Bangkok Week 832

June 6, 2024

This album is the remainder of the week, after we returned from Rayong!

Arlo said he was going to make a naval ship out of the green mats when we got home...

It's got a cannon and everything.

Tuesday morning breakfast on the ship.

Getting back into the swing of school after being away for 4 days.

It's art week, and the whole school is decked up accordingly.

It was also an opportunity for Arlo to show off the atelier.

This piece of art is part of the art auction. It features a great self-portrait by Arlo.

Meanwhile at home, Lucy had her friends over, since they had the Tuesday off school.

Slurping up her noodle soup at lunch.

Browsing the artwork on auction at school.

Lucy's embodying Flat Stanley today.

Looks about right!

Everyone enjoying ice cream for dessert.

Done her own, Lucy's now enjoying Dad's ice cream.

What to do if your brother is blocking your beanbag.

She couldn't quite figure out how to put on her pajama pants...

Playing the bells at school.

And using the drum sticks as rail road tracks.

Having fun at Nancy's house.

Arlo's new "globe of the world" arrived, and he loves it.

Standing up her bolts and nuts.

3.5 days away in Rayong

June 3, 2024

A non-stop long weekend of splashes, slides, swings, swims, shells, waves, and more - all at our favorite Rayong Marriott!

We're off to Rayong!

Lucy can't bear to face it, so she's burying her head in a bucket.

When we reach the hotel, Aa Top and Aa Nan are there waiting for us.

First order of business: lunch!

It's a special place, with this special offroader...

... and water buffalo!

Lucy was intimidated by them.

Freshly laid chicken eggs, by the farm's chickens.

Looking for the chickens.

Quick self-guided tour while waiting for lunch.

Found the chickens!

Arlo's inspecting this giant flowering cactus.

The whole lunch gang.

The entrance to the dining area.

Bon appetit!

More exploring after lunch.

Dad's showing Arlo how rice grows. So don't waste a single grain!

Smile.

Stopping to feed the water buffalo on the way out.

They're very tame, and very solid.

But they're not as chompy as the goats back at the farm in Bangkok.

Huge creatures: Arlo for scale.

Back at the hotel, our room is ready and someone is excited!

Great view; quality upgrade!

Taking in the sights.

Saying bye-bye to Yaa, Aa Top, and Aa Nan before they head back to Trat.

Big hugs.

Bye bye, Yaa. Thank you for coming to Bangkok to help!

This little lady is on a mission. To swim!

We tried the kids pool, thinking it would be (more) shaded than the others...

... it was shaded, but it also got the blustering sea breeze that was present the whole weekend!

Nevertheless, Arlo asked to have the water turned on in the splash zone.

And Lucy bravely ran through the rings.

Sheltering under a giant mushroom.

Queen of the pool.

Lucy also discovered that you really fly down the slide when wet!

Back in the room for some quiet time.

Snack time!

A late-afternoon stroll toward the beach; but stopping to see our fishy friends.

Lucy's inspecting the boats. Which one to take out?

Well, we've pretty much got this beach to ourselves!

It was so windy that we need rocks to hold the blanket down.

The sand play lasted for *about* 43 seconds....

... and then they were off!

Trying our darndest for some cute beach photos.

Behind-the-scenes.

Interest quickly turned to shells.

And studying the waves.

The waves were much bigger, and the wind much stronger, than at Christmas!

Run!

Another cute, but tricky one.

More behind-the-scenes.

Had we known this was going to be a wave-jumping session, we would've worn swimmers!

Wet, tired, but happy.

The same dinner as always, but inside tonight, because rain is coming.

Lucy enjoyed the mac & cheese.

Fun in the tub, and then zonk - to bed for everyone!

Early to breakfast the next morning: we were practically door-busters!

This went exactly as anticipated.

The wind is still strong!

The entrance to the Spa -- which we've never really noticed before -- is quite picturesque.

Turns out it's millipede season in Rayong!

They were all over!

I spy with my little eye... two monkeys!

Time for our morning swim!

We had the water slides (and the pool) to ourselves this morning.

Making use of the Go Pro.

Three thumbs up for the weekend so far!

Taking a swim to the far end of the pool. It looks more blustery than it really was...

... although it was raining on-and-off.

Here we are!

The goggle gang.

A few minutes of sand play, and then the skies really opened up, sending us running for the hills.

Lunch at our favorite restaurant...

... and then an afternoon stroll at the Rayong Botanical Garden.

"Botanical Garden" is a bit of a misnomer.

The highlight is the endless water filled with blooming lotus plants.

There was a very shaded walk through rainforest...

... that emerged in even more unique vegetation, and a very unique bridge!

A sign of the times.

The bridge!

The many kayakers *just* had enough clearance to pass under it.

Not for the faint of heart.

Heading back the way we came.

Lucy really enjoyed watching these fish!

Popping into the kids club.

Big kiss for giant bear.

We still had the place largely to ourselves; the weekend crowds were only starting to arrive.

Arlo's really into coloring now.

Chatting with another stair-climbing millipede while waiting for the golf cart to come.

Whee!

Late afternoon beach again: this time, we've learned from our mistake yesterday.

The waves are still good and strong, as is the wind!

Who knew wave jumping could be this much fun.

Stopping to play in the "muddy" sand.

And time to dry off via giant swing!

Getting some sand time in where it's a little more sheltered.

The crowds have arrived!

This little burrito is ready to head up!

Dinner is the same ol' menu, but served in the bar tonight (because the restaurant is hosting the Saturday evening "International Seafood Buffet".

Another morning, another breakfast. Getting a little better at this.

Ready with his sunscreen!

We came to try the "other" pool (the 50m pool right on the ocean) but it was too chilly!

So we'll take some selfies instead.

Lucy and Dad retired to the Kids Club long ago...

... and Arlo soon followed.

But oh my! The crowds have caught up with us! Look at the shoes outside the Kids Club!

One of what seemed to be only two bunnies there right now.

A first swing on the swings. This time, even Arlo enjoyed it!

Arriving at Wassana Fishing Village, where we had lunch over Christmas, too.

We had our own (hot) little gazebo over the water.

One kind table across the water from us invited Lucy to feed the fish with them.

Continuing along to another off-beat attraction.

But first! We parked next to this truck, and it was impossible to say no after Lucy saw that larger-than-life cone.

We're here to visit the HTMS Prasae, a ship that the Royal Thai Navy built during WWII.

Visitors can climb aboard the ship.

Lucy enjoyed turning all these "steering wheels"...

... while Arlo was much more interested in the "cannons".

A boat on a boat!?

Spot Lucy, Arlo and Dad!

Spot Lucy and Dad!

The area was undergoing massive construction & renovation. Normally, this is a green park!

Well, that was a fine sojourn off the beaten path.

Back at the hotel, it's time for more water slides!

Arlo is fully confident to ride on his own now.

Lucy still requires, and welcomes, some assistance.

Warming up on the sunny sand.

The sun has finally come out for our last day here!

Arlo was really interested in the tall shadows.

Dramatic lighting!

Someone has also mastered building with sand.

Third night's a charm: dinner outside, where we usually sit.

It's a nightly hair wash here, with all the chlorine, salt and sand!

Arlo-rex.

Bedtime stories are fun when everyone's heading to bed at once.

Well, I suppose this was inevitable.

Tough to beat this view from bed!

No trip to Rayong is complete without some table tennis.

Lucy can't believe it!

Running to show off the long fuzzy cat-tail-like flower he found.

Getting in some last slides.

And finally getting some time with the new basketball rig.

She shoots, she scores!

Toodling around on the noodles.

And coming to swim with the fish.

Oh my goodness, Arlo found a genuine four-leaf clover!

Spot Arlo!

Our little book worm.

Getting in some final swings.

In synchrony.

And offset.

Both of these Cirque du Soleil acrobats only wanted to be pushed higher and higher.

Bidding our final farewells to Rayong.

And the requisite photo-sitting-on-an-ice-cream-cone-chair at the PTT on the way home.

It's been a great trip! See you next time!

Bangkok Week 831

May 30, 2024

Mum’s back from India, and things are still in full-swing. Lots of swimming this week, gearing up for the upcoming long weekend away.

Mum's back from India, with a car for Arlo (as promised). He's thrilled.

Checking out the doors.

Big hug.

And jumping right back into the routine: swimming at 11 with Lucy!

Look at this cute little shark.

Uh oh! Watch out! There's a shark in the pool!

Comparing cars after school.

Arlo's trying the assorted nuts and dried fruits from India. He's found one that he likes...

... but it turns the tongue red!

Full dinner table!

Touching a fish bone for the first time. Yikes!

Yaa's bed is more comfortable than either of theirs.

This car from India is not leaving Arlo's side.

A lovely Saturday morning wake-up in bed.

Jok for breakfast with Yaa.

And an early stroll around the neighborhood.

Lucy's settled into her seat, watching Baa Wan outside.

