Another Fantastic City

We returned home today from our trip to Hong Kong. We are tired but we are happy! I'll blog briefly to say that we had a marvelous time and I'll post a photo album on Facebook. I've gotten some feedback that my video slideshows are not working properly for all viewers.

Anyway, we loved Hong Kong. Our friends Sara and Paul, and their gorgeous daughers, were wonderful tour guides and company and we hope to host them here in Bangkok soon!

 We only had 3 days but I think we saw the best of HK, including Stanley Market, Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay,Victoria Peak and Victoria Harbor, the downtown area, sunset dinner at Cafe Deco, The Ngong Ping 360 experience, the giant buddha, Starferry and Harbor laser show, the bat wing junk, and last but definitely not least, Disneyland Hong Kong. I would surely go back to do parks and museums. We'll see if we can make another stop someday!

T is the Birthday Boy!

We all enjoyed celebrating T's birthday this evening. Dinner of his choice, ice cream cake, and the gift at the top of his wish list...

 All smiles while enjoying that cake!

 C, mastering the knife.

 Make sure you download some games for us dad!

We Ran to Rebuild!

With all the devastating flooding here in Thailand, our PTA organized a charity run for this afternoon. The kids and I ran to rebuild!

The kids loved running with their buddy Reid. All 3 were so fired up to do this!

Their age group was asked to run just 100 meters, but our little over-achievers were determined to do a full 400. So proud of them!

Mommy runs!

 D was very proud of my 3rd place trophy. Here she is, celebrating.

Prayers for Thailand please! The worse may be yet to come.

Can He Really be 4??

We've just wrapped up a fun birthday week for C. Our big 4-year-old. We kicked off the celebrations with Mickey Mouse cupcakes and a little party at school on Monday. Then dinner of his choice and ice cream cake on Monday night. He opened his gifts from family and loved all his new, fun things. Proud of him too, that in the days following, as we made space in the playroom for his new things, he was so willing to pass some old toys along to kids who could use them. Such a big boy, excited about new things, and happy to share with other kids too.
Finally, a really fun party on Saturday with some of his best friends at Funarium. We had a silly monster theme. It was a great week celebrating our big boy!

                                      

Dishy Washy- C Sings While He Works

C has recently taken to doing the dishes after dinner. We make a nice dish-washing duo. He does the vocals.

A Movie & Popcorn

D recently completed some extra reading that I had invited her to do. She knew the reward was an afternoon with friends, watching a movie and sharing popcorn. Today was an early dismissal from ISB so it turned out to be the perfect day to have a few friends over for a fun afternoon.

Sweet little note and gift from Talha.

And, of course, since Jeah joined the fun too, there was some rabbit match-making.

Might have to do this each time there is an early dismissal. Great kids and a nice, relaxing way to get them together.

"Madame Neu-aay"

Today was an awesome day. It was a day that makes me so thankful that I live here and have the good health, time, and resources to do good things. Last week, a friend sent out an email invitation to volunteer with disabled children from a nearby orphange. The email came just moments after I stated just how crazy busy the upcoming week was going to be. But my Tuesday daytime was free...
And so I was on the list to join a wonderful group of ladies and children on an adventure. With 10 of us willing to volunteer our time and energy, we escorted 11 children to the Chatuchak Train Park today.

Such a beautiful place. I was pleasantly surprised by the bicycle rental beside the park. The bikes were in great shape, (Nice switch from the bikes of our Vietnam adventure, though you know I loved that too). We rented 19 bikes for 300 Baht ($9.86 USD). Amazing.

I was partnered up with a young lady named Yoy. She is verbal but spoke no English. I was glad I could speak enough Thai that we had a pleasant conversation on the car ride to the park. She and Khun Bub spoke quite a bit and she took to calling me "Madame" because that's what he calls me. 

Yoy walks with a cane and can't pedal a bicycle so we were sure to find a bike with seats for 2. After a few wobbles and frightened squeals (from both of us), I was ready to pedal us around that park. Yoy was ready to hold on for dear life.

Yoy enjoyed the ride so much she didn't want to stop for the playground, or to eat. But we did need a rest so we sat down with the rest of the group at lunchtime and took a break. Then, more cycling and finally a stop at the Butterfly garden.

I have to give a big hand to our driver, Khun Bub, today. One of the ladies on the list to volunteer was unable to come, which means one of the children all suited up and ready would have to be left behind at the orphanage. No one liked that idea as these children rarely get to take trips out anyway, if ever. So, I abruptly volunteered Khun Bub to ride a bike alongside one of the children. He went along with the plan, smiling the whole time, but did inform me it has probably been 15 years since he's ridden a bike for such a duration. Definately not how he planned to spend his day but he was  great sport...and was probably asleep in bed by 7pm.

He and I were both asking Yoy if she was tired on the drive home. She shook her head, "Mai Neu-aay." (Not tired.) "Madam neu-aay!" followed by lots of giggling. She was asleep 5 minutes later.