A photo a day: 4th June 12

Up Close: with my kitty iPhone cover....

A photo a day : June 12

What's on my plate now? A moutain load of laundry for me to clear...

I have just caught on the bug for a photo a day......
Should be fun... :)

Finally under 50...

Many years after trying to exercise, burning off the fats, eating less...... I am finally under 50 once again.

Seem ages ago when my weight goes under 50.... probably during my student and dating days....

So it was a surprise when I took out the scale and weigh myself today.  Even the tummy is almost gone.

Finally back to pre-wedding days.... the weight I mean.

In case I gain them back someday, a photo for keepsake.

The Swee Family

The Swees

Shanghai F1 2012

Snippets from Shanghai F1

Friends flew in from Singapore to join us for this.

Jon & our 师父, he has the best view in the gallery.

Ear plugs? Checked! All ready for the race.

Ethan checking out the cars before the match.

Too Loud Daddy!

Too many laps, we need to entertain ourselves while waiting for the last lap.

Ethan is 9!

I still remember our first bundle of joy that God gifted us 9 years ago.

How we were caught so off guard by the gift. How young, immature and unprepared we were.

How having a baby changes our lives. The joy of watching him reaches milestones. The constant worrying for your child's well being, when he's in pain, you are too, when he's happy so are you. We lose sleep when he's unwell, praying fervently that he will get better in no time. Night feeds are a chore. Equipping the child with life skills, to be independent adults of their own. Toilet training, feeding himself, walking.... and when he gets older, you teach him to discern from right and wrong. You worry if you have saved up enough for his future. You wonder and worry about his education. You pray that he will walk closely with the Lord and you have impart to him all the necessary skills needed to face life whatever that may brings. You pray that you passed in parenting and not fail God with this privileged task He has given us.

Its no wonder that friends always comment that being parents is akin to having your hearts live out of your body all the time. And it doesn't stop even when the child is all grown up. To parents, he will always be a child.

Ethan is 1@ Singapore! The next day we left for Myanmar.

Ethan is 2 @ Singapore! 

Ethan is 3 @ Colombo!

Ethan is 4 @ Chatsworth Singapore!

Ethan is 5 @ ISY Yangon!

Ethan is 6 @ ISY Yangon!

Ethan is 7 @ ISY Yangon!

Ethan is 8 @ Shanghai, China!

Ethan is 9 @ Shanghai, China!

That said....

Ethan is 9 this year!

And he has definitely grown in more ways than one...

He's 130cm tall and weighs at 25kg.

He thinks he's small and tries his very best to fatten himself up.

He loves God and prays every day. Reminds us constantly when we forget to do his daily devotions.

He is closest to his daddy, daddy is his hero!

His favorite color is black!

He loves to style himself.

He is independent. He gets himself ready for school everyday. He completes his tasks and homework on his own.

He is loving. He always tells us how much he loves us. He prepares breakfast for his little brother so his parents can catch a few more winks on weekends. He lovingly cater to his brother's requests of all sorts.

He is mature.

He is full of ideas and has a great sense of humor.

He has a soft spot for 外婆 and 大姑姑.

He likes Star Wars and Lego.

He is a football fanatic like his daddy and supports the same team as well.

He has a good healthy appetite. He enjoys fruits. Loves his steak. Not fussy with food.

He is adaptable and adjust easily to new environments as we have to move every so often.

He enjoys reading and drawing.

At this point he thinks girls are yucks and mum's cooking is the best in the world.

Dear Ethan,

Blessed Birthday my dearest son! Daddy & mummy thank God for you everyday. Thank you for all the joys you have brought us. All the lessons you have taught us. Thank you for being such a great son and brother!

I hope you had a great birthday this year. With your football cake, goody bags and mini celebration in class. I hope you enjoyed all your presents that we bought for you and of course that fabulous meal of steak that we had together.

As you grow older, I pray that you will continue to walk closely with God and goes to Him for all you need. Let HIm direct your paths. Pray all the time. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless and keep you safe all the days of your life and that you will have a enriching and fulfilling relationship with God.

Its our greatest wish to see you enjoying your childhood, giving your best in everything you take on. Never give up for nothing is impossible with God!

We love you very much!

Daddy, Mummy & Jonathan

Yay I have presents after all.....

Ethan is 9! His request for a soccer field cake this year.