These two modeling their new matching Indigo outfits hand-made in India.

The clown entertaining her audience.

The Heliconia on the balcony is flowering.

Vegging out with his Sesame Street Mecha Builders after swimming.

Lucky K. Wan has a new helper now.

Evening ice cream for these two.

Reading, while they're meant to be tidying up.

Good Sunday morning!

Everyone loves Stanley!

Patient Arlo sat through Lucy's entire (make-up) swimming lesson.

And then Arlo had a whole lesson of his own!

Two polar bears enjoying ice cream.

Monday morning, back at school.

Hamming it up for the camera.

Another cactus flower!

After-dinner walk.

Their new favorite hiding spot for hide-and-seek.

Lucy, tucked away in her reading corner.

Someone didn't want to get dressed this morning...

Arlo, pretending nothing is unusual.

Dinner and ice cream time again.

Arlo's last day of school before the 4-day weekend.

And Lucy's last day of work.

Uh oh! Looks like we're going to miss this cactus bloom while we're away! See you in Rayong!

Bangkok Week 830

May 23, 2024

Puu and Yaa come to visit; and then Mum heads off to India for 4 days. Kudos to Dad for holding down the fort so well! Oh, and Arlo is the break-out star of social media this week.

Uh oh, Lucy! What happened to your shirt?

Lucy is very proud of how she's managed to twist her shirt into tangles.

Milestone mileage for the red car.

Lucy is all ready for swimming!

Even though we didn't bring bananas, Lucy would like to have a seat at the table.

Lining up all the stickers he earned at Ninja today.

Lucky boy getting a piggy-back to the car.

Uh oh. Where's Lucy!?

Talking to Granny & Grandpa.

Hair's looking good, Arlo!

Special Saturday morning outing...

... to the new condo right behind the Moo Baan. Today is opening day!

Detail-oriented inspectors.

The whole gang came along!

Arlo and Lucy approve of this kids' room.

In fact, they made it into the Developer's Social Media post!

Great views of our Moo Baan...

... and our house!

Arlo rushed home to build a replica of the parking lifts that we saw at the new condo.

Uh oh! A kid-eating caterpillar.

Waiting patiently for Puu and Yaa at the bus station.

Here they are!

Someone is a little bit shy.

What good sports: Puu and Yaa step right off the bus, and onto a tuk tuk to watch Arlo's swimming lesson.

Special afternoon treat: one of the Kinder Surprise Eggs that Jasmine & Josh brought.

What's the surprise inside the egg?

Someone is enjoying a deep sleep.

Lucy is finally warming up to Puu and Yaa.

And trying her Kinder Surprise egg, too.

Unintentionally matching today.

Uh oh! Where's Lucy?

The balcony floor has become a slip-and-slide! Watch out!

Someone has mastered the art of funny faces through the glass... but I'm not sure she realizes it.

Extended family dinner! Welcome to Bangkok!

Arlo looks forward to eating his rice congee for breakfast with Puu and Yaa.

Just hanging out. And Lucy, what exactly is going on over there?

The big commotion in the Moo Baan this morning is that they're dredging all the drain pipes.

It's so interesting that Lucy can't even stop to get dressed.

Found some big pieces in the drain outside our house.

Uh oh! The neighbor drove their car wheel into one of the open grates! Happens every time.

A very high-concentration drawing session going on here.

Arlo is really into coloring things in these days.

Looking at Lucy's drawing together.

Caught red-handed, playing with the fishes' fountain.

Rehearsing for tomorrow's official tree photo.

A quick after-dinner dip in the pool...

... and then Mum is off to the airport.

See you on the flip side!

Monday morning - Puu is heading home today.

One farewell photo with everyone.

This is a fine opportunity for Puu to see Arlo's school for the first time!

Bye bye, Puu. Thank you for coming!

Lucy's official tree photo! She turns 2 years and 2 months old today!

Uh oh, Lucy.

Uh oh, Lucy. Caught red-handed again, this time washing your hands in the fish!

Lucy's excited to be off to her playgroup...

... where she's made a new boyfriend!

Mum is gone for 36 hours, and she finds herself a boyfriend!

One of the newer cactuses in the back has bloomed - and it's a lovely pinkish flower.

Cousins from Trat (who are now Bangkok-based) have come to visit Yaa while she's here.

And they brought fruit from Trat, too.

Thank you for the visit!

Arlo's doing some gardening.

This is our social media break-out week. Arlo is also prominently featured on the Annabel's socials.

Helping Dad to assemble the new stand fan for the kitchen.

Night night from Bangkok and the matching PJs. Good work all week, Dad!

A few clicks from India.

Lots of tuk-tuks (rickshaws) in the streets...

... and lots of cows (at least on the route I took from the hotel to the office).

See you next time!

Bangkok Week 829

May 16, 2024

Flat Stanley finally makes his school debut! The cactuses are blooming, and we visit two different public parks. But most importantly, perhaps, we stumble upon a restaurant with hedgehogs that makes Arlo’s (and Lucy’s) week!

It's here! The day we've all been waiting for!

Poor Stanley is ready to go to school!

Here we go!

An adequate likeness. Happy Book Week!

Then, it's off to swimming with Lucy.

With her goggles, she's muh more streamlined in the water.

Uh oh! Someone's spying on Mum during a call.

Yet another cactus flower. Tis the season!

Uh oh! Someone got into the sunscreen.

And someone is practicing wearing her flip-flops.

Back to Benjasiri Park, for the first time in a while!

Lucy's in her happy place.

But it's awfully sunny today!

Finding some shade amongst the trees.

Someone's learning how to pump on his own.

Chocolate milk break!

Seeking respite from the heat inside the new EmSphere mall right next door to the park. Turns out they have a floor of showrooms for *uber posh* cars.

How cute: the family bathroom has a little sink (and a little toilet) for the little ones.

Uh oh! Is rainy season upon us?

Wow! Another cactus flower!

And trying out the tractor pajamas.

Special donuts for Sunday breakfast.

And a new cactus paddle. This guy is now the tallest member of the household!

Checking out a new park...

... with a modest bike lane.

Turns out this park also has a fantastic, Toronto-style playground.

Unfortunately, it was also peak sun while we were there.

This playground would be perfect in the late afternoon. I bet it gets packed!

This park also has a great cactus garden.

Look at the flowers. How come ours has never flowered?

Sizing up the danger in this one.

Little Miss Red.

Last stop at the park: a little "Green" library.

It was actually a very nice little bilingual library for kids.

Reading 'Madeline in America' for the first time.

Then we stumbled upon a Restaurant out there...

... which happens to be home to all sorts of special animals that Arlo's read about (and seen online) but never in person.

The hedgehogs were an utter delight. He was so happy.

So many cute little hedgehogs!

Also Meerkats.

And more guinea pigs than you've ever seen altogether! (But they were clean.)

And ducks. Lucy loved the ducks.

There were also lots of talkative birds.

And very cute, fluffy free-range chickens roaming around.

Lunch is here! Arlo and Lucy thought the fries were delicious, but I suspect they were hungry.

Dad wants to get a chair like this for the balcony. It's a bit big, no?

Arlo was intrigued by the bird that was nibbling his finger.

Photobombing!

Lucy's back with her ducks.

They're on the run!

"Hi Ducks!"

Yum yum, pizza!

Arlo wanted a photo with a standing meerkat.

Lucky us! Right next to our table, they started bringing the snakes out to have a cool bath.

Brave Arlo touched a few snakes and this scaly orange lizard.

Lucy was fine just looking.

Well, that was a thoroughly exhausting morning, and - while Lucy stayed awake the whole ride home - someone else conked out.

We made a water gun playdate for the pool, so off goes Lucy with hers.

Waiting for the neighbor to arrive with his water gun too.

Oh! It's flat Lucy! Spitting image of the boy in the book!

Playing airplane with Dad.

We restocked the sprinkles for Arlo and Lucy's ice cream... but we might've gone overboard!

Sitting together in their milk corner.

Someone turns 4 years and 8 months old today!

Lucy invited Nancy over because she thought she found Nancy's ball in the street.

Speaking of playing, Lucy can't wait to leave for her Playgroup at St. Andrews. She said good-bye and walked right out the front door by herself.

Playing with slime today...

... and friends.

Meanwhile at Annabel's, Arlo helps Aya put her backpack "in the trunk of the car".

And helping one of the TA's put away the rocket ship.

Arlo found these lush green branches somewhere, and so of course had to bring them home...

... for Chompy.

Lucy the soda monster!

Our newest purchase: a cute little toaster oven, for those small things that can't go into the normal toaster.

Partners-in-crime: giving the fish a late-night snack.

And it's a very heavy midday downpour.

Mesmerizing!

Somehow, it stopped soon enough for Arlo's football to be outside.

Hugs or tackles?

Bangkok Week 828

May 9, 2024

It’s a busy week! Arlo and Lucy have a blast at Happy & Healthy Bike Lane. We have guests for lunch; enjoy a long-weekend; and many events at Arlo’s school throughout the week!

