Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween

Hopefully little man won't be a little monster today! B is looking forward to some American trick-or-treating tonight with J. She's excited to see all the costumes and the candy!




Au Pair Halloween Party

Yesterday we brought B to a Halloween party for the local au pairs. Her group and another group had a joint party. We went through all of our Halloween costumes and she ended up going as Rocky. Everyone there was thinking Thai boxer. She looked so cute. I even gave her a black eye for the occasion. (with makeup of course!)









Thursday, October 27, 2011

Wednesday night at the dome

We took B down to the dome with us on Wednesday night to watch J play in his football playoff game. Because the dome was mostly empty it was pretty cold in there and we didn't dress appropriately. Alright for us but B was definitely not used to the cold and could've been dressed a lot warmer. But we had fun watching J's team beat their opponent in overtime, 13-12. Overall they took third place and were very excited!







Thai food

Tonight we sampled a couple Thai dishes. One had chicken and shrimp with bean thread noodles and the other had pork with tomatoes, garlic, cabbage, onions and peppers. Hot peppers. Really hot. I bit into one thinking it was something else and my mouth started on fire. I was trying to find something to take the heat away and couldn't get into our bag of bread and actually tore a hole into the bag so I could get a piece! It didn't help much but the. Urn finally went away by the end of the meal. The flavor was really good, I just regret biting into that pepper! T and J both enjoyed the food too. Good and good for us! We look forward to trying a lot more over the course of the year.



Jack O Lanterns

Tonight we carved pumpkins with B. She was a little confused at first and we found out that she thought we had to put them on our heads and wear like a mask! She couldn't figure out how hers was going to fit and thought she should have the bigger pumpkin J was carving. We had a lot of fun and she even turned her lights out while video chatting a friend in Thailand so she could see her lit up pumpkin.














Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Trip to the Social Security Office

We went to the Social Security Office this morning so B could apply for her Social Security number. I think we got the crabbiest and meanest guy there. She told him she was having a hard time understanding him but he would not speak any slower (even though she asked) and if he did he did so rudely. We were so relieved to get out of there and she told me her heart was beating so fast the whole time. Mine was too. I almost wanted to ask him of we could talk to someone else or if he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Glad that is over!



First day on the job

Monday was B's first official day on the job although I was home with her. She did great! Little man has not been feeling the best so that made him a fussy baby but she did awesome with him.



Monday, October 24, 2011

Saturday, October 22, 2011

It has begun!

Yesterday we picked up B at the airport. She was waiting at baggage claim with her roommate from the au pair school who was from Chile. She took a photo of us all together but on B's camera so I will have to get it from her and post it. We had a great night getting to know one another. J and her get along great and t has nothing but smiles for her. That makes us feel so great. She is such a friendly, out-going and sweet girl. J taught her how to play the Wii and today she made a Thai candy/cake for us and J helped out. It's finishing setting right now and we can't wait to try this coconut flavored treat! I took her to United Noodles, a local Asian supermarket, to stock up on some comfort food from home so she has plenty to eat once I go back to work. I could spend hours exploring in that store. So far, so good!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

To a new chapter in our life...

The adventure begins tomorrow! We pick up B at the airport at 4:30pm. Our sitter for t fell through so we had to do some scrambling, but finally decided to use my FIL's vehicle which will fit us all. So we'll all be going to pick her up and then we'll get some Thai takeout when we get home. After her meals at the school in New York, I know she'll like some comfort food from her homeland. She called today - I think from her tour of New York City a but I missed the call because my phone was set to vibrate. But it was good to hear her voice. We're all so excited and can't wait to see where this will take us. Our life will not be boring, that's for sure. Change is good. Change is fun. Change will propel you to do things you otherwise may never dream of doing. Here's to change!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Household Handbook is complete!

What is that you ask? Oh, only a 10-page manual about all things relating to the care of the children, schedules, safetly, car usage, curfews, school, discipline, how to operate household appliances, etc. It's been the "monkey on my back" for the past month or so. I had to send the work laptop home with my husband this morning so that pushed me to finish it last night and it's a huge relief for me. Nothing like putting things off until the last minute. Now I need to find some system for our calendar and daily schedule for t. The list is never-ending! But it will be well worth it in the long run.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

She's arrived!

