California Visiting Jason at Stanford

biking across golden gate bridge, A's game, pier looking out at alcatraz, apple iphone line, china town, and out for pancakes. 

Kuala Lumpur

Nathan and I drove to Singapore for the weekend to visit his best friend, Christopher who just moved there and another friend who Johann who moved there last year. He was in heaven! 

Nathan and I went jungle trekking. The biggest excitement was of course, all the leeches we encou

ntered. It wasn't so bad on the way up but once the foliage got a little thick and the guides pulled out their machetes to clear away the vines, the leeches were everywhere. You can see the blood in my pants (no fun getting leeches down there, I assure you!) and on Nathan's ankles! Yikes! I should get some kind of award for being a "super cool brave mom", willing to get leeches just to go on a bonding trip with my son! Ha!

We went to see the London production of Beauty and the Beast in KL. Nathan enjoyed it, but didn't like the kissing scene in the end! : ) 

Boys in hotel bathtub & Drew with Vas, our helper.

Kuala Lumpur

A girls night out for Wai Quan's birthday.

Wai Quan, Chandra, Michelle, and I

And, then a farewell for me -- all of us, just missing Gabrielle who lives in Australia now.  Don't we look good?! My new cheongsam (Chinese dress - orginated in the 20's in China and Hong Kong). 

kuala Lumpur

Drew went to preschool 5 days a week for 3 hours a day! Wow! Now in Texas, he will only go 2 days a week. But, he loves to go and loves to play with other kids. Pictured here with his class and teacher Berry. (He calls her teacher "belly" and laughs!)

Kuala Lumpur

I first met this group of women when I moved to KL over 3 years ago at an ibu (mom's group) playgroup. While our kids played together, we chatted and grew to be amazing friends. Even after our kids outgrew the playgroup, we continued to meet for coffee. Even though our coffee talk and birthday celebrations were sporadic, I know these women will always remain a part of me and my time in KL was greatly enriched by our friendships. 

We met up at the Mandarin where the boys and I were staying before we left and had a full moon party for Qi Xang, her new little one.  A full moon party marks the end of a mother's confinement period and is a celebration where friends and family welcome the arrival of the baby.  She brought traditional full moon food for everyone to taste, fried meehoon and mee, hard boiled eggs dyed in red, curry chicken, pork knuckles and Chinese cakes.  She also brought an Ang Koo cake made of glutinous rice flour, filled with soft green peas and pandan leaves. Symbolic of longevity and prosperity. 

How great are my friends?! 

Kuala Lumpur

dinner with Joanna, Dinesh, Jeni & Todd

farewell with ibu

Farewell for Carrie

My farewell at fit for 2

A farewell for Jenny Stegall

Baby shower for friend Amy at a local Italian restaurant. 

Teresa & Sarah 

Paige Amy

Kuala Lumpur

My sweet friend Sarah Grasset invited me to witness her baby's blessing at a Sikh temple. A Sikh blessing usually happens 40 days after birth but Elizabeth was a bit older. It was very casual and relaxed, considering it's held around dawn and we arrived the last hour of the service. The men and women must cover their heads, remove their shoes, and enter the temple from separate entrances and sit on opposite sides of the temple. This temple was basically a large room with a video projector with words to a hymn projected on a large screen while several men play instruments. Elizabeth's name was announced to the congregation (it was hard to tell when this happened) by the priest and a passage was read out loud. 

Then, to celebrate, a sweet dish made from flour, butter and sugar and semolina, which felt very greasy, was passed around and everyone was to take a pinch. 

Then, a meal was served in a separate room. 

It was lovely, just lovely to be included in such a special event. A blessing for Elizabeth, but really, I was the one who felt so blessed to be there.