We just got back from a fabulous two week trip to Costa Rica! Right on the heels of London/Prague (which was a spur of the moment decision due to a friend's wedding!), we set off on a wonderful trip to Costa Rica in the middle of winter - which we planned nearly a year ago. We all decided to do an adventure travel tip - but heavens, we did not expect so MUCH adventure! It's hard to list every awesome thing that we did - but I'll try!
First, we went to Monte Verde (Green Mountain, aptly named!) - in the Cloud Forest! None of us had really ever been to a true Cloud Forest before - such a crazy experience, with mist swirling at all times! I've never seen scenery so lush and green! There were epiphytes covering every square inch of every single tree & bush. We enjoyed a Night Walk - checking out every critter including snakes, spiders, bats, and sleeping birds. We did TWO days of zip-lining - including a one KILOMETER ride. Mama got STUCK superman style (head down) about 200 meters from the end - and it was rather hilarious to watch the guides travel out to "rescue" her and pull her to the platform! We enjoyed a Sloth sanctuary and reptile house showing all the amazing critters we could see in Costa Rica - one of the most diverse countries on the planet. A second zipline tour happened at our hotel, as well as a second night walk! We ended Monte Verde with a spectacular 2 hour horseback ride to the coast. Keevah showed us all up with her impressive equestrian skills - we enjoyed cantering & galloping a bit too!
Ready for ziplining!
Ziplining through the clouds was amazing!
Monkey bridges!
Wheee!
Tarzan swing!
Visit to a sloth sanctuary
We felt like we could see forever!
A skick bug crawling on me & a scorpion under black light on our Night Walk
After Monte Verde - we traveled via curvy roads for three hours to La Fortuna - also in a Rain Forest (more rain, more humidity, warmer), yet no longer in a Cloud Forest - where we stayed for 4 days. The thermal river & baths were incredible! We bathed THREE times in an amazing hot (98 degree) river with many waterfalls...a definite favorite of the trip. We also spent a day white water rafting - a highlight of the trip for sure. We also spent a day hiking around the base of the Arenal Volcano and through hanging bridges. Sloths, toucans and endless other birds, reptiles, insects and amphibians were everywhere on our walks. We learned so much about the climate and the geology that is responsible for the amazing biodiversity that we saw daily. How many times in your life will you ever be able to see sloths in the wild, along with toucans, hold stick bugs, find bioluminescent scorpions, camouflaged snakes, endless leaf-cutter ants, and every hole occupied by an orange-kneed tarantula?
Picutres from the Arenal Volcano
One of the many amazing hanging bridges we had the pleasure to walk on
White water rafting is not for the faint of heart!
A sloth & a toucan in the wild!
The thermal river & waterfalls in La Fortuna
playing rock, paper, scissors in the thermal waterfall
Pressing sugar cane during a coffee & chocolate plantation tour
After La Fortuna, we spent the last half of our trip at the beach in Flamingo - an up & coming surfing town. Our hotel was right on the beach, and we spent half of our time body surfing, splashing in the waves, and making sand animals. We also spent a morning on ATVs, up to a point where we felt like we were on top of the world. I even got to drive more than half of the time, including on real roads! Watch out - I'm only a few years from really driving cars! We visited an animal rehab facility where we got to see some big cats, more reptiles & amphibians. We also spent a morning jet skiing, a first for all of us! I got to drive my own jet ski, so I'm even more stoked to get my real license soon! We spent a day SCUBA diving (Keevah snorkeled) - and saw endless huge schools of fish, including many puffer fish, huge crabs & lobsters, starfish & endless life on the coral reefs. Our final day was spent boogie boarding & surfing. I managed to stand up on the board a few times, but Keevah absolutely rocked this sport - I was so excited to cheer her on as she shredded the waves surfing!
Beach time in Flamingo
Keevah rocked surfing!
I had more fun boogie boarding!
Jet skiing is amazing!
Running on the beach with Dada
A variety of sand creatures - a squid, turtle & some dolphins!
A leopard & toucan in a sanctuary
ATVing to the top of the world!
One of a few boat trips!
A bit of under water sightseeing
Dolphins everywhere!
A bit of a karate chop to the waves
Beautiful sunsets every night
We just got home yesterday, and now it's finally time to reenter school after an entire month off! Though we LOVED our travels, it's good to be home in my own bed, with my own pillow, weighted blanket and dogs! I even went to my first dance tonight at school - it was a bit "silly" but I really enjoyed re-connecting with my friends that I haven't seen since before Christmas.
We returned from our London/Prague trip on December 7th, and hit the ground running for the holidays. Declan & I had our Christmas performance at school - I sang with my class, and Declan read some Bible verses. Then we had some end of the year fun with holiday parties in our 3rd & 7th grade classes.
