Christmas in Singapore!

  We made it to Singapore with no travel issues so far.  After hearing about some stories we are counting ourselves lucky.  We had heard from a very reliable source that Singapore did Christmas really big and they were correct!  The lights are fantastic!  There are Christmas carols being sung and Christmas music being played everywhere you go.  Christmas decorations are everywhere and even though it is 80 degrees or so,  the Christmas spirit is everywhere.

  I think I am finally starting to thaw!

Typical of eating out at Chili's is the playing of games while waiting for food (or check)!

  Last night we ate at Chili's and it tasted exactly like from the States!  Outside the mall was a cute little Santa village display complete with foam being shot into the air simulating snow.  We've been calling it Singapore Snow.

  Today was our first full day and we spent it at the Botanical Gardens.  The highlight was the Orchid Garden and the fantastic sculptures.  It's amazing that nature can come up with those colors and flowers can really bloom in those shapes.  The sculptures were scattered throughout and my favorite was the girl on the swing.

Love the look on Galen's face!

  We had an amazing lunch at Wendy's.  It's been 6 months since we had American fast food and it was delicious.  Dairy Queen Blizzards were dessert and again totally worth it.

This one is known as the trifecta!  Starbucks, Wendy's and DQ all right next to each other!

  After lunch we went back to the hotel/apartment.  I took the kids swimming while Jason got some relaxing time.  I drank ice coffee and read a really good book poolside while the kids went swimming.  The lobby had Christmas Caroling and it was wonderful.  I think I found my Christmas Spirit and of all places in the tropics!

School is Out for Winter!!!

  Finals are completed and school is finally out for Winter Break.  Galen only had one final so she got to come home early.  We met David at the bus stop with snow balls!  Just so you know snow ball fights are hard to catch on camera (suggestions for snow pictures are welcome!) but I did the best I could to capture the moment.  You can see Galen's head as she popped out from behind the wall to hit her little brother square in the chest with a fresh snow ball.  I did make a new rule that only white snow can be used for snow balls!  I'll admit that black snow really grosses me out.

  On the way to the bus stop Galen and I couldn't resist taking a picture of one of the faces from the face sculpture out in front of our apartment.  It's funny how the snow lands on things and changes their appearance.

  We decided to test the snow boots by piling up some snow and jumping in! On the way to the bus stop it was just Galen but on the way back to the apartment she showed David how it was done!  So glad I brought the camera on this one!

Galen snow boots test... Ready!

Yes!  Snow boots work and past test #1!

Returning from the bus stop with David and snow boots test #2

Hooray for snow boots that pass the test!

One of my new favorites!

  Something tells me we are in for lots more winter fun opportunities before the season is over but for now we really enjoyed this inch of snow!  We are such amateurs when it comes to this type of weather!

My First Air-raid Drill

  My first ever air raid drill has left me a little ...  unimpressed.  I was completely and totally excited.  It was all over the news and radio.  I had new batteries in the camera and put on clean socks (since you have to take your shoes off everywhere here I thought this would be important).  I poured a fresh cup of coffee and eagerly awaited 2pm. 

  I didn't even hear the siren. 

  Traffic was interrupted and people that were outside were ushered inside, but that was it.  Thirty minutes later and it was hard to tell anything happened at all.  No worries though, I will be just as prepared for the next drill.  Perhaps this time I will go outside!

Mom Gets a New "Do"

  Just when I thought moving here was brave enough, I decided that after 5 months I probably needed a haircut.  Heather Metz had cut her hair a couple of months ago so we revisited the Hair Boutique here in Bundang for a day of hair therapy.

  I decided on the Moisturizer Treatment thinking it would be good to give my hair some extra moisture heading into the winter months.  I had to pick a color though or go with clear.  I decided to go with what I thought would be a slightly darker color from my normal hair color.  I have to admit though I am really not very good with these kinds of things, since I don't do stuff like this very often.  This was actually my first time doing anything like this to my hair. 

  Pampering is something that is done here in Korea VERY well.  The person shampooing my hair also did a scalp and neck message that was really relaxing and added to the experience.  She shampooed my hair, apply the moisture, then set me in a dryer.  Instead of being in a salon chair all day, we sat at a very nice table with lots of magazines in very comfortable regular chairs.  It was quite nice.

  To say my hair absorbed the color would be an understatement!  My hair went nuts absorbing the color.  It is incredibly soft, don't get me wrong and really shiny!  It is also very DARK!  Auburn is what best describes the color.  I am told it should completely wash out in about 2 weeks.

  After she rinsed out the moisturizer, she dried my hair and straightened it with and hot straightener. 

  Then came the stylist.  Somehow I managed to get myself talked into a slightly different style on top of everything else.    It is shorter in the back, while still longer in the front.  It is very modern looking and easy to care for.  I can maintain this length or let it grow out and see what happens.  Either way, he did a very nice job on the cut.  He seemed to cut each hair individually!  He also had two assistants that handed him everything from scissors, combs, brushes and a smaller brush to keep the small hairs off my face.  Then two people dried my hair again and he styled it with a roller brush and a different hair dryer. 

  The whole thing took about 3 and 1/2 hours.  They served me 3 cups of espresso and one bagel with jam.  The cost was about 171,000W or about $150.  Totally worth it although next time I'm going with the clear!  Enjoy the before and after shots.