Day 58 of JM's US Detachment Trip

Today is my FIL's Birthday.

And, my present to him is this lovely Chilled Mango Cheesecake.

Isn't it pretty :p *arbish* hehe.

I've decorated the sides of the cake with ladies finger sponge which can be easily bought from the supermarket. Topped it with some fruits - I've got cherries, champange grapes and blueberries. Added a Birthday tag and a cute candle which I found at B-I-Y.

Sound very simple right. BUT ... I'd spend almost the whole day preparing this cake. From making the sponge layer to preparing the mango-cheese mixture. Then allowing it to set before I can do the top layer. Setting it further before unmoulding it for decorations. All the time and effort put it for this pretty cake ... I enjoyed every moment of it. Especially when everyone enjoyed eatting it.

For more insights of the cake ... check this album out - Outings.

Day 55 of JM's US Detachment Trip

I am so glad that the doctor's medication works. Woke up this morning with no more pain in my throat. If not I would have to miss out on tonight's dinner liao.
Tonight we went to Tom Ton @ The Central for dinner as a early birthday dinner for my FIL. We wanted him to try the Black Pork and the super fresh sashimi.

We had a wide spread of food. Go check out them out at my online photo album - Outings 2009.

We had a wonderful time there and the boys behaved especially well. They both sat through dinner without creating a din. Oswald ate his dinner properly and Owein is forever asking to try the food served. He almost at up all the Chawamushi which I'd ordered for the kids to try. Oswald did not even bother to try and Owein ... almost ate it all up ... LOL.

A surprise was given to us when the chef present us this ...

It is a birthday 'cake' made out of rice coated with roe and topped with sashimi. Very innovating right!

Day 54 of JM's US Detachment Trip (Part 2)

*Yawnz* managed to catch about 2 hours of rest after I vented off some 'steam' earlier. But still because of the bad throat I had lost my voice completely when I woke up. I'd made up my mind to head to the doctor once I'd settled the kids lunch.

What a way to start a Monday morning but luckily did not dampen my mood enough to prevent me for making these for Oswald to bring to school.

** Ain't they cute :) **

When I showed Oswald and ask if he wanted to eat these in school or eat school breakfast, he went 'whining' away saying "I don't want that. I don't want to eat mouse." I tried to laugh but the pain in my throat prevent that. I've got to tell him these are not real mouse then he was convinced. P/S:- He ate them all up when I checked with him during dismissal. And that was after having one of the rolls I'd made with the sponge that I was practicing with the night before.

** Sponge sandwiched and rolled up with Whipped Cream + Strawberry / Blueberry Jam **

I'd practiced on my sponge last night in view for making a b'day cake for my FIL whose b'day is this friday. The sponge turned out nice and soft. Not wanting to waste them, I whipped some cream and spread on the sponge with some jam and made these 'make shift' cakes :p

Day 54 of JM's US Detachment Trip (Part 1)

The boys took turns for fall sick during the past week. Oswald, the 1st to be sick, seems to be recovering except for some mucus leakage here and there. Owein, started over the weekend, had gone through mild fever treatment, now still having runny nose and I think developing a cough soon. And now, even before the kids could recover fully, I am down with the same thing.

And of all times, I got to fall sick now. Hate falling sick at times when hubby is not around. Feeling sick now only make me miss he non presence more. Damn, why is it that a person feel the weakest when they are ill.

Here I am, awaken by the pain that my dry and sore throat is causing me. Realising that I'd forgotten to place water in the room on standby and got to make my way out to the kitchen to get it myself. Out of a suddenly, I felt so lonely and so unloved ... *sobz*. When the boys woke in the middle of the night, there's still mummy there for them to make sure they fall back to sleep comfortably. But who's there to make me feel good now.

After tossing in bed for quite awhile, I'd decided to blog away my misery and maybe after I am done I will be tired out again and will be able to sleep again.

