Coconuts - Hannah

We are enjoying the coconuts here. The ones we like are called pipas. They're green on the outside, with very little coconut meat, but the coconut water inside is awesome.

It actually doesn't taste a whole lot different from water, but it's very refreshing and invigorating. Think, the all-natural version of sports or electrolyte-replacement drinks. I've heard it used in the United States for that purpose, but it would be great if it was more readily available and economical.

Apparently coconuts were used during World War II as an IV fluid for injured soldiers. It's sterile, is close enough to the composition of human plasma, and was readily available in certain areas. I think that's pretty cool. So next time I'm feeling a bit dehydrated, I'll just hook myself up to a coconut. Mmmm....

Michael opening up the coconut
with his all-purpose machete

Caleb enjoying the pipa

Touch-Me-Nots - Dylan

These are super cool! We saw them probably about 2 months ago, but we couldn't upload the video. But now we're able to do it!

Two Toucans - Hannah

We haven't been able to see toucans very well until two pretty ones came right to our house today. These ones are called fiery-billed aracaris. They came right during Michael's lunch break so we all enjoyed watching them snack from the nearby banana tree. It's like we live in the jungle!

Feliz Navidad - Hannah

This was the most laid back Christmas we've ever had. The kids and Santa knew we couldn't collect a lot of stuff, because we'll have limited luggage space for our trip home. So gifts were small and there was not a lot. But we enjoyed being together, and of course that's what is most important.

We started things off on Christmas Eve by putting a puzzle together. It was a 1000-piece puzzle, which normally would have taken us a few days, but we got it done that night. It even kept Jonah's attention for a little while.

On Christmas morning we saw what Santa left for us. We were glad he didn't get struck down by the fireworks from the night before.

Our Christmas loot

 

Santa also found some foods we either haven't seen here or are too expensive
to buy. We all enjoyed cold cereal for breakfast, instead of our usual waffles
with ice cream Christmas morning tradition. 

We got a couple fun games to play together, Bananagrams and Spot-It, another Ed Emberley drawing book (any of which I highly recommend), the movie Elf, and some sidewalk chalk. Jonah got a batman toy riding a motorcycle (he asked Santa for a remote control motorcycle and a remote control bat, but he seemed happy with the substitution). Each of the kids also got a Costa Rican shirt so we can look even more like gringo tourists.

In the afternoon, the sister missionaries joined us for lunch. We had scrambled eggs and pancakes--not the most traditional Christmas meal but at least it included syrup, one of the four Christmas food groups.

The sisters spent the afternoon with us. We put together another puzzle, harder than the first one but with only 500 pieces.

Afterwards, we played Skip-Bo, brought the missionaries to and from a no-show appointment, and came back to sit on the porch to chat. This evening they went to President Lopez' home to make their bi-annual calls home. The missionaries are a long way from home on Christmas and doing a great work. It was fun to spend the day with them today. 

This evening we called some family in the states and now we're watching Elf, a classic Christmas movie if ever there was one: "I'm a cotton-headed ninny muggins," "Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup," "I'm singing! And I'm in a store. And I'm singing!" "This place looks like Santa's workshop, except it smells like mushrooms and it looks like everyone wants to hurt me."

All in all, it was a lovely Christmas. Feliz Navidad to all our family and friends back home! We hope it has been a wonderful day.

A Beehive in the Rafters - Hannah

Last Sunday we came home from church and saw a bunch of bees swarming around. We noticed they were coming in and out of a little spot over the porch. I don't have a problem with a few bees, but this time there were a lot! 

We weren't sure who we were supposed to call for that sort of thing, so we called our landlord who called the fire department who came by the next day. Just before we took my parents to the airport, we got to see the fire department come and extract the bees. They had gloves and hats that made it seem like they had dealt with this problem before. And it was the same two men who had come earlier to take care of the giant snake. They used a soap and water solution to spray the bees, and, as you can see from the pile-o-bees, it was quite effective. 

Excursion with Mom and Dad - Hannah

We've spent the last few days exploring Costa Rica with my parents. We've seen many beautiful things and really enjoyed being with them.

We started our excursion Thursday morning at a
small butterfly garden. 

Te amo mi familia

These beautiful butterflies particularly liked Michael
(I don't blame them). I took about a million pictures trying
to get a photo of the butterfly with its wings spread.
And I finally got it :).

