My Tooth is Loose!

I find that losing teeth are a real indication of my kids growing. With 3 1/2 years between them they have been teething/loosing teeth at the same time for years it seems. Just three weeks ago S informed me her bottom left incisor was loose. Sure enough, after a week or so of wriggling, the tooth came out while she brushed her teeth at bedtime.
As if on cue, E announced her tooth was loose the next day. Bottom left front tooth. E took a different approach than S ever took--she kept working the tooth, wanting it to come out so badly. She even carried a box to school one day, to put the tooth in, in case it happened at school. But it didn't, it came out eating soft tacos at dinner the next day.
I told the girls they were both quite old getting their first teeth--about ten months. They were also both very quick to lose their first tooth, 5 1/2. In fact E is the first one in her class. The girls conclusion: our mouths don't like those baby teeth! They sure do look cute with those gaps though.

Knai Bang Chatt - Oasis of peace

Sunset as viewed from the pool. Staying at Knai Bang Chatt always guarantees a peaceful and relaxing stay. We really were ready for it the weekend of International Women's Day which we spent at a guest house in very Khmer style with all of E's staff from Gecko & Garden. Two nights at KBC to celebrate J's bday was our treat.

It's not a vacation without a good book and a hammock!

Family photo opportunities. Happy Birthday J.

Cambodia Country Club

S had been taking riding lessons at CCC about a year ago. After the club moved to a new facility she stopped riding for a while (high fees, no shade), but we recently decided to try it again. There is still virtually no shade but the fees are down and S really loves it. Her favorite horse is May.

Riding on Georgette. Lessons are Sunday morning at 9:00. The earlier the better to avoid the most intense heat, but it means leaving home at 8:15 on mom and dad's day off.... not always easy.
E's turn on May. E tried one lesson and enjoyed walking but thought it was too bouncy overall. She did enjoy the accessories: riding cap, riding pants (ones outgrown by S), and a horse t-shirt. E is going to try again in a year or so.

Beijing Trip Part Two

Here are a few more pictures of our trip to Bejing. This photo was taken at the Summer Palace. It was a magical place to visit--spacious, mystical, and very large. We could all imagine the emperors escaping the confines of the Forbidden City.


Here's another shot of the Great Wall. It was so amazing to walk on this structure. As great as the pyramids and Angkor Watt. It was my favorite site we visited this trip.

We hiked up to the wall and are planning our route here. We took the tobagen down to the bottom which was so much fun!

Trip to Beijing, China

It is very quiet outside as I write this post. Every Cambodian is visiting their home province for Khmer New Year this week. Normally scooters are whizzing by our house but today all is calm. We are happy to be home, unpacking, after a great five day trip to Beijing. We have always wanted to visit China, S just studied structures at school and learned a lot about the Great Wall and E just started a unit about journeys. All good reasons for a trip. We stayed with our Dutch friend Mike and his girlfriend Vivienne. Mike teaches in Beijing and we know him from Cairo.
It was very cold while we were in Beijing--we were prepared though with hats and jackets. One day the high was 9C. Of course Phnom Penh was baking in its steady 35C so our bodies were in a bit of a shock. The cool temperatures reminded the girls of Holland.

We took a rickshaw ride through the traditional Hutong alleys of Beijing near Hohai Lake. E is wearing a panda hat that we bought her on Tiannaman Square the first day and that she wore every minute we were outside after that. S favored a french barret that she wore even inside.

Pchum Ben Holiday at Shianoukville

On October 10 school was closed for a 5 day weekend because of Pchum Ben. This is a Buddhist festival to commemorate the spirits of deceased ancestors. We took the opportunity to visit a beach resort in Cambodia. The resort is called Sokha Beach and it is a peacefull place to escape to. It took us a little over 3 hours to get there by taxi, which cost us 35 US dollars...
S and E love the sand and sea. J bought the girls these swimsuits a week before when he was visiting Singapore for an IB conference. The sun is very strong here all the time, so the suits help protect their skin...
Going for a sea kajak ride. The ocean is very warm--quite a contrast with last year's North Sea.
Loving life in the water. E can do this all day.Happy girls!

Going to school

Many people liked hearing about the way we get around in Phnom Penh, so here is another picture of S and E in the tuk tuk. Our driver's name is Sovan and we pay him a weekly salary. He picks us up at home (see picture) and takes us to school. He also takes me all around town to do groceries, go to playgroups etc. It is a fun way to get around as long as traffc is not too heavy!
This is S unpacking her bag at school. Kids take their shoes off before entering the classroom.
The morning classroom routine: Checking out a new book for nightly reading. That is really the only homework she has so far.