Our Visit to Changi Airport!

After Le Xin and I went to Snow's fosterer place to visit her, I decided to bring Le Xin to Changi Airport for her to view the aeroplane at the viewing gallery.

Let's check out what we did there.......

Firstly, we went to the playground at T3 for some fun and Le Xin really enjoyed herself to an extend that she didn't want to leave :p

Mummy hold my hand said Le Xin

Riding on the see-saw with Mummy :)

Climbing up...

Getting down....

As I was observing her, I noticed that it was kind of challenging for her to grab the pole to cross over....she was quite scared in the beginning....

But gained the confidence when she realised she was actually able to balance herself....good job Le Xin :)

Fine motor skill

Next, she continued to explore other parts of the playground equipment...

See Mummy I am stuck said Le Xin as she smiled at me when doing that action haha so funny!

Then I had to had to tell her it was time for us to go as we need to explore other places at Changi Airport. She bid goodbyesadly to her favourite hangout spot and that's okay because we ended up at.....

YA KUN!!!!!!!!!!!

I mad love the food at Ya Kun it's yummy to no end.....

Le Xin observing the soft boiled egg and she was eager to try it :)

Next was the yummiest FRENCH TOAST........Hooray!!!

Don't believe?

Let's take a look at Le Xin's expression.....

Must have been sooo tasty to her......She kept wanting me to share it with her :)

Le Xin saw some colourful balloon in an indoor play system and she was totally blown away...

She stood there for a very long just looking and looking....

A curious child with a curious mind

And finally she couldn't resist and asked Mummy can I go in? A lot of balloon inside! 
For a moment  I was hesitant  and was thinking to myself should I let her go in and play? However, after considering for a while I knew I had to reject her. The play system in Changi Airpot is far too costly, furthermore I find that the equipment inside are kind of limited so it was not worth the money at all. Sorry I know I have become a "Budget Mummy" but I promise her that I will definitely bring her to somewhere more EXCITING than this place.......so stay tune to my next post!!!!

Lastly what's a trip to Changi Airport without visiting the viewing gallery?

Here it is.......

Looking at the aeroplanes

Next she requested for my camera to take a photo

Taking another shot from a different angle...

Le Xin is perhaps one of the most professional toddler photographer I have ever seen in my life. She is very particular about how the photos that she has taken will turn out to be so she makes a conscious effort to ensure that she is focused when taking each and every photo.

She was like checking to make sure that she has captured a good view and I was like WOW!!!!

This was one of the photos she has taken....I didn't teach her how to focus on an image to take a photo. Most of the time I just allow her to explore on her own, I guess she really has interest in photography.

There were several displays in Changi Airport which I called them "mini exhibits" and this was one of them that caught Le Xin's attention. Pets of course......children generally find animals quite fascinating:)

Next we went for a walk at Level 1 @ T3

Le Xin just enjoys going over and under this but I was thinking what's the right name for it? Do we call this barricade?

Look what Le Xin has found? A WINDMILL!!!

She climbed up on the chair and asked me for my camera again!

It seems like she can't wait to take a photo of it....

This was the  photo she took well done my darling girl!

All right my turn to take a photo of my precious baby and as usual........

She wanted to take a photo of me too :)

We ended our trip with a sky train ride. I wanted to explore T2 but Daddy Scott called and asked if we wanna meet up so we headed to Changi City Point to meet him after that :p

 

I really had an enjoyable time with Le Xin at Changi Airport. Despite staying home with her for 3 months, I seldom bring her out on a trip like this because I felt very bad leaving Snow Snow alone at home. Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming our beloved doggy for this. We still miss her very much though but it's just that when you keep a dog, you tend to think a lot especially the thought of the doggy feeling really bored when you are out. Snow Snow tends to be up to naughty tricks when we are out so I will usually leave her in a  pen and I do not have the heart to leave her there for so long, so I make it a point to come home as fast as I could everytime I leave home.....yeah but after visiting Snow I thought it's a good idea to spend a day out with Le Xin and I am pretty sure we enjoyed each other's company!

I really love going out with Le Xin as she is quite independent. I do not need a pram or anything, most of the time she is willing to walk on her own now and she is pretty easy to pacify except on days where she feels tired.....Alright ending this post with a quote I saw......a meaningful one and I hope you like it :)

"Many parents try very hard to give their children everything. But if everything does not include their time and presence, they do their youngsters and themselves injustice" - Thomas J. McSweeney

Fostering Snow!