Thrilled with all his gifts this year. I was scampering to buy him presents as I was unwell. Glad he loves all of them.

One of his favorite food - Steak! A birthday dinner to remember.

Conversations with the boys...

We have been living in Shanghai for almost two years now. The first year was hard for everyone, getting used to the different way of doing things around here, new school and friends. Now coming to the end of our second year, we have finally settled in nicely then came the bombshell.

To be fair, I knew it was coming all along. After all it has been brought to the table many times in the past year but each time we declined, requesting for just a tad more time here.

So now its decision time. To move together as a family or to stay put in Shanghai while the hubby commute.

I decided to ask Ethan. And boy was I surprised with his answers.

M: Ethan, Daddy needs to work in SZ, would you like to stay in SH or move with him?

E: Does the new job means Daddy gets more pay? 

M: Nope

E: If not, why bother to move? So if we move together, does it mean I will see daddy more often?

M: Probably not. He will be really busy in the beginning.

E: In that case, it makes no difference whether I am in SH or SZ, then I choose SH

M: You know that means you will only see him on weekends.

E: I know. I have a good life here you know. School that I like & friends.

M: Your best friend from singapore is coming over to SZ to live too. Will that make you want to move to SZ too?

E: Not really. I still prefer to be in SH in my school with my friends

M: Fine. But you know we have to move someday. Its part of the job. You know it. So you have to be prepared. 

E: I know. I just want one more year here. Then I will be ready to move.

Jonathan was listening and at this point  he asked "Why do we always have to change house and hotel? Why do we always have to move?"

Boy how do you explain to him?

Jonathan however is stuck in the middle. On one hand he will miss his daddy very much yet on the other hand he is loving his teachers and friends in school. When Ethan insist on getting his decision. He cried and angrily retorted "Stop asking me!"

With that in mind, I think for now, we have decided to give Ethan another year here in SH while daddy commutes. I am thankful that SZ is just a short train ride away making commuting possible. 

Meanwhile I think its time to start preparing all of us for the big move ahead....

Oh how the boys have grown especially Ethan.

Ethan & his Molars

One of his molars was removed last year due to a cavity problem which started when he was 4.
So out came the molar and in its place went a shiny silver metal space saver. Space Saver as the idea was to ensure that space is saved till his new molar is ready to emerge.

It came off last night while he was chewing on a raisin.
And with that, It has to give way to the new emerging molar.

Bye space saver. Thank you for doing your job this past year. We can't say you will be missed though.

James's 38th Birthday

James's special day started in the morning with his favorite breakfast served in bed. 

Milo, 鸡蛋 half boiled & kaya butter toast....

We went out for lunch in the afternoon. Made full use of the wonderful springs weather sitting alfresco.

Dinner is a simple fare of home-cooked dinner with the traditional longevity noodles (The chinese believed that longevity noodles with a red egg is to be eaten on every birthday to wish the birthday boy longevity) 

And of course a cake to end the night.

Blessed Birthday dearest hubby!

Alfresco Lunch

A must have for every birthday - 鸡蛋面线 just the way James likes it.

James's birthday dinner.....

Blessed 38th dearest hubby!

A family picture

Hong Kong

Hong Kong (30 Mar - 3 Apr 2012)

Its the 龙年!

We were home for the festive season.

Two weeks of glorious sunny weather, romping around in shorts and flip flops...

Two weeks of wonderful company of our loved ones and dear dear friends...

Two weeks of great scrumptious delicious local delicacies...

Our first 全家福 for the dragon year...

Our first 全家福 for the Dragon Year!

The cousins

  

The boys on the first day of the lunar new year.

Courageous - The Resolution

There's has been much hype about this movie. Many friends and even our pastor has talked about it, urging us to watch it together.

Finally caught it over the weekend. It left a deep impact on me. Truly inspiring and thought-provoking. I think its what every wife/mother would wish and pray for for their family.... at least for me. :)

Fathers impact the kids more than they ever know. Do you want to be a good-enough dad or the kind of father that God has called you to be? Its a privilege to be given such responsibility to father a child. Are you doing it right?

Fathers, do you have the 'courage' to take up the resolution today?

"I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children. I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home. I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me. I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength. I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly. I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy. I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion. I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family. I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged. I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God. I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will. I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ---Joshua 24:15"