Date night at the Handle Bar

This was their menu! Not real female friendly, but it was amusing.
This restaurant was recommended by a friend since they are known for their western food.

Yes, this is their bathroom sink! All decked out with motorcycle mirrors, pictures, posters and much more. I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside, but I snuck this one in. I so wanted to get a picture of this amazing skateboard for my brother as well as all of the other Harley Davidson memorabilia.

Cheers to us...I love my man!

No, I am not double-fisting, just holding Jacob's too! Check out those beautiful bikes in the background. Believe me, they are so much more gorgeous up close.

So, the food was actually very good. I had an "American" burger and it was the best one I've had since moving to Singapore. The chili Jacob got was tasty too, but my stomach wouldn't allow more than a few bites.

After dinner, we enjoyed the rest of our dinner and relaxed. I LOVED this chair and so wish I could have one of my own!

Fun at IMM, in the water and in the park too!

This morning, it was off to the park to enjoy the sunshine in her new Minnie Mouse hat, I believe was a gift from Nana and she loves it! Jean often wears a hat and I do too at times, so I think she feels more gown up, more like us! So this is a local park we often go to with Juliana that has tire swings, see-saw, trampolines, slides, a maze, climbing ropes and a lot more.

We can't get over how much she has changed, grown and her face looks older. And (I'll get better pictures), all of her hair can now go back in a ponytail, okay, a few ponytails!Getting very excited to have her sand toys, out and ready to play!

By far, the best pictured of the day. She was so happy!

After all that, she also got to go to the water park at IMM for some more fun there and she is getting so much stronger sand bigger. She can use some of the gadgets she couldn't reach just a few months ago. Go Juliana!
Inside IMM mall, what a poser she is!! The middle one I had to add, because on some days, these frighten her and next time, they're the best thing in the world. It's confusing, but hey, who knows what's going on in that little head of hers head!

Mistakes

I loved this quote from one of my favorite tv shows and wanted to share. It's perfect, because a lot of people, including me, keep focusing on mistakes and life is too short for this.“The issue of control keeps coming up over and over and over again for you. You can’t control life. You can only live your life. And you live it in any way you want in that you can choose your feelings about the people around you and what’s going on around you. So live your life. Give up trying to control it and live it. Live it to the fullest. Life is good whether you’re happy or not. Personally, I think the pursuit of happiness is just a waste of time. So forget about being happy. What is happiness anyway, other than being surrounded by people who love you and you can’t choose how they love you. You can only choose to feel the love. Feel the love. This is a wonderful time in your life, if you choose you choose to see it that way. As far as all the mistakes go, is anything really a mistake, or are mistakes just lessons? Everyone makes mistakes. Life is school, a learning process and some lessons are more painful than others, but that’s just how it is. The sum total of our experiences is what makes us who we are.” -Unknown

Isn't this what we usually do? Make a list of our mistakes, going over and over them again in our head? Well, we cannot fix them and yes, they are lessons. The people we become and continue to grow into are all based upon the choices we make and the experiences we have.
Those "mistakes" that we make lead to a whole lot of life lessons. I know I've had my fair share!Go on, make your mistakes today and then move on and live your life!

Life is about choices, right?

I saw this picture and it made me realize that it doesn't have to be this or that, my way or your way, etc. We can walk backwards, forwards, to the left, to the right or just diagonally. Life presents us with choices and surprises every single day and we can choose to allow them to enlighten us or we can choose to let them break us down.

Today's lesson for me: I will choose to be enlightened and work with the "surprise" I had handed to me today. Maybe God is trying to tell me something or maybe not, I don't know. But for now, I'm going to walk forward and see where it takes me and then the next time I hit this roadblock, maybe I'll be ready to make a choice.

Ah, date night!

It as been way too long since we've had an official date night...since Jacob's been back, it's usually consisted of a movie while lounging on the couch. Yes, it counts, but nothing beats getting out as a couple and having some good quality time together.

