessed us with one healthy child ... we are eternally grateful & blessed.

Mummy & Papa, love you Ryan! Hope you will enjoy your small birthday party next month. Eventhough we can't throw you a huge celebration, we hope you will have fond memories of your 3rd birthday when you are older. *Kiss Kiss!*

I wanted to put up some pics of Ryan on the monumental years of his life. Here it goes ...

His newborn photo (still in the hospital). See the sharp nose & rose-bud red lips. Well, the sharpness is gone (I guess courtesy of Mummmy's genes & flat nose, arrgh! should have had Daddy's sharper nose). His lips are still pink but no longer red ... oh well! He's still as cute as a button!

On the morning that he turned 1! So cute rite?! Ryan is one of the happiest child I have ever met. He's always happy & smiling.

Looking cute!

On the day that he turned 2! I took him for a train ride to the mall. He loved it!

Having his favourite Egg Prata. Yummy! See how Ryan's grown ... now he can feed himself, no need for Mummy to help (ya, rite ... as if! Mummy still feeds him ok!)

Oh Barney! How I love thee!

Oooooh! Mummy let me sit on a super big bike. Sweeeeet! It must be because its my birthday!

(These following pics were also taken in 2009). Another of his favourite bike ride. Acting cheeky, as usual.

Giving me one of my model-like pose (acting cool & not smiling), I seem to get a few of these poses lately ....

(This was taken in late November 09, whilst kite-flying). See how my boy has grown ... he plays with his own kite now (with a LOT of help from Daddy, no less).

When I look at these photos, I can't help but feel ... how my boy has grown over the years. From a helpless little thing, all wrapped up in a blanket ... to a gregarious toddler that has boundless energy. And although Ryan drives me up the wall, sometimes ... with his many antics, its his "nonsense" that makes me love him even more. There's no one like my Ryan & though he tests my patience (many times in a day), although he "grates" on my nerves, although he makes me angry (a lot of times) ... I love him, more than anything in the world.

I finally know what a Mother's love feel like. I am a Mummy now ... & although I have a lot to learn, I am trying to learn from my mistakes ... every single day. Although I am not the best Mummy, I will always, always, always ... do my best for Ryan. I love him ... more & more each day. He gives me so much joy & happiness, I have a lot to be thankful for. Even if I die tomorrow, I would die contented ... for I've finally known (& felt) a child's love for his Mother. And although I would miss Ryan (oh so much) if I die ... I feel blessed to have given birth to him & having had the time to be his Mum. Does that make sense to you? Haha .... I'm being nonsensical, I guess!

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!

I LOVE MY NEW GOGGLES

After our latest swim (in the previous loong post), Ryan seems enamoured by the latest "toy" ... his blue, shiny goggles. When he saw me taking them out, he insisted on modelling them (at home). Oh well, what's the harm?

Giving Mummy a happy smile, whilst modelling his favourite goggles.

Looking rather cool ... if I may say so myself ... haha!

Is that a scorn, I see?!

Or are you just trying on another one of your brooding, model-like pose?