Earth – our Untamed Planet

Courtesy of the Science Centre, Jay & I were invited to the brand new permanent exhibit that will be in the Singapore Science Centre, named Earth – our Untamed Planet. The Science Centre has a special place in Jay’s heart, as it was here that he first discovered the wonderful world of dinosaurs! In fact, he now goes around proclaiming his ambition when he grows up is to be a palaeontologist! Haha!

When we reached the Science Centre, we were first treated to a special media briefing to introduce this exhibition, a collaboration between the Science Centre & the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

Built from scratch, this exhibit aims to bring visitors on an informative and interactive tour of the earth’s natural forces of destruction, so you can expect to learn about volcanoes, earthquakes, tsumanis and more!

But words and powerpoint can only do so much, and it was time for us to actually go on the tour! The exhibit is split into seven different zones – and once you walk in, you are greeted by this gorgeous wall, that literally aims to bring you on a walk through time!

And once you get to the end… Earth awaits!

I was impressed already! Walking through the crack, you get to observe the various layers of the earth and learn how the dynamism beneath the surface contributes to the dynamism you see above the surface!

But kids being kids, Jay was more interested in seeing if there was anything beyond the core…

The mirror on the floor gave a pretty cool effect that there was really “more” under our feet, which kept the kiddos gingerly checking it out!

We continued on our Journey with Kim, the tour guide for the day…

Kim illustrating how the continents used to be joined together, and having a mini jigsaw puzzle for the kids to try it out.

And while she probably did a smashing job for the rest of the time, unfortunately kids and standing around listening don’t really go together, and Jay was more interested in just getting it on. Pressing some buttons. Seeing things move. Stuff like that.

Jay was checking out some rock samples. Like a pro.

This is another exhibit that kept the kids’ going back over and over again. It is a tsunami simulator, and showcasing the three different ways a tsunami occurs, and once you select the option, you can see how the wave would look like in the miniature tank.

Very cool.

A volcano simulator, which also tests your judgement call on when to call for an evacuation!

One of the key exhibits is an earthquake simulator… in the form of a living room!

The interesting thing about this exhibit was that it showcased the various “shaking” effect you would experience if you experienced a quake while in a house built on solid ground, soft ground (which reminded me of a Bible parable… haha!) as well as if you were in a high-rise.

For Jay, he enjoyed the shaking! Haha!

Aaah… but the one exhibit that Jay LOVED? And which he expended quite a lot of energy on?

See? He’s a fast blur here!

It is a seismic indicator, and the more movement on this exhibit, the higher the needle would jump. Needless to say, it brought out the very competitive nature in Jay. Haha!

Before you leave, don’t forget to pen down a note to appreciate the team for their very hard work in this special board…

I know Jay sure had fun with this too!

Thanks once again to the Science Centre for this Preview, and I’d be looking forward to our next trip to the Science Centre!

If you’d like to visit this exhibit, come by the Science Centre from 1 March 2012 onwards. Earth – Our Untamed Planet is at Hall B, and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the usual Science Centre admission rates applying.

Almost one!

I attended a good friend’s princess’ one-year birthday party over the weekend, and it got me thinking…

It’s almost my own prince’s one year mark too!

 

Seriously. I cannot believe it’s going to be one year already!

To my little prince, happy almost-birthday, darling!

(Now, to plan for his party!)

Sucking it up

Jay learnt how to sip from a straw at 10 months. And it was the kind of straw adults use, not some inflated Pigeon or Avent version.

And so when Xav turned 10 months, I was wondering why he was taking so long to take to cutesy sippy cup I bought for him. Was it the water? Maybe he doesn’t enjoy drinking water? Or should I get “simpler” sippy cups for him?

With Jay it was water chestnut drink that got him to suck it up.

With Xav…

The McDonald’s ice milo drink has that honour. At about 10 months and 3 weeks old… Xav has got it!

Of course, he was trying to BLOW into the straw more than actively sucking, but after each blow, he’d take a breath in… and taste some of that yummy Milo! Hahaha!

I love this pic Nic took with his iPhone – a classic Xav shot with those innocent eyes (even while smack in the middle of doing something michievous) and pouty mouth!

( Okay, and you can calm down… he only had maybe 2-3 sips of the milo… :D )

First Mums' & Dads' Congress 2012

The thing about parenting is that somewhere in the middle of a 3AM night feed and halfway through changing YET another soiled diaper is that you need to to take a deep breath, and keep your head screwed on right. I have a second baby, and I must say it sure doesn’t get easier. Sure, I now KNOW what’s ahead for Xav, and what to expect as part of the growing up pangs (and if my memory fails me, I know I can always refer back to this blog!) but knowledge is really power, and if you are a Mummy or Daddy, good news is here!

For all mums, dads, and parents-to-be, this would be a good resource place to seek clarifications and answers if you’re wanting to know more about pregnancy and handling new babies. Doctors and healthcare experts will be speaking on topics such as…

• Nutrition for a brighter child
• Eating well for mothers, the TCM way
• Truths & myths about baby’s arrival

Pique your interest yet?

