Qi Birthday : Nov-13

After almost 15 years, I was surprised that Ling did not realize Qi’s birthday is exactly 2 weeks from her birthday.   A couple of days prior to the quad’1’ day, she broke her ‘discovery’ excitedly to me but only to receive an anti-climax.  Qi birthday is celebrated quite similarly to Ling’s, except Ally is more cooperative this time… We cut cakes at 2 places and I took a day leave and we spent the day together.

 

At home...

En's Last Day @SK : Nov-13

The last couple of days were filled with Qi and I beading and putting together a personalized souvenir for each of En's SK classmates. Finally those were done. All in preparation for En's last day at SK. En's last day at SK was a princes-and-princesses themed party whereby all the graduands become princes and princesses, juz like how founder Ikeda Sensei would refer to them..

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Unconsciously, En's 3-year SK journey also marks the end of my daily travel to, chanting in and hanging around at our Tampines kaikans. This also marks the end of my Tampines mummy life--no more shopping at the round market, at street 81 supermarkets and shops, and popping to tampines mall or tampines one at will. This also marks the end of my daily gongyo and daimoku with ex-kotekitai comrade.. Also the end of those SK mummies bonding session when our children are in school.. The end of my morning home visits to my WDs..

I still vividly recall of my decision to enroll En into SK. It was a decision not so popular within the family due to the distance of the school from our home. Nevertheless, at my insistence, Victor had no objection, as long as I take up the responsibility of ferrying En to and from school.. which I did.

When I enrolled En into SK after their open house after my P5 camp in the year of 2010, I text mummy to inform her, and received one of mummy's last text messages to me, "Good lah!"

Ling's birthday : Oct-13

Within the family, it is not usual that every birthday person will have two birthday cakes, cut separately at Papa’s and our place.  I think this is considered a bonus since most of the family members enjoy eating cake except myself.  This year we do the same during Ling’s birthday with the first session at Papa’s place.  Since Ally is born, I has adopted the habit to bring my camera whenever we go to Papa’s place and when Ally is “cooperative”, I will be able to capture some good shots of her along with the rest.  On this occasion, I take the advantage to ‘maximize’ my camera value and also took shots of Ling with the rest of the family members, capturing the memories.

Part two: cake cutting at home…

En'en practising Hula Hoop : Oct-13

I believe every girl will inevitably undergo the stage where she urges to learn hula hoop, at least all my three gals do. Watch Qi and Xuan on Hual Hoop in 2008 and watch En'en below.

A family dinner : Oct-13

Since mummy's passing I did not remember the entire family had gathered for a dinner in a restaurant.  It had been more than 3 years now, and we had extended the family with Dor's family and Ally!

Ifu-Dodo Fan dance practise and rehearsal : Oct-13

It had been a long while to see our gals dancing together for Kosen-rufu.  Before En’en was born, Qi and Xuan had performed a “frog” dance in several district and chapter meetings and En’en was always amazed and envious while watching the video, hoping to be a part of it. This year, the chance finally came.  During our General Meeting (Eunos West), the gals would be performing again.. This time including En’en!  It would be a fan dance for the gakkai Ifu-dodo song.

The gals had their first practise session on the 18-Oct-13 (Fri) at HQ, then following a rehearsal at MTA on 20-Oct-13 (Sun).  Qi and Xuan did not have issues learning the dance steps despite joining the team after several training sessions later.  Qi definitely danced with better flare with her many years of dance experience while Xuan struggled to put off her artist embarrassment and bring out a dance smile.  Our little En’en also diligently and joyfully tried her best to follow suit with the rest. 

With Hong as our choreographer cum trainer and the rest of the family as audience, this dance would definitely bring great joy and family bonding.  Looking forward to 09-Nov-13, our Eunos West General Meeting, our victory!