a good life

We're moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 20:02:00 +0000

Well...I guess technically I'M moving...my blog anyway!

Haha!

I love lots of things about Google...but their blogging space isn't one of them.

Most likely it actually boils down to my inability to use it correctly, but whatever the reason, I'm ready for a change!

This blog will remain here for as long as Google lets it I guess - you can access it anytime to be reminded of the enthralling adventures of our past lives!

I think I'll try and find a way to preserve it on a hard drive, or a blah blah blah (that's about how much I know about what I'm talking about) so that it will be around "forever".

In the meantime here's where you can find me...

baumbachlife.wordpress.com

As soon as I'm set up and can figure out what I'm doing over at Wordpress, I'll set up a way for you to subscribe so that you can be notified when my brilliant thoughts have been put to paper so to speak.
Ha!

See you soon!!

Portrait Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 01:32:00 +0000

So, I had a friend ask me to take her son's senior pictures last May.
I said "Yes!" before I could talk myself out of it.
I do mostly "thing and place" photography, but people assume that if you can take pictures of something, you can take pictures of anything.
And I believed that I could...but I was scared.
So - I got Jenelle and Colin to do some "modeling" for me so I could get some practice.
They were awesome!
Jenelle's requirement was to try and act like a teenager...she called it acting "fierce".

Colin brought his skateboard along and we got some great shots!

On a quick trip to Ellensburg with Ivan and Jenelle, I got some shots of Ivan at an old skate park.

So finally it was time for my actual JOB.
Eli, his sister Bella (a friend of Hannah's) and his mom also came along.
I was able to get pictures of them all during the night.
Jenelle was my "assistant" for $5.00 and helped carry my lenses and camera bag.
We had fun and I they were really happy with the end results...and I got PAID!
Here are a few...

And isn't it a small world...?
They are moving to McKinney, Texas later this week.

SO!
If you're tired of looking at people you don't know - time to leave.
I have two more sets of photos I'm going to post.

My neighbor across the street was thinking about how to surprise her daughter for Mother's Day.
She watches her grandson twice a week and I told her that I'd take pictures of him so she could create a photo album.
Shooting a toddler is a whole new ball game!
They don't care at ALL about what you are trying to do.

It took two different days and some Grandma and Grandpa distractions to get shots that worked.
But that face!!

And last, but definitely not least, was my friend and her two boys.
She's been a friend from our earliest days in Yakima and known Hannah since birth.
She and her husband adopted two adorable boys over the years - one from South Korea and the other from China.
Here are some pictures that I hope they cherish for a long time!!

And for now - that's it!
I'm scheduled to do our friend Jack Sentz's senior pics in October.
I expect that will be fun!

I'm having another local (and amazing!!) photographer do Hannah's in the spring.
I think it will be easier for her to relax and enjoy the moment if it's not Mom telling her what to do.

I hope to get the chance to take more pictures of people as time goes on, but for now I just like to think that some of my photos are hanging in peoples home and making them smile.

Back to School 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 23:54:00 +0000

Wow! It's been a long time!
Lots of cool things have been happening and lots of pictures have been taken, but I just haven't made time record it all here in this space.

There's just no way that I can go back and blog about all that has gone on since...wow...April, but I will get some back to school photos on and then try to figure out how to share the past 4 months of our lives without it being too much!!

So!
Everyone started back to school this week...but in increments instead of all at once.
Those days of three kids smiling for the camera all together on the first day are over.
In fact, between the three of them, there are three different schools being attended.

Jenelle goes first!
She started her 8th grade year at St. Joe's on Tuesday...8TH GRADE PEOPLE!!
Its our last year with this most amazing and special school.
I'm not going to miss the volunteer hours and time (or maybe I will just a little), but I will miss this place that makes me remember their sweet young start in school.
I will miss the teachers and principal and all those who made it a safe and loving place.

