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Posts Tagged ‘mason’

Mason turns 4

May 26th, 2013 3 comments

Happy 4th Birthday!  Here are a few facts and photos of Mason.

Cute, fun, sensitive, loving, destructive little boy

Cute, fun, sensitive, loving, destructive little boy

He learned how to swim without flotation devices and is now a "fish" in water

He learned how to swim without flotation devices and is now a “fish” in water

He got mad and threw a control at our tv and we had to get it replaced

He got mad and threw a control at our TV and we had to get it replaced

He got mad and threw the iPad on the ground and we had to get it fixed

He got mad and threw the iPad on the ground and we had to get it fixed

He has more countries stamped in his passport (added Philippines, Cambodia & Thailand)

He has more countries stamped in his passport (added Philippines, Cambodia & Thailand)

We love having Mason in our family

We love having Mason in our family

4 Facts about Mason

-He still loves dinosaurs

-He loves being around babies

-He loves to cuddle

-He loves to play Lego Video games…as well as Skylander

Categories: Family Tags: ,

Thailand Vacation

March 2nd, 2013 No comments

Matt has business trips every few months to other parts of Asia. He was in Thailand in November and then again for the last week of January. He really wanted us to be able to visit Bangkok with him, since it is one of our goals to travel Asia while living in this part of the world. We left a few days before his meetings and were able to explore Thailand with a top notch tour guide. After our wonderful experience of having a guide in Cambodia, we decided to book one for our time in Bangkok, and found “Nok.” She was fabulous and well worth the $50/day. We had a 3 day tour with her and enjoyed our itinerary and would recommend her to everyone. After that, my sister-in-law (Felicia), the kids and I explored Thailand on our own while Matt had a few days of meetings. It was a fabulous vacation!

Day 1

Grand Palace is remarkable...Strict dress code:  must wear long pants, shirts with sleeves, no flip flops

Grand Palace is remarkable…Strict dress code: must wear long pants & shirts with sleeves

Canal Tour...we bought some bread and fed some fish from the boat

Canal Tour…we bought some bread and fed some fish from the boat

While on our canal tour we spotted at least 5 monitor lizards sun bathing

While on our canal tour we spotted at least 5 monitor lizards sun bathing

Buddhas at Wat Pho

Buddha statues at Wat Pho

Reclining Buddha Wat Pho is 15 m high and 43 m long

Reclining Buddha Wat Pho is 15 m high and 43 m long

Temple of Dawn Wat Arun

Temple of Dawn Wat Arun

Small replica of Wat Saket Golden Mount...the point from which all distance is measured in Thailand

Small replica of Wat Saket Golden Mount…the point from which all distance is measured in Thailand

A different God statue for each day of the week...and for some reason Wednesday has 2 statues

A different God statue for each day of the week…and for some reason Wednesday has 2 statues

Day 2

Siam Ocean World is a pretty amazing aquarium on the ground floor of a mall

Siam Ocean World is a pretty amazing aquarium on the ground floor of a mall

Learning about silk at the Jim Thompson house...and Mason feel asleep on Tia's back

Learning about silk at the Jim Thompson house…and Mason feel asleep on Tia’s back

Fish Spa in the backpackers area of Khao San

Fish Spa in the backpackers area of Khao San

Tuk Tuk is one of the local transportation in Thailand

Tuk Tuk is one of the local transportation in Thailand

Day 3

Train Umbrella Market...A train comes through here twice a day and the vendors move their items back while it passes

Train Umbrella Market…A train comes through here twice a day and the vendors move their items while it passes

Wat Bang Kung Wat Bang Kung...a small chapel that is completely enclosed within the roots of a banyan tree

Wat Bang Kung Wat Bang Kung…a small chapel that is completely enclosed within the roots of a banyan tree

Floating Market where you can buy a wide array of items

Floating Market where you can buy a wide array of items

Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua or The Tiger Temple.  Also pigs, deer, antelopes, water buffalo, peacocks and maybe a few other animals were on the grounds

Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua or The Tiger Temple. Also pigs, deer, antelopes, water buffalo, peacocks and maybe a few other animals roam the grounds

River Kwai Bridge was constructed by World War 2 Allied prisoners of war

River Kwai Bridge was constructed by World War 2 Allied Prisoners of War

We rode the elephants, brushed them down and played with them...the highlight of the vacation for us

We rode the elephants, brushed them down and played with them…the highlight of the vacation for us

Day 4 & 5

Flower Market of Thailand had hundreds of flowers and arrangements for sale

Flower Market of Thailand had hundreds of flowers and arrangements for sale

Exploring China Town...very busy place and full of crafting supplies and other items

Exploring China Town…very busy place and full of crafting supplies and other items

Kalani and Felicia on the paddle boat at Lumpini Park

Kalani and Felicia on the paddle boat at Lumpini Park

Mason at Lumpini park where he made some new friends

Mason at Lumpini park where he made some new friends

After a date Matt and I went to the Magnum Cafe and had a custom Magnum bar...YUM

After a date Matt and I went to the Magnum Cafe and had a custom Magnum bar…YUM

Sky Train of Bangkok...we took almost every form of transportation while exploring Bangkok (walking, van, taxi, tuk tuk, sky train...just missing the underground)

Sky Train of Bangkok…we took almost every form of transportation while exploring Bangkok (walking, van, taxi, tuk tuk, sky train…just missing the underground)

Cobra out at the Red Cross Snake Farm in Bangkok.  There is a show at 11am & 2pm where they bring the snakes out

Cobra out at the Red Cross Snake Farm in Bangkok. There is a show at 11am & 2pm where they bring the snakes out

Kalani asked and answered questions at the snake farm and then willingly went up to have this python around her

Kalani asked and answered questions at the snake farm and then willingly went up to have this python around her

More photos from Thailand here.

Our brother “Rah Rah” visits Asia

March 1st, 2013 No comments

When we found out that we were going to live in the Philippines for a couple of years we wanted family and friends to come visit us.  And our first guest was my brother (that our children call Rah Rah) who arrived December 3 and stayed with us until January 10.  He got a first hand experience to figuring out how to live in  the Philippines with us since we were still very new to living here.  He was with us while we were living in our serviced apartments and then helped us move into our condo.  Rah Rah has traveled with us through Europe and also done his own traveling with friends through Europe, but this was his first time in Asia and in a developing country.  I think he enjoyed his time in Asia and we all LOVED having him visit us.

 

Ayala Triangle where there was a music and light show for the month of December

Ayala Triangle where there was a music and light show for the month of December

We had a lot of fun taking photos at two different 3D art places

We had a lot of fun taking photos at two different 3D art places

Attending Matt's End of the Year work party at Hotel Manila

Attending Matt’s End of the Year work party at Hotel Manila

Day trip to People's Palace...or Sponge Bob's house since he lives in a pineapple

Day trip to People’s Palace…or Sponge Bob’s house since he lives in a pineapple

Day trip to Taal Volcano in Tagaytay

Day trip to Taal Volcano in Tagaytay

Entrance of the Chinese Garden at Rizal Park

Entrance of the Chinese Garden at Rizal Park

Day visit to the American Cemetery in Manila

Day visit to the American Cemetery in Manila

The Philippines love to celebrate Christmas...even at work with crazy head pieces

The Philippines love to celebrate Christmas…even at work with crazy head pieces

Robbie got to meet our cousins from the Philippines for the first time

Robbie got to meet our cousins from the Philippines for the first time

We went to Cambodia together and Rah Rah carried Mason for most of the trip

We went to Cambodia together and Robbie carried Mason for most of the trip

Fish massage in Cambodia...it was nice after walking around all of the temples

Fish massage in Cambodia…it was nice after walking around all of the temples

We all got a foot massage and Robbie's lady asked him to take off his pants so she could massage his calves...it was awkward, but gave us all a good life.

We all got a foot massage and Robbie’s lady asked him to take off his pants so she could massage his calves…it was awkward, but gave us all a good life.

