Bangkok Week 692

September 30, 2021

A rainy, but still busy, 3-day weekend. And all the adults in the house are now vaccinated against COVID! Yay!

We start the week with some good news: Dad got an AZ booster shot!

On a much less positive note however, Arlo's (up until now, resilient) lime tree was completely devoured by 3 hungry caterpillars. Not sure it can overcome this setback.

A late-afternoon visit to Benjasiri Park.

All the turtles in the pond came over to see Arlo!

Continuing our march around the park.

Watching the basketball players. How mesmerizing!

Arlo could've watched them all afternoon.

Next stop: watching the skateboarders.

And as a final treat before heading home: one round-trip on the Emporium escalator.

Selfie smiles!

This is also a great way to examine our tongues...

Bringing a bite of Canada to Saturday breakfast.

Ooh! Arlo approves!

This powdery one is not so bad, either.

A rainy morning trip to the "park"... i.e. the green space at the top of EmQuartier.

Mimicking Hugless Douglas.

Resting on the boulders.

Getting some rooftop running in.

Run, Arlo, Run!

Oh boy! Extra bonus excitement on our way out: a shiny yellow motorcycle, just the right size for Arlo!

And a police motorcycle!! With so many buttons inside!

This one wins!

And stopping to sit in the Tuk Tuk, on the way back to the car.

Time for some art! Trying the new "crayons" that Granny brought.

What nice, vibrant colors!

Apparently they can also be water colors...

It's a blustery winter morning in Bangkok.

Quick trip to Nong Bon park. Poor Bella's not allowed in anymore!

Can Granny keep up with Arlo?

Resting in the Sala on the water.

And then a late afternoon trip to the urban farm we last visited on Arlo's birthday.

Observing the ducks... and making duck lips?

Not really in the mood to scoot this afternoon, thank you anyway.

Wow, look at all the bananas!

Who would guess that we're in central Bangkok, right next to the expressway?

Getting a close-up look at these Muscovy ducks.

And running through the lettuce, to see the chickens.

The chickens are out in the open today, for all to see.

Not only that, they were all talking to Arlo!

So many chickens!

And -- oh my goodness -- it's a construction site, up close in real life.

Having fun riding the escalator....

... but we're not quite ready to stand on our own.

Granny's delicious dinner: sesame crusted tofu with a sour-spicy dressing. And her special rice.

All bundled up. It must indeed be winter.

Someone realizes he's not supposed to be under there!

Practicing typing with Granny.

Wednesday morning, Mum finally gets her second vaccine shot, too. And with minimal side effects this time!

Arlo's excited to show Granny his bag of German cookies.

Granny asked, Where did the cookie go? Arlo wonders, that's a good question!

Practicing for his passport photo.

And the real deal.

Practice paid off!

Bangkok Week 691

September 23, 2021

Arlo enjoys another fun week with Granny. And as a bonus: we all got to go swimming, too!

"I found my way upstairs, the gate was open. May I come in now, please?"

Granny, Arlo, and K. Noi all work together to catch a giant spider under the couch. (I think the spider won this round.)

A high-intensity search for Wally (aka Waldo).

Saturday morning: two surprise guests in my bed! Arlo and his giant elephant.

Trying swimming (and snacks) at Grandma's Terrace, just around the corner.

Arlo hasn't been swimming in months! Brushing up on his under-water skills.

Happy to be back in the water!

This water jet at the deep end was the highlight of the pool.

The water was a little cooler than all of Arlo's swimming lesson pools, but not too bad!

Practicing his kicking.

Not so sure about swimming with Dad.

Flying high with Dad. So fun!

Hey, this restaurant even has utensils for Arlo. This place is a winner!

Checking out the slide.

Wow, and they even have this neat cement mixer. Arlo's only regret is not finding it sooner!

Back home, Arlo gets to open the last of his birthday presents.

How to get this pesky paper off?

Oh my! It's 5 kilos of duplos!

Learning about Stephen Hawking with Granny.

Sunday morning trip: Lumpini park! We barely got out of the car, before Granny found fish to feed.

Arlo's on a mission now: let's go, guys!

Granny's friend! Let's all stop to look.

Practicing his scootering.

Getting better at it.

Not sure if he should be looking around at the scenery, looking ahead, or looking down.

Another of Granny's aerodynamic friends.

Giving him a good inspection together.

Group investigation: who else lives around here?

Very well-landscaped, this park.

Taking a break for a cold drink. Arlo tries Ovaltine for the first time!

And with his new-found Ovaltine energy, Arlo stops to pick all the leaves off a fallen branch.

Enjoying Piggie and Elephant with Granny. This book is a hoot!

And time for some drawing.

Concentrating hard, with Zamboni in hand.

Granny made a delicious stir-fry for dinner. Yum!

Look at these two crazies.

Arlo tries a "hamburger" for the first time, inspired by his "You and Me" book.

Oh! What's Granny making?

This looks interesting...

... and *this* looks delicious!

Yum! Peanut butter cookies taste as a great as they sound! Arlo approves.

Arlo's mastered finding an extra seat on this chair next to Granny.

Hugless Douglas: full of surprises!

And for her final act of the day (as if Peanut Butter cookies weren't enough): Mac and Cheese! Yum!

More Elephant and Piggie. What a hoot!

Arlo's newest entertainment: a box of rice.

And the weekly Durian update: still looking healthy.

Bangkok Week 690

September 16, 2021

Our little baby Arlo turns two years old this week! How did that happen!? Happy Birthday, Arlo!!!

We start this week with another HUGE delivery from Trat. Lucky us!

Arlo shows Granny how he likes to play outside in his pool.

Splash! Granny will need to change her clothes after this activity.

Hey, what's going on down there? Keep it down!

Granny knows how to read "Room on the Broom", too! She's really great!

Deluxe dinner: all the leftovers, plus the dishes from Trat.

Visiting a new place on Saturday morning: Pumpkin Art Town, northwest of Bangkok.

Checking out some of said pumpkins.

Testing his balance by walking on some logs. A for effort!

We stayed too long: Granny turned into a Pumpkin.

The property is on the west side of the Chao Phraya river. Nice views.

Exploring a treehouse together.

"Smile".

Granny treated us all to cold drinks and some cookies. Arlo's waiting patiently.

Cheese!

Here are said cold drinks and cookies. Yum!

This is worth sitting on the edge of your seat for!

Continuing to explore.

Wow, look at this great playground!

Wait, what's this? A dump truck?

Let's fill the dump truck with sand, dump it out, and repeat. For 45 minutes!

And Arlo never actually sat down in the sand during those 45 minutes. Just executed a very stable Asian Squat.

Anything else good in this standbox?

Nope, this dump truck is the best. Fill and dump, fill and dump.

Wash hands after all that sand!

Back home, reading Gruffalo's Child with Granny over lunch.

The next morning, it's scooter time at the park again!

