NZ Vacation Day 2 - Arrival in Christchurch

Our flight arrived in Christchurch just before 9am and we quickly dressed ourselves and the kids up in winter jackets as the temperature then was 14 deg C. Here's a picture of the kids soon after we stepped out from the aircraft. DD looked like she was still trying to get used to wearing a bulky piece of clothing!

We stayed at The Hereford (161 Hereford Street), which are serviced apartments right in the town centre. The Hereford was only opened sometime in the middle of last year, so everything there was pretty new!

The apartment was pretty chilly even though the temperature outside had already risen to 18 or 19 deg C by mid-day. I think it was because our body was not acclimatised to the cold yet, and also the lack of heating in the apartment itself. So we kept the kids (and ourselves!) nice and cosy in thick sweatshirts, like DD below.


After a quick nap, we ventured out for a late lunch and then collected our vehicle from the Hertz office nearby before having a light dinner and calling it a night. We had to wake up early the next morning to start our cross-country journey from Christchurch to Hokitika.

NZ Vacation Day 1 - We're Leaving On a Jet Plane!

I was hoping to be able to blog about our holiday as it happens, but due to unforeseen circumstances such as the totally crappy, non-free internet connection in New Zealand, I decided to blog only when we arrived back in Singapore. Internet connection in New Zealand's South Island, where we holidayed for 2.5 weeks, is very expensive (eg. NZD$15 for 24 hours with 500MB cap, or NZD$60 for a week with a data cap that we didn't even bother to find out), SLOW, and occasionally unreliable.

After weeks of preparation (lots of reading up about driving routes, what to do in the towns we'll be stopping at, places to eat, places to stay, making sure the kids have adequate and appropriate clothing to keep them nice and toasty, and preparing enough entertainment to keep them occupied), we were finally on our way! The kids were very excited, even Caelynn who probably cannot remember the last time she was on an aeroplane (when she was 14 months old, on our return trip from Taiwan).

So here we are at Changi Airport. We even had time to do some shopping because we managed to get to the airport on time! I would say, we were even early! Haha. In the picture below, the kids kept themselves occupied playing peek-a-boo on the stroller while DH and I were busy shopping for a nice camera case for our new camera.

I can never take enough pictures of the recycling "bins" at Changi Airport. I think they are the coolest in the world! How can anyone not recycle with such cute bins like those? Anyhow, the kids decided to do their "Power Ranger" poses too.

Dad and DS, who sat together behind DH, DD and me. DH and I couldn't sit together with both kids due to the seating configuration of this aircraft.

DD and me. I was very glad that DD slept half the journey and even during landing. Well, she was sleeping in my arms so I didn't get much sleep myself, but hey, I shouldn't be asking for too much. Maybe during our next holiday I can hope that she sleeps by herself on the seat. Haha!

Like father, like daughter. DD was glued to the screen for a while. I think DH turned on an animated movie for her. And SQ now has earphones for the kiddos! And in case anyone was wondering, DH was glued to the screen (as usual!) for almost the entire flight, except the few hours he stopped to take a nap!

DH and his iPhone

Yep, sadly, this is what happens when your husband buys an iPhone and spends all his time playing with it. Yep. You get a picture of yourself like the one above. DH has been searching for useful apps on his iPhone and what does he come up with? An app to disfigure a picture of his wife!!! He still thinks it is totally hilarious. Sigh.

What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

I thought I should post this since I was just telling someone about this. Back in the good old days in Singapore (and many parts of Asia), babies who were weaning on to eating solids at around 4 to 6 months old were frequently fed porridge cooked with fish. So it'll be fish for lunch and dinner, almost 7 days a week. No doubt, fish contains high-quality protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, needed for physical growth and brain development respectively. However, in light of our highly polluted waters nowadays, the benefits of eating lots of fish are negated by the amount of heavy metals contained in these fish. Not only that, but high levels of heavy metals in the body have been linked to behaviour problems, learning difficulties and reduction in IQ levels in children.

And some studies have shown that it doesn't matter whether the fish is farmed or from the sea. Both types of fish can contain heavy metals, with the amounts differing depending on various factors.

Here is the link to the advisory from FDA on mercury in fish and shellfish:

What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

Here We Go Again...

Since DS just had his birthday recently, he has been trying to figure out what it means to be 5 years old, or 10 years old in the future. For instance, he has been asking me if being 10 years old means that he would be an adult. Next, he started asking me how old I was, and I think he hasn't gotten his head around what it means to be 33 years old yet. So I had to illustrate it to him by explaining that he was 5 now, then 6,7,8,9 and 10 in the future. And then I would count all the way to 33 and tell him that I was 33 years old now. Anyhow, he was asking me about my age again today and this was the conversation we had:

DS: How old are you, Mummy?
Me: I am 33 years old.
DS: That is very old, RIGHT? (Yes, he did stress the word 'right' because 33 is a big number to him, compared to 5)

Anyhow, I had to explain to him once again that 33 is not considered old, given that his grandparents are in their late 50s and early 60s, and even then, they are not considered 'old'. But the conversation ended there because I think he still can't get his head around what it means to be aged 30 or 60.

Well, I certainly agree that having kids make me feel old. Haha!

See related post here from last year.

DS Turns 5!!! (Part 2)

In the evening, DS' cousins came over to play. We decorated the place with balloons in Little Einsteins colors of red, blue and yellow.

DS loved the Little Einsteins table cover. And that's Grandma helping to set the table.

By special request, DS got his Little Einsteins cake!

5 big candles for 5 year old DS! :)

The kids waiting very patiently to sing the birthday song.

DS Turns 5!!! (Part 1)

DS is now 5 years old! How time flies! This year, DS asked for a Little Einsteins birthday cake so that was the theme of the day. :)

In the morning, we had DS' friend and classmate over to play.

Being boys. :)
Presents!!! :) DS was thrilled with the presents from Aunty Vivienne and Rowan's Porpore. He spent the rest of the day playing with the Playmobil ambulance set.

The first of 2 cakes for the day - a honey dew melon cake! :)