2 + 3 = 5

There was no family blog for close to 4 years. As I looked back the past posts, I realised it is actually a good diary to record the family events. Thus, hope that I can post more frequently from now.

Key change to the family was that we are now a 5 member strength family now. Shenlafamille welcomed Aldric in 2018.

I tried to search for the baby photos of the 3 kids and let's see if Mrs can recognize them.

Alarice, Aldric and Aleric.

Baby Alarice

Our family welcomed the 4th member on 6 Dec 2015.

Day 1

Baby Alarice was born on 9 12 am after we admitted into hospital at about 6 30am. It was much faster this time as compared to Aleric’s birth as we tried for natural bath. Alarice was smaller in size as compared with her brother. The first thing I saw was her long fingers and toes. I started to count the quantity although I knew that the nurse would count with me later. Alarice was also better in shape than Aleric. No oblong head and less bloody. Perhaps, we were more experienced parents and seemed better in handling her as compared to the first time. Alarice was asleep most of the day.

Day 2

Mrs was also so much stronger after the c-section this time. She even managed to get off the bed on the second day. I went to collect our New Little Princess balloon for Alarice in Punggol before heading to hospital. We both felt that the two looked really alike when they are just few days old.

Day 3

I went to purchase milk powder before heading to hospital and prepare for the family to return home. I was hopeful that that Mrs and little princess could discharge together the next day as Alarice seemed better in shape than Aleric. I left hospital earlier to vacuum and mop the home so that the family could return to a clean home. It was raining heavily at night and I rushed over to fetch Aleric back home after that.

Day 4

I reached hospital hoping that the family could return home. However, we received the news that Alarice got to stay an additional day in the hospital to reduce the Jaundice level. I was quite disappointed as I thought the family could return together on that day. But, this also gave us more time to prepare the home for Alarice return and spend some private time with Aleric. We received Master Wu’s e mail reply on the Chinese name selection. We deliberated on the name and we decided to name her 沈姸锦。

Day 5

We went out early to register Alarice’s birth at ICA. Unlike the previous time when we did it at Alvernia, we decided to head to ICA since it was cheaper there and we have the time. We drove down and reached at around 915am. We did not have to queue to enter the building and our queue number was called fast. The history just repeated itself and we almost forgot to register her English name, just like we almost forgot to register Aleric’s too. We headed for lunch and were almost caught for parking at the loading & unloading bay.  We got the message to pick Alarice from the hospital. Finally, the family was home at noon time. Confinement aunty came at 4 30pm and helped to take care Mrs and baby.

Pray that Alarice grows up healthily. Hope that with the experience, we made better parents and could manage Alarice better.

3rd Year Wedding Anniversary

Mrs and I wanted to celebrate our 3 years wedding anniversary at Nex on Tuesday. However, our precious was sick, so we decided to bring him to see a doctor instead. Hope Aleric get well soon.

Batam Family Trip & Mrs's Birthday

The family celebrated Mrs's birthday at Batam this week. It was the 3rd family holiday and Aleric's first trip to Indonesia. I think he enjoyed this trip the most as there was a arcade in the Mega Mall Batam Centre which he really enjoyed hitting the crocodile game. The game price is cheap compared with Singapore and there was additional credit for topping up $10K Ruppiah (about S$10). The $10 credit was enough for the family to play for the 2 days.

The family stayed at Harris Hotel Batam Centre which is just beside the ferry terminal. The hotel breakfast was quite good as they change a bit of variety of food served every day. We bought the birthday cake from Breadtalk and had a simple celebration for Mrs's birthday.

We bought quite a lot of household stuffs back as it is really so much cheaper there.

Aleric's 2 Years Old Birthday

Aleric celebrated his 2 years old birthday last week. I guess it is always the parents' pride to see your son growing from a small baby lying on his chair during his first month celebration, to sitting down  during his first year birthday celebration and now being able to stand and run around, wanting to do all the things himself.

 Aleric 1 year old birthday

Aleric full month celebration

Trickeye Museum on Good Friday

The family went to Trickeye museum on Good Friday. We waited for about an hour to enter the museum. Thereafter, the family had lunch in RWS before heading to Farrer Park to purchase baby stuffs for Aleric.

March School Holiday

I took a 4 days leave this March School holidays.

Mrs and I went to NSC on Monday morning before heading to Shaws Tower for movie. We had lunch at Dhoby Ghaut, shopped a while in Orchard and headed home for dinner.

We brought Aleric to Sengkang swimming pool to swim on Tuesday morning. It was the family first time there toether and I guessed he enjoyed his swim. We swam for about an hour before the crowd started to gather in the pool, had lunch at Kopitian and headed to Automobile Mart to collect our new family car. The car deal respray the whole car for us. So, at least this justified a bit for the high price we paid for it. I sent Mrs to school before heading to Aviva to cancel the old car insurance and do minor amendment for the new insurance.

The family had breakfast at Kopitian in Wednesday morning as we waited for the technician to come and install the new shower water heater for us. In the end, he told us that the power cables were burnt and replaced the cables for us instead of installing the new heater. Then, we headed back to Automobile Mart to fix the side mirror issue. The family went to Habour Front for dinner and shopping at night.

