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Took the second photo…. and then kept asking ChatGPT for different art themes. The fox one was a ChatGPT surprise me creation.

ICE day after snow/sleet…… sledding becomes dangerous… so better to go in the street. 😂

Last videos—I think Tino might have won the last one. ❄️🙂

I’m pretty much a sculptor now. Michelangelo in the making.
❄️❄️❄️🖼️

Wolfie’s first road trip and hotel stay! So he’s a year and a half now…

As a kitten… or leading up to this… he’s been on a couple of PetSmart trips, one home visit, vet visit… one Alexandria birthday outing including busy restaurant with lots of fans…

But we were still anxious to see if he would love traveling with us.
Quick’ish 3-hour no traffic drive to Norfolk/VA beach to visit family who just had a baby Dec 23rd.

Here’s the prep we did:
- Ensured leaving at a time where there would be no traffic so less stress on humans… and that would trickle down to Wolfie
- Natalie groomed him all up
- introduced him to traveling litter box and used his old litter
- got calm spray for initial drive
- bough a new traveling bag he could crawl in
- brought his stroller for possible vacation walks
- food, treats, and a few of his favorite toys
- didn’t feed him too much before car ride
- would have put him in litter to encourage before leaving, but I didn’t need to because I witnessed litter box use right before leaving

Lots of mom and Lola (me) confidence and excitement energy for him…

I mean… I figured that I’m using ChatGPT more than most… but dang—top 1% of all ChatGPT users by number of messages sent is crazyyyyyy!! LOL

Thailand: Day 13 (last day in this amazing country)
Spending our last day in the modern and futuristic, clean, super cool… Bangkok!

Started the morning getting waking up to a lovely city view…
And then off to receive custom blessed Sak Yants… 🙏☀️♥️.
We didn’t pick the design or location of tattoo. We talked with a skilled translator…. they asked questions about our life and what we want to call into our lives… then a master designed a custom Sak Yant and (for us) we allowed the choosing of the location.

Pain level (for me) was EXTREMELY TERRIBLY INTENSE!! At a couple points, I felt like my body was milliseconds from going into a full blown full body panic attack. lol

Natalie handled like a champ. 💪

I’m honestly so happy and excited to release old unserving energies and step into a beautiful new and blessed chapter. ☀️🙏♥️💛

Then we went back to hotel… quick look at the park… then to the world class Icon Siam. EASY to see how it is in the top 3 Global Most Influential Retail Properties in the past 30 years. It makes the best malls in the US look like a yard sale.

Dinner cruise with the family and fireworks to end our final Thailand evening. 🥰♥️

Thailand: Day 12 - Back to Bangkok!
We left stage 5 of this 7 stage trip and now in Stage 6…. which is to fly from Chiang Rai and head back to Bangkok for two very quick nights… and joined back with how we started… with family… Aunty Beth and Uncle Jack!! ♥️♥️♥️

Started the day with a Chiang Rai food truck breakfast… followed by Natalie wanting Pizza Hut (it was good!).

Said good-bye to the wonderful Mora Boutique Hotel. Sat in massage chairs at the Chiang Rai airport before meeting up with family at the futuristic and super cool hotel. They gave Natalie some birthday treats on arrival and then we all ate at their amazing buffet dinner.

On the way to the hotel… I really took in how modern Bangkok city and highways are. It really makes the US look like it’s super old and outdated. 🙃🙂

Now…. Only one more full day left in Thailand! 😢🙏💛💛💛🇹🇭

Thailand: Day 11 | Last day in Chiang Rai
Had an absolutely amazing day…
Was all about heart, healing, and purpose woven into the mountains of Chiang Rai. 💛

𝘿𝙤𝙞 𝙏𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖
We started at the royal villa of Thailand’s beloved Princess Mother — the woman who transformed this entire region. Her mission was to replace the o***m trade with education, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods. Walking through her home felt like stepping into a life lived in pure service. Simple. Peaceful. Purposeful.

𝙈𝙖𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙝 𝙇𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣
Her gardens were next… and wow. A living symbol of renewal. 🌸
Every flower bed was once land scarred by poverty, and now it thrives because whole communities rebuilt themselves through her programs. Such a powerful reminder that beauty grows wherever compassion is planted.

