Making a Parachute

After watching the red lions at this year's national day parade, my boys have been rather fascinated with parachutes. Yesterday, Nathan was trying to convince me to make a parachute for him.

Nathan: If I have a parachute, I can use it just like the red lions... Can you make one for me? Mommy?

He went on to list materials that he thinks we might need. String. Scotch tape. Plastic cling wrap. He probably has a rough idea of how he's going to assemble it, but not quite. Hence, needing to convince me to help him.

Me: I don't know how to make a parachute... And seriously, the parachute you make will not work like the red lions'.

Nathan: Mommy, just take you phone and type in... "How to make a parachute"... Then a video will appear with instructions.

Did my 4 year old son just ask me to use google? Google didn't exist when I was 14... Much less, when I was 4. I miss those pre-google days.

Happy 49th Birthday Singapore!

About a year ago, we watched the National Day Parade from Benjamin Sheares bridge. We had a good view of the fireworks from where we were, but the boys weren't too happy about not having a seat.

Nathan: Can we go nearer, and sit with the people over there?

Me: Only people with tickets can get a seat.

Nathan: Can we buy tickets?

Me: The national day parade tickets are not for sale. We have to ballot...

A conversation about what balloting means, and why it's hard getting tickets ensued. Finally, I said... maybe we can pray and ask God to give us tickets next year. Then we can all watch the parade from the floating platform.

This year, we submitted our names for the ballot, prayed hard and were blessed with 4 tickets to the preview last week. The boys were thrilled!

Yay! We got tickets!

We packed a picnic dinner and made our way to the floating platform. The coloured sector that we were allocated is indicated on our tickets, and there are clear instructions on the entry point allocated to us to facilitate crowd control. We followed the directions given and it was a breeze getting to our seats.

Walking towards the floating platform via the helix bridge

The NDP fun packs were filled with a wide array of items... button badges, visors, banner clappers, mini flag, LED bracelets, Singapore scarf, biscuits, packet drinks... The boys had fun just rummaging thru their goody bags.

The parade started off with the red lions making their descend. This was followed by the fighter jets and the state flag fly past.

Red Lion

Looking at the fighter jets

F15 jets flying in formation

Majulah Singapura!

I enjoyed the parade segment, where various contingents marched to the beat of familiar national songs. Singing along with fellow Singaporeans, I once again felt thankful for this place that we call home.

The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display...

This song pretty much sums up my feelings about Singapore... This is home, truly! Happy birthday Singapore!

Home

Whenever I am feeling low
I look around me and I know
There's a place that will stay within me
Wherever I may choose to go
I will always recall the city
Know every street and shore
Sail down the river which brings us life
Winding through my Singapore 

 Chorus: 
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone, for this is where I know it's home

When there are troubles to go through
We'll find a way to start anew
There is comfort in the knowledge
That home's about its people too
So we'll build our dreams together
Just like we've done before
Just like the river which brings us life
There'll always be Singapore

Sentosa Skyline Luge

I won some tickets to the Sentosa Skyline Luge and decided to take the boys there during the Hari Raya holiday. Nathan was thrilled. He remembered going on the ride sometime back, and was really excited about getting on it again. Noah had gone on it once, but doesn't quite remember it. When he first saw the sky ride and the luge, he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to go on it.

It was only after I told him that we'll all get to ride together, that he decided that he wants to go, since he'll get to hold my hand.

And hold my hand he did. The moment the man plonked him on the sky ride, he held on to my hand for dear life... "Mommy, hold my hand! If not, I will fall down". We enjoyed the scenic ride and I was glad that the boys are finally old enough for us to do this together.

Then came the luge... As the boys weren't old enough to ride by themselves, Dean rode tandem with Nathan, while I rode tandem with Noah.

Noah was ever so cautious, and kept asking me to slow down. "Slow down, mommy!" And when I kept at the same pace, he raised his voice, thinking I didn't hear him earlier... "Slow down! Mommy!"

We went on the sky ride and luge twice, and I was just thinking about how the first time we came, Nathan wasn't tall enough to ride. When we came back some time later, Nathan was tall enough, but not Noah. So we took turns riding with Nathan. And now... they are both tall enough. I am not looking forward to having them tall enough to ride on the luge alone just yet. Babies, don't grow up so quick!