Monkeys, Monkeys everywhere

A few weeks ago a friend took me to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. We went to see the monkeys and not to hike the highest hill here in Singapore which is 163.3 m high or 535 feet up. There are a TON of them at the reserve and they are not scared of humans at all so they tend to get very close to you.

The first time I went there was one cheeky little monkey that tried to pee on me! See his picture over there, that's all I saw of him. He didn't just try once he tried a SECOND TIME! He missed both times but I think we're engaged or something.

So, I couldn't wait to take the kids back and see how close you can really get to these mischievous little animals. This last Thursday Bob was actually home with us for once so we took the kids over to look. There was NOT a monkey in sight and I was disappointed. I still think it is very cool to see these animals so close without going to the zoo. Anyways we decided to explore other parts of the nature reserve.

we found a slide



a rock quarry and true love





two swimming turtles



a small zipline for the kids



and wierd things growing out of trees

And on our way back down we finally saw the monkeys! And they were all over, from the tops of the buildings to the tops of the cars and every tree that was in that reserve! The kids LOVED it!

we are parked across from that car

how close we actually get

close up of the car riding monkeys



and our favorite one with the mohawk.

It really was a fun time. I've always loved monkeys and it is so cool seeing them in their natural habitat. Sometimes you'll see poeple running and they just run right past the monkeys. I love driving here and waiting for the whole family to cross the street. Singapore has had alot of trouble with monkeys because of us silly humans feeding them. So there is a big campaign to NOT feed the monkeys. I also know that monkeys can be very dangerous so we observed more than anything but you should always be careful around ANY animal.

Look out world

Greyson is gone to Southern India this week as part of his school's curriculum. I love that they have these trips to help the kids become more globally aware but I hate missing part of my family. He was so excited to go and I really am excited to send him on. It's hard putting your kids life into someone elses hands and this time to a whole other country! But I'm so excited to hear of his adventures and to see how it impacts him. He will be seeing major poverty and major commercialism all in one trip and in between he is visiting Auroville which is very "hippie" as the teacher who is the chaperone put it.

This isn't the first time Grey has been on a trip without us. The first time was in 2007 when he was just 11. He went to Washington D.C. with a group called People to People. He was one of 4 nominated from his 5th grade class. The trip was at the beginning of his 6th grade year. He had a blast! That was our first time letting him go by himself. It was hard then but I still had plenty of years left with him so it didn't bother me as much. It was great to see how much he had changed in just a nwith a little trip to D.C.

The next year he got an invitation from People to People again. But this time it was for a European trip through Wales. Grey has always loved Wales for some reason so we started fundraising to get him on this trip. However, the economy crashed and pocket books closed. We did make half the money needed so we rolled it over to another trip for him. This time to Stanford on a leadership summit. Once again, he came home just a little bit changed. He loved it and it was so great seeing how much he changes through these little trips. 

He is a good little traveler and really enjoys it. When we started discussing if we wanted to come to Singapore he was one of the first to say yes. He actually enjoyed the flight from the U.S. to Singapore. He makes traveling look easy. For me, this time is harder. I know I have few precious years with him, something I was blind to on the first few trips.  I know these are good for him and I know he learns so much. But I also know that my life is now in that stage where I have to let go more so that he can survive without me. Not that I want to but I have to for him. I have had to do family outings without part of my family because otherwise we'll never do anything. It is very hard for me and he has been missed by all of us. We even had to eat expensive steak last night because we missed him so much.

When he comes home he'll have that glitter in his eye that he's learned something, that something has touched him. He'll be a diffferent person then he was just a week ago. And that I would never deny him. That is the part that makes all this worth it! He loves it, he's good at and the world should look out because I don't think he's done exploring yet. I hope he never is, even if it means I cry sometimes and my heart hurts. I wouldn't change it.

The weather outside is.....

GORGEOUS! I guess that also depends on where you are in the world. From where I sit it is a beautiful 30 degrees...that's celsius so it converts to about 86 degrees Fahrenheit. See look at the view from my balcony here in Singapore

and then you can also look at the weather from my friend Andrea's blog or if you still want a good look at the weather here you can look at my friend Leone's blog post...both are also here in Singapoore. Go ahead and click it, you know you want to.

