Thailand Part One: Chiang Mai

 

In March of this year we had the amazing experience of visiting Thailand for 12 days.  Visiting Thailand is something I never really had thought I would ever do, but We have been blessed with incredible jobs that allow us this chance.  I am going to break this into three posts. We first visited Chiang Mai, then to Bangkok and then to Phuket.

We began our journey with 26 hours of plane travel from Salt Lake to LA, LA to Soule South Korea then to Chiang Mai.  I was worried that the plane rides were going to be really hard and I was pleasantly surprised.  The planes were comfortable, with great food and new release movie.  I would totally travel like that again.

We arrived in the evening and looked forward to resting in our hotel that night.  The next day we headed out on a city tour.  If you think there is a lot of LDS Chapels in Provo, it can’t come close to the number of Buddhist Temples in Thailand.  Every few blocks there is another temple that is super ornate. We visited a few large temples and then took a rickshaw ride around the city. Later that day we went to a tiger reserve and played with baby tigers and very large tigers. Most of them were sleeping except the one large cat that was walking around in the cage with us! Eeek!  Exciting and scary at the same time; their paws are huge!

The next day was one of my favorite days of the whole trip. We visited an elephant reserve, rode elephants and rafted down the river on a bamboo raft. Talk about bucket list.

I haven’t mentioned yet, but food is always a big question when you travel abroad. Well the food at the hotel was great.  A mix of American and Thai food was so great.  I could eat like that every day.  Now that being said, finding food away from the hotel was a little trickery, but we had a few good meals.

I would return to Chiang Mai in a heartbeat.  We really loved the simplicity of life there and the beautiful serenity of the surroundings.

Guess who's 2?!?! (belated posting)

Adeline Elizabeth Beaird you are two! I am sure you think you are older, but two you are.

You are funny, cute, loud, persuasive, strong willed, beautiful, a climber and acrobat, a big girl and very loving. One of your favorite things to do it play with Sophie.  You follow her around all day long and copy just about everything she does.  Every night I sing you to sleep.  Your response to almost everything is first no, then your real reply.  You are a talker! Walking around all over telling us about everything, what you want and when you want it.

About 2 months ago you figured out how to open doors.  I was hoping you would take a little longer but you are very smart and determined.  You opened your bedroom door once or twice on accident and then realized what you could do.  Since then, nothing is safe!

Addie loves to sing, dance and play dress up.  The girls have a bin full of dress ups and Addie, with the assistance of Sophie, gets dressed like a princess.  She loves to wear the high heels princess shoes too.  I think her favorite shoe of choice are boots. Rain boots, snow boots, glitter boots, she loves them all!

About 3 months ago we were all watching tv together and Addie tooted.  She immediately turned around and she, “Sophie did it.” We laughed so hard.  She is a clever little bugger.

Grandma and Grandpa babysitting, lol.

Halloween Princesses

Olive and Addie at Ikea

Enjoying some chicken and fries. 

Talking on the cell phone. 

At the aquarium with Grandpa Olson

And with Grandma Olson

Easter at Grandma and Grandpa Olson's house. 

Asking "please I play your phone?"

One of many trips to Home Depot

Riding the ferry boat back to Seattle in March 2013. 

Snuggling with Sophie at the hospital. 

Swinging like a big girl. You also climb the rock wall on the playground.

Gardening with Grandma Beaird. One of your favorite things to do. 

You opened a whole case of apple juice to play with. 

You have a little sweet tooth and like to sneak a drink of mommy's soda.

Enjoying a sucker. 

Trying to be like Sophie. 

Always hiding in something.

This girl LOVES, LOVES, LOVES her daddy.

Tour of Seattle Children's Hospital

While we were in Seattle this past week we ended up at Seattle Children's Hospital. So here's the story. On Thursday Sophie started to have rectal bleeding without any stool. This continued through out the night. It was very scary and we took her to a pediatric urgent care and they checked her out. 

They decided to send us to Seattle Children's hospital ER. In the ER they decided to admit us to the hospital so they could do a Meckel's scan which would take several hours to prep. They did the scan the next morning and it came back negative. 

Next they wanted to do a colonoscopy but they couldn't get her in until Tuesday there in Seattle. So they have talked to the GI specialist at Primary Children's and they are going to call with an appointment for this week. Sophie has mostly stop bleeding, so I am not sure what they will do. Fortunately Sophie has seemed fine the whole time and has been a trooper.

Visit to Temple Square

Big Milestones in December

 Happy graduation and birthday.  Mike and I both celebrated big milestones in December.  Mike graduated from the University of Utah in Mass Communications with an emphasis in New Media and I turned 30!  I am so proud of Mike for sticking it out and finishing. He is really happy about it too.  Thank you to everyone for all the birthday wishes too. Here is to another great year.  

Adeline is 19 months going on 4 years.

Adeline you are a grown up girl. You talk and talk and talk.  Tonight you broke the door stopper and brought it over to me telling me, "I broke it, broke it." You can't get enough of your daddy. When your dad and I come home from work you run past me to your dad. Yesterday I said "you love mama?" and you would just say, "love dada, dada."  When you are hurt or sick you love your mama, so I will take what I can get.  When Sophie was little, she only wanted me and not Mike so I guess that it pay back.

Addie, you have been working on potty training still.  You are doing awesome and everyone really appreciates it, especially grandpa Beaird so he doesn't have to change the poopy ones. Lately you have been trying to use going potty as a reason to not go to bed.  It worked the first time but we don't buy it now.  You like to sit at the table and not really in a high chair, which I don't like so much at restaurants but you usually win that battle.  You have a good imagination and like to play with your sister and your toys.  You have an opinion already about what you wear and like to pick out girly color. 

Mommy and Daddy think you are amazing. You have a big smile and heart. You give lots of loves and kisses.  We all love you