𝙒𝙖𝙩 𝙃𝙪𝙖𝙞 𝙋𝙡𝙖 𝙆𝙖𝙣𝙜
We ended the day with the radiant white Goddess of Mercy watching over Chiang Rai. 🕊️
The giant Kuan Yin statue symbolizes protection, healing, and unconditional compassion — the perfect closing energy after a day filled with so much heart.

Ended at a instagram famous cafe and room service for dinner because we were pooped! lol
💛✨

Thailand: Day 10 - Chiang Rai Temple Tour Day
White, Black, Blue Temples… then pizza dinner near the Clock Tower, followed by massages. 🤍🖤💙
~~~~~
✨ Chiang Rai’s Sacred Trio ✨
Today we traveled through three temples that each hold a completely different energy — almost like moving through three chapters of the human journey.

🤍 White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
A walk from darkness into light. You literally cross a bridge of grasping hands (our human suffering + attachments) before entering the pure white hall that symbolizes awakening, clarity, and a mind finally free.

🖤 Black House (Baan Dam)
A shadow world of art, ancestry, desire, and the parts of ourselves we don’t always want to look at. Yes — you’ll see a lot of ph***ic carvings here. They aren’t meant to shock; they’re symbols of primal life force, protection, and the raw, untamed side of human nature. This place is a reminder that spirituality isn’t only light — it’s also our instinct, power, and shadow.

💙 Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)
A return to serenity. Deep blues, golden details, and a gentle Buddha that feels like stepping into calm water. Blue represents wisdom, intuition, and the ability to move through life with more peace after confronting both light and shadow.

✨ Why visit all three?
Together, they feel like a spiritual arc:
purification → confrontation → integration.
A reminder that awakening isn’t about escaping the world — it’s about embracing all parts of the human experience with clarity, courage, and calm.

Thailand… 💛🇹🇭

Thailand: Day 9 - Chiang Mai drive to Chiang Rai
Entering stage 5! (There’s a total of 7 stages on this trip so we’re nearing the tail end) lol

First, Natalie sadly said good-bye to her birthday resort with the scenic deck that she REALLY loved. 🥰☀️

3 1/2 to 4 hour drive from Chiang Mai to the very northern part of Thailand, Chiang Rai which is home to some very famous art based temples. 🤍🖤💙♥️

Halfway through the drive, we stopped at rest stop… which, of course, is much cooler than in the US because all shops and such are people of the land vs so many corporations in US. There were some hot springs that people boil eggs in and the smell of sulfur is… interesting. lol

After arriving to our beautiful … Natalie was tired so I went for a walk to the clock tower and to their night bazaar area. 🌕

Lastly, had dinner and dessert at a beautiful garden restaurant. But we’ve officially decided we love the street foods and mall food court dishes much more than restaurant food here. There’s a lot of reasons for that… but if you’re wanting taste and flavor, not necessarily… presentation or atmosphere… you go with the street food or even the food courts. 😋

Thailand: Day 8? | Horse Riding in Chiang Mai
Still in Stage 4 of our trip. 🙂

Started with a gorgeous view for breakfast… relaxing… then to for Natalie’s riding in Thailand! 💛💛💛

Afterwards… lunch at super cute and delicious nearby cafe…

More relaxing at the resort… followed by our first Grab dinner order which was easy and tasty! 😋💛☀️

Thailand: Day ? — Stage 3-4
Natalie is Twenty-Two in Thailand!!! 🥳🥳🥳
Woke up in bungalow to feed pregnant elephant, Ma! 🐘💛☀️

Then our breakfast… and always time for the cats, kittens, and dogs. Headed to bamboo rafting… which was a nice stroll… soaked in some sun and views. Saw more elephants along the way.

Said good bye to our wonderful and sweet guide.. name pronounced Key! And bye to the elephant sanctuary. 🥺💛🥰

Moved to stage 4 of our trip which is to stay mountain side of Chiang Mai… in a beautiful birthday resort with an amazing scenic room. 💛🥰♥️ |

Last image is Natalie’s Birthday cake photo with the kitten she now wants. lol