Some of my friends and family are getting stuck with a major snowstorm back in The States. They are dealing with temperatures of 30 below zero and that is NOT in celsius. I heard my one sister is shoveling her driveway every 4 hours. She's dedicated that one. Even though I tease I hope all is well. I'll sit in my pool and pray for their safety. LOL

I do not have any friends from Australia, yet. Well, Leone is from there but she lives in Singapore.  However, they have also been pounded by a massive Cyclone much like a hurricane.

Even though my tropical paradise is wonderful I hope all others stay safe and protected.

Shí­ or 10

Ten things I love about Natalie. Numbers are also in Mandarin because I need to practice.


1 yī -- She always tries new things, even if she is a little scared at first. She is our only child that has ate the octopus.

2 èr -- She can be both a tomboy and a girly girl and knows it's okay to be anything you want.

3 sān -- She burps better than my boys!

4 sì -- She is very loving and giving and is willing to help whenever needed.

5 wǔ -- She has a great smile, and pout too.

6 liù -- She's funny without even trying.

7 qī -- She will make friends with anyone anywhere!

8 bā --She learns things very quickly. She may drag her feet at first but when she decides to do it she does it with a full heart! And she succeeds.

9 jiǔ -- She is very artistic. She loves taking pictures, making movies, styling clothes, drawing pictures, making books, dancing, singing, if it's artsy she likes it.

10 shí­ -- She has the most tender heart and is always aware of other people's feelings and will sometimes put her feelings to the side to make someone else happier. Sometimes it hurts her to do this but she does. She continually practices kindness even if I think that person may not deserve it. Again, She's still teaching me things.

Reasons

My daughter Natalie turns 10 this week. She is wonderful and she is trying. I love her with all my heart and can't imagine my life without her even when she is in the midst of a tantrum and I'm trying not to pull all my hair out.

She is my biggest reminder that all things happen in time. That there are reasons why things don't always work out in  my time but in God's time. Here's why...

Way back in 1998 we decided we wanted to try and have another baby. We got pregnant so easily and accidentally with Greyson so of course I figured it would be easy. How wrong I was.....

Month after month and nothing! Our lives starting being lived in 2 weeks increments. 2 weeks for ovulation, 2 weeks to see if it "worked". I became a little obssessed. It was not fun. Then we did end up pregnat. YEAH! and 8 weeks later we miscarried. This was my first one and it was devastating. I took it very hard and knew it was something I had done wrong at some point in my life. It took me sometime to go move on and try again. Only to get pregnant again and miscarry again...this time after seeing the heartbeat which I understood was rare. But it happens. Both times we miscarried was under 12 weeks and it is very common just not talked about alot.

So, Bob and I moved on. I feeling like a failure and that my body was turning against me. I started believing that Greyson would be my only child and I felt so sad. Bob couldn't fix this one and it was hard on him. Because we were young and didn't have a full history of miscarriages there wasn't much to do yet. We just kept trying.

We got pregnant again and I was the world's biggest basket case. I was so worried to do anything because I thought I'd miscarry again. I knew in my heart that there was nothing I could do but my head wasn't so sure. We made it past 12 weeks and all the way up to 38 weeks! Every step of the way I was worried and just knew something was going to happen but we finally had our sweet little Natalie in 2001!

It really wasn't that long of a time but when you are in the midst of everything it feels like an eternity! Now it just seems like life. We joke with Natalie that she was our slowest child. Took as a long time to get pregnant with her and then even her labor was the longest of the 3 kids. We nicknamed her slow poke Sally in Kindergarten because she was always the last one out of school and just took her time. She still does. It's part of Natalie and I love it.

She has taught me so much but the best thing she taught me is that all good things come in time. Not always on my schedule and not always when I want it but when the time is right. My life would not be the same without her and at exactly the time she came to us. She is my best reminder to be patient. That I may not know the reasons why things happen but I will be glad in the long term.  Now she is teaching me more patience and more understanding. My life really wouldn't be the same without her.

