This is by far my favorite picture of my daughter from this vacation. The expression on her face shows her nature. She is my little independent child. Never wanting my help, but secretly needs it. She has walked her own path from her first tentative steps. She still looks at me that way . . . chin out, teeth clenched, eyes twinkling . . . ah, this little girl. She won't have an easy road ahead with her independent nature. But she sure will have fun!

We vacationed to Phuket, Thailand in October 2005. One of our lives experiences, for sure. Thailand is beautiful and the people are amazing. We had the best vacation of our lives thus far.

The children thrived in the sun there and made a new friend with a baby elephant, Ning Nong, which was in residence at the hotel. Daughter rode Ning Nong every morning and absolutely would refuse to come down from her. She loved Ning Nong and by the end of the vacation had taken to calling her "My Ning Nong". My son didn't enjoy riding her as much as feeding her. We took a fmily elephant ride on BIG elephants . . . very bumpy to say the least.