Grant's first Taekwondo lesson

Grant is too young for most afterschool activities (and continuing HOCKEY here in Singapore is not an option) so we decided to try out Taekwondo. We had a trial lesson last week, but today was his first official lesson. He was so excited to have his own uniform with his name on it!

Fun in the Pool after school!

Getting lost

The good thing about the location of our house here in Singapore, is that most shops and grocery stores are within walking distance. (Toys R Us, Starbucks, Borders, etc) Also, taxis are everywhere and that is how I have been getting around since Brian takes the car to work each day. Taxis are great here, everyone speaks amazing English and they are very friendly and clean (unlike some NYC ones). The bad part is that when a taxi takes you everywhere, you don't really need to pay attention to HOW you got to your destination. You call from the house, they come and pick you up in 3-5 min, you tell them where you want to go and then Voila...you are at your destination. (photo to the left is of Orchard Road-close to where we live)

This week Brian flew to China for a business trip, so I had free use of the car. Great, huh? No...not really. Each day I have tried to go out to new places (outside our Orchard Road area-which is in the Central area of Singapore) and I have managed to get lost every time! The car even has a navigation system---but I still manage to get lost because if it is slightly cloudy or rainy the nav satelite can't "find you". Very frustrating!!! AUGH!!!

Happy to say that I just found my way to a store without having to make a U turn or pull over till the nav system finds me! HIP HIP HOOORAY!

I am starting to enjoy this new found freedom of having the kids in school from 7am-4pm. I joined the American Women's Association here and they do a ton of social things (bunco, girls night out, movie/lunch out, etc) and local tours. I am looking forward to exploring the local areas and people here in Singapore.

Well, I am off to get the kids off of the bus. I certainly can't get lost going there! :)

More Photos of going to School

Here are some photos of the first days of school and the bus.

Grant's Post---aka "DARTH GRANT"

This is Grant. My school is really great. I started Kindergarten yesterday. My teachers name is Miss Scott and she has a helper named Miss Susie. It is really great. Today we went to the Library and we saw around the library. And we had bees in our basement at home this morning-scary. Mom killed the bees and now they are all gone! And school is REALLY good. The bus ride is kinda boring because there nothing to do. We are on the bus for a long time (30 min) and I sit with my sister. I am really good at art. One of my friends at school is named Aiden and Ashton. Ashton is from France. Lunchtime is great because, I don't know. I ate bow tie pasta for lunch. Yesterday I had Chinese class. I learned a song that I can not sing correctly. But I know part of it , I think. But I only know it sounds like the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I have a cool new room, and I have BUNK BEDS!! I like living in Singapore it so green and everything is clean and no garbage on the floor. Here is a picture of me going to my first day of Kindergarten. BYE GRANT CLARKE SIBLEY

Maddie's Post

HI! This is Madeline, and today I am 9 years old! It's my birthday! HOORAY!

Living in Singapore is very cool. But very hot. The people here are very nice and they seem to really like my curly hair. Wherever we go, the locals (Singaporians) all like to pat my head and touch my hair. There aren't many curly haired people around here. Sometimes I forget I am living in a foreign country because when you look around everything is written in English and there are the same stores and places to eat that we have at home. But then I listen, and I hear lots of different languages being spoken by people. I've heard Mandarin Chinese, Indian, Malay (language of Malasia), and lots of tourists from other countries. There are a lot of people here on this small island, and sometimes we have to wait a long time for a taxi.

The best part of living in Singapore is meeting new friends and the worst part is that it gets REALLY hot some days and walking to places is really not fun.

I start school in 5 days at the Singapore American School. It's a huge giant school with cool stuff. Like there are 3 different playgrounds just for my grade! The school doesn't seem any different than in the USA, except that I get to wear a uniform. I am a little nervous to start because I am worried that the teachers won't like me or I won't like them!

I will post more in a few days, after I start school. MISS YOU GUYS!

love Madeline