Feliz Navidad y Ano Nuevo!

To all of you we miss so much,
Please make a snow angel in our honor or better yet a little ski. Happy Holidays!
Love,
Gina, Terry, Jorja, Carter and Lindsay

We are off to Houston tomorrow for two weeks of Christmas vacation with my sissy Aunty Suzy, Uncle Todd and Grandma from Edmonton. Missing snow (maybe grandma will pack some) and a "real" Christmas but looking forward to getting back to a civilization!

Turtle Pics Finally!

Here's a few pics of our turtle visit courtesy of a friend.

Carter's Surfing Debut On the web

"Surfing Nosara" publishes the best surfing pics of the day. Here is Carter!

Desfile de Boyeros/Ox Cart Parade

Some local Tico Culture!!! Festival of "Virgin Mary" this weekend (as far as I understand anyways). Ticos and some gringos gathered at the local hardware store for free food, drinks and even free beer at 10am (now that is a religious holiday!) Oxen got dressed up in their very best to pull carts with their favorite saints and a few select people around to visit the local churches. Now that's a parade we have never seen before!

Mel Gibson Beach

Last weekend went to a beach about 45 minutes away. It has a name but I only know it as "Mel Gibson beach" as he apparently owns all the land around it. Rumor has it he has sold it to "Lady Ga Ga" so Terry is currently fantasizing about saving her when she falls of her surf board and then becoming her best friend! Or I will have Mel Gibson's next love child (ha ha, he is too crazy for me!)
It was super beautiful and different from the beaches on this side of the country. Water clear and Carribean like. The drive in was quite exciting (the pictures do not do it justice!) You may call it a road but after making it 4x4ing through the mud bog we went nearly sideways, then through some deep deep ruts which were more paths then a road and voila there we were.
Between "parking" and the ocean was a river to wade through. Kids loved riding their "surf boat" (that's our neighbor Rain) and Lindsay crawled around forever exploring in the shallow part. Enjoyed a picnic of fresh cheese, bread and avocado from the local market and had to leave too soon for naps. Stopped for gelato on the way home, yum!
After a serious car wash (there are a couple guys who wash and vacuum your car for $6) we were back home and as good as new! Yes, that last pic is our look of relief when we actually made it back out!

Here is our other princess!

Lindsay practicing for the pageant circuit!

In preparation for our trip to Houston at Christmas Lindsay is getting in some practice. As you can see she has some work to do as this was the best picture I could get (it was nap time but neverless a true princess could push through it, ha ha!)

The locust have arrived...gross!

This is about the size of my hand!

Rincon de la Vieja Trip

During a 4 day school break for American thanksgiving, we took our first road trip in Costa Rica to Rincon de la Vieja. This is a dormant volcano/national park about 3.5 hours north. Very exciting to get back on some paved roads for awhile and drive more then 40 km/hr! True to form, Terry decided we had lot's of gas and did not stop in Liberia (the last gas station before driving into never never land) but luckily (for him!) we did not run out.
We got our own little one room cabin amongst the mountain tops which were really beautiful. It was rather chilly,rainy,windy the first 2 days but a nice change in weather. Tried to get rid of our "Costa Rica Coughs" with the natural steam room (literally over a bubbling brook) but we still have them. Tried out the "too hot, too cold, just right pools" (just like goldilocks). Lasted about 5 minutes in the chilly swimming pool just long enough to order a pina colada at the pool bar. Terry and I enjoyed the mud but the kids refused to get dirty and freaked out when we just tried to put it on their legs. Not sure how they became clean freaks!
Had our horseback riding and zipline adventure canceled the first day due to high winds and skitish horses but managed to do it the day we left. No, Lindsay did not zipline but managed an hour on a horse which was pretty impressive!
Visited Playa Hermosa, a volcanic beach on the way back. Nice to stay at a hotel right on the water without big waves but trade off was the beach had a lot more garbage and the water was not as clean as Nosara. We did find lot's of "pipas" which are young coconuts. Pipa water is nature's gatorade and Terry cracked then open on a rock (becoming caveman, errrghh!)
Great to see another part of Costa Rica but no matter where we go we usually have the place to ourselves, curious not more touristos!

