A Choice

I went to a movie and lunch with a friend at a very fancy mall on Orchard Rd. It was a Saturday so I had to stand in a long long line to use the restroom.

I didn't realize which toilet I was getting until I had latched myself into the stall.

These Squatty Potties are not new to me. They're everywhere. Even in the restroom right next door to Prada handbags and Louis Vuitton. But I usually avoid them. At all costs. This one is actually at Mt. Faber Park so imagine this, only fancy. If you can.

But here am I. Where I do not want to be. Do I get out and ask the next woman to trade with me? Would she even understand? Do I give it a try? I definitely don't stand in line again.

What would you do?

the view from where I sit

an afternoon at Pasir Ris

The best decision I made all week was to go to this park.

With no napping happening in the afternoon and Daddy away for a week, a long afternoon outing is just the thing. As well as banana pancakes for dinner.

It was shady. Breezy. And we had it all to ourselves.

Even with the breeze, that afternoon was VERY hot and humid. After the kids drank all their juice, and their water, and all of mine, we headed down to the vending machine. With one Kickapoo Joy Juice, and two Milos we found our way to a bench down by the water.

The three of us had a seat and told funny jokes. The more ridiculous and nonsensical the louder the laugh. "Why did the chicken cross the road?" "There was a banana on his head!" Then they started telling superhero stories complete with exploding sound effects. Which of course they can both do perfectly, while my helicopter still sounds a lot like my rocket launch.

Daddy gets home tonight from a week in the U.S. We can't wait to have him back. He's bringing along 2 boxes worth of Amazon and Costco goods that we've been missing.

And he makes the best exploding building noise.

Easter

We planted the wheat grass the weekend before. I didn't think it was going to make it. The boys loved filling up the buckets with dirt and checking them everyday for sprouts. They even liked blowing hte yoke out of the eggs (I didn't expect that) which we hid inside. We used quail eggs. You know, because they're cheaper than white eggs around here. What I really want to know is - what laid the big black ones I see at the market? We did not use those.

Saturday was Heiferlumpa. Great name, ya? My two favorite Sg friends put together an Easter brunch, egg hunt and also raised money for heifer.org.

Can you tell how excited Noah was? He ran around with half his candy in his mouth and the other half melting in his basket. We forgot the chocolates would be so melty - this being the boys' first egg hunt not in the snow.

Little Gage would pick up one egg, plop himself down, open the egg, eat the sweets and then get back up to find the next one.

Easter Sunday the boys found their hidden baskets, we ate our Hootenanny for breakfast, and had a wonderful day at church. Then a BBQ dinner with friends, absolutely lovely.

Some of our traditions needed tweaking - chicken and shrimp satay for dinner instead of ham and potatoes (no potatoe casserole ingredients to be found, and do you know how much a ham costs?!), strawberry gummies and chocolate pocky in the baskets instead of peanut butter cups or robin eggs (again, do you know how much imported Easter candy costs?!) I did however buy a tiny tiny bag of Cadbury mini eggs for a fortune and enjoyed every. single. bite. And I was so grateful my generous friend had brought 2 grocery bags full of plastic eggs with her to Singapore. Because those are nowhere to be seen.

Update: 5 days after Easter I found a bag of 6 small plastic eggs for $6.50. On clearance.

But our most important traditions needed no tweaking. All week we sang, read, watched, colored, and talked about the resurrection of Christ and how that changes our lives. The boys love our collection of pieces that represent the story and wanted to do it again and again. And that is what I hope they'll remember about Easter.

Happy Birthday dear David

It was definitely a David type of day. Pack in all the fun you can. Of course we have time! Perfect for his birthday.

When David got home from work we rode our bikes down to the 360 Cable Ski park. A perfect surprise, he loved it. And the boys loved watching their daddy - up the ramps, down the ramps, jump or crash - they loved it all.

Then home again for a lasagna dinner (I'm still proud of myself for finding all the ingredients - although a little different :) and chocolate cake. He opened presents, and we all laughed. hard. at the pink umbrella from Tom and his family. That's what you get for making fun of a Dutch man for carrying his daughter's umbrella.

Happy Birthday dear David!

Then he was off to play futsal with our Irish neighbor.

Today made me remember when David was at BYU and he'd carry a case of water bottles in the trunk of his Honda Civic. Because sometimes its hard to remember to bring your water, when you're running from Managerial Economics to flag football to ultimate frisbee - or is water polo on Wednesdays?

Happy Birthday, David! We love you!!!

Zee Avi

The show was awesome just like David said it would be.

Super small venue, and we were in the front row - except for that pesky camera man who kept snapping around, and the Kiwi with the crocodile shoes. But being a foot taller than everyone really comes in handy.

We sang along in all the right places and she even broke out her ukulele.

I love date night.

J M Z

Just Jessie, Me, and Zee...and 300 of our closest friends.

One of our new-found favorites is Zee Avi. She's from Borneo so we swore that "If she ever does a concert in Malaysia, we're there!"

Well, turns out she was on my campus today and she'll (and we'll) be at the stereolab tomorrow night. Looking forward to a great show!