2009: The Year in Pictures

We tried to break a whole year down into just 12 pictures, one for each month. This has been a great year for visitors and though we'll mention them in their places, most do not show up in the pictures. This is not to say you weren't highlights!!

The year started with us in America. We got to celebrate New Year with family in KY. This picture was taken at the airport in Louisville in early January just before we headed back home. Its a great picture of Angie and sort of conveys the difficulty of saying goodbye and parting from our loved ones again.

In February we welcomed Wes and Kim and experienced our first Thaipusam which was kind of a really spooky Hindu festival that featured lots of chanting, people carrying milk offerings, and even some folks piercing their bodies. We did get free flowers, though.

March saw Bethany lose her training wheels and rocket off into freedom ... at least in the bike world. March also saw Judy accompany Amanda for the beginning of her three months with us.

We celebrated Easter in April with some friends who came from Ohio via Asia. The kids (and parents) loved having some friends here for the holiday.
Mother's Day in May was celebrated at the beach and our first real trip snorkeling. We haven't been the same since!
In June we made our first trip to Bali. Just a few short years ago someone told us we should move there. At that point we didn't even know where it was. This year we finally made it. Also that month Justin, Ricky, and James came to travel home with Amanda plus we had 10 other cool people from California.
Just a few short weeks after we got back from Bali, in July, 2Grandmas and Papaw (aka American Chopper) came for a visit.

We prepared a ton for our big neighborhood party that kicked off the month of August. A few people came to the house to meet the parents and celebrate Hudson's birthday which had just passed. When it was time for 2Grandmas and Papaw to leave, Ann Carla, and Carole Ann arrived ... literally two hours apart!!

In September we made no small trip. Literally a place where there was no where to go but up!
What a huge time in October as we traveled for some training for a couple of weeks and the kids had a bunch of extended time playing with some American friends! Plus we had our Georgia Angels (Ruth, Carolyn, and Mary) which was better than we ever imagined.
All year long Craig looked forward to going to the mountains for Thanksgiving in November. It didn't disappoint. Cool and cloudy with turkey and strawberries. Awesome!
December started with Dave, Nick, and Tom arriving to see us and carry Ann home. It ends with us counting down at midnight and believing our best years are still ahead of us.
Here's hoping you are blessed in ways you've never before imagined in 2010!! Happy New Year!

Friends for Christmas

One neat thing about where we live is the tradition of people dropping by to visit folks on holidays. My memory is of all-but-the-closest-people intentionally staying away on holidays but here people like to drop by.

Angie made a lot of cookies, pretzels, fudge, etc. and then we waited for folks to drop by. Not as many as we thought did come by since Christmas is a national holiday here and with it falling on a Friday, lots of people went out of town for the long holiday weekend.

Some friends even brought new friends, which we really enjoyed.
These are some of our great friends and constant helpers. They tell us when to zig and when to zag and what fits and what doesn't. They are invaluable to us.
Our best friends. They live just a few doors up and told us while they were here that they had for a number of years sent text messages to people and wished them a Merry Christmas but they had never been invited to someone's house to celebrate it.

We got to explain about how we celebrate, eat, and laugh, Santa even brought a few gifts for them, too. Probably the first Christmas gifts they had gotten! As people here say, "HoHoHo" a good time had by all!!

Christmas

At some point recently Angie realized this would be our first Christmas in 7 or 8 years that we didn't have people at our house on Christmas morning (or like last year, be at someone's house). It was our second Christmas in Asia but our first to be alone on Christmas morning. A little different but all-in-all (and not withstanding some post-holiday letdown) its been OK.

Bethany welcomed a new American Doll to the family. Elizabeth, I believe. She is some hippy doll from San Fran so maybe its fitting.

Caleb finally got an iPod. Which means that our household of five people now has six iPods (Angie and Bethany each have two). Special thanks to people who sent along gift cards from iTunes. That takes a lot of pressure off us!!
Hudson got a Nintendo DSi that even has a camera ... no wait, TWO cameras built right in. If it didn't need charging each night he would likely be sleeping with it.
What would Christmas be without some new Nerf guns? We got three new ones and more new darts. So there have been a number of shoot-outs thus far with everyone being quite surprised at how sneaky Dad is (and what a good shot, too). Funny how those darts get everywhere. Somehow we even find them outside sometimes...
We closed the evening by opening gifts via Skype with Grandma. I'm sure its not the same for everyone else as they sort of see gifts being opened off camera and experience the excitement by computer line but maybe its a bit better than nothing.
We're excited about having next Christmas in KY. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents under the tree!!

Christmas Eve

We got a jump on the gifts on Christmas Eve morning. Each kid opened one present.
This is from our dinner out at TGIFridays. The desserts in a shot glass were a hit.
An adult tongue would reach all the way to the bottom. Kids just waste too much!!
Somewhere they had dug up a 10 foot cedar tree and plopped it in the middle of the restaurant. A nice touch and reminded us a bit of Barren County.
Especially when you see everyone all bundled up in their sweatshirts, you think its Christmas time. The fact that sweat was running down my back all day did not, for some reason, make me feel like roasting chestnuts!

Now That is Love

Angie has been making some Christmas treats to share with neighbors on Friday. One thing she has been making is candied peanuts. Most people when they try them say, "Wow! Those are sweet!" If you've ever had dessert at a Chinese buffet you know the feeling ... only in reverse. In the same way you think, "Wow, that isn't sweet at all" they think our desserts are TOO sweet.

