Rachel & Sarah

Today, Daddy brought us to his friend's house for a Chinese New Year gathering. Uncle Nick's two daughters - Rachel and Sarah - were also there.

I had so much fun playing with Rachel and Sarah, as well as the host, Auntie Angela's daughter En-en.

Auntie Angela's house is very big, just like Lao Ma's place, but their garden is way bigger and with a swing. We ran around the garden, played on the swing, pretended we were having a picnic and also play ball.

After we left Auntie Angela's place, Uncle Nick brought Sarah and Rachel to visit our house. I happily showed them around the house, pointing out each room to them. I also shared my toys with them.

We went for dinner together. Initially, we had wanted to go to Ikea's Smaland together. But it was quite late after dinner and Rachel and Sarah needs to go back home to rest.

But sweet Mommy and Daddy still brought me to Smaland to play! Yeah!

It was a long and tiring day but I had so much fun!

恭喜恭喜，发财！

大年初一，爸爸妈妈带我和弟弟到国家博物院去参观。本来很快乐的一天，结果被我搞砸了。

我无缘无故发脾气，大庭广众之下哭闹不停，惹得爸爸妈妈很生气。后来，我很后悔。幸好，爸爸妈妈接受了我的道歉。

我们先到爷爷、嫲嫲家拜年，然后再到老嫲家吃晚餐。

过年真好，一句“恭喜恭喜，发财”之后，长辈们就会给我们红包。妈妈说，把红包里的钱储蓄起来，以后就可以买很多我想要的东西！

Dylan loves to read

Our little boy has taken a liking for reading.

One of the things he will do when he wakes up in the morning is to point to the box containing all the story books and says "booK". In the evening when hubby and I are back from work, he will grab a book from the box, pass it to one of us, then sit on our lap and wait to be read to.

His speech development seems way faster than Tessa. He is able to articulate many words correctly. He says "book", "light", "night", "bus" with careful emphasis on the end sound ('K', 'T' and 'S'). He is trying to pronounce multi-syllable words like 'morning', 'crocodile', 'monkey'. He will squat down and shout 'DOWN'; and 'UP' as he stands up. It is fun watching him learn and develop.

Family photo shoot

We went for a family photo shoot on 15 January. Here's a sneak preview of the photos.

春节习俗

1、家家办年货
春节期间在外地学习、工作或做生意的亲人要回家团聚，亲戚朋友要上门“拜年”。迎来送往，接待频繁，所以必须在过小年之前就开始置办年货。买回家人喜欢吃的鸡鸭鱼肉，购好接待客人用的烟酒茶食，置好香烛和烟花爆竹等。每当隆冬腊月到来时，家家户户要“杀年猪”，“处鸡鸭”，自行熏制干鱼腊肉、干鸡腊兔等农家特色土菜，还要做年糕，碾糌粑，蒸糯米泡甜酒；炒好花生、瓜子、炸好巧果、地瓜片等。加上自己家里留下的部分蜜桔。另在市场上买回一些时兴水果、糖果、糕点等。年货添置十分丰富，多彩多姿。目的是要让前来拜年做客的亲友都有他们自己喜欢的食物。

2、户户大清扫
“腊月二十四，掸尘扫房子” ，据《吕氏春秋》记载，中国在尧舜时代就有春节扫尘的风俗。按民间的说法：因“尘”与“陈”谐音，新春扫尘有“除陈布新”的涵义，其用意是要把一切穷运、晦气统统扫出门。这一习俗寄托着人们破旧立新的愿望和辞旧迎新的祈求。 每逢春节来临，家家户户都要打扫环境，清洗各种器具，拆洗被褥窗帘，洒扫六闾庭院，掸拂尘垢蛛网，疏浚明渠暗沟。到处洋溢着欢欢喜喜搞卫生、干干净净迎新春的欢乐气氛。“有钱没钱，剃头过年”是旧时代的一句俗话。男人剪头发剃胡子，女人也要整发美容，小孩也兴理个发，如今都不算什么稀罕事了。这样，才能做到清清洁洁过新年。另外还要添置新衣服，鞋帽等，全家人打扮一新，新年新风貌。

