There is no end to the fun and never ending excitement from last month! This month could be a novel in itself and would be easier to make bullet points, but it was just too amazing. Not a short read!
Dad took us girls to LAX to start our vacation adventures. Girls were off to Cincinnati to join their team for this years gymnastics Nationals competition. Unfortunately Dad couldn't make it, but we tried to keep him informed the whole week!
Ohio Day 1: We actually landed in Kentucky since the airport is just a few miles short of Ohio/Cincinnati. We hadn't booked a rental car but got a great deal due to a very kind Avis employee on a Dodge Charger which was one of the very last cars available. Our first hotel was downtown and we arrived late at night hoping to get to a grocery store for dinner. Being in a new city and a smelly parking garage Mom walked to the store and barely got there by the time it closed. Did make it back and we all had a relaxing dinner in our hotel room while face time with dad and a good nights sleep before the next day in which we got to go the the main hotel which we would be staying with the whole team for the rest of the week.
Ohio Day 2: Checked out the area of the new hotel then took a walk in the daytime downtown in the area which we had stayed and were going to be spending for the Nationals gymnastics event. We went to the Convention Center and Fountain Square. Girls found an offbeat Acai bowl/smoothie place called Better Blend for lunch that was pretty delicious. We walked around the University of Cincinnati while showing Daddy over the phone before heading to dinner nearby the hotel.
Ohio Day 3: We all went to the hotel gym in the morning waiting for other teammates to arrive and to get some exercise. We were found by some new arrivals including Coach Denise and Coach George. Devynn had also gotten there and we had planned to go on a cool Riverboat excursion between Kentucky and Ohio. We learned quite a bit of history and saw how different the two sides were and how they each developed. Many more friends arrived that evening and they all spent some time in the pool. Unfortunately there were also many delayed and canceled flights for others.
Ohio Day 4: Cienna and Kaylee and the rest of the optionals got to go check in at the gymnastics event before a quick practice and testing out all of the equipment that they would be competing on the following day. Later that day was the opening ceremony where they all walked in as a group with every competing gymnast for the event. It included many keynote speakers including Shannon Miller. The speeches were followed by a show from local circus performers. After the opening ceremonies most of those who had already arrived went to a fun pizza dinner near our hotel before heading to bed to rest for the next day's competition.
Ohio Day 5: It was a great competition. The girls had a lot of fun. Cienna competed in the Championship level (9/10) and Kaylee did level 8. They both made it to the finals the next day and really enjoyed cheering on each other and all of their teammates. It was a long day of gymnastics and we all got together in the lobby for dinner.
Ohio Day 6: Was fun for the girls to get to compete for the second day in a row. While supporting Lucy in her Level 5 competition, Cienna got to compete in the event finals for Bars and Beam and ended up getting All American status for her All Around placement which was rewarded with a special jacket. Her team also won 1st place in the competition for that level! Kaylee was the 1st place National champion on Floor and ended up in 4th All around in her session. The day ended at almost midnight but the team still rallied for some ice cream and winding down together in the lobby knowing that the level 4's were competing the next morning.
Ohio Day 7: The final day we watched the Level 4's have a blast working their way through the competition and enjoying it the whole time. Then we went with Francesca, Keira, and parents to use our Culver's ice cream gift cards that were given to us for the event before hopping on the street car to see what more downtown had to offer. We walked across a bridge to Kentucky and found some well engineered parks that we all had fun figuring out. The Reds game was just letting out as well so there was some big time people watching. It was a great time to wind down and relax before the flight home. After all the troubles with flights, we luckily flew off without a hitch and we had a light show on the way. We watched an incredible 20 or more minutes worth of non-stop lightning as we took off, we'd never seen anything like it and were glad that it was off in the direction that we were not flying. We were all so tired, but happy to see dad when he picked us up at the airport.
Back to work and gymnastics the next few days. As well as a Swedish Midsummer's holiday for Cienna at Julia's before we were off for such and incredible vacation to Costa Rica with our new passports in hand.
Costa Rica Day 1: Arriving in Liberia airport was easy the transport to our first destination of Arenal was like our first excursion viewing all the beautiful landscape and the driver even reversed in the road to show us our first of many monkey's "hanging" out (a family of Howler monkeys). We arrived at the volcano resort, felt like celebrities, toured the location, then were shown to our room that had an inside hot tub and the best view of the Arenal Volcano ever. The Marty's and Poppa arrived shortly after and we enjoyed the pool and hot springs! There was an amazing storm all night which made for a great next day with clear skies.
