New Zealand December 2016

I know, I know.  I was going to get all caught up on our travels...in order.  Yeah, so much for that.  I've decided I'll write what I want when I want so it won't feel like such a chore.  And today, I want to write about New Zealand.

Have I mentioned that I've decided to become a sheep farmer and relocate there forever?  Why?  Well, it's simple really.  Because New Zealand is freakin' awesome!

The weather, the people, the parks, the wide open spaces, the food.  You name it, they have it!!!  Well, except for big cities.  However, after having lived in big cities for awhile now, I can tell you, they are kind of overrated.  

Oh, New Zealand!  You are my current infatuation.  I can't think of you without smiling.  Aaron did such an amazing job of planning this trip, there was really no way we couldn't love it.  First, he rented a huge, new camper van (from a company called Maui, in case you are planning your own trip).  They promise your van will be 2 years old or newer.  With the amount of time we spent in there and the amount of funk generated by 6 pairs of feet, that's kind of an important detail.

But let me back up a bit.  New Zealand is an island nation (with larger northern and southern main islands and various other smaller islands) located southeast of Australia in the Pacific Ocean.  In November of 2016, a huge earthquake rocked the east coast of the South Island.  Therefore, our trip was confined mostly to the west coast.  Aaron booked sites for most nights and created an itinerary that allowed us to see some amazing sights.

I knew we were in for a treat when we stepped out of the airport.  HUGE skies, mountains, puffy white clouds, crisp air.  Wow!  

We spent our first night in Queenstown at the Hotel St Moritz.  There was a giant Christmas tree in the lobby, glistening with candy canes and a hot apple cider dispenser next to the large, stone fireplace.  Stirring cider with candy canes, the kids waited patiently while Aaron checked us in.  

We deposited our bags in the rooms and walked all around town, exploring.  Though it was considered summer in the region, and the locals were sporting short sleeves, we were dressed for fall (and quite comfortable) as we walked along the shores of Lake Wakatipu.  We ate great food, found the smoothest lattes on the planet (at Mrs. Ferg's Gelateria), window-shopped, and just enjoyed breathing in the cool, clean air.  It was so refreshing to look up and see sky. Not skyscrapers, but actual, blue sky.  Ahhh.

We spent a few wonderful days in Queenstown, collecting our camper van, 

navigating parking lots in a vehicle the size of a dinosaur, gathering groceries, speeding around the lake and Kawarau and Shotover Rivers in the KJet Boat (53 mph and 360 degree spins), 

eating delicious food, 

riding the gondola up the mountainside, 

and speeding back down on the Skyline Luge.  

In short, we had a ball.  

Then it was time to hit the road.  Praise God Aaron was willing to drive because the camper van was a beast.  It was sooo big, and the roads leaving town were narrow and winding.  And right next to a cliff.  Yikes!  I spent the first few hours simply praying for our survival. 

But it wasn't long before Aaron's shoulders relaxed, the roads straightened a bit, and we all settled into our new home for the next few weeks.  

We brought games and books and toys.  We hung the stockings in the windows.  We turned our little table over, tucked it into a corner, and jammed our tiny tree into the post hole.  We learned to secure everything.  We put away all screens and began to relax.  (We did allow a few movies on the few rides that lasted more than 3 hours.)

First stop: Te Anau.  It was a small town by another gorgeous lake named...you guessed it: Lake Te Anau.  The RV park was nearly a mile from town.  A bit of a hike in the drizzle, but eventually it let up, and we found a fantastic playground.  Before heading back to the van, we popped in a used book store and loaded up.  

66

Next stop: Milford Sound.  Getting there was quite an adventure.  The rugged countryside with colorful pastures, towering, rocky mountains, and waterfalls was something to behold.  The tunnel to enter the fiordland was frightening.  I felt like we were heading for the center of the earth.  

