Day 1: Challenge Task 2: Sewing

Day 1

Challenge Task 2: Sewing

I finally introduced sewing to the children today.

Well, I have a lot of slightly dirtied baby clothes at home ( dirtied at the collar area. I'm sure all mummies understand this) and I have kept them in the storeroom to be used as rags. However, some of them have really pretty pictures on them and I simply just bear to use them as rags. 

So guess what?

Grandma just bought a new sewing machine and I have been meaning to learn a new skill........... 

and there...we have our challenge task 2- Learning how to sew, for both mummy and Natalie. 

My lil model, modelling a bag that we just sewed.

We are starting with something really really simple as this is our first attempt at sewing.

Natalie helped to pick out the appropriate material and she suggested what to make it into. Then, I will help her to cut out the shape and sew it up. 

After sewing for the first time, I totally salute those who are able to sew. It seems easy but it is not. we spent about 10 mins deciding what we wanted to sew and I spent about 45 mins just sewing our first bag together. 

1)A simple bag to hang behind the pram

It's just a simple bag for me to hang behind the pram and carry the kids' water bottles, jackets and some tissue papers perhaps.   

2)A lil Handbag for lil Faith 

Next, we found a shirt with this beautiful picture on it and we decided to turn it into a little hand bag for Faith. I totally forgot to take a picture of the shirt before I cut it up. 

 

Little Faith is so happy with her new handbag.

3) A pouch

After some practice, sewing the pouch was easier. But I spent 30 mins just trying to sew the zip to the pouch. 

4) A Handbag for Natalie

It was a beautiful dress but the white top part of the dress is dirty. But I simply can't bear to throw it away or use it as rag. I've kept it for a long time until I finally dug it out today.

 It was very difficult to sew up the bottom of this bubble dress. It took me several attempts to sew it well.

Natalie is so happy with her new handbag. She can't wait to go out with it.

So challenge task 2 was really challenging, It was not easy to decide on the final products when you are looking at some dirtied blouses and dresses. It was also challenging for me who have to sew for the first time in my life using a sewing machine. We spent 3 hours in afternoon and we are happy with our 4 end products.

By the way, the bags are quite badly sewed. It's just that you can't see it from these pictures. I promise Natalie that I will practice and do better the next time round.

Being a mum, I'm always learning with my children. The next time, I must really think of something that I can sew for my boy. 

So mummies out there, reuse your old clothes and have a great time with your children turning those old clothes into something new and useful.

Day 1 of the School Holidays 2014- Challenge Task 1

Day 1 

Challenge Task 1: Make your own breakfast 

It's morning on the first day of their school holiday and they were given a simple task the moment they woke up - make your own breakfast. The kids were naturally excited. Emmanuel started singing the song which he learnt from school. 

Bake, bake, bake a cake

what do we need?

Butter, sugar, egg and flour

that is what we need. 

(Sing it to the tune of 'Row Row Row your boat')

Based on this song , the kids have their recipe for making pancakes. 

Natalie went around the kitchen to gather all the ingredients and led her siblings in making breakfast well I just observed, made no comments during the preparation and enjoyed myself taking photos. So happy to just see them work together as a team to complete the task.

The kids were busy trying to recall the time when they saw me making pancakes and try to duplicate the steps.

Under very close supervision, Natalie handled the stove for the very first time. She hesitated for a while and was afraid to go close. However, after frying her 2nd pancake, she became more confident.

This is Natalie's first pancake.

Ermm.... in the end, the pancake didn't taste fantastic. However, the kids still ate them all up with some maple syrup.

I gave this challenge task to them because I wanted to see how capable they can be at preparing breakfast for themselves. I was seriously just expecting them to go get a piece of cake from the fridge. But they decided to try something more challenging like pancake. Amazing..

Dog Run at Bishan Park

Dog Run at Bishan Park 

Like me, all my kids are dog lovers. So my sister, Stephanie who has a golden retriever (Kobey) introduced us to this place- The Dog Run at Bishan Park.

There are several reasons why I like to bring my kids here. 

1) Top most important reason: The dog run is very near to the carpark. It is a short walk and hence, easily accessible. All I need is to bring down a water bottle and keep everything else in the car as it is so nearby when I need it. 

2) There are dogs of many breeds here. This place is usually crowded on weekend evenings. So if you want your children to see and learn about dogs, weekend evening, perhaps saturday is the best time to catch them all. 

3) Your kids can play freely with the dogs. At first, I wasn't very sure if it was a good idea to bring my 3 kids to a place full of dogs. But not to worry, the dog run is actually fenced up into 2 areas. One areas for smaller dogs and the other area for dogs of bigger breed. So choose an area you are comfortable with. In fact, you can stand outside the fence and look in. 

Anyway, my kids followed Kobey into the big dogs area. The dogs are very friendly. They generally leave you alone and occasionally come and sniff around you. One of my worries was that if my kids may be chased by dogs if they run. But surprisingly, they were not chased by any dogs at all. The dogs were more interested in playing with each other than the humans. Occasionally, there will be dogs barking at each other, so just tell your kids to move away from those dogs. 