Mrs and I crossed over to JB City Square on Thursday. I have tried to plan for JB trip every quarter and the strong SGD rate makes dinning and clothes seems cheaper over there.

It was a good 4 days family time.

CNY 2015

I realised this is my first blog for 2015. The family was very busy preparing for CNY for the past few weeks.

 

We were at home doing the final clearing on除夕 before leaving for both parents’ home for reunion dinner.

 

We had cake for breakfast for 初一 before leaving for house visiting which ended at around 3pm. We decided to catch Ah Boys to Men 3 movie at AMK hub as Parents helped to take care of Aleric.

 

Mrs made a last minute decision to catch midnight movie The King of Mahjong on初二. So, we bought tickets in the morning at Seletar Mall and breakfast from Kopitiam before visiting relatives. We were lucky to get the God of Fortune car figuring. Aleric surprised us during the midnight movie as he sat quietly watching the movie with us. Sometimes, we are really amazed by his behaviour. The little Shen has brought the family a lot of joy of laughter.   

 

We continued relative house visiting on初三 noon and had Grassroot reunion dinner at night. It was our first time having reunion dinner in the constituency. The weather was quite hot though the food and drink was nice.

The family went to Shunfu for brunch in 初四 and stayed at home the whole day thereafter.

 

The long CNY holiday passed fast but it was a great 5 days of holiday – a break from work and good time to meet up with relatives.

Changi Aiport Christmas Celebration '14

The family walked around Changi Airport on Saturday night to experience the Christmas celebration in the airport. Changi Airport is having Mickey-Minnie Christmas theme this year and is selling $3 Mickey / Minnie posh toy for every $60 spent in the airport. I got my leather shoes there in order to purchase one for Aleric.

Legoland Holiday

It had been a hectic and tough year for the family. We finally managed to arrange for a family holiday at Legoland in December. I think Aleric enjoyed this trip more than last year trip to Gold Coast. The trip to Legoland was quite fast from 2nd link and it was a simple staycation for the family to rest and relax. 

Family Outing - River Safari

The family visited River Safari last Sunday as Dad has tickets for family day. It was not only Aleric but also our first time there. The key attraction was the Panda Bears though I did not have the chance to take a good look too since there was a crowd trying to get a glimpse of them. 

Home Improvement 2

 

I am not a carpenter and I do not have the resources to construct baby cot for Aleric when he was a baby. However, I got the opportunity to fix up his Ikea toy shelves for him now. So, his books and toys can be kept neatly in the living room. He has been obedient learning to keep his stuffs after reading / playing and seemed to like his shelves a lot.

The family got a handful of appliances during last weekend Philips warehouse sales as our two vacuum cleaners had spoilt recently. We also purchase the Samsung robotic vacuum cleaner last week. Mrs woke up early on last Sunday morning and fixed up all the 3 wall stickers. 

Home Improvement Project

Home improvement project after our first year stay - Aleric's decorated door, bean bag, yet to fix up Aleric's toy shelves and new laundry bags.

At Lola's Cafe

I had not been updating the family blog for a while as I have been really busy for the past few months juggling work, school and family. Exam is in end November / early December. I will be a free man after 4 December.

We managed to get the parking lot just outside the cafe this morning, had a very filling breakfast before driving Mrs to work.

JB City Square Extension

Mrs and I travelled to JB on Children's Day and the trip there was superb smooth. Perhaps, the sharp increase in toll really affected the tourism. There was an extension to JB City Square though not all the stores had opened. Padini has shifted to the new extension.

So, as compared with the last trip, we bought more stuffs back this time. Mrs also got to eat her favourite Japanese squid and we also managed to purchase more story books for Aleric.

Mooncake Festival

I realised I have not been updating the blog for quite sometime. I guessed life has been busy these days.

The family celebrated Mooncake Festival on Monday. Aleric was only few months old last year Mooncake Festival and he could walk around with a lantern this year. I wondered how much Aleric would have grown when we celebrate the Festival next year.

Mrs and I managed to do the last minute shopping to purchase the mooncakes from the Taka Fair last Friday.

My Birhtday + Welcoming Aleric's Baby Cousin

The family celebrated my birthday twice (so I ate 2 birthday cakes) as I step into my thirties. We also welcomed Aleric’s baby boy cousin on Tuesday. Hope they play, learn and love one another as they grow together.

I have also collated the list of tenants of Seletar Mall reported in the news. I guessed life would be more lively after the opening of Seletar Mall.

Top: Aleric, Bottom: Aleric's baby cousin. Do they look alike?

Seletar Mall Tenants

Uniqlo

BHG

Amore Fitness

FairPrice Finest

Shaw Theatres

Foodfare

Lamkins

1010 Mother

Child Essentials

BB Spa

Hokey Pokey

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Starbucks Coffee

O’Coffee Club

Ya Kun Family Café

Toast Box

Din Tai Fung

Swensen’s

Paradise Inn

Fish& Co.

BALIThai

McDonald’s

Texas Chicken

Nene Chicken

Subway Sandwich

Han’s

Let’s EAT

A-One Claypot House

My Briyani House

Sushi Express

Umi Sushi

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

Oki-Machi

Proofer Boulangerie

Prima Deli

Jollibean

Ritz Apple Strudel & Pastry

Polar Puffs & Cakes

Yogurt Story

Swee Heng 1989 Classic