Snow day

We woke up to about half an inch of snow this morning. The girls couldn't wait to get outside and build a snowman. Unfortunately, the snow was very dry and there wasn't much of it. However, they did manage several nice angels in the snow.

In other news...Lolo saw Santa in a commercial this afternoon...she commented to me "He better quit messing around and get to work on those toys!"

Belated Thanksgiving Update

Happy belated Thanksgiving to all. We have so much to be thankful for! We were able to enjoy another Thanksgiving in Minnesota all together....we're always thankful when Jim isn't called into work on a holiday! A big meal with lots of help from my two helpers.
We've been relaxing at home the last couple of days. Lolo and I have been experimenting with mochi ice cream recipes. It still needs a lot of work. If anyone has a great recipe or helpful hints, please let us know.

Famous Cranberry Muffins

We've been reading thanksgiving books from the library. One of the books was about a little girl who lived on a cranberry farm and her grandmother made cranberry bread that was so good that it was famous. On the back of the book, grandma's famous cranberry bread recipe was printed. Lolo excitedly wanted to make the bread. I agreed. Anyway, Lolo and I went to the store. Got the ingredients. Worked on the bread.
However, I warned her that I didn't know if it would be any good (you know how some recipes can be duds...especially if they're printed on the back of an old, dirty, library book as part of the story).
Lolo replied with her all-knowing voice, "Mo-om, it's FAMOUS. It has to be good." Well, wouldn't you know it....that crazy recipe did turn out to be good. I've put a copy into my recipe box. Lolo was right. If it's famous, it has to be good.

Holiday Panic

Delinquent on posts again. Chalking it up to pre-holiday panic. The panic seems to hit me about this time every year. I get run down after a string of birthdays...Jim, then Lolo, then Norah...and quickly followed by Thanksgiving, then Christmas.
Haven't started cooking. I don't even have a turkey for this year yet. But enough about my issues....you're here to learn more about the girls....
The girls are finally over jet lag and we're back to our regular schedules. Both girls are sassy as ever. Lolo's new worry is whether Santa will be able to find her and Norah when we go to Tennessee for Christmas. The girls have started pouring over the toy catalogs that seem to inundate our mailbox every day now.
The goal is to truly start thanksgiving preparation this afternoon. Lolo has started making turkey placecards.

Lolo's school pictures

Apple what?

I was testing out a new apple fritter recipe for breakfast. As I'm getting them out of the pan, I tell the girls..."Run upstairs and get your dad. Tell him the apple fritters are ready."
Jim comes downstairs shaking his head...the girls told him excitedly that I made apple critters for breakfast.

Edamame

We had edamame at dinner tonight. I'm cleaning up. Norah is finishing up her dinner. I go to sit down beside her while she finishes up. She has a bean in her hand and pops it into my mouth. As I'm chewing she says "I save that in a special hiding place just for you Mom." Oooooh.

A couple more birthday pictures

From last night's party

We're all still incredibly jet lagged. Lolo is probably doing the best out of all of us. Jim is next. Norah and I are just having a terrible time. Both girls collapsed right after dinner and cake....or I should say...mostly just a few bites of cake. They were both too exhausted to eat a proper dinner. They fell into bed about 6pm. Norah woke up intermittently through the night starting about shortly midnight. Of course, I couldn't sleep once she woke me up. It's going to be a rough day. I'm starting it off tired.

Here's a birthday video from last night. I should mention. Norah took off her party dress for her afternoon nap and didn't want the dress (or pants) on for dinner.

Birthday girl

My oh my how time flies. How can my baby girl be three already?!

A couple more tiger shots

Here are a couple more tiger pictures. Jim and I went in to visit the big cats separately. No, we didn't let the kids go in.

These tigers are about a year and a half old. They're only about 1/3 of the size of a full grown tiger. But still quite powerful. Jim and I both got whacked by their tails...which were far stronger than either of us imagined.

An interesting factoid...Jim and I are both allergic to tigers. Guess they are just like giant house cats.

Snow showers

We're home. The girls and Jim have collapsed. I hope it won't take us 10 days to get back on track. And, we're having flurries outside. A big shock to the system. When we came home, I said "Ahh. It's good to be home." Our trip girl, Lolo said, "Yeah, but it's good to be somewhere else too!"

No snakes this time in Chiang Mai

Last time we were in Chiang Mai, I posted pictures of Norah with a python and the girls touching cobras. It didn't seem to go over well with Gramma Peg. So, no snakes this time.

But, GrammaPeg, stop reading now...you probably won't want to see the pictures below.

We went to visit tigers instead. Here are the girls with baby tiger cubs. The cubs are about one and a half months old. One cub in particular took a liking to my lap. Norah wasn't happy about getting squeezed out of her spot.

A few more long neck pictures

I thought about joining the tribe. Unfortunately, it appears I belong to the midget neck tribe.

Visit with a long neck hill tribe

We took the girls on a visit with a longneck hill tribe. Fascinating for me. Curious for the kids. I thought it would be educational for the girls. The girls were more interested in seeing the chickens that roamed free and their baby chicks. Norah made a new friend before we left. Her new buddy was very interested in her Elmo shirt and Dora sippy cup.

Elephant ride

We went to see an elephant show and ride this morning. The girls were still very apprehensive about getting close to the elephants. Lolo didn't want to get slimed and Norah just didn't want to get close.

However, once we got on the elephants. The girls did seem to enjoy themselves. Well, Lolo really enjoyed the ride. Norah wouldn't let me take pictures. She said "No Mama. Don't take pictures. Put your camera away. Just hold on to me!"

There's something about riding an elephant that puts Norah to sleep....not 15 minutes into the ride, Norah zonks out for a 30 minute nap. Second time on an elephant. Second long nap on an elephant.

Butter

At breakfast this morning, the girls and I are munching on croissants and fresh fruit. I've got a pat of butter on Norah's plate. Spread about a quarter of the pat on her croissant piece. The other portion rested on her plate. The next thing I know, Norah has picked up this chunk of butter and proceeded to eat it, proclaiming "Mmmm. This butter is so yummy!" Aaaccckkk! I was grossed out. New rule. You can't just eat butter straight. It's got to be ON something. Lolo asks "Why Mama? We just lick it off anyway!"

Relaxing Day in Chiang Mai

A relaxing day for me and the girls today. Jim's off at his class...stressing and studying hard. We had a leisurely breakfast. Strolled down to the hotel kids club and played for a while. The girls completed a craft project and then we went swimming. Swam until Norah couldn't stop her teeth from chattering. Had a poolside lunch. Then got back into the pool for a bit until both girls about froze. Naps in the afternoon and then a visit to the Night Bazaar. In search of a pretty dress for Lolo but that little girl is so particular about her clothes these days that we couldn't find anything she deemed acceptable. What am I going to do when she's a teenager?!?!

Greetings from Chiang Mai

We made it here to Chiang Mai. I think Norah is finally switched over (for the most part). She woke up about 6am this morning. Due to the rain, we ended up shopping indoors and had lunch at one of our favorite food courts. Norah's appetite was on fire today. She ate an entire (adult serving) plate of pork and rice, then scarfed down 5 chicken satay skewers, followed up with a blueberry gelato. Her appetite tonight was equally impressive. You'd think I haven't fed this child in a month.
I'm planning on taking the girls swimming tomorrow - rain or shine (as long as no lightening). And then we're heading to the kid's club as well...Lolo has been very excited about playing at the hotel's kid's club....it seems she still remembers it from our last trip out here.