Time for a Holiday!

On December 15th we set off for our Christmas Holiday.  Well, at least out of Bangalore for awhile.  Buckle your seat belts - You are about to go on a "Weimann Family Vacation" (Yes, much like a Griswold Family Vacation!)  We didn't get far before Salome called to tell us that we forgot one of our suitcases!  ACK!  "Claudius!  We gotta turn around!  Sir forgot his suitcase!"  So, after a slight detour back to the house for Matt's suitcase, we were on the road again!  First stop - Bangalore International Airport.

 No matter what clock you are looking at - Our bellies told us it was time to EAT!

PIZZA HUT!!

Waiting for our pizzas

The kids watching this man play a video game

on his computer while they wait for their pizza.

Very Proud of their local beer.  I thought the Indian flag across

the nose was a nice touch!  Haha!

After a short safety briefing - The girls declared, "Look, Mom!  We're getting ready to cast off!"

SINGAPORE!!!

Oh my word!  I can't even begin to describe what it was like landing in Singapore.  Those people have got their...stuff....together!  WOW!  Talk about efficient.  Clean.  Everything I have NOT been experiencing for the last four months.  More on Singapore to come but I'm telling ya' - If we were to ever to do an overseas assignment again - I would officially like to put in a request for Singapore.

Already making themselves comfortable in the hotel.  The Little Varmits stole our slippers!

There were four in the bed and the little one said, "Roll Over, I'm crowded!"

So, Rachel is completely "faking it" in this picture.  The rest of them are legit "out of control" and to answer the burning question, "Did they all sleep together?!"  Well, yes, they did!  For the first night, anyhow.  It was a disaster.  The next night they brought in a cot and then they fought over who got to sleep in peace...all ALONE...the other nights!  Siblings! 

Big plans for our first day in Singapore...we're off to the Zoo!  They all went to bed singing the ever delightful but truly annoying, "Daddy's takin' us to the zoo tomorrow...zoo tomorrow...zoo tomorrow....Daddy's takin' us to the zoo tomorrow - We can stay all day!"

Honkin' Huge Singapore Cab!

Great Day for the Zoo!

Absolutely Amazing seeing these guys sooo close.

Kangaroo with her BABY in her pouch!  COOL!

Supposedly, if you were an ape - This guy would be irresistibly HAWT!!! 

DUDE!  They have something for that....It's

called Preparation H...Just trying to help a brother out!

Hungry Hungry Hippo!

Here Monkey, Monkey, Monkey! 
I have a delicious carrot for you!

One of our favourite attractions at the zoo was the elephant show.  What an amazing animal!  Unlike Bangalore, Singapore was hot and humid so we were psyched when we found a spot right down front and in the shade.  Minutes before the show started, with the stands now jammed with sweaty folks, one of the zoo staff voice came booming over the loud speaker to inform us that we were sitting in the "splash zone"....Great.  I know what that means when you're at Sea World.  Does that mean the same thing when you are at an elephant show in Singapore?!  Matt and I exchanged looks of "Seriously!?"  He climbed the stairs until he found a zoo worker who explained to him that "Yes.  The elephants will probably spray you.  Enjoy it.  It'll cool you off."  Hmmmm...yah.  Not so sure I'm cool with that.  Matt told the kids, "Keep your mouths shut!"...not as in "stop talking" but literally as in "keep your mouths shut" that's all we need is to get that disgusting water sprayed into our MOUTHS.  Okay.  Now that those initially formalities were behind us...it was time to watch the BIG (and I do mean ENORMOUS show) unfold in front of us.

Oh boy!  Here they come!!!

Yep.  Filling that trunk with water....You know what's next, right?!  YEP!  SSPPRRAAAYYYY!!!!

Thank God it wasn't more than a light spritz b/c it was making me tense.  I think the lovely speaker phone lady sensed the stress I was experiencing b/c she announced that it was "potable" water and that this portion of the show was over and so we didn't need to worry about getting wet anymore.  FANTASTIC!!  Because no sooner did those words fall from her lips then THIS HAPPENED....

Oh no she diin't....Ah.  Shucks!  Yah, she did!!

That's one big ole Pachyderm Poopin' in da Pond!

Watching in shock, awe and disbelief...

"Ewwww!  She pooped!"

Balancing Act

A Tightrope Turn

  It's official - Even an ELEPHANT has better balance than me.  What an embarrassment.  I'm ashamed.

Show-offs!! ;0)

Time for some Teamwork!

Cooling Off.  We'll take 2 mango & 2 cranberry - To Go!!

Holy Bamboo, Batman!!!

#1 and #3

Aw, Sparky!  We made it to Singapore!

Hey There Big Fella! 

Wow!  The King Cobra!  Had Nooooo idea they got this big and I feel so relieved to know they live in Bangalore (insert sarcastic, nervous warbly voice!)

Nap Time

The kids were fascinated with the Komodo Dragon.  He freaks me out.  Too much 'tude in a little package.

Rarrrrrrr!!!!

Yikes!  Pretty sure there's a reason he's the KING of the Jungle!

Pretty Gal - Catchin' Up on Some Beauty Sleep

We got to watch them feed the lions!

Whatchu Lookin' At Willis?!

Zebra Smiles!

Rhino Snack Time

A great time was had by all at the zoo.  Complete with hot dogs for lunch and dessert at Ben & Jerry's!  Supper....well, let's just say that was a little more unconventional and just slightly more "local" cuisine!  We ate one of the local "Hawker Centers".  Great food on the Cheap!

Stingray, anyone?!

Hahaha!

It's about to get CRAZY up in here!

Who's hungry!?

Yep.  This is how we roll in Singapore!

Some sort of chicken soup thingy!?

Manners out the Window!

Michael "our resident foodie" LOVED the food so much.  He didn't want to share his bowl of food with anyone and he literally resorted to SHOVELING so he could get it in his mouth before someone else tried to sneak in on his cuisine! :0)  SELFISH!!!

Reserved Erica.  Deep in contemplation.

Daddy went back for MORE food!

Full Bellied David is ready for bed!

From a distance we thought these were snowballs floating in the water but we knew that couldn't be right because it was way too HOT out...

Turns out they are white beach balls.  People write their New Year's Resolutions on them and then throw them into the water.  On New Year's Eve they light them all up!  COOL!

I think Mikey thought we was on the "catwalk" struttin' his stuff?!  I was worried he was going to fall into the fountain - But apparently, he AND an elephant have better balance then me!

Some carolers in the mall.  "Clark" just HAD to join in!

We had a fun-filled first day.  I will leave you with this short video of the kids.  Such nice CLEAN bathrooms in Singapore.  I never even had to dip into my secret stash of toilet paper!  Hehe!  As you can see from the video, the kids would have stayed in the bathroom for hours!  Haha!  It's the SIMPLE things, right?!  More to come.  Stay tuned!