Welcome back! We begin this week with an exciting tennis match outside the window.

We're off to swimming!

Lucy's favorite part of swimming these days? Sitting in the lobby eating bananas.

After-dinner cycle to wind down the work week.

Opening a box of printer toner - how exciting!

Practicing being Flat Stanley.

Bring on the weekend! Lucy's ready!

Checking on the fish. Everyone still there?

Looks like everyone could use a nap.

At least a year after she brought it, someone is finally digging into the giant chocolate Toonie from Granny.

Fast asleep, even though we have places to be!

Happy & Healthy Bike Lane!

Everyone's favorite bike lane! But we haven't been here since February!

Lucy's off to the balance bike zone...

... while Arlo does some pedaling with the big kids.

There he goes!

If you look closely, you'll see Arlo in the BMX area!

Lucy insisted on riding one of the loaner bikes. "Big bike!". (I think she was referring to the tires.)

Someone's having fun.

Then, Arlo came along, and Lucy quickly realized that she wanted to ride in the pump track too.

And so, perhaps without realizing it, off she went after her brother!

Arlo was a great big brother. He was "showing Lucy around" (his words).

Double trouble on the hills!

Lucy quickly got comfortable with the track...

... often zooming right past her brother.

It's impressive to think that she only received the balance bike 5 months ago!

And now, it's almost dark. That's our cue to go home.

Another successful outing! (Major injuries averted.)

Sunday morning chill.

Lucy's wearing two fine braids today.

"In nature" with a papaya tree.

Students of the arts.

Some of Dad's work friends came to visit for lunch on Sunday.

They got the full Arlo + Lucy experience.

Helping to peel the Asian pears.

Another week, another cactus bloom!

The car's getting dusty, so the boys fixed the problem.

After her nap, Lucy decided to take care of her own wheels, too.

Flying with Dad.

Enjoying some commercial ice pops that Dad's colleagues brought earlier.

The first 2 baht that Arlo worked to earn: from watering the plants, feeding the fish, and tidying the playroom.

Today's a holiday for Mum & Dad, but not Arlo. So Lucy gets to play, "only child"!

Watering the plants...

..."working"...

... and matching the straws to the appropriate cups.

If you can't tell, this is "Lucy sleeping" on the stairs.

And this is Lucy being a monkey.

It's book week at Arlo's school, and they're pulling out all the decorations!

My question is, where do they store a pirate ship normally?

Late afternoon bike ride around the outside of the moo baan.

Reading bedtime stories together. So cute!

It's Stay-and-Play (or open classroom) on Tuesday at Arlo's school.

So the parents are welcome to come into the classrooms for an hour, do activities with the kids, and look through the learning journeys.

This is a detailed self-portrait that Arlo did the day he wore his white-and-black striped leggings.

Looks like we're caught red-handed.

It was an oddly dark and stormy morning, though. So it felt like nighttime outside!

Arlo's class and the others worked the day prior to make these sandwiches.

Performing "3 little fish and the big bad shark" for the parents.

The rain continues, and Lucy shelters herself appropriately.

Bear must come down with Lucy in the morning.

Arlo and Dad read stories every morning now...

... and Nimo often joins to listen.

These two finished their dinner and had early baths with K. Noi!

Nothing like evening entertainment!

Playing with the new nuts and bolts that Dad bought them.

Book week continues: today is "Teddy Bear's PIcnic" and everyone is invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal.

Chompy had a great time at Annabel's!

"Lucy, too!"

And finally, the new PJs are here!

No more complaining about tight PJs allowed!

Night night, enjoy your nursery rhymes, and see you next week!

Bangkok Week 827

May 2, 2024

It’s our last weekend with Auntie Jas & Uncle Josh - let’s make it a memorable one! We take a few more tuk tuk rides, get some shopping done, and explore some fun & cool shopping malls. Wishing them a safe trip home. Come again soon!

Otherwise, we’re using our hands to bake some banana bread, and make Flat Stanley for Arlo’s upcoming book week!

Oh! What's this? Dad's taking Lucy to swimming today!?

And yay, Jasmine & Josh are back from Bali!

Now this Thai monkey needs to take some photos of his own.

Catching up on lost time.

No evening in Thailand is complete without mango sticky rice!

It's the weekend, and Lucy heard we're heading out!

Waiting for the tuk tuk to arrive.

And we're off...

... to Terminal 21!

A cool way to look at some local shops.

First stop is the food court on the top floor.

Delicious fresh smoothies!

Lucy was really excited to pose with all the different figures. This one is "Boy".

And "Bear" (who also received many hugs).

And a life-sized nutcracker, of all things.

Arlo found a London tube train on the way to the bathroom.

And after much insistence, Arlo got to actually try the arcade race car.

He required a bit of assistance.

Funny, this drum-beating game was right up Lucy's alley!

Now heading -- by foot -- to EmSphere, the newest mall in the Emporium complex.

We're here on the promise that it has a great food court... and it really doesn't disappoint!

Arlo and Dad had to head home first for Arlo's swimming lesson...

... while Jas, Josh, Lucy and Mum stayed back for some souvenir shopping.

Somehow, Arlo had energy for a great swimming lesson!

They found the broom that they'd been looking for, for only 40 baht!

Cooling off with a late-afternoon dip.

Jasmine & Josh are part of the community now.

Oh Lucy, who's going to do this for you once they leave?

Lucy wanted to bring Bear for a tree photo.

Up bright and early the next morning to play remote control car.

And now that everyone else is up, one last opportunity to make breakfast with Auntie Jas!

Today's pancakes are banana, and Arlo's on the key job.

Lucy wanted to watch...

... and she seems surprised by what she sees!

Arlo's idea brought to life: one giant pancake!

Looking at Arlo's masterpieces together.

Low key Sunday morning with the peacocks!

The giant swing is even more fun with Auntie Jas!

The peacocks were on their best behavior for the special guests.

(Although from behind, they're not nearly as impressive...)

Exploring the treehouse.

Drinks are here! And one of the peacocks wants to see what we ordered.

Strong Lucy!

How beautiful!

Lucy doing her best selfie face.

Heading home!

Cooling down in the playroom.

Uncle Josh is helping Lucy refine her badminton technique.

Farewell lunch for Uncle JasmineJosh at everyone's favorite Mother May I.

Cheers to a great Southeast Asia visit!

Lucy is enjoying the deep-fried crispy noodle bed.

Showing off our complementary tourist dresses.

And after a 24-hour delay, trying the delectable Brassica donuts from yesterday.

Donut cheers!

And one last swim with Uncle JasmineJosh.

Look at these underwater divers!

Look at Lucy the swimmer.

Cheese!

Our best group shot; the sunglass thief is caught in the act.

This is what Lucy would look like with Auntie Jasmine's legs!

Big jump for Arlo.

And Lucy's heading down to the bottom of the deep end.

Showing off the ring-gathering skills that she's honed in swimming class.

Is that how to collect the rings, Lucy!?

Last good-byes with Auntie Jas & Uncle Josh, who are heading out at 4am the next morning!

Thanks for a wonderful visit! It's been a blast to have you!

Arlo's been wanting to bring his giant fire truck to school, and he finally had a chance.

And an afternoon trip to Arlo's favorite store.

Lucy is impressed by the book haul.

They are both entertained by the Sesame Street lift-the-flap book, now that we know the characters.

Arlo's discovered a new favorite breakfast: cocoa balls.

Someone's very excited to wear her backpack!

It's a holiday today, so let's bake some banana bread!

Lucy is sizing up the challenge.

It's her first time baking; so, some help is to be expected.

After the baking fun, it's time for some painting!

It took a while, but she finally got comfortable getting her hands messy.

The artist and her masterpiece.

And now for a small diversion: many new paddles on the giant cactus.

And another first for Lucy: shoping at Makro!

She likes it!

In fact, she's now the one doing the shopping.

Banana bread is ready!

Can we serve it now, Lucy?

Delish! Lucy ended up eating that whole piece!

Lucy found Arlo's "lost" Wawa (which was deliberately hiding above the washing machine) and she's very pleased with herself.

Now that Lucy's asleep, it's time to work on Flat Stanley!

Arlo's all ready for book week!

Lucy the explorer would like to spend some time outside.

Camping out with Clementine.

Arlo's collecting his stamps at the end of Soccer.

Playing with a nifty travel set for eating noodles, from 7-Eleven.

Gulping down her evening soda.

These two bookworms know how to delay their bedtime.

Bangkok Week 826

April 25, 2024

Jasmine & Josh are away in Bali this week; and so we fill the weekend with swimming lessons and playdates. Plus, an adventurous Monday & Tuesday while K. Noi is out sick.

Welcome back! Jas & Josh are off to Bali this week, but the orchid from the floating market is doing well in its new home.

Speaking of orchids, Lucy got her own mini-bouquet from Arlo & Dad.

