House Update

Hello world, I'm building a house.  Soon it will be done and I will be human again.  I will actually listen when people talk to me.  I will think about and do things other than house-related issues.  But I will never be qualified to make another decision again.  I've exhausted my decision making abilities for the year.  I should not make any other pertinent decisions for at least 6 months.  My brain has lost the ability to chose.  I think I will write a 12-step program, "how to resume a normal life and recover your marriage after building". I'm hoping I make at least enough money to put in a yard in the spring.

 It took us eleven tries to get the right color for the exterior but we are really pleased with the color.

We've lost count for the interior colors.  We spent the girls' inheritance or at least Christmas money on paint samples.  They are getting scrap wood from the construction and all the failed paint colors.  Santa gives gifts like that, right?  Samara will get to "craft" to her heart's content.  In fact, she even said she wanted a craft birthday party.  Perfect.  Each kid can take home any color from the Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore paint deck.  We probably have a quart of the color they want.  

Thankfully, we knew we wanted the same trim color as the other homes in the development or we may have had to take out a home equity loan trying to find the right white (by white I mean off-white/ivory/ but not yellow or gray tinged.)  I am POSITIVE that many a person has lost their sanity trying to find a true gray.  It doesn't exist.  Grays are either blue, brown, green.  It's so hard to know what a color looks like from a little swatch.  Once you have so many colors up, it's impossible to chose and tell the difference.  We don't even remember what we put where.   Having so many choices cripples you.

 This is our neighbor, Holly Llama.  There are goats and miniature ponies too.  Our human neighbors have already asked us to feed the animal neighbors while they are away for Christmas.  Samara could not be more excited!  We miss the Singapore zoo and our animal feedings there.  Our other neighbor is related to me.  Her mother-in-law is my maternal grandfather's cousin.  Small world here in UT!  We don't go anywhere here without seeing someone we know.

For the record, even though I am complaining/venting, I know we are very fortunate to build a home when interest rates are at a historic low. Everything has not worked out perfectly/exactly how we envisioned it, but we are pleased with how the house is turning out.   It's been a quite process, but will be well worth it.  If all goes well with painting, flooring, cabinets, and countertops we will have a final inspection on the 22nd and, if we pass, we will move in on the 23rd.  Many more pictures to come soon--just to warn you!

Boo! Happy Halloween

Samara wanted us to be the Rapunzel family for Halloween.  When we first put the costume on, I told her she was the cutest Rapunzel.  She replied, "No, the one on the movie is the cutest.  I actually look alot more like the kid Rapunzel from the movie."  Later I saw her tipping her head back trying to make her hair touch the floor, as she muttered, "I just need my hair to go all the way to ground."

Lizzie was pascal.  Poor thing was sicker than sick last week and still isn't feeling that well.  She wants to be held all the time so she wasn't happy about posing for a picture.  But she's so cute even when she is crying.

Lizzie was getting in Samara's stuff.  Samara called out, "Can you please come get this pascal?  The real pascal would NOT get into Rapunzel's stuff. "

We went to a healthy trunk-or-treat this afternoon.  All the treats had to be healthy, i.e., no refined sugars, dyes, GMOs, etc.  There were games and prizes at each trunk.  It was great.

Then it was time to go home.  "Rapuzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" says Mother Gothel.  Samara, however, wanted to go home with her cousin Sariah and I told her, "No, not today."  To which Samara replied, "Uh!!!  You are mean.  If you don't let me go then you are the real Mother Gothel!  Really you are.  I want Cheryl back.  I just have to go home with Sariah."  Ha!  No flair for the dramatics at our house.

 Still not wanting to have a photo taken

"I am not afraid to use this!" 

Lizzie's a little happier now.

Lizzie is also really getting into character.  She loves sticking out her tongue.  One may say it's because she's teething but I know it's really to catch bugs.

My SIL threw a fabulous Halloween party on Saturday.  The theme was Cowboys and Indians and it was held at Sundance Resort.  The food was delicious and it was fun to get out and meet new people.  Giddy up!  Happy Halloween!

Toddler

Baby Lizzie isn't a baby anymore.  She's toddling all around now.  Does anything else compare with the cuteness of a baby learning to walk?  I love the cautious hunched form used to keep balance and the sheer delight and pride when they take those first steps.  Soon we won't be able to keep up with her.

Thailand: Railay and Phi Phi

We were able to fit in one last holiday a couple weeks before we moved.  We really wanted to see Bangkok and the family had never been to my favorite place so we opted for twofer--Bangkok and Krabi.

We stayed two nights on Railay Island.

That little cave, in right of the photo, is a fertility cave with some pretty interesting carvings.  I'm pretty sure visiting the cave, when I went climbing, helped Lizzie get here.  :)

Unfortunately, it rained most of the time we were there.  Fortunately, Samara loved playing at the beach in the rain and even in the rain Krabi is lovely.

On our first trip to Thailand, with my Sister-in-law, we learned about Phi-phi islands but didn't make it out to see them.   This time, we took a snorkeling-island tour on our one full-day there.  The boat ride was crazy bumpy and made me nervous with the kids.  Because of the weather we couldn't stop at Maya Bay, which was the place I wanted to see most.  

