Category: Uncategorized

20 February 2015 – Mark got up extra early to take photos of the beach near Mook Lanta (now do you see why it's not a great swimming/playing in the sand kind of beach?  It's too rocky):   And here's Mook Lanta: Today we're going on an adventure.  Why are you laughing?  Well, I guess…

19 February 2015 – Get up! Get up! Get up! Time to get up and get packed up!  Our ride for our all-day scuba diving trip will be picking us up very soon.  Very soon. Hurry! We're going to have breakfast on the boat.  Since the boat ride out to the dive site will take…

4 March 2015- It's exactly one week since we returned home from our Thailand, island-hopping journey.  I don't want those delicious memories of our time relaxing in the water on the nearly solitary little Thai island to fade away yet sadly life is back to its full vigor.  What did we do and where did…

23 February 2015- Ava is nine years old today. My baby is NINE YEARS OLD!!!?! How on Earth can she already be nine?  It seems impossible- was there a hiccup in the space-time continuum?  Like I know what that even means…seriously, I don't have a clue what that means but doesn't it sound cool? It's…

A quick glance on some of the things we're up to right now…. 5 February…new dishwasher installation! We had an agreement with the landlord that he would purchase a new dishwasher and refrigerator for the house (the existing ones are really poor quality and don't function properly).  We ordered the dishwasher on Saturday and it…

6 February 2015- Finally!  It's finally the third graders turn to host the Friday morning school assembly.       IMG 0515 from Astrid Breutzman on Vimeo.  It was fun listening to the kids recite poems.

8 February 2015- As I was browsing the photos on my computer earlier today I realize there were a number for small events I haven't shared with you yet.  Some of the events were Big Deals like (Mark's birthday (Dang it! no photos were taken; whoops!) and Annika getting her expander after a few visits…

13 January 2015- Today is my birthday! Mark made the loveliest breakfast a person could ask for: an omelet and a latte…and a beautiful bouquet to go along with it: The bowl of orchids I bought for myself:Aren't those orchids just gorgeous?  Sadly, they're done blooming now (Feb. 8th).  I wonder if I should get…

8 January 2015- Once soccer finished for the season Annika decided to try VOLLEYBALL for the first time.  She started out with the U12s (Under 12 years of age; 6th graders) however, due to a few reasons I was just made aware of, Annika and another sixth grader (Tiffany) were moved into the U13 girls…

Photos from January… Giant whisks at the kitchen market: Peservation Cffice: Spring drinks now available at Starbucks.  Not listed on this sign is their new Spicy Mocha.  (I've tried it) Ava has just started learning to play the trumpet: Chae Rin is leaving IST!  Oh no!  She's not leaving Tianjin but she'll be going to…