yay for a beautiful day

Sunday was simply beautiful.  After lunch we headed outside and didn't come back in until dinner!

The greenway and riverfront area continue to be a big treat for our whole family.

Blue skies sunshine and shadows are a welcome sight!!  I love these long view down the river.

We certainly weren't the only people spending the day outdoors, but this riverfront area is rarely crowded, even on a pleasant Sunday afternoon.

Which is especially good news for bystanders because neither Luke nor John Paul are cautious or restrained scooter-riders... we're still working on developing a genuine concern for others sharing the road :)

Both girls had this idea that they were going to be so fast on their scooters they needed to pack something to do while "waiting" for Mom and Dad to catch up.  They were diligent to take plenty of notes about the journey.

I'm not sure how I feel about being the family slowpoke - it seems like I've spent most of the past decade waiting for toddlers to walk just one block :)

Back at our complex we got out the bikes too.  Maybe John Paul will kick the training wheel habit this summer.  maybe not.  His smile is pretty incredible, huh?

Just thankful for a beautiful day to be outside, together, as a family.  A great start to a crazy week.

one last glance {Malaysia}

We've been home over a week already.  And it's been A BIG WEEK!  The big three back at their respective local schools, Julianna and Lydia back in the home school groove, and on Friday morning the little two boys completed their physical exams in preparation to enter local preschool.  Ahhh!  I'm not ready for this step, and keep thinking up reasons to delay it "just one more semester" but in my head I know it's the perfect time.  It's aligning my heart that's the trouble!  ha!

John Paul regularly asks to go to school and was disappointed that I wasn't dropping him off on the way home from his health exam!  He knew that exam was a big step and once the exam was finished he was all set to go - he even wanted to take his back pack to the health clinic with him!

And Luke is desperate to communicate better in Chinese.  He is so eager to tell his endless stories, but for now he's pretty limited to English-listeners only.  So it'll be a great spot for him to grow.

Now how all this actually plays out on the first day of school remains to be seen.  I, for one, will not be part of the drop off scene because Matt knows I would never actually go through with it :)  And my guess is the little boys are going to be hesitant (at best) and resistant (worst).  We shall see....

Their first day is still at least a week away.  For one, their official spot in the preschool is still not 100% confirmed.  And we've got a topsy-turvy week coming up, so it's a bad time to introduce something new.  Matt's spring travel starts the first of the week (just a short trip) and then I leave to meet my parents in Thailand the second half of the week!  Matt and I actually won't 'touch'... I'll leave the kids with a friend and Matt will pick them up on his way home later that day.  It's not ideal, but it is what it is.

I'm so excited to travel to Thailand and meet my parents in Chiang Mai... then we'll be driving to the small town where they were Peace Corp volunteers (English teachers) almost 40 years ago!!!  They have never been back!  And I'm thrilled to get to go with them to this place that I've heard so much about!

It's crazy to be talking about flying south again - but the warmer temps are beckoning (he he!) and my ticket is bought.

And we are still full of fond memories of this sweet spot in Malaysia.  Uncle Charlie and Aunt Linda have a terrific backyard, with all kinds of fruit trees and plenty of open space for a bit of baseball.  Luke refers to the bat as a "balls hitter".

Joh Paul is my only lefty (I guess technically the verdict is still out on Luke, but he shows no signs of preferring his left hand... when JP was this age it was already perfectly clear that we had a left handed son!)

And I can't not mention the pets.  My aunt is a pet lover and she swayed a few of the kids her direction.  We were all a bit surprised to see Twiga the cat tolerate this from Luke, but it happened more than once.  And Luke was just delighted - mostly with himself, but also with the tolerant Twiga.

And the venerable M'Chawi, who sadly passed away a few days after we left Malaysia.  He always knew where he could pick up a tasty treat - the dinner table!

So with Malaysia in the review mirror, and a trip to Thailand on the horizon, it's head first into week 2 of the spring semester.  It'll be a short home school semester (we're set to finish up in about two months) but the local school will drag well into the summer.  Here goes.....

spring's first day

We spread Matt's birthday celebrating over both weekend days.  Such fun to celebrate this husband/daddy!

From hugs on his birthday morning to gifts at dinner Sunday evening, it was a lot of good fun for everyone.  Especially Matt!

Today (Monday) is our official first-day-of-everything for the spring semester.  So far, so good.  

In a bit the boys and I will head out to get the girls and then we'll wait patiently for Matt to get in from work before leaving for dinner (dumplings) at a restaurant nearby.  I decided that we could use a combined number of reasons to make it a dinner out day - it's an easy way to mark a big day on the calendar, congratulate our new-again students, and give me more capacity to focus on loving all the little people instead of chopping veggies.  Win for everyone.  

celebrating birthdays

I think I have one more post with Malaysia pics after this one... and then it'll be time to start focusing on life here :)

One highlight for everyone, especially Luke and Isaac, was an early birthday celebration. Aunt Linda and Kate outdid themselves with the decorations.  And poolside is always a fun location :)

Almost-3 and Almost-6, posing together.

We managed to squeeze three family birthdays into 19 days.  Matt (2-28), Luke (3-18) and Isaac (3-16).

Luke and his first birthday present.  A boy-baby, so cute together.

Isaac and his timepiece.  He loves this thing!

Looking so much older already - and still another 15 days til he is really truly SIX!

This boy is a riot.  On the flights home he was both the dreaded seat companion and then hilarious seat companion.  Yep, he required a good deal more hands on help, but he kept his seat mate laughing, hard.

Happy faces....

and Luke spitting/blowing out the candle :)

It was fun to get the celebrations started.  For a boy like Luke, whose been talking birthday for weeks, this was a big treat!!!

back at the ranch

We arrived late last night after a long day of travel.  And woke to cold rain.  Ugh.

