Are we in Portland?

It sure feels like it! Yesterday it rained ALL day. Granted, during the monsoon season we expect rain every day. BUT - it's usually a 20 minute rain. Yesterday was ALL DAY.  Made for a tough time getting out of the house. Luckily we are so close to school so the boys spent some time playing in our gym.

Friday night was our staff New Year's party. So much fun. It was in a fancy hotel with dinner, drinks and dancing. We had a great time and it was especially nice to spend time with everyone outside of school.  

Adam and Maureen 

Such fun people we work with!

With Christabel - Luke would have been mortified to see us dancing. Considering he gets SO embarrassed when I start dancing, this would have put him over the edge. 

With Sue - Luke's fabulous PE teacher

Today we took the kids to Chinatown so they could buy something (notice I didn't say junk) with their allowance. And yes, the boys were dressed alike again. Luke matched them in "car" shirts and grey shorts. Adam and I took advantage of being down there and ate the famous "chicken rice" again. After eating it a second time, I definitely see why people like it so much. 

This is the Year of the Snake - This huge 'snake' made out of lanterns stretches all the way down the main street. 

I was smart and packed their lunches while we enjoyed the chicken rice - it's still hard to find things they'll eat. 

This made me laugh..he was a bit confused. Real? Fake? Real? Fake?

ANNNNDDDD...the allowance goes to a new Buzz Light Year key chain. The kid is obsessed with key chains. 

Drew picked out a Mario key chain. It was pretty cute seeing them pay the cashiers themselves with their hard earned money :)

 So proud of their "treasures"

I know I've said it before... I love Chinatown!

Ready for the week as the countdown continues. Two and a half weeks until my Mom & Denis arrive!

xo

Keep on Keepin' on

We're back into routine around here - work, play and sleep. That's about it. But for some reason, routine always feels good after a long break.

The weather has seemed a bit cooler (mind you, I'm still in dresses and sandals every day) and it hasn't been as rainy as it was over holiday break. I actually walked home from work tonight in a light sweater and didn't sweat my butt off. That's huge.

My Mom and Denis arrive in about 3 weeks...CAN'T WAIT! I have never gone this long without seeing my Mom. The thing is, I'm not sure I can let her leave once I have her here. 

This is report week - our first semester overseas wraps up on the 25th. Crazy. The semester reports are long and time consuming, but they are almost done.

This past weekend was pretty low key. I spent 6+ hours at work on Saturday doing reports - but to ease the pain of that, Adam and I went out for Thai food and Balinese massages Saturday night. They were wonderful! 

Sunday Luke and I spent the day together - he had a play date then we went out for lunch at his favorite "soup noodle" place. I love our dates together. 

xo

Singapore Normal

There are some things here that resemble our life in Portland. Mostly though, it's different. And that's what we wanted. For now, it's become Singapore normal for us. I've heard this term used often by expats and I like it.

Below are things that are Singapore normal....

Singapore normal is calling winter break "holiday" because you get a funny look when you use the word winter.

Singapore normal is sweating your butt off by the time you get to work in the morning.

Singapore normal is closing the doors and turning the air con on at 7pm so mosquitoes don't fly in your house.

Singapore normal is using the word air con.

Singapore normal is asking your students where they went over holiday and having them tell you this (from my class on Monday): Taiwan, Cambodia, Bali, California, Lake Tahoe, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Kuala Lampur, Finland, Denmark, Bangkok, India, Phuket, South Korea, and Japan.

Singapore normal is getting to meet friends at the pool whenever you want because it's always warm.

Singapore normal is paying more for a margarita than for your food.

Singapore normal is each person being served their food the minute it's made. This translates to everyone getting their meal at different times.

Singapore normal is having to ask for ice water so you don't get warm water.

Singapore normal is peaking in a bathroom stall to make sure it's a regular toilet and not a squatter.

Singapore normal is having policemen come out of NOWHERE and show up next to you. I'd show you a picture of this happening, but the policeman made me take it off my phone (true story). It happened the day after I was asked to leave the Buddhist temple. Not a good few days for me. Strike three may be what sends my butt back home.

Singapore normal is feeling safe no matter what time of day or where you are. (Possibly because of the inconspicuous policemen).

Singapore normal is taking the MRT somewhere, then using our phones to help us find the rest of the way 

Singapore normal is having a "fogger" come each week to spray mosquitoes (look at the haze off in the distance)

Singapore normal is having a thunder storm roll in within minutes

Singapore normal is EXPENSIVE groceries. This TILLAMOOK ice cream is $25.65 - which is about $20 US dollars. Ouch. 

Singapore normal is running errands with this guy and finding a Starbucks to hang out at for a bit (okay, that's Portland normal too). 

Singapore normal is taking a taxi somewhere when the MRT can't get us there easily.

Singapore normal is getting to travel to places I never thought I'd go and learn about places I've never heard of before.

Never in my life did I think I would spend Christmas in Thailand. Or have the chance to plan trips to Hong Kong, Bali, Cambodia, and Australia. Never did I think I'd be living without a car. Never did I think I'd live outside the United States. And never did I think I'd ever leave our families again.

But, Singapore normal for me is learning to 'Never Say Never'.... living each day with an open mind and a willingness to learn & explore. And sweat. 

xo

Hang on and enjoy the ride

I'm sure I'm not the only one that tries to fast forward time. I am so unbelievably excited to see our friends and family this summer that I catch myself wishing time away. My Mom and Denis come in 4 1/2 weeks. Then we have Spring Break. Then Vicki comes back in May. Then we go HOME for the summer. Having wonderful things to look forward to causes me to wish time away so the fun things will hurry up and come.

And oddly enough, as I'm wishing time away, I also find myself simultaneously trying to freeze time.

