The past few weeks have been event filled which is why I haven't been able to get on here to update. Most notably, Josh left last week Saturday for a 12 day trip to Dubai, Kuwait, and South Africa. So here's what was happening before he left and this week while he's been away:
Blake's class visited the zoo to kickoff their new unit where they're learning about the animals. It was a hot sweaty day {what day isn't in Singapore} but I think all the kids had a fun time!
Blake and his zoo buddy, Jeremy.
Checking out the lemur.
Blake's zoo shirt he painted himself!
Joslyn and Blake had a playdate with Blake's friend Sia.
What's better than ice cream?
Nothing!
Blake wrote his name all on his own! Pretty good we think!
Daddy and Joslyn at their weekly swim school class they have together on Saturday mornings!
Blake riding with Jeremy at school.
Thai coconut soup I made this week. Turned out really yummy!
Joslyn's adorable new swimsuit!
Blake's red hot rod!
Cupcakes I made to take to Blake's school for his teacher's birthday. When I asked Blake if he wanted to help he said, "YES!!! To the oven!"
Killing time on a rainy day, stuffed animal basketball!
Joslyn playing "Five Little Monkeys"
So as you can see, we've managed to stay busy despite Josh being gone and us missing him so. The past few weeks have also included a few other play dates with friends, trips to Polliwogs {an indoor playground}, gymnastics, swim school, and our new start with the kids' Mandarin teacher, Yuan-Yuan Laoshi. We're busy but I like it that way! :)
I would like to think that I'm one of those mom's who tries to play it cool on the holidays and not get all carried away, but I seriously can't! I think it's one of the best things about being a mom and I remember as a kid really loving and looking forward to holidays. I just can't help myself because it really is so fun!
Our foam Easter bunny and Easter chick crafts. They were stickers {which the kids loved} and they had lots of fun putting them together! We then stuck them to our door to enjoy.
It was a crafty kind of day. Joslyn wanted to decorate a yellow "egg" with fancy sequence.
Blake loves all things sticky tape and I found this Japanese fabric tape at what we call here in Singapore the "Two Dollar Store." He loved the stuff and decided that was the best route for his green egg.
Then it was on to coloring in our new Easter activity books!
Blake's Easter card from Grandma and Grandpa Oleson had these cool little paper punch out bunny cars. Blake had tons of fun putting them together and playing! They are still on his bookshelf in his room. :)
Joslyn enjoying her new Easter book. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Oleson!
We are so lucky because our families always think of us and the kids on the holidays. Grandma and Grandpa Eavey also sent some goodies that we let the kids open before we went to Thailand. Joslyn loves her Dora book and phone while Blake is especially happy about his airplane, helicopter, and truck set!
Easter Morning
Joslyn and her new bunny!
Joslyn's Easter Basket
Blake's Easter Basket
The Easter bunny brought the kids this new Little People Airport!
Bunny Cake
Blake thought it was cool!
Joslyn...not so much.
Overall our Easter was a very quiet, but nice day. We had a picture scavenger hunt in the morning to find eggs and had fun checking out the kids' baskets. After all that fun, we went out for a yummy brunch. The rest of the day we just hung out together, playing with new toys and having a few too many goodies! It was a fun day!
VACATION!!!! WHOOO-HOOO!!!! This past Saturday we flew from Singapore to Bangkok, Thailand, had a two hour lay over, and then flew on to Phuket, Thailand{pronounced poo-ket}. This was the day we had been talking about for a month and counting down the days with the kids for almost two weeks!
With the excitement of traveling on an airplane, the kids were totally exhausted by the time we reached our hotel. While Josh checked us in, they were asleep on the couches in the lounge. The Thai people are so kind and love kids, so lots of people kept coming by to ask if I needed anything and to talk with me about the kids' cute faces. It was sweet and I was just so grateful to be there!
After breakfast the next morning, we dove into our swimsuits and went straight to the beach. Both the kids were really unsure about the waves, and though Joslyn never really got over it, Blake was rolling around in the surf and covered head to toe in sand by the last day!
We had lunch near the beach and then had naps.
Our drink selection!
After naps we checked out the mini-golf at the hotel. It was pretty fun...Blake was trying out his hockey puck swing and Joslyn was pestering him by running after his freshly hit ball! Fun times!
Mini-golfing at the hotel before dinner.
This got Blake started on wanting to play golf the whole time we were there!
That evening we went into a restaurant in nearby Patong with great Thai food. We also got the kids t-shirts and rode in our first tuk-tuk of the trip. The kids really enjoyed the tuk-tuk...they were constantly asking when we could ride one again!
Blake and Daddy in the Tuk Tuk
Joslyn and Mommy in the Tuk Tuk
Full day number two we decided to take the kids to an off site mini-golfing place that looked really nice. It was all fine and well except it wasn't on the beach and it was 11 am...a time of day in the tropics where you really should be at the beach, the pool, or having a cold drink someplace shady preferably with a breeze, fans, air conditioning, or all of the above! Despite totally melting, the kids really enjoyed it, especially Blake. Josh took the kids around and I mostly took pictures. We were beyond thrilled when we finished to be given a nearly frozen face towel while ordering cold Singha and water!
Since I refuse to have my picture taken when I'm a hot mess, I'll show you one of Joslyn instead {because even so, she's still super cute}!
After lunch and nap time, we headed to the beach for an evening swim. The weather was perfect, the waves calm, the water warm, the sunset beautiful...the ideal beach evening!
That's Blake there just after the wave on the left and Josh behind him. Blake LOVED playing in the surf!
The next day was our last full day and elephant day. I was definitely the most excited as I truly am amazed each time I get up close to these huge animals. The kids were excited too once we got there and they saw them for themselves. They kept saying, "Elephant! Aww, they're so cute!" It was SO. MUCH. FUN!!!
Right after I snapped this picture Blake dropped the banana! He wasn't so sure his hand/arm wasn't going to get grabbed too!
View from the top of the hill from atop our elephant.
Our mahout turned around on the elephant's head and took this picture of us...the kids don't look so sure!
After the ride we took one more picture!
That night we went back into Patong and ate at the same Thai restaurant we had eaten at a few nights before {what can I say, stick with what works!}. Their coconut chicken soup and green curry were AMAZING and our whole meal {mango sticky rice and Singhas included} less than US$30. The kids of course were most excited about the post meal prospect of riding in a tuk tuk and Blake insisted this time we ride in a yellow one. We found one straight away, and best of all it was tricked out with lights and serious speaker system!
Here are videos of Josh and the kids rockin out to Gangnam Style {while I giggle and try to keep the iPhone steady}!
It was an AMAZING trip and my only complaint is that I wish we could have stayed longer. I couldn't think of a better backdrop for beautiful memories I won't soon forget!