For 2 months, from March to May, we fostered a beautiful mongrel named Snow. She came from Tuas and was a street dog rescued by a kind lady by the name of Rina. Snow is an amazing dog who taught us much about life! We really appreciated her stay with us, it's a pity we can't foster her anymore...still we hope she can find a good fosterer/adopter soon.

Hereby sharing some of the fondest memories we had with Snow Snow!

Here's Snow when she first arrived at our place. Though she was initially very reserved and quiet, she soon opened up to and accepted Le Xin and I as her friends! Snow is also quite affectionate and protective towards me....Aww~ I really miss her :(

Le Xin with Snow Snow!

The touch of love...

Le Xin learning how to walk Snow Snow....

Mummy T2X with Snow Snow!

A patience Snow who will always waited for Le Xin to put on her shoes, get ready her baby doll before bringing Snow out for a walk!

I want to give Snow Snow treats! said Le Xin
Snow Snow, sit sit, good girl! commanded Le Xin as she dropped the treats for Snow to eat!


How about watching Snow Snow in action?

 

Snow is really smart, pedigree or not, she is a street dog who has completely proven to us that as long as you are willing to take the time to train her, she is willing to listen to instructions and learn! Just a short span of 2 to 3 days, she was capable of mastering several commands that I taught her.....and the coolest thing was she was also able to listen to Le Xin's command at times too haha :) She is also very faithful. In this video, you will see how she refuses to go home unless Le Xin goes into the flat first, that's Snow for you......and I guess Snow will always leave a deep impression in Le Xin's life and she is the first big dog that Le Xin has befriend so Le Xin still claims that Snow Snow is her dog and she misses her!

 

I have only two words for you Snow......Thank you!

 

After Snow has left, I saw Le Xin attaching a string to her soft toy and pulling it around the house, she even took a packet of sauce and pretended to feed it to her soft toy as a treat. I think she was reenacting the scene where she fed Snow. It was really painful to look at how she missed Snow but deep in my heart, I also know that I need to have the time and committment before I can keep a dog so I can only tell myself.....SELF-CONTROL PLEASE.....

 

 I decided to bring Le Xin to visit Snow at her new fosterer's place a few days later and she had a great time with Snow.

 

Life has a street dog is hard and it's really difficult to imagine how some dogs have such good lives while others have to suffer out there - be it rain or shine :(

Cliche as ever always choose to adopt. There are many lovely dogs in several dog shelters in Singapore such as SPCA, SOSD, VFA, all waiting to go to a good home. You can click on the advert on the right panel that says "Save Our Street Dogs", that's one of the non profit organisations who strives and works really hard to save as many street dogs as they can.... so do check out their dogs if you are keen to adopt one! Alternatively you can also check out HOPE DOG RESCUE! I always cry each time I read their blog. There are many touching stories which will convience you why you shouldn't turn to a cute puppy just because you are attracted to his/her cute looking face through a pet shop window....Remember puppies don't always remain as puppy forever.... If possible, give a poor adult dog another chance to experience what is like to be part of a family again by choosing the option to adopt. If you are thinking of purchasing any pets , always think twice.....think about the time, think about the money and think about the committment! Just like us, all animals have feelings....never buy any pets on impulse.....always always think about the consequences!

 

Okay before someone accuse me of being loh soh again......I just stop here....but wait Snow is still waiting for her forever home, if you are keen to adopt her please contact me.....Thank you :)

 

Making Lemonade!

Remember in my Rubber Duckie post, I mentioned Le Xin was showing interest in lemonade when I showed her the duck song which was about a duck who went to a lemonade stand but asked for grapes?

 

Coincidentally, one of her Maisy Story Books - "Maisy Makes Lemonade" also features Maisy making lemonade together with her friend Eddy.

 

 

We also borrowed another book entitled "Dora's Summer Parade" during our weekend trip to the library. In this book, Dora had to collect lemons to make lemonade with her monkey Boots for the Summer Parade.

 

So after all the exposure about Lemonade, I have decided perhaps we should explore further by making our own Lemonade........hmmm sounds exciting right?

 

Yes indeed, let's take a look at our learning experience...

 

All ready, let's get started!