Day 51 of JM's US Detachment Trip

Don't know which side of the bed I got off at today lah ... did quite a fair bit of unusual stuffs today.

First, I'd decided to packed some breakfast for Oswald to eat during 'Breakfast Time' in school. This was what he got ...

** Raisin Bread from Four Leaves and Apples **

** Cute apple shaped APPLES!!! **

That's now all loh ... then I also don't know why I ki siao decided to make something cute for Oswald for lunch. So this was what I'd made ...

** Cooked fried rice is wrapped up with an egg wrap. **

** Added sausages, raisins and carrot cut into flower shaped. **

Hmm, really don't know what gotten in to me today man. Hahaha ... then out of the blue ... I'd decided to be a bit adventurous and make Blueberry Chiffon Cake. Erm ... that did not really turned out as well as I thought it would be. Probably still need little more adjustments to get it right but it was a good attempt. I give it 80/100.




The outside of the cake looks perfect just that the inside is still a little wet. Not sure if it is the wet content too much or baking time or temperature not enough. Anyway, will experiment with it again bah :)

Finally got it right ...

A big thanks to those who had help to do food tasting and finish my experiment bakes. I finally got the science right and baked the perfect Walnut Cake.

For those who had done food tasting ... I promise to make a portion of the perfect one for you. But not to worry ... it won't be that soon because I guess you all are sick of walnut cake for now :p

Day 48 of JM's US Detachment Trip

Today is Racial Harmony Day and all kids in school are encouraged to wear a traditional costume to school. The notice from school was given last week but I hadn't got the time to look out for a costume. I'd tried my luck at KiddyPalace yesterday but no luck. Luckily Peggy got a spare suit so I borrowed it from her.


Today, being Tuesday, there's swimming lessons. Thank lord for the nice and lovely weather during lesson today. Oswald warmed up pretty well today and lesson went on quite smoothly and I seriously thinks is because of the nice weather and temperature of the water.

** Oswald playing with his 'water gun' while waiting for Billy **

** Billy playing with Oswald for warming up ... **

** Time to get serious ... LESSON TIME!!! **

More to come after swimming lesson!!!

For various reason, I'd jio-ed Rene and family along to go food tasting at 经典海鲜, located at No.62 Sungei Kadut Loop #04-01. Quite a good sized restaurant, nicely decorated and food infact was not bad (minus the horrible singing from the VIP room while we were there). Also, not much crowd, so infact you really can sit down and enjoy your food. The only thing is that service was not really that aced lah ... the waiters and waiteress all machiam like abit blur blur like that. But for the food, probably worth going back again.

These are what we had for dinner ...

** Some fish pre-dinner snack **

** Pretty tea pot ... n pretty model - Rene :p **

** Herbal Soup La La **

** The Merlion **

** Lobster from their Signature Lobster Porridge**

** Presenting ... The Porridge :p **

** Signature Chicken **

** Additional order - Silver Fish Fried Rice for the kids. **

** Additional order - Creamy Sauce Crab for Damien who's allergic to Lobster :p**

Day 41 of JM's US Detachment Trip

So proud of Oswald today. He's due for his dental check and upon checking ... dentist said he got cavity and best is to get it 'mended'. I kinda expected this day to come but did not expect it to be that soon. I'd hesitated but ended up still told the dentist to go ahead to do the filling. And, I had also prayed very hard for Oswald's co-operation. To my surprise, the filling was done with not much resistance from Oswald. All he did was constantly getting his tongue in the way or close his mouth too early and he wanting to hold the equipments. Other than that, there's no screaming ... struggling or crying. I was ... SURPRISED ... SHOCKED ... STUNNED ... HAPPY and damn PROUD of him.

