Motherhood in a poem

My hands wrinkle every year
From the showers I did for you
The dishes I've washed and
The house I've to upkeep

My arms could have gotten stronger
From the times I had to carry you
When your feet chose to rest
You slept in my arms
While I took chance to smell your hair
I couldn't get much accomplished
With you in arms
But I knew all was fine

My back aches much
From the nights you sneaked onto my bed
Some nights it was four in bed
But I took chance to cuddle
Smell your hair and 
Kiss your cheeks
I knew I love such nights

My face shows signs of aging
With wrinkles folding in
Much from the frequent moments of anger
Endless worries about you and
Often the schedule we have to meet each day
My aging simply means you're growing

Time for my favourite things get less
I sleep less, I hardly nap
I read less of my books
But more fairy tales than ever
It's all about you before anything else
Unconditional love takes a deeper meaning
And I know sacrifices are worthy

It's never an equal exchange
Because love is never asked to return
But always remember my sacrifices
Through my hands, face and arched back 

When I get frail, and you get tough
Remember to carry me

I'm no poet, but I just felt like jotting something about Motherhood in a different way. Happy Mother's Day to all Mummies!

Thank you Js for coming into my life. You both created the most life changing moments that ever happened to me. Motherhood is a great and amazing journey, it gave me greater sense of responsibility, brought me to new maturity, gave me great tolerance to the irritants (people and things) around me and best of all, made me more complete than ever. I am happy and grateful to be your Mum! 

 

Gifts made by Js in school

 

Love you both!

Nature - Point Lobos

Walking to admire the nature isn't something I enjoy much doing when both kids don't use their walking feet. We visited Point Lobos over the weekend, a place with very beautiful view where the land, rocks and ocean meet. We managed to do 2 trails. The first with Jare in my arms as he didn't want to get on feet with us. And the heavier weight, Jazz, was carried by my man, almost throughout both trails! Definitely got his muscles more toned. 

After the first trail, my arms and legs were ready to give in, I couldn't hold my heavy boy anymore. With much coaxing, and a sturdy branch we found him, he agreed to walk. That was when my enjoyment finally began - Enjoying the scenic view on a very breezy cold evening, hand in hand with my lover boy, covering distances. Simply wonderful! Doing scenic trail holds a different view when I have cooperative kids.

 

Walking with my lover boy

Trees awaiting summer

 

Lovely view

 

I had a little revelation that evening. I may dislike doing certain activities, but as long as the whole family does it, I'll do it, even if it's much against my will. Terms and conditions apply - I need cooperative kids. What's better joy than bonding with the family, walking, talking and playing with my lover man, girl and boy.

Have you, one activity that you dislike doing, but will do as a family because someone in the family enjoys? I found it isn't that bad after all.

International Day - Food Fair

It had been a privilege and an experience here, as a Singaporean cooking for a fair. My man's school held an International day event last weekend. A huge event with delicacies from over 20 participating countries. And together with other Singaporean spouses, we cooked up a storm to sell our local representations. We ran hourly sales of different foodie - curry chicken, beef rendang, red bean soup, kaya toast, Kopi (Coffee), peanut cookies, pandan cakes and chrysanthemum tea! All so good and yummilicious! You get the ultimate tastes when spouses put their pots and pans together. It's quite our forte after all.

 

Table layout

 

For fun, I did up 10 fun facts about Singapore for our foreign friends who'll stop by to read. They are Facts as of April 2013. A common reaction I get when I tell foreigners I'm from Singapore is a 'mixed' expression, most of them do not know where Singapore is. A look that kinda question me 'Where's that,' in a polite manner. Too small to be significant perhaps. So if I can bring across 10 factual points about my country, in a picture, why not?!!

Logo with thanks: www.yoursingapore.com

And our hand held flags!

 

My contribution to the menu were 2 large pots of curry chicken for a hundred pax serving. Sale was slow during the first 30 minutes, but after running into the second hour, the pots were polished clean. Glad the effort of waking up before dawn was paid off. It was also my first experience cooking for such a crowd. Mummy yveon cooked beef rendang and I managed to steal some from the pot before it was all gone. Yums! And if you wana know the thing that bonds most Singaporeans together, it is FOOD! Singapore - The food paradise.

 

Curry chicken that goes so perfect with baguette

While it was my shift to tend the stall, the man did a great job child sitting the kids. The Js had heap of fun running on the grass pasture and engaged in some child activities they had on site.

Funds raised goes to the school. We were not the highest ticket collector, but the highlight was FUN. Not about the results, but the food and sale journey that bond us closer. At the end of the day, as tired as it may be, I had a great time 'pitching sales' together with our fellow Singaporeans who volunteered their time to put everything together. The true Singapore spirit across the border. Indeed a One people, One Nation, One Singapore!