But we emerged on the other side, unscathed.  Milford was tiny but spectacular.  We found the RV park and began exploring.  We imagined fairies living in hollow trees, threw rocks into gushing creeks, and ate our first dinner in the van.

The next day we took a cruise around Milford Sound.  Did you know it's not technically a sound because it wasn't carved by a river?  Milford Sound was cut by a glacier and therefore is actually a fiord.  Whatever you call it, it's gorgeous!  

Sunbathing seals, giant rocks covered in velvety green brush rising steeply from the water, sparkling waterfalls (that we were lucky enough to ride underneath, catching the water and drinking it!).  We loved it!

Soon we were on the road again.  We headed to Cromwell and enjoyed some "freedom camping" where the RV could just pull off the main road and park for the evening.  No electricity or facilities, just beautiful views of Lake Dunstan.  Cromwell was a gem!  Fresh fruit everywhere!  We went cherry picking with the kids, ate fresh fruit ice-cream, strolled through English-style gardens, and bought loads of produce.

Next stop: Wanaka - easily one of our very favorite locations in New Zealand.  Wonderful coffee and chocolates (at Patagonia chocolates), a huge, sparkling lake whose views were protected by the vast Pembroke Park, a campground with a fantastic kids' area, great food (at Federal Diner, Charlie Brown food truck, and Burrito Craft food truck), the fun and funky Puzzling World with its giant, adult-sized maze, and a charming little town center.  This is the place we stopped for Christmas.  Parker was able to set up the tent Grammy gave him for Christmas.  The kids set a "trap" for small animals drawing ants and birds and many excited squeals, as they watched it from the windows, well past bedtime.  

RV park playground

Puzzling World

 PW Slanted Room

PW plasma machine

PW Optical Illusions

PW Maze

Lake Wanaka

Federal Diner

The ever-important animal trap

On Christmas day, we found Santa had left small presents in our stockings: books, small stuffed animals, and chocolates.  We showered, dressed and drove to church.  Unfortunately, we only made it for the last five minutes (since the website hadn't been updated to reflect the earlier start time for the holiday service).  The church members were lovely and welcoming, and the kids gushed about it being the best service ever, their mouths stuffed with candy from the hospitality tray as we exited.  The best laid plans...

The next day I discovered I had strep throat.  I walked to the clinic, and Aaron entertained the kids.  A few hours later we gathered the medicine at the pharmacy and were on our way again.   Next stop: the Blue Pools of Makarora.  

This place looked like it had been photoshopped.  How was it possible to have Caribbean blue pools in the middle of New Zealand?  Pure glacier water, I suppose.  The kids were thrilled we allowed them to tromp through the chilly water.  It was breathtaking.  

We continued on to a place called Fox Glacier.  We were lucky to snag the last open spot in the RV park, right next to a restaurant sporting a giant Big Foot statue.  After dinner there, we were told to take a short hike down the main road, follow the signs for the turn off, and see the glow worms in the forest.  While the directions sounded vague, we decided to give it a shot.  It was magical!!!  The kids were scared initially, as it was quite dark in the forest.  We didn't have to wander far into the woods before they came alive.  Tiny glowing dots lit the undersides of logs and the insides of hollow trees - a true fairy wonderland!  Sadly, it was impossible to capture them on film.  

The next day we headed for Hokitika.  It was very wet and not a good day for the beach, so we decided to head on to Punakaki.  There we had a lunch of local fish and chips and pancakes at the charming Pancake Rocks Cafe.  Right across the street we took a short hike to see the beautiful pancake rocks and blow holes.  Since there were no spots at the RV camps and the freedom camping options weren't appealing, we decided to head back to Hokitika.  And man, I'm so glad we did!  As we drove along the coast, the skies cleared, and we decided to pull off the road and enjoy the beach.  The ocean was foamy and fun, and the kids couldn't believe we actually allowed them to play in the "bubbles." According to Parker, it was "the best pit stop ever."   We found a brand new RV park near Hokitika, secured our spot, and headed to the beach to enjoy the sunset.  

