Making it Christmas

Notice my wine bottle roller.

When I was packing to move here in July, the last thing that crossed my mind was the holiday season.  I honestly didn't think about the stockings, Fart (Elf on the shelve) and special decorations.  They all got boxed away and put into the Tetras game we call storage.  At this point, even if I had someone go try and find some stuff to mail me, it wouldn't do any good.

I had to let it go an move on.

Thank goodness for  Ikea, friends and Pinterest we have been able to feel the season when we turn Christmas lights on, turn the lights low and blast the air con.

Cutters from Ikea

Amelia's teacher, Miss Anne, gave us her family tree to use.  She was raised here by teacher parents, but they have all moved on to Hong Kong where she would be spending the holidays.  I am not the biggest fan of fake trees, but there is no real ones here, so I knew that is what we were going to get.  The tree she  has lent us is one of the nicest fakes I have seen.

Liam loved playing with the dough.  

 There is also not a lack of holiday decorations to be found in Thailand.  For a country that is Buddhist, the Thais still like their Western traditions and Christmas is one.  The decorations aren't the highest quality (think 70s plastic), but we were able to find lights and the basics.  Thailand also got Ikea last year where we bought the Christmas tree starter package.

This leaves us making our home one of memories and homemade goodness.  Pinterest saved us there.  I decided that I was going to have the kids make dough ornaments.  I researched recipes (I decided on one with cinnamon.  Not only does it smell good, but it keeps ants away,  I HATE ants). and we got started. The kids and I made the dough, cut out the shapes and baked them.  We then took them to a friend's house where we had an ornament making party.   It was a fun evening and now our tree is a little more personalized.

My oven.Yes, I do cook dinner it this every once and a while.  It actually works pretty good. 

All painted and drying.

Now all I need to do is get some stockings made.  That was my plan this weekend, but time got me.  I have fabric that a friend gave me.  I hope to cut the pattern out and take it outside our neighborhood where there is lady with a sewing machine.  I have heard I can get them sewn for around 100 bht, about $3,  They may not be the personalized ones we have from Pottery Barn, but Santa will still be able to fill them.  Hopefully not with coal.

Merry Christmas

Fingerprint snowman

Amelia's ornament she painted.

Popsicle sticks never looked so good.  Amelia HAD to have hers all pink and purple.

Let the season begin!

It is and has been interesting celebrating the start of the holiday season wearing shorts. We live in endless summer, so getting into that holiday spirit is a little harder. Especially living in a country that is not Christian based. However, with everything going against the season, December hasn't started out too bad.

December was kicked off with a visit from Santa. He must have been hot wearing that red suit, but Amelia was super excited. Liam on the other hand probably had the same thoughts flash through his head as the Thais do...what the?

The next day, Amelia and I went to a holiday fair at The Village. The Village is a developmental school for students up to the age of 20 who have moderate to severe disabilities. Most of its students are expects like us. My school hosted a booth that Amelia and I worked at. It was not all work and no play though. We also got to do games and see the big guy once more.

The next couple of weeks are filled with parties and get togethers like they would be back home. The season will be busy, but I know there will be times of missing the colder weather (not so much the rain) and seasonal favorites like eggnog lattes.

Playing at The Village

Painting at The Village

Santa

Loy Krathong

When you live in another country, you learn a lot about culture and customs.  Last night we had a learning experience; Loy Krathong.  My first thought of the festival while walking into it was it is a cross between The 4th, New Years and Christmas.  As got closer to the community club house for the celebration, Amelia described the atmosphere perfectly, "magical". 

Earlier that day, she and her classmates had learned about Loy Krathong and its meaning to the Thais. They watched a video and made krathongs (boats). According to a Thai tourist site  "Different legends surround the origins of Loy Kratong. The most popular version is it was an expression of gratitude to the goddess of water 'Phra Mae Kongka' for having extensively used, and sometimes polluted, the water from the rivers and canals. It is also in part a thanksgiving for her bounty in providing water for the livelihood of the people. "  What Amelia was able to tell we me was you make a wish for your boat and put money in it for good luck.  She wished to be a princess.  I was in.