Because of his so good behaviour, I'd decided to let him get the Transformer toy that comes along with the KFC kids meal. A fellow school mate had that toy and had let that to him while he was waiting for me to pick him yesterday. He'd remembered to said his "Thank you" and returned it gracefully when I arrived. Today, when I reached, he's asked his friend to lend it to him for awhile just to let me take a look. Though at that moment, I told him I will go check it out but I wasn't that keen to get it for him. I do not want him to have the idea that whatever his friends have in school, he would be able to have it too. But, because of his brave attempt at the dentist, made it quite difficult to say no to him and hence, he'd gotten the toy in the end.

Before we (Rene had brought Cayden along to let Cayden have a feel of what it will be like to go to a dentist) head to KFC for dinner, we managed to catch the 5:00pm show time for Ice Age 3. This is the 1st movie that Oswald went to.

** Oswald's attention fixed to the big screen **

Day 38 of JM's US Detachment Trip

My baking classes finally coming to an end. Today's lesson is the last of the 4 session of the Foundation Cake Baking class at Creative Culinaire. Actually I was quite reluctant to accept the fact that it will be the last lesson today. I'd really enjoyed the 5 hours of baking time during each session. Oh well ... it's the end of it ... just got to accept it :)

This last session, Perle and myself were determined to make it good and no more errors!!! Hahaha ... had quite a disastrous time last week. This week, we will be taught sponge cakes. I think sponge cake is the everything to a cake. Without a nice sponge, no matter how nice your moose layer or decoration will be, the cake is CRAP!!! In my baking trials, I do realised the sponge layer is basically the soul of the cake. And till date, I've yet to find a recipe or pre-mix that's good for keep. After attending this session, I can say bye-bye to sponge cake mix and stop searching around for recipes already.

Luckily everything turned out perfectly well during lesson today. We worked efficiently not only among ourselves but also with another pair of students. We were to work in pairs and in group to accomplish the cakes for today.

** Classic Black Forest Cake **

** Sweet Corn Fudge Cake with some cute decorations n our names **

** Pandan Kaya Cake **

** Presenting the chef, Chef Judy **

Day 37 of JM's US Detachment Trip

Yesterday, 9 July, was Oswald's BIG DAY!!! He'd waited a long way for this day to come. JM had bought him a present a 2 months back and Oswald was told then that he could only open the present on his birthday. Since then, he'd been waiting and waiting and waiting ... finally the day had come.

And of course, being his birthday, mummy had arranged for party in school and all other activities for the day. Oswald knew that he's going to have a celebration in school with his classmates, he was beaming on the way out.

** Oswald gets to wear his favourite suit to sch be'cos he's the b'day boy. **

The cake for Oswald this year is once again a Thomas theme one but this time, he gets it 3D!!! The cake was from Cafe Pralet and I am quite impressed by their delivery service. I've arranged for them to deliver the cake to school and at 8:45am. I was kinda expecting them to run a little late considering morning traffic etc but I was wrong. The cake was delivered not only on time, but slightly earlier than expected. Thumbs up for good service!!!

The children in the class, including Oswald of course, were all excited over the cake. It's quite a pretty cake ... and Oswald almost did not want to cut the cake up because he thought it was a real train. He said "Mummy, this is not a cake. It is a train. We cannot cut a train."

** Oswald's attention fixed to the cake when it was revealed **

** Close-up of Thomas ... isn't it pretty. **

Luckily I do not need a lot of time to convince him that it was a real cake and we were there to share the cake with his friends and teachers in class. The cake was cut, distributed, ate and the party was over by 9:30am. We can't finish the cake and the balance was brought upstairs to be shared with teachers and friends in Owein's playgroup class.

The next activity lined up for the day was Oswald's swimming lesson. Actually this wasn't planned in for the day. Blamed it on bad weather on Tuesday as that was the reason why swimming lesson was push backwards ... LOL. Anyway, I did not mind that the lesson was pushed back. In fact, due to this, Oswald gets 1 more pressie from his swimming instructor, Billy.

