Here is a little movie (wait, it loads slowly) of Lucas in action yesterday at the Yacht Club. I thought he would be a little bit cautious now since we hadn't been swimming for a month - but no, he just ran and jumped straight in!
It is really cool to see how water confident both of them has become since we moved here. It wont take long before they are swimming even!
The good thing here is, that the water is just as warm as in a bathtub (normally) so they never have to get out because they are too cold. They can stay in a whole day, no problem, which they do... They love swimming!
Monday, 18 February 2008
More waterplay
Last week Linnea and I went to "the other" playgroup for the first time, at the other international school, ISB.
This playgroup is in the afternoon, which is probably the reason we have never made it before - but we will most definetly come back, it was fab!
It was all outside and Linnea had a great time with her little friends running around, going in and out of the playhouses and splashing eachother with the water.
They had a big waterplay area set up, which was the absolute most popular thing. Linnea ended up completely naked after having got soaked, and run around in just her diaper at the end of it all... Next time I will bring a few changes of clothes!
This playgroup is in the afternoon, which is probably the reason we have never made it before - but we will most definetly come back, it was fab!
It was all outside and Linnea had a great time with her little friends running around, going in and out of the playhouses and splashing eachother with the water.
They had a big waterplay area set up, which was the absolute most popular thing. Linnea ended up completely naked after having got soaked, and run around in just her diaper at the end of it all... Next time I will bring a few changes of clothes!
Kindy Schedule 18-22 February
Term 2 Week 7 – Love and friendship – Letter Rr
Focus activities:
Story – Little Red Riding hood – Dramatising and retelling
Number ordering and counting forwards and backwards 0 – 10
Number and shape rockets
Shape of the week – rectangle
Junk modelling – robots, rockets etc.
Problem solving – designing bridges to cross an pretend river – the bridge should be strong enough for the children to cross – watch out for the hungry crocodile!
Rainbow colours
Monday
PMP with Mrs Carter
Music with Mr Instone
Tuesday
08.00 Assembly with Mrs Newton - Being independant
PE with Mrs Carter
ICT with Mrs Harris
Wednesday
Mandarin
Thursday
Mandarin
Library
Friday
Swimming
Fresh Fruit Friday
Focus activities:
Story – Little Red Riding hood – Dramatising and retelling
Number ordering and counting forwards and backwards 0 – 10
Number and shape rockets
Shape of the week – rectangle
Junk modelling – robots, rockets etc.
Problem solving – designing bridges to cross an pretend river – the bridge should be strong enough for the children to cross – watch out for the hungry crocodile!
Rainbow colours
Monday
PMP with Mrs Carter
Music with Mr Instone
Tuesday
08.00 Assembly with Mrs Newton - Being independant
PE with Mrs Carter
ICT with Mrs Harris
Wednesday
Mandarin
Thursday
Mandarin
Library
Friday
Swimming
Fresh Fruit Friday
Sunday, 17 February 2008
EFIT - Sunday 17.02.2008
07.20 Time to get up to a new EFIT day! (This globe-calendar has been with me for as long as I can remember, one of my most treasured possessions.)
08.40 Checking up on my friends around the world, together with breakfast.
09.40 Got an email from a friend in Greece, telling me wonderful news about the birth of her daughter - I got inspired to do some scrapping, of some photos from our holiday in Lefkas 2006. Here is the beginning of the creative process...
10.55 ... and here is the finished result:
11.45 Lunchtime: bacon and omelet. Yum!
12.30 Packing the car to go swimming. Had been looking forward to a dip since we got back from Sweden. (Then it turned out to be so cold, I didn't swim anyway!)
13.20 Went to a friends house for coffee on the way to the Yacht Club. Had coffee, a chat and swopped some magazines. Here is what I got:
14.30 Arrived at the Yacht Club. Lucas is getting really confident, jumps into the water without hesitation and even swims a short bit.
15.40 Still swimming, playing with the ball.
16.30 While waiting for dinner, down at the beach, the sun is on it's way down.
17.45 Stopped at one of the big shops on the way home, to buy a radio to put in the amah's room. A nice thing to do, so she gets some "life" in her room.
