We are finally home!!!

We finally arrived home yesterday late in the afternoon. We have not had regular internet access for the past week so we have not been able to update the blog.

While we were in Chiang Mai, we decided to get our pictures taken in one of those photo booths you see in the mall. It was Aaron and Josiah's first time to use one. As you can see, we will need more practice to get a good picture. We thought that you would enjoy some of the madness which we live every day.

Our favorite pictures are the middle picture in the top row and the right picture in the bottom row.

(click on image to enlarge)

Update on Josiah

Josiah went to the Dr. the other day for his one month checkup. He weighed 4.56 kg (10.05 lb) and was 55 cm (21.65 in). The Dr. stated that everything looked very good and said that Josiah is a healthy and strong little boy.

In other news, Josiah received his US passport today. We are going to apply for his visa tomorrow so that we can return home shortly.

Here is a picture of Josiah with his papa.


Peek-a-boo


Wait a minute...almost have it...

Spirit Houses

A spirit house is a shrine to animist spirits found in the Southeast Asian countries of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Most houses and businesses have a spirit house placed in an auspicious spot, most often in a corner of the property. The location is often chosen after consultation with a priest. The spirit house is normally in the form of a miniature temple and is mounted on a pillar.

The house is intended to provide a shelter for spirits which could cause problems for the people if not appeased. Offerings are left at the house to propitiate the spirits. Offerings are also left when spirits are consulted regarding various matters and an answer is granted. One example of this is if someone were to pray to the spirits and ask to win the lottery, the person would leave lots of gifts at the particular spirit house if they won.

Items you might see would include wooden carvings (especially elephants), food and drinks (especially strawberry Marinda soda).

Many times a large number of spirit houses can be seen in a group; this is called a spirit village.

Here are a couple of spirit houses which are part of a spirit village. You can see some flowers and food as offerings.


Here is a picture of a spirit house with a Heineken, perhaps the spirits like the "spirits".


This is a creepy picture...look inside the door. I was taking pictures of the spirit house and noticed that there was a black cat inside staring at me.

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For those of you who are looking at this for pictures of Josiah and do not care about the cultural lesson, the pictures below are for you.

A Day Out

The other day we went to Wat Doi Suthep which sits atop a mountain overlooking the city of Chiang Mai. This is the most popular wat in Chiang Mai and somewhat of a tourist spot.

We have seen it before but we returned this past Saturday for two treats which can be obtained at Wat Doi Suthep (we did not even enter the wat this time- we were only interested in the food). The first is a banana waffle with chocolate sauce. They take a banana, put it on a stick, bake a waffle around the outside and then put chocolate sauce over it; it is very good. The second thing was introduced to us by Jesse and Jessica; it is a Thai Tea stall near the parking lot. This was our first time to try Thai Tea fixed with milk and ice; it was also very good.

This is a picture of us at the bottom of the stairs going up to Wat Doi Suthep. This dragon creature is called a "naga".


Here we are waiting for our Thai Tea while it is being prepared.


The next two pictures were taken while Melanie was still pregnant. We added them so that you could see the golden chedi at the center of Wat Doi Suthep as well as what a banana waffle looks like.

Here is a picture of us earlier this year when we went to visit Wat Doi Suthep. As you can see, Josiah had not made his grand entrance yet.


Here is picture of Melanie (pregnant) about to send her banana waffle down to Josiah.


This was taken yesterday when Josiah came home from church. It was his first time to wear shoes. As you can see, he is beginning to look like a little man.

Josiah will be one month old tomorrow!

We can hardly believe that it has already been a month! We are adjusting to life with the little one and would not trade it for anything.

Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday and today.

Josiah with Aunt Jessica (Aunt Doo-Dah) at our favorite local Thai Restaurant.


Recovering from a bath.


Just "hangin' out". Uncle Jesse's mother made this blanket for Josiah.


Josiah on a quilt that our friend Sarah made for Josiah.


Just finished eating.

Road Trip

Last Saturday, Jesse and I decided that it would be good to have a guy’s day out; we decided on a road trip. We left Chiang Mai and headed north to the border of Thailand and Myanmar more commonly known as Burma. We crossed the border at Mae Sai and spent about three hours walking around. There are lots of shops selling mostly what is available on the Thai side of the border; the biggest difference is that it is cheaper in Myanmar.


Here is a picture of us exiting the border station in Myanmar. We are on a bridge over a river which divides Thailand and Myanmar.



On the way home, we stopped at an interesting Wat (Buddhist temple) in Chiang Rai; its name was Wat Rong Khun and it was not like any other we had ever seen. It was white and had sparkles all over it, like it was made of ice. In front of the wat, there were two figures standing before a pit with hands reaching up as if in agony. There were faces visible in the pit looking up with ghastly expressions on their faces. One of the figures was pointing at them as if he was condemning them. He had a sword and a skull was on his sash.

The inside of the wat was just as unusual. There was the typical Buddha in the back with murals but it was the mural on the inside of the wat at the front that was atypical. The wall was covered in pictures of nuclear arms racing towards other places on the earth. There was one heading for a watch face; perhaps to signal the end of time. There was an overarching face of what appeared to be a demon and in one eye was George Bush, the other eye has the face of Osama Bin Laden. There was a scene of the planes as they plunged into the WTC and general misery and chaos depicted everywhere on the wall. It was a truly different piece of art, one of which I have never seen. I wanted to take a picture but they did not allow them inside the wat. If you are ever in Chiang Rai, you should check out Wat Rong Khun.


Here is a picture with Wat Rong Khun in the background.



Here is a picture of Jesse looking down at the hands and faces, you can see the figures on the sides of the steps; the one on the right is the one with the pointed finger, sword and sash with a skull on it.



Here are a few pictures of the hands, some of the faces are visible in the second picture.

Finally...Some More Pictures of Josiah

Here is Josiah with Uncle Jesse.



Josiah ready for bed in new PJs from Grandpa and Grandma Lyons.

Chiang Mai Babies

When we first arrived in Chiang Mai, we were invited to dinner at the home of a nurse. There was another couple who were at dinner that night and were also expecting their first child.

The morning that we arrived at the hospital, the same couple was in the room next to us. Both mothers had their water break less than one hour apart from each other; both also delivered their babies the same day. The weight of both babies was only a few ounces different and their lengths were about 1/4" different

Three days after the babies deliveries, both fathers met again at the government office where they were getting their babies birth certificates. The following week both families met again when they applied for the newborns US passports. Today we met again at the lunch of another mutual friend. Here is a picture taken today of the moms with their new babies.

Maggie with Anna and Melanie with Josiah

Family Pictures

The new family. As you can see, Josiah is very excited.


Proud Papa with his son.