Wishing You All...

A wonderful 2015! May the new year be filled with health and love...

Hope you...

Had a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or just a happy! 

No blog/Fab 5 today as we spent the day turning ourselves into lobsters by the pool! And now we are dining outside listening to the waves. Tonight will have us watching Thai boxing...which has my boys all sorts of excited!

Anyways...much love to everyone!

Siem Reap, Cambodia...

This post is a little late in coming, but I finally downloaded the pictures off my camera and I figured I'd take the time on this rainy morning to blog a little...

First off, I L-O-V-E-D Siem Reap! LOVED! I loved the people, I loved the town, I loved everything about it...so much so that I'm going back in February with friends who are coming to visit!

We stayed at the Golden Temple Hotel...which was fantastic. Good service, nice rooms, great pool...no complaints!

 

 

We hit the ground running when we arrived in Siem Reap and immediately headed off on a mini temple tour. The temples around Siem Reap are amazing...just amazing. Even the kids - who are not easily impressed unless it is lit up in neon and has a WiFi connection - enjoyed the temples.

 

Angkor Wat

You can read more about Angkor Wat by clicking here!

 

 

Ta Prohm

You can read about Ta Prohm by clicking here!

 

Bayon

You can read about Bayon by clicking here.

 

Lots of people love Ta Prohm because of the trees and how they are affecting the temple, but I was more partial to Bayon with the immense faces...

 

Saturday morning had us heading out on a 4 hour quad tour through some of the smaller villages surrounding Siem Reap. Our tuk-tuk driver and guide for the day, Hong, picked us up at 6:30 a.m. Doing this tour gives you a much better perspective on what life is like outside of "town." Rice fields galore. Water buffalo blocking the "roads." Little children running around naked. Lots of poverty. I was proud of our kids who did take note of everything they were seeing and it led to some good conversations. Life is very different outside of the "expat bubble" we live in most of the time. We did have fun giving high fives and candy to the kids as we passed by them...the smiles were priceless.

 

 

Saturday afternoon had us heading back into Siem Reap for lunch and foot massages - even the damn fish one! I couldn't take the fish one for long - too weird! But, it was definitely a new experience.

 

Saturday evening had us dining on Cambodian bbq with some KL friends - Brandie and Mike and their kiddos. In addition to beef and pork, some kangaroo was cooked up as well!

 

Sunday morning had us up and at it early again as we were all doing the Family 3K at Angkor Wat while many of our friends from KL were doing the 10K or half marathon. There is something special about being out at the temple as the sun is rising...

 

 

The kids had fun "racing" and I even enjoyed the 3K run - which I haven't been able to say in a while. (It may be time to bring running back into the workout mix of CrossFit and golf.) And Blaine was able to walk the race with no pain since his injury. Wins for everyone!

 

So there you have it...5 days filled with temples, tuk-tuks, cheap beer, massages, quads, running, friends and lots of smiles!

 

I can't wait to do it again!!

 

Fab Five Friday Returns...

Aaaahhhh, it's Friday and I'm back with an edition of Fab 5 Friday. I went to Crossfit this morning, grabbed a shower, and I'm now drinking coffee and banging out a quick blog. I'm going to head into school soon for one last check of things and then...it's done.

So this week's Fab 5 is not too exciting...but it's good to be back at it! So let's do this!

1. Rest and relaxation. The week in Penang was not perfect weather wise, but it was so relaxing...sooooo relaxing. I read good books, slept in, had drinks with friends...just nice. I feel recharged and ready for Christmas in Phuket! Hahaha! But, seriously...it was nice to get away without kids.

2. Dinner at Feringgi Grill. Monday night we had an amazing dinner at the Feringgi Grill...it was super yummy! Chateaubriand for Two...no need to say anything else!

 

3. A Trip to the Tailor. A trip to Penang is not complete without visiting Ron. Yes, new shirts and dresses for me and new shirts and shorts for Blaine. Merry Christmas to us! 

4. The Return of Hart of Dixie. Yes, this show is completely mindless and silly and I am rejoicing that it is back on television. With a lot of my faves on break until February it is good to have something new!

