Another trip update!

Again, this is written by the good writer in the family. . . Brandon! Miss you all :) Here's the latest. We piled into Tun's early eighties corolla and headed for the airport. Security there was nearly nonexistent, starkly contrasting with airports in the states, and instead of overhead announcements for final boarding, men would walk around the single terminal with signs. The building was small, hot and had big yellow signs in the bathrooms warning guests about drinking the water.      The plane was equally hot and small, but we arrived safely after a short flight and touched down just as the coast appeared underneath us. A shuttle was waiting. We bounced down the dirt pavement roads wide enough to accommodate one large vehicle, but certainly not two. We passed small huts, weather worn government buildings that looked as though they'd been through war. Fields were full of mats with fish laid out for drying. We arrived at the resort like a van full of dignitaries, or maybe celebrities. Workers scrambled to open our doors, whisk away our luggage and thrust papaya juice into our waiting hands, encouraging us to sit in the shade and relax while they proceeded to check us in. Our room was their biggest! Thanks mom and dad B! An impressive two bedrooms, two bathrooms, large front deck with unobstructed ocean views.  Another private patio with private third shower if you should feel Inclined to be naked outside, which you almost always feel like being in this heat. In addition, our room had a dining area, multiple tvs and two sitting rooms. Everything from the furniture to the floors to the toilet seats was dark rich teak, and the gentle sound of crashing waves endlessly permeated through the walls.        The ocean outside is Like a clear blue tourquiose and the white sand beach comes all the way up to our front deck. The resort keeps a row of bikes at the ready for tourists wanting to explore. It was the first thing we did. Trying to find a bike with sufficiently inflated tires and seats at the right height was challenging work but bye and bye we set off down the bumpy road. After coverings a quarter mile my bike chain fell off and so we used my camera strap and I had Byron tow me back to the resort. The locals either scratched their  heads in confusion or broke out laughing at the sight of this. Back on the road we visited a nearby resort with an impressive looking restaurant at another resort with amazing sunset views from your table. We decided to eat, even thought we knew we'd pay 5-10times the cost ($10a person) compared to a local spot ($3 a person), but we were told the sunsets here were a must see. The view delivered. The food did not. Either cold, dry, undercooked or just plain wrong. Oh well, like emilynn's parents reminded us, this is Myanmar!        After a deep sleep we awoke naturally, as anyone on vacation should, to see the sun still was under the horizon. I guess we're still a little jet lagged. We took advantage in the form of a morning stroll on the beach. The ocean was bath water warm as it rolled up and down the sand and over our toes. We caught the sun rise over the dense green jungle, and watched with interest as two blue crabs fought over a piece of fish and then headed back, collecting shells and bits of coral on the way.          The resort has a breakfast Buffet every morning and it's quite good! We loaded up on crepes, omelets, fresh fruit and a variety of other things and set out to snorkel. We'd chartered a small fishing boat the night before through the resort to take us over to pearl island where the snorkeling is said to be the best. We set off under the guide of two locals, all tan skin and white toothy grins. The snorkeling was great, with schools of fish eating off the coral and darting about. We saw angel fish, parrot fish, and countless more.         Upon returning, famished from Hours of snorkeling, we decided to try our luck at a local restaurant and leave the resort dining for the suckers. This decision paid off! The food was excellent and we filled ourselves to overflowing on curry, enormous tiger prawns, whole bbq'd tilapia, rice and vegetables. 

Thailand trip update!

Well we have started our Thailand and Myanmar (burma) adventure, we are visiting my parents first, in myanmar snd then we go to thailand on sunday. We've taken over 200 picutres so far, but you'll have to wait to see those once we get home and are able to upload them. We'vebeene in Myanmar for 2 days now, we sent the update below to a few friends and family but figured we'd stick it on our blog so the rest of you could know what we're doing over here! brandon writhe update, he's much better with words than I am! Quick update. Yesterday we started off into the humid sweltering heat and headed for an authentic Mayenmar experience, an outdoor vegetable and fish market, thiri min gala market. There were towers of meticulously sculpted grey fish paste and piles of gold painted coconuts meant as offerings to be given to the Buddhist monks. In addition there was the familiar and the not so familiar array of fruits and vegetables. The smell of the dried fish and grey pastes were enough to almost turn emilynn the same color and send her running for the nearest toilet, but She held  her stomach and made it through. It was weird to walk through the market and feel every pair of eyes on you, searching, wondering. The little children are adorable and far less shy about the blond haired strangers. It was amazing to see how the people wash the vegetables, sift the grains, husk the coconuts and more with such ease and grace. Next we visited a pagoda and beautiful park called kandowgyi. We didn't last long with the heat but it was fun walking around and seeing the sites. In the park attached to the shore was an ornately decorated boat that serves as a theater and restaurant. We took pictures of course so I'll leave the flowery descriptions for something we didn't photograph.          After the park and pagoda it was lunch at a Chinese place which was wonderful. The service was on a different level then what you'd expect in the states. Not just one server but a team stand by watching you eat and at the ready with water refills, rice, etc. to promptly serve you as soon as you need it. After lunch we felt tired and ready for a siesta, so it was back to the hotel for a quick nap. Our driver picked us up again at 3:00 and we headed for the famous golden pagoda of Yangon, shwedagon. This 2500 year old pagoda adorns the hillside like a jewel. Visible from almost anywhere, it gleams brilliant in the sun. The tower is wrapped in over 5 tons of pure gold, stands 300 feet high and is adorned with around 3000 rubies and over 4500 diamonds. The biggest of which is over 65 carrots. The grounds are full of Buddhist monks eager to give a quick tour and answer questions in Broken English. We filled our sd card with pictures of the gold tower and the many other buildings and Shrines surrounding the grounds. It was indescribable.         Returning home we were exhausted and promptly went to bed after leftovers and a dice game.  Isn't Brandon a good writer :) when we get home we'll out lots of pictures on here to go with his stories but for now you'll just have to picture it in your mind. . . . We are lucky to get Internet, so we don't dare try to upload pictures, it would take forever!  Today we're getting on a plane and going up to Ngapali beach with mom and dad.  It's the beach destination of Myanmar and very well known in Asia as one of the best places to visit (beach wise) it should be relaxing, we'll get massages, swim in the bay of Bengal and relax in our executive suite :) so exciting!! We'll update again soon. Miss you all (especially you Harlow!!!)  Love em and Brandon

