Dr. Pepper?? or did you say Tissues?

I had what my friends and I call a "Singapore moment" the other day while out to lunch with my friend Lori.

We went to a Hawker Center (like an outdoor food court with local food for really great price-filled with locals usually). We were craving some good Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and other Asian specialty food. The English spoken at this Hawker center is ok, but not as good as most stores/restaurants-but the food is AMAZING and yummy.

We sat down to eat and I decided to go to the Drink stall and get us beverages. Lori's drink of choice? Diet Coke. My drink of choice...Dr. Pepper. LOVE IT! :)

So I head to the Drink man, and ask for a Diet Coke and Dr. Pepper. He hands me the Diet Coke, then looks confused as to what I am asking for next. They sell Dr. Pepper in Singapore, I buy it all the time--but at the Hawker Center? I can't remember. So I say it slower, sounding ridiculous as I say it. "Doooocccttttooorrrr Peeeepppppppppppeeeerrrrrr". The man is not hard of hearing, so I am not sure why i am saying it in a louder voice. He was probably thinking "You silly American lady-i can hear you". He hands me another can of some other soda. I say "No, Dr. Pepper-it's a brand of soda. Red can" He hands me a Coke. I just decide to try the next Drink stall. So I say "no no. Nevermind".

A few doors down I go to the next nice little man, and say sweetly "Dr. Pepper please". He cocks his head...thinks for a moment...and picks up a bottle of water and tries to hand it to me. I say it again, stupidly, and describe it. No luck. He then smiles and his eyes light up...I think to myself YIPPEEE, he has it. He instead hands me a little packet of tissues. Tissues?? Dr. Pepper? WHAT??? Do the two words sound alike?? Am I speaking not clearly?? Am I on candid camera?? I then realize he must think I am sick (the word Doctor) and is offering Kleenex to help me??? I giggle, hand them back and tell him I'll have that bottle of water after all.

No Dr. Pepper today for me. :)

First day of school at The Singapore American School!

Maddie and Grant on their way to the bus stop at 7:00am-a much later pick up time than last year (they used to be picked up at 6:45!)

Here they are with our neighbors Lilly and Maisy-they attend a different private school here in Singapore.

Grant was not happy that he had to wear a badge for the first few days around his neck-he thought he was too big for that. :)



Maddie and Grant started school last week-Maddie started 5th grade on Monday and Grant started 1rst grade on Wednesday!!

They were both so excited to start school this year. Grant did NOT like the fact that Maddie started a few days before him, but it was nice to get some more 1 on 1 with him for a few days while she was at school.

They love their teachers and had a great first week. Grant was surprised that 1rst grade is so different from kindergarten. He came home one day and told me that "1rst grade is a lot of work and not as much playtime!!".

Madeline loves the fact that she is switching classes for science and social studies, preparing for middle school next year (YIKES!). She also is playing the violin again this year in the 5th grade orchestra and we spent the day yesterday shopping and purchasing a new violin for her.

We are sooo looking forward to another amazing year at The Singapore American School!!

Our 1 yr anniversary of living as an Expat

This past year as an Expat has flown by. As we arrived into Singapore a few days ago after our home trip to the USA, I was recalling how I felt this exact time one year ago.

We were nervous, excited, and a little scared all at the same time. We didn't know a soul here, we didn't know where to shop or eat, and most importantly I didn't know if everyone would understand us. We were told that everyone spoke English, but until you live and explore an area...you just never know. We knew that the American population was large on this tiny island, but we didn't know who our neighbors were and if we would be around any. I won't lie, the first 3 months were tough. The kids were sick constantly because they needed to get used to new "germs" in this part of the world. I was also without children for the first time in 9 years during the day. Grant started kindergarten and they were both gone all day (6:45am-4pm). It was a huge adjustment for myself as well. No longer did I have the kids as an ice breaker to meet new people. We've moved around the USA a bunch over the last 12 years of our marriage, and I have learned that it's super easy to make friends in a new area when you've got little ones in playgroups, etc. But I have made such wonderful priceless friendships since moving here to Singapore. Joining the American Womans Association and being a member of the American Club was so very helpful in meeting other women with similiar intersts. For Brian.. he had to deal with the family adjustment as well as work ones. He was starting with huge projects both in China and here, and needed to adjust to traveling to China M-F every other week. But we made it...and NOW....

