Peoples Park

We recently visited People's Park near Shwedagon to get some photos of my two favorite people! Beautiful day, beautiful setting!

Karen New Year!

December 18th was Karen New Year here in Myanmar. Our nanny, Mimi, and her family are Karen and they invited us up to her town to celebrate the day. Mimi even brought Paul, Piper, and I traditional Karen outfits to wear for the day. They are beautiful!

Karen New Year is celebrated on the first day of the month of Pyathoe (Dec/Jan) in the Karen calendar. According to Karen traditional practice there is a celebration to mark the end of the rice harvesting season and the consumption of the crops and to prepare for the planting of the new crops. Karen New Year is not a distinct holiday for any religious group and is therefore celebrated by all Karens regardless of religion.

It was amazing to be able to share this experience with Mimi and her family. I hope we get to attend the next few years as well! Happy Karen New Year!

Mimi's mother, Mimi, Me, Paul, Piper

Paul and Piper with the Karen dance troupe

The dance troupe performing traditional Karen dances

Kyaw Myo Thu and Jayden (Mimi's husband and son)

Piper getting her face painted (with the Karen flag)

The Karen flag and the local drum

Piper and Jayden

Playing around in Mimi's house

Piper and some new friends

Piper getting a clay doll made

Piper and Te Nu Sa (Mimi's niece)

There were a lot of fun activities happening all day. Soccer, futsal, volleyball, chinlone, tug of war competitions, pillow fight competitions, and a number of rides that were set up for the evening. 

It was a 

Phoenix Sunshine!

After our fun filled weeks in Wisconsin, San Diego, and Disneyland, we winded down our US vacation in Phoenix with Scott, Rachael, and Owen.

Growing up my family spent many summers camping and waterskiing on California lakes. We decided to give Piper and Owen a day of that, granted we had a patio boat, not a Mastercraft, but it was still really fun!

 Piper and Papa on the tube - Piper loved it, she went on it about 20 more times!

 Scott and Owen

 Piper and  her tricky Daddy

 The Plevasides!!

After our fun lake outing Paul had to go to DC for work. Piper and I stayed in AZ the rest of the week and hung out with the fam. We had tons of fun at the Dinosaur museum, the Kids museum, and just hanging out and letting the two cousins play!

The Happiest Place on Earth!

This summer we took Piper to Disneyland in CA. I've been wanting to take her there since she was born but realized I had to wait till she was big enough to appreciate it. And appreciate it she did! We had so much fun! She wasn't a big fan of the storybook rides, and definitely not a fan of the Guardians of the Galaxy (old Tower of Terror) ride, as they were all too dark, but she loved the Small World and the carnival type rides. And meeting all of the princesses was a dream come true!

 Disney California Adventure!

 Riding King Triton's merry go round

We got lucky and were about 10th in line to meet Olaf, Kristoff, and Anna and Elsa. Piper was a little nervous at first, but she was so excited to meet them all. She even told us that Elsa's hands were cold, which makes sense since that is where she makes all her ice magic.

We also got to meet Mickey and all of his friends, and Piper had them all sign her autograph book!

 Daisy was my favorite, she and Piper went for a little stroll!

It was my first time to California Adventure (it opened after I left CA) and it has some great rides! The Cars land was very well done and Radiator Springs Racers was one of the best rides there I thought. 

California Adventure had a night time show "World of Color", which uses water, lights, fire, and pieces of the different disney cartoons. It was very neat!

 On the submarine in Nemo's underwater adventure

The second day we were at the Magic Kingdom and had the chance to meet Cinderella, Ariel, and Snow White at the Royal Palace. Piper was prepared and wore her Cinderella outfit to match.

 She loved watching all the shows - Beauty and the Beast, Rapunzel, and even Frozen!

 Aurora's castle with Papa and Gramma

 Meeting Captain Hook and Peter Pan with Papa

 Meeting Suzy the mouse with daddy

 Watching Mickey's Parade

 We watched Rapunzel and then Piper got to meet Rapunzel and Flynn Rider!

 Meeting Jasmine and Aladdin

 We were invited by Mickey and Minnie to have breakfast with him and his friends on the third morning!

 Piper loved the Mickey shaped waffles, muffins, and pancakes

 Got to spend time with Daisy and Minnie!

 Even Papa and Gramma got a picture with Minnie!

 Disney goes all out when decorating for holidays! They had just started putting up all the Halloween decorations, it was really neat!

 Alice's Tea Cups with Gramma

 On the storybook land boat ride

 Piper's favorite ride - It's a Small World

 Driving Pluto's car!

 Donald Duck!!

 Papa and Piper in Mickey Mouse's house!

 Me and my girl!

 In Pixie Hollow to meet...

 ...Tinkerbell (who was my favorite! She is really not a fan of Wendy)

 And Piper was so excited to finally meet Aurora by her wishing well

Tomorrowland at night

It was such a magical visit to Disneyland! Maybe in 4 more years we'll try Disneyworld! :)