As part of their classwork, and to encourage the children to be more imaginative in their use of words, Yu Laoshi asked Pup's class to draw and describe the feelings of people, objects and things around them.
We thought Pup would go for volcano (火山生气的时候是红色). But he surprised us with this: 大树开心的时候是彩色的 trees are colorful when in bliss...
Note to self: Don't be presumptuous. Don't set limits to the kiddos' creativity and imagination...
LQ got a new friend today...
She's named her Kitty Moop.
Kitty is supposed to teach her all about dressing up, including buttoning, zipping, tying shoelaces etc.
I hope she won't neglect Baby Boo now that she has Kitty Moop...hmmm...
Pup's depiction of The Ugly Duckling.
Another piece of his classwork.
We thought he used the water color to great effect. :)
Pup took the first ever Exam in his life in December last year - violin grade 1 exam. It was nerve wrecking...for me.
The violin school had suggested it ostensibly because the more intensive 'training' for the exam will help correct some of his bad habits. As far as I'm concerned, the later tests and exams enter his life, the better it is. We also didn't want his violin classes to become focused on just passing exams. So, I fretted over our decision to let him do it. Pup, however, took it in his stride and seemed to enjoy the additional weekday classes tremendously.
It was a huge relief for me when the exam finally arrived.
It was held at Kawai Music School at Paragon. As it was just 9 days before Christmas, a palpable festive mood was in the air.
Pup got bored waiting so we started talking about Christmas and Christmas trees. When it was finally his turn, he strode into the room tentatively holding his exam pieces. I couldn't shake off the worry that he might not be able to understand the examiner and vice versa. But, the exam was over before we knew it . When Pup walked out of the room a little skip in his steps, I wanted to let out a yelp of relief.
We proceeded to lunch at the Jap restaurant next to Kawai where we spoke nothing of violin and exams. :p
After lunch, while Pup was monkeying around with his binoculars, we bumped into his examiner who came out of the freezing exam room to thaw out. He looked rather much like Santa Claus with his snowy white beard and ruddy cheeks. He was also friendly and chatty, and talked to us about (what else?) Christmas back home in the UK.
The day ended nicely with a traipse round Orchard Road to check out the Christmas deco.
Less than a month later, on the day that he got his violin results (he passed!), Pup had his 2nd exam - this time for swimming. It was a surprise bubble test (yeah, it was a test of how well they can blow bubbles haha) that the coach decided to spring on Pup and his three swim mates. We were mighty proud that he made the test effortlessly, a vast difference from just a few months ago when he didn't even dare to dunk his head under water.
So there, two tests all in the span of a month, and just as Pup stepped into his 6th year.
With Pup entering primary school soon, I guess tests and exams are here to stay. I just hope that we are able to teach him right such that he has the tenacity to face every challenge, success and failure graciously and become a stronger person with each experience...
Pup threw a tantrum when the Daddy went to pick him up from school today. For some reason, he said Yu laoshi 'lied' about him. When the Daddy tried to correct him, he flew into a rage and hit the Daddy.
I only got the story when we were home at the dinner table.
Me: Lele, why did u say that Yu Laoshi was lying?
Pup: Because she said I wanted to play when I didn't!
Me: Why would she lie about that?
Pup: ... ...
Me: Is it because when she spoke to you, you didn't respond so she thought you wanted to continue playing?
Pup: ... ...
Me: And you hit Daddy?
Pup nodded silently.
Me (fuming at this point): How can you do that? And how can you say Yu laoshi lied? Yu laoshi had been your teacher for three years and she loves you so much. Do you know she'll be very disappointed if she knew you said that about her?
Pup: ... ...
Me: If you continue to behave this way, you will end up having no friends. You will be like Oscar the Grouch who nobody likes and stays in a dustbin alone.
Pup: ... ....
Me: If you don't agree with what Yu Laoshi said then you should ask her why she said that right? You should also ask yourself why she said that in the first place...
LQ: Mummy, why why why...?
Me: I'm upset because gor gor's behaving badly.
LQ (worried look on her face): Why why? Why gor gor stay in dustbin?
Me (suppressing a laugh): You don't want gor gor to stay in a dustbin?
LQ: Yes. Why gor gor stay in dustbin...alone?
Me: You don't want gor gor to be alone? So where should gor gor stay?
LQ (pauses to think): Erm...stay with mummy, daddy and me...
Me: (aawwww...)
Pup and LQ had their mugshots taken on the 6th day of CNY...
We had to do it for Pup because we'll need to renew his passport soon (yes, it's been 5 years!). LQ, who thinks that everything the brother does is cool, demanded to have her photo taken too.
We love the shots. I'm even thinking perhaps we should make this a family ritual for Chinese New Year... :p
Took the kids to Chinatown for a pre-CNY tour today. We decided to ditch the car for public transport because we figured parking would be a nightmare there. Turned out the tour wasn't that great an idea either because the crowd and the heat were simply overwhelming to the point of being unbearable. In the end, we took refuge in the air conditioned confines of Central Mall.
Good thing is, while the kids didn't get to see Chinatown but they enjoyed the MRT rides (service was smooth! Phew!).
And instead of the new year deco at Chinatown, I snapped these at the stations.
Wasn't too long ago when Pup was taking MRT for free...
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