november pics

So this is a load of pics but when my mom is around we get such good pics of the kids and then with my parents here we did a lot of special things too. So even though there are 44 pics here... I promise that these are only the highlights :-) Feel free to skim in any case :-) In other non-photographed news... John has been ridiculously busy with work (hence why he isn't in many pics) and we're moving to a new house in Chiang Mai at the end of Dec. My next post might be about it... we're pretty excited about it :-)

I like these pics of me with my boys... I'm not usually in pictures since I'm taking them.

We went to a water buffalo camp and learned how they used to harvest rice before machines. I loved squishing in the mud.

We took public transport which we really don't do that often and I always like the feeling of it.
My mom was the main picture taker this trip so she's the one missing in most pics... but here is one of the boys with their Mimi.
I love seeing my parents with my kids- they are such amazing grandparents, and it reminds me of what great parents they were when I was little too.








We found a place near us with trails and waterfalls and a brook to play in. It is my new Wissahickon Gorge only I live down at 45th and Baltimore so it takes me longer to get to than if I were in Germantown. Still, finding nature close to home is so awesome for me- it's like my soul can breathe... I'm really not exaggerating, that's exactly how it feels being there.
At the night safari, they have these new cool Amazonian fresh water meat eating fish and we fed them little fish- it was dramatic and fun.
I love seeing Sam and Jeff play together- they are beginning to enjoy each other so much (right now I can hear them having lunch together unattended :-) )


John back for a few hours between work trips
My dad and I did a zipline course through the rainforest- it was amazing!


Sam made this kratong at preschool to float on the river for the festival but it was way too top heavy so we just set it by our fish pond
We went to a big lantern release with Pi Pound (all those little lights to her left are lanterns- it was phenomenal)
We did fireworks in our yard
I loved this one

And we released some lanterns too- they are beautiful
For the holiday, all the city gates had these awesome animal lanterns- the gate near us is the White elephant gate but there was also dragons, and other stuff. It looked so cool.
Trying to have Jeff ride on Sam's shoulders...
We drove to Pi Pound's parents house. They live in one of the most beautiful places I've ever been... I could go on and on about our visit, but I'm just going to post the pics in the interest of time (I am technically watching the boys).Their house
Their kitchen (Sam's looking over my shoulder now and he just said, "Oh, Apu and Api!"(grandma and grandpa in Lahu)
another kitchen shot with corn for the pigs, and rice drying over the fire.
Our feast
Apu and Api
The view from their yard
a boat trip on the river near them the next day
we stopped and rode an elephant... it's the first time I've been on one since I was 3 and it was cool- the best part was feeling its shoulders shift under my feet.
Sometimes a new purchase makes me so happy- like this new jacket- I'd been looking for a white cardigan or something for six months and just found this jacket- I love it.
My parents on Thanksgiving.
A new water fountain with all these complicated features...
We went away for a few days at the end of their visit to the hills and it was so lovely.
Sam learned to ride his bike without training wheels

Doing it on his own
And now he rides his bike while we walk and last week we went somewhere where John and I could rent bikes and we all went together... it was amazing.
Our cute Jeffy