planting pineapples

checking out all the farm animals

hanging with the goat

more time with Starfox

On Monday, we went to Arenal Volcano. We had a perfect view!  In the evening, we went to Arenal Observatory Lodge for dinner. While there, we saw the lava coming down the side. Very cool!

Hailey, Megan, Cris, and Lauren in the hot springs.

The kids loved swimming in the pouring rain!

Hailey underwater

Tuesday was massage day. Lauren LOVED it!!

Later, an employee started draining the pool while the kids where swimming.

Megan with our new puppy! We couldn’t say no. Gloria’s squatters didn’t want him and they weren’t taking care of him so took him home. We stopped by our vet on the way home for a check up. So far so good!

We are so proud of Hailey!!

CONGRATS HAILEY!

warming up

pep talk from Doña Dorita

Getting ready!

Lauren hanging out with Nakyra.

Hailey and Tahla

Cascanueces won the 1st place award!!

Hailey and her coach with the 1st place trophy.

Hailey’s individual awards.

Well, hopefully Hailey will compete tomorrow. We have to leave the house at 7:30am because the competition is on the other side of town. I’m so NOT a morning person.

We had our good friend, Jasona, cut her hair yesterday so the judges can see her face.

I gladly, held Jasona’s 2 week old baby. Yes, I hate her for the way she can already squat (picture above) even though she had a C-section. During my second week, post delivery, I was still  limping around in pain!

Lauren helping me with laundry

I’m so happy that our laundry room is below the upstairs window. After 2 1/2 years, the kids still love throwing clothes and towels down.

Megan and Hailey 2008

Tomorrow is also the day that my sister and her daughter arrive for a 3 week vacation! We are so excited!! I’m hoping I can swing by the “Bingo for the Animals” charity event and play a round or two before heading to the airport.

Vacation time is here so no school for over a month!

Hailey, Lauren, Noah, and Caden

It was so hot today. I’m starting to really miss that AZ dry heat.

After 15mins of dealing with the heat and humidity, we decided to forgo mini golf for some lunch and Gelato!

My dog was outside acting weird so I went out to check on him. I found him circling around this crab.

Marta, our maid, put it in a plastic container and asked Lauren to take it inside so she could cook it for dinner. In this picture, Lauren has her hand up and she is yelling, “No quiero, no quiero!”

After freaking the kids out, she gave the crab to the guard so he could toss it alongside the river that is behind our fence.

Last Tuesday, at gymnastic practice, Hailey informed her teacher that she was NOT going to the gymnastics competition. Her teacher sat down with me and said that Hailey was really good and she knew the routine but was just to scared to perform by herself. Since there is another competition next Saturday, her teacher asked if we could bring Hailey to this one as a spectator.

So, we went to cheer on team “Cascanueces” and her really good friend Tahla!

They took home 6 metals!! GO TEAM!!

The opening ceremony started with the cheerleaders from the hosting schools team.

Watching Tahla!

After 3 1/2 hours of sitting, Hailey and Sheya couldn’t sit still any longer.

Later, Hailey went down to hangout with her teacher.

My two babies!

After the competition, we went to Pizza Hut with the Markowski family. We had to celebrate because Tahla won 1st place for her level!

On Friday, we went to Parque de Diversiones with some friends.

Lauren, Hailey, and I  had to sit in this boat for 15mins. By the time the 20th boat came around the corner, they finally set us free!

The hold up was a security problem.

They were called over to escort these boat hopping teenagers off the ride. I’m shocked that they actually enforced their rules!! I guess you can only understand this if you have lived or visited Costa Rica :o)!

Hailey was so excited because she finally met the minimum height requirement to drive a bumper car.

Hailey, Lauren, and Colin

Lunch with India and Colin.

Don’t these mashed potatoes look delicious?! My chef friend was disgusted when this plate was placed on our table.

On the way to my friends house yesterday, I was on the highway (yes, the HIGHWAY) when I saw this guy struggling to stay on the back of this garbage truck!

The Cavagnaro Family leaves Costa Rica (for good) first thing tomorrow morning so Hailey and I went over to say good-bye.

Hailey was so happy to have Kade all to herself!

I couldn’t figure out why I was having a harder time saying good-bye to Jen but now that Kade is gone, Hailey is the last one left out of the original group.

I’m sad with how fast time flies but I’m also grateful for the friends I’ve picked up along the way!

Our dog!

Dr. Molina pulling out his IV

Thanks to our dogs genetics, he is a confirmed bladder stone former. Yesterday, Dr. Molina found some really small stones in his pee so our dog received pain meds and IV fluids during the night.

Since he peed a small pond this morning, without pain, we had the green light to bring him home. So far so good! We are hoping that all the IV fluids helped flush out his bladder and that we can control the rest with the ridiculously priced prescription dog food we bought. Unfortunately for us, he will have to eat this dog food for the rest of his life.

While researching Dalmatians and stones, I came across this sentence: “Some dogs are perfectly content to live their lives outside, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Dalmatian that’s willing to do so — at least without their owner inclined to share that life in the great outdoors with them.” Kevin and I were laughing because it is soooo true!

Tonight, Hailey had a mid-year dance performance at “Centro Nacional de la Cultura” in downtown San Jose.

Hailey jumping

Super cute!!

(Hailey is next to the tall girl in the green top)

On Tuesday, we went to Taj Mahal for lunch.

I haven’t posted in over a week because I’ve been sick. I tried letting my body fight off the sore throat but when my kidney’s started hurting, I knew I wasn’t going to fight this one on my own.

After a few days of antibiotics, I’m finally feeling better so off for pedicures with Jen tomorrow. Her family leaves Costa Rica, for good, next Friday. I don’t know how people can live in Costa Rica permanently?! The amount of families that move in and out of this country is amazing. I’ve been to over 10 going away parties in less than 3 years. CRAZY!