Christmas at Goodwood Park Hotel

 Celebrated the holiday season with our usual staycation! This time we selected the Goodwood Park Hotel for couple of reasons. Firstly the Christmas trees and lightings were always so majestic and beautiful...set on a hill the colonal structure looks like a huge resort  that makes one feel so at home. The old traditional setting and soothing Christmas lightings brings me back to the good old times where I accompanied my dad to purchase strawberry shortcakes for my birthday. The cakes were way delicious with a thick crusty base, fresh strawberries and creamy layers.. can't seem to find it now.. and i believe that none of the strawberry cakes which i've tasted now can match the sheer goodness of the impression I had of it. Awesome!

Again great service staff and the balloons set out each evening for the guests and visitor made the kids look forward to passing through the lobby area each night..coming back happily with bunch of treasures that kept them occupied throughout the night!

 Hopefully this staycation will leave a memorable impression with the kids just like the way the hotel has impressed me 30 years ago!!

Comics: The Nats

Bring your kids to work part 2

As a kiasu parent I brought all sorts of tools to keep the children entertained. Including but not limited to lunch, snacks, milo packs, ribena, toys, books, crayons, diapers, change of clothes..etc etc. Oh I even brought along a picnic table big enough for 4 little children to carry on with their activities comfortably. 

Nathan was a little grouchy that day having got to wake at 630am to get the all ready and ready to move off by 7am. Natalie was so excited the night before but despite the lack of sleep she thoroughly enjoyed herself that day! There was long kang fishing, balloon sculpting,  stilt walkers and the hilarious clown performance! Kids were given loads of sugar from wonderful young nannies which keeps them fully charged the entire day. 

mama: "Do you want go to work with me again?"

Natalie:"yes everyday please!"

Bring your kids to work part 1

Feeling so excited this morning as I am bringing the kids to work! Hopefully they will last till 430pm without too much fuss. These are the excitements lined up for them:-

Funfilled carnival with well known foodstall operators like ramly burger, qi ji with their yummy nasi lemak and popiah for lunch, old chang kee and not forgetting crusty creme! Yums! And booths of activities for the kids like old time favourites such as longkang fishing, archery, photo booths, balloon sculpting, badge making, sand paper art etc.

Here’s a preview on the draw prizes up for Wins!!!
Lucky draw #1
1st prize: Samsung Galaxy Gear | 2nd prize: Asus Fonepad 8GB | 3rd prize: LG Optimus L3 II  4th prize: Huawei Y300 | 5th prize: Huawei Y210D 1:45pm 

– Lucky Draw #2
1st prize: BlackBerry Z30 | 2nd prize: Sony Xperia V | 3rd prize: BlackBerry Q54th prize: HTC Desire 601 | 5th prize: Samsung Tab 3 7”2:45pm

 – Grand Lucky Draw
1st prize: Samsung Note 3 | 2nd prize: Sony Xperia Z1 | 3rd prize: iPhone 5s (16GB)4th prize: Samsung Galaxy S4 | 5th prize: iPad Air (16GB)

My princess

Teacher Khai

Last sunday we bid goodbye to teacher khai as she moves on from teaching piano lessons to performing. Aa a parent I adore teacher Khai. Her teaching method is gentle but firm and she is engaging and makes us laugh. She has a really sweet voice, sings melodiously and most importantly treats every child in their own special way. Thank you for making piano leasons such a joy! Natalie will miss to you!

Tantrums

Top Tips for Cutting Down Tantrums
Aim for some happy, relaxed times every day – reading a story, visiting the park, playing a game.
Show a good example by remaining calm when times are stressful. This encourages your toddler to do the same.
Cut down negatives – constantly saying ‘No’ will add to a toddler’s frustration. Instead, use phrases like ‘later’, or ‘after lunch’.
Keep aware of new stresses (potty training, starting nursery) that may need more sympathy.
Respect your child’s feelings. Feeling understood will reduce your child’s need for tantrums. Try saying, ‘I know that makes you mad’ or ‘That must have made you feel sad’. Your child will see that their feelings matter and can gradually learn to put them into words, saying “I’m angry” instead of acting it out.
Use positive parenting – plenty of praise and attention for behaviour you do want, trying to ignore as much as possible behaviour you don’t.
Avoid harsh discipline – shouting and punishments only make tantrums worse.
Use humour to defuse tricky situations – silly songs, laughter, making a game of tidying toys can all work brilliantly! A hug or a tickle at the right moment can also change a child’s mood.
Most children do grow out of the need for tantrums when they have more language and understanding. But the way you deal with them in the toddler years is important. If they are handled harshly, with responses like yelling and smacking, or if you constantly ignore their feelings and need for comfort, they may well become worse and carry on for longer.
-supernanny

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Bird park

Bird park ... the place where one visits in primary school and todate it hasn't changed! The breeds are just as scarce and the shows remain the same..same tricks same flight same breed. Brings back lots of childhood memories as we march through the park with the kids! Glad it's kinda unchanged as we could still dream about the times when we were children!

We visited the aviary which seems more crowded than i remembered. More parrots gathered at the boardwalk and waits upon  tourists who want that special moment where they see them in action ...attacking the feeds....up close and personal! 

Brave little Nathan was not afraid of the parrots and held on to the feeding cup happily... not knowing that soon the flock will all land on his stroller and that's when he struggled to resist but was trapped! The harness held him down, but brave little boy used his legs and attempted to kick the birds away! Mummy though scared and was far away with the camera had to come  to his rescue. One swift motion and he's free! opps in coming!!.. the naughty bird decided to attack mummy instead and landed atop my head!! What was it thinking!! It sent me in a crazy woman fenzy trying to scream it away!! scary!!! You could still feel their claws on the top of your skull!!!

Flamingoes!! Ahh the highlight of today'S visit!Natalie Brought her miniature version can you see It in her hand?

I didnt know penguin could grow as tall as 1.32m and weigh 42kg!! You see them next to whales and seals and hmm .. they look really small against the ice berg floor in documentaries! Natalie had a great time feeding the south african temperate breed! Apparently they have expensive taste..shisamo for breakfast lunch and dinner!!

Little conversations

Me: Nathan you got to come drink water"
Nathan: alright, I am coming.
(Continues playing with his planes)
Me:are you coming? Don't make me repeat myself.
Nathan: don't worry. I am coming with my aeroplanes... ... ready steady take off!
(At 2 years old he is already managing my expectations! Oh my!)

Natalie: *sulking*
Nathan: "what are you doing?. Are you crying?"
Natalie: "some one took my stickers in school! *wailing*
Nathan: naughty your friend? Jie jie don't cry.  I lend you my lightning Mcqueen pants and baju(clothes in Indonesia).
Natalie:*Loud wailing*
Nathan: how about my cars? ..I beat your naughty friend k. Don't cry. "

(He is such a good brother! So much generosity displayed as he is willing to give his favourite things to cheer his sister up!)