This girl was so ready to go back!
We had a fantastic summer, but she loves activity 24/7 and likes the routine of the morning and her school day.
Mom just can't provide that kind of entertainment all day every day!

Next is Ivan...
Ike started on Wednesday and Ivan left for his Sophomore year in the morning - stopping long enough to appease his mom for some pictures.

And finally Hannah!
Our SENIOR!!
She's entering her 2nd year of Running Start classes (classes taken at the local community college that count for college credit as well as high school credits).
This year her college classes are in the morning...and don't start until 19 September...so she doesn't have to be at Ike until close to noon.
Instead of sleeping in, she's up and going to the gym before class...using the extra morning hours to her advantage.

And so that's it...
Endings that lead to beginnings.
It makes me think a lot lately about who I am...what I have been for the past 17 years.
So many things, but mostly a mom...a wife...
Of course I don't know what the future holds as my children grow up and start to make their own way, but I know one thing for certain...
I have never once...not one single time...regretted spending my days with them and for them.
I would do it all over again and again.

Springtime

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 16:12:00 +0000

We are into April and the colors in Yakima are A-MAZ-ING!!
It's apple blossom and dogwood time around here.
A few more weeks and the petals will be gone making way for the fruits that we love...and that is good...but spring colors just don't last long enough!!

Speaking of dogwoods...
On Mother's Day 2012 I picked out a white dogwood tree and the next year it produced TWO blooms.
The next two years there might have been a handful more, but I was worried we'd gotten a dud.

This year though, it came to its senses and put on quite a show!

I'm going to love to watch this tree grow each year!

Spring also brought Easter and its usual egg dyers, nest makers and morning hunters

Hannah was sleeping in, having worked until nearly midnight the previous evening.

But her special eggs were still hunted!

This year was the end of innocence when it comes to the Easter Bunny (and therefore Santa and the Tooth Fairy as well).

Jenelle has been suspicious but her doubts were confirmed this year.

It was time.

But! I'm still going to hide eggs and pay for teeth and put presents under the tree from Santa.

Why should the fun end here?

Springtime also means getting out of the house for walks and wildflowers!

Jenelle and I checked out a place we'd never been before called Snowmountain Ranch.

And spring is also time for tulips!

If they aren't growing in your yard, buy them!

Tulips make everything better!!

Hikes with Hannah

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 23:43:00 +0000

Because Hannah is taking half high school courses and half college classes, she doesn't get a full spring break like the years past.

A few weeks ago she had her time off from the community college, so she'd go to school in the morning at Ike and then come home around 11:30 each day.

So on a couple of those days, we took off on a local walking/hiking adventure.

The first day we walked the Greenway and ended up at the Arboretum.
The weather is warming up a bit and things are starting to bloom.

Taking serious photographs was our goal!

Ha!

The second time out we walked from Naches Heights Winery down into Cowiche Canyon.
A beautiful day and a lot of fun!
Better views, a lot more silliness and amazingly...pictures of me!!

I know that these days of being together like this are numbered.
In a year and a half Hannah will be leaving home and these opportunities won't come so easy.
I'm soaking them up while I can.

A Week in Pictures: 13 March - 19 March

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:05:00 +0000

Trying to get motivated to blog!

The pictures are there...just not the words.

I thought I'd try this idea again...just a small bite of our daily/weekly lives.

3/13 - These two are still at it with their Sunday morning trip to Walgreens for the papers. Rain, shine, snow or whatever! Not much can stop them.

3/14 - Monday night we were honored to watch Hannah get inducted into the National Honor Society at Eisenhower.

3/15 - Spring is officially a few days away, but my daffodils always make an early appearance. After a long grey winter the color is so wonderful!

3/16 - With her community college classes over for the quarter, I have someone to hang with in the afternoons for a week or two until the new quarter begins again.

3/17 - We don't do much for St. Patrick's Day, but this year I decided to make some fun food. It was all "okay", except the Colcannon which was AMAZING!! Will definitely eat potatoes this way again!

