Octopus please...

2009, March 21, Saturday

Ivan had just recovered from his three day fever, and had started to feel much better. He had gained back his appetite. After having lunch at 11.30 his normal lunch time on school days, he asked me for chicken rice. I figured that he must be hungry and craving for good tasty food.

As Immanuel was about to have tuition, we left him at home and we left for Sun Plaza. I asked Ivan if he would rather have pancakes from Mr. Bean or doughnuts from the bakery. He chose the doughnuts. we went down to the bakery and he chose two, very delicious chocolate doughnuts. Along with that he requested for a mini pizza by pointing at it.

After running some errands that I had, we walked towards the exit. Then I thought that I was in the mood for a curry puff. As I stood in front of display cabinet to decide my order, Ivan pointed to a stick of fried octopus. I was shocked. Then I asked him nicely, "Are you sure you want that?" he said, "Yes." He had never eaten that before, and future more it would be pretty hard to chew as Ivan never liked to chew. Anyway, what had I got to lose, at the most I would just throw it away. I bought it and passed it to him as we walked home. He started to eat and actually was beginning to enjoy it. Bit by bit he ate as he walked home and eventually finished it.

This was very much a miracle as I had nothing to do with this achievement. It was solely between God and Ivan. I was just pleased to have experienced this achievement.

-bittersweet-

Sylvanian house....

2009, March 21, Saturday

This is a picture of the toy house that we bought for Ivan. I call it toy house because it would be very disturbing for my hubby if we called it a doll house.
I must say that this house is our best educational investment so far. It has really, brought out a side or Ivan that we have never seen. He takes a lot of time doing up the house and placing each piece of furniture and character into the desired place.
When we bought the house it came with the dinning set and the food stuff. To it we added the family of four, and an oakwood bedroom set. So nice just furnishing the house. The furniture comes with practically everything you will require. They even have attached bottles of perfume, powder, comb, hand held mirror and etc. On one occasion, Ivan took out the miniature comb, showed it to me and started to comb his hair in front of the mirror. Then he opened the dressing table drawer and placed it back. Although the bedroom set was pretty expensive, it was good because it came with many little nitty gritty stuff.

I find it rather interesting the way Ivan organises the dinning table. Here is one of the many settings created by him. You see the daddy on the extreme right, followed by and empty chair (which I assume is for the mummy) and then the two kids. The mummy apparently, is at the ground level, preparing the meal by the stove. It is very much like how we eat at home. As mummy cooks at the stove, the three guys gather at the kitchen and sit for dinner.

A very interested detail, that my hubby and I notice was that Ivan had added a "power cable" so my hubby says to the kitchen. The black string you see coming out of the kitchen cabinet, was actually taken from my room. I had bought an new blouse and had cut out the tag. The string that held the tag together was cut and toss out. Ivan had picked up this string and had added it to the kitchen. It had stayed there throughout the days. So we strongly believe that it could be a power cable. When I asked him, he just said, "Black."

-bittersweetz-

Subway parade...

2009, March 20, Friday

Its a Sunday morning, we decided not to go to church today. We thought we would call it a family day siesta. We had a light snack for breakfast, and decided that we would go for brunch later. It was going to be a good brunch, for today. We made the kids walked all the way to Sembawang Shopping Center. Wether they needed the excercise or not, I needed it. Upon reaching there, we walked around to decide where to brunch.

I really wanted to have a good healthy sandwich from Subway, but it was going to be difficult as Ivan doesn't eat there. We had tried once before but had faced a lot of refusal. However, I decided that I wasn't leaving without a fight. I knew that I could use the Chocolate Chip Cookie as my tangible reinforcement.
We decided not to be too ambitious, so we chose the sandwich with eggs and cheese. Here is Ivan, examining the egg and cheese sandwich. Looking close at the lettuce and mayo dressing that mummy had ordered and forced him to eat. With much thought, he looked over at us and gestured that he didn't want the lettuce that was in it. He even tried to eat in a way that the lettuce would fall out. He did this by tilting it in a way that the lettuce were slipping out from the sandwich.
Of course, mummy wouldn't have it that way. So I tried, to pick up the lettuce pieces and tried to place it back into the sandwich. He sound his distress by making some weird sounds. But he knew better than that, that it would not work. I showed him the chocolate chip cookie, and tried to persuade him as much as I could. I didn't realise that there were two pieces of the chocolate chip cookie in the paper bag. So I pretended that I was about the eat up the chocolate chip cookie. I pinched a bit of the cookie and started to eat it slowly, making sure that he saw me eating it. It worked like a charm, that he started to stuff his mouth

and eat so fast.