18.50 Ended the day with some DIY, attaching the new shelf to the wall, in case the kids would try and climb on it.
08.40 Checking up on my friends around the world, together with breakfast.
09.40 Got an email from a friend in Greece, telling me wonderful news about the birth of her daughter - I got inspired to do some scrapping, of some photos from our holiday in Lefkas 2006. Here is the beginning of the creative process...
10.55 ... and here is the finished result:
11.45 Lunchtime: bacon and omelet. Yum!
12.30 Packing the car to go swimming. Had been looking forward to a dip since we got back from Sweden. (Then it turned out to be so cold, I didn't swim anyway!)
13.20 Went to a friends house for coffee on the way to the Yacht Club. Had coffee, a chat and swopped some magazines. Here is what I got:
14.30 Arrived at the Yacht Club. Lucas is getting really confident, jumps into the water without hesitation and even swims a short bit.
15.40 Still swimming, playing with the ball.
16.30 While waiting for dinner, down at the beach, the sun is on it's way down.
17.45 Stopped at one of the big shops on the way home, to buy a radio to put in the amah's room. A nice thing to do, so she gets some "life" in her room.
18.50 Ended the day with some DIY, attaching the new shelf to the wall, in case the kids would try and climb on it.
A new low
As you know, Brunei has a tropical climat. Temperature is fairly constant, averaging between 23-33 C degrees all year round.
The climate is monsoonal, and normally there is supposed to be a wet season between November and February, when there is higher and more constant rainfall.
However, this year, it seems to have come slightly later - since we've been back, we have only had ONE clear afternoon. The rest of the time (for over a week now) it has rained constantly.
It's also been pretty cool. Yesterday driving in to town in the late afternoon, I experienced the lowest temperature since we've been here: 21 degrees. Pretty cold!
The climate is monsoonal, and normally there is supposed to be a wet season between November and February, when there is higher and more constant rainfall.
However, this year, it seems to have come slightly later - since we've been back, we have only had ONE clear afternoon. The rest of the time (for over a week now) it has rained constantly.
It's also been pretty cool. Yesterday driving in to town in the late afternoon, I experienced the lowest temperature since we've been here: 21 degrees. Pretty cold!
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
An early Valentines surprise
Nathan and I are going out for Valentines dinner tonight. Yes, we are a day early, but he was supposed to work tomorrow, so it was the best he could do.
I say 'he', because it's actually Nathan who has organized it! Unfortunately the amah ruined the surprise by confirming the babysitting, with me...
Ah well, it was a nice surprise anyway, even if it wasn't on the night itself! We are heading out soon, and it's still a surprise though where we are going, I better go and make myself pretty!
Happy Valentines to all of you from all of us! Love all around!
I say 'he', because it's actually Nathan who has organized it! Unfortunately the amah ruined the surprise by confirming the babysitting, with me...
Ah well, it was a nice surprise anyway, even if it wasn't on the night itself! We are heading out soon, and it's still a surprise though where we are going, I better go and make myself pretty!
Happy Valentines to all of you from all of us! Love all around!
A pleasant IKEA-experience
So, we go our Expedit today, not only delivered but also mounted! Yes, that's a different kind of IKEA-experience! I was sitting on the sofa reading my glossy magazine, while two guys were doing all the hard work! Me like!
And here is the finished result, I am so pleased! It really swallows heapes, the whole "play room" looks a lot more tidy and clean now. And I haven't even filled it up all over yet.
And here is the finished result, I am so pleased! It really swallows heapes, the whole "play room" looks a lot more tidy and clean now. And I haven't even filled it up all over yet.
Weeee - Wii is fun!
Ok, I must admit, this Wii thing is actually quite much fun! Lucas plays 'Cars' and his favourite 'Lego Star Wars', and together we play the sports games.
I decided that tennis would be suitable, but I am sorry to say, Lucas kicked my butt! I have to practise more I think...