3/18 - Not sure anyone in this house loves to go on a trip more than Jenelle! For an hour or a day or a week...doesn't matter! She's packed and ready before anyone else!

3/19 - Renee and I took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge for a weekend. Life is so busy for all of us so it was so wonderful to be all together again having fun together.
Where did the time go with these five??

Winter Holiday Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 00:35:00 +0000

Tomorrow...if we don't get snowed in...is the first day back to school and work after the holidays.
These weeks have been wonderful...full of relaxing and enjoying our little group of five.

After Thanksgiving we started off with some Yakima Christmas activities.
The lighting of the downtown Christmas tree and the Lighted Christmas parade.
These always seem like a good idea to me until I have to actually leave my warm house and go, but Jenelle keeps me honest!

We've been having snow off and on since the winter break started.

One day Hannah and I walked to Johnson's for some photo ops and apples.

Christmas morning came and went, and somehow I managed to catch none of it except snow through my wreath.

It was a wonderful morning.

Relaxed, together and all of us full of gratitude.

There has been no shortage of snow!

Donald built a huge sledding hill in our front yard and while everyone has had a go on it, Jenelle was the die hard sledder in the family!

It's a constant work in progress and Donald's always out there adding more snow and adjusting the turns.

Pounce has a nice warm box to sleep and relax in, but when we are outside, he likes to hang out for a while.

This is Pounce hiding from me and getting ready to...well...pounce!

And here he goes!!

Snow and more snow!

A pinecone that still hangs from the Mohawk days!

On New Year's Eve we took a walk in Cowiche Canyon.

Our valley looks so beautiful covered in white!

We celebrated as a family that night with games and homemade confetti like my sister and I used to make.

And so, a new year begins.

I love new years.

They are clean and fresh and full of unknown adventures.

So here's to 2016 and whatever it may bring!

A Fall Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:37:00 +0000

Since Winter officially arrives in 6 days, I thought it time to record some memories of our Autumn.

In early October, the Omelans came for a visit.
Despite appearances, we did do more than just drink wine!

They were able to listen to Jenelle play for a short time in a strings ensemble for a charitable event down town.

The next weekend Jenelle and I went to an event in Seattle that she had been looking forward to for a long time!
A Miranda Sings show!
It's too hard to explain...you should look it up here!
Very entertaining!
The young girls at the concert acted in a way that I imagine they would have years ago at the Beatles.
My eardrums were bleeding!!

And we always enjoy an excuse to visit Seattle!

Next came Homecoming for Hannah and her friends.
Yep...all just friends!
First Jenelle helped me see whether this was a good spot to take pictures...

Then came the stars of the show!

Next was Halloween -

This holiday changes every year as the kids get older.
This is how they used to spend Halloweens just a few years ago...

Hannah still spent it with Jack and his family on a visit to the WSU campus.
Cold and miserable, but she loved the college campus experience anyway.

Ivan stayed in and volunteered to hand out candy...

Jenelle still dressed up and she and her friend Margaret were allowed to trick or treat all by themselves this year.
A hobo and a bag of jelly beans...

They scored candy BIG time!

Of course Autumn is also about leaves and cats who couldn't care less.

And last but not least - Thanksgiving!
Great meal and FINALLY...a picture for our Christmas card that included all of us.
During the day I was trying to find a place inside the house with the right lighting and right camera settings for a photo.
The kids were happy (for the most part) to be subjects of my shoots!
And obviously "their" shooting as well!

No great pictures from inside the house...but fun memories!

Now we're looking forward to making Winter memories!

What About Them - What About Us?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 03:39:00 +0000

In my life I've experienced the gift and absolute privilege of travel.

Not as much as others and certainly not as much as I would like.
But I've been around enough to know that when you leave your comfortable spot on this earth and venture elsewhere, you start to realize a few things...

