Summer Travels

I've been getting a hard time about not blogging this summer (Mal....) so I thought I'd put up a few highlights.  We have about two more weeks left stateside (I think I'm so cool when I say "stateside"), and the summer has gone by quickly. We've been in Wisconsin, Florida, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Montana.  I will put more pictures up when we return to Saudi and have more time.  For now, here are some photos taken at some amazing tourist destinations in South Dakota.

The Countdown

Less than a week from now we will be in Minnesota!  At school we have made it through graduation and are finishing up final exams for the rest of the students.  We are so excited to go home for the summer.  Mostly what I'm looking forward to (besides seeing all our family and friends!) is greenery and outdoor activities, so if anyone wants to go for a walk with me, I'm in.  Also being able to drive myself to Target!  Jack is most looking forward to fishing with Grandpa, and Rob is most looking forward to Taco Bell (obviously).

Jack has recently overcome his fear of bouncy castles.  We have had several opportunities to try them out at going away parties for some families who are leaving and birthday parties.

In other news, Rob and I just went downtown to buy a big boy bed for Jack.  We are planning to have him sleep in it when we return at the end of August.

 Looking forward to seeing you all!

Thailand Part 4

Our last two days in Thailand were spent at an amazing resort called Birds & Bees.  Not only is it a beautiful and lush resort, it is run by a socially- and eco-conscious organization whose profits are used for fighting poverty through education in Thailand.  They have several restaurants as well, called Cabbages and Condoms.  The man who started this organization is known as the Condom King in Thailand, because he teaches about family planning in an effort to fight poverty and slow the spread of AIDS in Thailand - and he has been very successful.  The name "Cabbages and Condoms" is due to his belief that family planning and health issues should not be taboo -- they should be as easy to talk about as vegetables are.  Therefore the resaturant is decorated with condom art and condoms are passed out as after-dinner treats.  The organization now has a school in rural Thailand that is supported by the resort.  Students pay tuition by doing community service and planting trees.  They also hire people from rural Thailand to work at the resort, providing housing, daycare, and job training to people who otherwise would have very limited options.

An example of "condom art"

Playing at the pool

Loving the water slides!

We took a tour of the resort's mini-farm where they grow many of the fruits and vegetables, and produce eggs, for the restaurant. So inspiring!

Herbs and vegetables

Compost bins

Man-powered watering system for the mushroom house

Jack's favorite new fruit -- Jack fruit!

Pineapples

Also at the resort we learned about spirit houses, which are present near many of the Thai houses we had seen so far.