Spring Break in Laos

We just got back from an incredible trip into Laos. We took a short flight from Bangkok to Nakon Phanom, Thailand then crossed the boarder over the Maekong River by car. Jason was here last October but I knew little of this country with just 6 million people. But let me just tell you it is beautiful and sunny- two things this city family loved. It was also nice to be off the beaten tourist path.

 

 Laos was colonized by the French and the town of Thakek where we stayed still reflects some of the influence (including fresh french bread, yum) 

We stayed with some friends who work in Laos and they were amazing, generous hosts.

 Our kids got along great with their two girls. Within an hour of arriving they'd already caught a gecko!

 We all loved hanging out in their yard. In the afternoon the Lao kids come over to play. Josiah especially loved basketball, four square, climbing and even a slip and slide (whoot whoot)

We took an overnight trip with our friends near the Vietnam border. Along the way we stopped at villages and got to see the water filters at work that Craig sells. 

Behind me are the bungalows where we stayed. Very rustic- but only $6 a night. 

 Three boys playing with machetes and a mama with her 10 day old baby

Laos has lots of caves in its many limestone formations. The kids got to play in this one and Jason had some fun of his own goofing off on this tightrope. 

I will add that this was our first trip since Annabelle became mobile and she certainly did keep us on our toes! Laos was a bit of a hard country to have a crawling baby in because everything is so dirty. Plus she was cutting a tooth on the trip so her fingers were constantly in her mouth. Day 5 of our trip Annabelle developed a fever but praise God she seems totally fine now. We love to travel but we always love coming home to our own home and beds!

Annette Turns 4- Part 2

 This tea birthday party was just too much fun! 8 little ladies, necklaces, feather boas, ribbons, bow, cupcakes, dancing and tea. All of Annette's favorite things rolled into one morning.

As the girls arrived they did some coloring and then we got go busy decorating our fancy hats

 Time for Tea! (in this case pink punch)

 I love this photo of Annette praying before lunch

Opening presents with her very special friend Ava

 And just for fun, here is a picture of me at my fourth birthday party (that my amazing mother hosted 2 days after giving birth to her fourth child!) Looks like Annette inherited my bangs.

 All the girliness around here seems to be wearing off on us all. Josiah walked into the living room like this tonight (it's hard to sees but he has on plastic high heels). Looks like it's time to pack the feather boas and tiaras away!

Annette Turns 4- Part 1

Annette is a sweet girl day to day, but when it comes to her birthday she just squeezes out some extra sweetness, making her super lovable and fun to celebrate. This photo was taken on her actual birthday (March 12). It was a busy day for our family, but we did go out to pizza and then buy her a pair of rain boots which she had been wanting for a long time. 

The following day we had a class party at school. The teacher likes to celebrate the monthly birthdays together so she shared a cake with Calvin. This is what the cakes from bakeries in Hong Kong usually look like. 

She's pretty easy to spot in her class!

The funniest part of the party to me was when they had the birthday kids cut their cake. I mean look at them!! I think it will be at least 20 years until I'm ready for another moment like that! 

I started last year interviewing the kids on their birthdays. Here are her 4 year old answers. . .

Disney Grand Marshals

God has been building my faith lately through some fun (silly even) answered prayers. Knowing that our passes were expiring and yesterday would be our last trip to Disneyland in a while, I prayed that our family would be chosen to be the Grand Marshals in the parade. Who does that? Evidently I have some inner- princess that wants out. Well, out of the 30,000 people in the park yesterday we were chosen! What fun!!

 We were really given the VIP treatment with the kids given notebooks, balloons and personalized mickey hats!  Here is a family photo in the waiting lounge where we hung out. (Sadly I only had my phone to take photos on). Here are Sarah and Calvin walking us to the parade start.

 The kids waved with these giant Mickey hands as we drove down Main Street. Josiah even had two classmates at the park that day we got to wave to.

 My favorite part is that Annabelle not only kept her hat on, but she got so excited at all the smiling faces that she started waving!! What a precious memory.

 And if that wasn't enough Annette got to meet 3 princesses. As we were walking to the car she said, "Mom, I wish the day could start over because it was so fun!"

11 Months

This is our last monthly shot before our baby turns 1! I'm a little sad about that, but logistically speaking it is pretty hard to keep her in the chair for a photo these days. I gave up trying to get  a looking- at- the- camera photo this month and instead captured some of her active personality.

Annabelle delights us with her
- spontanous clapping, often in her highchair
- she also will hold her feet and clap them together while reclining in the sroller
- she has found her shouting voice and likes to call out to others saying "ahhhh!"
- what little, invisible hair she has manages to stick up in tiny tufts
- she can now eat just about what the rest of the family eats which makes things a bit simpler for me
- she loves bath time and is constantly trying to crawl into the shower

We managed a photo for the .5 seconds that she kept the headband on her head

Roar!!!

 Here are a few more shots of our baby turning into a girl before our eyes

March

I woke up yesterday morning and heaved a sigh, it’s March. Muggy, moldy, mosquito- welcoming March. As I look back on our 7 years in Hong Kong I feel like March has typically been one of the hardest months for me. The holidays are over, but summer still seems far away. The sun usually hides from us during this time of year, inducing some serious “blahs” for me. March is also the month Josiah has had some of his most serious hospitalizations, courtesy in part to the HK March air. This March feels especially heavy for me as we currently have two friends in critical condition in the hospital (one a 6 year old girl) and another friend starting chemo. 

I love that this Wednesday begins the season of Lent. Growing up in an ecumenical church I enjoyed the rhythm Lent brought to the 40 days leading up to Easter. I feel a hunger to press in this Lent, to create space and usher the light and hope of Jesus into my days. My motto for the month is to “live above the clouds”. My desire is to receive a perspective and joy that cannot be dampened by dreary weather or even sickness. 

March is not without it’s upcoming joys, my sweet girls both turn a year older this month. Then at the end of the month we are taking a family trip to the countryside of Laos. What does March have in store for you? Do you have months/ seasons that get you down?