After the lesson, the boys (including Oswald swimming buddy) get to play together while we were waiting for time to pass. Dinner was arranged at 7:00pm at AustWine, Farmart. Our delicious dinner include:-

** Pork Knuckle **

** Fish n Chips **

** Bratwurst Sausage **

Lastly, we ended the day with another cake ... nothing fancy, just a simple cake from Four Leaves.

** Pls note, candle holders provided by Mummy not by cake shop ... LOL **

For more pictures, go to my online photo album - Oswald 4th BDay.

Day 35 of JM's US Detachment Trip

It never was best of weather on Tuesday since Oswald started his swimming lessons. We had never have a bring and sunny day on the day of lesson and the poor kids are always feeling cold.

Yesterday was another bad day and the water was really really cold. Even Billy felt it. In fact, after a long day rain the day before I would assume yesterday would be a good day. But who knows ... the sunny times only lasted a few hours. The sky was gloomy and cloudy once again even before I go pick Oswald up from school. Weather remained gloomy and it even rained for a short while.

Oswald was also not in best of mood when it was about time for lesson. He was still napping as time draws near and we got to wake him up. That was bad news ... he was super cranky and did not want to head down for lesson. Anyway I still managed to get him down but failed to get him into the water. He kept saying the water is cold and refuses to get in. But in actual fact, the water was really cold ... he was shivering the moment he got out of the pool even only with his bottom half wet.

Anyway, Billy later then decided to cancel the lesson for the sake of the kids. He did not want them to have a bad experience by forcing them into the cold pool. So ... lesson was postpone to ... Thursday.

Day 34 of JM's US Detachment Trip

Its Youth Day yesterday and the kids need not go school. Since I am the only one at home with the kids and I did not really want to stay at home on a holiday ... so I jio-ed the gang out. I'd suggested we go Fidgets @ Turf City and the rest were fine with the idea and off we went for an afternoon of fun-filled action.The kids were all so excited when we reached the entrance. But since we had ran late on our meeting time, the kids could not head out to play till they are done with their lunch.

It was quite crowded when we arrived. Not to sure if it was because of the holiday or maybe it had gain popularity over time. The last time we swung by to check out the place, it wasn't that crowed. We manage to locate a table that was in a corner, out of side of the play area. But still we could not keep the kids' excitement down. Just too bad for them because all mummies worried that if they were allowed to play then ... there's no way to drag them back for lunch.

Lunch was quite a wait ... and the kids are getting hungry and impatient so mummies all decided to self service. Our orders are all sitting behind the counter, not sure if they are really that short handed or the crowd was just too big. Anyway, we just informed the staffs there that we are taking our orders away and start feeding the hungry kids.

** Oswald as usual with his pizza order ... ham n pineapple. **

** Ordered mac n cheese for little Owein ... he loves it!!! **

Anyway all the kids had great fun and mummies are all tired out. More pictures are uploaded on my online album ... Fidgets Jul 09.

Day 33 of JM's US Detachment Trip

Hmm ... let's put it this way ... I still can't accept the fact that our bakes were such a failure during lesson on Saturday so there was this urge to bake something nice and successful. I'd then decided to bake a chiffon cake yesterday to prove to myself that I CAN BAKE ... hahaha ... oh yes my ego is urging me to bake!!!

As I had most of the ingredients available at home, I only had to pick up some oranges, lemons and eggs after I pick Oswald up from Sunday Class. Luckily these ingredients were easily available from the market. The queue at the supermarket (NTUC) is crazy.

Day 32 of JM's US Detachment Trip

It was a disaster in class yesterday I say. All I can conclude is that both Perle and myself were not in the right frame of mind for class then.

For the 1st cake, we totally forgotten to add in the egg whites to beat together with the eggs. Then for the 2nd cake, sugar was forgotten to add into the egg whites during whipping process. Seriously, I've no idea how come we were to off minded. The end result of our absent mindedness, was cake not done to perfection which had pretty affected our mood. After all we had 2 successful experience before and this really came as a disappointment.