One of our stops was a beautiful lagoon.  The local boys who were working on the boats started climbing up a ~12-foot rope and hopping off a branch.  This is the kind of thing that Ben takes as a challenge.  So, he hopped out of the boat and joined the young local boys, showing them that (really) white guys can do it, too.  And he had to do it twice, because I didn't have my camera ready the first time.  See white guys really can do it, two. Ha ha!

Long boats really are so fabulous.  Someday I hope to make one my main mode of transportation. :)

 This is as funny as it looks.  We spotted this fellow wearing white-pink slinky speedo.  Yes--he is trying very hard to strike a sexy pose.  And you can see the camera in the other guy's right hand.  I got some great ideas for photographing Ben in his these.  Just scored a pair at Target for his upcoming birthday.  Smokin'!

Oh Lizzie Bean--We love you!!  But when will you understand the sand is not for eating?!

We took advantage of the sunny moments.

We finished our trip to Railay with a floating or spirit lantern.  Samara had been dreaming of sending up a glowing lantern after she saw "Tangled."  Thailand is so beautiful.  When days are tough, I start singing (to the tune of James Taylor), "In my mind I'm going to Krabi, Thailand..."  Can it be my second home, please?

Thailand: Bangkok

I had a girls' trip scheduled for Thailand last year but we had to cancel it because of the protesting and political unrest.  I did not want to leave SE Asia without seeing Bangkok.

The Grand Palace is definitely worth a visit.

Wat Phra Kaew inside the palace.

The Grand Palace is huge and intricate but not too goody.  I normally don't like a lot of gold but the palace is so nicely done.  I thought the palace is fascinating and beautiful.  

 
The traffic is worse than everyone says!

Tuk-tuks make me happy.  I wonder if they are allowed here.

The taxis and buses were all so colorful.

Sweet little girl all tuckered out.  Hope no one took her toys while she slept. :)

Street vendors/food everywhere.  Some things look appetizing and

other stuff wasn't so appealing.

There are so many temples in Bangkok.  You'd need several days, with no kids in tow,  to see them all.
We went to Wat Pho and past a couple others.

Our favorite was Wat Saket

There are 318 steps to the top of the golden mount.  Samara had fun climbing the steps, which is probably why it was our favorite.

And with bells and gongs to play with along the way who wouldn't like it?!  This bell caught her by surprise.

 
Wat Arun

ABC Bicycle Tour:
I went on a bicycle tour one morning.  We rode through back streets and past businesses opening shop for the day.

We went through a make-shift neighborhood.

Offerings and a place to meditate

Million + people come to Bangkok temporarily to work and go back and forth from their towns and this is where they live.  It may not look like much (because it wasn't) but they had some pretty sweet TVs and motorbikes.   

 
We rode through plantations and stopped at the village temple.  This are the graveyard/ the boxes that hold the ashes of the deceased.  Paying homage to their ancestors is very important.

Serendipity smiled on me and I got to see a new monk's initiation ceremony.

I was so thrilled to witness this special  and sacred ceremony.

That evening I let Ben take my two-hour Thai massage.  It only cost $10 and I thought I'd be nice since he'd stayed home with the girls so I could do the bike tour.  He came home and said, "NEVER make me go get a massage again. EVER.  That was the most excruciating two hours of my life.  I had no idea someone who weighs 90 pounds could inflict so much pain."  

Sorry, honey!

Hotel:

We stayed at Sil-Q and loved it.  Great hotel in nice location with fantastic service.

Our driver was named Tiger and he was honest and helpful.  His number is 081-951-9953.  Samara loved riding in a pink taxi.  Excuse the humidity in the lens.

Farewell, Thailand!  We'll be back someday.

Bangkok: Floating & JJ Market

I was excited to visit the Damnoen Saduak Floating market outisde of Bangkok.  Make sure you leave early.  We left at 6:30 AM and I wouldn't leave any later.  It's a good hour and half drive from Bangkok.  I really really wanted photos like this.

Loved snapping some of the beautiful women selling fruit and other food from their boats.  They all caked on the sunscreen to protect from the brutal sun.

Yummy Thai spices

It's amazing what they can make on a boat.

Our boat driver did not speak English and kept stopping at souvenir stalls much to our dismay.  I tried to explain I wanted him to stop so I could get off and get photos from above.  Then when Samara needed to go to the bathroom (she drinks a gallon of water at a time so when she has to go she HAS to go) he wouldn't stop.  So she was screaming and Lizzie was screaming.

I drowned all the sound out with some manna from heaven, aka Mango sticky rice.  For a brief moment, I was at peace with the world.  And in my peaceful world, I also had a nice pedi!

The colors and the produce were gorgeous.

He drove out of the market and into the canals with homes.  At this point we just held Samara over the side of the boat so she could relieve herself.  She's had enough adventures to last a lifetime.

We stopped at a little temple.

This is where I needed to be to get the shots I wanted.  Oh well!

Bless this woman!  Look what she is selling

Be sure to check out the JJ or Chatuchak Market in Bangkok if you are there on the weekend.  It's incredible.  I've never seen anything like it.  The market has got to be the biggest in the world.  You can buy anything your heart desires.