Intently working on a carrot.

Oh my! Arlo's got glowing ears!

And Lucy is holding a ball of fire!

Duet time...

... but four hands are not enough for Lucy.

Oh dear. These two monkeys are dangerous when they work together.

Enjoying dad's cereal for breakfast.

Cutting out a memory game from one of his new Chirp Magazines.

Arlo and Lucy had friends over -- it's very convenient to find another pair of siblings the same age!

Heading off to (make-up) swimming... by tuk tuk!

In fact, Lucy had a private lesson!

She enjoys sitting at this table after class, to eat bananas.

Another huge cactus bloom!

The Sesame Street fan club right here.

I think someone is trying to provoke her brother.

This monkey turns 2 years and 1 month old today. Trying to game the photo!

Oh! Arlo and Dad also went to swimming by tuk tuk!

Starting to learn the "frog kick".

Arlo in a handsome Sunday shirt -- this one was from Granny last visit.

Again, someone has co-opted Dad's cereal for breakfast.

Lucy having another playdate - lucky Lucy!

Bye bye to An and Fiadh, who head back to London next week.

Lucy enjoying noodles for lunch -- adult style!

Special after-lunch treat for the two monkeys...

... Swensen's ice cream!

Another adult lunch for Lucy.

Uh oh! Dad's away for work and P'Noi is home sick. So Lucy and Mum have to take Arlo to school today!

Arlo saw an older schoolmate hanging by her legs ... so he wanted to try too.

Someone has made herself at home at school already.

And then, Mum & Lucy headed to Playville!

We were last hear almost a year ago; I'm sure Lucy doesn't remember it.

She was very courageous, and very independent!

Interestingly, she was very engaged with the make-up counter and all the (wooden) lotions and creams.

Going fishing together!

Putting babies to sleep.

Harvesting carrots.

Grooming the chickens?

"Washing" hands.

And lots and lots of sliding!

I was very impressed; Lucy was also able to climb up this "rock climbing" wall -- a shortcut to the slide!

We've picked up Arlo, and now it's Lucy's nap time. Can't you tell?

Watching Sesame Street while Mum takes a call.

Wrapping up a long day, with some playground time.

Dad and the monkeys.

Just hanging around.

Special lunch out for Mum & Dad, at a little Mexican restaurant down the street.

Bargain of the week: balancing stones! From the Japanese second-hand store.

And Project Flat Stanley begins! Stay tuned to see more! Bye for now.

Bangkok Week 825

April 18, 2024

Bring on the holidays! Jasmine and Josh are here — it’s the visit we’ve all been waiting for (for years)! Songkran is in full swing, and we experience hot and sweaty sightseeing like never before. It’s a fun week for everyone; Arlo and Lucy are especially excited to have “UncleJasmineJosh” visiting.

They're here! Bright and early on Friday morning, the honeymooners emerge in Bangkok ready to take on Thailand!

Lucy is wondering if she woke up in the right house or not.

Jas and Josh brought super-fun bubble guns!

Giving a tour of the moo baan. This is already proving hot and sweaty.

Getting the guests oriented with a trip to MaxValu.

What a great welcome lunch - fresh Pad See Ew!

Arlo is really testing Uncle Josh by showing him all his cars (when he'd surely much rather be sleeping; we already lost Jas.)

Post-nap dip to cool off.

And trying the mango sticky rice they (wasted no time) buying this morning.

And they're off to Chinatown! Hope we see them again!

Special breakfast the next morning: fresh pancakes!

Arlo's job - and he really can't believe it - is putting the chocolate chips on the pancakes.

Could they make an "A"?

The two chefs, and the "A"!

I've never seen Arlo eat breakfast this quickly!

Let's not forget that today marks the start of Songkran!

Happy new year, from these two monkeys.

And let the games begin, eh Lucy?

Everyone's all set to go!

And we're off to K-Village, our proven Songkran celebration spot.

Stopping first to pour water on the buddha.

Game on!

When they advertised "Shark slide", they weren't kidding!

Arlo can't wait to try it out (good thing we got there early).

I guess it was fun!

And again...

... and again.

Fitting right in with the locals.

I guess Lucy doesn't remember doing this last year. But she's not shy.

It got busy quickly.

Taking matters into her own hand, and grabbing a bucket.

Wait a minute, I thought we were on the same team!

A good time was had by all.

Cooling down with some drinks from my cafe.

What good sharing.

If Songkran splashing weren't enough for one day, we're off (via subway!) to the old city, to see the famous temples!

For Arlo (and maybe Lucy?) getting to ride the Subway was the highlight of the trip!

First stop: Wat Pho, home of Thai Massage and the giant Reclining Buddha.

Browsing the stalls.

Who did the pose better?

Wondering who this guy is.

Building his own sand tower as part of the festival.

Family shot!

Banging the giant gong.

Arlo and Lucy's first time visiting the giant reclining Buddha.

The bottom of his feet; last time we were here, they were covered by scaffolding.

Arlo and Lucy both had fun making merit by dropping coins into each of these many, many bowls.

Next stop is across the river! Heading over to Wat Arun!

The longtail boats on the river were busy that afternoon.

On the ferry. They've increased the price from 3 baht to 5 baht!

The temple giants.

Selfie with m'girl (while Arlo and Dad look for a bathroom).

There's Jasmine!

It's hopping at Wat Arun, too; they've got a special Songkran festival going on as well.

Thrilled to be here for the first time.

Lucy's making lots of friends at eye level today.

Aww, cat!

A likeness?

On the ferry heading back to the main side of the city.

Stopping to explain the "transit map" of the river boats, before heading home.

Pizza for dinner after what was a very, very, very long day.

Fast asleep before she even made it to her bed.

Enjoying leftover pancakes for dinner, before heading out for another exciting day!

Today, we're at Khlong Lad Mayom floating market.

A display of fighting fish right at the entrance.

These two pint-sized Songkran revelers are standing on a bridge over the canal.

We're going to do a canal tour before it gets any hotter.

Patiently waiting for our boat to arrive.

And off we go!

Stopping at an orchid farm...

... I couldn't resist, and we brought one home.

And heading back to land.

Lunch time! So many things to try!

But uh oh, it's getting busy! Better head out soon.

Last stop: ice cream.

Look at how much this tourist bought!

Enjoying Songkran Day 2, by ourselves at home.

The new orchid, in its new home.

Oh, and as always, Arlo celebrates a month-a-versary during Songkran. This boy is closer to 5 than 4 now.

Never one to be left out, Lucy takes a tree photo too.

This girl lugged Uncle Josh's giant water gun over to the pool all by herself!

It must be Songkran; there's no one else in the pool!

Auntie Jas and Arlo are making French toast this morning for breakfast.

The two hard-working chefs, sitting down to enjoy their work.

Here we are in Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam.

And boy is it hot here!

Posing with the famous tree-enshrined buddha head.

Who's this photo bomber?

Woah! Blue-headed lizard - good eye, Jasmine!

They give out umbrellas now for all visitors to borrow while here.

Group shot, after which we all melted into puddles on the ground.

Arlo's doing it right.

Stopping for cold drinks at a cafe right outside the temple.

Taking one of the funny fish-shaped tuk tuks about 200m down the road to the next temple.

That was fun!

At Wat Ratcha Burana, which is different because you can climb and enter the stupa.

That's where we're headed.

The view from the top (and the breeze) is nice!

It was cool, but also smelled a little suspect...

... because of all these bats living in there too!

Great views, but time to head down and back under the umbrellas.

Lunch at our favorite riverside spot. We were last here in 2017, with Julia!

Everyone is hungry!

Greetings from Ayutthaya!

These two ate very well. Granted, they ate fries and sweet potato fries. But they did well!

On the river, before heading home!

Trying the famous Ayutthaya snacks: Grandma's Hair!

It's a hit!

Relaxing with some Sesame Street.

Jas and Josh are off -- by pickup -- to their cooking class!

Our guests have left for Kanchanaburi, but we still have one day of holiday left...

... and so we're off to IKEA!

Everyone seems to enjoy the train these days.

And a long walk along the elevated skywalk.

Arlo investigated every room in IKEA!

Checking out the shower...

... and lucy did her best Goldilocks.

Making themselves at home in the bedroom.

Wondering why the shark is alseep in bed.

Playing in the kids area.

And the best part: 8 baht ice cream, dispensed by machine!

Heading home, monkey in tow.

Arlo could probably stand there looking out the window all afternoon.

Late afternoon activity today is biking. We need to give Lucy's cold a rest and take a break from swimming.

These two are real liabilities at the playground now.

That sparkle in his eye suggests he's up to no good!

Lucy is really into trying to dress herself these days.

Close, Lucy!

A visit from Ba Ratt, who adores Arlo.

Sitting there, enjoying the light under the island.

Enjoying museli for breakfast, influenced by dad.

Chalk time.

And the travelers are back after their 2 Thailand roadtrip!

