Is didi smarter?

I was going through Tessa's science assessment today. She told me she could not answer some of the questions. One of them asked about common characteristics between a Tree and a Tiger. She did not know what is "common characteristics". I explained to her what that meant and asked her what do both Tree and Tiger need to survive. While she was digesting my question, Jacob immediately shouted " water"! - Jacob 1 - Tessa 0

2nd question asked her to name a different characteristic between a tree and a tiger. Before she can say anything, Jacob said " Tiger can move!" Well it was obvious Tessa was not using her common sense while doing the assessment! - Jacob 2, Tessa 0

Another part of the answer to the 2nd question above talks about Tiger hunts for food while the Tree makes food through a process call?? I gave the kids a hint by saying that the word begins with photo and Jacob shouted " photosynthesis"!!! I know TELC teaches them science in k2 but I am still impressed that Jacob remembers the word! Jacob 3- Tessa 0

Is didi really smarter? We shall see next year....

2 blessings in a week

Blessing No.1 - The missing maid

By the time I write this, most of the followers of this blog would have already known the story of my "missing" maid. Yes, Hetty did not board the flight back to Singapore yesterday and we wasted 2 hours of our time waiting for her at the airport. I was so disappointed that I was almost in tears! I had no more leave left for the year and piles of laundry and housework to do after our Hokkaido trip and our maid of 4 years had misplaced out trust! I was calling n "sms"ing friends to vent my anger and in my mind I was worrying the logistics for the kids in the week ahead.

Luckily my angry hubby was calm enough to contact a Hokkaido tour group friend to get her contact at the maid agency. We met this interesting family ( The "A"s - Alvin, Amy and Ashley) that clicked really well with us during the trip. The kids adored Ashley and we spent 1-2 hours chatting with Alvin and Amy every night after dinner. I remember asking God during one of my prayers at night that why did he let them come into our life.

During one of our conversations, we did share with them our worry of the maid not returning. Amy told us to call her if that happens, as she knows someone that can supply good maids. Well, that scenario materialised and God answered my question. Thanks to her help, we got a transfer maid with good attitude within an hour of leaving the airport! This maid has a more likable face than Hetty and she also speaks better English. It seems like a blessing in disguise now that Hetty did not return and we pray that the good attitude of the new maid will last. For now, we are thankful for God's wonderful plan of allowing us to meet the "A"s' family during the trip!

Blessing no.2 - The missing earring

This was not as dramatic as the first blessing. I realised that one of my diamond earrings was missing during one of my Ramen dinner session in Hokkaido. Luckily I was wearing my Gordon Max earrings so I was not too upset about it. I just assumed I may have dropped it at the shopping mall while I was trying clothes ( ie, removing 5 layers of clothes).

On our last night in Hokkaido, our tour leader suddenly shouted before we alight from our tour bus " Who lost a diamond earring?" I was shocked and Amy had to remind me that it was ME! One of the old lady in our tour group dropped her earrings in the bus and she found my diamond earring while searching for hers!! This was totally unexpected and Amy reminded me " You are really blessed!". She is right and I will keep counting my blessings! AMEN!