What else is new - busy as usual

Lately now, I only have time for a weekly update, haha. This week (starting tomorrow) was supposed to have been a quiet week but have now ended up with three filled days from Monday to Wednesday. While at ballet yesterday, we were invited to a birthday celebration on Tuesday by princess' ballet mate cum ex-classmate. It's not a big do, just a few friends and cousins going over to the house for some fun, and hopefully some swimming. At the last playdate there, it was drizzling and so they weren't allowed to swim. Hopefully the weather will be good for them tomorrow.

Back to last week... G, M and I agreed on a cookie exchange for Christmas. Speaking of which, oops, I still owe them one each. G and I are to make two kinds whereas M, who is now working, is excused, therefore she only needed to make one. So on Thursday, at M's girl's birthday party, we got our cookies. I made a peanut butter double chocolate cookie. I had no time at all to take pictures of them before sending them out. What I do have are the before photos taken while preparing them, hehe, with my little helper to add the ingredients in. However, the final baked goods were promptly packed into containers ready to be sent off.

Those in the photo here are what I received from them. Thanks gals.

Last evening, we finally made our visit to L & R's house. This visit has long been in the works, but it never materialised. We decided that it had to happen this weekend. Haha.

Immediately after ballet, I set about baking chocolate chip biscuits and some butter biscuits. Used the cookie cutter set that V gave as present. I love them, V, and they are perfect for cutting fondants as well, because of their size.

Well, thank goodness I did not disappoint L as the first thing she said when I presented the baked goods to her was, 'I was wondering if you'd bring me some cookies'. Phew! Haha. I had read her mind. Well, what are good friends for? Hehe.

Unfortunately, there was zero time to take photos of L's gift, as we were really pressed for time, plus the rain was coming down in buckets and we were late enough as it was for the appointed time that we were to arrive at her place. We were delayed both by the unexpected sudden downpour, as well as my baking. :P And poor princess had her swimming hopes dashed once again. December is really not the time for swimming. Gosh.

I was, however, really pleased with the butter biscuits and will do them again this week when I have the time. I will post pictures then.

The gracious hosts treated us to a great dinner. R went in the morning or at noontime, to get the nasi padang from Arab Street and L took the kids to Orchard in the late afternoon to pack some Tonkatsu from Tonkichi for the kids' dinner. I've heard of this Tonkatsu but never tasted it. Well, I'm not a big pork fan. But I have to say that it was incredible that it remained crispy till 3hrs later when the kids had them for dinner. Princess isn't a great fan of meat but because of the dip that came with it, she gobbled many pieces down. Haha. Just like she eats french fries because of the tomato sauce. L also got them some California Maki.

Our great big spread of Nasi Padang dishes. There was way too much food for the 4 of us. We couldn't even finish half of it. Haha.

The kids had a great time and princess got along very well with R1. He is 8 and a really well-behaved boy, very well brought up. R2 is still a baby at 2yrs but he wanted to be a part of everything that the bigger kids did, and he got in their way and they shut him out sometimes, the poor chap. He is super adorable but speaks a lot for a 2-yr-old. He is a parrot, honestly, and repeats every single word that they said, even imitating his mum. Haha. He is fun. And very independent. Wouldn't let anyone feed him. A real tough cookie too.

The kids played on the Wii, and guess what princess wants for Christmas now! She was given that choice a few months back but she chose something else instead. Now she regrets and crying for Daddy to get her a set. But from what I know, there is a shortage for Christmas, as apparently, every kid wants one!

L has been wanting princess to stay over at her place for quite sometime, and we decided that we should do it this week. Wow! Her very first sleepover. It'll be great fun for her. Just hope she doesn't break the $4k lamp in the corner. Yikes. I daren't even imagine!