Tribute To My Saipan Girls

Life just ain't the same without YOU!

I wish we were playing Beach Volleyball (or watching you play in my case) today!

Re-entry and Sylvie's Second Birthday

Hello friends near and far. The Seeliger's have landed back on Planet Wisconsin. I know it sounds funny but coming back to the U.S. has been a difficult adjustment. We had a hell of a time switching time zones. For me it was especially difficult because I had children who existed in both that needed my attention. The re-entry has had me thinking a lot about abundence and about the influence of environment on our perception and attitudes. I had a small melt own as I was shlepping a sleeping Sylvie in a front carrier, pulling a rolling carryon, and carrying two heavy over the shoulder bags through the Minneapolis airport. I felt as though the airport was bigger than the entire island of Saipan. I had been traveling for more than 24 hours at that time and as I sat down on a bench, about to collapse from exhaustion, saddened by the way no one looks at each other (which is in stark contrast to Saipan where everyone smiles at each other), I looked up and saw a neon sign for an airport store called Everything ASAP. At this point I started to cry...asking myself what anyone could possibly need ASAP from that store...from any store in the entire airport. We had done with so little for the past four months and were so happy. I was completely overwhelmed. This feeling stayed with me for many weeks after I arrived. I felt frustrated when Kierik presented me with a list of his friends that had "Ipod touches with the texting ap." I asked him why when we were on the island he never felt compelled to ask for anything and how it was that not even a week after returning, he seemed to NEED this item so badly. He said, "simple, on Saipan you can't get anything so why ask for it. Here everyone has it and you just feel so left out if you don't." Ahhh peer pressure. Have I really gotten so old that I forgot what that feels like?

Since returning, we have had a million small transitions and a few big ones. Sylvie turned 2 - BIG SMILE. I went back to work - equally big frown. I could go on and on about what it feels like to be back but won't. All I can say is that I miss Saipan, miss having so much quality time with my husband and sons, miss the friends I have made there, miss the weather terribly...but am so happy to see my friends from the U.S., meet and fall in love with baby Tenzin Lotus, talk regularly to my extended family and watch Sylvie get to know and love the people in my life here. I guess all transitions are bitter sweet. This one is no different. Here are some photos of Sylvie's Second birthday, 2 days after our return. She looks adorable. I look like I could use a full night's sleep! She wore her traditional Chinese dress, we bought for her in Guangzhou. It looked so beautiful on her. However, we took it off of her when it was time for cake, so most of the photos are of her in her underwear! This blog was started as a way to keep our friends and family informed about life on our little island in the Pacific. However, I will keep updating it now and then as we feel like it continues to be a good way to keep our friends in Saipan up to date with our family and for our friends and family here to see new photos, etc. So keep checking back for updates. Love from Oregon Wisconsin.

Boy's Last Day at Whispering Palms

Whispering Palms school was such an awesome place. The boys recieved an unbelievable education, made great friends, had kind and watchful teachers, and an all around great experience. Their last day was no exception. Here are some photos. Unfortunately, they are mostly from Kaden's party because his teacher had her camera. Rest assured that Kierik had a great last day too! Matt and I brought in a cake for all the kids in the school. Everyone was impressed with the cake design. Kaden attempted to eat the octopushead but got a belly ache half way through.

This school has given both of my sons a sense of confidence that they did NOT have before this experience. To prove it, Kaden decided, on his own, that he wanted to sing a song as a parting gift to his class. He went to the computer lab, downloaded the Lyrics to Jack Johnson's "Bubbly Toes" and got his friend John to play back up guitar. Unbelieveable!

As you know, Kaden's hat became an infamous part of him. He wore it nearly every day. He even wore it to PE class in 80 degree weather. The night before his last day of school he announced to me that he would like to "donate" his hat to the school. I chuckled and said, "ohhh Kaden, the school won't want that old hat. Maybe you should leave it home for the last day." Well, he ignored me and low and behold, the class LOVED his idea of donating the hat. They hung it in a special spot, had a ceremony and made a plaque that hangs below it. It reads, "Whoever touches this hat will have good luck. And will maybe get $100."

Each of the kids in Kaden's class got up in front and gave Kaden a special accolade. It started with "What I will miss mosst about Kaden..." He was very moved. He asked his teacher if he could share what he will miss about the class. He was well spoken and articulate naming very specific things and naming his most special people. Finally, his little jaw started to quiver and he told his teacher he was finished. It was a very emotional day.

The Boys Final Days in Saipan

Well, Matt and the boys have left the island of Saipan and returned to Wisconsin. I miss them terribly already! So do their friends. Sylvie and I will return home on April 19th. Everyone worked hard to make their last week on the island fun. I will post 3 seperate posts so it doesn't get overwhelming. This is a picture of our evening out without kids.

Matt and I had a final dive a a world renowned spot called the Grotto. This was a scary dive for me because you have to go through caves. Notice how part of the water looks like it is glowing? That is the sunlight streaming in from the other side of the underwater cavern. I am so happy we did it! It was truely spectacular.

Now we need to come back so we can dive it at night!

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday spent hanging out at the Hyatt Resort with friends. They had an incredible brunch, an Easter egg hunt and live Easter bunnies!