3、祭祀灶神爷
农历十二月二十四日（又称“小年节”，或称“祭灶节”，“新年”）这天，旧有“祭灶神”的习俗。据说，灶神爷（又称“司命菩萨”）是天皇玉帝派到人间来监督和奖惩人们的善恶之神。家家都有，每年在过小年的晚上，上天堂向玉帝汇报人间的善恶情况。信奉佛教和道教的乡民为其设祭送行，谓之“祭灶”。其实在汉以前祭灶是在夏天。相传，在汉代阴子方在腊月晨见灶神，以黄羊祭之，因而大富，后遂改以腊月为“祭灶日”。是日，家家户户在灶前贴两匹灶君升天时骑的“纸马”，用果酒、糕饼、纸帛作祭。并敬以麦芽糖，意为粘住灶神的嘴巴，不让他在玉帝面前说话。或用酒糟涂抹灶门上，以醉灶神，在玉帝面前不能说话，就是说话，玉帝听到的也只是一些胡言乱语，不足以信。

4、贴春联
春联，是我国最早出现且应用范围最广的对联形式之一。多用来表达人们除旧迎新的喜悦和继往开来的奋斗精神。每当春节来临，家家户户都要在大门两侧贴上一幅春联（现在凡有门窗处都贴对联），还有横披。这样就给本来热闹祥和的节日增添了更加浓郁的喜庆气氛。

5、吃团年饭
等待外地的亲人赶回家中之后，家家户户在大年那天中午要张罗一桌特别丰盛的宴席。鸡鸭鱼肉，山珍海味等十多盆美味佳肴，摆满大圆桌。白酒、啤酒、饮料款款齐备。全家围席而座，大吃大喝，谓之“吃团年饭”。席间，父子、夫妻、爷孙、兄弟、姐妹互相敬酒敬菜，欢声笑语，热闹非凡，祥和至极，幸福无比。只有桌上那大盘里盛的大鲤鱼是只看不动筷子的“看碟”，要待正月初一那天到了才可以吃的。这意味着全家喜庆，年年有鱼（余）。要是动了筷子，戳烂了或吃掉了，旧年就没有鱼（余）了，新年也没有鱼（余）了。老人们就会认为这是不吉利的，会弄得全家不高兴。因此，吃年饭之前，长辈们要告诉小孩们，做到人人自觉维护“年年有鱼”的局面，以长保家庭富裕幸福、和睦吉祥。

6、熬年守岁
守岁，就是在旧年的最后一天夜里不睡觉，熬夜迎接新一年的到来的习俗，也叫除夕守岁，俗名“熬年”。探究这个习俗的来历，在民间流传着一个有趣的故事：太古时期，有一种凶猛的怪兽，散居在深山密林中，人们管它们叫“年”。它的形貌狰狞，生性凶残，专食飞禽走兽、鳞介虫豸，一天换一种口味，从磕头虫一直吃到大活人，让人谈“年”色变。后来，人们慢慢掌握了“年”的活动规律，它是每隔三百六十五天窜到人群聚居的地方尝一次口鲜，而且出没的时间都是在天黑以后，等到鸡鸣破晓，它们便返回山林中去了。

算准了“年”肆虐的日期，百姓们便把这可怕的一夜视为关口来煞，称作“年关”，并且想出了一整套过年关的办法：每到这一天晚上，每家每户都提前做好晚饭，熄火净灶，再把鸡圈牛栏全部拴牢，把宅院的前后门都封住，躲在屋里吃“年夜饭”，由于这顿晚餐具有凶吉未卜的意味，所以置办得很丰盛，除了要全家老小围在一起用餐表示和睦团圆外，还须在吃饭前先供祭祖先，祈求祖先的神灵保佑，平安地度过这一夜，吃过晚饭后，谁都不敢睡觉，挤坐在一起闲聊壮胆。就逐渐形成了除夕熬年守岁的习惯。