Enjoying the view of Siquijor from our resort (Firefly Cove)

Enjoying the view of Siquijor from our resort (Firefly Cove)

Exploring a Tree House Lodge on Siquijor...it was the Ultimate Tree House

Exploring a Tree House Lodge on Siquijor…it was the Ultimate Tree House

Last night with Robbie - Midget Boxing

Last night with Robbie – Midget Boxing

Last dinner with Robbie was at the Hobbit House...since we did see the movie "The Hobbit"

Last dinner with Robbie was at the Hobbit House…since we did see the movie “The Hobbit”

Using Robbie's iPod was Mason's favorite pastime

Using Robbie’s iPod was Mason’s favorite pastime

 

 

 

 

Christmas in the Philippines

February 24th, 2013 No comments

Christmas starts in September in the Philippines.  They decorate all during the “BER” months (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, DecemBER) and the decorations are pretty nice… it’s almost ridiculous how beautiful the Christmas decorations are when you remember that the Philippines is a developing country!  And during the second week of January they start to take down the decorations.  So, for a third of the year Christmas is “celebrated” in the Philippines with music and decorations!

There are over a million people who live in downtown Manila.  During December that number increases as oversea workers return to the Philippines for the holidays.  And then the number decreases as all of the Manila residents and oversea workers return home to their provinces for the holidays.  We decided to go to “our province” as well for Christmas…that being Siquijor island where my grandfather left around 1925 to go work on a sugar cane plantation in Hawaii.  However, he also left a wife and 2 children in Siquijor, whose descendants we recently made contact with.

We spent 5 days on the island with family.  We rented a car and our cousin drove us around.  There were no presents, no Christmas trees, not even cold weather.  But, we all had a wonderful time enjoying the company of our family and seeing the beauty of the land.  God must really love us to have blessed us with wonderful family members.

Enjoying lunch that our cousins provided and spending time at the beach

Enjoying a picnic prepared by our cousins and spending time at the beach

Tia and Mason getting ready to jump off the water slide.  Water doesn't run down the slide unless you pay extra for it...and after Typhoon Pablo many areas of this water park got destroyed

Tia and Mason getting ready to jump off the water slide. Water doesn’t run down the slide unless you pay extra for it…and after Typhoon Pablo many areas of this water park got destroyed

The kids loved playing on the beach, exploring the area and finding sea shells

The kids loved playing on the beach, exploring the area and finding sea shells

Village volleyball tournament held at least yearly.  (Cousin Judith Grado #18)

Village volleyball tournament held at least yearly. (Cousin Judith Grado #18)

While the village volleyball game was going on, our kids were introducing the village kids to an iPad.  Not sure if more people were watching the volleyball game or the kids with the iPad

While the village volleyball game was going on, our kids were introducing the local kids to an iPad. Not sure if more people were watching the volleyball game or the kids with the iPad.

Cambugahay Falls - We had a rope swing to use here and swam in the water...we all loved being here

Cambugahay Falls – We had a rope swing to use and swam in the water…we all loved being here.

Butterfly Santuary.  Sadly Typhoon Pablo destroyed a good portion of this...and we discovered that there is a local fee "donation" and a foreign fee "donation"

Butterfly Sanctuary – Sadly Typhoon Pablo destroyed a good portion of this…and we discovered that there is a local fee “donation” and a foreign fee “donation”.

Capilay Springs - swimming and relaxing ... parts of this area was also damaged by Typhoon Pablo

Capilay Springs – swimming and relaxing … parts of this area was also damaged by Typhoon Pablo.

Enchanted Tree - 400 year old Balete tree

Enchanted Tree – 400 year old Balete tree.

Cantabon Cave - Exploring where there really were not any rules (swimming and breaking off a stalactite for a souvenir) and our cousin carried Mason the whole time

Cantabon Cave – Exploring where there really were not any rules (swimming and breaking off a stalactite for a souvenir) and our cousin carried Mason the whole time.