Tonight's restaurant was Jacob's choice and he picked Thai Fusion (112 Faber Drive). If you like Thai food, you have got to try this place! It was amazing and the prices (especially beer, try the Singha, yum!) were very reasonable. Jacob had gone here with work for a send off dinner for a coworker and the owner recognized him and was very pleasant and nice enough to take our picture...
Yup, I ordered Chili mussels. If you know me, this was a huge stretch for me and I know it may not sound very appealing to many, but I took a chance anyway. Glad I did, because it was GOOD!

Yeah, I love this man with all my heart. He hates it when I take so many pictures (hence the smirk on his face) but I don't care!! Someday, we'll look back and have them to all look at and show our girl. And he can be reassured that I love him more and more every day.

I have no idea what we were laughing at, but I guess it doesn't matter. We still make each other happy, laugh and enjoy life after 9 years together!

Next date night is my choice. Suggestions anyone?? We still have not been to a lot of restaurants here in the city, so let me know what you think I should choose!

Pictures from the week

While mommy and daddy works, Juliana gets to play!! Here she is with her friends, reading some books...
Chilling out on the terrace with her beautiful Chinese umbrella from Sue Lynn, Mun Cheong, Eden and Bethel. She loves this so much and there's always plenty of sunshine for it!

Apparently, Jean and Juliana made what I am guessing is a sailor hat! She was wearing it around all night to show off to me when I got home from work...

Swim time is always fun... Friday afternoon did not go so well, but I won't get into that here. Thank God for the weekend, a weekend of rest from a bad day yesterday and lots of family time! Blessing to all!

Life, Juliana, etc.

This morning was a good one, because Juliana woke up in a good mood, yay!!! Check out that happy girl...
After her bath, we came downstairs and she wanted to wear my slippers. A bit hard considering how BIG my feet are, but I'm pretty sure that huge smile on her face indicates that she was having a blast!

These Chipmunks and Chipetts came in a box last week for Juliana and she has been playing with them ever since. Yes, they even sing too (lucky us)...

In one of her Monkeydoo DVDs, they use a "spy glass" so we saved two toilet paper rolls to let Julian make one of her own. We played "I spy" this evening!!

She has been using these spy glasses all the time now. We'll ask, "What do you spy?" and she'll answer something like Pooh, Mommy, Doll, etc. Then we do the same...."I spy, a Juliana!" She loves it!

Happy Chinese New Year!

After watching Monkeydoos yesterday, Juliana wanted to do one of the crafts, the tiger mask! So we pulled out some scissors, paper plates and markers. Daddy did the cutting while Juliana colored another plate and then she helped finish up the tiger. She was so proud of it and looked absolutely adorable!

This weekend was a long four day weekend for Chinese New Year and our good friends, Sue Lynn and Mun Cheong invited us over for a delicious lunch and fellowship. Before eating, there were lots of traditional Chinese munchies for the girls (and Jacob)...

Juliana enjoyed playing soccer with Bethel...

Then it was time to eat! This isn't even all the food and it was only lunch! The yusheng salad, two dishes from the left in this picture is the same salad we got introduced to last year. It's a huge part of the Chinese New Year celebration and promotes good luck, abundance and fortune in the new lunar year. So here is the full spread of delicious food...

Then it was time to mix the yusheng salad as a "family' to promote good luck among all of us in the New Year. It's always fun and actually, I have come to appreciate the Chinese traditions a lot more over the last year since our first experience with Chinese New Year. We felt very special to be included in their family's meal and celebrations. We have been truly blessed with such amazing landlords that have turned into wonderful friends. So here we are, sharing the love and luck of the New Year with them...

Juliana wanted to take part in the mixing as well and thoroughly enjoy it! This was at the conclusion of mixing and the beginning of loading our plates to eat...

We are hoping that this Chinese New Year will be prosperous, successful and full of new and exciting experiences as a family...

After everyone was full, the girls wanted to show Juliana how Wii Fit Plus was done! Juliana actually enjoyed being able to stand by them, watch and then copy their movements as they did the snow ball fight, the kung fu fighting and many other activities. Jacob even got a chance at snowballing with Juliana's help!

