KAWAII PICTURES

NOTE:  Pictures taken indoors and closeup so not so clear ... :)


This small sticker pictures were taken almost 12 years ago using the instant Japanese photo machines that we find at local arcade centres.  We decided to have some fun and took this for $8 (I think! can't remember) and we were given one shot.  This is made up of different size pictures all squeezed into a 4R size sticker card.

When you are in these types of booths, you have to be quick to get ready.  You sit in front of the computer screen where your faces will appear.  Then you kind of adjust yourselves within the screen size, squeezing yourselves as close as possible.  So you can see, in this, Harith had to stand behind just to fit in.  haha.

This is like a sticker and the pictures are still in very good condition.  The colors haven't faded after all these years.




This morning, we were at White Sands Pasir Ris and when we walked passed the arcade, I told Harith we should do it again!  Me getting all excited like a young girl ... LOL!

Hilarious! Cos firstly, Jonathan was no longer a baby.  Trying to get him to sit more upright and making sure his face is right where the camera is was not eezzy!.

What's worst was that the instructions were all in JAPANESE!  You are given 6 shots.  When the options for different layouts appear on the screen, you have 20 seconds to make your decision, otherwise, they will take the default design and snap away!  haahaha.



First shot was good cos I just kept clicking away and we were ready for the first snap.

Then we had to start choosing different layout options for another snap.  I was just pressing away because of the limited time given.  Still it turned out pretty good.

Finally ... for this, I chose "2 heads in the heart with a solo picture on the left" layout.  Harith and I positioned ourselves and the camera went click.  That done .. we had abt 10 seconds to get Jonathan ready for the solo picture.  As you can see,  it was just impossible to put Jonathan in an upright position and the camera when "click"!

We had a good laugh because everything had to be done quickly!  And with us like this...20 seconds is just way too short!

After having our photos taken, we had to go to another both to add any decorations and embellishments.   And again, every click has to be made within 10 seconds ... instructions in Japanese and the staff not very helpful.

Harith kept saying ... $9 for rushing?  hahaha.  But when the photos came out, ok...$9 is ok for a good fun.  How often do we do this?.

I guess booths like these are meant to be fun for the users.  How I wish they had the instructions in English.  They had a typewritten one pasted on the wall.  But it would be impossible to read them and try to manage the machine all at one go! LOL!
To me ... it was worth the fun and laughter and Jonathan said it was fun too :)

And yes ... they come as stickers too.  Lets see how long this one will last ... perhaps a decade or more?  We'll see!

HELPERS YOUNG & OLD & A GREATER ONE TOO!

Today Harith was at home.  No classes.  He went jogging this morning and bought breakfast cos our prince didn't want to for a walk after going out for his neuro appointment at KK on Thursday.

Laundry was done while I was preparing the transfer material for pressing today.  And while Harith hung the clothes out to dry, I took the already dried ones and asked Jonathan if he could help me fold them.

Propped him up infront of me and I held his hands.  We took his napkins, and one by one, we folded them into quarters.  This is the result:

He had fun.  But after four towels, he called it quits.  Went back to watching the Wheel of Fortune.  Of course I had to redo these LOL!

So after Jonathan's lunch, I started pressing the tshirts for BMC Vacation Junior Bible Camp.  Took me 3 hours to finish them and I didn't realised that I actually completed the major lot today ...all 69 pcs!  I only have about 15 pcs more to go.  Yippee!  I can get started on my nephew's wedding cards (once I get the go ahead this weekend)...woo hoo!  I'm grateful that Jonathan was great that he entertained himself while I did my work.

Out of the heatpress ... all packed and tshirts still warm when this photo was taken.  There might be a few more extras trickling in.  But I'm just happy that these are done:

So because of my two great helpers today (and of course the GREATER ONE too!) ... alot was accomplished.  Thank you Jesus!

NEURO APPOINTMENT @ KK ON 5 NOV 09

It poured this morning ... heavy heavy rain.  I was all set to change Jonathan's neuro appointment today.  But Abba Father answered by stopping the rain at 1.30pm just when we were to leave.

We were the first.  This yearly appointment is just for the neurologist to check Jonathan and see if there's any other needs to be met.

Today was good.  I like Dr Janice Wong.  She's a CP specialist and gives me good advice and very patient whenever we have questions.

I told her my intention to try the NeuorSuit.  Her advice is to use the money I intend to spend on this for extra physical therapy.  She gave me specific reasons which i don't want her to be liable for what she says although it's free speech worldwide :)  But I'm thankful for her input and am glad I brought it up.

She's given Jonathan a referral for PT at KK once a month.  Just so he can get extra therapy besides what he's getting in school.  Not alot of extra therapy but at least we have somewhere to go besides private therapy that cost a lot nowadays.

Jonathan condition is koreathoid ... a new term I've never heard before.  She explained what it is and told me something that I WAS not so prepared to hear but it's ok.  It's just another word describing a type of cerebral palsy.

KK has changed quite a bit.  The new Children's Medical Centre @ 2 (which is 2nd storey) is new and waiting time is lessened.  Then again we were the first appointment so we only waited 5 minutes.

While we were out, it didn't rain.  When we reached home and walked into the void deck, it started pouring.

Thank you Jesus for protection.