One year later:
I am amazed at how well we adjusted and have grown to love it here. We have met such amazing people from all over the world, have made wonderful friends, and feel very much at home here. When we were in the USA for our visit over the summer I ran into a friend and she asked "Was it a HUGE culture shock to move to Singapore?" I didn't have to think long before I told her that it was a bigger culture shock to come back to our small New England town then to move 1/2 way around the world. We can buy/find all the same American products here but we also have cultural experiences right around each corner. It is like the best of both worlds. The kids look at people and experiences much differently now, and that is an amazing lesson I am glad that Brian and I have given them. Now we are celebrating and breathing a sigh of relief as we begin our fun second year as an Expat here in Singapore. We are looking forward to more fun traveling, a great excellent school year, and adventures that the kids will remember for the rest of their lives. :)

Headed back "home" to Singapore

I can't believe that we are headed back already, the 7 weeks we were home just flew by. For those of you that we didn't get to see this trip, I do apologize and PROMISE to see you guys at Christmas. There weren't enough hours in the day and days here for us to do all that we wanted to. Here I thought it would be a relaxing visit home. Silly me! :) The kids have mixed feelings right now, they are sooo excited to go back and see their friends in Singapore and start the new school year, but they are so very sad to leave all of our good friends here in the USA and the comforts of home. They had to say all their good-byes today to friends and it was hard for them. Once we get to the airport tomorrow, they will be excited to get back to the warm tropical Singapore island.

As I look into the other room I am seeing a TON of stuff to pack into our few suitcases and bags...yikes...getting very stressed. So instead I will post a few photos of things we did over the past few days. (nothing like procrastination)

A trip to The Childrens Museum in Boston -great fun afternoon

Maddie and Grant training to be future members of The Blue Man Group

Grant, don't run over your sister! She'll be nicer to you, I promise!

Madeline decided she should learn to fly a plane...just in case she needs to take over for the pilot tomorrow on our 21 hour flight!


Maddie and her best friend Kaitlin had many sleepovers while we were home. Maddie took her camera everywhere with her this summer, including the sleepovers. These 2 girls came up with cute/creative pictures using the timer and setting the camera on things.


And sweet Grant got glasses to help him see the board at school. He was sooo excited to get them, not really sure why, but it made it a lot easier. He was even more excited to find out the they had POWER RANGER glasses! He wants to wear them 24/7, but the dr. told him only during class time. He will find any excuse to put them on now. So cute.

Hot Shot Sista! :)

As most of you already know, and for those of you who don't, my sister Robyn has taken her god given talent of throwing AMAZING fabulous parties and events and started her own business a few years ago. She rocks...and I'm not just saying this because she is related to me...seriously. For years she would throw parties for her friends, her kids, and family and you could hear people saying "OH MY GOSH, this is AMAZING! You should do this for a living!!" So she tucked away her Masters Degree in Education and created "Mix Mingle Glow". She's worked with some celebrity clients.....

Here is a cutie little photo of my sis (and possible new BFF??)


If you live in/around the Florida area and are in need of an amazing event planner for ANY event (I've seen spectacular weddings she's done, amazing birthday bashes, anniversary parties, baby showers, or any special event) please check her out. She is in North Florida but travels ALL over.

So proud of her. I knew she would be fab...just glad that the rest of the world will see it too. Click here to visit her site.

MFA in Boston

We went to the MFA last week. Haven't taken the kids there for years...seriously....the last time we went Grant was less than a year old. It's been way to long so we decided to make a day of it.