Here's Jasmine, trying her best to clothe a 2-year-old.

Bangkok Week 824

April 11, 2024

We’re entering the Songkran season! Arlo’s school is on a 2-week break now, and the heat is at its peak. How can we entertain ourselves while keeping cool? Let’s find out!

It's the last day of school for the term, and they're celebrating Songkran (a week early, but nevermind).

Pouring the water on the Phra.

Arlo really wanted Lucy to come to school as well, which was very sweet.

By now, Lucy is totally comfortable at school and can entertain herself.

Watching her big brother on the monkey bars. Lucy will be next!

And trying her hand at Som Tum.

After dropping Arlo off at school, Lucy retreats to the office to "work".

Last swimming lesson before the Songkran break.

Special treat for Arlo after the half-day at school: ice cream with friends!

The seaweed has taken over the fish tank, so it's time to take it out.

Stylish monkey in her Native shoes.

Someone can climb to the top of the monkey bars and hang (for a short while). She's her own liability.

Nice lighting at sunset.

Lucy demonstrates how to cool off.

Someone knows how to help herself to milk now.

Another "picnic" breakfast.

Arlo's been asking for weeks to go to Rot Fai park to bike, so here we are.

Lucy prefers to hold onto Mum's shirt, not the handlebars.

It's awfully hot today!

Stopping for a cold water and cold juice break.

Even Arlo thinks it's too hot to bike!

Cooling off in the A/C'd entrance to the butterfly garden.

Looks like it's too hot even for the butterflies!

Time to head home! We'll need to save our biking for a slightly cooler time of year (or the late afternoon).

Arlo still has a swimming lesson in the afternoon...

... and then a visit from his friend Aya and her family in the evening!

We had lots of fun with the GoPro camera in the pool.

Arlo enjoyed swimming with Aya's older sister, Doreen.

Lucy easily touches the bottom of the big pool when she jumps in.

Where's Lucy?

And this is Arlo, mid-backward-summersault.

Everyone say, "Cheese Pizza!"

Playing "Memory". Arlo is finally getting the hang of it.

Uh oh! Where did all the kids go!?

Entertaining himself first thing in the morning.

Lucy's enjoying an egg for breakfast. A chocolate easter egg, that is.

An important message for Auntie Jasmine, whom we'll be seeing soon!

And a belated message for Granny.

Only trouble can happen when Arlo wields the hose like this.

Special trip to our favorite store on Rama 4!

Lucy had a blast, zipping around on a new balance bike. (She insisted on wearing the helmet.)

In this case, I think "big ball" is accurate.

This store is more entertaining than Harborland!

Special treat before heading home.

Trying out Dad's new purchase for the balcony.

Mum made brusselsprouts!

Dad with his two little monkeys.

It's never too early to wear Songkran shirts!

It's been exactly 1 year since we last came to Harborland...

... and so this family is back for our annual visit!

Lucy doesn't remember being here, so for her it was all new and uber-exciting!

The ball pits were a blast!

Going down the roller slide together.

Arlo was much braver and much more independent than a year ago.

Snack break!

Lucy adored all the balls.

And Arlo had his own ideas.

Arlo showed no hesitation when he scaled this giant volcano...

... and turned right around to slide back down again.

This air cannon was great entertainment.

Winding down with some quiet painting.

Lucy lasted for about 45 seconds...

... whereas Arlo actually sat and painted two cars.

The cactus was in full bloom, waiting for us at home.

Posing for portraits before nap time. (Procrastinating, I daresay.)

And finally tackling a task that's been long in the waiting...

... replanting all the baby cactuses!

Done for now! (But there are still 2 more adult cactuses' worth of babies that we've yet to tackle.

Arlo's latest purchase: sand timers!

Someone fell asleep on the guest bed, while waiting for Mum to finish her evening calls.

Taking inspiration from Princess Leia this morning.

New fish for our collection, courtesy of Larissa and her dad.

These will grow up to be beautiful metallic guppies.

Lucy's ice cream birthday cake is still providing dessert after dinner. Great value!

Waking up to watch the tennis lesson next door.

Sharing potato chips.

And biking into a beautiful sunset.

Bangkok Week 823

April 4, 2024

The summer weather is here, without a doubt. Highs of 38 all week, and the pool is warmer than bathwater. But we got a fun new pool toy, and Arlo got a cool new haircut! And we found the GoPro after all these years. Enjoy the heat!

Good morning, Bear! Have you seen Lucy?

Someone is very picky about her clothing choices these days.

Friday morning before school. Note this hair for later!

Lucy giving us her cool eyes.

Enjoying the photos of the other swim students.

Oh my. Someone is "working" really hard again.

The many faces of Lucy.

What a tease!

Someone's got his Songkran hair cut!

New hair, showing off the Easter Egg that he painted at school.

Arlo and Lucy's newest cactus!

So excited about the cactus that we do a special Friday night swim after dinner.

The bougainvillea are doing well right now.

Lucy's summer style.

We need to do the hat + helmet getup these days!

Back at ThaiWan cafe to enjoy the shade and the peacocks.

A Taiwanese non-tea drink.

These two were much more comfortable on the big swing this second visit.

How magnificent!

The colors really are fantastic.

Briefly (and carefully) exploring the treehouses.

Lucy and Dad were on a roll up there.

Home, and very pleased with her souvenir: a peacock feather.

Looks like someone wants to go swim.

Walking like a little boss.

Oh! Dad's in first today.

Happy Easter! Looks like the Easter Bunny came last night!

Arlo found all the eggs, but this one ate them all.

Low-key morning outing to Big C.

We couldn't leave Big C without some Songkran equipment.

This one is from last year, and it was too heavy for Arlo to lift. Lucy has the same problem this year.

Trying out his new equipment. This one is the perfect size.

Someone's taken to washing the dishes! Great initiative, Arlo!

Finding all the people!

The hose in the back burst again, so Arlo's helping Dad cut out the broken part.

We stumbled upon the good ol' GoPro!

Lots of bubbly fun in the pool.

Lucy was really into taking pictures, too.

Someone has no problem opening her eyes under water.

Arlo asked to eat a whole tomato for dinner. He ended up eating 1 1/2.

So someone else had to try, too.

Checking to see if the GoPro photos are any good anymore. Everyone is pretty amused.

Lucy is showing the face she was making underwater.

Playing hide-and-seek: somehow, after using this hiding spot every night, Dad has a really easy time finding us.

Cereal for Monday brekkie.

The purple daisy that Arlo planted at Bangkok Prep is doing well.

Excited to talk to Puu and Yaa.

Family portrait by Arlo.

Lucy came to drop off Arlo at school on Tuesday, on her way to the doctor.

Someone is still tall for her age!

Three vaccines later, Lucy heads straight to her Tuesday playgroup.

And Arlo had an exciting day at school: a firetruck came to visit!

And he was inspired: here are two fire trucks that Arlo drew after coming home.

On Wednesday, Lucy woke up to a tennis lesson outside her window.

Need to wear a serious sun hat when walking these days.

Enjoying an (unripe) star fruit from the tree by the pool

Monkey!

Arlo Monkey and Aya Monkey after school.

Oh my! Another cactus flower!

K. Wan has started coming on Wednesdays now, too.

Going for an evening walk. But Arlo hopped into Nancy's car instead.

Morning entertainment.

Mum's at the office today, so Lucy took over her home desk.

Enjoying a freshly-baked croissant for dinner! Yum!

Bangkok Week 822

March 28, 2024

It’s a low-key week, staying local and gearing up for Songkran!

Good morning! Here are Lucy and bear, waking up from the last good night sleep they'll each have, since they'll be sleeping in the same bed from now on!

Lucy still loves going to swimming by "big bike".

There's been a photo context at swimming. We forgot to submit photos, but Lucy loves to look at them.

"Lucy working."

Arlo had a make-up lesson late on Friday afternoon.

My wide-eyed baby doll.

Lucy's birthday cake is still holding its appeal!

Bedtime is a whole family affair.

Uh oh, bear! Sleeing with Lucy now?

Nothing is more delicious for brekkie than a freshly boiled egg that you peel yourself!

It was awfully quiet upstairs... and then we found these two "having a picnic" right here.

Also for breakfast: Dad's cereal, stolen straight from his lap.

Breakfast time for the fish, as well.

Finally clothed, and ready to head out!

These days, the mornings at the playground are very hot and sunny!

Getting in some hoops. At least the basket ball is shaded!

Nap time with bear. Now, he has his own blanket, too.

Saturday afternoon swimming lessons...

... followed by a late Saturday-afternoon swim at the moo baan.

Night night, LucyAndBear.

Arlo is helping to slice his own bread for breakfast. Everyone stand back!

Another resort-style breakfast on the balcony.

Lucy is wondering if this straw is rather large for her milk box.

Drive-up fish tank.

We've come to K-Village to check out the farmer's market... but we arrived before many of the farmers.

