Christmas in Thailand

Sea Canoeing

This year we celebrated Christmas in Phuket, Thailand. We stayed at the Laguna Beach Resort, on recommendation of our friends Bill and Karen Pond. We had a fantastic time. The resort had a baby elephant named Meena that roamed the resort all day- the girls got hugs and kisses from her, got to ride her, high five her and swim with her in the ocean. Santa even rode in on Meena on Christmas day! This year, we went on one tour to Phang-Na, which is a set of Islands, that include the "James Bond" island (that was actually in a James Bond movie), a hike into sea caves, sea canoeing and a trip to the Floating Village (for those Amazing Race fans, it was the same floating village that was the "pit stop" for the Amazing Race this season)!

Girls at Sunset

With Meena on the beach

We did a lot of swimming, the girls went to Quest and attended a Little Chef's cooking afternoon, enjoyed the kids club, and made friends with a few expat families from the States living in China, as well as one from England. The weather was beautiful everyday we were there and we enjoyed it as much as possible. We celebrated Christmas Eve with dinner at Tom Yang Goon's, and came home to a Christmas Stocking hanging from our door, filled with candy and treats- the girls were thrilled! What a wonderful "last" trip in Asia. We have been so fortunate to visit Phuket and all of the other countries/cities that we have seen over the past two years!

Christmas Eve

Hanna's Kindergarten Gingerbread party

On Wednesday, the 14th, I was invited to go help Hanna's class make Gingerbread cookies. 

Korean Town

Tami and I in our Bibs!!

My Friend Tamie took me out to lunch in Korean Town. The food was great, and the company even better!

Maya's 3R Christmas Party!

Maya had her Christmas Party on Friday, December 9th! PJ's. Gingerbread, Secret Santa and Elf- what more could a third grade class ask for??

Maya's Class- Mr. Rolls 

With her Gingerbread

Blue and White Yukata Quilt

This fall I signed up, with my friend Kim, for a Blue and White Yukata Quilting class. I had no concept of what it would be. I naively though we would go to class each week, so some quilting, and at the end, I would walk out with a marvelous quilt! I didn't have any idea that I would have weekly homework (and LOTS of it!), and that this quilt would consume every spare minute of my life! I am so glad that I took the class- I have finally finished and am very happy with the results!!

Christmas Cookie Exchange with a Holiday twist!

On Monday, December 5th, Karen Pond and I hosted a Christmas cookie/gift exchange, with a Washi Egg class to start, for our friends at LaTour as well as some of our neighborhood friends. The day started with 5 of us meeting with Karen for a Washi Egg lesson. Washi eggs are something I have been wanting to learn since we moved here, and Karen has done several classes, all of which I missed.  I asked her if she could do one more, so I could learn before I left and she graciously agreed! Washi Eggs are a process-you first have to poke a hole in the egg and drain all the yolk and inside "stuff". They need to dry for 4-5 days prior to putting the washi paper on them. Washi paper is a traditional Japanese paper that is thin and used to cover boxes, eggs and a lot of other things, and it is beautiful!

Some of our Washi Eggs!

We had 14 ladies show up with delicious cookies and wonderful gifts to exchange! A truly fantastic day!!

Katie, Megumi, Colleen, Jenny, Denise, Daisy, Karen, Signe
Yuko, Kim, Miyuki, Linda, Teresa and I

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at the Budokan

Last Saturday night Scott and I went to see Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at the Budokan with our friends Bill and Karen Pond. The concert started at 5pm, and we could not figure out why it was so early...until we arrived, and realized that a grand majority of those in attendance were our parents ages! The concert was fantastic (my favorite- Wonderful Tonight- LOVE that song)- they played a range of everything from Blind Faith to the Spencer Davis Group to Traffic to a mix of  both of their solo songs. They even performed a Jimi Hendrix cover!

Scott outside the Budokan

Taiko Performance, Winterfest 2011

This is the practice before the concert!

This years Winterfest was rainy and cold, unlike last years, which was 70+ degrees and sunny out. The highlight of the day was the Taiko performance that both of my girls were in! They have been attending Taiko practice every Monday after school since September- working really hard and really enjoying it. Moko, their Taiko instructor, is the most energetic Japanese woman I have ever met, and made it a TON of fun for the girls each week. Hanna is technically too young to participate, by Moko let her try it and said she definitely had enough energy to do it, so she let her.