Rice planting 2012

The day began by cramming 13 adults and one baby in my 8 seat mini-van.  Fun times : ) 

Fueling up on a meal before heading out to the fields 

 Mmm...frog was on the menu...

Walking between rice fields...gymnastic balance beam practice would have been helpful! 

Plowing the fields.   Some people still use water buffalo for this, but some are getting machines. 

A couple of the fields are used to grow the seedlings. 

  We're gathering the seedlings in bunches so that they can be taken out to the plowed fields and transplanted into rows. 

 This field has been transplanted and will now be weeded for the next month.  Love the glass-like look of the finished fields!

Farmer's Market in Madison

Birthday

 A birthday in America!

 Birthday meal at a Thai restaurant.  No birthday cake, but coconut ice cream with sticky rice instead : )

Celebrating with my parents and sister : ) 

My sister treated me to some indoor rock climbing...lots of laughs : ) 

New York City

My mom and I found an amazing deal for round trip tickets to New York City.  So for my 38th birthday, we took a 38 hour trip and explored the Big Apple :) 

The 9/11 Memorial...still under construction, but very moving to see. 

My mom wanted to be a part of her favorite morning show.  It was a rainy morning, but we had a front row look at the studio and my mom got a close up shot with the weatherman.

 A fountain in one of the city parks. 

 Trying to maneuver through the New York subway system. 

Times Square...so many lights!

Great to have the opportunity to be part of such a global worship service and hear a good message from the founder's son.

A view of Lady Liberty from the Staten Island ferry.  

 Pretty views of bridges and the city skyline. 

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Following in the tradition...couples attach personalized locks to various parts of the Brooklyn Bridge and throw the key in the river to symbolize the permanency of their love.

My mom won last minute lottery tickets to a broadway show...NEWSIES : )  What a birthday!

Trying out one of the city food carts.