Arizona

While Joseph and I were in Colombia, Sam and Grandma took the children to Arizona to spend some time with their cousins.

Here they are at the Crayola Experience in Chandler, AZ.

Douglas, Krew, Jarren, Charly, Reed, Diana, Penny

Charly, Diana, Kate

Douglas and Krew playing "Wizard's Chess" outside.

Diana at a splash pad.

McCormick-Stillman Park in Scottsdale (the Train Park)

Sam, Charly, Diana

Reed asleep in a swing.

Charly, Reed, Diana, Krew, Jarren, Douglas holding baby Ivy, Penny

Diana, Krew, Clayton holding baby Ivy, Douglas, Charly, Penny

Seth and McCall got a piano while Sam and the kids were there. Douglas and Krew learned to play together.

Sam made crepes for the kids.

Charly, Diana, Penny

Douglas, baby Ivy, Sam

Diana at the "rocket ship park"

Penny holding baby Ivy. Clayton asked if Penny planned on having any babies when she grows up. She replied that she will have 50 kids.

Before leaving Utah, Sam told Douglas that she would bring Monopoly Villains to Arizona, but she wouldn't play it (we play it way too much at home!). She ended up playing a few times. The Coombs cousins loved the game.

Douglas, Penny, baby Ivy, Jarren, Diana

Jarren and baby Ivy

Penny, Jarren, baby Ivy

Penny, baby Ivy, Diana

Douglas and baby Ivy

Another great Arizona trip!

Colombia - 25 years later - Hasta Luego! (Part Three)

 

Day 7 - We relaxed at the hotel all morning and then we went to Jackiee's house for lunch. Oliva (Jackiee's mother) prepared some yummy food for us.

Left to right: Carlos (a family friend from Chile), me, Joseph, Cesar Jr., Oliva, Jackiee

Clockwise from top: Pescado frito (fried fish), arroz de coco (coconut rice), patacones, arepa de yuca, and the avocado/tomato/onion mixture. The juice is tomate de arbol (tomato of the tree). Yet another fruit we don't have in the US. Delicioso!

Leonardo (Leo), Jackiee's younger brother, showed up to say hello.

Here I am on the beach with Leo 23 years ago.

Mateo, Maria Isabel, Ana Paulina, me, Cesar Jr., Joseph, Oliva

I love this family! Me encanta Santa Marta!

Joseph accidentally gave Oliva a Zorro mask (with his fingers) in this photo.

So, we tried it again. Oliva is so much fun.

After lunch we went to get tested for COVID-19. The US currently requires anyone coming back into the country to receive a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival. I would offer my opinion on the stupidity of that testing requirement, but I'd like to keep this blog post positive. I'll be negative, the blog can be positive.

Joseph was excited to have a little stick shoved up his nose.

We're negative!

These images are from the new Disney movie, Encanto, which is set in Colombia.

We will miss our amazing Colombian friends and their colorful personalities, fun music, delicious food, and beautiful country.

Amamos a nuestra familia Colombiana!

Colombia - 25 years later - Santa Marta (Part Two)

 Day 5

We attended church with Jackiee's family.

Mateo, Cesar, Jackiee, me, Cesar Alejandro (aka Cesar Jr.), Ana Paulina

After church I went to Jackiee's home for lunch. Joseph stayed at the hotel to continue recovering from some minor stomach issues.

Jackiee made a delicious meal of patacones, rice, tuna salad, an avocado/onion/tomato mixture, and lulo juice (another fruit we don't have in the US).

I read a short story to Maria Isabel (Jackiee's niece).

Oliva and Armando (Jackiee's parents). Oh, how I loved catching up with my old friends.

Joseph got a picture of the sunset while I was out visiting my friends.

Day 6 - Joseph, Jackiee and I went to Parque Tayrona, a beautiful national park near Santa Marta. When I was on my mission 20+ years ago, Parque Tayrona was not yet a national park and it was not well known. Now it is a popular tourist destination. On a Monday morning (a school and work day), we had to wait in line (mostly foreigners) over an hour just to get inside the park. Once inside, we were shuttled on a small bus to the area where we started hiking.

This is the kind of vegetation we walked through to get to our final beach destination. There were lots of ups and downs as we hiked.

On the way to the beach. We could have stopped at one of the earlier beaches, but we wanted to get to one beach in particular where I took pictures 23 years ago.

We saw quite a few monkeys on our way in.

February 22nd, 2022 - We arrived at the spot where I took a picture almost exactly 23 years ago.

March 1st, 1999 - no tourists, no food shacks, no camping areas.

Two more pictures from 23 years ago. We couldn't find this rock to re-create this particular photo, but as you can see, Parque Tayrona was isolated from most of the world back then.

I have thoroughly enjoyed having my brother with me on this trip. Joseph and I have laughed and talked the entire time.

Goofing off - I think we were doing the YMCA song.

Jackiee - our most gracious friend, host, and tour guide.

Sunset on our way out of the national park.

We were exhausted, sore (we hiked for over five hours), sweaty, and sticky (we lathered on the sunblock!), but wow, what an awesome day.