Birthday Parties, Sing Style!

Well, I have come to learn that birthday parties in Singapore are just as over the top (and as expensive) as Singapore itself!!  Mia has had 3 birthday parties this month and they've all been, well, quite extravagant.  Loads of awesome activities, entire food menus (for kids and parents alike), crazy birthday cakes, decor, gift bags, etc and they last for HOURS!  I've heard that people easily spend a couple thousand dollars on their kids' birthdays. Ahhhh!!!  Guess my low budget, home made parties may be a thing of the past!!

Masooma's Baking Party @ Fidgets

Kids made cookies, cakes, fruit kabobs, colored marshmallows 

Sam's party at the indoor play land Amazonia

Nina's party at her condo function room, a "pop star" party, complete with a stage, karaoke, instruments, dress up clothes, even lanyards that looked like concert tickets for her invites - adorable!

Hot Halloween

Halloween was a fun surprise here in Singapore!  We had no idea that this holiday would be celebrated like it was.  And oops, not much in the way of Halloween costumes, so thank goodness for old dance leotards and dress up clothes!!
We didn't carve a pumpkin this year because they are at least $60 (if you can find one) and they supposedly rot quickly in this heat!  Next year I think we'll carve a watermelon!!

The kids had a "spooktacular" halloween party at school complete with festive activities, food and even trunk or treating!  It took place on a Friday night, so it was fun for the whole family!!

On Halloween night, some ladies in our condo hosted everyone for a Halloween party before we hit the streets for trick-or-treating!  Lucky us to live in a neighborhood where the residents go all out for this holiday!  We were shocked!  It was so festive, tons of kids out and TONS of candy!
Nothing like trick-or-treating with temps in the 90's...that's a first!!

Heading to the Stamford Spooktacular!

Trunk or Treating

Halloween night!

Fun pre-party with the other kids in our condo

Hittin' the streets!

Deepavali Holiday & Little India

Deepavali (or Diwali/Divali) is a major Hindu holiday and is recognized and celebrated here in Singapore.  The kids had fun learning about Deepavali at school and even got to ditch their uniforms for the day and wear a "Hindu inspired" outfit!  They had a Deepavali festival and Mia's school dance team even got to perform.  Just love that the kids get to learn about so many different cultures and traditions here!!

We spent an evening in lively Little India to celebrate the holiday.  We enjoyed seeing the lights and  decorations, ate some great Indian food, visited the many stalls selling just about everything--fruits, flower necklaces,  sari's, pashmina's, textiles, jewelry and Mia even got a henna tattoo!  Her first, but probably not her last :)

Mia getting ready for Deepavali day at school!  

Had to ditch the pants because it was just too hot!  Sam is wearing a shirt that Nate had just brought him home from India!

Mia getting ready for her big dance!

Deepavali fun at the colorful shophouses

Mia getting a henna

SO much to see, I actually felt like I was in India!  The markets are amazing and so colorful!!

Nate & Sam trying to navigate the narrow lanes in the market, good luck with that!!

 

                                      

At one of the Indian temples