Music Share

The end of the school is an entertaining time. The past couple of weeks have been full of events where the kids get to show off all the skills they have been learning this year.
Today was D's Music Share. The students are given an opportunity to perform something for their classmates. D danced to "Baby" by Justin Bieber. See her shake her groove thing at the link below.

http://youtu.be/AX0N1kk9v6Q

As if a dance number wasn't enough, D also wanted to share her violin skills. Yes, it's true she has only had 3 lessons, but when you are 7, you are fearless, and absolutely certain that your classmates want to hear a random combination of notes on your violin. That's what they got- and it was a fine show!

http://youtu.be/rA4vxAsblWw

Exotic Flavors

One of the wonderful things about living in different places is the opportunity to try all different kinds of foods. There isn't much that T and I won't eat, and the kids like most things too. Tess cooks great stuff for us, a great mix of western food as well as Asian cuisine. We also love all the different herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables available here.

Last week, D asked if she could prepare a fruit plate for us to eat after dinner. Sure! She went off to the kitchen and got to work. She later appeared at the table with her beautifully plated creation.

Cantaloupe, grapes, rose apple, and crumbled chocolate Easter egg. I am sure we'll see it appearing on menus soon!

A few months ago I noticed a new product at our local grocery store. I picked up one, just for kicks.

 Yogurt, with ham, carrots, and corn.

It was in the fridge for a few days when C came home from swimming wanting a snack. After I photographed it, he devoured it! I wasn't even brave enough to take a taste this time. Shame on me!

Good Morning Baltimore!

This past weekend were the After School Dance performances here at ISB. All of the dancers were fantastic- but I do have a favorite. ;)

 1 pretty one, and 1 silly one, as promised.

 The girls keeping busy before they are called to perform.

D's jazz class performed to "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray. They were cute and spunky and danced very very well.

Oh, oh,oh, woke up today, feeling the way I always do....

Great job dancers!!

Celebrate!

Today was D's 1st Grade Poetry and Music Celebration at school. I recieved a formal invitation to hear the children reciting their own poems and sharing the songs and games they've learned in music class this year. The whole class did an amazing job!

D recited her original poem,

 "My Favorite American Fruit."

Peaches

Peaches

stacks of them.

Cherries

Cherries

packs of them.

Peach pudding

Peach pudding

pots of it.

Cherry pies

Cherry pies

lots of it.

Yum! Yum!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqQ_zPGYeuU&feature=youtu.be

Nearly all of her poems were about summer memories from our time in the US last year. I think she's really got summertime and the USA on her mind!

Sleeping with the Fishes

Our Girl Scout troop had the fun experience this past weekend of sleeping at Siam Ocean World, Bangkok's aquarium. Like many modern aquariums, Ocean World has the long walk-through tubes that go under the tanks, and this is where we slept after an evening spent touring the place.

Kicked off the night with live theatre!

The girls had a blast! The night included a behind-the-scenes tour, glass-bottom boat ride over the shark tank, a trip to the gift shop (of course), 5D movie, a craft, and sleeping with the sharks and rays gracefully swimming overhead.

Our troop of 8 girls and were wonderful companions, as well as 3 moms who joined. Everyone listened, participated, ate, slept, and was responsible for their things. Love it!

 Feeding frenzy. You can tell the guide gets a kick out of it EVERY time.

 All our girls.

 Launching off to admire the man-eating (not really) sharks from above!

 5D movie- The Little Prince.

 It wasn't a great night for sleeping, but it was nice to have the sea life to watch at various times throughout the night and early morning. That's a plus!

On Saturday, after a 4.5 hour nap, I was ready to function again. Well worth the fun we had with our girls!

What Happens When You Turn 7!?

You get your own beautiful bouquet of flowers, your own basil plant (because creamy pesto pasta with prawns is still your favorite food), and a few other items from your wish list.

You get to choose the family's lunch destination (McDonald's), and have mom paint your fingernails and toenails.

The ladies at the salon style your hair and put in your tiara.

You get to put your own lip gloss in your own handbag and Dad takes you to the ball!

On Monday, Mom shows up at school with birthday brownies and gets to be Mystery Reader!

You suddenly become a fine violinist! Along with your American Girl doll.

  You lose another tooth, and continue to write lengthy, question-filled letters to the tooth fairy. Who, by the way, always writes back, even when it's late and she really wants to go to bed.

I think being 7 agrees with our girl just fine! There will be a party to come, when things slow down a little bit around here. D has requested a karaoke party... oh boy.

Make the World a Better Place

D's Girl Scout troop has just earned their 10th and final daisy petal! Hooray! We seem to have saved the best for last and accomplished something great recently.
Our troop of 8 first graders held a clothing drive for a nearly community. We've visited these people a couple of times before and on our last visit, a man told our driver that they could use clothing donations. It was a great task for the girls.

Each Daisy Scout took home 10 bags with notes. They went door to door asking for donations and offering pick up service. They were great! And a community in need was given bags and bags of clothing, shoes, and toys. So proud of our Scouts!

Snow Day!

The weather has been beastly hot and humid here lately. We are having record breaking temps, even the locals are complaining! But, like always, life goes on and we all find ways to keep entertained and cool down.
Today is Tuesday and on most Tuesdays D has a friend over whose mom makes jewelry at a local gift shop. Her name is Fern and while Thai schools are on break, she comes over and the girls play after D gets out of school. Fern is very, very sweet and using more and more English words each time we see her. D loves having her over and has gotten so good at speaking slowly and checking to make sure she understands. They are very cute together.
Despite this weather, we heated things up a little more by baking cookies for a school function tomorrow. All 3 kids were pretty excited to bake and help out. See our yummy lemon cookies!

Anyway, once the first batch was in the oven, D had a brilliant idea. At Christmas time, family back home sent us a super fun gift called Sno Wonder. It's a powder and minutes after you add cold water, you have snow! We keep a big bag in the fridge and D pulled it out and poured it all over the kitchen table. Really really fun and special to watch Fern experience her first snow! In our kitchen! In sweltering heat! D specifically asked me to post their photo on the blog. I think she really enjoyed sharing this with Fern too. Perfect way to cool down. And a new way to play with Little Pet Shops.

We sent a bag of snow home with Fern and she bounced back to her mom and grandma so cute and excited. I hope they had a snowball fight tonight.