Yays to the long weekend! I heard of locals driving up north only to be stuck in 12 hour traffic. Madness or what?! This is definitely The year we have to make full use of before we are also faced with the same peak period travel woes.

I had planned to visit the bird park on Friday since the girl doesn't have classes. Saturdays are now out for us unless she has a break from both activities. However, since M received keys to her new flat, I decided to go down to check out 'defects' for reporting and forget about the birds. And I also  arranged for Sandra to pick up her 5 boxes that she had shipped over when she moved back since 2 years back. We need the space back and I'll blog more about it on a separate post.

Anyway, this is the view from outside M's new flat:

View from her living room:

I must say the flat is pretty well made. There were only 2 minor defects but then again the unit is a studio so I suppose that helps. But I must say despite the small size of the PILs DBSS, theirs was bad. Good thing they no longer build them.

After a short while in her flat, we went for lunch and then chanced upon a hair-salon that was offering really cheap rates for hair-cuts and so we brought the girl in. Eventually she had a trim and layer but this was not without resistance, because she really wants to keep her hair long.

The 3 of us went back home and I got the girl to do some 'house-keeping' of her playhouse. So you see, she has shifted everything out. 

In the evening, we went out for dinner, the husband did a bit of shopping while I bought just 1 blouse which was on sale. That basically sums up our relax public holiday rest day. :)

Monday morning, I noticed this hanging on the tree outside our balcony. At first glance, I thought it was a beehive. And I could make see insects flying onto it. But when I zoomed in the picture that the hubs had taken, I felt that it could be a hornet's nest because it looked like it is made of soil.

I called the town council at about 11ish in the morning and the hubs followed up with an email, attaching 2 pictures, after lunch.

On my way home after picking the girl up, I pointed the broken beeshive on the grass patch in front of our block. 

I decided to check our email and saw that the Property Manager had replied to the hubs at 4ish to update him that the beehive has been cleared. Wow...I am inpressed. I replied with a complimentary email.  I had expected the beehive to be around till the next day at least. Efficient or what?!

The girl's childcare was closed on Friday and we took the opportunity to take a short trip to Melaka! When we had the car, we could do it quite often but since we no longer own one, we haven't been travelling up to Melaka as often as before. The last time we were there was in August last year and when I say 'we', it's us and the eldest brother with his wife. 

This time, we went on the revolving tower and for the first time since I've been to Melaka, seen the view from the top. The girl has been asking to go up the tower since the last trip and of course, we cannot do without the legendary trishaw rides. This is the reason why she likes Melaka so much. And of course we cannot do without the miele crepe cakes. They are too good!

This time round, the 4 of us also went for a 1 hour back and leg massage while the girl so patiently waited for us. The hubs had gone for it first while the brother and SIL brought the girl to watch a cosplay carnival going on and I went to shop. Only after a short while, because the girl was frightened of the costumes and make-up, we went to look for the hubs and joined him.

I did not shop as much as I usually would this time round. And this time, we left Melaka before lunch and headed straight to JB to do grocery shopping instead. By the time, we reached home, it was 9pm after sending the brother and SIL back home.

And today, the brother accompanied M to HDB and she has gotten the keys to her new place! Jeremy sent us a video tour of the place and it looks nice. Most of the fittings are in such as the kitchen cabinet, stove, bedroom cabinet, flooring, window grilles etc. So there really isn't much to be done except for painting and some wiring perhaps.

I am sure she is excited to move in to her new home and I pray that God will watch over her there as she lives on her own. 

We had a fun weekend. 

The hubs had a house warming to go to and the girl and I was alone pretty much the whole afternoon. While the hubs sent her for her abacus class, I was able to do much without the 2 of them at home. As usual. But I had to pick the girl up from her class and came home to cook lunch for us. 

While she made a mess playing the magnetic sand at the balcony, I bathed and then we both went for her ballet classes. We met the hubs after ballet at City Hall MRT station, where Kenneth came to pick us up for dinner at his home. Spent some time there with the family before we went back home.

We skipped church yesterday because the hubs had diarrhea the night before at the Victors after dinner and I was tired too. Couldn't wake up early enough to get ready for church. :p

The 3 of us had breakfast at the market, went back home to drop some things then went out again to Jem to pick up a coffee machine the hubs had bought for the eldest brother, for his coming birthday next month. We also did the grocery run before coming back home where the hubs, took his nap and I did a short one too while the girl played on her own.

In the late afternoon, we were out again. This time to the youngest BIL's home. He had invited us over for a swim followed by dinner. And that's what the hubs, the girl, the youngest BIL and the youngest NIL did while the ladies stayed in the apartment. The PILs wanted to take the condo shuttle out to the mall but unfortunately there was no service available on Sundays so I convinced them to go downstairs so that we could talk freely upstairs. Lol. 

The youngest SIL cooked a feast for us. 3 different dishes of vegetables, cereal prawn, ma puo toufu, stir-fried clams, chicken stew and followed by strawberries and grapes. 

We sat around for a bit after dinner before we grabbed home about late 8ish. The FIL had wanted to share a ride with us but we turned that down because the girl is now considered as 1 full passenger. There was once we took a ride with the eldest brother and his wife, the driver told us that he could get a fine. So I had to remind the hubs why the PILs should just get a ride on their own.

