Relaxing at Sentosa

Always happy to be with one another!

Gaama and Gaapa!

Fri, 23 Sept 2011.... Gaampa joined EK, Julie, Jon and Emma at the Hard Rock Hotel on Sentosa. Jon and Emma were thrilled to welcome us and brought us around the pools. They took some snapshots of gaamapa. "Are you staying for the night?". they asked. "Come and try my bed, gaama. It is very comfy", offered Jon. He happily posed for a couple of shots. "I want to have a nice photo for my Facebook!" 

Relaxed in the cool air-con room. Gaamapa took long showers to cool down before proceeding for dinner. We walked through through the Festive Hotel and Michael Hotel, the line of shops and restaurants, to have a look at Universal. Kids held gaaamapa's hands and showed us around. Easy exploratory stroll.

Takes his "job" seriously.

Dinner at Din Da Fang. Took some time to pick our menu. Jon was elated and slurped down his noodles and dumplings in pretty quick time. He was generous to offer to share his food, grinning from ear to ear, sitting across gaama. EK was official photographer at dinner. Jon could not help but snap a shot of his daddy when he saw his daddy enjoying his meal. Em was grouchy at dinner but nonetheless, we all enjoyed our meal and fellowship. Missed uncle Kevin, ye ye Karen, Sam and Nate Nate. "Wished they are here", said Jon. Always ready for more cousins' rowdy fun.

Jon took a snapshot of his daddy enjoying chicken soup.

A happy Jon, lots to say, comfortable and enjoys his conversation.

"I want a picture for my Facebook!".
A fine young man, our first-born grandson Jonathan Gan Tian En.

Jon was ferried after school on a school day to "holiday" at Sentosa due to Julie's special arrangement package with hotel. Reminded Jon clearly that this was a special privilege to have a break in the midst of school-week, and that he had to work doubly hard the next week. "I know, gaama".  "Give him a break, relax the rules a little tonight, Ju", gaama reminded stern mama. "Thanks, gaama, for lobbying for me", Jon whispered. big smile on his face. "Study hard next week!", gaama hissed. "I know".

Gaamapa noticed that Jon seems to have "suddenly" matured overnight the past few weeks. He reaches out to relate and talks more. Jon is getting to be a charming young man and funny too. Very conversational. Exuberance of youth and an ever ferocious appetite. True blue ACS boy. Oh no! Corny sense of humour. Great company. Tends to exaggerate to illustrate his point in conversation and gets carried away, bursting into laughter, musing over his own jokes. And then his mamma will frown hard and brings him instantly back to earth. Jon now listens more before he reacts. That's good. Overall attitude has improved. Work on it, Jon.  Not so inward looking and so focused on self as before.  Complains less too and listens more. Speaks very well, good command of language and vocab, and relates well. He is more relaxed, listens,, thinks and enjoys the interaction. Jon gives special grins, all teeth showing, when his corny [like gaapa's] sense of humour overtakes him. I like it that he looks at us in the eyes when he communicates. Thank God that Jon is a happy young man and comfortable with himself and the family. Our kids to be able to share and express in open communication with parents and family is something to be treasured and built upon. Pray that God will help EK, Julie and all of us, to nurture Jon into a fine Christian young man.

Dainty Emma Gan has good posture, ballet training.

Emma was her sweet, so soft-spoken self, hanging on to gaama, and asking "Gaama, are you staying with us tonight?". She was very pleased when I handed her the camera to snap shots of us at the poolside and took the task seriously. It took gaama a long time standing there patiently for Em to place gaama exactly into the camera frame before she pressed the button. Must be e x a c t!! Quick, Emma, quick. My smile is freezing!

My gaama and I... two dynamic gals, apart from  mamma and Yeye Karen.

Thank God for all His blessings. 

We had a great day!

Nate has spurts of emotional expression!

On way back from Pats last Tuesday, Nate, out of the blues, suddenly smiled and looked me in the eyes, a little shyly, and offered: "Gaama, you are the best grandma in the world, ever!".
Wow, it took me by surprise! Where did that come from, I wondered. "Well, thank you, Nate".
Sam then joined in. "Yes, and gaapa is the best gaapa in the world, ever!".
I don't think both boyz were out to get us to buy their favourite beef horfun because our car had passed Thomson Medical.

