Introducing the new Year 2 student....

Today it was Hannah's turn to start school.  She's been itching to get there ever since Victoria started back last week and today was her day.  It was abit of a shock to the system as we had to get up earlier than what we've been doing for the past 2 months but we managed it ! 

I went with Hannah to school and was lucky to go on the school bus with her.  It's so much easier getting to school this way and this morning trafffic was a nightmare !  I'm sure tomorrow won't be nearly as bad!

She had a wonderful time catching up with her friends and giving out invitations to her birthday party (as she turns 6 next week).  Then it was time to line up and head to class.  (We found out when she got back home that her teacher is actually a kiwi but as lived for a while in the UK.  I jokingly said to a friend that her daughter might start talking kiwi!!)  She had a wonderful first day and is looking forward to heading back tomorrow - that has to be a good sign !!!

Lining up and waiting in the playground.  The bell had rung !

And off she goes.....bye mum !

 Passing the time before we had to leave to catch the bus!

Introducing the new Barn Owl......

We got back from our summer vacation Tues night (the 17th) and had to get up early on the 18th to take Victoria to pre-school.  It was her first day back AND she was soooooo excited !  For most of the summer she has been talking about being a Barn Owl - this is the name of the class that she has moved up into.  There are two classes that they have for the children that are going to primary school next year - Barn Owls and Snowy Owls.  They are small classes - 12 children in each class.  The teacher that she has - Miss Gasha - was also Hannah's teacher when she was a Barn Owl.  I wonder if she notices the (many) differences between the two ! 

Also, what we decided to do to help prepare her for primary school was for Victoria to have extended days.  This means that she has lunch and school and doesn't finish until 3.45pm (class begins at 8.45am).  And she loves it !!  She will have extended days on Tues & Thurs - she really is a big girl now !!!

First day as a Barn Owl !

In class - her bag is hanging up on the hook behind her with the pink Hello Kitty sun cap! 

With her Hello Kitty lunch bag on her first full day at school..... 

New looks

After our holiday and the girls turning into surfer chicks it seemed a good idea to get them a hair cut.  There's a great place in Happy Valley that has set up a corner of this huge salon for kids.  They've got these cars that they sit in plus they get to watch a movie - the girls just love going there.  Both of them were excited about getting their hair cut and even more with how they turned out!

On our way to the salon - yes, they're tanned and blonde !

Ready and waiting....

In action...I thought I was being clever as you can see the stylist with Victoria and in the mirror you can see Hannah's one.

 At the salon..........Miss 4

Miss soon to be 6.....

At home.....

And on a different note we were playing a letter game once we got back home - Victoria wrote the letter and we had to guess.  I thought she did a fabulous job of the letter B ! 

Summer 2011

We are in Phuket, Thailand for a month !!  Yes, you read that right - for a month !!  Girls are off school until mid-August and Paul has his break too - as it's too hot for the horses to race in HK - and isn't back til early Sept.  Timing works well for everyone so we have gone on a beach holiday.

We are staying at Kamala Beach a stone's throw from the water.  And there's nothing quite like hearing the surf crash on the beach.  It's not a beach where the girls can go swimming - apart from going up to their knees as there's quite a strong rip.  They don't really venture too far in as they normally have clothes on - they just like filling up the buckets to make sand castles.

It's low season here so it's rather quiet and unlike Koh Samui (where we were last year) there are numerous shops and restuarants closed.  We've got a great place just a stone's throw from our apartment where we go for dinner - right on the beach.  It's just perfect.  It's also the rainy season and touch wood we haven't had any yet and we've been here nearly a week.

Girls have recovered from their op and are enjoying the time spent in the pool!  I"m enjoying lying beside the pool !!!!

These photos were taken from our first couple of days....

Kamala Beach

View from our apartment

Kamala Beach in the evening...

On our way to Smile Restaurant - our apartment is on the right

View from Smile Restaurant

Hannah's Art Journal

Along with her Portfolio Hannah brought home English, Maths, Mandarin, Writing and Art journals home.  It really showcased what she'd done during the year and we could see how she had progressed !!  This two photos are from her art journal.....

Showing different emotions....

For some reason this doesn't want to upload correctly so this is the best I could do.  Sorry you might have to turn your head to the side......

The story reads:

My animal has a lot of hair.

He has a rainbow nose.

This is a kind animal.

He is like a nurse.

He likes to eat fish.

He can fly like a bird.



Hogwarts has come to Times Square....

In anticpation of the new (& final) Harry Potter movie the decorations have gone up at Times Square.  I do have to say that they've outdone themselves......

When they were putting it together......

All complete.....

End of School Year for 2010/11

It doesn't seem right to say that the end of the school year is June 30th - the school year really should be December as it's the last month of the year !!  Guess that comes from growing up in a country at the bottom of the world !!!  But aside from that you do get used to the difference - after all it says summer is here !!!  And it HAS arrived in HK !!!  Talk about being hot, steamy, and rainy !!!!

29th June was Victoria's last day at Woodlands for the year.  She is no longer in the Rabbits class.  It's been a wonderful year for her.  She's made some wonderful friends (some of who are no longer in HK but still get talked about and are very much missed!!!)  The development she's made amazes me and I'm sure it's a combination of having wonderful teachers, wanting to learn but also copying her big sister !

So we say goodbye and thanks to Miss Bettina.....



















Miss Mimi....

and Miss Jessica. 

June 30th was Hannah's last day at QBS.  I can't believe that she has completed her very first year (Year 1) at primary school.  The year really went by rather quick.  She's had a FANTASTIC year and we're just so thrilled with her progress - her writing, her reading, her maths and her mandarin is amazing !!  She's made some wonderful friends and some of them will move with her into her new Year 2 class.  The excitement of that is some of her old Woodland classmates will be with her too !!!!  Hannah also ends Year 1 with her bottom two teeth starting to grow !

End of August, well the 17th for Victoria and the 23rd for Hannah.  But until then we're going to enjoy our summer break!!