His Forte now

Using an object to assist him to reach a greater height!

Giselle's SwimSafer Test Level 3

Giselle attended her swim class today as usual and to our surprise, she was asked to do the test for Level 3.

The coach didn't want to put any pressure on the kids and they were asked to perform as per normal. Giselle and another classmate were the youngest in the group and I am really glad she passed the test!

I was at the side of the pool observing how the test were conducted. Giselle followed the tester's instructions accordingly and I am really happy to see that she could swim pretty well and has good breath in the water.

There was one segment when she was asked to swim to the life jacket at the center of the deep pool and she was supposed to wear the jacket while threading water in the pool. I was holding my breath when she had some difficulty in wearing the jacket. The tester gave her an

other chance and she did it with ease on the 2nd time. Thank God!

Looking her progress now, I am glad that I changed her swim lesson to a one to one coaching for 3 months in Apr-Jun 11. As she has improved tremendously, I discussed with her coach and felt that she could join the group class starting Jul'11.

Wanted to give up on her swimming lesson when she wasn't making a great progress previously. Fortunately I didn't, if not all the years of effort by her and myself would have gone down the drain....

For Level 3, she was tested for:

Entry and Exit
Perform a stride/straddle entry

Scull and Body Orient
1)Demonstrate sculling in a horizontal position for 10s with arms only
2)Demonstrate the ability to change direction on command
3)Demonstrate reverse action

Underwater Skills
In chest deep water, swim through hoops on pool bottom 2m apart

Movement / Strokes
Swim 50m continuously
(25m using either Breaststroke or Front-Crawl
25m using either Backstroke or Survival Backstroke)

Survival Skills
1)Swim wearing clothing for 25m
2) Demonstrate ability to correctly fit a PFD in the water

Rescue Skills
1)Throw a flotation aid to a partner at 3m distance and instruct to kick to the edge
2)Perform a reach rescue using a rigid aid and pull a partner to safety

Knowledge
Principles of personal survival

Primary 1 Registration for Giselle

Today has marked another chapter for Giselle. Well, it's the day that I have successfully registered my dear daughter into River Valley Primary School (RVSP)!

Well, preparations has been done since 2 years ago when I had registered with RVPS as a Parent Volunteer so that I am eligible to register Giselle in Phase 2B during the registration exercise as clocking at least 40hours of commitment.

My duties with the school didn't start till Jul'10 when I was asked to assist Teachers during excursions, CCAs, library duties and as well as General Office admin duties. Well, besides trying to be in the P2B, I thought this would be a great opportunity to find out more about the school and environment.

During my 3 months of duties there, I came to know quite a few staff there and even made strong rapport with them. I even met Ouyang Lao Shi was used to teach in my primary school (Keng Seng Pri Sch) about 28 years ago. It's the familiar faces, nice staff and environment there that has confirmed that my choice is right!

The Primary 1 registration exercise every year is a nerve-wrecking event that made most Parents go crazy. I kept telling myself I have done my best to ensure my kids and grandchildren are able to go to a proper school and the rest is up to fate. Whether if I could get a seat for Giselle would depends if there are enough seats left after considering the earlier phases and also the distance we stayed from the school.

Really happy that the whole exercise is over for me and as least I don't have to worry for Jaren when it's time for him to go Primary School!!! :) Yeah!!!

Our Princess is 6 today...!!!! :)

Finally the day that Giselle has been waiting for has arrived – Her 6^th Birthday! Prior to this special day, she has already made all the requests on what she wants to do today.

Her daddy took off from his busy schedule to spend this special day with this little princess. We took her to Jurong Bird Park (well, she requested for this place because her little brother likes birds) as planned. She said she wanted the parrots to sing Birthday song to her and to see flamingos as well.

I had asked her to bring a little notebook along as I wanted her to write down all the birds that she has seen today at the park.

I woke up at 6am to get to the market to buy breakfast for everyone and gotten the kids ready before setting off at 8.30am.

