Oct 2013 – Christmas!

Posted on December 28, 2013

Rolling back….. 😀

Home in Chiang Mai after a fun summer in Canada. The kids are all settled in back into the swing of things at school and I was super busy looking for a house since we decided to move due to circumstances with our current landlord unfortunately. House hunting in Chiang Mai is not fun in the best of times but really not fun when we set a quick date to be moved out by and no house secured. As always everything works out and we moved house where we are all super happy.

~ A fun quick getaway ~

(Eskie and Emma having a ball in their bamboo hut. None stop giggles coming from these girls)

(Ev looking out into the greater beyond)

(These boys are the best) xoxox

(Never a straight face with this Handly crew)

~ Chiang Mai Optical Illusion Museum ~

(The paintings were amazing, true works of art)

(Not sure if Emma is saving Everett from the shark or feeding him to it) haha

(This is the best wave I have ever been able to ride)

(Everett I told you not to upset the lion)

(I am sure this will not be the last butt you kiss buddy)

(This was a scary bridge to cross)

(I’ll save you bud)

(Creepy Emma)

(Very stinky. Piers and Easton are to funny)

(For sure the most interesting smile… funny kid)

(Easton hanging on by his last toe)

(My baby angel girl… So angelic you are)

~ Moving Time ~

(It is amazing how much we have acquired in our years in Thailand and it was time to purge when we moved houses (i love that) Can you spot the hiding munchkin?

(Our professional movers, a team of 7 hard workers hoisting our furniture to the second floor Thai style)

~ Mae Sa Waterfall ~

(Essie. Em. Easton. Piers and Everett joined for a hike. Essie especially loved it)

(The boys discussing the amazing things they will do in the world)

(The jungle canopy – our playground)

~ Our first Brai or
aka BBQ South African style ~

(We were gifted this wild BBQ contraption and Trent got lessons on how to use it one night when the other BBQ kings came over to teach him. Man are these guys passionate about their meat)

(This is serious stuff and sooo delicious)

~ Emmy turns 14 ~

(Happy Birthday baby girl. Oh am I proud of you, you are such a confident, caring, smart chicky. I love you to absolute bits)

(Two of Emma’s favorite things… whipping cream and reese’s peanut butter cups so naturally I made her a fabulous cake to celebrate her birthday)

~ U12 CMAC Swim Competition ~

(Easton just finished winning his butterfly race)

(Yes this is my amazing boy, Wow is he getting big and powerful)

(The unstoppable relay team. Maxime. Fast. Easton and Nub)

(Everett praying his team comes in first) so cute! (and yes they won gold)

(Easton waiting for his final heat number to be called. He is nervous and focused)

(AND he did it, he is age Champion receiving Gold! So proud of your hard work bud, your butterfly stroke is so fun to watch)

(Best buddies, always there cheering each other on)

(Meow and Everett all cozy in my bed for a cuddle. We acquired Meow when we moved into the new house as his previous family could not take him to Australia because he was sick. Sadly Meow has passed away because his illness shut down his kidneys but we had a great time with him while it lasted. )

~ International Day ~

(My amazing family at our annual Prem International Day wearing our red and white)

(The rest of nationals spreading Canadian pride)

~ Loy Kratong ~

(Siam. Emma. Piers and Everett ready for their liftoff)

(My turn to say a wish to float up into the sky)

~ Tree decorating time ~

(Ev always makes the pictures interesting)

(Essie our token reindeer)

(My two amazing girls. Essie and Emma kinder spirits)

(Merry Christmas you Thai silly billy)

(The mass ornaments come out)

(One of my favorite traditions we do together… make homemade eggnog, pull out the decorations and fancy up the tree)

(Oh they bring the biggest smile to my face)

~ Spirit Week at School ~

(The kids dressed up for Fashion Disaster Day)

(Flash back day – East a great nerd and Emma a hippy)

(Everett in perfect character for his performance as Terry Fox. The grade 4 class had to research and present on an Influencial Person… Everett chose Terry Fox which was an inspiring presentation)

~ Santa Claus has come to town ~

(Our Prem resident Santa came to the car boot sale to greet all the little girls and boys and pose for family pictures. Some of those pictures will make many famiies laugh for a lifetime. Here Santa is with some security guards at school)

(Easton asking if I think he will ever fit into Dad’s coat)

~ Family came to town ~

(Always fun when we have visitors come to town. My cousin Falon and her fiancee Derek came to spend some time with us. It was fun showing them where and how we live. Today they wanted to see the tigers and of course our kids love tagging along for all the fun stuff)

(Just casually sitting amount tigers, what a life…)

(Everett loves creatures, he can go see them but they are NOT coming to live at our house)

~ A day on the movie set of “The Coup” ~

(The movie “The Coup” has been filmed here in Chiang Mai starring Pierce Brosnan and Owen Wilson. We can’t wait for the movie to come out because so many of our friends were extras in it. Emma spent the day on the set during the filming of the restaurant and hosptial with Owen Wilson. I spent the day on the set on a different day meeting Owen Wilson’s body double, and Pierce Brosnan himself. We had a great conversation and he was so down to earth, super nice guy! A interesting experience for many) In the picture above one of our students is having a headstand off (?) with Owen Wilson’s body double… hard job.

