My cup runneth over.

Grateful. 

Every. Single. Day. 

I hope you had a joyous Thanksgiving! 

Hungry in Houston

We get to Houston and Daredevil, who hasn't eaten hardly anything in a month, decides that he's hungry. I'm so glad he's hungry! He drank nearly a whole sweet tea, ate two whole breadsticks and ample amounts of snacks. Nothing uber healthy but I'm glad he ate. 

Maybe he likes being in the US and US food. :) 

We are on the second flight - Houston to Chicago. Almost ready for departure. Daredevil has completed 5/9 of his journey so far! 

Yay customs!!! 

Adios!

As I stare out at the Gulf of Mexico, it's hard to grapple with just how incredible of an experience we just had. 

Not only was it a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, but we got to share it with family and friends. We got time with them - weeks/months - that we wouldn't have had otherwise. What a gift that time together was? We got to share so many new experiences and adventures together. I'm so grateful for Epic, that they value their employees so greatly, that they encourage and reimburse this saabatical of awesomeness. I'm so grateful some family and friends agreed to come visit us. I'm grateful for a husband who works so very hard and finally got a month to play hard! I just feel so blessed for the experience we were given. 

We now have many amigos in Costa Rica and we hope to one day return. We got to know many locals and they us, in return. I'm such a culture vulture that I loved getting to know so many wonderful people. If all people were as kind as Costa Ricans, I think the world might be a better place. 

It is just a real salt of the earth place. Gorgeous and chill. Perfecto. 

Next stop, Houston. 

Royer goes to the Moon

Royer loves Claudios y Glorias. His pal Luis works there. He LOVES all the food here, but especially the food at Claudios y Glorias. It is tucked back on Playa del Coco off the beaten path and it is good, typico food. You sit in the open air restaurant, overlooking Coco. It's a gorgeous view. The view paired with the food and the wait staff make it a triple threat. I have pictures -- many pictures -- showing Royer "going to the moon" with his dinner, but unfortunately I lost the last 161 photos of our trip. So you'll just have to take my word for it.

Pictures that will remain in my heart include my tearful goodbye with Auntie M, my "senior pictures," Royer and his moon traveling, and some gorgeous sunsets. There may be more but I can't remember and that might be ok.

Today we're spending time at the beach, time at the pool, packing and then relaxing with the sunset.

Back to life, back to reality

My brain is starting to kick back on. I'm desperately trying to relish these last few days of bliss - warm sun, laid back vibe, awesome food, great people, zero responsibility - but I know reality is starting to reign us back in. 

In my brain I've already begun menu planning and filling my calendar. I've even sent out a few reminder emails. I still can't process that we get back, it's Thanksgiving followed immediately by our first holiday celebration. I knew there was a reason we did so much prior to leaving, but still, I'm overwhelmed thinking about it. Elf on the shelf, advent calendar, decorations, last minute gifts.... Ahhh! Reality is coming too fast. I need a nap. 

But what will I do when we have to bundle up to go out and play? Oy! Oh transition back home... Please be easy on us! 

Things I'd miss

I've started a list of things that I'd miss if we moved here. It's a long shot, I know, but it's been fun to think about here and there...

So, anyway, here's some of what I'd miss:
Sweet n'low
McDonald's Unsweetened Iced Tea
Snow
Twin
Sidewalks
Amazon Prime
Nicely paved and fairly straight roads
Friends & Family

Pura Vida!

Today

Today has been a really full, really fun day. Swimming, Condovac, swimming, zipping, lunch at Coco on the beach, delicious food, meeting an awesome (and handsome) "fisherman", buying the fisherman a beer, listening to Norah Jones in the warm sun, playing in the sand, jumping with the waves, meeting awesome Canadian expats (with 3 kiddos and lots of toys), shopping, more shopping, swimming, photos, sunning, playing, dinner with our dear amigos (typico Costa Rican), relaxing, making fun of each other, peeing our pants from laughing so hard.....

It was a fun and busy day. I feel full, sunkissed and blessed. I can't believe we say goodbye to Auntie M tomorrow. It seems like this week has gone by so quickly. But, pura vida. We'll be back in the snow before long!

Perro

Perro. Dog.

Dogs roam free during the day here and then they slowly find their way back home at night. It's really crazy to think about. My pups couldn't survive like that. We see dogs everywhere. Sleeping in the street, running on the beach, meandering through the stores... just living their lives peacefully. Most are very people-friendly and peaceful. I've only seen one dog even bark.

This dog is named Gunto.. at least I think that's what the server said. I thought he said Punta but he cracked up at that. Gunto, Goontwo, something like that. He was the sweetest. calmed little guy. A small Phin. Daredevil took off and walked right up to him, touching his index finger to his nose. Gunto did nothing, just observed. I half expected him to lick his finger, that or bite it. He was the cutest. I would've brought him home if I could.

All these dogs are so sweet, but I'm increasingly yearning to pet them, feed them, snuggle them... I'm getting homesick for my three guys back home. I'm already getting anxious to snuggle them and smell them when I get home. I miss their soft fur and stinky breath. Things only a mom could love.

Another scorpion tonight along with a small fox thing out back. I'm still not so confident with all these new varieties of critters.

Pool Playtime

My baby loves the water. Please pay attention to Carlos sunbathing with us in many of these photos. I thought you needed a few cute pictures of my boy. I've been lacking on those lately.

One week!

Joya de la Montania

Our house has a name. Joya de la Montania. Jewel of the Mountain. It's lovely. Come and see for yourself...

The baby cave.

The downstairs guest bath.

Downstairs master.

 Out back.

Laundry/Cleaning room

 Upstairs

Upstairs master

So maybe I should've taken pictures as soon as Yvette was done cleaning or waited until we picked up before bed but I wanted the daylight and I was just glad I remembered to take some pictures at all. Just please overlook our messes.

We feel really blessed to get to live here for a month. We love our home away from home.