Making our house a home...

I have had many people ask me this week how it feels to be back and how the adjustment is going. Two part question, two part answer. It feels GREAT to be back. I love, love, love...

-driving in my car, anywhere I need to go
-pulling up to a store, parking in a parking lot and walking in
-TARGET
-the cool, crisp mornings and evenings
-I enjoyed the day of rain, because when it rained, it was cool outside.
-having space to move around
-not sweating every second of the day
-my Keurig coffee WITH creamer :)
-seeing our furniture and things again after two years (some of it we haven't seen since Reno)

As for the adjustment, it's hard to answer that question. We flew in on a Tuesday, got straight off the plane and did Disneyland for 3 days. Then we flew to Portland, got off the plane and immediately began working on our house. The moving-in has.not.stopped in seven days. This is not a complaint, just reality. I have loved putting our house together and making it a home. Adam flew to Reno for four days, the boys have been in Roseburg (thanks to some incredible grandparents) and I have been working like crazy to put this place together as much as possible for the boys come back. As you can imagine, it's much easier to unpack a house, run errands and decorate without a six and three year-old around. :) My mom was a huge help up here this week, and Adam has been too for the past few days.

So given all of that... I haven't had a moment to process much. I know I love being here and I can honestly say at this point in time, there's nothing I miss about Singapore. In saying that, I know most of my friends are on holiday.

Buying this house was one of our goals and it feels so good to have accomplished that WHILE getting to live a very different life for two years.

Here are a few pics from this week's work...

My mom was in charge of the front and as usual, she made it look great. The potted plants on the porch were a welcome home gift from Lindsey.  

Luke's request was a Miami Heat room. He got it, with an overall "sports" theme. His room was one of three that needed painting. Not too bad.  

Our room :)

Drew bug wanted a Superhero room. He still has a few things coming in our shipment. 

Our sunroom - where I hope to drink lots of coffee and wine while the kids play :) Also growing my first-ever herb garden. 

This place is beginning to feel like home. I love it here. We love it here and can't wait to be in it all together, as a family. For buying a home via Facetime, it couldn't have worked out any better.

When we walked up to our front porch for the first time, I found the potted flowers from Lindsey and two beautiful bouquets & cards from friends in Singapore. There were tears before I even stepped foot in the door!

It's been so much fun seeing familiar faces and dear friends & family during the past week at home. We feel so grateful to have such amazing people in our lives. Thank you for welcoming us back with open arms. And to our Singapore friends, thank your for sharing in our happiness from all over the world. xx

Disneyland!

After an uneventful, but long, 20 hours of travel time, we surprised the boys with a quick trip to Disneyland. In hindsight, it may have been a bit much to pack in coming off of the long flight, but it was worth it. My mom flew in to join us (another surprise for the boys!) and we got to see some family that we haven't seen in awhile. A fun three days!

I have been busy moving into our new house this week, while all the boys are off playing, but I do plan to update with pictures of our house (requested by Singapore friends) and I have more to say about our move back home.

There's been no time yet to sit and think about things... but I look forward to the day when that's able to happen :) For now, I'm enjoying moving into a house that we have been looking forward to for many years.

xx

Goodbye Stamford!

Today we said goodbye to our friends at work. The emotions I tried so hard to fight came out in full force. It's been no secret that work has been quite tough at times. These people, without a doubt, made it a much happier place to be. They made us laugh and put smiles on our faces - even when we thought that was an impossible feat. We are so thankful for their presence in our lives and know that we'll forever have friends around the world. We can't wait to see many of them in Portland during layovers, quick trips or intentional visits. 

It's been quite a ride. Today we walked out the Stamford gate for the final time. Surreal, bittersweet, and ready for the next chapter!

Last brunch date - high tea at the Shangri La Hotel 

Someone thought it was a good idea to put T and I on duty together every Monday 

Luke with his best buddies - Ewan & Rodrigo. Not only are they sweet boys, but their families are pretty great too. 

