Birthday packages... we just love them!

If you know us you know 2 things... 1) We love birthday around here, 2) We love care packages (and 3 we love God...). Not sure if the reason we love birthdays is because we get packages... or not... well maybe... well yes.... we love packages and presents here... yes we do... I am not scared to say it HE HE HE. Pierce and I both had our birthday in Jan. and Blake's in March... so my parents (ViVi and Grandad) and Great Mama shipped us a huge package full of goodies for everyone (including Tita). Take a gander:
"So Pierce how happy are you?"

Happy Birthday to Pierce... decked out with new clothes that fit... hallelujah...

And he even got the long awaited for "ghost pirate playmobile ship"... wow this thing is awesome and even floats in the water... I could barely get him dressed in swim clothes before he was ready to dive in a give it is first sail.

Everything is going to good use... we have new clothes now which are so fun, Pierce got some toys he loves, Blake and I are now playing tennis and thanks to Great Mama she shipped me some Tang so I can now make her "MEAN" fruit salad... yummy. Thank you ViVi and Grandad and Great Mama.. we love you for many reasons this is just one of them.

Another first... now going to ICS!

As of the 10th of this month we have an officially International Community School student... and we could not be more proud. We have heard about ICS since we arrived in Singapore almost 3 years ago bc of its great school program, that is Christian based and how close it was to us when we were located on the West Coast but Pierce was not old enough or we were leaving so we never really looked into the school for him. However when we returned in Sept. I called them to see if they had any openings only to find out that they were full for the coming year... We were sad about that but that is when we found Eton House (which you have seen lots of pics from there). In December we got a call from a friend that I know from MOPS at IBC and she works at ICS and said that they had an opening in Pierce's class and asked us if we were still interested and if we were we had to have the application and the first deposit in within 24 hours... when we got the call we were standing in the airport on our way to Cebu and we knew we had to act fast. Blake and I looked at each other and smiled and then I said "I feel like God is working a miracle that we did not even ask for... we would be stupid not to take this opportunity"... so we took it... and thanks to a lot of people within 24 hours were enrolled. I had a meeting the following week with the admissions people and Pierce joined the class for a half day. With all the "fast paced" decisions we forgot how sad it would be to say goodbye to Eton House but we did... and we were sad. We really enjoyed Eton House but we were so excited to get Pierce settled into a school that he could graduate from (no grandparents we are not staying that long) and where they taught Bible every day. We also have a lot of dear friends that send their children here so we were excited about the community that would soon welcome us as family.

During the holidays we spent a lot of time talking about ICS and talking about how only BIG boys and girls get to go there... and Pierce was pumped... we got our uniforms and walked proudly around the house with them on... we were BIG now... and when Pierce turned 4 he said... "Now I get to go to ICS"...
So a week and a half ago was our first day... and we of course had to take 1st day of school pictures... even if it was January.

Pierce and Tita walking from the condo...look at this big boy... so proud with his back pack.

Off he goes... he looks like he is 12 but he will always be my baby (shhhh don't tell him ok?)

"Hey mom are you coming"

The first week we did not take the bus bc I wanted to take him to school... since it is a big campus with alot of kids... I wanted to go... you get it don't you???

Can you tell how happy he is... still sitting in mommy's lap but we both like it that way... soon he will ask to sit next to me... but I am not going to rush that.

Here we are... we finally made it... We no longer live down the street and it takes about 30 min to get to school bc of traffic but we are excited about this opportunity.

Pierce has 2 long days at school (8 to 3) and 3 short days (8 to 1:30)... on the short days I get to pick him up and when I am early I get to catch them in the hallway (outdoors) heading back to the class... here is his Junior Kindergarten class getting back from PE class... so cute right...

Ms. W is the assistant in the class and she asked all the kids to take a seat so I could take a picture... can't you just eat up all these boys and girls... big boys and big girls right???

