The noise makers

Since she discovered talking, Sera has not stopped talking. Then she discovered singing, and nothing can stop the singing. The 'noise' that comes out from Sera is, to put it mildly, voluminous. But she is entertaining, especially so when she sings to Yasmin, the other noise maker.

'Good morning sweetie pie!'


She sings a medley of songs for Yasmin, often times doing her own remix of the nursery rhymes

Always accompanied with hand actions

Getting a tad dramatic and almost operatic in her singing

The one happy audience. This photo was taken by the singer herself

An un-Sera Day

Yesterday, to start the day, it rained ... just in time to match the mood that Sera was in. Blue and grey ... sad.

"WHERE'S PAPA???????"

Her face carried a worried and anxious frown.

"Sera, papa took an airplane and it 'zoomed' to Dubai."

"Papa zoomed on an airplane?" (wide eyed and slightly puzzled)

"And in 4 weeks time, we will also go on an airplance and 'zoom' to Dubai to see papa. Would you like that?"

"YESSSSSSSSSS" (a big smile that crept all the way to her eyes)

But her excitement about zooming to Dubai was fleeting because she got uneasy when her papa wasn't eating breakfast with her or taking her to the bathroom to wash up after breakfast. There began her un-Sera day ...

So on an un-Sera day, this happens ...

• She doesn't start the morning with a big smile
• She doesn't get excited about breakfast
• She refuses to wash up after breakfast
• She doesn't want to help me keep the laundry
• She doesn't want to play with her puzzles, just wants to watch TV
• She doesn't want to eat her lunch
• She doesn't want to go for a walk
• She doesn't want her dinner

Sigh. It was a difficult day but it was more difficult for her. So when Johan called yesterday, I quickly passed her the phone and for that few precious minutes, the dark cloud that was hovering over her all day all but floated away. Her face lit up, she cuddled the phone affectionately and became the 'sweetest angel' ever. Goodness ... the transformation was unbelievable, almost comical.

So this morning, I asked her where Johan was and with cheerful understanding, she said

"Papa is in an airplane and zoomed to Dubai!"

The most important phone call she was waiting all day ... she refused to let me talk to Johan, grasping the phone with all her might. She even candidly told Johan about her 'un-Sera' day ...

Into the 'wild'

One more family excursion before Johan takes off to Dubai ... Pasir Ris Park. Ha ha, just a stone's throw away from our apartment but it was like going into the 'wild', especially with Sera's fearless imagination. Along with 'crocodiles' in the Api Api river, she somehow found a monkey in every other tree (there was only one lonely one), chickens and roosters (this we all saw), and ponies of many sizes and colours. Now that sure was a satisfying 'wild walk in the park' for all of us.

"See papa ... a crocodile!"

When she came face to face with a real animal, like these sweet ponies, she kind of froze up. Ha ha, our little 'brave heart'. It took much coaxing to get her to stand near Johan.

I wanted a nice photo with the girls but it was not successful. One was crying in hunger and the other complaining about the sand on her feet.

Sera was piggy-backed most of the way back from the park ...

Time out at East Coast Beach

We did it! We successfully spent a relaxing morning out at the beach with both the girls. We even managed to take a stroll along the beach without Yasmin screaming in protest because she was in the pram. I suspect the sea breeze must have made her so sleepy to care. We spent the rest of the morning, lounging outside a fast food joint, while Sera had a good time playing with the other kids, whose parents were doing the exact same thing ... ha ha.

Taking a walk along the East Coast beach

Taking a snack after eating 18 pieces of french fries. Ha ha. Yes, she was counting them.

Yasmin trying out my sunnies

Sera was next ...

Yasmin relaxing on the big comfy chair

Sera singing to Sera and 'sayang-ing' her

Morning with the girls

Every morning, despite our routinely bad sleep, we somehow tear our weary bodies away from our hardly laid on bed, to the smiles of our charming girls. Sigh ... this, I guess, is what you would call totally delirious and smitten parents.