Giselle was all smiles throughout the journey. Weather was pretty nice and cooling but with occasional drizzles. Jurong Bird Park has this promo whereby the birthday person will be free from paying admission and Giselle got to wear the special birthday badge given by the bird park.

Most of the staff greeted her with Birthday wishes and Giselle was so happy. Kept asking me how come they knew it was her birthday J

Well, Jaren had enjoyed himself thoroughly too. Both of them enjoyed the king of the skies show where it was the performance by mainly by the huge Eagles... It was quite a morning and Jaren fell asleep in his carseat the moment we put him there during the journey home

My 1st Home-Made Birthday Cake for her....

Just before I got pregnant with Jaren, I have been planning to bake a Birthday cake for Giselle.

2 years ago, I already has a design in mind and just when I was planning to visit Phoon Huat to get the baking items, I tested positive on a pregnancy test kit in Jul 2009. As I wasn't feeling too good that month, I gave up the idea of baking for Giselle till now. Really felt guilty about it since then and hence, very determined to do her a cake even though I haven't been baking for quite awhile.

Since she loves Disney Princess so much, I decided to do her a simple birthday cake with just Princess cake Toppers that I bought online. I can't really pipe well but I know that the love and effort that I have showered on the cake is good enough.

The cake turn out to be quite alright though it wasn't as fluffy as it should be. Nevertheless, Giselle was thrilled with all smiles when she saw the cake and that's just what I wanted to see!!! :)

Giselle is turning 6!!!

We arranged the celebration for her at her kindergarten today as she would not be attending school tomorrow as it's supposed to be her actual birthday.

Had ordered her Winx Club 1kg cake from Bengawan Solo a week ago and packed some goodies bags for her classmates. Thinking since it is her last year for celebration, better make sure everything is done 100%...

Hence, all of us turned up at her school at 9am, bringing all the barangs. Her favourite little brother went too and he did had a great time there mingling with jie-jie's classmates and eating cakes... :)

Glad that Giselle has enjoyed every minute of the celebration! :)

Giselle's Enrichment Classes

My precious daughter has been attending Icreativelearners for English, MPM Math, Jiang Education Ctr for Chinese and Swimming lesson.

So far she has been progressing very well, especially for her English which her teacher said Giselle currently doing her work more of a Primary 2 student’s level.

For her Mother-tongue (Chinese), Jiang Education Ctr has did a wonderful job of teaching the kids Hanyu Pinyin and Giselle has been handling aspect quite fine. I am trying to speak mandarin with her at home too, in hope of improving her Chinese orally. Comparing to what she has spoken 2 years ago, Giselle no longers speak like a Caucasian speaking Mandarin anymore…!!!

For Maths, I am leaving it to MPM to guide her moving to Primary 1 next year. This enrichment centre was recommended to me by Dr Yeap from NIE. He told me this centre uses Math Modelling method which is very important as part of Primary school Maths. Till now, Giselle enjoys every minute of it at the centre. Hence I will let her continue till she wanted to take a rest from it.

As a parent, there are many courses that I really hope to sign her up but more importantly I wouldn’t want to tired her out with the many extra classes. I have let her given up her piano as she seems not so keen on it. One of my friends told me whether a child would continue in Music also very much depends on the encouragement from parents and a good music teacher. Well, though I agree in some way, but the last thing I want is to force my daughter attend a course just to make her mummy or daddy happy.

I would just let her continue with her swimming class till end of the year, before the start of her primary school life J

A Visit to Changi Terminal 3...

We brought the kids to Terminal 3 today for some food and fun since I wanted to explore the place after hearing so much about it...

It has a nice food court and happened that Kungfu Panda was there for a meet-&-greet session with the kids. Took our lunch fast and brought them near the stage. The photo passes were all been redeemed. But fortunately 1 family gave their pass to us as their little gal was afraid to go up to take a picture with it.

Hence we went up excitedly, especially Giselle and Jaren. Jaren was so excited and curious about this panda that he kept turning his head to look at him while we were all supposed to look at the camera. As expected, the photo came out with his back of his head facing the camera. We really don't know whether to laugh to be angry at him... hahaha.