This time, Arlo wasted no time joining the bigger kids in the skate park.

Wondering if he needs this chaperone...

Scooting on the cobblestone walkways is not as easy as in the skate park. But a valiant attempt!

Enthralled by a guy playing basketball.

Reading a new book about Opposites from Granny and Auntie Erika.

Enjoying a special Monday breakfast treat: green custard and donuts. Well actually, just the green custard.

Arlo and Granny, practicing yoga together. Who's more flexible?

Chef Granny busts out all the moves for a special dinner tonight: eggplant parmesan!

The finished product!

It's Arlo's birthday morning! His first glimpse at the special balloons that have made a return this year!

K. Noi gives Arlo his first birthday present.

Excited by his new book, and his Mickey doll.

Let the birthday fun begin!

Checking out the Santa Sack full of gifts that Granny brought him.

This Tonka card is a great start!

It's a Zamboni!!!

Look, guys!! It's a Zamboni!!!

Best birthday ever! Arlo got his own Zamboni!

Measuring up! We'll find out the verdict tomorrow.

Happy 2nd birthday, big boy Arlo! Can't believe you're 2 years old already!

Taking a good look at that giant cake... and where did the fire go?

The fire had been right here!

Smile!

Posing with the special balloons that Granny brought for him.

And an impromptu afternoon trip to Sansiri Backyard, a nearby city farm.

Wow, this lime tree is doing really well! A little better than ours...

Looking at the limes... but not pulling at them.

Chickens!

Look at all the chickens in there!

Arlo stayed for a real good look.

And lucky Arlo even got to touch a chicken. Look at all the eggs they laid today!

And onto the ducks.

Muscovy Ducks, to be exact. This one looked even homelier than the others.

Arlo's not so sure about these ducks.

Bye-bye, ducks!

Enjoying the shade of the trellises.

Taking a close look at the big bumble bees enjoying the pollen from these flowers.

One last present waiting for Arlo when we got home: from his friend, Sally!

Elephant and Piggie books!

These are really funny! Thank you, Sally!

Next morning, it's time for Arlo's 2-year check-up. He's clinging to Dad.

Helping the nurse measure his height.

Washing his hand in the Doctor's house, while waiting for her to arrive.

Rub your hands together really well!

And a special lunch at home: bagels! Arlo's never had a bagel before. Looks like a donut, but tastes worse.

Special dinner: fresh falafel, hummus, pita, and more. Yum!

More reading with Granny. Granny is really good!

And Arlo's new favorite sport: balloon volleyball!

Anyone can play!

Closing the week with a durian update: its leaves a re getting big!

Bangkok Week 689

September 9, 2021

The moment we’ve all been waiting for, for 18 months: Granny comes to visit!! And, Arlo starts seeing some friends again.

Bella's really not digging the new door at the top of the stairs. "Let me in, Mum!"

Not sure if we're talking to Granny or watching the daily Zamboni video.

Arlo talks to his grandparents in Trat, before bed.

A special dinner: vegan Taiwanese food, all the way from Ari...

... and this is part 2, an hour later. (They accidentally sent the wrong dish, and replaced it at their own expense.)

Saturday morning trip to the newly-reopened park. Yay! Look at all the people in the skate park!

Arlo's content watching them, but not quite ready to try himself.

Hey, it's Sally! Arlo hasn't seen Sally since April!

A few hours later, with a much emptier skate park, Arlo is ready to try out his wheels.

Slow and steady, for the first outing. Good first try, Arlo!

Back at home, trying my Arlo backpack -- inspired by Sally and her mom.

And then it's an afternoon visit to Granny. Hello up there, Granny!

Just sitting "at the park".

Another day, another visit to Granny: this time, snail-spotting.

It's good luck Monday! Nailed by a bird, on both the head and shirt.

Waiting for my annual Work Permit doctor's check-up. Lucky to have access to the premium lounge this time, thanks to Dad's new credit card.

Here, we have a winner for the prestigious Worst Innovation of 2021 award: Au Bon Pain's Tom Yum Earl Gray Tea.

Back at home, Arlo reads "The Carrot Seed" to himself.

The day has come! At last! The day we can take Granny home! Arlo is thrilled.

He wastes no time, and asks Granny to read him some books.

Granny's quite a good reader, it turns out.

Arlo also wasted no time training Granny: this is how to fetch the toys that Arlo pushes under the couch.

Showing off his new hair band.

And his new Bella Ears.

Everyone reading the book. Even Bella!

Showing Granny how wonderful his Picturepedia is.

And lucky Granny gets to feed Arlo his bedtime bottle, even on Day 1!

And lucky Mum and Dad, get to enjoy Granny's cooking, even on Day 1.

Entertaining us all with, "Down at the station, early in the morning!"

Daily Zamboni video.

Delicious home-made pasta -- we lucked out, two nights in a row.

And bringing in the rear: weekly Durian update. See you next time!

Bangkok Week 688

September 2, 2021

Granny’s completed one full week in Quarantine! Less than one to go! And parks are still closed, so Arlo’s getting inventive with other green spaces.

Happy Friday! Arlo models his pensive pose.

The little sumo after his sauna.

Parks are still closed: on Saturday morning, we drove up to Dad's workplace to enjoy the green spaces at his campus.

Flowers! It's been so long since Arlo's seen flowers in the wild.

These are pretty tall flowers!

These ones look fluffy.

Inspecting all the flowers.

No roses to stop and smell, so these will suffice.

Dad gives Arlo a tour.

Smiling with the robot, and the BIOTEC sign.

Arlo's upping the ante: scooter time!

It's his first time scootering outside; the ground is rougher than in the house.

Still figuring out how to control the steering.

Getting better.

Hey look, a steering wheel on this water hydrant!

Smile! Arlo's having fun exploring.

Granny's friends heard that she's nearby! They've come out to look for her.

Long ride back; can't quite stay awake.

Next stop: Granny! Look up! There she is! Hi, Granny!

Can you spot the Granny, too?

And it turns out Granny's hotel has a little park, complete with a fish pond.

From here on out, Arlo will refer to visiting Granny as "going to the park".

Inventorying his diaper basket. Everything is still there!

Arlo can't comb his own hair, so he's practicing on Girl, the duplo.

Wow! What a healthy lunch, Arlo!

The pomelo sprouts are still going strong, in case you were wondering.

Splash splash time!

Watering the plants is half the fun.

Mr. Cutie, eating his lunch.

And taking an afternoon break to talk to Granny.

Oh my! Another delivery from Trat. How spoiled are we?

Yaa sent some yellow flowers for cooking: Arlo tries a handful raw.

New favorite fruit: lamyai (or Dragon Eyes). So sweet!

Arlo heard the neighborhood kids playing in the street, so he came up to get a better look.

If only he could go play with them!

Getting ready to have a sleepover with Bella.

No week is complete without an update on the durian: lots of healthy green leaves now that it's in full shade!