"Magical"

We spent the evening with friends from the community, music, a magic show and ended it with a firework show (leave it to Thailand to let me experience a firework show SUPER close!!).  I am excited for next year and hope we can make it to Chiang Mai to celebrate.  Anyone looking to visit, November is a good time!

Heading to the festival.

You can buy Loy Krathongs there.

The vendors.

Amelia got SUPER excited when she found an Christmas tree.

Ice cream....it had little pieces of corn in it.

Looking onto the lake.  White lights and candles everywhere.

This was the view around the perimeter of the lake.

Getting ready to add it to the lake.  We lit the candle, incents and made our wish(es)

The boats we so pretty.  I wanted some to decorate my house.

Once Amelia releases hers, she wanted it back.

Looking at the boats in the lake.

Yahoo!!

Snack time....candies peanuts.

Dancing and shows.

A little break.

Amelia's new thing is taking pictures.....

In ah at the magic show.

We were right under these.  It was a little scary how close at times.

Watching the firework show.

Tadpole Swimming

Amelia has been swimming two times a week since September. It has been awesome to watch her develop into a kid who can actually swim. She has so much fun with her friends and her coaches are super.

Last week all the tadpole swimmers (preschool to 1st grade) got to have a swim meet against each other. All the parents were there with our cameras and the kids swam in a variety of different races. The best part of it all was how into cheering the swimmers got into. Amelia came home on a high from the meet (and having her name on a certificate. Her first participation award).

So proud

Next semester, I am thinking we keep it up. Now I just need Liam to join so I can relax around the pool.

18 months

I am VERY behind in this post....about a month.  It has taken me that long to get Liam to the doctor for his appointment and shots.  Saturday, I finally did it. According to the doctor, he is normal.  Not sure what that means.

The kid is growing like a weed and is definitely turning into a boy. Liam loves toy cars, bikes and would live outside if I let him, but his big obsession is BALLS.    His favorite word is Amelia, to match his favorite person.  I can hear him at night calling to her in their room as she reads to him her books.  I love that they LOVE each other so much.  He has two good friends, Riley and Kaimika, who both live in the same neighborhood.  He also loves to hang with the big kids and he thinks that he is their same age.  Liam is a good eater and will try most things: Thai, Indian, Western.  But, his favorite food is cookies.  He is a bruiser and has some scars to show for it.  Wade had to even go out and put together a first-aid kit for him.  He is starting to talk, but we are still unsure on what language. 

There are times he can drive me crazy, but he is the sweetest little boy ever!!

Freshman Class

This post has been held hostage in my camera for months now.  The pictures were taken when we first got here, but I was too lazy to upload them to the computer.  I finally did it....

Moving here has reminded me a lot of when I left home for the first time to attend WSU.  I only took my clothes, I had to "create" a new home and I left my family and friends behind.  The biggest difference was in toe, I had a husband and two children with me. 

The Freshman Class at the King's Palace

I arrived to Thailand the same week as 17 other teachers.  Some of them are single, here by themselves, some of them are teaching couples, with and without children, and some are like me, a teacher with dependents.  Wade was given the name of traveling spouse.  Just like going away to college, we all left the comforts of where we came from before to start a new beginning...the Freshman Class.

The people that I arrived with have turned into my community/family (along with other elementary teachers and our neighbors).  Being far away, they are now the ones we will celebrate with and cry with when needed.  We depend on each other and if I ever need help, I know there is someone (or more) there for me. 

Wade, the kids and I are more busier here then we were at home.  There is something to do almost every night.  Living so close to the school and amongst friends we comment how it is like living back in the Greek system.  It has become a balancing game of not overdoing it.  Due to this time is FLYING by. 

 Making the decision to move abroad was not easy.  There were many tears, but overall it has been worth it...the freshman class has confirmed that we made the right choice.

Me and the traveling spouse.

The school took us out to a dinner show.  This guy was one of the stars.

Thai guard at the palace

The King's Palace.