29 April

Today is 'hao hao nan ren' birthday.

With no in-laws or out-laws or helper around, hubby and I couldn't go out for a birthday dinner. Something which we would do back in Singapore. So...thank God for all the help you have in Singapore.

In fact, over here, everything would be DIY. Most people just repair their own things. Even for mothers. There were no maid or helper. When I fetched Ann to school, it was not uncommon to see mothers with 1 or 2 other younger siblings, bringing the elder one to school. Back in Singapore, it would have been the maid doing all these chores.

Thankfully, we never have a maid, only mum who lived downstairs helped out. On special occasions, she would come up and stay with the kids so hubby and I could slipped out to have a special meal. So this kind of helped alot when we came to the US, even with no helper, we could still handle.

In fact, many times, I found myself multi-tasking. Putting the fish in the steamer then ironing clothes, giving Kai his work then chopping up the vegetables, meat......

For this special day, I got my fan, also my capable assistant to help me whip up something special.


Isn't she great!


Made this special coconut cake, 'hao hao nan ren's' favourite. Made use of King Arthur Flour supposedly to be the best here


Lo-mai-kai, another of his favourite. They have glutinous rice here but what's missing - our Chinese sausage


What is birthday without pictures taken! Here's one

28 April

Oil price continued to climb. Back home, we didn't need to drive. Transportation system was world class. Buses, taxies, MRT, all at our disposal. Just top-up the EZ link card, it would bring us to many places. (Thank God for Singapore!) Here, we were always looking out for the petrol price. Which place offered the best deal.


Remember, it's in USD

27 April

Pastor continued to share with us about the damaged roof. We were now starting to see the water-marks on the roof. Cost of repair USD8,000 plus. Labourers - members of the church, to cut down cost. We continued to pray and believe. Even as God looked after the birds and the lillies of the valley, He would surely looked after us. AMEN!

You know, one could surely worship God with all sorts of instruments. This elderly man always used this special horn from Israel during worship. He would take it out and blow it as and when it was appropriate in a song. When it came to worshipping God, one just didn't need any rehearsals. There were also 2 elderly ladies who would play their tambourines every week.


The man and his horn from Israel

Crayola Factory

After service, we decided to visit the Crayola Factory. The kids have been using Crayola paint, markers, crayons...it would be nice to visit the place where it all began. Since we have come a long way to here, we must not missed it.


Entrance of Crayola Factory


Here, graffiti is permitted


The Crayola studio - the place where kids unleashed their creativity




Kai & Ann were let lose

Inside the Crayola Factory was another interesting place - The National Canal Museum. It was a museum which showed how people made used of the water canal to transport their goods. It was educational and interesting as the kids each got a ship to experiment with.


Q-ing up, waiting for their turn


Here we go...

Food therapy

Once settled, I continued to dwell on my all time favourite therapy - cooking


Bacon, cheddar cheese on french bread


My fan


Mussels salad


Lamb chops

Once in while, you craved for some comfort food. Once I saw anything I could buy to make them, I would surely grabbed them and went home to cook.


Red bean soup


Chwee kueh - home-made from scratch, using rice flour. Almost all gone in a second

24 April

The summer holidays will be here soon. Papa decided to buy a trampoline for the kids. We ordered one and it arrived today.


Looking at how papa did it


It was more fun to help out


Yipee, it's fun

21 April

There were many parks and gardens here. Today we visited the Trexler Park. It was a park donated to the state by a man.


Quite different from where we came from


Managed to capture this rare sighting


Ann was too tired. Kai enjoying the nature. He has always been a free spirit. Released him into big space he would just explore


Always on the look out for the small creatures. He caught a grump near our home one day. These memories would be the most wonderful ones when he looked back at his childhood next time

Ann's concert

Although Ann was with the pre-school for only 1 month, she was called to be involved in their presentation. That was what we liked about them. They never made you feel left-out. Although, she only joined them for a short time of practices, she was never regarded as 'not good enough'. She was made very much a part of the class.


Spot her


Singing with the rest of the kids


Doing the actions


Well, you got to reward them for doing such a great job

More rewards awaited her. Papa brought everyone to the Da Vinci Science Centre. It was not as big as the Singapore Science Centre but there were plenty of hands-on activities.


Testing the centre of gravity


Playing with the static electricity


Playing science games


Making friend at the touch pool


Oh, so that's how they look like

Barb Love

Barb Love - what a beautiful name. Her surname or her family name, as it was known here, was LOVE. If you recalled reading in my earlier posting, she was the lady who gave me her contact when we first attened Evangel AOG. I called her an angel of love.

Today, she and her husband, Bob invited us to their cottage of love for lunch. Like the owners, their house was so warm, so cosy and...that's right...so full of love.

We had such a wondeful time of fellowship with these 2 angels sent by God.


Entrance to the cottage of love


Inside the cottage of love


Picture with the angels!

On our way to visit the Loves, we stopped by this place called, Premise Maid, a chocolates, candies, ice-cream and pastries shoppe.


Premise Maid


Wow...look at all the chocolates and candies


Even this place put a smile on my face


This standing clock is made of chocolates only

An unexpected guest

Today there was a ring at the door. It was unusual cos' we have no guests.

Went to the door and was pleasantly surprised to see 2 young boys at the door. They were looking for Kai to go out and play. They were Kai's classmates - Dylan and Zach, who were also our neighbours. It was nice of them to ask Kai to play. Something, that was missing in Singapore. We never have neighbours' kids to go out and play. Every child was like an over-scheduled child...no time for play.

Kai went out to play like a little bird released from cage. Kai has settled in and was fully comfortable.


Kai with his friend

Ann's first day of school in US

Ann's first day at school. I was with her throughout the day (which was unnecessary). I was not needed at all. She was all by herself and was so comfortable with her friends and teachers. She had no problemm settling down at all. Everyone found her cute and was amazed at how well she could communicate in English.


Ready for school