Just another day in paradise (also a country song reference)

Day 37:

When daddy's away, mommy and babies will play!  While Doug was in meeting with the local Thai pastors, I was home with our lovies. I love being at home with my babies and watching them grow.  This morning our breakfast included green grapes...both my kids are fans.

Mmmm...grapes!

Apparently the grape halves I was giving her just weren't cutting it.  She climbed on to the table so she could have access to the whole bunch.

Then we got showered and dressed to head to school. School takes place in our fabulous school room.  Today we had an hour and a half of school and Kees filled that whole time playing with the play dough we made last week.  He was whispering stuff to himself and playing some type of pretend. About halfway through he added cars to the mix.  Kora does nothing for an hour and a half, except sleep and sometimes not even that.  She looked at books and followed me around while I did laundry.  I sat down and read to her for quite a while too, she loves reading.  She's pretty demanding though, and she knows what she likes.  If she has a book she likes, she wants to read it over and over again and won't let me read a new one.  She'll just keep handing me the favorite and grunting, "uhh, uhh".  She wins...most of the time. :)

My kids love showering, I'm thankful for that.

He's such a little worker bee.

Books!

The kids played outside while I made lunch. While we were eating, well Kees was still eating, Kora and I were already done, Pi Tone came over to play with us.  He kept hiding a coin from Kees.  Kees told him that he was being sneaky.  Pi Tone speaks English very well, but sneaky was a new vocabulary word today, so I got to explain that one.

Kora giggled so much with Pi Tone, she loves him.

This giraffe sings and dances. Kora dances with him.

Pi Tone being sneaky!

Picking up paper clips.  This activity requires CLOSE supervision.  She's slowed down on putting them in her mouth, but it took some coaxing the first few times.  She put them in her cup, then pulls them out and repeats.  It's great for fine motor skills...see mom, I use my degree EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!

The wooden slats in our floor come up and reveal concrete beneath. It's the perfect place to hide the sorted paper clips.  Kees insisted on grouping them by color and my teacher heart skipped a beat. :)

Later this evening Pi Jam came over to play with Kees and then Pa Noi played with Kora.  I'm so thankful our neighbors make the effort to come see us.  I invited both boys to Kees's birthday party this Friday.  He has been watching the show "Peppa Pig" and instead of car cakes, this year, he wants an orange dinosaur cake because the little pig, George on the show has one (but his is green).  So tomorrow, I'll be shopping for Kees's birthday and planning snacks for our small group.  We're hosting this week. Then, Thursday it'll be time to make our cake extravaganza! Hope my kitchen aid comes in handy for this project...like kneading the fondant. ;)

Kora is almost as big as Pa Noi!

Sometimes I realize too late that my food is looking back at me

Day 36:

After Doug's evaluation last week and then a trip out of town, I was hoping to catch up on some stuff today. As usual, I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have liked, we ended up having to run a few errands.

Found this little guy in the office today.  I hate the baby ones, they are brave and are always on the floor. I'm so scared I will step on one at night and smoosh it.  They also like to crawl on the ceiling and I sure don't want one falling in my hair!

Trying on glasses in Doug's office

Kora liked this for about 3 seconds.

Somebody needs a haircut!  I had a lady at the market in Tha Wang Pha tell me that Kees needed a haircut about 3 times.

First we went to Big C (our Walmart type store) to get pictures taken of Kora for some paperwork.  We also had lunch and looked for shoes for Kees and Doug.  Somehow neither one of them found anything, but I found at least 3 pairs I liked for Kora and myself.  Boy clothes and shoes aren't nearly as fun.

Top left is chicken, top right is pork and the bottom is papaya salad.

This thing was in the papaya salad, it had a friend.

This girl was so stinkin' cute!  She kissed Kora 3 times, but I never got a good picture of it.

After Big C we had to head to the foundation office to sign and fax our tax paperwork (don't stress y'all ours aren't due until July cause we are overseas). We also dropped off the pictures of Kora.
The kids played in the little play area. Well Kees played in the play area. Kora ran all around the place because her energy cannot be contained. She is one happy girl.  Love both those babies!

Kees served me some fabulous food.

Her energy cannot be contained in this photo either.

Goodnight sweetheart!

Day 35:

Today at church was too much for this momma. It's hot, and Kora requires more energy and hands than I have. I took a map with her this afternoon, but I'm still exhausted. I have a lot of stuff to catch up on, hopefully tomorrow will be very productive.

When Cheetos burn

Day 34:

Today has been great.  Spent time with Jo and Emma, our co-workers daughters who are "in town" for a high school dance.  Last night we did pedicures and today we started watching Middlemarch.  It was fun hanging out.  While they were at the dance, I taught my English class. Today we learned about the days of the week.

My friend, Amanda, gave us mangosteen from the trees in her yard.  Doug shared them while I was teaching.

Kees was insistent on "teaching" me while Doug was teaching the adults.

The kids turned a movie on, Kees wanted to know why it was in Thai.  I said, "Because they speak Thai." Then he said, "But you just taught them English."  Hmmm....

