One of our favorite friends is leaving tomorrow…we are sad to say good bye, but happy he gets to go see his mommy!!! We’ve had a lot of fun with you Murphin…baking brownies, playing Cars, eating watermelon, exchanging toys for a day, arguing, laughing, coloring, playing in the water and getting to know you! You are a fun friend with a big smile and sweet eyes…we will miss you!
Safe travels and come back soon!
Vichet is our loyal tuk tuk driver who lifts Zachary in and out of the tuk tuk everyday for school and wherever we go…he stayed outside our house the entire time my brother and Cate were just in case they needed to go somewhere at any minute…he will hold a baby while I run into the bank and hang out with Khamary and the other baby…he carries all of our groceries into our house when we get home…he makes sure I get the best deal when I am shopping in a “negotiating market”…he was chasing down the thief who stole my wallet with Jimmy & my brother…Vichet is part of the family!…we all talk about all kinds of things…school, sicknesses in the kids, traffic, weather, music…
…one day about a month ago, Vichet said he wanted to start his daughter in school! YAY! That’s great…she turned 4 yesterday (March 30th). After a few conversations, I learned that it would cost him money he could not afford to send his daughter to school…a public school…for $43 per quarter, it didn’t even cross my mind to think about it. Yes, we will pay for Vichet’s daughter to go to school!
She started Monday, March 28th and by her birthday, March 30th, she was writing letters! We get daily reports on how much she loves school!
On top of school starting, we realized we needed to celebrate this friends birthday with her!! First, we bought a new “Princess Barbie Doll” with a change of clothes; headed to Bloom Café and picked out 4 fabulous cupcakes (all chosen by Zachary who was very very excited, even though he knew he would not be able to enjoy thenm because they have eggs…he makes me very proud!)…and Zachary’s favorite place, Monkey Business, has a special deal after 5, so we packed up the family…all of them and settled in…all of the kids loved it and we were happy that we got to celebrate her birthday with her…as she was at Zachary’s first birthday in Cambodia in December!
Happy Birthday Pick!
Little Sister ~ Di
A new T. A new Teresa. A new sport called Tennis! I have ALWAYS wanted to learn to play tennis…always! I remember learning the basics from Mr. Bakun in high school P.E., but all I really remember is something about there being a LOVE in the score? So…I met a new friend and she invited me to play tennis…said I would love to, but I don’t know how…she said she just started lessons and I should too! YAY! Tomorrow morning at 8:30, I will be out there in my running skirt, tennies and double sports bras…with sweaty palms and a fast beating heart…but I love a new challenge and anything that can make me sweat! Pictures and follow up to come…stay tuned!
The day has come when Zachary likes to choose what to wear! I’m kind of excited, because I don’t really care what he wears, as long as he is dressed…he’s had this “naked thing” going on for a little too long! Plus…the outfits…they really make you smile! Today, he insisted on wearing his rash guard and “’awaii trunks” to school…OK…when kids where pajamas and toe’d socks to school, how can you argue this point?
…and he gets his own after school snacks…a pan of brownies with a “teeny tiny baba”…as he knows they are ALL going to the Easter Bunny in a few weeks…he’s excited about it now…we’ll see what happens at bedtime on Easter!!
He’s FINALLY taking to getting haircuts…never really been a fan, but he likes not having to rinse his hair a lot during showers! He even talked about it at school today…his teacher told me he said, “This time he went to a hairdresser, but usually, his mama cuts it!”…for $.75, it’s not worth the tears for me to cut it! Plus, this time, I was able to psych him up…there was a 7 year old girl there watching him and I just kept telling him she thinks he’s so handsome (it’s true…doesn’t everyone think he’s handsome?)
…and once again, “boogers are ‘alicious”
…and while we’re on haircuts, he has his own idea of what pretty, beautiful, handsome, old are.
Another thought for tonight…Jim is gone, so I said he could sleep with me…right before he was to fall asleep, he sits up and says, “Oh, no. Gerry is going to be lonely in my room. Please open the door and tell him to sleep in here.”…so, being the good mama I am, I open the door and whisper, “Gerry, Zachary is sleeping in here tonight, please come in here.” After the obligatory 5 second wait, I shut the door. He tells me that Gerry needs to sleep in bed and cuddle up next to Thomas. They can sleep on Daddy’s side of the bed. “we will all cuddle tonight, mama. You, me, Thomas & Gerry!” He has a very active imagination!
So off to bed I go…with my boy, a cat and a mouse!
I am enjoying myself in SE Asia…there are a lot of great benefits to being here! I have excellent help to help me with my kiddos and house…I can buy things for really really really cheap! Weekly, we have fresh flowers I the house…for $2.75, I can all of these:
…now a vase is another story! Everywhere I look, they are $35 to $40 for something I would spend $5 on at home…so, I save every wine bottle or candle holder or face tonic bottle I can…it works!!
(…and don’t forget to notice the beautiful turquoise/gold candles next to the flowers on the dining table…I’m torn with burning those suckers out to have the vases…or taking my time because candles are hard to come by! Thank you Auntie Cake!)
…and we went to the BKK market (you’ve seen pictures on the blog…where Zach is touching the pig nose?!) today with $10 and came home with this AND $2.25 in our pockets!
4 shirts for Khamary’s growing belly, 2 watermelons, one papaya, 8 mangos, 12 cucumbers, 15 limes, 5 bunches of mint and 1 kilo of mandarins! Now THAT’s shopping!
An Old Outing:
A New Outing:
…at this point, the twins have lived one week and 4 days longer in Cambodia, than they lived in the states…15 weeks in the US, 16 weeks 4 days in Cambodia (hard to believe that they aren’t even as old as I was pregnant with them yet…but that’s another brain twister)…
This experience is amazing. Some days are harder than others, but you get that no matter where you live! I am the type of person who can enjoy anything, so I’ve chosen to enjoy this and everything about it! Thank you to all the friends who have sent me emails talking about how they love reading the blog and seeing how positive we all are about this…how we’ve helped them enjoy little things in life and how they love that we have jumped into the culture here! I love my family and I really can do just about anything as long as I have them!! I am coming to an understanding the leaving here is going to be hard…the people, the way of life…it’s all beautiful and wonderful in it’s own little way!
My boys are my life…I love my family and everything that goes with it…dirty clothes, early wake up calls, vomit, big smiles, first milestones, first steps, trying new food, braving a restaurant, everybody screaming, sleep deprived days for all of us, happy babies, grumpy mama and dada, travelling around the world, making a new life, nights out with my hubby, nights out as a family…
Having this family is what I’ve always wanted…Now I’ve got it and all that matters is me and them. Sorry, World…you can say what you like, think what you want, but it really doesn’t matter to me. These 4 boys are what matter and the rest of you…well, it’s our world, you’re just living in it!
…on that note…welcome to our world…here are a few photos to show how much my boys have grown over the past 7 months.
Zachary putting on a dancing show for the crowd…and don’t forget his breakdance moves…
%5B3%5D.jpg "042 (2)")
%5B3%5D.jpg "002 (2)")
%5B3%5D.jpg "002 (3)")
%5B3%5D.jpg "024 (3)")