What an incredible museum and the kids loved it!!! Madeline is a very "artsy" girl, but she told me clearly that she didn't enjoy paintings as much as the statues and sculptures. She took her camera and captured some fantastic images of the ones that she loved, and I was amazed at her photography skills. Her viewpoint of the sculptures in her photos put them in a whole different perspective. The MFA was very entertaining for Mr. Grant also. His kindergarten class in Singapore went to the Singapore Art Museum last year as a field trip, and he loved staring at the paintings and asking questions about them. He also loves any paintings by Van Gogh, all thanks to those Baby Einstein videos from years ago-his fav was the Baby Van Gogh one. He was able to recognize the Van Goghs in the MFA this time, and rushed over to look at them up close and was impressed that they had the real ones! He took my camera from me and took a few pictures of his favorite ones.

What was the highlight of their trip to the MFA? The MFA houses one of the world’s finest collections of mummies, sculpture, ceramics, and dazzling gold from ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire. With over 70,000 works of art, they were totally amazed and thrilled to get a glimpse at the world of pharaohs and emperors.

Here are some photos from our day out.
View inside the MFA

Grant found the Van Gogh's...so happy!!

He took this photo with my camera of his favorite Van Gogh

Maddie and Grant doing their best Egyptian poses

Look at little Maddie next to that GIANT painting-amazing!

She said "This is how I feel when I do MATH!!" So here is her Math face copying the painting above.

The boys thought this statue was funny. They said this is Daddy's morning face! HA HA HA!

They were amazed to see a mummy up close. Grant was afraid it was going to come out of the box!!! Maddie scared him a few times by knocking on the glass and saying "Do you hear that?? It's coming out!" Funny girl! Poor Grant!

Here is Grant observing the drawings. Love this photo.

Maddie took this of ancient hieroglyphics.

She took this photo too-love the viewpoint of the sphinx.


If you are ever in Boston, or live near it...you must make a trip to the MFA. Such a fabulous museum.

We are here for another week and then we head back to Singapore. More adventures to come.....

Another fun Vermont weekend!

Fun with Sparklers

While in Vermont Grant was able to hang out with his friend Andrew. There was a neighborhood bbq held a few days after 4th of July and the boys ran around all afternoon/evening having a blast! Once it got dark Andrew was thrilled to share his sparklers with Grant and they ran around them. Here are a few fun photos of the boys....

Happy 4th of July!

We are having such a great time being home this summer! We have had our Target store fix, been overwhelmed at the grocery store with SO many choices (as we don't have all these choices in Singapore), stocking up on items we can't buy in Singapore to squeeze into our luggage for the way home, and visiting lots of friends and family. We do miss the heat and sun of Singapore though, it hasn't been really warm here--and it has rained A LOT since we arrived. And what is "warm" to New Englanders doesn't feel the same to us, amazing how quickly we got used to the real heat and humidity of Singapore. :)

We are currently in Vermont, as our tradition of 4th of July here is our absolute favorite!!! (they celebrated last night here on the 3rd) It has to be one of my favorite holidays, and the folks here in Quechee Vermont, and the Quechee Club put on an amazing fun day for all of us. There are soo many games and rides for the kids(like a carnival/fair), a DJ with fun music to dance to, a yummy yummy dinner and then AMAZING fireworks. Words cannot describe how great the show is, and a finale that would blow you away. My kids LOVE the 4th of July here in Vermont. Madeline danced most of the night, and she and Karol were a hit with all their dance moves (made the other Grandma's jealous). Grant won some really cool prizes with all the games, and had a blast with the sparklers when it finally got dark. Brian and I enjoyed relaxing, having some great summer cocktails, and visited with friends we haven't seen since last summer up here. Great time for all!!!




Happy 4th of July to all of you!!!

Back home in the USA for summer!

