There's always something else to do that claims priority over my fingers tapping on the keyboard. Of late, it has been the exam period for the 2 girls, children one-by-one getting sick period, spring-cleaning period as house is getting messier and messier with more and more stuff being added...as i finish one area and start on the next, i'd then have to re-visit the first area as it would have already been hit by another tornado. Then there is the matter of weighing do i spend precious time playing and bonding with the Little One whilst his sisters are in school, or do i immerse myself in the virtual world and shut myself out from the cuteness and irresistableness of the Little One? Hence my daily struggle to indulge in my finger exercises.
My significant other, a.k.a. The Zoo Financier, graciously bestowed his wisdom on me yesterday when I lamented on how I have not been updating my blog though my fingers have been so very itchy to do so, due to the sheer lack of time. The Learned One spoke: "One thing that is equal in this world is that everyone has exactly 24 hours in a day. Not a minute more, not a minute less. So you just have to find the time."
[Do you see the close traits between The Learned One and The Little Genius? Of course The Learned One parted his words of wisdom in a loving, caring manner...lest he wants to ignite the irritation of the Her Excellency, the Minister of Home Affairs!]
Having pondered on those words of wisdom last night, I decided then that I would do away with that extra 30 minute lie-in's in that cosy, ultra-tempting bed of mine every morning after Nos. 1 and 2 leave for school and before it's time to get to the morning shower to send No. 3 to school. I was determined to have a fresh start for May.
However, the Powers Above decided to test my resolve when it rained through the early hours of the morning right after my alarm rang, right till my snooze button rang again and again making it almost impossible to get out of bed. Laying under the soft, cosy duvet on top of my cool, fluffed up pillows were just too irresistable! Humble defeat lay before me.
So there I laid till the last possible moment before I jumped out of bed and into some decent clothes to resume my chauffeur duties! As soon as I hit the road with the Little Genius, it dawned upon me that every other sane person also suffered from the same temptation this morning as the roads were still congested by the time i reached home after 8.45.
So I rushed through my breakfast and the morning papers ... and here I am...fingers tapping happily.
Getting down to business...here's a summary of the latest happenings at my beloved Zoo.
Zoo Member no#1
Sigh...her room is as messy as ever. At times, it seems as though a mini-tornado has swept through sections of her room, as well as various parts of the house. Her school books and personal belongings scatter themselves indiscriminately on dining room chairs (sometimes on two chairs!), on the dining table, on various steps of the stairs, on the piano, and in the overflowing drawers of the rolling trolley I had bought from IKEA to store each of the girls' bits and pieces.
On the positive side, she has shown greater maturity in her thoughts, than in the past year. She still loves to dilly-dally and leave things right to the very last minute before she gets moving, much to the annoyance of her mum and dad. However, she has been great in taking care of No#2 who just started Standard 1 in the same school. Recently when No#2 was having bronchitis caused by a very bad cough and had to be put on intensive therapy for her ventolin inhaler, No#1 was her nurse during schooling hours...excusing herself from class to give the necessary medication and inhaler to No#2 during the designated time. She was great at nursing No#2 at school. Of course it was a different story when they returned home from school. Instead of the loving nurse and patient relationship just hours earlier, the relationship would erupt into mini civil wars at the smallest dispute.
Studies-wise, she has also shown improvement. The one-to-one lessons she has with her personal tutor for BM since the end of 2010 has paid off. Her command of the BM language is now far more superior than mine. Her countless Maths exercises has also paid of. From being in the bottom position in her class for Maths a year ago, she recently scored in the 90s for her recent Maths exam. She still needs to be given those extra pushes to ensure she does her very best and to help her realise her true potential. Tough love. But Mr T and I believe it is necessary as these are their foundation years. I am no tiger mother. I just practice tough love when the situation calls for it.
Mr T is a strong believer that all work and no play makes Jane a dull girl. Hence, No#1 always has a packed weekend. After her Saturday morning classes in school, she indulges in her favourite art lessons in the afternoon followed by her swimming lessons (which she just loves) on Saturday evenings where the day then ends with a dinner outing which all the kids obviously look forward to (Mum included!). Sunday morning starts bright and early when she attends the free golf coaching lessons for kids at the club, together with her fellow golfing-mates (i.e. her sisters), which is sometimes followed by swimming. The Sunday morning sports sessions is then followed on with her BM private lessons and whilst everyone else is having a lazy Sunday siesta, she is busy finishing off her school homework.