Yasmin is at her best and most relaxed after her warm bath

So much so that she sleeps within minutes after her bath

Johan all ready to smile with a curious Yasmin

Sisters posing in their pyjamas

Morning group hug

One month later

Today Yasmin is one month old. Usually, in the Chinese custom, the child's first month is celebrated with some fanfare. Well, as you will see, we didn't go that way. Last Saturday, we bought a 'Strawberry Divine' cake and celebrated Yasmin's one month with the rest of the family. By the way, if you can't tell ... those wordings were done by us too. ha ha.

The cake tasted pretty divine

Our first family photo. Yasmin, the reason for the cake, was fast asleep but Sera gladly pulled up the chair and guarded the cake

It's really easy to get Sera to smile but not so with Yasmin, well not just yet. Here, the sisters cuddle in the morning before Sera heads off to school

Johan and I spent some quality time with Yasmin this morning by taking her to the Pasir Ris Beach Park

It was a nice walk, sunny with a refreshing breeze coming from the sea. Yasmin was asleep for the most part, in our arms not in the pram.

Happy Birthday Singapore!

Sera's handmade tribute to Singapore on its 43rd birthday

Fake snow and pink ice cream

Today we had a field trip to 'Snow City'. While I waited for all my friends to arrive at school, I hung out at the playground with my friends.




We took a bus all the way to Jurong and during the bus journey, we sang songs to wake ourselves up as the bus ride was quite long. Once there, we had to dress up in identical, oversized winter wear which was quite humorous. Grandma called me a little orange bear!


Then we were made to wear snow boots that were extremely heavy and two sizes too big for me. And my hands were 'swimming' in gloves.


And it just got worse when they made me wear this pink helmet! Who are they kidding, people who lived in cold countries don't dress like this? Yes, laugh your heart out ...



As you can see, I was practically falling backwards. My poor neck was overstrained from trying to stay balanced without looking too ridiculous. Here I am, with my classmate, practising to walk with all the gear.



What you don't see here is grandma and I sliding down the snowy slopes on a inflatable rubber ring. Weeeee ... it was super fun! The helmets were put to used after all. That's me stroking the penguins. I knew they fake but they were cute, nevertheless.


Next, we went to an ice cream making factory where we got to make our own ice cream. Cool!



We waited and waited, and all I got was this small cup of very pink ice cream. Grandma didn't let me have more because she was a bit alarmed by the too pink ice cream. All right grandma, even I agree with you!



I had a great time today at Snow City with my friends. Thanks grandma for going on the field trip with me, you were great fun!

Bye ... lieve schat

Sera learned to say one Dutch endearment when oma and opa were here ...'lieve schat' ('sweetie pie). She loved saying that, especially when oma asked her. And hopefully oma and opa thought she was a 'lieve schat' when they were here.

Opa and oma with their granddaughters

With the whole family. I can't remember why we're all laughing but I think because this was like the 10th photo we'd taken (Impossible to get everyone to smile at the same time).
By then, it was getting kind of absurd.

Finally, a pretty good photo of the family!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

We celebrated papa's (grandpa's) birthday Shore Restaurant with a sumptuous dinner. We didn't get to dine by the sea because it was too windy for Yasmin but we managed to have a fairly successful dinner indoors.

As usual, Johan is ever ready to pose for a photo. The Dora water bottle was exchanged for the mug of beer that was in his hands.

"Happy Birthday to you ... " Sera sang the whole birthday song to herself instead of grandpa and was very captivated by the candles

Just about to dig into the yummy birthday cake ... and Johan squeezes in for a photo

What a treat for her!

O' Happy Days

Sera has been having the best time ever since oma and opa arrived in Singapore for a visit - frequent visits to the park, playground and the swimming pool. She even got to tag along, with the adults, for some local sightseeing - to the National Museum, the Zoo, cycling at East Coast Park, Changi Prison Museum. Ha ha, not to worry, Sera can find amusement anywhere, any time.

Every morning, without fail, she'll come into our bedroom to wish and kiss Yasmin 'Good Morning!' ... here she is trying to carry Yasmin.

Lounging on the papasan chair with papa

Lunch at Laguna food centre and then, as usual, making Johan run after her

One of her many meals out with oma and opa

At the Zoo ... getting a good view perched on opa's shoulders

Johan and his dad at the Tree top walk at MacRitchie Reservoir

Pit stop ... cycling trip at the East Coast Park

Devouring her dinner after the cycling trip