Costa Rica....and Rigo

howler monkeys

It sneaked up so fast.
Jeff booked our family a Costa Rican getaway.
I just go with the flow.  "Sure," I said.



We left Friday night, right after school.  Drove to Cleveland.  We got a good night's sleep and then was up bright and early for a day of travel.



Every thing went surprisingly well.  All the flights were on time.  The ninos were well behaved.  We got to sit together, and the service was actually pretty good.  




We had a great ride from Liberia to our rented house.  Our driver, Jose, stopped at a market so we could get cervezas.  He also stopped so we could see and hear the howler monkeys.  




After we settled in, we went out to explore the town.  We had dinner on the beach.  They had a bonfire.  We finished the night playing cards.  





The next day we explored the area a bit, and spent a relaxing day at the beach.  That is where we met Rigo.  He was a man walking a beach, trying to sell us a boat ride.  

We started talking with him, and ended up booking a jungle tour.  We had to get up at 4 am!  He picked us up so early.  We stopped at a bakery, and then took a long drive to a nature preserve in Palos Verdes.  We watched the sun come up.


We drove through fields of sugarcane and cantaloupe.  We saw Nicaraguans working the fields.  When we finally got there, there was a small boat waiting for us, to take an excursion down a crocodile infested river.  There was seriously, many, many crocodile.





It was amazing!  We saw so many different animals.  From lizards to birds to monkeys.  Cesar, our boat driver, let both Eva and Dylan drive the boat.  







Afterward, we went to Rancho de los Coyotes.  All throughout the trip, Rigo told us many interesting, informational things.  We learned a lot.  


At the ranch, we had an amazing lunch.  All fresh, and so flavorful, tipico comida Costa Ricana. Eva tried coffee for the first time.  




We then watched a pottery demonstration.  The man made a pot right in front of our eyes.  The howler monkeys were all through the trees.  




Then we explored the ranch a bit more.  We saw how sugarcane is pressed.  We saw many different plants, like a banana plant.  There was a mini history museum there.  Very cool.





Lastly, we stopped at a local park.  There, Rigo bought us some bananas and went into the park.  They came out of the woodwork! Literally they crawled out of the trees.  IGUANAS!




The ninos fed them.  Dylan got a little too close and NiP!
He got bit.







We headed back, the long drive, and we were back by 12:30.  Dyleva went to the pool.  We relaxed in the sun.




We explored many different beaches while we were there.  One day, we did rent gear and went snorkeling.  


We tried to eat at a different place every night.  



Probably the second most exciting thing was the ninos had a surfing lesson.  Oh the instructors were fantastic!  Giovanny started them on the sand, showed them the 
technique and then they ventured into the ocean!

Here are some more photos.  We did have an amazing time.

Ski bums

It was inevitable.  Dyleva would surpass my skiing abilities.   It is quite entertaining; the ninos pass me on the hill like a Ferrari passing a VW bus. By the time I actually make it to the bottom of the hill, exhausted, gasping for air, Dyleva has had like a full 5 minutes of rest and wants to jump right back on the ski lift.  

This year, we continued my new "favorite" tradition of staying in ski country with the cousins from out of town, before New Years.  (No offense to the cousins....)
You know its bad when I look forward to putting on a bathing suit in December at the hotel pool, just to get off the ski hill.

Dyleva had a great time skiing with their cousins, hanging out at the lodge, the post-party back at the hotel room.  The kids are in their glory.  

Dyleva can hold their own.  They both did a black diamond this year.  I will try to post the video.  It is truly bittersweet.  I am so very proud of them and I want them to have fun, but yet they have outgrown Mama and her abilities.  This is the first time I have had to let go, and sadly it is probably just the beginning.  My babies are growing up!

Holly Milton

Meet Holly Milton.

It was like a dream come true for Eva.  We decided to get a kitten.  We adopted her from a shelter.  She/he was very loving from the start, so we knew she was the one.