TrendsettersDressed in high style fashion, Ty and Jess model some of their new Christmas garb before we head off on our trip the next day.
The family is together for the first time since last summer. It all feels so right. Longing for the relaxing days of Pensacola in the spring, we decide a beach retreat might be just the thing to satisfy our desire to rekindle some of our memories of family fun on the beach while exploring a new area. Sanya bay on the southern tip of Hainan island is the southern most point of China with coastlines adorned by the warm, lovely South China Sea. Our 4 days are spent mostly soaking up the sun on the nearly deserted beach. We walked for hours, played a bit of coconut "P-I-G", body surfed the waves, and explored a couple fun restaurants. Our 4 BR apartment was graced with tropical island breezes, the sound of waves crashing the beach at night, sights of island peaks in the distance, and since we ARE still in China, the raucous nightly fireworks celebrations right outside our windows. Amazing that only 2 1/2 hours of flying time can transport us to such a different locale.
Lovely viewRead, eat, relax and enjoy the view. The view and the breezes made this a favorite hang-out for Kirsten.
Lush vegetationPalm trees are everywhere - any they really had coconuts on them too! At latitude 15 degrees, this is appropriately called the Chinese Hawaii. Interesting though, rather than being inundated with Ja
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Digging for AmericaTy never reaches America, but he does create a great hole to play our highly competitive game of "coconut P-I-G". We think Ty won, but of course Matt claims HIS coconut was the one in the hole at the
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Thai cuisineIt's hot, it's spicy, and a coconut filled with fresh coconut juice is just the thing to cool the tongue after a great Thai meal.
The 3 stoogesLarry, Mo, and Curly they're not, but maybe Aphrodite, Hercules, and Confucious wanna-be's could be more accurately applied. Fun for us all to be together again - even if all we do is lay around, wat
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Beach gangSanya beach outside our apartment. Finally a family photo where Kirsten shaves off the Yak fur and joins us "in the flesh"!
3 TeensThis is officially the last photo of all 3 as teenagers. When they were toddlers, I dreaded this year of 3 teens at once. Now I count my lucky stars to enjoy their company together while looking bac
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Home againReturning home, we enjoy a visit with our Chinese friends, Monica and Jason. Monica has tutored Sheri, Jessica, and Matt and now also works part-time at Patac with Matt as an assistant. Such a sweet
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