 

5. Friends Coming to Visit. We have our first non-Cargill friends coming to visit at the end of January!! I don't think I could be more excited! Betsy and Kirk will arrive the 31st and I can't wait! It's been fun planning things to do - including a trip back to Siem Reap - and figuring out what they want to do while they're here! I know January 31st will come quickly!!

So that's all I've got today! Christmas is right around the corner and the spirit is slowly seeping in. It helps to have kids who are excited for our early celebration on Sunday. I wish all of you a happy holiday season with friends and loved ones...Merry Christmas!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Well, I had every intention today of blogging about our trip to Cambodia while I sat poolside and soaked up some sunshine. BUT, it is raining and I forgot my camera cord which means all of my pictures are sitting on the SD card and I can't get to them.

But, I will not be stopped from blogging...today I'll share a little Christmas spirit.

Sometimes it's not easy to find your Christmas spirit in the tropics if you've spent your entire life celebrating Christmas where it's cold and often snowy. (Now please...don't get me wrong. I don't miss the cold and snow...but there is something very "holidayish" about it at Christmas time.)

As Blaine and I drove up to Penang yesterday we talked about how we were lacking some of the "spirit" this year. We did not bake for our friends as I was busy at school and he has been busy with work. There was not a ton of Christmas shopping as the boys asked for only a few things and MONEY! (Yup, they're growing up - money and big ticket items!) Blaine and I didn't buy presents for each other as we have said we would rather pick up art or some other meaningful item on our travels - which this Christmas will take us to Phuket.

But, we are surrounded by Christmas here in Malaysia. And the spirit seems to come and go. For me it is the simple things...a Christmas carol can immediately put me in the holiday spirit. A cocktail with friends on a Friday night while Christmas tunes play and everyone shares a few good laughs. Watching "Home Alone" and "Elf" with my kiddos while we snuggle under blankets with the air conditioner cranked up. A beautifully decorated tree.

And, we have seen some beautiful and creative Christmas tree displays this year...many of them located across the street at Publika. Not all of them am I a fan of, but I do admire the artistic intent...

 

In the airport in Siem Reap

 

At Publika...recycled pallets with a blue light beneath it

 

This one has a train track with toys on the outside and kids can play with toys inside of it

 

Made of paper stars...

 

Made of white paper doves

 

Local grasses

 

Cardboard recycled with a yellow light

 

Well, I'm not sure what this is...maybe some grumpy Christmas elves?!

 

Definitely not my fave...

Sometimes you just need to seek out your Christmas spirit...I hope you all find yours this holiday season!

I'm Baaaacccckkkkk...

Yes, today is my official last day of teaching! Woohoo! (Yeah, the kids still have school next week, but this girl had already booked a trip with her husband for next week - so the school made it work!) Anyways, I've given exams, graded exams, written comments, and I think I've finished almost everything on my to do list - so I'm outta here!

So...reflecting back on the last few weeks...Here's what I've learned:

1. Teaching is still part of who I am. Once a teacher, always a teacher. I've had some different jobs since I last taught in the traditional classroom, but I've always been teaching in some way, shape or form. The things I used to do as a teacher, they still work today. The skills I once had, still apply today. It was good to put them to use.

2.  BUT...I don't want to go back to teaching full-time. This was a great experience for me, but I do not want to go back to the traditional classroom everyday. I like my life as a mom, housewife, taxi driver, CrossFitter, golfer, cook, baker...you know, the day-to-day stuff I was doing. I'm still not sure I'm totally fulfilled on a professional level, but teaching isn't the answer. I'll continue to search...

3. Kids are still kids. I taught some really great kids these past few weeks...really great. And that part was super enjoyable. There were a few who made me want to drink, but 98% of them were awesome.

4. Be nice to your kids' teachers. You know what...our administration...well, let's just say it leaves a lot to be desired at times. (Yes, that's my politically correct statement and we'll leave it at that!) But, we have some really great teachers at our school who are working hard not to let the admin crap weigh them down. Give those teachers the props they deserve because as someone who has been on "the inside" I can tell you they are doing good work.

5. My husband and kids rock. Yup, they do! These past 7 weeks have required some juggling and additional responsibilities for them and they have been troopers! So thanks for letting me get this out of my system!

Anyways...back to blogging and figuring out what I want to do with my life!! I'll try to update next week about our trip to Cambodia! It ROCKED!!