Here we are in action, hence the funny facial expressions:
I decided that tennis would be suitable, but I am sorry to say, Lucas kicked my butt! I have to practise more I think...
Here we are in action, hence the funny facial expressions:
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Enough
I haven't wanted to buy any furniture while we were still in this temporary house, since it would be hard to know if it would fit in any future house or not. I also had a dream/plan to have someone custom build some toy storage, in whatever new house we would get.
But today I had enough.
We went to the "IKEA-store" (a local store that imports furniture from IKEA in Singapore and sells it with a slight added cost) and bought one of these:
IKEA Expedit - an IKEA classic! Perfect for toy storage!
The good thing here is that delivery and assembly is included, so by tomorrow lunchtime we should have order again amongst the toys, at least for five minutes...
If only they would sell Swedish food too, it would be perfect!
But today I had enough.
We went to the "IKEA-store" (a local store that imports furniture from IKEA in Singapore and sells it with a slight added cost) and bought one of these:
IKEA Expedit - an IKEA classic! Perfect for toy storage!
The good thing here is that delivery and assembly is included, so by tomorrow lunchtime we should have order again amongst the toys, at least for five minutes...
If only they would sell Swedish food too, it would be perfect!
Monday, 11 February 2008
Chilly weather
When I went to do some grocery shopping today, I was surprised at how chilly it was outside, only 24 degrees!
It has been raining since this morning, so not strange maybe. Still, quite unusual. Maybe it's the "wet season" that has finally come?
Brrr!
It has been raining since this morning, so not strange maybe. Still, quite unusual. Maybe it's the "wet season" that has finally come?
Brrr!
Back on track
I think we are back on track already. Last night we played a bit of "musical beds", the kids fell asleep in their own beds, but came into ours when we went to bed. Then I took Linnea back to hers and stayed with her until she fell asleep, and when I was going back to my bed it was occupied by Lucas - so I went to sleep in his...
But, we all slept, which is the important thing!
We woke up at 8 this morning, so Lucas went to school, slightly late but I think he was happy with becoming the center of attention when he arrived.
I have unpacked and the house is almost back in order. Tomorrow I will go to the gym and hopefully tennis and swimming is on later in the week. Feels good.
But, we all slept, which is the important thing!
We woke up at 8 this morning, so Lucas went to school, slightly late but I think he was happy with becoming the center of attention when he arrived.
I have unpacked and the house is almost back in order. Tomorrow I will go to the gym and hopefully tennis and swimming is on later in the week. Feels good.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Kindy schedule 11-15 February
Term 2 week 6
Focus activities: Love & Friendship, Valentines Day
Letter of the week: Qq
Discussing friends and how we can be a better friend
Poem - Queen of Hearts
Valentines Day box - making cards for our friends
Co-operative games and activities
Shape of the week - heart
Heart - art & craft activities
Monday
PMP with Mrs Carter
Music with Mr Instone
Storytime with Mrs Lewis
Tuesday
8 am assembly with Mrs Kalesaw - Love
ICT – Interactive whiteboard activities
PE with Mrs Carter
Wednesday
Baking tartes like the Queen of Hearts, to take on our picnic
Mandarin
Thursday
Picnic snack at the boarding house – we will take our tarts to share – please send picnic food for sharing for first snack. Please send a mat to sit on. Parents are welcome to join us, we will be walking over – under the walkway at 9.40am.
Library 11.20
Friday
Swimming
Fresh Fruit Friday - please send red or pink fruits for our "love salad"
Focus activities: Love & Friendship, Valentines Day
Letter of the week: Qq
Discussing friends and how we can be a better friend
Poem - Queen of Hearts
Valentines Day box - making cards for our friends
Co-operative games and activities
Shape of the week - heart
Heart - art & craft activities
Monday
PMP with Mrs Carter
Music with Mr Instone
Storytime with Mrs Lewis
Tuesday
8 am assembly with Mrs Kalesaw - Love
ICT – Interactive whiteboard activities
PE with Mrs Carter
Wednesday
Baking tartes like the Queen of Hearts, to take on our picnic
Mandarin
Thursday
Picnic snack at the boarding house – we will take our tarts to share – please send picnic food for sharing for first snack. Please send a mat to sit on. Parents are welcome to join us, we will be walking over – under the walkway at 9.40am.
