Thursday 28 November 2013

Jacob's 9th Birthday

Jacob's birthday celebrations started last Friday at his first warm birthday party.  He invited 7 friends from school and they spent the afternoon playing in the pool and enjoying the warm November weather.






Then last Saturday, we took the coach to Legoland in Malaysia for a day filled with rides, laughs and fun!  As Jake put it at the end of the day - "This is the BEST day ever!"







It seems like the birthday celebrations don't end in this house!  Today, Jacob celebrated his day with our usual Thursday playdate group.  



Happy 9th Birthday, Jacob!  We love you!


Sunday 24 November 2013

Student of the Week

Last week, Jacob's class has started Student of the Week and Jacob and another student were chosen to be the first students of the week. Each day of the week the student is recognized with a special activity. On Monday, the student was allowed to bring in 3 items and Jacob chose to bring in his hockey mini-stick, a stuffed animal and a cowboy hat (can I get a yehaw for the Calgary Stampede!).  Tuesday, Jacob shared with the class his favorite book. Wednesday, the teacher read a letter from the parents.  Thursday, a parent (or someone else special to the the child) was invited to come and have lunch at the school and on Friday, the student was recognized with a special certificate.   Jason crafted a really nice letter and I just had to share with you.  Enjoy!



Dear Grade 3 Class,

I’d like to share with you a story that begins in Calgary, a cowboy town in southern Alberta, Canada.  In a city surrounded by wheat fields and mountains that reach into the heavens, a small boy named Jacob Plamondon was born.  From early on, his parents recognized him as a special kid and it was not long before someone else also saw potential in Jacob.  As it turned out, there was a group of people who had been waiting a long time for Jacob to come of age.

It was in May of 2013 that Jacob's father got a call from The Shield, a global crime fighting unit.  They told Jacob’s Dad that they wanted to recruit Jacob as its newest superhero member. They said that Jacob was “The Fun” and that he would be known in The Shield as Jake the Snake. Yes you heard right, he was not “The One” like Neo in the Matrix or Harry Potter.  He was “The Fun”.  The Shield had determined that in order to be more successful in their fight against crime, they had to find a way to prevent crime, instead of fighting it and to avoid kids turning into super villains in the first place.  Jake the Snake was the answer. 

His smile can pierce through the coldest of hearts;
He can defeat the most evil genius with the smelliest of farts;
His mountain of stuffies - a prison of comfortable cuteness unbearable to the angriest villain; and
His excitement and positivity will attract fun loving kids to build a legion

The Shield wanted to send Jake the Snake to Singapore.  They had determined that there was a critical mass of kids moving to Singapore from all points around the globe who would be capable together of defeating evil once and for all.  What they needed was “The Fun” to spread fun throughout Singapore, encouraging kids to be positive global role models for their return to their home countries around the world.  Wielding warm smiles, soft stuffies, positivity and smelly farts, this legion of global crime fighters would defeat evil once and for all.

So now you all know that among you sits the greatest of all super heroes…”The Fun” Jake the Snake, who was sent here to Singapore to recruit an army of friends with a shared vision.  It’s up to you now to decide to join “The Fun” to defeat evil by laughing and smiling and enjoying everything you do, just as he does. 


Congratulations Jake, on being student of the week.

Have Fun,


Jake’s Mom and Dad

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Even if it breaks your heart…

There is solace is knowing that your family is in a good place.

Josh.  He is a happy, fun, little boy who loves making people happy.  He genuinely loves life.  His throaty laugh is contagious and I love that how much he is like his Dad.  Kids and adults want to be around Josh.  He exudes happiness and its so easy to want to be in his company.  




Jake. He is an inquisitive, questioning leader.  He is incredibly patriotic and loyal.  He is goal driven while being a team player.  He is rigid and gentle at the same time.   I love how he is so much like me.  He is family-centered and is happiest when in the company of his family and friends.  



Jason. He is handsome, thoughtful and witty.  He naturally makes those around him happy.  He is dedicated to his family and open-heartedly puts his their needs before his own.  It's easy to become addicted to his company.  He is easy-going, fun and loyal. He makes me so incredibly happy.



As we approach six months in Singapore, it is so comforting to have my family is good place.  And even though it break our hearts to be away from our friends and family, especially now that we have another sweet little niece, I am so blessed to have a family that is open to adventure and new experiences.