Halloween

I think Halloween is Amelia's favorite holiday.  She loves to dress up and eat candy, so being that is what Halloween is all about, it makes sense.  Also, she told me about 10 times that day and is already on countdown until next year.

A zookeeper and a peacock. 

Like last year, we partied it up at school and in the hood.  Liam got to join Amelia's class for a parade and trick-or-treating and cried when he had to go home for a nap.  Earlier that day the daycare crew had a small celebration of their own.

Later that night our neighborhood hosted a Halloween carnival and trick-or-treating.  We had record numbers show up, with probably about 100 kids plus their parents.  It as a lot of fun, but I spent most of my time painting faces.

You also know that Halloween was a success when you realize that is it time for bed and all you and the kids have had to eat is Krispy Kremes and candy.  One ham sandwich later, we all hit the beds wiped out.

Until next year.....

Getting ready for the parade

Trick-or-treating at school

Who knew the zookeeper was REALLY Spiderman underneath!!!

She shook her tail feathers ALL day.  She love the tutu a mother at school made her.  

Liam was Spiderman last year too.  Tradition. 

Daycare crew.

Best buddies.  Liam and Riley

My face painting station

Ms. Darcy and Amelia at school.  Lizzy photo-bombing in the background.

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.