Bangkok Week 784

July 6, 2023

Arlo celebrates his last day of school, and then — uh oh! — the summer holidays begin. Bring on the activities! Swimming, biking, painting, skating… and this is only the first week!

Where is Lucy? Where is Lucy?

Here I am! Here I am!

Hooray! Oh no! It's the last day of school!

This koala is ready for the summer break.

But first, Lucy has a swimming lesson.

Psyching herself up for her lesson.

Practice those tummy kicks, Lucy...

... so that you can propel your motor boat!

Sizing up the boys... if I had to get stranded on a raft, which one would I pick?

And since Arlo's school is ending early today, it's straight to pick-up after swimming.

Lucy's sizing up the nursery: she thinks she's ready.

Waiting patiently for Arlo to come down.

And here he is! Excited that his sister is here to pick him up, too!

First day of school and last. No evolution in fashion sense over the year.

Enjoying his last time in this tree.

Someone's grown so much this year!

Including in climbing prowess.

Lucy doesn't want to leave, either.

What a productive year you've had, Arlo! With such a lovely memento to remember it.

Special afternoon outing with dad...

... to drive the cars at Donki!

It's Arlo's first time steering *and* controlling the gas by himself.

Uh oh! Rain on the way home!

Lucy, do you think you have enough friends to sleep with?

Lucy, I think this mask is a little big on you!

Lucy's humoring everyone by walking around with a cup on her face.

Arlo's starting a new level of swimming class today!

He's in the water all by himself (with his two classmates), and needs to wait his turn.

More practice with his helicopter arms.

Stopping at the new house afterward, and -- bonus! -- the garbage truck is here!

And stopping by Makro...

... for a bunch of groceries.

Back at home, Lucy tries her hands at painting again.

She just can't help but taste.

Sticky sticky, messy messy.

Woah!

Well that was a success: the paper is full of colors, as are Lucy's tummy and face!

Look at this climbing monkey! She knows she's not supposed to be up there!

Mmm. Daal for dinner is the best.

A Sunday morning inventory of all the stuffed animals that Lucy and Arlo have collected.

The climbing monkey at work again.

Sunday smiles.

Twins!

Looking at photos on Dad's watch.

Mum the horse! Neigh!

This is the much more sustainable way to have a baby koala on my back.

Mining for toys under the couch.

Sunday afternoon park visit: this time, to Benjakitti Forest Park, the new landscaped park on the old Tobacco Monopoly land.

This time, we've entered into the north-west corner of the park, directly in the sports complex.

Hey! We stumbled upon a bunch of pickleball courts!

There were a few slides and climbing ropes for kids.

Give it a go, Lucy!

Not so sure. This is a pretty big slide!

Oh my! That was pretty slow actually.

Arlo's enjoying biking along the narrow, zig-zaggy pathways.

Lucy doing a perfect farmer impression, without knowing it!

Arlo, can I please ding your bell?

She's found her feet, and is running around!

Great late-afternoon light.

Arlo's eager to bike amongst the marshes. Uh oh!

And Lucy's leading the way up to a view point.

But uh oh! What do we see from up here! A giant storm, incoming!

Quick selfie, before we pivot and dash home!

Get ready to go back, boys!

Yep, these clouds look pretty darn ominous.

Taking the express way back to the parking lot.

Hey, we parked next to our uncle!

Back at home safe and dry, just in time.

Two in a box!

Uh oh!

Monkey see, monkey do.

Bet you can't guess which monkey started this!?!

Monday morning: entertaining himself in a box in the office.

Diligently looking for caterpillars on our citrus crop.

A long-overdue playdate with Arlo's friend, Lamar.

She lives in a beautiful house...

... with its own pool!

Posing with the beautiful flower arrangement he made.

Working hard on an equally hard piece of Naan from the other night.

Who's this?

Lucy, do you think you have enough friends in your bed yet?

Another morning, another caterpillar check.

Why, it's matching Tuesday!

Two little monkeys, sitting on a bench.

If you're up to no good, look away!

Hiding in a corner, playing. Nothing suspicious about this!

Balloon entertainment.

And Lucy's learning to ride Arlo's bike already! Good balancing, Lucy!

Flying on Dad's legs.

Wheee!

Oh wow, look how strong Dad is!

The faces of anticipation.

A pile of children...

... and a wefie.

Spotted: a monkey in the wild, quietly trimming a plant with his scissors.

Quick visit to the house.

Arlo and Dad check out the progress.

The new steel reinforcements that will support the new bathroom are finished.

Up close. This must've been loud!

Another new beam, and the piping for the new wiring, above the living room.

The third floor is rather being used as storage right now.

Enjoying our own swimming pool, back at the Ekkamai house.

Lucy, it's bathtime!

Lucy likes these new PJs from Granny (with nice, sticky feet).

But Lucy, you've not quite made it to your bed yet!

And after 3 months away, Arlo's back at the rink to keep working on his skating.

And today, we're doing what we promised we'd do 3 months ago: renting a penguin!

Slow and steady at first...

And Arlo really took to his new buddy.

Wefie!

It was a nice, empty rink at 10am on a Thursday. Good time to go!

Arlo's newest buddy.

By the end of the hour, Arlo was really zipping along. Penguin gave him lots of confidence!

And because the Zamboni* driver wastes no time, we got an up-close view, having just stepped off the ice.

A fatigued Arlo is ready for bed. Night night, and see you next time!