Easter Mission

I start to feel a little homesick when a holiday is approaching.  I find myself longing for things. They are things that if I were home, I most likely wouldn't care about them.  The closer it gets to the holiday, a mission to find them becomes stronger and I become obsessed.

Easter brings the mission to find jelly beans, Cadbury Mini Eggs and Peanut Butter Cups shaped like an egg.
I set out on my quest Wednesday night to Fashion Island (mall).  The place is large and each time I go I get overwhelmed. I never find what I am looking for and come home annoyed because it seems that everything I do here is such a process.  This mission, I decided to head out alone so little feet won't me hold me back.  I had a short time limit to look for my goods and I was starting to know the lay of the land. I went with high hopes.

After a couple hours, I had found Jelly Bellies, settled for normal Peanut Butter Cups, and decided that the Cadbury Mini Eggs were a battle I was not going to win.

While I sat in the back of my taxi with my treasures, which included plastic eggs, I ate my normal Peanut Butter Cup.  The sugary taste reminded me why I don’t cave and eat them when I am home (don’t get me wrong they are awesome).  I realized that the deprivation from living so far away from my norms can make me a little crazy.  I also realized that even though this won’t be my “normal” Easter, the kids don’t really care and the Easter bunny will still make a visit to Thailand.  We also have a community who make the best of what we got and wonderful memories are still made.

One egg hunt down, another to go, we will have Easter baskets and church Sunday and our little family brunch will make this Easter not the same, but still great.

RIS School Egg Hunt:.

I made Liam his basket with one of the classes I serve. 

The egg hunt was sponsored by RIS Seniors.  Liam got to join Amelia's class and he LOVED it.  You would have thought it was his class.

The prizes for finding eggs.

They are so cute.

Looking for eggs

Found one

Just call her "Token"

In a prior post I talked about Thai nicknames.  After some thought, Amelia has now come to the nickname of "Token". This is because she has become the token staff kid they use for RIS publications.  The main reason being she knows how to play to the camera.  She loves getting her picture taken and showing her little moves. 

Yesterday, Token made it into the Bangkok Post.  It'll be interesting to see what comes next.

Dr Suess Week

Next week the school celebrates the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss.  To kick it off the school released a promotional video.

That Cindy Lou Who sure is a cute one.

Time flies....

...when you are having fun.  February came and went faster than a blink of my eye.  I contribute that to having my mom, Aunt Kathy and Robin here for most of it.  It meant so much to all of us to have our loved ones from home to share our experience with.

When we moved abroad we had to come to grips that is was our choice and that meant not seeing people we love for about 10 months.  I hope for visitors, but know it is not an easy trip due to travel time and money.  I advertise constantly to try to get people to make it (because I want to share this adventure), but I know it is not always possible.  It had been 6 months since Wade and I had seen family.  This is the longest for both of us.  Deprivation made the month of February even more special and one we will hold in our hearts forever. 

Even with the heat, my mom, Kathy and Robin made the most of their trip.  My mom took Wade, me and the kids North to Chiang Mai, they went South to Phuket and all us ladies concurred the city of Bangkok in a weekend.  We had so much fun and many adventures.   My mom also got to spend 1:2 time with the kids while Wade and I spent a weekend in Jakarta (I was there for work).

I LOVED having my mom here and can't wait to get her back with my sister and brother in the upcoming year or so!  For anyone interested in a trip to Thailand, I now have it all organized :).  You just need to get on the plane.

Hill Tribe Village up North

Elephant Camp

Downtown Dinner Cruise and Show

Tiger Kingdom

Big Tigers

Great Food

Baby Tigers

Elephant Rides

Ox Cart Rides

Blue Elephant Cooking School

Pre-School Games Day

4 years of wonderful

It is hard to believe that Amelia turned 4 years old this past week.  She has turned into such a funny, observant (smart), loving little person who makes me proud to call her mine.  We were so lucky to have my mom here in Thailand (more on that to come) to help with her party and celebration.  That night we sat and decompressed and she said it was a very American birthday and you would have never guessed we were in Bangkok.  It was bitter sweet not having all our family or friends there from back home, but the house was filled with new friends and laughter.

4 going on 14 here!

Having an "American" party was not an easy task.  Amelia requested a Princess Tea Party with a princess cake.  It sounded easy, but with everything being a production to do here, it took time and some creativity.  I aimed for an easy bash, but it got a little more complicated then planned.  Amelia seemed to love it. 

My birthday princess

We had about 17 little kids and their parents at the party.  It was loud and crazy.  Here are a couple princess friends and the most expensive cake I have ever made.  The Betty Crocker mix cost me over $5 because it is a USA import.

 

Being in Thailand you take your shoes off before you go inside.  Our pile of shoes.

Leave it to the kids to have the most fun just playing on a golf cart.

Art class

The art teacher at RIS had a Valentine's art class for staff children after school one day this past week. Liam was able to join and was so excited to wear an art smock and be one of the big kids.

Each kid was given a hunk of clay and were able to use it however their imaginations guided them. Liam made one piece, while Amelia got really creative.