Last day of school, Drew got to wear his party clothes - hard to believe Luke is going to be a first grader.   

Last day with students

Last day! I have loved my time with Ange. 

Blessed to have landed with this team.  

Shikha! One of the kindest, most generous people I know. 

With Tanya...feeling (and looking!) pretty cried out at this point. 

Goodbye Stamford!

The One and Only

Tanya.

I don't pronounce her name correctly, never have, never will. To make it easier, I call her T. Or Betts. To me, she's also known as Betts. And she is fabulous.

I am not totally sure how we became friends, but I am thankful for this girl every.single.day. I think it started because she was Luke's art teacher. She adores our boys and happens to think Adam is pretty great too. In fact, she wrote an entire blog post about him... check it out if you have time. Made me feel pretty blessed to be married to him.

http://www.tanyavok.blogspot.sg/2014/05/everybody-loves-adam.html

Staying true to fashion with our friendship, I will write a list of many reasons that I LOVE THIS GIRL.

1. We took months to understand each other (Australian/American accents and pronunciations can be quite different and the differences are often hysterical)
2. We would catch each other making funny looks, mid-conversation, because we didn't have a clue what the other one was saying. Acting as if we had a clue was even more comical.
3. She is funny. Super funny.
4. We laugh ALL THE TIME.
5. We make lists to remember all the things we need to talk about. We respond in lists too.
6. She is the reason we have a new favorite TV show - Offspring
7. She loves, loves, loves my boys.
8. She is real. She says it like it is and I love that about her.
9. She can always make me laugh and cheer me up.
10. She brings me Starbucks. A lot.
11. We have frequent sushi/Mexican/dinner dates.
12. She makes my boys superhero cards when they're sick.
13. She taught Adam how to play the guitar.
14. She's a great shopping buddy.
15. Two of our favorite things are eating and wine. Well, three. Coffee too.
16. She flew to the Gold Coast just to spend 2 nights with us.
17. She granted me joint custody of her straightening iron for my hair. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
18. We say "goodbye" but know that we'll text each other 15 times before the end of the day.
19. She remembers my long work days and calls or emails to wish me luck.
20. She was my 50-consecutive-days running buddy AND Tuesday/Thursday yoga buddy.
21. She introduced me to SkipBo, which is a game my attention span can handle.
22. We understand that we may stop listening to one another mid-conversation because we are already thinking about something else.
23. We can complain for 10 minutes then move on in 10 seconds.
24. Random calls and texts are sent frequently.
25. We quote lines from Friends and work them into conversations any chance we get.

Those are just some of the reasons why this girl has filled my life with happy. It's hard to write more because I cry at the thought of not seeing her every day. She brings so much joy to my life and I am better for having her in it. It's rare to find a laugh-until-your-belly-hurts friend and she is one of those. I will forever remember moments, days and events that we've shared. She was the first person to hug me when we bought our house, she was the one to sit with me in silence after the death of a family friend and she is treasured by every person in this house.

Within minutes of meeting her, you want to be friends with her. I am lucky enough to know that she is truly a lifetime friend. I simply cannot thank her enough for the ways she has enriched my life.

I love you T.

My Life, My Story

These are my scarves...

I have collected them during our time in Singapore. It started with a purchase of one on the beach in Bali, then became something I picked up in every place we visited. It also transformed itself into gifts from friends when they traveled.

While I love that I have scarves from over 14 countries, what I love most about my scarves is that they each have a story.

I've been thinking a lot lately about our story, my story, and the story I want to live. I've wanted to freeze my story in order to hold onto something special, I've wanted to rewrite moments, live some over again, and forget some even happened. I will admit, I have also wanted to leave my story and live someone else's for awhile.

But that's not possible.

The thing is, I really like my story. No. I love my story. I love it because it's mine and it's ours, together. I feel like our marriage and parenthood have provided for a lot of changes in our story, because in truth, our lives have changed significantly every 2 or 3 years since Adam and I have been together. Buying homes, moving states, having children, changing jobs, moving countries. It's no wonder I feel our story is always changing (and I'm always tired).

