Chiang Mai

The whole purpose for my sister's and my  trip to Chiang Mai was to relax.  We did that pretty well with shopping, eating and of course lots and lots of massages.  All of it was wonderful. It was so nice to have ReBecca here to share Thailand and to also have another adventure with.  I think she loved Chiang Mai as much as I do!

Starting and ending her visit with a foot massage.  I love these and they only cost about 4.  I normally try to get one at least once a week.  With RJ, it was at least once a day. 

We had to do something that involved culture, so we headed to Doi Sethep.  It is on top of a mountain.  We took a taxi to the main part, then hiked up. 

At the temple.  We had to rent the skirts because our shorts were too short. 

This is the market we learned about during our cooking class.  We went back the rest of the days for smoothies and fruit. 

Our cooking class. 

We spent 4 hours at a spa.  It cost us about $75, which is expensive in Thailand.  The place caters to Western people.  It was heavenly bliss.

Food: Once of our favorite activities.  

ReBecca had heard of the third gender, but didn't realize she was seeing them everywhere.  After the show we went to, she became a pro at spotting them. 

Introducing her to my favorite beer. Leo. 

Our new best friend. 

More food.  My favorite Thai dish. Chiang Mai noodles.  ReBecca loved it as much as I do. 

Thai Cooking Class

I have the week off and my sister has come for a visit.  We are taking advantage of this and have left the kids at home with the husbands and we are going on a sisters trip.  Our first part of the adventure is heading North to Chiang Mai.   If you ever come to Thailand, you need to make it a stop.  It is wonderfully chill.

Chiang Mai reminds me a lot of home in the summer.  The weather is great, it is green with mountains and there are a lot of hippies (backpackers).  The best part to me is the food.

You may think Thai food is Thai food.  But depending on the region, the recipes change.  The foods North are creamier and sweeter (probably why I like them so much).  So during our visit, we had to do a cooking class. My friend Amy, along with her daughter Anna, joined in too.

We attended Baan Thai Cooking School up the street from our guest house.  We spent the day choosing and making five dishes.  ReBecca and I each made different ones so we could share and try more dishes.  The goal now will be to see if we can remake them when we go home.  

Below is my finished work and the recipe.  A lot of the dishes look way harder to make then they actually are.  The hardest part will be finding the ingredients.  However,  most can be substitutes for things found back home.  Also, look at the Asian grocery stores.

Pad Thai

Spring rolls

Coconut chicken soup

Northern style curry noodles (my favorite)

Mangos and stick rice ( Amelia's favorite food)

Token strikes again

I am afraid to post anything about this weekend in fear that people are going to think I am one of those mothers from Toddles and Tiara.  I swear I am not.  Judge me as you will.....

Working her model pose.

About a month ago I got a note in my mailbox at school from one of the mothers at school.  She is a fashion designer in Bangkok and was showing her line at ELLE Fashion Week, Bangkok.  She wanted to know if Amelia would model a dress from her new children's lines she was introducing right before the adult line.  I started laughing as I read it...oh Token.

The designer brand....the children's line is called Tutti Frutti.

After talking with Wade, we decided it was up to her if she wanted to do it.  We looked at fashion shows on YouTube and talked about what it meant to her.  Amelia was ALL about it, so we said yes.   We had fittings, pictures for stylist and of course, the week before, she runs into a tree and gives herself a black eye.  I thought we were done.

The eye.

Nope, the eye heals enough to be concealed by makeup and Saturday morning, Amelia and I wake up early to join all the other models for a day of practices, hair, make-up and the catwalk.  We could have left for lunch and shopping at Asia's biggest mall between events, but Amelia wanted to stay there all day and watch.  I left a couple hours before the show to meet Wade and Liam while she got her makeup and hair done.  She could care less that I was gone.  Amelia was in her prime.

Morning practice. 

She LOVED every minute of it.  She must get that from Wade. The running into trees she gets from me.

She wore a dress I would wear.  One shoulder, off white lace. 

The show.  We didn't get very good pictures of her all dressed up with hair and makeup.  When I left her to meet Wade and Liam. this was the next time I saw her.  

Liam LOVED the event as much as here.  Paparazzi got pictures of him too. 

Waiting to go it, holding up the bar, eating a Popsicle. 

The shows intro.

The "big girl" models. Wade's favorite. That day Amelia learned girls smoked cigarettes.  Before she thought it was only old men, like my dad. 

The press.

The apple does not fall far from the tree.....

Friends

This picture was taken last weekend.  It is some of the neighborhood kids enjoying cake.  Living where we do has been the BEST part of living in Thailand.  We are grateful to have met the people we have met.

Top to bottom: Scott, Anna, Donovan, Max, Gephan, Amelia, Molly and Liam. 

Rainy Season

October is the tail end of rainy season in Bangkok.  It runs from July-Oct, but is it not like the drizzle we get back home.  It is massive downpours with thunder and lightening, that is you get caught in it, you'll get a shower.  Within seconds the skies turn dark, the wind picks up and you are soaked to the bone.  I have been caught a couple times (once while driving the bike, which was NOT fun at all).

Then, when the storm has passed, the sky turns blue and everything dries out and we can play in the street once again.

Last week, the kids were having a water-gun fight when a storm hit.  They were already wet, so why come in?

But....The first boom of thunder sent them scurrying towards homes. Liam was the only smart one who came running to cover with the first drop.

Week in Pictures

Nothing too exciting has been going on with us.  Just the daily adventures and being hit with a stomach bug sums up our last couple of weeks.  I have been LOVING Instagram, as you can tell with the pictures I added.  I have said it before, I will let the pictures tell the stories....

We hit up the local market to get some fruit and DVD's to send home.  My sister comes in two weeks.  I am PUMPED!

Our first stop at the market is the smoothie stand.  It gets VERY hot in there, so it makes the walking of stalls a little more manageable for little feet. 

Amelia ran into a tree while at school.  Under those bandages are some good looking scratches.   

A stomach "thing" hit us small (Liam) -medium (Amelia) -large (Karli).  XL (Wade) was able to escape it.  NO fun for any of us.  We lived near the trash can and off of liquid meals consisting of 7 up and Coke.

The countdown to Halloween has already started.  Goma thinks we are crazy decorating the house with webs, bugs and scary stuff. 

Growing up

This week I sat and look at Amelia and Liam in "ah" with how fast they are going up.  I sat there trying to take the moment in and make a memory of this time.  

All of a sudden, Amelia has become a little lady and Liam a rough, sweet boy (super boy in his words).   There personality and individualism is starting to shine through.

Amelia is my little buddy with helping me in the kitchen and taking care of her brother.

Liam is talking up a storm and often questions what I say with why?   He is a lover too giving me BIG hugs and saying "I love you sooo much."

But of course, they wouldn't be siblings if they did know how to push each other's buttons. 

Amelia had her first dinner party last week.  She invited her teacher (and my friend), Ms. Darcy, and her husband over.  Before they came I was told I cannot talk to her and only she could.  I explained that is not a good sign of a good party.  You want all your quest to mingle!!   She was so excited that she was on countdown to their arrival and waited outside for them.

For the dinner party, Amelia designed the menu.  We got fried chicken and corn and made macaroni and cheese, brownies and salad.  We talked about how you always make sure your guest glasses are full and she states "but I can't touch the wine!"

I had brought this outfit from the States, but forgot about it.  I remembered this week.  Liam LOVES it.  

He even has to wear it to sleep.