Three going on Thirteen

Samara is four.  FOUR!  That seems so much older to me than three.  

I've been so excited for her birthday because I've had the presents since Christmas.  We brought them back from the states because the "made-in-china" toys here are even more cheaply made but cost twice as much.  Go figure!  It's been hard to keep them a secret for that long.  When Samara's birthday was over, I found myself feeling a bit sad that she was four.  She's growing up so fast.

She wanted a pink elephant cake again and to go bowling for her party.  

Props to my friend, Natalie, who helped make the cake.  I don't have any skills in that department so I really appreciated the help!

One of Mara's best friends happens to have two bowling lanes at her condo so we had a small party there.  It was so fun!  She's decided last May she wanted to have a bowling party after we went for her friend's birthday. 

She got a strike on her first bowl.  With no bumper pads that didn't happen again much to her dismay.

She told me the day after her birthday that she wants to invite all her friends next year like she did when she was three.  I think the whole gift thing is really sinking in with her.  :)

I stole this idea from my friend, Deborah's blog,
Four things I love about her:

1) She's a mini grown-up

Other adults tell me this all the time.  In her mind, I am pretty sure she does think she is a grown-up.

2) She loves her family!

The toppers for the cupcakes and the elephant are made out of marshmallow fondant.  She wanted to get her angel cookie cutter out when we made the elephants.  She made five angels and said,  "This is papa in heaven as an angel, this is Mimo ... , me ... , Lizzie ... , and Little Kicker (the brother she wants) in heaven as an angel.   She is happiest when we are all doing something together.

I usually don't bother correcting a passing stranger who thinks Lizzie is a boy.  Fortunately, I have Samara, who always sets them straight, "She's not a boy!  She's my sister.  Her name is Elizabeth Helen Bikman."  Then she sighs and rolls her eyes.

3) Has a great sense of adventure

Samara is not brave/advanced physically but she very adventurous in other ways.  She gave her first talk in primary a couple weeks ago.  Oh my.  It was adorable.  She did an awesome job.  The other day I went it to tell her quiet time was over and saw this stack of books on her side table.

She told me, "I was just reading grown-up books during quiet time.  I really liked the one about Cambodia (The Gate) with all the pictures of the temples we saw there. Ya, the books were so interested (interesting). "

4) She is very quick-witted and has a great sense of humor!  She has the sweetest giggle too.

After she helped me get ready to get out the door, I asked, "Samara, what would I do without you?" She replied, "Panic."  Her quick responses always keep us laughing.

Her primary teacher told me that he gave out some treats in class.  There were two little bags left after everyone had eaten some.  He asked if anyone's parents would be upset if they had more.  She replied, "My mom would be a little bit upset."  He said, "OK" and tucked them away.  Two minutes later, Samara raised her hand and said, "I said my mom would only be a little bit upset.  Now, can I have the marshmallows?"

A Boy Girl Pattern, Duh!

To say, "Samara loves to draw" is a big understatement.  We bought 6 reams of paper to prop the bed up when Lizzie was breech in an effort to get her to turn.  I wondered what on earth we'd do with all the paper.  We only have two left.  Samara has developed certain rules about her drawing.  Both sides of a sheet of paper absolutely cannot be used.  Once you draw something anything on one side, it's spoiled.   She draws for everyone and while doing everything.  I love seeing her drawings develop and change.

Last week she was really into drawing families.  Here is our family:

On the left is our current family. To the right is who she hopes to add to our family--a brother (Little Kicker (her baby cousin's nickname) and a pet cat.

She brought this picture to me the same day and I asked whose family it was.  She looked at me confused and very matter-of-factly said, "It's not a family.  It's, you know, a boy-girl pattern."

Silly me!  How did I not know that?!  Boy-girl patterns: it's what all the kids are drawing these days.  (You'll notice how there really is a pattern--long hair, short hair, long hair...)  So cute!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Samara came home from joy school with this cute card:

And we sure felt loved!

Happy Valentines Day from our house to yours!

Hong Bao and a Series of Unfortunate Outings

It's that time of year when this part of the world comes to a stand-still.  Families are visited, decorations put up, reunion dinners held, and these red envelopes, which contain money, are given out to those who are single and younger than you. 

  Samara knows all about the money!  Fish and gold are both auspicious and at $5 a bag, Goldfish are a real treat (though I think we brought these back at Christmas). 

 Lizzie was so excited about the ...

...paper.  It is delicacy to her.  

Ben normally works during public holidays and takes time off other days because it is CRAZY everywhere when everybody has the day off (remember, Singapore is one of the most densely populated countries in the world).  However, this holiday Ben opted to take the time off, which meant a 4-day weekend for us.  We had great plans...

 We thought since everyone was visiting their families, Thursday would be a good day to go to Sentosa.  Ben's Chinese co-worker thought so too.  Well, Singapore's Chinese residents were definitely unaccounted for but I'm certain every Malay and Indian was present.  Together they make up 23.6% of Singapore's population (over a million people).  It was a seriously crowded beach!  And I'm not even going to mention how many pictures were taken of the girls or how we had to walk to the little island via the new boardwalk because the wait for the monorail was too long or how then the bus dropped us off at the wrong beach and we walked and walked some more.

