Birthday!

This year, I was blessed again by another amazing birthday! Michele has started the tradition of coming down to help me celebrate. This year she brought Elena (who I met my first day in Costa Rica last January!)

We celebrated by going to the beach, having sunset drinks at our favorite nacho-spot, Barba Roja, and by throwing a small bday party with some close friends in the house. We blew up balloons, made hummus and guacamole, and enjoyed the night together! In an attempt to be funny, Diego had the candles read 42 instead of 24 on my birthday cake... come on guys, not quite that old! Take a look at that decoration job. Nice work Christi! Thanks to everyone who made it such a special day!



Above: Harrison and Maria. I met Maria through english classes last fall!
Below: Suzie and Charlie (left), our friends who often hang out with us on the beach. And Memo (a friend I met through church and indoor soccer), Cata (fellow expat), and Suzie.



Elena (left), Michele and I walked out to one of my favorite spots to sit and read. It is an abandoned disco that recently got torn down, but the point and the view is beautiful!

Below: Cata, Christi and I enjoying the sun. and Victor... what else is there to say, the picture says it all!

Above: at the beach with Cata, and the girls out for drinks!

Below: Michele and Cata sipping on there drinks and the amazing sunset! Praise God for this birthday gift!

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Florida!

It was my three month mark, and I needed to get out of the country again. It just so happened that at the same time, my parents were going to be vacationing in Florida. So I brought up the idea of visiting them, and, booked flights only a week before heading out. It was great to be at the beach (well.. I am always at the beach, but in vacation mode! knowing there was nothing else I could be doing but enjoying the playa!). Mom and Dad spoiled me, taking me out shopping and celebrating my birthday.





We had a great long weekend together, sharing it with Dave and Dawn. There was a lot of laughing, beach time, and card playing. By far my best three month trip yet!









On our way to Anna Marie Island, we stopped a the world famous (okay, maybe I made that up) strawberry shortcake stand... and we ate strawberry shortcake for a mid morning snack. It was delicious. Below, I put my pin in Costa Rica (despite my mom's insistence that it was not my hometown) and I try my hand as the strawberry shortcake queen (my mother had quite the giggle over this one. needless to say, people were staring).

Brothers Visit, Part Five: The Beach

No trip would be complete without hours (or rather days) at the beach.

One day, we rented chairs and this nifty tent...




One Day Elliot played by the big rocks...




One day we watched the sunset (and then headed across the street for Happy Hour)...



One day, the boys played ball...




One day we went to a private beach, harbored from strong currents...




And One day we watched my friend Randu carry chairs on his head...

Brothers Visit, Part Four: The Waterfall

The second day trip we went on was to a waterfall that was out past Londres. The drive out made the road to Domincal look like a highway. It was up hill, dodging holes in the road, driving through rivers, and praying that, even in a FourRunner, we would bottom out.

The ride was worth it though, the waterfall was absolutely beautiful! The guys climbed up half way to get a better perspective, but when we decided to swim, we chose a smaller waterfall on the trail...

Brothers Visit, Part Three: Domincal

While the boys were visiting (and since I was unemployed at the time), we took some day trips.





The first place we visited was Dominical. It is a small beach town about 40 kilometers south of Quepos. Though the drive is short it distance, it is not a quick trip. Saytng that it is a gravel road is being generous (and the boys sat three deep in the back!).

The beach in Domincal is much more tranquillo (calm, less busy) than the beach in Manuel Antonio. It attracts a lot of artisans and surfers alike.

Above... a random sign about midgets... And Cata and I

Below, Tortilla Flats, a small beachfront restaurant with great sandwiches

The beach was rocky (thus the tiptoeing in the picture below) and the waves were mammoth (thus zac and big wave coming in).