Kapalai Sipadan Mabul Trip

Here are some photos from our trip. We met Mom & Dad in Kota Kinabalu after their trip 1/2 way around the world. We all stayed the night at the Meredian Hotel & after a fantastic bay side Indian dinner headed to bed since we had a 7:00 am flight. The folks were whipped to say the least.

We woke up & headed back to the airport & boarded an hour flight to Tawau. Once there we got into a van for an hour ride to the port & then another hour ride to the resort. The resort was built entirely on stilts & every room had a breath taking view & a bathtub with a window that opened up so you could bathe & look at the wildlife under water. So cool!

There had been a US Embassy alert that Americans shouldn't travel here to East Sabah for fear of being kidnapped. We decided to not tell Mom & Dad that until we arrived. The resort is close to the Phillipines & there was concern about pirates but the resort was patrolled by the Malaysian Navy & we had a big red emergency button in our room to hit in case someone entered our room. We felt safe. Seriously!

Ken & I got to SCUBA in one of the top 5 dive spots in the world & Mom & Dad got to snorkel & hang out with Sydney. Win Win! We had such a good time.

Sydney on the boat to the resort (and Grover)

Mom & Dad on the boat

the view from our private deck

the walkway from the dining room to our chalet

the small beach & pavillion

taking Sydney swimming!

a view of the chalets

boat ride back to dry land

Kapalai Sipadan Mabul Trip

Here is a badly edited version of me & Ken's dive at Sipadan. We swam with sharks, giant sea turtles & a huge school of Barracudas!

Christmas 2009

Things have been great - we loved having so many guests recently & are now planning our trip back home along with a holiday maybe to Thailand over Easter. But I must get caught up on the blog!

That said - here is Christmas 2009. Hope everyone's was jolly! Ken's mom Elaine visited us here so we got to enjoy her & Sydney's first Christmas experience. Awww!

we did some shots for my folks christmas card & this shot became our card via emails - silent night?

christmas dinner at the marriott (my oven is too small to hold a turkey!)

sydney getting more holiday loot from the asian elf

thank you for my maracas daddy!

ho ho ho!

our first christmas tree!

my great grandma got me a cookie monster but i liked the suitcase just as much

End of the Year, Julia visits & Elaine visits

Just wanted to drop a few shots & give an update before the New Year gets a jump on me!

Julia came to visit day after Thanksgiving. Syd & I met her in Kota Kinabalu and we took a boat the next day to Gaya Island & stayed at the Gayana Eco Resort. Wow what a place! We had such a great time catching up & enjoying the scenery. She got to stay a full week & I was so sad to see her go. What a lucky girl I am to have a friend in her. I love you Julia!

Elaine came to visit for Christmas & got some good bonding time with Sydney. More photos from Christmas to come. We just hung out in Miri & she got to see our daily routine, holiday style that is. Most of our baby groups, etc. were shut down for the holidays. She got to stay a whole 2 1/2 weeks & we were sad to see her go.

Next post will be Christmas!

So Sydney is now 11 months, standing & holding onto furniture as she walks around, l0ts & lots of babbling, learned to go down stairs like mommy taught her & got 4 top teeth all at once - they are still just through the skin & will show soon. She is a trooper!

View from hotel in Kota Kinabalu

My girls

View from our deck on Gaya Island (the stairs go straight into the ocean for a swim)

Julia enjoying a Tiger Beer in the South China Sea

Nice infinity pool by the restaurant that had monkey's

Sydney found a kitty - can you tell she loves them?

Kiki the pet Hornbill

Elaine & Syd before a cocktail party for carols at Christmas

Sabotage

Our family lost an angel today. Found as a stray on the streets of Nashville our girl had quite a life. Boy will she be missed. Rest in Peace Sabotage.

Sabotage (Sabbie)
1996-2009

A day at the Beach

Thought I had better get caught up on the blog since we are getting ready for visitors & will have more to say soon! Julia arrives this next Saturday after Thanksgiving (yippee!) & Sydney & I will meet her in Kota Kinabalu. Sunday we will take a boat to Gaya Island & stay at the Gayana Eco Resort in an ocean front chalet until Tuesday when we return to Miri. Check it out!
http://www.gayana-eco-resort.com/gayana_site/index.html

Then Ken's mom is coming to spend Christmas with us & my folks are coming mid-January to celebrate Sydney's first birthday. We are excited to have everyone & get some travel in as well.

Here are some photos from a Sunday afternoon at the beach by the Piasau Boat Club we had last week. Good times. :) The doggies love it. So do we.

Crash & Wolfie chasing crabs

More Halloween 2009

This photo is not Halloween but who cares - Go Texans!

Sydney was not sure about Halloween once she saw the adults dressed up!

Our fallen angel.

Daddy the hotel guest & his angel.

Kenny's angels.