Library 11.20
Friday
Swimming
Fresh Fruit Friday - please send red or pink fruits for our "love salad"
Saturday, 9 February 2008
41 hours later
This trip took 41 hours from door to door... of course, that was with the scheduled overnight stop at a hotel at LHR, so not too bad actually.
It went really well, again. Our kids are travelling stars!
Now I just need to unpack, and get everybody over the jetlag.
Good to be back though.
It went really well, again. Our kids are travelling stars!
Now I just need to unpack, and get everybody over the jetlag.
Good to be back though.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
So long
Time to go. Last post before the trip, my computer is about to get shut down and packed up for the trip.
See you soon, on the other side of the world and in another time zone! So long!
See you soon, on the other side of the world and in another time zone! So long!
"Spring Mormor, spring!"
-"Spring Mormor, spring!" (=run Mormor, run!) - A little movie from the snowy weekend, of the kids having a ball, and Mormor getting some exercise...
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Choo-choo!
One of my missions in Denmark (apart from doing some heavy shopping!), was to visit Lucas' Godfather, to collect the latest delivery of Lego. I was lucky I had the girls with me, to help me carry, because there was an immense amount of boxes...
I was also lucky on the way home on the train, that I only had to change once, and both trains were then on the same platform, pheuw.
Now I just need to fit it in the suitcases, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem, since I came here with almost empty cases - and once you take it out of the cardboard boxes, it doesn't take up that much space.
But first, we had to unpack the train-sets, and build a huge train track. It took Mormor, Morfar and me almost three hours the other day to make it all up - and I'm actually not quite sure who is having the most fun with it, Lucas or Mormor and Morfar...
Happy boy:
Even Linnea was allowed to drive one of the trains, and she did pretty well considering it goes both backwards and forwards, in seven different speeds!
I was also lucky on the way home on the train, that I only had to change once, and both trains were then on the same platform, pheuw.
Now I just need to fit it in the suitcases, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem, since I came here with almost empty cases - and once you take it out of the cardboard boxes, it doesn't take up that much space.
But first, we had to unpack the train-sets, and build a huge train track. It took Mormor, Morfar and me almost three hours the other day to make it all up - and I'm actually not quite sure who is having the most fun with it, Lucas or Mormor and Morfar...
Happy boy:
Even Linnea was allowed to drive one of the trains, and she did pretty well considering it goes both backwards and forwards, in seven different speeds!
Time to go
Last day in Sweden today. Tomorrow we are off back to the UK, and Friday (hopefully) onwards to Brunei.
It's going to be nice to get back to the warm sun. Two weeks of winter slush is enough. We are lucky we did get some snow, even though it didn't last for long.
All the technical machines are charged up and ready to go, the bags are almost packed, and the kids know we are sleeping one more night at Mormor & Morfar's, then we are going to see Daddy, and he is going to get biiig hugs!
It's going to be nice to get back to the warm sun. Two weeks of winter slush is enough. We are lucky we did get some snow, even though it didn't last for long.
All the technical machines are charged up and ready to go, the bags are almost packed, and the kids know we are sleeping one more night at Mormor & Morfar's, then we are going to see Daddy, and he is going to get biiig hugs!
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
The kids' weekend
I'm not the only one who's had a great weekend actually. The kids were in heaven when it started snowing on Friday, and continued on Saturday! Jippie!
They were out with the sledge in the garden one of the days, and went to a big hill the next. They went pretty quickly downhill, and although Lucas thought it was "scary", he wanted to keep going and keep going!
Also they built a huge snowman, who was still here and got proudly showed off when I got back!
