We Made It

We did it.

We are here.

Singapore. Safe and sound.

The Big Flight went surprisingly well.

A short flight to San Fransisco, 6 hour lay over, 10 hour flight to Seoul Korea, then a 6 hour flight to Singapore. The kids ate, slept and watched movies. I brought all sorts of toys and books and didn't need them.

Singapore Air is wonderful, they just kept bringing us stuff - coloring books, cookies, snacks, socks for heaven's sake. The hardest part was going through security. 2 kids, 2 strollers, and 8 carryons. Especially after the front wheel of our stroller snapped on the jet way in San Francisco.

We are now in our apartment, everything is unpacked, we have cell phones, internet and beds and we're working on the rest. The kids love the place. Gage keeps finding new nooks to play in and Noah just stares out the window at the big barges on the ocean.

We've got a lot of setting up to do, and after that we're looking forward to exploring Singapore.

So far we've spent a lot of time at Ikea, in taxis, shopping, trying to get the kids on the right sleeping schedule, and finding places to eat. My favorite is the place next door with the smiling chinese kid who pokes and tickles the kids and you can get a full meal for $2.50 rice, 2 vegetables and meat. So yummy and colorful.

Oh, and the pool. Lots of time at the pool.

Oh what a summer

. zip swing at the park . swim lessons . t ball . silly videos from daddy . wading pool at Howard Amon . bike rides . reading books with Grandpa . playing with Riley . jumping on the trampoline . rocking out at the library . play dates . puzzles with Grandma . tickles with Grandma . art in the park . snowcones . the train store with Grandpa . the river . the pool . making packages for daddy . Grandma's macaroni and cheese .

Our Washington summer is coming to an end. We have one more week. Just a few more days until the Big Flight. We are so excited to move and start this new adventure and especially to have David back. And we will be sad to leave Washington.

I will definitely miss spending so much time with my mom and dad. And teasing my cute sister. Having in house babysitters is absolutely amazing. I'll miss my mom's cooking and her ever open ear. I'll miss having girlfriends around to get together or to get out.

This week is a packing week. My bins and suitcases and duffles and backpacks need to be ready. Gotta make sure we've got our ranch packets, sunscreen and bounce dryer sheets. If there's room I might throw in some brownie mixes.

Wednesday, oh happy day, Dave will get here and then the Big Flight is Friday.

Wish us luck.

catch, throw, bat, run

Today was the last day of Tball. 6 weeks of kicking dirt, elbowing his little buddies, running in circles, and oh yeah, learning how to play tball. Noah loved every minute of it and was so fun to watch.

Little brother even came to watch a few and was a good little fan. Handing Noah his water and yelling "Go Noah Go!" But it was oh so hard for him not to join in the fun.

A Lovely Day

My wonderful friend made me a picnic lunch for my birthday. To celebrate and to send us on our way. It was filled with yummy things and thoughtful wishes.

Birthday love was also sent from a sweet husband in Singapore (we sure are missing him), kind words from friends and family, and my cute mom even baked me a chocolate cake. What a lovely day.

It's off to work I go...

It's been rumored that I live in Singapore. Well, in the almost-words of the great Schwarzenegger, "it's not a rumor." At the moment I live in an apartment/hotel about 5 blocks from my building on campus. This is what I see on the way there...

...The National Museum...

...Singapore Art Museum...

...SMU's Accounting and Law Building...
(my building is in the background)

...And the lovely LKCSB
(Lee Kong Chian School of Business)

Gage is 2

This kid was so happy to turn 2. Well, mostly he was happy to have a party. There are some things all kids understand: presents, cake, party. Pretty simple.

We love this kid so much. Over the past couple weeks he has definitely turned into a two year old. He loves to sing, talks a ton, parrots everything his brother says. He loves to ride bikes, swim, jump on the trampoline, wrestle, and run in crazy circles through the house.

Happy Birthday to Gage!

Great dialogue in this video toward the end:

hey Gage how old are you now?
3.
what?
4.
No, 2.
2, right. wheee.
Gage how old are you now?
6!

David in Sg

David has landed in Singapore. He's mission is to set up our life as much as he can before he needs to come back to the US for his conference. So far he's been there for a Saturday and a Sunday.

Saturday he spent the day running around with a real estate agent looking at condos. He found some good options but none that meet all our criteria yet.

Sunday he spent the morning at church, then the afternoon with new friends.

Monday he will meet with his relocation specialist to help him take care of his employment pass and other paperwork. And hopefully he'll get a chance to settle into his office. He's got to be anxious by now to get his computer set up (that sweet man let me keep our laptop in WA).

Singapore is 15 hours ahead of Washington, so while I just got done tucking my babes into Grandma's guest beds on a Sunday night he is probably finding a good spot to eat on a Monday lunch.

I'm headed to bed soon but first thing my Monday morning I will check and see how David's Monday in Sg went. Good night.