The look on his face when he saw that there was a full cookie still in there waiting for him, really lit his face up. It's truly a million dollar expression as far as I am concerned. But then again I am his mother I am allowed to be bias.
He went on to enjoy the full cookie as he held it in his hand. As he was enjoying his reward, he paused to see that I was still pinching pieces off the chocolate chip cookie that was still in the bag. He immediately, snatched the other piece of cookie and contentedly ate with a cookie in each hand.

To me it was a fruitful brunch experience. I am glad that we were able to enjoy our brunch together, even though there were some ups and downs but we eventually made it out well. Yet another, achievement for us. Hurray!!!!

-bittersweetz-

Vivocity

2009, March 11, Wednesday

We figured that Ivan would feel that something was amiss, if he didn't get to see Immanuel for four days. At the same time we thought that it would be good to have a family day out, since even my hubby was on leave today. After sending off Immanuel, the three of us went for breakfast at Mac's. Ivan enjoyed his big breakfast and we headed home for a siesta.
After a good rest, we headed off for Vivocity. I know that its been opened for a while now, but I have yet to get there to look around. Plus, my hubby mentioned that they had a Marche opened there. We used to love to eat at Marche after church previously, until they closed down at Suntec. Before we settled for lunch, we walked around a little and I figured some photos would be good.


Ivan was happy with the Marche experience. He had pizza then pasta and then the wonderful crepe. I brought him to choose what he was going to eat for each dish. The crepes were the best. He chose the bananas to go with it and caramel sauce, topped off with rich Swiss Chocolate.

The setting was so nice that I had to snap some shots....

 

 

 

 

 

-bittersweetz-

Preparing to leave for the trip of a lifetime...

2009, March 11, Wednesday

It's 4.45am and I hear Immanuel's voice, pestering my hubby saying, "Daddy, daddy, I haven't packed my toiletries yet?" And yes we were all up by then. We got up, gave Immanuel his breakfast and helped him settle his toiletries after he showered. I had to bug Ivan to get up so that we could all go to school to send Immanuel off for his trip of a lifetime.

He was going to KL with the Tamil Class group from school. And the day had finally arrived for the departure. He was so excited while, Ivan was rather cranky. Can you blame him? He had to get up so early. (Even though he is a early riser, this is too early)

Here is a shot mummy took when we all headed, you can see how excited Immanuel is. He is already maneuvering his bag in every way.

We had a prayer session for Immanuel. After that we left and took a slow walk to school in the cool morning breeze. My hubby had to carry Ivan to help him feel less miserable. When we reached the school, the kids assembled and was busy chatting. I took a few shots of them just before they boarded the coach and headed off.

I didn't hear from Immanuel at all until around 8 plus in the evening. He sounded very, very happy and I could tell that he is having a swell time. Can you imagine four days without mummy or daddy? It's like free flow of fun for the next four days. 

-bittersweetz-

Briyani anyone?

2009, March 11, Wednesday

My hubby suggested that after church today, he would give us a treat at this new Banana Leaf place that he had seen opened newly at the Sembawang/Yishun area.

We had taken the taxi home to unload all the groceries that we picked up at Suntec. After unloading, we took the bus and walked down to the place. As you can see the kids are happily digging in to their briyani already. Even now Ivan refuses to use his hands to eat. He just finds it very disturbing. Well its find by me even if he wants to always eat using the fork and spoon. I would however, like to teach him how to use the chopsticks, one day.

-bittersweetz-

Osim... ahhh

2009, March 11, Wednesday

I had taken out the the osim I Pamper, for my hubby as he had just came home and had been complaining of body aches. Apparently, after using it last night, we had left it by our bedside.

The boys went in the next day and started to play with it. Immanuel asked Ivan, "Do you want a massage?" Immediately, took off his T-shirt and lay back for a massage. Immanuel was more than happy to do the massage for Ivan. And Ivan on the other hand, couldn't get enough of it.

Immanuel was really great spirited at this, he massaged with different consistency and with heat and then without heat.

After a few minutes, as if that massage was not enough, Ivan wanted Immanuel to massage his froggy too. But as froggy was too small. Ivan placed froggy on him so that Froggy and he could get a great massage.

-bittersweetz-