Visiting with our Partners

We chatted around the fire, 'till late into the night.

the smoke helped keep away the mosquitoes.

The Locals

Syd and Pam watching a local craftswoman.

(weaving beautiful cloth)

Much patience required !

The neighbors - checking us out,

as we check them out.

A neighbor who dropped by

(to see these odd looking visitors).

Checking on the Coffee

In the Village -

Lot's of Coffee - out to dry

Inspected by -

Inspector # 38

Trip to Village

Preparing dinner

in the Living room, of course.

Dinner, community style

Hey Pam, you finnished with that ?

Team Trip to Coffee Village

Ready for a road trip.

Let's see, sticky rice, bananas, mangos...

Looks like we're all set.





Here's the Team - at the top.


Thank goodness for self timer cameras.

WE'VE COMPLETED OUR FIRST YEAR OF THAI

We have just finished our first year of Thai language Classes!! We will begin Module 3 this summer!!

Our Teacher is Khruu Too!

She is very patient with us and makes "rian phasaa Thai

sanuk" which means "studying Thai Language fun"!! Khruu Too's favorite "khanom" or "dessert" is Chocolate Inside Out Bundt Cake!!

CELEBRATING A NEW YEAR--2008--

Here we are celebrating the New Year!! Even Sadie

wanted to join the party!!

THAI NEW YEAR IS ALL ABOUT FIREWORKS!!

The way to celebrate any holiday here is with fireworks!! We attempted to create a "2008" Neon light!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! IT'S 2008!!

Happy 2008!! We have these new decorations here that are called "gels". Pam bought Sydney the "Happy New Year" one for Christmas. They are so colorful and bright!! You can use them over and over again!

GUESS WHAT?? OUR BANANA TREE IS PREGNANT!

The red banana tree in our front yard is going to have bananas!! We've never eaten a red banana before, but we'll keep you updated on the growth and taste of red bananas!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CHIANG MAI !!!

Here's the gang watching a Christmas Movie and acting silly!! You gotta love those blinking hats!!

Aubrey and Kelli with Santa at the Mall!!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS...

The Green Christmas Tree was bought at a yard sale--someone was leaving Thailand. The Wooden Trees and Santa were made and bought in Thailand. The Stockings were made by Kelli. Pam had decorated her pink tree. Her roommate commented about how much she would like to find one to take to her Mom for Christmas, so before she left to go the States for Christmas, Pam packed up the tree and sent it with her roomate for her mom.

AUBREY AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS CAROLING

The Youth Group came and caroled at our House!!

THE BRIDGES CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATING OUR 1ST YEAR!!

We celebrated our First Year in Thailand with a Christmas Open House. We had over 50 friends stop by for Christmas Treats!!

THE CHIANG MAI CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT

Sydney with the Director and the Pianist

We sang 26 Christmas songs most of these focusing on the reason for the season!!
The family brought flowers to show their support!!

THEN THERE WERE FIREWORKS, OF COURSE

You should see the size of the fireworks over here.

They are gigantic!!

We were trying to make a Mickey Mouse!!

SPARKLERS--AND PAM'S CAMERA--TOO COOL!!

We were lighting sparklers and when Pam took a picture it looked so cool.

So we took more pictures!!

We had so much fun!!

LIGHTING KHROM LOYS AT OUR HOUSE

Here we are lighting Krom Loys in the street in front of our house. For about a week, whenever you would look up into the sky at night, you could see dozens of lights shining,

LIGHTING KHROM LOYS AT THE RIVER

Pam with her loy kratong. Stacey lighting the khrom loy.

All around us were hundreds of people lighting fire crackers, sparklers and fireworks of all shapes and sizes--

It was so loud and crazy!!

LIGHTING THE KHROM LOYS

Khrom Loys are large

paper hot air balloons -that

have a kerosone ring that is lit and the balloon floats up into the air. These signify the floating away of yours sins.