 Rainy Hokitika

Pancake Rocks Cafe, Punakaki

Pancake Rocks

 Blow hole

"Best pit stop ever"

Sunset in Hokitika

The next day we took an inland scenic route toward Mt. Cook, reaching Timaru by evening.  We secured our spot in a crowded RV park (where many of the residents appeared to be permanent) and took off again to head downtown.  We ate at gorgeous old bank building that was converted into a place called Speight's Ale House.  After dinner we headed to the pier to search for the rare "little blue penguins."  We were able to park next to the pier where they emerge from the rocks every evening around 9.  We stood in the rain, waiting and waiting.  The kids finally gave up, and stayed in the RV.  Aaron and I were lucky enough to spot a number of them in the dark and hear them chattering to each other.  They were adorable!  

Spright's Ale House

Spicy fish tacos!

Stock photo of little blue penguins...couldn't get a good shot at night

The following morning we popped into Coffee Culture to get our fix before hitting the road again.  Off to Mt. Cook to make another favorite memory - a glacier flight.  This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.  Our family piled into a prop plane fitted with giant skis and took to the skies.  God blessed us with fantastic weather, and we were able to actually land on the glacier!  We threw snowballs, made snow angels, and had a ball!  On the return flight we saw stunning views of the mountains and glaciers.  What a trip!

On the road back to Wanaka, we saw one of the most beautiful lookouts we'd encountered thus far.  We pulled off, headed down the hillside, and played in the water.

When we arrived in Wanaka, we quickly realized most RV parks were fully booked since it was so close to the new year.  We found a park on the lake but not so near to downtown.  Snagging the very last powered site, we booked it for two nights.  We spent relaxing hours at the beach (where the water was too cold for swimming but just right for playing), we drove into Wanaka to play at the park, and we watched the Lord of the Rings (trying to recognize filming locations).  

As we were leaving the area, heading toward Arrowtown, we stopped at the Wanaka Lavender Farm.  It was so lovely!  There were alpacas, rows and rows of lavender, and a neat gift shop selling honey and lavender-scented everything.  We bought some things and even ate lavender ice-cream.

Arrowtown was another hidden gem.  The main street was tiny and quaint.  We found a great restaurant (Provisions of Arrowtown Cafe) tucked into an old home that served great coffee and amazing sticky buns.  Painted metal tables, wooden benches, flower gardens galore, and blocks and books for the kids.  I loved the place!  We stayed in an RV camp that evening and headed toward Queenstown the next day.  

Jack's eyes match the table.

Thanks to the holiday, there was no room at the inn for the Rausch clan.  We decided to do freedom camping for our final night.  The views were fantastic, but the sand flies were fierce.  We hunkered down in our mobile home, thanking God for an amazing trip, beautiful scenery, and the chance to spend so much quality time together.

On our last day, we had breakfast at Halo (awesome breakfast food, right next to an old church) and spent the day at the field next to the Queenstown Memorial Centre, throwing frisbees, climbing trees, and watching four ducklings chase after their mother.  All too soon, our trip was over. What a blessing to vacation in this magical place!

 Hot cocoa at Halo

Hope to see you again soon, New Zealand!

  

  

Baby girl, baby girl

My love poem to my baby girl (for her 8th birthday - a few months late, as usual):

Skin so fair, eyes so bright,

You are my heart song come to life.

Flowers in your hair, soft ringlets of spun gold frame your fairy face.

I blinked and clumsy toddles gave way to graceful twirls.

My eyes well and heart stings, breath catching when I see the crown of your head reaching halfway up my arm, irrefutable evidence of growth unstoppable.  Time marching on, or in your case, dancing.

At night I creep into your room just to nuzzle your still plump little child cheeks in the moonlight.

A tender head atop a pillow, a mess of curls encircled by beloved stuffed animals.

