squeezing in the beach time...

our trip is winding down, and a cold spring awaits us home in sweden.  so we are getting in as much beach time as humanly possible to stock up on the fun in the sun before we leave!

 

 

 

farmor and farfars last days on the beach

all good things must come to an end, including farmor and farfar´s vacation.  however we had the most fun we could in those last days.  lots of laying around, eating good food, swimming, and relaxing.  not a bad way to spend your days.

eijla seemed to think that licking zoe´s face tasted better that drinking their coke.

 and of course dinner that last night was crab, which satay had the guys fix up super yummy for two of his favorite customers.

 thanks for another great trip farmor and farfar.  looking forward to another one next year!  safe travels!

life at the beach

the days slip easily away into weeks when things are this good.  get up in the morning, put on your swimsuit, maybe go for a swim or a walk.  throw yourself down in the restaurant and wait for some yummy food.  perhaps some snuggles while you wait.

 then maybe a swim again, then soon it is time for farmor and farfar to take all the kids for ice cream.  yum.

 then again you can pass the time taking silly selfies with some strange hot guy on the beach.

 showering off the saltwater after some morning fun in the sun. perhaps your showering facilities are not quite what they are at home,  but that doesn´t really detract from the experience.

 then it is time once again to chill in the restaurant and await your lunch.

 there are tons of creative outlets, including building a small fairy town in front of a nearby bungalow.

 then maybe some exercise with living weights before it is time to enjoy a tasty dinner once again on the beach.  really, one cannot complain.

games and education, on the beach...

life doesn´t stop just cuz you are in paradise.  zoe has been really good about keeping up with her school work while we are here.

 

even thomas has gotten in the mood and is reading.  that only seems to happen in india (when else would one have the time?)

 

and what is an evening on the beach with good food and sand between your toes without a friendly game of uno.  i think zoe and farmor are cheating cuz they keep winning!  zoe and eijla have decided they want to name the baby uno.  not so sure about that one.

love that there is a fireworks celebration nearly everynight. it is fun just to celebrate nothing but the fact that we are alive and life is good.

chillaxin´ in paradise

well, we have been really, really busy doing nothing. that is right just relaxing and lovin´ it!  we found a really cozy little hut near the beach with billowing wall hangings (when there is a breeze), princess nets (against the mosquitos), and a lovely porch with a swing, and the bonus of way too many ants. 

we have been swimming and just hanging out.  here is a view of our little home from the beach, we live behind the restaraunt namaste. 

it has become a little tradition with thomas and the girls to get an ice cream and go down to the beach and watch the sunset.  sometimes even i get to come along.  the girls go crazy from the sugar rush and get covered in sand, but have a blast.

when we are not swimming or rolling around in the sand, it is drawing and writing. the girls have been filling up books with their artistry.  but it is so sweet to see them drawing together.  

final beach day in kovalam

after a beach day and then the tip of india, i was exhausted.  so while i rested in the room the gang headed down to the beach.  luckily our room was very nearly on the beach itself, and with my telephoto lens i could keep a good eye on them!  ha ha!

 but finally, by late afternoon, they convinced me to come down and join them. 

 eijla and i had a bit of a snuggle watching the other play in the surf.

 then thomas threatened to eat zoe and she went crazy.  she was screaming and crying, saying she would not be good to eat cuz she was only a kid, but then i convinced her to just give pappa a good smack with her paddle.  that was all it took, she was ready for some revenge.

 we ended our day on our balcony with another beautiful sunset. time to start heading north again.  cannot believe farmor and farfar will be leaving soon, it has gone too fast!

a beached whale in kovalam

well, we have left varkala,  and headed south to kovalam.  i am still getting my shots, but now at another hospital, with a rather unfriendly doctor. ugh.  but i am starting to feel a bit better.  even made it to the beach with the family today.  all gathered around to see how the beached whale that i am was doing...

 but everyone else had energy aplenty for some good old beachy fun.  even in the rather large waves.

while i was sick, zoe managed to fall and scrap both of her knees,  she insisted i take a picture to document her pain.  poor thing.

the day has come!

farmor and farfar have finally arrived in india!  the girls have been waiting for this for what zoe says is "forever and ever!"  thomas and zoe picked them up from the airport while eijla and i moved our stuff to a beachside hotel. zoe and eijla had prepared a sign for their big arrival.

 then it was straight down to the beach to appreciate it all.  plus the breeze was nice considering the extreme temperature change for them.

 some pretty happy grandchildren with their rather happy grandparents...

 after the hugs and snuggles were taken care of it was time for swimming, and then of course the youngest and the oldest had to take a rest...

 i am sure you have asked yourself many times, just how many thorens can one fit into a auto rickshaw, well, we know at least 6!  ACEM would have to come and visit for us know if we could have fit more!

after the beach it was food at our favorite HOT KITCHEN, then shopping for princess dresses!   farmor and farfar found some purple ones for the girls that they absolutely loved!

 and then a night cap of fresh coconut milk at a kiosk on the way back home.  not a bad first day in india.