Thailand with my Girls

Though we talked about it sometimes, I never thought a girls trip to Thailand would really happen. But by January we needed to provide our friend Lori, currently living in China, with a brief escape. And after discovering Matina missed her calling as a travel agent, we were booked for a long weekend in Thailand before we knew it. 

 Because we were kidless we were able to enjoy this gorgeous view and scenery without worrying about things like children falling over the balcony. So nice! Our temporary digs totally exceeded our expectations, since by now all of us have lived in Asia long enough to know to keep them low.

 The first day three of us headed out to the Phi Phi Islands on a speed boat tour. The sea was angry that day my friends! We were violently tossed around and my recently whiplashed neck and shoulders did not appreciate that. But we got to our destinations, spent some time laughing at two random girls trying to take provocative pictures of each other in the rough surf, then moved on to some islands where the scenery was truly breathtaking.

 At Koh Phi Phi Leh we all took turns jumping off the front of the boat. The pictures were shot in sports mode and our resulting gracelessness provided us with lot's of laughter when we went through them later.

Next we stopped at the beach where apparently Leonardo DeCaprio filmed the creatively named movie The Beach. It was the most crowded beach I've ever been to and I didn't see Leo any where, so.... 

This is probably my favorite picture of the trip; me and my chicas relaxing on our own little spot of beach, reading our books and enjoying each others company.

So maybe this picture needs a little explaining...

 My friend Lori is deceptively hilarious. Meaning, you think she is quiet and a little shy, then at some point she will say something so funny and unexpected that you laugh until you snort. Having said that, she brought us all a little present from the Peeps Repub, it's truly all the rage there on the beaches filled with skin-conscious Asians.
I give you, the FACEKINI!
We had 700 some odd pictures from our trip and 90% of them are us goofing off in our Facekini's. Everything becomes hilarious when someone dons the freakish thing. Our abs were so sore from laughing! The most repeated phrase of the trip was "That'd be funny with a facekini!" followed closely by, "Our husbands are not gonna think this is as funny as we do!"

But seriously, what's not funnier with a facekini? 

Our long boat driver actually wanted to know where we got it, and wished he had one because he's on his boat all day. But I'm too genteel and couldn't part with mine as I need it to protect me from the harsh rays of the sun... and to wear it at obnoxious times to make my friends laugh.

 The best thing about a trip to Thailand is the FOOD!

 And FRIENDS!  (Me and Brandie, Matina & Lori above)

 We rode this little scooter and side car around town and it fit the four of us perfectly! Ok, well, no. We were just trying it on for size to see if we could roll like the locals.
On second thought though, that would be a lot funnier if we were wearing our facekinis....

I Don't Do Resolutions

Why? Because that is the quickest way for me NOT to accomplish something. So normally I don't even bother making New Year's Resolutions. But this year in my head I thought, "It's not even a "real" resolution, I will just work on not always being a month behind on blog posts this year." Thus the NYE post that has stood as sentinel of this blog for the last 2 months.
What can be said for a blog unkempt is behind every 2 month gap is a very full and busy life. If you want to use the "treading water" analogy, I'd describe us as trudging up the steep stairs to the water slide, brief moments of happiness and fun as we slide down the water slides of life, and before we know it, we are back to treading water again, doing our best to just keep our heads up. But at least we got to ride the slide, right?
So, after flirting with the idea of letting my blog go, or just keeping it up privately, I realized that this system has worked for me for 6 years, and if I try a little harder maybe I can keep on top of things... Or not. Whatever I decide though, it will NOT be a resolution!

New Years Eve 2012

This NYE we decided to risk going down to the base of Taipei 101 and watch the fireworks from there. It's a risk because we've heard horror stories of not getting home until 4am, and this is all for a fireworks show that lasts 3 minutes. Not 30, three.
We doubled with Brandie and Jeremiah and our guys did some serious research into the situation so that we knew the exact streets that would be closed off and at what time. They wouldn't be reopened until 3am so we wanted to park close but not too close.
We drove downtown and spent some time finding the perfect spot, hoping enough cars would join us so that we wouldn't be towed, risked it and parked. We walked a few blocks in to dinner.

We couldn't have picked a better spot to have dinner than basically at the foot of 101. We were just across the street. We had a late dinner at a delicious sushi place and took our sweet time eating, not wanting to wait out in the cold for too long.

