HAPPY New Year!

What a wonderful week with the kids. The fact that they went home with hangovers or flu doesn’t change the fact that they first made memories for a lifetime. A few of the memories include a quad day with Lewis’ quads on the beach and rides for everyone, shopping with bargains on bracelets, necklaces, wallets, pottery, and jeans, the jungle cruise (I may include Shirley’s blog on the subject), a night out with Grammy and PaPa being babysitters, bike jogs and hikes, ocean and beach combing, pool hours, books, dancing and Kareoke, Mexican style. Eating and drinking were also prevalent pastimes

Quote from Shirley Lewis about the Jungle tour……
Today was the jungle tour with the McBride clan. Now it seems that the "adults" had had a great night out last night in town and so the group was shy a few members do to "tequila". Our trip to San Blas was good as the road has improved a lot. As we entered the tour place we were glad we had come early. With the Christmas time the area was filling up fast. Andy and JoAn treated us to a guide on our trip which really gave us a different look of the vegetation and wild life. It is always a treat when they speak "English". We traveled up to the crocodile farm and the little ones really got excited when they saw the babies. As we traveled to the fresh water pool and restaurant more and more "Mexicans" arrived. Our lunch was excellent and the pool filled up fast with all the children swimming.
All in all the day was fun...and I must say every time we travel up to this tour we are never disappointed! I think our pictures will say a lot.

Andy and I did enjoy having all of the kids at the park for breakfasts, hamburger Sunday, and Taco Tuesday. We discovered new places together, bonded, and spent pesos. Time was always Mexican time and money, pesos. Converting dollars into pesos took some time getting used to. Pattys took bracelets home for their class and babysitters, Donna and George became good buddies, and Mandy became acquainted with all of the dental type gringos (and more). We showed off the Costanzos, (Joseph, Patty, Siena, and Nico), the Parkers (Mike, Mandy, Cole, and Carson), and our Ohlsson girl, Patti LeRae, to all of our friends. The week passed by in a flash. I think they will always remember the bungalow, it’s back yard, and the pool at the Hacienda On the Beach, the crocodiles, the turtles, the jungle cruise, and the adult’s crazy paint-the-town-red adult night out! Personally, Andy and I will miss them and loved having them here for a really fun visit! We are anxious to find out if the big bunch arrived home okay to Humboldt County as Joseph was very ill when they left and they were afraid of having to delay their flights if he was too bad. Patti left this morning from our park. We found someone that was already going to the airport that she could ride with, so we didn’t need to drive to the city on New Year’s day. If I had received one word from Andy, however, that he would have enjoyed the adventure of taking Patti ourselves to the airport, we would have been there with her, making sure she got on her flight okay. Happy New Year to everyone! A magician came here and made our week go by in one day!