Sorry no photos

Apologies for the lack of updates since the weekend. We had a fantastically busy and fun long weekend and I have plenty of photos to post but unfortunately I have spent all evening trying to load them without much to show for. Hopefully I will find some time tomorrow.

Bapa's home

A happy day for the McCarthy family - Donncha came home after being away for 10 days and flying to 2 opposite corners of the globe which he plotted out for the kids this afternoon. Ayden was happy to pinpoint anywhere but Iman and Jack loved it. It's lovely to have Donncha home again albeit for only four days. Luckily it's a public holiday on Monday so no school!!!

Ayden @ Playgroup

This morning I took Ayden to the toddler group at school. He was very unsure about the sing-song session at the start and clung on very tightly but afterwards regained his independence in the playground. He particularly enjoyed the sandpit which he really had been admiring for a few months and it took some persuasion to take him out of it after playgroup time was up. No points for guessing what we're doing next Friday.

Our Family Boat

Ever since Hanna took her kids to the Book Fair in the weekend, Iman has been bugging me to go and we made it this afternoon. The book fair itself was not too hot though I did pick up a couple of books for Iman's reading. The aim of going there was a science kit and we also bought a balloon propeller which the kids loved and I must take pictures of. For me the highlight of the fair had to be the Muslim Chinese calligrapher. I got one done with all our names on it in jawi script. And the kids really enjoyed watching him at work.

The finished masterpiece. Donncha's name is on the top right, mine on the top left and the children's are between the oars. Now I wish I wrote down the rest of his explanation.

"Not I" said the dog

It was another proud moment for the McCarthy family today with Iman in her class assembly, their first for the year. The did a little play based on the a story/song called "Little Red Hen" and Iman was in the dog group.

At the end of the assembly Iman was the chosen one to thank all for watching their assembly and to also have a look at the class drawings. I was very proud of her. And nice drawing too.

Singapore Zoo Pt2 - cooling off

The Singapore zoo recently upgraded its kids section with this fantastic water zone. After walking around for a few hours this area was a great welcome for the kids to cool down and run around. We had brought togs so they changed quickly and went wild. For us it was a nice cool down with a cup of coffee and an opportunity to take lots of pictures except I kept forgetting about sprays and little buckets of water!

I came home from the hash this evening to kiss my little angel only to find he has been disguised to look otherwise. Poor little baby, his mama thinks he's an innocent baby really!!!  

Singapore Zoo Pt1

No trip to Singapore is complete without a day out at the Singapore Zoo. It's probably the family's favorite attraction and always the highlight of the week.

This was in the Australian enclosure which this time round was a little disappointing as there were few kangaroos out and about. But Jack found this Jeep which he loved. I was on the lookout for other wildlife. The last time we were here we found a wild baby snake on a leaf and recently on Animal Planet we saw a programme about the zoo and they caught a python in the enclose!

The kids always love the Asian elephants section. Unfortunately we missed the show this time.

But we were in time for the ride which made Ayden's day. He's been talking about doing this for months.

This is a statue of Ah Meng who died a couple of years ago and was the zoo's most famous exhibit having starred in several movies. 

Another exhibit we couldn't miss was the crocs. Since visiting the Crocodile farm in Miri in Dec, Ayden talks about co-co-dials everyday.

And he was very excited to see the big guys.

These pythons were so unbelievably big. I have a huge dislike of reptiles but am fascinated with snakes. We initially thought this was one big snake but a closer look there was another head. Iman was very brave going next to the window - don't think I could have done that myself!

This was also another highlight for the kids especially being Jack's first time on a horse.

And Ayden he's hooked on going to the horses anyway so he was happy to hang around them. 

Damai Pool, Hyatt Singapore

The last time we stayed at the Hyatt, the pool area was a building site and during that week the kids kept looking out at the window asking when the pool will be ready. This visit they weren't disappointed. The new pool looks spectacular, very modern and resembles very little of what was there before. Except it is still freezing and each time we went to the pool the kids would come out with shivering blue lips after splashing around for 10 minutes or so. Nice to sit around and look pretty but going into the water should come with a health warning!

We went to the doctor and the doctor said...

no more monkeys jumping on the bed!!!

Now there's a song for us! It's been a week of doctors and minor injuries. Iman very bravely went through with root canal for a tooth that has previously given her trouble. She was very brave and stayed ever so still in the chair. Luckily she didn't need the big I! I must also mention here  cousin Zahra here who had a tooth extraction today and needed the big I. First tooth out so the tooth fairy should be visiting tonight.

 

Now Ayden...we all know how active this little one is. Unfortunately while perched (and bouncing) at the edge of the bed two sundays ago he fell off backwards and landed on his shoulder. He cried but not for long and we carried on with our day. But he complained of pain in the shoulder and we took him to our family doctor who gave him the good once over and said he was ok. We then flew off to Singapore. He was bruised and occasionally complained of pain but not much for us to take anything seriously as he was still very active jumping, throwing balls, running etc. It was only when we got back to Brunei last Sunday did he start to wince in pain even crying when we moved him that night. And the following day I took him to hospital and they confirmed a broken left clevicle which is on the mend!!! He refuses to wear a sling and even more difficult is limiting the climbing, running, jumping....

And Jack, he woke up yesterday morning with a shiner under an eye. He says it was Ayden and a couple of days ago he did say that Ayden hit him but not a day goes by when they don't get into a scrap so it's a first for either of them...