At 11:55 we walked out into the streets that had been slowly filling with thousands of people. It was strange to see these streets -always swarming with scooters, buses and cars- only full of people. We didn't have to wait long for the show to begin:

After the brief but awesome show we walked several blocks back to our car, waited in minimal traffic due to our guys' superior navigational skills, and were home before 1:30am. We've seen it from afar every year but it was definitely worth the effort to see it up close. What an amazing way to ring in the 2013 with my baby!

Christmas 2012

Christmas Eve was spent with our friends on the lane. In sharp contrast to last year, I was much less stressed and had a great time with our friends and 16 kids. It was a wonderful evening. Instead of a pointless white elephant exchange for the kids we came up with a Service Exchange for them instead. More on that later maybe? 

It took about 15 tries but we got a picture with everyone at least looking at the camera on Christmas Eve, progress, one might say.
I was thankful Christmas Eve that Alyssa can't keep a secret yet. Kohen had been warning Nathan and I that he was planning something, a test, and he would know for sure if Santa was real by Christmas morning. His only mistake was confiding in both of his sisters. Aly sang like a bird.
Christmas morning the kids discovered the carrots they had left on the roof, all but eaten, and the reindeer had drunk the water they had left them and there was even a hoof print in the blob of playdough they had left to try and get an imprint. Faith in Santa was reconfirmed.

Christmas morning was wonderfully magical. The absolute favorite gift and biggest hit of Christmas was by far, the crutches that Kennedy got from Santa. They had a note on them that said something about how, I know your mom said No but I thought you should have them anyway. It's the strangest gift but she plays with them constantly. And all of her friends love them too, it's the most unexpectedly perfect gift Santa has ever given. Who knew?

Lastly is the pic of Scarlett hugging her new baby. My favorite of the morning. 

We spent Christmas playing with our little family and it was lovely.

Festivus 2012

Festivus was a success this year. I think I got pictures of most of the dioramas depicting most everyone's grievance for the Airing of Grievances. But what wasn't captured was the hilarious presentations given when everyone takes their turn explaining their grievance.

It's become the highlight of Festivus for sure. Nathan and I always end up having a conversation about how creative and hilarious our friends are.

Here everyone was hard at work on their Mental Feats of Strength...

Which had a finale of Minute to Win it games this year for the finalists.
It's always wonderful to be able to get together with friends and just laugh and enjoy each others company during the otherwise hectic holiday season.
Festivus for the rest of us!!!

Back to Bass

I never get to surprise Nathan. It is unreasonably difficult to surprise someone that you love. I almost did it though in early December. A friend arranged tickets to Sting's Back to Bass tour that was coming and I managed to keep our evening a secret until we were walking out the door and our sitter said, "You guys are going to the Sting concert, right?" Ahh! So close!

 It was fine though, Nathan was super excited and loving that I had planned something. 

We went to dinner by ourselves and then met up with 6 other friends for the concert.

Truth be told, I didn't really adore Sting or anything, neither did Nathan, but we liked his music fine and were looking forward to our first concert in Taipei. Well, we were totally blown away (with the exception of the crowd). Sting played an awesome set, never once missing a note, strumming away on his bass with only 5 other musicians on stage. His back up singer was amazing too. 

What was not amazing was the crowd. Everyone, literally everyone, sat politely and calmly in their seats. What? How?! It was the strangest way to enjoy a concert. So unnatural. They finally got on their feet when Sting left the stage for the first time, and that is when it really got fun for us. He encored 4 times, it was awesome. 

 Nathan and I are now proud Sting fans, and not afraid to admit it. It turned out to be one of our favorite concerts that we have seen. Sting and his music were just so much more.. I dunno the word, sexy? than I was expecting. He is a legend for a reason.
Awesome almost-surprise date night!

Ander's Eyes

It was a good 4 months of Ander's left eye turning in before Nathan and I decided that despite being told everything was fine, clearly, things were not. The problem then was that we didn't know where to take him. We weren't impressed with the first asian Dr. we'd seen so then who?

 A friend who used to live in Taiwan whose son also has an eye issue and had seen the same Asian dr., emailed me and said an American Dr. saw her son this summer and was not at all pleased with the Asian dr.'s approach. It was suggested we see someone else. This got us motivated to find a different dr.

Grant it, the office we found was in no way set up for a toddler, but they at least did an examination. The part where they put the capital E with the prongs facing different directions was probably the most frustrating. Really? A not very verbal 3 year old is gonna have the patience for that? But Ander did great considering. You could tell when he could no longer see clearly. He would try and cheat, or get down or out of the situation. Can't blame him. Kinda Chinese torture.

