Birthday Surprise: Blooms, Phnom Penh Cupcakery

The weekend before Talia's 10th birthday we went to Kid City in Aeon mall. Ben had looked up what Kid city had to offer and saw a rock climbing gym and science lab. We walked all over Aeon trying to find those as she loves both science and climbing. Ben finally asked the people at the soft play area of Kid City where that was and we found out that there's another Kid City... not in the mall... on the other side of town. Everyone enjoyed the playground that was available, however, and had a great time. On her actual birthday she got to have a pizza date with Ben.

She was embarrassed when they played her the birthday song and gave her a slice of Oreo cheesecake to share in front of everybody, but she enjoyed her prize as long as we were trying it. She's very uncomfortable with keeping something yummy to herself. We didn't mind tasting a little either. ;)

A few days later, her friends took her to Blooms, a cupcake restaurant in Phnom Penh that helps train women and gives them a job. For the business part of Talia's homeschool she  wanted to actually run a business. She decided to focus on cupcakes and make a website and YouTube channel about making cupcakes from whichever part of the world we happen to be in. Her fellow homeschool friends knew this, so Blooms was a great place to investigate!

 As soon as we entered the restaurant we were greeted by a gargantuan decorated styrofoam wedding cake. It was taller than we were! The case was full of fancy cakes decorated in Noah's ark, super heroes, Disney tales and much more. Then we got to the counter and had to choose which cupcake to try. There were many!

Talia chose a rainbow cupcake, dressed in her favorite colors of lime green, purple and blue; it was fitting.

I chose a salted caramel-stuffed chocolate cupcake with cheesecake icing. 

I'll just say: one is plenty for one day! They were delicious!

Plus, look at the cute decorations. This one was a jam-filled "doughnut" cupcake.

Besides cupcakes, her friends have her gifts of beginners knitting supplies; something she's been asking for for a long time. 

Talia is very blessed with friends and family and she fills our lives in return with love and laughter. Welcome to the double digits, Talia! We love you!

Double Digits! An Interview with a Nomadic Child

I can't believe the not-even-2-year-old we took with us as an only child has now transitioned into double digits and many more countries and siblings. In honor of her birthday, I interviewed her on her favorite and least favorite things about being a nomadic child and each country she has lived in.

 Do you remember anything about Guatemala? That's where you were 2-3 years old.

• I remember playing with sidewalk chalk and one time watching the ashes from a volcano explosion. I remember playing in a kid blow up pool. I remember Blanca; I miss her.

• I did not like that in the rainy season it rained so much our food or clothes got moldy easily.

 


 What are your memories from Ruwais and Abu Dhabi?

• I loved Abu Dhabi! There were lots of nice parks, the streets were really clean and the people were nice and the houses were big and clean. It was easy to make friends there. My friends Jaden, Tasneem and Elias live there.

 

• I sort of enjoyed the heat, but I didn't like the call to prayer. It was long and mournful and it felt creepy.

Do you remember visiting Spain and Portugal?

• YES! I liked the greenery and the farms, fruits and vegetables! And there was a mouse that ran up the wall of our cabin, in Portugal. I sort of liked him! 
• In Spain it was hard for us to get food at our normal supper time. 

How about San José del Cabo, Mexico?

• I liked Cabo because I met the best friend I've ever had there, Melissa. It had a nice climate and we could go to the beach!! There were several beaches close to where we lived. I liked the food, too! We never rode a horse on the beach, but we saw them several times and if we go back there I would like to ride one. I liked that they spoke Spanish, and I could communicate easily.

• There wasn't very much grass and it was really rocky in our yard, so we had to be careful when we ran and played.

What do you think about our current country of residence, Cambodia?

 

• People are really nice here and I like all of the new fruits. Things are cheaper here compared to other parts of the world.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

• There is a lot of air pollution and trash everywhere. And they dry rotten/fermented fish outside and it smells really bad! 

 

 

  What are some benefits to traveling around the world?

• We get to learn lots of new things and see new places instead of staying in one place our whole lives like a toad on a log. We get to learn new languages and try new foods and make new friends.

What is something you don't like about traveling?

• As soon as I make friends, somebody moves away. I miss my family in my home country.

Which countries are you interested in visiting again/next?

• I would really like to visit Sweden! They have lingonberries, fikka, foraging and snow! 
• I would like to go back to Portugal. I like all of the natural parks and hiking trails and animals.