Pura Vida

I don't think I will ever complain about anything in the U.S. school administration again. Not after experiencing Tico school. The great thing about it is that everything is completely laid back. No one marks you tardy. No one even scolds the kids if they're tardy. I accidentally dropped Autumn and Jack off half an hour late yesterday and Jack didn't even realize he was late. Autumn only realized it because she actually pays attention to the fact that everyone was in their desks working on classwork when she walked in. The down side of that is the crazy scattered organization. Maybe because I'm not used to it, I don't see their system as organized. But, it is crazy to say the least. Two of my kids go in the morning and two go in the afternoon. Then, the following week it switches. They go from 7-12:10 or 12:30-5:40 on Mon through Wed and then on Thurs and Fri it's 7-11:30 and 12-4:30. Unless it's not. Tessa goes for 3 hours in either of those blocks of tim

Tessa: Mommy came in and found me a seat and then she told me the other kid's names. Then mommy left and we started talking and then I didn't talk because I didn't know what they were saying. And we went and saw the other classes and I thought Autumn was sleeping in her class. And my teacher gave us a squirt of sanitizer and then we had to wash our hands. Isn't that weird? and then I ate my cheese balls. And then I ate one and then she was saying "only one" and then she walked out and asked mommy if I had anything to eat and mommy said "yes" and then mommy and my teacher came in and she said "don't you have your cheese balls?" and then mommy said "your teacher was coming out to ask me if you have anything to eat" and I said, "yeah, but she wouldn't let me have my cheese balls." and then I went home. And then I washed my hands and then I went home. And whatever time I did a drawing, she gave me a piece of paper

Blanchards came up with the genius idea of having bonfires on the beach during the week. We've only done it twice, but it has been so incredibly fun and we're trying to keep it up as a weekly tradition.  Autumn and Ash  Jack and Tegan Tonight, we met Johnson's at Playa Avellanas for some sunset surfing. There is seriously nothing in the world like the sunset at the beach.  It was our first time at this beach and it's now definitely one of my favorite's. After regularly going to Tamarindo for surfing since it's so close, it was so nice to have an uncrowded beach and not be tripping over other surfers in the water.      And, of course, you can't go to Playa Avellanas without visiting Lola, the pig. Man, she is fat.

It's been an interesting last couple of weeks. After my feelings of intense frustration and defeat, which I think probably coincided with a certain time of the month, the following week I was back at an all time high. I just felt so in love with this beautiful place and it's people and so grateful for the opportunity to be here, for however long our journey lasts. We've had some amazing weekends at the beach, including seeing a sea turtle coming ashore to lay eggs at Playa Mina's. Unfortunately, we got a little overexcited about seeing it and scared it back into the ocean. But, we all got to touch it. :) I hope it found somewhere better to lay it's eggs.   Last Saturday we hit another new beach called Sugar Beach or Playa Pan de Azucar and had tons of fun. Autumn and I took the paddle board out to find some good snorkeling spots that Kevin had found. He told me later that he actually saw a small shark while he wa