Caleb also had a butterfly friend. This is the same kind of butterfly--the
outside of its wings are brown while the insides are blue.

Mom thought this pattern would make a great fabric for a dress.

The butterflies enjoyed the rotting bananas.

Jonah learned about butterfly life cycles and we saw
these empty butterfly cocoons.

Next we stopped at the crocodile bridge--this was not Mom's favorite part.

After the bridge, we spent the afternoon at Punta Leona, a beautiful beach within a bay. Michael and Julia had previously gone to this beach with the young men and young women, but it was the first time for the rest of us. It was a calm beach with clear water, and we relaxed, floated and snorkeled. Michael and Dad went to the other side of the bay near some reefs to do some snorkeling. They saw a skate at the bottom, and a school of large fish swimming by. When they were done, they took a swim across open water to get back to the rest of us.

That night we stayed at a house in Esterillos, and watched I Am Sam, a movie about a mentally handicapped father who goes through a court battle to retain custody of his daughter. The next night we watched Places in the Heart, about a mother whose husband dies and she is left to support her young son and daughter; she grows cotton during the midst of the Depression, against advice from those around her, but with the determination to do all necessary to keep her children with her. We noticed that our movie choices had themes about the importance of families, showing what people will do to hold their families together. It seemed appropriate to watch those movies while my parents were with us.

The next day, we played at the beach in Esterillos. Michael went early in the morning and surfed for a couple hours while the rest of us slept. After breakfast, we all went down to the beach. We took some sandwiches and our boogie board, and rented some beach umbrellas and chairs as well as a couple surfboards. 

This is the awesome-ist picture ever--my 66 year old
dad reliving his California youth on the waves. It's
only too bad it ended in a bruised, swollen toe.

Jonah following in Grandpa's footsteps

That evening we had a great dinner. Michael had bought a couple fish from a local fisherman that morning. Apparently they start fishing at dusk and fish all night in their little fishing boats. We got a red snapper and a yellow fin, which were both delicious. We bought some beans at a local restaurant and cooked up some rice. We cut up some mangoes--the best I've ever had--and some watermelon. It was muy delicioso.

This morning we packed up and drove to Carara National Park. We stopped at one beautiful spot along the road and saw our first scarlet macaws--Dylan has a new favorite bird. They are absolutely gorgeous, though they have an ugly, crow-like call. Apparently you can be beautiful or sing well, but you can't have both. The macaws can live a long time, some of them up to 70 years. And unlike most other birds, the males and females are equally beautiful. My video is a little shaky, but Dylan really wanted me to post it anyway.

We arrived at Carara National Park, and Enrique, our guide, was very helpful in showing us things we never would have seen on our own. Here's Michael by the map of the park. 

We saw lots more scarlet macaws, as well as a few different species of lizards and bats. Some of us were able to see monkeys and toucans, but they were more difficult to see.

I love him!

This is called a Jesus Christ lizard, because it walks on water

You can see bats resting to the left of the tree

We also enjoyed the lovely scenery and these homo sapiens. 

Dylan was thrilled to find this macaw feather sitting by the side of a tree. It's now sealed in a plastic bag, to be preserved forever. Dylan even matches the feather.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. My parents were real troopers, and very generous in helping make it happen. I enjoyed spending time and talking with them. We will miss them lots when they leave on Monday.

A Visit from Mom and Dad - Hannah

We've been so excited to have my parents come for a visit. We picked them up yesterday evening, and today had a relaxing day together. We had lots to show them and tell them about, and Mom was happy to finally warm up. She said she took her sweater off for the first time in two weeks. 

Michael had to work today, but the rest of us went on a little walk to see the landscape. We saw a big iguana sitting in a tree, leaf cutter ants, and lots of birds. We also showed them the touch-me-nots, cool little plants that close up when you touch them. 

We also spent some time sitting on the patio, drinking limeades, talking and watching for wildlife. 

And this evening our neighbors next door invited us all over for a birthday party. We enjoyed some good Costa Rican food and cake, and partied with karaoke and dancing. It was fun to do karaoke with my Dad, and see my parents dancing and enjoying the company. The language barrier didn't seem to keep any of us from having a good time.

I have pretty awesome parents, and am so happy to have them here. I'm looking forward to a great week with them.

Car Trouble - Hannah

Yesterday we had the great idea to go deliver some small Christmas gifts to neighbors and friends. After a few stops, we pulled in front of the homes of the Branch President and the Primary President, who live next door to each other. After the delivery and a brief chat, we got in the car to leave. Michael turned the key in the ignition... and nothing.

