Travel

A Special Girl Turned EIGHT Today!!

Me Ra Koh

She is our sweety,and she turned eight years old today! Happy Birthday sweet Pascaline!

The one thing and ONLY thing that made Pascaline nervous about this trip was she would turn eight years old while we were in Thailand. Eight years old in Thailand…what would that look like? Pascaline was convinced it wouldn’t feel like her birthday being so far from home. I’m happy to say she went to bed tonight saying this was the BEST birthday she’s ever had! 🙂

The morning started with her and Gina having a magical moment when they saw the white haired Gibbon apes! Some people. who have lived here a few years, have yet to see the Gibbons for themselves. But Pasc was up early keeping Gina company as she packed to head home. And from what I hear, they both saw the Gibbons in the trees!

After breakfast, Pascaline and I bought longtail boat tickets to go to the mainland and spend the day shopping together. At home we have this little tradition where she and I bring our journals and pens. At her request, we spend the afternoon shopping at Nordstrom (she is a Nordstrom fanatic! I don’t quite get it since I never go myself, but Pasc LOVES that place. She’s already been offered a job there when she’s old enough. :)) After we shop a little, we have lunch together in the Nordstrom Cafe. We take out our journals and colored pencils and do sketches of whatever comes to mind. And then we share them with each other.

Well, we don’t really have a Nordstrom here, but we did find journals and colored pencils at a mini mart! And we also found Swensen’s Ice Cream!

First we had ice cream, then we shopped, and then we had lunch–the order it should be for birthdays. 🙂 I wish I had images to show you of us journaling and doing our sketches together, but I refrained. I wanted Pascaline to feel like today was only about her.

Pascaline wanted to go to the Skunk Bar for dinner. Yep, that is really what it’s called. 🙂 But the walk is a little far which felt a little risky with the evening rainstorms we’ve been having. So we resorted to our stomping ground here, The Flaming Tree. And to our surprise, when the staff heard it was Pascaline’s birthday they went to work on a secret surprise!

While we ate dinner, we could see them huddled together working away. The staff made a sign for her, they found birthday candles, and then about 15 of them came out to sing “Happy Birthday” in English to her!

They even made her a beautiful bouquet of flowers!

Pascaline looked at me and said, “Wow, people only do all this when they love someone. I feel so loved.”

Oh, I wanted to cry. The staff loved on her so much tonight. One of the ladies told me how special the kids are to them, and how happy they were to celebrate with Pascaline tonight. For the sake of the fun memory, here is a blurry but fun family photo. 🙂 Notice the waiter in the background. 🙂 He is one of our favorite people here, and he’s a turkey for getting in this shot!

Over the last couple weeks, Brian and I have debated the idea of taking the kids to more locations since we have all this time. But in the end we decided to stay in one spot, for at least a month, so we could really sink in to the people and local community. After a night like tonight, I’m so glad we stayed put.

Flaming Tree is an open aired restaurant that sits on the beach front like most of the places here. To get home, you walk along the beach with your flashlight. If you forget your flashlight, you wait for the lightening to illuminate your next steps. The lighting was ever present tonight, and we sang happy birthday to Pascaline all the way home…beating the rainstorm!

What are some of the things that blow me away about Pascaline?

She is Brave. She is the ONLY one out of all four of us who gets up in the night and fearlessly walks to the bathroom to pee (our whole place is open aired here), she is unafraid of encountering Tokay geckos, bats or whatever else we here in the night! Pascaline also runs barefoot across the beach at night, dancing her heart out. Crabs run crazy when the moon rises, but she doesn’t give them a second thought. Blaze and I feel like we’re walking over hot coals as we stress about a crab pinching one of our toes.

Pascaline is also strong in spirit. She’s wise beyond her years. She’s full of creativity and magic. And the list goes on and on. I love her so much.

I love you, my sweet and beautiful Pascaline.

Love, Mama

(As I finish writing this, the rainstorm has become a full on rain POUR! The bamboo screens aren’t really keeping us dry. The kids are sound asleep, but Brian and I are hiding under our mosquito net b/c a bat has flown in for cover from the rain. But then, of course, ALL this craziness makes me have to pee. So Brian walks to the bathroom with me, on bat patrol, the rain is coming sideways which means I’m being rained on, AS I pee. AND, there is a wide eyed Tokay (gecko on steroids) hanging out on my bathroom mirror looking at me like I’m an idiot! If you aren’t getting my Twitter updates, you should be! 🙂 You can find me on Twitter as “merakoh”. Now to find a towel that isn’t wet!)

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  1. lora says:

    Pascaline, brave girl…happy 8th birthday to you. Mera, you’re such a sweet mommy. 🙂

  2. Sharon says:

    What an awesome birthday! Turning 8 in Thailand! Does it get anymore AWESOME!!!???
    Your little Pascaline is getting so big! In that picture of her blowing out the candles… she looks just like you!
    I’m so happy to hear she had an unforgettable birthday!

  3. Sandy says:

    Happy birthday Pascaline!

  4. Paris Parfait says:

    What a memorable birthday for the lovely Pascaline! How wonderful that the locals joined in to help make the dinner even more special! Great family photos!

  5. jeramy says:

    happy birthday pascaline!

    me ra…..(shaking my head)….i’m starting to think that you’re just messing with me.

