The Final Hurrah... AND for the younger!

But the trip was also a hurrah for our little ones. Of course the older ones recognised the importance of the event and its significance in our mutual life experience, but the younger ones were perhaps just a bit more focused on the fact that the beach and the pool were a mere few meters away. Though they too realised that this was a "final" event they, none-the-less, focused instead on the laughter, the games in the water, the running around and the discovery of the event (including a small frog discovered by little Bethany). 

It's great to know that no matter what the purpose of the trip was at the adult level, the young were there to ensure that we were keeping things in perspective and enjoying the "here and now" of the experience. The kids wanted to stay some more time, of course (didn't we all?) but time came to its end. What a perfect last memory of Malaysia. What a great last experience for all our children. What a great place to enjoy the end of an era and what a wonderful group of people to share it with!

The Final Hurrah... for the young

The past semester was one of lots of changes. The biggest such change had to do with our decision to move on from Malaysia after 14 wonderful years.  Malaysia has been our home, the place where our children were born, home to many of our most wonderful memories, but "it was time". The few months between December and June brought were filled with the stresses of packing, planning, contracts, saying goodbyes, looking toward our new home, working out finances, thinking of the "whats" and "ifs" of a new chapter of our life. For the girls it has been a big big change, including saying goodbye to lifelong friends, to a school that has been their second home and to a wonderful part of our family - Idah - who has taken care of them since they were born. 

With the many goodbyes, mommy decided that perhaps it would be the perfect opportunity to organise one more outing with friends. So it began.... a trip to a destination we've been thinking about visiting for over a decade but had never been to before... Tanjong Jara Resort in Terengganu, on the east coast of Malaysia. Invitations were sent out to friends and the weekend arrived, finding us all traveling by car to the east coast. What we found there was quiet splendour and a chance to really focus on friendship.  

For mommy and daddy this meant wonderful friends, some at ISKL, and some who no longer there (like our dear aunt/friend Leanne who now works in Singapore). All in all a community of 20 descended on Tanjong Jara for a weekend of perfect friend-packed playtime!  

It was one of those weekends that makes international living what it is... beautiful locations filled with smiling faces and warm friends. For us it was also a last chance to enjoy the best of Malaysia, and to let our friends know our appreciation for all they are and all they've given us. What a wonderful weekend... representing the essence of what is most important... togetherness, camaraderie,  fun, shared memories. All in all this was the perfect final hurrah for us all. Love to all, near or far. 

Little Ballerina!

It always starts off the same. But it doesn't always end up the same. At the beginning of the semester the Activites Office sends out a list of possible after-school activities for the students. Mommy, daddy and the girls sift through a rather extensive list, come up with how many seem reasonable, and the let the girls decide what they want. This semester Amalia decided she'd give ballet a shot. Mommy and daddy didn't think much of it and, sadly, were unable to make it to the end-of-semester show. But then along came a set of pictures from one our friends, Maryam. Her daughter is also in ballet and was there to witness the spectacle. 

Daddy took one look at the pictures and thought two things at once - "what an absolutely adorable cutie" AND "all my dreams of a daughter playing team sports are shattered". In that one instant it seemed like a whole different child. But as the pictures will show there was sheer joy in our little girl performing and smiling for the camera. She later said that she had a lot of fun, and, of course, how great that her friend Eva was there to share the experience!  Move over world... we got a ballerina in the house!

The Highland Games

At the outset of the semester we did, as we always do, a run through of the after school activities for our daughters. It's always an experience in compromise and budgting both time and (sometimes) money. When we got to the 'Thursday' list Amalia took a look at the options and declared "I want to do Scottish Dancing"!  We were impressed and a bit concerned, given that she didn't know what Scotting dancing actually is. But we'd give it a shot. Week after week she'd come back on Thursdays and indicate that she was very happy what she was doing. But what would a dancing activity be without an end-of-season performance. Much to our surprise this was no ordinary performance in some school room. It was going to be the opening act of the 2016 Highland Games in Kuala Lumpur!  

We headed over to the site (where festivities were already underway) to find the group and Amlia braved the heat and strangers to have a delightful time. The 10 ISKL students who danced ranged in ability, age and experience, but that didn't mean that there weren't a whole lot of "ooohs" and "aaahs" going on. By the end of the two dances in front of hundreds of people Amalia just smiled and happily received the hugs and kisses of her very impressed parents! 

Perhaps Amalia knew of her Scottish heritage (from her farther's side). Perhaps it was just a lucky break. No matter what the reason she decided to do Scottish Dancing she was simply awesome!  Our girls is trying new things and having fun with it. What else can we ask for? 

Amalia's 6th!

 

Amalia is a wonderful little (but growing) thing. She has filled us with joy from day one and is growing into a determined young lady, and as surely as she knows what she wants she recognizes the value of being with those she loves. She is independent but loves cuddles. She loves to play on her own but loves even more to play with others. She wants to draw and paint but she wants to do it in the presence of others. In short, our girl is as comfortable on her own as she is with friends and family which makes her, in so many ways, a pretty awesome member of the world's family.... needless to say she is a pretty awesome member of our family too!  

A big big happy happy birthday to you, Amalia. We love you completely, and even more!  :-) 

[When we looked back on this blog just after Amalia's seventh birthday we realized that we had forgotten to add her sixth!  What a miss for such an amazing, industrious, wonderful, determined girl. But it did give us a chance to look back to our past, in Malaysia, to reminisce about our time there and to celebrate - once again - our beautiful younger one!]