Videos over the last 3 months

Okay, so I knew I said I was going to pack for our trip, but I figured I should put our videos up from the last few months too.  These are especially for G&G since it's easier to have them all in once place, the next post has our updates over the last few months and some pictures.  That's all for now, enjoy!

Easter Egg house at Nana's house!

Harlow and her cousin Jasmine, just being silly

Her first Carousel ride! I think she liked it, but then got dizzy. . . . 

Just our crazy kid

She love her new Disney princess car

Bath time!

More Easter I guess, didn't realize I added this one

Grocery shopping at the children's museum

Sledding with Daddy . . . back when we still had snow in January.

The last 3 months . . .

Well, it's been a few months . . . sorry.  We've had a lot going on the last few months and between tax season, Brandon's last semester of classroom study, and playing with our little cutie pie during all the free time we had, there hasn't been much room for blogging.  And now that I actually have time to breathe I have to jump right in and start packing for our trip to THAILAND!!!!!! 

We leave on Friday and I'm super excited and not excited at the same time.  I can't wait for a vacation, we've never been to southeast Asia before, and I get to see my parents! They're on a humanitarian/charitable mission over in Burma right now.  So all those things get me super excited.  I'm NOT excited, however to leave Harlow :( In fact, every time I think about it, my eyes well up and I either start crying, or have to shake it off and think about something else.  I had to leave her for a week last October to go to Chicago for work and that KILLED me, but at least I knew she was at home with Brandon.  This time both of us are going to be gone and she's staying with Brandon's parents.  I'm not worried about her at all, every Friday when she goes over to Nana's to play she's super excited, she barely wants to kiss me goodbye . . . . so I know she'll have fun and probably not even think about us, but I'm going to die.  I already know I'll be sobbing on the plane, so I only hope all the crying will help me fall asleep so I can pass the 18 hour flight faster! 

So, since I need to get back to my "to do" list you're just going to get a whole bunch of pictures from the last few months.  Actually there are probably only 3 or 4 days included in all these pictures, we've been so busy we haven't even taken many pictures of Harlow . . . . that's when it's time to slow down!  We've really been wanting to do a little Easter-ish photo shoot with all her pretty dresses now that the weather is warming up, so maybe if we get around to that before we leave I'll get another post up. 

Harlow reading with Pappa during Nate's graduation ceremony

Nate's an official Surgery Tech now.  When Brandon starts his clinicals in May then Regions hospital will have 4 Randall boys working there.  Nate, Brandon, Tyler and Lynn . . crazy!

I wore this sweater and hat when I was little - back in Jan/Feb when it was still a little chilly we tried it on Harlow . . . still a little big, but super cute!

Going to the Children's museum is one of our favorite things to do.  Harlow used to be terrified of this Ant, but now she loves it! She thinks it's fun to pretend to ride it, but none of those pictures turned out.

Life size game of Operation - Daddy had more fun on this than Harlow

Harlow climbing the skin wall . . . yup, she's grabbing onto zits and hairs and blisters (gross I know, but they're fake, of course!)

First Daddy builds it . . .  .

then Harlow destroys it . . . one of her favorite games!

Time for face painting!

Harlow's turn, she won't let us leave this station until she draws on our faces

The water area is her favorite . . . we should learn to do this one last since she ends up soaking wet

Look at that determination, ha! I love it

Any sort of stuffed animal makes her happy.  Cutie pie

Harlow, the Mailman

And after all the playing . . . we come home and fall asleep (just pretend this isn't such a horrible picture of me)

Alright, off to plan/pack/organize for our trip . . wish me luck!