Vacation

Vacation. So, so much fun. It's kinda funny taking a vacation as a missionary; the first time we did, we got a nasty email from a supporter saying they hadn't had a vacation in 5 years and why should we get to take one? So I understand it can be a sensitive subject, but there are a LOT of things about life overseas that don't make sense to someone who's never lived outside America. 

We go to beautiful resort places because that's all that's offered..... regular local people don't stay at hotels, so there are no Best Westerns in this country. But because of the exchange rates, we pay less to stay at a beautiful 4 star resort than we would pay to stay at a Best Western in America. So some of our vacation pictures do kinda look dreamy, but that is one of the (few!) perks of living in a 3rd world country. :)

Back to vacation... this was our first one in several years. Somewhere between the last family trip we took and this one, our babies grew up and turned into real kids who could handle "real" vacation stuff like renting bikes and riding to Starbucks....

And going to a real water park and riding the "scary" rides....

And who had their "own" money that they could use to buy souvenirs. As the boys have ZERO opportunities to spend money in daily life, it was really fun for them to have some cash to actually exchange for toys and trinkets and souvenirs. We learned a LOT about their little money personalities (one a spender, one a saver, and one who carefully considered and then bought only really nice, expensive import toys.... that one had better grow up to be a doctor or lawyer!) 

Brant bought the little boys these hats.... love this picture.

We do not go on vacation for the beaches.... our beaches here are much more beautiful with zero tourists, but we still feel obligated to visit the beach at least once or twice.... especially when your fancy 4 star resort has its own private beach...

We go on vacation for the air conditioning, the shopping and the food.... which I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed....

This was a pirate themed restaurant where we ate up in a tree house, Swiss Family Robinson style...

This was an amazing new Texas BBQ joint that definitely exceeded the hype.... it just opened two months ago and is run by a kid from Austin, Texas, who looks like like he dropped out of UT and whose goal in life is to befriend every BBQ-starved ex-pat in the Eastern Hemisphere. :) 

And this was a fancy tea house we had reservations for our last day of the trip. And by "reservations" I mean, I booked the table, and Brant had serious reservations about taking 3 little boys to "high tea" with real china dishes. :) He gave the boys such a talking to before we entered the place and I was a bit scared when I saw the glass goblets and flowers and china.... BUT, it turned out to be such a fun meal! Each boy got his own "child's tea" complete with mini kid friendly sandwiches (PB&J and ham&cheese cut in fancy shapes) and trays of tiny desserts - towers of them! The boys literally squealed and clapped their hands when they saw all the food brought out. And "tea" for the boys turned out to be milkshakes for them and cappuccino for Brant (I was the only one who got real tea!) It was a fun last meal. 

So yes, we just ate the whole vacation, and I think we each gained 10 pounds. (Not an exaggeration, but already falling off with our regular chicken and rice tribal diet.) We also got some really fun things for our house - rugs for the boys' rooms, light fixtures to cover our bare bulbs and a good stock of ham, cheese, nuts and frozen berries (yes, we carried a huge cooler back on the plane!)

So thankful for our vacation!