I think nothing of 'celebrating' Halloween. It is pagan tradition after all and I told the girl that it is just a silly excuse for people to dress up and scare other people. I am glad that at this point, it is not as commercial as how Christmas has become.

However, we received an invite from the mother of the girl's childcare mate for 'trick or treating' at their condo. Since this could be the children's last few gathering occasions AND the girl didn't have art, we accepted the invitation. There are 3 of them in the host's child's 'inner circle'. Haha. And the 4 of them together were such a handful!

We arrived slightly passed the targeted time to meet at the host's home because we decided to wait for a boy and his family who lived near our block. The host lived on the highest floor and has a balcony that overlooks the inside of the estate. It was quite beautiful especially at night and that was where we spent the whole time while the host and another mother brought the 4 kids out and about the estate.

I had brought a pack of marshmallows that fitted the theme completely and could scorn at those other treats I see that the kids received. Lol..theirs were so mediocre. Hahahah...So when we had different groups of children coming up to the unit, I had some fun giving out the treats.

The girl who stays at the condo will be the only one going to another primary school and I reckon this could be her last gathering with her childhood friends. I wonder how much they will miss each other when they leave the childcare centre. At least for K and the rest of her K2 friends, they will still see each other when they move up to primary school. In fact, 2 of her friends are future primary 1 mates!

I am already thinking perhaps to arrange for a Christmas party for the kids. That could be the final final time. I think the hubs will approve.

We rescheduled the girl's HYPY and abacus class on Saturday to go shopping in JB. The eldest SIL joined us and this time, from the time we waited for the bus at our place and reaching the mall in JB, it took us about 4hrs. And we couldn't buy many household items this time round especially without a car. 

However, we did manage to buy 2 pair of white shoes and 2 packs of socks for school. And I also managed to get her some long sleeve tops from H&M, for going out. Now we just need to look out for a school bag for her. This time round, I didn't get anything for myself! Maybe I was already feeling tired after the time we had to take to get there. In fact, I was the only one who didn't get anything except for some toiletries.

We reached home late too. Thankfully, I've asked the SIL if she would like to stay over and so she brought her clothes over. 

After church yesterday, we had a feast of Oktoberfest at the club and the eldest brother, SIL, Bev and her boyfriend came over to our home. My house is like a mini-mini arcade. The hubs and brother played carrom while the 'kids' as what the girl termed themselves played 'Happy family' card game. Lol. When Bev's boyfriend left, she and the girl played air-hockey. The size of the table is great for kids but too small for adults so I'll likely put it up for sale in a couple more years time, especially since the girl doesn't seem so keen in playing with it so much now.

It's now back to work and in 1 week's time, we're off for our vacation! Yay.....

The SIL gave birth a few days before reaching the 35 weeks mark and the baby had to stay in the hospital due to jaundice. When we decided to go by again on Saturday, they were informed that they could bring the girl home as well! 

So we did just that in the late afternoon, bringing along K's baby rocker, high-chair and a bag of stuff for the other SIL's 2 young kids. The SIL went through natural delivery this time, without epidural as she was concerned with her back which she had an operation on just last year. K went to swim with the NIL, together with both the dads. 

And today, we finally went to the primary school that we wanted to transfer to, to get the registration done. We had to go to the school, collect an acceptance letter from them to bring it to the other school which we originally registered for and collect a set of documents that MOE would have already sent them and back to the school that we want to send K to, again. So it was a lot of running around on Tuesday morning and thankfully my boss was ok to let me go into office late, despite me ending up going back just in time for lunch.

We didn't have time to buy the uniforms, besides the girl wasn't with us, or the school books. So we will probably get them on the primary 1 school orientation day. We are stepping into another phase of the girl's 'life'....formal education. May she continue to remain focus and with a soft heart to learn and remember what she's taught.

The girl's art piece from yesterday's art class. I love the starlit night sky.

It's a castle, by the way, if you do not 'see' the drawbridge. Heh..

The girl attended her last ballet class on Saturday. When she asked if it was to be her last, I told her no lest she tells everyone that she is not attending anymore. However, the week before, she did tell the teacher that she would not be continuing...well...

After lessons, we went to a friend's place, an ex-senior schoolmate of mine actually. She wanted to host the Victor's wife's 50th birthday. And there were 4 families there, including the Victors. So the 3 of us families were, I guess, the closest to theirs.

The girl, as usual, played with the rest of the girls and the cute 13 year old deaf cocker spaniel. The host stays in Newton, overlooking Orchard. Wow....amazing.

