Christmas @ ECP

The last time we went ECP was when we had two kids. Now with four, we once again brave the long journey to the happening place. Only this time, we decided that it's more worthwhile for us to rent the big vehicle for safety and practical reasons. The kids really enjoyed the ride with us parents doing all the leg work! *pant pant* 

Enjoying a nap on big bro's shoulders. Aww...

Showed the kids the fungus growing on the logs

The sad part is, the very person who has been harping about going to the beach was too unwell to enjoy the sand! Jayna kept whining about being dizzy despite having drunk lots of fluids. The beach play was cut short and we headed home asap. I had to carry her most of the time and listen to her go on and on about her headache or dizziness. It might have been simply the heat cos the moment we got home and bathed her, she miraculously recovered. Then, she started complaining about not having the chance to build sandcastles... Sigh. What a way to end our Christmas day!

Lying down to rest

Happy with his teether

Taking her afternoon nap

Father and son having all the fun

Last post about Joash

When I first started this blog, I knew that I was taking a risk in exposing too much about my family, especially my children, to the whole wide world. Yet, it is a wonderful way for friends and family who have little opportunity to catch up with us face-to-face to know what's going on in our lives and when we do get to meet up, we actually don't need to start from scratch. The existence of my blog helps us to make use of our precious time together to go into deeper stuff right away. 

This blog has also been my main way of keeping my brains alive, sorting out my thoughts and preventing me from forgetting many important things. There were many moments when I went back to read my previous posts and gained a new perspective on things. It helped remind me of lessons learnt and made me count my blessings and see how God has led me over the years of my homemaking journey. There were even times when other people, strangers and friends alike, found what I shared online helpful to them.

The children love looking at the blog posts whenever I show them to my mum each time we visit her. She is not used to accessing the internet by herself so I have to do it for her. It also helps my kids to talk about their experiences with my mum while we go through the posts, enhancing their relationships.

However, I'm not so sure if the children will appreciate having their private life made public this way beyond their preschool years. With that in mind, I've decided to stop blogging about my children once they reach P1. I figured that they might not want their friends in school to read about what their mother thinks of them currently. They will also not need me to remember things about themselves by age 7 anymore for they can do so on their own. There is also the danger of people with ill intentions to make use of what I share here for their own evil purposes.

With Joash entering Primary school, he has not only graduated from preschool, but from this blog too. I will no longer mention about him unless in passing. The moment Joram also reaches this same stage, will also be the time I will upload my last post on this blog. By then, I will most likely keep a journal offline instead.

It has been such a joy parenting my firstborn. I pray that he will continue to use the gifts God has granted him to benefit others and eventually be a blessing to the nations.

The Tree and I

Eh??? What's that, Mummy?

Do you think I can reach it?

Arrrgghhh.... *straining*

Ok, I get it. I'm not supposed to touch it.

Hot Air Balloon Lanterns

When I saw these lanterns from my friend's Facebook page Most Wonderfully Made, I immediately thought that they would go well with my children's room. Without further ado, I purchased them and hung them up. The kids were delighted with them too! With the rainbow design, the lanterns remind us of God's loving covenant with us. Aren't they simply lovely?

The blue side of the room

The pink side of the room

The lanterns

Close-up

Close-up

Diaperless

Jayna has achieved nighttime dryness! *applause* 

Joash could do it at 4 years old without much fanfare. I simply noticed that he had not been wetting his bedtime diaper for quite some time and asked him if he wanted to wear his underpants to sleep instead. Apart from an accident or two, his transition was almost seamless. 

Jayna, however, needed more motivation. I used the sticker system: 10 consecutive dry diapers in order to proceed to wearing panties. Any leak meant that she had to start all over. It took a few months, but when she finally reached the 10th stickers, to stay dry for another 10 consecutive nights to earn the new set of stickers was a piece of cake for her. (Note the 20 stickers on the sticker board to chart her progress.)

At 4 years 4 months old, Jayna can now say goodbye to diapers for good. 

Joram is sitting up!

Joash's Graduation Concert

Dressed up with make-up

On our way to the venue

Stage costumes

Jayna dancing

Joash dancing

Joash acting as David the shepherd boy

Graduation Ceremony

My heart was swelling with so much emotion that I thought that it could burst. My firstborn son was performing on stage for the first time and graduating from preschool!

I'm so proud of him for doing so well up there. There was absolutely no trace of stage fright. He did his best to smile most of the time and his actions were very timely and confident. He hardly made any mistakes. What a natural! Let's not forget Jayna whose dance steps were gentle and graceful. I'm honestly surprised as I've not really seen them practice their stuff at home. Perhaps a snippet or two which I didn't know to be part of the concert at all. I would have shed tears of joy at the concert if I were not responsible for videography.

Here's a 10 min condensed version of the concert. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!