Happy 70th Birthday Opa!

 

Birthday blessings to the eldest elder in the house! 

May your days be long and full and satisfying.

YUMS: French Fold

Had a really nice belated breakfast treat from Weyyean at French Fold this morning. We split a sweet and savoury crepe between us. These thin little things are deceptively filling so while I harboured ideas of ordering a third just after we gave the waitress our order, I was glad I didn't.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Birthday blessings abound for this man as he celebrates his birthday right after mine! The boys and I hope you feel loved and cherished all the year through and not just today. Thank you for everything you do and don't do and for the very best you put into loving our family.

We love you, papa bear!

Birthday Week

Celebrating with my crew and an ice cream cake

It's official! I am one foot firmly on this side of 40.

Am filled with gratitude for every person who made me feel so special. I never want to take for granted these beautiful, peaceful moments spent with the ones I love so while I am not big on the fanfare and fuss, I do think the celebration is a way of giving thanks.

Brunch with Melissa at TWG

Flowers from Len

Flowers from Valerie

Lunch with Mama and Mel at Table at 7

Not-A-Surprise Birthday Breakfast at Bacha

 

Every year, around the time we each have a birthday, we know for certain we're going to be taken to a lovely place for a special breakfast. I really loved my birthday breakfast at the beautifully decked out Bacha just because sipping fancy coffee from fancy china served up in gilded pots makes the experience that much more special. My friends had me choose my birthday present - Sweet Nocciola coffee beans ground for my French press and a pretty Tiffany blue gift tin to keep it fresh.

Celebrating the last of the 4 of us turning 40 with oysters and faulty sparking candles at Sideways!

Happy 5th Birthday Eli!

Our little Eli turns 5 today! (Finally!)

Dear E,

We are so blessed to have you in our family. It's been such a joy watching you turn into an affectionate, expressive and inquisitive little boy. You love to chat and be around your big brother. This past year you've also discovered how much you love numbers, Monopoly Junior, playing tennis, and Lego. You're starting to read more and with a little more practice you'll be reading on your own soon! Still, nothing beats being read to in your books.

We look forward to watching how God grows you and builds you into the man He made you to be. In the meantime, we'll take those cuddles and kisses with gladness.

We love you Lai-Lai-Lee.

Happy Birthday Zac!

Our firstborn turns 8 today!

Our dearest Zac,

I've been looking at this face for 8 years now and sometimes I do a double take when I see flashes of the young man under that little boy exterior. You're growing up to be a funny, inquisitive and outgoing person who makes friends with young and old just as easily.

Daddy and I are so proud that you display budding maturity amidst your playful nature and really love it when you play big brother to the little ones. It is no surprise that your teachers in school and your peers recognise how responsible you are (Mother Tongue captain and now class captain too!). Your creativity and artistic abilities astound us and we look forward to seeing where this will take you in the future.

We pray that as you grow up, you won't lose your goofy sense of humour and your affectionate nature. We know that God will watch over you and keep you close to Him. It is our hope that you will claim the life God has called you to and will discover what a joy it is to have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ.

We love you little man!

Mummy and Daddy

Happy Birthday Mama!

Lunch at Smokey's to celebrate our Mama's birthday! There were tons of other photo attempts with the grandbabies but not one was postable. Let's just say getting a nice photo with everyone looking at the camera with an attractive facial expression is a tall order.

This is as close to a "good shot" as we were going to get...

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's a rare treat to be able to sit quietly for a few hours to think about things. My days are filled with hustling and bustling, with chores to do, children to raise, errands to run but I wouldn't have it any other way!

God has blessed me tremendously all these 35 years. He has given me family, a marriage, children, precious friendships and a full, colorful life. These recent years have been abundant with spiritual growth and I've come to know Him more and to know myself that much better through my walk with Him.

As I sit in the dining room listening to the birds and hum of traffic in the distance, I think about the big changes to come this year and the future that is still unknown to me. My question isn't what will you do for me Lord but rather what can I do for you? What can I do these next 35 years of my life to serve you more?

Happy 7th Birthday Zachary!

