We get a car today!

Sorry to all who have been patiently and methodically checking the blog-- only to find that I had gone MIA for awhile :)

Today we get a car! We looked at it and test drove it a couple weeks ago-- and it's taken that long just to transfer money and get the reg. and insurance done. Who knows when our Malaysian driver's licenses will come through. Could be months. Doesn't really matter to Gilbert though, as I doubt he'll drive any time soon. (he didn't drive much in Houston except to work and back-- I do most of the family driving) Since we live downtown it's even more scary, as compared with friends who live in the suburbs here where it's quieter and less frightening to begin driving on the left. I've driven on the left before-- during my long stays in Australia and Ireland, years ago-- but even then it was mostly in rental cars for short periods of time. When I had a manual in Ireland-- WHOA-- let me tell you it's another bag of marbles to drive on the left and shift on the left. Too much all at once-- but we made it out alive. But I digress-- that was many years ago.

Now I will be driving an automatic with a wild 2.5 year old in the back seat. And mind you, Miles hasn't seen his car seat since we left Houston, so getting him back into restraints will be an whole other blog entry :)

We bought a Honda City from another expat family who is moving to Houston-- the "City" is only made in Asia, but it's supposedly the model just below the civic-- although I think I like it better. Smaller front engine area, amazing turning radius (great here, as parking lots/spots are very small), and a huge trunk. The seat in the back also flip up OR down, which is great for trips to Ikea. Yes, we have an Ikea. I lied and said Miles was three so I could drop him off at "Smaland" to play-- in the US they have to be potty trained-- here the just have to be three years old.

Speaking of potty training, Miles is trying his very best. While we are at home he spends a lot of time in his truck chones (underwear)...he's very proud of them. They are days of the week, with each day having a different truck, car, tow truck, train, etc. His tushy looks so cute in those little chones it's hard to keep my hands off him :)

As long as I remind him & make it exciting (maybe even pee with him) he will go pee in the potty when we are at home. A few accidents though, usually right after I've asked him to go. Poor kid is just too busy playing with...yes you guessed it...cars and trucks, to stop and pee. And if I ask him if he wants to poop on the potty, his answer is, "Noooooooooo! No poop on the potty! Noooooo!" as if that was the silliest thing I could have asked him to do. He just chuckles and walks away as if, poor mama, if only she knew how things work.

He was starting to look really shaggy and with the heat I had to cut his hair. I bribed him. "If you let me cut your hair I will buy you a tricycle." It worked, but little did he know I wanted to buy him one once we got here anyway. We looked and looked-- seemed everytime we found one we liked, it was "finished" ie; sold out. This is very common here. DARN IT why don't they just take the model off the floor then? I finally broke down and bought a floor model, sampled by who knows how many kids and already had someone's butterfly sitckers on it...which made Miles very happy.

What else? My back has been horrible again this last couple weeks-- I had brunch with a friend yesterday and she took me straight up for some info at her chiropractor's-- instead of info I practically begged for an adjustment and some therapy (eletronic stimulation, like a TENS unit and a traction table, where they hook my feet in and hang me upside down. That felt really weird, but afterwards my back felt much better. It didn't last, but that was just the first appt. Should get better with time.)

I surpised Gilbert a couple weeks ago with an afternoon of Indoor Rock Climbing. Just trying to find things to keep him happy here (he declined to take up golf)-- and now I think we are going to start rock climbing together. This place is the "largest indoor rock climbing in all of asia". Should be fun.

Gilbert needs to go to Australia (Melbourne) in July to teach a class for two weeks, so Miles and I will be tagging along. I can't wait! The last time I was there was....1997. Wow. Although this time I won't be drinking 6 days a week.

My Arbonne business is going really well-- I'm booking parties and finding new clients here. It's not just America that loves their skin care. Miles will hopefully start school August 1st. I can't wait!

We hired a maid three half days a week-- Lani is from the Phillipines and Miles just adores her. He follows her around while she vacuums, mops, etc. (we have hardwood and tile so it always seems to need cleaning). She cleans Tues & Thurs and then Saturdays we ask her to come for a few hours so we can have date night/afternoon. We hit a matinee or go to dinner-- or both. She'll put Miles to bed and keep cleaning. SO nice to come home to a clean house!

Speaking of movies-- it's SOOOO cheap to go the movies! They even have Gold Seating, I think it's a special room, or maybe love seats-- all I know is that it's about $15 each. We have only done regular seating, which is about $3 each! To get popcorn, candy and a soda, you'll only pay about $5. It's awesome. We had our first family movie last week-- went to see Kungfu Panda. As soon as the lights dimmed, Miles said ,"Wanna go home?". He finally settled by supplying him with Mentos and more Mentos and even took a nap for the last 45 minutes.

Gotta run, we're off to meet Gilbert for lunch-- it's Friday here and most people get lunch from 12 to 2. This is so all the Muslim men can get to the Mosque to pray.

Promise to post pictures next time. Kisses, Vanessa and family