Bangkok and Back

While Daddy was in Australia, the rest of us went to Bangkok to renew our visas.  Of course, we stayed awhile and visited friends!  Despite the feeling of it being an emormous undertaking for Mommy to take 3 kids on the train to Bangkok alone, it went well. God sent help at each place we needed it.  We travelled by city bus, ferry, train, subway, skytrain, and, of course, on foot.

We saw many unusual and remarkable things along the way, but the two we managed to get pictures of are these:

  Some pigeons that sauntered down the platform checking car numbers and then hopping aboard like all the other travelers.

 This sign on the walkway to the ferry.  Are there really people who would bring a cow along for the ride?

Once settled in with our friends, we just hung out for a few days. Aiden enjoyed the toy cash register - as a phone: "hello?" is his first word! All the kids (our three and our hosts) enjoyed turning the fantastic playroom into an obstacle course. And, who can resist the fun of a water hose and a slick tile balcony?

 

The main event for us was being able to sit in on a dress rehearsal of a full ballet (Don Quixote) that our host's eldest was a part of.  It was LONG, but the girls wanted to stay for the whole thing.  Jasmin took video with commentary, Grace copied dance moves in the aisles, and Aiden... squirmed and screamed a bit too much for Mommy to fully enjoy it. Afterwards, Jasmin was all the more anxious to get back into ballet lessons.  (We've been looking here, but not yet found them.) "Can't we just ask Elisi (our host's girl) where her lessons are and go there?" she asked wistfully... forgetting she was in Bangkok and not home in Penang.

The journey home went even more smoothly that the journey to Bangkok.  Mostly because the girls settled down to the activities we had brought along and so the time passed quickly.  Even so, there was time for being silly!

Gotta Love it

The girls started AWANA a few weeks ago.  Mommy figured Grace would love it and Jasmin might hate it (loud and chaotic, competitive games).  Couldn't have been more wrong about Jasmin. She LOVES it. Begins asking anxiously if Mommy has forgotten the day or if she's missed it - usually by Wednesday night! 

 It has sparked interest - and effort! - in memorizing verses, reading, writing, and playing team games. And the best and worst part: she wants to do it all on her own. Great because no longer does Mommy have to wonder about pushing not enough or too little on this stubborn one; not so great because she is insistent that she only learn verses and go over the lessons at AWANA, no review or forward motion during the week.  But then she will surprise with this gem late this evening:

 

 

For a girl who is continually saying "It's too hard for me" "I can't read" "It's too much to write"....

not bad at all.

When Mommy's Sick

When Mommy's sick

 Things tend to go on as usual.

Kid's need school,

Baby needs Mommy,

 Meals need cooking,

Bedtimes need marking...

It just gets done much more haphazardly.

When Mommy's sick

School sets up in the bedroom,

 Is short, and mingles with play.

 Quiet activities are hunted down,

attempted, and aborted.

Play mess accumulates.

When Mommy's sick

Lunch might be at 3,

Bedtime at 9, 

Breakfast at 10.

It's when we're hungry, awake, or willing.

When Mommy's sick

Daddy and girls are recruited for

daily dish duty.

Cupboard and fridge grow empty

and then are filled with wonderful extras:

Daddy does the shopping.

When Mommy's sick

Nothing's quite right

But all is well.

Thankfully Mommy is now fully recovered from the mumps. Everyone here is quite relieved!