Fun food

Littlelam has been bugging me to bake with her for a while, but cos of the mountains of housework and mainly cos LittlerLam gets her hands into everything at this age, it has been quite impossible.

So I figured one of the easiest and yummiest things for a kid to make is juice pops. Except we didn’t have any juice in the fridge. But we did have Milo. So I let Littlelam mix up a cup of Milo, then pour it into heart-shaped molds and stuck it in the freezer. Today we have dual-tone heart-shaped cubes, perfect for kids to enjoy!

I also chanced upon this ‘scene’ in a friend’s hotel room the other day. Housekeeping must have a good sense of humor well, it made me smile!

Traffic light fruits!

Red Radish ‘plant’

I rarely mention the rest of my family members in this blog because I try to preserve as much privacy as I can, while keeping this blog interesting. But I figured some of the interesting antics my Dad gets up to are quite worthy of mention, since he doesn’t have his own blog.

For one thing, my Papa is a fantastic gardener. He has the greenest fingers I know and can make almost ANYTHING grow out of a pot or in his little garden plot. And I am talking about a miserable, poor-soil type condition in tropical Singapore where a garden is a luxury. Every time I have ailing plants — like an Aloe Vera plant I named Ally and kept in my office many years ago, I would bring it back to him and within a few days of treatment from his tender-loving hands (and vast experience/ scientific knowledge), the sickly plant would soon be on the path to recovery! He even once managed to grow a tiny watermelon in Singapore — which is quite impossible, given the weather conditions.

So today, he posted a picture of his latest experiment, the Red Radish. So I’ve nicked the pic and posted it here, along with his simple instructions on how to grow your own Red Radish plant Looks really artistic too!

Red radish blooms in 3 weeks!

1) Buy red radish for $2 one week before CNY.

2) Place in dish with sawdust or potting mix in a shaded place.

3) 3 weeks later, voila! Flowers!

How to make a car out of a box

Littlelam’s school holiday project this term was for to make a craft related to the theme of vehicles. Our first attempt over the Dec season was to use small boxes and turn them into little vehicles like cars and buses, but because everything was too rectangular, the whole fleet started looking like weird buses. Besides, we never got round to creating the base ie: the roads and city. So we sort of gave up halfway. And I forgot all about it.

Fast forward to the 1st day of school. I realize too late that she has yet to complete a project, and I have a brainwave! My neighbor walks by my door about to chuck an old cardboard box into the recycling bin, and I quickly ask her for it instead. And here’s what we did with it:

Love in unexpected places

Today as I was supervising the renovation & construction works that were underway in my new place, I was given a surprise. A good one, thankfully, and not the horrid ones that usually come with dealing with contractors.

Up on my new feature brick wall, was a white brick, and on that brick was a clear heart shape! I knew that the wall guy couldn’t possibly have carved it in, because it was a random part of a pre-fabricated brick. When I saw it, I felt a sense of assurance from God, that indeed He is there. Even through this grueling renovation process. Even through our doubts and fears regarding this apartment. And even when we eventually move in. I am not one who is easily caught up in signs and wonders and I am very careful of ending up falling prey to New Age beliefs, but as I prayed, I believe it is just a beautiful reminder of His love for us. (And my devotion material today also happened to be on love!)

I was also reminded that there is indeed beauty everywhere, even in this fallen and depraved world. We just need to pay attention.

“…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labour in vain who build it.” – Psalm 127:1

Christmas Activities at Sentosa

Littlelam really had an activity-filled December, which was both tiring and fun for me. We were glad to meet up with some of her previous playgroup friends — the girls she’s grown up with since she was about 18 months old – and we decided to head to Sentosa to participate in their Year End Holiday Activities, or rather, called ‘PLAY!

Chatting on the skytrain to Sentosa

We took a Skytrain from Vivocity to the Imbiah Lookout station, where we rushed up 4 flights of escalators to catch the starting of the ‘Storytelling Comes Alive’! show, which was hosted by Mervyn from Okto channel, and was a very ingenious interactive play. The first story was Little Red Riding Hood and the girls munched on KFC popcorn chicken while watching the show, which was free admission:

Watching 'Red Riding Hood' - or rather the Big Bad Wolf and the Narrator!