The play ground is more fun than the market, anyway.

Lucy found a new friend, although he was rather flat.

She was also really fascinated by the guitar (and ukulele) store.

The big purchase from K-Village was new water guns. Lucy can't believe her eyes!

What a cozy way to sleep.

Lucy's french braid - her latest hair style.

Lucy's birthday card from Granny and Grandpa arrived!

Arlo had a 4.5-year check up and vaccine schedule. But he first accompanied Mum & Dad for their flu shots.

We got a new Indian snack... which apparently reminds Lucy of cat food.

Lucy is very inclusive, ensuring that Bear doesn't go hungry either.

"Lucy working", again.

Ice cream at the farm...

... which is gone! Bye bye, farm; hello new condo!

Pushing Nancy's stroller. Good thing she's nowhere in sight.

And trying her hands at the wheel of Nancy and Thomas's car.

Cuties on the spinning chair; Lucy has discovered that it can spin spin spin!

Drawing a family portrait, and a birthday card for Lucy.

She wanted to take a tree photo that night...

... and then she wanted Koala to take a tree photo the next morning.

Last football class for the term!

And it's been a flowerful day for the cactuses!

One big yellow bloom...

... and one purple one.

Bangkok Week 821

March 21, 2024

Arlo wraps up Math Week at school; we have a busy weekend around town; and then our little Monkey Lucy turns 2 years old this week! Happy birthday, Lucy!

Welcome back! Lucy is her own boss now, can you tell?

Arlo is getting excited and counting his coins, because there's going to be a big spending opportunity at school this morning!

The culmination of Math Week is the Annabel's Market!

Arlo's class was selling fresh waffles. 10 baht per waffle, plus 1 baht for each square that you fill with a topping.

Arlo kindly bought Mum an iced coffee from the coffee shop.

And then he bought himself some lemonade.

We thought about buying a brownie, but by this time, Arlo decided he'd like to save the rest of his money. Good instincts, Arlo!

Helping collect the money for his class's waffle stand.

This is how Lucy rides to swimming now that it's hot hot hot!

Sharing a chair.

Nice hair, Arlo! Or should I say, Toji-kun?

Lucy's still really into her jigsaw puzzles.

Special Saturday activity!

A visit to Bangkok Prep, for their annual Open House!

The Primary Campus facilities are brand new, and beautiful!

Everyone loved playing on the jungle gym and slide.

Checking out the Early Years classrooms.

And the Early Years playground -- much more Lucy's speed.

They had lots of activities -- including rock painting, which Lucy really took to!

A slide from the 4th floor to the 3rd floor of the Primary School building.

Planting some plants in a pot he (briefly) decorated.

Arlo's hands are full now, I guess we can head home. Nice school!

If that weren't enough, it's time for a swim lesson...

... and then even more swimming!

Spending the morning at the park. We haven't been in a while!

This one spent almost 30 minutes on this swing.

Milk break!

After finishing her chocolate milk, she then drank Dad's large soy milk!

If we can't swing, then at least we can see-saw!

We ran into Thomas and Nancy at the park. Here are the neighborhood climbers!

Back at school on Monday, Arlo's almost doing the full monkey bars!

Coming home to celebrate someone's birthday tomorrow!

Another bloom! Arlo brought it all the way up to the 3rd floor to show me!

All ready for someone's big day tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, Lucy!

Big birthday hug from P'Arlo.

Lucy can't believe the balloons!

And wow! Look at this bear!

And a cute soft cat from P'Noi and P'Natalie.

And the icing on the cake: the water table.

(We interrupt this birthday celebration for a photo of Arlo, taking a long branch to school.)

Wasting no time, despite the day-long rain storm.

I think she likes it!

Happy Birthday, to our little Monkey!

Arlo rushed home from school to play with the water table while Lucy still napped.

Ready for some cake!

Yum! Ice cream cake! The best kind of cake!

The birthday girl loved it!

And to round off the day, a special late-afternoon swim!

Where's Bear going to sleep tonight?

Watching his new owner do puzzles.

Stripping down to nothing the next morning to play with her water table.

Someone's feeling tired after soccer!

Lucy did get her own pair of crocs! And she loves them.

There's more cake where that came from!

Night night Lucy, and night night bear! See you next week!

Bangkok Week 820

March 14, 2024

Lucy and Arlo continue to enjoy Yaa’s visit. Mum has a brief stopover in Chicago, before finally returning home on Sunday morning! Poor Arlo misses half of Math Week at school due to a prolonged fever (from what, we may never know…) and we round off the week celebrating Arlo turning 4 1/2.

Back in Chicago, after 5 years and 2 children!

And missing the famed St Patrick's Day celebration by only a few days: soon, this river will be green!

The hotel provided a great view into my beloved Marina City towers!

Great view of the spiral parking lots on the first 19 floors of each tower.

Balconies.

It's a classic rainy day in Chicago - getting the whole experience!

Our Big Bird: finally heading back to Haneda!

Bonus! They have upgraded the interiors of their 777s since I last flew this route in Jan 2019!

My little cabin. It was nice and wide. Not the most comfortable when sitting, but provided a great sleep!

Back in Bangkok, Lucy enjoys her Friday...

... as does Arlo.

Saturday Special: P'Noi is here to help out one extra day.

Checking in on the fish.

Lucy's keeping a good eye on them.

Opposing swings...

... and a little bit of screen time to celebrate the weekend.

Dinner picnic!

And finally! Mum's home for Sunday breakfast!

Mum brought back color-changing cups. Fun!

But the best souvenir of all was a snack-sized bag of popcorn from Mum's office.

Fish still there?

Trying on all the masks.

New sidewalk chalk from the US (CVS, to be exact).

Arlo's getting really good with his drawings!

Cool as a cucumber, in Mum's sun glasses.

Playing with the new packing peanuts.

Lucy got a bathing suit from P'Larissa down the soi. Cute!

Poor Arlo! Starting the week with a visit to the doctor. He's been running a high fever since Friday.

Waiting patiently for the results of the nasal swab, under a natural sun shade.

Making sure those fish are still there.

Last dinner with Yaa, before she heads home.

Home with a fever for yet another day, the silver lining is that Arlo can accompany Yaa to the bus terminal.

Bye bye, Yaa!

Lucy still has her Tuesday playgroups.

Finally back at school on Wednesday, right in the middle of Math Week. Look at this great race course!

He made it!

During the day, he's mastered the crab walk section.

Lucky Arlo and Lucy: it's another picnic dinner!

Uh oh! Where's Lucy?

All eyes on the special prize.

Arlo's feet and hands are suddenly larger than life.

Uh oh, Lucy! Don't let your brother see you up there!

Another special Math Week surprise at school!

Find the math activities throughout the maze!

It's spa day for all the friends!

Hmm! I think it might be time for Lucy to get some crocs of her own.

Lucy's a really great helper. Here, helping Mum "work".

Playing with the fountain that dad got for the fish.

Speaking of helpers, Arlo's great at watering all the plants.

And ending the week on the 14th, which can only mean one thing: Arlo turns 4 1/2 today!

Notice anything different about the height tree?

Closing the week with a delicious cup of ice cream! See you next time!

Bangkok Week 819

March 7, 2024

We discover an amazing, hidden cafe just around the corner with its own little menagerie. The kids are thrilled to have Puu and Yaa come to visit! But then Mum sneaks off for a week, to Washington DC. But everyone is just fine!

Great form of entertainment!

Lucy's favorite part of swimming lessons now is getting to ride the "big bike".

This monkey has found lots of places to practice his gymnastics in the house.

Lucy's a danger to herself now! She can climb to the top of the monkey bars very quickly, very independently.

Checking out the tomatoes. Some are ripening, but they're quite tough.

Diligently keeping his plants alive.

Breakfast-sharing.

Special Saturday morning excursion, not too far from home...

... the unassuming ThaiWan cafe on Pridi 26.

Behind the small entry door is a giant property, with a treehouse, fish ponds, peacocks and peahens, and more.

Arlo's first time seeing a peacock in real life - up close. (He did see some at the High Park zoo...)

Exploring the treehouse.

Lucy enjoyed their strawberry drink very much.

Still working on that drink.

Up in another treehouse, taking in the view.

Bonus: they even have a giant tree swing.

Home again! Even the transport was fun!

Buying a pot for our lotus... straight from Ratchaburi province.

Arlo and Lucy were great helpers, transplanting the lotus and its water (and snails).

Then, Puu and Yaa arrived!

Arlo's a great tour guide.

Lucky Puu and Yaa also got to go watch Arlo swim.

And again, they watched swimming!

Special dinner with Puu and Yaa.

Arlo is excited to still see them both the next morning.

(Lucy, meanwhlie, has gotten herself into an unexplainable twist.)

Arlo has been looking forward to eating "jok" (congee) for breakfast with them. He's been talking about it all week!

Everyone enjoyed it!

Getting in some swings, before Puu has to go back to the bus terminal.