Carter's "Best Afternoon Ever"

My horse was named "Pinto" but I think he should have been named "Go Go" because he liked to get in front of the pack and would like to go fast. We had fun crossing the river and riding up/down hills and getting a little snack of grass. I went on "Pinto" all by myself. He was a very good horse. After we stopped at a little forest and hiked to two waterfalls. One was big and one was small. It was very grassy.
We took our horses to the top of the zipline. It was 1.5 km and 13 towers. I liked the different types of ziplines. The first one was very scary (mommy was nervous too!) since it was so high so I went with a guide. After that, I went by myself it was still super high, but I wasn't scared anymore. On the last one, the guide set me up to go upside down. I didn't want to let go with two hands so I only let go with one.
The hotel was very nice, there was mud bathes, big pools, nice food and a wet bar. The pina coladas were very decorated and delicious. I think our cabin was very small.
Hugs and kisses, Carter

My Horseback and Zipline Adventure by Jorja

I liked steering the horse with the ranes. I held a green one. I liked to go fast and I also loved going across the river. I liked going up the hills and down. At one part my horse did not know where it was going (tee hee!) I loved the waterfalls going down.
I liked ziplining all by myself. I held my arms like an airplane. When I went with a guide I held my hands down low. I liked to go "FAST" and I held on the tightest that's because I am smaller.

Happy 1st Birthday Lindsay!!!

This is my second blog...you may think I am just a baby but I am actually one years old today! Still working on the whole walking thing but have mastered going up the "Mount Everest of stairs" and I can make it almost to the road if someone leaves a door open for even a second! I am trying to confuse everyone by signing "milk" and "goodbye" the same way but otherwise I just yell and pretty much get what I want. I have learned that sand doesn't taste very good and am just sampling it every now and again to make sure.
My Grandma Rose sent me a present which actually made it here for my birthday, hurray! My Bubbie Roz came and visited for a whole week and I cried a little more just so she would hold me and cuddle me a little extra. I got to sleep in my mommy and daddy's room while she was here and it was so much fun I tried to party all night (they weren't into it!)
Last night we went out for dinner to celebrate my birthday. We went to the nicest hotel in Nosara which was really very nice. The food was super good and I had a little chicken, steamed veggies and rice but I couldn't figure out why we were eating when I am usually sleeping. Then I got a really great surprise and everyone started singing to me and they brought me a chocolate cake with a candle on it (made by mommy and Jorja). I had no idea how to blow out the candle and couldn't decide whether to throw the cake or eat it as I was kinda tired. Today we are going to go for a swim and then maybe eat more cake or "kay-kay" in spanish. Birthdays are great I can't wait until I am two!

Guest blog from our first guest Bubbie!

It is a good thing Gina kind of prepared me for the visit, hinting about the heat and humidity, bugs and howler monkeys. But.... my goodness the humidity was something I have never experienced like this before. Thank goodness I had my precious ones to distract me and to try not to think about the stickiness 24/7. It took me half an hour to get into my bathing suit, but after getting into the warmest ocean ever, or the refreshing pool the stickiness was forgotten, till the next time I had to get into my bathing suit!
All that being said the main reason I came was to see my 3 beautiful, precious grandchildren. We have had the most incredible week. We went to 3 different beaches, had a bonfire on 1 for a friend's 4th birthday party. We saw turtles hatching and then marched off to the ocean. We played and frolicked in the waves and played in the pool. Almost every afternoon Jorja and I would go off to the pool and practice her swimming. She is diving off the edge of the pool and swimming under water and then lifting her head out so it will just be a few more days till she becomes another magnificent swimmer like her brother. Carter loves the water also and is on his way to becoming a speed swimmer like his daddy was.His entry dives are fantastic and he loves doing somersaults in the pool. Today he did 6 all in a row. He loves body surfing and boogie boarding. His Spanish is also amazing. I love listening to him pronounce all the words. Carter is THE sweetest boy ever, and i"m not just saying that because I am his Bubbie. I watched him interact with his schoolmates and it was very obvious he is very well-liked at school.
Jorja loves getting her nails and piggies painted and so I came with a fantastic selection of purples, pinks and fluorescent colors for her to go crazy over. I love painting her nails and then sitting back and watching her admire my amateur attempt at painting such wee tiny nails.
I will never forget the day I was carrying her upstairs and she said for all to hear ( and daddy commented ) " Oh Bubbie you just can't get enough of me, can you?" Out of the mouths of babes! We have enjoyed singing all our favorite songs together and I have no inhibitions about singing or humming to any of my grandchildren whenever and wherever. Fri. night Terry and Gina went out to an adult birthday party and I got to babysit all 3 sweetpeas for the very first time since Lindsay was born. we have always just had Carter and Jorja. Well they were all angels, went to bed beautifully but not before we did some of our ritual counting sheep and drawing animals on the back. Carter wanted the scoop on the whole family and so I told him little bits and pieces about his aunties and uncles and what they are all up to. They both enjoyed seeing all my pictures of family on my iphone and they are able to use it better than I can. It brought tears to my eyes and I have been crying and choked up all day thinking about not having that time with them again until the next time.

