[Absence makes the heart grow fonder]

The girls were away from Sat - Thurs with my parents on a week-long driving holiday into Malaysia. Much as we love spending lots of time with them, this trip came just at the right (or wrong!) time as we were totally swamped with work. It has been a few 20hr days leading up to the weeklong school hols, and it was just as well that they were on holiday, otherwise there will be 2 very cranky parents who are just frustrated we can't spend lazy mornings with them.
Also, it gave us a chance to catch up on being 2 again (thanks mummy and papa!). Although many of our friends and family assume that because we are together 24-7, because we spend our working time together, we do not need much 'couple-time'. But work tends to be pretty much all-consuming, so there isn't really a chance for any relaxed moments during the workday, and the only real time we get to unwind will be when the girls are in bed. Even though we had the week 'break' without the girls, we really only managed to catch a couple of nights out, as work was too pressing and took up the rest of the time. It was still good though. :)

Some pics of the week:
Took up my knitting again. This time around to make chunky cowels :) I bought this from Etsy a really long time ago, but it is still my favorite to wear whenever we go anywhere cold. So, let's hope I'm creating another one that will be a favorite too! Here's what i'm trying to make - The Loopy :) Of course, if you don't want to go through the trouble of knitting it yourself by hand, you can always buy it online - from HERE . Next up, making jewellery - lots of inspiration from HERE.
We go up to KL quite a bit for work, and tried for the 1st time the Rendang at Madam Kwan's. YUMS.
Loaf of course was another "must eat"... we go there for breakfast and supper all the time!
After dinner desserts - why does my head look so big in this pic?!Food at Ippudo, Mandarin Gallery. It was disappointing to put it mildy. Even though the food was reasonably good (although I realised I don't really care for ramen), the ambience of shared seating, loud clubby music, horrible service and dark dark decor made for a really bad date out :( Totally wouldn't recommend it unless you REALLY like ramen and can put up with all the above grouses!Homemade meals continued our repertoire of food journeys. (somehow without the girls, it seems that we eat a lot more?!)
Found this in the photo archives. I'm thrilled that I actually managed to still keep in touch with some of these friends (FB makes these much easier!)
K waiting for G to finish up ballet last sat. She looks so adorable with her curls and that sweet smile :)
We brought the girls 'ponyriding' (a very sweaty G waiting for her turn)
She absolutely LOVED it! :) Look at that posture.... i think she could be a horserider in the making!! (now if only it didn't cost an arm and a leg for pony riding classes)
Enjoying an icecold drink before lunch.
Looking small and cute next to V
Looking so much bigger with her hair bunned up for ballet. :)

Just booked our April hols online, looking forward to a little break. Also, found this website via archdaily - Exotic hotels (can't wait to try some of them!)

[G's 6th Birthday]

Six years ago, you made your surprise appearance 2 weeks early. We had hardly setup the cot or washed any of yr newborn clothing when you decided that you have had enough of being in my tummy. From the very start, your joy and love of LIVING is so much in your personality. You do nothing in half measures... You laugh hard, play hard, cry hard and most of all love hard. You wear your generous heart on your sleeve constantly. To watch you is to know you. You love your favourite people indiscriminately and expect nothing less in return. We hope you will always be so affectionate (Although your trademark 'carry-hug' might have to cease quite soon as you are so big now!) You have always been inquisitive and that has progressed naturally into an almost insatiable thirst for knowledge ever since you learnt how to reAd. We love how you can talk about everyday topics and tell us yr views of it. Your laughter is infectious, your sense of humor borders on the quirky, you are easily tickled, especially by really silly things. This past year, you have grown so tAll, so lanky, so absolutely gorgeous (our biased view of course!) You are our very own princess through and through and we love you so much Gracie. Happy 6th Birthday!


Below, chronologically, your best moments at your birthday parties through the years:

1 yr old BBQ party at grandma's

2 yr old home party

3 yr old party : barney party at bethany (1st kindie party) - most talked about item = barney cake and all the barney stuff she received as pressies!

4 yr old school then beach party at sentosa - most talked about item = the huge room we stayed in and the wonderful beach at it's doorstep.
5 yr old fairy party (1st friends party) : most talked about item = the house we painted and the fairy cupcakes we had.
6 yr old birthday carnival party : most talked about item = princess bouncy castle & ice-cream cake.

More pix from today:
We rented the part next to our house as the venue for this year's 'birthday carnival' party. It was a great space - full of large shady trees and also a very good size pavilion to do up the main party food etc and even an annex for setting up a photobooth (which in the end nobody used cos they were all too busy with the bouncy castle!) We re-used K's bday banner and V printed out G's name in maze (like last yr- from HERE).
We printed little banners with the same font 'stencil' as the party invites - quick and nice way of creating a birthday theme - we used scrapbooking paper as the backdrop for all the printouts, and also made little hearts with toothpicks to decorate the food.
Made pom poms as per the instructions HERE.

Candy floss maker machine was a VERY big hit. The kids (and adults!) crowded round like bees to honey :) Unfortunately, the maker was pretty slow at satisfying the kids cravings... haha, after that, we decided to make super mini ones so that everyone had a tiny one to start off with!
Bought the candy floss maker from HERE.... but hey, just drop me a line if you want to borrow it!





6 hrs rental for the bouncy castle is a great asset for any bday party! Fully recommend it, the girls had SO much fun playing in it. We rented it from HERE.
Bouncy castle fun!
Wonderful tasty icecream cakes from island creamery - best thing about it, we get 2 flavors!
Singing birthday song

G cutting cake with her besties!
Everybody (well almost!)
Finally, the happy little 6 yr old with all her pressies!!! :) Thanks to everybody for coming by and making this day so super special for her!!!!