Mervyn Hoe: My Daily Happenings

Preparation for Chinese New Year involves lots of planning and all these are done by Eve! So proud of her. From clothings to food to timing to hong baos. All these need to be carefully thought of so as to have a smooth execution of the places to go to. Group picture of my relatives at my mum's side! Clothings We have three sets of Chinese New Year clothes for our children and also prepared the school bags for placing the red packets, so as not to get mixed up. Extra clothes were brought for emergency cases.   Kate in her Chinese New Year costume on her way to school before Chinese New Year Timing This is very important as it involves their meal times. A hungry child is an unhappy child. Hence we had our first planned visit to my parent's place at 12pm and the next one at 2pm. This is so as prevent late meals. Nap time was catered for in the planning, but it turned out to be later. However it was fine.    Gwen and I. Ain't she cute in ...

Last night, we made our very first gingerbread man! It's all because we read about the Gingerbread Man story and Josh wanted to have a taste of it. Eve decided to make for them and she bought the ingredients from Phoon Huat. Both Josh and Kate were so excited to make it when we told them that we are going to bake gingerbread man!  The details of the cooking will be in my food blog mervyncancook.blogspot.com . Here are some behind-the-scenes pictures... Josh attempting to flatten the dough using the roller! It's certainly require effort to flatten it! Eve attempting to flatten the dough. Luckily the table top that we bought from Muji is preparation ready for baking! So amazed by this great wooden table! No need flour to coat on table. It's my time to flatten and it really trains the arm muscle! We took about 7 minutes to flatten to 3-4mm thick! And luckily my children are patient to look and wait! Next Josh used the cutter...

I cannot stress more importance in spending time with children and wife and it's really REALLY important. The children just grow up so fast and as a couple, we should also spend time together too! I have came across stories of parents just saw their children only in the weekends, and hardly had the time to spend time with them due to shift work. Hence, no matter what, once you have the time, just put aside your gadgets, and spend time with the living beings beside you! An account with children This morning, I brought my three children down to playground while Eve prepares the lunch for school. And we had so much fun and had so much mutual verbal conversations too. And you can see how excited the children are they see Gwen lying on the slide. I am also amazed that Gwen loves to lie on her stomach on the playground slide! And today, Josh and Kate shared their tricycle willingly and they actually asked each other whether it's their turn to take the ride. It's just so...

I'm just so thankful that I am given a place of dwelling of my own, together with Eve. Honestly, talking about 4 years ago, we didn't know that we will be having a house and also to have three children too. We are just so thankful for God to bless us this house and we are so blessed by it. I'm also thankful for the for my career, that I am able to juggle and manage time between my family and clients too. And to think that when I meet my clients, they will know what I have recently done because of this blog. It's like a place that they will know more about me and also what I do. Also, spending time with my children is really so important and I cherish every moment when I play with them. Cooking is really a fun event for both of us as we feel it's very important to have good healthy food in our bodies. Steaks, ribs, deep fried stuff are not quite in our menu for almost a year now and we are so happy with it. Honestly, there are so much more healthier and delic...

Kate's started school today and she is so excited! We are all so excited that she was going too! On the way to school, she said that she wants to "go inside the school." Do you know why? Because she has been accompanying Josh to school and all along, she didn't go in as she was unable. That's why today, she single-mindedly told me that she wants to go in! And I told her YES! And she went for her hands and leg check! It's what she and Josh have been practicing at home! It's her first time experiencing the first teacher-student check! She's so happy about it! Her school needs her to submit a family picture and we realized that we didn't have a good family picture taken. We had one taken at a restaurant but it was blurred. And many pictures that we took, somehow Josh, Kate and Gwen are omitted. At one time, Josh would like to be in the picture while Kate was somewhere. And when Kate is ready for the picture taking, Josh didn't want to tak...

I had a surprise yesterday when I opened my letter box. It is RESERVIST! It's actually a word which I thought I would not have to do at all. However, I was wrong. After ORD for almost 9 years, I'm finally allocated a unit for myself. And guess what? I retained my position back in the army. I have almost forgotten what I have learnt 9 years ago. And the SURPRISE is.... I AM ALLOCATED TO G_ARDS ! WOW! A close friend of mine told me in December that I should not have applied for the SAFRA card, as it might have sent a green light up, and activated my Reservist status. I'm not really sure it's linked or it's an urban legend. However, it seems quite logical as I haven't applied for SAFRA card at all until last year. Probably it's coincidence. What do you think? Lunch Galore I singlehandedly prepared these dishes in a span of thirty minutes before I left for work this morning. I'm so glad that I managed to do these during when Gwen was sleeping a...