Bangkok Week 687

August 26, 2021

Granny has arrived in Bangkok! Only another 2 weeks until she can move onto her final destination. Until then, we’ll just be here!

Arlo starts this week with a charming smile and a meticulous man bun.

Who can resist these sweet cheeks.

Working on our "smile"!

Stealing Mum's lunch. Whatever it is, it's always better than Arlo's.

Highlight of Arlo's day, everyday: watching 2 minutes of a Zamboni driving around a rink. The only screen time Arlo gets.

Oh boy, where has this green sauce been all my life?

I'll just work on this cup, guys. You go on and enjoy the donuts.

Donut (n) : a vehicle for eating the sweet green sauce.

Napping together.

Watermelon break!

Aha! You hold the green handle and eat the pink part.

Like this?

Dad is very proud of his long rainbow car; Arlo couldn't care less.

Rainy season has arrived in Bangkok! It beat the tourists.

Enjoying a walk around the block, during a dry patch. (Well, mostly dry.)

Ice cream time!

Painting time! Arlo hasn't done painting in a few weeks. And he's "comfortable" using his fingers this time.

The brush is preferred though, despite the facial expression.

That big blue blob? Arlo squeezed it out of the paint bottle himself.

Making use of the entire canvas!

And after painting: there are no clothes left to wear.

Arlo found the most comfortable seat in the house.

This is the best way to read a book.

More duplos means.... taller towers!

Arlo says, nope! Not partaking in this nonsense!

Families that pop bubble wrap together, stay together.

Concentrating really hard.

Talking to Granny mid-day! She must be nearby!

And going to visit our soon-to-be-guest at her new abode.

There's Granny up there!

And our weekly durian update: lots of leaves, and now much more comfortable in full shade.

Bangkok Week 686

August 19, 2021

Arlo turns 1 year and 11 months this week - uh oh! And we were fortunate to receive not one, but two deliveries from Trat! Otherwise, it’s another week at home.

Arlo turns 1 year and 11 months old today! Uh-oh. Only days left until we have ourselves a terrible two!

Leisurely stroll around the block. (Spot them?)

One of Arlo's home-grown sports: bounce the volleyball with the stick!

It requires a really good wind-up.

And a whack!

Another new sport: toddler-lifting.

You score points for height, giggles, and hanging on.

Arlo had almost forgotten how enjoyable it is to watch K. Wan wash the windows.

Breakfast on Mum's lap, hmm?

Cherry Tomatoes, with a side of the Tiger Who Came to Tea.

Check out this masterpiece: the Ekkamai Ice Resurfacer.

Nice, cold watermelon.

Learning that the green part is the handle.

Unimpressed by the tall car of his own making.

Delivery from Trat! All sorts of prepared foods and chilled goodies.

Arlo digs into one of the egg dishes that Yaa sent, right away.

And Mum has the just-received Green Curry with Roti -- the traditional accompaniment.

Mop-mop-mopping the floors. He's getting good!

But wait, there's more! A second delivery from Trat: this one with room-temperature things.

Arlo wastes no time sinking his teeth into the apple.

In case you were wondering: not only is the Durian still alive, it seems to be sprouting some branches.

Arlo's new Big Boy dining chair. He approves!

Peeking into the kitchen to direct the activities.

Talking to his Puu and Yaa; see you next week!

Bangkok Week 685

August 12, 2021

NotALockdown still in effect; but Arlo has plenty of toys at home. And we celebrated our second Mother’s Day this week, too, with special brekkie and a special outing. Thank you, Arlo and Dad!

Arlo's learning how to take photos on the phone! Here's one such masterpiece.

Celebrating Friday night with Indian; we haven't had that in months.

Enjoying a Saturday morning (Thai-style) donut.

This one's not bad either.

And doing some arm exercises with the band.

We can send this band to Granny when she gets here.

Sunday morning stroll around the block.

Enjoying black bean ice cream.

Cheers!

It's railroad construction time!

A fancy figure-eight!

Watching the train go round-and-round.

And finally, it's time for Operation Pomelo.

Good thing I had my trusty helper with me!

Over 30 seedlings had sprouted!

The finished product: let's see how many survive the trauma.

Arlo is getting really skilled with his cleaning techniques.

Lazy morning!

All smiles.

It's pool time!

Arlo takes his pool time very seriously.

Lucky Arlo got a new book; absorbing all the details.

Enjoying fresh-from-the-cob sweet corn.

Arlo ordered Mum fresh croissants from Paul for Mother's Day. And he can't wait to dig in.

Yum!

Wishing Granny a happy Mother's Day too.

Thank you, Arlo and Dad!

But wait, there's more: a healthy serving of watermelon, too.

And requisite morning stroll around the block.

Special activity for a special day: toenail painting!

Arlo's intrigued.

Showing off his new toe nails, and nibbling corn-on-the-cob. What a holiday!

And a late-afternoon trip to Sweet Poppy, to get some outdoor time.

It's a lovely, surprisingly shaded, large property up in Nonthaburi.

Arlo's very enthusiastic about the slide.

Again! Again!

He even discovered a snail living inside a hole at the top of the slide.

Checking out the house.

He even met a little girl who was very interested in playing together. But our pandemic boy didn't really know what to do.

Arlo was interested in trying the big slide, but isn't yet coordinated enough to climb up on his own.

He made it up!

And happily slid back down the big slide!

That was fun!

And then he did it at least another 5 times.

More! More!

Taking an ice cube break.

A nice place to spend the afternoon; too bad it's a bit of a hike.

Procrastinating as we head back to the car.

And the week wouldn't be complete without an update on the Durian. Still alive!

Bangkok Week 684

August 5, 2021

Another week in NotQuiteLockdown. Arlo gets some exciting new arts and crafts supplies!

Enjoying a Friday reading of "Jack and the Flumflum Tree" with Dad.

Arlo can't believe his luck: ketchup for lunch again!

Savoring every finger tip.

Double-whammy! A blizzard in the afternoon!

Reading the latest Technology Review issue with Dad. Dad's starting him young.

Arlo insisted on measuring his height with Mum. Who blocks out the entire tree.

Sunday morning stroll.

Arlo's curious how Bella suddenly got so tall.

Getting good practice with Bella on the leash.

That blob of blue paint? You want me to touch that one?

There! I did it!

Always much more comfortable with a paintbrush.

Indeed, with a paintbrush in hand, this artist runs free.

Hello, Mum. Can I help with your lunch?

Arlo is getting very good with his Duplos.

Peeking under a neighbor's garage, to see the "sleeping car" inside. The highlight of Arlo's walks.

Arlo got a new colored pencil set! These are so much better than crayons!

Evening treat: a spatula of peanut butter.

Even Arlo is a little stunned.

Pool time.

Impulse buy from the ice cream man: black bean popsicle. Arlo ate the entire thing.

In case of any doubt, Arlo picked his outfit today.

Reading about Clifford over lunch.

