KRABI: kayaking around Railay

One day we rented a sea kayak for ourselves and fit the whole family on it. We set off from Railay Beach to explore around the limestone cliffs and through the caves. The sea was very calm and warm even though it was an overcast day.


Lots of crabs in the caves. Some tiny, some big. One cave was more narrow than we expected. We were stuck pretty tight and snapped a paddle pushing our way out. The man wanted 1,000 baht to replace it. But SuperDave has awesome skills and talked the man down to 240 baht.


When we got hungry we found a beach with a long boat selling a late lunch.


We parked and ordered up some Thai pancakes. Noah's absolute favorite. He'll take one with bananas and nutella, please. I'll have one with fresh coconut and milk. I think mango was Dave's favorite. or pineapple.

But little Gage was long gone. Fast asleep. Missed the whole thing.

KRABI: hotels and traveling

We spent a couple nights on Railay Beach and a couple in Ao Nang. You can only get to Railay by long boat so we wanted to stay awhile instead of going back and forth to Ao Nang. And it was a very good choice. We could have settled in and stayed the rest of the month.

Staying in a hotel with kids is awesome. The pools, the breakfast, cartoons in Thai, the big beds. They love it. And so do we.



I love this picture of Dave pulling our two bags with the boys riding along. Everyone has their own traveling tricks that work for them. My friend brings baby powder with her to rub the sand off her feet. It works really well!

Here are a few of our tricks that we've figured out or learned from friends:

Tips for traveling with kids

- pack 2 days before, relax the day before (CHANGED MY LIFE!)
- always in my bag: small first aid kit, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, bug patches, sunscreen
- boys have their own packs. they can only bring what they can carry on the plane.
- name labels on the back of passports

- when packing, less is more - seriously.

- zip lock bags - everything goes into a separate big zip lock bag: one for snacks, one for toys, DVDs, everything. The bags keep everything together and organized.
- pb and jelly - we bring our own pb and j. Even the bread. We eat that for lunch with local fruit and then buy dinner. Cuts expensives and saves time.

- write a currency conversion chart on a sticky note - I carry this with me for quick reference
- write down addresses and destinations for the driver who can't understand you
- exchange money before we go
- grab a free map from the airport

- to plan: we use travel books, trip advisor, friends' blogs, emails
- map out day by day itinerary before we go, but be flexible when we're there
- always plan a beach day. always.


But lists and plans are never in concrete, are they? So when we don't have an extra shirt for the boy who spilled his banana shake all over, or when we can't find that restaurant that everyone loves. We try to smile and roll with it.

... for auld lang syne

Noah came up with the plan for dinner on New Year's Eve. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. A Buffet. So dinner was set up on the kitchen counter and little signs were carefully cut, folded, and written for each item. Even the sour cream and salad dressing were labeled. Both boys giggled their way through the buffet.

After dinner out came the board games and M&Ms (I splurged $8.50 for the Christmas color ones, some traditions must not be broken).

We played Kung Fu Panda Monopoly Jr. The boys and I found it for cheap at the market. I was surprised at the price and a little suspicious but the package looked very legit. Now I know to ask them to open up the box. We played with Sharpie in hand so we could match the gameboard to the property cards and Dave and I are still giggling over the instruction sheet.

Then we headed outside with the sparklers. Happy New Year!





We kissed and tucked those sweet boys into bed then went out to Japanese spaghetti with friends.



We watched the fireworks from the 34th floor of a friend's apartment building and I kissed this handsome man at midnight.


My New Year's resolution is still settling, needing more thought. I love her approach to resolutions. But boy do we have plans for 2011. I love filling in that blank calendar. So many possibilities. Looking ahead, the boys will turn 6 and 4. One of us turns the big 3-0. And I can't wait to see what Singapore will teach us.

Happy New Year!

a Happy Holiday

Christmas Eve our table was full. Set for a feast.



With good friends we ate and played and laughed and ate some more. With scarves and bed sheets we told the Nativity story.

After good byes were said, pjs were donned and stockings laid out. Noah made sure the glass door on the balcony was unlocked so Santa could get in and Gage made sure the carrots for the reindeer were not forgotten.

Christmas morning brought tears to my eyes again and again. I want to remember how happy Noah was opening his stocking. I want to remember the sweet things Gage said. And Noah's face when he gave me his Christmas present. Or Gage's when Noah gave him his. And that squealing noise. Deliriously happy squealing.

Dave and I sat next to each other eating our rice pudding and sipping our left over wassail taking it all in.






We talked to our families on Skype and the rest of the morning the boys played and played and played.

Merry Christmas!

another warm december

We are counting our December days. Filling each one up with Christmas goodness.


On our list:

decorate our Christmas tree, write letters to Santa, make a gingerbread house, sit on Santa's lap, play in the snow, wrap presents, make cookies, make creme brulee, make snowflakes, sing Christmas songs, watch the Christmas Devotional, go to the Live Nativity, read "Twas the night before Christmas," read other Christmas stories, watch "The Grinch," make treats for the neighbors, do Christmas cards, act out the Nativity


So far we're doing great. Noah is helping keep track. What's on your list?

Snow in Singapore

Every night at 7:30 something unexpected happens here in Singapore.

It snows.

Well actually, it bubbles.

Close enough.

The boys put on their swim suits. And had a blast. How did I miss this last year?!

We will definitely be going back for more. David insists. There's even a Starbucks right there so you can get your chocolate chip milk shake to cool off. Does that seem a little backwards for Christmas time?

We haven't noticed.