Dinner afterwards was Moo Gra Teeum (Garlic pork) and soup with some type of squash.

After class, we ate dinner at the church and then came home.

We stopped at 7-11 on the way home, I saw these new kind of cheetos, but didn't buy any.  Looks like the ones on the left are jalapeno flavored, not sure about the ones on the right. ( I did buy some later this evening though, and they didn't taste that spicy, but they did burn my lips and skin...weird)

Pi Tone and Pa Eiw stopped by to see and us and it was so good to spend time with them for a little while.

Kees read them a book.  It's a simple book, but he read it so well with emphasis and everything...have I mentioned he's getting too big.  He'll be 4 on Friday!

I drove back to pick up the girls and finally got home around 12:30.  I'm pretty spent, but I need to post my pics from today before I get anymore behind!

Forgot to mention, I got stopped at a police checkpoint.  Let me tell you, know matter what country you live in, if it's not your home country, it's scary to see a police checkpoint, especially at 11:45 at night.  I got that panic stricken feeling and started scrambling the phrases I know, so I'd be able to say, "My husband speaks better Thai, I can get him on the phone."  I guess the police officer didn't want to speak to me either because he just waved me on. Very thankful to be the idiot foreigner in this case.

While I was waiting on the girls, I took a picture of the spirit house in front of the hotel.  We've heard that if you see a red Fanta soda, it means there is a child ghost that needs to be appeased, so you leave a "kid" drink.  So I guess there's a kid ghost at this hotel.

Home, home on the range..

Day 33...I think.

Made it back to Chiang Mai. Hosting friends, we brought 3 teenage girls back with us, 2 are stating with us so they can go to a school dance. I've been having a blast chatting with them. They are amazing young women, who have amazing parents. Thankful to see kids who are thoughtful, helpful, respectful, and fun, fun, fun!!!!

Hopefully tomorrow I can post the pictures from the trip. Happy Friday everyone!

Ant in my pants!

Day 32:

Today was filled with fun and a lot of crying, but I was the only one crying...hmm...if you know me..at all...this sounds familiar.  Anyway, it was mostly good cries.  I had the distinct privilege of staying up super late with my sister Amanda.  The first time I ever met her, I felt like we were bosom buddies. To clarify, I *think* bosom buddies is a reference from Anne of Green Gables, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I knew we were cut from the same cloth so to speak.  We finally got to have a nice long chat tonight, and it was so nice!  Living overseas sometimes gets lonely and there are few people in the world that could understand me to begin with, but being able to understand me and the realities I face, and help me make sense of it, that's extra special!  So tonight I am thankful for all the friends God has placed in my life.  Even though some are only here (in Thailand) for a short time, and some live far away, and some live nearby, but our paths don't cross nearly enough, some are young and some are old. But as I sit here and think of all the wonderful people God has provided to bless me at just the right time and place, I am truly thankful for goodness, and even reminded that he wants to have a relationship with me, and I ALWAYS have access to Him. 

And if you are reading this, I know you've been a friend and support to me, so I want to thank YOU, for taking time out of your day to check on me, it means so very much!

Some day, we hope to live in a village, similar to where we are visiting.  A few drawbacks to living far away, no easy access to cheese and more critters. Like this lizard that was biting this cat's paw.  Doug got this picture, then caught the lizard on a ping pong paddle and brought it dangerously close to me...like 12 feet away, but you never know when those things might have the ability to fly!

P.S. I don't have ants in my pants, but there were ants all over my bed earlier and now they are all over my laptop...oh village life.

Plus Also (that's a Junie B reference), it's 1:45 am here, and we leave at 5:30 in the morning to head back to Chiang Mai.  So tomorrow night, I'll get pictures up...hopefully.  Love to all of you!

In Tha Wang Pha

Day 31:

We made it to Nan! We left early this morning, around 5:45, and got here around 11:30.   We saw a beautiful sunrise on the way here and various other fun things.  Once we arrived, we stopped in town at a nice little lunch spot, then followed Amanda back to her place.  We got to see Baby Burt, Theodore, this afternoon and he is so precious.

I have lots of fun pictures, but not enough internet signal to load them.  So stay tuned for more pictures and fun stories when we get back to Chiang Mai Friday.

LOVE!

Sweet Freedom!

Day 30:

The last day of Doug's evaluation is in the books! He's made progress and he's on track.  Thank you LORD! My evaluation is coming up in June, but for now, we are feeling free and pretty worn out!

While Doug did more work in the office, the kids and I "worked" in the school room. We painted, built with blocks and read books.  Kora is hilarious.  She loves books so much and acts like me reading to her is the best thing that's ever happened to her!  Love spending time with my babies.

I brought out sponge rollers for Kora, but she was much more interested in the brushes.

He's always so good at concentrating.

I had to keep reminding her not to eat the paint.

Our paint was homemade and it had been sitting in the bottles for a while, it was separated and not that awesome.  I guess we'll have to make it in smaller batches from now on.