The force in Taiwan

We are all a big lover of Star Wars in the house. We use little references every now and then from the movies, Jake was a storm trooper for halloween twice and I have a long standing crush on Anakin right before he becomes Darth Vader. See how much we love it?

So over Christmas break whenever Greyson wanted something done he'd tell either Jake or Natalie that they should "go, fulfill your destiny" sometimes he'd call them little padawans, you know the name for the young Jedi's in training. Jake and Natalie just ate this up and LOVED it! They ended up doing so many things for Greyson it was ridiculous.

One day we are walking out of an elevator and Natalie beats Greyson to the usual saying and says....Go, Greyson fulfill your destiny little Taiwan! So it's become a great family joke and we all aim to be little Taiwans.

Moral dilemma

I'm embellishing here a little but not too much! So, if this conversation happened in your house how would you react?
Wife: My house needs cleaned.
Husband: The house is always a mess  you need to clean better.
Wife: Look of frustration but ignores comment
Husband: Look, let me help you out. I'll clean and get it all looking good and all you have to do is maintain.

Would your husband still have his life? This wife runs a successful daycare and has 5 children of her own! Seriously, MAINTAIN?

Struggles

Singapore has brought us alot of struggles. It's not all beaches and margaritas unfortunatley. One of my biggest struggles has been my relationship with my kids. It changed just a little and not for the better!
I use to be someone who LOVED having their kids around even when they did get on my nerves. I was just greatful to have them around. I LOVED spending time with them, especially since they started going to school and my time with them is few and far between. I think I lived more for breaks and summer vacation than they did! And I cried every single first day of school. As other mothers were rejoicing I was sitting at home nursing my broken heart. I missed their fights and their whining. Not every day was roses but I genuinly loved spending time with my kids. Somedays we'd never talk to eachother but I heard the things they were doing and it made my heart glow.
Then, we moved to Singapore....cue bad, scary music.

I really could not stand to be around them. I counted the days before they went back to school. I rejoiced every Monday morning and dreaded every Monday night. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT MOM! It scared me. I was ashamed of myself  for not enjoying my kids. Every night was a struggle just to get to bedtime and every morning was a struggle just to get to school. I found nothing to be proud of, when I use to find anything no matter how small! I struggled, they struggled.
I thought Thanksgiving break would be good for us and get us back to normal. I didn't schedule anything but family time. Games and dinners...together. We ALL needed to rebond. It sucked. We all wanted our own thing in our own time and we wanted it NOW! We had forgot how to be a family and it made me so sad.  I really do pride myself on how awesome my family usually is. I started thinking that this move is going to be the undoing of my family. I was really at a crossroads. My kids were hurting and I needed to do something.
SO, I started talking to the kids about how it's okay to miss friends or the states. I got out a few times, made new friends and encouraged the kids to do the same and let them know they weren't being traitors to their other friends. We all talked about how different it is here and were amazed at how some of our struggles were all the same. Granted they still got on my nerves and somedays I had to reach hard to enjoy them, but reach I did. And I felt like we were getting back on track.
And then Christmas break started approaching and I got scared. What if this break is as sucky as the last? Will it hurt all the progress we've made? Can we just skip break?
B  U  T..
I am glad to say that it was great! We have enjoyed eachother again. We've grown together and struggled together and that's what families do. I haven't done anything I should have over break and I've let so many other things slide. We've explored parts of Singapore together and cheered eachother on as we tried new things. IT HAS BEEN GREAT! my heart is singing again. They've argued and fought me and whined but in the more normal way. The way that I expect and know how to deal with. That is my best Christmas present.

Toot, Toot, Toot!

I'm going to be tooting the horn of one of my most adorable friends here today. She is way too busy making things like this...

and like this.....

 to toot her own horn.  Oh, and making me chocolate goodbye parties that look like this....

She is da' bomb diggity of all bomb diggities! SO it is up to me as her most adorable friend! I dedicate my 200th post to you Canesa!