HAVING FUN WITH MOM

My sister was trying to make my mum pose with "peace" v sign and look cute.  it amused her so much because she just couldn't bend one of her fingers.  Well...she managed in the end.

I always enjoy my 80 year young mom.  These pictures were taken more than a week back.  Her memory is getting better.  Praise the Lord for that :)

Please excuse my "unglam-ness"  LOL!

In her spare time, my mom's domestic helper watches over the potted plants that my mom planted a long time ago.  See the cactus on the far right corner?  That's quite old already.  My mom has excellent green thumbs.  She used to have quite a few of the bonsai plants.  But now that she's staying in an apartment, there's no more garden for her to tend to.  The egg shell was decorated by the helper.

 

FUN ON A BOLSTER

Elaine and Jim {our British couple friends whom we have known for more than 10 years!} came by on Sunday and gave Jonathan a present.  I have their photograph but not sure if they would mind it being in the journal so I have to leave it out.  Elaine was quite cheeky, told Jonathan they got this from the school {as you know ... he doesn't like the mention of that WORD! haha}

This present is a bolster for exercising.  They had it custom-made for their little girl who has out-grown it.  I was just too happy to get this gift from them.  Thanks Elaine and Jim!

Obviously someone was very excited and happy about this new "toy" that he got and wanted to "play" with it immediately, forgetting that it's for him to have his exercises.  So...remembering what his PT used to do, I started with this.  It is to stretch his legs so the joints around the hips and inner thighs will not be tight.

A few minutes later, he wanted to get down and we went on to the kneeling exercises.  You can see he's still very happy here.

A few minutes later, he wanted his favourite position.

Look at the wide grin on his face!  He will push with his legs so his head will touch the floor ... on purpose!

And finally, we ended with him balancing on the bolster itself.

Although it was just about 10 minutes, he was tired after that {see his hands to his eyes}.  It was already 10pm :) We had to hide the bolster because he kept asking to play on it, even after he had his meal.  I got more exercise lessons from his PT today and will get Jonathan to try those.  This bolster is one meter long and his legs dangles when we put him length-wise but it's certainly safer than putting Jonathan on the big exercise ball.  With this bolster, we are on the floor and I can kneel behind him whenever we exercise.  Not so strenuous on my back :)

4 DECADES + 3

I must admit ...  4 decades plus 3 is a long time.  Half of which were spent with a fabulous family of great parents, loving and supporting brothers and sisters.

The 2nd half that became a integral part of my life ... a wonderful and caring husband and a terrific son.

God has been good to me.  Though I must say there are alot of times when things happen the way they did were to prepare me for many things to come.  I've experienced being a singer, a relief teacher, a music director, a musician. Tried graphic design course, then found success as a secretary and finally became a full time mom and now helping to run a tshirt business.

These priceless experiences, though short-term, brought a lot of changes to my life.  Sounds like a jack with all trades, master of none .. haha.  But I've enjoyed the process during my younger days right up to where I am today.

I look forward to more decades to come.  My desire is to see Jonathan able to speak and walk.  What a great birthday present that would be :)

I'm thankful for family and friends.  People who I cherish the most and I believe more friends to come.

On the eve of my birthday, Jonathan gave me a pat on my head.  That's his way of showing his love for me.  He happily agreed to spend Sunday night out with us, something he doesn't usually do, preferring to stay at home.  We had a simple dinner at Pasir Ris, just the 3 of us and that's enough for me.  A kiss from both men in my life.

Thank you family and friends for all the birthday wishes through sms-es, e-cards and facebook.

Here are some from sms that I would like to keep:

"Happy birthday to u dear sis.  May God bless u abundantly with continual joy, good health n wisdom, His favor circles u like a shield.  His eyes shine on you all yr days.  Love ..."  MT/LT

"Beloved sis, expect great things from God n great things you will have.  There is no limit to what He is able to do.  God's word will never return void.  He gives power to the faint n He increases strength. Isa 55:11, 40:29 The best days of your life r ahead of you.  Blessed birthday :-) ..." NT

"Blessed birthday talented resourceful lady.  May u always remain so cheerful n resilient in Jesus Christ.  God bless u w all His heavenly blessings." MY

"Hi a Serene!  Happy birthday!  Have a good one! :-)" RT

"Hey yee yee Serene!! Happy birthday!! And God bless :)  God bless your family with abundance and favor and happiness :)  God bless your business with prosperity, joy and oneyyyy! Hahahaha :)  Happy birthday!!" KW

I'm truly blessed and thank you Abba Father for creating me that you will continue to use me in many ways I can become a blessing to many more.

CHILDREN'S DAY GIFTS

Teacher LK asked my friend Cynthia to pass a bag of goodies that was given to every student during the children's day celebration by SCAS at Jurong Science Centre.  We didn't go cos the journey would be too long for Jonathan.  I was surprise to see that in the bag was a pair of "crocs-look-alike" sandals. haha!  A pleasant surprise indeed.  This year's sponsors are really generous indeed!

The tshirt that came with the bag.  Each student had one. Size was big for Jonathan.  Will keep it for later use. 

This is the pair of sandals.  It's an adult size actually. 

Let Jonathan try it today.  But as you can see, they are way too big for his cute little feet.  They kept coming off when I tried taking pictures.  Now we know who's feet these sandals will be holding ... heh heh.  Thanks SCAS for the gifts!