Botannic Garden Morning

Today (Friday) was the first sunny day in a LONG time. It was the perfect time to head to the Botannic Gardens to walk off some energy. By 8:30 we were at Jacob Balla's Garden playing on the playground (which incidentally has BOTH slides closed???). We walked around looking at the different plants, ran through the maze, played in the sand, and then splashed. Then we walked through the gardens, had a picnic lunch, took the rain forest trail, and headed back to the car. They were dragging (which we LIKE)! I highly recommend this day out!

Also we got our fridge back after a MONTH of repairs-seems to be working fine AND it cost way less than what they quoted us!

Too Much Break

You know your kids need to head back to school when they dress up in all their sparkly skirts/capes, sunglasses, and super power light up things. Yikes!! (too bad we have OVER a week of break left!)

Phone Photos

Matt just took some pictures off his phone (that have been there quite literally for YEARS!) It was fun to look back!

The most recent--our picture with a British Santa and City Square Fairy!
In Ethiopia--the first trip (May 2011)

This wall is over by Arab Street--must have been a while ago!

Notice the cut hair--she did that quite a while ago!

And here's the kicker--look at those bangs. Thankfully she learned her lesson after just one go!

Merry Christmas!

This free scrapbook generated with Smilebox

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a wonderful time with friends and family.

What a reason we have to celebrate!

Christmas Program

We were so far back AND we don't have a good video camera. Don't worry grandparents, it was professionally videoed and we'll post clips later.

Christmas at School

Ana was in quite the mood by the day was over!

Mitike's class party!

China's class birthday party!

Free dress day. Mitike had no Christmas colors, so I whipped out a skirt in one morning. Don't want to do that again, but everyone loved that they coordinated!

Christmas Time = Shows at the Malls!

I took Ana to see the Sesame Street Show at Plaza Singapura. Although it wasn't quite the same as last year, it definitely had it's similarities. She LOVED it--so that's what counts!

A Fun Suprise!

Of course, I suggested a flower. (This man did some AMAZING things!) But no, she wanted a PURPLE SWORD (which later got taken away as she was attacking her brother and sister!)

The ICS puppet team--great students!!

Puppets in action!

China got a spiderman painting--sure glad it didn't stay on too long!

The other day we were invited to watch the ICS Puppet Team perform. It turns out that their show was at a party for adoptive families. China, Mitike, and Ana all got some neat gift bags, lots of food, face painting, and a balloon animal (or purple sword in Ana's case!) We love activities like this that eat up those long afternoons!

Horsin' Around

Ana and China usually get along quite well (unless she's stealing his blocks!!) The other day Ana made him into her horse (his POOR knees!) We appreciate how good he is with little kids!

Our Friday and Saturday

This scrapbooking design made with Smilebox

New Best Friends

There is a (mainland) Chinese family that lives next to us. Their little boy LOVES to come over to play. Too bad we speak no Mandarin and he speaks no English. Ana and him love to ride bikes, kick balls, run, scream, and play with blocks. Although he will probably go into a local kindergarten in January, Ana is enjoying playing with him for now!

School Pictures!

The pictures came back from the photographer. When you get yours in December, they should be something like this--only less grainy of course!

Our Non Traditional Thanksgiving!

This free greeting made with Smilebox

The Flower Girl

This is what they looked like most of the time! TOTAL BLURS!

THE HAIR

So Friday was the big staff wedding. The art teacher married the administrative assistant. The administrative assistant's dad is a pastor, so it was a BIG wedding. Luckily Ana didn't seem disturbed by this (even though all the people were clapping for her as she came in--it's Singaporean!). She happily spread all her petals all over the isle. I made sure she got a good nap, cleaned her up, and did her hair--that took a good long while! The ceremony started late mainly because lots of people came in late which meant that the two young children were waiting around for quite a while.

I hope to get some more photos from the actual photographers and post them soon.

Put That Lawn Mower to Good Use

Don't know what to do with your kids on a beautiful day? Pull 'em around the farm for 1/2 hour or so. Not much effort required!

Every time we have to go to the embassy we head over to the Botannical Gardens afterwards to blow off some steam.

Every time Ana gets a leaf "umbrella." You should see all the people passing by laughing!

We put Uncle Michael's bubbles to good use!!

Can't Catch Up--so I'll Do Recent Things!

Picture retakes were last week. Thanks to a very accommodating photographer we got to sneak in a family photo. He was so nice that even took a couple shots with MY camera! We'll get prints and send them off to you in the States--hopefully by Christmas!

We were very glad to get to meet up with great grandmas, great aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even some second cousins! The kids were very friendly with everyone and had a great time socializing! Thanks everyone for going out of your way to come and see us!

Keepin' them busy!

We played a lot of soccer and rode the horses frequently! Anything to keep them active and out of the house!