Quepos - Costa Rica

Quepos is a small but popular beach town on the western coast of Costa Rica. It was the first place we visited as a family. It was also the last place we would visit once we were reunited with Bryant. Bryant served here for several months as a missionary. It was an area full of people that he would come to love. It was also the second area on his mission that he was assigned to open. This means the church had yet to be established there. There were a handful of members living there who had been travelling long distances to attend church each week. They would now be a big help in getting things going in Quepos.

The city of Quepos sits right on the beach.
Here is the view from the main street.


This is one of the main bridges that gets you in and out of Quepos. Two times we had to wait about an hour to cross because they were doing work on it. The bridge would shake and rattle each time we crossed. Definitely an entertaining ride.


Our First Sunday with the group in Quepos (soon to be la rama)


Inside of the church in Quepos.
This is where we had Sacrament meeting and Sunday School.


Trey and Warren going through Bryant's ties our last night in Quepos


Bry with brothers Ryan and Kyle. Months earlier Bry had baptized Ryan in the ocean as one of the first new members in the Quepos. Ryan's mother Zeidy had been a member for years but had lost contact with the church. She was more than excited to run into the Elders in Quepos. Her husband Walton was soon baptized. Zeidy would be a huge help in getting the church going in Quepos.

Keri with Zeidy (mother of Ryan and Kyle)


Trey getting agressive with Ryan & Kyle in their front yard


Warren chillin in Zeidy's front yard with one of the nephews


Trey and Warren hanging with Ryan and Kyle at church.


Bry with Flavio. Another amazing story. Flavio was introduced to the church through Zeidy. When Bryant met him he had the longest dreds he had ever seen. Flavio completely turned his life around and was baptized shortly after Bryant left the area. His wife was not too happy though about the hair cut. Flavio sent Bryant home with a strand of dreds as a memory of him.


We are with a very special family here. Rodrigo, La China and the boys. La China is a nickname. Boys are Jorge and Jaffet. Bryant ran into them knocking doors. They are all amazing. Rodrigo now teaches Sunday School. We had a great time with them. We are outside the little store La China runs next door to their home.


Keri with La China after church.


This is a picture of Bryant's first apartment in Quepos. It served as the church and his apartment. It used to be an old bar. Rodrigo would later say how ironic it was for him to first take the sacrament in a place that he had previously visted as a bar.


Kacie with Pamela and Diana just after church.


Our last day in Quepos we ate lunch with most of the members in Quepos. Bry went around the city inviting everyone to meet us at Dos Locos. There ended up being about 30 people there including us and the missionaries. It was a great farewell. The people of Quepos were amazing.

Front of Dos Locos


Everyone waiting for food


Bry with Rodrigo and Family


Bry with El Chileno and Techi. They are long time members. Bryant slept on their family room floor the first couple of days in Quepos as he looked around for a place to live.


Bry with Ziedy, Walter, Flavio, and more friends.


During lunch we slipped next door to buy new soccer balls.
Ryan and Kyle were in heaven.


Bry with Angie Pamela.
She came straight from school to see Bryant off.


Keri entertaining Warren at lunch.


At the front entrance of Dos Locos

September Sun

September is always an incredible month in Seattle. This year is no exception. Solid sunshine every day for the past two weeks. Today is September 15th. Keri and Trey spent all afternoon in the backyard on the lake. The water trampoline was the center of their fun.


September on Cottage Lake



Trey and Keri playing a little chase



Keri showing some muscle



Trey bouncing high



Trey doing one of his patented head stands



Trey loves to jump and crash!



Keri and Trey doing some synchronized jumping



Time to call it a day!

Sleepy Cove - Playa del Coco

This is the first part in a series of blogs about our recent family trip to Costa Rica. We left home on August 2nd, 2008 for this land known as "Pura Vida". We would stay there for 11 fun-filled and inspiring days. The impetus of the trip was to retrieve our oldest son Bryant. We hadn't seen for him for two full years. He had been there serving as a missionary of Jesus Christ. We intentionally arrived a few days before we were to scheduled to reunite. The thought was to squeeze in some vacation time on a beautiful and secluded Central American beach. Once we were with Bryant we knew it would be a different kind of vacation. He would have us hurriedly traversing the country to visit people and places with no time to rest. We were absolutely right! Since we were visiting in the rainy season we headed up to the northern coast where it stays the driest. Our first destination was Sleepy Cove - a beach house perched high on the hillside overlooking the ocean. It was located in the small beach town of "Playa del Coco" also known as Coco Beach. It was without a doubt the perfect vacation destination!

The Welcome Sign to our Sleepy Cove rental



View from our room at Sleepy Cove



Kacie & Trey in the infinity pool!



Jamie & the boys take their turn



Stairs down to our bedrooms at Sleepy Cove



Trey loves to splash!



Entire family in the water



Dad and the Boys



Sisters trying to catch some rays



Kacie & the boys enjoying the water



Kacie hasn't moved all morning!



Trey kicking back



Jamie soaking it up



Kacie catches a sunset to remember



Keri & Trey feeding the local mapache



No doubt Warren enjoys Sleepy Cove!



Life gets more simple with Warren asleep



Trey on the rocks at Playa del Coco



Running the beach at Playa del Coco



Laying in the muddy beach water



Jamie at work in the sand



Who is that tiny man?



A note to BSO - Brent Sorensen



Trey and Dad enjoying some small waves



Trey tasted salt water more than once



Trey won't leave the beach!



Playa Hermosa - a neighboring beach


Raul and Lucia are the on site grounds keepers of Sleepy Cove. They are both from Nicaragua. They cross the border to earn better money. We became good friends with both of them and enjoyed some fine Nicaraguan cuisine. The family favorite was Nacatamales -- tamales Nicaraguan style. They are fantastic. That night Marcio, Daniella, and Ethan joined us for dinner as well. Marcio is the son of Luica and Raul. He married Daniella when she was 15. Trey's favorite was the Nica Tacos. Everyone loved the famous Arroz con Pollo as well.


Lucia w/ banana leaves for making Nacatamales



Lucia hard at work on the Nacatamales



Nacatamale in its initial stages



Nacatamale wrapped and ready to go



Nacatamles in full production



Final product at the dinner table



Marcio, Daniella, and Ethan join us for dinner



Lucia making Nicaraguan Tacos



Nicaraguan Tacos in full production



Trey at work on a Nicaraguan Taco



Trey hanging with Raul



Warren looking like an angel



Warren losing his shorts



1 more day on count down to Bryant



Trey wants to jump in one last time



Warren waving goodbye to Sleepy Cove