24th Dec (Christmas Eve):
Annual Christmas gathering with Calvin's friends.

Each year, we have more little party-goers... Last Christmas, there were Phoebe, Phoena & Kenneth. This year, we had 2 more little ones joining us - Tyler & Val. But guess what, having little ones didn't stop us from having a countdown at 12 midnight!! But, little Val was tired & had to head home with Daddy & Mommy earlier. No worries, I'm sure little Val will join us in the countdown next Christmas! ;p

Thank you Choon Yng & Shunliang for having us & bearing with our mess. Thank you for the gifts you so thoughtfully prepared for us!

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25th Dec (Christmas Day):
Family gathering at Mami's house.

I still remember how we spend Christmas when we were kids. My dad, bro & I will be busy decorating the house weeks before Christmas to welcome our paternal relatives on Christmas Day. It's actually the death anniversary of one of my grand-aunties.

The Christmas I remember most vividly is when we made a fireplace using styrofoam boards. We painted the boards to look like bricks & we even put on flickering lights to mimic the flames in the fireplace. Oh... talking about this makes me miss childhood days so much!! I love you Sok Sok, Mi Mi & Gor... & of cos the new additions to the family: Maureen Da Sao & my darling Calvin.

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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- John 3:16

About a week before Christmas, I "informed" Calvin about our party line-up for Christmas this year and he almost fainted... haha... He was already exhausted after learning about list of parties we're having over the few days of Christmas.

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23rd Dec (Sat afternoon):
Gathering at Winnie's place. Randy and Noi came back from Philippines for Christmas. Chef Jasmine and Host Winnie prepared pasta for lunch and the big pot of spaghetti came with both tomato-based sauce and cream sauce. We also had free Smoked Chicken and Honey Baked Ham from Swissotel - compliments from some credit card company (points redemption). Jasmine gave us a chocolate fondue set & we put it to good use straight after lunch.

The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing and admiring Kim Seng's aquarium. Calvin suddenly developed a keen interest in fishes and aquariums and he's seriously thinking of setting up an aquarium in our new home... hmmm...

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23rd Dec (Sat night):
After the gathering at Winnie's house, we went home for a quick shower and headed for our next party after dinner. Teri booked 2 rooms at Orchard Parade Hotel for the TTCians and we had some great fun with "Twister" that night. Calvin & I didn't stay very late as we had to wake up early for church service at Indoor Stadium the next morning. I left the Twister Party in great anticipation for TTC's Christmas Surprise Trip on 29th Dec... (* _ ^)

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I won a 2D/1N stay at Rasa Sentosa at one of my company's parties and we decided to go for a little getaway just before Christmas. We wanted to get away from the crowd, but ended up running right into a very crowded resort. It's like the whole Punggol neighbourhood went there! We even had to queue for breakfast.. can you believe it?? And then, it just kept raining and raining and raining and raining and RAINING!!!

It was pouring and we couldn't go anywhere else for dinner that night, so we settled for dinner at The Terrace. Food was expensive, but since we didn't have to spend on the room, we spent on the dinner. Not fantastically yummy, but not too bad lah..

Nonetheless, we had a good break! Thank God!

This is my 2nd Christmas party this year... the 1st one was with the Dentsu girls, but we didn't take any pictures that day.

These are my good old jie-mei's from Starcom. Even though we don't meet up as often as we used to, we sure had a great time at Ah Poh's house..

We had our 1st Marriage Preparation Workshop today after the seminar a month ago. There'll be another workshop in Jan 07 and we'll also have a pre-marriage counselling session with a pastor.

There were 5 couples in the workshop and we learnt some principles from the Bible about marriage and the relationship between the husband, the wife and Jesus, we played some games and we learnt about the 5 languages of love that mattered most to Calvin & I.

The church leaders (a couple married for 6 years & now expecting their 1st baby) also shared a lot of their experiences with us. Through this workshop, Calvin & I realised how seldom we pray together. Prayers changes things and we should start praying together and start drawing closer to God as a couple.

Father God, draw us closer to You as we draw closer to each other as a couple. May Your love guide us through this period of planning for the flat & the wedding. May Your provision lead us to a state of "I shall not want".

My God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

15 December 2004 - the day I met my prince charming

@~~~

15 December 2006 - the day I thank God for His perfect plan

(^_*)

HWAH!! It's been a month since the renovation started, and progress seems great! Today, Uncle started laying the living room floor tiles. BEAUTIFUL! Check that out...

Only one rectangular portion of the living room is done. I tell you... it's tough work man! I saw how the workers meticulously took measurements before they lay the tiles. They had to be soooo precise! But thank God for contractors like them who ensure that their workmanship is top notch!

I love the windows!! I think they're gonna look beautiful after the protective stickers are removed. Noticed we don't have grilles... so I'd like to assure my mummy-friends that when your little darlings come visit, all the windows will be shut.

my darling Calvin dutifully took pictures to show me the progress of the renovation. So even though I wasn't able to be there, I know what's been going on... Thank you Baby!!

1) 3 toilets have been laid with the white wall tiles except the toilet in our room.

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Day Twenty
1) Our room toilet wall has been done.

2) The window & wall between the balcony & living room has been hacked and we'll be putting up a sliding door in its place.

3) The walls in the kitchen and dining room have been plastered smooth... The guy who plastered the walls is very skilful. Our walls are perfectly smooth. :D

1) All toilet floors have been laid with the black tiles.

2) Part of the drainage pipes for the air-con have been done before the floor tiles are laid.

Thank God, it's over!!! We did it and we did well!! Clients were full of praises for our presentation and ideas! I'm soooo happy, not just because it's over, but also because the clients loved what we presented. All the late nites and frustrations didn't go down the drain... ;)