Here are a few pics from their weekend:
Reading the toyshop catalogues. They can spent hours doing this, over and over again:
Linnea has a thing with too much clothes. After changing her diaper here, it's almost impossible to get her trousers back on! She refuses trousers totally and I have to wrestle her to get them back on (because otherwise she would be too cold). But sometimes, I just don't win:
"Lilla snigel akta dig..." (=Swedish nursery rhyme about a snail that needs to watch out.)
Cool kid:
They were out with the sledge in the garden one of the days, and went to a big hill the next. They went pretty quickly downhill, and although Lucas thought it was "scary", he wanted to keep going and keep going!
Also they built a huge snowman, who was still here and got proudly showed off when I got back!
Here are a few pics from their weekend:
Reading the toyshop catalogues. They can spent hours doing this, over and over again:
Linnea has a thing with too much clothes. After changing her diaper here, it's almost impossible to get her trousers back on! She refuses trousers totally and I have to wrestle her to get them back on (because otherwise she would be too cold). But sometimes, I just don't win:
"Lilla snigel akta dig..." (=Swedish nursery rhyme about a snail that needs to watch out.)
Cool kid:
Monday, 4 February 2008
My girls
I have just come back from a lovely weekend in Copenhagen, with my best friends - Erika and Kamilla, my girls! Thank you - I had a wonderful time. You guys are the best!
EFIT - Friday 01.02.2008
09.15 I had forgot it was an EFIT-day, so my first picture is of Mormor and Linnea waving goodbye as I leave for the train, to go to Copenhagen for a weekend with my girlfriends:
10.15 Picking up my new passport at the Police Station, on the way to the train. It had broken in the binding, so I got a new one, free of charge:
11.15 On the train, listening to my favourite Swedish comedy radioshow På Minuten on my iPod, and eating chocolate:
12.45 Changing trains at Nässjö, on to the X2000 speedtrain:
13.30 Having met up with Erika, we feast on semlor (see here) and coffee, yum! (It's Bert-semlor, very tasty actually. Created by our local Skara-celebrity Bert Karlsson.)
15.20 Forgot to take a photo around 14, but here is the view from Öresundsbron (between Sweden and Denmark), if you look closely you can see the wind-powerstations in the far:
16.20 Leaving Copenhagen airport with the Metro. It's amazingly easy to get around CPH nowadays thanks to the metro. This last bit out to the airport was the last bit to get opened quite recently:
17.30 Erika forgot her backpack on the train we came with from Sweden. A very nice DSB-worker helped us locate it again, it had to go with the train to Helsingör and back - and here we have just recuperated it and are on our way to leave Hovedbanegården (=main train station CPH):
19.00 Dinner is served, sushi, mmm! Favourite meal with favourite girls!
20.30 Trying to make the little ones fall asleep with some Shrek - no luck..:
21.30 And then the night went on, with this, until very, very late. The end.
10.15 Picking up my new passport at the Police Station, on the way to the train. It had broken in the binding, so I got a new one, free of charge:
11.15 On the train, listening to my favourite Swedish comedy radioshow På Minuten on my iPod, and eating chocolate:
12.45 Changing trains at Nässjö, on to the X2000 speedtrain:
13.30 Having met up with Erika, we feast on semlor (see here) and coffee, yum! (It's Bert-semlor, very tasty actually. Created by our local Skara-celebrity Bert Karlsson.)
15.20 Forgot to take a photo around 14, but here is the view from Öresundsbron (between Sweden and Denmark), if you look closely you can see the wind-powerstations in the far:
16.20 Leaving Copenhagen airport with the Metro. It's amazingly easy to get around CPH nowadays thanks to the metro. This last bit out to the airport was the last bit to get opened quite recently:
17.30 Erika forgot her backpack on the train we came with from Sweden. A very nice DSB-worker helped us locate it again, it had to go with the train to Helsingör and back - and here we have just recuperated it and are on our way to leave Hovedbanegården (=main train station CPH):
19.00 Dinner is served, sushi, mmm! Favourite meal with favourite girls!
20.30 Trying to make the little ones fall asleep with some Shrek - no luck..:
21.30 And then the night went on, with this, until very, very late. The end.
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