Piano Oxygen Music Festival | Good Friday | Westmall Bukit Batok New Restaurants | Book Bugs Tales

Brayden 8Y2M3D

Bevlynn 3Y10M27D

On the same weekend as the Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Brayden was performing for a piano competition at the Oxygen Music Festival. He only signed up 2 weeks before. He did not have much time for preparation but he still tried all his best to play "Minuet in C" and "Little Whale Explores the Calm Sea" beautifully. 

Children ages 5-12 years old were in the same category as him. He was called to play and went on stage, bowed and started playing. He confidently ended the song with a nice soft hand gesture. Not a tinge of nervousness. 

Brayden won Bronze prize. All children who had at least participated won Bronze. The Platinum winners were outstanding! 

After the competition, we went to Just Anthony, an antique store that has beautiful crafts, furniture, and hidden timeless treasures. After exploring the countless displays, I feel in love with a pair of vintage stool and a wall mirror with wooden carvings. I saw them online, they looked much better in real. I have always wished to have my home filled with beautiful antique decor, but I could not find a similar store elsewhere. Finally, this place really gave me a sense of excitement and curiosity. There are many antiques I have not set eye upon. When the salesperson explain some of the history behind the antiques, it gave a strong vibes of long time passing and continuity of beautiful culture. 

The same week, Westmall had opened many new restaurants in the basement. We had tried the following:

• Hatsumi Donburi & Soba - Thumbs up for the nice Mentaiko Salomon Don and Miso Salmon Soba. The children loved them. The bowls were filled with crispy seaweed, tobiko and sous vide poached egg; their all-time favourite. 
• Nan Yang Dao - A long queue for this restaurant but their servings were very fast. Food was up to par. Some of the items on the menu were not available. The concept a bit similar to Oriental Kopi with the egg tart, coffee and green backdrop. However, they do have some dishes which were unique. We definitely will come back to try more; especially the coffee.
• Sushi express - The children's favourite sushi place. They were ecstatic and over the moon to know that there is now a branch so near our home. Miso soup, corn sushi, octopus, jelly, endless list... They can fill their bellies looking like a rounded balloon each time. 

More to try....

Also, another exciting week, the Book Bugs: Tales of Travellers in Libraries is back. It was awhile back since the last edition. Now the cards are different and Bray is excited to collect 'em all again. Each 4 books borrowed, will earn 1 card. I am giving myself a goal to read more books to gain more cards. Let's go! 

SEA Aquarium trip | Daily doses of love | Joke presentation | BB Neighbourhood Clean Up

Brayden 8Y1M20D

Bevlynn 3Y10M13D

Bev's pre-school had a SEA Aquarium trip on 11 April. She was so excited and kept telling us she'd be going to the Aquarium. Her favourite was the Shark! I asked if it was the baby Shark. Bev said "No mommy, it's the big one". 

Every day she'd be so attached to Mommy & Daddy before going to school. She'd followed us to send Bray to school, have breakfast together and at the traffic light before I parted with her, she'd remind me to "Come back early~~ (with soft pitch)". She'd wait for my bus to pass our home, I'd waved at her from the bus to the distant window; where I'd find a small little hand waving back. 

Same with Bray. He would ask me when he was about to enter his school gate. "Mommy, what time are you coming back? Come back early ok?" 

These two are my daily doses of love before heading to work. 

Bray did a public presentation to the crowd. He did some jokes. 

"Knock, knock"

"Who's there?"

"Who"

"Who Who"

"Are you an owl?"

"What is a sick pokemon?" "Pic-A-choooo"

"What is a sad strawberry?" "Blueberry"

"What tree can you fit in your hand?" "A palm tree"

"What keys does children like?" "Cookies"

He was too shy. He was afraid that the crowd would not find the jokes funny. But it was a good attempt to entertain the crowd. 

We had a Bukit Batok Neighbourhood Clean-up Day again. Bev & I vs. Hub & Bray. I took Bev around in a small wagon. It was always a nice activity to keep the children entertained. Bray is a nice gor gor and tried to carry Bev whenever she's tried. 

  

Pokemon Go City Safari Singapore | Jurong East Swimming Pool | Bukit Batok Family Day

Brayden 8Y1M13D

Bevlynn 3Y10M6D

30 March was the event day for Pokemon Go City Safari Singapore. Bray and Hubs joined in the crowd to catch it All in Marina Bay Sands. Their group was led by Youtuber Brandon Tan. It was a hot and humid day. After the morning event, Bev and I waited for them to join us at Harbour Front, where we waited for the children to play at the open play area. 

The next day, we went to the Jurong East swimming pool. It was almost empty, and we felt completely relaxed at the wading pool and the wave pool. It was easier to take care of the children because it was easier to keep an eye on them even from a short distance without worrying about the crowd. 

We went to JB for a relaxing 2 hr massage for RM85/pax and hair spa at RM38. We-time was what we needed for a short getaway and relaxation. 

There was a Bukit Batok Family Day on 5 April. I pulled Bev in a wagon, she could hardly fit her long legs in there but she wanted to act like a little baby. With a bottle, she slept in the wagon while I pulled her for 15 minutes to the destination. 

The crowd was just busy going around the blocks to get the stamps to complete the lucky draw criteria. Bev was on the train & played with the parrot and Yeh Yeh was sitting there enjoying the nice weather. Suddenly, came a heavy downpour and everyone ran indoors to take cover. I sent Yeh Yeh, Bev and Eva home in a cab, while I stayed back. It wasn't until 8:00 pm that the rain stopped. The activities resumed, with music and yo-yo performance. In the end there was a lucky draw. Lucky me! this time I won 14th price (Golden Village card worth $38). 

I am feeling very lucky this year. This is my 4th WIN after CNY! I hope this lucky streak will continue.