We had the best trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico this past winter break. This trip had been postponed for 2 years. We were supposed to go with my side of the family back in April 2020.....but then Covid overtook the world in March of 2020. We postponed it until Christmas break of 2021 thinking Covid would be gone. Covid is not gone but we were all able to go, which is a miracle. Covid actually started ramping up in mid December with the new Omicron variant in the United States. I had the kids masking and washing hands because I was so wanting to go on this trip. We even cancelled plans being with friends the first part of Christmas break because I didn't want to risk it. Lexi started feeling sick the Tuesday night before our Saturday departure. I was trying not to get too worked up about it. I ended up taking her to test Utah for a rapid and a longer Covid test, the rapid came back negative but I was afraid we wouldn't have our results from the longer test before Saturday so I took her to urgent care. They ended up doing a test that is the PCR test for Covid, tests for 2 of the flu strains, and we did a step test. To my sheer joy they all came back negative. The doctor said she probably had a bad cold. Her tests (both saliva and nose) from test Utah came back on Friday and were both negative too. I was relieved. We left for Mexico on Christmas morning at 11. The Omicron variant was roaring loudly, flights left and right were being cancelled because pilots and crew were calling in sick. But by lots of guardian angels our flight left on time and so did all my siblings. We all made it to Mexico by Saturday afternoon. The other miracle is that Georgia forgot her passport in New York and she was able to find someone flying to Utah to bring it to her and Russ's 4 adopted kids had expired passports, but Russ with a lot of money and time on the phone was able to change his flights to fly to San Diego and then from Tijuana down to Puerto Vallarta and he had to walk across the pedestrian bridge in Tijuana with Madi, Sesario, Walker, and Elle. He had their expired passports and birth certificates and he was able to get them across (plus some bribing). Rich had to do that 3 years earlier with Nick and Clara when they discovered the night before our trip their passports were expired, you would think we would learn, ugh!
We stayed at the Marival Armony, closer to Punta Mita. The resort itself was very beautiful. It was a new resort and the rooms were very modern and we had lots of room and a sitting room which was very nice. There were not as many things for the kids to do but luckily they all had a blast playing in the pool and boogie boarding at the beach all together. Spike ball was a big hit too. The food was really good there too but the resort was a half all inclusive and a half pay resort which made eating more complicated than it should have been when we had already paid lots of money for eating with our all inclusive package. The weather was absolutely perfect.
There was good surfing about a 10 minute taxi ride away and most mornings people would go. Shawn and Cruz went one more together and then Shawn went a couple of morning with just Rich, David, Ryan, and sometimes Russ. It was just magical to be in warm weather, be able to exercise, relax, walk on the beach, see my kids play, get Vitamin D, eat lots of guacamole and chips, and be together with my siblings and their families.
Sunday-We did a small church service and then spent time at the pool and beach
Monday - Boys surfed and we the kids started boogie boarding at the beach
Tuesday - More time swimming, reading, walking, playing, and relaxing
Wednesday - We went on our own private boat for our big group of 32 and saw whales pretty close up, did a bit of snorkeling, paddle boarding, and goofing off. This was a lot of fun!
Thursday - Beach and pool in the morning and then grammy, us, Clara, and the Jacksons took taxi's to Sayulita to do a bit of shopping and eat yummy fish tacos- Sayulita was crazy busy!
Friday - Last full day of beach and pool time. Can't believe how fast a week can go! This was New Years Eve. The hotel went all out with a dance floor and fireworks. Shawn and Alegra made it to 12 to ring in the New Year with the fireworks show. Lexi, Cruz, and I were fast asleep :).
Saturday - Pool in the morning and then we had to leave at 1:30 to go to the airport. Our flight ended up being delayed so we could have left several hours later, but it all worked out.
Ryan's family left on Thursday because he had New Years Eve shows to get to. The rest of us came home at various times on Saturday. Tons of flights were still being cancelled and we all got negative covid tests to enter the US and we all made it home - total miracle!
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