Thailand Part 1 2016

Ryan and I celebrated our 10 year anniversay (which was on Aug 29) by going to Thailand for just over a week. I choose Thailand because I have always wanted to visit and now was our chance. I was really nervous to leave my kids that long (7 days in Thailand and 3 days of travel) but I knew they were in great hands. This is us being dropped off at the Denver airport .... about to be traveling for 30 hours straight. 

Our first stop was Bangkok - the capital. Most of the streets looked liked this and I love that they had hot pink taxi's over there! In the back right, you can see the man in the white shirt standing by his tuk tuk. That is one of the many ways we got from place to place. The tuk tuk drivers are everywhere and are ready to take you where you want to go. 

In the tuk tuk.

On our morning walk - check out the electrical wires!! 

The first day we took a shared mini van north about an hour to the city of Ayutthaya. We walked around some really neat temple ruins and got to see the Buddha statue that a tree grew around. 

Temple ruins

The next day in Bangkok we went and saw many of their famous Temples. We made a quick stop by the Grand Palace to take a picture in front of these awesome pink elephants. We would have loved to tour the Grand Palace but the king had recently died and it was closed to the public.  So we took a tuk tuk to the Wat Po (reclining Buddha) temple. I think we would both agree this temple and its grounds was the coolest one we saw.  

At Wat Po

The HUGE reclining Buddha (the reason Wat Po is so famous)

They had the coolest statues everywhere

I wish you could see these arches up close - so neat!

These towers were my favorite. All of the flowers and design on the outside were all 3D.

Next we took a tuk tuk to find the Big Buddha. Our driver dropped us off here and told us to walk down this alley - ummm just a bit scary.

Luckily, he wasn't lying and we found a HUGE Buddha. 

There are food vendors everywhere in Bangkok. One of my favorite things we got was coconut ice cream, and it was only 40 baht (about $1.5). Yuuum! 

We also spent a little time by the pool eating more coconut ice cream and fresh pinapple juice. 

Our last night in Bangkok we traveled across town to a restaurant on the top of a Marriott. We heard the view was amazing and it did not disappoint! 

The next morning we went to the airport to catch a flight up to Chiang Mai. Chicken porridge anyone?

Our first day in Chiang Mai we hit the ground running and found all the temples nearby. This one had a really neat door amoung other things.

This temple had some neat ruins to it, but we also saw a lot of monks running around. I believe there was a monk school nearby. 

 Another temple in Chaing Mai.

We grabbed a taxi and headed up to Tiger Kingdom - we got to pet this cute baby tiger! I really wanted to hold it but they had strict rules (probably for a good reason).

So neat!

Our last stop in Chiang Mai for the day was a temple way up in the mountains. This is a view from half way up. 

 These were the stairs to get to the top - it was a good workout!

At the top looking down - cool place for sure! 

The next morning we had our elephant owner for a day tour - our favorite part of Thailand!! 

October 2016

October was such a fun month for us! We have been absolutely enjoying the cooler weather in the mornings and evenings, and the mild temperatures during the day (70's). These first few pictures are from our Saturday trip up to Estes Park. We drove up on Saturday and had a great time exploring. It reminded me of Waterton back home in Canada. 

 In addition to loving the cooler weather, the leaves and fall scenery have been gorgeous!! That was one of the things I was so excited about moving here, and it did not disappoint. This is a gorgeous place to live!!

 Love this stud of mine!

Walking the streets of Estes Park

 I loved all the candy shops there. This shop had a candy machine in the window pulling the candy - so cool!!

 We were hoping to see an elk while we were out and about ... when we were driving out of town we were a bit sad we didn't see one. Then we saw people pulled over on the side of the road and saw this amazing creature. A huge elk ... and it was really close. Such a neat thing to see!

 My three cute kiddos just after church one sunday.

 These kids had fun making potato head pumpkins

 Canadian thanksgiving!! In the past I have been too lazy to make a thanksgiving feast, but I need to get my bum in gear. This year we had a big dinner and invited our good friends the Gertch's over for dinner. Loved it and can't wait to do it again in a couple of weeks with Julie & her family!

 Yummy food & good conversation.

 This month Avery had crazy hair day at school. Ironically, her hair is usually a mess by lunch time anyway. She always wants it done cute in the morning  but because she is crazy, it usually gets smashed shortly thereafter.

 Playing with bikes and scooters in the backyard. Thought this picture of Griffin was so darling! Notice the bright red tree in the background too? Pretty!!

Hope this video works! Avery let a trantula crawl on her face at her friends birthday party. Brave & crazy if you ask me!

 Jaxson & Ryan finished their flag football league. Lets just say everyone had some fun and everyone is glad its over. Teaching football to young kids who have never played is frusterating ...

 Ryan took the boys up to a collegue's house in the moutains for their son's birthday party. The kids had a blast exploring and riding the toddler 4 wheeler.

 Just snapped a piture of our house because I thought the tree outside was gorgeous!

 Jaxson had 3 weeks off at the end of Sept to the middle of Oct because he is on year round school (9 weeks on, 3 weeks off). We broke up the time by going to Utah (last post) and activities like going to the Hammond's candy factory here in Denver. It is neat to get a glimpse of how different candy is made ... yummy!

 Just a typical day in the house. Avery comes up with the craziest outfits - she cracks us up!

 Raking leaves in the front yard. First time ever (I think!) that these kids have been able to play in the fallen leaves.

Trick or treat party at the local high school for Jaxson's elementary school mates. 

 Spider boy! He likes to dress up with Avery (usually in dresses) so I tried to get something more appropriate for him and he loved it.

 Ready for our ward Trunk or Treat. Avery the witch.

Jaxson the BYU football player

 Griffin the cow

 Harry potter fan. Bet you couldn't guess but I was excited to dress up as such :)

 Avery with her best friend Reese

 All the kids loved this fishing pole prize game. Can't blame them, that was my favorite growing up too!

 Jaxson with his best buddy Boston.

 That is the face of a very happy boy!

 That one too! Halloween is the best as a kid!

My cute little witch at her halloween party at school. 

More dress up. Avery felt so pretty being Elsa while she was watching Frozen. 

 I could tell by the way Avery was moving and prancing that she felt beautiful. I hope she always feels this way because she is - inside and out!

 These last two pictures were actually this morning after church. Most people say he looks more like me that my other two, which is a compliment to me - how cute is his smile!! What we really love is how much happiness and sweetness he brings to our family. Can't believe he turns 2 in just a couple of weeks! Love you Griffy Bear!