Anyhow, the working week has beckon....till the next weekend!

Yesterday's art class titled: Through the Magnifying Glass. Medium: Oil Pastels.

The girl started a new class on Wednesday evening. It wouldn't have been such a rush if I did not have a conference call at 4:30pm. But thankfully I was still able to cook dinner for the 3 of us.

The hubs and I brought the girl down to the RC near our block for her 1st art lesson. It is from 7:30 to 9 pm and during this time I went home to do the laundry. Perhaps I should go for a run during this period when I am alone. Let's see. The hubs picked her up from class and the girl exclaimed that she had fun! That's good to know because when I wanted to sign her up, I asked her and she said no, she wasn't keen. So I told her from now on, I will not ask for her opinion anymore because she says no to everything I ask but once she starts classes, she enjoys them. This time, I used her ang-pow money to pay for the lessons. Lol.

This is her artwork which she used paint, colouring pencils and crayon. Not too bad considering it's really her first time. We hardly do any art work with her except leaving her to do colouring on colouring books. This, she had to draw on her own with the teacher showing them on the whiteboard. This is titled: Through The Keyhole.

Last night, I finished up her school project, The Polar Bear's Natural Habitat. I got her to paint the ocean since she now has the 'experience'. And that was not without scolding her because she kept kicking the carton, although accidentally, while I was trying to stick the white board onto the carton cover. Anyhow I am happy with the end product. I think it is definitely better than what I could have done in the past. Lol.

The hubs and I took the day off work today to spend time with the girl. It is today, 6 years ago that I gave birth to her. Oh, how I wish time had stopped when she was 2 or 3. Now at 6, I scream at her almost all the time but on the whole, she is still pretty much 'manageable'.

After her birthday party on Sunday, we all went about our normal routine on Monday. Today, the first thing she did when she woke up was to ask if she can open her presents. Some of her friend's parents are so generous with their gifts!

After breakfast at home, we brought her to watch Peter Rabbit, our first with her but not her first movie. Tim brought her to watch Paddington Bear sometime in December or November on 1 of her school closure day. 

After the movie, we had lunch before proceeding to Westgate to 'build-a-bear', sponsored by Tim. Despite that, the hubs still had to top up about $15.(!)  We then went to Popular bookshop to use the vouchers that the hubs had redeemed from his credit card. Incidentally, today is the last day of the validity! Yikes, we spent some time looking around to make full use of the $60. 

And then we went home to nap because the girl was complaining about how tired her feet were. In spite of that, only the hubs and I napped while the girl sat beside me on the bed doing her stuff.

We ended the day with dinner at another shopping mall. Initially my plan was to go to the carnival but thankfully we did not. It rained so heavily when we were having our dinner.

This is the last year we can take the girl off school for her birthday or even a holiday. This precious year with her is to be treasured. :)

The party is over and the pre-party stress is hopefully leaving me. I was so stressed preparing for the girl's 6th birthday that my menses went haywire and came about 2 weeks earlier than expected.

We decided on a Rapunzel theme and about 1 month prior, I saw a few Rapunzel theme cakes and got the girl to make the decision. Paid for the cake and the home baker said that she will send me an invoice but it didn't come. 2 weeks later, I asked the home baker about it and she said she was just discharged from the hospital *cue alarm bells* and was not able to send me the invoice. After checks on her carousell page, I noticed that she was still actively uploading pictures. And then when you start panicking, more doubts come your way. That was when I also chanced upon a negative review about this home baker, not delivering and not refunding the money. I wasn't going to have a birthday party without a cake! I was contemplating ordering a cake as a back-up. The hubs said to buy cakes from brick and mortar shops in future.

She still did not send me the invoice as promised and another week later, I asked her again. Finally, I received it few days before the party. 

What was meant to be a party invite for just her K2 friends ended up being extended to the hubs' friends, who ok, are now mine as well. Catering makes more sense for at least 30 pax so I extended it to them as well as to the 2 siblings of the hubs' and their family. And this was also suggested by the hubs. On my side, I had only asked Tim and his new girlfriend to come and it was also because I needed help in decorating the function room. 

The 2nd BIL had to ask the hubs if we are asking their parents to come. Why does he have to ask?? If we are, we will. And then the youngest SIL was telling me that her hubs had wanted to visit his parents on the same Sunday that we were holding the party  and when informed, commented that he will tell his mother. Thankfully the SIL said it was not for him to do so. Why are they such busybodies?? The hubs said it is normal for grandparents to want to be part of their grandchild's birthday. Sure, then I will invite ALL my brothers as well and increase the buffet to feed 40 pax. But it was too late to make any changes so we stuck to our guest list.

We arrived early, decorated the function hall and then it started to pour! Thankfully, all her friends came and had fun. They had fun playing 'pass the parcel', 'pin the tiara' and the all-time favourite pinata. The cake was great! It was moist and soft and I liked the ondeh-ondeh cupcakes. I will order from this lady again despite the fright I went through. Afterall, I am now her customer.

This is meant to be the only 'big' party that we intend to celebrate the girl's birthday. Since at 6, this is the last year of her childcare days, probably may not study in the same primary school as her friends she has been with since 3+? It's like a grand closure of sorts to her 'carefree' days. So I really wanted it to work thus drowning myself in unnecessary stress, really. 

Oh well, we shall see what happens next year. Lol.