Now that Arlo has a step stool, he can casually chill at the kitchen counter and see what everyone is up to.

Arlo's new favorite game: stripping all the covers off the couch to reveal "Arlo's bed". (Uh oh.)

Pineapple popper!

Bedtime snack with Dad: peanut butter.

Meaning, Arlo will just scrape off the peanut butter, thank you very much.

Yep, that's the best part.

And a quick overview of how the pomelo sprouts did this week.

Can't say the durian is showing as much progress... but at least it still seems to be alive!

Bangkok Week 683

July 29, 2021

At long last, K. Noi is back and everyone is happy. Meanwhile, the fruit garden is making a comeback…

We begin this week with Arlo's signature Bella Bum Hug.

The most ergonomic way to use a skateboard.

Wait! Mum has an even better idea.

Zoom! What a fun game! (Maybe Arlo should be wearing his helmet...)

By some miracle, Arlo's limes have found another life and grown some healthy, fresh leaves.

This one, too! Only full sunlight and lots of water from now on.

Saturday morning stroll around the block.

Sitting on the step ladder. Arlo's wondering why he's never seen this before.

Reading books with Dad...

...and enjoying a hearty snack of pumpkin pancakes.

Lying on the "Mum Bridge".

Showing Grandpa how he can zoom around the table over-and-over.

Pizza, and a gold medal match (on a very tiny screen) for Thailand.

Sunday morning breakfast treat: French toast.

The toast isn't bad...

...but Arlo was all about the maple syrup. ("Sauce", as he calls it.)

Here, Arlo demonstrates why he likes going for walks after the rain.

Getting so good about wearing his mask.

Arlo wants to walk Bella.

He got the hang of it pretty quickly.

Bella came to help caption the photos.

Practicing his stacking skillz.

Between his twinkle toes and butter fingers, it's a small miracle the tower is that high.

Ohmygoodness, Arlo got a scooter! We were going to sneak it into the house, but Arlo spotted it right away.

Barely let Dad assemble it first.

Squirmy monkey.

Enjoying pink noodle soup; he'd been talking about it for ages.

Uh oh! Dad got desperate.

Before and after. Thoughts?

Everyone watching the outside activity attentively.

Arlo thought the vegetable Dad was cooking with looked just like the carrot tree in "The Carrot Seed." He was right!

Lazily talking to his Yaa.

A little assistant, here to help with the slides.

And the Arab man is back, to inventory our books.

Here, you see how much our Pomelos have grown from Friday to Friday!

And this is the Durian over 5 days.

Bangkok Week 682

July 22, 2021

We survive a week without K. Noi, as she stays home after crossing paths with a household full of COVID cases. And I spoke too soon about the parks still being open. They closed again indefinitely this week. Oh well, so it goes…!

Friday morning entertainment: the coloring page in the monthly BAMBI magazine.

Arlo did what was asked of him: he made it a colorful page!

Driving his trains along the track he built all by himself.

Hop on Pop: what an enthralling read.

Arlo likes this story too, about a lost mule, but the moral is a bit questionable.

Eating pizza bones (a new word he learned from Sally) for lunch.

And trying on the new big boy shoes that his friend Kate just passed onto him.

If the shoe fits, wear it!

Afternoon self-entertainment.

Saturday morning park, before it gets too hot!

Plodding around in his new shoes.

Checking out the daisies... "funny flowers", as Arlo calls them.

Chasing after the tennis ball.

Playing catch with dad. (Meaning, Dad fetches the ball from every which direction.)

Giving his new shoes a rest.

Turtle-spotting.

What a natural selfie pose.

Inspecting this palm fruit that he found bobbing in the water. (He called it a coconut.)

Yes, there are indeed turtles.

Great view of the trains; if only we were facing the other way!

Great views from up here, Arlo concurs.

It's fun to ride on Dad!

Stopping to say good-bye to the life preserver before heading home.

What's waiting for Arlo at home?!

This fat, juicy Polish goodie.

Painting: slightly more willing to touch the paint with his fingers... but he's asking for the paintbrush.

Arlo specifies exactly which colors he wants, and where.

Finally, the paint brush!

The last step to complete his masterpiece: roll the brush around over the painting.

Shucking the baby corn that Yaa grew in Trat.

Ta-daa! Exactly what you would expect inside a baby corn husk: a baby corn!

Selfie with our other child.

Sunday morning, books and breakfast.

Getting ready for a walk around the block.

And he's off, with lightning speed and record airtime!

Oh wait, that's a neat plant.

Good job Arlo, keeping your mask on the entire time!

Enthusiastically sending birthday wishes to Uncle Chad!

Dad got Arlo a new pool toy: a swimming whale.

Very pleased with how the whales swims.

Afternoon park visit this time. Walking along the railroad, says Arlo.

Getting better as he goes.

Stopping to say hi to his favorite life preserver.

Admiring the beautiful lotuses.

Although he seems to prefer sticking his hand deep in the murky water.

Puddles are all the craze now, too.

In fact, they're so neat, we have to touch them.

Excuse me, did someone forget his mask?

This pretty much sums up every minute of every day.

More turtle spotting.

In fact, 4 turtles came over to see us at once.

Getting a good look at this millipede.

Yes Arlo, you may touch the fountain before we go home.

New week, new tattoo!

And another masked walk around the block.

Sitting patiently, waiting for the bus.

Bella, doing her impression of a rotisserie chicken.

Arlo's new tummy time pillow.

Counting the bounty he was just sent from Trat.

And this lunch, Arlo learns what ketchup is! How come he's so comfortable sticking his fingers in this red gooey sauce, but not finger paint?

And enjoying the raising + cranberry bread that Quinn and Rohan's mom sent.

Here, just to make a point: we have a whole spread on it, in the Picturepedia.

Delish!

Hmm! The tummy time pillow is up on the couch today.

Finally, Mum let me out of the house! In celebration of the Olympics, going for a sprint around the block.

Matching!

Home stretch.

Inspecting the latest addition to his garden. He approves, I guess.

And Arlo's helmet has finally arrived!

Now he's all ready to bike, scoot, rollerblade... or just walk around the house.

Matching!

One last, impromptu visit to the park on Wednesday afternoon, since they just announced the parks will be closed again starting tomorrow!

Good-bye, my favorite waxy red flowers. See you again sometime.

What cuties!

Well, the smile is hit-or-miss.

Trying some home-made lemon cookies that a colleague sent over. Arlo approves!

Teeth shot!

And having fun with the filters. See you next week; we'll be here!

Bangkok Week 681

July 15, 2021

Arlo turns 1 year and 10 months old this week! And he has another swimming lesson; unfortunately, it’ll be his last one for a while, since the COVID situation is only getting worse. At least we still have the parks!

We start this week with some good old water play.

And by water play, we mean opportunity to water the flowers!

Look what just arrived from Trat: baby corn, fresh off the stalk!

