Thanksgiving

We hadn't planned on going home this year for a visit.  But Ben's brother called us a few weeks before Thanksgiving and offered to fly us out to a big gathering at his place.   We very gratefully accepted the offer.

 So....Instead of cooking Thanksgiving dinner in the glorified sauna/closet that is our kitchen,

we got to spend it in this kitchen, which is literally the size of our whole apartment.  :)

 The best part was that we got to be with 40 other members of Ben's family, some of which we haven't seen since before we moved here.  It was wonderful to see everyone.

It's never dull when Ben's family gathers.  This was a pressurized canon that catapulted things into the air. 

Samara loved the cooler weather and being able to play outside for hours without sweating.  It was everything we could do to get her come inside.

Grandma and Grandpa  

Lizzie loved all the attention she got from her sweet cousins.

Aunt Shanna hosted a PP party.  Pajamas, treats that start with a P, and fun games.  I believe the other "P" stood for princess but that changed when the boys wanted to join.  When it was Samara's turn to be Simon, I overheard her from the other room, "Spank your booty.  Spank your booty."  Oh dear.  What happened to jump up and down, pat your head, etc.?

 Then there was duck, duck, goose.  She chose her goose and

then she was off.

The game has lost much of its appeal here at home.  But we're still keeping it real. :)

Our girls are so LUCKY to have so many wonderful cousins.  We loved seeing everyone and are very grateful we got to visit the states.

P.S. This trip was a great way to relive the newborn phase or at least the sleep part of it.  I was only semi-coherent this week...ok I've been in this state for a while now.

Merry Christmas

Mara Lou sure loves 

sweet baby Lizzie.   

And I think the feeling is mutual.  

Lizzie lights up whenever her big sister is around.

I hope you are surrounded by people you love and adore this Christmas!

Santa

 Letter in hand,

we set out to visit Mr. Claus last Saturday.  The verdict according to Lizzie:  Whatever... just another strange person holding me.   According to Samara: He's fine but the candy cane made the visit!

My verdict:  These two are scrumptious.

Happy Winter Everyone!!

Four Months Old

We sure love little Lizzie.  She is a sweetheart.  We can't believe she is four months old.  We are so glad she is part of our family.

Can you tell which side Ben was standing on?

Cambodia: Ta Keo, Banteay Srei, and Kbal Spean

Ta Keo

There are lots of temples to blog about, lots of info to record...mostly for our own records and book.  Ta Keo was built as a state temple by Jayavarman V in 968 A.D. and was dedicated in 1000 A.D.  it has five sanctuary towers arranged in a quincunx, built on the uppermost level of five-tier pyramid consisting of overlapping terraces (a step pyramid), surrounded by moat, as a symbolic depiction of Mount Meru.   Ta Keo was never completed because it was struck by lighting and considered unlucky.  We didn't go in and climb it, but you can.  

Banteay Srei

Temples were built by/for kings and teachers of kings.  If the latter, the temple was built at ground level, i.e. no big staircase.  This one was built at the same time as Ta Keo by Jayavarman V's priest and mentor, Yajnavaraha.  Banteay Srei means "citadel of the woman or citadel of beauty."

This was our "unlucky temple".  We arrived the same time as two bus loads full of tourists who thought our kids were more picture worthy than the ruins!  This temple is built of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to intricate carvings.  It is nicknamed the "pink temple".

We traveled with three other families.  This was a fun clipboard with treasure hunts and games courtesy of Miss Jessie.  Mara loved it.

 Hiding from the tourists.  We really don't worry about this little miss being kidnapped.  Her scream is very piercing and she has NO problem letting strangers hear it if they pick her up, squeeze her cheeks, look at her the wrong way....

Kbal Speen

Kbal Speen is an Angkorian era site on the southwest slopes of Kulen Hills.  It is commonly known as the valley of a 1,000 Lingas.  There are stone carving in and around the Stung Kbal Speen River.

The hike went a little like this.  Baby falls asleep in the car seat 10 minutes before we arrive.  

Ben: "I'll stay with her.  I'm sure she'll sleep for a while"

Cheryl: thinking "Ok. See you in 20 minutes. No newborn of ours is naps more than 30 minutes."  It's sad but true.  They don't.  And I'm totally serious. 

We spent about 10 minutes getting ready to leave.  Ten minutes into the hike,  Ben meets Samara and I on the hike with Lizzie in Bjorn.  Lizzie poops.  Ben has diaper in pocket.  We change her.  She is still blazing mad.  Lizzie and I head back down.  

Then, when I was nursing her, and our friend was nursing her baby in the van along with me, people stared in at us through the windows from outside, wanted to hold the babies, and asked if they were twins.  Huh?  It was great to have another family along who was also traveling with a newborn.

Ben and Samara finish hike with the rest of the crew.  

Notice the cool carvings in the riverbed to your left.

Cambodia: Floating Village and Silk Farm

Floating Village

We spent our first day visiting the floating village located on Tonle Sap.  It is the largest freshwater lake in all of SE Asia.  The lake is unique in two ways.  The flow of the rivers feeding the lake changes direction twice a year and the lake portion expands and shrinks with the seasons.  Most of the year, the lake is around a meter deep and an area of 2,700 sq km.  However, when monsoon season approaches, the river portion, which connects to the Mekong River reverses its flow and the lake portion increases its area to 16,000 square km and its depth to nine meters, flooding nearby fields and forests and providing needed nutrients.  It is one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world.

A church in the village.  We had to leave for the airport at 4:00AM, so it made for a very long first day.  Perhaps because of that, we weren't that impressed with the floating village.  If you need to skip something this would be the thing.  

However, it was very interesting to see the countryside on the drive out to the floating village.  And we can now say we've visited Tonle Sap.  Cambodia, unfortunately, has been experiencing a lot of flooding recently.  The end of wet season is thankfully approaching. 

 Artisans d' Angkor

We stopped at a craftsman village.  Artisans d' Angkor was created to help the young rural population find work in their home villages by providing them with high-skilled training and a vocation from which they can earn a living.  It was created in 1998 and today it employs over 1,000 people.  This program/company has helped rural depopulation in Siem Reap surroundings.  

Silk Farm 

 Next stop-- the silk farm, which is also part of Artisans d' Angkor.  First, you have the little silk worms 

 who molt four times.  Then the worms enclose themselves in cocoons.  Each cocoon is a 'thread' of raw silk, 300 to 900 meters long. 

They boil the cocoons to prevent  them from releasing proteolytic enzymes, which cause the silk fibers to break down.  The boiling also makes the cocoons easier to unravel.  Often, the silkworm itself is eaten (Denise, I still can't believe you ate one!). 

 The thread is spun.  After which, the silk is dyed

and woven.  It's a pretty fascinating process.   I really enjoyed the visit here.  They have a nice gift shop too.

And finally you finish off the long day with a fresh big smoothie.

Prom 2010

We have the best ward activities committee and always have very unique and fun activities.  Last night, Ben and I attended Prom.

Yea, we are a pretty hot couple.  Ben is sporting a Scottish original just like he did in '96.  I picked up this beauty at the local Salvation Army.  I still can't believe anyone would ever get rid of this gem (or gems). 

Especially with sleeves like this, which can also be used as weapons.