They did it! Congrats!

It all started way back last June of 2014 when Marisa sent an email to the whole family suggesting we run a half marathon together as a family on Dec. 21 here in the Muang Thai Chiang Mai Marathon-2014.

The family was very enthusiastic and liked the idea and started training.  Well most of us..... I thought about it for a little while- but emphasis on the "little".

Two things did not work out as planned.  By the time they all got ready to register, the race was totally full. It was such a bummer for them after anticipating for so many months.   Jon and Marisa figured out  a way to get their two registrations for the half, but Mike, Lori, Ben and Jen could only get in on the 10K.  It was pretty disappointing- but still a bit of a challenge and accomplishment to do together as a family.

The other challenge was that a flue bug has been going around and Marisa got it the day before the run.  She was pretty sick and contemplated back and forth all day if she should not go and then be disappointed that she did not..... or to go and then have to quit part way because of being sick and then be even more disappointed.  Since she was the one who initiated the whole thing, it was so sad that she was sick and may not be able to run.  By 10pm, the night before, she text-ed us all and said "It's official- I'm going!  I'd be too disappointed if I did not at least try".

So when she came up to the finish line with her friend Christy- and we were all cheering her on wholeheartedly- it was a pretty big deal.  I stayed with their kids at 4am when they left the house- and then woke up the kids  to watch their parents cross the finish line.

Both Jon and Marisa finished the half (21.1 K)  along with their friends Christy and Janna and some other hundreds of runners. It was a lot of training for both of them and something to check off of their bucket list.

Ben had run another half marathon earlier this fall, but it was Jen's first  distance run and a big accomplishment for her too. 

Mike had run cross country throughout high school but that was a loooooong time ago.  Lori has run off and on - but this was her first official  distance run too.

Doing with friends was more fun for sure- no matter which distance they ran.  Congrats to all of you and we are all anxious to see which level you work up to next! Summer and I decided to start with the 3K next year!  ha ha

nine people

The laundry.... it never ends!

Today is our last full day!  The Seilers and Lori leave us tomorrow night! I'm exhausted but it is a good tired and my own fault.  I don't want to miss out on anything while they are here and keep going and going.  It has been so so good and all we dreamed it to be!!!! More photos to come!

christmas cookie decorating and attempt at cousins pictures.....

We've taken more photos than I could ever share, and kept busier than I can hardly keep  up with.  It's so hard to try and squeeze years of dreams for these girls  into two short weeks.  The sharing of photos  may have to  happen here in weeks to come- but here's a glimpse of just one evening of cookie decorating together.

We discovered a new technique this year to make the decorating easier for children.  Put the frosting in  ketchup dispenser type bottles  and it is way less messy and gives them better control of the frosting. (Adults, too)

Then we tried to get a decent shot of the cousins in their matching jammies- which was a task we failed at.   A sore throat/cold is passing around and those little one years olds do not sit still for even a few seconds.

Loving every day of this chaos.... non-stop activities.....laughter......messes.... loudness.... bottomless stomachs.......mounds of laundry....and togetherness.  

Happy Christmas Eve from Chiang Mai!

school's out- see you next year!

Collin, Summer and Hayley, are done with this semester at GIS and now on their Christmas break and able to join us in our family fun.  Last week, they had several programs and special days and it was fun for us as a family to visit them at their school and cheer them on in their programs.  It was also fun for Lori, Bethany and Jen- since GIS is the school they graduated from and nostalgic to go back to although things have changed a lot.

It was actually my first time to get to visit Hayley at school and see her in her little kindergarten half -day world.  She is about as precious they come and LOVING school.

The GIS Children's Chorus performed a Christmas concert on Monday and Summer did a great job right there in the front row.  Mr Cook from UofA does such an amazing job leading these kids.

On Wednesday Summer's 3rd grade class had a wax museum event.  Each one chose a character and her's was Pocahontas.

They would stand frozen like a wax figure until someone came up and pushed the red button somewhere on them and then they would talk for several minutes (many were memorized) telling a lot of history about their character.  I was very impressed with how much they memorized and learned.

Marisa took advantage of one of the perks here in having a dressmaker make a costume for her that she created, for a small price. It turned out so cute!

She was the cutest little Pocohontas I ever did see!

Actually, every one of the costumes and characters were so creative.  This is Sum with some famous ballerina, who happens to be one of her best friends. 

I know it was so special for Sumner to have her extended family get to come see her.  She had a big group of interested family to recite her information for over and over.  Aunt Lori was very proud of her!  I love the way kids still say good-bye to their friends at Christmas break..."see you next year!"  I use to think it was so cool to say that- and I guess it still is!  Our days are now fuller with all of us free now.  Making decisions with 15 people has had it's challenges- but we're doing good! "Joyful and Selfless" are our key words and goals this week! 

the nest is full again

I didn't want to leave you hanging too much longer- because..... YES, Michael and Bethany survived their trip and we are all back together here again.  I think meeting them was pretty exciting for all of us, because of the length of their journey.  They had a 10 hour flight, then a 12 hour layover, then another 10 hour flight, another 3 hour layover and then the 1 hour flight to meet us. By the time they reached us they had been travelling 37 hours.

 I'm pretty sure the long itinerary was worth it to them though, because when Bethany finally saw us all at the airport, she burst into tears (probably relief).

Ellanora was especially happy to see us and be done with the trip.  That's a real long time for a one year old to sit on planes.

Ruby Kay and Ellanora were really happy to see each other, not even realizing that they were half way around the world together again.  

These two cousins are definitely buddies and know each other well in the way they interacted when they saw each other.

And now our house is very full again (as in 9 people) - like it has not been for many years. The Foltz family of 6 is just around the corner and here a lot too.  For us empty nester's it is once again full of action, very loud, lots of messes, and a lot of hungry people. People that want to get out and experience Thailand again everyday.  Good thing that Thai food is so cheap and that's all they want to eat.  And knowing that this will only last for 2 weeks, the chaos and exhaustion that I feel is  a good tired- because before we know it, they'll be gone again.  Merry Christmas from our home to yours. 

coming home- one by one

Little by little, they are returning to our nest this week. Lori arrived in Chiang Mai first on Friday. She actually arrived before me, as I was still in southern Thailand but arrived shortly later.  Lori got the Foltz kids all to herself (and vice-versa) that first day.

They love their Aunt Lori a lot because she does so many fun things with them; like a basketball game of shirts vs. skins in our front driveway.

The next day, we met Jen and Ben and Ruby Kay at the airport.  Anticipation was really high.

Of course, Ruby Kay was the star and her cousins were so thrilled to meet her and see what she was really like after all those facetime calls. 

Nathan and Collin  were very  excited to see uncle Ben too.

By this time 11 out of 15 of us were in Chiang Mai. 

We are trying to hold off until the Allens get here, to get out and experience Thailand- but it is hard. The girls are just so happy to visit old favorite places. 

It is interesting how much of the old memories  revolve around food; like markets, grocery stores, or just sitting around our table. 

Now we just need Mike to get back from southern Thailand tonight and Michael and Bethany to get in tomorrow night.  THEN, we will be complete! The nest is getting real full again!