beach time

The beach at our resort was just about perfect.  Although it wasn't the most beautiful beach I've seen in Thailand (which, honestly, is kind of unfair to even compare because Thailand is home to beaches that will make you think you are dreaming they are so un-real gorgeous perfect white sand islands).... anyways, it wouldn't win an award in Thailand but it's still tops in our book. 

Tucked into a bay, some days the waves were so smooth it was like a lake (though there was one day of rough waves), clear water, shallow for a long ways out, great kayaking, tide pools filled with all the hermit crabs and starfish you could ever want. 

Sandy kids....oh the sand.  Sand Sand Sand. 

Check out how far out you could walk into the sea and still be waist deep.  Perfect.  That island in the distance was filled with monkeys.  Matt took the kids on kayak rides to go see them :) 

No surprise that this little man took to the beach like a fish to water. 

His big sis could never decide which was better, beach? or pool?  She calls it "the sea" and loved filling her buckets with all kinds of sand/sea creatures. 

One of the tide-pool days Isaac ran up and down, up and down, splashing and splashing in ankle deep water.  I loved watching him run, loved it. 

 Lydia, Lydia.  This time at the beach. 

And we were there with two other families that are good friends.  Their kids and ours played hard, together.  It was great. 

Kayleigh has been a big part of my girls lives since, well, since they were born!  This trip just added memories to the many, many times these girls have played in Thailand.  Kayleigh (and her two sibs) are practically cousins. 

There were plenty of boys around too.  They are tougher than they look.  I promise. 

Oh to sink your toes in the sand with a bunch of little kiddos running around playing their hearts out - it was a great vacation :) 

[ps - not pictured: Luke.  Have you ever taken a sand-eating, speed crawler to the beach?  He spent a bit of time there, but twice I left him with a 'baby-sitter' back at the resort and enjoyed some long, extended beach time with my big kids.  Perfect-o!]

Still, we did get a family pic, and he's in it :)