Farewell 2010!

2010 has been a really fruitful and fulfilling year for Aces family.

This year in February, I started on my long timed dream job – work from home mom. My role is a Client Services Executive and as my office is in UK, I am able to work from home. This allows me to continue to tend after Anthea’s afterschool care.

Anders graduated from Kindergarten level in 2010 and he would be starting his formal primary education comes January 2011. It would be another challenging year for me, now that I have to look after both their afterschool needs.

Anthea did well in her Primary 2 academic results and we were proud of her achievement. Next year would be a more demanding year for her as she would be dealing with new subject in school – Science.

As for myself, I believe I would grow more in my role, both domestic and in work, and I hope I would have a better achievement for 2011 as well.

Adrian would be busy in his work and may likely be doing a Full time diploma course and so he would be looking at another milestone.

We have been blessed with love and care from our families and friends and we know we would not take all these for granted and we would cherish them more in the going years.

With this note, the aces family would like to wish all our families and friends a Happy New Year and all the best in 2011!!

Cheers!!

Lion Dance

Last Friday, Anders childcare celebrated Chinese New Year and had a mini Lion Dance performance.

As we managed to borrow a Lion head, Anders had the honored to Head the lion while his classmate tailed him.

Before the celebration, the teachers had made them practiced the dance steps. Being the eldest in the childcare, the K2 children had to perform for the toddles/nursery group and also the K1 class.

In the morning at 9.30am, I went by to the centre. As there were existing HFM cases, so parents were not allowed to go into the centre, we were allowed Window View..haha.

The 1st performance was for the toddles / nursery classes and the small children were all very excited to see the K2 children performed. It was a fantastic performance.

The 2nd lion dance was for the K1 children and one pair of the K1 joined in the K2 for the Lion Dance and they did equally well for this performance.

After the Lion Dance, they sang all the Chinese New Year songs and the atmosphere was simply joy & happiness.

Now Anthea & Anders are hoping to perform for the families before the Tiger Year roar away this weekends...

欢庆虎年

除夕： Sat, 13 Feb 2010
Our reunions started with lunch at my parents place. As usual, food was abundance with dishes like: 鲍鱼 ，烧鸭/烧肉，鸡，虾，蔬菜和汤。 We also bought in a pack of 鱼生 for Lo Hei.

Lunch was very sumptuous and we had an enjoyable time with the food and companionship. Both Anthea & Anders enjoyed the jelly and drinks that my mom had specially prepared for them.

After a good lunch, we went home to rest ourselves before dinner. In the evening we had the chance to get some exercise before round 2 of great feasting.

Reunion dinner was at my Parents in law place and the usual practice was – 火锅 (steamboat). As usual before dinner, we had a round of Lo Hei to start off. Then the dinner started. There was also lots of good food that went down to the steamboat. We had beef, prawns, squids, codfish cakes, vegetables and fishes. Dinner was very relaxed and we ended with a good bottle of Red Wine.

Then we headed home to rest for the night. As it was the eve of Chinese New Year, both Anthea & Anders stayed up with me. This is a tradition that I practice – 守岁。We slept around 1am.

正月初一 : Sunday, 14 Feb

Our 1st stop for 拜年 is always my in laws place. So in the morning after a simple breakfast, we went over to greet my in laws.

After that, we went over to my parents place for lunch and at the same time 拜年。After lunch, Adrian sent them off to the airport as my brother brought my parents to Bangkok for a short vacation.

Then we went home to rest for the afternoon.

In the evening dinner was home cooked meal at my youngest brother in law home. We had a round of Mahjong game after dinner. Quite luckily, I managed to win a little bit of monies...hehe

正月初二：Monday, 15 Feb

In the late morning, we went to Shangrila hotel for a swim as the weather has been very hot for the few days. My youngest SIL had booked a room for my PIL to stay for the night.

In the late afternoon, after our nap, we headed to my 大舅house for 拜年. All the uncles / aunties & cousins were gathered at his house, so it was easier for me to 派红包。

We had a sumptuous dinner at my uncle house and then left to meet up with my extended families for after dinner drinks. As Adrian’s uncles/aunties were there, it was a good chance for them to catch up for Chinese New Year.

Anthea & Anders had a great time and was happy to meet with all the cousins & uncles for the day.

正月初三：Tuesday, 16 Feb

In the morning, I went early to 城隍庙拜太岁 as Anders & my Zodiac is against the Tiger Year.

The rest of the day was simply rest & relax.

This had been another enjoyable Chinese New Year celebration. We had abundance of food, happiness and Joy for the few days.

I hope that in the Tiger year – all will be smooth sailing for the family – 一帆风顺！