October 20, 2025
After breakfast, we walked about a quarter mile to Lay’s Motorbike Rental. It was just 9am when walking but already close to 90F and the kids whined the entire walk. Me and Len scored a pink and white hello kitty bike that we love. He also got a sweet kitty helmet to match. Our first adventure was to the gas station since they rented us both bikes nearly on empty. After $5 USD to fill up both bikes, we went back to the hotel to knock out some homeschool.
Yesterday at the temple/pagoda tour, Seou gave us a brief history of the Buddha’s life and story. Ollie must have been paying attention to part of it since he included a water snake (a friend of Buddha’s) into his story today. We listened to more Harry Potter 6 during art time and are almost to the end. I overheard Kyle working with Len on his sight words and he is doing SO much better than even a few weeks ago. Seems like some letters and word sounds are really starting to click for him.
After homeschool, Kyle gave us all a swim lesson at the pool. I haven’t attempted to properly swim freestyle in years and have fully forgotten anything I once knew about form. Kyle gave me some pointers and I knocked out a handful of laps before feeling totally gassed. Ollie chimed in with a few tips of his own like, “Do more strokes before you breathe!” and “keep your head down!” We ordered Greek food delivered to the hotel pool for lunch– another comfort food meal for our crew. Ollie devoured 8 dolmades/ grape leaves and Len demolished a cup of olives, a bowl of hummus and a few meatballs.
A few days ago Ollie received a punishment that restricted his playing time on an iPad game called BrawlStars. I’ve hated the game from the start, not entirely knowing what its about but has something to do with fighting. Ollie repeatedly asks for permission to play it and we’ve consistently told him no. Feeling fed up with our consistent replies he goes, “You said your number one job is to protect us and THIS punishment isn’t that!” We hadn’t touched his hair since the pool so his pouting face with wild Elizabethan hair looked especially ridiculous.
We opted for another comfort meal of tacos for dinner. While eating his birria taco Ollie stops to ask, “wait can I get some lime to squeeze on these for flavor?” I was so proud! The proud feeling didn’t last because a few minutes later Ollie reached across the table to grab my phone and knocked over a full cup onto my lap. While I was distracted drying myself with napkins, Ollie creeped over to complete his mission with my phone much to my displeasure.
We then drove our motor bikes to the Phare, the Cambodian Circus. We loaded the kids up with popcorn and ice cream and headed into a tent that looked much bigger online. The show was a lot of fun but Len was exhausted and was flailing around for most of the show trying to fall asleep on mine or Kyle’s lap. Ollie’s favorite part was the guy on the pole falling upside down and only not crashing into the floor because he was holding on by his feet. Len declined to pick a favorite part.
When exiting the circus, we walked through the gift shop and got the boys each a new little turtle. Len originally named his Mama but changed the name to Goldie then finally Golden Turtle. Ollie named his Shellio.
Our Hello Kitty motorbike finally has a phone holder that I trust to put my iPhone in so we’re able to listen to music while driving and following the map. Me and Len sang/screamed Pink Pony Club on the way home while driving “super speed.”
The hotel staff tucked Ollie’s capybara, Oliver Jr, in our bed when they turned down the room. Ollie thought this was an invitation to sleep in our bed again but we reminded him that was definitely a one time thing.