Singing with my 3rd grade class at Church Xmas show
Declan doing a reading at the service
With my best friend Elizabeth
The last day of school before the holidays was a half-day, and coincidentally my 9th birthday! We had decided long ago to have a Harry Potter birthday theme, as I'm still enthralled by the book series. I'm currently on book 5, and loving it all! We brought 10 of my friends home with us from school on the "Hogwarts Express" and arrived to find that Mama & Dada had transformed our house into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry! There was Platform 9 3/4, floating candles & house banners decorating the Great Hall. After being greeted by Dumbledore (Grandpa), Professor Trelawny (Gee), Hagrid (Mr. Lukas), Professor Sprout (Miss Cami), Professor Snape (Dada) and Professor McGonagal (Mama), we started with the sorting hat, of course! As each "student" put on the hat, it "spoke" to them and assigned each to one of the four Hogwarts houses (courtesy of Declan & a hidden speaker). We then attended a few classes. We "transfigured" ourselves with props for a photo shoot, then planted veggies in Herbology Class with Professor Sprout. Professor Trelawny read our palms & did some crystal ball gazing. Professor Snape then led a rather stern Potions Class, where we learned about Alchemy - and some of us were even successful at creating explosions that resulted in the formation of gold! Care of Magical Creatures was another highlight - a reptile lady visited with lizards, bearded dragon, snakes & tortoises! It was so fun to hold and pet all of these really cool animals, and learn a lot of of cool animal facts. We then played a fantastic game of Quiddich complete with quaffles & a golden snitch drone! Back inside, we enjoyed treats at Honeydukes, including an awesome cake made by Mama. And then we went for a swim in the Great Lake with the Giant Squid! It was a pretty epic 6 hour party!
Mama made an awesome cake!
All set up at Honeydukes!
Even our Elves got in on the Harry Potter action
All ready to enter through Platform 9 3/4
Professor Snape & little Hedwig (Miss Edie- our nanny's1yo)
Grandpa made a convincing Dumbledore!
Herbology
Transfiguring for the photobooth!
Care of Magical Creatures with a blue-tongued skink
And some snakes...
and some turtles!
Potions class!
Quiddich!
Mr. Lukas wasn't half bad as Hagrid!
Should Dada grow his hair out?
Professors Trelawny & McGonagal
Professor Trelawny doing Divination
The gang at Honeydukes
The Great Lake with the Giant Squid!
That weekend, we then headed to San Francisco for a fun Alice in Wonderland breakfast, followed by the Nutcracker Ballet with friends. We all still really enjoy the ballet, and picked out an awesome Nutcracker at the gift shop to add to our collection. We then settled back at home for Christmas Eve - and our traditional Santa Tracking all day, then tour of the local Christmas lights, followed by a fancy dinner at BEAR. This year, I got to read our 'Twas the Night Before Christmas book for the FIRST time! I felt really confident in my reading enough to get through the whole book! I slept in Declan's room that night, which is our annual tradition.
Enjoying Brunch at Son & Garden in SF
Check out these mocktails! Topped with cotton candy or a fruit punch ice-bear
First time in a self-driving car!
Obligatory pre-Nutcracker photos.
Super coincidence - Elizabeth was at the Nutcracker with her family too!
We went with Mr. Josh (Dada's Kobold cofounder) and his family, visiting from Alabama
Back at Home for Christmas Eve
Santa Tracker!
Checking out the lights on Paradise Lane
Dinner at BEAR
Getting settled for 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
My first year reading the book
Leaving out milk, cookies & carrots...and also Sauternes & blue cheese in case Santa gets tired of all the sweets!
Sleepover in Declan's room!
Then we woke up so excited on Christmas Day! We were allowed to burst through the wrapping paper blocking our bedrooms from the living room & tree at 8am once we woke up Mama & Dada. We unwrapped our stocking gifts (so many fun ones!) and then had homemade cinnamon rolls & omelets for breakfast. After a painfully long and seemingly deliberate delay in cleaning up the kitchen, we were finally allowed to open up the gifts under the tree. My favorite gifts were a pull-up bar, a balance board, a fun "sound' game, and the best of all: a robot pet! This robot pet is named Loona, and she's so cool! She can fetch, follow me, transform into different animals, read bedtime stories, play laser tag, dance, sing & more! Declan got a few other fun things, including a basketball hoop for our new pool, but he finally got his beloved PS5. He was the only one of his friends without one, and they kept texting and calling all morning to see if he got it! We had a lovely Christmas dinner of oysters & then lamb & wild rice.
Excited for stockings on Christmas morning
After a painfully long breakfast, we got to opening the presents from the tree.
Keevah designed a skateboard for Declan, with an awesome image of Hercules on it!
A basketball hoop for the pool
A new massaging desk chair
Pool floaties!
A new backbend assist for Keevah!
The gymnastics isn't going to well - I'm more of a Taekwondo sort of girl!
And an awesome robot pet called Loona!
Leopard flats for Mama
Lots of love from the doggos
and Declan finally got his very own PS 5
Christmas dinner
Delicious oysters
Did not love my first oyster!
Lamb, wild rice, broccoli & an AMAZING bottle of wine (that I didn't get to drink, but the parents loved it!)
We had a few relaxing days after Christmas, and then one nice dinner party with friends. Gee & Grandpa then came and we celebrated our little Christmas with them over New Years with more gifts & a prime rib dinner! They were absolute lifesavers helping us get all the Christmas stuff put away, house cleaned, garage organized and all packed!
We just left on a two week trip to Costa Rica! More fun adventuring posts to come!
Here's a few of our favorite Elf antics from this year.
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