We have had a busy past few months, but things are finally slowing down as we approach summer break!
We are in a great groove here, still really loving Singapore and all of the fun travel we've been doing. We had a great visit with my parents last month and had so much fun showing them our city! I can't believe we've almost been here a year already and that the school year is almost over. The time has gone fast and we have come such a long way in the past 10 months. I am so proud of all of us!!!
What else...
Nate has been traveling a bit, China and India recently. May was a crazy month at work, so he's happy to have things slowing down a bit now.
We had so much fun celebrating Nate's 39th birthday at Marina Bay Sands. Not sure how we're going to top it for next years big 4-0, but we'll try! On top of our stay, Nate spent the afternoon at Truefitt & Hill, getting groomed :) It is the oldest barber shop in the world, from London, and they have a Singapore outlet. He had some manscaping done and loved it.
The kids are doing great and are looking forward to heading home for the summer to see their cousins & their friends.
Sam is way into playing UNO. We play everyday when he gets home from school and he usually beats me. Quite the card shark. His obsession with fast cars is still in play. Reporting daily which cars he sees on his bus ride home. Lamborghini's, Maserati's, Ferrari's, Porsche and the like. Only in Singapore can you see multiple ones while on a 30 minute bus ride home :)
Sam is most excited to see his friends and go to the playground and ride his Gator when we're back in the US. Had to break it to him that the gator was given away before our move...oops!
Mia is doing great. Although, missed all last week of school as she was sick with a wicked tropical fever. She had a high fever off and on for 6 days straight. It was crazy. She had never been to the doctor here until last week. The fever took her down and it was brutal. Luckily, she went back to school today and is on the up & up...just in time for the last few days of school!
Mia lost her top tooth and is looking really old and just yesterday, while being bored at home, yanked out another one! 4 down so far :)
Mia has also become quite a technology geek and is better on the iPad than I am. Her daily tech classes are paying off, but now I have a giant Elsa picture as the wallpaper on my iPad :) She is still loving school and her reading is rockin'!
We have been contemplating enrolling Mia in the Mandarin Immersion program next year at school. She loves foreign language and wants to "speak Chinese like the Chinese do." And now after having a play date with a Swedish friend the other day, she now wants to speak Swedish :) She said she wants to speak all of the languages of the world! Very ambitious this girl, but I'm glad she likes it and has a knack for it.
Upon talking to Nate's boss in the US, it looks as though we will be moving back next summer. So, a 2 year assignment, instead of 3. With that said, we're not doing the immersion program, as one year just seems too short for it. She would be fluent by the end of the year, but it's the upkeep when we return home that worries us, as she's still so young.
I am keeping busy volunteering in the kids classrooms, planning end of year activities and serving on the community outreach committee for the American Women's Association. Lots to do before leaving here for 6 weeks - packing & organizing & CLEANING. Why, you ask? We got rid of our helper!!
I know you probably all think we're crazy, as it was quite the luxury. She wasn't liking my Sunday night curfew and acting quite spoiled, so we decided to part ways. I decided that I wasn't going to budge on some things and luckily I wasn't desperate, so didn't need to!
We thought initially that we would get another one, but now that some time has passed, we are really enjoying not having that extra person in our relatively small condo. Things just seem more normal here with just the 4 of us and me doing the housekeeping ;) I think having a car now has lessened the need for a helper, as I am not so pressed for time in getting home to get Sam off of the bus at 12:30 and it's easier to bring him along on errands in the afternoon. Plus, he will go full day next year, so I won't need the help during the day. We have also found a handful of high school aged babysitters, which has been great.
It was fairly easy to give up the helper, but I would never give up my car!!!!
I can't believe the school year is almost over. The kids are done on Wednesday and we begin our journey home later that night! We are flying West this time and doing a 3 night stopover in London before heading onto Chicago. I am in the midst of planning our time there and really looking forward to getting back to Europe. We haven't been to London in years, so it should be fun for all!
Well, this is probably my last post before heading back. Looking so forward to seeing all of you soon!! xo
Nate has been traveling a bit, China and India recently. May was a crazy month at work, so he's happy to have things slowing down a bit now.
