Phu Quoc, Vietnam - The Return (This Time With Bobby)

The last time Kate and I visited Phu Quoc we were free to do what we pleased: we slept late, went out late, drank shandys at sundown, took long walks up and down the beach, and pretty much enjoyed our relaxing holiday together with friends.

Three years later, we return to Phu Quoc with Bobby for a somewhat different experience.  We had a great time, but our freedom was a wee bit restricted this time around. Regardless, we had a fantastic trip with the Kuykendall family (Matt, Leah, Talia and Kieran).  We spent our time shuffling from the pool to the beach and back again, with a few stops for food at the restaurant. 

Bobby really is getting used to the beach lifestyle. 

The pool and in the upper right hand side is our room.

Is the whole right side of my face covered in sand? 

Lots and lots of cold beer was consumed poolside. 

Matt started a dance party and Bobby was all in.

Clapping to the beat. 

We did make it to 'downtown' Phu Quoc and ate a bit at the night market. 

Most likely Bobby is eating here.  He ate everything. 

One of the beachside restaurants down from our hotel.

Family lunch gathering on the beach

The view of sunset from our patio.

Bobby chilling on the steps of the pool on a hot Vietnam afternoon.

Enjoying a walk on the beach at sunset. 

Again, spent most of our days poolside. 

And Bobby is really getting into swimming now.

Pool kisses are fantastic

Teacher living is tough

See you again some day Phu Quoc. 

We're Back - A New Blog, A New Year, Another Beach Vacation

I apologize for our absence if you've used this blog space to keep up with our adventures.  I am not sure what happened, but it seems we became a bit lazy and just used Facebook and Instagram as our go to share-with-the-world what we've been up to. 

We are going to make an effort to keep this space going, and we will start with our last trip out of China for Chinese New Year.  It is now the year of the goat/sheep/lamb/ram (depending on who you ask - I guess the Chinese use the same word for all of these). Most images used around here depict a ram, so let's go with

Happy Year of the Ram!

We had a few days of PD at school and it was Bobby's first time out of the house and staying at school in the provided day care.  Day 1 was great as he was transfixed by the toys, new kids, and the new space.  Day 2 was a bit more difficult as he caught on to the fact that we were dropping him off, so he became super clingy to Kate and crying for a long, long time.  However, he became the hit of all the classroom assistants throughout the hall and by the end, for better or worse, all new his name.  He had a particular affinity for the high school girls helping out with the daycare.  He is a total ham and an even bigger flirt - it is ridiculous.

After those two days of work, however, we hopped on a Thai Air flight and headed to Koh Samui through Bangkok.  We rented a villa with another family - Heidi, John and their daughter Harper - and were just going to be pool/beach side for six days.

Here are the images from this wonderful vacation:

We rented a beautiful two bedroom villa in Bophut Beach on the northern part of Koh Samui.

This was a typical afternoon lunch - the pineapple fried rice was delicious. 

Here is the view from our villa. 

On Bangrak Beach in Koh Samui. 

Bobby the beach bum

But he is also starting to love the pool. 

Look at that hair. 

The Everett family - John, Heidi and Harper

"Hey," Bobby says, "Let me see that."

They are both enraptured by Kate's reading of this book.

Bobby is always distracted by somebody eating. 

Moms and kids in the pool

John is explaining the coconut to Bobby and Harper.

Bobby and Harper had a number of quality conversations.

I don't know either Bobby...

Ready for more pool time

Bobby loving his new tie die t-shirt

A Californian.

Pool selfie with Dad and Bobby

Having a great time in the pool

Bobby spent a lot of time contemplating this little ledge and his legs have some scrapes to prove it.

Building sand castles on Bangrak Beach. 

A night out in Fisherman's Village - here Bobby is dancing to the karaoke singer. 

Having fun in the early evening.

 

Ready for more flip flops and sand.

Family

Bobby is showing his belly for the camera

Thanks Thailand for a great, great trip.

Happy First Year to Robert De Filippis Branch

On August 25th Bobby turned the big one.  On August 24th Bobby invited over all his besties for his birthday party.  Kate, through her own imagination and the virtual wonders of Pinterest, devised, designed, and did-up a construction themed birthday party.  She did a fantastic job and I am sure Bobby will remember his first big celebration. 

It was a hot, muggy day with rain in the forecast.  Of course, given the laws that govern the universe, the rain held off until everything was set up on our outside patio and the first guests arrived, and then the drops came.  We moved everything inside, but just temporarily as the rain subsided and we were able to do a half inside, half outside party.  It was still hot, it was still muggy, but it was a fantastic day for some hard hats, lots of construction trucks, and great people (young and old). 

Happy Birthday Bobby Branch!  

Here are some pictures from his party.  

Here is Kate's cake/cupcake construction zone - with the trucks movie Oreo dirt around a new construction site here in China (the only thing we need for that would be the skyscraper cranes that dot the Shanghai skyline). 

Another view of the cake. 

A close up of a cupcake and a star candle. 

The crushed Oreo dirt and debris.

The 7 Layer dip station with tortilla chips in the back of the CAT dumptruck. 

Some decorations around the patio

Another view (set up perfectly before the rain). 

Hummus and more tortilla trucks.

Food for the kids - apple slices, pb 1/4 sandwiches and cheese cubes, plus some Cheerios in cups.  The CAT digger is there for help. 

Here's the set up before guests arrive. 

A view of our patio party space from the dying grass spot (a methane leak) in the back of our apartment

Kate printed up all of Bobby's 1-11 pics, plus some bonus ones (minus month 10 which we can not find, but presume is in a suitcase somewhere...one day) 

Bobby gets ready for the party with his hard hat - all baby guests got a hard hat when they arrived.  Unfortunately, I think the longest one stayed on a head was but a few minutes.  Bobby's lasted about 7 seconds, just long enough to snap this shot with mom. 

Here we go - Bobby's chocolate construction cake arrives as we sing happy birthday.  He has no idea what messy, gooey goodness he is about to get into. 

Bobby thinks, "what is this amazingness that my parents have been keeping from me for the past 12 monthts"

He contemplates his next move. 

And that next move is just to wipe the cake and chocolate all over his face.  Yum! 

Here we try to help him get it into his mouth.  No such luck, but a wonderful moment of cake eating for Bobby and everyone watching (until the clean up - which involved a hose).