Last Sunday in SG

We had such a nice Sunday morning walk through the civic district and caught a race happening there.

My concert hall!

The Merlion of as unfortunately under construction. This was the first thing we did in Singapore with the kids. After waking up in the same hotel we stayed in as we were leaving SG, The Fairmont, we had their superb breakfast and then walked over to the Merlion. So cool to do it again on our last morning!

Throngs of Chinese tourists wanting to take pictures with our kids. Par for the course!

Esplanade in the background - my other concert hall!

Classic. Had to be done!

Last meal at Din Tai Fung. Oh how we'll miss these dumplings and lemongrass juice. (Please open a Din Tai Fung, NYC!!!)

Our favourite beetroot burger from Cedele!

Goodbye Singapore!

Our good friend Jairo came to say goodbye to us at the airport. He is the ambassador to SG from Costa Rica, so he had clearance to come with us through immigration all the way to the gate! So cool!

Last Saturday in SG

We spent our last couple days staying downtown. 

I took the boys to a fabulous children's exhibit at the Singapore Art Museum.

And then lunch at Chijmes!

We opted for Japanese Teppanyaki, which the boys thought was so cool! 

Mike and i had one last date night to The Study, a super little restaurant where we had gone for our very first Singapore date night!

Getting ready to leave

Packing up!

Last dinner at our neighborhood hawker centre. Chicken rice and satay and bee hoon and lime juice all round!

Kopi- classic Singaporean coffee made with sweetened condensed milk. This is the classic Singaporean way to get your drink take away!

The night after our handover of our condo, we had dinner with my neighbor and friend Karen and family. Then Mike took the boys to search for scorpions in MacRitchie with black light flashlights (so cool!). I took David back to our friend's condo where we were staying. As I passed by the Botanic Gardens going to the MRT, I was filled with pangs of longing and sadness. I had to go in and walk around one last time. So many wonderful memories of walking home in the evening after concerts through those gardens! We'll miss that so much!

Norah's Day Out

When we found out we were leaving SG, one of the things I did was book our babysitter to come watch David for the day so I could go have one last explore. I spent the morning walking around Joo Chiat and taking in the spectacular Peranaken Shophouses.

Then I went to Haji Lane, my favorite spot in the Arab Quarter. I really don't like most shopping, but I'll take these cute boutiques any day!

These are the kinds of things I'll really miss!

Beau's half birthday

Beau is obsessed with his birthday...and with Christmas. I'd say not a day goes by without him asking me how many days until his birthday or until Christmas. And sometimes how many hours and minutes and seconds until they come! And, at least every other week he tells me a new plan of what he's going to ask Santa to bring. So cute! 

We actually felt like it was a real blessing that in the midst of him feeling a bit anxious with the move and needing some love and focus and attention, he asked me over dinner one evening, "Mom, how many days until my half birthday?" I looked at the calendar and exclaimed, "Oh, it's tomorrow!" 

Now, we've never done anything for his half birthday, but we thought this was a fun chance for some makeshift, last minute attention and celebration!

Beau loves having a "snuggle up" with his brother! Special treat on his half birthday!

Here he is after decorating his face with the pollen from a lily in the condo! So cute!

Other SG favs

IBeau will really miss spotting luxury cars everywhere! "Mom, is that a Ferrari or a Lamborghini? Mom, quick, take a picture!!!"

Mike will really miss his Asian desserts. Here's a red ruby at the Thai place across the road. 

I'll miss the amazing architecture. These two in Telok Ayer.

And, while there will be nice things about driving again, I actually feel really free when I'm just using public transport and hopping in taxis. I'll sort of miss taxi rides with this crew!

Lewis primary talk - Temples

I'm so, so proud of this sweet, good-hearted, diligent Lewis boy! He was asked to give a talk on Sunday. Mike and I just did not have the time to work with him, and we had a feeling he'd be pretty excited to do it himself. I literally gave him two sentence prompts (The temple is important because...), and he did every bit of the rest. Zero consultation with us, zero input. And, didn't he do an amazing job?!? We love this boy and are so grateful for his responsibility and independence and strong love for God and for all that is good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inlrxFAWKls