Dilemmas

Yesterday was quite an unbelievable day. We did so much yet so little. We went swimming and Lucas forgotten all his swimming technics. Worse is he refused to practice it. During our one and a half hour in the pool, he only practiced three times.
He will sit on the ladder, giving excuses or reasons why he doesn't want to swim or not ready to swim. Only his father has the patience to listen to him.

After 30 mins of talking, he will take one plunge. He did not make it to the second line. Here. Dominic was standing on the first line. Then he will talked again for another 30 mins. So, in 1 1/2 hour, he made the plunge three times.

I'm on wits end. I'm thinking of sending him for intensive swimming during his December school holidays. 2 hours a day, 5 days a week until he gets it (hopefully before the school starts in January). That will also costs us a bomb, about RM4000 (US$1300)! What should I do - push him and spend the money or just let him take his time and save us some money??

Chloe is starting her nursery next year. She will be attending school 5 days a week from 8.30am to 12 noon. She is given a seat by her current playschool. I was thinking of sending her to Lucas's former nursery. Her current school has very good facilities and teachers, teaches in English and Mandarin but very expensive. Lucas's former nursery has a very good teacher, who can teaches the kids to be independent very effectively, at half the current school's fee. After some deliberation, Dominic said 'Let's for once give the girl something better than the brother. The boy has always been getting the good things'. So, I suppose decision is made.

We are going to Germany this coming April! Will be flying Airbus 380. Lots of planning to do for the trip.

Easier

Lucas is having his one week school holiday. His school has the equal number of holidays and school days in a year. Just when I thought he settled nicely when the new academic year started, he is in a week holiday! However, Chloe still has her playschool. So, I took Lucas with me to Chloe's school. He went to the playground, had snack and went to the picnic with Chloe's play-dates.

As usual, he fills his time playing iPad, TV and kick balls. I had to control his iPad time or else it can be his activity for all his waking hours. He had 30 words he needs to read and spell (work from school) and I gave him some Math to do. So, one day I asked:

Me: Lucas, what is 4*7 ?
Lucas: (thinking hard)
Me: You plus 7 four times. 7+7+7+7
Lucas: (still thinking)
Me: what is 7+7 ?
Lucas: 14
Me: what is 14+7 ?
Lucas: (after thinking for a few seconds) It is easier if it is 14 + 14. That's 28.
Me: Hmmm...that's true. It is easier.

To practice his spelling, Lucas has a handwriting book with lines to guide him. One day, Chloe open Lucas's handwriting book and saw all the empty pages and said 'Ko-ko is such lazy boy'. I cannot helped but burst into laughter. This girl is fierce.

Last weekend, we went swimming. Lucas has forgotten about all his swimming technics! He forgot how to hold his breath underwater, forgot his hands and legs movement. Usually he can swim 2 lines across the pool, but last weekend, he couldn't do it and not very comfortable again. Yesterday, Dominic asked if he wants to go swimming. Initially he said yes. Then Dominic said he had to swim across 2 lines before he can play his water gun in the kiddy pool. Lucas then chose not to go swimming at all. Sigh...I need to get him continue with proper swimming lesson. Guess just have to push him until he can swims.

Grandpa teaching him Geography

Chloe at her school picnic.

The gate-crasher at his sister's picnic

Having fun

In front of the Halloween shop

Chloe in Punjabi suit for her school Diwali celebration.

The gate-crasher is there again...

Play-dates nowadays involves iPad. Lucas and his classmate are showing each other the latest and coolest games.

Meeting with Teacher

Yesterday was our session with Lucas's teacher to talk about his progress in school. He has been with this teacher for 2 months. Well, there were no surprises. The teacher pretty much said the same thing as last year's teacher. Consistent behaviour. He is above his peers in numeracy and literacy but he doesn't like drawing, coloring, singing and dancing. The teacher showed us his drawing and coloring work, and I must said it is pretty much as how he drew since 2 years ago. The human is still in 'stick' form. One color for the whole face. The teacher said he will do the drawing and coloring with hesitation but he will just do it to get it over with. During music class, he is the only person who does not participate. When we get home, we asked him why he behaves in such manner. His reply, 'It is so boring!'. What can I say?? Should I just let it be and let him get over it since drawing, coloring, singing and dancing are not essential survival skills? No?

And I'm meeting Chloe's teacher this Thursday to talk about her progress. Wonder what will the teacher says.

Calm After the Storm

The dead rats are finally disposed off and there is no smell in the house, after 3-4 days of high drama. Life is back to normal.....

Lucas had his last swimming lesson last Thursday and he made very good progress. I'm very happy and think the swimming fee is money well spent. He is very comfortable in putting his head underwater and that is battle half won. He can do short distant of breast stroke and free style. But of course, he still doesn't know how to put his head off the water to breathe and thread water. Well...slowly. The sad news is he is not continuing with the swimming. He said he wanted to continue next year and the instructor also has no free slot for weekdays afternoon. Meanwhile, Dominic will have to be his instructor and continue practicing his strokes.

Chloe, the dancing and singing queen, is growing fast. She picks up pretty much everything from her brother. If her brother doesn't want any food, she will say no as well without even trying. Sometimes, she even bosses her brother around, commanding the brother to sit down and eat his food, don't do this, don't do that.

