{365:151} Together

Together.
Every now and then, the kids create their own little world and immerse themselves totally in their imagination. Today they were playing little families with all their teddies, forever and ever, and they were having such a good time. I'm pleased to see not only that they can invent their own games, but that they love doing it together.

{365:150} Sleepover

Sleepover.
The kids are enjoying the continuing holidays, school is not on again until Tuesday. So tonight, they got to have a sleepover together, in Lucas' room. It took quite a bit longer than normal to fall asleep, cause they were "reading books very quietly"... to each other forever - but finally, I could get this peaceful picture.

{365:138} Favourite snack

Favourite snack.
This is my absolute favourite snack at the moment. I eat a whole package of these almost every day, they are so yummy! It's rambutans, or lytchees (litchie?). Really nice fruit from Thailand!
Makes me feel healthy and fresh! (They look great as decorations too, as long as they last and not get eaten!)

{365:137} Mud

Mud.
The Kids Hash today was really, really muddy. It had been a while since I'd had a muddy hash like that, but it had rained quite a bit this afternoon actually, hence the slippery conditions.
The kids love it though, and some parents too I think! You can get as dirty as you wish - and it doesn't matter!
It started raining just as we had finished our hot dogs, so I decided we wouldn't stay (and get even muddier...) but left before the little shout-up.
Finished off the day as usual after Kids Hash, with pizza delivery for dinner. Mmm!

{365:134} On my way

On my way.
I'm on my way to a healthier me. One step on the treadmill at a time (and up and down those hills in Bukit Shabandar on every other day...). Feels good again.

[365:131] Beep-beep m beep-beep yeah

Beep-beep m beep-beep yeah.
Of course, without a doubt, when Linnea can chose passengers for her car in school - it's Ben, Daniel and Adam. The Fab Four!

[365:130] One for the wall

One for the wall.
The White Family.

{365:119} Art Gallery

Art Gallery.
I love how at school they showcase almost every piece of art the kids create. At the moment they are displaying creations around the "water & sand"-theme they are having. You can see Lucas' painting of the beach in the bottom right corner just above the pink bag, and his whale fin (he's so into whales, sharks and other sea creatures at the moment!) is the bottom left one of the whale paintings.
Quite impressive work actually!

{365:118} Wall of visitors

Wall of visitors.
Today we initialized a little project I've had in my mind for a while. We started a wall of photos in the guest room, of everybody who has been to visit us from overseas. Until date, there are only five frames - next week we can add one more when Nathan's sister & family are coming to see us (which is a first actually, they have never come to stay before, ever!).

Still, I really hope for a lot more visitors before we leave Brunei. It's such a different and special place, and you will never get a chance to visit it the way you will if you come and stay with someone who actually lives here.
It's also so nice to have guests in your home. (And, I've seen flights from Europe are cheap at the moment!)
Come on and make it onto our wall - I want to fill it!

{365:114} Grumpy

Grumpy.
This is so Linnea, when she doesn't want to do something. She can really look so grumpy. She's still so cute though, haha!

{365:108} Chocolate mouth

Chocolate mouth.
Back in the Abode, it was time for a swim today after a week of school for some - and sightseeing for others. We went up to the Yacht Club this afternoon and relaxed, the kids were playing with their friends and Nathan and I could catch up with some of our friends too.
Ice cream of course, is always on the cards up there.

{365:102} Concentration

{365:100} Ejected

Ejected.
The påskkärring (=Easter witch) Lucas got from Mormor has got expelled from his room. He was actually not that keen on having her in there in the first place, because she is a girl - and the other night after bedtime he came out with her and told me she had to live out in the playroom, cause she was "looking at him"...
Ok then. So now she lives on the mirror in the playroom.

{365:99} Friends

Friends.
Today's photo has to be all four photos that I took of Linnea and Ida today; even though they are blurry, out of focus and with "ugly-flash" shadows on them.
They are just gorgeous - see the way Linnea looks at Ida, and the way Ida is fascinated by Linnea? Linnea holds her so gently and was cooing to her and cuddling her so sweetly. She was so proud she got to hold the baby, so proud...





Daddy - we want one too!

{365:98} Starbucks

Starbucks.
While in Singapore (since unfortunately there is no Starbucks here...) I went in to every Starbucks in sight, to try and find some thermal mugs for my coffee. There has been so many times while rushing out the door without having had time for my coffee, I have wished for one so I could have done take-away.
Nowhere were these to be found though! I was rather particular, and was only after this specific one, with the "waist" (makes it so nice to hold on to) and in this size. Not until I got to the airport was I lucky - and could at the very last minute, get two of these to bring home. Joy!

Now I have coffee on the go all the time!

{365:97} Chocolate cake

Chocolate cake.
As I might have mentioned before, we have a gas oven here. Yes, oven - as well as a gas hob. I don't mind the hob being gas, I like cooking on gas, but the oven... that's a different story. It only heats from the bottom too, so it's near to impossible to cook anything in there; either it doesn't cook all the way through, or gets burned in the bottom and definitely doesn't get brown on the top...

So I have borrowed this bench top oven, to see if that's the way to go. Today I'm baking a chocolate cake with After Eight-chocolate in it. Will actually go and sample it right now!

{365:96} Itchy-scratch

Itchy-scratch.
One of the downsides with living where we are, is the amount of little biting creatures that attack us daily. We actually don't have too much mosquitos in our garden, there are definitely those who have it worse. But there are other little bugs, and when you are at the beach there are lots of sand flies and other things around.

Lucas, Nathan and I doesn't seem to get it too bad - but poor Linnea... She gets eaten wherever we go, bug spray or not. Of course, she can't keep from scratching the bites, and we spend all our time in the sun - so this is how her legs (and arms...) looks by now - full of scars. Hopefully they will fade with time.

{365:94} Birthday fun

Birthday fun.
Today we have been celebrating our friend Ben's 3rd birthday. It was great fun - we overstayed a little bit, and didn't come home until six hours later...

{365:91} Healthy living

Healthy living.
It's no secret I'm not really doing the exercise I should anymore, or eating the way I should, or following any sort of routine to stay fit. I've put on a lot of weight (again) lately, but do I try (sometimes) to be good.
Like today. Did a smoothie for snack, was really yum!

{365:90} Another uninvited visitor

Another uninvited visitor.
I was sitting downstairs watching TV just before, when I saw something in the corner of my eye, jumping from behind the sofa and under the coffee table. I thought oh no, another mouse (or rat...) - but no, this time it was a frog!
He was quite tiny and had probably got in by the window (they don't close properly) somehow.
I contemplated waking my amah up so she could help me with the chase, but he turned out not to be so difficult to catch. I tipped a plastic box over him, and pushed him towards the door, and out.
We were both a lot happier when he got outside!

I'm really starting to get fed up with creepy crawlies and other uninvited guests...