play doh

 Usually during school holidays we will have a play doh making session. It's a lot of fun and a whole lot of mess as well!

Note that this was during the year-end holiday when Sidekick was still around to clean up. I do not foresee any more play doh making sessions in the near future! lol!

FYI: Sidekick left after finishing her 2 year contract. I initially planned to get a replacement, but after waiting for 2 months for one to no avail, I have decided otherwise.
 I am used to doing the house work and in fact think I do a better job, what with my OCD tendencies and all (have learned to reign it in a bit otherwise I'd be cleaning the whole day away). The kids are also so much more responsible now and make their beds everyday, fold their own clothes and help with the chores. Previously they would just leave towels and clothes strewn all over the floor! That is still the case now, occasionally, but I can see an immense difference in them.
Also my Zumba teaching schedule has been adjusted so that I don't have to leave the kids alone at home at night. 
So I think this is it! No more Sidekick for me! I may consider a daily cleaner in the future.
 

 

swimming lessons 2013

Here's teacher Nadia with only half the kids!

The kids are all much darker and slimmer these holidays due to their intensive swimming lessons. I've changed coaches and now they're under teacher Nadia. She is very good and teaches them at a very fast pace. They're even learning the butterfly stroke already!

The kids plus cousins, including Cousin Hughie from Miri, and even sis no.2's neighbour's kids are enough to fill the pool and keep teacher Nadia very busy indeed! :)

mind mapping

A couple of weeks ago, the girls attended a 3 day holiday camp. It was the Tony Buzan mind mapping course. This system of learning and memory skills was created by Tony Buzan and he is based in Singapore. Kidz Paradize managed to get a few of his trained teachers to come and run the course.

It not only taught the children learning skills, but a lot of valuable life lessons. It motivated them to achieve more in life. Annie even has a list of her goals stuck on her wall now.

I think it was very good exposure for the kids. It was pretty costly but worth it in my opinion.

The kids enjoyed the classes, even though they were very long; 9am-5pm every day! The teachers were obviously very good, to have been able to hold their attention for such long periods of time!

We'll see what Kidz Paradize has planned for next year's school holidays.

Here's a letter Annie wrote in class :)