Costa Rica Day 2: In the morning the nine of us left for our first excursion in the rain forest for a 3 mile hike full of animals and hanging bridges with our tour guide Gabriel. After a big morning we did some relaxing in the pool since we had another excursion planned that evening to go to a nearby reptile reserve and preserved rain forest owned by a local family where we saw many frogs, spiders, fish, steaming fungus, plenty of flying termites, and even a sloth before being served a delicious homemade dinner and listening to a great young pianist as entertainment.
Costa Rica Day 3: More Excitement with ziplining along the countries longest and fastest zipline. There were 7 in all. We took the Skyline gondola on a 15 minute ride up and then 6 of us zipped down at crazy speeds, but at some length to get to look around to see the birds and other animals flying around on your way to the abrupt stop! That evening was a special excursion at the resort made for us. A local family and local chef at the resort had a cooking lesson for their local meals and traditions for us to learn and enjoy. We also got to eat it afterward and it was great. We think they're going to make it a regular excursion for other guests as well.
Costa Rica Day 4: Off to the next adventure we took transportation 6 hrs to Manuel Antonio, our next resort. On the way we stopped off at the crocodile bridge, Tarcoles. There were a few crocodiles waiting to eat whoever was thrown over next. We arrived at our next place which had an elevator that opened up straight into our suite.
Costa Rica Day 5: So, we had breakfast with monkeys. There were more than a dozen having a great time scoping out who was going to drop the next bit of food. Then, horseback riding! Running, galloping, through rivers, rain forest, stopping at and jumping in whirlpools, before heading back! The horses were beautiful and so were the smiles on the girls faces. Back at the resort we trekked to the private beach and watched crazy high tide beat us against the rocks, then enjoyed the hot tub in the rain.
Costa Rica Day 6: After the nights rain made for a beautiful waterfall! We went next to the Nauyaca waterfall Nature Park. Started with an hour bus ride, then a tractor taking us through roads that no other vehicle could mange, followed by a nature hike, swim in the natural waterfall pool from the largest point, with some smaller jumping points and a fruit snack which we learned how to cut to make at home. Then Cienna, Daddy, Trevor, and Mike went to concur the 33ft. jump. The hardest part was getting to the top of the rock to jump. They did AMAZING! Cienna may have taken a couple tour guides down and ripped a shirt, but at the end of it all they jumped and were all exhilarated by the experience! After the excitement we all finally got to hang out in our room and play a really fun game called "Code Names" that Ashley brought.
Costa Rica Day 7: We headed on foot nearby in search of some souvenirs after breakfast. We found a cool sign to give Poppa for his Cabana to remember the trip. White faced monkeys came for lunch that day before we all headed out on a boat to learn about and experience the Mangrove trees. More white faced monkeys (cannibals') joined us on the boat, but were harmless. We saw a new part of Costa Rica as well as some Pelicans near where the river and the ocean met and some Toucans on the ride back to the resort.
Costa Rica Day 8: Another travel day to Flamingo where we were to stay at Margaritaville. One souvenir shop stop on the way. Ending in a more relaxing state with an all inclusive pass to food and drink. We took in the views and dinner and some fun playing corn hole after the drive.
Costa Rica Day 9: After a delicious breakfast we had our first encounter with Rocket/Swiper racoon that we aren't sure if it's pretending, but seemed to only have 3 legs working. He liked to go through peoples stuff, but also lounge around like he was one of the tourists! We spent some time boogie boarding at the beach before heading off on a breathtaking sunset cruise that included snorkeling with blowfish, eels, octopus, and other sea life. Then a double rainbow, no rain, and an incredible sunset! Let's take this moment to mention that the weather was 100% on our side the entire trip!
Costa Rica Day 10: We set out in the morning with the resort photographer. We didn't necessarily plan attire, but made it work regardless. She was great and picked great lighting for the event! We spent the rest of the day relaxing at the pool before our Italian restaurant dinner reservations for the evening! Even though it was a small space, they were able to put all 9 of us together. We gave Poppa his sign that we picked up and enjoyed each other for the last night together.
Costa Rica Day 11: Breakfast Iguana's this time. Iguana's on the order of a few feet and some small monkeys that we'd say looked like squirrels. After saying goodbye to Poppa and the Marty's, the airport was close and easy and we were on our way home!
Check out the VLOG Cienna put together outlining the whole trip!!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLckY4KvwM4DIMie9-0-ESWI3Ha-WpAbZp
Back to work and some gymnastics as well as Cienna had ASB workshop and a lot of catching up for her summer school PE. Then Kaylee got her hair cut for the first time by someone other than her mom for curtain bangs before going to a fun summer birthday/poor/BBQ party for her buddy Zeke. Cienna also then decided to trim her hair by mom that weekend. The girls finished this month heading to their favorite camp of the summer, "Acting Out".
I did not capture it all, but it was a lot and super amazing. There are more pictures and videos than can be handled!