Our travel was totally worth it.  So is the tricky transition back to real life and gray skies.  Our time in Malaysia was sweet.  I've got a few more pictures from the end of our days there (including an early birthday celebration for Matt and Isaac and Luke).  But tonight I'm cold, and tired, and not thinking all that clearly, so it'll have to wait.

I opened my email this afternoon to find some fun pics from my cousin Kate - She took these at the Youth Park that's a short walk from their home.  The Youth Park pool (with fountains!) was just a small part of this really incredible park facility enjoyed by people of all ages.  A great place to play, and people watch :)

And splash in the pool after a hot hike on Penang Hill.

Tomorrow is Matt's birthday!  We are excited to have something to celebrate as we return home.  Then Monday it's real life again :)  Chinese school, home school, the works.

beach photos

There's just something about the beach.  I love it.  So good to be here and watch the kids love it too.

Sunrise this morning....  Only Matt and Luke were awake for it.  [7:15 ish? I think?]

After breakfast we headed straight for the sand.  This rocky point is an island at high tide.  Lots of shells and crabs and clams at low tide.  We spent lots of time making habitats in buckets and loading in the wildlife - it was fun (for us at least, not so sure about the animals!)  All our play motivated me to get on the internet and look up some info about these little creatures!  So interesting!

Smiling faces!  Isaac can't decide what he likes best - the sand or the pool.  It's all just so fun for him!

Luke getting ready to become one big sandy mess!

Late afternoon at the pool.  with a nice view :)

Vacationing with the grandparents is nice!

All five in the same place at the same time!  Swimming skills are improving by the hour - yay!  Julianna's hoping to be on the home school swim team this spring, so Granddaddy is her swimming coach for the week.

At dinner - down the street from our hotel, an outdoor food court type place.  Yum. [I bought the batik head scarves for the girls and think they are so cute.  Wish I had bought ten more - mom is thinking of going back to the store after we leave so she's planning to get a few more for me!]

Isaac in his Malaysia Tigers soccer (football) jersey.

Dad and his noodle eating buddy - he and John Paul are crazy about noodles!

That's all I got for today - lots of pictures.  The internet here is SO fast and I love that I can add pictures to a post in minutes, not hours!

hiking Penang Hill

So whoever named it "Penang Hill" was slightly mistaken.  It's much more than a hill!  It's a mountain!  At least it certainly feels that way when you're trudging up the side, panting with exhaustion and soaked with sweat!

We have LOVED this hill!  The kids hiked twice.  Matt and I have been out multiple times.  My Uncle Charlie hikes this hill almost every day!  He knows every possible trail up the mountain and is a great guide.  

Kate never turns down a hike.  Even with the shortest and slowest of hikers!

On Friday morning four of us headed out for our most intense endeavor yet.  It took almost three hours and was totally worth it!  Extra fun that the hike ends back at the house where we plunge into the pool :) 

Sometimes we hike through jungle growth, other times the trail takes us right out in the hot sun.  The views from the top (and along the way) are stunning.

And in the jungle areas?  Well, you often spot a monkey.  Or twenty!

Grandmama and the littlest monkey.  ha ;)  

Now that is HOT hiking.  Trust me.

Matt thrives on this kind of stuff!  It's been fun to enjoy together as a family and with our extended family.    

When we aren't hiking we are at the pool.  it's easy to get used to a pool in the backyard, and the kids are in it all day long.   Today we moved to a hotel on the beach for two nights.  We will be back at Charles and Linda's before leaving on Thursday (sigh).  I have more pictures from their house (so nice! and they are great hosts!) and also hopefully some beach photos too.  

downtown (Georgetown)

Okay, so this isn't about our first day in Penang, but it's what we did today, and the only one I have pictures of on my computer, and so that's where we'll start!

This morning we headed to Georgetown.  It was a cooler morning, at least at the start, and a perfect day for wandering the old streets.  The street art is super cool.  These three little girls are one of my favorites.

And this scene crafted around an old motorbike.  [Note the flawlessly executed group photo... ha!]

This 'living statue' captured the attention of the little people.  No surprise that John Paul was bold enough to stride right up to the gentleman and have his picture taken.

And these swings, also really fun - they are secured into the wall!

Notice the kids t-shirts!  My cousin Julie's daughter Caroline made these for our five!  so fun!  The kids LOVE them!  This is the first time I've dressed the kids alike for a day like this...  and it definitely has it's perks!  So easy to count these 5 tie dye tshirts!

And it made for a cute photo too :)

Of course, we weren't the only colorful attraction!  Georgetown is a place that assaults all the senses!

[See those goats? Happy New Year and welcome to the year of the goat, huh?]

flowers for sale in Little India

Incense everywhere!

Penang is a mix of ethnic Chinese (Buddhists), Indians (Hindu) and Malay (Muslim).  These young Malay girls were pretty enthralled with Luke.  

And I thought these girls were striking too.

Here's Kate giving a demo called "How to win the Patience Award"

And Uncle Charlie listening to Isaac.  Who never stopped talking.

Stopped for lunch.  A precious row of tie-dye in a booth!

We had a few moments where the natives got restless, but for the most part, they enjoyed the cultural lesson .... or at least remained somewhat interested in their surroundings.

We finished up with a quick stop near Fort Cornwallis and Luke loves to look for boats (Penang is an island, the land in the distance is peninsular Malaysia).

We got home and the kids hit the pool.  We are big big big fans of Uncle Charlie and Aunt Linda's home.... the pool, the backyard, the nearby hiking trails.

More photos and stories to come, who knows when.  This is the first I've bothered to open up the computer since I got here.  But I will be back.