Christmas in Thailand!

Last year we spent our first Christmas in Thailand... we must have loved it enough because we decided to return again this year.   While there are so many places to explore in Asia, sometimes going back to a place that you know and love just fits.   One of our favorite daily rituals is walking down the beach to local bar for a beer.   It is hard to believe that 10 years ago from this week, a devastating tsunami hit these shores and peoples lives were changed forever.  

In 2004 a tsunami hit Thailand.  This tsunami claimed more than 4,000 lives in and more than 230,000 in the region.   There were times when I would gaze out at the Andaman Sea thinking how surreal that moment must have been watching those waters retract into the horizon.  It seemed almost impossible that a twenty-foot wall of seawater had then hurtled into these very shores I was sitting on obliterating everything in its path.   To look around at the perfectly landscaped grounds...  exactly 10 years ago on December 26th, Boxing Day, this piece of paradise was underwater and so many lives were lost or changed forever.

We arrived at dusk...  just in time to watch the most beautiful sunset... only to realize that an entire backpack full of electronics was lost in transit.    Not pointing any fingers at who was responsible for the backpack at the time but... I am pretty sure now the kids will take better care of their belongings.  A tough lesson to learn... not even Santa could right this hardship....

Who doesn’t love a beach...  but for us, it was such a part of our life in Florida that the kids just got used to sand in their toes and waves to boogy board upon in their playground.   I think it was one of the hardest transitions for them when moving here.  While Shanghai is considered a coastal city on the East China sea, there are no beaches to walk upon or water worth diving into.     There is something to be said about clean air and the sun on your face...   but what really makes our vacations special... watching the kids in their element, relaxed and happy...  

I love how I could be half a world away and when I see a poinsettia, I immediately think of Christmas.  The resort had them everywhere...  

Once we hit the beach... it is hard roping them in... but they are never far from each other. 

It’s getting them off the beach at the end of the day that is so tricky...

We have gotten hooked on ATV tours...  Jordan loved having her own bike.  Chris had Garrett and I had Ayden.  Ayden spent the entire two hour tour telling me to “stay focused.”    That statement came back to bite me hard!  

We use various tactics to keeping their skin covered in sun screen...  The “warrior” face is among the family favorite.

The resort has a few catamarans to take out...  We love this however struggle with too many captains and not enough mates.  

One of our favorite hangouts is a local restaurant (or more like a tiki hut / shack right on the beach...  The kids love to swim and swing while we order an afternoon snack of authentic Thai food.   

Even mom gets a chance at swinging!!!

One of the reasons we love this place so much is how quiet the beaches are...  it is our own slice of paradise!

This picture really captures their personalities...  Ironically, this was not posed. 

Last year we found a great local family owned restaurant to eat Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner.   When we walked in this year, we were welcomed with hugs.  They remembered us from a year ago!  

We spent one day exploring the caves of Phuket in kayaks. 

Ayden hit is off with her guide, Tiger... learning how to paddle and later winning several rounds of “king of the mountain!”

As a part of our tour, we all learned how to make our own offering.   There are several elements that each unique offering must have:  Flowers, leaves, incense and candles.   The kids really got into making theirs... we found out that we will be entering a cave at dusk, lightening them and making our wishes.  

We all lit our offerings and set them off inside the cave... 

Very symbolic and a ritual we thoroughly enjoyed.

Most evenings we tried to stay on the beach as long as possible.  

Loving our Christmas in Thailand!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Winter Break -- The Healing Home Orphanage

We started off our Winter Break spending a week in Shanghai... and catching up on some time doing one of our favorite things -- Visiting the children at the Healing Home Orphanage.  

While I typically go and play with the infants during the week while the kids are in school, I love going to the toddler room with my kids because there is far more energy and activity.   Ayden is the one that asks most often to do this, yet we never seem to get there as often as we would like.  