First...our world is small.
It really is.
It may not be small in square miles or hours spent on an airplane, but it is tiny in our connection with the people with whom we intersect.
They are like us and we are like them.
(We all want that picture of the Mona Lisa!)

Second...and so very important...we all want the same things.
Whether we are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or Buddhist...
Whether we are black, white or brown...
We want happiness.
We want love...peace...a warm place when its cold and food in our bellies when we are hungry.
Most of all, we want a safe place to live our lives and raise our babies.

This is universal.
This is an absolute.

I won't begin to try and understand the motive of the people who are filled with hate and want to destroy the world we live in.
I'm not a historian or a politician.
But, I do believe that desperation breeds desperate behaviors.
If I were a mom or dad running from war...I would be desperate.
If I found no safe haven...I would become even more so.
My family - my children...they are ME.
What else is there when it comes down to it?
What option are we giving people/families/humans when we say we won't help?
Refugee camps?
This is a picture of a Syrian refugee camp from the US State Department.

Does it look like a place you would want to raise your family?
Refugee camps are fertile soil for terrorists and extremism.
They will not make the problem go away.

I understand the fears for our nation.
I really really do.
I live here and I love my life.

I am the same as anyone - wanting safety and happiness for those I love.
But, our safety as a nation is not as simple as arming ourselves with weapons and closing our borders.
I have walked along the history of the bad things that can happen when we start to really hate...

I don't know what that answer is, but I believe it starts with an open heart for those who are truly desperate and in need.

It has been said that fear and compassion cannot live together.
But courage and compassion can thrive...

"There but for the grace of God go I"

Cross County

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 16:48:00 +0000

Ivan's season in XC ended last week.
He had a final race and ended his year with a PR (personal record) of 19:16 for a 3 mile course.
He's come a long way.
We were laughing about how in the past few years he used to go for a jog in our neighborhood...it consisted of about a mile around in his Vans.
At the beginning of the summer, he started running with the Ike XC team in preparation for his freshman year.
During the time trials, he was running about an 8 minute mile.
His hard work and dedication paid off - along with an amazing team and coaching staff - and today he's shaved almost 2 minutes off that time!

Here's a few pictures from the big XC meet in early October that is hosted by Ike...the Sunfair Invitational.

Ivan is #536...on the left side of the picture.

Ivan placed 41st out of a race with 149 kids!!

Now that the season's over he'll get back an average of 20 hours each week to himself.
No more morning or afternoon practices.
But the running will continue so he stays in shape and ready for track season in the spring and XC again next year.

Jenelle, who hung out with Donald and I all afternoon while we volunteered at the meet, got bored.
She decided to get creative with some fading rose bushes at the park.

Always good at entertaining herself...and us too!

The State Fair!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 01:17:00 +0000

Another year in the books for the Baumbach trio at the fair!

Donald declined.

Hannah would be coming later in the evening with friends.

The three of us managed to wait until the last day...but it was as good a day as any!!

We started with the Ag Barn which you might be surprised to know - is actually one of their favorite things!

A great use of a very strange gourd!

Next we went upstairs to see the student art.

Both kids had art in the display this year!

This is art using Jenelle's name...

This is called "Junk Art"...

And this is a sculpture Ivan made of Matt Smith.

You'll know who that is if you're a Dr. Who fan...

Next we went to the carnival rides.

Jenelle was excited about the new roller coaster they had.

She went solo but that didn't stop her from having fun!!

She rode a few more...and Ivan rode a few.

What cracks me up as I go over the pictures is how my kids act like "no big deal" on the rides!

I swear - they told me they had fun!!

We took the gondola to the other end of the park...

We stopped at the petting zoo and this was probably my favorites spot this year.

The animals were just soooo sweet and gentle!

This guy was really a favorite.

Could be the funniest animal picture I've ever taken.
I can think of a thousand captions for this one.

Soon after this precious moment, Ivan lost his food cup...food AND cup!

