Jim and Pat Part Deux: Costa Rican Christmas 2021

First group off with many changes in our flights, just after midnight. We knew that we were headed for the adventure of a life time.

we were prepared to have some sleep and play time during the long flight and travel time to Dominical. After 24 hours of being awake and some travel sickness we arrived at our first stop way way up an inclined muddy road to the beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean

we talked and shopped for Christmas eve and Christmas day meals and prepared for the beach and the next group arriving, the Mercados. I got more the 12 hours of sleep that first night (after a bad drive with no sleep the first night )

Izaak was so excited to see his Michigan cousins

girls working on their tan

food prep for Christmas

my great joy was driving up and down the muddy road and watching Derek surf,,, the best

we had the traditional beans and rice and holiday fare

Sunday we drove North for 5 hours to Tamarindo passing the crock crossing on the way

we would meet the rest of the Mcdonalds who arrived North first. Karina, Dan ,Andrew, Blake, Peter and Nik went straight to Tamarindo and discovered that second accommodations were not going work. ( even though we reserved our two spots 6 months ahead, both were canceled on us and changed .) Lucky for us Karina could speak Spanish with Maria and knew that we needed more beding, beds, towels... and most of the stuff was new

and now we were all together,, 23 of my favorite people on the earth. It was a happy moment! We figured out where everyone could sleep and play.

Monday on the beach we got to take some family photos at sunset/ This turned out to be the biggest blessing because it was the last time that most of the people felt ok. Missy had to go to the emergency that day after falling from the group run, She had her hand x-rayed and tapped. Austin had a little head ache .. Peter needed to go to the ER the next day with breathing problems . Mariah thought that she had lost her tooth when she was eating a zip lock bag of cheese puffs that Izaak had stored his loose tooth the day before. I probably forgot someone as I was trying my best to make the trip a success.

our family loves to see who has grown, whose feet and hands are bigger, and this is probably the last time Valerie felt ok, She cant get her ear wet and here we were at the beach! Traveling puts much pressure on the inner ear and she never recovered from the pressure during the trip.

Sunset gathering on the beach

Lunch with the best fish tacos

Blake and Jim had a great visit, with Andrew there in there in the background

finding fun together

Cousins together

Laughter and Joy,, what I hope to remember as the great Costa Rican Christmas

my favorite part of our EXTREME Adventure,, the food,, we started with the mud and hot springs, then zip lining through an extreme canyon, lunch, tubbing where I thought I would dislocate every part of my legs, then horses where I talked to my horse and pleaded with her to be the slowest one on the trail ( JIMs horse started off biting the other ones and I tried to stay away from him, Andrews horse wanted to get off the trail and take a short cut) I just didnt want to dislocate. fall, or injure any part so I talked the whole time. and then we tubbed down the killer canyon where for sure I thought I would die, NO photos there because I pleaded with the staff to help me all the way down the rapids, I dont wait to tip over! HELP ME!

I didnt get many photos on Tuesday at our great EXTREM SPort adventure. But, the kids LOVED it

the most relaxing part!

Down by the pool with Izaak

Izaak took Jim and my photo and we spent time with the boys who were usually all together ( just didnt get the shot )

Blake rented a surf board and all the kids tried out as Derek helped instruct gave caution with rips and the dangers of mana rays and other aqua life

another great restaurant , Jim and I enjoyed this change as in our normal life we never eat out!!

We spent alot of time in the rental cars, and most of the time I was with the boys. It was labled the sick car because both Erik and I threw up at the beginning of the whole trip ( car and sleep deprived sickness )

And dont forget your mask. THIS is Covid time and every time we went for groceries we needed one. Here is my makeshift water bottle carrier wrapped around my face

another day another beach

lucky Jason brought a tent.. too much sun! what, never too much!

all but Erik and Jim and Jason and V and I rented horses again to ride on the beach ,, this was playa de Conchal

WE even played Soccer

We celebrated Kais birthday and had such a great meal we went there New Years eve also

happy 15th birthday Kai

we plsyed an art game with Kai as the leader

fun and daring games

gymastics on the beach

sand CASTLES

Talks and walks on the beach

and of course it was Christmas

lots of bugs

lots of towels

and shoes and then we tested . First many Andersons got sick New Years Day,, food poisoning?? flu?? and then we tested for covid.. Jason tested first,, positive.. Missy got on and started changing flights. The rest of the day we tested, tested. tested... changed flights....tested....the next morning, Sunday JIm and I were the last to test. Jim tested and didnt have it.. I was last.. I was positive.

this group stayed. we cleaned up , packed up, moved to another location. slowly wondering what was next