Hit the ground running.

Day One

There was no rest for these weary travelers after our first steps in Vietnam.




As soon as we arrived at the Phoenix International Hotel in Bac Ninh, we were asked to drop our bags, get ready for training, and head straight back to the lobby ready to eat. And eat we did. Everything is served family style, and almost everything is delicious.

You know I miss my girls and Ryan like crazy, but having every meal prepared and served and cleaned up after by someone else is divine.




After lunch, we hopped on our bus en route to the stadium where all of our trainings and games are held.







Need a little motivation during practice? Well here it is...a larger than life posterized Ho Chi Minh, going hard at those weights. The caption reads, "I exercise everyday."




My goodness is it hot. And muggy. And sweaty. And gross. But I'll definitely take that over the alternative. {The current temperature in Palmerston North is 33*F...that's 1*C. No thank you.}

Day Two

More training. More eating. More sweating.

Day Three

After another training, we played in a practice match against one of the local teams. Talk about getting the jitters out, it was pretty ugly. Thank goodness though, we worked out a lot of kinks so we would be ready to take on Australia the next day!

That evening, the sponsors threw a welcome party for all the teams. We had such a blast getting ready as a team.

That's my 'buddy' and roommate, Margy {and Eseta and Debbie in the background}. We all picked buddies at our training camp back at the beginning of May...a fast track activity for getting to know you, take care of each other, make sure everyone is on the bus.




Side note: Remember My Buddy? Every time we talk about our buddies, I start singing the song in my head, "My buddy, my buddy...wherever I go, he's gonna go...my buddy and me!" 80's commercial? Super cheesy? Spawned a girl version called Kid Sister? Google it. Must have been American release only, because I got the funniest looks when I asked my teammates if they remembered too.




The party was fun. We were formally welcomed to Vietnam and the tournament, introduced to the sponsors and rice wine {it was so strong, just a sip gave me goosebumps}. The was our first opportunity to taste the warm beer. It was actually delicious once I took a hint from one of the sponsors and put a few pieces of ice in it. I can hear Ryan saying, "Alcohol abuse!!"

When in Rome.




HAI!!! {at least that's what I think they were yelling every time one of the men from the sponsor's table came to us to fill and raise the rice wine shot glasses!}




~ Posted using BlogPress from my iPad ~

Location:Bac Ninh,Vietnam

Our journey.

Leaving Ryan and the girls was rough. I thought I had it all under control at the airport. Big hugs and kisses and barely a tear from me as I waved goodbye and walked out to the plane. Feeling pretty proud of myself for not breaking down, I turned around one last time to wave from the top of the stairs.




I got about halfway up the aisle before the flood gates opened. As I sat in my seat, the poor gentleman next to me had no idea what to do. It was clear he wanted to say or do something, but what can you say to the blubbering girl next to you? Knowing one tissue just wouldn't do, the flight attendant brought me the box.

As we boarded our midnight flight from Auckland to Kuala Lumpur, I called Ryan to say goodbye...again...and cry...again. Then I got this text...




...and I listened. No more tears.




Flying Malaysia airlines was an...ahem...experience. I believe the cool word would be "retro".







Despite the throw back video, the flight was fine. It wasn't full, so we had lots of room to stretch our volleyball length legs.




And the sunrise was stunning.




Kuala Lumpur was a beautiful airport. We had some time there to stretch our legs, relax at a cafe, and start getting to know each other.







Oh, and pick up some snacks.




Side note: Reese fully recognizes this bright orange package now and says, "That's me! That's Reesie chocolate!" Don't worry, Baby Girl, Mommy grabbed lots for herself you!

Vietnam's Hanoi airport was definitely more utility than beauty. I found it strange that this was probably the first airport I can remember coming into that didn't have a large "WELCOME TO OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY! WE'RE SO GLAD YOUR MONEY'S YOU'RE HERE!" sign. This is about all the welcome we received...




...just in case we were interested in marketing our brand in a Vietnamese airport.

After an hour long drive on a bus, some near misses with bikes, scooters, and pedestrians {the traffic laws here are really just suggestions}, we arrived at our hotel safe and sound.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Vietnam!

It's 5:30 in the morning here in Bac Ninh, Vietnam. The rest of my teammates are sleeping {I should have taken another sleeping pill last night to help get my body into rhythm}.

But, my sleep loss is your gain!

This is my first time blogging away from the comfort of my computer, so after some help from my mom {technology will never cease to amaze me} I should be able to keep you updated from the lobby of our hotel.

It's time for breakfast, but now that I'm up and running, I can't wait to tell you all my stories!

Location:Ngô Gia Tự,Bac Ninh,Vietnam

Amazing love.

I have not forgotten you, my beloved blog and those of you who read it. In fact, I think about you all the time.

Here's a little love from Easter to tide you over until I can get my house/job/inbox to return to Normal Town. Just a bit more time and energy in those places, and I'll be able to give a lot more to this place. 

Thanks for sticking with me.

A moment

Messy hair...wrinkled pjs...watching the ducks waddle by...no idea I'm watching you. I love you, baby girl.