We didn't fare much better Friday on our two outings.  I opened the paper Saturday morning and saw each of three places we'd been, featured on one page, and had a good chuckle!  Sadly, we didn't get to really see much of what we wanted or get any exciting pictures but we do did ALOT of extra walking.  I'm not superstitious but I'm starting to think this is all because I put $4 in Samara's Hong Bao not thinking about how that is a "no no" as 4 is the most unlucky number!

On the bright side the walking meant we got to eat more of these.  Pineapple tarts are a new favorite of mine! 

 Saturday, we headed to the Science Center for a wintry Lunar New Year celebration.  We don't even have a picture of the awesome shaved iced/fake snow (to the left).  We only caught the tail end of a Lion dance.  *Sigh* again.  But hopefully we can catch one in our neighborhood before the holiday officially ends this weekend.  Because you simply can't start out a new Lunar New Year without seeing a proper Lion Dance.

Here is to hopping the year of the Rabbit brings you and yours happiness and prosperity!

Daddy Does My Hair

When Samara was a baby, people told us all the time that she looked just like Ben.  Then they'd make a joke, "Well it must be the bald head."  Chuckle.  Chuckle. Ha. Ha.  We found this shirt when Samara was a baby and thought it was appropriate.

Seeing as Elizabeth is bald as well, we again get the bald comment over and over.   In fact, if we had a billion dollars for every time someone said it to us, we could probably pay off the US national debt. :)  But she is my baby clone not his!

Ben is very proficient at doing the girls' hair when they are babies, among the many things he does well.  But my one complaint about his parenting...he can't seem to keep it straight how he's supposed to carry his young.  

Thaipusam

Last Thursday was Thaipusam, a Hindu celebration of the day Lord Murugan received the "Vel" or divine spear from his mother, Mariamman, so he could kill the feared demon Soorapadman.  Have all those names straight?  Thaipusam is celebrated during the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb).  The celebration involves a procession of people bearing kavadis, which are cage-like structures ornamented with peacock feathers and steel plates displaying pictures of Hindu gods.  This is done to give thanks and show gratitude for blessings received from Lord Murugan.   For instance, if the devotee's son is laid up with a fatal disease, he would pray to Shanmuga (another god--they can pray to various gods during this time) to grant the boy a lease of life.  In return for which the devotee takes a vow to dedicate a kavadi to him.  Some spend the month prior fasting from meat and abstaining from worldly pleasures to purify themselves.  Others fast during the day and eat only after sunset.  Some even sleep on hard floors to prepare themselves.

Some shave their heads and cover them in saffron paste. 

I read that those who had trouble having babies will carry their baby draped in saffron robes, balanced on sugar cane stems throughout the journey.  Obviously not what is going on here, but I thought that was interesting.

The simplest form of kavadi is to carry a jug of milk balanced on one's head.

Others carry pots of milk and hook little pots of milk to their body.  They are also skewered on their tongues and/or cheeks.  Remember the Vel/spear Lord Murugan received from his mother.

Some will bear many hooks with attached objects like limes, oranges, apples and even coconuts on their backs and chest. 

Kavadis are made of wood (like this one) or steel and made to balance of the shoulders of the penitent.  They are decorated with peacock feathers, flowers, and other decorations.  The peacock feather is symbolic of the vehicle of Murugan

The steel kavadis, which are all diversely and ornately decorated.

The Vel Kavadi is a movable altar that is pulled with ropes attached to hooks in the penitents back.  First photo shows the hooks in his back.  In the second, look behind him and you can see the Kavadi he pulls.

The devotees are accompanied by drummers, flutists, and 

an entourage of friends, relatives, and well wishers.  Along the way (which is a specific 4.5 km route) they engage in sacificial acts to thank the various gods for answering their prayers.  Some did dances while others sang and said chants.  Others you could tell were struggling just to make the 4.5 km walk from one temple to the other.

Watching the procession was so interesting but watching them prepare was fascinating.

They lay out everything they need to prepare.

Filling a milk pot

Adorning nails shoes

Piercing through the cheek.  I don't even have my ears pierced so I'm not sure how this didn't bother me more.  His eyes went bloodshot and rolled in the back of his head.   Friends and relatives chant while they are doing the piercing to help distract him from the pain he feels.  They also do this during the procession.

The token BW photo.  There aren't too many that have reason to be BW as everything is so colorful and vivid but I loved this image.  

Holy ash (saffron powder) is used to sanitize the areas being pierced.  It is also smeared on their foreheads.  This is common in many Hindu rituals to ward off evil.

The penitent smears it on his family's/supporters' foreheads.

I'll close with this beauty!

Thaipusam also happened to fall on my birthday.  

And my sweet friends treated me to some delicious Indian grub--family style.

Then Saturday a Turkish lunch with my cute family finished off with Kunefe.  It was a great birthday--one I won't forget.  It will take something very unique and yummy to make my next b-day as interesting as this one.   :)