Manny Mania

 Between teaching the kids lessons and being our "pool boy" I feel like Manny almost lives here. It adds to the nice hotel staff feel we have going on in our home. I was a little skeptical about putting Tate in lessons because the dude loves his life jacket and arm floaties but "Shark Bait" is loving it. I can not believe the difference in just a few lessons. 

Go Tate! And thanks Manny. The guy has more patience than normal.

Going, Going....Gone.

 I am not sure what has happened to my Em's hair...but it is GONE. When people ask me how we have adjusted I always reply with a "Great!" But maybe I forget to mention that my sweet little Em has gone from massive amounts of hair to well, peach fuzz. She is now mistaken for a little boy on a regular basis and any of my attempts at slapping a head band on her, only makes me look like a desperate Mother grasping at what- once was.

She has went from this wild crazy mess....

 To this  dwindling Asian inspired due...

 To this.....

I am not sure if it was caused from the Zhu, Zhu incident or squishing baby lizards and other things that are not supposed to be touched (the child is relentless.) At first, I wondered if it was because of the heat and she just went in to doggy mode and shed. I also considered the stress of moving half way across the world...No it couldn't be.

 

 Regardless of how many times I ask why? or how?, the cold hard truth is that it is gone.

I guess their is only one thing left to do,

just keep loving her and her bald cuteness! 

Come One, Come All!

1.22.2011

 This post is dedicated to my peeps in the "Nati". While I really miss my good friends in Cincinnati, I am not missing the bone chilling winters that come with living in the mid west. The winters can be just plain miserable. Just a gentle reminder to my gals that you are ONLY roughly 8000 miles away from a little sunshine and a good time. Hope your winter is COOL. Wa ha ha! (Imagine me  doing an evil Dr. Pork chop laugh). Because hey, that is what good friends are for :)

Tates Heaven

Tate has become obsessed with motorcycles since we have moved here.  I am guessing because they are every where. He asks if he can get one almost everyday of his little boy life. I tell him next year because in my world, it is okay to tell white lies to three year old boys that don't know the difference between tomorrow and thirty years. Plus, it makes him really happy. Imagine his joy when I had the boys from the village come to spray around our house to help with the annoying ants and Texas size cockroaches and they showed up in this classy motorbike express! I knew I was about to win "Best Mom Award" from Tate when I asked if he could take a ride.

The Filipinos know how to please and so of course took it one step up when they handed him the bug sprayer and told him it was a gun (I am not totally sure how I feel about that, but check out his smile).

We became fast friends with the bug boys and I am sure this will not be the last ride Tate takes with them!

Sick, Really Sick.

 It really is my own fault, I bring it on myself.  Curiosity gets the best of me and I have to see what kind of garbage is cooking outside...that's right out side,their is not a chance i am inviting that rank smelling stuff to be cooked in my kitchen. One of my favorite, almost daily activities is to see whats cook'n. Usually it ends with me running back inside losing all appetite for the day. But this day, it was different, against my better judgment... I let these two talk me in to trying their bowl  of "minnows".

I am not just posing, I did actually chew and swallow. Dindo did remove the head for me, maybe next time. They both started chanting my name and I knew I had to prove my coolness. They told me it tasted like a peanut. To be clear, it is a far cry from a peanut. Speaking of peanut, my friend Karen told me to keep my eyes open for boiled peanuts. I see them all the time but because of sanitary issues I had yet to actually try, until now.  What has gotten in to me? My Christmas supply of Swedish fish are gone so I am scraping the bottom of the barrel for snacks I guess. They really are good, not like your normal peanuts. I am not entirely sure how they cook them but I did see what resembled a garlic clove in my bag.

This is a shot of what it looks like out side my kitchen window. I feel like it is where all the good action takes place, you know laundry, crazy cooking, singing, sometimes dancing, English class and lots of laughing.

Jonathan and Dindo... most likely cooking something nasty.

Mount Pinatubo Expedition

I feel like almost every time I post I say this but this was so dang cool! We hiked Mnt. Pinatubo last Saturday, and it really was one of the most amazing places I have ever seen in my life. I felt like I was standing in front of a painting...I could not believe it was a real place and that any thing like it could exist. Trent and I have seen and done some pretty cool things together but I think we both feel like this was maybe one of our more memorable places that we have ever been. Thanks to our way cool friend Jenny for hooking us up with this cool day trip adventure! 

We started our epic journey at 5:00 am, headed north for a couple of hours to where our big boy jeeps were waiting. Allyson and her hubby; something about Alex made me feel safe (maybe because he made his back pack look like an ant along for the ride). 

