Four Fun

A couple of months late but better than never - here is the annual compilation of photos in celebration of everything that is Lucas.

He turned four in January.  Sometime in the course of last year, his baby looks disappeared and suddenly there was a little boy, all lean, bony and trying to act like a mini grown-up.  

Endlessly curious, playful and mischievous, most days he is still as happy as a lark.  He adjusted wonderfully to life back home, which in his case, was a totally new experience considering that he spent his first years in the Netherlands.  Every fruit is still a berry to him, every nut an acorn, every fan a windmill.

Indeed, 2014 was a massive year of adjustments for this young one, including earning the title of big brother.  But he takes everything in stride Lucas-style: high energy, excitement and fun, fun, fun!




Song: Ready for love by Megan Lee

One year on...

I posted this photo on FB today and it brought back a lot of memories.

Flowers from my sweet friend, Michelle - May 2013

It has been slightly more than a year since we returned to Singapore.  Just as I had always suspected it would be, our time in the Hague had become like a nice little dream.  Surreal and remote.  So unlike our daily life here in hot and bustling Singapore.  Experiences there have taken on a dream-like quality.

I am sitting here in our dark bedroom recalling little snippets of our everyday life then, whilst Nicolas snores away on my lap.  In another year, I will probably recall even less, so I decided to journal whatever memories that randomly popped into my head.

December, nine months pregnant, getting ready to go out in the dark cold for a nice 3-course dinner.  It is hard trying to zip up my knee high boots, my suede winter jacket heavy and too short at the front..

Staring out of our bedroom window at 6pm, pitch dark and all the lights are on in people's homes and the school behind our apartment..

In the kitchen with the lights on, outside it is grey and cold and wet.  It's been raining the whole day..

Kevin and I on one sofa each, under our thermal blankets, eating our dinner of Albert Heijn schnitzel and mushroom noodles and watching IRIS..

The room is dark except for the night light.  I am sitting on my favourite flowery sofa, Lucas just fallen asleep after his bottle.  He is getting too big for my lap..

Switching on the lights and waking Lucas up from his afternoon nap.  Feeding him blended apple, banana and yoghurt for his tea.. 

Ironing in the study whilst Lucas imitates Tree Fu Tom on CBeebies..

Midnight and hanging out the laundry in the guest room..

Playing Chefville in the study, Lucas eating his appelmoes and watching Doctor Ranj on CBeebies..

Watching my favourite BBC programmes.. Bargain Hunt at lunchtime and Great British Bake-Off after dinner.. 

5.30pm, light is fading, going up the stairs with Lucas to prepare dinner..

5.30pm, heading home from the playground, Lucas in the stroller under the plastic cover, me pushing him against the chilly wind..

Another one of countless grocery runs at Albert Heijn on Theresiastraat.  One hand pushing the stroller, the other pulling the green basket-on-wheels.  Turn left to the vegetables, then past the fruits to the pork section for the schouderkarbonade.  Cross the aisle to pick up the salmon.  Past the rotating chicken rotisserie.  Cheese section for jong belegen shredded cheese.  Bakery section for AH's delicious Excellent wholegrain bread.  One tub of framboos yoghurt, one pack of halfvolle melk.  Out of Albert Heijn, stroller heavy with groceries, stop by Klink & Englebert bakery for their oud kaas pastry..

Sunday lunch at our favourite pink cafe on Theresiastraat, Nieuw Engelhard..

Dropping Lucas off at school, stopping by Koningin Julianalaan to go to Jumbo.  Turning the blue parking disc to show my arrival time and leaving it on the dashboard of the car..

Rushing to the tram stop to pick up Lucas from school..

Crossing the road in front of our apartment and heading to our favourite playground at Haagse Bos.  Stopping at the little wooden bridge to feed the ducks.  Running up the hill looking for mushrooms growing at the side of the wooden wall.  Running down the hill to look for fallen acorns amidst the thick fall foliage.  Standing in the middle of the field when the strong breeze lifts the brittle leaves off the grass, making them dance and swirl..

Running in the garden downstairs, looking for mushroom and chestnuts and avoiding dog poo..

Looking for dandelions along the path..

Picking berries along the path..

Unlocking and getting through 2 sets of heavy doors to get into our apartment building.  Going to the front to get our mail from the mail basket..

Watching the children in the daycare next door playing outdoors.  Babies dozing in their strollers, toddlers busy cycling, building, running..

Getting on and off Dutch buses with the stroller..

Walking to Rainbow Tots..

Walking through Den Haag Centraal station to get to the city, in all weathers - rain, shine, snow, ice..

Playground before dinner at Wong Kee..

Coffee at HEMA, lunch at Vapiano..

Saturday lunches and Thursday dinners at Sligro..

