Thanksgiving

Here is a picture from our camp Thanksgiving celebration. The food was great and we were able to get a picture of the kids before anyone spilled anything on themselves.

Shutterfly

Getting Christmas cards out to family and friends when you are halfway across the world can be tough. Last year we had to send our holiday greetings via our blog page. We were wondering how we could get a Christmas card that had a picture of our family out to our friends and family.

Luckily for us Kathi was using Shutterfly to create a photobook of some of our recent vacations. While on the site she came across an option that allows you to import a picture that you have taken into a Christmas card. When we lived back in Washington we would always use a photography studio to do this and we would have to pay for the sitting fee and then also pay for the Christmas cards too. It could get pretty expensive.

With Shutterfly we simply use a photo we have already taken and love and create our own Christmas card. It is much easier and takes much less time than the alternative. It is also quite a bit cheaper. What a great find by Kathi!

If you are interested in checking it out for yourself you can go here: shutterfly.com

Let us know what you think!

Ryder Cup

On Wednesday there was a Muslim holiday so the expats thought is would be a good time to play a little golf. Since we have so many expats from so many different countries we decided to start the first ever "Rumbai Ryder Cup." We divided our teams up into the U.S.A. vs. the World. The guys in red here are the U.S. team and the guys in the other colors are the International squad. (The countries represented: Canada, Philippines, Wales, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Nigeria)

We played several different formats over the course of the 18 holes. The U.S. ended up winning 17-6. It was nice to have the U.S. take this one as the real Ryder Cup ended up going back to Great Britain this year. It was a fun time and good friendly competition. Hopefully we can have one more of these this year.

Sasha

This is video of the Orangutan called Sasha. She hung out with us for about three hours while we were having lunch. She was really just waiting around until we left so she could scrounge to see if we had left any food. It was pretty cool to get to see her up close and personal for such an extended period of time.

Lunch with Orangutans

Sydney and I went on the ISR Middle School Field Trip this past week. We spent the week in Bukit Lawang, Sumatra where there is a National Park that has some of the last remaining wild orangutans in Sumatra. There are only 7,000 left in the wild so seeing them up close was a special experience.

We will try and get some more pictures up soon. We were able to get within 5 feet of them. We were also able to see two moms with babies. Very cute!

Hornbill

This picture was taken by our friends and neighbors Tiffany and Barry. We are used to seeing monkeys in our garbage but not Hornbills. Brooklyn calls them dinosaur birds. You can see why.

Introducing...Adelyn

Adelyn arrived at 8:42 am

Weighing 7.4 pounds

Length 19.2 inches

Adelyn with her Daddy

Happy Grandma

Happy Delivery Day!

Happy Delivery Day, Baby Adelyn! We are praying for an easy and smooth delivery. I can't wait to get the phone call tonight that she is here. My guess is 7 pounds 6 ounces and 20 inches long. I guessing dark hair and blue eyes. Pictures coming SOON!!

Sydney's Fieldtrip

On Monday Sydney and John leave for Northern Sumatra to go on the middle school field trip. They will spend a week in a wildlife preserve studying wild orangutans and spending time learning about the flora and fauna of Sumatra first hand. The wildlife preserve also has all of the really amazing Sumatran animals you want to see. Clouded leopards and even Sumatran tigers. Those guys are pretty illusive but you never know, you may be able to catch a glimpse of one.

It should be a once in a lifetime experience. There are only about 7,000 left in Sumatra. Scientists predict that in 20 years there will be fewer than 1,000 left in the wild. Hopefully that is a prediction that will not come true. We just know that Sydney and John are very excited to see these awesome animals up close.

Friday Night Lights

Kade showing off his "guns."

Brooklyn got some of the boys to give her a ride on a float.

Sydney was on the victorious Rumbai Steelers.

Kade was on the Rumbai Packers.

Vote early for the Indonesian Heisman Trophy.

Syd and Milena give Brooklyn a boost.

A tradition here in Rumbai is the annual Friday Night Lights flag football game. There are 2 games. One for the 1st-3rd graders and one for the 4th-8th graders. The whole expat community heads out to the softball field which has lights and gather around the painted on football field in the outfield. There is music, cheerleaders, and a big audience to witness this clash of gridiron greatness.

Syd and Kade both played in the 4th-8th grade game. Kade was the only 3rd grader who got to play up in the older game. Unfortunately for him he had his sister guarding him. She kept him out of the end zone but he did have some nice gains and some great "tackles." Sydney hit pay dirt twice and was also stopped at the one foot line to be denied her third touchdown. Kade's team the Packers came out on top though by a score of 35-28. Both Sydney and Kade had a great time. It is a very unique experience but one that is probably most like being back home too. It was a blast for kids and parents alike.

How do you say "Trick or Treat" in Bahasa?

Even Indonesians like US candy!

So EXCITED

This is a picture of the top piece of my quilt. My friend Resi is making it and I LOVE IT. It's headed to the quilter this week and should be back around Christmas.