Friday, February 29, 2008

Don't mess with me


Sometimes I feel I need to write down the things that Tobey does and say. I find it really hard to remember those little things he says, which are at times very funny. I wish I will remember this growing process.

A little update on Tobey. He was made the class discipline monitor. I am glad he was given this experience. He learnt that everyone has different personalities and how difficult it is to manage people's behaviour and gaining their respect. These are such important life skills. And I must say he is doing a good job...I hope :). He was hit the other day because another boy refused to listen to him. So cute when he comes home and ask me, "Mommy, what should I have done?"

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

To the Birthday Boy



Happy Birthday, Dear. You are the greatest!

A little boring but snuggly pressie from me to you. :) I hope you enjoyed our trip this evening.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Singapore wins bid for 2010 Youth Olympic Games



Singapore is really reaching out for the stars...where will I be? Vancouver or Singapore, that's the question. Let's see how things go...


Singapore will host the first Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

The Southeast Asian city-state of 4.5 million people beat out Moscow in a vote of the International Olympic Committee. The result was announced Thursday by IOC president Jacques Rogge during a ceremony at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In a postal ballot of IOC members, Singapore defeated the Russian capital 53-44.

Singapore has never hosted a major international multi-sports event but held a sentimental edge over Moscow. The IOC was eager to reward a city that might never be able to stage the full Olympics.

"We dared to dream, we worked hard to pursue our dream despite the odds, and now the dream will become a reality," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

The Youth Games will feature about 3,200 athletes aged 14-18 competing in 26 sports. The event, to be held every four years, is designed to encourage youngsters to get involved in sports and spend less time in front of computer and television screens. The first Winter Youth Olympics will be in 2012.

"It's a great honor and privilege for all of us, for Singapore and every Singaporean," Lee said. "For the first time, the 'Olympics' name will be in Southeast Asia, and in Singapore. We will be the focus of a new era of sports development for Singapore, for Southeast Asia and for the Olympic movement."

Lee spoke at a public gathering in Singapore that included about 5,000 students from 90 schools, most of whom were decked out in red and were assembled at a large field in front of the downtown City Hall to listen to the result from Lausanne.

"We worked very hard for seven months," Lee said. "It was a national effort, but more than that, it was a people's effort.… Now, the countdown to 2010 begins. We have 2½ years to prepare for the Youth Olympic Games. It's going to be challenging, but it's going to be full of excitement and achievements."

Moscow hosted the 1980 Olympics, and Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi was picked last year to stage the 2014 Winter Games.

Singapore, with a games budget of $75 million, will use 24 venues, including one large cluster for 13 sports. Nineteen of the venues already exist, four would be built as temporary facilities and one is under construction for equestrian.

Singapore and Moscow made the final list after the elimination of Athens, Greece; Bangkok, Thailand; Turin, Italy; Debrecen, Hungary; Guatemala City; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Poznan, Poland.

"The Youth Olympic Games are the flagship of the IOC's determination to reach out to young people," Rogge said. "These games will not only be about competition. They will also be the platform through which youngsters will learn about the Olympic values and the benefits of sport, and will share their experiences with other communities around the globe."

Source: The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2008/02/21/world-youth-olympics.html

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Hello Kitty and Me





















This is what I got for my valentine's day gift. Amazing or crazy? I don't know! I got literally wrapped up like a "ba-chang" (Chinese for rice dumpling). You should see the process of putting this thingy (a yukata and obi) on. I am literally at the mercy of them, after they learnt it from the salesman in 15 minutes. But amazingly, it managed to look like one...

There are some things I learnt about wearing the yukata too...

TS (to the salesperson): Are you sure the ribbon is not in front?
SP: You have to tie it in front then turn the whole ribbon to the back, if you place it in front, it means you are a er....pro..you know what I mean?

Then reality hits me, when am I going to wear it? TS had some brilliant ideas...

1) wear it to one of these Japanese schools nearby, heard they are having some open house day where they will all go in their traditional costumes.
2) International friendship day
3) Racial Harmony Day
4) National Day
5) Mama shop downstairs
6) Macdonald's opposite

Very funny. Thanks, but, no thanks...maybe you and Tobey should get a costume too and we can do this together.

Valentine's at Keppel Bay Marina


We were lucky to get a seat in this small TCC outlet at Keppel Bay. Many who walked in had to be turned away on Valentine's Day. This is one of the rare Valentine's that we actually ate out. Usually we would just celebrate it on another day cos everywhere is either fully booked or prices are an overkill.

It was such a delightful dinner from start to finish with Tobey and TS. I had to guess my present before my dinner so I would not be deemed as a "loser". Luckily, I did guess it under my breath at the last moment. Tobey was so shocked and said, "Mommy, you are so smart!" So cute. I was not expecting "this" to be the gift. Although it is something I would like to have, er, when am I going to use it??? But of course, I am really happy at the effort TS and Tobey put in to for my Valentine's Day, a day to remember. After that, Tobey was so happy too, cos it means he passed and he would be getting his 2 Valentine's Day presents!

Keppel Bay Marina is such a beautiful place, I must say, is one of the most beautiful parts of Singapore. Overlooking Carribean the condominium, it feels like another world here. The scenery is fanastic and makes us feel like getting a unit at the Carribean. Of course, the prices are also very fanastic. The food wasn't so good, but service and the company was great!

Thank you TS and Tobey!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day



HAPPY (Belated) VALENTINE'S DAY!

It is one of the most memorable Valentine's Day I have had. TS has been rather strange lately and did many things that surprised me. The best part was I received a gift that totally out of this world (both figuratively and literally). The sweetest thing was he went shopping with Tobey to get this gift. It is the sweetest thing he has done...or no, maybe he needed the help of my spy because Tobey knows my taste incredibly well!

After they bought it, they had a treatise. Tobey is well known for not keeping secrets. So TS had to silence him. How? He promised Tobey TWO V-day presents IF he do not reveal anything. All he can reply is, "I don't know", "I cannot tell". Of course, it was a good deal for Tobey (2 presents = 2 pokemons prancing in his head), so it worked for him.

I was given hints to guess what it is, but if I cannot guess it before dinner on V-day, I am a loser. I was determined NOT to be a loser, but did I? Anyway, can you guess what it is? All I can say is I AM SHOCKED at the gift I received. SHOCK beyond words.

They gave me these clues:

1. Moi will like to have it although it is not a neccessity
2. It comes in many different parts that can be pieced together
3. When I "use" it, I have to speak softly and "not my usual self"
4. Not every girl will like to have it
5. It is not a Hello Kitty but It will bring me closer to Hello Kitty.

This is the best hint of all:

WHEN YOU "USE" IT, YOU WILL BE CITIZENS WITH HELLO KITTY!!!

If you can guess it right, kudos to you.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Do-nut you?



We spent a quiet Chinese New Year's eve afternoon at home baking and cleaning up the house. Decided to try my hand at baking again, and bought ingredients to bake doughnuts. They look quite okay I guess but I think it was way toooo sweet. I followed an American recipe. There are lots to improve on, I need to work on the presentation too. Tobey was so cute, he says, "I will be honest with you, the glaze don't look too good."

Thanks, Tobey for your honesty!