She is a great party planner! Not only was mine AWESOME she has done a full Candyland theme for her oldest daughter's FIRST birthday! All the way down to a life sized map! Seriously, Canesa post the picture in the comments! Canesa doesn't just do a fruit bowl, no, she makes the WHOLE dang bowl and then bedazzles it and then decorates the fruit with sparkles. Okay, that may be overboard but take my word for it, she knows how to entertain! She also makes it look effortless. I'm the one who puts the bowl on the table and forgets the fruit and then has to lay down from all the hard work!

She just found her magnificent talent in woodworking. I think  her husband is a little jealous of her talents because he "grounded" her from making more for awhile. Jealous much Burt? LOL! And her first project was this.....

Made totally from scratch, except for the bedding! She didn't work herself up to it, she started with this HUGE project! I hear she did 28 other little projects for Christmas. I'm sure she built someone a house and is just too humble to say so!

She is my favorite decorator. Not only did she do this room, while her husband was

hunting .......

she also helped me do this room of mine...........

she was also a great consultant on other rooms in my Utah house, while my husband was gone for work. I've missed her much here in Singapore. Funny thing is she was always over at my house helping me decorate that her husband joked that her and I were married. Haha Burt, I'd totally marry her! She redoes a room in her house at least once a month! And it always looks amazing! And not only does she re-do a room but the rest of her house is spotless along with a homemade dinner, I think she is secretly

She-ra princess of power!

Have I mentioned that she is also an athlete? She has trained and ran in a triathlon, all while her 3rd child was a baby. Seriously, she found the time and did it while always looking like a goddess! And while she was training for this triathlon she also did some major biking like miles and miles of biking! I watched her kids because I'm seriously allergic to exercise. Canesa pushed herself and learned to swim during her triathlon training. Just goes to show that you can always learn something new! I love her determination.

But I think her best accomplishment is the 4 beautiful and happy kids that she is raising. And three of those kids are under 4 with one of them being almost 1! She has done this all with 3 kids at home and one a pre-teen. AND she does it with a smile and a hug and she totally loves it! Along with her immaculately kept home and home made dinners that are fantastic.

I sit here crying because I miss her. I miss her silly stories and calling me when she finds a birds nest on her door, I miss just knowing she is a hop, skip and jump away. I miss our wild shoe buying escapades. This post has been hard for me to write but Canesa, I love you. I hope this ends your year with a bang. I'm sorry I didn't get that fruitcake over to you this year. LOL. I'm so proud that you continue to be my friend when I continue to desert you for a silly job or moving across the world.

Fra ra ra ra rah rah rah rah rah....

That is my favorite line from A Christmas Story. Especially now that we are here in Singapore with Asians and we've had the duck here and it actually does come with the head attached! Plus, it reminds me just a little of my American home.

Our first Christmas in Singapore has been celebrated, toys have been played with and broken and before we can get the lights out of the trees our kids have begun the gimmes AGAIN! They're my kids all the way! It's good to want as long as they know they aren't getting everything!

Of course the kids were spoiled and got too much stuff and so did I. I got both Jewelry AND a kindle. I also got one of the cutest Santa's ever to celebrate our first Christmas here.

Not much really seemed different except that we all were wearing shorts and t-shirts instead of warm and fuzzy jammies. The groundskeeper was sweeping the dead leaves which gave a nice background noise, and made my kids sad that he wasn't celebrating like us. Instead of snow gear the kids got swimming gear. Still chuckle over that one. It just feels weird to go swimming in DECEMBER and OUTSIDE! Not that I'm complaining.

The kids played with the Chinese neighbors next door for quite a while after opening presents. My most memorable quote will be the Chinese girl asking me "can I just ask you one question? did all of this cost you a fortune?" Yes, Chloe it did. And I"m a little ashamed of it, but probably do the same thing next year. I always do. The neighbors only get one present, one fairly expensive present but as Chloe told me..."I don't spend all my money, and my pocket change is growing". Maybe she can teach me.

I think it wa a success. NO one said they missed anything or wished we would still be in the States. We all enjoyed the day playing our new family games and eating too much candy. My favorite times are the times we all spend together, reconnecting and learning about eachother. It really was just another Christmas to us no matter where we are in the world. Hope all of yours was wondorous too.