Halloween 2009

E ... on your 2nd Halloween you had much more fun. We carved a pumpkin, went to the Halloween carnival at school, and then went trick or treating. This involves driving around in a bus and visiting teachers apartments to get treats. This year your dad was in charge of organizing the route. It turned out to be a fun night and you got lots of candy for yourself (well we ate most of it). Then we ended with a party on road 84 house 4 ... super fun!

Thailand Review

E ... Here are a few more tidbits from the Thailand trip. You had a great time playing in the room, shopping, and playing with the less exotic animals of Thailand.

Elephant Camps and Orchids

In Chiang Mai we also visited elephant camp and an orchid farm. E had a great time but preferred to eat the bananas rather than feeding them to the elephants. We also visited an orchid farm with an old car collection (??) and some giant coy.

Chiang Mai Temples

After landing in Chiang Mai that afternoon, we immediately went on a 'free' temple tour. The city and traffic is much calmer. We had a driver and guide. They both were very helpful. The tour guide was very good with E. I think there might be a tour guide class she took in college that deals with how to work with kids but more likely she was being genuinely kind. It was impossible to understand most of what she she though. Wash up was worship but then she talked about the washing the temple and that was something else. She did give us lots of useful dates bout the temples and artistic information about the different eras of temple design. These are some of the oldest temples (700 years) and some of the relics were up to 2000 years old. E ran around but was generally a super trooper.

October Thailand

So the plane left Dhaka at about 2pm, which we thought was nice to not to have that late night traveling. You got up about 9am so we figured you'd be ready for a nap. NOPE! You wiggled all 2.5 hours to Bangkok and then fell asleep just as we touched down. On the plane mom and dad tried some new things. Like trying to eat at the same time while you played on the bulkhead floor ... it took talent to keep you contained and eat ginger chicken with rice.

So with 5 minutes of rest we headed out of the airport and into a public taxi for the 40 minute trip to the Centura Grand. It took longer to get to the hotel then it did to reach Bangkok by plane. Apparently, Friday traffic jams are the norm here (more like gridlock or Dhaka Ramadan traffic). After two and a half hours we pulled into the hotel (longer then the plane ride). Elizabeth held up well despite this set back and watched through the window all the lights and life walking pass us.

This morning we had a great buffet experience in which you wolfed down kidney bean and corn yogurt. Actually had them in it. You really enjoyed the chocolate muffin (more like chocolate cake).

Then we went to Samitivej Hospital which is a gorgeous hospital that overly employs hundreds friendly smiling and helpful staff. It really is a five star hospital. We saw your brother or sister again. You actually watched the ultrasound with dad on a 42 inch plasma.

We messed up your schedule and walked you all over the city. You were such a trooper. You just napped when you could but mostly you had a great time watching all the life go by. Mom and Dad learned knew things about transporting strollers up stairs, riding on the Skytrain with shopping and baby, and how much Thai's LOVE babies (you were a hit).

We then went up to Chiang Mia to get out of Bangkok.

At the hospital you have a great time playing in the playhouse. This was after the shots too ... such a brave girl!

Dinner at the Ginger House .. mmm thai food!

In the crib ... go to sleep!

That does not count!

You love the shower ...

Both square and circular showers!

Lounging in the mod furniture

Climbing Stools

E ... more recordable talents! Climbing is a new past time and usually dad or mom helps you to be safer but this time I had to grab the camera. Other times you have stacked the two stools on top of each other thinking that you could get higher. They have also fallen on you as well.

EZ: Elizabeth and Zach

Zach came over to the place for a bit of babysitting with Justin, Elizabeth, and Dad. Apparently he did not get the memo which said that this was super cool and kind of pitched a fit the entire time. E you were great. You tried to console him but mostly you were just puzzled by the whole experience. You showed you maturity. And no you can't borrow the car. (adult joke there).

Dinner time

E, we've been eating at the table and frequently you entertain mom and I so much that I decided to tape a sitting. You did not disappoint.

Big things happen when you are 16 months old!

Elizabeth,

You just turned 16 months old! 16 is an exciting age...even if right now it is in months! There have been a some firsts to mark the occasion.
- you went to baby group and helped your friend Luka celebrate his 2nd birthday and you got your very first party bag! Woo! Raisins, plastic fish, and chocolate. Daddy loved the chocolate that you shared with him!
- we spent the first night away from you. This weekend Dad and I went to a party and spent the night at the hotel. We had a great time swimming with you and had a good lunch at the hotel before Milon came to take you home. Apparently you went to sleep really early and woke up early in the morning. We were excited to come home to see you!

Jamming on the Piano

Live from the computer room .... EEEEEEE.