Fab 5 Friday...late.

Greetings and salutations! Sorry for the late post, but yesterday was just too gorgeous to grab the computer and bang out a blog. Today is cloudy (but not raining...YET) and the kids are over with their cousin, Ally, so I have a few minutes to throw down a few words. (Along with painting my nails...priorities, you know!)

The past week has been all about the kids. You name it...we've been doing it. So here's the re-cap of the fun stuff we've been doing via the Fab 5!

1. Grayson's Birthday. Last Friday was the littlest dude's birthday...which meant mini-golf, Martha's Ice Cream, Harvest Pizza, and a blueberry pie for dessert. To say he had an enjoyable day would be an understatement! The kid was in heaven!

2. Fishing, Swimming and Kayaking. We moved into the lake house last weekend...and it's wonderful to be back. The kids have been doing all of their favorite summer time activities. I'm thankful that the fish have been biting and that their kayaking skills seem to have improved. It will be a lovely 6 weeks here.

3. Golf. We golfed at Sunnyside Par 3 on Wednesday with Poppy. Just perfect to get the boys back golfing as they haven't played on a course in two years. And you can't beat the price! We are already checking Weather.com to see when we can go back this week! 

4. Tuesday Night Track Series. The boys are back running track on Tuesday nights. I love that they enjoy doing this. It's fun, free and very well-organized! A big thank you to the members of the Adirondack Runners who do this series for the months of June and July!

5. The Great Escape. The season passes are in full use. We went again this week with cousin Ally - and everyone seemed to have fun! We even got Grayson on a few new rides. (Still no rollercoasters!) And, I love that we can go for a few hours and then leave. 

So there you have it! We've also had many meals out at the kids' favorite places. (They are so easy - which makes it a beautiful thing for me!) We've done a little shopping and we've been busy planning for the upcoming week! Golf and the movies and, most likely, the water park this coming week!

And finally, I spoke with Blaine today and he's busy settling into our house in Poland. He said our container arrives on Monday and we've got our fingers crossed that it will clear customs quickly. If it does, there's a chance our "stuff" can be at the house when we arrive in August. Wouldn't that be nice?! A girl can dream...

Fab 5 Friday...

Greetings from the U.S.! So good to be home - and mostly over jet lag. The kids were rock stars with the whole jet lag thing! Maybe that has to do with them being kids. Me...not so much. Many nights of turning on the t.v. and watching various episodes of  HGTV...Blaine should be frightened when we buy our forever home. I have a list about a mile long of things that home will need!

Anyways...for the summer it will strictly be Fab 5 Fridays for the blog unless I'm struck by the unusual need to write. This is the time when I will give blogging a break and spend the summer relaxing with a good book while I watch the kids fish on the dock.

Today's Fab 5 is dedicated to my littlest dude, Grayson. Today is his 9th birthday and while he's been driving me insane all week with his constant chattering about his new Nintendo 3DS, I do love the little guy more than words...although, today I'm going to give it a shot!

The Fab 5 Reasons to Love Grayson...

1. His obstinacy. Why would a mom love this in a child? Doesn't it drive you crazy? The answer is most definitely - YES. But, I also know that this will not allow him to be bullied. It will give him the fortitude to express his opinions as he grows up. He will eventually learn to channel it in ways that will work to help him. Don't always believe that being obstinate is a bad thing...

2. His caring nature. This child cares for his friends and family like a boss. (That's his term.) I've seen him give hugs to friends out of no where. I've watched him cry with others because they were crying. He sends text messages to his friends around the globe to check in on them after surgery. He shows me much love on days when I'm feeling blue. He just has a way of knowing what a person needs to feel better. If we could only all be like this...

3. He's smart. Now, admittedly, he doesn't like to write...which drives me insane. (How can this kiddo of mine not like to put his thoughts into words?) But, he's really quite the smartie with the subjects he does like - like math. Maybe that's why I put it here...because math and science were never my favorite subjects, but this kid loves them. And for that I admire him...

4. His big brown eyes. Yes, this is totally superficial. But, those brown eyes of his will make you melt when he's absolutely pushed you to your limits.

5. His sense of adventure. This kid has it. He has loved the travel we have done and the places we have visited. He can negotiate for a tuk-tuk in Cambodia like nobody's business and was the first to get on his elephant to take it for a spin. He's embraced all of the changes our lives have been through like a champ. He even talks about his future and how he hopes to go to cool places with his family like he does with ours...and he's 8, I mean 9.

