Babies' return

The babies returned from Australia on 1 July, Sunday night. They were received like celebrities at the airport, with full video coverage and cameras snapping at them. They were very much missed by all their loved ones. Thankfully, they spent their first night at Merlin Mansion and Bernice sleeping over at Wei's room was another bonus! Story-telling complete with role play, characterisation and narration is a ritual with the babies whenever we spend the night together. However, we only managed to do that with Bernice this time round.

The next day was a blast! Our first stop was Spinelli when we had mango twists. Then we went to the Merlion, followed by Esplanade (the babies' favourite; they called it the durian building). It was so hot that all three babies were flushed with rosy cheeks, which made them look like peaches. They simply looked so adorable. Despite the heat and humidity, they were hyperactive throughout the day. Chattering and giggling non-stop.... We had lunch at the Soup Spoon (Raffles City Shopping Centre). These kids had a very healthy appetite. They ate heartily and obediently. Actually, it was not difficult bringing all three out because they are such sensible and well-behaved children, including the little Manny. Though it was hot and humid, they did not throw a single tantrum and had great stamina for the long walks. Including Manny! After lunch, we went to Takashimaya and Wisma. They stopped by the aquarium at Wisma to look at the fishes. They recognised Dory from Finding Nemo straightaway. Of course, a day out must be completed with a visit to Toys R Us. Our last stop was Toys R Us at Forum Shopping Centre and we bought toys for all three babies. On our way home, Wei and I were completely knocked out but the babies were wide awake and talked non-stop. Including Manny! When we reached home, they did not let us rest either. They wanted to play with their new toys!!! So we did... The day ended with a family dinner at a nearby chicken rice restaurant.

Though tired, we felt terribly blessed by their return. Our hearts are warmed by their love, attention and pampering. It's going to be hard to say goodbye again...

Editors' note

This title was chosen because one of the first things that amused us, being here in Sydney, was how Manny would point out at something new and say, 'Look at tha-at!' in a very signature way. Later, between Ling and I, we would repeat that phrase (Manny style) to point out to each other the antics of the children (dancing, talking, giggling, laughing or doing something silly and sweet by themselves) or all the things we appreciate about being here (local food, things to buy, breathtaking views, rolling hills, grazing cows, lazy kangaroos, endless stretches of vineyards).

Here we'll like to share some of our 'look at thats' with you.

Enjoy.

(scroll down for updates)
Two new updates! Visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park on 6 March, and Blue Mountain Day on 7 March.

Goodbye for now

These parting words and gifts break our hearts and make saying goodbyes so difficult....

Ethan, the most charming, thoughtful and sensitive boy -
"Is it really tomorrow you go back to Singapore?"
"Why can't you stay here forever?"
"Can I make you something so that you can go and tell them that you will stay here forever?"
"Can I give 20 000 air tickets so that you can come here?"
"I will wake up in the middle of the night so that I can creep upstairs and say goodbye to you while Didi is still sleeping. Then I will sleep after that."
"I want to make you balloons so that you can bring to Singapore."
"I will put bubblegums in a hongbao and send them to you because there aren't bubblegums in Singapore."



From the sweetest Ethan, I(Sharon) received five kisses on the cheeks, forehead, chin and neck.

Bernice, the most beautiful, loving and kindest girl -
"I want to give you these."
"I will write you lots of letters and send them to you."
"Can you develop these pictures in Singapore and send them to me?"


Bernice gave me her art work that she did in school on the first day when we arrived in Sydney. I was almost touched to tears.


Taken by the great photographer - BT (Bernice has her own signature now. She signed off as BT.)





Manny, the most irresitable and cutest boy -
"I want Shaaron Jie Jie and Gu Jie..."



These parting scenes make us determined to return next year or even do our phd in Sydney so that we can watch them grow up.


Picture taken by Ethan.


Picture taken by Bernice.

Goodbye, BEET. Till we meet again in July, where we will set up a lemonade stall and sell lemonade at Ethan's birthday party. We love you dearly.

Afternote: Jinying told us that Bernice cried when we went upstairs to sleep. Mummy had to coax her to sleep.

Oversized

As we were going through Bernice's (largely pink) wardrobe, she suddenly remembered an item and said excitedly,

"Let me show you, let me show you!"
"Show me what?"



"This is what ma ma gave me for when I’m 680 years old."
- Bernice, facetiously referring to how oversized the jacket mama had given her.

Bedtime stories

In Bernice's room.

Last night, Sharon devised a way to engage the kids in their bedtime stories. When she was reading Cinderella to Bernice, everytime the word 'Cinderella' came up, Bernice was to repeat the word after her, accompanied by a flip of the hair in a fun, flirty way. Ethan was amused and tried to imitate by picking on his hair (see picture).

Meanwhile, Manny was just too funny. Everytime he heard Sharon mention the word, he would repeat 'CINDERELLA-aaa!' in a deliberate low, husky, monstrous tone, accompanied by half squats and hand action.