Bye bye, Puu!

Arlo went to drop Puu at the bus, and see him off.

Back at home, Sunday continues as ususal...

... Arlo's stacking skills are getting pretty good!

Another Sunday, another swim!

This pretty much sums up the chaos.

And it's a hungry monster after swimming!

They said my hide-and-seek spot was too obvious.

One final farewell photo with m'Lucy, and then Mum's off!

A normal Monday in Bangkok...

... but with a special guest at school.

The neighborhood management kept good on their promise, and chopped down all the trees around the pool. Well, on the bright side, we have a very clear view of who's in there now.

Lucy's at home at playgroup.

Special after-school ice cream treat for someone...

... with take-away for someone else.

Oh! Important addition to the lotuses! Fish, to eat the mosquito larvae!

The week's entertainment is here!

Checking in on the fish many times a day now.

And the Bangkok crowd complete their week with a visit from Uncle Simon.

Meanwhile, Mum has seen a beautiful sunrise over Tokyo Haneda airport...

.. and some nice landings, too.

Wore all the face masks possible during the flight.

And finally riding in one of the famed IAD 'Plane Mate' mobile lounges!

Made it! On the streets of an unseasonably warm Washington DC!

The beautiful Waldorf Astoria hotel, in the old post office building.

The Treasury Building.

The beautiful blue sky that came out just to greet me!

A white house, in the middle of a giant lawn.

That same white house, from up close this time.

With my local tour guide, who kindly took me around during lunch.

The really quite remarkable view from our office.

Another view from our office.

A different morning, different weather.

Hmm. I thought that the Washington Monument was supposed to be back there!

Last morning, and a long walk before heading into the office. The Federal Triangle.

Can I hand in my forms on the spot?

Daffodils are starting to emerge!

Washington Monument up close.

WWII Memorial.

Beautiful gardens: the city is very green!

The Reflecting Pool had not yet been filled with water for the season: I think this is residual rain water. But the ducks were happy nevertheless.

And the pool was still reflecting!

Lincoln Memoral: I knew I'd seen you somewhere before!

Reagan Airport is awfully close to downtown DC!

More downtown scenery. BTW - Washington DC was empty! Where are all the people!?!

Final evening, final sunset.

Bye bye, DC. Chicago, here I come!

Bangkok Week 818

February 29, 2024

We had a very fun, but very busy, week! Arlo had playdates with P’Kate and (separately) with Martin. And we finally went to check out Pororo Aqua Park, the waterpark on top of Central Bangna. It was a blast for everyone, but maybe a little too long in the sun!

Welcome back! These two are celebrating the last day of Arlo's school holiday with shared noodles.

And a quick trip to Makro with Dad.

Look at this smile. Even in the bath.

Saturday morning: someone took the memo to heart and slept in.

Lucy peels her own eggs now.

Entertaining themselves while waiting for P'Kate to arrive.

We wanted to get in an "early" swim before it got too hot, but didn't really succeed at that.

Uh oh! We lost Lucy during the house tour.

Lunch time!

Arlo and P'Kate play together very well.

Enjoying honey tea...

... and sticky rice.

Lucy didn't get a chance to draw with the big kids, so now it's her turn.

Watching Izzy's Koala World together.

Special Sunday activity: water park atop Central Bangna. First job: finding the entrance!

It's very nicely geared toward little kids (with some attractions for adults, too.)

Warming up with a little slide.

That escalated quickly.

Checking out one of the many pools.

Cautiously following in her brother's footsteps (splashes).

There was one adult slide that Arlo was tall enough for. So here we are, climbing up.

Enjoying the lazy river.

And back at the smallest slides.

Before you get too concerned: yes, this was intentional!

Could have foreseen this, I guess.

Another whirl around the lazy river.

And then lunch break: classic water park meal of fries and omelette on rice.

Arlo really wanted to rent one of these paddle boats.

He was kind enough to let his sister ride, too.

Which meant a few child-free minutes for dad to just bob around.

Lucy found a novel way to ride the donut.

Trying some of the medium-sized slides.

View from the top. It's pretty respectable for a shopping mall watepark!

Out within minutes. (Possibly from heatstroke.)

Inspired by the neighbors to draw with sidewalk chalk. Good thing we had 2 pieces on hand!

Special Monday alert!! It's a holiday for Mum & Dad, but Arlo has school!

A trip to everyone's favorite store!

(At least Lucy came away with a new helmet.)

And afternoon ice cream, before her brother returns home.

The Commander in Chief.

After school, Arlo's BFF Martin came over to play.

Martin is not as enthusiastic about swimming though, so he watched from the sides.

Alert! New flower coming!

It's picture day at school today, too. Arlo is practicing with Dad.

It's that time of year: time to get a new pair of glasses before the insurance year runs out.

Arlo dashed up to the office to show me this.

Lucy's trying out her new helmet...

... and Thomas approves!

Enjoying the delicious "cat tongue" cookies that Martin's family gave us (from Hokkaido).

Waking up and watching the tennis lessons out back.

Riding the giant rocking horse.

Lucy calls the tongs "chopsticks". Close.

More after-dinner ice cream.

Arlo's hide-and-seek hiding place was not very subtle.

Good bye for now, from at least one person who's not camera shy!

Bangkok Week 817

February 22, 2024

This week, we visit Trat for the first time in 2024! Arlo is on school holiday this week, so keep your distance, folks!

Someone came to drop off her big brother at school today.

Lucy says, "looks good! Where do I sign up?"

Yup, Mum is happy to leave both of them right here.

No K. Noi today, so Lucy joins us for a stroll down to the Korean grocery store.

And then of course, it's Friday swim time!

Working on jigsaw puzzles before nap.

And a special Friday make-up for Arlo, since he'll be away on Saturday. (Seaweed power-up!?)

Going up for bed in style.

Somehow, it's pouring rain as we prepare to depart for Trat! The first rain in this house.

Lucy can't wait to go! (Are we there yet?)

Here we are! But it's taking Lucy a little while to warm up to everyone.

Oh my goodness! A brand new bike for Arlo! He's too lucky!

And one for Lucy too, although she'll need to be a little older to ride this one.

Lucy spent the entire weekend trying to get the cats to play ball.

Maybe Tong would like the ball, since Satang didn't want it?

Big hug for Aa Top, who also got Arlo a fancy new remote control offroader...

... and a classic fishing game!

Lucy's first time to the Trat market.

Arlo was allowed one purchase, and he picked flowers.

And it's Saturday, so the walking street is on, too.

Little shoppers.

Night night hugs for Bella.

Testing Puu and Yaa's new TV by watching the 2023 1 Second Everyday video.

Lucy's getting a kick out of herself!

Arlo is all smiles because he was allowed to touch Tong right before his shower.

Yaa's beautiful garden is always in bloom.

Lucy is learning how to operate the remote controlled digger.

Biking offroad.

May as well wash the car while we're here.

These black bean ice cream sticks were a hit!

The papaya tree (and all the fruit trees for that matter) were very healthy and productive.

Aa Top's girlfriend also found an inflatable swimming pool. To say it was a hit is an understatement!

The splashing knocked everyone out.

Late afternoon bike ride at the botanical garden and...

... the neighboring runway!

Arlo's first time biking on a runway, and probably Mum's first time walking on one!

Also an opportunity to feed the (very large, very healthy) fish in the reservoir.

Smile!

Bella is disgruntled that the guests are in her bed, and her overflow bed.

Good morning, Bella!

Oh no, is it time to leave already?

Family photo!

At least everyone stayed healthy enough this time that we could stay the full 2 days!

Trying a new rest stop on the way home: this one is home to lots of fish.

And finishing off Dad's birthday cake once we get home. Bye bye, cake!

Uh oh! Guess which Monkey turns 1 year and 11 months today!?

Less than 1 month left of being 1 year old.

Arlo's checking out how his cactuses have evolved while he was away.

The babies are doing really well, and there are new paddles springing up all over the cactus. It really seems to like it here!

Not yet two, but already a troublemaker!

Lucy really likes the new robot we got from PlanToys.

Starting her day with her dogs.

And Arlo's twice annual eye doctor appointment

No glasses yet, but it seems inevitable.

Oh my! Almost missed it!

This is the 3rd time this year that this guy has bloomed! It's on a roll!

Helping to renew the car insurance.

The tomatoes at the swimming pool are doing really well!

Excited to have ice pops again!

Doing his swimming lesson a few days early again, thanks to the school holiday. This way, the weekend will be free.

I know trouble when I see it.

Watching Ernie's "Rubber Duckie" song for the first time. It was a hit!

Good night from the two little monkeys. See you next week!

Bangkok Week 816

February 15, 2024

Oh no! Dad got COVID this week, so we hunkered down at home, and entertained ourselves as best we could. Arlo was a great big brother and helper for Lucy!

Good Friday morning!

Today is the day we celebrate Chinese NY, and Lucy wanted nothing to do with it, or this dress!

