Am I Dreaming or What?

It's been such an awesome weekend. Although most people would complain about the pain, it's been great. It's all glory to God.

I've been under the weather since the start of the week, but since it's post-exam madness - marking of exam scripts, tallying of marks, entertaining the kiddos with work and going through marked scripts, checking OAS and exam papers for errors, making sure those suspected 'editors' would edit their marks by photocopying the script before returning to them, uploading marks, making sure books and files that are due for checking are in order (that still not done), attending a FULL DAY COURSE in the midst of the madness on Thursday, dealing with disappointment from a Band 1-der getting a Band 3 for Science, taking my Science club sweeties mixed with one-sixth of my 'highly adventurous and energetic' form class to the Singapore Science Centre, dealing with 2 kids who threw up on the way there because of the horrible bus ride, having a whale of a time at the Singapore Youth Science Festival (glad the kids got to run around the Science Centre legitimately), seeing my form class sweeties learning so much through hands-on activities. AND THEN, when the weekend started, we (BEN & I! The Parents!) took Abby to her Saturday playgroup and thereafter mobilised the maid to zoom to ICA coz Ben was stuck there in a 800-people long queue collecting his & Shalom's passports while Abby & I were at the Playroom. Abby & I took a train three trains there (had to transfer etc) and finally reached Lavender. Waited some more, but had Mac's (weekly affair) latest at Kallang with an indoor playground, then returned to ICA again to wait some more. Spent so much time with Abby & Shalom - in fact never so intense before - that I can literally sense the bond between Shalom & myself. Previously I was simply the child-producer and the milkmaid. We played and played. He was even comfortable enough to sit on my lap today to watch telly! :) Oh, and last evening Abby actually finished her fishball bee-hoon soup ALL BY HERSELF! No struggles, nothing whatsoever. We were having a very simple meal, eating together as A FAMILY. OUR FAMILY. I was so grateful for that moment. Abby didn't go into her Granny vs Mummy mode by using one against the other and we had such a great time. :)




Abby at the Playroom paper cutting and craft work on 'Long' and 'Short'. The teachers say that she's able to stay on task for a long time. :)

We went church today, Ben served with cell for ushering, I took care of the two kids in the nursery while Lina had her off day. Fed both kids. After church, they took a 45-min nap in the car and we went for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen at the Forum. Raved about as a kiddy place, wanted to check it out, but it wasn't as fancy as I thought. Food was pricey and they had parsley with their Original BBQ chicken. Even Shalom was trying to remove the greens from his food. :S Probably won't go back there again. The only child-friendly stuff was the kids' menu, some activity sheet to scribble on, crayons and a kiddy cup (actually a takeaway plastic cup like what Mac's uses). About 4 times the price though, of a Value Meal. We went to one of the pizza restaurants in Sydney and it was really child-friendly. They had a smaller kiddy cup which was great for small kids, activity sheets for kids also, and they had DOUGH for everyone to knead and then they would bake our creations! :D Pricey also, but fun. :)

After lunch, we went to the 2nd level playground. Abby made a new friend and was quite affected when she disappeared suddenly without saying goodbye. :'( Her name's Clara (before I forget).

It was a random shot I took coz I wanted to MMS eve about the place. Too bad phone not enough memory to mms. :P

They played really well, even held hands when Abby was looking for Shalom. We hid in a corner coz my li'l prince toppled and needed comfort via a quick fix. They played for a long time, and Shalom could crawl up the rock-climbing slope! :) Very garang, that boy. But still doesn't like the ball-pit. He charmed the lady-in-charge who gave him a Mac's wedge when she saw us later.

We left the playground and went looking at kids' books and toys in the shops. It's so awesome and so fun. We just spent the time, unhurried, checking out stuff. Usually I'll feel like I'm imposing even on Lina as we while away time, coz she'll be there standing, waiting for us. So just knowing that all four of us were having a great time made it all so great! :) Ben was happily checking out the toys also, and even bought a 3D map for Shalom. IF I have the time, I'll snap a shot and post it.

We picked Lina up around 6 and headed off to my granny's place. It was fun. Abby remembered the kittens there and they've grown up so quickly! :) She was so chatty at my granny's place. Shalom, as usual, was eating ever so often. On Sat night, Ben bought grapes. Shalom kept stuffing in his mouth that it was jammed packed! And he kept going on. So dangerous, but yet so adorable! :) Heh. :)

Another week of madness, and then Lina's leaving on Friday. Thereafter, it's going to be a new chapter.

Sun nite - prepare powerpoint slide of How to Create Air-Rocket coz my LR expects it to be a breeze. I am Kia-See. Dowan to die tomorrow explaining to the kids that if they mess up their rockets, it will boomerang and jab them in the eye.
Mon - Get kids to create bottle air-rocket. Prepare for Tues prize presentation and Scrabble competition. Collect star records from pupils.
Tues - Launch air rocket. Conduct Scrabble competition. Conduct prize giving ceremony.
Wed - Go through English Paper with 4A. Prepare Meet-The-Parent session on Thursday. Pray like mad that everything will go well. Attend course in church on Studying the Bible in the evening.
Thurs - Meet the parents. Survive it. Rush book checking.
Friday - CLEAR MY TABLE. (Don't underestimate that task. That includes finishing up all my work... *BIG CRY*)

Oh well. This too shall pass. :) And I'll have another awesome weekend! Or will I?