West Coast Blitz

So the last day of school came to a close, kiddos got on their last bus ride for awhile and we set off on June 6th for our 24 hour ride to LA.

Free choice dress for the last day of school

We finally land in LA, collect our bags and go outside to wait for my Aunt or Uncle.  After about 10 minutes I start to get a sinking feeling in my stomach that I probably should have touched base with them prior to leaving Singapore.  My phone is not working and my aunt has my US phone so I finally scope out a relatively normal looking guy, turn on the charm (with what is left after 3 hours of sleep in the last 24 hours) and beg to make a local call.  He kindly obliges me.

Luckily my uncle picks up the phone.  Good news is he is home...bad news is that he is not at the airport.  The conversation goes like this:

Uncle Gary:  "Well hello!  We're all ready for you and will be there at 10:47 tomorrow morning"


Lisa:  "Oh....um, well ....we're here now."


Uncle Gary:  "Huh?"


Lisa:  "Yeah...we just got our bags and we're here"


Uncle Gary:  "Hang on....."  he goes upstairs to find my aunt

After background words of confusion and disbelief....

Aunt Jo:  "What are you doing here today?"


Lisa, after realizing now what has happened, sheepishly admits this is completely my fault:  
"I changed our itinerary because we were supposed to connect in Tokyo, and I didn't know at the time how things were going to turn out.  I am guessing I never sent you the revised itinerary?"


Aunt Jo:  "No ....you didn't"


Lisa:  "@#*@*!!"

So this was the start of my US trip home...off to a smashing start!

Luckily the taxi ride took about an hour, giving my aunt, uncle and cousin a solid 60 minutes to scramble and get the house ready....what troopers!  Love you guys:)

So first on the list of things to do when we arrive at their house is a 2 hour nap.  Falling asleep for 2 hours - no problem.  Waking up after 2 hours?  Requires lots and lots of bribery of ice cream.

We head out for some fantastic Mexican food and I savored every single bite.  For dessert Steven (cousin) took the kids for their ice cream and my aunt & uncle took me to Target.  A kid in a toy store...and we closed the place down!  Not only that...but it was a TWO STORY Target!  It just doesn't get any better than that.

Aunt Jo, Katie & Uncle Gary

Steven and the girls

Tuesday morning my aunt & uncle offered to watch the girls and loaned me a car so I could drive up to Ventura and have lunch with a very good friend from days at Macy's.  It was a bright and sunny day and I took full advantage and drove up PCH with the radio cranking and my windows down.  It was glorious to just drive and drive and see the beauty of the Pacific!  Why is it you never appreciate these things when live here?  I was doing my best attempt of snapping photos out of my window...which is now almost a habit of mine, and loved every minute.

After another fabulous Mexican dinner, we repacked a few things and got ready to head to Oregon.  Wednesday saw us off to Portland and then a drive down to Salem to see my Grandma.  We pulled in, just in time for dinner and got to bring some happiness to my last living grandparent.  We were met by my other aunt & uncle who then took us back to their river cottage for the night.  Peaceful, green and beautiful....I love driving through Oregon in the spring.

Grandma & the girls

Aunt Susan & Uncle Cleve

Drive near Salem

River outside the cottage

On our way back to the airport we had to fill up with gas and the girls came inside with me to grab some water.  What did they see?  GUM!!  So much gum it was dizzying.  They couldn't decide between all of the flavors, and I honestly couldn't blame them.  We bought 13 packs of gum....and I told them to chew as many as they wanted!!  We can BUY MORE!!!  What a great feeling:)

So we jet off to Seattle and get to see our great friends the Holmes.  Sean, Kalen and Katherine and their new beautiful home.  The girls had a blast playing on Katherine's new playset and Elle immediately took to the roll of "big sister" for the first time.  It was adorable.  We were treated to Sean's amazing cooking and Kalen's amazing talents at Kinect dance:)  Also a few bottles of my favorite wine - Peter Michael....yum!!

Elle & Katherine

Holmes & Harris'

Friday morning we spent with my matron of honor, Wendy and her baby Brooke.  Wendy is also one of my favorite shopping cohorts...so we started off by visiting one her best children boutique finds.  So much fun!  She and her husband have undertaken the remodeling of a beautiful historic home in Laurelhirst and we spent quite a bit of time going through it.  It is stunning and is going to be a great family home for the 6 of them!  I miss you Wendy!!

Caught a late afternoon flight back to LA and met up with my mom who had flown in from Milwaukee.
We all stayed at my aunt & uncle's and got ready for our family reunion the next morning.  The reunion was my first, and is the first one to take place for the Davis family in 10 years (my maternal grandfather's side of the family.)  Saturday morning was cold and cloudy day for a Ventura beach get together, but a great day of meeting family and having traditional CA BBQ.

The beach I grew up going to

Hot dogs & tritip....yum!!!

My mom's cousin and his wife brought fresh caught abalone....what a huge treat!

There were 7 Davis siblings and my grandfather was one of the baby twins (DJ & DD Davis)

The families of DJ & DD

All of the first cousins

My friend from Houston, Ben, is now living in CA so he stopped in for a visit at the beach too.