We had so much fun celebrating Nate's 39th birthday at Marina Bay Sands. Not sure how we're going to top it for next years big 4-0, but we'll try! On top of our stay, Nate spent the afternoon at Truefitt & Hill, getting groomed :) It is the oldest barber shop in the world, from London, and they have a Singapore outlet. He had some manscaping done and loved it.
The kids are doing great and are looking forward to heading home for the summer to see their cousins & their friends.
Sam is way into playing UNO. We play everyday when he gets home from school and he usually beats me. Quite the card shark. His obsession with fast cars is still in play. Reporting daily which cars he sees on his bus ride home. Lamborghini's, Maserati's, Ferrari's, Porsche and the like. Only in Singapore can you see multiple ones while on a 30 minute bus ride home :)
Sam is most excited to see his friends and go to the playground and ride his Gator when we're back in the US. Had to break it to him that the gator was given away before our move...oops!
Mia is doing great. Although, missed all last week of school as she was sick with a wicked tropical fever. She had a high fever off and on for 6 days straight. It was crazy. She had never been to the doctor here until last week. The fever took her down and it was brutal. Luckily, she went back to school today and is on the up & up...just in time for the last few days of school!
Mia lost her top tooth and is looking really old and just yesterday, while being bored at home, yanked out another one! 4 down so far :)
Mia has also become quite a technology geek and is better on the iPad than I am. Her daily tech classes are paying off, but now I have a giant Elsa picture as the wallpaper on my iPad :) She is still loving school and her reading is rockin'!
We have been contemplating enrolling Mia in the Mandarin Immersion program next year at school. She loves foreign language and wants to "speak Chinese like the Chinese do." And now after having a play date with a Swedish friend the other day, she now wants to speak Swedish :) She said she wants to speak all of the languages of the world! Very ambitious this girl, but I'm glad she likes it and has a knack for it.
Upon talking to Nate's boss in the US, it looks as though we will be moving back next summer. So, a 2 year assignment, instead of 3. With that said, we're not doing the immersion program, as one year just seems too short for it. She would be fluent by the end of the year, but it's the upkeep when we return home that worries us, as she's still so young.
I am keeping busy volunteering in the kids classrooms, planning end of year activities and serving on the community outreach committee for the American Women's Association. Lots to do before leaving here for 6 weeks - packing & organizing & CLEANING. Why, you ask? We got rid of our helper!!
I know you probably all think we're crazy, as it was quite the luxury. She wasn't liking my Sunday night curfew and acting quite spoiled, so we decided to part ways. I decided that I wasn't going to budge on some things and luckily I wasn't desperate, so didn't need to!
We thought initially that we would get another one, but now that some time has passed, we are really enjoying not having that extra person in our relatively small condo. Things just seem more normal here with just the 4 of us and me doing the housekeeping ;) I think having a car now has lessened the need for a helper, as I am not so pressed for time in getting home to get Sam off of the bus at 12:30 and it's easier to bring him along on errands in the afternoon. Plus, he will go full day next year, so I won't need the help during the day. We have also found a handful of high school aged babysitters, which has been great.
It was fairly easy to give up the helper, but I would never give up my car!!!!
I can't believe the school year is almost over. The kids are done on Wednesday and we begin our journey home later that night! We are flying West this time and doing a 3 night stopover in London before heading onto Chicago. I am in the midst of planning our time there and really looking forward to getting back to Europe. We haven't been to London in years, so it should be fun for all!
We will be in the US until July 30 and I hope we can see all of you! Our time will be spent doing a midwest road trip :) from Chicago to the QC to Des Moines to Kansas City and back again. We can't wait! Our time in Chicago over Christmas break was super quick, so we are looking forward to having much more time this summer to see everyone.
