Coming Home, Easter and Songkran, April 2010

My wife came back home to us on February 27th, after a 30-day self-imposed exile up country in her home province of Sakhon Nakorn. She did not go back to a proper drug rehabilitation facility and has not participated in any 12-Step Programs that will help her deal with her disease of substance abuse.



Little Nio taking a snack at one of the airport restaurants. We're waiting for his Mommy's flight to arrive from Udon Thani.





Little Nio is playing with a new helicopter on the floor of the new airport. My wife's flight arrived on time and the drive back home felt great. We've been reunited as a family.




Excited for Mommy to be back home with us, Little Nio gets up real early. Here he is wearing some new pyjamas brought back from England by his auntie, P' Ae, his Mommy's older sister.



Out walking around Central World with Mommy, trying to make up for lost time together as a family. Here Little Nio is posing with an oversized inflatable sculpture with proportions reminiscent of a Botero painting.





Enjoying the children's play area at Central World.



Wonderful toy train ride. Another coin operated ride that is designed to wolf down all your coins just by going round and round, but then again it offers so much fun for the child it's more than a fair deal.



Mommy looking over Little Nio's shoulder while playing another coin operated arcade game.



Stopping for ice cream at Swensen's, Little Nio and Mommy have a bit of a disagreement on who should have all the crayons and paper to doodle with while waiting for the ice cream. Little Nio thinks he should have it all, besides the waitress did give it all to him. Although it is a fair time to teach him the concept of "sharing".



Back at home, reading magazines in the family room.



Time to go to sleep. Little Nio gives his Mommy a big good night kiss.





Eating some shaved ice cream and red syrup snacks right after Easter Sunday mass. Not a great idea since we are supposed to have a special buffet lunch very soon.



Little Nio and his Mommy posing for a shot at the Conrad Hotel just before our excellent buffet lunch.





Stuffing up at the buffet. Looks like Little Nio has had his fill.





Taking time to play some video games with Mommy. Either Little Nio is extremely good at knocking out his Mommy's character, or his Mom let him win.



This shot was taken at the Emporium play area on the third floor. Mommy and Little Nio are spending time together after a very long separation.



Here's Little Nio dressed up in his "police" outfit playing the drums.





Our little drummer boy really knows how to make a big racket.





These shots were taken at home during Songkran day, which is the Buddhist Lent. This is a very holy day where the owners of the home give a ceremonial and symbolic bath to the Buddha figures. We have a beautiful figure that was made in the province of Sukhothai.



Little Nio looks very pleased to be helping his Mommy.



We are thankful for all the blessings we have received and pray that good fortune, health and happiness reside in our homes and in our hearts always. Not so different at all from what every good Catholic could wish for.

Tanks & Teeth, March 2010

Little Nio mounts up a coin operated tank in the arcade and sets his mind on total world domination. Either that or just a fun ride around the arcade area on the top of The Mall Ngamwongwan.





Just driving around and round is great fun. It costs only ten baht to ride the coin operated toy vehicles for almost ten minutes. And we spent about fifty baht on these rides.





Most of that time was spent on the back of this tiny tank. Great fun!



Back at home, Little Nio takes a power break with his gang — a tiger, a bear in sheep's clothing and a Siamese cat. Just taking a bottle of milk on the family room floor with on a picnic mat.

We're both alone at home again, while Little Nio's Mommy takes a break from Bangkok to try and get clean from drugs again. She'll be away for at least 30-days to see if she can get better. She's decided not to go back into the drug rehabilitation facility and Khon Kaen, and is convinced she can manage to get clean by staying with her family up in Sakhon Nakorn.





After a nap, then a bath, Little Nio turns on the light to the bathroom.





He takes a step-seat from under the sink and gets up to turn on the water.





Rinsing his toothbrush, Little Nio waits for his Daddy to help put a bit of toothpaste on it so he can brush his teeth.





Brushing his teeth both back and front should help keep Little Nio's smile bright and beautiful.

Little Nio Turns Three, February 2010

Little Nio turns three years old today!

As a surprise, his Mommy comes back home from up country to spend a few days with us to celebrate his birthday. She's been away for a while trying to recover from her drug addiction. She arrived the day before and after she rests up from the long trip she needs to go away again.



Here we are getting ready to leave the house and go to celebrate his birthday at the daycare, Fullakids.



Little Nio looks all excited about today. He's all strapped into his car seat and has got a huge smile on his face. He knows it's a very special day.



At the daycare, his Mommy shares a hug with one of Little Nio's best friends there, Mimi.







Hanging out with friends at the daycare and just playing before the party starts. The plastic bowl also makes a fun hat.



Clearing up toys with Maclaren. Or it could be that the two of them are working on making a mess.



Moving some blocks from a basket to plastic bowl, while Amy beams with a pretty smile.



Angelie sticks real close to Little Nio's Mommy most of the time. She likes to steal hugs as much as she can. Mommy's skin is peeling very badly as an after effect of her substance abuse. She's very weak, extremely skinny and her eyes are bloodshot and dull to look at.



Fun activities with everyone at Fullakids. Mommy is struggling with Little Nio. He's now more than half her weight and that's more than she can manage.





Party time at Fullakids! Everyone is gathered around the big table for some snacks and of course there's the "Ben 10" birthday cakes that Daddy ordered from S&P Bakery. We got two 2-lb cakes for all the kids to share and we packed some goody bags filled with cookies, candies and toys.





Opening up his birthday gift from Mommy and Daddy, Little Nio sees a familiar face — it's Buzz Lightyear!





Little Nio finds his new toy absolutely fascinating and very difficult to put down. This Buzz Lightyear has got all the bells and whistles. He's got all the moving parts that you see in the "Toy Story" movie, including those memorable sound bites — "to infinity and beyond". Little Nio is happily figuring out all the features of his new toy.



A rare family photograph with everyone all together. Daddy, Mommy and Little Nio.



Back at home with Buzz Lightyear. It's been a great day for everyone. And another memorable birthday for Little Nio!