Friday evening stories are the best kind of stories.

Saturday swimming! Arlo ended up having a private lesson.

Practicing his kicking... when he feels like it.

And collecting all the sinker toys. At his own leisurely pace.

And practicing his underwater swimming.

Swimming all the way to mum!

Time for a stroll around the neighborhood.

Enjoying the view from his stroller. Hurry up, Dad!

Hey look, Bella has a central role in Room on a Broom!

Plant-based meat is all the rage here now. Trying these nuggets on for size.

Arlo's never seen anything quite like this. Is it natural?

Trying his nugget, flanked by friends on either side. (At his insistence.) Verdict? The outside is good!

Studying every detail of Clifford's Sports Day very carefully.

Pay attention to me, too!

Our bushes are flowering. I didn't know they could do that!

Rains have stopped and skies look clear enough to pop over to the park.

Arlo's excited.

Turtle-spotting. Ain't gonna see no turtles underwater given how murky this pond is.

A candidate for the timeless classic: Thais Pointing at Things.

The park is so empty; and these flower petals are so bright!

Hmm. Which petal to pick up?

And checking out the different types of leaves.

And sticks, and twigs... and occasional snack wrappers.

A turtle! What's he doing all the way over here?

Taking him back to the pond; although by the looks of things, he's quite intent on getting to the BTS.

Trading leaves with Dad.

Wow, those are some giant leaves, Mum!

"Arlo wants to sweep!" But a palm frond is a bit less ergonomic than a broom.

Park is so empty, Arlo has this climbing sculpture all to himself. (Maybe also because it's surrounded by pure mud.)

New tattoo time!

"Wait for it to dry, Arlo!" "This one?"

Monday splash time.

Enjoying the showers and flowers.

Popping a wheelie.

Arlo wants a scooter so badly. Pretending his bike is one.

Enjoying the evening breeze; on the rare dry night.

Doing The Robot.

And enjoying his prune. No one has ever made a prune look so scrumptious.

Imitating Peter, a young character in a book.

Silly Peter!

Arlo and Bella: a story in three panels.

Nice nice, sitting with Bella.

Best buds.

Good morning, Arlo. Where are your pants?

Enjoying the morning.

Arlo turns 1 year and 10 months old today: measuring up!

I feel like we have an Olympic sprinter in our house whenever we take these photos.

Midday storytime with Mum.

Funny book!

Cooling off in the afternoon.

Arlo the fashionista: brown headband and matching leather belt.

Good morning, Thursday.

Trying out the new Oximeter that Mum got from work.

Wefie: "Arlo, smile with your teeth!"

Double-whammy: check out this bear cookie that was just delivered to Mum. Also from work.

Delicious bear!

We close this week with some ribbon dancing. See you next time!

Bangkok Week 680

July 8, 2021

Arlo the Explorer is really into all the plants, trees and leaves at the park. And he also restarts his swimming lessons after almost 3 months outside the pool. Hooray!

Arlo got a new (used) bike! A much better size for him... if only it would balance!

Reading Arlo's new (home-made) Zamboni book.

Telling Dad about all his trucks.

Rainy afternoon...

... so rainy, Arlo thinks he needs an umbrella.

Saturday: new day, new sun. Same ice resurfacers!

Off to the park for an early visit. So many things on the ground!

Oh look, a leaf, says Arlo the explorer.

Wow, a giant flower within arm's reach!

And it's even pointing down to face little people.

Taking stock: where to go next?

And giant red cone flowers.

Running with gusto... until he tripped and banged his lower lip on a stepping stone, of course.

A consolation ice cream stick.

Unsure at first, the verdict is in: it's good.

Arlo's a big boy, he can eat this on his own.

Although the heat doesn't help.

Uh oh! A little too messy for someone's taste.

Turtle-spotting.

And bandaids and ice cubes are right over there.

Doing well, walking by himself around the entire park.

Looking for cats in the flowers.

Happy to see Bella after a morning away.

Mum and Dad have a nice special dinner. Too bad Arlo is asleep.

Dad's all the craze.

Copying everything he sees: and this is how Mum clips his toenails.

And his fingernails.

Mr. Stylish. Winter hat and no pants bike ride.

Eating lunch altogether. Never as easy as it should be.

This time, it's a late-afternoon trip to the park.

He knows how to entertain himself: throw the tennis ball, and then go chase after it.

The great ball-chaser.

Look! A huge tree!

Interested in the bright yellow daisies.

Getting good and close for a whiff. Nevermind the bees!

Arlo doesn't know what to do when his bird of prey just sits there.

Beautiful Bangkok.

Refreshment break!

Water break! It's a warm afternoon with no breeze!

Walking through the maze.

Look, there's Alba!

No swimming today, but a splash in the wading pool is a consolation.

Talking to his Puu and Yaa at the same time.

Bella, Mum's co-worker.

Here's the fashionable biker, at it again.

Must be the end of the day.

Time for Arlo's swimming lesson, at a new school this time!

Arlo can't wait!

Nice, big, built-for-purpose pool with salt water.

If you're happy and you know it, jump up and down!

Practicing his kicks... although we're supposed to be relaxing on our backs, practicing the back float.

Action shot: jump!

Practicing his kicking.

And practicing his balance.

Checking out every toy (so many new ones!) in the basket.

Pouring water over Arlo's head.

And gettin ready to do an underwater swim.

Swim to mum!

And jump from standing. So much fun!

After swimming, Arlo is so hungry he could eat a whole eggplant!

Looking for a kangaroo.

It must be in here somewhere!

Playing with an edible flower.

Good night and see you next week!

Bangkok week 679

July 1, 2021

Parks have reopened! Let’s hit ‘em all up, before they get closed again!

We begin this week with Bella, who's trying her best to help Mum at work.

"Hello?" Arlo is interviewing for the receptionist role.

Excited for Friday!

Keeping watch over the neighborhood.

Spot Bella in all this clutter! Hanging out with Mum as she closes off some last things before the weekend.

Enjoying the jam donut we promised him almost a week ago.

Burning some of that donut energy on a game of basketball.

Back to the park, at long last! It's been 3 months since we were last here!

Which way to go first?

Arlo's not sure.

Pretending he's not excited to be here.

Ooh, Arlo remembers why it used to be so fun to come here.

It seems many other families have the same idea as us!

Continuing around the pond hand-in-hand.

Who's more excited to be here?

Where did Dad go?

Arlo doesn't seem the least bit concerned.

The volleyball court looks really appealing. If only we could go in there...

Snack break.

Arlo's favorite feature of the park this visit: the big, round life preserver.

Enjoying delicious egg sandos for lunch, with melt-in-your-mouth chili-cheddar sourdough.

Working on his supercar.

Sitting cross-legged "like P'Noi" and concentrating hard.

Quick afternoon stroll around the block.

The only exception we make to zero-screentime: to watch Zambonis on Youtube.

