Hiking up Penang Hill

Today I went on a two hour hike with some friends up Penang Hill. The first part of the journey was on the trail called "1,000 stairs". I think it has to be more than one thousand! ha! The rest of the journey we just hiked up the paved road so it was much easier. Believe me, the road is STEEP. I would not want to drive (nor ride in) a car on that road unless I knew the brakes were well maintained. We were almost to the top when it started to rain. I was the only one in the group who had brought an umbrella along and I was thankful I did because when you wear glasses it can be annoying to have them all splattered up with water drops while you are trying to see where you are walking. Plus my camera was kept drier as well. The umbrella did not keep me completely dry, but it did help a lot. Right when we got to the top it began to pour. We were so glad we were finished with the hike and not still somewhere in the middle. We spent a few minutes under an awning out of the rain at the top before we purchased our tickets to ride the funicular train back down to the station where the husband of one of my fellow hikers was waiting for us in a van. Overall I think we all had a good time and agreed that it was worth getting up early for on a Saturday morning.

On the stairs...

The group minus me. The only picture I got of myself included was very blurry because a man passing by took it and must not have focused first. That or maybe it's blurry because my batter was almost dead even though I had plugged it in the night before (don't think it was making the connection when it was charging). It doesn't take long in this climate to get nice and sweaty!
There were a TON of bees buzzing around this but you can't see them in the picture even when you click on it to make it bigger...so weird.
A house pretty close to the top.
Waiting under the awning watching the rain pour down...

Waiting to ride the train back down. So glad we didn't decide to walk back down. The cost for the train is less than a $1.00.
View from the front window of the train. We were the only ones on it! That hasn't happened to me before.
Watering was rushing down the drainage ditches due to the heavy rain.
Meeting a training going up the hill. The ones going up had way more people in them.

In other news, KL has started Saturday morning baseball over the course of the next two months. We missed his game last week because Greg and I went away overnight for our anniversary. Greg went to his game today, but they got rained out after 1.5 innings...however, KL's team was winning when the game got called. He has been pitching and doing a pretty good job. He struck out the first batter this morning. He also stole home for a run. I wanted Greg to take some pictures, but forgot to tell him last night so I left him a note this morning before I left. He didn't see the note before the game. I guess it's a good thing because when the rain came it came hard, and the camera would have gotten wet had he taken it with him. Hopefully I can get some next weekend to share here.

Other than that we are just enjoying our relaxing weekend. This week is our annual Spiritual Emphasis week. This year we are having a local pastor come and share. I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say and to what the week will bring. On Friday we will be concluding the week with our annual PTO Food and Fun fair. I am supposed to bake something to sell at that. Hmmm....will have to think about what to make.

We also have parent teacher's conferences for the girls on Tuesday, which means no school for them. Fortunately our meetings are scheduled at a time this year where we both can attend. That often is not the case. The school has changed the standardized testing for our students this year (we have always done the Iowa Basics in the past). Grades 1-9 took the tests this past week. They are all done on the computer so the results are in quickly. KJ takes hers this week. I imagine the results may be one point of discussion at the conferences. I am a little afraid to find out the results...LOL!

KL and KR have their birthdays next Monday. We don't have school on that day so I guess that should be a great day for the parties....I still don't know what I am going to do about a party for them. Every year I say I am going to get more organized and every year I am don't...Ugh. Just today KR says she wants a Nancy Drew party. The two "little" boys are willing to help me get a "mystery" arranged for the girls to solve. Sounds like A LOT of work to me...am I up for the challenge??? Check back next week to find out!

Photos of Penang

A couple of my friends and I have decided to improve our photography skills by working together and doing some photography lessons over the next few weeks (on Tuesday afternoons between school reponsibilities and picking up our kids from school at 3- if possible). We all agreed we don't have enough photos of life here in Penang and once we leave here we will regret not having more pictures of things. This past Tuesday we took a couple of hours and went to a local market and the botanical gardens to take some pictures. The market was just about to close up for the day and the air was not real clear (and we also experienced a small rain storm) but we had fun and got some pictures. I'm not sure I really learned anything (or should I say not sure I was able to really do what I was supposed to be trying to do effectively) but I really enjoyed the time spent with friends and got some nice pictures as a bonus.

Market pictures:



Looking for photo opportunities...it really wasn't that easy!
This is the building where I sometimes get my hair cut which is located right next to the morning market:

Botanical Gardens:

This is a place right outside the botanical gardens where you can buy Penang souvenirs, drinks or other treats...such as ice cream cones. They must sell A LOT to have this many cones hanging around. (and we discovered more behind this store that were all covered up by a tarp...!!

I wasn't too impressed with the sanitation of the setup when I took a closer look...the ones under the tarp looked worse off...yuck! We all decided we wouldn't be eating ice cream from here in the near future!

Hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit more of my world. Who knows what next week will bring. :-)

Celebrating three years

This week we celebrated KJ's 3rd homecoming anniversary. It's hard to believe it's been three years ago that she and I stepped off that plane to find the rest of the kids waiting anxiously to meet their new sister (Greg had actually already met her in the summer of 2005 when he took a quick trip to Haiti just to meet her). We are continually amazed at the wonderful adjustment she has made into our family. I am once again struck with the fact that I am so blessed to have the privilege of being her mom. She is one special little girl. Here are a few of the pictures we took of the special event this week.