 

Mummy T2X was showing Le Xin how to cut the Lemonade, notice how she placed her hands at the back, she knew that a knife is a dangerous object because I keep emphatising it to her each time I cook with her :)

 

Le Xin observing the inner part of a lemon

 

Yeah, I can squeeze the lemon now said Le Xin

 

Mummy why cannot, lemonade stucked? asked Le Xin as she tried very hard to squeeze the lemon. I had to remind her a few times that she was handling a lemon and not lemonade haha :)

 

Mummy suggested to Le Xin that she should try with both hands.

Yeah, Mummy you see can already replied Le Xin

 

Well done my darling girl, it looks nice and good!

 

Let me smell said Le Xin and she placed the lemon near to her nose.

 

After this, whose's turn? asked Le Xin

 

Daddy Scott of course!

 

Le Xin observing how her Daddy squeezed the lemon

 

Daddy Scott wanted to guide Le Xin but.....

 

She kept insisting I can do it I can do it!

 

Okay now is your turn Daddy said Le Xin

 

It didn't take too long and soon Le Xin wanted to take over again!

 

However, Daddy Scott decided he wanted to play "I know how to do it better than you" and kept wanting to show Le Xin how to do it :p

 

Whahhaha so she gave up in the end and decided it's better to let Daddy Scott "show off" and be the hero of the day :p (just kidding)

 

Mummy you want to try too?

 

I hope this lemon is as sweet as you my darling girl but soon you will find out *evil smile*.....

 

Ohh noooooo what are we going to do with this?

 

First pour the juice into a pitcher using a beaker.... but wait...did I forget something?

 

Ohh ya my sieve, but it seems like I will be taking forever to do this......

 

Mummy please hold my sieve for me while I pour in the juice directly....

Cool and steady right?

 

Yeah the juice is dripping and all the pulp is not in the pitcher hooray!

 

Next, let's add some ice!

 

Toping it up with water...

 

Let me scoop some sugar too....

 

There you go.......

 

Now stir....

 

Hooray! Finally I could taste my own lemonade, tasting it for the first time in my life...excited!

 

Ewww......felt so cheated! I was not told that lemonade is soooo sour! Sobz...disappointed :(

Mummy T2X was really mean because she was laughing at a corner when she saw this!

 

 

Alright we have come to the end of the post......time to reflect again!

 

I recalled about 9 years ago when I was studying for my Diploma in Preschool Education Teaching, my lecturers like to emphasize to us the importance of offering hands on experiences when teaching young children. Back then, I didn't think too much about what they said. However, as I reflect upon  this post now, it has made me realised just how true their statements were!

 

Seriously, I would like to carry out this activity with my students  too but I know things will not be the same. Firstly, time will be a big factor I need to consider, secondly would be ratio so I often wonder to myself....... just how feasible/enjoyable it would be to do such activity with 15 or more children?

 

Nonetheless, I know in my heart, it is possible because I have seen it with my own eyes before. I was inspired to do this activity with my daughter because of one of my best friend cum ex-colleague has ever did it with her students in one of the child care that I worked in. She didn't make lemonade, I think she made Calamansi instead.

 

 Back then I could see her passion in engaging the children each week with cookery lesson, and let me tell you those sessions were tetious and back breaking. Firstly, she  had to ensure that all her students were involved in the process. She will sometimes motivate the children by getting them to contribute the ingredients which I thought was really cool but what inspired me the most is that, despite having to do what most people dread to do because we know it's not easy to cook with more than 10 children in the class without an assistant to help - She just did it without any complaints!

 

Well......maybe some teachers who looked at her might wonder......why do you have to go through  soooo much hard work, is it even worth it?  

 

 I guess it's all for the sake of exchanging the excitment, laughters and smiles  from the children as well as gaining the job satisfaction when you witnessed and observed just how much one could learn from such involvement - not just the children but the teacher too and I believe that is the most rewarding part. 

 

This is also the reason why I keep telling myself if I can offer this to my students in the past, I MUST do it with Le Xin and now reminding myself again if I can do it with Le Xin I SHOULD do it with my students now too!

 

Nonetheless, I really wish to thank my precious baby! She was extremely cooperative throughout the whole process which helped to make the learning experience so enjoyable and successful. Even though the lemonade didn't turn out to be what you expected it to be, I hope you enjoyed making the drink with me :) Thank you Le Xin!

 

Alright, and thank you to that someone who inspired me......yeah you know who you are! Don't forget to continue to make an impact in the lives of young children because you just do not know who is looking at you and how you can be an inspiration to others which will in turn benefit more children!

 

Leaving you with a powerful photo which will speak to you! I hope it does......

 

Le Xin's hands @ Work!