A Royal Weekend

One thing I really love about being here is there are very few distractions. Weekends used to be about cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, seeing friends, and running errands and I swear some weekends would go by and I would feel like I needed another weekend just to catch up! That is all so different now! This last weekend was full of stuffing our selves silly at the best brunch buffet in the city, taking naps, going window shopping, and bopping our heads at an outdoor concert.

Entering the Le Royal. A moment of silence is necessary for this place...it is that amazing!

I was going to take pictures of the inside but I was too busy gaining 5 pounds...Whoops! Worth every pound!

Some family pictures after brunch.

My 3 favorites

I love Jack face in this picture. A classic "Jack face"!

Jane has got Dan wrapped around her little finger...and she knows it!

We went to an outdoor concert and listened to the Cambodian B.I.G....Ha! Cambodian rap is funny! Jack was dancing his little heart away (he has no rhythm) and thought that everyone was clapping for him.

The SWEETEST girl around! She is always happy and smiling!

Best friends

SOOO excited she can hardly stand it!

My sweet little boy

His new obsession is dinosaurs. He never leaves home without one!

Momma's boy

It was soooo hot at the concert that I could actually style Jacks hair with his own sweat...SICK!

And like most nights Jack dictates how long the night last. As you can see it was time to go!

We were the only ones with kids there, I think everyone thinks we are crazy because we bring our kids everywhere. They always get a ton of attention and the other night Dan and I were laughing because we decided that when we go back to the states they are going to have a major complex..."why isn't everyone staring at us?"
I am trying to get used to the fact that anyone and everyone comes up to my babies and kisses them. It's great to see that they are loved but for a germaphobic like me my skin crawls every time. I like to take them around in the stroller because then people can't hold Jane but, lo and behold, the other day at the mall a girl just starts unbuckling the stroller! Can you even imagine that happening in the states! I am trying to find a diplomatic way of saying, "take your grimy hands of my child" but so far I just watch on in horror and then douse them with antibacterial. So far no one has been sick...knock on wood!

ZZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzz

I have a new fantasy. It's called sleeping through the night.

Really it's more then that. In my fantasy I go to a hotel (by myself) check into the quietest darkest room and sleep for 24 hours!

Ah, sleep, it's a beautiful thing....when you're getting it!

My sweet little baby has decided that 4 or 5 am is a suitable time to wake up. She just jabbers away solving the worlds problems one morning at a time. I keep thinking that tonight is going to be the night that she figures this all out. You see my sweet baby used to be the most sleepy baby around. She has always slept great and I have really never had those "pull your hair out" nights with her...until now.

Oh well, I guess sleep will stay a fantasy for now!

Chompers

Check out these PEARLIES!

She's loves to show them off!

GRATITUDE

I have many people to thank!

Before I begin let me throw out a little disclaimer. I have attempted to write this blog a few times and each time I do I completely fall apart thinking about all my family, friends, and neighbors that help my family so much. So I am sorry that this is so long overdue.

I would like to throw a little shout out to Rawlins Lane. I miss my street with all of my neighbors! Thank you for all of the help and friendship!

To our friends and extended family...Chip, Adam, Emilee, Rachel, Sam, Emily, Jill, Natalie, Doc and Melissa, Jim, Katie and Jed, and Kelly thank you for your never ending loyalty and help! I seriously would not have been able to survive if it weren't for the help of our friends. Dan and I both feel like we have the best friends on the planet!
To the friends who lived out of town and offered much needed moral support, thank you as well!

To our family! WOW how did we both get so lucky to have the most AMAZING families ever! Heidi and Stan...seriously! To the daily menu texts and then the nightly dinners, not to mention the help with the kids, the moving, the emotional support, and the fun! We are forever indebted to you and your family! Debbie and Kevin thank you for the yummy food, the friendship, the help, and the love that you showed us. I was lucky to have lived near two amazing sister-in-laws. To Robin and Amy, thank you for the late night chats. I would have been very lonely if you two were not in town that first week that Dan was gone! To Ed who made it all happen, we are so glad we got to hang out with Grandpa before we left! To Ben and Kristina, thank you for the babysitting, the moral support, and the make Cho feel better treats! Also thank you Kristina for all the clothing pictures...keep them coming girl! To Paul and Katie thanks for the test run of flying with a baby, your advice was very helpful! Paul thanks for the chats on the phone, you have a very calming effect on me! To Leah, my garage sale rockstar, I could not have functioned without you there! You kicked me in high gear and you are the only person who I know that could have done what you did! You are and always will be my best friend! To my Dad, thank you for making the trip to come and see us before we left. You brought some much needed company in the last week! To Peeps for letting my mom come and for the love and support I have always felt from you. And finally to my MOM! You are my ROCK and I am forever grateful for your love and support! Thank you for loving my kids as much (or maybe even more) than me at a time when I had to put my nose to the grindstone and just work! You were the perfect balance of work horse and tender love. I think it is so amazing that I have two children of my own but I still need my MOM!

We love and miss you all! I pray everyday that someone decides that they desprately need to come to Cambodia for a visit! (hint hint)

Bounce

BOUNCE bounce BOUNCE. That is all Jack has done all day long! It's been the BEST $10 I've ever spent. Pure entertainment for the both of us! He loves the bouncing I love the laughing!

These pictures are more accurate of what he really looks like when bouncing. They crack me up!

One of the cute ladies who work for the apartment. Jane's personal favorite. It makes me laugh every time she holds her because I swear Jane is bigger around than this tiny woman!

DiFFeReNt

I thought I would make a list of all the things that are different here in Cambodia. Some of the things are a "good" different, some are a "not so good" different, and some, well, are just plain old different.

