October:
In the beginning of October we celebrated Hari Raya (end of Ramadan). The kids got dressed up and celebrated in school and I went to the Istana (the Sultan's palace) to shake the Queens hand:
Lucas lost his first tooth, a very big deal:
We had our long awaited first big party, our Housewarming. Some people were more eager than others to get on the blog - so here you are:
We celebrated Linnea's 3rd birthday. She brought cupcakes to school and got celebrated there, got presents in bed (Swedish tradition) and had a big party at home with more cupcakes, a bouncy castle/wet slide and all her friends:
Our friend Dave turned 40th and held a Playboy-themed birthday party at the Yacht Club, really good fun:
At the end of October, my parents arrived and we did so many exciting things. Here is a mention of but a few: visiting the Brunei Museum and Regalia Building, visiting two of the biggest mosques, going to the plant market and Bandar market, going to Malaysia and walking to the Niah Caves, going on a river cruise to spot monkeys and crocodiles, playing in Jerudong Park etc. etc:
November:
We went to Singapore for a few days, with Mormor and Morfar, before they went back home:
When we got back, we had International Day at school. A fab day, Linnea was Pippi Långstrump and Lucas was a fierce viking:
One day, we went on a Teddy Bear Picnic at school:
In November, it's also time for the yearly Founder's Day at the Hash. This year's theme was "Hashing in the year 2100". Here is Anna & Tina:
We spent a Saturday afternoon on the beach, together with a whole bunch of other families, celebrating Whanau Day with the NZ Association. It was a great day, with battered hot dogs, games and play and even a visit from Santa:
Lucas (and Nathan) went on a school excursion to a fire station:
We went to the Yacht Club Christmas party, and what do you know, Santa was there too! With presents!
December:
On the first of December we started the countdown to Christmas, when the Advent Calendars appeared and the kids got to open the first present, with huge excitement:
Anna and I and the kids had a big afternoon of Julbak (=Christmas baking), a great success!
School went out with festivities in both classes; there was singing, crafting and partying going on - and Santas, of course:
And then we were off to NZ. We celebrated Lucia there, both at Grandma and Granddad's house, and at a new-found Swedish friends house:
And then, the normal stuff, boating, biking, shopping etc:
I wont show you any pictures of Christmas - you have just seen them in the previous posts here on the blog.
I will conclude by saying that YES - 2008 was too a very exciting year for us! Looking back to what I wished for at the end of last year, I got at least one of the two things: the new house.
It seems like the "a lot of visitors" was not for 2008 ... we only had two (good ones though!) - but maybe that wish will come through now in the new year instead!
I also wish that we will all keep our health, and keep being happy with our life in Brunei! Bring on 2009!
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