Tattoos!

So, these pictures have already been posted on Facebook, so this may be old news to you...  But, here it goes anyway...

Scott and I got tattoos!

Seriously.

I chose an elephant with a lotus flower at the bottom.  I chose this design because the elephant represents to me that anything is possible.  Before we moved to Singapore, but after we knew we were coming, I was sitting with Scott looking at my ipad and reading about the different places we would be able to visit while we were living here.  One place I read about is Thailand.  I said to Scott, "I want to go ride elephants in Thailand!".  At that time, it seemed absolutely crazy.  Who does that?  Well, it happened.  We rode elephants in Thailand.  Additionally, our first year here, there was a campaign in Singapore called the Elephant Parade.  There were elephants placed all around Singapore.  I went and saw them all.  It was part of how I discovered Singapore.  Elephants have been a big part of our Singapore life. 

Scott chose the Merlion.

For us, these tattoos represent in some way our time in Singapore.  We've loved our time here and the perspective that it has given us on our own lives.  We've found a happy head space and we don't want to loose it.  We're hoping that as our lives change we can catch a glimpse of our Singapore tattoos and remember this head space and hopefully maintain at least a part of it.

More From August...

I love this picture!  Scott and I took Dennis and Marcia out for durian one night.  The bus that we took there was pretty full, so we each had to sit in a different row.  I was near the front and at one point I turned around and snapped this picture.

Beautiful dragon fruit!

Durian is so sharp and pokey that the guys wear gloves when they open it.

You eat the squishy yellow part.  I've actually come to like and enjoy eating durian.  

Marcia didn't really like it...

These are longan.

Crazy Hair Day.  

We tried to curl Madeline's hair too, but the curlers were too big and it didn't take very well.

Grandma needed one last henna before she returned to the US.

We absolutely LOVED having Papa and Gram visit us.  It's was really wonderful for us to have the chance to share our little life here with them.  The kids were so proud to bring them to school and to show them all the little things in their life here.  It's really special.  I think it's also helping a lot with the beginning of our transition back to Austin.  The kids feel very close with their grandparents again, and knowing they will be there on our return makes it that much more exciting to go home.  

Thank you Dennis and Marcia for making that long journey half way around the world to be with us!  

Book Week!  Both girls decided to dress up Star Wars for Book Week this year.  We couldn't be more proud.  

Lily was the MC for the Year 2 assembly for Book Week.  She had several pages of lines and also some jokes to tell!  I was really proud of her.  She did an excellent job!

Lily had a recital for her violin.  She performed Lavender Blue.  She did a beautiful job!

We are nearly caught up... just one more post...

What Happened to August?!

Seriously, what happened to August?

It's a bit blurry from where I'm sitting now.  Today, it's the 9th of September 2013.  I'll be moving back to Austin in 16 days.  Life is starting to take on that surreal feeling that happens when it's changing faster than I can keep up with emotionally.  I need to take some time to write down my memories from these last few weeks, or else they will be gone.  

On August 1st, we celebrated Scott's birthday!!  

On Scott's birthday night, Dennis and Marcia arrived in Singapore for a visit!!  Everybody was so excited.  We planned a lot of exciting and fun activities to share with Papa and Gram.  On the top of our list, was the Singapore Flyer.

Following our flight on the Singapore Flyer, we headed off to the Singapore Zoo.  It was a big day!  We had so much to share with Dennis and Marcia that we couldn't allow them any time to adjust to the heat and to recover from their jet lag.  Fortunately, they were troopers and were able to cope with it!

We had to go to Little India for a Mango Lasse and some henna!

We walked through the Tekka Market and had a good look (and smell) of the different foods available there.

All the girls had to get some henna!

The kids got to bring their grandparents into school for violin, reading groups and tennis.  Wyatt brought Papa and Gram on his school excursion to the Art Museum.  Dennis and Marcia accompanied me on some errands I had to run.  We rode buses and the MRT.  

On weekend 2, it was National Day in Singapore.  We headed out of town to a little resort island in Malaysia called Batu Batu.  We had time for relaxation and fun in the sun.  The weather was perfect and the food was amazing!  

There was an infinity pool on the beach!

Our best friends came too!  The kids were a little happy to see each other!

Special time reading and playing games with Grandma!

More from our August adventures coming up!