Ryan found a new Christmas album {on Jack Johnson's label, Brushfire Records} called This Warm December. Click the link to listen to the whole album, but our favorite is Jack's song, 'In the Morning'. I swear he's singing to Reesie:

"Your crazy curly morning hair, your maka piapia stare, {it means 'eye boogies' in Hawaiian}

smiling down from the top of the stairs, you're so sweet.

Your robot pictures spread around, I swear your feet don't touch the ground,

once it starts, it don't slow down, but I don't want it to.

And these are the gifts we keep, and this is the morning that we breathe, and then we see:

these moments are the only gifts we need."

Some of my favorite Reese moments at the moment:

She says 'Whoa! Really slippally!' when the bathroom floor is wet.

She always wants to 'turn' {stir} my coffee.

Anytime I walk into the kitchen, she comes running, 'I help you, Mama, I help you?'

She started calling her sister, 'Day-lay' instead of 'Day-day'.
{This actually makes me a little sad, but I love that she sounds like Paula Deen when she says it.}

When Daly takes something away from her, Reese says, 'Fwipah, no fwiping!'

{Even though I'm not really a fan of Dora or her exploring.}

She's knows that knives are 'jangerous' and to turn on the water in the  kitchen sink 'lowly, Mom, lowly'.

Anytime someone gives her a snack or piece of candy, she immediately asks, 'Day-lay too?"

When she wants to be picked up, she says 'I hold you, Mom?' just like Daly used to.

She'll randomly climb into my lap and ask for 'Rocka Baby'.

I like to think she enjoys the cuddles, but she's really just excited about 'When the bow breaks, the cradle will FALL!' when I pretend I'm going to drop her.

Writing blog posts like this takes eleven times longer than it should because wants to sit in my lap and 'pusha buttons.'

She loves naps on the 'chowch'.

~~~~~

And.....we're down to single digits people!!! We only have to go to bed 9 times.

9 times?

9 times before we get to board a plane to LAX!!!!!

The chain is getting so short we need a chair to tear the rings!!

Thanks for the awesome idea, Shelly....the girls absolutely love watching the chain get shorter and shorter! {We're working on patience and counting too. Bonus!}

Daddy

Lots of Ryan things today!

First of all, if you haven't already {apologies if this is the third or fourth or seventeenth time you've heard/read me talk/write about this, but we're just so proud!} please click over and vote for Ryan for the Manawatu Sports Personality of the Year. It's the last day to vote, so go go go!

Click on this link: http://www.sportmanawatu.org.nz/personality then click 'Vote Now' next to Ryan's picture. If you're in NZ, text 'Ryan' to 3100 to get an extra vote.

Okay, on to the cute stuff. I saw a pin the other day with a Father's Day questionnaire. It's meant to be printed nicely and put in a frame, but I couldn't resist. I started asking Daly and Reese and typing their responses.

Doing Halloween crafts together a few weeks ago.

What is Daddy's name?
Daly: My dad's name is Ryan.
Reese: Why-an.

How tall is Daddy?
Daly: He is 2 feet.

Me: He’s 2 feet?
Daly: Yeah, we have two feet!

How much does Daddy weigh?
Daly: One, two, free!
Reese: One, two, fwee, fo-ah, fife, six, seben, eight, nine, seben!

What color is Daddy's hair?
Reese: White.
Daly: His hair is brown. {I love how she answers in complete sentences.}

What color are Daddy's eyes?
Daly: His eyes are brown.
Reese: Pink!

What is Daddy's favorite tv show?
Both yelled simultaneously: Basketball!!

What does Daddy like to do?
Reese: Go pahk! {park}
Daly: Basketball.

What is Daddy's favorite thing to eat?
Daly: He likes rice, and blueberries, and those spicy chips. {our favorite corn chips from PaknSave}
Reese: Opa-meal! {oatmeal}

What is Daddy's favorite drink?
Daly: Daddy loves coke...{pause}...and beer.
Reese: Coke!

Daly: I don’t like coke.
Reese: I like coke!

I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time.

These girls are simply head over heels in love with their daddy. One of their favorite things is making pizza with Ryan.

Daly is so attentive. She watches and asks questions and wants to help however she can.

Reese watches, and listens, and eats.

If it completely grosses you out that she's eating a pat of butter...ummm...pretend it's cheese.

Early morning cuddles

Only 15 more...

Is that the cutest? The girls woke up ridiculously early this morning {well, early for them...they usually sleep until 8:30 or 9}. They were up at 6:30 and 7. I thought we were in for a looooong morning of cranky girls and lots of fighting. And Ryan was away this weekend...so there was no escaping the wrath of two tired toddlers.

To my surprise, Daly crawled into bed with me and fell back to sleep. A few minutes later Reese came in, pointed at the spot next to her sister, curled up, and drifted off too. I tiptoed out to get my camera, snapped a few pics, then ran as quietly as I could to make a cup of coffee and enjoy a quiet hour with my mug, my computer, and my couch.