What to do in blizzard like weather in Finland with the kids!

Today is Boxing Day, 26th Dec 2010. The weather is vry cold, blizzard-like conditions and as Asians coming from hot and humid Singapore, it's really impossible to get out of the house. As we know, my 2 boys are active and adventurous, so no amount of scribbling, reading and craft will satisfy the need for action! We finally decided to turn the home into an 'active' playground and the only game we play was 'hide and seek'. Well, we had loads of fun and laughter; look at the rules that Javier played by.
[1] He will appear when you enter the room where he hides. *BOO!
[2] He will hide right under your nose. Daddy was standing in front of toilet and J went in and shut the door, opened it and said to his dad,"Papa, I want to hide in the toilet, ok?" We laughed till our bellies were filled.
[3] He will walk to his hiding place very quickly and loudly.... we obviously know where he's hiding!

The next game we are playing with him, is treaure hunt! Happy homestay!

Gill

It's mummy's birthday!

Yes! It's the same time of the year again. I'm blowing out 28 candles in the year 2010 with my closest family around me. I'm feeling the effects of being in a strange land without friends and relatives.
Almost every birthday celebration starts with lots of well wishes, cakes and food and ends with me feeling so blessed. This year is a very quiet year, without all of the fanciful stuff, but a simple song from my family via video conference and my 3 best friends conversing with me via video brings me such blessings and peace. I wish I can be at my favourite Italian restaurant along Bukit Timah Road, enjoying dinner with my dear dear. However, counting my blessings, I have to, in such severe temperatures, I have so much time with myself.

I miss you, my dearest friends and my lovely family. I really do. Thank you for all the blessings from the past till this day. And I will treasure the "present".

A sick week for the family

This past week has been a snow storm for me. I sleep a maximum of 5 hours before crawling out of bed, cleaning dirty noses and watery poo throughout the day. Cooking has become a chore simply because I have a Koala clinging to me in all of his waking hours. And, I have become really short tempered and the fuse is indeed running short with the kids. And then, I read something online that pulled me back to sanity. Life is about giving and sharing and learning. I am still learning how to be a competent stay at home mummy, which is a far cry from my life in SG. Having to cope with the chores, cooking, kids, and this week, sickness, is very tough.
So far, I have screamed and yelled at the kids, cried after and become stronger.
These two years are dedicated for my family, putting myself at the end of the list. All the good and bad will pass; when we look back at the time, we will recall and retain all the wonderful memories and sights. Just like work, there's always good and bad. Let's look at the good, forget the bad and move on; because when we look back, we won;t even remember the bad. How often do you remember the labour pain after the baby is one?