KJ also had her new little friend over for a playdate this week. They had a great time playing together. I think we are going to make it a weekly "date" for the girls.

We are having a three day weekend due to Malaysia's Independence day, which takes place on Monday. We are required to take certain Malaysian holidays off and this is one of them. Doesn't hurt my feelings to have a day off so close to the beginning of school. It has been raining A LOT this week, and the forcast calls for a pretty rainy weekend, but I'm sure we will all enjoy the days off anyway. I hope you all have a great weekend as well.

Weekend and first day photos

Here are the first day of school pictures I was hoping to put in my last post. Guess it decided to work today! yipee!

We have had a nice, relaxing weekend. Greg did his fantasy football draft yesterday with friends and I had a nice chat with some friends and a good workout...next thing I knew it was three o'clock and I felt like I had gotten nothing accomplished! I guess some days are just like that. Today it rained almost all day long which means we all should sleep great tonight without A/C. I think the rainy season has officially begun!

Tomorrow starts another week. I think we are all settling in better and are getting used to our new routines, although Greg has told me I have been a little too stressed in the mornings trying to get myself ready and the kids out of the door on time. Guess I will have to work on changing that this week... ;-)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Back to school

I don't think this post is supposed to happen. This is the second time I have tried getting it up (with pics) and am running into snags...The first time I had part of a post written and then it wouldn't save and I lost it. Now I can't get my pictures to post...Hmmm...





Here is a quick update: school started Tuesday. Everyone is settling in nicely. KJ is in school full time this year (the first time in 16 years of being a mom I don't have a child home at least part of the school day). She made a new friend (her two best buddies are stateside for six months)..another little adoptee in her class...they are very cute together and have very similar personalities..lots of energy and enthusiasm!! I will try to post a photo sometime soon. KR is loving 3rd grade. She was apprehensive at first as she doesn't like to change teachers, but already loves her teacher and her teacher loves her :-) I hope that means it's going to be a great year! ha! KL didn't get the teacher he was hoping for (there are two sixth grade classes, one taught by a lady and one by a man. Having had all female teacher thus far in school he was hoping to get the guy) but he's adjust nicely anyway. He's a good kid and easy to have in class so I am not worried. KD is at the "top of the heap" now in 8th grade. He says there really aren't many perks to the position. Both of the little boys spent Friday night on the annual middle school retreat. They both had a good time and stayed up too late, per usual :-) KB has suprised us this year by trying out for vocal ensemble (and making it) as well as trying out for varsity soccer (tryouts this week). He must be turning over a new leaf! His academic schedule is pretty full this year, but his attitude is good (so far) and we are anticipating a great year for him :-) I have 30 Spanish students this year, more than any year in the past. I am also doing an elementary Spanish club and helping with KR's girl scout group this year. I'm sure I will keep busy even with my extra "free time". Greg is teaching Calculus, Algebra II and Algebra I. He also continues to be our school's Advanced Merit Diploma coordinator.


That's the quick update from our end for those of you who might still be checking in on us! I hope to get a picture posted soon...not sure why I can't get that part to work!! In the meant time I hope everyone is doing well!!

in the States

All of the family arrived safely in the US on the 6th and 9th. I spent the first couple of days relaxing in Cody and trying to get over jetlag before taking off to NE WY for a few days to visit with my cousin as well as my brothers and their families. The time went all to quickly and before I knew it I was headed down to SD to be here for the arrival of my new nephew, Zane Alexander, who was born yesterday (the 18th) via c-section. I have enjoyed the past few days with the kids and my mom and grandma, visiting and catching up on life over the past year. I am planning to be here for a few more days before heading back to WY for other adventures we have planned. I am fortunate to be able to post pictures from here since my mom's computer has a card reader on it. Here are a few from the events that have happened since we have been here:

The night Greg and kids arrived it snowed a few inches. The kids really enjoyed playing in it and building snowmen (as you can tell they were dressed appropriately...not! I guess they were afraid the snow would melt if they took time to put on some pants and a jacket! :-). KD was so bummed he missed out on all the fun (since he was traveling with me and we left three days after Greg and the rest of the kids left).

Grandpa and girls.
This is the day that we drove over to NE WY. I left the boys with Greg so it was just me and the girls....my the drive was quiet! lol! This is the view from the Big Horn Mountains. It is so green and beautiful here this time of year.

The day after we arrived at my cousin's was the annual Hulett Rodeo and parade. Usually I am not there in time to take it in, but this year I managed to make it. It was something I did almost every year as a kid so it brought back lots of memories.

Here is my cousin throwing candy from the window of the ambulance. This past winter she worked very hard and got her EMT license. I am very proud of how well she did.
My younger brother is on the volunteer fire department. My nephew and niece rode with him in the truck and had fun throwing candy as well.
KJ at the rodeo.
My brother, his wife and kids and KJ and KR.
Cousins after eating blue raspberry snowcones.
On Tuesday my grandma, the girls and I headed down to SD to be with my sis at the birth of her fourth baby. Here are the kids at the hospital waiting for the birth.
Zane Alexander. 7 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches long....so beautiful.

First family picture

Proud great grandma.

KR is so happy to hold her new cousin.

KJ needed in on the action too.

Another sweet picture.
Here are Keegan and KR showing off their hair. Both girls did locks of love this year.

That about sums up our adventures so far. I am looking forward to others to come as the summer progresses. I hope I can post again soon.