After boiling the nuts go into the oven and finally into a decorative container!
Here is the beautiful chef in action. You would appreciate how wonderful she is being to our neighbors when you know how hot it is in our kitchen.
This thermometer was moved near the stove. The big number (85.8) is the temperature outside at 2:50pm. The number at the bottom (88.3 and rising) is the temp in the kitchen. You can notice the humidity is low at only 71%. I like to think my sweat dripping into the food adds a certain something that would be lacking otherwise.
Here is the recipe for anyone interested in trying them out:

Candied Peanuts

2 cups raw peanuts

1 c sugar

½ c water

red food coloring (if desired)

combine in heavy saucepan, boil, stirring until dry. Pour onto baking sheet. Bake 300 for 15 minutes or until crunchy.

I'm an Addict (or Broken-Hearted with no Internet)

Our internet at home has been out the past two days. One thing that it makes me realize is that I'm addicted to the internet. We came out to a restaurant with wi-fi for supper and can't say we really missed any critical e-mails or anything. Its just that you know you can't check. Lame I guess.

It has shown me, too, that just because I know the rules in our culture about expressing displeasure and confrontation it doesn't mean I always follow them. I've let more than a few uncomfortable people have it over the past two days after they suggested I just wait 'til tomorrow and maybe it will start working on its own.

I did try to explain to Caleb this is not a symptom of living in a foreign country. I have gotten exactly the same reaction from utility workers here that I would've gotten in KY (with the exception of Craig Medford, of course). They just sort of shrug and say, "Sorry" with no feeling. I'd threaten to take my business elsewhere but just like the US the girl behind the counter couldn't care less if I buy phone and internet service from them.

So, for the time being we're disconnected. But at least I can still text Twitter updates ;-)

Blow Pops

Since we live in SE Asia these stick-free suckers are invalid. Probably all the gum was eaten by ants already...

Santa & Baby

We had been searching for a Santa to meet up with and share our gift list. Finally we ran into this helper: the first Santa we've met who doesn't speak any English. It seems he also didn't get the message about: 1) handing out peppermint candy, 2) asking what the kids want for Christmas, 3) saying HoHoHo. Plus he was wearing makeup ... and not the rosy cheek kind!!

Another interesting thing is that poor Mrs. Claus has been thrown over in our area in favor of some tart in a short skirt named "Santarina" which I think is a bit lacking in the family values department. Mrs. Claus deserved better but probably has an even more golden parachute than Mrs. Tiger Woods since Santa has more secrets to keep.
Hudson and Bethany got to get on stage for some kind of game and Hudson won first prize. The amazing prize was a white dish from the store's recent anniversary. Every kid's dream gift.

Speaking of which the kids went to a church Christmas party on Saturday that featured a gift exchange. We knew things were not as we thought when only two gifts said: BOY or GIRL. Our two. Hudson got a flowery, purple CD holder and Bethany took home a hand towel. Good thing we're here, I guess, so we can straighten out the world on the stuff they're supposed to do to celebrate X-Mas ... oops!! I mean CHRISTmas.

Eating Isn't Always Easy

Now sometimes people come here and love the food. Sometimes they don't. Some folks want only local food, some folks don't want any. Some of it depends on travel experience. Sometimes I've been places and gotten sick then I would eating only deep fried things reasoning nothing could survive a deep frier! Our guys did pretty well, considering all we tried throwing at them.

Every once in a while we wanted to throw in something normal--like McDonalds ... even though most people who eat a Big Mac here say they haven't had one in the USA in years! People always love that drinks here come in their own sack--take that Global Warming!
We had some degree of difficulty getting Tom enough meat. Here there is no such thing as a Triple Cheese or a Double Quarter Pounder, although we did find out BK has Double Whoppers. We also found out that you can get a six egg omelet if you stick with it and explain your request a few times.
We ended up at TGIFriday's but that mostly came from people who live in Asia! Everyone did enjoy it, though.
The most exciting time is when you roll up to someone's house or to a party or wedding. Its like food roulette. Can you eat it? This breakfast went OK. Some rice, some bread, and coffee. Easy!
Other times, like at a wedding we attended, its not so good. Only on the way home did I realize I had eaten lung (I thought it was liver). Yuck.
Under pressure to eat? Check out this awesome move. Nick glances around ... and then dumps his fried chicken onto Tom's plate!!
Check out that smile as he realizes he only needs to eat the oranges since he knows he can throw the rice away. Smooth, very smooth.

Birthday Party

We had a big birthday party for our combined birthdays on Thursday night. We ordered some pizza and everyone got some gifts.
We've been pretty well spoiled by having so much stuff come at once!! Big thanks to Dave, Nick, and Tom who sacrificed all their luggage space for us.
The kids were happy to get some Jacob Shaw original-design shirts. I recommend them as great Christmas gifts but he is very busy so maybe its too late to order.
Clue was also a pretty big hit.
And we ended it all with ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins! It was a great time. Thanks to everyone who gave to make it all so great. We appreciate it all so much!!

Ice Cream Man

Dave Cash can eat some ice cream. I mean the man can eat some ice cream! Check this out, he actually bought TWO scoops at Baskin Robbins. That is committed. He has dutifully been trying as much as he can and for his spirit to plow on, we applaud him.
Angie having a little mint chocolate chip while Hudson holds court in the background. The BR31 here has a new Peppermint Patty flavor which was pretty awesome. Now, it may not actually be new ... I don't think I have eaten Baskin Robbins since Randy was here last year.
Nick says Tom has eaten more carbs this week than any other week in years!! He is doing great as well. Sorry no pix of Nick. We ate this about 9:30pm and he was nearly asleep at the counter!

Happy Birthday Bob (aka American Chopper)