Goodbye from the other side.

The time has come and another life change. 2.5 years went by fast. 

I believe the 6 of us have grown so much as individuals. We have learned to adapt, adjust and except differences plus have a whole lot of fun. 

Who knew when this journey began we would fall in love with our life in Asia. Home is what it has become. 

Been down this road before and a new adventure is beginning. 

First time moving back to where we left. Feeling lucky about this. We are really not starting over just hoping to continue on....

Bags are packed. Lewy is a bit worried I'm leaving her. 

Pets are shipped. 

Boxes are loaded. 

No more of this

Goodbye KB. We will miss you. 

Last selfie in our empty home. 

Last goodbye to where we live

Where it began and where it ended. 

The Amari

The boys don't mind. A little Xbox in our room. 

Getting a little culture before we go

The King says goodbye

We catch the Star Wars premiere before we go

And another massage

We truly cannot do another goodbye

Even from Ronald McDonald

18 suitcases and we are ready to board. 

FYI don't try to travel with airsoft guns. 

Business class and the plane has its own bar and lounge.  To bad it's 1:30am and all I want to do is sleep and not have a drink. Wasted opportunities. 😜

24 hours and we can't wait to see 

Ryan and Erin!

Goodbye from the land of smiles

and my last sign off from the other side. 

9 Moves and Counting!

Cheers

😊 M

The Christmas tree

Tis the season to decorate but not happening in this house. Hard getting into the Christmas spirit when your packing up your house. 

Things are coming off the walls, suitcases are being pulled out and all out organization is happening in this house. Getting ready for the big move west. Official packing begins in 12 days. 

Tonight Walter surprised us and got out our little Christmas tree and put some lights on it and plugged it in. Was a nice surprise and reminded me that going home will be a good thing because the party of 6 will be back together again. 

Cheers from the other side. 

😘 m

Ridiculous things we do to move.

Here are some very weird things we have had to do in order to leave this country. 

Weigh Sparky in a bag with the luggage scale so the pet movers can know exactly how much she weighs. 

Go to the pet store and take 14 different pictures of various cat cages to only now have to go back because now they want brand and a picture of just the lock too. 

I spared you and only posted 2 😊

Now going around the house taking pictures of our art that we have bought and sending them to the Thai bad Buddha man to be told they will only ship some of it. I haven't even packed clothes and my luggage is filled with Buddha heads.

They will let me take Buddha heads out of the country in my luggage but not my sea shipment. Yep that Makes sense to me. 😜

But there is absolutely no problem shipping a very heavy rock. Hey don't judge, that rock has seen more of the world than most people. This will be its 9th move. 

Cheers from the other side. 

😘 M

Talkin Turkey

The rumor mill is swirling. No turkeys being imported this year into Thailand. What?? Supposedly the Avian bird flu that hit the US turkeys in 2014 have made Thailand ban imported turkeys this year. Now Thais have no problems shipping their rabid infested street dogs to Cambodia for consumption but that's another topic. So Thailand has banned good ol Tom the Turkey. Do they not realize that us expats are desperate for our turkey on Thanksgiving. Do they not realize we are more than happy to pay high baht for our turkey. Don't ask what I paid once for a turkey breast. 

Taking matters into our own hands we have imported a bird. Flight to US with suitcase in hand Walter brought us back a turkey.  We are not strangers to smuggling in some strange things into Thailand. Ask our family. Lol

 

Have no fear our bird is here!

Cheers from the other side. 

😘 M

Halloween Thai Style

October 31 is just another day in Thailand. We farangs (foreigners) always find a way to have some fun.  Halloween was celebrated at a neighborhood close to school where many of our friends live. 

Pumpkins are a luxury and one we do without. That's about $100 US. Yikes. 

Last night was all about the trunk or treat. We were a very popular car giving out American candy that I brought back from the states. 

It's 90* so our army boys really can't be to bothered to fully costume themselves. Oh and that cool age of 12 and 14 might have something to do with that too. 

Andrew, Jack and some of their friends 

Send the kiddies home and the adults will play. After party with a very cool ice bar. 

Walter loves a good ice bar. 

Cheers from the other side. 

M 😘

Thailand adventure ending soon

6 more weeks and we will no longer call Thailand home. We are moving back to Michigan. 

This is one place I will miss, the Amari for lunch with Thai noodle soup, a cold San Miguel lite and a beautiful view. 

Oh the places you'll go

She's off, she's flyin, she will move mountains!  Oh the Places she'll go!

Erin's graduated. My baby girl how is that possible. When she was little I always sang to her You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. The words ring so true for her. She really can make make me happy when my skies are gray. Everyone loves Erin. Her name in Gaelic means peace maker - so fitting for her. Jack and Andrew will miss Erin and Ryan, well, he is luckiest of us all, he gets her close by. The boys talk to her about everything. She is strong, sensitive and so smart. How did I get so lucky. 

When we moved to Thailand she was so full of doubt but she was all for our move. She was able to see the future and know what the endless benefits it would bring her. How right she was. She was scared of IB. Many times I had to talk her off the ledge of uncertainty. I knew she had it in her to take on the challenge. She persevered and was more successful than I could have ever imagined. Awards, honors and a true respect from the entire faculty, she has earned her diploma. 

Isn't this why we have children, we want them to be better then ourselves and have a bright future. We want them to grow, be happy, independent and successful in whatever they chose. I am so excited for her but I also feel the loss. I will miss her. The house won't be the same without her.  Walter and I couldn't be prouder of her but for us it is bittersweet. For the last month she is with us I will just enjoy her company and relish in the fact that she will no longer bury herself in her room for hours on end studying. I will spend time with her and just try to whoop her a$$ a few times in cards as we just talk, hang out and enjoy the last few moments we have together. 

Her future is bright!

From preschool to high school graduation

Loving having her brother here. 

Cheers and a little tears from the other side

😘 M