The Congress will be on 26 February 2012 (Sunday), from 12.15 p.m. – 4.15 p.m. at the Fairmont Ballroom (Level 4, Raffles City Convention Centre).

You can get your tickets from SISTIC, and all attendees will receive a goodie bag worth S$180!

Good news for you…

SANses has TWO free tickets to the Congress to giveaway to you guys – my awesome blog readers! If you’d like to get this ticket (and also the $180 goodie bag), the mechanics are:

1. Like the SANses Facebook Page (if you  haven’t already done so)
2. Leave a comment in this blog post, or you can also drop me an email at sanses@hotmail.sg.

That’s it! The 2 winners will be picked using a random number generator, and giveaway ends on Wednesday (22 February) midnight.

My Greenwich V Experience (Part Deux)

I hope you enjoyed reading about my Amazing Race event at Greenwich V. These are the 2 shops that left a big impression on me!

Empire State Restaurant

I loved this cosy restaurant, with its bright red leather sofas and cutesy wallpaper!

But hey, one hardly goes to a restaurant for its wallpaper. The chow is the main draw. And for this, Empire State scores big in my book too!

The Giant Burger was a huge hit with both the adults and the children! Check out Jay’s very excited face! Haha!

The fries was light and fluffy, and our table was the only one to finish all the fries – a feat accomplished only because of the non-calorie-counting children that were in our team! Haha!

We then sampled their pizza, and the sweet teriyaki chick pizza was divine! Yet another dish totally polished off!

Oh, and just when we were feebly protesting our carbo-filled tummies, the gorgeous meatbal spaghetti was wheeled out… and completely finished as well! Hahaha! The tangy tomato sauce and juicy huge meatball was too yummy to resist!

And so maybe it was apt that our first stop in the Race was Berrylite, which offered 100% FAT FREE yoghurt.

Berrylite

The kids were waiting (im)patiently for the goodies to be doled out!

And boy oh boy, we had a chance to savour all of the flavours!

I pointed out the mint flavour to Jay, and he soon “claimed” that for himself. Solely.

Yummy and healthy? SCORE! :)

Greenwich V
1 Seletar Road, Singapore 807011

There are also shuttle bus services available so do check it out at their website: http://greenwichv.com.sg/index.aspx?key=shuttlebus

Amazing Race at Greenwich V

It’s been some time since I participated in an Amazing Race-esque  kind of competition, and usually I find myself in the organizer’s shoes. But this time, I joined 14 other bloggers to participate at the Greenwich V Experience, which basically involved us running around the mall, and eating, posing, and finding out about what this new mall holds.

It was such a fun time!

I was placed in the Lifestyle team, and our team of 5 was made up of parent bloggers. And guess what, we brought our little ones along for this challenge. I brought ONE little one (which was more than enough for me), but other braver bloggers brought their entire tribe along. So from 5 of us, here’s our ENTIRE team.

 
(Thanks Alvin for this pic!)

Oh, and if you’re wondering – our team colour is RED, but unfortunately, before we left the house, Xavier was happily snoozing in the room and I decided letting Jay wear a recently-ironed-but-in-the-wrong-colour top beat waking my sleeping prince. Cough. Judge me not, please. Hahaha!

Greenwich V is a new mall at Seletar Hills, and a unique feature is that this mall boasts of shops like perennial favourites like Old Chang Kee, Toast Box, Mai Thai, Home-Fix and more, all set in a outdoor venue, with loads of water features that will be sure to entertain the small ones (I know Jay could hardly keep his hands to himself!)

To kick-start the whole event, we were treated to lunch at Empire State. It was yummy!

After filling our tummies to the brim, we then got down to the proper business of the day! The Race itself!

Our team of 5 (okay 17, if you include the kids & spouses!) did phenomenal, and we breezed through the stations. Some of it required us to EAT. And the extra mouths sure helped to wolf down the yummy food! Altogether we went to 10 different shops!

Yummy & healthy yoghurt at Berrylite (Jay loved the Mint flavour SO much, he insisted on lugging the entire tub for the next 3 stations)

Some of the other stations we went included Cedele’s…

and Paradise Inn!

You can view the rest of the photos and stations here.

It was a great time to meet other parent bloggers, and for our kids to hang out (and feast)!

Oh, and the most amazing thing about this amazing race? We managed to snag second place! Haha! Meet the rest of the team… Klessis, Andy, Phoebe & Paul!

If you live in the area, check out Greenwich V for your amazing experience as well.

Want to win a book for your pre-schooler?

I love giveaways! And I love the chance to allow YOU (yes, you guys!) have a chance to try out new things.

I’m hosting a special giveaway on my Facebook Page… Hop on over to www.facebook.com/mummyblogs and participate in my Rainbow Bear’s Dinosaur Discovery book for your pre-schooler. Yes, Jay has this book and adores it… and the good folks at Julia Gabriel has passed me another three sets for my readers! Woohoo!

Each set comes with the book, CD and songbook.

