And then... the Rain!

Toward the end of the soccer session people started heading out. One after another families would wave and share weekend wishes. We stayed behind to play on the swings with a family of friends and classmates. Then it was time for them to head out as well so we naturally started to head for the exits as well. 

We were getting our things together when we felt it. A single drop of rain. It was unmistakably tropical: Broad and strong. Thump went another. We moved over to get under cover, but Amalia decided it was just too good to pass up. Out she went as the rain began to get stronger and faster. Soon her sister was out there too. Then the hoola hoops were introduced. Then came the discovery that over at the basketball court - where the coverings allowed for the water to fall in more concentrated areas - there was pure delight to be found. Perfect for a dip or sorts. Once there, and after a bit of play, Amalia noticed the playground in front of her classroom. She went over to check it out and what did she discover?  Wow!  These slides are super fast if you're sopping wet with rain!  She shot out of the slide on her first run, her bum hitting the floor. She looked up and giggled in glee. Irini, not to be left out, followed suit. The girls were happy as can be and daddy was too!

We had the extra shorts (the "just in case" sets for each of them). By then their smiles were so broad it didn't matter that the shorts had been rejected time and time again all morning in lieu of something less sporty. We came for soccer but we really enjoyed the time outside, literally singing in the rain!  It was awesome!

How wonderful to know that these two little girls, part and parcel of the modern iPad world, will stop everything to get out and soak themselves in good old fashioned precipitation!  May this happen time and time again as they grow up.

 

Soccer... sort of

A couple years ago was Irini's first day of soccer. We were delighted and took her out there only to watch her lose interest before she even found it. She went off and played in the playground, leaving soccer balls and teammates on the field. This time it was Amalia's turn. Things looked more promising as she was pretty eager to get up in the morning and head out. But the first glimpses of trouble came when she announced that she didn't want shorts and t-shirt but a dress. That didn't disuade daddy who took the extra clothing "just in case". When there she participated rather well in the warm ups, but when the balls were brought out (which she would normally love) she decided she had had enough and ran around looking for daddy. He tried to persuade her to go back, and went with her for a short while, but to no avail. She too had decided that soccer wasn't quite as exciting as she had thought. 

But wait! From the corner of his eye daddy noticed something surprising. Irini had slowly walked over to one of the groups and decided to help out. She had become the unofficial assistant coach and was participating in the activities by being a bit of an extra, informing the kids who had to do what and when. The little ones followed her directions quite nicely. Daddy was impressed. Perhaps there's still time for both these girls to become "ballers" after all. :-)

Amalia Turns 8.... no, make that 4!

When the birthday's come it's hard to contain the enthusiasm and this was no different. For months Amalia was telling us that when she has her birthday she will not turn four, but rather eight (her favorite number). We tried to understand her logic as we asked her what she will be after she turns eight, and she answered "four". But when May came around and her special day arrived we asked her how old she was and with a big big smile she announced "four!". So it was that she turned four, not eight as we thought might be the case. 

She asked for a pool party, of course. She invited a number of people from both the buliding and the school with her #1 VIP of the event being her teacher, Ms. Brooke!  But there were many there, some young and some younger. Strangely no one was old. :-)

And with the ticking of the clock, and the gradual and continuous growth of our beatuful girl, we have realized that the days of cuddling and silliness might be coming to a close soon enough. How long do we have?  Perhaps a few years to go?  Either way we intend to celebrate it all with both our girls, and to make the most of the time (cuddly or not) as they get longer, wiser, more independent. We lover you Amalia!  You too Irini! 

Cloud Forests in the Tropics...click!

Then there was the Gardens by the Bay. It's obvious that this is a new project in Singapore, but a lovely one none-the-less. Right across the water from what seems like the pit lane of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix, this park is beatiful even if it is still "short". But out of it come two very large buildings, made of glass, standing out in their form as well as their size. We decided to visit one named "The Cloud Forest" and were greeted with a seven story building. One goes in, enjoys the coolness of the setting (it's intended to emulate a cloud forest which, after all, is supposed to be in the clouds and, obviously, a little chillier than your average equatorial park). Once inside you make your way past walls for flowers and plants to the elevator which takes you to the top. From there it's a mosey downward by way of spiraling walkways moving off the wall and around until they return back to the central internal spine. Above us, as if walking on air, the cleaners mopped the outside of the building. Quite a juxtaposition to the natural wonders of the inside. 

The girls literally giggled with delight. From the colors of the plants to the fact that they had access to the cameras they were running from one plant to another snapping photos of pretty much everything. "Look at this daddy!" Amalia would explain, competing for attention with Irini who, simultaneously, was stating "These flowers are so big mommy!". Of course there were others around too, but no one seemed particularly concerned with the commotion we were causing in every step of the way. If anything, those around us were delighted by the delight of our girls, and that, naturally, delighted us to no end. :-)

Singapore Delight

Sometimes there are looooong stretches with the routine of life where determining what is worth writting about - keeping on record, so to speak - is a chore. And then, there are other moments where, in one weekend you have a sudden flurry of activity and doings all worth noting. What do you talk about?  How do you determine what the best pictures where?  Well, this is one of them posts... last week we jumped on a bus and watched TV on the backs of seats all the way to Singapore!  Once there we stayed with Leanne (sometimes affectionately known as "aunt Leanne"), a good friend from our early days in KL. The girls looooove spending time with her, but it's even more fun when you get to go to the beach too, and run around and play and get presents for your birthday and all that!  How cool!  

One of the highlights was the beach trip with Leanne and Jim too! Off to Sentosa for our first time, for brunch and poolside/beachside seating. Amalia and daddy took off on an "adventure" to the island across the way, and walked all around it, looking at 'stuff', walking along large boulders and meeting lots of friendly dogs (and their owners) along the way. It was a great break!  Then, once back, we settled into the pool 'thang' again. Smiling was evident throughout the day but even more so when the Nutela syrup covered warm donuts came along. All in all it was one of those mornings that you don't want to end. 

But even when it did end, it didn't quite end. We went to Jim's pool and enjoyed some snacks downstairs. We had a splashing fight in the jaccuzi (can you believe it?) and everyone got to work on something. Irini, for example, gave everyone back massages while Amalia worked on her half-under-water handstands. Overall a pretty good day!