Happy Teacher's Day to Me...& All Other Teachers...

What Do Teachers Make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To corroborate, he said to another guest, "You're a teacher, Susan," he said.
"Be honest. What do you make?" Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?"
"I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a C+ slap in the face if the student did not do his or her very best."
"I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence."
"I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home."
"You want to know what I make?"
"I make kids wonder." "I make them question."
"I make them criticize." "I make them apologize and mean it."
"I make them write." "I make them read, read, read."
"I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, and definitely beautiful over and over and over again, until they will never misspell either one of those words again."
"I make them show all their work in math and hide it all on their final drafts in English."
"I make them understand that if you have the brains, then follow your heart
... and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you pay them no attention."
"You want to know what I make?"
"I make a difference."
"What about you?"

My Girl Can Read...somewhat

A Sunday Well Spent

We went to IMM Jurong East todo our fortnightly grocery shopping at Giant. we then brought Ayra to the water play area on the second level (Fuddin was fast asleep at home). She had a lot of fun. Hubby and I even managed to catch some "couple time" while Ayra was busy playing!



In the afternoon, we brought the kid's to my sister in law's place to just hang out. An had caught a 7 kg fish on his fishing trip Friday night so his sis kindly obliged and cooked for him some fish soup with it's head. The fish was a giant! An has proudly declared himself "champion fisherman" lah. Haha.

Hubby's Staff Dinner

We went to An's company staff dinner last Saturday night at Orchard Park Hotel. The food sucks! I hardly ate as it was so bad. We even had to drop by the petrol station on our way back to buy food as we were hungry! Imagine that! The company wasn't that great either as I hardly knew anyone. The men didn't talk to me (out of propriety?) and the women were just giggling and giving me the evil eyes in their little groups! How utterly mundane. I can't remember how many times I rolled my eyes. Still, I plastered a smile on my face and acted like the proper adoring wife (which I am by the way). I mean, I'm sure they're all nice people but they're strangers to me so that's that.

The positive side of the whole experience? I went to give myself temporay curls for the occasion and I liked it! I might even consider doing it permanently. also, I spent some time with my dear hubby. Doesn't he look handsome in his formal get up? Totally not him but a refreshing change. Also, he won 3rd prize for the lucky draw! We now have a $600 travel voucher which we will use to partly fund our holiday to Langkawi at the end of the year. Exciting!

tHe AcTor iN hiM.

We attempted to put Fuddin to bed at 9.30pm last night but he was still awake at 1.30 am! He's recently rejecting his milk so I figured he was hungry. He was wailing as if in pain so I took him out of his bed. As soon as he was out, he ran out to the (dark) hall and was smiling, looking expectantly at the television! I tell you, the boy's an actor. I proceeded to feed him some biscuits and after a dose of "Elmo" and some food, he was ready for bed. It was 3 plus in the morning. I woke up late for work but I'm sure my Fuddin is still fast asleep. Just for good measure, here's a pic of the talented actor and his sleep deprived mother.

Dolling up...

Fuddin went to bed early the other night as he didn't take his afternoon nap so Ayra and I had a bit of time. We then decided to be really "girly" and took out her play cosmetics set. I know I'm not supposed to promote such vanity in my girl but I can't help it! I'm a girl too! So we put on "make-up" on each other and pranced around, much to the displeasure of hubby. Anyway, Ayra knows she's not allowed to put on real make up till she's in university (I know...that's ideal but way unrealistic). Still, I can hope.

We then progressed to the hair. Ayra's hair is really fine and thus difficult to style so I decided to put my clips on her and she loves it! Of course, I'll never allow her to actually step out looking like that. As you can see, I am not a born hairdresser but to my daughter's standard, I'm pretty fine.

Dolling up is fun.

Ibu does her Energizer Bunny impersonation

Just thought I'll showcase my hard work...marking. Remember how I toiled in school (ALONE!) last Friday? Well, here's the before and after pictures. I'm so proud of myself. 3 classes in 7 hours. No easy feat!


Also, I spent some quality time with my kids yesterday. Actually we were just horsing around but we were all smiles because there's no time like playtime!



Anyway, after Fuddin was in bed, it was time for Ayra's test. She's studying a word a day and now she's at the letter "S". Not bad, huh? She can spell "helicopter" and "elephant" amongst others. So every night, I will make her write all the words she's learnt, from "A" till whichever letter she's at. A bit torturous for a four year old but she doesn't mind it and she gets it all correct (most of the time). Her reward? A big kiss and hug!


That's my little girl...Did I tell you she wants to be a teacher when she grows up? Just like her Ibu. I shiver to think that it might come true...I was thinking more along the lines of a doctor. Haha. It's her life though so as long as she lives it happily and to the fullest, I'm happy.

Aspiring "Energizer" Bunny aka ME!

Didn't do too much over the long National Day weekend. Worked on Friday. I managed to mark all the 4N prelim papers la! Tiring...still that's over. So many failures... sometimes I wonder if it's me or the kids. Anyway, I just do what I can. Enough said.

Went over to my mother in law's place on Saturday afternoon for a gathering. It was my sister in law's birthday as well. Happy Birthday Lin! Hope you don't mind me using your photos. Anyway, have a wonderful year ahead!



An went to the doctor the other day. Turns out he has mild tonsillitis, which explains the on and off fever and sore throat. Fuddin's much better and so is my dad, which is a relief. Life is slowly going back to normal. Not looking forward to the next round of illnesses though.

Anyway, An's off this Sunday. Probably bring the kids out. I haven't had the energy to really spend quality time with them. I'm just so drained when I reach home. It's really unfair to them. I will make it up to them. I will be the "energizer" bunny.

Okay, I'm going home now. So much work...but who cares? There's more to life than work, right? Get a life, (some) people!

Hilarious!

Darn cute, right? If Ayra did that to me, I think I'll flip!

Pre National Day Celebrations

 

The school held its yearly National Day celebrations and it was...uninteresting. Everyone was decked in either red, white or both. Ayra enjoyed the celebrations at her school. She said there was a lot of dancing and eating. Sounds like a pretty happening party to me. She proudly claimed that she was celebrating Singapore's 42nd birthday. Not bad...I've raised a pretty patriotic little girl. As for Fuddin, he was decked out in red and white as well but thta's as far as it goes. He really can't care less if Singapore is 42 or 420. The kids are asleep now but Ayra is looking forward to watching the parade on tv later. Too bad both An and I not suckers for crowds...or we could be one of those who hang around Marina Bay to catch the fireworks. Well, maybe next time.

What a week!

 

Finally, an update. Last week was hell. It started with Ayra having the flu and Fuddin caught the bug. He ended up with the flu, cough and fever! He threw up a lot and refused to eat. His sleeping time went haywire... it was a mess. I had to bathe him in the middle of the night for 3 days straight. The result? A very grumpy toddler and many sleepy adults! My dad was unwell too. So was dear hubby. It's an understatement to say it was a challenging week.

Things are improving slowly. The sick ones are recovering slowly. We will brave through this.

I managed to snap these photos yesterday; to remind myself that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Looking at their happy faces is really enough to spur me on.

It's the long National Day break. I, however, have to work on Friday. I need to come to school to mark my 4N prelim papers! Urgh! Still, I have the weekend.