Our story will change again in 10 days as we prepare to move back to the states. If I think of my life in chapters, one is definitely about to close. While I'm ready for the wrap up, I begin the next chapter with excitement, anticipation and nervousness. One of my dearest friends asked me, "do you think life will calm down and you'll be able to feel settled?" I honestly didn't know how to answer that. If I reread my story over the last two years, it has been FILLED with constant change. Work changes, living changes, cultural changes, traveling...you get it. I think part of me is afraid of this next chapter going on and on and on.

But then, I read about and listen to other people's stories. I like that a lot. I like to listen and I really love to learn. In the places I've been and through the people I've met, I have learned with certainty that we ALL have a common thread to our stories.

We all want to love and to be loved.

Simplistic, sure. Reality, yes.

I have met people with nothing and people with (what seems to be) everything and it's all the same. Stories unfold a little easier and a little gentler when you have love and are loved.

I don't know what the rest of our story holds, but I do know that it's been a pretty great ride so far. I am so thankful for this chapter in Singapore. So thankful. It has brought on emotions I never knew I had (poor Adam) and it's tested us in ways we never imagined. It has been a gift to see this side of the world and learn about other cultures. I cherish the friends that we have made and I will always, always have a special place in my heart for Singapore.

In 10 days, the page will turn and this chapter will come to a close. Emotion is starting to set in as I realize that yes, I am a little sad for it to end. I've loved the adventure, curiosity, excitement and newness that has come with this chapter.

But the new chapter holds much excitement too. I'm afraid the story will slow down, and I'm finding space to be okay with that. Sometimes slow chapters are a good thing. If paired with a margarita, they can be a great thing.

With a little help from my friends...

About two months ago, it was decided that a girls weekend away was a MUST. Adam has been on several guys golf trips and I was ready to get some time away with my closest friends over here. We settled on Penang, Malaysia for a few reasons...

1. It was close (just an 80 minute flight)
2. There was a beach
3. It was somewhere none of us had been
4. It put another stamp in my passport (only having been to Malaysia once to Legoland. Doesn't really count).

The weather on Saturday was PERFECT. Walked on the beach, breakfast, and an entire day by the pool. We finally went into our rooms at 7pm to get ready for the evening. I found this funny because by 7pm I'm usually doing anything BUT "getting ready" for the evening. We made our way to the Hard Rock Cafe where we had dinner and danced the night away. I don't think I could have asked for a better day from start to finish with these girls.

On Sunday, Lucinda, Kendra and I went parasailing. I've been wanting to do it for a long time and am so happy I had Lucinda to tandem-sail with. It eased both of our nerves, as she doesn't really like heights and I don't really enjoy not being in control of situations. Ha!

Feeling incredibly blessed to have these women in my life. I will forever treasure the memories we've made together over the past 2 years and will be eternally thankful that our paths crossed.

Tanya 

Jill 

Lucinda

Lucinda, Tanya, me & Ange

Pulling & running to take off...crazy feeling!

Up, up and away! We were feeling pretty proud of ourselves right here...

Coming in for the landing. That was NOT graceful. 

It's hard to believe (and I'm not totally sure it has sunk in for me yet) that we fly out of here in just TWO WEEKS. It certainly doesn't feel like we are leaving yet, and I'm hoping some emotion hits me soon. We don't have the rushed must-do-everything-and-see-everyone feeling and it's hard to believe the school year ends in just 7 more school days. But as teachers know, the end of the year is FAR from relaxing. Maybe that's it. Maybe it's because our apartment is still fully intact, waiting on the movers. And maybe it's because it has been on our minds for so long that it feels like any other day. 

Who knows. But I do know that as hard as it will be to give good-bye-hugs here, we have many hello-hugs waiting for us on the other end. That puts a HUGE smile on my face.