Next up, we signed the girls up for the Creative Kids Arts and Crafts Workshop, which had a 1 for 1 deal for Passion card holders, so we ended up with a Craft session AND a Baking session! All this for $8.

Workshop supplies

Kneading the cookie dough that they made

Cutting out a heart-shaped cookie

The cookies the girls made - ready to be baked!

Making a Christmas Apron: They traced out the outline of the tree, then stuck on sequins, fabric etc.. in their own chosen design to decorate the felt tree.

Littlelam's tree design

Just as I was packing up to leave at 5pm (because I really wanted to avoid the ECP jam), I suddenly realised that instead of helping me to pack, Littlelam had joined her friends and sat in the front row to watch the NEXT show which was Pinocchio. Next thing I knew, she had raised her hand when they asked for volunteers and was chosen to ‘play’ the part of the Blue Fairy. Obviously, I couldn’t possibly drag her off at that point! Haha! So we stayed till the end of the show, and I’m glad we did because the girls really enjoyed themselves.  The programme ran from 26 Nov to 26 Dec so unfortunately they’ve packed up the entire marquee and left. But if they do this again the next school holidays, I’ll definitely recommend it!

Christmas crafts

Ok, two days to Christmas and I realize I still have so many photos in my iPod touch of Littlelam’s Christmas crafts! So I shall attempt to upload everything here in a Christmas Craft bonanza post heh!

1) Christmas Clay ornaments

Littlelam has never played with white clay before, so we decided to let her have a stab at it. This kind of clay must be softened and worked with water, but after it dries it hardens into a porcelain- like item. Then the paint can go on, and if you have time, lacquer for a shiny finish. Littlelam was a bit apprehensive about the feeling of semi- dried clay on her hands, but after a while she got used to it and had fun creating all sorts of shapes.

Moulding the clay

Creating a heart-shape

The finished and dried ornaments

Painting a blue star

Fully coloured! (Don't ask me what a fish and brocolli has got to do with Christmas?!)

2) Christmas Star

This craft was done more out of necessity! We didn’t have a star for our mini tree so I decided to make a simple one instead of spending money to buy another overpriced ornament!

Draw outline of star on a piece of firm paper

Roll a piece of card paper into a cone shape

Paint the cone and star

Once dry, place atop tree

You can add glitter if you have time!

Art by a 5 year old

I was very amused yet impressed by this picture Littlelam presented to me. Much as I like the colours and drawing she did all by herself, I’m even gladder that she said, “this is you and Daddy!”

Homemade Christmas cards

Since Littlelam is already into the origami thing, I figured why not put it to good use? So I had an idea to use the paper hearts she can fold and incorporate it as a Christmas card.

Here’s a simple step by step guide to a simple but pretty Christmas card you and your child can make:

An abundant life!

Since the year-end school holidays started in mid November, Littlelam’s social calendar has been rather full! I am so thankful that my little girl is blessed with so many friends and that Singapore has so many great events lined up during the school breaks. Some require payment, some are free, so we’ve been participating in a good range of them.

Two paid (and I must say I paid quite hefty sums!) holiday programmes that I signed littlelam up for were a baking class and an art class. Needless to say she really enjoyed them!

The other ‘free’ programmes are either conducted by yours truly at home aka homeschool or tagged on to friend’s activities or mall activities!

Because the past month has been an absolute whirlwind, I have so many pictures but no time to edit and upload or blog. So I’ve decided to just post a photo (or two) a day that best encapsulates it.

Enjoying Baking classes at Genius r us at City Square mall:

Christmas season is here!

While we don’t have snow or cold weather here in December, we do have rain and lots of Christmas lights.

Last night we happened to be in the Orchard area having a fabulous local food buffet at Straits Kitchen, celebrating a birthday. So after dinner, we took a very short walk down Scotts Road, then drove through Orchard Rd for the rest of it because it was getting too late for the kids.

I was pleasantly surprised that this year’s decor was more understated and simple without funny looking reindeer or Santas. Just blue and white lights draped like flowers on a vine. Here are some shots I took using my trusty iPod touch: