Blogger has been in and out for us, let's see how long we have for me to catch up on a few posts.
Hang in there!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Project list status...
Remember the list? The original, with all its things crossed off is much more impressive, But this nester is getting organized, simplified, and getting ready to become a family of five (I am not really ready, but our home is). Finishing old projects, researching homeschool stuff again and again (I have done this since Sophia was 2!), and did I mention, cleaning and de-cluttering?
Here is the status of the list:
The fix-it stuff is going to wait to be done all at once by our 'fix it' man, plus we have some things we need him to hang too, that means, #1,4,5, and maybe 12 will be done at one time this week or next, as we have a few other things for him to help us with too. David convinced me to wait until bangkok to menu plan for it, so we can budget better. Canvas wall hangings, and a plant will also wait until we return, most likely. The hangings take creative design and time, which I don't have a lot of now. And, we think the new (to us) stroller is fixed, I just need to get used to it. So, things are almost done.
I found the missing letter 'o' it had been missing for awhile. I have had these letters over a year, from a TCC team. I painted them and hung them:
Bella and I played and read books this morning, (while Sophia is at school), she just ate her snack while I sit here and fill you guys in. But she loves to push the stroller around, and must have a 'bag' or purse to go with her:
Didi's room furniture came, except the single bed. These pics are not good, it was the lighting, the angle, the time of day....OR just the photographer, I know I stink, but I try.
the dresser, with changing pad and basket on top for quick need items.
the book shelf, I just randomly put stuff on it to get them off the floor.
the bed will go where the pack and play is, who knows where the pack and play will go, though that will be his bed for quite a while...
Bella is wearing an apron.
see what I mean, not a good pic. I know the rocker doesn't match, but I don't really care. I think I need to implement some color to this brown/blue thing. Which color(s)? you tell me? And a rug? what color should that be if we get one?
The bed may come today, who knows. Meanwhile, Sophia and I are finishing up 'pre-school' stuff, we are on 'w', we will eat a lot of watermelon this week. And I still am reviewing language by listening daily and trying to speak with our helper (though a lot of time I resort back to Mandarin). My brain is becoming mushier by the minute, my nights more and more sleepless, I am getting BIG, but that is for another post.
Thanks for listening to these ramblings...
Here is the status of the list:
- Oven vent?
- Kitchen shelf??? taobao
- Stroller fixed?
- Caulk kitchen sink
- Bathroom tub fixed, new TP dispenser
- Exercise equipment stored better/organized
- Bella's album, do more pages, print pics
- Canvas wall hangings
- Newsletter by March 1
- Girls names on wall? Find O, paint and hang
- Rug for didi's room????
- Hang things on wall in didi's room??? Wait?
- Plant for our bedroom (wait)
- Menu plan for bkk
The fix-it stuff is going to wait to be done all at once by our 'fix it' man, plus we have some things we need him to hang too, that means, #1,4,5, and maybe 12 will be done at one time this week or next, as we have a few other things for him to help us with too. David convinced me to wait until bangkok to menu plan for it, so we can budget better. Canvas wall hangings, and a plant will also wait until we return, most likely. The hangings take creative design and time, which I don't have a lot of now. And, we think the new (to us) stroller is fixed, I just need to get used to it. So, things are almost done.
I found the missing letter 'o' it had been missing for awhile. I have had these letters over a year, from a TCC team. I painted them and hung them:
Bella and I played and read books this morning, (while Sophia is at school), she just ate her snack while I sit here and fill you guys in. But she loves to push the stroller around, and must have a 'bag' or purse to go with her:
Didi's room furniture came, except the single bed. These pics are not good, it was the lighting, the angle, the time of day....OR just the photographer, I know I stink, but I try.
the dresser, with changing pad and basket on top for quick need items.
the book shelf, I just randomly put stuff on it to get them off the floor.
the bed will go where the pack and play is, who knows where the pack and play will go, though that will be his bed for quite a while...
Bella is wearing an apron.
see what I mean, not a good pic. I know the rocker doesn't match, but I don't really care. I think I need to implement some color to this brown/blue thing. Which color(s)? you tell me? And a rug? what color should that be if we get one?
The bed may come today, who knows. Meanwhile, Sophia and I are finishing up 'pre-school' stuff, we are on 'w', we will eat a lot of watermelon this week. And I still am reviewing language by listening daily and trying to speak with our helper (though a lot of time I resort back to Mandarin). My brain is becoming mushier by the minute, my nights more and more sleepless, I am getting BIG, but that is for another post.
Thanks for listening to these ramblings...
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Ballet
A dear friend of ours often gives me hand-me-downs from her girls. This is where Sophia gets a lot of her dress up clothes that she loves. Well, we had them over for home made pizza last night, and again a bag full of fun stuff came with them, and even a bag of boy clothes (?!).
And the super find was two pairs of ballet slippers and 'skirts'. I forget what they are called, but I definitely remember wearing them, and the exact shoes too! This brought back some Ballet memories for me...Sophia wore it all day, and my very prego self tried to come up with the basic Ballet feet positions...funny sight.
And the super find was two pairs of ballet slippers and 'skirts'. I forget what they are called, but I definitely remember wearing them, and the exact shoes too! This brought back some Ballet memories for me...Sophia wore it all day, and my very prego self tried to come up with the basic Ballet feet positions...funny sight.
Didi's room: curtains
One step at a time my friends. That is what I am learning. For months now I have been slowly de-cluttering and reorganizing our home, and creating more space. It has been refreshing. Our home doesn't look that much different but I know there is space, I know we have room, even with no closets, we still have room to grow.David and I both cannot function well in clutter and we really didn't have much, but we went through everything anyway...Clean up, clean out, throw out, give away. We did it all (and are still doing some). Most recently David went through his whole office (sorry no pics), it was an incredible task, but has made his already nice office even more functional and relaxing to be in. It is neat and orderly, two traits he and I both cherish!
Now for didi's room I wasn't quite sure how things would fit, work, etc. and I still don't know fully, but I ordered a dresser, (a big closet thingy would just overwhelm the small room), and a book shelf. Then we ordered a single bed, and I finally found curtains without flowers on them. All these were ordered awhile ago and said to arrive this week. But I really wasn't holding my breath. The knock on the door on Friday was the curtain man. After he hung them (twice, first time was too high), I was really pleased. I cannot tell you how hard it is to find 'coffee colored' curtains that would fit. I shopped online and found nothing that would work. Then I stumbled into a little shop not anywhere near the other curtain places, and she had the closest thing.
So Here they are, a little 'shiny' but in reality they are more subdued. I even like the 'tie back' she made for them, though I may switch it out..
Maybe the room will come together this week. It needs some major TLC in the organizing department.
Now for didi's room I wasn't quite sure how things would fit, work, etc. and I still don't know fully, but I ordered a dresser, (a big closet thingy would just overwhelm the small room), and a book shelf. Then we ordered a single bed, and I finally found curtains without flowers on them. All these were ordered awhile ago and said to arrive this week. But I really wasn't holding my breath. The knock on the door on Friday was the curtain man. After he hung them (twice, first time was too high), I was really pleased. I cannot tell you how hard it is to find 'coffee colored' curtains that would fit. I shopped online and found nothing that would work. Then I stumbled into a little shop not anywhere near the other curtain places, and she had the closest thing.
So Here they are, a little 'shiny' but in reality they are more subdued. I even like the 'tie back' she made for them, though I may switch it out..
Maybe the room will come together this week. It needs some major TLC in the organizing department.
Our 'zoo' a Sunday outing
2.27.2011
Okay, so it really is not a zoo and does not claim to be so, it is more like a park for tourists to go through and see some local minority dancing, an amazing tree garden, peacocks wandering around, and some cages with monkeys in them. Weird monkeys, they make some weird noises.
But we love going here because there really is variety: play grounds, a lake with lots of fish, lots of bamboo, monkeys, an old airplane/jet, and pretty scenery. They just built a huge stage and tried to create the 'atmosphere' of some of the local minorities.
We go here simply to play. The girls love it.
Ever since our friend got a huge scratch for feeding these birds M&Ms we steer clear. Peacocks are an interesting species....
Bella went down the slide numerous times.
This was all just recently built in the middle of this park.
Some ladies wandering through, all dressed up.
the men, also in minority dress, admire (wonder at) the monkeys
these ladies kept trying to grab Sophia to take a picture, she was having none of it. They switched to Bella. I took a picture of them taking a pic of Bella, and bit my tongue when they kept telling me how pretty foreign babies were. I just muttered thank you.
Sophia is telling me what the monkeys do and look like when their cracker is all gone and they want more.
we named this monkey Sophia, and she thought it was hilarious. He is actually sucking his toe.
making time for exercise
this bamboo is quite beautiful, and on windy days, makes some awesome music
She can do pull ups! (just kidding)
Okay, so it really is not a zoo and does not claim to be so, it is more like a park for tourists to go through and see some local minority dancing, an amazing tree garden, peacocks wandering around, and some cages with monkeys in them. Weird monkeys, they make some weird noises.
But we love going here because there really is variety: play grounds, a lake with lots of fish, lots of bamboo, monkeys, an old airplane/jet, and pretty scenery. They just built a huge stage and tried to create the 'atmosphere' of some of the local minorities.
We go here simply to play. The girls love it.
Ever since our friend got a huge scratch for feeding these birds M&Ms we steer clear. Peacocks are an interesting species....
Bella went down the slide numerous times.
This was all just recently built in the middle of this park.
Some ladies wandering through, all dressed up.
the men, also in minority dress, admire (wonder at) the monkeys
these ladies kept trying to grab Sophia to take a picture, she was having none of it. They switched to Bella. I took a picture of them taking a pic of Bella, and bit my tongue when they kept telling me how pretty foreign babies were. I just muttered thank you.
Sophia is telling me what the monkeys do and look like when their cracker is all gone and they want more.
we named this monkey Sophia, and she thought it was hilarious. He is actually sucking his toe.
making time for exercise
this bamboo is quite beautiful, and on windy days, makes some awesome music
She can do pull ups! (just kidding)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
School registration day
Today was it. The official 'school registration' day. We waited in line, signed her up, and let the girls play. Sophia is very excited to be going back to school.
we took a three wheel moto to the school.
this thing has been over-towering the school yard for months. It scares me. Yes, children are playing right underneath. They are building houses...
the line for sign up and paying of money. We did not pay because they need to decide if they will give us a special rate since we will be gone for two months. (doubtful).
the fun playground
the non-stop question is: 'three kids? you are not fined for this?' I heard this a lot when I was pregnant with Bella, now it is just more emphatic. 'how many kids do you want?' 'your country doesn't care how many children you have?'
The fines here for more than one child can be astronomical, unless you know someone. Then we ran into someone who had two kids, we asked her if she was fined. 'no, because we are farmers.' This means she is of a local minority and her 'family' lives far enough out of the city to allow her two kids. They have to be four years apart. Rules and regulations. They are enforced, at least in this area of the law. Not traffic laws, of course.
This is the construction right outside of Sophia's classroom
Her classroom window
A shot through the bars...literally less than ten feet from her classroom.
We walked around and through some shops. Stopped at a bakery for a small snack, and meandered around and stopped for an early lunch at one of our favorite 'dives.'
This is beef and onion, stir fried pumpkin leaves (our fave), and potato with green onion:
we took a three wheel moto to the school.
this thing has been over-towering the school yard for months. It scares me. Yes, children are playing right underneath. They are building houses...
the line for sign up and paying of money. We did not pay because they need to decide if they will give us a special rate since we will be gone for two months. (doubtful).
the fun playground
the non-stop question is: 'three kids? you are not fined for this?' I heard this a lot when I was pregnant with Bella, now it is just more emphatic. 'how many kids do you want?' 'your country doesn't care how many children you have?'
The fines here for more than one child can be astronomical, unless you know someone. Then we ran into someone who had two kids, we asked her if she was fined. 'no, because we are farmers.' This means she is of a local minority and her 'family' lives far enough out of the city to allow her two kids. They have to be four years apart. Rules and regulations. They are enforced, at least in this area of the law. Not traffic laws, of course.
This is the construction right outside of Sophia's classroom
Her classroom window
A shot through the bars...literally less than ten feet from her classroom.
We walked around and through some shops. Stopped at a bakery for a small snack, and meandered around and stopped for an early lunch at one of our favorite 'dives.'
This is beef and onion, stir fried pumpkin leaves (our fave), and potato with green onion:
Saturday outing
2.26.2011
Finally a Saturday where we were all (almost) well. Bella did throw up a lot the night before, but she was up for an outing.
We played and played. Ran into some friends, made some others. This is the only place (a nearby school), where we have found a swing.
then we went across town to our favorite noodle and egg pancake shop.
The girls love this place. (Yes, Aunt Beth we ate noodles today, just like you asked ;))
Finally a Saturday where we were all (almost) well. Bella did throw up a lot the night before, but she was up for an outing.
We played and played. Ran into some friends, made some others. This is the only place (a nearby school), where we have found a swing.
then we went across town to our favorite noodle and egg pancake shop.
The girls love this place. (Yes, Aunt Beth we ate noodles today, just like you asked ;))
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