It would be impossible to recap all of the incredible experiences we had in Thailand so I am going to do this in list form and then let the pictures tell the story!  My memories from Thailand are as follows:

All the kids showering at the Cathay Lounge in San Francisco because….well, the bathrooms were awesome, we had time to kill, so why not!?

Our excited energy as we waiting to board the long flight to Hong Kong, which spread to Presley who was wide awake until we got on the plane at midnight.

Getting on the plane, sitting next to the girls with the boys behind us.  Leif and Liam’s excited faces as they explored the endless movie selections that would get them through the next 18 hours.

Liam and Leif staying up until 2am and having ice cream on the plane.  The girls and I were out cold.

All of us getting 7 hours of sleep on the plane!

Our hotel in Bangkok with the outdoor, covered pool on the 18th floor, high above the city.  Prelsy had her own little pool.  Leif and I napped in the cabanas.

Key, our first guide, who immediately fell in love with the kids and us with her!  She was wonderful.

Walking through the train market.  The smells, the fish heads, the hanging meat.  The coconut water and the treats.  The buddhists in training singing in a line.  The actual train station itself!

Our longboat tour of the floating markets.  It just felt surreal and I could not stop smiling.

Liam’s constant questioning of everything.  No shy kid in Thailand apparently!  He was into it!

Our first real Thai meal alongside the river.  The girls loved the octopus.  We saw a dead dog floating down the river and tried to distract the kids.

Taking the girls to the bathroom with no toilets.  Just squat girls…

Mango sticky rice, pina coladas, coconut smoothies, breakfast buffets.

All the kids putting their hands in prayer and saying “Sawadee ka” to everyone.

The way the Thai people LOVED our girls!  They were like celebrities.  Skyler getting pulled into selfie shots right and left.  Random people picking up and carrying Presley every time she got tired. 

The tour of the Grand Palace.  The heat that day.  The guards that we couldn’t get to smile.  Worrying about losing Presley in the crowd.  The White Elephant story.  Where are the princesses?”

Tuk tuk rides.  SO fun and exhilarating.

Our Chiang Mai hotel – the “yellow hotel” as Presley called it.  Swimming in the pool.  Liam and Skyler jumping off the edge.  Playing “palace” with Presley.  The gecko in the tree.

Thai massages….wow.  Even Liam got a foot massage.  Leif and I couldn’t stop laughing at the name of the place “Happy Massage.”

The night market.  More tuk tuk rides.  Henna tattoos.  Chaos.

Elephants…need I say more!??? 

I will say more…Presley calling to her elephant – “Bunjen Ma!” (Bunjen come!); feeding and brushing the elephants, Liam’s elephant giving him a “nudge” and Liam falling right on his butt; The amazement in the kids’s and Leif’s eyes.  Skyler in the water with her elephant.  Presley informing me that “this is my first time riding an elephant.”

Hearing a constant voice saying “pinch me!”  I can’t believe we did it!  Looking over at Leif and knowing that he felt the same.

Driving up the the Lisu Village and seeing poverty and smiles everywhere we looked.

The colors of Lisu.  Whether the grass or the homes or the outfits.  Beautiful.

Walking around with Liam and stumbling upon the Buddhist temple in the middle of the forest.

The windstorm while visiting the shaman’s house.  Liam asking question after question about the shaman’s powers.  The kids holding the baby chicks.  Leif drinking the local whiskey.

Blowing bubbles with our guide with a leaf.

Flying in to Phuket.  That view!

The way the sand felt on our feet and the water’s incredible turqoise color the first time we walked onto the beach.

Longboats.

Skyler getting sick but powering through like a rockstar.  I would have been a mess but she would get Tylenol in her and power on.  That kid wasn’t about to miss any part of Thailand…

Worrying the auntie Kayla was hurt – calling hospitals because I thought she was supposed to be at our hotel a day earlier than she actually planned.

Seeing Kayla when she first arrived.  Her tears and sadness, which we shared, about her dear friend’s death.  Recognizing the importance of family yet again.

Our place in Phuket…seriously?  What are we, movie stars?  Don’t get too used to this kids!

A butler….yes, a butler.

The “Happiness Spa” and Liam’s first … foot massage.  LOL.  The girls getting their hair braided.

Surfing the man made wave in Phuket and almost breaking our necks.  Liam body boarding (good call).  Kayla in the kiddy pool with the girls.

Dinner at the Ska Bar.  Coolest bar I have ever been to.  Built into a rock wall along the Andaman Sea.

The floating lights.  The kids excitement.  Presley refusing to be called Presley…she is “Rapunzel!” Lighting and releasing our own floating light.

Longboat ride to Raleigh Beach.  Thinking “is this real?”

Climbing to the viewpoint despite Leif’s best attempts to get us off the rocks.  Feeling so proud of the kids and seeing the confidence in their eyes once we made it safely down.  It was scar but we did it…slow and steady up and down the wall.  Liam and I putting “war paint” on our faces with the red clay.

The monkeys.  Wait…where did dad go?  He was out of there.

Skyler: “Mom, what are those monkeys doing?”  Brie: “ummm…piggy back rides”  Skyler: “oh”

The longboat tour.  Chicken island.  Beach BBQ.  Fire dancing.

SNORKELING…unbelievable 

Yellow fish all around Presley without her knowing.  When she did see them, she panicked and our tour guide jumped in the water to be next to her and tell her she was ok.

Liam, Skyler and Leif’s muffled screams as they looked down on so many amazing fish.  Puffer fish.  Sea snake.   Jelly fish.

Sunset on Raleigh Beach.  Presley photo bombing our kiss shot.  Typical and ironic.

The penis shrine.  Yes…you heard me right.  People from all over bring penis sculptures to this cave to give to the “Mother of Fertility.”  I knocked two over while trying to get a picture and very awkwardly had to pick them back up and put them back in place while trying to keep Presley from touching every single one!  Leif laughing so hard I thought he was going to fall over.

The sandstone caves.  Exploring.  Adventures.

The kids falling asleep in the van.  They would sleep when they were tired, eat when they were hungry.  There were no meltdowns.  None.  They acclimated easily.  The proved they can go far.  They are world travelers. 

To my husband Leif, who made this trip happen.  Thank you.  You go along with my crazy spontaneity/impulsiveness.  You say yes when I know it isn’t always easy. You put yourself out there.  You are open to new experiences and I love you for that.