** Rainbow Roll that we'd left out the egg whites. Got to beat egg white seperate and fold into batter but still result in a flat cake. **

** The mousey decoration was 'disfigured' due to packing and transportation ... end result of not having a camera when you need it. **

** Tiger Roll that we forgotten the suger while whipping the egg whites. Result in a not so spongy cake with a 'kueh' like texture. **

** Tiger Roll Skin ... at least there's one thing that we did right. **

One more thing ... when we want to take pictures of our bake, we both then realised that we had forgotten to bring camera out. SIGH ... I guess it was really not our day.

To nurse our hurt feelings *sobz* ... we had decided to indulge ourself with some yummy food. Seafood was what came to our mind and I know exactly the place to do for it ... nice and peaceful environment ... cheap and good food ... Atlantis Seafood @ D’Kranji Farm Resort.

We'd ordered:-

1) Vegetable in Superior Stock
2) Chilli La-La (500g)
3) 竹筒虾 (500g)
4) Assam 金昌鱼 (this fish is on promotion, cost us $30 for this dish)
5) 麦片苏东

And guess what ... all these including drinks is about slightly more than $100. Damn worth it right. Sorry no pictures to show because both of us damn sotong ... forgot to bring camera out.

*Sigh* ... shit happens!!! What to do ... can't expect life to be that smooth sailing always right :)

Day 31 of JM's US Detachment Trip

As I am tying this entry ... my dear hubby is probably enjoying himself at Las Vegas and en route to Grand Canyon. There's only 1 word I can use now ... ENVY.

My day started as usual having to send Oswald to school but this morning little Owein had tagged along with us. Why is he with us? All because mummy had a breakfast meeting with Aunty Peggy. First time in our acquaintance history we had not met during school holiday. I guess it is all because we are that busy with our lives ... hahaha. So ya ... back to the point ... finally had the chance to meet up, catch up and GOSSIPS!!!

At school, Mrs Yong (Oswald's teacher) had requested to have a word with me. Initially I thought it was something about Oswald she wanted to tell me but I was wrong. I was asked if I could write something for the school termly newsletter. I kept pretty quite and took some time to digest the request. Feeling my doubt, Mrs Yong then continue to elaborate on the content of what I could write on. After some assurance from her that nothing much is required, probably some thoughts about the school or my family, I told her I could give it a go provided I'd got enough time. 2 weeks ... that's all the time I was given to come up with something ... hmm.

Once home, routine sets in again. Wash up, lunch and nap time for the kids. One new thing to look out for today is Oswald's music class. Today will be his 1st official music lesson. We had enrolled him for Yamaha Music Program - Yamaha Junior Course (YJC). Music lesson starts at 7:15pm and that also mean that Oswald gets to dine outside with mummy every Friday. We headed out slight earlier so that we could completed some necessary paper work at the music school and head out for a light snack before class. We went for a snack instead because we will be meeting Rene and family for dinner after class.

** Oswald all set for music class. **

** Decided not to drive ... brought Oswald for a bus ride ... waiting for our bus to come. **

** Oswald's bag for music class ... isn't it cute :) **

** Oswald snacking his nuggets before class @ MacDonalds. **

** Me trying out MacDonalds' new product ... Cinnamon Melts. **

** Oswald testing out the keyboard. **

Class started very punctual and luckily we were early and hence managed to get a good seat. Oswald behaved much better than I expected. At least now he can remain in the group, instead of moving around the class, when teacher asked the kids to gather in front with her. He too had joined in with the music and movements while teacher was teaching. The only thing is even though he could remain in the group, he cannot keep still like the other kids. But to me, it was good enough. Hope he will learn to keep still as he grows and understand the need to behave properly. I am pretty sure the music course will do him good because I'd noticed that quite a lot of listening and discipline is required during lesson to learn.

** Oswald trying out cotton candy for the 1st time ... compliments from New York New York @ Lot 1. **

** Cayden thinking to eat or not ... **

** Cayden finally decided to give it a try. **