I now understand why Terry and Gina wanted to experience a different kind of lifestyle. Their lives will all be enriched by meeting some wonderful people and experiencing a totally different pace of life. How fortunate enough for them to not have to worry about what tomorrow will bring. Just "living in the moment". So many times this week my son said to me," mom relax."

I leave Nosara with a heavy but also joyful heart knowing that my grandchildren are well-loved, are healthy and strong. I pray Gina's love for the 4 seasons and love of family will trump Terry's love for surfing.

Tortugas muy guapo!

Watching turtles hatch, the kinda thing you really should capture in pictures. Too bad we forgot our camera and the video camera had no batteries (Terry!) Hopefully someone will send us some pictures and I will post. For now you will have to be satisfied with our riveting description. The school planned a trip to Playa Ostional a turtle sanctuary about 20 minutes from us. The excitement began when we had to drive through 3 rivers and were told to open our windows "just in case". We made it safe and sound but it was even more exciting on the way back when we returned in the dark and watched our friends truck get stuck (they managed to get unstuck) and then Terry gunned it and the water sprayed over our windshield so we didn't get stuck! Its always an adventure in Costa Rica but back to the turtles...
The beach was beautiful (of course!) wih black sand. After wandering down the beach for awhile we started to notice turtle shells everywhere and lots of vultures. Many turtles hatched the day before but sometimes you don't see any. Luckily we came upon a "nest" and about 80 little babies made their way to the sea. Which was more dangerous for those cute little turtles? The disgusting vultures waiting to eat them or a bunch of kids trying to "help" them. Hmmmmm! Happily all the turtles made it to the ocean including Carter's three which he named "Lucky, Popcorn and Sunset". Ahhhh! We love tortugas!

El Scorpion!!!

Found our first scorpion the other night. It was sitting right out in the open in the middle of our stairs, yikes! Hoping we don't encounter too many more of these little creatures!

Halloween in Costa Rica

Boo!  Halloween fun this weekend.  Costa Rica does not celebrate this scaaaary holiday but the North Americans have imported it.  So, Friday, kids dressed up for school and tried not to melt in the heat and Saturday, big block party in our neighborhood.  All the trick or treaters from the school descended on our little hood...very scary!!!  DJ Inky (our neighbor) cranked out the tunes,  kids sugared up and ran wild and adults sat on the curb with a cold one.  Mucho feliz (or something like that as we can't find the spanish word for fun!)
Carter lost a tooth (trick) but is finally walking again (treat).  Jorja asked us all night to open candies for her "friends" (trick) and changed three times during the party (treat).  Lindsay could not break into any candy (trick) but fell asleep despite the party noise (treat).  Terry still sick with ear infection/cough (trick) but got to hand out the candy (treat).  Gina being tortured by demon children (trick) but enjoyed dos cervasas a la noche (treat).  Happy Halloween had by all.

Blog by Lindsay

Da Da!  This continues to be my favorite words.  Otherwise I like to scream for what I want as I think baby sign language is for the birds!  I have however learned how to wave "bye bye"!  I am busy crawling everywhere although the tile floor is not that comfortable.  I am working on standing up as I think walking will be very useful here!  I have 4 new teeth which means I can bite lots of things including people.  My mommy's arms have the bruises to prove it!  I have discovered all kinds of interesting things to put in my mouth and find sand and centipedes quite tasty!  If these are not readily available I also enjoy the computer cord.  I don't understand why everyone is saying "no, no, no" to me all the time.  I have a new friend "Yani" who will stack my cups for me so I can crash them down (this game never gets old!) I love the water and I think the ocean is quite interesting but not as good as sand of course.  I am teaching myself to swim in my little tub by sticking my face in the water (and only drinking some of the water!) Gotta go, I spot some unprotected lego...