Matt and Robbie watched this cockfighting where our cousin had a rooster fighting.  That rooster lost and I'm sure ended up as dinner

Matt and Robbie watched this cockfighting where our cousin had a rooster competing. That rooster lost and I’m sure ended up as dinner for someone.

Our cousin's finance invited us to his village disco where ages ranged from toddlers to elderly

Our cousin’s finance invited us to his village disco (a yearly celebration) where ages ranged from toddlers to elderly.

Christmas dinner at our cousin's house warming party.  Family was put into a separate room while neighbors ate in the living room area.  There was also a "brown out" during dinner so we ate by candle light.

Christmas dinner at our cousin’s house warming party. Family was put into a separate room while neighbors ate in the living room area. There was also a “brown out” during dinner so we ate by candle light.

We spent time doing family history.  Our cousin would point out a relative while driving who was sitting on the side of the road and we would pull over and Tia would interview them.  This old lady is my grandfather's niece

We spent time doing family history. Our cousin would point out a relative while driving who was sitting on the side of the road and we would pull over and Tia would interview them. This old lady is my grandfather’s niece.

Our cousins introduced us to  Julie's Bakeshop and we love it.  When our ferry boat got cancelled to leave the island, we hung out here to figure out what to do since we had plane tickets to reschedule

Our cousins introduced us to Julie’s Bakeshop and we love it. When our ferry boat got cancelled to leave the island, we hung out here to figure out what to do since we had plane tickets to reschedule.

 

We were able to leave Siquijor the next morning at 5am and some cousins went back to Dumaguete with us and made sure we got to the airport

We were able to leave Siquijor the next morning at 5am and some cousins went back to Dumaguete with us and made sure we got to the airport.

Siquijor isn't a tourist trap but more of a hidden treasure.  We look forward to visiting again and spending more time with family and enjoying the beauty of the island

Siquijor isn’t a tourist trap but more of a hidden treasure. We look forward to visiting again and spending more time with family and enjoying the beauty of the island.

 

More Siquijor photos here.

 

Dumaguete, Philippines

January 13th, 2013 1 comment

We knew we wanted to spend Christmas with our extended family in Siquijor (the island that my grandfather is from).  The first time we visited Siquijor we flew to Bohol and took a 3 hour ferry to reach the island of Siquijor.  This time we decided to fly to Dumaguete so our ferry ride would only be around an hour!  An added bonus is that we have a cousin that is living with her daughter in Dumaguete.  So we made arrangements to stay a couple of nights at the Pura Vida resort and meet up with our cousins before taking the ferry to Siquijor.

Bamboo huts that were our rooms at Pura Vida

Bamboo huts that were our rooms at Pura Vida

Sleeping under mosquito nets.  Reminded me of mission in El Salvador!

Sleeping under mosquito nets. Reminded me of mission in El Salvador!

If there is a beach, our kids want to be buried

If there is a beach, our kids want to be buried

 

Farley Totem Pole

Farley Totem Pole

Chicken fighting in the pool

Chicken fighting in the pool

Candle light dinner on the beach

Candle light dinner on the beach

Walking from our resort to the road to catch a "bus" to take into the city

Walking from our resort to the road to catch a “bus” to take into the city

First time for all of us to ride a Jeepney...it got pretty crowded

First time for all of us to ride a Jeepney

Mason found a "Bat Mobile" at a "county fair" type place

Mason found a “Bat Mobile” at a “county fair” type place

Kalani with her new found cousin Kennybie on a "Ferris Wheel" at the fair

Kalani (age 8) with her new found cousin Kennybie (age 13) on a “Ferris Wheel” at the fair

All of the family that happened to be at the mall in Dumaguete

All of the family that happened to be at the mall in Dumaguete

We were all born within 4 months of each other...all cousins

We were all born within 4 months of each other…all cousins

Aftermath of Typhoon Pablo that came through about a month before...this ferry isn't going anywhere

Aftermath of Typhoon Pablo that came through about a month before…this boat isn’t going anywhere

More photos of Dumaguete here.