Jah’s Mini Rock Concert

Posted in Birthdays, Videos of JahBella by jahbella

Jah got home after his birthday staycation and immediately wanted to play with his new drum set. What he did next, surprised me and the entire family. Instead of just hitting the drums like he did the day before at the party, he decided that he would sing too!! Given that he usually is quite shy about singing in front of people, I was shocked that he was super into the whole thing.

I say super because he went on to sing several songs, much like a mini Jah rock concert :p and even asked me to help him think of more songs..

So allow me to indulge while I post videos of all the songs he did that morning 🙂 My personal favourites are Five little speckled frog and the wheels on the bus

JahBella’s Mummy

5Dec2014

Jah’s First Movie Date and Review on Penguins of Madagascar

Posted in Movies, Parenting decisions, Uncategorized by jahbella

I brought Jah to watch his second movie @ the cinema today. This was meant to be a post school concert ‘reward’ and the chosen movie (Penguins of Madagascar) was rather apt, after all he was a penguin from Madgascar in his school dance. 🙂

I also took the opportunity to make it a ‘playdate’ with one of his friends from childcare. Jah rarely/ has almost never been on a play date. Given that he goes to full day childcare 5 days a week, it has never been a real need. However I recently noticed that Jah has started talking about his friends/ best friends a lot more and has been wanting to invite them to play or even to go on holidays with him :p I figured this will be a good time to help develop his social skills and progressing to the next milestone of interacting rather than playing alone, in a group. I was excited to see if he really could interact with his friend 🙂 It was really nice to see the two of them sit together and ‘chit chat’, from little 18 month olds who would ignore each other to friends at 3 years old. In fact I think I saw glimpses of them getting ready to conspire against us adults.

Now onto my review for Penguins of Madagascar. I was abit apprehensive about the movie. Jah’s first movie was Planes – Fire and Rescue (something he was very familiar with) but Penguins of Madagascar was something totally new to him. Having said that, he sat through the entire movie without moving out of his seat once and he talked a lot less and asked a lot less questions. Perhaps he was getting more familiar with the movie concept but I have to say the rapid and continuous action sequences in the movie helped. While there was enough witty dialogue to amuse the adults, the dialogue was almost always interlaced with an action sequence and it kept him very entertained. The plot was also simple enough for him to understand without asking too many questions about what was happening or what this or that character said. Definitely a good and fun movie to bring the kids to.

The only drawback? Jah woke up from his nap and the first thing he said was “mummy we didn’t take photo in front of the Penguins poster! There was no penguins poster like the planes fire and rescue!” Yes so I wished we could have had a photo op spot :p I guess my only ‘complaint’.

JahBella’s Mummy

29Nov2014

Family day out at the National Stadium – Suzuki Cup 2014

Posted in Uncategorized, Weekend activities with kids by jahbella

We have been wanting to visit the new National Stadium for awhile now so when we found out that the Suzuki Cup Group match between Singapore and Thailand was on over the weekend, we had to grab tickets. We also made it a big family outing with The ‘Village’ aka JahBella’s uncles and aunties.

All set Bella?

Even though we had purchased pre-sold parking at S$10 per entry and it guaranteed us a parking space. We still decided to head down earlier to avoid any traffic jams and to grab some dinner. I think this is especially useful if you are heading for a big/ sold out match.

View of the festivities

While there were tons of food options at the Kallang Wave Mall and Leisure Park Kallang, finding a seat was extremely difficult. That said, there was no shortage of open spaces around the stadium so we did takeaway and found ourselves a big open space to take in the view. Jah and Bella were so happy with the open space that they were running around and grooving to the live band music coming from the Suzuki Cup fringe activities area. Absolutely hilarious to watch!

Enjoying their food in the open space

Dancing for a good half hour!

Village pic!

We headed into the stadium at about 715pm. Getting in was a breeze, everything was clearly marked and nicely spread out. Tons of concession stands inside so we were not stuck in major queues. Every seat had a little vent near its leg so the place was nicely ventilated with cool air. My sister told me that the seats higher up have vents closer to the butt area. 🙂

Jah – 1st half!

Stuffing her face all night!

Jah – 2nd half!

Bella ready to KO!

Even though we had to leave after the first half because it was way past the kids bedtime by then. The kids really had an awesome time in fact Jah was fussing all the way to the carpark that he wanted to go back in. He was still very much in the mood and banging his little ‘clappers’ (not sure what you call them). Take note that no re-entry is allowed so please don’t step out if you are not intending to leave.

Leaving the stadium – not really wanting to leave

Seeing the kids all ‘grown up’ and enjoying the ambience so much, makes me wish I could get tickets to next year’s SG50 National Day Parade. Maybe if I wish hard enough, some balloting luck will come my way!! :p

Definitely a tiring end to a Sunday but we all know Sunday’s with family is always the best!

Jahbella’s mummy

27Nov2014

What would you do if you spotted a strange bruise on your child?