Michael tried a few more times and opened the hood to see what he could find. One of the connections to the battery had had some corrosion, so previously it had been hesitant to start. But Michael had tightened up the connection and cleaned it up a bit (despite not having many tools here), and it had been better. But even tightening the connection again didn't help the car to start this time.

By that time President Lopez and Jonathan, the Primary President's husband, came outside to see what they could do to help. It was fairly embarrassing and unfortunate that in our attempt to do something to say thank you for all the help and kindness, we then end up in a situation needing more help and kindness.

President Lopez was in his nice white Sunday shirt, helping to clean the corrosion off the battery. He and Jonathan also helped us push the car to see if we could get it started rolling down a hill. But still there was nothing.

President Lopez then contacted a mechanic friend, who soon drove up on his motorcycle to take a look. The mechanic was on his way to a futbol (soccer) game so couldn't stay long. But he said he could come to our house on Monday, which is today.

After the mechanic left, President Lopez hooked up our car to his, and towed us home.

Michael and I were both very touched by everyone's kindness. I'm sure it wasn't how the President and Jonathan wanted to spend their Sunday afternoon. Perhaps we'll have to bring them a bigger box of chocolates to say thank you for their help after our failed attempt to say thank you.

As far as where that leaves us with the car, Michael is thinking that the battery needs to be replaced. We've recently had the alternator repaired, so it's likely not that. But I do hope we can get it taken care of today. We're going to the airport this evening to pick up my parents who will be here for a week, and I'm so excited to have them here. If worse comes to worse, we'll pick them up in a taxi.

Kisses and Thank You Honks - Hannah

Costa Rica has a couple customs that I like.  

The first is the greeting and farewell kiss. 

I've seen it done between women, or between a man and a woman. But to say hello or good-bye, they give each other a fake kiss on the cheek. Their right cheeks touch and they kiss the air. It's a great way to express friendship, and I like it much better than the awkward, stand there and wave at each other from a distance. I'm not always sure when it's appropriate and when it's not, but I've found that, in general, people are very understanding of my lack of understanding.

The other custom I like is the thank you honk. 

If you let a driver through, or pull over to let him pass, you often get a brief little beep or two--just a way to say thanks. It's very friendly, and I think the United States should adopt it. If I was the first one to do it, though, people would probably be confused and/or offended. I'm not sure how one would go about that...

Also, I think there should be a way to say, "Whoops. Sorry." What does that say about me that I feel the need to have a honk to communicate that sentiment?

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Hannah

Our Homemade Christmas Tree: We have popcorn strings 
(I hope the ants don't get to it), a construction paper chain 
and origami, candy canes, and a construction paper star. 
The kids painted rocks and put them around the base--
they are rockin' around the Christmas tree. Get it?

It's fun to see these growing outside as well as inside.

Que lindo!

Yesterday evening Michael and I were able to go to the temple in San Jose, and there was a white nativity with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, surrounded by lots of poinsettias. The contrast of the red and white was beautiful, and with the warm weather, it was a delightful "temple square" experience. Having the nativity surrounded by living, blooming things was a reminder to me that the Savior's birth brought new life for all of us.

This is my friend's photo from an earlier day

Last Day of School - Caleb

Today was the last day of school. It was also the first day of school, at least the first day since about 2 weeks ago. As soon as I entered the classroom, silence went extinct. There weren't any teachers there, which only added to the noise. Here are some pictures from the first 15, chaotic, noisy, terrible, boring minutes of school.

Then, this happened:

But she left, and the chaos came back... but worse.

After those 15 minutes, we went outside and the whole school created the longest Congo line ever.

A random lady came into the classroom and set a cake down, then walked out.

Then the cake became a major tourist attraction.

A game of jump rope:

Then there were 30 minutes of extremely boring (and annoying) karaoke. I didn't take any pictures because it was just a person singing, so pictures wouldn't be that interesting.

Lunch. In the second picture, I'm holding a bag of root beer. It is really common to have drinks in bags here.

After lunch, people started coming up and giving me presents. I don't know who the presents were from, but I just got some presents for some reason. This one had an apple, some grapes, and two chocolate bars. It was kind of a weird present, but it was more than I had hoped for, because I hadn't hoped for anything.

Another present:

Dylan and his teacher: