Great Winter Break Highlights!

Over the winter break, T's mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law all came to visit us here in Thailand. We LOVE having visitors, but while playing tour guide, there's no time to blog about it. SO, please forgive the delay and sharing the tales and photos of our adventures from the past month.

On day 1 of our visitors, T took Loren, Joe, Kristi, and C fishing. Everyone got a turn or two reeling in a big one. See them with their prize catches!

 The rules say you have to throw them back, but wait!!!

Day 2 was a drive to Pattaya and D's first time on the jungle zipline. She was awesome!

It took a few lines for me to cope well with watching her sail through the treetops, but it was a delight hearing her squeals and giggles echoing through the jungle. So fun!

King's Birthday Weekend- Pattaya

In early December, Thailand celebrates the King's Birthday with a 3-day weekend. We had heard about a great family resort in Pattaya so off we went. We spent the whole time in the pool. Except for the 1 night out to Mike's Mexican Restaurant. Mmmmmm-mmmm! But the rest of the time- in the pool!

Behind the kids, suspended between the 2 towers of the resort, is a giant, inflatable gorilla. The kids liked that he was in the photo with them. Can anyone who was there that weekend explain the gorilla?

 I'm guessing daddy was making bunny ears behind me.

All weekend, in the pool. It was a great time!!!

Budding Author

D: You know, mom, some kids are so dumb that when they get put in time out, they tip their own chairs over so their moms will worry about them and forget about the time out.
Me: Really? Where did you hear about that?
D: I didn't really hear about it.
Me: Then where did it come from?
D: I just kind of thought of it. You know, it's like realistic fiction.

Only in Thailand

Often I say and hear others use the phrase, "Only in Thailand..." when something happens around here that you are unlikely to see anyplace else. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, sometimes it just leaves you shaking your head. Today's only in Thailand moment came at lunch.
T and I took his dad and the kids to a nearby fondue restaurant. It wasn't busy (Thank goodness!) and our meal was nice. Between the second and third courses, C expressed a need to use the restroom. D offered to take him as she knew where it was, so we let them go together. A short time later, we look up to see D returning to our table, followed by C, holding hands with a member of the housekeeping staff and wearing just his shirt and little red Crocs, with nothing on his little bottom half. My jaw hit the table. We are in the middle of a restaurant and his little parts are on display!!!
The housekeeper is grinning from ear to ear and carrying a soggy pair of Thomas the Tank Engine underpants and his shorts. At the time, there was one other table in the place and I'm sure they were wondering what was going on. I avoided making eye contact with them.
As little kids do, C didn't make it to the pot in time. It happens, no big deal, kids do it all the time. What DOESN'T happen all the time is when a hotel employee cleans your son up, washes out his dirty undies and shorts, and returns him to your lunch table half-naked.
Unsure of what to do next, (and still awaiting the chocolate fondue course which was not to be missed), the sweet girl then took his wet items off to the laundry, dried them, and returned 15 minutes later. C re-dressed himself and went about playing with his cars as though none of this had ever happened.
Yes, we tipped the wait staff AND housekeeping well. Seriously... only in Thailand!

Merry Christmas 2011!

We've been blessed with another very merry Christmas!

Santa came, and he was hungry!

 D was delighted that he had the time to answer her questions, and many of his responses were what she had predicted.

     Favorite color: RED

     Favorite food: COOKIES!

 C had a very "Cars 2" Christmas! Happy boy!

 Our family at Christmas mass at Assumption Cathedral. (Thank you C, for adding your own special touch to the moment!)

 Admiring the baby Jesus.

We enjoyed brunch with friends and then spent the afternoon and evening playing with new toys. Lots of fun!
Tonight we'll welcome T's family who will be visiting for the next few weeks. More adventures to come for all of us.
We hope everyone had a spectacular day!

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

The children are nestled all snug in their beds, full of Christmas cheer. Santa is on his way!

Last night we had our friends, the Gros family, over for dinner and fun. Everyone was in the Christmas spirit!

And we had carolers too! That's our Tess on the far right, lucky us!

We began today golf carting around the area handing out bags of oranges and a leaflet with the story of Christ's birth. The church in our community puts this event on every Christmas Eve and the 4 of us were thrilled to be a part of it this year.

Then, smelling like oranges, we went to the show. Arthur Christmas was a great movie! It had awesome, imaginative explanations for the mystery of Santa Claus. But, D explained to me, this was just a movie and these are just "examples" of how it might work. No one really knows how Santa gets it all done.

 We had a nice, quiet Christmas Eve with D and C. Dinner, baths, the annual reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas, and cookies and milk for Santa.

I hope Santa has time to answer all of D's questions. Definately and inquiring mind...

Merry merry Christmas everyone!

Chillin' with the Guys

I came home from the gym this morning and found C in the driveway with the drivers from our neighborhood. He'd pulled up his little lawn chair to their chess game. Not sure if he can understand anything they are saying but perhaps he's picking up some Thai and how to play chess!