During the day, I wipe those cheeks, tears still plentiful over the confusing mess of this sometimes mean world.  But later in the day, those same cheeks will raise, corners of eyes crinkling in delight at some wonder of nature - an insect, a flower, a silly little brother.

Your hungry brain devours books, hangs on teachers' words, begs to hear stories of days gone by.  Bittersweet school days filled with the joys of learning and the heartaches of playground snubs.

My arms are open and waiting when you step off the bus.  A good snack and snuggle, some "special time" with mom, and you are off to paint a masterpiece or play some music or entertain a certain little blond haired boy whose been waiting all day for your return.

A small heart so big I'm not sure how it fits in your chest.  You always have a gift for someone.  "How can I help, mom?"  Music to my ears, I'm hard pressed to remember your age, and have to catch myself before I overload those little arms.

How are you 8 already, my dear?  As much as I long to hold you tight enough to somehow stop the growth, to pause the whole world just to wonder a bit longer at the right-now miracle of you, I will not.  I won't even try.

I will not fear or dread your growth and change.  Why?  Because you have an amazing track record of amazing me.

I know you will spread your wings and fly.  If I do my job right, you'll feel confident navigating this great big world without me...but I hope sometimes I'm invited along for the ride.

Love you, baby girl!

Love, Momma

Pinworms with a purpose

Don't you just love the alliteration of this post's title?  Makes the topic seem a little less threatening, and hopefully a bit intriguing.

If you're reading this post, blame my friend, Katie.  No, she did not give us pinworms (at least, I don't think so - just kidding, Katie!).  She did, however, give me a book entitled "One Thousand Gifts."  If you haven't read it already, do yourself a huge favor and buy one ASAP.  It's all about discovering grace and gratitude even amidst the sufferings of this world.  Let me stop right there and say that in no way do I consider pinworms on the same level as the loss of a loved one, but there is a certain amount of suffering that comes with the territory.

I'm finding that in every situation, if I am willing to search for joy and purpose, it's just waiting to be found.  In focusing on the small joys, I can catch glimpses of a larger picture, a better plan.  One might wonder how all of this relates to pinworms.  Where is the joy and bigger picture in that situation?  I have been wondering that myself, and finally, finally with this last bout [yes, you read that right, there have been multiple episodes now], I think I've found it!

Drum roll, please....Shame!  This post is going to obliterate the shame surrounding pinworms!  I think we were allowed to catch them because God knew I couldn't keep my big mouth shut.  He knew I'd finally share about it.  I can't tell you how many threads I've read on the subject where the writers were embarrassed, isolated, and downright depressed.  Ugh! This problem is bad enough without the extra baggage of secrecy and shame - that ugly, insidious lie that whispers if they knew me, if they really knew me and all of my junk, I'd be humiliated, rejected, alone.  Shame is a bigger parasite than pinworms will ever be.

Forget that!  I will shout it from the rooftops: Our family has had pinworms!  Okay, that might be a little weird and dangerous, so probably not, but if you were to talk to my neighbors, you would know I have had many frank conversations about it.  Trust me, no one wants to be the first to share, but in the course of these conversations, nearly everyone I know has either had them in their home or knows someone who has.

For those of you lucky so and so's who have never contracted the little buggers, first of all, fall on your knees and praise God that you have dodged this bullet...so far.  I think it's kind of like what I call "poopapalooza," that time in a parent's life when their child(ren) discover the joys and playdoh-like properties of their own poo.  It's bound to happen to you or a close friend.  Most everyone I know has a story.

I'll never forget when Jack was potty-training [read: forgetting to flush], Caleb was cruising [crawling around to furniture and pulling himself up to standing], and I was making dinner.  Oh, the horrors!  You can read my lovely poem about it here.  When I posted it, a dear friend replied "Nee-ner-nee-ner-neeee-ner!"  You see, a few years before our incident, their own child had removed his diaper in the middle of nap time and created smelly masterpieces on the wall, crib, himself, etc.