We were happy to see that there were a few new faces in the play area and some kids that had recently received their first surgery to repair their cleft palates.  When prepping my kids to do these visits, I was most concerned they would find some of the physical malformation a lot of these children have alarming or scary.  As a nurse, I could explain to them in detail what a lot of these children go through in having their surgeries etc.  What surprised me the absolute MOST though was how my kids handled seeing some of these children and how they honestly seemed to not even notice some of the physical and even hard to look at deformities.    As a parent, this was so rewarding for me to see and proud doesn’t even do justice to how it makes me feel to go there with each of them.  

It also has surprised me that not once has any of my kids asked me if this is the type of place where they were from.  My gut says that even if I did tell them, they wouldn’t believe me.  

Sometimes,  when we are passing time there, we talk about what name fits each child based on their personality.  It is often hard to pronounce their Chinese names and much easier for us to associate them with their English names usually given to them by a monetary donor.   Like many kids, you can often see a child and just know what they would be named.  This little guy facing the camera (above) had awesome hair.... and no doubt got the name Clayton.   He definitely needed and old soul name and his name totally fits his personality.  Full of wisdom yet very laid back.

Johnny also pictured both above and below in the striped sweater is FULL of energy.  We were discussing toys we could bring on our next visit and most of our ideas were inspired by Johnny.  He is the ring leader of the group and most impulsive with behavior.  Blocks or anything hard to throw was out...  

Clayton took a liking to Garrett’s mild mannered ways and spent most of our time there finding one of our laps to perch on.   The little boy next to him we all call “Happy Hooligan” because he smiles all of the time.  

It is nice to watch your own children spend time with children younger than them...  These kids bring out such a soft side in each of them.

No surprise Jordan befriend the most rugged and silly boy in the group (note Johnny again).  We taught them the game “Tickle Torture” and they spent the better part of our time there lifting up their shirts to be tickled.  I am sure the Ayi’s are very appreciative of what we teach them while there.

Fall Fun and First....

There are a lot of rewarding moments we have had as parents...   and this year has been no exception.   When asking the children if they were up for an adventure - moving to China, surprisingly, not one of them balked at the idea.   While I am sure they didn’t have a clue as to what we were really suggesting, let alone where we were going, they jumped in with both feet.  Looking back, I think if they did know, they probably would have hesitated to pack up their safe world in South Florida and move half way around the world to a country that is so vastly different than what they are used to...    Watching them adjust, learn, and embrace has been by far one of the most rewarding experiences we have had as parents.   Seeing them, spread their wings, gain confidence, and jump outside of their box has been only one of many of the benefits to us moving.   There have been a lot of firsts -- from learning how to squat in public bathrooms, not gag every time we see someone hawk a deep lung spit not only in public but often indoors, to watching small children defecate (again in public) and often in doors (and I am not saying in a bathroom)  the list could go on.....    

But when you see your child challenge themselves to do something so completely outside their box, these are those times that you realize as a parent, that life is a journey and watching our children grow is its best reward.   

When we arrived in Shanghai, I was surprised when Jordan signed up to be in a dance show.  She has never taken a lesson and her only experience with dancing is when we blast the music from time to time to just let loose.   I was so proud that she signed up to do something completely different and non-sport related.   So it didn’t come as too much of a surprise when Jordan came to us asking if she could play tackle football.  

We set off one afternoon to “get more information” at a local school near our apartment and within a few short hours, she came out with pads, a jersey and a number.  

While I did not think she would get a lot of playing time, I was wrong and I spent a great deal of the sidelines holding my breath...  

The whole family got into the sport and Chris spent several games refereeing...  

This left a lot of sideline time for Garrett & Ayden to find trouble on there own....  not a difficult task it seems for them.... 

It was hard to have the “white knuckle” season end, but I am incredibly proud of our girl...  and if there was any doubt that life’s challenges would ever bring her down, I certainly wouldn’t want to mess with her on a field. 

We have another first this year....  and boy was I one proud mom.  Garrett started taking piano lessons this year and he is definitely a natural on the keyboard.   He was SO nervous and looked so little up there on the bench with his feet not yet able to even touch the pedals.    He ROCKED it!!!

As for the fun fun fun... Well, we aren’t going to let the cold Shanghai weather stop us from bringing out our Chang Jiang.  Team Carey heading off to the wet market for some produce with a list in hand.   

Grocery shopping here is definitely an adventure!