Mr. Bun, sitting politely with Dad, reading a book...

... and savoring an ice cube!

Sunday: time to continue our park tour at Nong Bon.

Wrangling the crew: let's go that way!

Arlo decides he's old enough to push his stroller now!

Nice, shady, and windy!

Found himself a nice small stump to sit on.

Carefully climbing over roots.

This stick was with us for more than half the walk.

Enjoying a cool evening breeze and an ice cube.

Monday morning special: a new tattoo! Drying it patiently.

Uh oh, someone is ready for a nap! (Hint: it's not Arlo.)

Rainy evening: this calls for an umbrella while we play piano.

Well, at least the performers are dry!

How generous of Mum to hold the umbrella while Arlo plays.

Artistic energy calls for a change: swap the umbrella for a bike helmet, pronto!

Enjoying the umbrella well after the rain has ended... the next day.

Just your typical dish rack.

Uh oh! Storm's-a-comin'!

Rainy evening story with Dad.

Here's Bella again, back to help with the slides.

Our naked little gardener.

Hello in there? I changed my mind...

I think I see a typo!

Eating lunch with Dad.

And saying good night to his Puu and Yaa. See you next week!

Bangkok Week 678

June 24, 2021

We sneak in a trip to Trat, for the first time since last December. Lucky Arlo had lots of fun and attention.

Wrapping up Friday night with some puzzles.

This is Arlo's concentration position for doing puzzles.

Bringing coals to Newcastle? Making more pumpkin bread (with the giant pumpkin from Trat that's still around and kickin').

And we're off! Bella's excited to be in the car; Arlo has a feeling it might be a while.

Arlo's enjoying himself (lots to see outside!) and Bella's settled in.

Don't get to see these often: a truck transporting raw rubber.

An early nap for Arlo; Bella wonders, are we there yet?

Finally, we're here! Puu's tuk-tuk is waiting for Arlo.

Arlo insists on sleeping on the big bed... with Mum.

Afternoon splash time!

We realized during the drive that our A/C coolant needs a top-up. Top's friends are here to help!

Helping (?) sweep the house... both with broom and door mat.

And now that the floor is clean, it's time to cycle!

Teamwork!

Watering the plant. (The poor plant probably got enough water for 2 weeks.)

And here's where the tiny boy slept all night.

Delighting himself on Sunday morning by pushing a chair around the kitchen, making an awful screeching sound. At 7am.

Just checking out the fish, to make sure they still have enough water...

Looking around Top's shop: so many cars!

Oh look, another giant pot of rainwater.

Haven't scooped any water yet today, let's get going!

From one pot to the other.

A different 3 generations.

Gee, something must be interesting.

How come this cat doesn't have a tail?

Just hanging out with his Yaa (and Tong), chatting away.

Look! Bananas!

And coconuts! Yaa is such a pro at picking them.

Arlo is delighted when they thud on the ground.

Can Arlo help to carry them back to the house?

He got one!

It took many tries, but here it is, at the house. Good work, Arlo!

This really is Yaa's specialty.

Trying his first-ever fresh coconut juice. Yum!

Splash time again, this time with the sprayer!

Another tour of the garden. Look at the beautiful orchid.

And Arlo spots a tiny snail.

And another tiny snail. So tempting to touch it!

And Arlo-height papayas.

And a new bed of (baby?) corn, planted just for Arlo.

Doing another tour of the property with Yaa.

Arlo really likes these spinny can things; although when he asks what they are, it's hard to answer.

And he really likes this "bell" from Granny and Grandpa.

Going for a walk on a (nicely maintained) road through the rice fields near the house.

Checking out this giant contraption that Arlo has certainly not seen before.

Running ahead... and getting quite the leg workout.

Puu and Bella spot a felled tree, filled with these interesting birds nests.

Very geometric birds nests (that have inspired wicker furniture, too).

Unfortunately, the tree is also filled with bees!

Continuing along. Hurry up, guys!

Bella is enjoying Puu's pace.

Dragonfly and scarecrow.

Excited to have found an Arlo-sized bridge.

Ready to start running again!

Let's get our run on!

Walking carefully along the yellow line.

The calm evening fields.

Someone didn't want to turn around and head back to the car. So he got the royal treatment.

Okay, this is kind of fun, too.

The next morning, just hanging out in the kitchen with Tong.

Nope! Not up to anything!

Checking out the upstairs for the first time. It's big and empty, but for a broom!

Getting some pre-trip treats from her new best friend.

Hanging out with Yaa one last time before heading back.

Arlo is telling jokes.

And hanging out with his Aa Top.

Posing with Aa Top's new CNC router.

Oh no. Does Arlo have to say good-bye to Puu, too?

Bye-bye. Bella and Arlo would be happy to stay.

Full group shot.

Doing a round of wai's. How polite.

Bella's wondering, what!? Back in the car again!?

An early, but decent-length nap for Arlo.

And a scenic rest stop, friendly for the whole gang.

Changing the soiled diaper au naturel.

Even though we're back in Bangkok, Arlo is still keen to water the plants!

Someone's bangs are getting long.

Nice evening breeze: can open the office right up.

Showing off his full pony-tail. (Gangsta-style.)

And practicing wearing a mask.

Our MIT Technology Review magazine came with this stamp. So many questions!

New slogan on the 'lifestyle cafe' down the street. Quite certain they didn't think about what they're implying...

Reading a book to himself over lunch.

Really, really into his book.

Two durians and 6 kraton, freshly sent from Trat. Wait, weren't we just there?

The hard work done. (At least for one of the durians.)

Pretending he doesn't know who spilled that water around the plant.

Long bangs and big smile.

Reading himself a tiny book. It might also be a manual for the camera in his room.

Bella asking for some TLC, while Mum is hard at work.

Bangkok Week 677

June 17, 2021

Arlo and Bella check out a new dog park; Mum makes pumpkin bread to last a lifetime; and lucky us, we receive another shipment of fresh fruit from Trat! Keeping busy during COVID.

Got Arlo a new mattress to bring to Trat: everyone try it out!

Dad's finished his vaccine regime. Yay!

Just waiting 30 minutes to make sure nothing dramatic happens.

Back at home, Mum puts her baking skills to the test, to use some of this giant pumpkin to make pumpkin bread.

The end result.

Just hanging around on a Saturday afternoon.

Waltzing with Dad.

Sleeping, hand-in-hand. (Head-on-hand?)

Where are we off to, with Bella in tow?

The dog park (as Arlo calls it, anyway).

This doggie playground used to be right behind our house, but they just moved beyond On Nut.

Arlo probably enjoyed it more than Bella.

Look, a flower!

Riding on the stationary dogs.

Arlo's probably wondering why it's not rocking.

"Can we go home yet?"

Back at home, Arlo eyes his afternoon snack.

Delicious! (Not to toot my own horn, but it did turn out well; the fresh ginger helped!)

Sunday morning walk around the block.

