Tuesday, January 8, 2008

FELIZ NAVIDAD Y FELIZ ANO NUEVO!!!!!






As most of you know, some may not, Matt and I spent Christmas and New Years in San Blas, Mexico with his family and three uncles and their families. This has probably got to be one of the very best Christmas' I have ever had. On December 15 Matt and I drove to Portland to spend some time with my family and to welcome home Griffin from his mission in Brazil! It was super fun to see Griffin again after so long, he looked great! We then went to a beach house to play for a couple of days! It was fun to finally have the entire family there and to play and mingle! It's amazing how everyone has grown!! Matt and I had to leave the beach house a day early to meet his parents for the LONG drive to San Blas, Mexico!





The drive down wasn't as bad as I was expecting! We ended up driving all the way from Portland to Tuscan, AZ in one trip and met up with the Uncles and their families! We then drove another entire 24 hours to San Blas, arriving on Christmas Eve. I know you are all probably thinking 'crazy people' but once you see the pictures you will know that it was all absolutely worth it! The first thing we did after setting up camp was the beach!!! We played for probably an hour and then had to get out because funny enough a shark was hangin' out right there. We stayed on shore and watched it for maybe 30 minutes and then jumped right back in! I am glad to be one of those people that can say that I spent Christmas Eve on the warm beaches of Mexico! Christmas was awesome because it was totally about giving to others, our present was just being there! We were able to have a pinata in a teeny tiny town with all the little kids and they loved it! More so because they probably haven't ever seen so many gringos, considering our four families had between 30 to 40 people! We also gave out little bags of toys and games to little kids we saw on the streets and you wouldn't believe how excited they get over even the smallest gift.







It really humbled me and helped me to really appreciate things as simple as clean running water! San Blas isn't like Mazatlan or Puerto Vallerta, touristy and established, it is true Mexico, little houses, some made of sticks, and no english at all! It was a totally unique experience, one that Matt and I are wanting to continue to do! While we were there some of the things we did included hiking down a ravine to a fresh water pool thing complete with a beautiful waterfall, the crocodile farm, a jungle cruise through crocodile infested waters and at the end you get out and swim! Funny thing when we got to the end our boat driver told us that we could now get out and swim and play in the water and right after he said that he calmly said oh look another crocodile........it was literally 10 yds. away from where we could out and swim...comforting huh! Regardless we all jumped in and played in the water!




Basically Matt and I had an amazing first Christmas! This crazy adventure is definatley one that Matt and I are going to continue to do! Every 2 years or so! If we are lucky! It was fun to celebrate Christmas in a different country with different traditions! It was a great vacations!







Now Matt and I are in Redmond, WA working for winter semester while Matt is off! I am a nanny for the cutest little 3 month old boy, Jacob and Matt is looking to do an internship for his Construction Management degree! We are happy as can be, loving married life and doing great!

2 comments:

Fatty said...

Yeah!!! You're finally home!! We have definitely missed you! Hope to see you soon!

Lara said...

I am so jealous that we weren't about to come! But if you are serious about doing it again in two years maybe we can make it. That really is one of the coolest trips ever!