Kora snuggling a stuffed doggy.

Kees wanted to snuggle too.

Is it me, or does Kora look way too big here?

We ate lunch, then Kees was helping me clean the kitchen so we could make playdough.  Doug was expecting our language consultant, Janna, and our Thai pastor to come at 1:30.  Doug was still setting up and I was attempting to make blue playdough when our pastor and his 2 girls showed up.  I had planned to take my kids out to the park or an indoor play place while Doug was doing his evaluation stuff, but with two more kiddos, we just played in the front yard. 

We had Ka Moo for lunch, it's sort of like pork roast, really tender meat, served over rice. Doug actually got mine with noodles, also delicious! Kora loves to eat!

Watchin the big girls.

She tried to eat this doll's face.

Kees can pour water now, he is getting too big, someone tell me how to make it stop!

Workin' hard!  I was so ready to get Doug back!

When I was at Makro, Kees had me buy green grapes, Kora loves them!  I bite them into tiny pieces for her, she still tries to get her hands on the whole bunch and shovel them in, we have to really watch her!

And to celebrate Doug being finished with his evaluation, per his request, I went out and bought him ice cream.  He was not in the mood to go out and celebrate, so he stayed home and I brought it all back home.  We had chicken nachos, Doug had a root beer float, and we had fresh brownies with ice cream for dessert!  Now we are winding down and "trying" to go to bed early because we are going out of town to visit our friends early in the morning.  Hopefully I'll still be able to blog from there, but it just depends on the internet connection.  Maybe less photos, that always seems to be the hiccup.

Chicken nachos and a root beer float!

Kora enjoyed the sour cream, made me miss Gramee.

Just call me the cheese fairy!

Day 29:

Doug's evaluation started today, so he was gone till around 3.  The kids and I kept busy in the morning by playing under our carport. It rained, no sprinkled for about 5 minutes, but it was so nice out!  It was cool with a little breeze, so nice!  Jam came by and played a little while, but when I came in to put Kora down for her nap, Kees followed me and Jam went home.  I was so sad!  I was hoping he'd play longer.

Kora eating breakfast

She's lookin too big!

Kees loves this baby walker

Jam pushed the kids in the stroller

Kora napped, I did laundry and dishes, made lunch, and firmed up plans for our upcoming road trip to visit baby Burt!  This will be our first time to drive anywhere outside the city, besides Doug's day trip that was about 2 hours away.  Hopefully this time we'll all be going! ;)  Since we are traveling to visit our friends, I got the distinct privilege and honor to pick up a few things for them "in town"...here in Chiang Mai.  It involved buying a lot of cheese!  I love shopping and it's nice to know I will be adding cheese to their lives, the most important food group is cheese.

Since Doug had the truck, I waited to go shopping till he got home and took both kids with me since he still has voice recordings to get ready for the second part of his evaluation tomorrow.  It's 9 pm, and he's still at it!  I keep asking him if he's done yet, but no such luck.  I'm glad we are taking a little trip after this evaluation cause Doug's been so busy prepping for it and we've missed him!

When Doug came home, he had a late birthday present for Kora to open, it was a really cute dress.

Alicia went shopping with us and it was such a huge blessing and help.  I know I can do it on my own, but it's much less enjoyable, Kora was insisting on being held at the first store we shopped at, so it was nice Alicia could push the cart, she also saved a jar of jelly that almost met an untimely end due to Miss Thang's curiosity.  It would have made a funny story for you all, but I'm happy to have one day without any major messes or mishaps.  (Speaking of which, I never blogged the night I took both kids to the night bazaar by myself and Kora dumped an iced cocoa on my head...)

At Makro, sort of like Sam's Club, or Costco, they have a new display of school uniforms, school starts back up next month.

Seafood anyone?

Fresh fish

Spices, beans, lentils, etc.

Curry pastes and other sauces to take home.

Now we're home, Daddy (Doug) is still working and the kids and I are "quietly" watching movies so we don't interrupt his recordings.  Hope you all are having a lovely Monday!

At church yesterday I heard a great song, it was weird that there was English music, but anyway, it was a Chris Tomlin song, you can watch a video of it here.  It's the song "Enough", I love how God chooses to encourage us at just the right time.  The previous night, I had been talking to Doug and saying, "Wouldn't it be nice to live in a house with central heat and air, and be able to go to the store and just buy "normal" things, and just have a regular job and not have to worry about so many things."  I wasn't complaining per se, just wondering about how the other half lives, and missing some of the things that used to be "normal" that are luxuries now, like a bathub, for instance.  Doug didn't agree with me...he almost never does.  And it wasn't that HUGE of a conversation, just me thinking out loud.  Then, the very next day, the first song that played in English at church (while we were eating) was this one!  Like God was asking me, "Am I enough?"  God has taught me time and time again, that he IS more than enough.  Glad he is gracious and willing to continue to gently remind me of his goodness and faithfulness.  And I promise you, if you take an honest look, he is more than enough...in every single situation.  So thankful for our awesome God!

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

 More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me