vacation photos (a very random selection)

I have a terribly random assortment of vacation photos.  We are rarely near our phones - yay!  but that means we are also rarely near our cameras - boo!

In the evenings the tide pools are huge and the hermit crabs abundant and the sunset is gorgeous and the breeze is refreshing - in other words, it's worth a trip.

At the pool - a little frisbee catching.  Isaac and Lydia love this game.

so does their daddy :)

Matt has taken each of the kids on a special date (I got a date too! - ha!)

With Lydia on a beach bike ride and ice cream outing

with Luke and a gigantic watermelon shake

He took John Paul and Isaac kayaking (on different days).  He and Isaac kayaked two hours - around one of those islands (inhabited by monkeys)!  The water in this bay is super calm (except our first few days were windy and rougher waves).  Normally it's like a lake - not even a large lake! The waves hardly make a ripple.  Pretty great for kayaking - kids can team up and take a kayak out on their own.

Yesterday we went to a waterpark near Hua Hin (about 45 minute drive from us).  We all had a blast - so many great slides to choose from, and a super nice wave pool too.  So fun, we will definitely go there again.  {also, bonus, the three largest slides were closed for maintenance so we got half price tickets, which saved us $$ and I'm not sure any of our kids would have dared those three slides anyways!}

The retreat center where we live is full board - three meals a day (Thai lunch, western supper, served family style) with the exception of Sunday dinner.

Pineapple fried rice (crucial that it is served in a pineapple!) is probably Julianna's favorite Thai food.

And John Paul, my fish lover.  If only we lived near the ocean and owned a dog, his life would be complete.  He eats fish every chance he gets.... and in Thailand, he's got plenty of opportunities.

We eat outdoors, of course, because every minute we spend in beautiful sunshine and clean air is worth it!

One more day here then a few days in transit and home midnight Saturday.  sigh