They just don't celebrate these things in Texas!

One of the things I love most about living overseas 

is getting the chance to experience new holidays. 

 Holidays that people love like we Americans love our Thanksgiving. 

Holidays that bring families together to celebrate!

Holidays that honestly, we just don't celebrate in Texas!

At least not where I came from!

Diwali was one of those holidays for me.  It is a Hindu holiday that is as

important to Indian families as Christmas is to Americans!

The kids and I were lucky enough to be invited to a BIG Diwali

celebration hosted by all the beautiful Indian families in our apartment.

It was one of my favorite nights in Singapore!  You will soon see why by 

the photos below-

But first...before the party there had to be some shopping-

We were not going to show up to our first Diwali soiree

without the proper attire-

There is only one place for this kind of shopping in Singapore-

And there is only one shopping companion to take along!

Little India and my great pal Dina-

Dina grew up in Singapore.  She is half Indian.  

You could say she is somewhat of an expert on these things.

Let's Shop!

During Diwali the streets of Little India are beautifully decorated and 

there are amazing shopping tents set up!

These gorgeous garlands were everywhere... They are used to decorate doorways
and the home during Diwali

Choices! Choices!  What to wear for the kids and I!
(Deric was traveling and missed the party!)

No Indian outfit is complete without the right bangles-

Yes Dina.  You need it!

Diwali is known as the "Festival of Lights".
Fireworks are set off during the holiday to ward off evil.
The kids were so excited to be invited down one night to pop
fireworks with all the Indian families.  

Know matter where you come from a sparkler is always a hit.

Time for the big party!  I think we did well on the outfits?

Enjoy the photos below of our special evening celebrating our first 

Diwali with our Four Seasons friends.

It was another one of those nights that I felt so thankful to 

have experienced with my kids.  

It was another moment where I witnessed God's love 

in families and traditions so different from my own.

Cheers from Singapore!

But wait!  One more Asian holiday!  How could I not mention Chinese New Year?
It only goes on for days and days and days!!  

This year was the year of the Snake:





Lilly did not care for this.


In Singapore during Chinese New Year you are very likely to run
into these fellows:

We ran into him in the mall on the way to the orthodontist!

These hungry lions danced for us at The American Club.



We saw these lion dancers from way above at the mall
about to perform.  


We celebrated the Chinese New Year with our neighbors
at Four Seasons Park.


There was salad tossing for good luck.


The higher the toss, the more luck you get!

We took more photos of Lilly and Maya...

Dina and I switched from the Indian to the Asian!


We attended a beautiful Chinese New Year dinner with Deric's
coworkers and their families.  It was an amazing night of
experiencing new traditions!  We ate peking duck and there were
red pockets!!!

Deric's coworkers love Lilly!

This time we got to toss the salad with giant chopsticks!
Imagine the kids delight?

When eating peking duck it is traditional for the husband

to serve his wife. I like that!

During Chinese New Year it is tradition to pass out

red pockets to the children.  The red pocket is a sign of good luck

and is full of CASH!  The amount of the cash is never an odd

amount (bad luck!) or never $4!  Four stands for death!

My kids walked out of this dinner rich with red pockets!  Wow! 

Red pocket love...

The newly red pocket rich Nalco kids!

Experiencing new holidays is a good thing!
Especially when I get to do it with these people!
Cheers from Singapore!