Wow, another pumpkin snack!

Let's try painting again. It's been a while.

Well, it's more tolerable with a paint brush.

But it still makes for messy hands!!

Showing Mum his messy hands.

So messy!

That's it, this artist is DONE!

Drawing with P'Noi on Monday. Crayons are so much better.

Arlo turns 1 year and 9 months today! Time to measure up!

This is the face of someone who's figured out how the laundry rack works.

Oh boy, oh boy! Another box of fruit from Trat.

Everyone's taking a look at what's inside.

Yum yum! Arlo's first time trying mangosteen.

Our little samurai.

Then a mango truck came through the neighborhood, with prices too good to resist. Too bad we just got 10kg of fruit delivered to our door.

Dad just bought lucky Arlo a new book: the 100-storey house.

Any water in there? It's awfully dark...

Smile!

Arlo's latest fascination? Armpits! Where's Dad's armpit?

Portrait of a monkey.

In three steps: how the creepy heart flower blooms.

Portrait of the boys.

Happy Birthday, Yaa!

And happy birthday, Auntie Julia! Another year older!

"Working" -- that's how Arlo describes this.

Mum inventories her pens and draws at the desk all day.

Still more pumpkin bread: snack up!

The moon! After a month of cloudy nights, it's finally back!

Enjoying the evening breeze, but not missing a chance to check on the pens.

We'll be here drawing; and we'll see you next week!

Bangkok Week 676

June 10, 2021

A fun weekend adventure outdoors, at long last. Arlo is learning to brush his teeth in the mirror, and he’s found himself a stylish new hat. And lucky Mum got a surprise AZ, too!

We start this week with a handshake between friends.

"Why is Bella's leg on Arlo's arm?"

Enjoying the cool evening breeze on the balcony.

Inspecting Bella's fur.

And getting some late-evening work done before bed.

Oh my. Is that a donut for breakfast?

Yes indeed, it's a strawberry jam donut.

And it gets Arlo's stamp of approval!

Arlo figured out that the clothes pin box actually makes an excellent hat.

Eating an ice cube in a tunnel. What could be better?

Reading Goodnight Moon together. Arlo knows this one pretty well by now.

Oh man! Afternoon rain.

Reading a book with dad, in the good company of his two piggy banks.

Showing how he can brush his own teeth now.

Morning exercise with Dad!

In the afternoon, we went to the park behind Mega Bangna; since it's privately operated, it's open!

Arlo's not sure where we are, but he's eager to go in.

And he makes a beeline for the fountains.

Need to learn some self control here.

Arlo's wondering why we're only coming here now.

Giant fountains that you can walk right into!

Can't believe what he sees.

Wondering if he should go back in.

These little fountains are a perfect height!

Wait, woah!

This is very wet indeed.

Dad's staying a comfortable distance away; we didn't bring a change of clothes for Dad.

Not very interested in running in the grass; only watching the fountains from afar.

Taking a stroll anyway.

Walking up the spiral treehouse.

And riding the escalators up and down a few times.

Intently watching some guys play basketball.

Bringing to life something he only knows from books.

Not keen to walk on the skyway himself.

Checking out the big leaves below.

"Smile, Arlo!"

Hey look, another water fountain!

What giant plant is this?

Can't help but go back to check out those fountains one last time.

Trying his luck.

Dad takes one for the team.

Drying off and fueling up.

This has been a fun afternoon!

Back at home, Arlo tells Bella all about his adventures at the park.

Bella's not sure it sounds like fun.

Getting ready for bed; teeth time!

Woah! Lucky me! Surprise AZ on Monday afternoon. Leftover dose.

View from the hospital; the old part of Bangkok always feels like a different city.

Putting away the laundry and sporting his new hat.

Yup, that's definitely a style.

Afternoon water fun.

And drying off the balcony after a rain.

Who's here!? Arlo is both excited and shy to see his Puu.

Showing off his skateboard.

All smiles.

Having a chat.

Arlo shows off what his potty is for.

Proud of himself.

Three generations of gentlemen.

Getting some work done before his nap.

What, you've forgotten your password?

Realized Puu was going home, and wasn't happy about it!

Off he goes; bon voyage.

Gee Dad, that face sure helps make this tomato go down.

Taking stock of all the pens in the office before bed.

Figuring out how to use a binder clip.

Bangkok Week 675

June 3, 2021

We finally leave the house — for this first time in almost 2 months — and take a late-afternoon visit to the sea! Otherwise, it’s more pandemic entertainment at home!

We begin this week with some Saturday chores. Thanks, Arlo!

Enjoying egg salad sandos on fresh melt-in-your-mouth sourdough.

Bella's nail clipper has finally arrived: and so her time has come.

Hugs from my babies.

Went to visit the pier at Bang Pu on Saturday afternoon.

It was nice and breezy; and with plenty of space for Arlo to run free.

Run run run, Arlo!

Ooh look, a colorful mural.

Now THAT is a big, fat seagull!

Low tide, and the mangroves.

Counting shells and waves with Dad.

What a convenient step! So easy to see into the water.

Group shot! Arlo's thrilled.

Heading back to land: this time, the wind is in our favor!

Having a rest. This is good leg exercise.

Arlo is leaving with hair twice as big as what he arrived with.

The next morning, Arlo learns about his motorcycles.

This is one of his favorite reading positions.

Drinking from a Big Boy cup.

Bella knows she's not allowed on this part of the couch... she's pushing the rules.

Affection from Arlo. Poor Bella.

Arlo is content to hang out with Bella on the cool floor all afternoon.

Smiling because Dad's letting him play with the frog tape dispenser.

Ronan's shape sorter is still providing Arlo lots of entertainment.

Reading about the Great Wall of China? Or up to no good?

Sunday afternoon. You know what that means: ice cream time!

Repotting Arlo's limes. Trying a Hail Mary to help them survive.

Arlo's helping very nicely: at the expense of his clothes.

Someone lost his pants.

And is happy to show off the rest of himself, too.

Helping to fold the laundry.

Someone has pen marks all over his face. Wonder how those got there?

Uh oh! Someone escaped from his bath with a key piece missing!

Meet Arlo's twin sister, Arla.

She's actually related to Red Fraggle.

Arla is a little bit taller than Arlo!

We got another shipment of (very ripe) rambutan from Trat. And also, this giant pumpkin!

Arla disappeared again, but this Arlo is up to no good.

Eyeing the subject of his affection.

Pucker up, Bella!

Mwah!

And another, for good measure.

Just lazing around, enjoying the evening breeze.

And watering the plants with Dad.

Time for some swimming!

The garden ended up getting a good watering, too!

More water for the warm plants upstairs.

Inspecting the ball. Dad helps keep Arlo's hair out of his eyes.

Peek-a-boo! Where's Arlo?

It's a holiday Thursday! That means: tractors first thing in the morning!

A holiday-special breakfast: ice!

The boys happily building away the morning hours.