On our way back to LA, I went down memory lane and drove the girls by my old middle school, high school and the house I grew up in.

We concluded our west coast whirlwind with a trip to Disneyland with Mike's sisters and their families.  It had been 4 years since we last saw Linda & Gary, Lisa, Jimmy, Jillian &  Lindsey.  Way too long...and now their little girls are all grown up!

It was a mad dash - but we were able to see so many loved ones!  It's a funny side affect of living half way around the world...you want to see EVERYONE when you get home.  We have only been a 4 hour plane ride away from the west coast for the last 10 years, and yet it seemed like it was a world away.  Now that we are a world away, it doesn't seem like much of an effort to hop on a plane and take a 2 hour ride to visit those who are dear to us.  A valuable lesson I think...and I hope this new outlook holds true no matter where we live!

Summer break.....

Twas the night before summer, when all thru sticky air

Not an expat was resting, she's still taming her hair

School is nearly out

Long plane rides coming, have no doubt

Sorting through overworn pants and shoes

What to keep...and what to lose

A year's worth of shopping is drawing near

Nordstrom, Saks and Target...oh dear!

Cannot wait for family and friends

With hopes it will not soon end

BBQ's, bonfires and a sweatshirt please

We happily relish the chance to freeze

Squeezing in last lunches and tennis dates

It's for home that we anxiously await

Though we'll miss all the dumplings we can get

Our dreams of salad bars and tacos will soon be met

There are loads of good-byes to those moving home

It's a crazy life for those who roam

Who stays & who goes

Sometimes you just never know

It's an adventurous way of life

To live as an expat wife

I equate our experience here to going off to college.  You enter a new place surrounded by people you have never known.  You aren't quite sure where to get things you need, where to eat, how to get from one place to another and then life starts swirling all around you as classes, homework & parties all start flying at you.  You look to others to help orient you and point you in the right direction.  All of your friends are going through the same thing and it is quite a bonding experience.

By the end of the school year, you feel like a pro on campus, you have a solid group of friends and then you all hug good-bye and go back home to mom & dad and summer jobs.  You say good-bye to some of the seniors who have been your sorority big-sister or other form of mentor....but you know you'll see almost everyone back in 3 months.

When you come back to school as a sophomore, you are sad to leave the comfort of home, but you look forward to starting up again all the same.  You know the drill and feel like the expert on campus.  Freshmen look to you as the one who knows all and can point them in the right direction...tell them where to get the cheapest pizza at 2:00AM.  You're as comfortable on campus as you are back home.  At the conclusion of this year, some of your friends are going to transfer to other schools, some have graduated...but again, you know you'll all catch up again in 3 months.

Junior & Senior years progress along the same path.  Graduation arrives.  It's bittersweet.  You can't wait to "go back" or "move on" to something new - but you also know you will never share daily life with these friends again.  Again some friends move on...and some will remain lifelong friends....

Such is life!  Full of adventure, creating new experiences and meeting new people!  


I don't like to dwell on "endings" - for those of you who know me well, you know I avoid saying "good-byes" like the plague.  For me, it's "see you later!"  

So for now..."see you later Ella, Shannon & Kameron!"

No matter where you live, the wind down to summer is always such a whirlwind.  The end of school is so exciting and there are tons and tons of activities to be a part of!  Singapore is no different...with the exception of having to pack for 2 months and make household arrangements in your absence!

We had end of year recitals, last ball games, end of year parties...and in our case, double birthday celebrations...FUN! FUN! FUN!

One of the walls in the intermediate school

Katie's 10th birthday....Cold Stone Creamery JUST opened....yum!!!

 For her birthday, Katie had a bowling party/sleepover....but first we went out for ribs....the girl loves her ribs!

BBQ ribs are not a specialty in Singapore...thankfully Chilis exists!

Good form!  Not great results however....

But always happy nonetheless:)

Let the sugar rush begin!

Elle's birthday was a pool party at The American Club.  Even though storm clouds persisted, the rain held off for her party.

For family celebration...why ruin a good thing?  Ice cream cake is just as good the second time!

At school....

Sports wound down as well.  Katie's last softball game was a close one, but was ultimately decided by the thunderstorm.  

She is yelling to hit her a ball...

And someone did...she got it!

Not her favorite get-up

We celebrated the last game by decorating the hats

Elle was the biggest chearleader!

My tennis team also came to a close.  We finished in dead last place for our division...but had a great time doing it!

At school, the PE department sponsored a "playday" for each grade where outdoor activities were set up for them all to play.  It was a really fun day for all!

Water was a welcome relief on such a hot day!

The custodians had a key role....they were in charge of dousing the PE teachers with buckets of water!

The 4 grade class

Nothing like a cold popsicle on a scorching hot day

End of year also brought about music concerts and dance recitals.

And end of year parties...

Can you add some more sugar to the plate Elle?

Elle and Mrs. Kelley

1st grade friends

And squeezing in those last - incredibly YUMMY - dumplings!

"Have a great summer!  See you in fall!"

And now the packing really MUST begin!  Heading to California, Portland & Seattle on the way to Wisconsin!  We cannot wait to get home!  You may just hear my tears of joy when I first cross the Target threshold...


See you soon!