守岁习俗兴起于南北朝，梁朝的不少文人都有守岁的诗文。“一夜连双岁，五更分二年。”人们点起蜡烛或油灯，通宵守夜，象征着把一切邪瘟、病疫照跑驱走，期待着新的一年吉祥如意。这种风俗被人们流传至今。

7、拜年
新年的初一，人们都早早起来，穿上最漂亮的衣服，打扮得整整齐齐，出门去走亲访友，相互拜年，恭祝来年大吉大利。拜年的方式多种多样，有的是同族长带领若干人挨家挨户地拜年；有的是同事相邀几个人去拜年；也有大家聚在一起相互祝贺，称为“团拜”。由于登门拜年费时费力，后来一些上层人物和士大夫便使用各贴相互投贺，由此发展出来后来的“贺年片”。

春节拜年时，晚辈要先给长辈拜年，祝长辈人长寿安康，长辈可将事先准备好的压岁钱分给晚辈，据说压岁钱可以压住邪祟，因为“岁”与“祟”谐音，晚辈得到压岁钱就可以平平安安度过一岁。压岁钱有两种，一种是以彩绳穿线编作龙形，置于床脚，此记载见于《燕京岁时记》；另一种是最常见的，即由家长用红纸包裹分给孩子的钱。压岁钱可在晚辈拜年后当众赏给，亦可在除夕夜孩子睡着时，由家长偷偷地放在孩子的枕头底下。现在长辈为晚辈分送压岁钱的习俗仍然盛行。

龙年来咯！

春节对于华人来说应该是最重要的节日，然而过年的气氛似乎越来越淡。

小时候，我还相当期待过年，有新衣服、新鞋子；可以吃零食、喝汽水、领红包。

现在过年，我必须张罗、准备，结果就变得不再向往、期待过年。大过年的，必须准备向父母送礼（代女婿做的）、大扫除、给孩子添新衣新鞋、准备红包等等，琐碎的事还真不少。

尽管如此，许多过年的礼仪和习俗已经简化很多了，有的甚至已经省略掉。

唉！雨桐和宇哲对于过年根本没有什么概念，而我们也不曾向他们灌输春节的重要性。我在想是不是应该教导他们春节的意义，让他们知道新年到底有哪些习俗，而这些习俗又有什么含意。Hmmm....

好吧孩子，下面是春节的简介：

春节，是农历正月初一，又叫阴历年，俗称“过年”。这是我国民间最隆重、最热闹的一个传统节日。春节的历史很悠久，它起源于殷商时期年头岁尾的祭神祭祖活动。按照我国农历，正月初一古称元日、元辰、元正、元朔、元旦等，俗称年初一，到了民国时期，改用公历，公历的一月一日称为元旦，把农历的一月一日叫春节。

春节到了，意味着春天将要来临，万象复苏草木更新，新一轮播种和收获季节又要开始。人们刚刚度过冰天雪地草木凋零的漫漫寒冬，早就盼望着春暖花开的日子，当新春到来之际，自然要充满喜悦载歌载舞地迎接这个节日。

千百年来，人们使年俗庆祝活动变得异常丰富多彩，每年从农历腊月二十三日起到年三十，民间把这段时间叫做“迎春日”，也叫“扫尘日”，在春节前扫尘搞卫生，是我国人民素有的传统习惯。

然后就是家家户户准备年货，节前十天左右，人们就开始忙于采购物品，年货包括鸡鸭鱼肉、茶酒油酱、南北炒货、糖饵果品，都要采买充足，还要准备一些过年时走亲访友时赠送的礼品，小孩子要添置新衣新帽，准备过年时穿。

在节前要在住宅的大门上粘贴红纸黄字的新年寄语，也就是用红纸写成的春联。屋里张贴色彩鲜艳寓意吉祥的年画，心灵手巧的姑娘们剪出美丽的窗花贴在窗户上，门前挂大红灯笼或贴福字及财神、门神像等，福字还可以倒贴，路人一念福倒了，也就是福气到了，所有这些活动都是要为节日增添足够的喜庆气氛。