Hour-long breakfast at our dining table - yoghurt, cranberries, cereal, butter on delicious toast - which invariably slides into playtime..

Lunch and Jay Chou music videos.. 

 

My Happy Three

Lucas' third year was also our final year in The Hague.  It was an amazing year full of hours and hours of fun, adventure and travel and many firsts for him - starting school, learning to talk, giving up his pacifier and finally, saying goodbye to all that he was familiar with and making the journey to his new homeland.

The beautiful song in this slideshow talks about a past summer that we can never return to.  Indeed, all the things we did and places we went to in these photos are things we can never return to - walking in our favourite playground, running on the beach, playing silly games at home, visiting amazing places.  All that remains are the happy memories.

This slideshow is filled with the people and things Lucas loved.  Take a peek and walk down memory lane with us.

Song: Shao Nian (少年) by Guang Liang (ft. Gary Cao)

London Toddler: Autumn in St. James Park

We love St. James Park.  It's right in the heart of London, just a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square.

23 hectares is a lot of space to run around in.

Plenty of cute furry residents to play with.

And in autumn, mushrooms to gawk at.

He's trying to spot acorns.

I love the four seasons and seeing the different fruits, plants and flowers that accompany each one.  What a lovely surprise it was to spot this berry plant by the lake, in the most gorgeous of colours - bright purple!  We have seen lots of red, yellow, orange and black berries but this purple one is a first.

Found out that this is beautyberry, native to Southeast Asia (really??).

Fallen autumn leaves in the lake.

The park is home to a large number of fowls - pigeons, ducks, swans, geese and pelicans.

View of Buckingham Palace to the west from the Blue Bridge.

And to the east is the London Eye in the distance.

A veil of pine leaves in the sunlight.

Best feeling in the world!

Toddler review:  St. James Park is a great place for a toddler, especially one who loves nature and the outdoors.  There is plenty to see and do - feed the waterfowls by the lake, run around on the grass, spot the squirrels, chase pigeons, pick wildflowers.  It is a great park for every season.  We have visited in spring, summer and fall and the scenery is beautiful and a little different every time.  I would love to visit when it is covered with snow.

It is very stroller-friendly as there are no steps to negotiate.  We usually go past the lake and over the Blue Bridge to the grassy fenced-up area where I let him run around.  It is still a big area but at least there is fencing between the grass and the pedestrian path.  I don't have to worry about him running onto the path which leads to the busy main road outside the park.  But I do have to chase after him as he runs like crazy and can easily get out of sight if I don't keep up.  

Except for the portion in front of the cafe, the rest of the lake is safely cordoned off.  There is fencing separating the walkway and the big grassy patch leading to the water's edge.

The park is popular with locals and tourists alike.  If you are headed to Buckingham Palace, walking through the park is definitely a more pleasant route.  Hence, it is always full of people, more so in summer.  The walkways especially can get quite crowded so I usually keep Lucas in the stroller or firmly in hand.

Toddler fun factor:  10/10!

Mummy stress factor:  Well, rather stressful because he runs so far and fast and I have to keep going after him whilst still taking care of stroller.  Would be great to go with a companion. Nevertheless, still a wonderful place to spend a couple of hours away from the hustle and bustle.

What We Do All Day

I was tickled by one stay-at-home-mom who named her blog "what we do all day".  Those who work full time will no doubt have this question on their minds.

Indeed, what do we do all day?  To a 2.5 year old, his job is to play.  All day.  With anything and everything. To his caregiver, her job is to see that he learns something through all that playing. How do you keep a little person occupied and meaningfully engaged, when he has an average attention span of, oh, 2 minutes?  And come up with creative answers to repeated questions of "What's that?"  Not forgetting that in between all that, you need to keep his tummy full, bum clean and body healthy.  Plus you've got to eat too, have clean clothes to wear and make sure the kitchen and rest of the house do not turn into disaster zones.  You get the idea.

Sometimes we happen to be wearing some nice clothes.  And have time for a photoshoot.

Black woollen vest - essential item in every stylish toddler's wardrobe.  Looks super cool and most importantly, hides many food stains.

All that before the jumping kicks in.

Mostly, we just play and do silly stuff.

He is rather organised about his fruits and veggies (and egg).

But mess is always fun.

Discovering the magic of cornflour mix.

Playdoh-ing with real dough.

"This is serious stuff."

Trying to fit into things around the house is also fun.

Including mommy's shoes.

More Post it Now!

Photos taken in July, posting them now!

4th of July smile.

Some quality time with Mr. Giraffe.

Sturdy demolition crew at work.

Sturdy shoe seller hawking his wares.

Just stick to the rainboots, Lucas.  Leave the heels to mommy.