Travis, Justin, Kami, and I met through selling books in college. Our families are like...family. Travis and Justin are cut from the same cloth. They both have the same role in the insurance industry - Agency Owner. They are both excellent leaders - caring for people and guiding them into success. And they both travel in a similar manner. Justin researched and booked the perfect house for our two families (like Travis does for us). It was in Rio Mar just down the road from the Wyndham situated right on the ocean.
This is a beautiful photo of our place at night. I would like to say it was quiet, but those ocean waves are loud. Peaceful is maybe a better word.
Kami and I are also cut from the same cloth. We both care deeply about our family's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. We do whatever we need to provide in these areas including preparing weird and healthy meals, homeschooling, seeking counsel in parenting our sweeties, and praying a lot. It was super easy to spend another week with this fabulous family.
Max is 7 years old and a pistol. He's the life of the party (until he's giving you a wedgie or sitting on your head while you try to FaceTime a friend. Then he's not so cool). He's like the glue that keeps all the Ellingson kiddos together. He includes everyone in everything and enjoys laughing and having a good time.
Victoria is 4 and she will do pretty much anything Max does. She is a beautiful little sweetie and loves to color, swim, hunt for wild animals with Max, and do all things girlie. She thought Calla had magic eyes. 👁👁
At 2 years old, Ace is the youngest Ellingson. He laughs All. The. Time. The ONLY time he cries is when he's super hungry. I actually don't think he feels pain - physically or emotionally. His laugh is contagious and we spent most of our week laughing just because of his laugh...and because all week long he sang the "Oompa Loompa" song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
We knew we were eating at a fancy restaurant when a helicopter landed on the property and a party of 12 exited the chopper, walked over to their reserved table next to ours, and were immediately served appetizers. That's pretty fancy.
Meet the Ellingson kids:
Nine-year-old Vince is the oldest Ellingson child. He's a classic first-born rule follower (mostly). He's always watching and learning. He looks up to his daddy and tries to be just like him.
Victoria is 4 and she will do pretty much anything Max does. She is a beautiful little sweetie and loves to color, swim, hunt for wild animals with Max, and do all things girlie. She thought Calla had magic eyes. 👁👁
At 2 years old, Ace is the youngest Ellingson. He laughs All. The. Time. The ONLY time he cries is when he's super hungry. I actually don't think he feels pain - physically or emotionally. His laugh is contagious and we spent most of our week laughing just because of his laugh...and because all week long he sang the "Oompa Loompa" song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
We experienced a lot of fun things with the Ellingsons. On Monday we journeyed to the mountains.
Carlos and his family are Puerto Rican residents. He organically and sustainably farms on his wife's family's farmland in the mountain town of San Lorenzo. This year, hurricane Fiona and an excessively rainy season took its toll on the farm. Carlos lost thousands of plants. Friends of friends of friends connected us to Carlos and we brought our farming experience and work clothes with us to PR. Our families drove to San Lorenzo to offer some hands and muscles at the farm.
Max, Vince, and Victoria worked hard and found this gigantic toad.
Lincoln and Justin picked up staples and landscaping fabric while Taite and Travis weed whipped.
The girls and Ellingson kids weeded the culantro - a leafy green in the cilantro family
And everyone who didn't wear pants had legs like this at the end of the day. The farm provided a perfect habitat for biting gnats and ants. Those of us who wore pants were just fine, but the shorts-wearers looked like they had chicken pox for the rest of the week. This helped us remember one great thing about Minnesota winters - they are bugless.
Our Tuesday outing, Old San Juan, was a hit.
Our friend, Amanda Arndt, encouraged us to find Cat Alley. We found well-fed cats everywhere.
This was a really cool cemetery in OSJ.
Lincoln and Parker look over the fort walls around Castillo San Cristobal.
Calla looks through the fort walls around Castillo San Cristobal.
Señor Paleta. Popsicles. If you're going to San Juan, DO NOT skip this place.
Scrumptious!!!
Wilson Beatles
I know I already showed you this photo of Victoria, but you must know that she/we hiked El Yunque Wednesday. She...the 4-year-old...hiked all 4+ miles with ZERO complaints. She was still ready to roll and swim at the end of it. I was amazed.
For the record, we attempted to hike to the top of El Yunque but the trail was closed for some reason. We hiked to the second highest point, Los Picachos.
We took one or two short breaks along the way to let Ace (and his carrier (Justin)) catch up to us.
After our very long hike we found La Mina Falls and everyone went swimming
(except me because the water was like an ice bath).
After all that, everyone was hungry.
We stopped at a cute little smoothie bowl shop/juice bar called Degree 18 for dinner.
Thursday was beach day! The water was a perfect temperature and the waves rolled in at just the right speed at Luquillo Beach. It was even better than being at the Wyndham Rio Mar. I'd for sure go back here.
Sun bathing, swimming, football, sand castles, and naps on the beach. It was a perfect day.
Thursday night was Sushi night. Boy were we ready for some sushi!!!
Friday we mostly stayed home until it was time to leave for dinner.
We worked out, played cards and other games, took naps, swam, and did a little school and work.
We planned a very special meal that night. We had reservations at probably the best restaurant on the entire island ~ Bacoa Finca + Fagón. Carlos told us about it. He sells some of his produce to this restaurant. Located an hour into the mountains from our VRBO, it's one of very few restaurants in Puerto Rico that sources local ingredients. It was soooooo good!
And Max and Vince found another giant toad here! 😂
We knew we were eating at a fancy restaurant when a helicopter landed on the property and a party of 12 exited the chopper, walked over to their reserved table next to ours, and were immediately served appetizers. That's pretty fancy.
We checked out Saturday morning. The Ellingsons headed toward the airport and the Wilsons headed to their next home in Humacao. Kami texted me the next day informing me that Ace was mad that he was no longer in Puerto Rico. He had to tell his grandma all about his trip, though. "Puerto Rico, iguanas, cats, Travis, Parker," he told his grandma over and over again. 😂 Great memories!
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