so far so good
Time doesn't wait for you, it just allows you to pass it by.Playdate and another playdate
Monday, the playdate was at my place.
Tuesday, the playdate was at my good friend's place.
For both playdates, we can only host them during the holidays, simply because of different schooling sessions and schooling preference.
The one at my place was a rather big one. 5 adults and 8 children from ages 2-10.
The one at my friend's place was a one-to-one, two-to-two (she also has a pair of children) or three-to-three (if you include mummy to mummy) date? :)
Anyway, both are very good. Excellent, in fact!
Let me start with the Monday, 4 Sept Playdate.
8am
Zane was up. Was debating if I should send him to school, so that Zoe can play in peace with her school friends. And mummy can also chat in peace, esp. Zoe's teacher will be here too to grace the occasion.
Final decision? He stays at home. Great! :)
9am
Called PCS. "Applied" 2 days leave for Zane, heehee ....
Ok, got my shopping list ready, I mean my revised shopping list.
Initially I thought only Zoe will be with me in the morning. So, I intended to buy Emi durian puffs and crepes from Jurong East Central. Then, takes a feeder to IMM to get Polar cakes and Old Chang Kee's fish balls. In the end, decided to just get pastries from my good, old Prima Deli in the neighbourhood. With 2 kids in tow, buying stuffs from nearby shops will be more managable. So, grabbed breakfast, lunch and tea all from my market.
10.30am - 1.30pm
Cleaned up the house. Mopped the place 3 times! You can imagine how dusty my place had become. Layed out the new toys arrangement concept. Lined up new books at the library. Learning corner is set, completed with table and chairs.
I was bashed even before the guests came. It could have taken me much shorter time to do the chores but Zane was in the house, so... lots of interruptions, plus Zoe's 1001's requests?
2pm
Matthew, Verity and Violet came first. They took a cab. So pai seh. coz my place is not easy to walk in if you are not familiar with the place.
Next was Joan, Benjamin and May. Poor Ben, he must have felt so out of place and bored. I did not plan anything for 10 yos. I offered him my lap top for surfing and games, since mine is broadband. May rejected the offer for Ben. And Ben had been most patient. What do you expect a 10 yo boy to do in the midst of 5 mummy ladies having tea and pastries while the other young children play around the house? He entertained himself by making a paper spear out of just rough paper and scotch tape.
Mrs Poh arrived next. The three kids, ie. Matthew, Joan and Zoe were very thrilled. Zoe was very excited and getting shrieky..... a bit too high with excitement already. Well, gave her some more minutes .... see if she could manage the excitement.
Oi Leng came with both Charissa and Benedict. Very happy that we chatted for a brief moment in the morning. She actually had no intention to bring Benedict! I had to let the cat out of the bag that I had bought a cake to celebrate Ben's birthday. It was meant as a surprise for Oi Leng actually. It was good that I asked. If not, there will be one birthday boy missing, heehee ...
(Will continue blogging later ..... motherly duties calling ..... 4.45pm)
(at 10.36pm, I wrote ..... )
The play date cum tea went on very smoothly.
At first the Kindergarteners were just running around the house, having silly fun. When their noise level got too high and the mothers had to chat louder to be heard, I knew it was time to intervene.
"Children, would you like to sit at the table and do some quiet activities?"
"NO!" a voice was heard.
But, not heeded.
"Auntie Jess has prepared very interesting art and craft materials..... if you are keen, you can sit down, let's see who is fast enough."
The girls were compliant. Except Zoe. I had to call her to sit.
Mrs Poh came to the rescue and gathered the children like a mother hen. She dished out her surprises. There was a pack of stencils. Great, this will be good tools for drawing. I provided all sorts of drawing materials, from pencils, to colour pencils, to crayons, to markers, to even face paints.
After the children were done drawing. I got them to do an ice cream stick craft, making of an ice cream stick box, or more specifically, pencil holder. I was glad to see the kids very attentive and engaged. Next play date, I'll buy more white glue. Good to let every child has an individual bottle.
Zoe had Mrs Poh to help her alongside and she was still the same old "I do it by myself" girl. Good if you see that she is trying to be independent. As her mum, I see it as stubborn. Ha ....
Anyway, the rest completed their craft, but .... u guess it, Zoe Ng !!! She abandoned it because she was hungry. Like real! I know she quitted coz she saw that she wasn't as fast as the rest, so, she kinda excused herself in her self-imposed competition.
This morning when she looked at her incomplete craft, she shifted the blame to Matthew, who happened to craft the "tallest" holder out and thus had used more sticks than the rest. See lah, kids .... so Eve or Cain sometimes, sigh sigh ..... anyway, she got an earful from me for this attitude.
To cut the story short, the planned activities were well received. The mums were glad, the children were elated too, esp when it was time to go home and everyone had sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many things to bring home. Mrs Poh had came with lots of little gifts for the children, that is so sweet of her.
The tidying up part was great too! The children were helpful and very organised in putting the stationery and toys away. It was not tedious packing up at all. As a reward, another present from Auntie Jess.
When the children were about to step out of the house, I casually asked them if they like to come to Auntie Jess' Play House and whether they would like to come again.
"YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!"
"Can I come again tomorrow?", asked the same child who initially gave me a "no" to my structured activities. Heehee ....
What a successful play date. Thank You, Lord.
The highlight was the birthday celebration for Benedict and Zane!!
Ben was so candid, so cute. So many expressions !!! He is such a darling. Too bad Josh's digital camera was in the office. Anyway, Mrs Poh snapped some shots. Hope they turn out well.
This playdate was quite a blast. Not only the children liked it. Not only the adults like it. I love it too !! Thank You, Lord, for the strength, the wisdom and the providence. :)
I will share about today's playdate 5 Sept at Delci's place in a separate posting. Eyes getting tired now ...... gotta rest for the day ...
Night, night, everyone ..... yawnzzzzzzzz .......
Love,
Jesselyn Ng
posted by Jesselyn Ng @ 3:36 PM
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