But I digress...back to pinworms!  Oh the joys!  Allow me to share some super-fun facts:

Did you know pinworm eggs can survive outside the body for 2-3 weeks in a warm, moist environment?  You know, like in ASIA, where we happen to live now.

Did you know that some people can be pinworm carriers without know it or showing any symptoms? No, your potentially pinworm-infected friends can't come over.  Ever. Again.  Go play outside!

Did you know that the eggs love to lie in wait in the soil and sand?  Like the stuff all over our neighborhood.  Never mind what I just said about playing outside.  

Did you know a female pinworm lays 10 - 15 thousand eggs in one night?  Stupid overachievers.

Did you know young children are more likely than adults to contract pinworms due to not washing their hands before eating?  Or, in our case, because they suck their thumbs all the time.

Did you know that pinworms are kind of like vampires, only coming out at night?  And that they, too, are repulsed by garlic?

But here's the best part...Guess where they come out?  Ding! Ding! Ding!   You guessed it: your bottom!  Not even kidding.  After you've ingested the eggs, they travel to your intestines, grow into worms, mate, and the pregnant females travel to you bum.  They look like a little piece of white, wiggly thread (about the length of a staple).  How do I know?  Because I've done the midnight "flashlight safari" (as one blogging mom so aptly put it), pulling down the pants of any child who dared mention their bottom itched.  I know, I'm scarring them for life.  Don't judge.

Anyway, the pregnant females sneak out at night, depositing their microscopic eggs, all the while excreting an itchy mucous in the hopes that you'll scoop up their babies when you scratch and somehow ingest them.  Gross!  Gross!  Gross! (And on a side note, female pinworms sound like terrible mothers...)

Okay, so now we've admitted that we've ingested worm eggs...I can kind of see where the shame factor comes in.  But the thing is, you can catch these buggers anywhere!!!  Those thousands upon thousands of eggs that were laid at night can end up on any surface and can even go airborne and be inhaled.  It's insane.  The craziest part is trying to get rid of them.

So what's a mom to do?

1.  Get the medicine from the doctor or pharmacist.  It's not as easy as it sounds.  You either have to drag all the kids into the doctor's office where they can pick up who knows what else, or you can suffer the shame (there it is again) of a pharmacy visit.  You see, pharmacies in Singapore are tiny.  Tiny and crowded.  If you have claustrophobia, don't even think about going inside.  So imagine standing at the counter, with the next person in line a mere foot away, as you whisper the hushed particulars (who has them, how long, did you actually see them?).  Ugh!  Next time I'm going to joke loudly about it, and maybe those people pressing up against my back will take two steps back.

2.  Shower your kids every morning to wash away the eggs deposited at night.  Do you have a child who is tough to wake in the morning?  Well, I have the solution for you!  Pinworms!  That's right, now you too can have a wide awake, screaming child in a matter of minutes.  Simply remove them from their bed, deposit them in the shower, strip them, and begin to wash their bottom.  From bleary-eyed to teary-eyed in no time flat.  You're welcome!

3.  Wash all the bedding and towels and underwear and pajamas and stuffed animals in hot water every day for the rest of your life.  And when your washing machine has a maximum capacity of 6kg (think one sheet, one bath towel and one hand towel), you will be doing laundry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until you die or until the Second Coming.  

4.  Clean like a maniac.  Wipe down all surfaces, vacuum all carpets, mop all floors every day forever and ever and ever.  Nope, better yet, just burn the house down.  No, that will cause insurance issues.  Just relocate.  Leave it all and start over.  According to my research, the occurrence of pinworms is lowest in Taipei thanks to a government-sponsored deworming program....再见 Singapore, 你好 Taipei!  (Goodbye Singapore, hello Taipei!)