Madeline, Grant and I flew home to USA on Friday the 13th (ewww-i know, bad day to fly). Brian could not come with us, but will be flying over on the 26th of June. He stayed home to work and take care of Oaky the cat.

We did make it safely and had a GREAT flight! Imagine my stress level before flying....leaving on Friday the 13th, flying by MYSELF with the 2 kids, flying by myself with the 2 kids for a 21 hour flight....need I say more?? BUT, the kids were so great!! Singapore Airlines could be the best airline in the world, seriously. Every passenger has their own TV/video screen and it is filled with hundreds of movies, tv show, video games, music etc. And a section that is kids only, so Maddie and Grant had no trouble being entertained. Tons of food served to you and in the back lounge area. Games and toys provided to the kids. Amazing airline.

Madeline is old enough to really take care of herself, so she watched 5 movies (caught up on new ones we didn't see in Singapore) and did her thing. Really love that "almost" 10 yr old age for that reason, she is easy. She slept a total of about 2 1/2 hours of the trip, not much, but she didn't bother me...so that is ok. Grant on the other hand was a little bit more busy, changing his activity every 10 minutes or so. :) He played/watched TV/DS/ipod for the first 14 hours and then I made him sleep for 6 hours, and when he woke up-we only had another hour to go. Wasn't too bad-could have been a lot worse. The 21 hours went by pretty fast, thank goodness!

We arrived home at 1am and the kids were wide awake until 2am! YIKES! Karol and Jerry are here with us, and poor folks had to deal with us being jet lagged. I put the kids to bed at 2am and they slept until 5am. Hmmm. Since then, it's been 5 days, we all crash and go to bed at 8pm and then we are wide awake at 5am!! It's not fun. It's really hard to stay awake in the afternoon-the 12 hours difference is brutal. Anyway, I am sure that by this weekend we will be back on track.

We went up to Vermont the day after we arrived and went to the annual Quechee Balloon Festival. Maddie and Grant LOVE it, and we go every year. Amazing to see so many hot air balloons go up at one time. Surrounding the balloons are fun carnival/fair type activities which is fun for all. Who doesn't love a funnel cake??? :) Might be a new cure for jet lag! We stayed up for the weekend and now are back in the comfort of our house. AHHHHHHHHH. Nice to be home.

Madeline's Dance Recital 2008

Last weekend we had Madeline's dance recital, her FAVORITE time of year! :) The recital took place at the famous Raffles Hotel. An amazing theater is upstairs, didn't even know that, and it sat 350 people. Beautiful facility in such a historic location. The theme of the recital was "Uniquely Singapore" as the dance studio caters and seems to have mostly expat kids (children who are not Singaporians). Each dance had to do with famous sites, sounds, and people of Singapore. It was beautifully done and great fun to watch. The recital was broken into 2 shows, due to so many kids/classes to fit in, one show at 1pm the other at 4:30. Madeline danced in both shows, 7 dances in the first show and 5 dances in second show=lots of costume changes and lots of fun for her! :) Her dances were jazz and ballet, she did not take tap this year (not enough time in our week, she is already dancing 2 nights a week). She had such a great time, and loved every minute of it. If she could do it again, she would jump at the chance. She loves to be on stage dancing, as you all know so well. :)

Here are some photos of her in her costumes.


Jazz costume, she was a black orchid (orchids being Singapore's flower)




Maddie and her friend Katie, who was a Big Spender tapper from Orchard Road (like 5th avenue in NYC)



Maddie in another jazz costume to the theme Formula 1-as Singapore is hosting the first night Formula 1 street race this September..and YES Brian already bought tickets. He liked this dance the best of Maddie's! :)



Her ballet costume, she was a spider from the Singapore Zoo category.




Her last costume was a Singapore police costume for a jazz number. The singapore police wear camo here, so it was a cute girly version for the dance. :)

A photographer took some amazing photos during the rehearsal and show, and I will post a few of my favorites later (I know...boring....but I just love seeing her dancing and doing what she loves the most!!)