We were in the car on our way home from grandma’s when the boys asked for mental sums.

Me: Athan, what’s 6 + 6?

Athan: 12!

Me: What about 7 + 7?

Athan: (without hesitation) 13!

Me: No, its not 13.

Athan: Yes it is!

Me: How can it be 13?

Athan: You see, 6 + 6 = 12 and 7 is after 6, so 7 + 7 = 13!

Me: LOL!

Can you see Mr A’s math logic??  Love how his little brain works!

The other night, the husband decided to “camp” at our backyard with the boys.  Well, they set up a tent which fitted one adult and two kids comfortably.  By the way, the tent was the boys’ Christmas gift from last year.

The boys and their father equipped themselves with sleeping bags, pillows and blankets and books and torchlight.  Very organised. Although I was not included in the “camp”, I was happy that the boys were doing something with their dad.  It’s call bonding time.

I went out to look for them in the morning and found three happy campers!

I must say their tent looked very comfy! Apparently the boys slept really well while the husband did not. I was preparing myself for one of the boys to come into the house in the middle of the night, but no one did.  On the contrary, they had a great time with their dad.  I think we should go camping!

Here’s a happy individual:

He looked like he was very proud of himself.

It was after dinner.  The boys were playing.  Calvin decided to read a book.  The father turned on the TV and parked himself on the rug with legs out stretched.  Mr A conveniently sat on his dad as if he was sitting on the couch!  He is really cheeky. Funny too. Btw, the dad did not seem to mind at all.

We do realise that such times with Mr A will be over soon — when he is a little older like Calvin.  I think the husband is trying to treasure every moment with his 5-yr-old.  He should.

The boys are currently having school holidays.  I really can’t wait for them to go back to school!  Well, they will be back at school on Thursday this week.  Yup, Thursday as Monday and Tuesday are for teachers to return to school to prepare and Wednesday is a public holiday here.  We are nearly there.

The holiday has been a good break for everyone except that it is an unusually long one — 3 weeks.  They usually only have a 2-week break.  I have been working throughout the holiday and so I need to arrange their child care as well as activities.  This is the most difficult part for me, I guess.  Thankfully, Robin’s mum is here to help else the boys will end up at vacation care.

One of the highlights for Calvin is his recent soccer match.  He has recently joined our sister’s church’s junior soccer group, and they had a inter-church soccer match last Saturday.  The boy was quite nervous and told me minutes before the match that he was scared.  I tried to remained calm and encourage him to just try his best.  I was worried that he would pull out last minute.  Thankfully, he persevered on.  He even managed to saved the ball a few times!  I am proud of him.  His team won 4-2.  It was a great effort from everyone.  Here’s the happy boy:

He may be sweaty, but he is very happy!  Everyone gets a little trophy at the end.  I like it.

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Me: Athan, do you want to stay home with papa?

Athan: No!

Me: Why not?  You like papa right?

Athan: Ya, but I want to go with you.

Me: But you like doing things like papa.  Is he still your best friend?

Athan: No, he is not my friend!  He is papa!

Me: Why is papa not your best friend now?

Athan: He can’t be my best friend because he is too OLD!

Me: LOL!

Athan: My best friend has to be same small as me.

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So cute. Well, what can I say?  The boy thinks his dad is too old to be his friend!  He probably thinks the same of me too.   Nevermind. Its interesting how his little mind works at this stage.  His idea of his best friend has to be first — same size as him.

The scene: The boys were playing, well, more like wrestling while I was preparing their dinner.  I overheard this conversation between them:

Calvin: Athan, what’s 10 + 10?

Athan: 20!

Calvin: Good, and what’s 10 + 11?

Athan: ummm….. I don’t know.

Calvin: It’s just one number after the answer you said just now.

Athan: 11?

Calvin: No, its 21.

Calvin: Ok, now try this: what is 10+12?

Athan: I dunno know.

Calvin: It’s just the number after the one that I just said.

Athan: 13?

Calvin: *getting a little impatient* No, its 22! OK, then what is 8+2?

Athan: 10!

Calvin: Finally!

I was silently smiling to myself throughout the conversation.  I am not sure if Calvin realised that Athan can only add/subtract within 10 at this stage. Love the idea that he is trying to teach his little brother!

I like to chat with the boys everyday after school.  I ask them what they learn/do or who they play with at school.  I find this  a good way of helping the boys to practice their  speech as well as catching up with their activities.  I hope to connect with them.  Calvin used to tell me everything even without me asking.  However, as the years go by, he has become quieter and quieter about his day. It seems like there’s a lot to tell and he does not know where to start. Its either that or he has become lazy.  This does not deter me to ask him — in fact, it makes me want to talk to him even more. Boys have a tendency to be silent about their day at school or about anything, especially when they grow older.  At least that’s what I think. I do hope to keep up my daily chat with the boys as a way to stay in touch with their lives.

The other day, while getting ready to go to swimming lessons, I asked Calvin this:

Me: So, Calvin what did you do today at school?

Calvin: Why do you always have to ask me this question?

Me: Well, I would like to know what your teacher has been teaching you.

Calvin: Its too much to tell ….. *whining away*

Me: Then tell me who you played with today ….

Calvin: *long pause*

Athan, out of no where, jumped out from a corner and said to me : “we learn all about Easter eggs today!”. That really set me laughing.   He must have heard me asking his brother about his day at school and decided to offer me his side of the story before I even asked him.  He makes me laugh.

Methinks I should keep up with the conversation.

Yes, I made these cupcakes — they don’t look very professional but its the effort that counts, right? 

The little-est person in our family has turned five. In fact, his birthday was just a few weeks ago. During the days leading up to his birthday, Mr A has been asking me when he will be turning 5 every single day.  He just couldn’t wait for another day!  Most of his good friends in class have already turned 5 and they will be turning six after their birthday later this year.  And so, Mr A can never catch up with them — this, of course, is something that he cannot grasp at the moment.  The entry age for school over here is not by the year in which the child was born, rather, one has to turn a particular age by 30th June of that year to be able to enter a certain grade at school.  In Athan’s case, he has to turn 5 by June 30th this year to be able to enter pre-primary.  And so, there are kids who have already turned 5 and will be turning 6 later this year.  Anyhow, Mr A thinks this is totally unfair. Such is life.  Live and learn, my boy.

 Athan’s birthday fell on a school day.  There was a big sign wishing him happy birthday posted on the door of his classroom.  When he entered the class, his teacher even gave him a special badge to wear.  Birthdays are special in this class.   Mr A was all smile.  We brought the cupcakes to school to share with his little friends and teachers.  I believe he felt very special that day.

This year’s celebration was low key — yet again!  He invited 5 friends to a local park for a play and I prepared the food.  The whole party was simple and nice. Really nice.  We knew all the parents and so we had a good time chatting (and eating).  The children played very well together.  In fact, I think it was a very good idea to invite just a handful of good friends so that the children could truly enjoy each other’s company.  Calvin, being the oldest, was charged with the responsibility of looking after the little ones.  He did a good job, I must say.

The other highlight was of course the presents!  Mr A received many presents that day which made his day even more special.

Hope you enjoy being 5, my boy!

Check out the cheeky Mr A.  The husband has scooped the boy up with one arm to remove him from the water and I think the boy is enjoying the moment.