Later today, we have an appointment to meet Lucas's teacher to talk about his progress in school.
Me: Lucas, I'm meeting Ms M (his teacher) on Monday. What do you want me to tell her?
Lucas: Don't tell Ms M that I am very naughty, ok.

What A Week!!

So far, this is the most 'interesting' and headache week. I talked about rats paying us a visit last week. Well, I called the pest control people and they came. They helped to cover the hole in the attic and put some baits for the rats. It sure worked!! A few days ago, I found dead rats in my attic!! Being in the attic, I am not able to see the dead rats until it smelled and it sure stink the house!! One rat died on the trap and was easy to find. Another died underneath the water tank. Thank goodness the water tank cover is secured. The rat that died underneath the water tank was hard to be removed cause there is little space to put the hand and hood in to get it. Now, I am waiting for the contractor to cut the ceiling where the dead rat is. My goodness...what a headache and not to mention we had to endure the stinking smell. Luckily the bedroom was spared from the smell or else it will be hard to sleep. It is much simpler to live in a condo!

A new headache just emerged. The water pipe to the washing machine burst and the water is leaking underground!! I have to call a contractor to hack the cement and look for the leak. Another mess! And water bill is going to be high this month. And to add salt to the wound, the contractor had more pressing problem to attend - my neighbour had a burst pipe and the ceiling is all wet. I now have to wait for the contractor to fix the neighbour's problem before he can attends to me. Why can't the developer get the plumbing right when they first built it, and of course the problem only occurs after the warranty has lapsed! Oh......the saying 'we are slaves to our possessions' is sooooo true.

Ms Bossy Bear and Mr Smart Aleck

We always think our kids are not normal. But then again, there is not much comparison as we don't know our friends' kids that well.

Chloe: Mom, I want to watch Thomas, the Train.
Me: Where did you put the CD?
Chloe: I don't know, you look for it.
Me: (looking at the CDs pile) I don't see Thomas, the Train.
Chloe: Where, where is it??
Me: I don't know. Maybe it is still inside the DVD player. (look for the portable CD player and found the CD)
Me: It's here!
Chloe: Why didn't you look there (point at the portable CD player. What she meant was why didn't I know it is there!)

Chloe: Mom, switch on the air-con.
Me: No, ko-ko is coughing. No air-con.
Chloe: Just switch it on!

Chloe: Mom, I want to hold my balloon.
Me: The balloon in the car boot. When the car stops, I will give you the balloon.
Car stopped at the traffic light...
Chloe: Mom, I want the balloon.
Me: Wait...
Chloe: But the car stopped already..
Me: When we get home and the car stop.. (I have to be very specific from now on)
Dom: Her logic is very good also..

Lucas and Dominic playing the name the country game...
Dom: What country starts with N?
Lucas: I know....North Pole
Dom: North Pole is not a country, it is a point in the Arctic. North Pole has no flag.
Lucas: North Pole has no flag because it is too cold. The flag will be destroyed outside.

Coming Apart

This week is a real 'adventure' week as Lucas might called it. Almost all gadgets in the house decided that they need to see their 'doctor' and so are my 2 kids. The kids are down with cough and flu and had to visit paediatrician twice. Then, the water filter decided to take a rest and stopped filtering. The water to the washing machine is brown. The garden and the hedge need to be trimmed. The hose to the toilet decided to take a leak. The lights in the garden decided to fuse each time they are switched on. The cooking hood decided to send the smell to the whole house. The air-cons haven't been service since they are installed. What else.....the rat decided to come pay us a visit. So, here I am calling all the 'doctors' for servicing and waiting for them to come and save me.

An interesting week indeed.

Lucas is 5!

Happy Birthday, darling.

Admiring all the presents.

Even Chloe has lots of presents.

On Oct 5, 2006, I was not working. Dominic took some days off. I was rescheduled to be admitted to hospital at 9pm. So, we took our time, drove around looking for food. We saw durian, and Dominic asked if I wanted some. I was tempted but had to resist. The doctor would cursed me if I do eat the durian. I was scheduled for caesarian at 9am the next day. For dinner, Dominic cooked spaghetti cabonara. After dinner, I had my shower and washed my hair and checked myself in the hoospital. At 9+am the next day, Lucas was born. Fast forward 5 years, we celebrated Lucas' 5th birthday.

He is 5 and for presents, he asked for 2 paid games for the iPad. He chose Fruit Ninja and was so engrossed that he forgot about this second paid games. We did not have to give him other presents. He got lots from grandparents and relatives from Germany. Even Chloe received just as many presents. It is more like Christmas than birthday. I am keeping the presents I intended to give them for Christmas instead.

He asked for a Angry Bird cake to bring to school to share with his classmates. The angry bird with long beak that can turns into boomerang. I brought that particular bird sticker to the cake shop and asked them to make it. The beak in the cake turns our to be sooo short. But Lucas is pleased with it nevertheless. So, it is ok. I bought a raspberry torte cake for home and it was delicious. We had roast chicken for dinner. If it is weekend, we probably would have gone out for dinner.

So, now that the boy is 5, he asked his father, 'Dad, now that I am 5 year old, can I go to bed at 9.30pm instead of 9pm?'. And his father said, 'Ask your Mommy'.