Arlo with the decorations at school, in his finest "red".

And off to swimming by bike.

Browsing the toys before class starts. Which ones to throw into the water next?

Lucy so enjoyed standing on the feet the other week, she'll do it every time now.

Enjoying some play time before heading home for the weekend.

Late afternoon bike around the block.

It's definitely a good idea to wear helmets while using these swings!

This pretty much sums things up!

We're one down, so Arlo's being a great big brother, and helping to put Lucy to bed.

Oh! What's that on top of the tall, skinny cactus paddle?

Three tiny babies!? Watch this space to see how they grow!

Like mother, like...

They really enjoy both the birds perched on the edge of this basin, and the (real) fish inside.

Off to her last make-up swim lesson -- and then we'll be current!

Washing the car... again!? It gets so dusty so quickly!

Mum took Arlo to swimming: first time to observe Arlo's independent lessons!

We did a detour on the way home, and so got a good view of our house from behind.

Late afternoon entertainment in the pool.

A little cold, Lucy?

And dinner on the balcony -- because, why not?

Tough guys...

... or not.

The swing that Arlo made for his cat.

Lucy is genuinely thrilled that her brother came to get her up on Sunday morning.

Modeling all sorts of nice bright shoes.

Lucy's first time drinking milk from a glass. And her last time for a while.

Enthusiastically helping Dog drink water.

Lucy and Thomas, off under the flowers, enjoying a bike ride together.

In fact, the Sunday morning bike gang is out.

Finally! New mail box! (Or should I say, letter box?)

Everyone approves.

Lucy studies carefully as her brother waters the plants.

And then it's fort time!

Sitting in the "garden" of the fort, to eat lunch.

Another afternoon, another cold swim.

And two tired monkeys, getting ready for bed.

Have a good sleep, Arlo -- tomorrow's a school day!

Harvesting some dill, to have with his breakfast.

Breakfast on the balcony -- because, why not?

Lucy wants to swim so badly, she tries to put on her bathing suit.

And here's Arlo, defying gravity.

Lucy, making a quick escape.

These tall condos in Ekkamai 5 / Thonglor 10 are indeed very tall!

Spying on the Little Ninjas.

And checking out this amazing off roader that was parked just in front of our house when we got home from school.

Excited for a weigh-in; we haven't done this for a while. Has Arlo finally broken the 18kg barrier?

Hi, Santa! What good skin you have.

And Lucy is off to her Tuesday playgroup!

Here's Nancy!

And P'Boss, the younger brother of Arlo's classmate, Brooklyn.

Enjoying tea and a chat with Nancy.

Oh! Here come the 3 babies!

Uh oh! Look what got stuck in the basketball hoop!

It's Arlo, off to the rescue.

Reading about dogs when Mum was slow on the trigger to come get her in the morning.

Measuring up: Arlo turns 4 and 5 months today!

Delaying her bath by reading on the beanbag.

Helping Dad prepare dinner.

That's a face of mischief if I've ever seen one! Good night, and see you next week!

Bangkok Week 815

February 8, 2024

The house is too quiet with no more guests! But we had a fun week nonetheless: checking out the local market, going biking, inviting more guests, and of course, lots of swimming!

Happy Friday morning! Lucy enjoys lazing in her bed.

She also enjoys this photo of Puu, Yaa, Aa Top, Dad, and Arlo!

Arlo's been itching to try peanuts in the shell. Today's his lucky day!

An unusually large Friday swim class for Lucy.

Celebrating the end of the week in a tree with Aya.

Off to the night market around the corner from our house.

It's a pretty classic night market, with local market prices.

Getting some desserts.

Lucy wanted an ice cream...

... and Arlo got a toy.

A blurry flash on passes us on the way home.

Squeezing herself into the bathtub from K. Wan.

Spitting image of the bear from the calendar.

Enjoying one of the desserts from the market.

Beautiful new lotus from Uncle Andrew.

Happy Lucy, Happy Dog.

K. Wan never realized she was missing an audience!

Arlo's continuing to work on the backstroke.

It's been a restful nap...

... and now, we're off for some cycling!

We were last here about 4 weeks ago, but Lucy's improved massively in that short time.

And Arlo's confident to go back on the big course, too.

A bit of off-road warmup.

Conquering the hills with ease (and balance).

Lucy was also very interested in the scooters.

Arlo tried the "adventure park" for the first time.

It was quite the adventure indeed!

Lucy just needs to learn to look straight as she speeds along.

Our pro bikers.

Stopping afterward for some cold refreshments before heading home.

Bedtime hugs for big brother Arlo!

On Monday morning, Lucy can't help but sneak into Arlo's bed and play with Chompy.

Wondering why her car seat has no covering right now. And why is it in the kitchen, for that matter?

Oh my, Lucy, one milk isn't enough?

A relaxed Sunday morning around the moo baan. (A little too relaxed for Lucy?)

Practicing some hoops.

Look at Arlo's impressive people!

And going for a "drive".

Quick trip to Makro to pick up some goodies for tonight.

Lucy is newly obsessed with keys. (Real keys!)

Biking around the moo baan while waiting for our guests to arrive.

Sally's family and Ronan's family are here for dinner!

A feast of pasta, fries, and nuggets (and some veggies).

Poor Sally couldn't bring her bike home in the Grab. But Lucy promised to watch it for her.

The car has become a canvas for a budding artist. I guess it needs a wash...

Lucy had a special visit from Auntie Pattarat, who spoils her and Arlo.

Arlo has learned how to pick up his sister, and it's novel for everyone!

Tuesday playgroup for Lucy! What a treat!

Another bloom for this cactus; but actually we missed the flower yesterday!

Oh my, look what we found in Arlo's backpack after school on Tuesday!

Hanging out with Mum in the office while she works.

Our speed demon.

Heading into the office for a day. First time trying from the new house.

Lucy showing off all her decorations.

Arlo diligently waters his dill every morning.

The new cactus paddles are much wider. I think they get better light here.

Checking in on his basil overgrowth.

And now it's Lucy's turn for a dentist check-up.

The dentist is happy with Lucy's teeth!

Celebrating good teeth in the mini park.

Having a good laugh over the colorful animals. See you next week!

Bangkok Week 814

February 1, 2024

It’s February! And this week, we say farewell to Granny! But not before we celebrate Dad’s 4Xth birthday, check out a new “farm” across the street, and send Lucy to her first playgroup at St. Andrews.

Lucy's getting a taste of the cookies that Granny and Arlo baked yesterday.

They are Lucy-approved!

Off goes the balance bike whiz.

Oh gosh, stop the presses! These suction cups stick to foreheads!!

Lucy gets quite a kick out of it.

Delicious Japanese for dinner from Granny.

Arlo's practicing for a special day coming up.

Helping to wash the red car.

Well, at least someone is enjoying Granny's clean bed.

What's a swimming lesson without Grandpa there to watch?

Someone's up to no good if I've ever seen it!

What's this? Breakfast bagels for Dad!?

Happy Birthday, Dad!

(Lucy's not sure what to think about those candles. Keeping her distance.)

Arlo's always here to help.

Arlo's been waiting patiently to enjoy this cat cookie from K. Wan.

The ladies in stripes, out for a scoot.

Enjoying the playground while waiting for...

... friends Aya and Doreen to come for lunch.

Hey! Doreen and Arlo have the same bikes!

Garbage trucks: cross-cultural entertainment!

And now it's time for Dad's birthday cake! (The bagels were just a warm-up.)

Lucy has studied hard, and is ready to blow the candles herself!

And a late-afternoon impulse trip to the "farm" across the street.

They had two very cute baby pigs...

... and some goats that were very friendly toward people (or hungry?)

Arlo bought a pot of dill for himself.

Lucy insisted on sleeping with the giant body pillow *and* Dog. Soon, there really won't be any room for Lucy left in the bed.

Lucky Arlo: being dropped off by everyone today!

Meanwhile, Lucy's cooking up a storm.

Stretching at the end of Ninja.

Lucy ran into Thomas on the way to the pool.

Enjoying another of Granny's delicious smoothies.

It's the big day! Lucy's first playgroup at the big school next door!

Sign-up is before the front entrance.

Uh oh! Where did Lucy go?

Spying on her from afar. (Only one caretaker per child.)

Granny's last school pick-up for this schoolyear!

Granny's Last Supper.

Bye-bye, Granny! See you soon!

(But first, some shenanigans.)

Night-night and safe flight, Granny!

And she's off!

Well if Granny's not here for breakfast, Dog will have to do.

What else is off? The two La-Z-boys!

Empty floor in Ekkamai, ready for the next family!

Arlo's new favorite snack: fried seaweed!

Nothing like ice cream cake to keep some bodies quiet and still during dinner time.

Morning check-in on the plants before heading to school.

Live-action football right here, folks.

And inspecting the citrus plants.

Good night, and see you next week, from these two...

... wipe-out!