five on friday.

1.  Sorry for the radio silence on the blog... We've been busy settling in to life in Bangkok!  Despite the recent protests that are occurring in the city, we are loving our time here.  Great temperatures, fun outings for our boys, and the fact that we've eaten everything from beef to pork to shrimp this week make the days fun and enjoyable!  We're keeping busy while we wait on these babies.

(Not to worry... we are staying clear of any areas where the crazy crowds are located!)

2.  While we wait for our family to increase, these babies are busy growing and growing and GROWING!  Some days I'm not sure how much more space I have.  So this week, I sort of retired the idea of pants and turned my attention towards dresses.  I found a new dress for a great price at the market the other day.  AND I wore it.  Much to my surprise while googling the real cost of that particular "dress," I learned that I had in fact spent the day out in Bangkok wearing a "nightgown!"  Pregnancy has brought out the Fashionista in me!  I'll try to save my nightgowns for bedtime in the future.

3.  In other odd happenings, Jason went running this week as he does each morning.  And he returned with two bags of fried chicken.  Would you call that an oxymoron?  Thailand's street food lures Jason in every time!  But we did have a great lunch.

4.  We celebrated a birthday this week.  Max hit the big SIX!  The most exciting thing about that is that "now [he] can use two hands to tell his number!"  He enjoyed his day at Toys 'R Us choosing a gift, playing at a huge play area, and dinner at McDonald's.  I have all intentions of posting his birthday blog very soon... at least before he turns 7!

5.  Today Max rounded out his birthday week with his own "fashion faux pas."  He spent the entire day with his shorts on backwards.... not because he didn't know, but because he was just too lazy to make the swap!  The Marlins are going to spend the weekend brushing up on fashion, how to tell the difference in a dress and a nightgown, and how to get the most out of your daily exercise regiment!  Happy Weekend, friends!

about that age.

He's about that age.

You know.

The one where he prefers the likes of Iron Man 3 and Duck Dynasty with his daddy, but he'll still settle in for an episode of Diego if it just happens to be on.



The one where he'll attempt the manliest of chores around the house, but he'll still let you read a book aloud to him any time you're willing.



The one where he wants to pick out his own clothes, but he still doesn't know that there is such a thing as coordinating colors or fashion.



The one where he'd rather be throwing a ball with his daddy, but he just can't resist the call of a playground that is made for a boy half his size.



The one where his 'toys' consists of things such as iPads, but he'll spend hours in a toy store looking for the perfect toy that'll probably just find a home on a shelf.



The one where he'll quickly shut the door if he thinks you might have seen his naked "cheeks," but he'll still ask you life's uncomfortable questions like, "how will those babies come out of your stomach?"



The one where he still kisses you on the lips at bedtime, but you walk away every night wondering if that was the last.



And I'm about that age.

The one where I want to cheer him into a new phase of life with air horns and pompoms, but I'd rather stop the clock so that he doesn't EVER grow up!

Thankful this morning that he's only ABOUT that age... and I've still got to time to treasures all of his life's questions, his kisses at bedtime, and the innocence that still consumes his little heart!

christmas in the sand. 2013

It's been 7 days since Christmas, and I'm still smiling about it.  It seems like the past few years I've carried expectations of how I wanted Christmas to go, and I've walked away from it at the end disappointed because things didn't go exactly as  I planned.

But this year was so different.  I didn't have any plans, no expectations... except for one.  I wanted to see presents laid out in the sand and watch the boys open gifts in a place that they'd probably never open them again- the beaches of Thailand!

And that's what happened.  We woke up on Christmas Eve, later than usual because we'd been traveling the day before.  The weather was beautiful- sun shining, ocean breeze blowing, and the sound of waves beating repeatedly against the shore.  We spent the morning having breakfast, relaxing, and just enjoying time together.  After lunch, the boys were anxious to head to the beach, and it seemed like the perfect time to load up all their presents and have our Christmas.

You can't have Christmas without a tree, so we carried a small tree with us from India and Jack was our official planter of the tree!





Once the tree was ready, the boys hit the water.











Jason and I took advantage of the down time and relaxed in some beach chairs.





Once they were tired and the thrill of the waves was over, they found a seat while we set up the gifts.



The natives got very restless in those few minutes!



Finally, it was time.  We made them close their eyes...



Count to three...



And turn around to see this year's spread!



They were pretty happy with all that came their way!









Jack's big present this year was a surprise... and iPad mini!  With all the traveling we do, Jack's outdated iPod just wasn't up-to-par anymore.  This boy has the most grateful heart!  He cannot open gifts (even the simplest of things) without "ooh-ing and aah-ing" and gasping at each item!  It makes my heart happy to see his joy in receiving!







Max was equally excited to open his big gift... a Nintendo 3DS!  He's been using Jack's hand-me-down that is barely hanging on.  I think their technological needs have all been met for a while!







They got a heap of stuff, but the stockings are always a hit.  They can't seem to dig into them fast enough.





When it was over, we loaded it all up and headed back to our hotel where they could really open everything up and play.



It was perfect- everything about it.





I hope it's a memory these boys hang on to for quite a while!



It's definitely going down as one of my favorite Christmases EVER!  Merry Christmas, Jack and Max!


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Let me introduce you to the main character of this year's Christmas- this guy...

He's such a trooper for my crazy ideas!  He didn't sign up to drag a more than 50 lb. suitcase across sand.  He's not much on laying out blankets, organizing gifts, or setting things up exactly like I instruct!  But he was priceless.  I love his servant's heart and that he did it all with that cute smile you see above!  Maybe next year, I won't be 7.5 months pregnant, and I can resume my role, Jason!  Thank you for making Christmas 2013 happen!