Today was our first experience tasting one of Mary Lou's breakfast. It was a taste bud delight. She takes time to arrange the fruit plate in such a pattern. We will get a picture of it one of these mornings. The grand kids opened Christmas gifts after breakfast.
For the ones of the family that has not been here, the morning was a time to see what is here at Campestre Maranatha. Including the swings!
Adults found the swings!
Notice the interesting cloud formation just above Don.
Then off to the pool.
Just waiting for the first splash.
Even though it gets near 80 degrees, it still gets into the 40's at night. Soooo, the water is not that warm!
Dustin and Michelle watching us over the wall.
Family picture on our property.
Just four miles from the camp is the location of the property that Linda purchased about 8 years ago. Since then streets, electricity, water and sewer have all been brought in and all the houses you see have been built. This is the first time all of us have been able to be here.
Getting family pictures.
Moon rise over La Paz.
After spending alittle time at our property we then drove a few block over to Haciendas Palo Verde to watch the sunset from the rooftop patio on Rick and Kathy Byers' house. But before the sunset show began, we looked toward the city and watched an amazing moon rise.
Then the fire show started!
So we used the fire show background for picture opportunities.
Linda and I know we are tremendously blessed to have our four children and their entire families with us here in La Paz. Dustin, Jeff, Janelle, Linda, Me, Don.
Jeff and Katie.
Don, Mari, Evan and Avery.
Zeke and Janelle.
Dustin and Michelle.
Grand children Avery, Brody, Elijah, Lillian, Evan and Madalyn.
Then we had to wait until 7 pm for Antojito's to open up.
We knew we wanted to take the entire family to this place. It was a big hit for everyone. We took up all their tables and had to roust up a few more chairs. But a group this size didn't seem to shake her at all. Soon after we arrived and ordered, a car pulled up and one of her grand-daughters showed up to help her. Her family runs the "Hotdog" stand a few blocks away out on the main highway. The price is great. $6.13 total for Linda and my food and drinks!
My torta tonight. Something about that bread!
Avery and Lillian having a good time.
We are back at our places and everyone is in bed and sleeping. Tomorrow we will go to the Mercado, to a favorite candy store and to a market that sells spices from large tubs. That spice store is always nice to go into and just take in big breaths!
Jeff and Katie took the kids to Coral Baja down towards Cabo for the last five days. Here are a few pictures of what they have been doing.
Swimming with the dolphins!
One of the activities for the kids may very well be a once in a lifetime experience.
Elijah interacting with a playful dolphin.
Elijah getting taken for a ride.
Madalyn getting her turn at "Dolphin Riding".
Brody's face says it all!
Then off to some time snorkeling.
Catching some waves today at El Cerritos near Todos Santos.
Everyone getting a run at it.
Leave it to Elijah!
Jeff and his family arrived back here at Campestre Maranatha today just as everyone else was arriving from Oregon. All ready now for a week together.
After 2 years of planning and a Rubic's Cube of schedule twisting and some helpful managers at the hospitals up and down the Willamette Valley, all of our family is here at Campestre Maranatha together!
In the dining hall ready for dinner.
With those arriving from Cabo just minutes ago, we are ready to eat and then begin to unwind after traveling especially with little ones.
Our cook Mary Lou.
Mary Lou and her husband Phillipi has cooked for years for our groups of youth and groups of adults that come to Campestre Maranatha. They have been anxious to meet our family. Tonight she has she is preparing tostadas with a special tortilla from the Mexican state of Colima. She explains that these are scraped as they are being made therefore leaving them very thin.
Of course the difference is all the goodies that Mary Lou puts on the top of them.
Loading up on Mary Lou's specialty of the night.
Jeff is into the carrot soup. By the way, can you tell by the color who has been here for a week already and who just arrived from Oregon?
How many did you have Brody?!!
Madalyn and Avery making close eye contact!
Dinner was great, plans were made for the next several days and everyone headed off for a well needed nights sleep.
Some are flying into La Paz and some into San Jose del Cabo. We will be seeing them all soon.
In Portland waiting for their flight!
I like how Avery is holding onto Evans fingertip!
Evan during his first airplane ride!
We have left La Paz and are driving to San Jose del Cabo to meet Don's and Dustin's. We are taking the mountain route instead of the Pacific side. We will not need to go through Cabo San Lucas this way. This route leads us through some small old mining towns. The first one is El Triunfo.
El Triunfo.
Ususally we drive right through this little old mining town. To drive just one or two blocks off the road gets you views of a time past. the old smoke stack in the above picture was designed by Gustav Eiffel!
This wall has delivered it's best years.
It is a 2 1/2 hour drive to the airport. Part of the time is spent driving along the Sea of Cortez.
Just in case they forgot what we look like!
Just in case we forgot what they look like!
Because Linda is the youngest of the family and her oldest brother was 21 years older than her it has created some interesting family structure!
Cecil Byers was Linda's oldest brother. He and his wife Faye moved to the Baja in 1955. Two of their four children, Ricardo and Cindy were born here. Faye has chronicled their amazing story in her book called "His Treasure in Earthen Vessels".
Today Cindy and Josè had their children and grandchildren over for Christmas and we were invited to share the day with them.
Cindy and José two of their grandchildren and "Aunt Linda"!
Son Josef and his wife Namci.
Daughter Tania and her husband Omar.
We were delighted to attend Tania and Omar's wedding in La Paz 10 years ago.
Tania with her daughter Sophia.
Sophia and Zoe tending to their friends with Emilio looking on.
The two girls got Barbie Cruise Ships.
The mothers assembling the ships with all the parts. Of course the Moms read the instructions!
Christmas sunset in a few minutes.
As we often do when we are in La Paz, Linda and I go up on the hill to watch the sunset behind us as we look over the site we want to build a house on someday. This view is overlooking the build site with La Paz on the other side of the bay. Just a few blocks behind where I am standing, Cindy's brother Rick and his son Steve are developing an Ocean View Masterplanned community. Haciendas Palo Verde.
One of Haciendas Palo Verde homes.
Christmas evening sunset.
These sunsets are shared by Haciendas Palo Verde. This is what was to our back as we looked at the view of the bay and the lights of La Paz come on tonight. It takes awhile for the bright orange to build up and only last for a few minutes then begins to fade preparing for another day.