{Friendly} I thought people in Utah were friendly but they don't even hold a candle to the people here. Everywhere I go people are asking me about my kids, how long we have lived here, how we like it... the list goes on. Next time I live in the states I am going to talk to all those people who are obviously "visiting" like I am here. It has a way of making you feel welcomed.

{Sidewalks} Oh man I sure do feel sorry for any one who is in a wheelchair here. Maneuvering my double stroller has been quite the challenge!

{Electricity} Power is such a valuable commodity here. The city has frequent power outages (lucky for us our apartment has a generator) and power is also expensive so people do what they can to conserve (something I think the whole world should be doing). Even though I am not really affected by this, besides the power bill which is still cheaper or the same as the U.S., I am learning to conserve since I know so many people are affected by the power outages.

{Rain} It rains everyday...not my favorite kind of weather.

{Transportation} I MISS MY CAR!!! I never knew what kind of freedom I had with my own car! Not to mention the carseat is the BEST babysitter ever! Back in the U.S. i was known to throw the kids in the car for no particular reason and just drive. Many of you received phone calls from me at this time because I was hands free (besides the steering wheel ;) and the kids would just lay back and take in the view...pure bliss if you ask me! I don't want to seem spoiled because we do have a driver, Mr. Nak (a.k.a. Mr. Mak if your Jack), and he is great but I have to wrangle both kids in the back and I am usually on someone else's timetable. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to tackle the wild street here.

{Ants} Small and totally harmless these little guys creep into my kitchen if there is one single speck of food out. Man they would have taken over my old house! I have a windex battle every morning with them. I have a feeling Buddha would be very disappointed in me! HA!

{The staff} Everyone from the guard at the gate to the girls who come in a clean, they are all amazing and have made us feel so at home. They literally grab the kids out of my arms the second they see me. The kids adore them!

{cleaning} or lack there of! The wonderful people I mentioned above come in everyday and make our beds, sweep, mop, do the dishes, take out the trash, clean the toilets, do the laundry and iron, and I am sure I forgetting other things. Lets just say I LOVE it! It is much easier to concentrate on the better things in life when you don't have to do all of that! Not to mention it really isn't any fun at all!

{home cooking} Lets just say the kitchen hasn't been used for cooking yet! We eat out ALL the time and I am getting a little sick of it. I could really use a nice home cooked meal. The only problem, I have no idea where to even start. We are in the process of finding someone to come help me learn some dishes and help me go grocery shopping. I really do miss cooking for my family if you can believe it!

{price} Man oh man I love when we eat out at a really nice restaurant and get the bill and it 's only like $11 dollars for all of us! Or getting and hour long message (better than any I've ever had) and only paying $7. Some things here are just soooo cheap! U.S. is OVERPRICED!

{Shopping} I could really use a Walmart or Target right about now!

{Family} It's all about family all the time and this is the BEST "different" I could ever ask for!

I miss and love all of my family and friends. If I haven't called you yet I promise I will. We are settling in really well here and I am very grateful it has gone so smoothly. It's really cool to see my husband here. He is so smart, kind, and all together pretty amazing. I am very grateful for him, if he weren't so "on the ball" life here could be pretty scary! This has already taught me some pretty valuable lessons in life and I look forward to all of our families new adventures! For now, so long!

p.s. next post will be LOTS of pictures, but here are two to hold you over. I took these this afternoon when the kids and I were being lazy in my bed. I can't get enough of these two!

Take a number

Found these cute stacking number blocks at the local market. Jack decided they made great hats for us all. The cutest block heads I've ever seen!

sights of the streets

Some sights from the streets of Cambodia.

Who needs a truck when you have a scooter.

Nuts or coconuts, you decide.

Just chillin. Lots of people sitting around and waiting. I'm going to find out some day what they are waiting for.

Duck anyone?

just in case you were wondering...it's a lexus!

Street corner waiting for a light

No shortage of tires here.

the journey

Well we made it!

That was a huge accomplishment for me. I know feel like I can move mountains after traveling 24 + hours with two kids. The kids did amazing and exceeded every expectation I had (my expectations included screaming kids for 24 + hours).

We arrived on Monday and have been trying to settle in and adjust to our new home. It is a little different to say the least but we are slowly taking it in...baby steps!

My friend Sam has been my travel buddy aka guardian angel, aka life saver, aka Jacks new best buddy! I could not have done it without her and I would hate to see what would have happened if I would not have had help...i'm invisioning world war 3 but possibly bloodier.

A little about my new home. Its hot, it's humid, its total chaos. But its also beautiful, the people are AMAZINGLY nice, and there is culture to be seen around every corner. I think it is going to be this constant balance struggle of me loving it and not so much loving it at the same time.

Our little Jane is a celebrity. I expect to see her face plastered all over Asian Facebook very soon. Everyone wants to kiss, hold, and take her picture. Jack on the other hand always has a grumpy face so they usually go for jolly miss jane!

Here are a few pics. I have been so bad about taking them but I promise I will get better.

Jack feeding Zumbo the elephant. Literally a dream come true for this boy.

Riding the elephant!

The royal palace gates

National muesem

A very common occurance. People clamering all over the babies. Can you say hand sanitizer!

Love and miss you all. Please keep in touch and leave your email if you think I don't have it.

chicken and turkey

Meet my little chicken...ain't she cute!

Here is my turkey and his favorite rain boots!

Chicken and turkey together.

Man oh man I love these kiddos!

Thanks Aunt Kristina, you have out done yourself again! Can't wait to see more!

Just in case anyone is curious it is one more week until take off! We leave the 22nd.