So I all I can say is Happy Birthday, Grayson! We love you lots and hope that year 9 brings you all of the happy things you deserve!

Farewell KL...

I still can't believe I'm writing this...that we're actually leaving Kuala Lumpur. I thought we'd be here at least another year, but Cargill has different plans for us.

Now, I know I haven't been at this ex-pat thing long...two years. And, I've listened to a lot of people complain about KL...and I've definitely had my whiny days. But, I truly loved it here! Truly!

So for my final blog from KL...I'm not even going to dwell on the things that drove me crazy. I'm leaving on a strictly positive note...nothing, but love. So here it is folks...all the things that I can possibly think of that I loved about our time here. Big and small. In no particular order. And I'm sure I'll forget a lot...but it will give you an idea.

Things To Love About Our Time in Kuala Lumpur...

• Our friends. We made so many...too many to list. And they shared in many of the great memories we will take with us. And helped us when we needed it. There are no words.You will be missed.  
• Easy travel. Oh, the places we have been...Bali, Phuket, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Seoul, Australia, Cambodia...Places I only dreamed of visiting. And they are amazing...
• Gold Class Movies. Yes, this is a completely silly thing to love about KL. But, love it I do! Big comfy recliners with pillows and blankets. There is no better way to watch a movie.
• Inexpensive manicures, pedicures, and massages. Whoa! I have been spoiled the last two years by these little indulgences. Very spoiled...
• The weather. Yes, it's hot and humid...but it's hot and humid year round. No snow. No boots. No coats. I will miss swimming on Christmas Day. I will miss wearing my flipflops year round. I will miss 80 degrees Fahrenheit at 7 a.m. - no matter what the date on the calendar reads.
• The food. KL has fantastic food - from all over the world. We were fortunate to be able to enjoy so much great cuisine while here...curry puffs, ayam goreng, Korean BBQ, dim sum, chicken vindaloo...the list could go on for pages. 
• What it has given my children. The experience of living here in KL has just made my children grow by leaps and bounds. I love listening to them talk to me about their friends from around the world or a service project they are working on at school. 
• Miss Elizabeth. We can't forget about our helper. She took such good care of our family...which afforded us lots of other things - like weekend trips away for Blaine and me and time for me to write uninterrupted. I think time is the most precious commodity she gave us. I'm so happy that she will be working for Cari and Eric...I know they will love her as much as we do.
• CrossFit Vidatha. I don't know what to say about this place except that if I hadn't come to KL, I wouldn't have started CrossFit. I wasn't a CrossFit hater in the U.S., I just had a gym where I was happy. So thank you Vidatha peeps...
• San Francisco Coffee. Now, in all honesty...the coffee here is average. You're not going to write home about the wonderfulness of the cup o' joe you drink here. But, I've probably visited San Fran Coffee 4 days per week for the last two years. I've spent endless hours here with my laptop banging out blogs, articles and emails. After the first week, their staff has always greeted me by name...and that's why I loved it there.

I could keep writing, but as I look at this list...most of it comes down to people. The friends you make, the people you interact with on a daily basis, the men and women teaching your children. People are what makes a place memorable. So thank you Kuala Lumpur for all of the people you brought into my life...and all of the memories I will take with me.

Fab 5 Friday...

WOW! Just one more week to go! It's really quite surreal. I still feel like we're just heading home for summer break and that we'll be returning to KL in August. But, alas, that is not the case. We received email confirmation that our container is on a boat heading to Poland via the Baltic Sea. So come August...Warsaw, baby!! That will be our new home.

Next week I will do the typical last posts from KL...what won't I miss, what I will miss...along with a loud cry of, "Hooray! We're out of here and heading back to see our family and friends!"

But, today I am content to drink some coffee and bang out one of my last Fab 5's from KL. So what's been going on this past week...well, let me share.

1. Canada Rocks. We headed to Canada Rocks last Saturday night with Barb and Eric. A very fun night! Cold beer, some fantastic food (pierogies and poutine and roast beef sandwiches with lots of horseradish - YUM!) and lots of laughs! We will truly miss this family when we leave. (Thankfully, there are plans for Oktoberfest in Munich in the works!)

And we can't forget the Gallaghers! (They're actually Canadian - unlike the four of us! ) It's always fun to hang out with Susan and Brian! We'll miss them lots, too!

