True blue mickey fans

"Mickey! Mickey!" shouted Orange and Apple, jumping up and down, and hands held up to their cheeks in adoration. It's like they've met their long lost loved one. We were amazed to see the reactions of our two and four year olds. They were exhibiting traits of teeny bopper star fans! And at so young an age. What would it look like when they reach their teen years! Horrors!

That was one of the most interesting discoveries we found about our girls while the Fruit family was away in USA for a 5 week trip in Oct.

This photo was taken after a 1.5 hour queue (done unwittingly). It was a memorable trip alright.

A birthday cake only a 4 year old would appreciate

Today we celebrate Orange's 4th birthday. Having been inspired by Pilgrim Parent's entry on homemake cakes in which the kids can participate in decorating, I'm re-embarked on my journey of cake-baking. The last time I baked a cake was almost five years ago.

18 Aug (Sat) - Practice run on baking basic choc cake.

Last minute change of recipe. No baking power. Decided to use self-raising floor. Halved the recommended sugar.

RESULT: Cake rose & cracked. Seems way too high. Taste: None (almost)

22 Aug (Tue)

10am - baked two chocolate cakes.

Followed recipe to the T (as far as possible)

RESULT: not that nice looking but taste of choc cake is discernable (whew!)

3pm - Icing Preparation

Step 1 - Dark Choc + Butter over boiling water (looking good)

Step 2 - added icing sugar (with O's help)

RESULT: bottom layer of clumped up choc mass + top layer of oil = disaster!!!

5.30pm - Icing Attempt 2

Did basic white icing (cannot go wrong type, I thought) + Cocoa

RESULT: Looks decent at first.... but final result: please see picture. Notice the gaps at the side.

6.30pm

Orange & Jambu were invited to decorate the cake.

Jambu's response:

Darling, it was a great effort. (with the most encouraging tone he could muster)

As Orange decorated the cake, she said:

So pretty! I love it! Thank you, mama.

She was so happy that she grinned almost the entire time we decorated the cake together.

FINAL RESULT:

A happy 4 year old, absolutely thrilled by her birthday cake.

....... nevermind the adults

You made my day, Orange. :0)

Orange and Opera

It all started with Andrea Bocelli appearing on Sesame Street singing "Time to say Good Night" to Elmo.

A few weeks later, at dinner, the girls were restless and a tad uncooperative. I decided to distract them with my opera voice which I used to imitate Pavorotti when I was much younger for sheer fun. Interestingly, it got their attention. I would like to say that it was due to my superb singing voice but it is not to be. Maybe it was the words.

Time to say good nite,
my Orange (or Apple)
Time to sleep,
It's time to go to bed
Time to go to sleep

The girls liked it so much that O would request me to sing it during meals. I can even use it as a bargain chip. "Eat your vegetables first then mama will sing opera". Sometimes the request would be "Mama sing Auntie Opera" or "Mama sing Uncle Opera", depending on whether they want to hear Bocelli or Sarah Brightman. But Auntie Opera's more hiliarious because there was no way mama could hit those high notes.

On National Day, it suddenly dawn on me that we have a VCD on Bocelli's "Night in Tuscany". For the last few days, we been watching and listening to Andrea Bocelli's Con te partiro. Orange even calls him "Uncle Bocelli".

Hiding place

Children love small hiding places. Here's Apple's favourite place - the dryer. She even closes the door. Thankfully, she cannot shut it from the inside.

No morning nap please = 110 wet wipes

One hundred and ten pieces of wet wipes strewn all over her cot. That' how Apple communicated to me that she doesn't want her morning nap anymore.

It's a Saturday morning. The ritual is that Apple will take a morning nap, while Orange & I will spend some time together doing art or craft. But this morning, she protested: yelled and screamed. She does that some times so I left her alone. A few minutes later she stopped. I thought: Yes! It worked. Sometimes, toddlers need to release some energy before they sleep.

Not too long later, more shouting and screaming. This time, I decided to investigate. That's when I discovered her message. One hundred and ten pieces of the new box of wet wipes I placed on top of the chest of drawers next to her cot.

Yes, darling Apple. I got your message... No more morning naps for you.

Phrase Generator

Here are some phrases that Orange Fruit has generated on her own accord:

1. Poo Poo Meat - this is what she pointed to after she has a big one
2. Uncle Paper - the man who walks around the corridor sounding the horn and shouting "newspaper" or something
3. Auntie School Bus - No guesses where she often appears

And she expects the same creativity from me! I'm often asked "What's his name?", "What's her name?" when we're reading her books together. I try to "smoke" some names for kids (and hope I remember them the next time we read the same book). For adults, at least I can follow the pattern she set: Auntie Baker, Mr Lifeguard, ..., so much for my own creativity.

I love you, mama

Here's a really heartwarming moment for me...happened while I was hanging up the laundry.

I drew Orange an typical house picture and got her to do some colouring in the kitchen (to keep her away from Apple, who was taking her morning nap). She's really into colouring now.

While I was hanging up the clothes, I started singing the Donut man song:

Picking up my socks

Hanging up the clothes

Helping with the dishes

Doing as I'm told

Just another way of saying

Lord, I love you...

Then out of the blue, Orange said, "I love you mama."

That was totally unexpected and is so sweet. One of those rewarding parenting moments.

I was thinking about it later and relating to my relationship with my Heavenly Father. He probably feels the same way when I tell Him that I love Him, too! I should do that more often.

Cover your mouth when you cough!

Orange, our three and half year old, is a fantastic feedback giver.

Just yesterday, towards the end of dinner. I walked into the kitchen to wash some fruits for dessert. While washing, I coughed. And I hear a loud, little voice from my 3.5 year old:

Mama, cover your mouth when you cough!!

I wasn't in her view. How did she know? And it's true, I didn't cover my mouth when I coughed. And she's asking me to do exactly I have taught her. I'm getting more "feedback" these days. What a great way to learn about myself.