DTB takes Iowa

S and the DTB family took their talents to Des Moines' new-ish and very impressive RecPlex for a four-game weekend of hoops vs. some (mostly) new blood in the All-Iowa Attack Spring Showcase.

The team got their first win, going 2-2 on the weekend, but it was really all about the team-building as this team is still in its forming/norming stage...

Easter

Minnehaha dog park and some egg-hunting with the cousins...

AAU Opener

Sawyer's DTB and Evie's MN Stars teams kicked off their spring/summer seasons with the Midwest Kickoff in Bloomington.

E's squad hit the ground running with a 2-1 start, which included a look at a game-winner in the championship vs. the MN Freeze. That's her in the blur attacking the hoop in the bottom photo above.

Sawyer's was less "successful" in the W/L column, going 0-3... but are a new team, and showed signs of what they could become.

Here we go again!

Costa Rica | The Last Day: Beach, Tamarindo & Tuna

We packed in the fun on our finale. 

Half the crew hopped on a Boos Adventures fishing charter, catching tuna, baracuda and mackerel, watching dolphin frolic directly alongside the boat (like 20 of them, and for probably 15 minutes), and catching probably the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen.

The other half hit the beach and shopped downtown Tamarindo before meeting up at the Cala Luna restaurant to eat a three course meal of the fisher people's "catch of the day".

What a trip...

Costa Rica | Day 7: Snorkeling

It's not a beach vacation without a snorkeling excursion IMHO. The red tide slowed our roll a bit, but we found a few calm, clean spots and saw plenty of colorful fish. Favorites where starfish, an eel, a sea turtle, a balloonfish, and lots of angelfish. E spotted her nemisis, the sea urchin, a few times too many as well.

Dinner at Gracia Mar Vista for the best food, coolest pool and one of the best views of the trip, at sunset on top of that.

Costa Rica | Day 6: Shelling & Surfing

The crew went for a change of scenery and checked out Conchal Beach, famous for sea shells (and Big Mama, we learned). 

Then, hit the evening tide with Hector to try our hand at surfing. Sawyer and Annika nailed it. Linds and Jill rode a few. I struggled. And poor E stepped on a sea urchin and was sidelined after being rushed to the lifeguard stand for treatment (two days after a bee sting on her eyelid!).

Lunch on swings at the Green Papaya. 

Dinner at the Surf Club where we lost power, but carried on under candle light. Turns out it's the start of the rainy season, and the power grid struggles to handle the transition... so it's a welcome and celebrated April "tradition".

(Oh, and of course... we had to find the local court to get some shots up and keep that thing sharp!)

Costa Rica | Day 5: Tamarindo Beach

We couldn't get to the beach fast enough, and once we got there... reapply sunscreen fast enough. The kids spent hours crashing and riding waves until "well done" when we packed up headed to just about the highest peak in the country to visit the vacation home of a longtime friend of the Kiesers. The place and views were out of this world, including our first exposure to CR's "second sunset".

Oceanside dinner at Hemingway's, but the kids couldn't keep their eyes off the Paige Bueckers/Husky Final Four game vs. South Carolina above the Tiki bar. Oh, and of course... ice cream at Pop's.

Costa Rica | Day 4: Hanging Bridges & Cafe y Macadamia

On our final day in the jungle, we hit up the Mistico hanging bridges and saw lizards, snakes (Mica), poisonous dart frogs, monkeys before heading beachside. 

On the very-curvy way we stopped at Cafe y Macadamia for amazing food and better views of Lake Arenal, finally arriving at Cala Luna in time for pasta from Walter's Fishes & Cheeses.

Costa Rica | Day 3: Waterfalls & Ziplines

La Fortuna's 200 foot waterfall is breathtaking...

First, when you stumble upon it breaking through the thick landscape. Then, when you jump in it's frigid base (it seems impossible that the water could be that cold when the air is that hot). And, again when you climb the 500 steps to get back to your vehicle.

After that workout the gang "relaxed" by ziplining our way over and through the jungle's canopy, literally alongside monkey's and sloths (check this story from the exact line we rode a week before our arrival).

Casa Fortuna for lunch, pool bar for midday fuel, Chicas for beers, apps and Final Four hoops.

Costa Rica | Day 2: ATVs and the Arenal River

Neither Team Backer, nor our travel buddies the Kiesers sit still well, so we started our vacation on the move exploring the resort property and navigating the jungle on the lookout for wildlife, most notably monkeys and sloths. While we struck out on that front, we did find a spot to cool off.

I don't think there are piranhas in CR, are there? 

Lunch at Casa Fortuna, a quick dip in and drink at the pool bar, and then, as rumor has it though that the best way to see the jungle is via ATV, the gang strapped on helmets and ripped through the trails around the base of Arenal Volcano (currently "resting, but active") on the grounds of the Maleku tribe.

After cleaning up we checked out downtown La Fortuna and had dinner at Pollo Fortuneno.

Costa Rica | Day 1: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

My, my was the journey to CR a long one. Flight delays, customs delays, car rental delays and LONG flights and commutes to our destination in La Fortuna (via Liberia). Our alarms went off at 4am and our key hit the lock of our Montana de Fuego resort rental at 10pm.

This said, the view and heat as we woke the next morning alone made it all worth it!