Impromptu birthday celebration after Zhong Laoshi's class yesterday.

Dear Zachary,

God's blessings be yours today and always!

Mummy and Daddy are so proud of how you've grown into such a thoughtful, kind-hearted little boy. Your even-temper and level-headedness has not gone unnoticed in school and we believe people will see the fruits of the spirit as you bear them well for years to come.

We marvel at how much your body has changed over the years and how you can now do so many things with such dexterity. It's a joy to observe your creativity as you manipulate your Lego pieces into some fancy new creation. Though you don't draw as often as you used to, your occasional sketches are humorous and inventive, a little peek into your mind that we are always grateful for.

With each week that passes by, your stamina and fluidity of movement improves as evident in the way you swim. You've also recently found the pleasure of playing music on the piano. Where you were once grudgingly sitting through your practice, you now sit there voluntarily to play pieces you've already done before. Your Daddy tells me often how he's moved to tears watching you play the piano, just because he gets to witness you trying to master a new skill.

We pray that as you grow in Christ-likeness, you will not lose your incredible sense of humour and that bit of silliness that keeps you childlike. As parents, we hope that you will grow into manhood having mastered your emotions well and that you will remember your single-digit-years with great fondness and sunshine. May God walk so closely with you and may you grow in your relationship with Him.

We love you so very much!

Mummy and Daddy.

Welcome to the World Little Ewan!

We are so pleased to introduce you to lil Ewan Tan. Isn't he gorgeous?

Yiyi went into labour in the early morning when her waterbag burst but she was thankfully able to get some sleep at home before going to the clinic in the morning. They admitted her and by late afternoon he was out!

Born at Mount Alvernia Hospital weighing 2.88kg and measuring 50cm in length this little one has a full head of hair and more all over according to his proud papa.

Nice and warm

Zachary and Eli were excited to greet their new baby cousin and Zac even brought his Screech to meet him!

Getting toasty under the baby warmer.

Len and I guessed he'd be out today... PINCH PUNCH THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH!

Last Days of Summer

Actually it's just the last days of the June holidays which is just about half-way through Summer if we experienced the four seasons in the first place.

Tomorrow is the first day back at school after a month-long break. Where did the time go? I suppose time disappears that much faster when you're having fun though I do suspect that it would have flown by faster if the weather behaved itself a little more!

We got tickets to watch the first ever game at the new stadium. It was a rugby match and it's only at this game that I really realised how God saved me a lot of heartache by not allowing Zac to get rugby as his CCA! Even though I thought it was a great idea at the time (and I was the only one to think so), I'm relieved that my little boy won't be subject to such brutality! I am impressed and amazed at the athleticism and power the players displayed on the pitch but would be utterly horrified if all of that was directed at my child!

Can you imagine this little goofball getting pummeled into the ground?

We are still waiting the arrival of our newest addition. Len and I think he'll come on the 1st of July (NOTE: Little E's estimated due date was the 29th of June.), his daddy thinks it's going to be on the 4th of July and his mummy is just tired. Dr Cheng says that he'll induce birth on the morning of 4th July if he doesn't come out on his own. In the meantime, the plug is out and all that's left is the a waiting game.

The Chans and us went to Gardens by the Bay to check out the playground and waterplay area. We didn't get to get wet this time since it's so close to school starting and the Patti boys have just recovered from a bout of coughs and colds. The weather was warm and balmy as usual so even though we attempted to get there earlier, we didn't last very long in the heat.

Len brought us to the new stadium for its Open House. It was quite well run with lots of things to see and do. We got to try out a couple of games like Ultimate Frisbee and tennis as well as watch a little waterpolo. My favourite part was my speed shopping at Uniqlo @ Kallang Wave mall! The a/c was much appreciated after enduring the sweltering heat and loooong walk.

First time taking the MRT together as a family!

On the last day of the June hols, we rounded it off with a party celebrating Zac's dino-buddy Justin's 7th birthday at The Chevrons' bowling alley. The kids had a blast and I was so glad that the chocolate cake I made for the occasion turned out better than I thought!

One long vacation month down, looking forward to the next one to come! Peace out.