5.  Read blog posts, medical studies, and doctors' websites until 1 A.M. every night, simultaneously ordering every known natural remedy known to man on Amazon (black walnut oil, clove oil, Eradicator spray, wormwood).  Feed your children food grade Diatomaceous Earth (not really dirt, just tastes like it), garlic, and pineapples, simultaneously cutting out all added sugars from their diets (because someone somewhere wrote that pinworms thrive on sugar).  And the most-loved mother of the year award goes to...

5.  Come to a place of peace and joy.  Chances are, this isn't the last we've seen of pinworms in our house.  The doctor informed me that as long as I let the kids play in the garden (i.e. outside in the grass) and as long as they suck their thumbs, we are pretty much guaranteed to become re-infested.  Like many other people in this region, we will all take the medicine every few months, just to be safe.  In the meantime, I will still obsessively clean my home, order thumb guards for the kids, and force them to take all the natural rememdies possible.  What I won't do is let this ruin my life, or make me bitter toward my children, or isolate me from my friends (although, anyone reading this might never want to set foot in our home again).  

I want to live as an authentic life as possible.  I want people who have pinworms to get rid of the shame and stigma.  According to the online Encyclopedia of Children's Health:
"It is estimated that pinworms infect more than 400,000,000 people throughout the world or approximately 10 percent of humans."  These people aren't dirty or gross.  They are your friends and neighbors. 

If you've got them, hang in there!  If you managed to get rid of them, bravo!!  If you've never had them, please, be gentle toward those who have.  Good night friends!  (We're off to buy a bigger washer first thing in the morning!)

My Joy

Tonight I went in to check on the kids before turning in to bed.  What an age of innocence reigns right now.  I push Maddie's mess of curls off her forehead and press my cheek against her skin.  "I love you," I whisper.  "You are a good, good girl, and I love you so much."  She doesn't stir.

I flip off the bathroom light on the way to the boys' room.  Tripping on cars, I make my way to Parker's bed.  His face is buried in pillows.  Just a hint of cheeks peeks at me.  Enough to kiss and nuzzle.  "Your mommy loves you," I whisper, moving away as he turns his head on the pillow.

Jack is mumbling something from the top bunk, and a smile spreads over my face.  There is something about checking on the kids at night...Sometimes I just need to peek in and see the tops of their heads above their blankets.  Other nights I want to hear them breathing.  At times, I will kiss their sleeping faces until they squirm.  But Jack, just hearing that adorable, small, strong voice is enough for tonight.  I won't interrupt.  Keep dreaming those big dreams, son.  Tell me all about it in the morning. 

I step over Caleb, stretched out on the trundle, his head dappled in silvery moonlight.  I'm drawn to the window, my eyes peering through the branches of the tree just outside.  How is it that the moon can be so timid and distant some nights and so bold others?  Tonight the light is practically blasting through the leaves, bathing everything in an ethereal glow.  Amazing.  Try as I might, no smartphone picture will do justice to this beauty.  No matter, there are other beauties awaiting my attention.

I make my way back to the blond haired boy lying low and bend to kiss his face, my hand resting on his tiny chest.  With one thumb tucked in his mouth, his other hand finds mine, tiny fingers curling around my thumb.  My heart squeezes, and I stand still, bent, savoring.  Untangling myself, I stumble through the toys and sit at the desk, anxious to capture the sweet moments my camera cannot.

My joy is full tonight.  These recordings are only a fraction of the blessings of the day.  Aaron's safe journey to Malaysia, good news from the doctor, finding my car in the parking garage, having great girlfriends over for tea after the kids were put to bed - all good things.

There is a also a sink full of dishes, two racks of laundry to fold, homework folders to sign.  All waiting for me.  Also, all good things.  I am writing tonight to remember.  How easily I can overlook these daily joys - big and small, obvious and obscure.  But not tonight.  Tonight I will record and remember and be thankful.

Good.night.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Ko Samui

We visited Ko Samui (which is Thailand's second largest island) in August of 2015.

Arriving at the airport

Tongsai Bay entrance (looking out)

 When we arrived, the first thing the kids noticed was the fleet of golf carts.  After looking at the map of the property, we understood why there were so many...

