March 20, 2015 (Krabi, Thailand)

Today was a special one. We were able to take a boat over to the Phi Phi Islands from our hotel- about a 50 min boat ride. The islands are about an hour away from almost any other inhabited islands and the sheer cliffs and lush rocky islands and lagoons just take your breath away. The water was so blue green and clear and we loved swimming in the warm water. There were tons of fish and we snorkeled in three different areas. The first spot we were swarmed by colorful fish, especially after our guide chucked in a piece of bread- we were surrounded! We then swam between some rocks and were in the middle of literally thousands of fish and two different kinds of schools of fish. It was amazing. We were all freaking out. As we came out of the cave like area we looked up and there was a monkey right on a branch over the water about 2 feet from us. It then looked like it was going to jump in the water, whoa- not ready to swim with monkeys! We backed away and a second later he jumped into the water and disappeared for about 40 seconds, we were like is he swimming towards us?! Then he popped back up and climbed up the rocks.

We snorkeled at a couple other spots too one of which had a lot of scuba divers but we could see everything they could and swam with a couple black tip sharks and saw dozens of colorful starfish and lots of different kinds of fish. We drove by the cave where apparently locals will climb into these caves and take the nests that are there from weavers and use them for some kind of bird soup- there was almost scaffolding set up out of bamboo throughout the cave.

We visited Koh Phi Phi I believe it was for lunch and it was nice to be on land for a bit and cool off under a palapa and have a wrap. We headed to Bamboo Island after lunch and played and laid on the beach for a while and enjoyed some fresh sliced pineapple and Sam and I played catch for a while with his rattan ball he picked up in Myanmar.

The islands were just spectacular. The outing was so worth it and everything was just what you hoped for, with even the expected crowds at some of the lagoons, which we made sure to drive right by since we weren't up for huge crowds and were able to find less crowded places with our boat. Great day.

In the evening we cooled off in the pool and then I went out on the hotel's mountain bike to explore the surrounding hotels and scope out dinner. I picked a place a couple hotels down which has a great beach and a new Italian restaurant. We had a nice dinner right next to the beach and came back to our room after for dessert while we checked out the kids' gopro videos from the day and got caught up on our blogs.

It has been so fun to have Syd here. She is totally hilarious and so happy to be around and so appreciative of everything and this vacation. I just love each of my children so much. They are each so different but all have such a great sense of humor and the girls are such wonderful adults, love being with them. Austin has been great to get to know and is such a fun friend and can laugh at Syd's flair for the dramatic;) They are happy to be relaxing after a busy winter at school. I am so glad they chose to meet up with us. It has been great and allowed me to have some fun mom time with Syd and sister time for Sam. xo