Visit to Andrew's school: we love sibling play

Joseph and Andrew during "Sibling Play" at Andrew's school.  To foster good sibling play at home we bring Joseph in once a week to do structured sibling play.  Today we did bubbles and hide and seek.

This is the green grass of Andrew's school.

My favorite photo

This little guy is growing up--sigh

And a final hug before we say goodbye

My first swim lessons

Joseph started swim lessons

Check me out mamma, I'm swimming!

So some moms in our condo set up a little swim class with Ivy.  She brings all these cute toys to entice the babies to cooperate and not be scared of the water.

 This is our first class--both Joseph's first class, and MY first swim class as the mommy.  I have never put Andrew in swim lessons so this is a first for me.  Andrew is at school at this time so he cannot join us.  I started writing down what we do in Joseph's swim class and then I teach it to Andrew on the weekends with Mike.

Renea and Hannah are from Australia

Some swim activities during the class Joseph loved.  Others worried him a bit (see above)

Cathy is American and Cathy's husband is from Russia, so David her son is half Russian--how cool is that.

Side note.  Can you seriously even believe we live here?  I just looked at this photo, and thought "Holy cow, I live here.  That is my pool.  Those are my friends.  This is just crazy."  I guess I am used to it now so I don't think that all the time anymore, but I do have to keep reminding myself that this is definitely not real life.  Sometimes I feel like if you pinch me I'll wake up.  I really love it here.  I am so grateful for this experience being here in Malaysia.

Teaching them how to kick.  They are supposed to kick to get the yellow ducky that is stuck to our chests.

I think Ivy's genius to put puppets on water noodles.  We ride around to the song "She'll be comin round the mountain when she comes"

Cute little Hannah (my friend Renea's daughter) refused to even get in the water.  Isn't she adorable

We love our swim class--thanks Ivy

Now a few random shots

Joseph sitting on the couch in his favorite spot

Joseph xue xi zhongwen (Joseph learns Chinese)

So I have been feeling this almost compelling feeling that I need to get Joseph learning Chinese.  So I hired a Chinese tutor named Louise.  She is so cute with him.  Here we are taking a trip to the market and the park at Publica, the newest shopping complex in our neighborhood (Louise actually lives in the condos attached to the complex).

 She basically just follows him around playing with him speaking Mandarin.  At first he really didn't like it much (since he obviously can't understand her) but now he tolerates her.  Hopefully soon he will grow to love his sessions.

Here is my new dark hair--

We are learning about water and boats

He is showing you his rice crackers

And of course no trip would be complete without paying at the AUTOPAY.  Everywhere you park you have to pay, but it's only a few ringgit.

I'm a big boy now

Andrew is now potty trained!

Wahoo!

Here are some pics of us hanging out reading books

 

 

And as a side note, we painted Mike's office (which I have now repurposed to Joseph's Chinese tutoring room).  It is the most gorgeous shade of stormy grey.  Everyone here just hires someone to paint so I am proud we did it ourselves and saved ourselves the $100 MYR (30 bucks).  lol.