Bangkok Week 860

December 19, 2024

The day has arrived. The moment has come. It’s the annual Christmas Show at school! And what a show it was! We also had our last swimming lessons of the year; a nice cycle around Rot Fai park; Grandpa’s birthday; and lots of Christmas cookies.

It's the day we've all been waiting for -- the Christmas show!

Everyone is up early to head to school early and ensure we get a parking spot.

One small problem: it's pouring rain!

After a short rain delay... the show must go on!

The famed grandparents' seats: Granny & Grandpa got the best seats in the house!

Meanwhile, back stage...

... the kids are waiting patiently, and getting into their holiday best!

The nursery kids especially were great sports.

Waiting patiently for the show of their lives.

Arlo's class was the second performance: a ballet "March March March".

Hey, that looks somewhat coordinated.

After waiting patiently, Lucy & class performed "The Winter Hokey Pokey".

And here's Lucy's (now infamous) performance stance.

What's that I see? A little smile?

And a jump! Someone turned Lucy on for the final seconds of the dance.

Bravo to the Buttercups, Teacher Preeti, and P'Kattie.

And the dance we've all been waiting for: I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!

If nothing else, the costumes win for best dressed.

Teacher says a hippo is a vegetarian!

Way to go, Lilies! The cutest hippos in Thailand (no offense, Moo Deng).

Waiting for the full-school grand finale.

A decent rendition of "Silent Night".

And here's the famous Annabel's snow! Falls every year, without fail!

And every year without fail, Arlo doesn't like it!

Lucky Lilies though: they're the only ones who got the snow this year.

Lucy and her nursery classmates were very intrigued.

Trins and Arlo, trying to run away.

And a quick pic with Santa, before the patience runs out.

Merry Christmas!

No sign of rain by the time the show was over.

Time for lunch!

Lucy's doing really well for her first Christmas show.

Showing her nursery classmates around the big campus.

Christmas photo with Arlo's favorite Teacher Selly.

Cooling off after a busy, intense morning.

And rounding off the first term of the school year with a healthy serving of Christmas cookies.

These two will sleep well tonight!

Saturday morning monster truck rally.

Oh! Lucky Lucy is being roused by Granny this morning.

Grandpa's getting rid of a stash of old coins. (And true to form, Arlo's trying to hoard them all.)

Lucy has an audience for her last swimming lesson of the year.

Teaching Grandpa new games.

Someone turns 5 years and 3 months old today!

And so someone else needs to take a tree photo, too!

Back to Baby Pool for Arlo's lesson this time.

Closing out the year with Teacher JA, instead of Teacher Big.

Waiting patiently for the Tuk Tuk home.

Granny enjoying her afternoon "quiet time".

Saturday evening "movie night" with Granny & Grandpa. Look at them, staying awake for it!

Special Sunday morning excursion to celebrate the start of the holidays: biking at Rot Fai park!

We haven't been here since the peak of the summer heat.

Lucy still enjoys riding in the back.

First stop: the playground and exercise equipment.

So many different pieces of exercise equipment to try!

And then a few rounds on the slide.

Next stop: the butterfly garden! Arlo thinks he's found Shin Shin.

There were lots of beautiful butterflies and moths out and about this time.

And detective Arlo brought his magnifying glass to look at them all.

This one even landed on Mum's head. (Look at all the grey, it said.)

Group shot in the butterfly house.

Lucy liked the different flowers.

This blue beauty was hanging around *outside* the house.

And continuing along.

Next stop: Cycle City (which was under repair last time we were here.)

And Lucy insisted on swinging at the playground just next door.

Arlo's just tall enough to use this balance beam.

Back at home, Arlo covertly took this photo of his sister.

Naptime story time with Granny.

More Genius Square with Grandpa...

... and then teaching his grandparents how to play Rhino Hero.

That's a tall one!

Pizza dinner!

Up early for the first Monday of their holiday break.

Arlo kindly let Lucy play in his room.

Not only is it Monday... but it's also Grandpa's birthday.

So here's Arlo, making a Shinkansen card for him.

The finished card (it's double-sided).

Lucy brought Granny to the pool, to watch Mum do her laps.

Grandpa's festive birthday cake.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Deeply concerned by the candles, but Lucy stayed in her seat this time.

What a color!

Lucy, too!

Grandpa and his colorful grandchildren.

Celebrating Grandpa's birthday with an afternoon swim.

All was suspiciously quiet upstairs while the adults dined: this was the scene.

Working on "The Christmas Pig."

Oh, good thing Arlo found his reading glasses.

Saying hi to the koi in the mall next to the US Embassy, before renewing Arlo's passport.

My impulse buy at the Tops there: Moo Deng elephant pants!

Lucy's learning to charm (a story in 4 parts).

And then a holiday visit from Baa Rat.

Enjoying the leftover birthday cake.

It may be days old, but it still stains as well as on Day 1.

More Christmas stories.

Working on their oranges after breakfast.

Trying his new chutes and ladders game.

And learning how to play cards with Grandpa.

Looking through his beautiful 2025 wall calendar from Mum's colleague in London.

And helping Granny wake up on Thursday morning.

Looking through Auntie Jas & Uncle Josh's wedding polaroids.

Trying on his new sunglasses: Arlo is all ready for the beach!

Their new favorite game: throw the pillows onto the victim down below.

Reading together so peacefully. Too bad the moment is so fleeting.