Mrs. Wong (left) is his teacher and Mrs. W (also Mrs. Wong) (right) is his assistant teacher are lovely people... Pierce has enjoyed getting to know them and when I asked him to take a picture with Mrs. Wong he said but we need the other one... so we got both... :-)

Here we are in the office waiting for our Taxi... he is so pooped after school he can hardly stand up... but it is good for him... he is learning every day... he has already come home tracing alphabet letters in the air, and numbers, singing songs, telling me stories in the bible and more...

I still need to get more pics of the campus and of his classroom... so more to come... we are so proud of our little man... We are still getting use to this school and all that we need to learn but Pierce does seem to enjoy it. He was a bit naughty last week at CHAPEL time but today the teacher he said he did much better... which is good but I we are just thrilled that he gets to experience CHAPEL at school... We give thanks to God for giving us this blessing here in Singapore and this opportunity. There is not a day that goes by when I drop Pierce off at school and I thank God for always providing.

The best WINGS in Singapore...

Recently a friends told us about Sunset Grill (way in the North of the Island) and their amazing wings... so we had to try it out... we are not HUGE fans of wings but since she said that they serve them on different levels of spiciness we had to check them out. On the menu they have level 1 (mild) to level 10 (Spicy)... but they can make wings that go all the way to level 30... so here is the story of our journey.

When I looked on trip advisor for directions and comments about the restaurant every comment said get prepared to get lost... we got a map and thought for sure we can figure it out... well "everyone" was right... we got lost several times but we finally made and so glad that we did. This restaurant is not your 5 star type nor a hawker stall... but by the sign of the place you can see that people come here not for the ambiance????

Below is the Wall of Fame... if you eat 6 wings at the level of 25 or above you get your name on the wall... there are alot of "miserable" people in Singapore now...

There were a total of 3 couples at our table and the guys decided that they would order 3 different orders... one 3, one 5 and one 7 level.... my friend who recommended the place told me that the highest level she had tried was the 5... so we knew the 7 was going to be hot... here she is... HOT HOT HOT.

Travis I think was the first to dig in... and you will see pics to prove it... these were so hot and the guys were "crying" within minutes... they said the worst part was your lips and all the other area on your face that the wings touched..

The friend that recommended the place to us was the next table and her group had brought their own blue cheese... we got to borrow some not for dipping for putting on the lips... Here one is smearing blue cheese all over his lips and the other is downing some water...

DO you feel better???

Blake was in pain... I wonder what a 30 would taste like...

So we might wonder what a "30" would taste like but here is proof what a "30" will do to you... this sign is on the outside of the women's toilet... "PLEASE DO NOT VOMIT HERE" - management

Nice... and we will definitely be going back for another round... might even try out the 8...

Aggie Bowl Game... whoop!

Aggie Bowl Game was a hit in Singapore... I know I know we lost but Aggies always love to get together and watch some football. Gig'em Aggies!
Thanks to Blake's parents we get to watch it live via the sling box... not the best picture but so beats listening to it on the radio :-)

The kids were happy and well entertained...and had lots of food.

Here is our first attempt of getting a pic of the kids... what are you doing Pierce... that is the wrong hand sign... sighhhhh

Lets try this again... ok boys can you stop bouncing (you can totally see where this is going).

Finally got them to be still... but they are no long that happy about taking a picture... oh well....

The Willerton's have become very dear to us... we knew each other in college but had no idea that that would be just the beginning...

First cheezy picture...

And the second...

Nana and Mr. Tim were even enjoying back in the states... and sent these pics...

We might not have won the game but we always win at half time... Fightin Texas Aggie Band... WHOOOP!

AAARGH Matey!

The much anticipated birthday present... Pierce has wanted this Pirate Lego boat for some time. I would catch him in his room sitting on his bean bag looking in the Lego Book dreaming of this boat... and here it is... Now if only we could keep it in one piece???

Aaargh....Pierce tells us there are bad guys and good guys on his boat...

We have got to do something with all this madness... Lego's everywhere....

That is the end of the birthday... well sort of... Pierce's party will be in March so you will see us celebrating again but we have more fun stuff to do between now and then... see you soon.