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!

RANDOM PICS - KIDDY RIDES

Well, its time for more random pictures. Yes, what else but those damn ... oops! cute rides again! Ryan just loves any ride that's shaped like an aeroplane or helicopter. He loves anything that flies ... except real flies, of course ... he finds them pesky (who doesn't?) & rather terrified of them ... or he'll try valiantly to swat them away with his tiny hands ... haha!

Oh well, back to the rides.

A rather sweet smile ... on a Sunday morning.

Its a good ride, Mummy!

In the arcade, posing on the bike rides with Daddy.

Don't move bike!

Wait a minute ... I'm about done here.

GROCERY SHOPPING UP NORTH

Moving right along, here's a post of one of our trips to Johor Bahru (its a back dated post).

About once a month (if we can), we try to stock up on some cheap groceries in JB. And although the jams at the Causeways (on both sides of the countries) can be vomit-inducing (Ryan can vouch for that!) & sore on me (big) butt ... we "endure" it as best we can. Shopping in Malaysia does saves a lot of money & sometimes the variety is different too. Not forgetting the halal stuff they sell there, far exceeds what we have here in Singapore. Fine dining (if you can call eating in cafes, that) is definitely so much cheaper, especially if they have similar branches back home - like Secret Recipe, Oldtown (which coincidentally, isn't halal in Singapore), etc.

We always end up spending a lot of the time in the bigger supermarkets. Whilst there, Ryan always can't miss out on the kiddie rides, outside.

Looking very confident indeed. See how he "siam" the many supermarket trolleys around him. He's actually pretty good at not knocking people down nor being hit by the other kiddy riders.

Can you see the serious-looking Ryan, peering at the corner of his eyes? He's actually looking out for some errant drivers (kids) around him. Haha ... he hates being hit by them.

We dropped by a kid's playground. Its pretty huge! You would never see an indoor playground, this huge in a Singapore mall.

Finally, its time to eat. We had our makan at a small restaurant called Vivo (I think they're from the U.S - they serve mainly Western food & have other branches across Malaysia). The food is pretty tasty & very reasonably priced. A lot of the restaurants in Malaysia are Halal certified (reflected at the entrance of the shop or on their menus). If in doubt, don't be afraid to ask!

Ryan scribbling on the promotion pamphlet.

Waiting for the food to arrive (which was so bl**dy slow) ... reason being? They forgot one of our orders, arrgh! (I forgot to take photos of the food - no mood by then).

Ryan showing his Daddy the food he wants to eat, next time.

Yes, its (yet) another kiddy ride ... at another mall! The things we do to make our children, happy!

Hubby, the ever-present bodyguard ... not that Ryan needs any protecting, hehe!

Looking to check if Daddy is still behind him.

IN SO MANY WORDS

Lately, Ryan has been muttering lots of new words & phrases. Well, God knows where he picked up some of these words but some ... are definitely recognisable to me. Why you might ask are they familiar to muah? Errm ... because Ryan ... seem to enjoy "parrot-ing" after his "visibly-stressed-high pitched" Mummy. Yep, he seemed to have picked up some pretty "neat" lingo & figure of speech, courtesy of his Mama. And let me tell you, not everything that comes out of my mouth can be repeated in public or blogland.

Yes, I can have a real potty mouth at times (ok ok, most times) but I refrain from being too "colourful" in public. I'm afraid that Ryan will grow up to be equally as "colourful" as me when it comes to swearing, cursing, etc. I am however, keen for him to be like me (in some ways) - not afraid to voice out my opinions or feelings, being good with words, etc. but I am also afraid that he will turn out like me - usually a lot to say, but not willing to speak out, sometimes.

As a kid, I was rather timid (especially in primary school). That, coupled with being anti-social & a loner, I did not have many close friends then. Ryan displays some of that now ... he can be playful & sociable with people he knows - his extended family, his cousins, friends of the family, but with others, he's seems shy & afraid, distant even ... always hiding behind me (or Hubby) or covering his already small face. He would not even look at strangers (or neighbours) much less talk to them or even bid a cursory hello. Sigh! how can I blame him for being him ... when I was much the same when I was a kid.

Ok ... I'm digressing again. Well, all I wanted to say was ... Ryan's vocab is expanding exponentially & fast. It scares me ... and yet at the same time, it fascinates me. I sometimes wonder what new word will come out of his mouth. Its like a never-ending guessing game for me ... a game that's not about to end anytime soon.

P.S : Will try to update Ryan's Vocab List when I next get the chance.

Can you see his huge Transformers watch? (which he insists on wearing constantly)

BOWLING IN THE ARCADE

Which 2 year old doesn't love arcades? Ryan is no different. We were at the arcade & since most of the games are not within his reach (due to his small size) or his dexterity, his choices of games are (sorely) limited. Ahh! but there's a mini bowling game ... for the kiddies. Most times we don't indulge in the games because Ryan does not enjoy them but this bowling game is different. At least he gets to roll the mini ball across the tiny lane & see (if) it hit the many pins, at the other end. Most times we let him have a go at this, if he's been a good bunny the whole day ...

Raring to go!

Waiting ... waiting ... for the mini bowling ball to arrive.

Whilst Hubby tries to give Ryan a helping hand, my dear son ... valiantly refuses his Daddy's help, as he wants to do it on his own. Shucks ... the boy wants to be independent!

So delighted that he hit his mark!

Reaching for the ball.

More waiting around ... tick tock, tick tock!

Aww! ... I managed to catch a priceless photo of my two boys. Its of Hubby giving his precious boy a (stolen) kiss on the head. Isn't that sooo precious! I guess that's why I love Hubby ... he shows his love in the most unpredictable & unexpected way. Some guys are extremely shy about kissing their kids in public (not manly to them?). I'm happy to note that Hubby isn't one of those men. Ryan is so lucky to have him (Hubby) as his Daddy.

There's a lot of waiting in this game (like most bowling outings).

Hubby giving Ryan a hand ... yet again!