More hugs for Bella, who's just trying to sleep.

I love you, Bella!

Mid-afternoon walk, while the sun is behind the clouds.

Oh man. Mum is making me paint again. This isn't fair.

Maybe if I just touch it with one finger.

Nope, that's still slimy.

Arlo's favorite part of painting is when the adult squeezes the paint out of the bottle.

Much better. Mum's the one getting her fingers messy.

This is much better: drawing with a pen!

The highlight of the painting experience: washing it all off afterward!

You missed a spot, Dad!

We conclude this week with snuggles and smiles. We must be looking at a Zamboni picture!

Bangkok Week 674

May 27, 2021

More adventures in Ekkamai 12: costumes, donuts, tattoos, improvised swimming lessons, and more! Oh, and Dad gets his first COVID vaccine, while Arlo gets his annual flu vaccine.

We start this week with a good-news update: someone got the first of his two vaccine shots!

Meanwhile at home, Arlo models his man bun in another hipster outfit.

Where's Arlo?!

A special new hat, which looks awfully like Arlo's Duplo box.

Hanging out with Dad, hearing about his vaccination story.

Reading a book to himself.

And modeling his special new costume: the Arab man.

Very excited by his hat.

Nope, it doesn't look like a dish towel. Not one bit.

Arlo's Duplo cars weren't good enough as cars: so now they are a train.

Saturday morning surprise: Paczki!

Savoring each bite.

Trying to get the icing stuck to his lip.

Arlo approves.

More donuts, please!

Staring into the selfie cam, admiring his masterpiece.

Time for a hot midday walk around the block, when no one else dares to be outside.

Time for our piano lesson.

Comparing his tractor to the one in the book.

Oh no! Donuts, part two? Say it ain't so.

The boys' wrestling match.

Is it a wrestling match or a tickling match?

Lounging around, enjoying the breeze before bed.

Dramatic night sky (and condos) hanging over our neighborhood.

Time to express our artistic side! An uncanny resemblance, right?

Oh boy, oh boy! Which tattoo to pick first?

Helping the school bus dry quickly.

Wait a sec, now there's a school bus stuck to my arm...

Another Arlo-made masterpiece.

Oh yes! Ice! Dessert came early today.

The two-handed technique. Only the most practiced ice-eaters know this one.

Selfie!

Finally cut that big tangle out of the back of Arlo's head.

Showing off his man bun.

Playing with play dough requires a lot of concentration.

Putting together his puzzle; he's almost mastered the 3-piece puzzles.

Dad's watering the plants: and everyone wants to go help.

Arlo finally gets his turn to help water the plants on the balcony.

And this one, too...

... and after watering the floor, we ended up reenacting a swimming lesson.

These pants come off outside.

Patiently waiting for someone to drop some food.

Dad, finally getting his Durian on.

Arlo approves!

Good Durian, Dad!

Arlo's excited by the new toy that Dad brought home for work: the massage steamroller!

Vroom vroom!

And despite being there for a flu shot, Arlo really enjoyed his trip to the doctor.

It was the first time he got out of the house to play in almost 2 months!

Pretend-washing his hands: Arlo's a pro.

He even went down the slide on his own over 5 times! By the time playgroups reopen, slides are going to be so passe.

"Is this one alright for you, sir?"

Pucker up!

And kiss kiss!

Snuggle time.

Rolling around with Bella is nice and relaxing, too.

Bella wonders where the blanket came from.

Telling mum one of his special jokes.

They've done a nice job cleaning up the guard hut and entrance to our moo baan. They even got new garbage cans!

Reenacting what he sees Mum doing all day.

This keyboard is "the same as Dad's", he said.

Oh wow! This speaker is the best wheel ever. It has lights and sounds.

"Hello? Hello? Okay, we'll see you next week!"

Bangkok Week 673

May 20, 2021

Arlo turns 20 months old this week! And we continue to patiently entertain ourselves at home as this COVID wave shows no sign of abating.

Arlo turns 1 year and 8 months old today! Clocking in for his monthly tree photo.

But Dad is still taller.

Arlo's newest play-thing (more pandemic shopping): a trailer tent.

Arlo likes it. Mum might like it more.

Wondering if he can enter via the exclusive tunnel entrance.

Posing with Bella.

Giving Bella a patented Hug-from-Behind.

Just looking out the window and standing on his skateboard.

Enjoying the breeze on the balcony.

Is that the moon?

Mum's little helper with the weekend chores.

He's a pro. He can help K. Wan when she comes back.

Reenacting one of his favorite baby photos.

Playing bubbles with Dad. Arlo only requests "big bubbles".

Pop! Right on the face!

Nap time for everyone!

After huffing and puffing, Arlo pops out one bubble of his own.

Bella having a Sunday morning rest before the Arlo monster wakes up.

Uh oh! Here he is, to say good morning to Bella.

Posing with the bike he's about to lend to his friend Ronan.

Watching the tractor (dozer?) video that Granny and Grandpa took for Arlo.

Wow! Look at that big, yellow tractor.

Playing with rice.

Well, we could have seen this ending from minutes away.

Sweeping sweeping. Even getting under the rug.

Psyched to have ended up with a fire engine through the toy swap.

Getting a good look at all its red goodness.

Another day, another early-evening breeze.

And more moon-spotting! (Or are they plane-spotting?)

Trying on another new shirt from Granny. It's almost long enough to be a dress!

Arlo is still enjoying the fire truck from Ronan.

Just lazing around.

See? Dad can fit in the tent, too!

Arlo can't get enough of this reenactment!

Good morning hugs for Bella.

"Save me! Save me" squeaks Bella.

All eyes on Dad.

Taking in the nice evening breeze.

What's this!? A Spiderman shirt?

Wow, this is a really cool shirt! Thank you, Uncle Top!

Speaking of Uncle Top, look what we just received from the back yard in Trat.

Spiderman was scared by the spiky rambutan at first...

...but it turns out they're really delicious.

Arlo's a fan.

Spiderman, getting ready to make his big move.

Caught trying to scale the fence.

This is the first and last time the stacking cups come up to the balcony. We almost lost the cups over the edge too many times to count.

Today, it's Hipster Arlo in the house!!

Modeling this outfit from Granny, with the attitude to go with it.

It looks even better with a man bun.

What a little model.

At least someone in this house can pull off a Man Bun.

Playing with his newest toy: a pumpkin.

Inspecting this eggplant. Are you sure it's not a baseball?

And tearing the banana leaves that the veggies were wrapped in. Because that's what banana leaves are for!

Uh oh! Khlong Ekkamai 12 is back tonight!

Poor Bella definitely did not get her walk this evening.

And modeling another (rather heavy) long-sleeved hoodie from Granny.

After one day in this thing, Arlo is wondering when the cool weather will catch up.

Wefie with Mum.

Someone's getting sleepy.

Bella's favorite nighttime activity: rat spotting.