Children's Garden

Today we went to the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. What a wonderful place.

The boys loved the tree house and got a kick out of the bananas growing upside down on the trees.

Did I mention I cut my hair? Can't really tell in this picture. But when we're climbing around on a hot day, I sure am grateful!

We had chicken nuggets on a stick with tomato sauce (ketchup) at the children's Cafe and cooled off at the water area (I still haven't learned to bring the swimsuits everywhere).

Bikes

Last Saturday we rented bikes and rode up and down East Coast Park. It was nice and breezy. We passed playgrounds, bike shops, restaurants, and lots of lots of beach.

We parked at the Cable Ski Park for awhile and watched the wakeboarding competition.

We parked at the Carl's Jr for a nice juicy burger. (A girl needs one of those every once and awhile).

We parked at this sandy spot to make a sand castle and fill a jar with shells.

Next Saturday we're hoping the kids can ride the path on their own. The other night we walked over to Giant and found just the right bikes. Noah thought it was hilarious that we let him ride back through the mall, down the elevator, and all the way home. Gage doesn't quite pedal his pedals yet. But he'll get there.

First Day of School

Monday was the first day of school for Noah.

I wondered how settled he would feel since he is joining the school during the last term. School will be out mid November and then start again in January. But the first day we walked in, two neighbor girls were there to greet him "It's Noah! He's four and he's in Mrs. Chee's class!" He definitely felt the love.

I love helping him get ready in the morning. Get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, grab backpack. He is so quick.

I love the one on one time with Gage. He loves to play in big brother's room while he's gone and I love to run errands while its a little less hectic.

I love when he comes running out his classroom door. Big big smile, "Mom!"

He tells me "wall" is "qiang" in Chinese. Every time the teacher said qiang they had to run and touch the back wall. He tells me "se" is four in Chinese. So now we can count to four. He forgot five through ten. And he forgot how to say jump. But he tells me he'll ask Mrs. Chee again. Because she knows everything in Chinese, he says. He tells me they had noodles for a snack and read a funny book about animals trying to find their mamas.

After school we play at the playground in the plaza and then might buy a muffin or an iced milo from the bakery next door.

We are so proud of our little Noah.

Singapore Science Centre

We met some friends at the Singapore Science Centre a bit ago.

I was feeling thrifty and decided to save some money by taking the bus out there instead of a taxi. GoThere (the most amazing website by the way) told me it was supposed to be about an hour bus ride. No transfers. We can do that, I thought.

We waited much longer than I expected for the bus. And the hour bus ride turned into 2 hours with construction, traffic and frequent stopping. Once we got off there was a blazing walk up the hill and across the street to the Science Centre. Late to meet our friends, stomach still queasy from the back of the bus, drenched in sweat, and carrying the stroller up the stairs I promptly decided to take a taxi home.

But the Science Centre itself was wonderful. Great exhibits. We need to go back and take our time. And Noah just reminded me we have to go back for Snow City. Maybe in December when we're missing the chill.

Singapore Zoo

Do you dare enter?

"Just be brave, Dad." Noah says as he takes a rest in the stroller. Walking around a humid zoo calls for a few breaks.

The trek winds around a bit. You can't see anything but jungle. I'll admit it, I was a little nervous. How close will the tiger be? But no worries, the jungle opens up and there's a big habitat with a deep moat and electric fences between you and the huge white tigers.

Or so they say. I couldn't see them and it seemed pretty close to me. No big glass boxes for the animals here. Like we're used to. Just open outdoor habitats. Even free ranging orangutans. Beautiful.

We walked along the paths to the other exhibits. Through the jungle and then oh look, gorillas, or oh look, a cheetah.

Here the boys are spying on an elephant.

The helpful tram rides, feeding sessions, photo ops, splashing animal shows and restaurants complete with Ben and Jerry's help bring you back. Not to mention the kid's waterpark. No extra cost.

One thing I've learned about Singapore: bring the swimsuits everywhere.

Sight seeing

(click the picture)

Last week we were downtown getting our dependent passses taken care of. At the Ministry of Manpower - super efficient, clean, friendly government office.

Afterwards we decided to take the Singapore Hippo Taxi Tour. A boat ride along the Singapore River right past the business district downtown.

Right before we got on the boat. This is Gage's smile for the camera.

He'll give it to me occaisionaly but mostly he saves it for the random people who stop and take his picture. Singaporean grandmas, Indian teenagers, Korean couples will stop us on the street to pinch his cheeks, give him kisses and take his picture.

"Come home to my house?!" "My baby?!"

"Um, no. A couple steps back please and don't touch" I say with the sweetest smile I can find.

Settling In

Luggage, kitchen table, computer desk, toy box, laundry basket. There are a lot of uses for a big blue bin, especially when you're settling into a new place. Now most of them are stacked away in the storage closet, but those first weeks they sure were handy.

We're getting around, trying to get to know our new neighborhood. The other day we took a bus down to the library. Just one stop away. Noah loves beeping his card as we board and "alight."

There are 2 grocery stores right next door in the mall: Giant and Cold Storage. So I usually walk over with the stroller and hang our bags on the handles for the walk back. One night I loaded up a whole bunch in a shopping cart and walked the cart home and up the elevator. It was so convienent to unload but then I had to do the walk of shame to return the empty cart. I need to find one of those small wire carts the smart old ladies use.

The mall has hardware stores, lots of restuarants, toy stores, electronics, dentists, chiropractors, office supply stores, department stores and of course lots clothes and shoes. Anything you need. In the basement is a great food court with a different stall for noodles, rice, meat, vegetable dishes. Pig organ soup, you know - the usual.

Next door to the mall there's also a open outdoor market called "wet market" with fresh fruit and vegetables. Lots of small shops all along there with everything you need and cheaper than mall prices. There's also a "hawker center" which is like an outdoor food court with Indian food, Chinese food, Indonesian food. My favorite is the fresh spring rolls "popiah" with a glass of cold lime juice.

We walk to things that are close by. David takes a bus 20 minutes downtown to his office. I bus with the kids when its simple. Taxis when its further away - to playgroup or the zoo.

One of our main tasks the last weeks was to find Noah a preschool. There are 6 or 7 within walking distance. Each a little different. He is just dying to go. He had an hour trial session last week and it was so hard to leave. He'll start Monday. His uniform is already washed and he had his backpack packed a week ago (water bottle and a crayon just in case, he says). This school is 70% in English, 30% in Chinese so he says he'll teach me new words when he gets home, "if I can remember, Mom."

If we walk just past the mall, under the underpass, and follow the foot path we find ourselves at East Coast Park. We went last Saturday to have a picnic and play in the sand. I'm still not sure what kind of tree we picniked under. The local boys swimming in the water told me with big smiles it was a coconut tree but I have serious doubts.

We're trying to figure it all out. Most days are fascinating, others are hard. Small victories have become very meaningful. And its only the beginning.