B has arrived and is currently in New York doing training. She had her first experience with American pizza. I'm not sure she was thrilled. :-) But we are eagerly awaiting her arrival here on Friday. Things are falling in place around the house. I feel we are in a good spot. This will be a fun and interesting weekend!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Coming to America

We were a bit worried last night after reading about the "worst flood in Thailand's history". We were/are concerned for B's safety. We spoke with our agency. Unfortunately there was nothing for us to do but wait and see. But it appears everything is okay. Her flight is on time and she should be taking off NOW! First stop, Seoul, South Korea for a three hour layover and plane change. Then it's off to NewYork for a few days of grainy, workshops, bonding with other au pairs and sightseeing. Friday she'll be flying into our city. We hope J can come with us to the airport. My mom will stay with t. We decided to order in from a Thai place down the street so B has time to relax, unwind and get settled. T and I might try it out today and see what we think. We are hoping for safe and comfortable travels for B and no problems!

Friday, October 14, 2011

One week to go!

Well, in one week we will be heading to the airport to pick up B. I'm still not feeling prepared but T and I plan to accomplish a lot this weekend so I think come Monday I'll feel like I'm in a much better place. At least that is the hope! I think the first weekend will be the hardest adjustment wise for us all. She'll be in a new place, we will have a new family member living with us, there will be a slight language barrier, etc. But we will get over that all quickly and settle into a new routine and life for the next year.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Off to Bangkok!

Well, nine days before B joins our family for a year. Nine days! I have so much to do and get done before then but know it will all work out in the end. I just need to shift into high gear. All that, plus getting ready to go back to work and trying to switch t's schedule so he will start to take his milk in a cup. We're also introducing a new solids to him every three days. So, days and nights are busy. But enough about that. B left for Bangkok sometime today. It's quite a long trip and I think she goes by bus. So her last night with her family at the family home was last night. Her adventure has begun! After taking care of some licensing issues in Bangkok (she needs to have her driver's license translated into English so it's valid here in the States) and any other last minute purchases, she leaves for America. She'll have a layover in Seoul, South Korea before continuing on to New York for training and workshops. B met a friend and fellow Thai au pair a month back in some first aid training class in Bangkok. They will be traveling together on the same flights. I'm so happy she has someone to travel with on the long flights; it can be overwhelming and will be nice for her to have company. Next Friday she flies into our city and we'll pick her up at the airport in the afternoon. We're thinking maybe a nice Thai restaurant that night so she can have some comfort food from her homeland.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

IKEA is a life saver!

We've been so busy this summer spending weekends relaxing at our cabin. (Is that an oxymoron? Busy relaxing?) Anyway, we finally closed it down for the winter last weekend so we could get caught up on things around the house before B arrives. First things first...her bedroom! The room used to be J's bedroom. Then it was his playroom. He kind of out grew that and so it made perfect sense to use it for the au pair's bedroom. She'll be the only one with a bedroom on the main floor so she'll have some more privacy in that aspect and her own bathroom for the most part. We all have our bedrooms upstairs and mostly use that bathroom to shower and get ready. While we finished painting a month ago, we still hadn't gotten any further. But this obviously needed to become a priority. My in-laws brought over a bed last week and we spent an hour at IKEA on Saturday to furnish the rest. We wanted it to be cute and comfortable but we needed to do it on a budget since we've been without my income for several months. We accomplished all those things! We will print out a couple large mural-sized images of Thailand at work to decorate the walls and it will be complete. We are very happy with the outcome.

T assembling and J playing on the iPad

Mirror image

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Countdown!

We got an email from B this morning. She is excitedly preparing for her trip. She was hoping to find a large pink suitcase with her mom yesterday but found one she really likes that is Disney-themed.


B has never been out of Thailand before so this is a major adventure for her! She leaves in just a little over a week and after her four days of training in New York she will fly to meet us two weeks from tomorrow! We are so not prepared! But, it will all come together I am sure. Yesterday t and I spent the morning shopping for bedding and pillows, etc. for her room. After some mis-purchases, I am very happy with how it came together. She loves pink so I knew I would have to incorporate that somehow.


Now to get a dresser, bookshelf and mirror up and add some finishing touches and we'll be good to go...on the room at least. My list of things to do is pages long and I'm trying not to put it off any longer. This afternoon I will write our handbook. Or at least get a good start on it!