Paula Pepin

December 2

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday we had 41 degree temps and this morning we woke up to 25 degrees! Usually Jean preps the coffee maker the night before and brews the best Kaladi Silverhook coffee but today I forgot to grab my cup of coffee as Kylie and I were off to start our day. The morning chill deserves a warm cup of Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks. I could enjoy a special coffee drink every so often. You know the holidays are arriving fast when you spot the first red cup from Starbucks for the first time. Or better yet when you enjoy some coffee and hot chocolate with loved ones on a cold brisk Alaskan day! So without further ado, I'm celebrating day 2 of December Daily with COFFEE! I still need to journal around the coffee cup with white paint pen and continue to journal highlights of day 1, but you get the picture :)

 

 

December 1

Woke up this morning excited to start December Daily 2009. I got a lot going on today. Getting back into the work week after a 4 day Thanksgiving holiday, lots of catch up work at the ARC, building Kylie's BIG girl bed, attending to Yukon as he is bleeding and losing his puppy teeth and finally working on my December Daily 2009 album. Today did give us surprise of being a balmy 41 degrees in the AK. That's one heat wave. LOL... Here's my take on day 1 of December Daily!

 

Missing him dearly

I woke up this morning missing my dad more than anything in the world. My heart is heavy and aches. As I stare at my daughter all is see is a lot of my dad's characteristics in her beautiful face. That makes me cry... Not a day goes by without thinking about him and how I wish he could be here with us today but for some reason I REALLY miss him at this very moment. Grieving is a lot of work. It sticks with you for life. It's a process. It's sucks! No one gives you a "how to deal with grief" manual. I'm learning to find that balance knowing that my grief for my dad will always be with me. Learning to deal with grief with less pain. My tear bucket is full and now it's time to deal with the healing process in a positive way. This digi page is picture of me and my daddy sometime during my first year. The lyrics were written by my cousin Joe shortly after my dad passed away on 2.28.03. The bittersweet lyrics are about me and my journey through this long healing process.

Day 6

Greetings! Day six started off with yet another yummy breakfast buffet and then it was off to Koh Phi Phi. This particular island is popular due to the movie The Beach starring Leonardo Dicaprio. Since the tsunami in 2004, the island has been split up into smaller islands. Much of the islands have been able to rebuild since then, but you can still see some damage caused by the tsunami. In a way it's bittersweet seeing the beautiful islands that you only dream about but to know that many lives were lost not too long ago. On a happier note, Jean got a lot of snorkling in today and I on the other hand spent a lot of one on one time with Kylie as she couldn't swim in open water. At one snorkling point, the tour guide captured a sea urchin that was really cool to see. Today it was sunny the first half of the day and then a mini storm came through during lunch and there was a light drizzle the rest of the trip. Once we got back to the hotel, Paula and her relatives went swimming at the fun hotel pool. Then it was off to dinner at a delicious Seafood restaurant and then bedtime for Kylie. We are so grateful to have had such a wonderful 2 day tour of Krabi and this is an experience we will never forget. Tomorrow we're headed to Paula's mom's uncle home town of Koh Naum near the Surat Thani ferry pier. 

   

 

 

Day 4 and 5

Day 4:  Shopped all day with mom at the JJ Mall and packed like mad for Krabi and Koh Samui. We hired a driver to drive us to Krabi and Koh Samui. It only takes 10 hours with lots of potty stops.

Day 5:  Finally arrived 4 am with no hotel room available to check in until the afternoon. Boo! Staying at the lovely Amandari Hotel. Our island excursion starts at 9 am so it was off to a shower, buffet breakfast and a lots of waiting in the lobby area. Once we got started, our island excursion took us to 4 gorgeous islands. At each island, we were able to swim, snorkel, eat delicious thai food and RELAX. It was a long day for Kylie but she stuck it out to feed fish in the ocean with dad and family and making plenty of my sand castles and mud pies. The all day excursion lasted all day and left little time to play at the hotel pool with Nong Benz and dinner. Oh did I mention the family is burnt to a crisp. With the sun and salty water brings lots of sunscreen and aloe vera. The water was crystal clear, spectacular rock cliffs, the sand was soft to the touch and the sky was blue as can be. Every bit of today was breathtaking!

 

Tomorrows agenda includes a full day at Koh Phi Phi! Sending you lots of sunny days your way!

 

Bangkok, Thailand

Day 1:  Nothing but SLEEP!

Day 2:  Went to China town, JJ Mall, took a big nap with Kylie, went to the famous Yentafo (aka red noodle soup) restaurant with Uncle Kaew for dinner...Yumm! Oh, can't forget Jean and his $.50 Heineken! Watched lightning from our bedroom window! Grandma came home from the hospital after a 10 day stay for pneumonia. There was two days of ICU and eight days of regular stay. So glad to see her home. It breaks my heart to see her so old and fragile but she's 82 and still hanging on!

Day 3:  This time Kylie woke up at 3 am and wanted dinner! She's still adjusting to the time difference. Had a small Chinese blessing this morning at the house to pay respects to family who have passed away. The Cheng-Meng blessing ended with lots of Chinese food. Then Jean, Kylie and I headed off to Ocean World in the city by the famous Siam Paragon mall. We did some window shopping (Hey Jean, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Luis Vuitton, Coach...wink...wink)! Kylie had a blast with my cousin Jae Wan, her daughter Nong Benz, and my auntie Oi. Ocean world was a blast and we even had a chance to watch a mermaid show and view the aquarium. Of course Kylie's favorite part was the playland. We ended our day at Fugi restaurant and then last stop STARBUCKS! Here are some pics of the day :)

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by! Tomorrow the whole family is heading to Krabi and Koh Samui for a week of sand and sun! Miss you all!

29

                                    Supplies:  Paislee Press

While she naps, I was able to create this page today. All while watching the big cotton balls of snow fall from the sky. I've never taken the time to include myself in photos but that day, I felt it was important to document my last days of being 29. Moving furniture around, chasing natural light and self-timer all play a roll in getting the right pictures. My hopes of turning 30 are to focus on the positives and build towards a new direction. So long 20's it was nice knowing you...

A new addiction

A little of winter and spring!

For the love of...

DETAILS! Conversation with girlfriend the other night in the bathroom.

Kylie:  Mommy I have to go potty!

Momma:  Okay, okay! Let's hurry.

Kylie:  It's my turn first okay mommy.

Momma:  Of course

Kylie:  Look mommy I go potty!

Momma:  YEAH!!!! You're a BIG girl for going potty. What color sticker do you want???

Kylie:  Uhmmmmm....Blue (As she's pulling up her star undies and pants)

Momma: Now it's mommies turn. 

Kylie:  Be careful, don't fall in okay mommy!

Momma:  Kylie, don't worry I won't.

Kylie:  Wow! You're a BIG girl mommy for going potty. What color sticker do you want?? Lets call daddy to tell him you a big girl.

Not a day goes by without laughter in our household. I realize it's moments like this that I must hold dear to my heart. Life goes by each day faster and faster. Slowing down and savoring a split second makes moments like this memorable for life.

The agenda for this 4 day weekend:

Friday: Crop with the girls at MTAM

Saturday:  VALENTINE'S DAY with hubby and girlfriend...Hockey game!

Sunday:  Hubby's 30th birthday bash... Perhaps sushi and lemon cake on the agenda!