where have all the flowers gone?

so my long break is almost here, short of one invigilation duty. and a great way to start with the kids last weekend.

we did the obligatory visit to the gardens since our taxpayers have built its unabashed opulence. having already been there on my staff excursion, baby trawled with the kids while i crashed by the bay with the newspapers and cigs. blessed day of clear skies despite the latest foul weather. i literally had to hold on to the papers coz the breeze was stronger than usual

they mulched around and literally had a field day camwhoring while jo was probably the most fascinated by the flora and fauna

i can see how much she thrives in their company


then we headed to 313 for japanese curry and waffles. i love watching them wolve down their meals in typically teen voraciousness

even our sunday dinner was inhaled with relish, this after they had snacked on crackers and seaweed while catching the matinee of 'Frankenweenie' which they said in true Burton genre was both darkly comic with that tinge of poignant didactic elements. let's just say they came home and showed lexi more love than usual haha.



this pic doesn't do justice to the intensely yummers flavour of my childhood which they curiously asked about and jo's rejoinder cracked me up, 'it's really interesting to see you as a kid. sometimes unreal.' and i'm like i wasn't birthed as an adult you know. amusing. and curiously adorable each time we have convos which reveal their minds changing, their ideas always disarmingly honest yet sincere. i wouldn't trade these moments for the world.

what remains is the pure souls of compassion which assures me of their future lives. whatever externalities and flux they may face out there, i know they shall hold fast the intrinsic values of love, loyalty and gratitude which they grew up with. i saw that especially when i decided on a whim to walk into a showflat because we had to park at their premises to get to dinner. they were of course daunted by its classy furnishing but i said, dahlings, wealth need not be reflected by what you wear but how you carry yourself. so while i put on a little show of interest, including them in my faux queries on the 2.4mil penthouse, they were cowering behind me with a mix of horror and fascination. the former because they were afraid they would burst out laughing at the charade of, 'hey kids, come see your rooms' etc, but as they fessed later, because i was convincing in my intentions to purchase a unit hahaha! so they learned in a jot that charm and poise can take you so far. of course that should inspire them to work towards that dream job in the sky! yes i'm incorrigible.

i'll probably look back at these moments with them some day and as i pass them that heirloom for their assorted milestone occasions, i will remember to tell them how i've always been so damn proud of who they've become, every step of the way.
---
and how cute are these?


and if lexi were human hahaha