Most recently, she has asked to learn the guitar. Obviously Taylor Swift is one of her idols. She just had her first lesson yesterday evening, strumming the acoustic guitar. She was on cloud ten after her first lesson. To ensure her interest is genuine and long-lasting, Mr T is holding back on buying her a guitar for a few weeks. So she is currently borrowing the guitar from the music school. Will definitely upload a picture of her strumming the guitar once she passes her father's test which will then qualify her buying her own guitar.
She really is a Super Girl in the making. Just a few more fine-tuning before she gets there... need to fine-tune those stepmother eyes from making too many frequent appearances, pouty mouth, "tidak-apa" (i.e. laidback attitude) and to straighten that hunchback. I have just began calling her Si Bongkok! (for those illiterate in the Malay language, it means Miss Hunchback!). It really irks her when I do that, so let's hope it works in straightening her spinal column. [Sorry darling, I know you didn't want me broadcasting about Si Bongkok! Straighten up, and I'll call you Si Manis!]
Despite her long hours at school from 7.30a.m. to 4.15 p.m. (her hours are longer than some office workers!), our SuperGirl has done pretty well. When praise is deserving, modesty takes a back-seat. I have my doubts whether i would have physically and mentally survived such a tough commando-style primary chinese school (but then again, I had it easy being in a Malay school). In fact, Mr T and I have just been studying her report card; since 2007, she has only missed 3 days of school. That is quite an achievement! So BIG, HUGE PAT ON YOUR BACK, my darling. Keep it Up!
Being the nagging, short-tempered Mummy, I know I don't say it often enough. So darling, Mummy is publicising it to the whole world now, "MUMMY AND DADDY ARE PROUD OF YOU! KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB!"
It's hard to believe that she is soon going to be eleven years old.
Our 1st pride and joy.
Here are some pictures of our 1st pride and joy over the years.
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| Posing with her medal during Sports Day at kindergarten in 2006 |
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| In Primary in 2007... performing during the CNY celebrations in school |
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| June 2006...the Princess celebrating her best buddy Po-Po's birthday |
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| All smiles on her 7th birthday |
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| A Transformation in October 2007... ...the beginnings of the step-mother's eyes and the sour mouth. Can you spot the irritant factor behind her? |
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| Unbelievable... same girl...same period in October 2007. |
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| in 2008...at her favourite place by the pool |
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| Posing with the Little Empress in October 2008 |
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| Best friends for now... |
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| With her littlest sister in April 2009 |
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| In 2010, giving her much-loved brother one of his first bites... |
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| safe in the arms of her hero...her SuperDad (Japan, December 2007) |
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| cuddling up to Mum(CNY 2011) |
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| Posing with her ex-nanny in CNY 2011. A wonderful nanny who took great care of her for 6 years whilst i was trapped in the corporate pressure-cooker. |
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| ...her one-time favourite beverage... |
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| at her favourite place to lay-in...Mum and Dad's bed! |
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| Chilling out with Angel |
Here are masterpieces from the YH Tio Art Gallery:
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| Introducing Serenity @ Dec 2010. My all-time favourite masterpiece of Ms Tio. |
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| The Artist posing with Serenity |
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| Handing over Serenity to her favourite Uncle Serenity now sits proudly in the lobby of Shangri-Ling Resort in Singapore. |
Earlier masterpieces of Ms Tio...
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| "nian-nian-yo-yee" |
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| The artist turns blond on the unveiling of her Golden Retriever masterpiece! |
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| Her First Masterpiece...thanks to Aunty Jaclyn of Flying Colours Studio! |
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| In tribute to Mum's favourite flowers. ...this masterpiece proudly sits in Mum and Dad's room. |
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| Beautiful Flowers |
~ Written by a continuously challenged Mum-of-Four who is relishing in her finger-exercises and who is relieved at finally being able to regurgitate the many thoughts that have been floating in her mind for the past couple of weeks. To ensure that the content retains its relevancy, the constantly challenged writer has had to break the post in various parts. Part II will be written and published as soon as she completes her chauffeur and tutoring duties for the day.
Crazy times...Zoo Member #1 posing with an unidentifiable object!
Editor's note: The writer is glad to note that the ocassional tornado has slowed down its assault as the writer steps up on her nagging as soon as signs of a tornado emerges. Last Saturday was Parents-Teacher's Day a.k.a. Report Card Day. Very encouraging signs as she has shown significant improvement in her studies. Needless to say, Miss T is also very happy that her hard work has paid of. Fingers crossed that she successfully keeps it up.