To find out how you can win this, hop on over to my FB page now. :)

March holidays fun – plus a giveaway!

Holidays spell oodles of fun for the kid, and more importantly, a chance for parents to sleep in as well!

Well, if you’re cracking your head on what to occupy your child with this March holidays, I bring you good tidings… WOWArt Studios has rolled out an array of holiday workshops to entertain and occupy the kids!

From March 12 to 16, the Kids on Canvas (requiring 2 working passes each) and Wow! Workshops will be sure to stir some creativity juices in your child.

Jay attends the regular term classes at WOWArt, and given how very, erm, creatively-challenged I was in school at the subject of art, I honestly never expected Jay to have much of an affection with art. But he has surprised me time and time again with his love for the art classes!

Enjoy an early bird discount of 5% if you sign up for the classes before March 11!

But hey, more good news awaits!

WOWArt is offering a free workshop for Jayvon… and guess what? One lucky reader will also get the chance to attend this same workshop with Jayvon – absolutely free of charge!

Here’s how to win your free session, together with Jay:

1. “Like” SANses’ Facebook Page – SANses, a Mummy Blogs.
2. “Like” WowArt’s Facebook Page as well.
3. Leave a comment below to be in the running for the free workshop class!

That’s it! Easy-peasy!

Who can enter?

Anyone! But your kid (or your nephew/niece/random stranger you will be bringing to the session should be between 2.5 & 12 years old). Jay, at four years old, can attend either age group, which also means this is open to more children!

You can choose which workshop you’d like to attend, and I’ll accommodate  to the date/time that suits you!

This giveaway ends on Sunday, 26 February 2011, 2359 hours, and the winner will be announced after that!

UPDATE:
Congratulations to IRENE! I look forward to meeting you for the class with your son! :) Email been sent to you!

Counting my blessings

Having one kid was rough and tough, and when we decided to have the second, we anticipated the toughness and the roughness…

The sleepless nights, the wallet strains, the mucus-wiping and butt-cleaning. The fatigue, the body aches (oh wait, that might be just the age), and did I mention the mucus-wiping and the butt-cleaning? Oh, I did? Yes, and the mummy-nesia that seals the whole deal.

But nothing really prepares us for this.

 

Two sleepy smiles that greet us each morning.

Peals of shared laughter over ice-cream and biscuits.

Matching clothes.

Long strolls on the beach, hand in hand, enjoying the breeze.

Watching back-to-back episodes of Dinosaur Train on the telly.

Makes up for my cutbacks in shopping (sob!) and overseas travels (double sob!)… but hey, when we see the two kiddos together, it kinda makes it all worthwhile.

Seeing my two boys interact make me roll me eyes and roll on the floor in laughter alternatively. No one ever said motherhood was good for one’s mental health. Haha!

And so I am counting my blessings today.

Two huge ones, to be exact. Healthy, happy, chatty, endearing.

Thank you, God.

I love it whenever Jay randomly, in the middle of doing something else, looks up, looks at me and goes, “I love you, Mummy.” Like totally unsolicited. My jaw kinda drops, my heart stops a second, and I smile back, “I love you too, baby!” I used to have to squeeeeeze those “I love yous” out of him like nobody’s business. And now he doles it out when I least expect it. Of course, doing so gets him a “free pass” whenever he does something naughty. Which for a 4-year-old is about… everyday. Oh, and when Xav gets in on this trick, I expect some fun times ahead.

Singles may think hearing those three magical words from that special someone is the be-all-and-end-all. Wait till you become a parent.

And of course now the question on everyone’s mind is… “So when’s your number 3 coming?”

Linking up with…

Rainbow Bear’s Dinosaur Discovery

Dinosaurs are truly my little boy’s favourite, and a few days ago, the good people at Julia Gabriel Creations sent me a copy of their second installation of Rainbow Bear – and yes, it was a book on, you’ve guessed it, dinosaurs!

“”An adventure in blends and digraphs”… and if like me you were a bit confused by this, this book is a great teaching tool in phonetics. Basically Jay currently is able to sound the letters of the alphabets, but when you place (or blend) two consonants together, it makes a different sound which this book strives to teach – like “th” or “sh” or “tr”…

The book also comes with a CD and a songbook, which comes in useful, cos it repeats the words in the book (read in Standard English pronunciation) and also has songs that the kids can sing along too!

I read the book to Jay, and he was enthralled by the gorgeous photos of dinos!

Last Saturday, we also made our way to Forum the Shopping Mall for The Dinosaur Stomp! event, and Jay had a blast there!

Entertained by Reuben & Mark, who taught the kids how to do the Dinosaur Stomp, their antics left Jay in peals of laughter!

He came back and practiced his new-found dance moves the whole day!

But the highlight was surely this: Julia Gabriel came up to read out a portion of the book to the children, and Rainbow Bear was also around!

The children were brought to a magical world of dinosaurs, and Jay was absolutely captivated as the dinosaurs came to life!

All in all, it was a fun morning spent, and I am happy that his love for dinosaurs would mean a good opportunity for me to teach him some new letter sounds!