2 MORE SLEEPS

Since it was Halloween, I figured I better get to the kiosk in the mall that was selling decorations to stock up for next year.  I wasn't sure how long after Halloween it would still be open.  Come to find out, it isn't even open on Halloween.  Missed out on those decorations but the party store at the mall did have some fun Disney things!!!

While Justin took the girls up for a before dinner bath time, I put out some decorations and goodies.

 Kaylee thought it was so funny that when she went up for bath the kitchen was boring, but that it wasn't when they got down.

Before dinner, the girls started to pack their bags for the plane.  They were talking about what princess dresses to pack too.  We were going to keep this a surprise for them until we got to Hong Kong, but we told them tonight.....They get to go to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

 You can't eat at Cinderella's Royal Table in Hong Kong, but we will be eating with Chef Mickey one night for dinner.

The girls will each get to spend a set amount of money on souvenirs.  We made a chart tonight with their starting amount of Hong Kong Dollars (HKD/HK$).

Life is Good when you only have to wait 2 more sleeps for vacation.

Flag Parade

My little American Girls ready for the Flag Parade at school.

Kaylee and her Canadian buddy

The parade went through the halls of the school and ended with a lap around the playground. 

Afterward, in the studio the kids got to stand up when their country was announced.  There are 52 countries represented at their school.....Some with quite a few students and some with just 1 or 2.

Life is Good with diversity.

Macy and Hannah were in the parade too.....I was with Grade 1 if they needed any help. 

 Macy's class did a shorter parade route, and were done by the time I got to the playground.  

Hannah some how snuck by me!

Countdown to Disney

The girls have next Monday and Tuesday off from school for Deepavali(Indian Festival of Lights), so we are headed to Hong Kong Disney on Saturday.  Since we have 2 November birthdays, this is also a birthday celebration for them----and their sisters.

Last night, I looked on Pinterest for some ideas for a countdown chart and special ideas for the week.  With the nearest Disney Store, Dollar General or Target 1,000s of miles away I was a bit limited.  

Here is what the girls woke up to this morning.

 Only 5 more sleeps until we go!!!!!

 The girls got to pick the cover to their character autograph book.

Not a surprise that Whitney picked the one with "Mouse" on it.  She is currently obsessed with Mickey Mouse  Clubhouse.

 Need to remember not to have her say "Mouse" for any pictures and just stick with "Cheese."  

 Life is Good with fun vacations and birthdays to look forward to.

Yeah for the USA!!!

Tomorrow kicks off the 2 week celebration (International Fest) of everyone's home country at the girls' school.  This week, a different country will be featured in their lunch room.  On Tuesday, they have a flag parade and everyone can wear their national costume or colors.  Friday they wear their IF t-shirt with many of the flags represented at the school. 

 The big event is on November 9th.  There will be country food stalls, games, performances and craft fair. 

 It will be a busy day of selling Sew Sassy Sweetpeas, root beer floats with Girl Scouts and being part of the American skit.

The first part is the Pledge of Allegiance broken down into lines and definitions of the key words...Allegiance, Flag, Nation, Liberty, etc.

 Then, the recite it all together.

 Next, they sing a verse of "My Country, Tis of Thee" and "This Land is Your Land."

This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island; 
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters 
This land was made for you and Me.

 Not sure where my red wood forest picture went!!!!

The girls are excited for all the fun activities coming up, and I am interested in learning about some of the countries their classmates are from.

Life is Good when you can represent the USA in Malaysia.

First Malaysian Halloween

There were a lot of changes in what the girls were going to be this year for Halloween, but last night they made great final decisions.

Kaylee was an Olympic Gymnast....She wore the leotard she wears every Tuesday for class!

 Macy wore the bee costume that has been through all the girls so far starting with Hannah when she was 3.

 Hannah was a Colts cheerleader for a Super Bowl they won.....

 .....and Whitney was a sad cheerleader for a Super Bowl they lost.

 Whitney wasn't into pictures until we got down to the neighborhood party.

 She loved getting candy and started the night saying "treat."  After a few houses she would just hold her bag open.

 In our neighborhood all the houses have front covered drives.  Many people decorated their whole area.  We have some work to do before next year......I see a spider web and lanterns in our future!!!!

 At one house we bobbed for apples and another one had them walk to the back to a haunted house.

 About an hour in, Whitney was happy to just sit in the stroller with her paci and blanket.

It was a fun night and was very similar to Trick-or-Treating in the US.  However, instead of worrying about being too cold at night, you needed to worry about not being too hot in your costume.

Life is Good with Trick-or-Treating.

First Swim Meet

Today, the BIGS had their first Piranhas Swim Club swim meet.  It was the Trick-or-Treat meet hosted by their school.  They have been training every Tuesday and Thursday during their after school activity time.

Warm-ups started at 6:45, so we had a very early start to the day.

 We were packed and out the door at 6:20.

 They were quicker getting warmed up and ready than the sun!

 Thankfully, they had a lot of friends and neighbors at the meet to keep them entertained during the day.

 Backstroke was first for Hannah.  For the 7-8 age group they need to swim 50m, so she had to do a turn half way through her races.

 Her second race was the breaststroke.

 Kaylee wasn't too sure about the whole swim meet thing.  She likes to swim, but not against anyone!!

She decided to just sign up for one race.....the 25 meter free.

 She finished!!!!

 Hannah's 50 free

 50 butterfly

 I can't imagine myself doing 1 meter of the butterfly, but Hannah did a great job at 50.

 4th leg of the free relay

It was a long day at the pool, but I think the girls had fun at their first meet.  Hannah was excited to get 

a medal for her relay.  Kaylee was disappointed not to get one!  Now they are showered and resting before neighborhood Trick-or-Treating tonight.  I am sure they will be asleep once their heads hit the pillow tonight and will hopefully sleep in a bit tomorrow morning!!!!

Life is Good when swimming.

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