What I am most looking forward to besides seeing familiar faces -- not profusely sweating, cheap shopping, less crowds, driving 'normal' again and eating red meat!!! :)
Nate will be with us for 3 weeks and working off and on. That means I will be flying home solo with the kiddos, but I think I can do it! They are quite the seasoned travelers by now :)
Well, this is probably my last post before heading back. Looking so forward to seeing all of you soon!! xo
Out with some school mom friends
At Mia's portfolio review - they do this conference quarterly. Part run by the teacher and the other part led by the student. She shoes us all of her work on her iPad portfolio.
At least he's more into arts & crafts these days!
Easter!!!!
Fun times at the Weiland's for Easter Brunch!
Nothing like not going to church, but swimming on Easter Sunday!
Kids got to have a 'normal' easter egg hunt outside because they live in a landed house
At school to pick up Mia, the bus 'dance' is amazing at 3:30. There must be at least 50 coach buses loaded with kids!
Hanging on the RiverWalk after enjoying some good mexican food at Iguana's
At Tirzah's birthday party!
Sweet corn from Malaysia - not too bad!
Sam had swim lessons for PE in the 4th quarter - I volunteered to help change the kids into their suits So cute!!!
Sam's teacher sent me this picture of him while they had a magician visiting - love his smile!
Sissy getting way too good on the iPad
Everybody "contributing" now that we don't have a helper!
Photographer picture from the fun run in March - love this one of Sam & his bff Thomas - 1st & 2nd finishers!
Univ of Iowa MBA cocktail party - fun to see other Hawkeyes in Sing!
Our morning walk to the bus stop, through the carpark :)
Out with friends for Nate's birthday!
Sam's toy shop
The Chinese have passed the Indonesians as the biggest travelers to Sing
Sweet friends at school
Happy Vesak Day! Or HBD Buddah!! Some dumplings in his honor :)
Got this sweet girl some bangs
Shopping buddy
Sunday Funday - mussels & some euro brews
The Gatsby Gala fundraiser for the kids' school
The band was awesome!
The guys
Fun night out with the girls at Lantern Rooftop
Some rainy Sunday fort building
Our favorite breakfast stop - the swiss restaurant Marche!
Sissy & I shopping for the Willing Hearts charity who her class adopted as their charity project. Lots of interesting Asian food on the list - spent about an hour in the aisle trying to figure the foods out!!
Singapore wildlife
These are the kind of food trucks you see on the roads here!
Buddy & his buddy
Fun times at our condo Indian bbq!!
The caters even brought a tandoori grill & made fresh naan! Yummy!
Sis likes great hotels, so we cruised through the St. Regis on our way to breakfast. We stayed there when we first arrived in Sing, but we were too jet lagged to even enjoy it :)
At Paul Bakery - a favorite of mine from France & they have multiple locations here!
On a gas station sign - lots of PSA's around Sing to be nice to others :) Even inspirational quotes on the ATM's while you're waiting for your cash.
Pandan leaves - having a little cockroach problem in my car (which is really normal here) - these leaves are supposed to keep them away. They kind of smell like popcorn and so far, so good!
Um, I don't think so
More creative play in our small condo :)
Sam's year end portfolio conference - led by him!! And yes, that's him with his violin!
Fun times at McKenna & Lindsay's birthday party at Stamford! Rock wall & swimming & Frozen = fun!
These huge moths are all over Sing right now!
Sam at Milla's birthday party - here he is with the card he decorated for her :)
Our street was on lock-down for about 4 days, as there was a huge diplomatic security summit going on at the ShangriLa - military, armed guards and checkpoints everywhere - it was crazy!!
Guys night out with the neighbors - our neighbor Corey from Australia is a pro jockey - even having won the Melbourne Cup!
Fun times at the American Club
Mia's summer homework packet - lots of reading and journaling to get done in the summer months
Our old helper room has now been taken back over by suitcases!
Sam's pre-k performance, We All Go Traveling By! He was the Blue Train
Poor poor sissy - sick for way too long!
Mia working on writing her name in Mandarin
Mia loves reading to Sam!
Moved all my indoor plants outside so they can survive while we're gone!
We will miss our friends the Jepsen's this summer! Kids got 1 last day of swimming in yesterday!
Free dress Sports Day!