 After further testing all I understood was that Ander was farsighted and has Amblyopia where the muscle is pulling his eye in. I have no idea what the dr.'s plan of action is, there was very little productive communication. I did get that Ander needed glasses and that after a month he wanted to see if there was any change in his eye position. All other questions we have remain unanswered.
I couldn't imagine Ander keeping glasses on. Peer pressure didn't get the kid to wear a costume on Halloween, what would make him wear glasses? I may have even said a few prayers hoping for some inspiration on how to make it happen.
When we picked up his glasses I had an idea. He was intrigued with the case and shammy they gave him to go with his glasses. I told him it was the bed and blanket for his glasses and that he got to take his glasses off and tuck them into the case each night and wake them up each morning, he thought this sounded great.

He really does love tucking in and waking up his glasses. But here is the real genius, every time he would take his glasses off in those first few days when he was getting used to them, I would say, "Oh! You must be ready for bed, let's go tuck in your glasses!" and start steering him to his room. Those glasses would be back on his face in no time. He caught on quickly and has worn them so much better than I imagined he would. 

Of course when you can suddenly see things in detail it may encourage you to wear your glasses no matter what the age right? We noticed the difference right away and especially at church. He is terrible during Sacrament meeting. He won't read books or color, for example. His first Sunday with glasses? He didn't move for 45 minutes while pouring over a sticker book, seeing it for the first time. It was AMAZING.

 It hasn't all been perfect though. He chewed the nose pads off of his glasses not once but twice, in the first 72 hours. I used a less spiritually driven threat to change his behavior here, I told him if he did it again I was going to have to pinch his leg. Problem solved.
The other problem is that they have no decent kid glasses here. These ones are working, but they are a bit wide and ill-fitting. I think he needs something akin to goggles to make em stay on his face with his level activity though. But for now it'll do.

Obviously we are anxious to meet with Dr.'s this summer who we trust and can communicate. To be continued...

Thanksgiving in Taiwan 2012

(I know what you are thinking. That my eyes are closed. Ok, like you never blink! :)

This is my dear friend Allison. We have been friends since middle school in good ol' Omaha Nebraska, and she knows more about me than is advisable. We have kept in touch over the years and have both found ourselves living in Taiwan of all places.

 If you would have told these 2 girls they'd be celebrating Thanksgiving together in Taiwan someday, I don't know that they would've believed it.

Ken and Allison live about 1.5 hours away but made the trip in with their cute kiddos. We were so glad they came!

We had so much delicious food, Allison's cranberry sauce was divine, and my fresh cut green bean casserole with homemade shoe string onions was a hit, and I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, the dinner spread was scrumptious. (Check out that clutter monster at the end of the line, threatening to attack and fight us for the food. A good host probably would've made that all disappear right? So there you go.)

Our kids are pretty well matched up and have really enjoyed spending time together. Ashley and Kennedy were proud to be sitting at the big table.

 We've got Kohen, Kaylee, Alyssa, Nathan and Ander at the kiddo table.

 Sweet Emma entertained us all by trying her darndest to clean this goblet after Nathan dipped it in whipped cream for her.

 Can't talk now, it's time for PIE!

 It's fun to see our kids playing and laughing together, I'm so grateful they are getting to know each other.

 No special occasion photos are marked in this country without gratuitous peace signs.
Thank you friends, for sharing Thanksgiving with us and making it feel a little less far away from home!
(PS- how we missed getting a picture of our husbands I do not know. But just picture two handsome fellows doing the dishes while their wives chat. Good guys we have...)

A Bad Day in Sri Lanka?

 So a little back info: I don't really love to snorkel. I do it if I have to but I am uncomfortable the whole time. I have never had a desire to scuba dive. Actually, I really did not ever want to do it. I figured if Nathan wanted to at some point, he and Eric, or his brother could get certified and go, I would support that. I have few fears in life; I've gone sky diving, I kill ginormous spiders in my house, I've had babies in a Chinese hospital for heaven's sake! But something about being in deep open water, and having to breathe through a tube, makes me absolutely claustrophobic and panicky.

Back to the trip:
We were all planning on snorkeling for part of an afternoon. I knew it was coming and though I wasn't looking forward to it with much anticipation, I was fine. I knew I could do as much or little as I wanted. So when we showed up and discovered scuba was really inexpensive, and you didn't need to be certified because you would go out on a dive and it counts towards your certification, everyone but me got super excited. I had never imagined I'd be faced with scuba because you have to be certified, right?!
It was so unexpected and I was freaking out. I absolutely did not want to go. But I knew how bad Nathan did. And he wouldn't just let me sit and read my book on the beach for half the day while everyone else went. He wouldn't leave me. And I didn't want to make him miss out. I was so scared I cried. During the safety video they'd show someone under water clearing their mask or regulator (mouth piece) and I'd imagine myself doing that and totally start tearing up and having massive anxiety. I was a mess! I truly had had no idea how deep my fears were.