2. Petronas Towers. Sunday was family day...and we finally went up in the Petronas Towers. In all the time that we've lived here, we have not done this. And, we made a promise to the boys that we would do this before we left...so Sunday was the day. It was a lot of fun! A clear day and we enjoyed playing tourist in this city where we live.

3. Student-Led Conferences. Both boys had student-led conferences this week where they lead you through their portfolio and share their reasoning for the items they have chosen. I'm always more curious to listen to their reasons for choosing pieces than looking at the pieces themselves. The self-reflection is much more important than the actual work. Sometimes they keep things very much on the surface level, but then there are other times when you can see the depth in their thoughts. It's quite remarkable to see this growth in these two boys.

4. See you agains. We've started to say "goodbye" to some of our friends. Please forgive me if I don't officially say goodbye or meet for coffee or a meal. I really hate the goodbyes. I'm a fade into the sunset kinda girl. I'm a see you soon or see you again kinda person. So yes, we're sneaking out of town without a party. Facebook continues to be the tie that binds. I know that I will be in communication with friends no matter where we are. 

We've got the kids hooked up on Kik for their friends who want to text them. (It's a freebie you can download for the iPad - even though it says iPhone only - and doesn't require a phone number to sign up - just an email.) This has made them happy. 

And thank you to those who have met for coffee or invited us for a meal. We've truly appreciated the kindness you've shown! Like last night with these crazy kids!

5. Haircut and color. Ah, yes...one last cut and color before leaving KL. Elaine decided she wanted to go a little "bolder" this time. I'll admit I was a little skeptical when I looked at it before it dried. (All I could think was Bozo the clown - it was so red!) But, it has grown on me...

Okay...that's a wrap peeps! Grayson has a class party this afternoon and then we're heading to Taps for a few beers and some munchies. Tomorrow has us spectating the finals boys' soccer tournament. And Sunday, well, Sunday has me sneaking off for one last mani and pedi while Blaine plays chauffeur to the boys for the afternoon. Enjoy your weekend! 

Fab 5 Friday...

Well, this edition of the Fab 5 is coming to you a little later than normal. It's not being written at San Francisco Coffee. In fact, I'm contemplating opening a beer as I type this. But, that will probably wait a few more hours.

I will just get this out of the way and say: 15 DAYS UNTIL WE HEAD BACK TO THE STATES!! Woohoo! Yay! Yippee! Hooray! I'm ready!

Okay...so I was struggling this morning to see if I could actually come up with a Fab 5. It's not that it's been a bad week...it's just not been a "normal" week. But, as I sat having lunch with Blaine today, I knew I had 5 things ready for you! So here we go!

1. Teachers, Kids and Parents. So I spent three hours this morning helping Grayson's 3rd grade class turn their fairy tales into iMovies. For those of you who wonder if there is really serious learning going on the last few weeks of school, please be assured that there is - at least at the 3rd grade level. These kids have been working hard to write their own fairy tales, create their own pictures to accompany the fairy tale and then convert the story and images into an iMovie with their very own voice being recorded and music at the beginning and the end. I'm going to say that this is an ambitious project - especially at the end of the year when we're all burned out - parents, teachers and kids. But, you would be truly amazed at the quality of the work they have done! AMAZED! They are impressive!

And, I'm going to give a special round of applause to Grayson who quickly mastered iMovie and then acted as a student helper today with me. He really was fantastic at helping his classmates. He took the time to explain what students needed to do, worked to help them when they were stuck, and assisted in adding music and finalizing movies. I left at lunch time today, but I think the class was close to finishing and Grayson had already told his teacher that he was more than happy to help the rest of the kids finish their projects.

2. Book Club. We started an online book club this week. (There is still time to sign up!) I think it will be a great way to connect with friends from all over the world. We should have our first book selected by June 13th and then we'll really kick it off! If you're interested, you can check it out on Goodreads and request to join our group by clicking here.

3. Glasses. I'm not sure if these are fabulous, but I picked up my new prescription glasses today. I thought as you aged you became far-sighted, but not me. I'm near-sighted. (Aim to be different, right?) Anyways...below is is the obligatory new glasses selfie!

