Claire Starts School!

Can I just say it has been a long summer? Claire has been so ready for so long to start school but international preschools here were just way out of our budget. Now that she is starting kindergarten, we get tuition assistance (since she could go free in the States). We found what seems to be the perfect school for her, and after a week, she is still gloriously happy at the end of each day. There are 12 kids in the class, and the ones I've met so far are from the U.K., Belgium, Singapore, Germany, India and Thailand. She is the only American, as far as I know. Her teacher is from Australia.

It has just been a week when I am so happy to be a mother and at home. It makes all the difference to see your kids happy. Sylvie likes being in charge of her own activities and having a lot more of my attention. She plays with Paul who continues to be a hoot. And, she will sit or lay by Joel for a good ten minutes at a time keeping him cooing and smiling. I meet Claire in our lobby as she gets off the shuttle bus at the end of her day, and we have a little one-on-one time before we go back upstairs. To be honest, it is the first time I've wanted time to slow down a little, so I can linger in this stage of each of their lives.

"Like Nature"

We found the best place in Bangkok. We finally got around to pumping up the tires on some kids bikes a friend had given us, and when J mentioned to his Thai teacher that there is a shortage of places to ride bikes in Bangkok, she told him about a big park by Chatuchak (a famous weekend market here). J was able to rent a bike with a baby seat for Paul for 67 cents, and I pushed the stroller with Joel while the girls were triumphant on their new wheels. It was shady, there was a cool breeze, and Claire said, "Mom, this is like nature." We are definitely going back.

A Little Overboard

When most people come to Thailand for the first time, they are impressed by the brightly colored taxis, tuk-tuks and buses. On an outing to the zoo, I saw the craziest I've seen yet. The fronts of these buses are covered with headlamps, mirrors, Michelin tire guys and who knows what else. The "art" on the sides was eye-catching, to say the least.

Our Little Helper

Why buy toys?

The best way to keep a toddler out of your stuff is to fill both his hands. Paul loves our helper, Nita, and follows her around as she cleans. She often gives him her broom and dustpan, and he will even squat down and sweep under furniture. When we are out and about and he sees any other workers (around the apartment building, at the park, at the zoo, in the mall) with a broom and dustpan, he immediately wants to go and take over their job.

Bangkok Camping

roasting a tiger

The creativity of the girls can really amaze me. This time I came in to find a campsite all set up with an overturned chair as a tent, a stuffed tiger hanging from a string over a deflated pool floater "fire", plenty of clothes for their adventure, and some books and toys because those are necessary for any occasion.

Mattresses on the Move

Most days we don't fight bedtime. We do the routine, say goodnight and close the door. They usually proceed to stay up playing until they decide it is time to sleep. We're ok with that, I guess. But, sometimes, we find them, let's say, not how we left them.

Joel at Two Months

 So this guy isn't getting too many pictures taken of him. Whoops. 

Life with Joel in the family is good. The first two weeks are always hard as the baby figures out night and day, and I try to establish breastfeeding (didn't go well again, unfortunately). But, we made it past that. J went back to work, and I quickly realized that the only reason I am surviving kids spaced 15 months apart is because I have full-time help here. I have a new level of appreciation for all of you out there who have kids that close together and do/did it on your own. Wow. Seventeen-month old Paul is currently a major hazard to himself, his brother and our possessions. Luckily, at the same time he is SO cute and fun.

Anyway, we made it through the first six weeks, and Joel started sleeping better night and day (and smiling!). I took him for his 2-month check-up, and he is 12 pounds, so I have started to let him cry at night, and he usually falls back asleep on his own. Today was the first day I took all four kids to a friend's house by myself. It was fine.

I think we will really turn a corner when Claire starts school in 3 weeks (YAY!) at an international school that is supposed to be fabulous. I'm currently soliciting ideas for nut-free school lunches that can be prepared the night before.