The Elephant Show

After riding elephants, we paid even more money to see the elephant show, but it was quite entertaining! At the end, the elephants got a little too close for comfort, but it made for a fun and hilarious video (see below).

Grady was still asleep from elephant riding and crashed on his daddy. So sweet.

 Once the show started, Grady quickly woke up and made this shocked face for several minutes. He seemed a bit discombobulated. I also love Caden's frizzy hair. Ha.

 They all came out with a sign at the beginning and end of the show.

 They first all laid down for us. That's gotta take a lot for an animal that big to lay down, let alone get up! I sure wouldn't get up.

 I love all 3 guys here and their attentive looks.

 "Hmm, brother is clapping. I think I should be too."

 Um, yeah they totally painted pictures after playing soccer.

 Yes, the elephants painted these pictures. And yes, they are being sold for a bootie-load of money. The one on the far right only costs $200 :o)

 Cheeeeeese.

Here are 3 videos. The first is of the elephants playing soccer. The second is of one of the elephants painting. The third is the elephants saying goodbye and 'asking' for money. PLEASE watch the 3rd video. It's quite hilarious because they get soooooo close...way too close!

Riding Elephants

We got the opportunity one of our last days to ride elephants. It seems like the thing to do when in Thailand, especially when your son is Caden. He is obsessed with riding elephants. Anytime he sees one (whether at the zoo or just in a picture), he makes known that he wants to ride it. I don't know many 3 year olds that say that, but this one sure does. For him, elephants are for riding. Period. We had a great day and enjoyed the experience.

Entering the elephant camp

 Grandparent shot

Before riding the elephants there was an area where you could take photos (and where they beg ask for money when taking those photos that we found out after taking the photos...ugh). I bravely jumped in front of the elephants thinking, "This will be a cute photo." Then the elephants began wrapping squeezing their tusks around me and trying to put a hat on my head while blowing their snot on me. I don't care how cute the photo is - that's disgusting!

 "Ok, the hat is on, take a picture, quick!!"

 Trying for a family shot. I'm not amused at how funny Britton thinks all this is when his wife and youngest son are being engulfed by elephants! "Help!!!"

 Oh, how cute. They get the cute picture!

 Um, I'm still not ok with this. Why am I doing this?! "Mr. Elephant, please back your trunk up. Way too close for comfort! Randy and Donna, stop laughing!"

 Oh good, a photo that looks like we're having the time of our lives. How deceiving can we make a photo look?! Obviously, Caden was never pleased. Enough goofing around...on with the riding!

 That's much better. On top of the elephant is a much safer place to be, right?! Poor Donna. We gave her the wiggly baby, and on top of that, the 'drivers' gave us all umbrellas since it was so sunny. It wasn't the smoothest ride at first, so Grady was a bit hard to hold onto, which made this grandmother a bit concerned. Sorry, Donna! You did such a great job though!

 Randy and Caden rode together. Caden is the calmest when watching a movie and riding elephants. He simply takes it all in.

 Me and Britton in the front.

 We had nice scenery while riding.

 The elephants stopped mid-way through to cool off, and it was at this point that Grady decided just to fall asleep. So glad he did...made riding for Donna a lot easier!

 They're so cute. Zoom in on his cute little face. Nothing like riding an elephant with a sleeping baby. Where's this thing in the middle of the night when he's waking up?!

 

 Here's a short video of all of us on our elephants!

Good times and great memories! After we rode the elephants, they put on a great show. It was quite amazing at points. Stay tuned for pictures :o)

Never too early to celebrate

It was a little early, but we took the opportunity to celebrate the boys' birthdays with Grandy and Mimi. They brought presents from all the family. Unfortunately, the main 'gift' suitcase got lost and it was a crazy process getting it. We had to call in the middle of the night because that was the airline's only operating hours. We called nearly everyday and no one (and I mean 20+ people) knew where the suitcase was. Fortunately, Donna packed a lot of stuff in another suitcase, and the boys still had a TON of presents to celebrate with. The suitcase finally showed up several days after we got home, and the airline was willing to send it to our city instead of all the way back to the states! The boys loved getting to celebrate again. Randy and Donna also got reimbursed for all the stuff in the suitcase even with it showing up. Win-win!

This has nothing to do with the boys' birthdays, but I wanted to fit in some of our time at the night market. I love love love the night market. I love the bargaining and all the cool stuff. Britton and I sent Caden, Randy, and Donna home in a tuktuk (Caden's most favorite thing), and walked with Grady through the market to our car. We stumbled on this shirt, and I really wanted Britton to get it. I couldn't convince him ;o)

 Going home in a tuktuk.

 Celebrating with cake! 3 candles for Caden and 1 for Grady.

 Presents!

 Wow, that's a load!

 Grady loved his new guitar.

 Thank you Mimi and Grandy!

 I LOVE his every day monster underwear :o)

 Grady really liked Caden's new underwear too...on his head.

 Watching a movie with Mimi.

2 videos: 1. singing 'Happy Birthday,' 2. Grady dancing with his guitar, Caden playing with his elephant, and a shot of everybody else.



It may look like we jumped back to our house now, and that's because we are in our house in these next few photos! No worries, we are still reminiscing our Thai Vacay, but these are photos from our continued celebration of the gifts that finally arrived in the lost suitcase! I hate we couldn't open it with Randy and Donna, but I'm just glad it got here! Grady got a fun steering wheel, and Caden got a Mr. Potato Head and Woody (to go with Buzz Lightyear and Bullseye!).

Donna made Grady this cute pillow.

She also sent this book of first words that was given to Britton as a gift when he turned 4. So sweet. Can't believe it's in this good of condition! Caden's kids will get none of his books because he has a bad habit of destroying them! This book is tucked away safely out of Caden's reach and is only allowed to be read under supervision :o)

Grady also got this cool guitar that surprisingly everyone wants to play. It really is quite the awesome guitar.

Thanks Carnes family for all the special gifts! You were all so thoughtful and spoil our kids well!

Pool Time

This trip really felt like vacation, which is great since it was vacation! I was so unexpectedly excited with how many times we got to go to the neighborhood pool and for free! We went nearly every day. The sun wasn't always out, but we still enjoyed swimming in the biggest pool we've ever been in. I got to enjoy a little bit of time completely by myself sunbathing, reading, and swimming laps. So refreshing. Caden loved every minute, and Grady enjoyed this time in the pool much better than his first experience. He loved just wading on the first step.

Having fun with Mimi.

 Pool hair. Gotta love the finger in the socket look.

The sun finally came out! And it sure burned when it did! The pool Britton is in is actually the kiddie pool, and all the kids love walking along the little boardwalk separating the pools. 

 Me and my boys. I love their love for the pool. I could spend all day there! My skin greatly appreciated the Vitamin D.

 Group shot in the massive pool. Great place to swim laps.

 playing with daddy

 I love my boy in the pool and so does he.

 He can't help being so cute.

 Please click on the photo to make it bigger and look at Britton's face. I think it's hilarious. It seems like he's scared how Caden is going to land in his arms.

 Caden loved Grandy acting like he was going to pounce on them. Gotta love pool games.