best ever "job" offered to Renzo's parents? hopefully....

After we moved to our new house in Pasir Ris for almost 3 months, I finally have some time to think through one unsolved question that has been bothering us for the longest period of time:
Which primary school should we send Renzo to??

I still couldn't believe I had the courage to read up on the tedious Primary One Registration Exercise procedure 2 years ago, when Renzo was not even 2 years old. But somehow I felt my hard work gets paid off now, because it didn't take me too long to come to the conclusion this time, surprisingly my decision is exactly the same as before:
 
And on August 13, 2012, I received the best ever "job offer" from that first choice school, I am accepted as a parent volunteer with the school!!!!!!

Why do I consider PV (parent volunteer) for this school?
- the school has a history of balloting for those staying within 1km, and we are staying between 1-2km, as long as we fall under Phase2C, we will have to go through balloting. In order to have a peace of mind before P1 registration madness drives me nuts in 2016, I have to secure a space for Renzo under Phase2B
- it is a good way to understand the school better, as I will be working directly with the teachers, students, and other parents. I have heard about parents not sending kids to the school of choice eventually because they have different views about the school's culture and environment after getting to know the school more through PV work
- the school is 5 bus stops away from our house, and there are 5 direct buses going there
- the school has an in-house student care service, although there's no guarantee we could enroll Renzo as there's limited space, at least there is a possibility for us to leave him there without worrying about what is he going to do at home after school, and our helper will be able to focus on housework and fetching Rynus from childcare center by then
- some popular schools do not guarantee a seat for those staying far, even if parents clock a total of 600 hours parent volunteering work instead of the standard 40 hours. I am not exaggerating, read it here. At least the school we are interested in is willing to take in all applications under Phase2B based on history, so why not?
- the 2nd choice for us is also a good choice in actual fact, academic record is not my priority but I do have a 1st choice in mind for various reasons, I want to try my best at least so I won't regret one day

 Then on August 19, just today, a piece of news with regards to Primary One Registration Exercise has been announced, and I got some information to share from these 2 different resources, talking about the same thing of course, on MOE site, and todayonline.

I gobbled up a pack of Loacker's hazelnut cream wafer (30g/154kcal) right after reading this news, seriously, I was lost, and stressed out.

After some further readings and checking with my fellow mummy friends, I figured out that there's really nothing much I should worry about at this stage. What does this piece of news mean and what kind of actual impact it will have for Phase2B, I have no idea and I believe it takes time before I could have a clearer picture. Whether Renzo is able to get into this school under Phase2B, I am not sure, but I definitely can't wait to start clocking my hours and getting to know more about the school that hopefully my sons, or even their children will be studying at in years to come!!

Little Renzo is 4!!!!

Almost 13 years ago, when I fell in love with Daddy Chan, I thought he must be the last man I love in my life.. I was wrong.. When we welcomed Renzo Chan into our lives on August 12, 2009, I learned what is "love at first sight", it still feels like just yesterday. And today, our baby Renzo, turns FOUR.

The past four years have been the most fun, exhausting, and memorable years of my life. Our Renzo has made me a better person. Why I said so? Because my dear boy, you have taught (or should I say trained) me to be a mummy, probably the most challenging role in the world!!

Over the years, I've changed from someone who's afraid of lighting a match, to a mummy who can whip up a hearty meal for the family despite tight work schedule; from someone who enjoys 10 hours of beauty sleep at night, to a mummy who is very used to 3 to 7 times of wake-ups at night, with a total of 6 hours disrupted sleep daily, for a continuous 2.5 years; from someone who thought not having a baby girl is a tragedy in life, to a mummy who appreciates, adores and cherishes boys much more; from someone who has zero tolerance to any kind of noise made by kids, to a mummy who thinks every action from kids (okay honestly, my kids only) is cute and sweet; from someone who cried for help during confinement month, to a mummy who is so confident in taking care of little ones and even dream about opening a childcare center. And most importantly, you gave me the courage to bring another beautiful baby boy, Rynus Chan, to our family. The "curse and swear" of never wanting another baby after that 17 hours of painful labor, became nothing, compared to all the joys and laughter you've brought to us.

We are so blessed to have you in our lives little Renzo, even though you are growing up far too quickly,  we are so lucky to be the ones to love, nurture and watch you grow into a lovely little man!

cheeky? funny? dramatic? LOGICAL!!!

My sister in law often comments that Renzo is a cheeky boy with lots of antic patterns that resemble her husband, that's Daddy Chan's elder brother, Renzo Chan's uncle...
I always say my Renzo is super funny and he admits that also, he has this good sense of humor from young, and I've blogged about that a few times here, and here.. On a side note, he thinks Rynus Di Di is "a bit funny" only, apparently he believes he is the funniest!
His speech and drama teacher in school was shocked to find out the quiet looking boy who's been sitting at one corner for 6 weeks during his class, is indeed just as dramatic as him, one minute hearty laughs, next second teary eyes...
But my sister said if  she needs to describe Renzo in one word, that word must be... LOGICAL!!

Now, I just have to agree with her 100%! Proofs?

Renzo: "I don't like Daddy because, when I am naughty, Daddy will beat me, and When I am not naughty, Daddy will not beat me!"
(of course! beat you for what when you are behaving well??!!)

Renzo: "Mummy, Daddy cannot hug me to sleep, because, boys can not like boys, boys can only like girls!!"
(*grin*, my secret plan of getting him start up his family early seems much more achievable now!!)

Renzo: "Mummy, why areoplane can fly? Is it because it has wings?"
(great guess kid, luckily Daddy is very knowledgeable in this area and he can definitely throw you a lot of technical mumbo jumbos at any time, ready when you are!)

Renzo: "Last time, my Daddy forgot to put sunblock, that's why it's so painful! So, I am putting on moonblock for Rynus!"
(moonblock?? makes sense though since it's late at night and he can only see the moon instead of the sun!)

Renzo: "Daddy, I don't want to eat because I am not hungry. You know? Because my tummy is not making that noise..."
(right, wait till you hear your tummy growling, that's probably extreme hunger my boy!)

Renzo: "Wait Daddy, you cannot go huh, because, why no seat belt huh??"
(Oops, Daddy forgot to fasten Renzo's seat belt after putting him into baby car seat..)

Renzo: "When I was one year old like Rynus, I can't walk, I crawl only.. And I can not run also you know, because, I cannot walk!"

(so true right? How to run without being able to walk??!!)
 

Renzo: "Mummy I am not so sleepy because I never yawn, okay I am going to yawn a bit later.." 

(YAWN!.. he just sighed and fell asleep in minutes, all as planned...)
 

Renzo: "Mummy, if you don't dig my nose, can die one?"
(suffocate to death from thick mucus? very sad my dirty boy...)

Renzo: "The green bean soup is very hot, some people will stir it, I stir it one time and it's still so hot!"
(yup yup you got it right, keep stirring boy!!)

Renzo: "Wait mummy, I cannot talk, swallow first!!"
(okie my bad.. shouldn't talk to him when he's eating.. 食不言寝不语）

Renzo: "I don't like army, I don't want to go to army, because it's not fun, people inside huh, can shoot!"
(no choice my boy, protect your country and be proud!)

Renzo: "Daddy, why your car runs faster than the moon? It's because you car don't know how to wait for the moon!!! 哈.哈.哈"
(err... what?!!)

The list just goes on and on... Kids at this age usually ask tons of questions everyday, so does Renzo. Many parents "complain" about the never ending questions from their kids but I simply enjoy talking to this little boy, because he just have so many logical ideas to share and most of the time, we end up laughing non-stop together!