Matt and I spent the final hours of Easter watching the sunset with friends at the Hyatt beach. The boys played beach volleyball and played in the ocean. It was lovely, peaceful and relaxing. This may have had something to do with Sylvie missing her nap and conking out on a beach chair around 6:00PM - smile.

Making Moments Last

Well the two week count down has begun. Matt and the boys are due to fly home to Wisconsin on April 5. We are feeling the pressure to make every second on the island count. We even let the boys play hooky from school today and went to PIC. Matt attended a conference on Tilapia propagation and the hotel and the kids and I played all day long. Kierik worked on teaching Sylviah how to swim. She will totally submerge her hear now on her own and likes to swim best with me holding onto just one of her arms. She is completely fearless in the water now. What a difference a few months make! The photos at the beach are from yesterday. We were there all morning, went home for lunch and then stayed until dark. This beach is called Ladder Beach and I think it is my favorite. It has huge cliffs and turbulent waters on one end and calm peaceful tidepools on caves to explore on the other. The boys discvered these really cool little fish that are about three inches long and look like Blenny but the actually launch themselves out of the water and perch on the rocks above for an extended period of time. Matt likes it because frequently there are photo shoots here featureing beautiful bikini clad models. I like it because the beach glitters with blue and green polished sea glass. I have been creating mosaics out fo the sea glass for our walls. Sylviah has become quite good and helping me collect it! She is holding her cup of shells in the photo.

GOTCHA DAY - 5 month anniversary

Exactly 5 months ago today my little family of four was disembarking an overnight train from Guilin, China to Guangzhou to meet our new little daughter for the first time. She has come so far in just a few short months and we have come a tremendous way as a family. Click on the collage to see snippets of our first 5 months of adventure as a family of 5. We celebrated Sylvie's 5-month gotcha day with ice-cream and pigtails!

Yesterday was also an important first milestone as Poppy got her first haircut. Just the bangs of course! We're going to let everything else grow out.

Happpy Birthday to me...I live by the Sea...

in a tropical paradise...with my family. Run into the sea...run into the sea...we won't shut-up until you run into the sea. This is the new birthday song the boys and I made up at dinner last night as we celebrated my 35th birthday (thanks mom for reminding me of just how old I really am). It was a great day full of many Saipan events.

I started out my day by having a cup of coffee with my friend Eugene. Great way to start the day! Then I chaperoned Kaden's fieldtrip to the Saipan Botanical Gardens, along with Sylvie and Matt. The class was supposed to tour the gardens in the "Happy Wagon" which had unfortunately broke down that morning. So that left the children to tour on foot and without a tour guide (as he was also the mechanic trying to fix the "not-so-happy wagon"). But never fear! My valiant husband stepped up to the plate with a miniature map and tiny descriptions. He led the group of children through the gardens and even managed to engage them in some lively banter about fruit trees, flowers and other interesting plants. Many of which we recognized as enormous versions of the small tropical plants we attempt to grow as annuals or houseplants. Kaden was paired up with Daniel, Eugene's youngest son, and they were inseparable all day. So Cute!










Kaden also found a litter of baby kittens only a few days old, tied up in a plastic bag in a trash can at the park where Kierik was practicing soccer. Stray animals are a HUGE problem on this island. However, we could not leave the kittens there to die. So we took them home and nursed them with a medicine dropper through the night. The next day we called an organization called PAWS that helps to pay for the vet bills and helps place stray animals with adoptive families. We are so thankful to this wonderful organization. We dropped the kittens off at the Paradise Vet Clinic to receive proper medical attention and nutrition. I am sure we will visit the little kittens often over the next four weeks.


Later that evening we went to the Grotto Restaurant for dinner and it was delicious! The kids all were so well behaved for my birthday. We were treated with purple sweet potato ice cream for my B-day dessert. With birthday money from my parents, I treated myself to a new island swim suit prior to going to Managaha. These photos are of my new swim suit in the waters around Managaha. It occurred to me that you may never think I get in the water as I am always behind the lens. Rest assured I am in it as much as possible. Thanks Mom for the new swim suit and I look forward to our shopping trips when I returnback home!!! Now, I'd better not eat too much of that good ice cream.


After dinner we went home to help the boys with their homework. Meanwhile Sylvie occupied herself by dressing up in all of the boys clothing that was strewn around their bedroom. She is getting quite good at dressing herself and she is so funny. I think she will be a girl who needs a large cosume box. Good thing her mom already has that covered! Here are some photos of her pretending she is playing soccer like her brothers! I thought it was especially cute that she has her little sister t-shirt on since she is so looking up to her big brothers.






















Finally, at the end of the evening, I was surprised by a visit from Eugene who popped over with a Birthday present! She bought me a beautiful necklace and two pairs of earrings! It was just so sweet and unexpected that I could have cried. I am wearing them both very proudly today to work and I have the necklace on in this photo Matt took last night while I was helping the boys with their homework. I think I will consider it my 35th birthday portrait. Although I do not think I look very good, I am sure I will look back at it on my 50th birthday and feel differently. So, although it was not the wild and crazy birthdays I am used to, it was one I will not forget. It was a wonderful day with my family in tropical paradise.