At the dog run, the kids are free to pet the dogs and play with them. In fact, Emmanuel found a Jack Russell that like to play 'fetch' and then, you can imagine.. Emmanuel throws and the Jack Russell will fetch. They played this game for a long time until the Jack Russell decides it's enough and time to rest. So far, I have visited the dog run twice and all the owners are very friendly. They make sure that their dogs are gentle to the kids too. 

4) The dog run is a fenced up area and not exactly very big. Thus it is easy to see where your children are. So your children can run around all they want. But I like to stay close to Faith as she is still young and small just to ensure her safety. However, she is smart, she stays near Kobey for protection and would hide behind him when some big dogs approach.

Kids playing with Kobey.

Faith found some small dogs to play with.

Faith and Kobey

Instead of dogs chasing the kids, it's the other way around- Kids chasing the dog.

So, this is another place you can bring your children to explore. Moreover, since it's at Bishan Park, i'm quite sure that if you do spend some time exploring the park, you can find something else interesting.. let us know if you do find something..

Catching Crabs at Sembawang Park

Catching Crabs at Sembawang Park

It was Friday evening and there, my cousin -Wendy and I was just messaging each other discussing what we could do with our 6 kids during the weekend. To my pleasant surprise, she suggested catching crab and there we are, catching crab on Saturday evening at Sembawang Park.

Thanks to my cousin in law, the kids’ first experience of catching crab was easy for me. Like all the kids, I was simply just an observer, learning from my cousin in law.

My cousin in law showing all the kids how to set up the crab trap. All 7 kids (ranging from 2+ to 7 years old) were so attentive.

First, we learnt how to set up the crab trap and tie all the necessary knots. Then, we learn how to put the bait on. It was exciting for my kids as this is their first time. In fact, Emmanuel was so excited that he keeps pulling up the crab trap but it was because the kids were able to find a crab trapped in our net quite often. It was a good day for us as we managed to catch 9 crabs in total, a fish and with a stroke of luck, some shrimps within our 2 hour adventure.

All the kids trying to see our trap in the water. They could exactly spot crabs swimming around the waters.

While waiting, we had our picnic dinner. Didn't get a shot of them eating hungrily.

This is how we store the crabs caught- In one of the kid's sandcastle pail.

Our catch of the day- Flower crabs.

Shrimps, Can't really see them as they are transparent in colour.

This is how they look like. 

While waiting for the crabs to come, we had a picnic and the kids played with bubbles. Other activities could include reading or playing a family game. I would say that all the kids were super happy that day. Most importantly, they learnt something new.

Cheers! It's the weekend.

On Sunday, our catch turned into our dinner and the kids felt a sense of satisfaction as they helped catch our dinner.

We had flower crab with cabbage soup. Super sweet and nice.

Our shrimps were fried with eggs for the kids. 

The highlight of the day was of course, crabbing. But which kid would be able to resist the big attractive playground? So the kids had some fun at the playground too. However, the playground if more suitable for older children as Faith was not really able to climb up and play in the big play structure. She was only able to play with the swing, the sand and was climbing around a bit while running around the area. It always amazing me, how she is able to get other kids with sand toys to share their toys with her. The way she approaches other children, ask for permission to play and then carry on to play with them. Well, I can confidently say, she is never rejected. This is a very important skill to have.

Special thanks to Wendy and family for making this weekend so fun for the kids and for our yummy dinner that chef Wendy cooked.

So this is another weekend activity you can do with your kids.

 But before you go crab catching, don't forget your items:

1) Crab trap (with some ropes) - according to my cousin in law, it can be bought at beach road.
2) Fish Bait - buy the cheapest packet of fish available.I left it outside since morning. It seems the smelly the bait, the better the catch.

3) Tongs to transfer the crabs with.
4) A pail which you can keep the crabs in with some sea water to ensure that they survive longer.
5) A pair of scissors.


Have a good next weekend. And holidays is coming. One more thing to do with the whole family. Cheers!

Famous Landmarks of Singapore Part 1

Famous Landmarks of Singapore Part 1

1. The Merlion

Salt Art: We used white glue to outline the cartoon and then we sprinkled a lot of salt on the glue. We left it overnight to dry. The next day, we painted the salt with water colour. The kids were amazed at how the water colour spread across the salt on its own. It is as if the water colour was travelling on its own on the salt. Try this

2. Gardens by the Bay

Recyclable and glitter: Can you recognise what the super trees are made up of? They are made up of "fruit wrapper" like the one you see below. But Faith wanted to use the black one. We should have used the white wrapper and then paint it red to make it even more attractive. 

I drew the outline of the picture and then the kids had to tear and paste the fruit wrapper to create the super tree.

Finally after they finish sticking all the super trees, I found a ribbon for our bridge. Faith wanted to use glitters again, so I gave it to her to outline the structures.

 

3. The Statue of Stamford Raffles

I asked my son to suggest what we can do for this landmark and he said : " Mummy, I don't want to do art and craft. You go get your camera, I show you." This is what he came out with on his own.

I just went WOW!
























See National Day Art and Craft