Luke and I went on a date today to the movies and lunch. We had a great time, just the two of us, and I found myself wondering...at what age will this not be fun for him anymore? I wanted to freeze that moment.

This afternoon Adam and I sat by the swimming pool as we watched Luke & Drew jump in, laugh, play and encourage each other to "jump brudder." I had tears in eyes (so sappy, I know) watching these two and the LOVE they have for one another. I wanted to bottle that moment up forever. Better yet, I wanted to be in that very moment forever. We were safe, happy, together and without a care in the world.

In the scheme of life, our time in Singapore is short. I need to remind myself to hang on and enjoy the ride. There will always be sideswipes and bumps in the road, but what I really need to hold onto are the wide open roads that leave us carefree and open to anything that comes our way. I don't want to spend my life speeding down the road so fast that I can't remember it. And God forbid I have my eyes closed.

We'll be home before we know it for 51 days of comfortable bliss. In the meantime, there's a journey that needs to be enjoyed. Luckily our family gets to pave the way for this one.

On a different note, I almost came home with a puppy today. That would have made for two new things: a puppy and divorce papers. I couldn't even get Luke on my side - "No Mom! I don't want a dog. We have Ella!!!" He AND my better judgement won out, but damn they were cute.

Ahem. A puppy is NOT part of the journey. I get that.

Here's hoping your New Year is off to a good start. I would have to say 2013 is looking pretty darn good...one day at a time that is.

xo

A little more Phuket...

Here are some other pictures from our Christmas in Phuket. We had a great 8 days there and loved our time with Mark, Kelly & Grant. We look forward to another family Christmas together next year. :)

Leavin' on a jet plane...

This baby elephant (2 years old) was at the Marriott everyday in the morning and again in the afternoon. You'll notice Luke is NOWHERE to be found in the pictures. :)

Drew was yelling "No touch efant Daddy, no touch!"

So happy with their hot dogs and chocolate milk shakes!

Livin' the life

The boys were excited to see Grant again :)

Fun slide at the Marriott!

Nothing like having drinks in the kid pool! Cheers!

Random market near dinner the first night. Might possibly be the smelliest place I've ever been in my life. We lasted about 5 minutes. 

One of our Tuk Tuk rides

We ate some really good food

Dinner with our buddies...

Boys had a little sun in their eyes

Spent a day at Khai Nui, Khai Nai, and Khai Nok Islands (about 15 minutes from Phuket by speedboat)

Just as a storm was coming in. It was a quick one. In and out in 10 minutes.

Playing in the sand on our snorkeling trip

Loved the look of this funky little bar. Made a great pina colada too!

Ready to hop into the sea!

Absolutely LOVE this picture. Drew catching a ride as Adam snorkels :)

Very cool family moment as we all floated out in the middle of the Andaman Sea

This is an infinity pool that overlooks the Andaman Sea - what a view!

                             

Swimming at the Yaht Club Christmas evening

Crazy busy, but lots of shopping in Patong Beach

Lunch on our last day in Phuket

There are SO many more, but these are the highlights (and the formatting is driving me nuts!). Our family trips are just beginning and thankfully the first 2 have been wonderful. Next up is Hong Kong in March! 

                           

What a strange week

I remember having weeks back at home that I wanted a "do over." They didn't happen often, but there were "do over" days and sometimes weeks. It was a "do over" kind of week here.

Rewind to Christmas night. Luke started throwing up at the dinner table. It only just stopped two nights ago. This was cause for concern as it wasn't a normal sickness. He has been lethargic, little appetite at times, crazy huge appetite at others, and throwing up randomly over the course of 8 days. Those who have experienced the pristine, completely clean standards of a Singapore MRT station know that his throw up was probably NOT appreciated in the middle of the floor.

Anyway, long story short, he'll be going back to the doctor tomorrow. He's had some weird things going on since October and the wonderful doctor (I've never in my life encountered a doctor so caring and thoughtful) felt like we needed a second opinion, someone else to take in all that I've told her and all his symptoms. Would be lying if I said I wasn't worried - as a mom, that's my job and I'm really, really good at it.

The Dragon, I mean Drew, is adjusting to life without his Baba Milk. We are adjusting to a life of screams and digging-his-heels-into-the-ground walks to his bedroom. It is getting better. Baby steps. We know we are doing the right thing, we know we did this to ourselves by letting him have it for so long and I can completely see why parents just give in. Oh how life would be so much easier if he could JUST HAVE HIS BABA MILK! (Those who have/had little ones know how difficult these moments in life can be).

In the midst of bottle melt downs and throwing up in train stations, we have had some fun this week. We took the boys to an indoor play park and an indoor rock-wall climbing place. They loved them both and we, of course, loved seeing the JOY all over their cute little faces.

Notice Luke dressed them like twins. Spiderman shirts and red basketball shorts.

What was reeaallly fun is that Adam and I had to get our own selves through those rollers on the right. We're not 10 anymore. 

Cool indoor rock wall climbing place -  Luke LOVED it. Drew threw himself on the mats a lot 

I could just eat that face up. 

Took the boys over to school yesterday...they had the entire sandbox to themselves ...so fun

While I'd like a "do over" - it's not because it's been an awful week. It's just because no one has really been on their game, the weather hasn't been great and I had envisioned getting out to do more things. That said, it's important we get everyone healthy and we're lucky to have had the time to do so. Funny how we're across the world and we have weeks that leave us feeling the exact same way as we sometimes did in the states. 

Different day, different country, that's all.  

I have some great pictures to get on here from Phuket - and I will do that soon. Before work starts again.

We ARE VERY EXCITED about one new thing we learned today. We now get to come home for 51 days this summer! Work starts a week later than we thought next year, which gives us an extra week in the states. 51 days of the Mitchell's...get ready people!!! 

xo