Happy Holi Day

Saturday morning we were on the zoo bus and saw a sign for a neighborhood Holi festival of Colours.  I told Ben we had to go since I'd always wanted to see one.  By "always" I mean like a year and a half, since that's the first I'd heard about it.

The Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The colorful festival bridges the social gap and renews sweet relationships.  People hug and wish each other "Happy Holi".

You dab color/ gulal on the forehead, cheek, arm of another person and 

wish them a Happy Holi.  It may seem weird to some but it was actually a really neat experience.  Not to sound like the Hippy Car on Cars but "There was a lot of love out there".  We are definitely the minority in our neighborhood so it was a fun way to get to know some locals.

Off we go to make some new friends.

 One woman came up to them and said as she dabbed the color on, "This represents that all people are one and can be happy together."  I thought that was lovely.  

Even the little babes get in on the fun and make friends!

Lizzie: "Hey, what's that stuff on your face?  Doesn't your mom clean it off after you eat.  Mine does and I sure hate it.  Your dad has something all over his face too."

Friend: "Must be your first time here.  You have it all over your face too.  By the way, I like the paint splotches* on your dad's face."

*freckles 

Side story: a DOCTOR here actually referred to Ben's freckles as splotches once.  He'd never seen them before. 

Lizzie kept staring at me.  I don't think she quite knew what to make of my new look.

  The kids really get into it.  They were throwing and dancing and having the best time.  It was $3 for the bags of paint and a yummy snack.  Best $3 I've spent in a long time!

I googled Holi Festival when I got home and Utah came up as a search suggestion.  Apparently, the Krishna temple in Spanish Fork has one of the biggest celebrations in the states.  Who knew?!

Solids, Swimming, and Sitting

Solids:

Lizzie has taken to eating solids so well contrary to what this picture shows.  Samara did not eat solids until she was like 10 months old.  But Lizzie gobbles up almost anything.  She'll press her lips closed very tightly if she doesn't like what you are offering.

Her favorite thing to suck on in black licorice sticks.  She sucks on them like a pacifier.  They are all-natural, right?!  Then my friend pointed out the molasses probably isn't that great for her new little teeth. 

Swimming:

Baby Lizzie has taken to swimming quite well.  She loves splashing around in the pool.  Isn't this suit the cutest?!  My cousin gave it to me and my sister-in-law sent a pink one in the next size up so I don't even have to be sad when she outgrows the yellow one.

Sitting:

Sitting independently is one of my favorite baby milestones.  Little babes are so cute when they first learn to sit.  Lizzie has the cutest somber expressions and

 the sweetest smile!

She's also learning to clap.  I couldn't decide which was my favorite of this grouping so you get to see them all!

She's a keeper!

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.