Nate has great PR!
When I walked in to Sam's room two Saturdays ago, Sam was occupied with mama with value-add, as usual. Nate was busy sorting out some stuff by himself seated on the floor near to Sam's desk. Upon seeing me, Nate said: "Gaama, I was waiting for you, you know".  "Oh, is it, Nate? I am here", and he grinned and gave me the usual hug.
I honestly didn't think Nate was waiting for me on Sat morning! He probably felt a surge of emotive love when I walked in, and he certainly knows what to say to please gaama.

I'm here, gaama!

On Sat, 24 Sept, during Sam's BD party, action was getting a little rough among the boyz in the pool. Gaama swam to middle of pool to caution Jonathan Gan to keep an eye on cousin Nate, floating around with two hands holding on to his float, beside the huge float that Jon and other kids were balancing upon. Upon sighting me, Nate immediately shouted: "Gaama, I was looking for you, you know".
Now, I knew for sure that Nate was so caught up with the frolics and fun with the kids in the pool. He would not harbour the slightest thought of gaama. I guess he was happy to see me when I appeared in the pool. His heart bust forth with joy and his lips verbalized his emotions.

Gaama is touched!

Gaama has a preview of what to expect!! Educational tour.

Praying for Miranda

A flushed pink Miranda after a round of golf at KK

Dear Lord... Miranda is going for 2nd operation this afternoon to arrest possible bleed on 2nd aneurysm. We pray that every decision taken, every procedure executed, every medicine administered, is guided by You... to help Miranda to recover fast and whole.Please uphold Kian as he stands by Miranda. Thank you, Lord! Amen

Gaama has a dog-tag!

Went say bye to Nate on toilet seat, flushed beads perspire head. Gaama, Is it hanging? Is it hanging? [he meant his poop]. I peeped. Indeed thin strand hanging fr anus. Push Nate push (reminds me time I was in labour). Out came poop. "I pushed motion out gaama." He looked Visibly relieved. "C u tomor Nate. Be gd boy." "ok, what's yr number gaama? "98242416". Nate must hv heard sam phoning me!  Gaama has a dog tag now! Nate mumbled number after me. "Bye Nate. Cannot remember number, ask yr mummy". Ok he replied.

Really...?

Cheeky little fella!

22 Aug 2011
Showering kids is bonding time with gaama on days when mama & dardy are busy, and gaama picks kids up from school after work, and "process" sticky sweaty kids in bathroom. Many things to tell gaama. Shampooing Nate. Eyes to eyes, head lifted to gaama. "gaama I tell u something", This is always the boyz opening line. What's coming up, I wondered. "What, Nate?" "My penis is painful". "oh dear, why? what happened? "I went cycling with dardy. I sit on the round thing. I moved very fast  My penis pressed on round thing. My dardy said I cannot go this side or that side. My penis pressed on round thing". "What round thing Nate? Do u mean the bicycle seat?" "yes" "did u tell dardy yr penis is painful?" "yes". "what did yr dardy do?" "my dardy put plaster on my penis". Appalled, I asked: "Nate u think again. Dardy will not put plaster on yr penis. How to pass urine? Did he put plaster on yr penis?". Nate thot for a moment then said "no, dardy did not put plaster". Then suddenly Nate broke into squeals of giggles as gaama massaged shampoo on hair.  "Gaama, so funny. Haha.  Then the plaster will be so smelly with urine, gaama". Then Rascal let off another round giggles with soap streaming down his cheeks. "u must speak right things Nate. If no plaster, u cannot say have plaster". "ok, gaama". Then Nate added: if my backside is painful, dardy can put plaster and plaster will be so smelly with motion, gaama". Nate squealed again in laugher, enjoying and pleased with himself. His naughty mind went full gear imagination private joke.  "Don't talk rubbish Nate. If penis hurts nxt time, tell dardy and he will take care of u. The backside plaster is not funny". "ok , gaama". Shampoo completed. Conversation over. Nate still grinning.

Cannot bite your fren, Nate!

The sky is my limit: A child's dream.

3 Aug 2011

Nate said last nite that if any fren were to block his way today, he will not bite but will tell fren "excuse me". He said teeth are for eating food like pasta, sausage, fish, rice not to bite frens. Nate scored 100 marks for oral test questions. Don't know abt practical test in pats today. Reminded Nate of Nemo... "These are my friends. They are not food!"