School holiday performance

There were elves and nutcrackers and all kinds of cute things dancing on stage.  Lots of rehearsing went into the singing and good cheer that we parents and grandparents enjoyed.. and each set of classes only took about 20 minutes each, so we all weren't too exhausted by the time we were let go (to go have breakfast, really).

 Did I mention it was super cute?

Pretty girls in holiday red getting ready to go on stage!

A very sweet, blue-eyed elf

Lots of elves patiently waiting for....

... their turn to do the bum wiggle!

Wanita membawa bunga

We bought ourselves an early holiday present at an art exhibit where the proceeds went to an organization that helps street children in Jakarta (can you feel me trying to rationalize it?).  It cost on the high end of what we usually pay for art, and it is fabulous.  The painter, Bramasto, is well-known in the region, and sadly he has already passed away.  His family only releases a few of his paintings each year for sale, and this is ours.  Please come appreciate it in person!

Woman brings flowers, by Bramasto

Banjir!

Banjir means flood. Thast is the second word you learn in Jakarta (after macet, pronounced machette, which means traffic jam).

About a half hour before Thanksgiving dinner was on the table and right around the time that friends were about to arrive, the rain--because it is the rainy season and it does rain every day--turned into an amazing opening of the skies.  Friends in cars on their way were reporting water in the streets up to people's waists.. and, um, that would mean that the 'rivers' overflowed.. and we all know what's in the rivers in the middle of a big city with a real deficit in sewage infrastructure.  Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

We were watching the water get higher and higher and higher around the house as the drains stopped working.  This is our side door.. there was about 8 inchs of water.. and yes, it did come into the kids' playroom (thank fully most things in there are plastic)

This is our front walk.. "Welcome! Please swim on in!!" As fast as it came on, it was gone.. crazy tropics.  I guess it was better than a snowstorm!

Surf's up!

Zeric talks quite a bit about how he wants to learn to surf. 

Eben's practicing so that he's ready to join the fun..

up..

still up..

and under!

Banana truck

Mr Eben "Monkey-breath" Smith eats at least one banana every day, and sometimes three. We stop him before he gets to number 4.  No big surprise then when I came home to a picture just for me.. of a banana truck.  I guess that's what he wants for the holidays!

Daddy-o

There is lots of Daddy-love around here these days!!

Malvy's Tea Party

What do expatriates do to keep their little ones busy?  Get all dressed up and have a tea party with your most favorite friends!  It has the added benefit of requiring the small ones to practice their manners.

The most important element is fabulous cakes..

Add gracious and most coquette hostess

Every tea party needs a handsome man in a bowtie

As well as other stunning and well-behaved ladies

By all accounts, it was a great time. And there were even a few manners that accidentally appeared!