Amin's Home

This has been the talk of the compound all week. After going to university nearly 10 months ago, Amin  arrived home today and he had a welcoming committee! It's lovely to have him home again and hopefully we're going to see plenty of him in the summer.

Farewell Samnuk Singdee

Last week we bade farewell to the longest serving employee to our family. We are all unsure exactly when Samnuk first joined us as a gardener but if memory serves me well I was either 9 or 10 which makes it nearly 30 years. He was initially employed with a gardening company contracted to work in our garden but after a few years in their service they wanted him to drop his gardening skills and become a bricklayer to which he balked and decided to work directly with my parents. I was about Iman's age when first joined us and spent a good time following him about the garden and learning Thai phrases from him. He saw us all grow up from children, through our teenage years, to getting married and having children of our own, some of which he took to more than others (sorry "Hallit"). 

Not one to enjoy attention, he didn't particularly like the fuss when we did this leaving dinner for him.  We were all sad to say goodbye when he left a few days later and he too had tears in his eyes not only goodbyes to us but his friends all of whom he will probably never meet again. Years ago he joined our family as an employee but we after so many years he has become like family that it will take a while to adjust to life in the garden without our Samnuk. 

Jack & Ayden First Sleepover

Sleepovers in the compound are pretty regular events for us but the boys had never had a real sleepover in a friends house. So it was a huge shock to this Mummy when they pounced one on us last night. They were having so much fun together that we just had to let them go. Not surprisingly Ayden was the first to sleep but Jack and Oscar stayed up talking for a while and even had a little midnight feast! The updated report this morning is all well (and dry - always a worry!) and the boys are happy playing. Thank you to Oscar's mummy, daddy and sisters for giving our boys a great first sleepover!

Ayden 1st Class Assembly

We have had a countdown to this day for the over a week - so exciting to be performing in front of the whole junior school. We knew they were doing Billy Goats Gruff but Ayden kept it a secret what his role was. 

A very nervous Billy Goat before the start of the assembly. There was only a small group of parents when they first entered the room and Ayden said to his class teacher "Oh dear... I hope we get a bigger audience than that!"

The third Billy Goat meets the troll on the bridge

Elephant Class perform in front of the whole Junior School

A very relieved Ayden that it is all over!

It was a lovely assembly and they were all so cute and entertaining. Ayden has had such a good year in Reception. Such a lovely group of children and an exceptional teacher. Ayden is going to miss Mrs. W so much (and we are going to miss her too). Somehow with Ayden maybe because he is the youngest, I get very emotional with each milestone he reaches. We won't experience Reception ever again. My kids are all growing up, very quickly.

Novice Rollerblader

Yesterday afternoon Zahra convinced Jack to try Ayden's rollerblades (that have never had an outing and are too small for Ayden). Jack was very nervous going across the grass to their little hang-out hut but very soon after that he was off on concrete.

Iman too was a happy bunny as she got her pre-loved 'new' bicycle. Which left someone saying "Look, I need a new bicycle too!"

And me, I tried eventually taking pictures using "Hipstamatic" and I quite liked the results!

Netball

Iman played in her first netball tournament today against the other three international schools. It's a sport that her and her peers have only picked up this school year and they did really well. Iman played the position of Goal Attack which is one of only two players on either team allowed in the semi-circle to shoot the goals. When I was at school my preferred position was Goal Shooter which did have me at a disadvantage when I was faced with a much taller opponent! But Iman had no problems today. She found her spaces and moved around quite a bit. We do need some help on the actual shooting of goals and despite rushing all her shots she did eventually get one in! They drew all but one and were joint winners but overall lost on points.

Rainbow Birthday

Ayden went to a lovely "Rainbow" themed birthday party today. Great theme, lovely decorations and what a cake! Even better, Ayden had so much fun!

My Spanish Tortilla

Saw some potatoes in the cupboard that needed using so on the spur of the moment I made a Spanish tortilla or Spanish omelette. It's been a while and thought it was all going to fall apart but it worked. Simply three ingredients, potatoes, onion and eggs (adding salt and using oil). So easy and quick too. We're not having dinner at home tonight so the kids can have this for their breakfast. The omelette tastes much better one day later and often in Spanish households they are made one day ahead. Anyone for tapas?

Bento-ing

Our school recently allowed parents to deliver in food at lunchtime and about the same time I was introduced to bento making. Bento is Japanese for "meal in a box" and what was traditionally a practical way of transporting food has been transformed into an artform. 

Maybe that last bit is not so true for me but the Bento group I belong to on facebook display some amazing lunch boxes made for children and spouses that look too good to eat. On one BBC news article I saw recently, there is so much pressure for Mum's in Japan to produce artistic bento boxes on a daily basis that Mum's go to classes taught by bento experts - I need to go to one! And when it comes to "bento gear", the list is endless from boxes, to silicone cups to separate the food, food picks, cups, moulds, nori cutters, cutters for fruit & veg and I'm sure there's a whole load more out there waiting for me to discover!

 I'm not the most creative person but since making the children's food look more attractive, I have been rewarded with empty lunch boxes when I pick them up and to me that is just the best thing ever!

pasta salad, edamame, longan and watermelon sprinkled with sunflower seeds

tuna filled onigiri (rice balls), watermelon, grapes and rice +chicken for Ayden

jam, cheese croissants, yellow watermelon, purple cabbage and cucumber

Home Facelift

Before the crew moved in

How we lived for two and a half months

And how it is now!

Jack's First sailing

Jack had his first sailing lesson on Saturday and loved it - more so than Iman's first lesson. Hopefully he will carry on to love it and maybe encourage another McCarthy to take it up ~ like myself or Donncha. It's going to be early morning starts in Serasa again.

Swimming Gala 2012

First week of May always sees the annual junior school swimming gala. And as per last year I spent the whole morning watching (and occasionally missing) Iman, Jack and Ayden's races and ribbon collection. Jack was very happy with himself coming second in two races and third in another. Ayden was proud and says he came first in everything! And Iman did very well getting one first for the 25m fly followed by two second places and three thirds. Now you would think that has whacked them all out for the day but there is talk of football training this afternoon!