春节的另一名称叫过年。在过去的传说中，年是一种为人们带来坏运气的想象中的动物。年一来。树木凋蔽，百草不生；年一过，万物生长，鲜花遍地。年如何才能过去呢？需用鞭炮轰 ，于是有了燃鞭炮的习俗，这其实也是烘托热闹场面的又一种方式。

春节是个欢乐祥和的节日，也是亲人团聚的日子，离家在外的孩子在过春节时都要回家欢聚。过年的前一夜，就是旧年的腊月三十夜，也叫除夕，又叫团圆夜，在这新旧交替的时候，守岁是最重要的年俗活动之一，除夕晚上，全家老小都一起熬年守岁，欢聚酣饮，共享天伦之乐，北方地区在除夕有吃饺子的习俗，饺子的作法是先和面，和字就是合；饺子的饺和交谐音，合和交有相聚之意，又取更岁交子之意。在南方有过年吃年糕的习惯，甜甜的粘粘的年糕，象征新一年生活甜蜜蜜，步步高。

待第一声鸡啼响起，或是新年的钟声敲过，街上鞭炮齐鸣，响声此起彼伏，家家喜气洋洋，新的一年开始了，男女老少都穿着节日盛装，先给家族中的长者拜年祝寿，节中还有给儿童压岁钱，吃团年饭，初二、三就开始走亲戚看朋友，相互拜年，道贺祝福，说些恭贺新喜、恭喜发财、恭喜、过年好等话，祭祖等活动。

节日的热烈气氛不仅洋溢在各家各户，也充满各地的大街小巷，一些地方的街市上还有舞狮子，耍龙灯，演社火，游花市，逛庙会等习俗。这期间花灯满城，游人满街，热闹非凡，盛况空前，直要闹到正月十五元宵节过后，春节才算真正结束了。

春节是汉族最重要的节日，但是满、蒙古，瑶、壮、白、高山、赫哲、哈尼、达斡尔、侗、黎等十几个少数民族也有过春节的习俗，只是过节的形式更有自己的民族特色，更蕴味无穷。

称呼长辈

那天和同事聊天，她说起丈夫的表侄儿、侄女从小到大从来不曾称呼她。他们的父母亲也不曾教导或督促他们必须称呼她，因为她是长辈。我说，孩子们不知道怎么称呼，而且在家里父母亲自己本身可能从来不曾称呼长辈，所以就不曾教导孩子称呼长辈的重要性。

从小到大，我们家里就非常严格地‘规定’我们必须称呼长辈。我们的家规就是：出门前知会长辈；进门后、吃饭前‘叫人’（称呼长辈）；睡觉前向长辈道晚安等。

对于我们来说，这已成为我们的习惯。习惯一旦养成了，就连邻居、亲戚、朋友，只要是长辈，我们见了面都会客气地称呼、打招呼。一直以来，大家都称赞我们家的孩子家教好、懂礼貌、懂得尊敬长辈。在学校里，我也一直是老师喜欢的学生，因为我懂得尊师重道。

要孩子懂得尊敬、懂得孝顺、懂得以礼待人；就得从家里做起，父母亲必须是孩子们的镜子，先做个好榜样。要不然，以后就不要埋怨孩子走进走出家门当自己（父母）是透明的。

我要雨桐和宇哲成为别人口中乖巧、懂事、孝顺、有礼貌的孩子，所以我更要检讨自己的言行举止和处事态度。

身为母亲后，我发现自己的言行举止对孩子造成影响是很深远的。我们说话的方式，他们会跟；我们待人的态度，他们会学。说真的，有时发完脾气后，才觉悟到我没有设立一个好榜样给孩子学习。后知后觉。真的得时时提醒自己，严以律己、宽以待人。上梁不正、下梁怎么可能不歪呢？

Little girl has hives

Last night, we found some red spots on Tessa's face, legs and body that looked like mosquito bites. However, it soon spread all over her.

The little girl was grouchy and whiny because she was feeling itchy all over. Granny had to apply calamine lotion all over her.

I told Mom that I suspected it's hives and they should disappear on their own.

This morning, when I checked on her before leaving for work, she was sound asleep and the hives were gone. But Mom said she was up and scratching till 4am.