Posted in Our Thoughts, Parenting decisions, School Issues by jahbella

As we were sending Jah to school this morning, Joel spotted that Jah had a really bad bruise-like mark on the tip of one of his ear lobes. He pointed it out to me and we couldn’t exactly pin point how he might have gotten it. An insect bite? (Too big to be from an insect) From a classmate? (Too ‘precise’ to be from a young child) From a knock? (When?) From a teacher? (Can’t imagine who) From himself? (How?)

I also remembered spotting a similar bruise a few weeks back over his birthday weekend. I decided not to remind Joel as I could tell that our imaginations were starting to run a little wild.

What would you do in that same position?

I think most parents who leave their kids with their domestic helper or a childcare would have immediately started questioning the caretaker. I would probably have done the same if not for the fact that we had no reason to doubt our childcare and the teachers have been splendid so far but yes I admit that fleeting thought did cross my mind.

Instead I told Joel to relax and that there was no point making assumptions, and I would try to have out what happened from Jah tonight.

So this was our conversation tonight

Me: Jah, can I ask u a question? There is a bruise on your ear over here. Is it painful?
Jah: no.
Me: oh but it looks quite bad. Did you hurt yourself? Someone pull your ear or did someone ask u to pull ur ear?
Jah: yes someone ask me to pull my ear.
Me: Oic..who asked u to do that? *starting to worry but tried to remain calm*
Jah: teacher xxx
Me: oh really *i was starting to be alittle skeptical because I couldn’t imagine that this particular teacher would ask him to pull his ears as punishment*
Jah: yes! Teacher xxx says “if you’re happy and you know you pull your ears!” *giggles*
Me: ohhhhhh so that’s why u pulled ur ears!
*wanting to be extra sure*
Me: can you show me how u did it?

And yes he pulls at the exact spot where the bruise is, with his tiny little fingers! (And by the way he claims that it doesn’t hurt and that it is ‘just nice’)

The reason I am sharing this is because I learnt a few things through this experience

1) we are often quick to assume, judge and imagine the worst. (We imagined all the different scenarios and almost arrived at what we thought was the most convenient or plausible one. I also assume that pulling ears meant that it was a punishment and could have jumped to the wrong conclusion)

2) sometimes we don’t even believe what our kids are telling us and often it’s because we never wait for the full story or we don’t ask the right questions of them

3) we have to give our kids more credit for it (The bruise was not bothering him the least bit, it was all part of play. We should also have faith that they would be able to tell us if something wasn’t right. Or at least it is our job to educate them to do so).

Something that could have seriously been blown out of proportion, was at the end of the day, quite a funny and enlightening conversation between me and my boy.

Jahbella’s Mummy

26Nov2014

Adventure World – Perth (March 2014)

Posted in Holidays, Perth, Travel with Kids by jahbella

Before I start on this post, I have to apologise for the lack of photos as our camera’s battery went dead on us and well handphones and theme park/ water theme park don’t agree. :p

Adventure World is a giant theme park that has a big water park area and a nice rides area suited for the young ones. The place also has huge empty grass patches throughout the park where families can set up shop. I seriously have no idea why we never came to this place in all our years of holidaying in Perth!

Adventure World is really a place for people of all ages. I would recommend coming early so that you can find a good spot especially if you are coming during the weekends. A lot of local families bring their own ice cooler box, little camping chairs etc, but a picnic map, towels and a change of clothing is all you need if you want to travel light.

We parked ourselves in front of the big water play area which was relatively shaded. That area is also closed by to the toilets, lockers and some food kiosk. We attempted the big water play area a few times but chickened out everytime some water hit us as it was simply too cold. Yes our photos seem to suggest that it was warm and sunny but I remember it was approximately 23 degrees or so. The kiddy/ toddler water play area was 100m away and the kids spent some time there but yes it got cold after a while too. I’m guessing all these will be perfect and very popular in summer.

From the kiddy waterplay area, you could see some of the rides available – Old school Viking ship, rickety roller coaster and a spinning tea cup ride to name a few. I will always remember Adventure World as the place where Jah experienced his first roller-coaster ride. I really don’t know what got into him but he wanted to try it and he also wanted to try the Viking Ship. I was petrified during the rides, petrified for him and that he would freak out in the midst of it. He took it well though and endured the rides till the end, but when asked if he wanted to repeat it, he gave politely or not so politely declined ;). The only ride that Jah wanted to go on repeatedly was a ride that took us around the park and it gave us a bird’s eye view of everything from above. The only downside for me and Joel was the fact that we had to pedal it ourselves!!! It was a 2 seater which meant that I had no help from the one sitting next to me (he couldn’t even reach the pedals!). It also doesn’t help if you have someone/ two teenagers in the ‘car’ behind you, going extremely fast and chasing you down. Come on! No fair!

For those after a thrill, the park also has humongous slides and it was very very popular with the teenagers. I really wanted to give it a shot but I doubt Jah would have allowed me. Ok I asked him for permission but he said no. :p

Adventure World will definitely be back on our itinerary again the next time we return to Perth. And while we have never been to Perth in summer, this might be a tempting and good enough reason to.

Next Up – Final post from our Perth Series – Hilary’s

Go to this link for all links to our Perth, Western Australia Trip (March 2014)

Also check out our Perth/ Margaret River, Western Australia Trip (Auguest 2016)

JahBella’s Mummy