Thailand - 3rd times a charm

                                                            Brothers, Feb 2016

We do love Thailand.   We particularly like Pranburi, Som Roi Yat. To prove this fact we have been there 3 times in 12 months.  All that thanks to getting new visas and a meeting.  It has become so much like another home we didn't even take pictures on the beach this go.  Also, we love this stretch of beach, also known as Dolphin Bay, so much that we decided in January that our vitamin D deficient bodies needed Pranburi sunshine, and when our favorite and affordable housing option wasn't available we went out on a limb and stayed in an unknown Condo for half our stay.  It was grand.

                                                                    Lola, August 2016

After some doctor visits and a trip to Fed Ex we headed south.  We stocked up on some snacks and sandwich makings, chocolate milk and cereal at Tesco Lotus ( I always say this store's name in my best Thai accent).  The Condo was better than expected.  The seas were rough when we arrived so we were more than delighted to discover the amazing pool, tiled in blues and greens with an infinity type flow-over all around.  To top it off it was salt water!  We basically had it all to ourselves, with the exception of a few neighbors, we ruled the lot.
                                                                             

We biked to dinner a few times and hitched a ride down to Juniper Tree to see friends, but mostly we enjoyed it being just us.  It was good to swim with my kids and play silly games with no other responsibilities.

Pete celebrated his 6th birthday while we were there.  We had a party which was mostly a flop, except that all the kids had fun because they were in the pool.  And we ended with water balloon play which is always a win.

                                                                  Peter's Birthday Feb 2017

The second half of our vacation was spent at Juniper Tree.  We met a lot of nice folks and enjoyed not cooking and not washing clothes, because that is included at Juniper Tree.  The beach is also a plus and Noah is the child most likely to become a beach bum.  He wanted to be at the beach morning and afternoon.  We collected hermit crabs and shells and built sand castles and dug holes.  The kids all made new friends and played tirelessly in the pool and on the grounds.  I caught myself laughing and smiling more... which is good.

                                                                    Grace -  Feb 2016

Other things we love include getting coconut and lime smoothies, riding bikes up and down the beach road, renting the moto with a side car and going for a Sunday afternoon drive, and of course the clear sunny skies.

                                                        On a boat with friends, Aug 2016

Growing up I dreamed of going to Thailand one day.   I never dreamed that I'd give birth to two children in two different cities there.  I never dreamed I'd go there multiple times a year to visit a doctor, attend meetings or just vacation with the fam.  Thailand is my new Florida (I grew up in GA).  I love it.

Lola's perfect 7!

September 9, 2008 was a wonderful day.  We welcomed Lola Mei into our family that day  and from the very first moments we could all sense that she was going to be a sweet one!  Lola has always been cheerful, helpful, caring and obedient.  I tell her she is my sunshine and she really can brighten a dismal kind of day.

Being in a brand new city made this a birthday unlike birthdays in the past.  A party was in order and we'd be having lots of party guests that have party games, cake and ice cream culture.  Lola and I planned and then I planned some more.  The dog party was happening.

                                        

I remember last year Lola only wanted Lydia to come to her party.  She relented and we invited Tian Tian, her Chinese brother.  Her other guests of choice were Tracy and Huan Huan, both her Aunties. She is so friendly but prefers a few good friends to a crowd.  This year however she got the crowd.
                       
The party started out with a dog show.  The kids all ran the course and were delighted as they watched each other perform.  Crawling, jumping through hoops and rolling over had never been so fun.  Once the dog show was finished we played shake the cup.  Or something like that.  Two cups were hot glued to the ends of a large popsicle stick and filled with macaroni.  The kids paired up to duel and shook their cups by only gripping the stick with their teeth.  Macaroni flew.

The best part of the party was the doggie adoption.   The party guests lined up to choose a dog, name it and fill out their adoption certificate.  Once their dog had a name they made doggie collars with name tags.  It was super fun.  The cake cutting didn't go as well as I'd liked - the birthday girl was overwhelmed with the excitement and people and was already cowering when Grace and a couple of her friends decided to sing a special birthday song... something along the lines of "you're 3 and you still want your Mo-mmy".  This sent the birthday girl crying into the bathroom because she thought she was being teased.  Of course the big girls had no idea that their clever song had misplaced harmony.   Who hasn't sung "you look like a monkey and you smell like one too."  It was all in fun.

All in all it was the best party we've ever had.  Well planned, well executed.  Lola had a great time although she did get a little overwhelmed toward the end.  We definitely feel blessed to have so many great little girls and boys in our community.  I know Lola will have a memorable seventh year among these fun friends.
                             

                                              Posing with their newly adopted pups!

                             

I'm back... almost

It's been almost 2 years since I last blogged.   I've been in the Mommy fog which was intense at 40 and 41 and uh-hum 42... but I weaned Noah finally this past October, yes he was 2 and something, but he's the baby.  Anyway, its the 6 month and like clockwork I'm feeling myself again.  Its nice to be back.  I guess I just love nursing more than sanity... does that make me insane?  Maybe for the better portion of 10 years, but I think we can safely say I won't be nursing any more babies.  That makes me both sad and excited.  I know I am now ready to do the next thing God has for me... of course weaning the baby doesn't mean my top job of Mom is finished, but I think I can probably begin multi-tasking again which includes blogging and checking email.

I have no idea how many friends I've lost over the past 10 years of my fog.  If you are one of them, I'm sorry for my inability to check email and keep in touch.  My home becomes my world when there is a baby in it... and that is where I have been - in my bubble.

So, Grace is now 11, Lola is 8 and a half, Peter is 6 and Noah is 2 and a half.  Noah starts preschool today.  I'm sure there will be a story there.

Blessings y'all.  God is good and I hope to shout that from the mountaintops!