Eat, drink and be married!

It's the time of the year for pink, pink and more pink! This year, we made it a point to visit the Gardens at the start of the entire festival just so these blooms can be viewed in their full glory. We visited a tad too late last year and the blooms were not their prettiest.





It does look like sakura in Japan eh? Not that I've ever been there during the Sakura Matsuri season but Gardens always does a very fine job with this exhibition.




There were these smaller exhibits that showcased iconic attractions known for Sakura and here we have them in such miniature scales without even visiting the place! Cheap thrill.






Just how many varieties of sakuras are there?



The closest we got to getting us all in and the pretty pink blooms.



I love how the stalls are housed within the Flower Dome this year and not outdoor since the weather can be so unforgiving, I even picked up a sakura chiffon at the bazaar!

And that wraps up the overdue post on this year's Sakura Matsuri! Just one fine day we will make our way to Japan to see them in person.

Hands up who remembers The Road Safety Community Park at East Coast Parkway? Both Hubba and I have this place deeply etched in our childhood memories and having driven past this countless of times, we decided to take a walk down memory lane with C in tow - playgrounds of yesteryears are the best!




Armed with his tricycle, he scooted off into the park.



Spot how thrilled he was with the petrol pump - he even made me pump petrol for his tricycle.




Wasn't long before C decided that going against traffic rules was fun. Ah, twoddlers. If this were to happen back in our time, we would have gotten demerit points as pedestrians chasing after this traffic rule flouter.





The park is really huge and comes complete with inspection workshops and even an over head bridge! Totes like a mini toon land.



Here's us stealing one snap for the album whilst we learnt how to pump air into tires.



Happy campers!

I love how this place is still around, free for all to enter though it is a major pity that the place is not as well maintained as I remember it to be. The trees and their falling fruits and flowers can be a nuisance when the riding paths are uneven because of it and not to mention the huge fire ants that roam.

Of the authors that had such an impact in my childhood, Roald Dahl ranks high...it could be his way of telling a story so riveting that all the titles I read were just so worthy of re-reads! Of his books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and Matilda are my top top top most favourites.



So then I had tickets to Matilda and thought why not expose C to it! Granted I was risking a few things here.

Delayed bedtime - in fact, a super duper very delayed one from 830pm in bed to at least 2 hours later. He must have thought I became the world's best mom for that one night.

It's more than 2 hours long - the theatre shows he's been to are mostly under an hour and it sure is a test of his patience and mine. Not to mention it being so close to bedtime!

Matilda is nothing to him - I did not managed to tell him the story nor even introduce the character, it's just as foreign as Elsa is to him.



Thank goodness for our box seats, we had space to ourselves and even if he started walking around, he was not disturbing anyone! ANDDD...I was still fearful about him asking his 500 questions within earshot of everyone.



While we did not last the full 155 minutes including the break, we lasted almost 120 and it's a major kudos to my toddler. He was so captivated, he actually did not want to leave. HAHA!

We made it to Sentosa's Funfest 2019! Note that the event ends its run this Sunday so make haste! On hindsight, we made the mistake of parking at Palawan Beach which was by no means the nearest pit stop from the venue, Beach Station would be far more convenient!

Imagine our joy when we finally saw Palawan Beach - only to discover that the venue was still miles off.




We spotted hilarious pitstops like these along the way.




C with mommy's favourite sanrio characters - of which he then he declared he did not want to take any more photos with them. HRMPF.



The famous Gudetama exhibit with these bouncy inflattables. He also could not resist giving them a hug before getting so irritated with the sand in his sandals.




Conjuring mirrors alert!




One for the camera before we entered the scorching area of fun!




First stop - up the inflattable slide and down the boys went TWICE.




C then decided he wanted to up the stakes with this inflatable obstacle course and he actually waited patiently for his turn. Whoop whoop!



He garangly took on the jumps onto these inflatable balls before falling down and then crying the roof off. *Facepalm moment*



Phew, no injuries and he bounded off for the last attraction for the day!



FOAM PARTY! What a bummer when he was the last few allowed in and there was barely enough time to even frolick and get foam-ed and they decided to close it.

Our first time and we had so much fun - maybe going in the later part of the afternoon would have been more ideal but I guess that leaves us with next year to check it out again!

Every passing month gives me a tingly sense of pride that my little boy is no longer little, he is slowly growing up. Of course, there will be emo days where I wish time did pass slower!

As much as possible, we try to introduce the arts to him via musicals, plays and hopefully there is a portion of his childhood that has theatre in it. So off we went in support of Kids Fest catching two plays, Room on the Broom and The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

In preparation of these plays, I got him the books so he would not go in completely unaware of the storyline and while the witch scared him a fair bit (and even with a paying ticket, he preferred my lap *facepalm moment*).

He enjoyed the latter alot better somehow!





And I baked him scones for tea just....to finish up my pineapple jam from pineapple tart baking and to kind of follow the book cos Sophie and her mom had tea together?




Butter, fluffy and the family enjoyed them too!

I am a fan of indoor playgrounds for the simple fact it is sheltered and it provides entertainment and enough activity for Cyrus to be adequately engaged. The Art Ground is a lovely collaboration between National Art Council and different artistes.



This entry took way longer than I expected and so many visits, we literally grew with Artground!





Rolling@Tag
19 April - 19 August 2018

The first time we step foot was during Daiya's installation and with no expectations, we were pleasantly surprised what was in store!



Designed by educator Daiya Aida from Japan, we saw alot of slides. Curves were the main shapes used in the installation and the kids had a whale of time scrambling up and down them. I love how the slopes are so gentle and even if there are falls, they aren't as bad as sharp corners!

The stage had a busy board too for the pre walkers.





Our monkey tackling one of the slopes.



Clearly having a ball of time.



And practicing his art of free fall.



Of course he discovered the beauty of hidden holes.



And him fiddling with one of the busyboards.




We went so many times and fell in love with this free play space.



Seeing those smiles were well worth!






Hullabaloo
30 August - 6 January 2019

The second installation was way more colourful and there was focus on the special needs kids with sensory corners.



Nur Aida Binte Sa’ad takes over with a brand new concept, there is alot more exploration with pops of colours and I love how the whole area transformed into a wonderland. There are slides, rock walls, trapezes and even a makeshift wheel. 





I love this even as an adult!




It is a pity the slides are way too steep for toddlers and the only way up is climbing..no stairs! Lots of supervision is required here. 




The toddler scrambling up and down like a champ!



And he decided a slide could be tackled bottom up. Face palm moment.




These pompoms are so cute but they did end up getting yanked by the kids.







On one of the many visits we paid to this cheery place.






I couldn't resist snooping on him as he explored the playground!



Wild Rumpus by Adeline Lee
24 Jan - 5 May 2019



Of the three this showcased more textures, crochet creations, wood, lights and beads even. I'm not sure about the children but there sure was a sensory overload even for me!



Fancy a see saw ride on the monster?




Or take shelter in a sequined canopy?





This slide was a natural magnet for the kids, I liked how more gradual the slide was as opposed to the last installaion and how the sides doubled as chalk boards for doodling.



This little monster is made for climbing - or so my own little monkey did instead of explore it under.







The wacky duo marking their territories at the foot of the monster's legs.



And us in the colourful corner with books.




When he was not going up and down the slides he was poking his nose into the maintenance work that was done on the planks. 

Do you have a preferred collaboration? I'm loving all and cannot wait for more!