PLEASE let me have one!!

A cute little girl working at the fair.
(I'm telling you this specifically so you understand those are NOT Jenelle's fingernails!)
(Although they have looked like that before!)

Killing me with the eyes!!!

But later I found the cutest animals of all!!

And of course there was food...

The boy would have spent his entire day in front of these if he'd been able!

We had different treats throughout the day.
I mean, it IS fair food!

They each got to choose another fun activity.

Jenelle chose the bungee jump...

And Ivan chose to jump on to a giant pillow??

The years are flying by and these types of days are slipping through my fingers rapidly.

I'm grateful for them all.

Bear Creek Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 00:19:00 +0000

In mid September, Donald and I went on a hike with a group of Rotarians.
Every year one of the Rotarians, who has a cabin in the gorgeous mountains near White Pass, puts together a nearby hike and holds a salmon dinner at his cabin afterward.
Donald and I have wanted to go for a few years now, but since its on a Friday, work or school obligations always sneak their way into our plans.
This year though, it worked out!

The cabin is about 45 minutes outside of town, but the trailhead for the hike was another 45 or so minutes up bumpy logging roads.

The hike itself was approximately 6 miles round trip.
It was not a difficult hike - kids could definitely do this with no problem.
The last bit of the trail leading up to the summit consisted of a lot of switchbacks on rocky terrain and probably the hardest part of the hike...but so worth it when we got to the top.

The pictures are courtesy of a Rotarian who was smart enough to bring along his Cannon.

When we got to the top...just before the actual summit, Mt. Adams (called Pahto by the Native Americans) rose in front of us it all glory!

At the top of the summit, the Goat Rocks came into view...

And on the other side as we turned to our right, was Mt. Rainier...

Clouds came and went, but for the most part, we had the most incredible day for summiting this gorgeous mountain!

Time for a lunch break and group photos...

After enjoying the surroundings for a while longer, we began our descent.
It was more difficult on the way down and took longer.
But, if you go up, you have to come down!

A delicious dinner and a fun evening were our reward!

I know I've said this plenty of times on this blog, but I am so grateful for the beauty in our backyard!

I feel like we live in the most amazing place and I love taking advantage of the valley we call home and all the treasures nearby!

*Note* I can't take the photo credits for most of the amazing pictures on the blog. One of our hiking partners named Matt Morgan took the pictures and was kind enough to send us copies.

A Week in Pictures: 26 September - 2 October

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 15:59:00 +0000

9/26 - Hannah's car! 1998 Ford Explorer that she paid half for.

9/27 - We all climbed to the roof to look at the blood moon.

Bonus pic!

9/28 - Yes...its delicious!

7/29 - Jenelle's really been into taking bike rides around the neighborhood lately.

7/30 - So. Many. Tomatoes. Every. Day.

10/1 - The question is fast becoming..."Can Dad keep up?"

10/2 - My favorite time of year for our backyard is when the birch tree litters our lawn with its gorgeous yellow leaves!

Back to School Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 16:50:00 +0000

We're about one month into school so far.
We have two high school students this year!

And just a cute little 7th grader left at St. Joe's!

The Oregon Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 17:19:00 +0000

As fall is here, I guess it's time to wrap up summer.
This is one of our very favorite places to "get away"...Arch Cape, Oregon.
We all needed this last bit of vacation before school started.
I'll let the pictures do most of the talking...and that means there's going to be a LOT of talking!

We made it for our stay in time for the evenings sunset...

The first morning started with a fog on the beach so thick...

And it created beautiful scenes as it rolled away...

We did the usual beach walking and combing...

Probably the last thing you'd expect to see swimming around in a little tidal pool...

We stayed in the same little house that we've been in twice before - The Little Caper.
It's getting pretty tight for our family, so next time may be different, but this house feels like home.

Views from the house...
We walk down this road,

and follow this path,

to get to the beach!

View from the house during the day...

