2010 Holiday Update

G’day mates! Breaking news from the Whitton Household: we are repatriating to the US after almost five years in Asia! Jessica and Bransby keep referring to moving “home,” but I have never been to Newport Beach, so it sure doesn’t feel much like moving home to me. While I was born in Australia, my formative years have all been spent in Singapore. Likewise for Samantha Rose, Asia is all she has known in her nearly two years of life. As such, for Sam and I this move is about getting to know a new home and way of life American/Californian style. Needless to say, this is a major life changing event for all of us filled with lots of excitement as well as anxiety; being caged up for 20 hours in the hold of a jumbo jet is not really my cup of tea.



Beyond this major news, 2010 was another fun-filled year for our family. It started with a big celebration for Sam’s first birthday, but I note that this celebration was not followed by any festivities in March to acknowledge my 21st year…that is three in your “people years”. I am not sore about this as my claim to fame this year was that Sam’s first real word was my name! That little girl has such a zest for life. She is a bundle of energy that moves and talks nonstop during her waking hours. I love her so much and we have such fun playing chasies and fetch. Like me, Sam is a very finicky eater and this gives Jessica a daily challenge. Her favorite activities include swimming, singing, playgroup, coloring and anything other than eating.



Bransby, Jessica and Sam traveled to the US twice during the year. The first trip took them all over California and Colorado seeing family while the second was focused on preparing for the move back to Newport Beach. Throughout the year, we had a number of visitors to Singapore including: Jessica’s aunt and uncle – Kyee Kyee and Ba Ba, friends from Tokyo – the Engert Family, Jessica’s parents, Bransby’s parents, friends from Sydney – the Kelly Family, and friends from Hong Kong – the Hetherington Family. I had so much fun with all of our guests and so look forward to meeting up with them again, as well as other guests, in California soon.

Jessica has little time for anything other than being a mother to Sam. However, she did manage to find some “me” time including few nights away from home on a girls trip to Bangkok – leaving Daddy in charge of Sam and I – and found some reprieve in watching her new favorite TV show Glee. Bransby continued to work hard and tried to find balance through being a daddy and his triathlon training/racing. With the move will come a new role for him at work as a real return product manager. In the fall, Bransby and Jessica celebrated their fifth anniversary.

While I am staying in Singapore with my adopted Aunt Anita and Uncle Rob, Jessica, Bransby and Sam will be spending the holidays traveling through my homeland of Australia (Sydney, Cairns, and Margaret River). I am sure they will have a blast on this trip.

We will all be thinking about our loved ones during this festive season and send you our love from the other side of the globe. Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!

Tail wags and puppy kisses,

Boomer

PS: We will be heading back to the US in early January and moving into a new house; please note our new mailing address. We are anxious to see you all and hope you will visit soon. By the way, my favorite treats are chicken jerky and bull sticks.