Here is me climbing out of the water (DANG that gear is heavy!) after practicing in shallow water, can you tell how worried Nathan was for me? Poor guy, I didn't mean to stress him out, but when you are unexpectedly forced to face a fear, sometimes you freak out a little. Having to think about breathing was really stressful for me. At least when we got to the dive site it was one trainer with each couple. I still can't believe I did it. I actually hated it the entire time. I was never able to relax. I felt kind of dizzy when I tried to move my head to look around- fun fact, you can get sea sick from the motion of the water under the water. 

To be fair, it wasn't the most amazing dive. But still. I felt like I was on the verge of a panic attack the whole time. I just can't describe how uncomfortable I was. 

But I did it! Yay! I faced my fear. And I didn't hold back Nathan from doing it, which was what was really important to me. 

When we got in the boat, I discovered I had total locked jaw. I couldn't open my mouth more than an inch, and when I bit down my top jaw was shifted over to the right and didn't match up with my teeth. Apparently this can happen to new divers, as you bite down on the regulator unnecessarily hard for a long period of time. It went away in about an hour. 

I am proud I was able to do it but unless it was literally the best diving in the entire world, I don't think I could be persuaded to do it again. But I will happily support Nathan... from the shore.

They boated us over to Jungle Beach after scuba and we relaxed and ate lunch for an hour or so. I tried to unwind from my emotionally, and physically draining morning of scuba diving. For as much as everyone had built me up about surfing the day before, I was sufficiently humbled a mere 24 hours later. 

We didn't stay too long because we had scheduled special Sri Lankan Ayurvedic massages. However there were only 4 spots at the really nice spa, and so Nathan and I went by ourselves to the appointment the house manager made for us at another little place. Big mistake.

We took this picture the next morning when we walked by a creepy lot/shack... cuz that's pretty much what the place looked like where we went for massages. It was an old shack, and we were supposed to have a romantic spa couples massage, that my friends is laughable. 

We were separated before we could even realize what was happening. I thought at first they were taking him to change somewhere. No. He never came back.

Picture a dark, dank shack. My room was a closet with two doorways, no doors, one opens into the small "wait room". Picture a "massage table" that was a wooden plank with a thin black vinyl mat on it. The only linen I saw was one raggedy old wash cloth "towel". The first half of the massage was performed while I was sitting in a plastic lawn chair. The busy highway road mere feet away. For ambiance I counted 54 car/truck horns, 3 trains, and 2 trash trucks playing their songs. I endured callused hands scratching all over my body for the longest hour ever. After, when I was slathered in oil, I was taken out back, into open air, before being shown a dingy bathroom that had a shower head on the wall. No soap, no towel, no hot water. 

Nathan and I were both traumatized and at least now have earned the confidence to walk out of any massage at any time.  

Yeah, not the best day I've ever had on vacation. But it was still vacation! I'm honestly not complaining. And good home made food can fix so many things. Dinner that night was wonderful.
In case you are wondering, the other spa was quite nice and Ross and Carrie especially loved their massages. I guess we were the lucky ones who had an "adventure"!

 On our last morning we got up at 6:30am and went to see if we could get some pictures of real fisherman out in the ocean. They had become a visual symbol of Sri Lanka to us and we wanted to capture some of it if we could.

 We learned that each fishing stand or perch is privately owned. If someone puts it out there, you can't just go fish on it. It belongs to whoever put it there.
Just fyi, I haven't altered any of these pictures of course, it really was that picturesque. We were so glad we got up to go see them. It was a memorable morning.

We spent the day laying on the beach under an umbrella, reading our books then shopping for spices and other souvenirs for our children.

We had a delicious Sri Lankan dinner at the famous Fort Printers that is located back in the fort area.
We packed up (can I just mention how easy and fast it is to only pack for myself?!) and headed to bed early since we had to leave at 3 am to drive to the airport and make our flight.
Overall it was a magical vacation that I still feel so unbelievably grateful we were able to take, and to go with dear friends made it all the better. I still can't believe we pulled off a Lane 55 vacation. We left 14 kids on the lane without their parents! (With sitters of course, but still!)
We took some 1,500 pictures between all of us, I tried my best to narrow it down and share the experience, I hope I've done it justice. The sights of Sri Lanka were worth every picture we took. It is a truly, beautiful country.