Canada Day

Being the poor North American neighbor that I am, I didn't even know when Canada Day is (July 1), but we got to celebrate it this year. One of J's contacts at the Canadian Embassy invited us to their official event. Got to eat maple-cured ham and try to figure out who was Canadian and who was American (J left no doubt with his shirt-tie combo). 

I was excited to go because it seemed like it would be fun to dress up and go out, but really in the end, I couldn't fit into any of my favorite dresses, I had to borrow jewelry from a neighbor, I lost the heel to my shoe right as we were leaving (but didn't have another shoe option), and the worst part always is that no one can hear me in a crowded room, so I feel like I have to shout and unfortunately, what I'm saying is never worth shouting about (a stay-at-home mom talking to diplomats). Oh well. A night away from the kids is still a night away from the kids. :)

Siam Ocean World

the "I'm scared" face

It has become the Saturday tradition that J takes Claire, Sylvie and usually Paul to Siam Ocean World, an amazing aquarium in the basement of one of the big malls here. It is big enough and interesting enough that they see something new each time. It is about the closest thing to a "nature experience" you can have in Bangkok without braving the heat, and there is a soft play castle thing in the middle of it that they love. The membership has paid for itself a billion times over.

Tricky Puzzle

We got this plastic puzzle on a Thai Airways flight coming over here. It was supposedly for the kids, but none of us have been able to solve it in the year we've had it. One day Claire was determined, and she kept at it for over an hour. She finally got it, and we took a picture, so we could reference the solution in the future. Turns out, she has solved it at least a dozen times since, each time a little different from the last. (We know this because Claire has insisted that we take a picture each time.) Brainy kid.

Monkey Man

A friend made Joel this fun quilt, and my mom sent the fun outfit. Too cute!

Sri Racha Tiger Zoo

baby tigers nursing from a pig

J took a few weeks off work to occupy the girls, so I could get a nap once in a while. One day they took a road trip back to the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo. The picture above is an example of the craziness in Thailand zoos.