It took Juliana a few minutes to warm up to Auntie Banjie (Eden and Bethel's Auntie), probably because it's been some time since we've seen her, but by the end, she had nothing but hugs for her!! It doesn't take much, since Banjie has such a warm and loving personality. Julian agave her some big hugs when we were getting ready leave...

We love spending time with Sue Lynn, Mun Cheong, Eden and Bethel and feel blessed in so many ways that "landlords" turned into such wonderful friends. We always have so much fun with them and I know Juliana enjoys all the extra attention. I hope they realize just how much we have grown to care about them and look forward to making many more memories with them in the coming year!

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

The day of L-O-V-E!

We've never been big celebrators of Valentine's Day, but it was nice to have Jacob home today after nearly three weeks. For the past (almost) two days, Juliana has been very demanding of his attention, obviously fearing he's going to leave again, so we've just enjoyed hanging out as a family. Yesterday afternoon, we had our date at the movies, but then decided on take out and brought it home to eat dinner with our girl.

This morning, I got some delicious waffles and a "Happy V Day" on my plate in maple syrup! Juliana was adorable too, because she seems to get jealous whenever daddy gives mommy attention. Ha! Who would have thought I'd have to battle with a 2 year old for my husband's attention?? :-)

For months now, we've been playing this game with Juliana, which I believe began with singing "Ring around the Rosie" and ending with us falling down and "sleeping." So whenever we "sleep," Juliana now knows that she has to give her Princess Kiss to wake us up! I know it might sound strange, but it's rather adorable. Here's Juliana and Jacob pretending to sleep...
And the magical kiss to wake daddy up!

After playing a bit and talking to my mom and brother, we headed downstairs to play outside. Juliana was so happy to have both mommy AND daddy with her!

I warned Jacob when he got home Friday night that he would need his energy pills to keep up with her. As I said, she's been demanding 100% of his attention and she worries whenever he leaves the room. She also woke up nice and early this morning crying and ended up in bed with us, but it will just take her a few days to realize that daddy is home now and he's not going to just pick up and go away again. Well, hopefully not anytime in the near future!

At the playground running around the pole...

Then climbing it...

So, Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I am truly grateful to have such a loving, supportive husband, which led to a beautiful little girl! I love and miss my family and friends back in the U.S. too and they should all know that they are always on our minds and in our hearts and prayers.

Jacob's business trip to Sydney

Jacob just returned on Friday night from his business trip to Sydney. As most of you know, business trips typically consist of seeing the airport, hotel and office. Although he didn't have a chance to do much sightseeing, he did get to see a few sites and take some pictures. The rest are posted on the shutterfly site.

This is Sydney's Observatory. He didn't actually go in, but took a picture since his hotel was right next to it...Walking on the boardwalk towards the famous Sydney Opera House...
The Sydney Harbor Bridge...
And the night view...

A night view of the Opera House, which I really hope I get to see someday too!!

An old coworker of Jacob's from BLL in Boston now works in southern Australia, so flew up to visit Jacob over the weekend with his wife. They had dinner, drinks and did a tiny bit of sightseeing. He also gave us a very nice gift of red wine, maybe to entice us to fly down and visit? We hope to be able to do so!
A better picture of the Opera Theater...

So, this is a close up of the building, which I now know from Jacob is made of tiles. Wikipedia states: The roofs of the House are covered in a subtle chevron pattern with 1,056,006 glossy white- and matte-cream-colored Swedish-made tiles.

Gorgeous! I'm impressed with this picture...

The other afternoon adventure he actually got to take was to Bondi Beach, which he has told me that the pictures don't do it justice. It's one of Australia's most popular beaches, where some television shows are often filmed and locals go to sunbathe, surf and swim...

My good looking man...

Apparently, this is a popular view of the beach. Jacob was saying that he as walked through some of the shops, he saw lots of art with this view of the beach...
I'm glad Jacob had this opportunity to work with BLL in Sydney, but I'm even happier that he's home! Juliana too, seeing as it's all about daddy now :-)