Monster "CINDERELLA-aaa!"

"CINDERELLA-aaa!"

"CINDERELLA-aaa!"

Monster Cinderella sequence was repeated a few times, each time ending with this cheeky grin.

Later, when it was Ethan's turn to be read his dinosaur book, the kids were told to pretend to be dinosaurs whenever the word came up. They were absorbed and oblivious to Manny's antics...

...as he throws himself up and down into this dinosaur trance everytime he heard Sharon read 'dinosaur'.

Monday blues

Sharon and I walked the kids to school this morning. Weather was breezy and lovely, roughly 20 degree celcius. The kids were skipping, running and chatting along the way.


Ethan looking spiffy as usual in his school uniform.

As we stepped through the school gates, Sharon asked Ethan if he was happy to be in school.



Ethan: I don't like school.
Sharon: Why don't you like school? You have many friends here and there are many fun things to do, right?
Ethan: Hmmm.... (not convinced and a little moody)

At assembly, Sharon and I found out that the kids were doing a mass dance right in the school compound. Despite obvious hints by teachers that we should leave ("Parents, please go upstairs for the parent-teacher meeting", "Children, say goodbye to your visitors."), as die-hard groupies, we pretended not to understand. Again, we stuck out like sore thumbs (we were kicking ourselves for forgetting to wear the Excelsior pullovers we'd bought). Didn't help that we were also snapping pictures.

Below are photos of Ethan doing the Hoki Poki.






Sharon was watching Ethan very closely as she has been worried about him enjoying school. When she saw how Ethan was not getting as much attention, she almost drove me crazy with her questions,
"Why is Ethan alone?"
"Why does he look so sad?"
"Where's his dancing partner???"
"He has no partner!!!"
"Why isn't his teacher doing anything?"
"My heart hurts! Look, he has no dancing partner! Where's his partner???"
"How, how, should we tell the teacher?"
" Why is he being overlooked?"
"Why wasn't he given the worksheet?"
"Why was he marginalised?"
"Why is the Chinese girl trying to hold his hand again?!"



Monday mornings have never been more stressful.

A day full of adventures

We had a magical day with Bernice at the Rocks, a street market in the city (close to the Harbour Bridge). With a map from the hotel, we began our adventure. After a short while of walking, we decided that we should take a bus to the Rocks, which was at the end of George Street. We thus had our first experience of taking a public bus in Sydney with Bernice. It was her first experience too!


Our first stop after we alighted the bus. Much to our delight, we were welcomed by the ice-cream stand! Bernice had a peppermint ice cream and we had a lemon sorbet. We had a great time walking down Circular Quay with our ice cream.


Bernice was really easy to hang out with. She was especially mature, sensible and well-behaved. On top of that, she was very cooperative whenever I fussed over her to keep herself clean. She was puzzled why I brought her to the toilet so many times to wash her hands. Nevertheless, she was always ready to oblige. I caught her puzzled look once and broke into a giggling fit that I could not stop. She laughed along with me in the toilet!


Our second stop was at the Rocks. It was a street market full of interesting items. We had fun browsing and snacking on roasted, caramelised almond nuts.




The rest of the pictures were taken by the great photographer - Bernice Tang! We discovered another hidden talent of this bright, beautiful young girl. When she was taking these pictures, she had the stance of a professional photographer and the passerbys were all quite amused and impressed by this little girl.

Morning mole conversation

Ethan showing off his only mole.

Ethan: See, I've got a mole here.
Me: Is that the only mole?
Ethan: Yes. But yeye has lots of moles.
Bernice: Plenty.

Day with Bernice

Bernice pictured with a McDonald's frozen cola at the street side bar.

"Why gu jie doesn't want to ask? It's better to ask then we can find out. It's better to find out than to be caught by the police."

- Bernice, at the street side bar that Sharon and I were having a drink at. She'd wanted me to check with the bar if it was alright for her to have her McDonald's frozen cola there.

"Can we ask God to help us protect the things?"

- Bernice, in the car when we had to return to the Hilton Hotel toilet to retrieve the bag we'd left there.

Glorious day at The Entrance beach

It's always easy to catch a great picture of this looker.


and erm...this catcher.


Needless to say, us of course.


Daddy Tang and tiniest Tang.


Mummy and Ethan look for catch.


Manny follows tracks in the sand.


Bernice with her sand portrait of Sharon.


The united wait for waves.


Then the runaways.


Meanwhile, Manny yells into a crab hole, "CRAB! CRAB!"


"Look, this crab is almost dead."


Manny basks in the sun.


"Bernice and Sharon are here."


"This is Bernice's foot print." (Note arrows)


Cookie break.


Crowd behind us awaits a country music concert by the beach (note cowboy hats).


Day ended with a hearty Mexican fare, that is, until dessert, when coffee arrived accompanied by a cockroach.


He's been my regular dining partner.