...and at night.

This trip we did something new and roasted smores on the beach.

It was pretty cold during our visit.
For the most part we stayed on the sand and not in the water.
Ivan takes full advantage of the shoreline!
The first time he had Jenelle help bury him laying down.

Next he dug a hole so deep that he could squat in it and was buried up to his neck.

He was in so tight that Donald had to dig and pull him out.

Most of the time we just walked and played...

...and enjoyed the incredible beauty of this amazing place!

A Week in Pictures: 20 July - 26 July

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:21:00 +0000

7/20 - Taking care of my neighbors plants for a week while she's in Hawaii visiting her newest grandson. Its quite a backyard!

7/21 - Gorgeous hop fields surrounding an amazing brewery here in town called Bale Breakers.

7/22 - Someone got an interview for a hostess position at an amazing restaurant in town!

7/23 - Fun day at Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho with these two!

7/24 -We stopped in Spokane on the way home from Silverwood. Very pretty city! This is a portion of a really cool sculpture representing their famous Bloomsday Run.

7/25 - As a part of the Yakima Rotary, Donald was in charge of the installation of a new playground at a large park in town. Very proud of this man!

7/26 - This is actually a Saturday leftover because I didn't get any pictures on Sunday. This girl is a nut and wouldn't she haunt your dreams if you saw her coming at you like this??

A Week in Pictures: 13 July - 19 July

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 21:57:00 +0000

7/13 - He shaves. This part is not a good look.

7/14 - I took Ivan & Jenelle bowling. It was so much fun. The girl was disheartened at first, when she was getting only gutter balls. This game ended with a total of 10 points and she was thrilled!

7/15 - We've been trying to grow okra for a few years, but it never does anything. Our weather has been really hot and I think we might actually get, oh, I don't know, 4 okra this year!

7/16 - Hannah was out of town with friends on her birthday, so when she returned I took her to get her license. She dropped me off and the gym and drove away. It was pretty surreal.

7/17 - Beautiful girl (and her new favorite shirt)!

7/18 - Got this old cookbook out and realized there are some really good recipes in here that I'd forgotten about!

7/19 - Checking out this year's farmer's market. We decided that 10am wasn't too early to eat a hot dog.

Dance Recital 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 16:11:00 +0000

Saturday night after graduation, Jenelle had her annual CoMotion dance recital.

This is her 4th year dancing and she still loves it!

Ivan's 8th Grade Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 16:07:00 +0000

So obviously this is a bit overdue considering summer is half over.

Ivan is on to high school!
Can't believe it!
Two in high school and only Jenelle left at St. Joe's.

Granny and Grandpa came from Texas to share in Ivan's special time.

Ivan had been chosen by his classmates to be the speaker for their graduation like I had told you about in a previous blog post.
We figured with that honor as well as it being graduation, he should look sharp.
He got a new pair of slacks and a tie to go with a fantastic jacket that Aunt Susan had sent him last year.
Amazingly, the jacket was a perfect fit!
Turns out he was the only kid wearing a jacket...and he looked so sharp!

We took some pictures before we left the house...

Someone is trying to look taller!

The men...

And the ladies...

Pictures with friends...some he's had for the past 9 years.

None of whom are going to Ike in the fall.

He's be on his own!

His long time friend Patrick is on the left..

They've been friends since the start...

Ivan and Justin.

Hannah and Amanda did this just two years prior, but it seems so long ago already!

Yea! He's officially done with middle school!

We're so proud of Ivan!
He's going to have a great freshman year at Ike...I can just tell!
He's growing up so much right now, but he's always going to be my little man!!

A Week in Pictures: 6 July - 12 July

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 16:25:00 +0000

7/6 - Summer lunch...for me. The only time of year that we actually have frozen chicken nuggets on hand.

7/7 - Braces off!

7/8 - Got distracted making my daily plans...

7/9 - Love this poet and love this poem.