  6. Linda says:

    Happy Birthday Pascaline! I read the whole entry with a big smile. You guys have a great life, and I agree, staying in that community is a great idea.

  7. abbey says:

    Happy Birthday to dear Pascaline!!! In those pictures I saw so much of you, Me Ra in her!!!
    I hope she had a great day!! I can’t think of a cooler way to celebrate 8!!
    I agree w/ Linda… I smiled that entire entry!!
    -abbey

  8. Happy Birthday to you…
    Happy Birthday to you…
    Happy Birthday dear Pascaline…
    Happy Birthday to you…

    It looks like you had a beautiful day!

    We love you guys!!!!

    ~ Dawn & Bob

  9. ron storer says:

    Happy Birthday Pascaline!

  10. Bree says:

    Happy Birthday Pasc! Lucky girl. And look at all your beautiful tans! I am so jealous.

  11. Melanie says:

    Happy Birthday, Pascaline!!! It’s so great to see that you had a wonderful birthday in Thailand! And it’s very obvious that you are so loved where ever you go!!

  12. Genie says:

    Meeting and playing with Pasc is a highlight of my year! I look forward to more – Happy Birthday Sweetie!

    BTW, I guess there are just SOME photos that shouldn’t be taken…

  13. Christina says:

    Happy Birthday Pascaline!!! This is a birthday you are sure to never forget!
    Nordstrom will be here when you get back, but I hear ya on the cafe there. That is where my friends & I go every year for my birthday. So when I go on Wed. I will be thinking about you!!!

  14. Misty says:

    Awe, we love you guys!

    H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y PASCALINE!!

    Love Misty and the “Big Guy”

  15. Dana says:

    It;s great to be 8! Happy Birthday Pascaline!

  16. Shaun Hong says:

    PASCALINE!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

    First of all, you looked SOOOOOO pretty in your dress today!! Did you get that over there in Thailand? I missed you so much today. All day long I kept thinking about you and how much I wished I could be spending your birthday with you. I’m so happy you ended up having a special day!! I’m so curious what you bought when you went shopping. I bet shopping in Thailand is CRAZZZY! When I’m in Taiwan, not very far from Thailand, I go walk through the Night Markets and there is all kinds of strange smells and strange things I’ve never seen before in my life! It’s such an adventure! I’m so impressed with how brave you have been over there. I think you got a little bit of the adventurer’s heart in you like your Uncle Shauni does! One day I hope you and I can go on an adventure of our own. Wouldn’t it be fun!? I sure miss you and I can’t believe you’re already 8 years old! Oh my goodness! Oooh La La Rachael says, “Happy Birthday Pascaline!!”. If anyone is sitting next to Pascaline right now please give her a HUGE squeeze for me!! and a BIG KISS on the cheek!!

    Love you!!

    Uncle Shauni

  17. Jen MacNiven says:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPRING CHICA!
    How fun to celebrate your 8th birthday in Thailand…beyond special! I hope is was wonderful as you are. You are definitely loved!
    Jen =)

  18. Amanda says:

    Happy Birthday Sweet girl!!!!!!!!!!!! What an amazing memory!! I can’t stop smiling with you!

  19. What an amazing birthday for an amazing girl. I love hearing the stories of your experiences and your passion for life and your grace. There is no doubt in my mind that this birthday will be a fond memory in your incredible lifetime! Many Blessings!

    xo

    Dana

  20. Gina says:

    Happy Birthday Pascaline!!

    I’m sitting in the Seoul airport right now, TOTALLY jealous I had to leave right before your big party!

    Love you so much!

  21. Happy Birthday Pascaline!!! What a super great Birthday you had!!! I am sure you will remember this day forever! My little girl turn 8 recently, she would have LOVED a special day like that. You are so very lucky you have such a wonderful family and friends that love you so much. That is the best gift in the world. May you have many more fabulous birthdays! God Bless!

  22. denise karis says:

    ohhhhhhhhhhhh, Pascaline, Im so glad you had a lovely birthday – you are definitely loved by all of us !

  23. charleystar says:

    made me cry, this post was so tender.

  24. Addie says:

    The tradition continues..hmmmmmmmm (getting in e-tune here, bear with me…) Okay..
    Happy Birthday to you…cha, cha, cha
    Happy Birthday to you…cha, cha, cha
    Happy Birthday Dear Paaasscaaalliiiine, cha, cha cha
    Happy Birthday to Yooouuuu! cha, cha, cha!
    Now you too, Pascaline, have entered the Glotfelty Happy Birthday Cha, Cha Cha Hall Of Fame!!! YEAHH!! I hope it was a magical, fantastical, wonderously beautiful day!!!

  25. Denise Cross says:

    Happy Birthday, Pascaline! All the cool girls are born on March 20th…It was my birthday, too!

  26. Leslie W. says:

    Happy Birthday Pascaline!! How fun to have such a special birthday memory! You look so pretty and I’m very, very jealous of your tan! 🙂

  27. Chelsie says:

    Happy Birthday Pacaline!!!!!!!! Im so glad you had such a good birthday!!!!

  28. Julie Watts says:

    Reading this one and visualizing Pascaline all filled up and overflowing with love, and having a 6-year-old daughter myself, brought tears to my eyes…!

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