Poor granny and little girl. They both had a rough night because of the nasty hives.

I told Daddy about the hives. He has absolutely no idea what they are.

Dear, you can read about hives here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001848/

Dylan - 1 year 4 months old

0 to 1 year old



1 to 2 years old (currently 16 months old)

Tessa - 3 years 8 months old

0 to 1 year old



1 to 2 years old



2 to 3 years old



3 to 4 years old



Three more months to her 4th birthday... Time really flies!

Girls!

“Girls are complicated. The instruction manual that comes with girls is 800 pages, with chapters 14, 19, 26 and 32 missing, and it’s badly translated, hard to figure out.”

- Hugh Laurie

Saw this on a blog and thought it very aptly describes our little girl. Right Daddy?

All grown-up?

This morning, Tessa woke up with a huge insect bite on her thigh. For some reasons, insect bites will always appear red and very swollen on her.

She claimed that the insect bite area is painful and launched into a melo-drama at home. Crying and throwing tantrums. After Yeye managed to pacify and soothe her, she came running to me asking me to check her temperature to see if she's having a fever. Ahhh....

I did and declared her a clean bill of health. Then she showed me the insect bite and said it's painful, hinting a possibility that she can't go to school.

As she was washing up and brushing her teeth, I told her that if she is not feeling unwell, she should go to school, especially when her teachers and friends are preparing for the Chinese New Year celebrations, they would need her to be around.

She replied, "Alright Mom, I know I know..." in a tone that makes me wonder if I am speaking with a 13-year-old or 3-year-old.

Poor Lao Ma

Lao Ma fell at home last Sunday and is now hospitalised.

We were at Lao Ma's place when it happened. Mommy was feeding noodles to me and Dylan. All of a sudden, we heard a loud thud from upstairs. We thought something fell. Kheng Ah Mah went upstairs to check and screamed for help.

We all ran upstairs to find Lao Ma on the floor next to her bed. Apparently, she tried to get up to go to the washroom but was feeling dizzy and fell.

Giam Giam Daddy and Georgie Yeye did not dare to move her as we do not know if she has broken any bones. Georgie Yeye immediately called for the ambulance, which arrived within minutes. The officers went upstairs to put Lao Ma onto the stretcher and carried her downstairs and into the ambulance.

I was very upset that Lao Ma fell and hurt herself.

Yesterday, I went to the hospital to visit Lao Ma with Mommy, Ah Mah, Yeye and Dylan. Lao Ma looked a lot better. I sayang Lao Ma and it makes her happy.

I wish Lao Ma will get well soon enough to go home and make yummy fries for me to eat!

Gardens by the Bay

It was raining just as we set out to go to the Gardens by the Bay.

Both Dylan and I fell asleep on our way there.

It was still raining when we reached, but Daddy decided to wait because he thinks that it was only a passing shower. True enough, the rain stopped shortly after.

It was a beautiful place. Although I was grouchy at first, I was drawn in by the beautiful scenary. We can see the Marina Bay Sands resort as well as the Singapore Flyer.

Dylan with Daddy

Turning from grouchy to smiley.

I like this place, it was spacious enough for me to try out my ballerina poses.

Back to school!

Holiday is over! :(

It's time to go back to school again. I am now in Nursery 2 Dr Seuss class.

Mommy said that Dylan will start school in March and I have been tasked to take care of Dylan. I will teach Dylan to eat his lunch, go to sleep by himself during nap time, be good when Auntie showers him, go to the toilet, etc.

Mommy, I will make sure that Dylan be a good boy in school, OK?

Changi Village

This morning, Daddy brought us for breakfast at Changi Village. The cafe he has intended to bring us was closed, so we had breakfast at the coffee shop instead.

After breakfast, we took a walk along the Changi Coastal Walk. It was such a warm day that we were not exactly in the mood for walks.

Happy 2012!

We ushered in the new year amidst sounds of fireworks from not so far away.

The kids were asleep by then. Dylan was in my arms. What a way to bring in 2012.

I wish for good health, more laughter, more joy and more fun in the new year!

Cheers!