School's Out for Summer

Lots going on around here -

Amelia has semi-mastered walking - just in time to fly across the world...hmmm.....lets see how that play's out, shall we?

Alli's entire elementary school had its end-of-year talent show - it was fabulous!! Amelia's favorite part was the dancing - any dance group, any club song and she was dancing like a mad woman!

Then, Alli's class had an end-of-year ice cream party, which was hard on Alli since she doesn't eat sweets.

Lastly, we are leaving tonight on a jetplane, USA bound for some wonderful R&R with family and friends. Here is Alli charting out our course with her buddy Thomas who was charting his course home to Tasmania!

Happy Summer 2011 Everybody!

New Alli-isms

Instead of saying person, Alli says "persman" - As in, "Mommy, is that his persman?" or "Where did that persman go?".

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Watching a Tom and Jerry epispode....

Alli: What's that?
Me: Jerry's diary.
Alli: What's a diary?
Me: It is a book that people write in. Sometimes every day or just once in a while. You write down what happened in your day or your dreams.
Alli: Oh.
Pause for reflection.
Alli: Just like Amelia has.
Me: Amelia has a diary?
Alli: Yes, the other day, Amelia has a diary.
Me: No, Alli. The other day, Amelia had diarrhea. But you were close honey.

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Upon picking up Alli at school last week, one of the moms asked me when my parents moved.
Upon further investigation...

Me: Alli, next week we are getting on a plane, right?
Alli: Yes. You, me, Daddy and Amelia.
Me: Right, and where are we going?
Alli: Africa!!
Me: Africa?
Alli: Yes, Africa to see (names all of her grandparents, uncles, cousins, etc.....)
Me: Alli, do you mean America?
More pause for reflection.
Alli: Yes, America.
Me: Ok, good.
Alli: Mom?
Me: Yes?
Alli: When are they moving to Africa?

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After the previous conversation, I took a minute at dinner to point out on our HUGE wallmap where our plane would go. The map also has the different countries' flags. I pointed out the Vietnam flag, which Alli knows from school, and the US flag.

Alli: Oh, it looks just like the bandaid!!!!

*Author's note - the Consulate gives out bandaids with the US flag on them after immunizations.

Me: Well, actually the bandaid looks like the flag, but yes, they are the same. Sort of.

Someone get this kid some US immmersion stat!

Swiper, no swiping.

Wow, Amelia is fast and if she wants what you have, watch out. We have started (lovingly) calling her Swiper.

Here is how it plays out.

"Oh, Alli, I loooooooooooooove your pretty water bottle"

"Could I hold it just for a minute?"

"GIVE ME THE WATER BOTTLE"

"Oh, look, Alli's Dora backpack - no one is watching......"

"Ha! It is mine - all mine!!!"

And then the cycle keeps repeating......... We call this her Swiper Face.

Her latest victim/target - Alli's babydoll.

Amelia will be entering the US in about five days - If she is in your home or near your stuff, consider yourself warned!

Mission Cup 2011

Last weekend was the Annual Mission Cup soccer championship game between the US Consulate Ho Chi Minh City and the US Embassy Hanoi. It was a great game, aside from a torrential monsoon downpour, and for the third year in the row, the Consulate team, The Tigers, took home the trophy. I have no idea what is going on with my camera, so my pictures are all a little off - sorry!

The game, like all great events in Vietnam, started off with an amazing dragon dance.

And then performances by both teams' cheerleaders and our mascot.

What's that you say? Our mascot looks familiar? Need a closer look?? If you think that the mascot may be my hubbie, you are 100% correct. Good guess!

Here is a nice shot of the whole team (with a severely overheated mascot).

The skies looked daunting......

but the Tigers carried on ....

to victory!!!