And yesterday, the eldest brother and SIL came by after church with the intent to discuss our upcoming holiday! Yay...can't wait but the hubs did something to the cables of the tv and then the internet couldn't work. We couldn't do anything and I took a nap. I was angry with his impatient attitude and told him to call the service provider when I woke up. In the end, we received the help we needed and we could all look at youtube travel to our destination but it was too late to complete discussing the itinerary. The hubs....literally puts me at eye roll.

The girl's childcare was closed on Friday, Children's Day. While we initially planned for a day trip to JB with the Victors, the husband had a project meeting last minute and the plan was scrapped. And then there was I scratching my head thinking of where to bring the girl.

At first, I asked our neighbour from Redhill but her daughter was performing at the Early Childhood Development Conference and the girl's ex-childcare mate didn't have to face centre closure so I decided to ask her current childcare mate, who almost always ends up at her previous nanny's. 

After her father sent her over, the 2 girls started playing and entertaining themselves while I made lunch for them. After lunch, I brought the 2 of them to the public section of the ECD event and were they spoilt with activities. It was a lot of fun for them and honestly, it was more fun when they have company rather than if I had brought K on her own. They were fully occupied from the time we arrived and were almost the last to leave. This event however would not be so age appropriate when they reach Primary 2, I reckon. So perhaps, I can still bring the girl for 1 last time if I remember next year.

The hubs met us there when his work ended and we brought the girl's K2 mate along for dinner, meeting her parents at the bus interchange at 8ish. This is the 2nd time the girl's friend has joined us and I daresay she looks forward to such future outings,despite me being fierce. Yes, she said that to K.

Ballet class resumed on Saturday after a 3 week break because the community centre had some events going on. The girl didn't want to attend initially and even told the ballet teacher that she will not be continuing. Although a part of me is sad that she will drop it after a year plus of ballet lessons, I am glad she is firm about it. So at least I know she is not making this decision out of pressure from me or the hubs.

And we had fun with the eldest brother and SIL after church yesterday when we went to Little India. The plan was to head to Mustafa to check if they had musical keyboards for the girl to practice on. So we had lunch and a stroll through Little India where we chanced upon the Indian Heritage Centre, which was surprisingly good! What started out as a visit to the toilet, ended up with us spending about an hour there. We took photos with the available props on display and watched a short video on how the local Indians arrived to Singapore. After that we strolled through Little India some more, had coconut drink and finally ended up with a keyboard purchased from Mustafa.

It's fun being tourists and I feel that is what life is all about. Do not be so familiar with the everyday life until you become so bored but rather always go out with an open mind and heart. You never know what you will come across! :)

Taking advantage of the last Saturday before ballet starts again on the next, we went to visit the youngest SIL, in terms of ranking not age, after lunch. She has been 'resting' at home since her 2nd trimester due to short cervix. I suppose she is being extra cautious this time round, especially since she went through 2 miscarriages and the heartache. Thankfully, she doesn't look worn out and not in total need of bed rest. 

She called the 2nd BIL's family over too and decided to spring an early birthday surprise for her hubs. I helped to buy the cake. When we arrived, thankfully the youngest BIL had gone to fetch the NIL from tuition. After the surprise when we came back, the kids went down for a swim and the 2nd BIL taught the girl the basics, claiming that she should be able to swim after 10 lessons. Looks like we do not need the further expense on swimming lessons but that will mean we need to travel to Yishun more often! 

While the 2 brothers brought the 3 kids down to swim, the 3 SILs caught on with gossip and the children. Lol...what else. We ended up staying for dinner but the 2nd BIL's family went back because the SIL's family were visiting them.

And after church on Sunday, we had the usual lunch with the eldest brother and his wife before proceeding home.

In the evening, we went to IMM to get some superhero t-shirts for the girl's children's day celebration in school. I wasn't at all pleased with the request though. The request in her comm book even stated the type of superheros that the children are 'encouraged' to wear. IMHO, anyone can be a superhero...why must they dictate the exact type for the kids to wear? What if the child does not have a superhero costume, as in the case of K. Isn't it additional expense especially for families who are not able to spend on 'useless' items like this? Thankfully, I saw a sale in the mall and decided to drop by and thankfully found 2 nice 'superhero' t-shirts that K can wear for and after the party.

When the girl was talking to her teacher, the teacher actually told her she is supposed to be in a costume. And when K told the teacher that her mummy has already bought it, the teacher went  'Oh.' I do not know what to say. 

Of course I am thankful for having a centre that I have no worries with while the girl is there but that does not mean I am agreeable to everything about the centre. The girl's K2 mates are already 'discussing' on their graduation celebration. What??!? I thought it only happens at primary 6, after PSLE? 

As much as I do not want the girl to grow up so fast, mature so quickly, I also cannot wait to get out of this childcare centre at times where I cannot moderate whatever the teachers say to them.