Clare's Art Lessons

Clare has been requesting to go for Art lessons ever since last year. I always brush that request aside as l do not want her to be overly burdened with enrichment classes. She was already attending phonics, piano and swimming classes, besides those she attends in school.

I guess her interest in Art got aroused every time she attends Art and Craft session with LI Nah. Clare is always very interested in what Li Nah teaches her and will come home to try and replicate what she does over at Li Nah's place. Here are some of the Art work she did with Li Nah.

Posing together, showing off their artwork

Drawing at the Enclosure with Sophie 

My Giraffe

Hard at Work

After endless requests, Damon and I decided to let her try out Art classes at this Art studio in Kovan every Saturday. Clare has been enjoying herself and looks forward to her Art classes every week.

Artwork Completed at Trial Class

Latest Art Work - A Collaborative effort with all her friends in class

Isaiah's Phobia of Sand

Isaiah is very fearful of the sand. Every time we are at East Coast Park, Clare will be happily playing with sand and getting herself all dirty and sandy while Isaiah will be confined on the beach mat. He will not venture out of the mat at all as he cannot bear to have sand on his feet.

We went back to East Coast Park again today. After the kids' favourite breakfast at Old Town, we went to the beach. After such a long time away from the beach as we have not been there for a while, Isaiah still has not overcome his phobia of sand. I always find his face of disgust very amusing whenever Damon places him on the sand and forces him to walk back to the mat. So today, Isaiah is again confined on the mat with me. 😉

The children's beloved 公公 and 婆婆

Clare and Isaiah are very fortunate to have their 公公 and 婆婆 to take care of them since they are born. My mother resigned from her job to take care of Clare just before I gave birth to Clare and has been taking care of Clare and Isaiah since then. My father resigned from his job when Isaiah was born to help out with my mother. He took up relief taxi driving instead so that he has more time with his grandchildren.

Damon and I have been so thankful for their help given to us in taking care of our kids. We could go to work with peace of mind everyday as we know our dear children are in good hands, in fact, in better hands than if we were to take care of them ourselves. They are ever so meticulous in taking care of their daily needs and always so patient, kind and loving to them.

They would volunteer to bring them out on outings especially when I am pregnant with Emily and the kids always look forward to spending time with them. My father also helps to fetch Isaiah home from his childcare centre every noon and brings him for his speech therapy once a week.

Isaiah is especially close to my mother. He will call out her name every night before he sleeps. My mother spends the most time with him and they share a very close bond, not forgetting the fact that they have the same birthday. :)

I thank The Lord for my wonderful parents, for being such wonderful parents to my brother and me and also such wonderful grandparents to my children. Dear Lord, please bless them with good health always and happiness and joy and comfort in their golden years now.

Clare's Favourite Teacher, 亓老师

Clare has been attending childcare since she was 25 months old. She is already ending her K1 year. Many teachers have come and gone. There is only one teacher who has taught her since she was 25 months. That special teacher she holds dearly to her heart is 亓老师. This post is to pay tribute to her.

亓老师 is a very dedicated, responsible and passionate teacher. Clare's love for Mandarin has been slowly blossoming under her guidance. Clare always finds her lessons interesting and engaging. She loves doing her Chinese homework, even though it may just be writing Chinese characters, and often volunteers to write more pages than required.

I am glad that Clare has her as her Chinese teacher as I have heard many of my friends lamenting the fact that their children do not like Chinese. Thank you 亓老师for all that you have done for Clare.

These are some pictures that 亓老师 would specially send me after her school excursions.

亓老师 and Clare after her K1 Year-End Concert

Pictures taken at Amazonia Indoor Playground

I am especially touched by 亓老师's efforts to compile Clare's photos taken at Amzonia nicely for her.

Visit to Infocomm (28/11/12)

Visit to Infocomm (28/11/12)

Clare's First Swimming Test

Clare started learning swimming with Xiao Ci, Yun Er and Sophie at Li Nah's condo. She started off with a fear of water, especially if the water were to get onto her face. She would scream if water got into her eyes when we shampoo her hair.

Her progress has been slow and steady but I think it's remarkable for a girl who's afraid of the water. Thank you Uncle Shawn!

Clare's First Swimming Lesson

Clare's Swimming Buddies cum Childhood Friends

Clare's All-Time Supporter!

Getting Ready for the Test

Confident Girl Awaiting the Start of the Test

Listening Attentively to Instructions by the Tester

Clare was very cool about the fact that she would be having her swimming test. I think I was more worried than her. I shared with Damon that this was the first test that Clare was going through without me having much knowledge of what was to be expected. However, I was glad that she took it in her stride and took up the challenge. I was most glad when I saw her raising her queries confidently to the tester when she was unsure of what to do.

According to Uncle Shawn, most children would have no problem clearing the tasks and passing the test unless they themselves give up halfway. It is more of a test of water confidence. Clare has to tread water, stay afloat, swim a short distance with a life vest and I think the most challenging for her, is to swim a distance without any float.

Even though she was the youngest there, with another K1 girl, Clare persevered through all the tasks, and yes! She passed her test! =)

Getting started again.

It has been a long almost 3 years since I last blogged. I am expecting to deliver Emily anytime now. With an addition to the Wong family, all of us are very excited to move into this new phase of our lives. I hope to document the lives of my three very previous children, Clare, Isaiah and Emily. Life would never be complete for Damon and me without the three of them. (P.S. If you are wondering why the url of my blog is Blessings From Above 1234, please do not be mistaken that we are planning for a 4th child. =) We already have 4 precious blessings from above, the first being held dearly to our hearts, Nathaniel, who has joined God in heaven during my first trimester of my first pregnancy.)