Allison, Alex and Trent in front of our homemade jeep

Don't be nervous Mom

We jeep'ed up this river bed, they put a snorkel on your jeep so it can handle water in take. I could hardly snap photos because I was between laughing and clinging on for dear life.

 This is where  our jeep ride ended and our hike began. The hike was pretty mild,  but I still managed to sweat like a maniac. I think it was the heat because I am pretty sure a Grandma could manage this hike.....well a tough a Grandma.

Notice our guides schlepping our goods

 

The hike only took a couple of hours and it is strange because you do not feel like your taking on massive elevation.  You come around a corner and there it sits! A massive crater that has filled up with fresh water left from the volcano's eruption in the early 90's.  We had an awesome swim, a great lunch and a perfect hike back.

The Groupies

Some of the natives huts. It is hard to believe that people live like this.

Though it pains me to put this picture in, I had to prove that I rode a carabao. (I would not recommend this) but when the natives started throwing off their personal goods so I could give it a whirl, I felt the pressure was on...with my "trucker appearance" and all. Of course Trent's famous advice, "I don't know babe, it looks pretty dirty!" We decided that probably not many foreigners have opted for this one.

In my head I am thinking "Take my picture, take my picture now Dude!"

That pretty much sums up our excellent outing to Pinatubo. Totally worth seeing. We ended our day at a very Filipino spa which included a nice, cold shower and a Filipino/Korean feast (which is still taking its toll, if you know what I mean). Thanks outfitter Henessey, you rock! (Even though you bailed fast on our carabao ride) you know how to have a good time!

Paparazzi

A few more shots of our Saturday outing.  Sydney is sporting her broken collar bone look (scooter accident). Dindo calls it her bra, I told him to stop teasing her or she is going to have serious issues later in life. 

 The Filipinos think Trent looks like Bruce Willis (I think the Filipinos are kind of obsessed with Hollywood movie stars). I ask them who I look like and they just smile, sheee'sh..should I be offended? When we go out some where and the Filipinos start pointing at Trent, I have to say "Hey! Easy people our Star Ex Hyundai mini van is waiting out front. Were not famous...just really cool Americans." And "Bruce is all mine!"

 My kids are going to feel like bad when we come for our visit to Utah and they don't have the paparazzi snapping photos. Any where we go they are always getting asked for "Picta, Picta!" (that was my feeble attempt at an Asian accent).

The Dude is Crazy!

We went on a family drive last weekend around the Laguna Bay. I saw these Caraboa and started snapping a few shots. Dindo (our driver) is always willing to "take one for the team". 

 There are many reasons I can hang with this dude, he makes me laugh.

No matter the cost.....

After this picture I started running...so did he.

Baguio

 You know those moments in life when you think "This is what I have always wanted!" (high expectations in life... I know) horseback riding is one of those things Trent and I love. It was so great to share that with our kids and have them enjoy it as much as we both do. Sure, it was not the place I ever imagined us being or even the steeds I imagined we would be riding (Trent's feet could have probably hit the ground on these fine Filipino ponies). But I do not think you could have wiped the smiles from our faces. We took a trip over the Christmas break to Baguio (5-6 north of Manila) where the air is a bit cooler and we actually had to bust out the long sleeve t-shirts...weird and wonderful.

 Tate kind of stole my heart on this outing, he is our more conservative child so I was thrilled that he was so into it. He had an ear to ear smile the whole time. Syd was a natural in the saddle, she also wanted me to mention that her guides name was "Byrd" (I love Filipino names). They were really cute with the kids.When they brought out Trent's horse they said "He is little but strong!" I love that picture of him and the Emmy-mister.

 Baguio is truly a unique place. your driving through the tropics and the next thing you know you are winding up steep mountainsides in to lush pine trees. Trent's my Mountain Man so he was thrilled with our quick mountain get-away!

 Syd requested the "Tree Top Adventure" I tried everything I could to talk her out of it. I don't think 5 year old's understand things like "Hey this is third world country craziness" or "I do not think they are  following appropriate tree top protocol". Try as I might, I ended up joining my little thrill seeker and Trent up high in the sky. Your LOCO Syd!

Capt'n Insano Pants

What is this?

Baguio is known for having beautiful wood carvings. We spent a morning looking through different wood shops (I use the words "shops" loosely).  Some were just little caves on the side of the road with a Filipino inside carving away. We found many of treasures and are sure to head back for more:)

Syd and Tate sporting their Baguio caps

Dindo will strike a pose anywhere anytime.

The place we stayed is called Camp John Hay. Totally cool and once again, we were not let down with the wonderful Filipino hospitality.

Em is in to giving the best hugs right now