Lots Going On

Yes, there has been a lot going on around here. That would be the main reason for a lapse in blogging. I would love to get on here every other day but some weeks just don't work out that way!

So, we have been...

eating more than our fair share of Tom Yum Goong.

suckers for a live band and a dance floor.

the recipeints of some sweet new birthday cowboy boots. (Thank you Avitts! Huge hit!)

thoroughly enjoying first profiteroles.

trying some junior photography.

keeping tabs on our household pets.

painting walls and hanging pictures.

and filling the place with exotic plants (D is wearing pink poodle ears, not earmuffs).

We also celebrated C's 3rd birthday today at his nursery school. That deserves a blog post of it's own!

New Old Toys!

I picked up a package from my mom today. I was expecting some favorite skin care products but was surprised to see the large size of the box. We got it home, opened it up, and found fun stuff inside! (and skin care products)

These little creatures belonged to my brothers and I when we were little. So fun to be reunited, and have my 2 enjoy them so much! Extra cool that two of the creatures are elephants because elephants are special in Thailand.

Also extra funny, because of the way C says elephant. When he started talking he would identify animals by their sound rather than their name. For the most part, he now says their name- except for elephants. In C-talk, we say, "Woooojah." Try it, it's fun!

From the Mouths of Babes...

I have several friends who have kept a written record of the funny or sweet things their kids say. I think it's an awesome idea. I started doing it last year but have done a poor job of staying up to date. Today, I'll start writing them down again.
For sometime now, D has been in the frequent and random habit of asking me, "Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Most of the time, I have no idea what she is thinking. I tell her that. Then, she generously shares whatever it is that's on her mind.
D had a doctor's appointment today downtown at the hospital. (She's fine, don't worry) I may have mentioned that traffic everywhere in BKK is pretty horrible and the roads surrounding the hospital were no exception.
As we were slowly inching our way out of the hospital driveway, we could hear a siren. Upon working our way down the crowded 2-way lane, we could see an ambulance, lights flashing, siren blaring, and the ambulance going nowhere, stuck in traffic.
D looked at me, such concern on her face, and said, "Are you hoping what I am hoping?"
I knew exactly what she was hoping.

Buzz's Sweet Ride

Of all the items in our house that C could have used at Buzz Lightyear's rocket ship...

tonight I caught him using his potty chair. I know, ewwwww!

The Little Gym

C has energy to burn. The heat and humidity don't seem to phase him, nor do his routine 5:15 wake ups. He is just a very energetic little boy.

And I am all about finding ways for him to burn that energy. Back in April, C was enrolled in gymnastics and loved the hour-long class. I was hoping that we would find another great program here in BKK. Then, a friend told me about The Little Gym. It is a gymnastics class with equipment perfectly suited to little people like C and he loves it!

We go on Friday mornings and I'm hoping the other days are busier because C has been 1 of 2 students or all by himself each time. We want this place to stay in business! We always finish with ball activities, bubbles and then music.

Time Zones

If I haven't mentioned it before, our new Bangkok house is much larger than our Perth house. There is a lot of wall space to fill. Before leaving Perth, we purchased a couple of large photographs on canvas from a Western Australian photographer. They were the largest pieces of art we'd ever bought and we were very excited to get them onto our big, blank walls here. But they look so tiny in this house!

On one of our shopping trips, we came across a fun piece to take up some wall space. It is 9 clocks, made from white, dry-erase board, and it keeps track of 9 of our favorite time zones. Might be hard to read the cities... Bangkok, Melbourne, Perth, Rapid City, Kansas City, Dublin, New York, Djibouti, and Seoul.

Lots of fun keeping track of you all! Next job is to paint that wall...

C is Too!

I posted a Facebook status around C's 2nd birthday that said something like: 2-year-olds give the biggest hugs, the brightest smiles, and the most spectacular tantrums. And that still holds true in this time of transition. Things are going very well, but I forget that new, seemingly small things are still rocking my little kids' worlds.
But this was a pretty good week for C. Both days of school were totally tear-free. (I think it had something to do with the new playground equipment) He's getting the hang of using the potty. And the words, phrases, and sentences, though not entirely intelligible, are flowing like a mighty river!
My favorite advances in his speech are his "toos."
C has discovered the man skill of stating that things are too______to do. Thus, he is unable to do them independently, or at all.
Mommy: "C, put on your shoes."
C: "No Mommy, too hard."
Mommy: "C, stay in your bed."
C: "No Mommy, too cold."
Mommy: "Go outside and ride your trike."
C: "Too hot."
Mommy (at 5am) "Go play in the playroom."
C: "Too dark."
And my favorite,
Mommy: "Go get your school bag from the closet."
C: "Too locked."

New Furniture

I am cracking up at the latest addition to our home furnishings. We ordered some bean bag chairs for the playroom from a local store. Thought it would be the perfect way for D & C to enjoy reading their books and watching their DVDs. I saw one in the store, liked the fabric, and ordered 2.

They were delivered on Wednesday and we were all very excited. But, it seems I need to provide the kids with step stools to get them into them. They are much larger than the store bean bag!

BKK Fun!

There are all kinds of ways to have a good time in Bangkok. Most of which, we haven't done yet. But thus far, we've had some good times. Lots of little things make us laugh.

Just in case you forgot how...

Mmmmm! So tempting! Soft shell crab Pringles!

Super fun at a local shopping center! Too bad I forgot to go get the paintings when it was time to go home. :(

And then, there has been an actual attraction! Last weekend we visited Siam Ocean World at the Siam Paragon Shopping Center. A really good time for all of us!

D and the giant crabs

C and a big fish tank

Behind-the-scenes boat tour over the shark tank!

So appropriate for the aquarium- a fish spa! T and both left with soft, silky feet

Penguins! (This one was not real, but others were!)