The costume designer on set… Annie, her daughter was attending Prem while the crew was in Chiang Mai for the filming. Lucy the grade 2 student has grown up on movie sets traveling with her Mom so she is a very outgoing child who knows alot about the celebrity world.Annie had alot of interesting stories about celebreties and how some were nice and others were hell to work with. A intersting perspective on the whole Hollywood scene.

(Kate. Tiffany, myself and Annie at the movie set. Annie is a Hollywood Costume designer so she had some great stories about multiple actors she has worked with. A fun time!

(Does he not look like Owen Wilson or what? He was a super cool guy)

(This is one of the sets in the movie which had to recreated after a fire on a different location)

(This is one cool guy. Pierce Brosnan was so down to earth and hillarious with the kids. Most of the grade 2 class had no idea who he was or James Bond or any other of the movies he was in. One young student asked Pierce Brosnan “Are you famous?’ Peirce response was “My job is to play characters that’s all, and no I’m not famous since you have no idea who I am.” hahaha he was great!

(I had a great conversation with this fine gentleman explaining who we were and I shamelessly told him “I loved Mama Mia” I’m a dork 😀

(Really how old am I?)

(Pierce was a great guy. A true delight to meet!)

~ 2013 Basketball Season comes to an end ~

(Loved watching the boys play on the same basketball team, they played dynamic together. It was amazing to watch how silently confident they were with eachother, witnessing their unspoken brotherly language x x o)

(Everyone’s very tired from a full day of competing. Great job men!)

U 14 Girls Basketball Team ROCKED!

(What a season we had, so immensely proud of my girls!)

(Gushing with pride not only as a Coach but as a Mom. Em was a superstar at the Conference and despite her knee injury she dug deep down and played with determination and grit leading her team to the Gold!!!)

~ Fun with pictures ~

(It is always eventful taking pictures with this lot, they keep us laughing for sure)

(They are getting so tall, I may be the shortest one in a few years at this pace)

~ Rob Handly’s 50th Birthday ~

(These three are trouble together. Trent. Rob and Sean. Rob’s 50th will be a few nights to remember and will bring many many many laughs over the years. A tranie elf and his bodyguards on the loose in Chiang Mai..haha)

~ Gingerbread decorating ~

(Em being patient with her decorating)

(Everett was about getting all his icing on the house to make sure it looked like it was covered with snow so then he could eat it)

~ Christmas Eve Party at our new house ~

(Christmas Eve we always have an open house party and this year was no exception with the move. It was a great time with many people who form our international family and a nice time to celebrate with many who can not be with far away loved ones)

(Ready for the party to begin)

(A perfect spot for the kids to sit and play games)

(The party is starting to get started, all the food made, house clean (i think) and the Christmas festivities beginning)

(Hello friends …. Merry Christmas)

(Again these three are trouble together and its awesome!)

~ Merry Christmas Chiang Mai 2013 ~

(Christmas morning bright and early running down to see what Santa brought. The boys were up at 4:00am to snoop and went back to sleep for a few hours before we were woke up with yells of excitement. It is always so much fun to watch these awesome kids discover what is hidden beneath the wrapping paper)

(Going through their stockings… Santa rocks!)

(Ev ready to rip it all open)

(Adorable Essie, she waited patiently for help with her stocking)

(Merry Christmas Cutie… Love your hat!)

(Easton organizing his haul)

(Santa brought the mother of all nerf guns for the boys… Ev is more than excited to have a nerd war)

(Game on buddy, let the forts commense)

(Their tired with their funky socks on)

(2013 Christmas in Chiang Mai x x x )

~ Christmas Dinner with the Healy’s ~

(Tiffany, Sean and the kids came from Hong Kong this Christmas, there were many laughs)

(Easton and Kai digging right in)

(Emma. Siarra and Everett all excited to talk about their favorite Christmas memory ever)

(Merry Christmas honey!)

(Kai practicing to keep up with his Daddy..haha)

(Sweet looking skates… The kids and I went ice skating at the new ice rink at Central Festival Mall, we had a great time and I loved skating circles around the kids and all their friends)