7/10 - The female part of our monthly dinner group.

7/11 - A quick trip to check out a local lavender farm with Jenelle.

7/12 - Slumber party summer fun and a pool all to ourselves at the next door neighbors!

Thailand - Part 5 - Extras!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 21:17:00 +0000

It was amazing!
It was an adventure I never dreamed I'd go on!
The flight there and back was long and exhausting and not fun...but so worth it!
Here are some final memories of our time in Thailand!

Happy kids!

...and sometimes really tired kids...

Happy Parents (and really bad "selfie" takers!)

Happy times!

Happy memories forever!

Thailand - Part 4 - A Little Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 17:19:00 +0000

Before arriving in Thailand, I had images of us spending lots of time in town.
But it turned out that our resort was in a fairly remote area and going into the town of Phuket would have meant an hour in a taxi each way.

So instead, we chose to spend most of our time by the pool and the beach, taking one day to head out and eat some local cuisine, shop at a grocery store and visit a Buddhist temple.
We didn't head into downtown Phuket, but stayed in the northern district that is called Thalang.

Our trip was timed during their typical rainy season.
I think while we were at the Marriott we had one day with some rain, but basically it was clear skies.
That wasn't the case on the day we went out and about.
We left our umbrellas in the taxi and about 2 seconds after we walked into a museum, the rain came down.
And by "came down", I mean dropped down in solid sheets!!

So we hung out with Buddha and waited patiently for the rain to end...which it did fairly quickly...and walked over to the temple.

In the temple (a Wat) the main Buddha is a half buried statue.

There are many other statues of Buddha all around.

Buddha prayers/offerings (Wai Phra) are typically made at the statue of your choice and involve three sticks of incense and gold flakes...and sometimes flowers.

The three sticks of incense represent Buddha, his teachings and the monastic order.
For a quick and good read about the Buddhist offerings, go here!
A monetary offering is made that goes to the upkeep of the temple.
Each statue in this temple had a different day of the week and what a person could expect to receive if they worshipped at that particular Buddha.

There was a monk at the temple and I didn't want to take his picture straight on because I had read that was inappropriate.
The woman selling the incense said it was okay, but I decided against it and took this instead and loved it.

After our visit to the Wat, we stopped at a grocery store for a few things to take back to the villa.
Before we reached the resort, we ate lunch at a local place called Kin Dee that was recommended by the concierge.
It was wonderful!
The people were so incredibly nice and the food was beyond delicious!

And that was our day out!
Time to get back to the grind of laying around in the sun!

A Week in Pictures: 22 June - 28 June

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 16:51:00 +0000

6/22 - American Eagle...in Brad Paisley's words..."I'm waiting on a woman!"

6/23 - Breakfast with blueberries from our garden.

6/24 - RED things on my kitchen counter

6/25 - Peach cobbler!!

6/26 - This kid! He's been running with the cross country team at Ike. A great way to start his freshman year. And he's dedicated...it was 109 degrees today!

6/27 - She CANNOT resist the camera!!

6/28 - Hydrangeas from my neighbor Carole

Thailand - Part 3 - Mai Khao Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 21:08:00 +0000

We were so lucky to have gotten a resort that was on a very unpopulated part of the Phuket coast.
There were times when we were the only ones on the beach in our area.
The water was warm and beautiful and so so blue!

It really cracks me up how white we were on the first day there!

The first night...

By the next day we were nice and burned up!

And by the end...we just called ourselves tan (but it was probably still a burn!)

It was a hard place to leave...

Thailand - Part 2 - Pool Life

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 15:14:00 +0000

The beautiful pools became a part of our daily routine.

We tried them all, but had a favorite which also happened to be the closest to our villa.

Because the resort wasn't crowded, we were always able to find nice spots together and everyone could come and go between the pool, beach and villa as they pleased.

The view was always gorgeous...

The drinks were always refreshing...

And hard work was always being done...

It was pretty rough!