4. Splurge Meal. So I have kids who at one end of the spectrum are really happy with some chicken nuggets. At the other end of the spectrum, they really enjoy a nice meal out. But, as most parents would agree, we do not like to pay for a "nice" meal out with them all the time and therefore, we dine mainly in the middle of the spectrum as a family. Last night we decided to take the kids to Beato again (Yes, they'd been there a few weeks back for a work dinner with some friends of ours) and my kids were little steak-eating fiends. And little steak-eating critics - as they discussed the taste and textural difference between a NY strip, a tenderloin and a sirloin. I have to say, because they were so appreciative, it took much of the sting out of the bill at the end of the meal. And they did truly enjoy the dinner...

5. Purging and Packing. Oh, it was a good week of throwing crap away and getting our lives sorted and giving stuff to charity. And then a full week of having packers at the house and finally watching the container being loaded today. I'm glad it's done. We'll see our stuff in Poland. (**fingers crossed**)

That's all I've got this week. If you need us, we'll be living out of our suitcases over at the Wedgewood. (It's really not that bad over there...and the kids really like the double chocolate chip cookies on the breakfast buffet.)

The Countdown Is On...

Need I say more?! 18 days people! Just 18 days! And then we will begin that long flight back to the States. I can hardly stand it I'm so excited!

Of course, our number one priority is seeing family and friends! Always! But there are so many little things to look forward to...

- Harvest Pizza and Salad. Just the yummiest! Grayson has requested it for his birthday party in New York, but I'm unsure if we can actually wait until Friday night to partake in this deliciousness!

-Fishing. My kids can't stop talking about fishing and worms and getting that elusive bass that would just come look at their hooks, smirk and swim away last summer. I can't tell you how many hours were spent fishing and how much money was spent on worms.

-Shorts and Sweatshirts. The slightly cooler weather always allows for a few days/nights where I can wear shorts and sweatshirts and I just love that!

-Martha's Ice Cream. Caleb has said that this will happen as soon as possible when we arrive! Creamy soft serve goodness!

-Kayaking. My parents leave their kayaks at the lake house we rent for the summer and going out kayaking is so relaxing. Just you and the sound of your paddle hitting the water and maybe a few birds flying overhead. We even taught the boys to kayak last summer...and Grayson said he's ready to head out again.

-Yankees Game. We've got tickets for an afternoon game versus the Orioles. Beer and pretzels and good, ol' American baseball.

-Light Beer. Yes, this makes the list. Start icing down some cold ones, Mom!

-The Great Escape. We once again have season tickets for the Great Escape - a Six Flags amusement park. I love having season tickets as we can breeze in for a few hours, ride some rides or head to the water park and then leave. We've even signed up to do a 5K at the park in July.

-American Chinese Food. Only if you have lived in the States and then lived elsewhere do you understand how much we miss American Chinese food. I believe I'm drooling as I type this and think about General Tso's Chicken.

There are other things that could make this list. Dirty John's Hot Dogs. Driving which doesn't make me insane. Watching my brother compete in his first Ironman. Tuesday night running club for the kids.

But, with 18 more days to go and a house full of packers, I will snap myself back to reality. Dreaming of the lake and family and friends must wait. It's time to supervise the packers to make sure our things make it to to the newest adventure starting August 2015.

Change Is Coming...

The packers are here today. I dread this day. It's the beginning of the end. Saying goodbye to friends. Knowing it will be 8 weeks without our "stuff." (Not that there is anything we can't live without for 8 weeks. Really, what do you need? Some clothes, a laptop and a good book? Got it!) Also, I can't help but hope that everything getting packed into boxes doesn't go over the side of a boat on its way to Poland, ending up in the bottom of the ocean. (Yes, we know people who lost their entire container as it crossed the Atlantic.) And, I'm sure the kids will be a little reticent when they get home and see the process has started. (Both kids are a little grouchy right now and I'm sure they are feeling the effects of the move...so I'm trying to be extra patient.)

But, it is also exciting. Knowing that in 8 weeks we're going to have a brand new start in someplace we've never lived before. There is that thrill in discovering new places, finding your way around, making new friends. And, while it's not fun to set up a new house, I do love that feeling when the new house is settled and it feels like "home" - even if it's only for a few years.

I know that change is good. I would probably say that I even thrive on change. And, I know that I'm ready for a change.

So...let's drink a toast to change! (Afterall, there's a bottle of prosecco in my frig that the movers have said they can't pack! And it is noon!)

Cheers!