The Tongsai Bay is a collection of properties, mostly separate, villa-type structures, built into the mountainside rainforest.  While there were many lovely footpaths, the quickest way to travel was via the golf carts.  The kids were immediately in love with the place.

We hopped onto a cart and travelled up, up, up for what seemed like ages, arriving at the base of a steep staircase.  The steps branched off to the left and to the right, zig zagging back toward the center.    We had two villas separated by a wall.  Again, the kids loved it because they felt like they had their own place (the older ones anyway - Caleb stayed with us).  When it was nighttime, Aaron and I split up to make sure an adult was in each room, but during a day, when we were taking a break from the sun, the kids were allowed to stay in their own space and watch movies.  What a life!

I'm not kidding when I say there were a lot of steep stairs leading to our room!  Someone got a little tired.

View of the bay from our front porch/balcony

The very, very best things about the rooms were the outdoor bathtubs.  They sat on the front porches facing the ocean.  "Porch" might be the wrong word.  It was more like a room missing the wall that faced the ocean, and because we were so high up the mountain, we couldn't be seen from the road.  We filled them with warm water and sprinkled flowers on top.  There were also huge clay jars containing bubble bath on the ledge by the towels.  Can you say paradise??

We settled in and journeyed down the mountain all the way to the bay.

The "beach" consisted of small, very smooth pebbles (somewhere between the size of a pea and a bb pellet - can you tell I'm from Kentucky?).  It was an amazing sensory experience just to walk through the tiny balls and hear the click, click as they moved around our toes.  There was a two-seater sea kayak pulled ashore, and Aaron and I took turns paddling the kids around the bay.

On one side of the bay, there was a really neat rock structure we explored, looking for fossils and pirate caves.

Just beyond the beach was a paved area with a bridge separating two pools.  In the shallow pool, a tall, hut-like structure sat in the middle of the water, providing shade from the white-hot sun.  I sat under there watching Caleb paddle around in his flotation vest while the big kids made friends, hanging from the bridge and venturing into the deeper waters.

In the morning, the kids got a big kick out of calling for our ride and zipping down the hill to the main cabin for breakfast.  My what a spread!  Every food imaginable: pancakes and eggs, and rice and noodles, and vegetables and exotic fruits, smoothies and soups, you name it, they had it.  We ate and ate and ate!

Aaron had a chance to take a Thai cooking class.  He gathered the ingredients from the on-site gardens and created some absolutely delicious dishes.  

Meanwhile the kids and I hung out at the pool providing a public service announcement for any passers-by about the long-term effects of intimacy. We built forts out of lounge chair cushions, swam,  ran and ran and ran, and finally had lunch.

Our trip was not very long, but we did manage a few outings.  We visited the Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai) which is a 39 foot-tall, gold-painted Buddha.  It was surrounded by a marketplace (where Maddie purchased her favorite "rainbow" dress).  I think the most interesting feature was the staircase leading up the the statue.  The rails were giant colorful snakes!  I don't know how to describe this place except to say that it was vibrant.  The statues, if not painted gold, were painted other bright, bold colors.  We saw tiles of every hue, smelled fragrant incense floating in the air, and of course, the kids couldn't wait to leave.  Why do we have to visit another temple?

Oh great, mom, more steps!

Snake rails

One evening we had dinner at an Italian place called Pepenero (because when in Thailand...)  I was wondering about the selection.  Silly me!  Of course, Aaron had done his homework, and this place was incredible.  The building itself was tiny (we sat out on the porch at the only table big enough to seat our family), but the food was to die for.  We chatted with the Italian owner while his son and Parker headed down the road to an empty lot to play soccer.  I swear that kid's never met a stranger.

We spent most of our time on the beach or at the pool or in the tub.  It was an all-around fabulous trip, and we were blessed to have gone there.  So long, Ko Samui!