Visiting Grandma and Papa at the Sea Ranch (Juy 15-18, 2010)

Cousin Spencer reading to Elijah on mommy's favorite seat in the house.... :)

Enjoying the beach at the Sea Ranch with grandma and cousins Cordell and Spencer

Playing in the sand is messy but fun!

Grandma knows how to make me laugh! Tickle, tickle, tickle!!

Taking a walk along the beach with Ah-pa....

Guess what we found? A small fort at the beach!

What are we making with sand, water, buckets, and shovels?

Look at what Elijah saw hanging around in grandma and papa's backyard? A deer family.....

The Hot Spot! A nice picnic spot

Taking a walk with mommy along the bluff....

Enjoying the beautiful northern California coast with grandma.... The Sea Ranch is beautiful.

E enjoying playing with Ah-pa's old toys from when he was a kid....

Testing out Uncle Tim's boat in the garage....we will have to take it out in the water some day...

We loved visiting grandma and papa and spending time with them. They are great grandparents and Elijah loves them very much. It was nice to be able to spend a few days with cousin Cordell and Spencer too. They loved paying attention to Elijah!

Yosemite with the Liu's (July 8-11, 2010)

I am now trying to catch up on our last summer trip back to the States. Thank goodness for photos which help me remember what we did and when because there is no way I would be able to remember it all.

Yosemite is one place where Paul and I have visited the most as a couple and with friends. It holds a very special place in my heart. It is at a camping trip to Yosemite with a group of friends (before we started dating) that I realized that I really liked Paul. I love its beauty, majestic scenery, and grandeur. I have at points have said to Paul that when I die I want my ashes spread in Yosemite. It is a very special place for us with lots of great memories.

We have talked about doing a trip to Yosemite with Jeff, Sharon, Jordan, and Dylan a few years ago when we were out to the States but we never got around to doing it. So this time around, we made sure to get it in our calendar. It was even more special because Elijah also got to enjoy it. Of course, post-kids, we didn't hike up the Half Dome (we did it with J&S and we learned afterward that S was pregnant at the time!), but we did less strenuous hikes.




Elijah would probably say that his highlight of the trip was throwing rocks in the creek, playing with billiard balls on the pool table, driving through a tunnel, and eating a popsicle! Thanks for a fun and memorable time Uncle Jeff, Auntie Sharon, Jordan, and Dylan!

Thailand Part III

Bangkok, Thailand (February 14-23, 2010)

We spent ten days after the conference in Bangkok to fulfill our visa requirements. During the ten days, we moved around four times and slept in three different places. They were all very comfortable places and Elijah slept well. Grandpa Phil and Grandma Ann left on the 16th. They were eagerly waiting for Elijah to start walking. Unfortunately, they left three days too early. On the 19th, Elijah took his first real steps and since then, everything is history!

Below are some photos.
(From Left to Right)
1) Elijah in a sky train with daddy
2) Playing with a girl from the guest house where we were staying
3) After celebrating grandpa's birthday
4) Elijah taking a bath in a real bathtub (and a nice one at that, thank you grandparents!).
5) Getting ready to return to India (at 4am in the airport in Bangkok)

Thailand Part II

Dolphin Bay Resort (February 7-13, 2010)

We spent one week near HuaHin, a quiet beach area a few hours from Bangkok for work conference. Elijah got to spend one on one time with Grandpa Phil and Grandma Ann while we attended the seminars. We had a lot of fun introducing Elijah to our friends. Unfortunately, we did not take very many pictures as we were busy attending the teaching sessions. Here are a few photos from our outing to a nearby island on our free day with some folks.

Thailand Part I -- Railay Bay Beach, Krabi

We shall see how long it takes for me to blog about our adventures in Thailand. I'm going to keep the entries short and try to post lots of photos.





Railay Bay Beach, Krabi (January 29-February 6, 2010)

Beautiful sunsets, pristine beaches, picturesque scenery, delicious Thai food, a family friendly resort, and best of all, Grandpa Phil and Grandma Ann....Couldn't have asked for more! It was a great place for a relaxing family vacation.

Elijah's favorites: kayaks, golf cart, watching people playing soccer, the Scandinavian girls, the warm waters of the Andaman Sea, endless days at the beach and the pool with grandpa, grandma, and his parents, and his new beach toys. We were surprised how much he really loved the water.

Interestingly, he was not too fond of sand. He did not like how it felt and initially, he would only squat. But, eventually he came around. This kid needs more exposure to dirt! ;)