JD’s school organised a visit to the zoo a week ago.  I didn’t volunteer myself to tag along, coz with a 38 weeks belly, walking and standing with this heavy belly of mine is just way too hard.

He had a great time, and apparently he was one of the few kids that fell asleep on the school bus on the way back from zoo, and his teacher had to carry him back into the classroom.  He was still sleeping on the mat whenI got to school to pick him up.  He was a tired little boy from all the walking and excitement at the zoo.

JD said his favourite was the tiger snake, he loves listening to the stories at the zoo.  He talked non-stop about what he saw and in the evening, he sat down quietly at the table on his own initiative and drew out what he remembered.

(JD’s narration:  I saw the gorillas at the zoo.  They were running around, and threw the leaves down from the tree.  They were also eating bananas.)

I love his drawing.   The way some monkeys have their backs to the spectators.  It was very much the way he saw it.  When he showed his picture to his class teachers the next day, they were amazed, as it was exactly the way the monkeys were at the zoo.

A few times each week after school, I will sit down with JD to do a few activities.  Sometimes we spend time drawing, writing, reading, going through what he learnt in school and etc.

This afternoon, I had them both sitting at my table.  JD was doing his diary, while Miss C, I have no idea.

I think she just wanted to be “included” as always, so I taught her to identify her written name..but then she got bored and was more interested in drawing circles again.

(Mummy said: “Chloe, this is Chloe’s name)

(Chloe said: But mummy I just want to draw circles)

(Drawing circles, colouring in is her favourite at the moment, give her pieces of paper, some marker pens and she is happy)

(Then mummy said I can’t be drawing circles everyday, and wanted me to learn phonics alongside my brother…and I guess I will oblige…but really I am BORED!)

Lately, my increasing belly is really inhibiting me from doing a few things…I am getting really tired and my husband when possible has been taking over lots of evening activities with the kids.

He makes sure the kids brush their teeth, gone to the toilet, change into pyjamas, hurry them to bed…and a story or two before tucking them in.

JD and Chloe love their dad.  They really do.  My husband spends an incredibly amount of time at work everyday, sometimes he is gone even before the kids wake in the morning.  So that evening time is very precious for them all.

The other night as I was cleaning up the kitchen, my husband spent the time reading to the kids.  There were lots of giggles, laughs, real happy ones.  I couldn’t help but to sneak in quietly and captured the special moment.

JD attentively listened to the story, Miss Chloe climbed onto her daddy’s back, and my husband happily and willingly let the kids be!

It’s love, it’s beautiful.

According to Wikepedia, Nesting Instint in humans mean: “It is commonly characterized by a strong urge to clean and organize one’s home, and is one reason why couples who are expecting a baby often reorganize, arrange, and clean the house and surroundings.

I was on the go last night, at 10.30pm, when the whole house is sound asleep…

- I unloaded the dishwasher and put all the clean dishes back into the drawers and cupboards

- Then I loaded it with another round of dirty dishes

- I then decided to iron my husband’s business shirts.  This is very unusual because I hate ironing!  (Also a confession:  I have not ironed my husband’s business shirts for at least 3 years, he took over that task that long ago!)

- Then I ironed my son’s school uniforms, all 5 sets, from Monday to Friday

- And then I thought the floor felt a bit dirty and I wanted to vacuum.  Instead I swept the floor.

- Finally, I mopped the floor

- Then I sat down and folded four loads of laundry and sorted them

Today….

- I made steamed radish cake

- I baked 40 little cherry almond cookies

- I then washed my kitchen windows (all 6 of them!)

- Then I proceeded to cleaning all the windows and doors in my kid’s activity area

- And lastly I went outside to clean the backyard

Okay, I shall stop cleaning. 

I need to repeat after myself  ”Stop Cleaning!”

Honestly, I really can’t see my toes from the top!  It’s amazing how far our tummy can stretch!

Mother’s Day 2009 was a special quiet day for me. A good and reassuring kind of quietness.  The kind of quietness I need.  I chose to stay home after the Sunday service.  I wasn’t keen on all the celebrations this year, but instead chose a quiet afternoon with my children at home.  As I await the arrival of my third child in a few weeks time, I spent my afternoon watching my 2 older children, and spending some time with them.

There they were, both wanting to sit next to my desk.  JD has a sudden interest in learning Chinese characters, but this interest comes and go all the time.  (Note to Grandparents:  Please do not get overly excited about JD’s interest in writing Chinese characters).  He drew a house for his teddy bear, then he proceeded to writing “My Teddy Bear’s House” but realised he was running out of room, then he wanted to write numerals in Chinese characters…

Miss C next to him wasn’t going to lose out either.  She is into drawing circles, colouring within the line, cutting along the line and trying very very hard to write her name.

As for me, I was actually squeezed to the edge of my work desk, very uncomfortable with a very round belly. 

That was Mother’s Day at home.

But, I got very pampered the Friday just before Mother’s Day.  JD’s class teachers invited all the mums for a “Foot Pamper”. Oooooo. 

It was very sweet.  Each child included mine was given a small tub of warm water (just nice, not too hot, not too cold), scattered with rose petals from the school garden.  With a sponge in his hand, JD gently, keenly washed and scrubbed my feet.  He exfoliated them with a beautiful strawberry scrub, before massaging them with his 2 little hands and moisturise it with tons of love.  It was so sweet. And it didn’t stop there.  He then applied a layer of pink nail polish on all my toe and finger nails.  (Heehee, never mind it was smudged, great practice for their hand/eye/ fine motor skills, hee).    

(Picture taken on 8th May 2009.  JD’s pre-preprimary class teachers invited all the mums for a foot pampering experience to celebrate Mother’s Day).

(Picture taken on 8th May 2009.  JD’s present for me on Mother’s Day.  A card he wrote himself and a ceramic hanging plaque he made himself for my bedroom wall).

At our Mother’s Day service this morning, the musician composed a song “My mum is better than your mum” for all the mothers in church.

But here’s my own version for my mum.

“My mum is better than your mum”

My mum is better than your mum

Coz she DIY everything

My mum is better than your mum

Coz she turned recycled wood to

A chook house

A study table

A book shelf

A shoe cabinet

My mum is better than your mum

Coz she owned a 2 wheel transport

With zero carbon emission

Saving the environment

And doing her bits for the mother earth

My mum is better than your mum

Coz she owns a good pair of stare

That even a rebel is tamed

Bringing one weak to their knees

My mum is better than your mum

Coz she owns a cool planner

Move over Blackberry

Hello, 30pgs notepad

Coz it’s recyclable

And better for the mother earth

My mum is better than your mum

Coz she owns 40yo plus wok

Perfectly seasoned

Delivered 48,000 meals, 96,000 dishes and a little more

And who needs the soya sauce, oyster sauce, MSG…

My mum is better than your mum

Coz armed with an Acer laptop

She emails, Skype, blogs, google

What’s next I guess?

My mum is better than your mum